Caribbean Star # 69 vol. 4 / November 27 / 2015

Caribbean Star

Vol.4 #68

First Interfaith Newspaper, Serving The Community

Caribbeanstarnews@gmail.com

347-759-3934

November 27–December 3, 2015

WEEKLY NEWSPAPER

DISTRIBUTED IN BROOKLYN, QUEENS, BRONX, LONG ISLAND, and MORE!

JUMPER WAS VICTIM OF DEPRESSION

GUYANA

RESTRICTED ACCESS FOR KAIETEUR FALLS p.6

…FOLLOWING SUICIDE

ANOTHER GUYANESE WOMAN BUSTED WITH COCAINE AT JFK AIRPORT

CARIBBEAN NEWS

SENIOR COP NABBED IN STING OPERATION

TRINIDAD

SEVERAL MEGA PROJECTS DUE p.26 NEXT YEAR …

BUDGET LIKELY IN JANUARY p.4

CITY COLLECTED $174M IN RATES FOR OCTOBER

p.35 SPORT

p.13

GUYANA, JAMAICA WRAP UP VICTORIES

p.38

Celebrate Holi (Phagwah) in

INDIA March 15 - 29, 2016 Call KT&T 718-291-9292 Cell 917-407-9090

MOTHER OF ISIS FIGHTER URGES TRINIDADIANS TO STAY HOME p.34 V

COME & EXPERIENCE THE SPLENDOR OF AN

Exotic Tour of East Asia

ED AHMAD SENTENCING DEFERRED R

J

Nov. Nov. 22 3rd Nov18th 6 Oct 2015 2016

September 2016

— ITINERARY AT A GLANCE —

Thailand (Bangkok), Singapore, Malacca, Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur), Hong Kong and Macau

Call Kali Travel & Tours for further info. 718-291-9292 • 917-407-9090.

TO SECURE YOUR SEAT PLEASE CALL:

CALL KT&T 718-291-9292

917-407-9090

p.15

2

November 27–December 3, 2015

Caribbean Star Newspaper

Flat Rate Realty

Curious How Much Your

CALL 347-759-3934 OR 347-661-9930

It’s Likely More Than You Think!

82-01 ROCKAWAY BLVD STE 412, OZONE PARK, NY 11416 WWW.FLATRATEREALTYNY.COM

1

PRICE TO SELL ONLY $449,000

RICHMOND HILL – off of Liberty Ave – Awesome 1 Family~ fully detached ~2.5 Baths~ Full Finished Basement~ Driveway~ conveniently located near A – Train, Parkways & Shopping!

4

JUST LISTED

2

EYE CANDY OF THE WEEK

Home Is Worth?

3

ASKING ONLY $369,000

QUEENS – {Off of Linden Blvd) – Magnificent 1 Family ~ WAKEFEILD – Fully Renovated 2 Family~ 4 Large Bedrooms~ 3-baths~ 3 Large Bedrooms 2.5 Baths, Full Finished Basement ~ Private Finished Basement~ 2 boilers ~ Private Driveway.

Driveway ~Hardwood Floors Through Out.

5

SITTING ON 40X100 LOT

6

WALK TO THE A– TRAINS, & BUSES

PRICE FOR QUICK SALE ASKING ONLY $359,000 FAR ROCKAWAY – Off of Beach Channel Dr – Gorgeous 2 Family~ 4 Large Bedrooms~ 2 Baths~ Full Finished Basement~ conveniently located near A – Train & Buses, Parkways & Shopping!

7

SITTING ON 60X100 LOT}

SPRINGFIELD GARDENS – (off of Merrick Blvd} – Fully renovated detached 2-family~6 Large Bedrooms~3.5 Baths~ Full Finished Basement~ Private Driveway/ W 2 Car Garage.

10

LOCATED CLOSE TO MANHATTAN

MASPETH – off of Fresh Pond Rd~ Gorgeous 1 Family~ 3 Nice Size Bedrooms~2 Baths~ Full Finished Basement~ Driveway.

JOIN US

S. OZONE PARK – Beautiful 2 Family Detached ~5 Large Bedrooms~3 Baths~ Huge Full Basement~ Private Driveway+2 Car Garage ~Close to RICHMOND HILL – Off of 101St Ave – Huge 2 Family~ 5 Large A-Train & Buses~ Won’t Last!

Bedrooms~4 Baths~ Full Basement.

8

AWESOME BUY FOR BIG FAMILY

OZONE PARK – Off of Rockaway Blvd – Beautiful 2 Family~ 6 Large Bedrooms~ 4 Baths~ Private Driveway.

