Caribbean Star #67 vol. 4 / 11-06-2015

Caribbean Star

Vol.4 #67

First Interfaith Newspaper, Serving The Community

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RAMJATTAN ON GUYANA BAR CURFEW:

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SPORT

IT'S THE LAW!

HAPLESS WEST INDIES LOSE ODI SERIES TO SRI LANKA p.41 p.8

IDB TO INVEST $65 MILLION TO IMPROVE TRANSPORTATION IN HAITI p.34

ROSE HALL MOTHER, TEEN DIE AFTER CORENTYNE CRASH p.11

CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL WILL BE USED Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley has assured that the Couva Children’s Hospital will be put to use.

p.37

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CARIBBEAN NEWS

November 6–12, 2015

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PREGNANT WOMAN RAPED ON BEACH

SEAWALL TEENS IDENTIFIED p.10 ‘I WAS NOT MANIPULATED

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Caribbean Star Newspaper

November 6–12, 2015

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Pregnant woman raped on beach A

Smothered with towel: Savitri Juteram

Neighbour held for murder of nurse

N eight-month pregnant woman was raped at gunpoint in Los Iros on Monday, after her boyfriend ran when they were attacked by a gang.

At around 1 p.m. the couple, of Princes Town, was walking along the beach when they were attacked by three men.

Police were told that the three suspects pointed guns and announced a hold up.

The male victim was robbed of his cash and valuables, and then fled.

Two of the suspects chased after him, while the third suspect assaulted the pregnant woman.

The suspect dragged her into nearby bushes and raped her, police were told.

The woman walked to a lifeguard booth for assistance, and was taken to the Erin Police Station where she reported the as-

sault.

She was treated at hospital and discharged.

PC Rampersad is investigating the case.

A

28-year old Sangre Grande man was held on Wednesday in connection with the murder of retired nurse Savitri Juteram.

The suspect, police, said, lived on the same street as Juteram.

He was held in a pre-dawn exercise and was asleep when police raided his home at Ojoe Road.

The exercise was conducted between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. by officers of the Eastern Division Task Force led by Corporal Osouna.

The suspect was arrested and taken to the Region II Homicide Division in Arouca.

Juteram, a mother of five, and grandmother of seven, was found dead in her home on October 18.

She died from acute asphyxia after a towel was stuffed in her mouth.

Police suspected that she was killed by someone she knew, since there were no marks of violence on her body.

One-hour old baby falls off cot at GPHC

T

he Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation said that a new born baby fell off the cot on which he was place an hour after his birth on November 3rd and he sustained injuries.

A release from the hospital said that “appropriate laboratory tests were conducted which revealed some injuries. His condition is being closely monitored and the matter is under investigation.”

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Caribbean Star Newspaper Last rites performed for Cove and John Ashram swami

November 6–12, 2015

wami Vidyanandaji Maharaj was remembered as a holy man who influenced everyone who he came in contact with positively, as hundreds flocked the Cove and John Ashram to pay their last respects.

The crowd of devotees, schoolchildren, dignitaries, and others sat on the lawns of the Ashram as they recollected the swami’s contributions and influence towards society.

ing at the East Coast institution.

The Swami died last week in the United States and his body was returned to Guyana. In this photo final respects are being paid by the many who attended.

When old comrades meet: Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo (second from left) in conversation with former President Donald Ramotar . At left is former Finance Minister Saisnarine Kowlessar. At right is

Last rites: Swami Vidyanandaji Maharaj, spiritual director of the Cove and John Ashram and the America Sevashram Sangha was cremated Wednesday at a ceremony which saw a large gather-

former First Lady Deolatchmee Ramotar. The occasion was the last rites for Swami Vidyanandaji Maharaj at Cove and John, East Coast Demerara.

Prime Minister Moses Naga-

mootoo hailed him as “someone who in many ways has influenced all our lives” and recalled

his first meeting with the Swami.

He said that while he was a bit troubled back then, the meeting

influenced him in such a positive way that he felt resolved and was motivated to push further and harder to achieve his goals.

Minister of Education Dr Rupert Roopnaraine lauded the Swami for his influence in the education sector and said that he hopes that all of the schools around the country can emulate the Hindu College at Cove and John.

Former President Donald Ramotar, former Prime Minister Sam Hinds and Indian High Commissioner V. Mahalingam also took to the podium.

After the tributes the air was filled with chanting of mantras as the crowd lined up to pay their last respects.

The Swami’s remains were then cremated in front of the crowd of mourners. The Swami, 79, died in the US last week and his body was returned to Guyana.

Caribbean Star Newspaper

November 6–12, 2015

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Caribbean Star Newspaper

November 6–12, 2015

Corentyne best friends die in car crash

wo teenagers lost their lives on Tuesday night when the car they were in smashed into the concrete base of an arch on the Number 74 Village Public Road, Corentyne, Berbice.

Dead are Balram Nourang, 19, of Lot 22 ‘B’ Number 69 Village, Corentyne and Haresh Ramsaywack, 17, of Lot 241 in the same village. They were the only two occupants of the vehicle when the incident occurred. The vehicle was being driven by Nourang, while Ramsaywack was in the front passenger seat. No other vehicle was said to be involved.

Police said investigations revealed that motor car PEE 6017 was proceeding south at a fast rate when the driver swerved and lost control. The left front door of the vehicle collided with the concrete base of the Number 75 Arch, which is located at the western corner of the Number 74 Public Road. As a result, Nourang was flung out of the vehicle, while Ramsaywack was pinned in the front passenger seat, the police release said.

It added that both occupants sustained head injuries as well as about their bodies and were picked up and taken to Skeldon

Balram Nourang

Haresh Ramsaywack

Hospital, where Dr Lalbachan pronounced them dead on arrival.

When Stabroek News visited the scene yesterday afternoon, the Toyota Starlet was wrapped around the base of the arch.

According to several persons, the engine, gear box and battery were flung out of the car on impact. Residents also stated that the car which was destroyed in the accident recently won three drag races at Number 63 beach.

Nourang’s father and other family members were in the process of removing the car from the public road.

At both homes, the families were making preparations for wakes, while relatives and friends gathered to offer condolences Ramsaywack’s mother, Champwattie Sarran, 44, said her son left home on Tuesday afternoon and never returned home. “He went out and didn’t come back,” she

wept. “I was wondering where he was because the place was getting late but he never came home… I kept looking out for him.”

Sarran said that around 11 pm she received a telephone call informing her that her son had been involved in an accident. She and others went to the scene, where her worst fears were confirmed.

She explained that rescuers from the Guyana Fire Service had to cut the car open to lift Ramsaywack out of the vehicle and as they did, he was lifeless.

The mother said her last memory of her son was feeding him food, something she does with all of her children, while he and his sister were cracking jokes.

Nourang’s father Jairam said he too received a phone call about the incident. He stated that when they went to the scene Nourang was lying on the road and appeared to be dead.

The wrecked vehicle (David Papannah photo) The father said he last spoke with his son around 5 pm at which time he had stated that he was going to Skeldon. The 19-year-old Nourang had been a licensed driver for two years and the vehicle belonged to his uncle Omchand Nourang.

Stabroek News understands that the Nourangs operate a meat centre and the vehicle would be used for business purposes; the teenager normally drove it.

Both families explained that the boys were best friends.

They leave to mourn their parents, siblings and other relatives and friends.

Post-mortem examinations will be performed on their remains.

The teens’ deaths closely follow those of Paula Kissoondial, 53, and Akeem Harry, 15, both of Rose Hall Town, on Monday at the Number 46 Village Public Road. The car they were travelling in, PRR 164, was being driven by Kissoondial’s son Winston Collins, 24, when it suffered a blowout, careened across a trench and slammed into a resident’s fence.

Collins was seriously injured along with Keith Ross, 27, and Jermaine Smartt also of Rose Hall.

Reports are that the tyre which blew out was a spare.

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Caribbean Star Newspaper

November 6–12, 2015

7

Diwali – Worship of Mother Lakshmi, her Iconography and Removal of Darkness

By PT Vikash Ramkissoon

“Do not let the candle of wisdom die out in the darkness of lust and error, for the wise man approaches with his torch to light up the path of mankind.” - Kahlil Gibran

D

iwali -- the Hindu festival of lights is here again and Hindus globally are in full force planning vibrant and colorful activities in celebration of this five- day observance.

In Guyana, lots of spectacular events are planned nationwide, not forgetting the motor-cades that parade the Divine Mother Goddess Lakshmi, who is the Hindu iconography of wealth, prosperity, happiness, beauty and compassion represented by beautiful little girl well dressed and decorated.

Diwali’s origins are lost in antiquity. It was probably a harvest festival marking the ever- increasing darkness of the upcoming winter. The traditional lights symbolized resistance against the hardships and darkness of winter, also at this time of the year the nights also become longer. This further reinforces the practice of lighting the earthen lamps to counter darkness.

This festival is noted for cele-

brations, joy and merriment. Our North Indian ancestors harvested their crops for which they would have toiled relentlessly for quite a long time. Through a successful harvest, they would have gained two important things, ‘Ann’—which is food and ‘ Dhan’ – signifying wealth. Every home must be blessed with food and wealth as a result of hard and honest work. To welcome Mother Lakshmi, the embodiment wealth, happiness and prosperity, Hindus scrupulously clean their homes, fast, perform worship to the Mother and light earthen lamps to illuminate the homes and surroundings from darkness that the world is plunged in on Diwali Amavaya.

The word ‘Lakshmi’ is derived from the Sanskrit word “Lakshya” meaning ‘aim’ or ‘goal’.

Her four hands represent the four aims of human life. Two of her hands are raised upwards with two lotus flowers symbolizing dharma (righteous living)

and Moksha (ultimate liberation) and the right lower is a gesture of giving… with gold coins flowing – Artha (wealth of all types) and the lower, Kaama or sensuous desires. She is also the consort of Lord Vishnu who is the sustainer of the world. Hindus are exhorted to work hard to acquire wealth as is evident from her red sari.

The golden border tells us such wealth must also be plentiful.

“Artha” or wealth, power and status, is one of the acknowledged ultimate values or pursuits of man. ‘Poverty’, the sacred texts repeatedly proclaim, is the worse form of agony. But the pursuit of wealth or power cannot be accomplished through improper (adharmic) ways such as greed, avarice or violence.

The question now is for what purpose such wealth must be generated? What is created must be sustained by wealth.

Our families and society cannot be sustained without wealth.

That is why she is the consort of Lord Vishnu – the sustainer of this world. What we earn through our hard work and intelligence must be utilized for our individual and society’s upliftment. Every Hindu text tells us to work for wealth by righteous conduct, and simultaneously the same must be utilized for promotion of Dharma. The Mahabharat reminds us that,

(Dhanat Dharmah Pravrdhate), “growth of Dharma depends on Artha. It also states, “Poverty is full of sorrow and agony.” (Natah Papiyasi Kanchid avastham).

However, the iconography of Mother Lakshmi also reminds us that we cannot allow wealth to control us. As many are the exhortations to earn wealth, they are matched by warnings not to be carried away with the wealth.

The owl is a Vahana or vehicle of Lakshmi: The owl, a nocturnal bird, sitting on the left side of Lakshmi, where gold coins are falling, represents darkness. It is very clever but yet can’t see clearly in the daytime.

It represents the potential perversion of attitudes by material prosperity that must be countered: it is essential to your survival but it can dull your vision.

Undue attachment to wealth shows ignorance (darkness) and disturbs the economic balance in society. Mother Lakshmi sits on a lotus flower that originates in mud but always rises above and is untouched by it. We must serve society with our wealth— this to my mind is the essence of Diwali – the removal of Darkness…

Shub Diwali…

Please send your queries and comments at vikash1925queries@gmail.com

8

Caribbean Star Newspaper

November 6–12, 2015

Ramjattan unmoved by private sector call for easing of bar curfew

“Absolutely not! It’s the law and I am only adhering to the law…the next thing they will ask me is they don’t want to pay taxes,” Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan yesterday said in rejecting a call by the Private Sector Commission (PSC) to ease the 2am curfew to 4am on weekends and holidays.

“T

hey just don’t understand the (correlation) between heavy drinking, domestic violence, traffic accidents…we drive badly when we drink,” he said, while also pointing to the impairment of reflexes and the impact on work.

When asked by Stabroek News what evidence there is to substantiate that within the Guyana context, there has been a reduction in crime and accidents,

the minister said that data “the world over” has already proven the impacts of alcohol abuse.

“Are we all so different? Data is all over from universities all over, Britain has, all over it is the same abusing, drinking is correlated to all these things…” he said.

Chairman of the PSC Norman McLean told Stabroek News that the body was merely making a recommendation given the up-

coming Christmas season. He added that other than “anecdotal” reports, evidence is yet to be produced as it relates to how the current curfew had resulted in a decrease in accidents and crime.

To that Ramjattan stated “you tell them to give me the data that they will make $10M between the time…

“I have gotten the data,” Ramjattan said.

Earlier, in a statement yesterday, the PSC called on Ramjattan to “rethink this strategy and its implication on business.” The statement urged that “consideration be given for bars and nightclubs to be open until 4:00 am on Fridays, Saturdays and Public Holidays for those nightclubs located in commercial districts and zones and those which comply with building codes that limit noise nuisance.”

The PSC also urged the relaxation of the 2am curfew to accommodate the expected increase in visitors for the Christmas season.

It said that it has observed and received reports from its mem-

bership that the enforcement of the 2am closure for bars and night clubs is having a significant negative impact on businesses within the entertainment industry and “many of the businesses are faced with the threat of closure and downsizing as a result of this decision. It is also our concern that this could have a long term negative impact on our developing tourism Industry.”

This was echoed by McLean who said that there is a real long-term concern that the developing tourism industry could be stunted.

Many nightclub proprietors were leery to speak on the record when contacted by Stabroek News for fear of being singled out. “You know where you deh?” one told this publication saying that to openly criticise could result in unwanted attention on his business.

Another businessman, General Manager of Altitude Lounge Ryan Rahaman told Stabroek News that as the Christmas season approaches, people are

looking to “let down their hair” and spend time with family and friends. He said that during the week, he saw no problem with the current 2am curfew, but on weekends, he could see why businesses would want to stay open later and take advantage of consumers who are enjoying the season.

Seeta Gursahai of Seeta’s Bar said she would welcome the extension on the weekends. She said that heading into Christmas, persons are looking to entertain overseas visitors. She noted that there is an ongoing and general Guyanese mentality of “going out late, staying out late.”

She echoed the sentiments of other proprietors saying that for weekdays, the 2am curfew is reasonable but her business would definitely welcome the profitability that would come along with a weekend extension.

The 2am curfew began being enforced in early July. While the majority of businesses have complied some have not, and for some of these, no known fines have been applied.

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Caribbean Star Newspaper

November 6–12, 2015

9

GuySuCo warns against strike …says Christmas could be grim for workers THE Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) has warned the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) that if protest action continues, it could spell a grim Christmas for sugar workers and their families.

A

ccording to the corporation, workers have lost millions in basic wages and incentives as a consequence of the recent three-day strike called by GAWU. Previously, the corporation had given as its reason for not yet going to the bargaining table that government, GuySuCo’s shareholder, had not yet considered the Report of the Commission of Inquiry into the state and future of the sugar industry.

The sugar company noted that on Friday, October 30, 2015, the Chief Executive Officer of GuySuCo, Mr. Errol Hanoman

expressed the Corporation’s disappointment at the recent strike action. He informed the union that it was never the Corporation’s intention not to commence negotiations of its 2015 wage proposals. He reiterated that the Corporation was awaiting advice on the way forward for the industry after government considered the report and recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry (CoI).

He informed the union that having received a record high bailout from the government, a road map for the future of the industry was crucial and the CoI

GuySuCo Chief Executive Officer Errol Hanoman was expected to recommend a basis for such a plan. He indicated that government is supportive of the sugar industry and its people and is keen to consider any plan that would ensure its survival and sustainability.

He felt the union and workers have a critical role to play in the question of survival and sustainability.

The CEO emphasised that there will be negotiations but we have a “chicken and egg”

Komal Chand situation. Wage negotiation before the road map or the road map before negotiation? He informed the union that both will happen.

Tremendous goodwill was built up over the past few weeks as the industry surpassed its production targets. Errol Hanoman cautioned the union and its delegates against the loss of this goodwill which would accompany protest action at this time.

He appealed to the union, the representatives and the work-

ers to get on with the task of taking off the crop and completing the tillage and planting programmes. He exhorted them to set the scene for a successful end of 2015 and a successful 2016.

“Let us not be hasty. There will be negotiations, just not today,” he said, as he called on all to focus their energies on a good outcome in the evolving road map for the industry.

He advised that negotiations would commence as soon as GuySuCo is in a position to do so. GAWU wants a nine per cent increase in wages and salaries. The union said it would be meeting on November 7 to discuss this latest development.

GAWU’s President Komal Chand has already said he would not rule out another strike.

GuySuCo’s annual wage and salary bill is more than 60 per cent of already declining revenues coupled with low production and high production costs and low world market prices for the sweetener.