11

NOTHING TO DO, JUST MOVE IN

9

BUY WITH ONLY 3.5% DOWNPAYMENT

QUEENS VILLAGE ( Off of Springfield Blvd} – Fully renovated detached 1-family~4 Large Bedrooms~3 Baths~ Full Finished Basement~ Private Driveway.

12

SITTING ON 60 X 100.92 LOT SIZE, YES 6-CAR GARAGES

RICHMOND HILL – Beautiful Victorian Home Fully Detached VAN WYCK & LINDEN BLVD – 100% Gut Renovated 2 Family~5 Large 2-Family~ 6 Large Bedrooms~ Full Finished Basement & Attic~ Bedrooms~ 3 Baths~ Private Driveway + Garage~ Won’t Last!

3.5Baths, Wide Private Driveway~ Won’t Last Call us today!

TENANT LOOKING FOR APARTMENTS? WE HAVE STUDIO, 1, 2, 3 & 4 BEDROOMS AVAILABLE IN ALL LOCATION. CONTACT US TODAY!

Your home may be worth much more than you think!

Get top $$$ for your property! call us today.

Se Habla Español

CALL FLAT RATE REALTY TODAY AT 347-661-9930

November 27–December 3, 2015 Caribbean Star Newspaper Get your act Orphaned infant improving

together...or else

S

AYING that neither the Oilfield Workers’ Trade Union (OWTU) nor the Joint Trade Union Movement (JTUM) had prior knowledge of the National Gas Company (NGC) board of directors and Energy Minister Nicole Olivierre, taking a decision to freeze the salaries of NGC workers for the rest of this year and 2016, an angry OWTU president general Ancel Roget yesterday warned Government to get its act together...or else.

In condemning the wage freeze, Roget warned that if the Government and NGC doesn’t get its act together the repercussions will be more than just balancing books.

“Our position is that we felt a measure of disrespect coming from the board and line minister, who decided on their own that to exercise that option (instituting the wage freeze),” Roget said.

Roget spoke at a press conference which he shared with Minister of Labour Jennifer Baptiste-Primus following a meeting at the Ministry’s Port-of-Spain office. Freezing of NGC staff salaries was the first issue and last raised at the meeting.

According to Roget, JTUM has a lot to bring to the table in terms of various options to deal with issues.

Consistent with a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed between Government and JTUM in relation to the engagement of labour at the level of decision-making, Roget said, “We ought to be alerted up front and be given an opportunity to put forward another view which might very well suffice in bringing about the same result.” Noting that method of communicating was lacking, he said, “You don’t take a decision like that, announce it in the press and then give the Minister of Labour the responsibility to announce it to the trade unions.” Stating that they, “take great offence”, Roget called on the Ministry of Energy and the NGC Board to get their act together.

“If you don’t get your act together in treating with JTUM and the OWTU, your challenges will be more than just balancing the books at NGC. It is not just what you do, but how you do it,” Roget warned.

For industrial peace and stability, he added, there must be a collaborative response. Roget asked reporters if they could imagine how “shattered” NGC workers would be feeling by this salary freeze.

Roget said that JTUM was mindful of the situation the country finds itself in at present in terms of falling revenues adding that the situation was exacerbated by the last government’s inability to manage the economy and control spending.

For her part, Labour Minister Baptiste-Primus (a former trade unionist) said there was no deliberate intent to disrespect the trade union movement. “I think it was an oversight because of the pressing need to take adjusting measures at the NGC,” she said. Against that background, she offered Roget an apology. “It was not deliberate. I am sure such a situation will not recur,” she assured.

Asked if he accepted the apology, Roget said he accepted what the minister said, but is awaiting a meeting with the Energy Minister.

Because of what occurred, he suggested it was time every Government minister meet with every trade union in the country. Giving a brief on the wage freeze, Baptiste- Primus said that the profits at the NGC over the period 2013 to the present reduced from over $9 billion to $6 billion to $4 billion, and will peter off to $3 billion in 2015. As such, she said, there was a dire need to cut back on expenses for the company’s survival.

T

he three-yearold daughter of murder/suicide couple, Premnath Ramkhelawan and Aarika Bhim, continues to show improvement at the San Fernando General Hospital.

The little girl, who was stabbed in the throat, face and arm, has regained her speech and is moving about with the assistance of nurses.

Relatives said the child appeared happy

and looking forward to going home with her grandparents.

The child celebrated her third birthday at the hospital last Thursday, a day after her mother was laid to rest.

She was stabbed and her throat slit by her father two Mondays ago.