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November 6–12, 2015

Caribbean Star Newspaper

SEAWALL TEENS IDENTIFIED -families shocked at reported suicides

The couple found dead at the Kingston seawall on Monday have been identified as teenagers Kavita Ackloo and Ramesh Beharry, whose families were at a loss as to why they apparently took their own lives.

A

ckloo, called ‘Shevon,’ 19, of South Turkeyen, was positively identified by her father, Vincent Ackloo, around 5pm Tuesday at the Lyken Funeral Parlour, while Beharry, 18, called ‘Boy,’ of Phase Two Good Hope, was not identified until late tuesday by his mother, Chandracarla Sanichar.

They were last seen alive on the Kingston seawall, in the vicinity of Pegasus Hotel, around 2pm Monday by passersby.

Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum had previously said police received a call around 5 pm on Monday alerting them to the discovery of the bodies on the seawall. Blanhum had said ranks retrieved a receipt for the purchase of two poisonous substances

from the young man’s pocket. The purchase was made from Caribbean Chemicals on Croal Street, Georgetown.

Ackloo, who was a sales rep at Bombay Bazaar, located in the Sharon’s Building on King Street, Georgetown, was last seen alive by her mother on Sunday, when the girl visited her.

The mother, Sharda (only name given), noted that the girl had been living with her and her step-father at Cummings Lodge until three weeks ago, when she decided to move to her father’s house at South Turkeyen.

The mother suggested that her daughter took the decision after she objected to the girl bringing a young man, suspected to be

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Ramesh Beharry

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Beharry, to her step-father’s home. She noted that the girl had previously brought another man to her home some time ago and the relationship was objected to.

“She bring the boy here and all I say, ‘I don’t want you bring nobody here,’ and that is why she decide to take the boy to her father house,” Sharda said.

“She come with the boy and say she moving to she father house,” she added.

She said she was informed that her daughter met the boy via WhatsApp a few days before making the sudden decision to move from her home.

The woman, however, noted that she had no objection to the relationship.

Sharda and other relatives were shocked at the idea that Ackloo would take her own life, particularly given the girl’s own reaction when a relative tried to kill herself earlier this year. “She was always the encouraging one because (the relative) had consumed poison earlier this year and was in the hospital and survived and Kavita used to tell me, ‘Mommy, I would never do something like that to myself,’” Sharda said.

Another relative had ended her life a few years ago by consuming a poisonous substance, according to Sharda.

‘Lost’ When contacted , Vincent Ackloo, said he was still trying to accept the fact that his daughter is now dead. “Since she move and come live with me, she always appeared to be lost and I always enquire what happen Shevon but she always say that is my mood,” he recounted. “If she had any problem, I would do something to fix the situation but she never explain anything to me about herself,” the distraught father added.

He said was not aware of his daughter sharing a relationship with the young man, whom he thought was just a friend.

On Monday evening, the father said, he sensed something was amiss when the girl did not return home. It was not until Tuesday morning that his worst fears were confirmed after he recognised his daughter instantly after seeing the photos of the bodies in a newspaper.

Meanwhile, Beharry, who was a joiner in the Mon Repos area, was not identified until late Tuesday by relatives who were alerted by images broadcast on a TV newscast.

Relatives, including Beharry’s mother and

step-father, turned up in their numbers at the funeral parlour.

His mother, Sanichar, broke down in tears while being comforted by other relatives. She told Stabroek News that her son lived at his aunt next door to her. She last saw him alive on Sunday morning, while his aunt, who was also present, saw him on Monday morning while he appeared to be getting ready for work.

According to the aunt, Beharry never told her or any other relative of any problems he was experiencing. She said she would notice him quite often on the cellular phone.

Beharry’s family was not aware of the relationship he shared with any woman and had never seen Ackloo.

They did not think it strange when he did not return on Monday evening since he usually slept away from home. The aunt said on the last occasion he did, which was a few weeks ago, she questioned him and he said he slept for two days at a friend’s house.

However, the family became concerned late Monday evening when Beharry’s employer visited and enquired about him from Sanichar, since he had not turned up for work.

Ackloo, who was the second of five children, would have been celebrating her 20th birthday Thursday , while Beharry, the eldest of three children, would have been celebrating his next birthday on Tuesday.

Post-mortem examinations are expected to be performed on the bodies .

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November 6–12, 2015 11 Caribbean Star Newspaper Rose Hall mother, teen die after Corentyne crash

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mother of seven and a teenage boy are dead, while three other persons are nursing serious injuries after a car crashed into a fence at Number 46 Village, Corentyne Tuesday morning.

Dead are Paula Kissoondial, 53, and Akeem Harry, 15, both of Rose Hall Town, while those injured are Keith Ross, 27, Winston Collins, 24, and Jermaine Smartt also of Rose Hall. Collins is the son of Kissoondial.

Stabroek News was told that the accident occurred around 11.30am, as the vehicle in which the five persons were travelling, PRR 164 was navigating a turn along the Number 46 Village Public Road. A spare tyre that had been fitted on the vehicle apparently blew off, resulting in the driver losing control of the car. The car subsequently flew across a trench, then slammed into the fence of a residential yard and landed on the bridge.

Residents in the area reported that the driver appeared to have been speeding at the time of the accident.

According to first responders, after the car landed on the bridge, they had to elevate it in an uneven position to rescue the survivors. They noted they had to cut the seat belts off of the driv-

Paula Kissoondial

Winston Collins er and the occupant of the front passenger seat. Both Kissoondial and Harry had been seated in the rear passenger seat.

Stabroek News was told that Kissoondial died on the spot, while Harry succumbed at the Skeldon Public Hospital, where he and the other injured persons had been rushed by public-spirited citizens. The injured were later transferred to the New Amsterdam Hospital.

Smartt sustained a concussion and a fracture in his left arm, while Collins also sustained a

The vehicle in which Paula Kissoondial, 53, and Akeem Harry, 15, were travelling after the accident that claimed both their lives and left three others injured. concussion as well as a dislocated clavicle. Ross, who sustained a fractured spinal cord, was subsequently transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital.

The family of Kissoondial said she and the others had gone to drop off one of her sons at the Canawaima Ferry Stelling and she was returning home when the accident occurred.

Meanwhile, Harry’s grieving

mother said she didn’t know of his accident until late in the afternoon. “I saw him morning time, and after that I didn’t see him back for the day. I kept asking for him but nobody told me anything,” she said while trying to hold back tears. She explained that in her last conversation with her son, who was a labourer, he told her he would be going to work.

The accident occurred just days into the start of National Road Safety Month. The Guyana Police Force Traffic Department urged all motorists to engage in defensive driving, which it said is aimed at reducing the risk of collision by anticipating dangerous situations. The theme for this year’s observations is “Be wise, stay alive, stop speeding, don’t drink and drive.”

12

November 6–12, 2015

Caribbean Star Newspaper

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THEY CALLED US white devils

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HE DREAM of retiring in sweet T and T has soured for an American couple who narrowly escaped with their lives from bandits who attacked them outside their Los Iros home on Monday.

Their encounter with the armed gang was the culmination of a string of bad experiences they have had while living here for some 14 years, including taunts from Trinidadians, describing the mature victims as ‘white devils’.

“There is no more sweet T and T,” said an angry Stanley Post during an interview with Newsday yesterday. “Here is like the wild, wild west and we have had enough.” After 14 years of calling this country their home, Stanley, 70, and his wife Barbara, 72, were yesterday packing their bags at their resi-

dence near the idyllic Los Iros beach as they planned to head back to America.

The Posts warned Government that if they do not get a handle on the rampant crime situation, which has seen 358 murders committed as of yesterday, this country stands the risk of being shunned by overseas investors and tourists.

Speaking in the living room of his heavily burglar-proofed Los Iros Road, Erin, home, Post said having a gun placed to his head, was the last straw.

“I don’t mind being robbed, I can live with that. But I don’t want to be murdered. I don’t think there is anything in this world that is worth my life. I love this country...it is a very beautiful place and the beaches are nice. But there is too much lawlessness and we don’t

feel safe anymore.” Stanley and Barbara told Newsday that all they ever wanted when they moved into their dream home near the beach was peace, but they never found it and instead were targeted after standing up against noise pollution and pushing for a healthy and clean environment.

The attack on Monday was the latest in a

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series of robberies and other incidents that have left the couple frustrated “This house was our retirement money,” Stanley said. “I worked all my life and I resent that I come here with my wife to live and to have locals call us “white devils”. They call us foreigners, they pelt at us, they threaten our lives...all because we complained about the loud music they play, the way they leave the beaches dirty and the general lawlessness of the people who come to the beach,” Stanley said.

Holding a stack of letters dating as far back as 2007, the Posts said they have visited and written complaints to almost all relevant agencies including the Siparia Regional Corporation, The Ministry of Tourism, Environmental Management Authority (EMA) and the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) without success in having their problems addressed.

They have been victims of a number of robberies while loud music from trucks on the beach have shattered their window panes.

“We just went on the internet and the first place we found was here and we purchased an old rundown building and designed and built a new home,” he said.

The Posts said yesterday they had had enough of the negative side of Trinidad and it was time to pack up and leave. According to a police report, at about 12.30 pm on Monday, Stanley and Barbara had just returned home and were about to enter the driveway when they were confronted by three masked men, two armed with cutlasses and one with a gun. The couple told police they managed to get back into their car and drive to a nearby convenience store where they called the police for help. They were not injured.

“We have robberies. We have crimes in the United States. I have worked in some of the toughest cities, but I have never had a gun or a machete pointed at me. I didn’t live this long to have a bunch of callous people kill me.” The Posts believe if they had panicked, they would have been killed by the men who escaped in some nearby bushes.

Hours later, a couple was attacked by three men on the nearby beach, with the woman who is eightmonths pregnant, being raped in some bushes. (See story below) “If they (Government) don’t do something, this country is doomed!

Americans will not keep on investing.

People are going to pull their business out of here. I spoke to my Embassy this morning and they are very unhappy. I have never taken a dime out of this country. We gave back instead.

We volunteered in the Animal Shelter (Oropouche),” Stanley said. He recalled recently lying on the beach sunbathing only to be pelted with stones by several persons.“Where we are is on private property, yet visitors come here and get annoyed when they are not allowed to do as they please,” Stanley said, adding that a particular vendor had threatened their lives after they asked her to stop selling in front of their property.

When they were attacked on Monday, Stanley said the assailants surrounded their car with one of them pushing a cutlass through the car window while another pointed a gun at his head. Stanley is a retired educator who was once the Secretary for the Democratic State Party in New Hampshire. His wife Barbara, is a retired teacher. The couple have a son who is a marine officer. They said relatives have stopped visiting them because of the crime situation.

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November 6–12, 2015

Caribbean Star Newspaper

ISLAM Peace / submission to the will of our creator.

HIJAB A covering of beauty and modesty.

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llah SWT has commanded us with every action that is good for us and prohibited us from performing every action that is bad for us. Allah SWT orders the Muslim woman to wear the Hijab when she steps out of the security of her home or when in the presence of strange men. To wear the Hijab is a source of great good for you the Muslim woman - for many reasons. Among them: You please Allah. You are obeying the commands of your Lord when you wear the Hijab and you can expect great rewards in return.

It is Allah’s protection of your natural beauty. You are too precious to be “on display” for each man to see.

It is Allah’s preservation of your chastity.

Allah purifies your heart and mind through the Hijab.

Allah beautifies your inner and outer countenance with Hijab. Outwardly, your Hijab reflects innocence, purity, modesty, shyness, serenity, contentment and obedience to your Lord. Inwardly you cultivate the same.

Allah defines your femininity through the Hijab. You are a woman who respects her womanhood. Allah wants you to be respected by others, and for you to respect yourself.

Allah raises your dignity through the Hijab. When a strange man looks at you, he respects you because he sees that you respect yourself.

Allah protects your honor 100% through your Hijab. Men do not gaze at you in a sensual way, they do not approach you in a sensual way, and neither do they speak to you in a sensual way.

Rather, a man holds you in high esteem and that is just by one glance at you!

Allah gives you nobility through the Hijab. You are noble not degraded because you are covered not naked.

Allah demonstrates your equality as a Muslim woman through the Hijab. Your Lord bestows upon you equal worth as your male counterpart, and gives you a host of beautiful rights and liberties. You express your acceptance of these unique rights by putting on the Hijab.

Allah defines your role as a Muslim woman through the Hijab. You are someone with important duties. You are a reflection of a woman of action not idle

pursuits. You display your sense of direction and purpose through your Hijab. You are someone that people take seriously.

Allah expresses your independence through the Hijab. You are stating clearly that you are an obedient servant of the Greatest Master. You will obey no one else and follow no other way. You are not a slave to any man, nor a slave to any nation. You are free and independent from all man-made systems.

Allah gives you the freedom of movement and expression through the Hijab.

You are able to move about and communicate without fear of harassment. Your Hijab gives you a unique confidence.

Allah wants others to treat you a Muslim woman - with kindness. The Hijab brings about the best treatment of men towards you.

Allah wants your beauty to be preserved and saved for just one man to enjoy your husband.

Allah helps you to enjoy a successful marriage through wearing Hijab. Because you reserve your beauty for one man alone, your husband’s love for you increases, he cherishes you more, he respects you more and he honors you more. Thus, your Hijab contributes to a successful and lasting marriage relationship.

Allah brings about peace and stability in the society through the Hijab! Yes, this is true! Men do not cause corruption by forming illegal relationships because you - the Muslim woman - calm their passions. When a man looks at you, he feels at ease, not tempted to fornicate.

good to obey the commands of your Lord.

prayers is less than six is termed “Saahib-ut-Tarteeb”. Whenever a prayer is “Their reward is with their Lord: Gardens missed by such a person, he has to obof Eden underneath which rivers flow serve sequence between the prayers. He wherein they will dwell forever; Allah is Is bound to perform the Qadha before pleased with them, and they are pleased the Ada’ prayers of the time. For example, with Him; this is (in store) for whoever if he has missed the Zuhr prayer, then at fears his Lord.” [Sooratul-Bayyinah 98:8] the time of ASR he must perform the Qadha of Zuhr first, and the Ada’ of ASR From the Dar Ul Iftaa after it. If he performed the ASR before Performing Salaah on a bus the Qadha of Zuhr, his ASR prayer will be void and he will have to pray again.

ANSWER: Observance of sequence is necessary If the direction of the Qiblah is known between the different Qadha prayers while travelling In a bus and Salaah can also. All the Qadha prayers should be be performed properly ensuring the di- performed in the same order in which rection of the Qiblah throughout the they were missed. So, if a person has Salaah, then Salaah can be performed in missed both Fajr and Zuhr then, at the this manner and it will be considered that time of Asr he must perform the Qadha the Salaah is fulfilled. If it is not possible of Fajr first of all, then he should perform to perform Salaah with all the conditions the Qadha of Zuhr and then he should necessary while travelling in a bus then pray Asr. If he disturbed this sequence he Nafl Salaah can be performed in any will have to pray again observing the due manner, however it would not be correct sequence. The observance of sequence is to perform Fardh Salaah in this manner, obligatory on a Saahib-ut-Tarteeb, but if except that one fears that he might miss a person is not Saahib-ut-Tarteeb i.e. the a Salaah so he can perform his Fardh Sa- number of Qadha prayers due on him is laah in any possible manner and when he six or more, the observance of sequence So a Muslim woman in Hijab is dignified, reaches his destination he should make is not obligatory on him. not dishonored, noble, not degraded, lib- Qadhaa of that Salaah to absolve himself A person who is not Saahib-ut-Tarterated, not subjugated, purified, not sul- of the responsibility of performing Sa- eeb and he has missed a lot of prayers, lied, independent, not a slave, protected, laah. for example five or six years of prayers not exposed, respected, not laughed at, And Allah Ta’aala knows best and now he does not know which prayer confident, not insecure, obedient, not a Mufti Muhammed Ashraf he missed on which day or how many sinner, a guarded pearl, not a prostitute.

19 January 2010 / 14 Safar 1432 prayers he missed altogether then now Is it obligatory to pray the missed Sa- he should make Qadha with the intention Dear Muslim sister! Come towards the laat in order ? that I am making Qadha of the first Fajr/ gates of Paradise with us! Fulfil your QUESTION: Zuhr/Asr etc. that I have missed. duties towards Allah SWT, put on your Is it obligatory to pray the missed saadornment - put on your Hijab and race laats in order ? What if one has much And Allah Ta’aala knows best towards Jannah (Paradise) by doing all missed salaats? When is the obligation in good actions. You should agree by now the order waived?

Talha bin Ershad Sheik that wearing Hijab is extremely beneficial ANSWER: Attested to as correct by: it must be - because Allah only commands The person who has never missed six Mufti Muhammed Ashraf what is good and believe me dear sister, it is prayers, or the number of his Qadha 23 JULY 2010 / 11 SHA’BAAN 1431

Caribbean Star Newspaper

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November 6–12, 2015

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Overseas auditor may be retained for scrutiny of GRA – Chairman

he APNU+AFC Govern-ment is considering importing a foreign auditor to examine the works of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA).