The child was found alive, bleeding from her wounds, still wrapped in her murdered mother’s arms in the back seat of a car.

Bhim, 26, was stabbed 18 times in the chest, stomach and neck by her husband and left to die in the back seat of her green Nissan B-13 car.

Ramkhelawan, 25, was found hanging at the back of Bhim’s parents’ house at Laltoo Trace, Penal.

Bhim’s father made the discovery as he went to tend to his animals at daybreak.

Bhim’s family has

3

Dead: A family photo of Premnath Ramkhelawan and the woman he killed, Aarika Bhim. In the photo on the left, Ramkhelawan is holding the orphaned child. promised to care for the little girl and raise her as her mother would have wanted.

Her grandmother, Sharda, has been at her hospital bed since the incident.

You Learn To Live When You Learn To Drive!

Workforce 1

ITG Accepted

112-12 Atlantic Ave., Richmond Hill, NY 11419 Tel: (718) 441-6500 or 6507 Learn to PARALLEL park Our Car in 5 Minutes or less.

GUARANTEED or that lessons in FREE! Certified BY NYS department of Motor Vehicle 5 HR. Pre-Licensing course CDL B/PS

Flexible Payment Plans Available Visa and Mastercard Acceptef

6 HR. DEFENSIVE DRIVING COURSE

Save 10% OFF Your Insurance 4 Point Reduction

Drive Defensively at all time!

Female Instructor Available • Open 7 DAYS

www.executivedrivingschool.com tel. 718-441-6500 TRACTOR TRAILER COMING SOON

4

Caribbean Star Newspaper Several mega projects due next year …Budget likely in January November 27–December 3, 2015

G

OVERNMENT intends to spend big on infrastructural development, and next year’s Budget will see allocations for a number of mega projects, President David Granger says. The administration is currently doing its round of consultations for the 2016 Budget, and the President has given assurance that the estimates will be ready early January.

Speaking on the Ministry of the Presidency’s Public Interest forum, President Granger acknowledged that Guyana cannot be developed without proper infrastructures, and as such in the 2016 Budget, various projects will commence this developmental foundation before superstructures are built.

“This country cannot be developed without proper infrastructure; without proper highways and bridges, ferry stellings, airdromes, Harbour Bridge. If we are to develop this country, we have to have a solid infrastructure base before we can build superstructures.

“These will be addressed in the Budget of the financial year 2016,” President Granger asserted during the interview.

DEL CONTE PROJECT One of the mega projects which is likely to commence next year is the Del Conte road project. Only last month, Geoffrey Vaughn, Coordinator of the Ministry of Public Infrastructure’s Works Services Group, told the Government Information Agency (GIAN) that the feasibility studies for the Del Conte

President David Granger road project would soon be completed, after which work will commence.

“This is one of the roads that came on stream (and) which would add towards the mining industry, and persons using it as one of the alternative routes in getting to those areas such as Bartica,” Vaughn had explained to GINA. This road project fits completely into the entire National Transport Network, as it provides a complete ring in the current transport network.

“You can ring around the East Bank Road, get into the highway to Linden, get from Linden into Lethem and other mining industries, then you come in from the other end, which is East Bank Essequibo, and you can also access and meet to Linden…” Vaughn said.

“You’re looking at a complete link now, so it makes things either bet-

ter for some persons who may be coming from the Essequibo Coast, Leguan, Wakenaam and those areas, and who may want to get into the mining industry, and instead of having to use the longer route, you can actually drive across, and then use your necessary alternative transportation to get into the hinterland,” he added.

This project forms part of the administration’s overall plan, which is to ensure accessibility around the economic activities in Guyana.

The Del Conte road begins at Parika, East Bank Essequibo, and goes all the way down the East Bank Essequibo area into Goshen.

For persons to get from Goshen to Bartica, a boat may have to be used.

BRIDGING THE ESSEQUIBO However, the Ministry is exploring a number of options, including the building of a bridge network across the Essequibo River.

“The feasibility studies are ongoing, and we are expecting that as soon as that feasibility study is wrapped up, we will be able to make some decisions in terms of whether or not we use a bridge, or go with a steamer service or pontoon, whichever way works in terms of economic feasibility,” Vaughn had further outlined.

The government’s thrust is also being aided by donors, with the European Union (EU) recently renewing its commitment to supporting infrastructural development in Guyana.

EU Ambassador to Guyana, Jernej Videtic, in discussions with Ministers of Public Infrastructure David Patterson and Annette Ferguson, recently reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to working with Guyana in its development process.