This is according to Chairman of the GRA board Rawle Lucas.

In a recent interview with Stabroek News Lucas noted that while he has not seen the report of a recent audit conducted by the government audit department

he does know that the “government has indicated that it wants to bring an external auditor to do a complete audit of GRA.” This auditor, he explained, is not only to be “external to GRA but external to Guyana,” Lucas said.

The reason for such a decision lies in the acknowledgement that many Guyanese auditors “might be biased in one

way or another since they will have some relationship with GRA whether positive or negative.”

According to Lucas this relationship could result in a conflict of interest for local auditors.

Since the new government came into power following the May 11 elections they have instituted several audits into state institutions.

Killed by cops: Jonathan Williams

Dead suspect's mom apologises to his victims

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elatives of criminal suspect Jonathan Williams, one of the two men shot dead by police on Sunday evening during a robbery in Cunupia, yesterday apologised to the people he traumatised. Speaking with members of the media outside the Forensic Science Centre in St James, Williams' mother said she was sorry for her son's actions.

"I know he wasn't innocent but he was still my son. To the family he interfered with, I am sorry", she said.

The other man killed in Sunday's incident has been identified as 26 year old Alex Kagan, 26, of Basta Hall, Couva.

On Sunday, at about 4.25 pm, four men armed with guns entered First Round Liquor Mart at Chin Chin Road, Cunupia and held up the proprietor, and two women. An eyewitness alerted police who confronted the four men who were still in the liquor mart. Kagan and Williams were shot dead while a third man escaped, and a fourth man arrested. Police seized a 9 mm pistol along with ammunition. Police were able to trace the dead men through prints from their criminal records.

Kamla: Rowley must break silence on crime crisis

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pposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar is calling on Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley to break Murders e­ scalating: his silence on the “emerging crime Kamla ­Persadcrisis”.

Bissessar In a statement issued yesterday, the Opposition Leader said the Prime Minister’s silence in the face of the brutal murder of Superintendent of Prisons David Millette suggested his Government had lost control of the crime situation.

The Opposition Leader noted the number of murders escalated immediately after the People’s National Movement Government took office, and now appears set to exceed last year’s murder toll, with the Government appearing clueless about addressing this alarming trend.

Persad-Bissessar insisted: “He (the Prime Minister) must speak, he must act and he must assure the nation that initiatives are being taken to bring this crisis to an end.

16

November 6–12, 2015

East La Penitence woman busted with 25 pounds of cocaine in milk packets at CJIA

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ccording to a senior CANU official, the young woman was held after the agents searched her bags and discovered several Kerrygold milk powder packets with the cocaine inside.

East La Penitence woman busted with 25 pounds of cocaine in milk packets at CJIA A Guyanese woman who lives in East La Penitence was taken into the custody of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit after she was busted at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport with just over 25 pounds of cocaine.

The bust took place early Thursday morning as the woman was preparing to board a New York bound Caribbean Airlines flight. She has been identified as Odessa Pollard.

According to a senior CANU official, the young woman was held after the agents searched her bags and discovered several Kerrygold milk powder packets with the cocaine inside.

She was immediately arrested and is being questioned. Investigators are convinced that a number of other persons may be linked to the attempt to ferry the cocaine out of Guyana.

The Customs Anti Narcotics Unit has

been stepping up its monitoring of passengers and has seen increased successes in drug busts.

Over the weekend, CANU arrested a Guyanese man preparing to travel to New York with cocaine in the false sides of his suitcases. He has since been charged.

The drug trafficking problem is a worrying one for local law enforcement, but they have been getting more help from international and US agencies.

Just recently, the US government indicated its willingness to loan several improved scanners to the airport security agents, to assist in the drug fight.

Caribbean Star Newspaper

M

y name is Damian Paramdeo and I am a proud member of the Naujawaan Mandalee Youth Group of the Shaanti Bhavan Mandir.

Today, I want to write about losing. The reason I want to talk about losing is because I recently lost a football game. It wasn’t because the other team was better than us.

It was our own mistake that caused us to lose.

Losing is something no one likes, but everyone has to go through.

One of the most important things about losing is you learn from your mistakes and work harder to get better. Another important thing is your sportsmanship.

Regardless of what you’re feeling inside about your competitor or the outcome, you want to keep calm and control yourself. This is even truer if what you have to say or do is ultimately demeaning or bad-mannered. Being a true champion means

that you have to learn to conduct yourself with class, regardless of the level of competition. If you want to be a class act, you must instead have respect and empathy for your opponent.

Empathy is having the ability to step inside another’s shoes and feel exactly what they are feeling. When you can truly appreciate what your opponent is feeling, then you will be hard pressed to treat them respectfully.

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An opponent with empathy would never rub a win in your face because they would know that being treated that way by another athlete feels absolutely terrible. Athletes who rub their opponent’s face in a loss will soon find themselves at the other, much more unpleasant end of the game. Losses and failure should never be used to define who we are as individuals.

Losing is just something that happens quite a lot whenever we make the decision to compete in sports over a long period of time. Failing is nothing more than an important part of the overall learning process in life.

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Caribbean Star Newspaper

November 6–12, 2015

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TASTE AND SEE THAT THE LORD IS GOOD God is good all the time. Everything may not be the way we want it to be, but our circumstances do not alter who God is. If we celebrate Him in good times, our faith in Him ought to be constant even when adversity arises.

U

nfortunately, not everyone can say “God is good” because so many have not tasted the sweetness that Jesus brings into our lives. You will not know how sweet the mango is if I tell you; you need to taste it for yourself. People who have never tasted of God’s love will not be able to appreciate or describe what it feels like. But those who have come near and have been touched by Him are excited about knowing His love and forgiveness. These are determined to live for Him and are willing to die for Him. The Bible says, “O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in Him.” Psalm 34:8.

The goodness of the Lord gives us peace.

Our world is a place of chaos and perplexity, just as Jesus foretold. The news is more depressing than uplifting. Our homes are overloaded with issues from finances to conflicts to the care of children with limited resources. In the midst of the storms, Jesus promised, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world y e shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33. He reassures us of His constant watch over us and the sweet peace we can enjoy in Him. We may not understand why sometimes He will calm the storm around us and other times He won’t. One thing is certain, He calms the storms within our souls. “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27. And when our dying day comes, He will be near and we can peacefully pass from earth into His eternal presence. There is peace for all who trust in the Great Shepherd of our souls.

The goodness of the Lord gives us strength.

There are times when we feel we have reached the end of our resources.

We face insurmountable mountains of trouble. In those times, remember God is our refuge and strength, a very pres-

ent help in trouble. The Apostle Paul had endured many hardships and pains.

He stated the intensity of his pains in 2 Corinthians 11:23-28 “… in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.” My friend, remember you are not alone. In this life we will face some real difficult times, but we have a great Supporter in Jesus Christ who never fails. He understands every tear you shed, every groaning and sighing. This is how Paul described his experience: “For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:8-10.

In the same way, you and I can look to Christ for his wonderful grace to see us through our trials and testings. Sometimes we face sudden disappointments or tragedy. Sickness can bring us down.

Maybe there is conflict in your home.

We can find sufficient grace to strengthen us through our adversities. Do not be discouraged, God is on your side and He will see you through. He has never made a promise that He could not keep.

Make this your confession: “I can do all things through Him (Christ) who gives

me strength.” Philippians 3:14 The goodness of the Lord gives us blessings.

Sometimes it could be a challenge to declare God is good. Financial hardship and losses can cause us to question the goodness of God. Let us maintain our faith the God who does not change. Our circumstances must not change our view of Him. He is the Healer of every sickness, the Supplier of everything we need, the Comforter in distress, and He is faithful to walk with us through every storm. The Apostle James said, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” James 1:17. The Psalmist wrote in Psalm 103:1-5 “Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” Thankfulness is a virtue that keeps us focused on the Source. Complaining will kill our faith. When we can keep Him in center of our lives, we can discover daily how He meets every need in wonderful ways and we will praise Him for it.

The goodness of the Lord gives us salvation.

We will never understand this side of Heaven why God loves us when we offended Him so much. The Bible concludes we are all guilty and condemned because of sin. There is no one that is exempt from this condition. Romans

1:9-12 says, “What then? Are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.” This makes us think. Why would God be willing to let His Son take our punishment by giving up His life so lost mankind can be saved? It is the goodness of God! The Apostle Paul explains what our response should be in Romans 2:4 “…despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?” There is salvation in Jesus Christ. Have you received His salvation? You can call on Him, ask His forgiveness for your sins, and know you are saved for eternity. He is good all the time. Take your family to church this weekend.

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Caribbean Star Newspaper ‘I was not manipulated by Jagdeo’ - Ramotar Food and Drug Dep’t November 6–12, 2015

ormer President Donald Ramotar has rejected perceptions that he was a figurehead office-holder with his predecessor Bharrat Jagdeo running the country from behind the scenes.

“It is not true, not true. Remember he is a member of the executive but he didn’t play the prominent role that people said he played. He only came into the picture if I asked him to and that was not often,” Ramotar told Stabroek News in an interview on Sunday when asked about perceptions of him being Jagdeo’s political puppet.

He blamed the media for the “manipulated by Jagdeo” image that the public currently has of him. “I am not saying that Bharrat Jagdeo did not have a lot of influence on the party. Obviously because it was a PPP/C government and he is an executive.

However, how it was being portrayed in the media, it is way, way, way out and not true. I think what has happened in our country over the years is our media created a lot of these perceptions and then people believed,” Ramotar asserted.

He also scoffed at allegations that he and Jagdeo have not had a good relationship since he demitted office with many saying that he was blamed for the party’s loss at the May general elections. Ramotar said that he and Jagdeo have an ex-

cellent relationship and that now that Jagdeo is Opposition Leader, he would from time to time, consult with him. In citing an example, he said that recently as Jagdeo left New York for Brussels for a summit, he called him and they chatted.

In reference to an alleged incident that Jagdeo, in a fit of rage, had slapped him after the PPP/C lost the elections, Ramotar said that he was shocked at the things he would hear and that it was being fed by media.

“For instance that slapping thing, that shows you how much media has influenced thinking. It’s ludicrous and just so humorous, just such utter nonsense with zero basis. I personally can’t understand where in the world these things come from,” he said laughing.

The former president posited that more credence would have been given to rumours now that there is a rift between PPP General Secretary Clement Rohee and Jagdeo as the two have aired varying views on issues publically. “In the case of Jagdeo and Rohee story, I can be a little more lenient if they say that because I know he had to come out to contradict what Rohee had said in some parts of the media. Maybe you can stretch and try to amplify that and make it sound reasonable but in the case with me, I don’t see any basis for anything like that,” he said.

Questioned about his seeming-

ly abrupt departure from the party since the electoral loss, Ramotar informed that he contributes behind the scenes and is still very active in the PPP. “I am not as active as I used to be…because I am no longer the General Secretary and I am no longer President so I am not the main spokesperson any longer but I am very active. I have been speaking at the party meetings and up to Tuesday, I was out in Berbice,” he related.

Pressed as to why he was not Opposition Leader or had taken up a lesser parliamentary post given that he was running for a second term, an indication that he still wanted to be in active politics, Ramotar responded that he did what was best for the party. “A lot of those decisions went to the party. There were a lot of discussions both at the level of executive and central committee and coming down to the end, the party took the decision that Jagdeo should be the Opposition Leader because he is very strong on economic and financial issues, very well equipped, has a lot of experience. I did not opt to go into parliament,” he revealed.

“You have to start seeing the party in transition, seeing more persons in leadership roles and that was taken into consideration but I am still very active equally as most in the parliament. I am there, I am here (with the party),” he added.

advises food importers to comply with documentation requirements

T

he Government Analyst – Food and Drug Depart-ment (GA-FDD) is reminding food importers for the local market that these imports must be accompanied by the relevant documents, including a Free Sale Certificate or a Health Certificate and/or a Certificate of Analysis.

A GA-FDD press release stated that Free Sale or Health Certificates must be issued by the regulatory Authority/Agency from the country of origin and the Certificate of Analysis can be issued by an independent laboratory or that of the manufacturer, in keeping with the Laws of Guyana.

The release further noted that original copies of these documents serve as confirmation that the food items being imported were manufactured under safe and sanitary conditions where regular premises inspections are conducted. It also reiterated the GAFDD’s authority to protect consumers as it ensures only safe and wholesome foods are made available to the local market.

The GA-FDD also noted that, in collaboration with the Environmental Health Office, it recently conducted a number of stakeholder discussions with members of the business community and the public to underline the administrative functions of the department as it pertains to trade and consumer protection.

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November 6–12, 2015

Caribbean Star Newspaper

Ramotar ruled out maritime channel for Venezuela -was seeking alternative to Good Officer process

During his term, former president Donald Ramotar rejected the idea of a channel through Guyana’s Atlantic waters as a means of settling the long-running border controversy with Venezuela and says that his predecessor Bharrat Jagdeo should not have voiced that option.

“W

hen we were in government, we were preparing to go back to the United Nations to say that the Good Officer Process did not amount to any success, not that it wasn’t useful… just that it was tired and did not yield a conclusion,” he told Stabroek News in an interview on Sunday.

“I never examined that option, about giving the Channel or anything for that matter, because I didn’t think it would fly at all. I think we lost more territory than anyone else and we shouldn’t have to lose more now. No we shouldn’t! No! No! No!” he emphasised.

He said that his government had decided to ask the UN for a range of options to settle the border controversy because the Good Officer process had been exhausted.

Last month, Jagdeo told reporters that his PPP/C government had explored the option of granting Venezuela a channel

through Guyana’s Atlantic waters. Jagdeo said that the view was explored as a means of settling the long-running border controversy, which escalated in May this year.

Ramotar told Stabroek News that his administration rejected this option. He explained that this was because he felt that Guyana had lost enough of her territory already and it would have been most callous to lose more now.

He added that while he was not defending what Jagdeo said, analysis of a myriad of options on varying national issues are what every government does. He added that Jagdeo should have shut up.

“I don’t know why he shared that information about what options…look when you are in government you examine everything. You don’t exclude anything but it doesn’t mean that you will go with any which one. If you (in government ) say you don’t, you are lying,

simple, but you look also at the impact, the pros and the cons, you have your scale and you weigh whatever issue, policy and so forth. It’s what governing is, then you say this x, y or z is best for people and country,” he explained.

He said months before the May 11th general elections, his government was preparing to go to the UN for assistance in showing what options were available to Guyana so that there could be a final settlement of the issue. He felt that a final settlement was needed as the controversy had deterred investors and was retarding the country’s economic growth.

“We had reached a stage where this border controversy was retarding the economic development of our country and that was why we took the decision of going back to the UN to look at another option.

We did not conclude definitely that a juridical settlement we wanted but were going back to look for another path to bring this thing to a finite conclusion,” Ramotar asserted.

“We know that we wanted the UN to be engaged in the issue and whatever option would have been done with that in mind but we wanted a conclusion,” he declared.

Presently, the APNU+AFC government is insisting that the controversy be settled juridically, while Venezuela wants

the Good Officer process to continue.

President David Granger and other government spokesmen have noted that the process had run its course without yielding results.

Ramotar believes that Venezuela’s increased aggression in May has much to with its internal politics and says that while Maduro may seem aggressive, he believes opposition forces in that country poses a more real threat. It is for that reason, he said, that Guyana deserves a final settlement to the controversy.

“This has lot has to do with its internal politics. The opposition in Venezuela is very, very aggressive on this (border) issue, extremely aggressive. If you are comparing the politics in Venezuela to see which of their parties are most (aggressive), it would be them. I don’t think that we should stop talking with Maduro. We should get a final settlement (because) if the opposition gets into government then it can be more aggressive…,” he said.

Recently, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon sent investigative teams to Georgetown and Caracas after which they will report to him and he will make a decision as to whether he will grant Guyana’s petition to take the matter to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), located in The Hague, the Netherlands.

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27

Voice Of The Youth y name is Shaw Ryan Khan. I am the M son of Shaw M. Khan and Camille Zeena Khan and I am the grandson of Haji Ali Ak-

bar Khan and Azeezan Khan from Canegrove, Guyana ,as well as Harry Singh and Lillian Ganpati Singh from Industry, Guyana. My respect to my parents and my grandparents always.