Guyana-EU cooperation commenced over 40 years ago, with priorities including sea defences and transport infrastructure, inter alia, the Bartica/Berbice ferry services, the Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB) rehabilitation and the Ogle International Airport (OIA) extension.

During the meeting, the two parties discussed several ongoing projects, including the ‘Power Utility Upgrade Programme’ which is co-financed by an EU grant of €19.3M, and a loan by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) of US$37.6M. GPL UPGRADE The project, which is being administered via Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Inc, is geared at enhancing the operational efficiency and corporate performance of the utility company. It will cater to the upgrading of infrastructure to reduce energy and revenue loss, while also improving GPL’s management and administrative efficiency.

It was agreed by the two parties that close monitoring of project implementation is necessary to make best use of available resources.

Ambassador Videtic, along with Ministers Patterson and Ferguson

also discussed ongoing cooperation programmes on sea defences, including capacity-building and training, strengthening the functionalities of the Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC), opportunities for studies in renewable energy, and the exploration of possible future EU/Guyana collaboration in the area of renewable energy, transport infrastructure, tourism and logistics.

POVERTY ALLEVIATION Meanwhile, underscoring that focus will also be strongly placed on the alleviation of poverty and social cohesion, the President also disclosed that “the Budget is on stream, and we’re likely to present it in January.

“In fact, there will be two budgets in 2016, since we want to produce the 2017 budget in December of 2016, so that we will be able to start the first day in 2017, knowing where the money is going to be spent.”

Finance Minister, Winston Jordan has already indicated that Budget 2016 will see an early presentation. Jordan had presented a $221B Budget to the National Assembly for the 2015 fiscal year under the theme, “A Fresh Approach To A Good Life In A Green Economy”, the first fiscal budget for the APNU+AFC administration.

Fiscal budgets are usually presented in March/April; however, due to the holding of General Elections in May, the 2015 Budget was presented on August 10 instead.

Caribbean Star Newspaper

November 27–December 3, 2015

5

Our Village

We specialize in West Indian dishes & Fresh Pastries

ROTI SHOP

Tel: 718-740-1011 211-61 Jamaica Ave., Queens Village, N.Y 11428 BREAKFAST Plain Vegetable is $5.00 With Chicken or Shrimp $6.00 *Katahar $8.00 *Bake & Saltfish $5.00 *Pumpkin *Ochro * Cabbage *Spinach * Bora * Saltfish (All Served with Oil Roti or Dhallpuri or White Rice)

Lunch Fish................................... $7.00 (Tilapia, Butter fish and Banga)

Hassa................................ $8.00 Gillbaker........................ $10.00 Snapper.......................... $10.00 Shrimp............................. $9.00 Duck.............................. $10.00 Goat................................. $8.00 Curry Chicken............... $7.00 Stew Chicken.................. $7.00 Crab Curry...................... $9.00 (All Served with Oil Roti or Dhallpuri or White Rice) Cook up Rice............ $7.00 Sm Cook up Rice........... $10.00 Lg Fried Rice.................. $7.00 Sm Chowmein................ $7.00 Sm

Beans and Rice........ $10.00 Lg Fried Fish......................... $1.25 Fried Chicken................. $1.25 BBQ Chicken.................. $1.25 Jerk Chicken.................... $1.25 Dhal (A Cup).................. $1.25 Jerk Chicken.................... $1.50 Dhal Puri......................... $2.00 Oil Roti............................ $1.75 Sada Roti......................... $1.50 Bake.................................. $1.00

Lunch

Week End Special

*Pepper Pot................... $10.00 *Pachonie...................... $10.00 *Ox Tail......................... $ *Soup..............................$

Snacks Egg Ball............................ $1.25 Cassava Ball........... 2 for $1.00 Fish Cake......................... $1.00 Phoulourie.............. 6 for $1.00 Chicken Patties............... $1.25

Pastries Cheese Roll...................... $1.00 Pinetart............................ $1.00 Chinee Cake.................... $1.00 Salara................................ $1.00 Sponge Cake.................... $1.50 Pone.................................. $1.50

Snacks Sugar Cakes..................... $1.50 Fudge................................ $1.50 Split Channa.................... $1.50 Whole Channa................ $1.50 Curma.............................. $1.50 Saltseao............................ $1.50 Plantain Chip.................. $1.50 Nut Crush........................ $1.50 Tamarind Balls....... 2 for $1.00

6

Caribbean Star Newspaper

November 27–December 3, 2015

Jumper was victim of depression

Restricted access for Kaieteur Falls …following suicide

T

he Kaieteur National Park authorities have decided to put temporary restrictions in place at the world famous Kaieteur Falls following a second suicide there in three months.

According to a press release from the Ministry of Tourism, while the park remains closed preparations are underway to reopen it with restricted access to various points until further notice.

The release stated that visitors will no longer be able to access the edge of the falls or the area where Roshanie Phagwah jumped from on Saturday.

While the body has not been found as yet, the pool at the base of the falls is being monitored by a team of Special Forces of the Guyana Defence Force and preparations have started to secure and extract the body once it becomes visible.

Roshanie Phagwah, at the home of Phagwah, called Trisha, her

mother was being consoled by relatives who had gathered. Her mother Indira Ramsundar, along with her aunt Oma Ramsundar who lives with them were in disbelief. “Since yesterday I am watching through the gate to see her walk in and let this feeling go away”, the aunt told Stabroek News.

The deeply anguished mother sat in a chair hugging a dress her daughter wore on Friday and held on to a picture as she wept bitterly over the loss of her only child.

Phagwah, who grew up with no father, left home on Saturday morning around 5 AM. “She knock on my room door and said mommy I am coming back around lunch,” the mother said as she spoke briefly to reporters.

Meanwhile, Gobin Harbhajan, a representative of the Prime Minister’s Office visited the deceased’s home yesterday and extended condolences to the mourning family on behalf of the

Indira Ramsundar (centre) speaking to Tourism Minister Cathy Hughes on the phone. At left is Gobin Harbhajan.

Government, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and the Minister of Tourism Cathy Hughes. Regional Executive Officer of Region 6 Veerasammy Ramayya also visited and extended condolences to the family. Hughes has promised to have a social worker visit the mother to offer counselling.

Neither the mother nor aunt could fathom why Phagwah took her own life. She had taken two weeks of sick leave from work at Guyana Power and Light. “She said she wasn’t feeling well and she took sick leave” the mother said when asked why she stayed home.

The mother added that during the two weeks her daughter was her normal self.

The family received the shattering message about her death from a relative who saw it online.

Phagwah had been working at the Guyana Power and Light Commercial Branch at New Amsterdam for the past five years as a clerk.

The Ministry of Tourism in its statement said that a team from the Guyana Police Force travelled to Kaieteur National Park yesterday as investigations continued into the suicide. The statement said that “The visitor was part a group that had just finished their tour of the Falls, and was being led back to her aircraft, when she turned and sprinted back towards the Falls, jumping into the gorge.

The pool at the base of the Falls is being monitored for signs of the visitor, while preparations have commenced to secure and extract the body, once it becomes visible.

This operation will be led by Special Forces of the Guyana Defence Force, due to the dangerous and extremely rugged terrain below the Falls”.

It added: “The Kaieteur National Park remains closed today, but preparations are underway to reopen the Park with restricted access to various points. Specifically, visitors will no longer be able to access the edge of the Falls or the area where the visitor jumped.

These restrictions will remain in place until further notice”.

The Ministry said it looks for-

ward to the cooperation of the general public with the new restrictions as it seeks permanent solutions to address this “disturbing trend of misusing the Falls.”

In September this year, Laleta Sivanand disappeared from her Kaieteur Falls tour party. Her body was later found at the base of the falls.

While most of the persons who were close to Phagwah are left without words and explanations as to why the young woman would want to take her life, one of her friends said he was not so surprised. “To be honest, I wasn’t so surprised. When I heard the whole thing circulating around social media that someone had jumped over Kaieteur Falls and she was from Canje, she just jumped to my mind,” the man said. He said that Phagwah would often upload photos on social media with very cryptic and emotional captions that would hint at her suffering from depression. He also said that while he was unaware of any problems she was going through in her life, her ex-boyfriend killed himself some five years ago which she never recovered from.

Just a day before the woman took her life she uploaded a picture to social media with the caption “Having it all & still feeling sad”.

20

Round Trip: $499 One Way: $285 Round Trip: $538 One Way: $243 “Book Immediately for the Best Deals”

Round Trip: $580

Caribbean Star Newspaper

November 27–December 3, 2015

7

Karma – the universal Law of cause and effect

Karma is one of the natural Laws of the mind, just as gravity is a law of matter. Just as God created gravity to bring order to the physical world, He created karma as a divine system of justice that is self – governing and infinitely fair. It automatically creates the appropriate future experience in response to the current action. Karma simply means “action” or “cause and effect”.

By PT Vikash Ramkissoon

W

hen something happens to us that are apparently unfortunate or unjust, it is not God punishing us. It is the result of our own past actions.