It’s hard to find a way to start writing what I have in my mind because we are very fragile as a society. The moment one person says something, and a majority of people disagree with it, that one person becomes an enemy to the people. Let me give you an example of what I mean; when I was in middle school, a priest came into our class and decided to talk to us about God. He did not talk to us about religion but rather only of God. As the priest started his discussion, a student raised his hand and said, “Well, how do we know God exists?” The priest’s response to that was so censored that it even made me, even when I was so young, question what is wrong with society. The priest said “You shouldn’t question such a very high and important thing. As long as you have faith, you should believe. And if you don’t believe, you don’t have faith.” Rather than continue to answer this kids question, the priest switched the subject to something else about God. As I write this, I tell you that I am a true believer of God. And if you ask me why, I can give you the answer. Last semester in College, I went to a seminar where a theologian was talking about the existence of God. Luckily, I came when the seminar just began. As I sat down, he called on a student next to me and asked the student, “Do you believe in God?” The student replied by saying yes. The theologian asked him, “How do you know God exists?” I found it interesting as to what the student replied with. He said “Well it’s simple. When I grew up, my parents taught me everything about my religion. They made me go to class on the weekend so I can learn more and they made me read my holy book so I can understand more. I have listened to countless religious leaders talk about these writings in the books and I realized that a higher being exists.” I was honestly a bit perplexed at his answer but said nothing. I think the lecturer noticed my confusion because he started to smile at me. He responded to the kid by saying, “What if I told you that religion was thought up to be a method in which society can be controlled. When society thinks that there is a higher being watching them and judging them, they become scared and are less likely to commit crimes. And eventually they developed an improved conscience which allowed them to feel guilty when they thought of doing something bad or did something bad and which allowed them to feel good when they did something good.

What if the holy books are just books like any other? What If I tell you that you don’t truly believe God exists but only are forced to believe it because of your background?”

The anger this student was emitting was a bit scary. I honestly thought that the student would start to curse and argue but all he said was. “You can say whatever you want, it doesn’t mean I have to listen to your ‘crap’”. He smiled and then pointed at me to ask me how I know God exists. I told him my reason, and for the sake of not repeating old articles, I told him about my experience with Depression and how God sent me angels in the form of my family to help uplift me. He laughed and said that this was the answer he wanted to hear. And what he said after this was also interesting. He said “As much as I preach about God, as much as I quote lines from holy books, as much as I try to force God down your throat, it shouldn’t matter!

God is who you, as an individual, perceive him to be. God is someone who you grow to learn about on your own. God is someone who you start to understand through your own experience. Don’t ever let anyone force God into your hearts. Let God enter your heart because YOU welcomed him, as the

owner of your journey in life, and because YOU allowed him to enter your heart.”

I am not here to talk about God. I am not here to talk about religion. This topic will not do me any good because of something I’ve learned that we all have; pride. I will only write the following; when you were in a mathematics class and you did not understand why an equation had a certain solution, what did you do? If you were interested in understanding the equation, you would most likely ask the professor if he can explain why this solution is the correct one or why another solution isn’t the correct one.

Did your professor ever call you a heretic or a non-believer because you asked this question? Most likely no because you simply want to learn more and want the professor to help you, and he/she most likely understood that as well. And most likely, he answered your question and helped you to understand much more than you did. I will continue no further than this. Those with true wisdom will understand why I said this.

I want to talk more about pride. Pride is something that I believe everyone has. For example, if you were angry and want to call and yell at me for what I wrote about above, chances are I struck at your pride without any intention of doing so and without saying or implying anything. So I will say it now; I apologize if what I wrote made you angry.

Pride is an affliction that I believe we were not born with but were introduced to when we entered this world. So many people have a theory about why a baby cries when he/ she enters the world. My theory, which is open for improvement, is that a baby cries because he realizes the world he is being entered in. For 9 months, he looks at the world through the eyes of his mother. He watches her pain, her sorrow, her happiness, her joy, her arguments, her fights, her abuse, he basically watches all but has no say in the matter. As he watches what the world is truly about, that baby becomes scared to enter it. And when he leaves the womb of his mother to enter the world, he cries because he wants to go back with his mommy.

And when he gets to go into the arms of his mother, he begins to relax. But as we grow older and start to go out in the world, whether to daycare/school/etc., where our mother isn’t protecting us, we are bombarded with this affliction known as pride. And with no protection, we have no hope to escape it.

And as we grow, so too does our pride. Ask yourself how easy it was to say sorry to your mommy/daddy for doing something wrong when you were a very little baby compared to later on when you were more grown.

Pride is an affliction. And with pride, we become exposed to greed, malice, envy, jealousy, etc. I don’t mean to make this article sad and disappointing but this is where we are at in life. We are at that point where we ask for peace and fight for peace, yet we can’t follow through. And I won’t say I am not afflicted with the same problem because I know I am. I still get angry, I still get jealous, and I still have pride. There are points where my fiancee and I have a disagreement and I know I am wrong but I don’t apologize right away. It’s only when I think about it more that I realize I am wrong and I apologize.

And sometimes the thought process doesn’t happen right away! I remember a few weeks ago, I saw a bunch of photos for the Gandhi peace march. As much as I was happy to see all these individuals marching in an effort for peace, I asked myself, is this only one time per year that we should protest peacefully for peace? We march for peace on that one day yet the next day we are back to our bad habits. And it’s funny, when I thought of that, it actually happened the next day. I was driving on the road, heading back from school when I encountered a driver who kept honking his horn at me. I was keeping with the speed limit and had no intention of going above it because I know how expensive a ticket is, I

know I am in no rush, and I know my mom would kill me if I did decide to speed! So to stop the honking, I pulled over to the side so he can pass. The driver, who I recognized clearly as someone I saw in the pictures for the Gandhi peace marathon, stopped his car, rolled down his window, cursed at me, flipped me off, called me a ‘f’in retard’, and drove off with such speed that he almost hit into someone else! Please don’t assume that I am saying everyone is trying to fool something/someone when they march for peace.

I am simply saying that so many people do it and don’t really mean what it entails. Gandhi fought for peace, without physical violence, but with peaceful protest. And he didn’t do it for only one day. And so too should we realize that practicing and fighting for peace shouldn’t be for one day only. Sure, having your photo go up on Facebook or Instagram showing that you walked during the march is great, but marching should not be so you can get fame. It should be where you are like a car, and you drive almost every day, but in this case you drive for peace almost every day. And this march is your way of refueling.

Dag Hammarskjold once said, “The pursuit of peace and progress cannot end in a few years in either victory or defeat. The pursuit of peace and progress, with its trials and its errors, its successes and its setbacks, can never be relaxed and never abandoned.” The pursuit for peace is a constant progression but with every day that we practice peace we gain one step forward, but we go 2 steps back when we allow peace to be defeated.

Pride is truly an affliction. I have seen what it can do to even a family. I have seen a family that came from Guyana to America, struggled to achieve the American dream, achieved the American dream, and allowed pride to take over their heart to a point where they refuse to talk to their own brother/sister because of small petty problems that occurred along the way. I have seen pride damage the love a family has for each other, and I’ve seen it damage the closeness they once had. And from the outside looking in, I’ve seen that if this pride isn’t suppressed, they will always have regret in their heart for those that they do not talk to anymore because no one lives forever. I’ve seen those who struggled in life to make it to the top finally make it to the top. And what happens when they are at the top? Suddenly those who he/she feels are below them are not worthy to be recognized. It’s basically a case of forgetting where they came from.

Pride manipulates success to a point where we feel like only rich people jokes are worth laughing at, and as for the poor, their jokes are unbearable and only worthy of ridicule.

The world is a beautiful place. God gifted this world to us so that we can have a place to live and journey while we take a vacation away from our original home. But we are corrupting this beautiful place to a point where we are looking for a new planet which we can live on. Why look for a new planet when we can just fix what we damaged in the first place? A mother received the blessing from God in the form of being able to create new life. A mother does not throw away her child when he/she gets sick. Rather, she takes care of that child. And in the future, she relies on that child to take care of her when she is too old to do it herself. The earth is like a mother. The earth received the blessing from God in the form of humanity. The earth took care of us and takes care of us. And now that the earth is older, it relies on us to take care of it. So why then do we throw it out in search for a new planet? We, as a society, tend to have so much pride that we rather look for something new than accept that we made a mistake and correct that mistake.

I have presented you the problem, but I cannot give a definite solution. However, I can give you what I believe to be an example of an answer. I know a lady that lives in my block. Everyone in that block likes and

respects her. Keep in mind, my block has probably over 50 families residing here. She would say hello or give a welcoming smile to each and every one. She taught me not to be greedy and not to be proud. She said no one is bad and no one is better than anyone else. She taught me to live and love mankind like you love yourself. She said she was greedy and proud in her life but she lived and learned that it is not worth it. She wears the most simplest of clothing and gives away the best. She is truly simple, kind, and peaceful.

This lady happens to be none other than my precious mom, Camille Khan. She was born a Hindu, then converted to Christianity, and now for 21 years of her life, she is a Muslim and most importantly, she is my loving mom. I’ve had countless people say to me that my mom is the Indian Oprah and that she would be the exact daughter if life had it where Mother Theresa and Gandhi had the chance to have a child together. All I can say is that I agree fully and I am proud of who my mom was and is. And don’t get me wrong, my father is just the same as my mother. The secret to my mother’s success and simplicity is that she learned from an amazing, simple, and successful teacher, my father.

Some may say that I don’t practice what I preach. And I will not disagree with them fully. I, like everyone else, am a human being. I make mistakes, I allow pride to overtake me sometimes. But let me ask you this; if you are not a parent, just imagine yourself in the scenario. You tell your son not to be rude to his mother. But one day, while your son was looking, you were rude to your own mother. Does that mean you should tell your son to forget what you told him not to do because you are no better? No, you made a mistake. And you want your son to not make the same mistakes you made. It’s the same for me. I make mistakes but I still am going to keep ‘preaching’. Whether or not you read or agree with what I write, it does not concern me. What concerns me is that I am attempting to help the current and future generation to not make the same mistakes as I, and everyone else, have made.

Before I end my article, I just want to say this; may God continue to bless each and every one of you and I wish for you to achieve peace and serenity in your lives!

Lastly my readers, in your journey through life, I hope you heed my advice. I want nothing except peace and serenity. And remember this; “Anger is the enemy of non-violence and pride is a monster that swallows it up.”

(Like my articles? Want to give me feedback? Do you have a topic suggestion for my next article? Let me know! Add me via Facebook @ Facebook.com/ryankhan0721 or give me a call @ 646-269-8227)

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Caribbean Star Newspaper Missing Parika taxi driver found dead US woman admits to attempting to November 6–12, 2015

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HE body of the missing taxi driver from Parika, Region 3 (West Demerara/Essequibo) was found in a canal aback of Onverwagt, West Coast Berbice early tuesday morning.A group of West Coast Berbice men going into the backdam to hunt iguanas came upon the badly decomposed body of Shurland Dalloo, 33, of 55 Parika around 07:30 hrs.

The body was discovered tucked under aquatic weeds and may have been there for a number of days since the area is off the main road from Onverwagt to the Abary River and is relatively isolated.

The forehead of the dead man had been bashed in making facial recognition impossible. The extent of the damage suggested that he had been bludgeoned to death.

Yesterday relatives of the dead man travelled from Parika to West Coast Berbice and positively identified him by means of the clothing he had been wearing when he left home at 07:30 hrs in his taxi to ply the Parika to Georgetown route on Monday, October 26 last.

Relatives said that the discovery had ended an almost countrywide search for the 33-year-old man after he failed to return home from operating his taxi that day.

Found dead: Taxi driver Shurland Dalloo “We searched in Linden, in the Rupununi, in Mahdia along the East Bank Highway, West Demerara, all over. Many of his taxi driving colleagues were involved,” his unclein-law said.

Others who declined to be named said that although the news of the discovery was horrifying, at least they felt some closure in the discovery of his remains.

They expressed hopes that the police would soon arrest the perpetrators of the brutal act.

Dalloo went missing on October 26th last.

He left his home at 07:30 in his hire car, a silver grey Carina, regis-

tration number HB 8739, and failed to answer phone calls on his cell phone around 12:30 hrs.

According to reports a mini-bus driver who is a friend of the dead man saw him inside his vehicle parked on the Flour Mill Road at Eccles, East Bank Demerara with two men inside around the same time.

The man said that Dalloo hailed him and put on the hazard lights of his vehicle.

He returned the call but did not stop since he was transporting passengers and he felt that Dalloo was merely hailing him as he usually did.

Reports said that the driver subsequently realised to his chagrin, that Dalloo was probably being held hostage at the time and trying to attract his attention so that he could assist him in getting out of the situation.

Dalloo has left to mourn his parents, one brother and his wife.

The body of the dead taxi driver was taken to the mortuary at Fort Wellington where a post-mortem is expected to be performed today.

The vehicle driven by Dalloo at the time of his disappearance has not yet been recovered.

The police said that investigations are continuing.

smuggle birds out of Guyana

Ranjeet Singh Thakurdin 27 – year-old Guyanese-American citizen appeared in the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court, accused of attempting to smuggle protected birds out of Guyana without a legal permit to do so.

It is alleged that on October 31, at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Ranjit Singh Thakurdin, without obtaining the necessary permit, attempted to smuggle out of Guyana 18 Towa Towa Birds without being the holder of an export/

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import license.

She pleaded guilty to the offense. The court heard that on the day in question, at about 16:20 hrs, the woman was an outgoing passenger on a Caribbean Airlines flight, destined for the JFK International Airport, New York.

As Thakurdin was passing her luggage through a security screen, ranks at the luggage department observed peculiar images displayed.

After carting her luggage aside, a further search was conducted where Officers observed hidden inside hair curlers, 18 Towa-Towa’s birds and 29 other species of birds, concealed within her luggage.

Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan eventually fined the accused $75,000 and disqualified her from obtaining any form of permits from the necessary authorities to conduct such exports of Guyana’s animals for the duration of 12 months.

Major revamp for UG

–Roopnaraine plugs greater attention to science With science and technology being the focus of development in the 21st century, the University of Guyana (UG) which to a large extent is still stuck in the social sciences, is set to veer in a more modern direction.

“M

y own sense is the days when social sciences had the kind of clout it once had, I think those days are past and the new day calls for a heavier concentration on science and technology,” Education Minister Dr Rupert Roopnaraine told the Guyana Chronicle. But he said for this to happen, a reform in the secondary education system is needed with sharper focus on the Science, Technology, Engineer and Mathematics (STEM) subjects.

In 2015, fewer than half of those who wrote English A and Mathematics at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations secured passes. The Ministry of Education had described as ‘unsatisfactory’ the performance of students in the core science subjects of Physics and Chem-

istry. President David Granger lamented the poor performance in these two subjects at the schools’ national awards ceremony held recently at the National Cultural Centre (NCC).

“This performance is unacceptable in the knowledge-based world in which we live. Guyana simply cannot continue along this trajectory if it is to compete with our sisters in the Caribbean,” Mr Granger said. Dr Roopnaraine pointed out that the change is not only required at the secondary school level, but also at the University of Guyana.

Early grade levels Ideally, he said, the interest in science and technology has to be cultivated at the early grade levels, and the university has to be a place where young scholars can advance their appetite in these areas. To his credit, the Ministry of Education has begun

Minister of Education, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine the push for greater attention to be placed on the STEM subjects.

Aside from a focus on science at technology, Dr Roopnaraine also stressed that more is needed from Guyana’s premier tertiary learning institution in the area of research. “The university has to be a place where they are not only producing graduates but you are releasing knowledge through research and I think that the university has fallen behind in this area. The university really has to be a place where you

are producing what the country needs in relations to science and technology. I need the university to be a place where when I want something done at the Ministry of Education, I don’t want to be importing some specialist; I should turn to the University of Guyana, the institution which should be providing all of the expertise that I need. This is where we have to go, I don’t think that this will be achieved by the waving of a magic wand, what we are talking about here is a process and I think that the process is underway at the university, but it needs to be accelerated,” he said.

On assuming office, Dr Roopnaraine said the Administration would increase funding for UG at it was more or less on life support then.

Generate revenues But he noted the Administration also wants to see the university generate revenues to fund it operations and steps are being taken in this regard. Dr Roopnaraine, a world-class professor of comparative literature also noted that he will be happy when the University of Guyana will be in a position where it

would not have to depend on the government for a subvention.

He had told this publication that Guyana’s leading tertiary education provider is expected to be transformed into a worldclass institution of learning, geared to meet the needs of the country and to serve as a national think tank. “We should have the university as a think tank, we should have the quality of persons at the university who can provide the kind of intellectual leadership in society, the scientific reach in society that we need. We have the capacity to generate what we call a think tank, providing the intellectual power to help the government and society. That’s not beyond us; it is what we have to aim at,” he had told this publication in a previous interview.

Under his watch, Dr Roopnaraine said the infrastructure of UG will be upgraded, greater attention will be paid to quality of teaching, salaries for lecturers, the relevance of syllabuses, among others, to ensure that programmes are aligned to address priority areas of the country.

Caribbean Star Newspaper

November 6–12, 2015

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World News Highlights

LONDON - British Prime Minister David Cameron said on Thursday it was increasingly likely that a bomb brought down a Russian airliner over Egypt with the loss of 224 lives, setting him at odds with Russian President Vladimir Putin. | Video STOCKHOLM - Scandinavian airline SAS has canceled its flight on Saturday to Sharm al-Sheikh in Egypt after a Russian airliner crashed last week.

THE HAGUE - Chemical weapons experts have determined that mustard gas was used during fighting in Syria in August, according to a report by an international watchdog seen by Reuters.

BEIRUT - Insurgents captured a town on a major highway in

western Syria on Thursday, in a blow to the Russian-backed campaign against them, rebels and a monitoring group said.

WASHINGTON - The United States has not made its own determination on what caused the downing of a Russian airplane in Egypt, a White House spokesman said on Thursday, adding that U.S. officials have not eliminated possible “terrorist involvement” in the crash that killed 224 people.

ident of Burundi’s five-day ultimatum for people to hand over illegal firearms or be treated as enemies of the state may spark extensive bloodshed in the coming days, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations said on Thursday.

HELSINKI - Finland’s center-right government faced possible collapse on Thursday after two of the coalition parties clashed over how to cut spending on healthcare services in the recession-mired country.

TRIPOLI - Libya’s self-proclaimed government in Tripoli wants a relaunch of U.N.-sponsored talks aimed at ending the country’s civil war because it says the outgoing U.N. envoy is biased in favor of an internationally recognized rival administration in the east.

JERUSALEM - He has accused Barack Obama of anti-Semitism, suggested his own country’s president was not important enough to assassinate and described U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry as having the mental abilities of a 12-year-old.

UNITED NATIONS - The pres-

MOSCOW - Russia’s air force

flew 81 sorties and hit 263 targets in Syria in the last two days, the Russian Defence Ministry said in a statement on Thursday.

ATHENS - One child drowned and another was missing off the Greek island of Kos on Thursday after a boat carrying migrants sank, the country’s coastguard said.

STOCKHOLM - Sweden’s migration minister warned on Thursday that the government could no longer guarantee finding accommodation for newly arrived refugees as the country applied for EU emergency aid to cope with record number of asylum seekers.

BERLIN - The leaders of Germany’s ruling coalition parties have agreed on a concept to speed-up the registration and processing of asylum requests of the record numbers of migrants

Appleton to send home 100 workers

900 sugar jobs lost since August

APPLETON Estate PPLETON Estate in St Elizabeth is to send home 100 workers, or roughly 30 per cent of its workforce, according to reports from the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union (BITU).

In addition, deputy island supervisor of the BITU, Hanif Brown, says that the positions of more than 900 sugar workers islandwide have been made redundant since August of this year. “My check between Golden Grove, Everglades and Appleton amount to over 900 persons being made redundant between August and November,” Brown told the Jamaica Observer.

Brown said that Appleton claimed they lost $2 billion last year in operations and are now looking to restructure. He added that the situation was also worsened by a

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cut in prices on the world market.

“This doesn't necessarily mean the workers contributed to the loss, and they (Appleton) have met with the unions and discussed the matter,” Brown stated.

He said the workers were served their letters informing them of the situation on Friday. Brown added that the BITU had since met with the workers and looked at the calculations and so the workers are now looking to receive their packages.

Brown also noted that of the approximately 105 positions at Appleton that were being made redundant, about 12 of them were vacant.

“However, they have not been as overarching as Golden Grove, which has already made 555 positions redundant and another 42 will be made redundant this month

as a continuation of their reconstructing efforts,” Brown said. He highlighted that the majority of these workers were from the agriculture department which had been outsourced. The BITU representative said there was even more bad news as, at the Everglades Farm Limited, another 150 positions have been made redundant and the business will not be in operation this year. He added that the BITU will be meeting with them next week. Brown also stated that the redundancies would affect the sugar industry workers' pension scheme.

He said the pension scheme for sugar workers was originally miniscule, about $7,500 a year, but the industry entered an agreement with Guardian Life where workers could contribute up to 18 per cent of their salary. The BITU, according to Brown, had also managed to get the employers to contribute up to two per cent under the scheme. However, Brown explained that all may not be lost for the workers, as “the good thing about the scheme is that it's portable and so persons will still be able to participate in it”.

He also expressed concern that the majority of the displaced workers were union members, and so the union would lose constitution in the industry and would have to “force themselves back in”.

Brown said that despite the current problems in the sugar cane industry and the union quickly losing its membership, they “still have to try to secure the interest of the workers and ensure they get their required compensation”.

streaming into the country, two Social Democrat sources told Reuters on Thursday.

GENEVA - Refugees and migrants are likely to keep coming to Europe at a rate of up to 5,000 per day via Turkey this winter, the United Nations said on Thursday, meaning that more than a million people will have fled to the continent this year. | Video JERUSALEM - Israeli forces shot dead a Palestinian in the occupied West Bank on Thursday after he ignored calls to halt and attempted to attack one of the soldiers at a crowded bus stop, the military said.

JERUSALEM - In Gaza, a clothing store called “Hitler 2” has mannequins posed outside holding knives and dressed in T-shirts with “Stab!” written across the chests.

Alleged cocaine mule remanded to prison

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man accused of trying to smuggle over four kilos of cocaine in his luggage at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Timehri was remanded to prison Tuesday .

L i n c o l n Lincoln Johnson Johnson, 25, pleaded not guilty to the charge when he appeared before city magistrate Judy Latchman. It is alleged that on October 31 at the CJIA, Johnson had in his possession 4.16 kilogrammes of cocaine for trafficking.

Johnson, who was an outgoing passenger, was caught by Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit officers after they noticed that he was behaving in a strange manner.

This prompted the officers to conduct a search on the man and they found the illegal substance concealed in tiny black bags in a compartment of his suitcase.

The police prosecutor argued that there were no special reasons for bail to be granted. Johnson was subsequently remanded and ordered to return to the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court for another hearing on November 12th.

30

Caribbean Star Newspaper Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment. Buddha WEEKLY HOROSCOPE November 6–12, 2015

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

ARIES

(March 21-April 19) All that hard work? It’s finally going to start to pay off on Monday. The key to your recent successes has been perseverance. And your ability to communicate well with grumpy people.

Your life is filled with a wide variety of characters, but you are one of those people who always knows how to smooth things over. You make even boring tasks a pleasure. Later in the week, turn your communication talents toward your love life.

You and that certain someone are drawing closer and closer together these days. You really have an intuition for one another. It’s pretty amazing.

LEO

(July 23-Aug. 22) Your career is all you can think about Monday. There’s a lot going on right now, and your reputation at work is at stake.

Do this well and you will really impress everyone. The key is to be flexible but focused -- a tricky balance, but you have a couple people you can rely on if things get nuts. After work the next couple days, do whatever you can to take your mind off the stress. You have to play just as hard as you work, as the saying goes. Toward the end of the week, when all your efforts start to pay off, you’re going to feel like a million bucks.

SAGITTARIUS

(Nov. 22-Dec. 21) You have all these big ideas, but you’re at a loss when it comes to the finer points in your plans. It’s time to start thinking about the details. It’s a lot to think about, but you have friends who’d be happy to help. And anyway, asking a friend for a hand might be a great way of reconnecting with them again. As you think about the future, you should also be thinking about the people you’re going to want to still have in your life. Putting your energy into those relationships now is a wise investment.

TAURUS

GEMINI

(April 20-May 20) You are feeling good and your immediate neighborhood has never looked more beautiful. It’s amazing what a little sunlight can do. With your spirits up, you’re in the ideal mood to tackle this new challenge in your love life. You and you-know-who are really into each other; that’s not the problem. The problem is that, more and more, this romance just doesn’t seem to be very practical. A little problem-solving is in order.

As well as a frank discussion about the future. Maybe you two are just rushing things. Whatever happens this week, communicate your feelings. Contentment will come this weekend from an unexpected source.

(May 21-June 20) This is not the end of the world.

This is just a minor bump in the road. You’ve been dealing with minor bumps in the road all your life. Besides, the little detours that life sometimes forces you to take often lead to great things. People you wouldn’t have met otherwise, for example. You’re going to meet someone on Wednesday who, completely out of the blue, lets you know they’re really attracted to you. Even if you’re not interested, you’re going to be hugely flattered. And why shouldn’t someone be really attracted to you? You’re a rock star. People adore you. Don’t forget that.

VIRGO

LIBRA

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Sometimes you have to focus on the big picture, but not Monday. Monday is all about making sure the little details are taken care of. Later in the week, when some of the finer points have been hammered out, you can take a step back and figure out what this all means in the grander scheme of things.

The second half of the week, you’re going to be crazy busy with social obligations. You get a lot of energy from spending time with other people, but at a certain point it might all get to be too much. Feel free to opt out of anything you just don’t have room for.

CAPRICORN

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19) You’re in the mood to be wild and frivolous, but that’s not what Monday’s about. That’s not what any of this week is about. There are a couple things you really have to get done. Keep your head down and see them through and, in a couple days, you’ll be so happy to have them off your plate. Later in the week, someone you know is going to fly off the handle about a minor thing. The best way to respond? Hear them out. Sure, there’s a chance they’re overreacting, but no one likes to be told that. Be the friend you’d want them to be if your roles were reversed.

(Oct. 23-Nov. 21) On your way to work on Monday, you’ll pass a garden or a flower shop or a beautiful tree and it’s going to strike you that the world is truly spectacular. It’s a spectacle. It’s awe-inspiring. Clearly, you’re in the mood for love. And love is coming your way this week, although not necessarily in the romantic sense. Expect to reconnect with a great friend Wednesday or Thursday -someone you haven’t had a really great conversation with in a long time. You are constantly calling everyone’s attention to the beauty of the outside world. Great friends have the ability to remind you of the beauty of the inside world, too.

AQUARIUS

(Jan. 20-Feb. 18) The more you look into your own family’s history, the more you find out about yourself. History is such an abstraction it can be hard to get a handle on -- and everyone has their own version of what’s happened in the past -- but it’s fascinating and, these days, eerily relevant.

Tuesday or Wednesday, an intellectual conversation with someone is going to take an unexpectedly romantic turn. If you’re single, go for it. If you’re not single, well, consider what this might mean about your current relationship. You might want to spend the weekend organizing your feelings and figuring out your next move.

Fenton to release health audit

Dr Fenton Ferguson

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INGSTON, Jamaica – Health Minister Dr Fenton Ferguson announced a short while ago that, after consultations, the audit of the Regional Health Authorities will be released to the public.

This, he said, is in the best interest of the country.

Ferguson was speaking at the Knutsford Court Hotel in

Kingston, at a contracts signing ceremony for design services for maternal and neonatal high dependency units as well as the installation of equipment. The health minister committed to releasing the audit in a national broadcast on Sunday night.

Ferguson said, after consultation, the decision was made in order to prevent the public from being misinformed, and to adhere to

fairness and transparency.

Ferguson said: "It was never our intention not to be open or transparent. When we had the press briefing we spoke to critical issues and gave a summary."

He added that the issue is now the centre of a political campaign and in the best interest of citizens and the country, the findings will be made public. The ceremony was hosted by the Programme for the Reduction of Maternal and Child Mortality (PROMAC) Project, which is funded by the Government of Jamaica and the EU. A Memorandum of Understanding was also signed with the National Family Planning Board for the improvement of health seeking behaviour among females.

CANCER

(June 21-July 22) A group of friends are organizing a dinner party this week, and even though it’s not exactly in your honor, it’s pretty clear that you are going to be the centerpiece of the night.

The thing is, you have this ability to really bring people together. In an unofficial way, you’re sort of in charge of the group dynamic. Still, encourage everyone else to bring their own friends into the fold. Take a risk. Meet people who have nothing in common with you. There’s not a lot that’s more stimulating than getting to know people who swim in totally different waters than you do.

SCORPIO

(Oct. 23-Nov. 21) This person has been by your side through thick and thin, and chances are they’re not going anywhere. This isn’t the end of the world. This is just a little snag.

And the solution is probably going to require a little compromise on your part. You care about this person and you’re willing to make a sacrifice or two. Make sure they know that.

A deep conversation is in order later this week. Go into it with an open mind and try not to control the outcome. That’s the only way to arrive at a solution you can both be happy with.

PISCES

(Feb. 19-March 20) The week is going to begin on a romantic note. In fact, it might begin with a romantic note -- a poem, a letter, something like that. It’s so flattering to see someone’s feelings for you written out on paper, isn’t it? And so rare these days. You’re going to be completely distracted and overwhelmed, but it’ll feel great. Later in the week you’re going to be able to really indulge this new romance, even if that simply means staring out the window and thinking about it for hours on end. Sometimes that’s the best way to spend an afternoon.

‘Customs House’ renovations for Stats Bureau to cost $118m -contract signed A $118m contract was signed for the renovation of the former Customs House to accommodate the Bureau of Statistics.

INA said that Chief Statistician Lennox Benjamin and Aubrey Changlee, Managing and Technical Director of the contracted firm, Project Design and Construction Incorporated signed the contract at the Bureau’s current office on High Street, Kingston.

Chief Statistician Lennox Benjamin (centre), Managing and Technical Director of Project design and Construction Inc Aubrey Changlee (third from left) and other senior members of the Bureau of Statistics following the contract signing (GINA photo) The work totalling $118.9M is expected to be completed within six months and entails alteration and renovation of the

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Customs House on Main Street to facilitate the operations of the Bureau.

In this year’s budget speech, Finance Minister Winston Jordan announced that the former Customs House would be the headquarters of the Stats Bureau which had over the years complained of cramped conditions.

Benjamin pointed out yesterday that the bureau has been established since 1987, but this is the first time it will have a permanent home.

Changlee stated that they will be putting their best foot forward in completing the project, and doing quality work.

Benjamin said that the Bureau of Statistics will be lending material support in the supervision of the process.

During the budget presentation, Jordan had said “Our chief data agency, the

See CUSTOMS HOUSE on pg. 37

Caribbean Star Newspaper

November 6–12, 2015

Entertainment News

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Kate Winslet bans children from using social media

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Raj Kapoor tribute planned at DIFF

tribute to the late legendary actor-filmmaker Raj Kapoor has been planned at the fourth edition of the Delhi International Film Festival (DIFF), which will open in the capital on December 5. Over 210 films from 68 Countries will be showcased at the extravaganza.

Organised by Social Circle, the chief guest for the gala will be Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia.

The opening ceremony will be held at the Central Park in central Delhi’s Connaught Place. Sri Lankan beauty Jacqueline Fernandez’s film Definition of Fear will open the festival with a screening at the NDMC Convention Centre, while the closing ceremony will see a tribute

ctress Kate Winslet has banned her two eldest children from using social media because she worries it will severely damage their self-esteem.

The 40-year-old actress shuns sites like Twitter and Facebook, and she has decided to issue a blanket ban on her teenage daughter Mia and 11-year-old son Joe's online use to avoid the negative comments youths are often subjected to on the Internet, reported Contactmusic.

The Steve Jobs star said, "It has a huge impact on young women's self-esteem, because all they ever do is design themselves for people to like them.

"And what comes along with that? Eating disorders. And that makes my blood boil. And that is the reason we don't have social media in our house."

to Raj Kapoor with Russian documentary “Comrade Raj Kapoor”, read a statement from the organisers.

Zero, a short science fiction film produced by YouTube and directed by David Victory, will also be featured at the film festival, where filmmaker Ketan Mehta will be honoured with the Minar-E-Dilli Award. Names like Tigmanshu Dhulia, Ketan Mehta, Rehana Sultan, Mehul Kumar, Raghubir Yadav, Piyush Mishra, Omi Vaidya, Arvind Gupta, Rituparna Sengupta and other actors and filmmakers will take part in the festival.

The event, which will conclude on December 10, will showcase over 150 films from 90 countries, 200 artworks, fashion show, Sufi night and a kavi sammelan.

Bipasha will play tour guide to DJ Afrojack

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utch composer and the "world's highest paid" DJ, Afrojack, who's in India for a two-week tour, is all set to perform Bollywood-style with Arjun Rampal, who flies back from his Rock On 2 schedule in Shillong on November 28.

The concert will be followed by a bash. Bipasha Basu, Rana Daggubatti, Dino Morea and other celebs are on the guest list.

Bips will play tour guide to the DJ, introducing him to the city's nightlife and street food. She will also show him one of her horror flicks since, the DJ is scared of ghosts.

Big B defaults on US Court Summons in the 1984 anti-Sikh violence case

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ollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan has failed to respond within the prescribe time to the US Court summons pending in 1984 anti-Sikh violence lawsuit, informed Attorney at Law, Legal Advisor, Sikh for justice (SFJ), a US based human rights group, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on Tuesday.

"We have asked Hollywood Federal Court to issue a default judgment against Bachchan because he failed to respond within days after receiving summons as prescribed by the Federal Rules," said Pannun adding, "It is our resolve to invoke every provision of international law to hold perpetrators of violence against Sikhs accountable in international forums" Notably prime witness in 1984 anti Sikh riots case Jagdish Kaur had also admitted of seeing Big B on TV channel for allegedly instigating mob and giving ' khun ka badla khun say langay' ( blood for blood ) slogan on October 31st, 1984 which followed the massacre of Sikhs across the nation to revenge the murder of the then late prime minister Indira Gandhi.

The Attorney at Law Pannun said that Los Angeles Federal Court had issued summons to Bachchan on October 27, 2014, on the charges of allegedly inciting violence after the assassination of Gandhi. The summons were served on Bachchan in India on April 10th , 2015 through the Hague Service Conventions, he said.