The first Hindu scriptures or the revealed Hindu texts, tell us that if we sow goodness we will reap goodness. If however, we sow evil we will reap only evil.

Thus we create our own destiny through our own thoughts and actions. The Gita explains this very clearly in sixth chapter 5th Verse, “ One should lift oneself by one’s own efforts and should not degrade oneself; for one’s own self is one’s own friend and one’s own self is one’s enemy.” We are the creator of our own destiny based on our actions. There is the complete absence of any devil’s temptations in this equation.

The divine law is; whatever Karma we are experiencing in our life is just what we need at the moment, and nothing can happen but what we have the strength to meet it. Even harsh Karma, when faced in wisdom, can be the greatest catalyst for spiritual growth. Understanding the way karma works, we seek t live a good and virtuous life through right thought, right speech and correct action. This is the basis of Dharma.

Karma is basically energy. I throw energy out through thoughts, words and deeds and it comes back to me in time, through other people. Karma is the best teacher, for we must always face the consequences of our actions and thus improve and refine our behavior, or suffer if we do not. We Hindus look at time as a circle, as things cycle around again. Pro-

fessor Einstein came to the same conclusion.

He saw time as a curve and space as well. This would eventually make a circle.

Karma is a very just law which, like gravity, treats everyone the same. We Hindus understand karma; we do not hate or resent people who do harm to us. We understand they are giving back the effects f the causes we set in motion at an earlier time. The law of Karma puts a man at the center of responsibility for everything he does and everything that is done to him.

Karma is a word that we hear plenty times on television and in the various media outlets. “This is my karma” or “it must have been something I did in my past life to bring such good Karma to me.” We hear Karma simply

being defined as, “What goes around comes around.”

Some look upon Karma as something bad – perhaps because we are most aware of this law when we are facing difficult karma, and I am not so sure of it when life is running smoothly. There is also other groups that equate karma with sin. Many misconstrued it to mean, “Fate.” Which implies a preordained destiny over which one has no control, this is also untrue.

The process of action and reaction on all levels—Physical, mental and spiritual- is karma. Here is an example I would like to share with you. I say kind words to you, and you feel peaceful and happy. I say harsh words to you and you became ruffled and upset. The kindness and harshness will return to me, through others at a later time. This is Karma. An architect thinks creative, productive thoughts will flow while drawing plans for a new building.

But were he to think destructive, unproductive thoughts he would soon not be able to accomplish any kind of positive task even if he desires to so. This is Karma, a natural law of the mind. We must also be very careful with our thoughts, because thoughts create and make karma—Good , bad and mixed.

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

8

G

November 27–December 3, 2015

Caribbean Star Newspaper

Guyana backs Sir Ron for Commonwealth SG post

UYANA will be throwing its full support behind Sir Ronald Sanders for the post of Commonwealth Secretary-General (SG) when leaders of the 53-member association meet at the biennial Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Malta on Friday.A new Secretary-General will be selected on Friday, the first day of the summit.

The sixth Commonwealth Secretary-General will take office on April 1, 2016.

Sir Ronald Sanders is currently Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the United States and the Organisation of American States (OAS) for Antigua and Barbuda.

Before that appointment, he was a Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, University of London in the UK and at Massey College, University of Toronto. He also served as an international business consultant and writer.

Current Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma is expected to demit office in April 2016 on the expiration of his second term in office.

Over the past few months, the

President David Granger

Sir Ronald Sanders Region has been giving informal consideration of several persons in the Region for the top post.

The only Caribbean national to hold the post of Commonwealth Secretary-General was former Attorney General and distinguished international public servant Sir Shridath Ramphal.

He served from 1975 to 1990.

Though there is not a consensus candidate for the Caribbean Region, the majority seem to be supporting Sir Ron, including President David Granger.

“I would like to formally state that Guyana has given its support to Sir Ronald Sanders to be Secretary-General. One of the pillars of the Caribbean Community is coordination of foreign policy and we had hoped by now that CARICOM would have agreed on a consensus candidate,” President Granger told the Guyana Chronicle.

Baroness Patricia Scotland

Mmasekgoa Masire-Mwamba.

While Guyana is rooting for Sir Ron, Barbados and Belize have indicated that they are supporting Baroness Patricia Scotland whose name was put forward by Dominica.

It appears that Barbados and Belize are holding heads together to facilitate a trade-off in relation to another key international post.

The Dominica-born Scotland has taken many by surprise as her career has been in London in law and British politics, most recently being Britain’s Attorney General under the Labour Government.