He informed that Federal Rules provided that if a defendant fails to respond within 21 days after the service of summons, a judgment by default would be entered for the relief demanded in the complaint.

On October 28, SFJ filed a motion for default judgment against Bachchan for failure to respond to the Los Angeles Court summons in 1984 anti-Sikh violence case he said.

SFJ's motion was supported by a communication from ministry of law and justice, government of India acknowledging the receipt of summons from US Court for service on defendant Bachchan pursuant to the Hague Service Convention, he said In 2014, a class action lawsuit against Bachchan was filed by California-based, Mohender Singh, and Delhi-based, Babu Singh Dukhia, under Alien Torts Statute (ATS) and Torture Victims Protection Act (TVPA) which gives jurisdiction to US Courts over the human rights violations committed abroad.

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November 6–12, 2015

Caribbean Star Newspaper Jacqueline Fernandez's debut English film to open Delhi Film Festival

K Leonardo DiCaprio's secret date with Taj Mahal Avoiding media glare and limelight, Hollywood superstar Leonardo DiCaprio paid a quiet visit to Taj Mahal here in the early hours of Saturday.

The 40-year-old Inception star, who was in India to shoot an untitled documentary on climate change, wore a grey T-shirt and sported a golf cap.

A tourist guide Ved Gautam said, "We learnt a little later about his visit and missed him by inches. But security guards told us that he was spotted by another foreign tourist, who instantly recognised him.

"His beard actually prevented his early recognition. But he left the Taj Mahal around 9 am, before holiday crowd could come."

Sources in the Archaeological Survey of India said his private guards did not let anyone get closer to him.

Tourists, who recognised him, were asked not to take pictures.

CISF guards, maintaining internal security, said they failed to identify him but had heard of his role in the Oscar-winning classic Titanic.

The actor, who starred alongside Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan in 2013 film The Great Gatsby, spent around two hours and showed keen interest in the fascinating history of the 17th century white marble mausoleum, a world heritage site, according to sources.

DiCaprio left the monument in a golf cart.

ick actress Jacqueline Fernandez's debut English film Definition of Fear will open the fourth Delhi International Film Festival on December 5.

Definition of Fear revolves around four girls, who holiday in an old mansion in the forest and how their holiday turns into a fearful death trap causing their death. Besides Jacqueline, Catherine Barrel, Blythe Hubbard, Mercedes Papilla and Mathew Stephuik have essayed prime roles in the movie.

Zaklina Ostir, eminent actress of European cinema, will also be present at the inaugural function. Filmmaker Ketan Mehta will be presented with the prestigious Minar-E-Dilli award. Russia will be the 'country focus' with a tribute to legendary actor-filmmaker Raj Kapoor through a Russian documentary on the late actor-filmmaker.

Comrade Raj Kapoor will be the closing film of the festival.

It has been directed

by Alexei Burykin and Produced by Yakov Kaller. The story and concept is Svetlana Reschchecko, who researched extensively on

Kapoor's films. Israel will be the country partner for the festival, while Mozambique will be the International Film Institutional partner.

210 Films from 68 Countries will be showcased in 6 days. 50 NRI and Indian poets will be the part of the festival.

Zero, a sci-fi YouTube project written and directed by David Victori, and executive produced by Ridley Scott and Michael Fassbender, will also be screened on the first day.

Stalwarts like Tigmanshu Dhulia, Ketan Mehta, Rehana Sultaan, Mehul Kumar, Raghubir Yadav, Piyush Mishra, Omi Vaidya, Arvind Gupta, Rituporna Sengupta and many other actors and film makers from around the world will take part in the festival.

The six-day festival (Nov 5-10) will have Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia as the chief guest on the opening ceremony. There will also be seminars and workshops organized on Film Market, Animation films and Indian Market during the festival.

Nicole Kidman in talks for major role in 'Wonder Woman'

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ctress Nicole Kidman is in negotiations to star in the upcoming "Wonder Woman", joining Gal Gadot who stars as the titular Amazonian Princess.

Although 48-year-old Kidman's potential role has yet to be revealed, it is speculated that she may portray the Queen of the Amazons, Hyppolyta, who in the comic books happens to be Diana Prince's biological mother, according to The Wrap.

Meanwhile, Chris Pine will appear as Wonder Woman's love interest Steve Trevor.

Recent rumours suggested that the film would take place mostly in the modern era with flashbacks to World War I. It's also said that Wonder Woman would team up with Trevor to destroy Circe who, along with Ares, became the masterminds of World War III. Patty Jenkins is on board to direct the movie with Charles Roven, Zack Snyder, Deborah Snyder and Leonard Goldberg producing.

Wonder Woman will be introduced in next year's Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice before her solo movie hits US theatres on June 23, 2017.

Kidman will next be seen in The Secret In Their Eyes starring Chiwetel Ejiofor and Julia Roberts. She has also wrapped Garth Davis' drama Lion, which also stars Rooney Mara and Dev Patel.

November 6–12, 2015 33 Caribbean Star Newspaper Shah Rukh Khan speaks on the surrogacy bill

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Willem Dafoe joins Paul Schrader's 'Dog Eat Dog'

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ctor Willem Dafoe has joined the cast of upcoming crime thriller "Dog Eat Dog".

Shooting of the film that also stars Nicolas Cage is already on go in Cleveland, reported Digital Spy. Helmed by Paul Schrader, the script of the project is penned by Matt Wilder, who has adapted it from from Eddie Bunker's book of the same name.

The story revolves around three criminals, who are hired to carry out a kidnapping, but face going on the run in Los Angeles when it all goes wrong.

"We're doing something bold here in Cleveland and I wanted to get away from the generic Nic Cage artwork of the past several years," said Schrader.

Salman Khan patches up with Aamir Khan?

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t was rumoured that Aamir Khan and Salman Khan were involved in an ugly fight recently but it seems the two are friends again.

When Salman was asked about his tiff with Aamir at an event, the Kick actor said, "Aamir khan ki kisi ke saath anban ho sakti hai kya?"

Salman chose to answer in the rhetorical by asking if it was possible for Aamir Khan to have a tiff with anyone? as reported by Pinkvilla.com. For the record, the rumours claimed that Aamir had allegedly teased Salman Khan on his choice of films which was not taken well by Salman and he had blasted the PK actor with the choicest expletives.

hah Rukh Khan was honest enough to admit that he was 'high on his birthday' since the last two days and hadn't been keeping abreast of the recent developments when he was asked to comment on the recent controversies surrounding commercial surrogacy and the consideration to ban it.

However, Shah Rukh had a very important point to make. He agreed that there was a need of regularisation on the procedure.

He said, "It should be regulated. When I was having my surrogate baby, I did a lot of study on it and realised that a lot of countries have regulated the procedure."

Shah Rukh further added, "I know the pleasure of having children and if there is any manner in which parents who are bereft of this joy are able to enjoy it, I am all for it."

Shah Rukh and Gauri's youngest child, AbRam, was born through surrogacy in May, 2013.

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Caribbean Connections

UNC’s case ‘hopeless’

SIX ELECTION petitions filed by the Opposition United National Congress (UNC) challenging the validity of the September 7 general election in six marginal constituencies have been described as ‘hopeless’ and bereft of evidence by the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC).

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Caribbean Star Newspaper

November 6–12, 2015

n his opening salvo in an appeal which seeks to have the leave granted to the UNC to file the petitions, quashed, EBC lead counsel Russell Martineau SC, said the UNC’s challenge of the parliamentary polls were “all hopeless” with two of the petitions being, “more hopeless than the others.” Chief Justice Ivor Archie and Justices of Appeal Allan Mendonca and Peter Jamadar yesterday began hearing arguments by the EBC and six successful People’s National Movement (PNM) MPs over the disputed marginal constituencies of San Fernando West, La Horquetta/ Talparo, Toco/Sangre Grande, Tunapuna, St Joseph and Moruga/ Tableland.

The six MPs are also asking the appellate court to dismiss the petitions against them. Four of the six — San Fernando West MP and Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi; St Joseph MP Terrence Deyalsingh; La Horquetta/Talparo MP Maxie Cuffie as well as Tunapuna MP Esmond Forde were in court for yesterday’s hearing.

Martineau submitted that the UNC’s petitions’ applications did not cross the threshold required for a judge to grant leave, as there was no arguable case which had a realistic prospect of success, if it went to trial. According to Martineau, the judge — Justice Mira Dean-Armorer — based her reasons for giving the Opposition the go ahead to file the petitions, on matters which were not pleaded in the UNC’s case.

He said there was only a “hint” of evidence presented by the UNC to support its arguments for the petitions, but even so, it was insufficient for their applications to go forward. Dean-Armorer who gave the UNC permission to present their petitions, found favour with an argument that the EBC had no power to extend the voting time by one hour due to inclement weather.

She concluded there was evidence that the EBC, by doing so, “acted illegally and contrary to the Representation of the People Act.” The judge also noted that the change in voting time was more than a mere breach, adding that it was arguable that this change in time operated to render the poll illegal.

But in finding fault with this reasoning, Martineau argued there was no evidence by the losing UNC candidates to support this allegation.

He also said there was no evidence of “collusion” between the EBC and the PNM, which was alleged to have asked for the extension.

“If things are not pleaded, they are not arguable,” Martineau said as he maintained there was not “one iota of evi-

dence” to support the UNC’s claims that persons were not allowed to vote during the extended voting time.

“Nothing is wrong with voting after 6 pm,” he said, pointing out that the Elections Rules allow for persons within the precincts of the polling stations at the 6 pm, to be able to cast their ballots. Martineau conceded that while it could be argued there was an arguable case that the EBC was not allowed to extend the time, he said the principles applied by the judge to grant leave were wrong. “Her mind was only focussed on the EBC breaching the rules. She ignored the fact that there was no strong evidence to support there being an arguable case to void an election.”

In a similar vein, lead counsel for the six PNM MPs Douglas Mendes SC, submitted that the judge’s reasons (for granting leave to the UNC), were at odds with the leave she granted. According to Mendes, the judge appeared to have granted leave on grounds not pleaded by the UNC MPs in their petitions. He also added that the judge did not question if there was evidence of persons not being allowed to vote between 6 and 7 pm, as alleged by the Opposition.

“She addressed an entirely different case,” Mendes said. “They (the UNC) pleaded illegal votes; she (Dean-Armorer) found disenfranchisement.

Those are entirely difference cases,” he said. “The judge barked up the wrong tree,” he submitted. Mendes also questioned the quality of evidence advanced by the Opposition, saying what needed to be presented was similar to that which was required in leave applications for judicial review claims. “Of course you need evidence...cogent evidence. You can’t pluck evidence out of the air,” he argued.

Mendes submitted there was no room for speculation in the presentation of elections petitions, adding also that it must be shown that the EBC’s actions to extend the voting time was a “corrupt practice”, as the judge found, which affected the outcome of the polls.

“No matter which test you apply... they fail,” Mendes said of the Opposition’s argument that the EBC’s decision was illegal and rendered the polls in the six disputed constituencies void. Also appearing for the EBC are Deborah Peake SC and Ravi Heffes-Doon, while Senior Counsel John Jeremie, Michael Quamina, Kerwin Garcia, Ravi Nanga, Vanessa Gokool and Elena Araujo appeared for the six PNM MPs. Senior Counsel Anand Ramlogan, Gerald Ramdeen, Wayne Sturge, Kent Samlal, and Varun Debideen appear for the UNC.

IDB to invest $65 million to improve transportation in Haiti

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ORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti, Tuesday November 3, 2015 – Haiti will improve the efficiency and safety of its transportation systems and will advance regional and international integration with a US$65 million grant from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

The five-year programme, which will be carried out by the Ministry of Public Works, Transport and Communications (MTPTC),will increase competitiveness, connectivity and accessibility by reducing transportation costs, improving safe transport services and enhancing the country’s regional and international integration.

Specifically, it will rehabilitate a 29.5 km stretch of the RN1 highway; between Camp Coq and Vaudreuli. The grant also includes resources necessary for the rehabilitation, improvement and or maintenance of Haiti’s primary and secondary road networks.

Haiti has a road network of 3,572 ki-

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lometers, of which just 15 percent is in good condition.

Road safety is complicated not only by the poor conditions of roadways and vehicles, but also by the lack of signage and enforcement of transit regulations.

Road transport is the leading mode of transportation for cargo and passengers in Haiti, making improvement of infrastructure fundamental for economic development and for enhanced integration of the country’s regions.

Dominica moving to woo more tourists with yachting

OSEAU, Dominica, Monday November 2, 2015 – The Ministry of Tourism is looking to further develop the yachting industry as a means of attracting more visitors to the island.

Minister for Tourism and Urban Renewal, Senator Robert Tonge has disclosed that the ministry will be focusing on the French West Indies to attract tourists through yachting.

“As part of our marketing strategy, we plan to increase our advocacy on the neighboring islands. Once we pitch in the right way, we should be able to bring a lot more people to Dominica with the funds which we have,” he said.

OECS Ambassador to Brussels Dr. Len Ishmael says yachting has the potential to contribute more to the social and economic development of the region.

“About 80 years ago, we produced what is now known as the UN Economic Commission for Latin America Caribbean report. These reports were pioneering because for the very first time, we were able to show in a dynamic and real way the total number of yachts which were moving through the region but more importantly, the sort of asset base that difference countries had with respect to yachting,” she said.

“For example, the British Virgin Islands, with fixed assets of about US $500 million [and] contributions to GDP of US$220 million annually even then and then at the lower end St. Vincent and the Grenadines with an incredibly beautiful product in the Tobago Keys and the rest

of the Grenadines having far less funds generated by that sector into the national treasury from yachting.”

She says, however, that Dominica is ripe for investment.

“From the US Virgin Islands all the way down to Trinidad and Tobago, we have a little less that 7,000 berths only compared to turkey which in two or three marinas will have more than 7,000. It says therefore… that we are massively under-invested and given the comparative advantage which we have, we are ripe for investments in the region.”

Dr. Ishmael says Dominica is exactly what visitors want to experience in the Caribbean and the yachting industry will capitalize on those markets.

“Dominica has something which nobody else has – it is the Nature Island and the Creole hub for our part of the world.”

Caribbean Star Newspaper

November 6–12, 2015

35

New flights launched between Bogota and Barbados

B CENTRAL BANK OF BARBADOS

Barbados must reduce its debt-toGDP ratio, says Central Bank

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RIDGETOWN, Barbados, Monday November 2, 2015 – Despite the dramatic improvement in the tourism industry, especially a 14 per cent increase in long stay arrivals so far this year, the Barbados economy grew by a marginal 0.3 per cent for the first nine months of the year, according to the Central Bank of Barbados, in its latest economic press release.

The major reason has been the construction sector, which the bank said “fell short of expectations” and the spin-off effect this had on the retail and domestic services sectors.

Also holding back the economy were what the bank termed “administrative issues” which had caused the emerging photovoltaic systems sector here to stall, with only a quarter of around 8 megawatts of new capacity fully operational.

Net new foreign capital inflows were estimated at BDS$417 million (US$208.5 million), down from BDS$542 million (US$271 million) a year ago, while foreign income from services, including international business and financial services, were on par with last year.

If you are hoping for some brighter news for the economy apart from tourism’s improvement, you won’t find it in the growth of the economy but in the decline of oil prices. The country spent BDS$144 million (US$208.5 million), or about 20 per cent less on fuel although the amount brought in increased by 8 per cent.

The lower cost of fuel – a result of the global oil war now being waged over who will command prices for the commodity in the future – not only saved Barbados foreign exchange, but lowered the cost of living for everyone on the island.

Said the bank, “The dramatic fall in payments for imported fuel and lower commodity prices have had a major impact on Barbados’ inflation rate.”

It noted that while the average costs of domestic electricity and fuel have declined one per cent per year in the past three years, they had fallen by 20 per cent during the first seven months of this year.

In addition, said the Central Bank, in-

flation in domestic food prices fell by two per cent on average for the year ending July 2015, down from an average of four per cent between 2011 and 2014, at what it termed “the height of the world commodity boom.”

Overall, for the first half of its current fiscal year, that is, from April to September, the government deficit was BDS$19 million (US$9.5 million) less than for the same period last year. This was mainly due to almost BDS$100 million (US$50 million) more collected in property taxes, which were increased to replace the estimated loss in revenue from the now-repealed municipal solid waste tax. It may be remembered that the municipal solid waste tax was expected to raise a total of just under BDS$50 million (US$25 million) over its first year.

Excise taxes rose by BDS$15 million (US$7.5 million), but receipts from the VAT fell BDS$22 million (US$11 million), in part due to industrial action at the Bridgetown Port, which the bank said, delayed the clearing and processing of merchandise imports.

And while the country is pinning its hopes for recovery on tourism’s resurgence, the bank warned that the growth experienced this year was mainly due to what it termed “the significant restoration of airlift capacity from North Atlantic markets last winter season,” and therefore the increases in long-stay arrivals were not likely to continue at that pace.

However, it said, the cruise tourism business would get a major boost from an expansion in the home-porting services at the Bridgetown Port.

Overall, said the bank, “the principal factors affecting the near-term growth outlook are the prospects for tourism and the implementation of major private and Government–funded investment projects.”

It also noted that Barbados’ fiscal deficit continues to grow faster than GDP, with interest costs amounting to 29 per cent of all Government revenues.

If the Government can lower its fiscal deficits to below the growth rate of GDP, it could reverse the slide in the country’s international credit ratings, said the bank.

OGOTA, Columbia, Friday October 30, 2015 – Thousands of South Americans keen on taking a holiday in Barbados will have a new non-stop option via Avianca from December 2.

The new Bogota to Bridgetown direct flights, with flying time of just three hours and 10 minutes, will be operated on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. CEO William Griffith said the new service was welcomed by Latin America tour operator partners, adding that the joint marketing strategy with Avianca would focus on positioning Barbados as an enchanting getaway for families with children and for couples. These promotional efforts will commence in the first week November with a familiarization trip with Avianca’s top-producing travel agencies and tour operators. Local industry partners will also conduct a roadshow mid-November to network with key operators in Bogota.

“This service will allow multi-generational travelers and those seeking a romantic getaway to plan three, four or seven-day trips, which we see as critical for the long-term success of this exciting new service. We believe this service will also attract travelers from nearby South American cities seeking a convenient connection to Bridgetown,” Griffith said.

The BTMI CEO said the addition in their Latin American flight strategy was borne out of a desire to expand Barbados’ presence in that market by working with a carrier with a broader flight network. The new Avianca service will permit connections between Barbados and Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Santiago de Chile, Buenos Aires, Panama City, Mexico, Lima, San Salvador, Guayaquil and Quito via Bogota with connection times of two and a half hours or less.

The legacy carrier also promises an improved customer experience, added value through their Star Alliance rewards programme and introduces a business class option to travelers from that market.

Barbados will be counting on its more than 113 kilometers of white sandy beaches and turquoise sea, as well as its numerous world-class restaurants and bars, tours within its UNESCO World Heritage site, and a year-round calendar of exciting events to woo the South Americans to the island.

With the implementation of the Bogota-Bridgetown flights, Avianca will expand its Caribbean operations, which already include chartered flights to Aruba, Curacao, Cancun, Punta Cana, Santo Domingo and Puerto Rico.

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Caribbean Star Newspaper MARKED FOR DEATH

November 6–12, 2015

PRISONS Officer David Millette, 50, was marked for death. illette, a Superintendent of Prisons, was shot dead monday near his Cipriani Avenue, Second Caledonia, Morvant home, with his mother Phyllis Millette later telling Newsday that her son had confided in her that his name was on a hit-list of prisons officers marked for execution.

That list, was found inside the Maximum Security Prison at Golden Grove in Arouca in 2013.

Newsday was told the list had the names and addresses of 100 prisons officers.

“He never complained about being threatened at all except for that one time (when he confided in her about the hit-list),” said Phyllis as she sat outside the house she shared with her son and where he breathed his last yesterday. “I don’t know why anyone would want to kill my son. He was such a nice person.

He would do anything for anyone and people in the area will tell you the exact same thing. He even used to do a little plumbing in the area for his neighbours, because he was an amateur plumber.”

Phyllis, a 71-year-old mother of three, told Newsday she last saw Millette, her eldest son, earlier in the morning yesterday. “He was supposed to take me to the hospital to find out what was going on with his father, but he told me that he wasn’t feeling too well, so I called a driver. When I was coming back from, the hospital, my daughter in England called me and said something serious had happened to David. When I got home, I found out that he was killed,” Millette said.

According to reports, Millette was last seen leaving his home at about eight yesterday morning and as he sat inside his Nissan B14 car, gunshots were heard.

Residents who investigated, found him dead, slumped over the steering wheel.

His body was ordered removed to the Forensic Science Centre by the district medical officer.

Several persons at the scene described Millette as a cool and easy going person.

In a release issued yesterday afternoon, Minister of National Security Edmund Dillon expressed concern over recent attacks on National Security officers. On Friday, soldier Cpl Shervaun Charles was fatally shot. On October 4, police constable Montgomery Guy was shot dead while plying his car for hire.

On July 24, PC Sherman Maynard was

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shot dead by prisoners during a daring prison break from the Port-of-Spain prison.

“Officers who dedicate their lives to protect and serve the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago, are apparently being targeted by criminal elements.” the release read, “Law enforcement officials are treating these instances of violence against serving officers seriously, and are working assiduously to resolve these cases and bring swift justice to the perpetrators,” Dillon said in the release.

While assurances were being made by the Security Minister, president of the Prisons Officer’s Association (POA) Ceron Richards told reporters yesterday, the murder of prisons officers will continue, unless Government steps in. Asked about the hit-list, Richards said he has not yet seen any action by Government that would suggest they are taking these threats to the lives of prisons officers, seriously.

“We haven’t seen much to say that Government or the people in charge are extremely serious with dealing with this matter,” Richards said. “This situation has far reaching implications with the Prison service, because we have been clamouring for safety and security measures for our officers and their families and this has fallen on deaf ears. This situation is one that we anticipate will continue unless the State takes responsibility for acting in the best interest of the security officers,” Richards said.

Richards added that it is a usual fear, whenever a prisons officer is murdered, that his death may have been ordered by persons inside the prison walls.

He he said that the association is waiting for feedback from Homicide investigators, before he commented further on the matter.

Millette is the 17th prisons officer to have been murdered since 1990.

The murder toll for the year now stands at 357, according to a Newsday count. No arrest has been made in Millette’s murder and investigations are continuing.

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November 6–12, 2015 Caribbean Star Newspaper Children’s hospital will be used

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rime Minister Dr Keith Rowley has assured that the Couva Children's Hospital will be put to use.

He was responding to fears that his Government would allow the billion-dollar facility, which was a special project of the last Prime Minister, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, to languish.

In an interview with the Express yesterday, Rowley said the Cabinet has established a review team to examine the Regional Health Authorities and their current operations, future plans and the whole delivery of health care services to the people of Trinidad and Tobago.

He stressed that the Children's Hospital and its proposed

use would be looked at by this committee in the context of the comprehensive review of the health sector.

Rowley said the Children's Hospital was constructed without proper provision been made for its operation, particularly its

staffing and manpower requirements.

The Prime Minister stated that the children's facility at Mt Hope was underutilised, adding that all the health institutions were understaffed. He stressed that the only way to open the new hospital right now would be to further deplete the staffing and therefore the service levels at the other existing hospitals.

He said it would be unwise for Government to seek to correct the consequence of bad planning by the last administration, by diverting health care specialists and other staff and resources from existing institutions, which themselves were in need of strengthening. He

added that the country ran the risk of the overall impact being a general deterioration in health care delivery, at the precise time that Government is grappling with the challenge of upgrading health care delivery in Trinidad and Tobago.

2,700 staff needed The Prime Minister referred to his statements last Friday at a meeting at Piggott Corner, Belmont where in chastising the last Government for leaving a number of projects started by the PNM administration, untouched and unattended, stressed that his Government was not going to practise that kind of politics.

“That kind of behaviour has come to an end. Wherever there

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are unfinished projects they are the number one priority as we go forward,” he said.

Speaking during the budget debate recently, Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh stated that the Couva Hospital at its peak would require 2,700 “able-bodied” persons to run it. He said in the first year of its operation, it would need at least 470 persons on staff. “I want the people of Central and South to know you are not being deprived of the use of that facility,” he assured.

Former health minister Fuad Khan has said the last Government had planned to source medical personnel from Cuba and the Philippines for this facility.

Search team finds what is believed to be wreckage of missing El Faro off Bahamas

SOPHISTICATED EQUIPMENT IS BEING USED IN THE EFFORT TO LOCATE AND CONFIRM THE FINAL RESTING PLACE OF EL FARO.

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ASSAU, Bahamas, Monday November 2, 2015 – A US Navy search team has found the wreckage of a vessel believed to be the cargo ship El Faro, which went missing off the Bahamas during Hurricane Joaquin last month.

The 790-foot vessel was located at a depth of about 15,000 feet in the vicinity of the ship’s last known position, 35

CUSTOMS HOUSE from pg. 30

Bureau of Statistics, has been performing under pressure and adverse conditions.

The Bureau will be modernized and provided with the tools to effectively perform and be of service to a wide range of stakeholders.

In this respect, nearly $150 million has been provided in the budget to rehabilitate the old Customs House, which has been identified as the permanent headquarters of the Bureau – the first time in the Bureau’s history since its incorporation in 1957,” Jordan said.

He added that this would allow the Bureau to finally consolidate its operations into a single unit, having had to contend with managing from three different locations.

miles northeast of Crooked Island, Bahamas, and appears to be in an upright position and in one piece, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said over the weekend.

After three days with no sign from a pinger, a sonar searcher was lowered into the water to get impressions of the ocean bottom. The sophisticated sonar equipment first detected what are be-

lieved to be images of the vessel using Orion, a side-scanning sonar system, on Saturday. Specialists are using a deep ocean remotely operated vehicle, CURV 21, to survey and confirm the identity of the wreckage.

If the vessel is confirmed to be El Faro, CURVE-21, outfitted with a video camera, will start the documentation of the vessel and the debris field and attempt to locate and recover the voyage data recorder.

Those operations are expected to take up to 15 days to complete in ideal con-

ditions but could take longer depending on weather and conditions encountered during the documentation process.

The NTSB, which is investigating the accident, had contracted with the US Navy to locate the missing ship, document the wreckage and debris field and, if possible, recover the voyage data recorder.

“The ship will certainly not be recovered; the ship is going to stay there. The containers are too deep to do any kind of recovery mission,” said Peter Knudsen, NTSB spokesman.

“If human remains are encountered, an attempt would be made to recover them.”

The El Faro, owned by Sea Star Line, LLC, and operated by TOTE Services, went missing on October 1, with 33 people on board – 28 American crew members and five Polish nationals –, after sailing into the path of Category 4 Joaquin as it headed to Puerto Rico with a cargo of containers and vehicles.

The last communication was from the ship’s captain Michael Davidson. Just minutes before distress alerts were sent out, he had called TOTE’s designated person ashore and reported that the ship was experiencing some flooding.

A search that lasted about a week only turned up one unidentified dead body and debris.

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CRICKET & Sports

Cricket at Citi Field – Tendulkar ponders Ganguly’s opening ‘application’ Sachin Tendulkar tweets his light-hearted response to Sourav Ganguly’s request of opening in the Masters T20s series

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fter Sourav Ganguly fired a joking threat that he would fly back home to Kolkata if not given the opener’s slot for the Cricket-All Stars matches, Sachin Tendulkar has taken a swipe in return – jokingly saying, “Application being processed”.

The exchange shows the kind of energy that fuelled one of the greatest opening partnerships in the history of ODI cricket. Ganguly had said on Tuesday,”I have told Sachin, if I don’t open, I will catch the next flight to Kolkata.

So that is a criteria for playing.”

A warning which Sachin has met with a warning of his own – for ‘Dada’ to keep his head down and practice his trademark off drive. Sachin may have enjoyed his time in Team India under Dada’s captaincy, but the roles have reversed now – the probable message Sachin wanted to send out.

Sourav is part of Sachin’s Blasters, the team that is to take on Warne’s Warriors in a series

of three T20 matches in the USA starting from Saturday, 7th November. A Sachin-Sourav opening partnership would be the realization of a dream for many.

The TenGuly era, when one opener would play the cheeky shot over the keeper’s head for 4 and another shimmy down the wicket to a left-arm spinner and hit him for a straight six, is one of the brightest periods in Indian cricket’s history.

The teams are to be announced on 5th November, but initial reports suggest that Sourav may have to vie with Matthew Hayden for the opener’s slot alongside Sachin. Virender Sehwag, who had been Sourav’s successor as Sachin’s opening partner for India, may also be in the fray.

Team composition of Sachin’s Blasters Batsmen – Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Matthew Hayden, Mahela Jayawardene, Jacques Kallis, Jonty

Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly on the sidelines of the ISL final last year Rhodes, VVS Laxman Wicketkeeper – Kumar Sangakkara Bowlers – Shaun Pollock, Courtney Walsh, Curtly Ambrose, Lance Klusener, Ajit

Agarkar, Graeme Swann The matches are scheduled to be played at some of the most iconic baseball stadiums in USA. The first game will be played at the Citi Field in New York

which is the home ground for the New York Mets. The retired superstars will then move to Los Angeles to play a match at the Dodgers stadium. The final game will take place at Texas.

India to consider lifting sanctions on WICB The BCCI in its annual general meeting on November 9 is set to deliberate whether to revoke the suspension imposed on bilateral tours with West Indies following their team’s pullout midway through the India tour last October.

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he BCCI had slapped punitive damages on the WICB amounting to $41.97 million, calling the abandonment of the India tour a “monumental disaster”. That notice was sent by former BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel, who served under the previous BCCI administration which was led by N Srinivasan. Subsequently, the WICB had communicated to the BCCI its inability to pay

the damages thereby raising serious doubts over India’s tour of the West Indies, scheduled for next summer.

But hope has emerged for West Indies following the October 17 meeting between WICB president Dave Cameron and chief executive Michael Muirhead with the BCCI top brass in Mumbai, which took place a day before the BCCI’s working committee meeting. The working com-

There is a possibility of the West Indies team touring India in 2017 for limited-overs matches mittee on October 18 was briefed that the WICB, besides tendering several apologies, had conveyed to the BCCI its inability to compensate financially. Instead, the WICB expressed its desire to make up for it by touring India for a series in 2017. If the AGM accepts the proposal, it

will mean India will play four Tests in the West Indies in July-August next year as per schedule.

Muirhead confirmed that he along with Cameron met the BCCI president Shashank Manohar and secretary Anurag Thakur along with a few other BCCI officials at the

Indian board’s headquarters in Mumbai. Muirhead said he and Cameron came out of that meeting with the feeling that a resolution could be worked out.

“We are certainly on the road to resolution,” Muirhead told ESPNcricinfo. “We had discussions on the resolution of the impasse that currently exists. It was very, very cordial. We discussed everything that would affect us at length. We were sure that a resolution would be forthcoming in the very near future. We are hoping that it will take root at the AGM.” Although Muirhead declined to divulge exact details, it is understood that West Indies are likely to tour India for limited-overs matches in 2017. As per the current FTP, India are supposed to play five ODIs and a T20 in the West Indies in July-August 2017. “It is really in the hands of the BCCI whether they either ratify what we had discussed or propose any changes they might want,” Muirhead said.

Caribbean Star Newspaper

November 6–12, 2015

39

Pakistan 2-0 series win checks England’s Ashes success

Pakistan 234 (Misbah 71, Anderson 4-17) and 355 (Hafeez 151, Broad 3-44) beat England306 (Taylor 76, Malik 4-33) and 156 (Cook 63, Yasir 4-44, Malik 3-26) by 127 runs

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t took until the final day of the final Test but Pakistan at last managed a reprise of England’s 2012 nightmare against spin. They needed less than half of the overs available to polish off victory in Sharjah, Yasir Shah taking the first and last wickets to fall as Pakistan skipped home by a 127-run margin for a 2-0 win that will lift them to No. 2 in the ICC Test rankings.

Alastair Cook resisted almost until the end, ninth man out for 63, but his team had been cut adrift during a dizzying first hour when they lost 4 for 11 in five overs. England were competitive for all but two sessions in the series but on both occasions, here and in Dubai, Pakistan were ruthless enough to seize the prize.

The conditions were perhaps not as treacherous as England’s batsmen made them look but Yasir and Zulfiqar Babar did not need encouragement to prey on the slightest hesitation or indecision. They collected six of the eight remaining wickets, evoking the damage inflicted by Saeed Ajmal and Abdur Rehman last time around, not to mention their own exploits against Australia and New Zealand 12 months ago.

With Shoaib Malik completing his final Test appearance by taking

a seven-wicket haul, it meant Pakistan’s spinners had collected 9 for 101 in England’s second innings.

That was nearly half as many wickets as England’s trio of Moeen Ali, Adil Rashid and Samit Patel managed in the entire series. With 15 from just two Tests, Yasir reigned supreme.

Defeat by a two-Test margin means England will slip to No. 6 in the rankings, another UAE comedown after the euphoria of Ashes victory during the summer, though they were handicapped in their efforts to level the series by the injury to Ben Stokes on the first day.

He came out to bat at No. 10 in the second innings, despite the forlorn match situation and a strapped-up shoulder, before a leg-side stumping off Yasir ended England’s pain.

Pakistan’s legspinner had trained with Shane Warne before the match and this was a final-day disman-

It is your place to add your special touch for any events that you are considering:

tling of which the Australian would have been proud. Joe Root, the No. 1-ranked batsman recently referred to by a team-mate as one of the best players of spin in the world, was lbw to Yasir’s fourth ball of the morning, back when he should have been forward, and it caused a detonation as brutally effective as pulling the pin from a grenade.

Yasir Shah removed Joe Root in his first over and finished with 4 for 44 © Getty Images England have shown plenty of guts against Pakistan this time around but here they were swiftly disembowelled. A target of 284 was well beyond anything they had previously managed in Asia but their displays of resilience on tour had encouraged some to think they might get close.