Although well liked as a person, her candidacy has been described as “tainted” by a number or influential regional political

and academic figures. This is because she is widely regarded as Britain’s candidate for the role, and damagingly there is also the view that she forfeited the Caribbean’s trust, when she supported Britain’s decision to invade Iraq.

It is also said that she did not do enough to support the Region as a Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister.

BROAD EXPERIENCE Sir Ron has the support of several Caribbean nations. Nominated by Antigua’s Prime Minister Gaston Brown, he has by far the broadest Commonwealth experience and background, having played a key role in Commonwealth affairs over many years, including in the Eminent Persons

Group that reported in 2011 on the future direction and reform of the organisation.

He is well known across the Region because of the sometimes forthright views expressed in his syndicated column. He is also well regarded in both the ‘new’ and the ‘old’ Commonwealth and has published many papers on the future of the organisation.

Academic, politician and former Minister of Planning and Economic Affairs under the People’s Partnership Government Dr Bhoe Tewarie, had been nominated by then Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar.

But his candidacy was withdrawn after Dr Keith Rowley swept to power in that country’s recent election.

Whoever becomes Commonwealth Secretary-General in See page 9

476.00 186.00 386.00 ONE WAY: 119.00 + Taxes

RETURN: 238.00 + Taxes

Caribbean Star Newspaper From page 8 2015, will be taking over at a time when the global strategic order is changing. There is a growing belief that with the right leadership and vision, the shared values that bind the Commonwealth will again become of global significance.

For this reason, when the Caribbean comes to decide, it would do well to select a candidate who is in touch with regional sentiment, can engage with the detail, has a known world view, is able to relate to all the nations of the Commonwealth, large and small, and is prepared to redefine its role as a stronger, more resilient and progressive organisation.

According to President Granger, based on the reputation Sir Ron has built himself over the last three decades, it is well known that he has a great concern for small states, which comprise the majority of the Commonwealth.

“We regard him as a friend of the Commonwealth and Guyana.

Small states expect to see the Secretary-General coming out in even greater support of smallstate security, climate change in small states and the economy of

trade and commerce.”

With Guyana being faced with a number of challenges, President Granger said the border controversy with Venezuela and the vulnerability of fluctuation and variations in the economic environment will be among the pressing issues the new Secretary- General will have to address.

Former Foreign Affairs Minister Mr Rashleigh Jackson has commended President Granger for supporting Sir Ron, and believes that the “majority of the Commonwealth will be supporting him.”

CONCERN While the majority in the Region seem to be behind Sir Ron, retired Guyanese diplomat Dr Odeen Ishmael is concerned that the Region has not decided on a single candidate.

This, he said can signal to the other Commonwealth nations that there is division in CARICOM, which can influence them to give their support to Botswana’s candidate Mmasekgoa Masire-Mwamba.

Masire-Mwamba perhaps leads the field, as the “safe” candidate.

With considerable experience in

November 27–December 3, 2015

business (including as Chief Executive Officer of the Botswana Export Development and Investment Authority), she served two terms as a Deputy Secretary-General under Kamalesh Sharma, with responsibility for many of the secretariat’s activities.

According to one opinion writer, as the insider candidate, she starts with the advantage of wide contacts within the Commonwealth. As a woman, she would be an appropriate choice for an organisation that has long stressed the empowerment of women as key to development and the building of stable democracies.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister of St Kitts-Nevis Dr Timothy Harris has called on the leaders of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) to move the programme forward with respect to deciding on a single candidate.

This is important, he said to avoid setting a dangerous precedent “where any island, any member of CARICOM could go on its own personal agenda which makes it ever so difficult whenever we need to leverage the collective strength of the region”.

Stole twice

from the same house?

F

OUR days after being granted bail for allegedly stealing from his neighbour's house, Devanne Timothy Din Din was back before the court on a charge of larceny at the same house.

Din Din was sent to St Ann's Psychiatric Hospital for evaluation.

It was last Thursday he appeared before the San Fernando First Court charged the previous day he stole $64,000 from the dwelling house of a man.

Din Din, 24, of Debe, said he was not guilty and was granted $75,000 surety bail. His father stood his bail.

Yesterday, Din Din was back at the San Fernando Magistrates' Court.

Even before the charge was read, defence attorney Shaun Teekasingh petitioned the court to have Din Din sent to St Ann's for evaluation. He said he attempted to get information from his client, but this was “haphazard”.

Magistrate Margaret Alert asked whether the charging officer had similar difficulties.