That hope disappeared quicker than a lizard darting under a rock.

Root was pinned in front of leg

stump by a delivery that kept low in the second over of the day, plumb enough not to bother with a review, and James Taylor only lasted long enough to bring up England’s 50 before he was drawn fatally forward by a flighted delivery from Babar that turned to kiss the edged of a slightly crooked bat and end up at slip.

Pakistan had wasted their reviews on the previous day but they need not have worried. Before their final innings in Sharjah, England had been on the receiving end of just three lbw decisions, but the problem of playing the ball with their pads returned on the most exacting surface of the series and that total was more than doubled, starting with Moeen’s dismissal on the fourth evening.

Jonny Bairstow and Patel fell in such fashion in successive overs, the latter for a golden duck, as England’s slide became terminal, losing 3 for 2 in 12 deliveries. Bairstow was hit on the thigh pad in front of middle stump trying to sweep his way out of trouble, England’s final review burned in the process, and Patel succumbed to the contagion by missing a straight one from Babar that would have clipped leg.

From 59 for 6, and with visions of Abu Dhabi three years ago - when they imploded for 72 chasing 145 - swimming through addled English minds, Cook and Rashid did a respectable patch-up job, adding 49 for the seventh wicket and briefly bringing a sense of calm to proceed-

ings. Rashid has demonstrated a propensity for fifth-day heroics but this was beyond even him and Rahat Ali brought the ball back to defeat a loose drive shortly before lunch.

Cook alone weathered the desert storm, maintaining his focus even as the ball beat the bat or rapped the pads and Pakistani appeals tore the air. He narrowly avoided falling to Yasir’s leg trap again on 20 and a top-edged sweep off Malik landed a yard short of deep square leg having made 44. He remained defiant, gallumphing down the pitch to loft Babar for a one-bounce four over long-on and reverse-sweeping another boundary off Yasir.

He was joined on the burning deck by Stokes, after Stuart Broad had miscued a sweep off Yasir to square leg. Stokes would never willingly shirk a battle and he looked to be moving a little more freely after his collar bone injury, taking on Wahab Riaz’s bouncers and betraying only a wince when sweeping Yasir powerfully for four.

That was the most encouraging sight of the day, as far as England were concerned, and with the pips thoroughly squeaked Cook walked past a delivery from Malik to be stumped for only the third time in his Test career. Cook faced more than 900 balls in the series, another half-century taking him clear at the top of the run-scorers’ list. But such an outstanding individual contribution could not compete with Pakistan’s collective brilliance.

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The West Indian . Oct 17, 2015 . Page 61

Caribbean Star Newspaper

November 6–12, 2015

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Hapless West Indies lose ODI series to Sri Lanka Sri Lanka 225 for 2 (Kusal 99, Thirimanne 81*) beat West Indies 214 (Charles 83, Samuels 63, Malinga 2-43) by eight wickets (D/L method)

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usal Perera struck a 99 lit up by flashes of aggression, but tempered by maturity, whileLahiru Thirimanne stroked a serene 81 not out, as the second-wicket pair’s 156-run stand made light work of a revised target of 225 in the second ODI against West Indies.

The match had been shortened to 38 overs a side, after rain forced an interruption of more than three hours 26.4 overs into West Indies’ innings. Johnson Charles’ searing 83 and Marlon Samuels’ measured 63 formed the guts of the visitors’ score.

The match marked a bonafide return to form for three Sri Lanka cricketers, playing in their favored format. Thirimanne had been poor enough in Tests to warrant his exclusion last month, but was chanceless on Wednesday, prospering square of the wicket as fluidity appeared to have returned to his game. Kusal had had a bleak Test series against West Indies with the bat, but here delivered Sri Lanka to the doorstep of victory before miscuing a short ball one run short of his third hundred. A trimmer Lasith Malinga also appeared back to near his best, both with the ball and in the field, effecting two direct-hit run-outs off his own bowling. He collected figures of 2 for 43 from 7.4 overs, first claiming a wicket with his second ball of the game, then thwarting West Indies’ final sprint with his variation.

The victory hands Sri Lanka the series, with the third ODI to be played in Pallekele on Saturday.

Kusal crashed two fours and a six from his first 11 balls, while

the new-ball bowlers were in operation, but soon scaled down his ambition when the spinners came early to the crease. He found plenty of singles in the cover region, and was content to progress at less than a runa-ball until he neared his fifty.

He slog-swept seamer Carlos Brathwaite over deep midwicket to reach the milestone, then larruped two more sixes and a four off his next six deliveries.

He was lucky to make one of those sixes - the ball was parried over the deep midwicket rope by Jermaine Blackwood - and that reprieve on 62 was enough to coax him back into a sager state of mind.

Thirimanne began his innings with a late cut for four off Sunil Narine, and struck a high, straight six off Samuels soon after but, like Kusal, quickly established a pattern of singles and twos against spin. The cut was his most productive stroke; each of his five fours came in the arc between the keeper and sweeper-cover. Perhaps importantly, Thirimanne was not tested early in his innings by seam bowling, which has recently been a weakness for him.

Kusal fell with 29 runs still to get. The scoring slowed considerably after his departure, but Thirimanne and Dinesh Chandimal nursed the chase home with nine balls to spare.

West Indies appeared poised to push Sri Lanka’s target up closer to 240 when a well-set Samuels and Brathwaite were at the crease at the death. They struck 16 off Suranga Lakmal in the 36th over, but West Indies mustered only six runs from the last two overs, during the course of which their four remaining wickets were all surrendered via run-outs. They made 214 in the end, and this figure was scaled up via the Duckworth-Lewis

Kusal Perera and Lahiru Thirimanne’s 156-run partnership for the second wicket eased Sri Lanka to an unassailable 2-0 series lead method.

Earlier, Charles had collected his first boundary via an outside edge that flew over second slip, but he quickly slipped into a more effective attacking rhythm. Charles was particularly severe on the spinners, who were introduced as early as the fifth over. Jermaine Blackwood had holed out trying to put Sachithra Senanayake’s first ball into the sightscreen, but Charles succeeded where Blackwood had failed. Two overs later, Charles ran at Senanayake to put him several metres beyond the sightscreen, registering the first six of the match.

He continued to run at the spinners and hit them straight, but he also found the paddle-sweep productive.

He slinked from leg to off to maneuver an Ajantha Mendis delivery to the long-leg boundary in the 11th over, then reached his fifty off the next ball, when Mendis went full and Charles launched him over long-on. The half-century was Charles’ fourth in ODIs, and came in 32 deliveries.

Sri Lanka had claimed three wickets at the other end while Charles attacked. In addition to Blackwood, who perished for 9 on his ODI debut, opener Andre Fletcher had also fallen cheaply,

nicking Malinga behind first ball.

Darren Bravo appeared secure during his 33-ball stay, but was out lobbing Milinda Siriwardana to short midwicket for 21, ending a 70-run stand with Charles.

Samuels had just begun to free his arms, hitting consecutive square boundaries off Ajantha Mendis, before Charles was out lbw to Siriwardana. The rains soon arrived to force the long

interruption, when West Indies had reached 149 for 4 after 26.4 overs.

Samuels continued to play his shots after resumption, but lost two partners in quick succession. He could have been out himself for 38 had Shehan Jayasuriya held the chance off Malinga’s bowling at deep cover. Instead, Samuels survived to wallop a straight six during Malinga’s next over, shortly before he completed his 50th run off the 51st delivery he faced.

Samuels was at the center of a minor controversy in this match, after he was cleared to bowl by the ICC despite the 14-day grace period afforded to reported bowlers having elapsed. West Indies had been wrongly told by the ICC that he was eligible to bowl in this match, and had picked their team on that basis, so the governing body made an exception in this case. He delivered 5.3 overs but did not make a major impact on the match.

Warner, Khawaja tons put Australia in command

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pener David Warner and Usman Khawaja scored magnificent centuries to put Australia in a commanding position on the opening day of the first Test against New Zealand here on Thursday.

Opting to bat first, Australia posted a gigantic 389-2 at the end of the day’s play with Khawaja and skipper Steve Smith at the crease on 102 and 41 respectively.

Earlier, attacking left handed opener smashed brilliant 163 runs to give his side a solid start, before

getting dismissed by James Neesham.

His partner Joe Burns also contributed significant 71 runs for the home side.

The hosts would be eyeing for a mammoth first innings score when they will come on to bat on the second day whereas New Zealand would be hoping to restrict the former to as minimum as possible.

Australia will play second Test at Perth from November 13, followed by first day and night match at Adelaide from November 27.

Shoaib Malik retires from Test cricket

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The 33-year-old wants focus on his family and the 2019 World Cup

akistan batsman Shoaib Malik is to retire from test cricket at the end of the current match against England in Sharjah to give the country’s younger players a chance, he said on Tuesday.

Malik, 33, made a shock return to test cricket at the beginning of the threematch series in the United Arab Emirates, marking his comeback with a career-best 245 in Abu Dhabi.

He has since scored 47 runs in five innings, including a golden duck in his last one on Tuesday, but he did record his

best test bowling figures of four for 33 on the day he announced his retirement.

“We have some good youngsters and now is the time to retire,” Malik, who has scored more than 1,800 runs in 35 tests since his debut in 2001, told reporters.

Writing on his website (www.shoaibmalik.com) he said he felt he could continue playing test cricket for “quite a few more years” but considered it was time to let the next generation gain experience alongside Pakistan’s established players.

“I’m giving up my spot for new talent,”

he said.

Referring to his surprise call-up for the current series in the UAE, Malik said: “I was in a delightful shock when my

name was added to the test squad after the Zimbabwe series.

“All I can say for sure is that test format is a real test.”

He added that he wanted concentrate now on the 2019 World Cup (when he will be 37), saying: “Mentally, I had kind of retired from test format some time back, as I decided to focus only on onedays and T20s.”

But he said he also wanted to spend “quality time” with his family, who he said had paid the price for allowing him to “live my dreams”.

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Caribbean Star Newspaper Nathu Singh is on a quest to become world’s fastest bowler

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November 6–12, 2015

ndian cricket has been on a quest for the past few years.

Their quest is the search for a quality fast bowler – which has proved to be more obscure than Aladdin’s magic lamp. A land known for its explosive batsman, stories of a tall, lumbering lad who bowls at 140km/h is quite rare.

Perhaps it is unsurprising that when India manages to find a young seamer, he seems to come from the rugged, sandy terrains of Rajasthan, a place as tough as his choice of cricketing expertise. The boy in question here is Nathu Singh, India’s newest find in the Ranji Trophy.

The 20-year old has impressed veterans like Rahul Dravid and Gautam Gambhir with his lethal pace. Singh has debuted for Rajasthan in the ongoing Ranji and has already caught the eye of the cricket-crazy nation. Having just played in his maiden first-class season with only four matches under his belt, the youngster was selected to play against the touring South Africans for the Board President’s XI, handpicked especially by chief selector Sandeep Patil.

It is clear enough that he is a special kind of talent. To get the chance to have a go at the world’s current best international players, after having played only four domestic matches is no mean feat.

Want to break Shoaib Akhtar’s record: Nathu Singh It almost sounds like a fairytale that a young talent catches

Nathu Singh is the newest seamer from India who hits 140kph consistently the eye of the selector as soon as he makes it to his state team.

He gets to play against the best, something that players with years of experience in the Ranji could not do. However, there is nothing remotely rosy about Nathu’s cricket career.

Since his childhood, Nathu had only one dream – to run in with a cricket ball and bowl really fast. Put simply, he wanted to be like the Pakistani great, Shoaib Akhtar.

“I loved watching Shoaib Akhtar bowl. He was so quick. I watched him and decided that I want to bowl so fast that I break his record. And for that I have to work really hard, for which I am absolutely prepared,” the young boy told BCCI.tv.

“My life has changed a lot. I used to watch a lot of cricket on the television as a kid. And every time I watched a fast bowler run in, I would say to myself, ‘I want to bowl like this one day’,” Nathu added.

When his father gave it all to coach Nathu Certain dreams are meant to

Singh was chosen by chief selector Sandeep Patil to play for Board President’s XI against South Africa come true it seems, but he has had no way of knowing that – before the sudden call-up to Board President XI. Hailing from extremely modest backgrounds, he realized that his father didn’t have the luxury to provide him with the professional coaching required to be a cricketer. So he quietly kept his dream to himself.

Until three years ago he used to bowl with a tennis ball in the neighborhood. Then his mates told him he should try a cricket ball because he was too fast for everybody. It was these friends that decided to convince his father to send Nathu to a cricket academy.

Bharat Singh, his father who worked as a laborer in a wire factory in Jaipur, hardly managed to make ends meet. In spite of that, he decided to gamble. His parents poured their entire savings

Cairns made over $250,000 for match-fixing

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ormer New Zealand skipper Chris Cairns had received more than 250,000 dollars in lieu for fixing matches, a London court has heard.

According to Sport24, the 45-year old was paid quarter of a million by Vijay Dimon, a diamond firm run by father and son Vijay and Vishal Shah.

The all-rounder, however, said that the money was to set himself in Dubai, insisting that he just wanted to get involved in their business after taking retirement from cricket.

Speaking on the issue, prosecutor Sasha Wass QC informed that Cairns had asked his fellow teammates Lou Vin-

cent and Brendon McCullum, to get involved in fixing games and earn lots of money.

Wass said that Cairns was receiving money to fix matches in India.

Earlier, Vincent had admitted that he got ‘direct orders’ from the then skipper to get involved in match-fixing. He had also said that he was paid

50,000 dollars per game to underperform during Indian Cricket League (ICL) in 2008.

Cairns, who had represented New Zealand in 62 Tests and 215 ODIs, saw his reputation take a beating when former Indian Premier League chairman Lalit Modi accused him of match-fixing while he was playing for the Chandigarh Lions in the now defunct Indian Cricket League in 2008.

While Cairns is charged with perjury and perverting the course of justice, his lead adviser Andrew Fitch-Holland is accused of perverting the course of justice. However, both have denied the charges.

for the boy’s career. He went to Surana Academy, where the fee was Rs 10,000 for the year. The father had no savings to spare, but he told Nathu: “Whatever I have I will put in. Let’s see for two months how you go.”

Two months later the coaches at the academy suggested he be given time because they saw that “spark”. The academy subsidized the fee looking at his family background, and by the end of that year he was in the Rajasthan Under-19 side.

The MRF Pace Academy happened to him as well where he impressed Glenn McGrath. McGrath was mighty pleased with the bowling prodigy and believed that he could be India’s future bowler.

Two years ago, when Nathu drew his first match fee, he gave it all to his parents. He still does.

He has a tattoo on the inner side

of him arm which says “Mom Dad.” It is his small way of thanking his parents who gave their all for him.

Veterans praise the speedster Patil believed the boy had ‘the X-Factor’ that selectors always search for, which is why he chose to play him at the big stage. The spark in Nathu was also noticed by none other than Rahul Dravid. Rajasthan Cricket Association’s BCCI-appointed convener Amrit Mathur, received a call from Rahul Dravid. The gist of the conversation was: “this boy is good, please keep an eye out for him,” reported ESPNcricinfo.

That was not all. After the end of his first Ranji match against Delhi, their coach Vijay Dahiya called Mathur. He had been told about “this boy” by Gautam Gambhir. The conversation went: “We were talking, Gautam mentioned this boy and said that after a long time he has seen new India material, please make sure he is not ruined by over-bowling.”

Nathu Singh has also been a victim of bias in cricket. The system at the grassroots levels in India is still marred by corruption and favoritism, which is why he couldn’t find a place in the Jaipur district side. He decided to go and play for Sikkar, hardly known for its cricket, but this came as a blessing in disguise. From here, there was no looking back. The rest of the machinery, though, has been remarkable in fast-tracking him into playing against a quality opposition.

Saeed Ajmal accuses Harbhajan Singh of chucking

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akistani spinner Saeed Ajmal has raised eyebrows with his comments suggesting that Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh was a ‘chucker’ and disregarded ICC rules of bowling,reports ZEE News. Ajmal dropped the bomb while speaking in an interview with a local reporter.

Ajmal went on to say that Bhajji’s action was definitely not under 15 degrees, which was the permissible limit set by the ICC. He also expressed frustration about the rule of ‘illegal action’ being applied to only Pakistani players and said that the PCB did not bother to complain about Harbhajan’s action.

The 38-year old who is the leading wicket-taker for his country with 178 Test, 184 ODI and 85 T20I wickets, was banned from bowling since September last year, as his action was termed illegal.

Since then, Ajmal has struggled to get back in the scheme of things for Pakistan and has constantly been sidelined by the

selectors.

The Faisalabad-born cricketer also blasted the ICC for their pro-BCCI attitude and blamed the international governing body at sidelining only Pakistani cricketers for illegal actions and turning a blind-eye towards Indian spinners. “I’m highly disappointed over why PCB did not fight my case on medical basis, had they chose for it, it would have been a rather different story,” he felt.

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