Police prosecutor Sgt Chanadrath Jhilmit confirmed Const Bissoon did when he conversed with Din Din. Din Din, who faced his second charge of larceny at a dwelling house after $1,500 was allegedly taken on Saturday from the mother of the first alleged victim, was remanded to St Ann's for observation and a report.

He was ordered to return to court on December 7.

Simple actions often speak the loudest.

Together let’s create a plan that can help you fill your retirement with the things you love.

Indra Puran, CLTC, LUTCF Agent New York Life Insurance Company 420 Lexington Avenue 14th & 15th fl.

New York, NY 10170 (646) 266 5416 lpuran@ft.newyorklife.com http//:www.indrapuran.nylagents.com

© 2015 New York Life Insurance Company, 51 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10010 Keep Good Going™ is a trademark of New York Life Insurance Company, all rights reserved.

Life Insurance. Retirement. Investments.

9

Registered Representatives offering investments through NYLIFE Securities LLC (Member FINRA/SIPC), A Licensed Insurance Agency.

SMRU1614160(Exp.08.07.2016)

GOOD

10

Caribbean Star Newspaper Sugar workers strike for three days over API talks stalemate November 27–December 3, 2015

A

number of sugar workers downed tools on Saturday last for three days in response to the corporation’s refusal of their union’s proposed Annual Production Incentive (API).

After meeting on Friday, the second time for the week, the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) and the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) were unable to come to a consensus in relation to the API. Head of the union Komal Chand told Stabroek News yesterday that the two parties were very far apart as it relates to what constitutes a day’s pay.

He said the corporation is advocating that 85,000 tonnes of sugar should equal a day’s pay, while the union had proposed 32,500 tonnes. The union has since proposed a day’s pay be set at 37,125 tonnes, which Chand said has been the average since 2011.

Given the 2015 production target of 227,443 tonnes of sugar GuySuCo is advocating for 2.6 days’ pay while the union is requesting 6 days.

Chand said GuySuCo’s counter that “this is very high,” was “ridiculous” noting that the corporation met the union on Friday after stating its positon on Wednesday, but offered no room for negotiation.

In 2014, API was settled at 4.5 days’ pay, which was worth roughly 48,000 tonnes of sugar per day. In 2013, the

union and the corporation agreed to 5 days’ pay which was just over 37,000 tonnes of sugar per day. The total payout in 2013 for API was $375 million.

In addition, GuySuCo has quietly reduced the 2015 production target from the 241,503 tonnes mark to 227,443 tonnes.

Chand said GuySuCo also told the union that not only was it rejecting the proposal, but that the corporation would not be paying API until March next year. The union head said that on hearing this, workers downed their tools.

He stated that this action was initiated at the workers’ level. The only estates that did not see strike action were Albion and Wales, however the latter has finished grinding for the second crop. Chand revealed that factory workers at Uitvlugt participated in the strike action, even though the factory is not grinding and only maintenance work is being done.

Chand said workers at Enmore participated in the industrial action over all three days commencing on Saturday and ending.

Last week, Chand and General Secretary of the union Seepaul Narine both told Stabroek News that they were respecting the corporation’s request to not ventilate the ongoing negotiations in the media.

YULINI TRAVEL AGENCY

HOLIDAY PACKAGES-CRUISES-DOMESTIC & INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL-CAR RENTALS

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK

GUYANA RT taxes included

$386.00

GUYANA

Book Now For Summer 2015!

Caribbean Airlines Non-Stop To Guyana Daily!

one way starting at

$186.00 taxes included

TRINIDAD

RT taxes included

$342.00

TRINIDAD ONE WAY

$146.00 taxes included

TAXES INCLUDED IN ALL FARES ALL FEARS ARE BASE ON AVAILABILITY AND ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICES *

Call Now To Book Your Flight

718-925-0600 104-11 122 St. Richmond Hill, NY 11419 (Behind Rite Aid)

Narine had stated that the corporation was very concerned that the union was “bargaining” through the press.

“They are taking advantage now man.

Forcing we hand,” one sugar worker told Stabroek News. He said once the gangs were made to understand from their union representatives what GuySuCo’s stance was after Friday’s API meeting, frustration among workers was “boiling over.”

He expressed anger that the corporation was praising the work being done and targets being exceeded, but showing a lack of appreciation for the workers.

GuySuCo’s stance as it relates to API does not bode well for future wage talks that are yet to commence as the corporation was adamant that no wage talks or collective bargaining would commence until the findings of the Commission of Inquiry into the industry

have been made public.

The union is currently asking for a 9% raise in wages. Chand had additionally said that while the findings of the Commis-sion of Inquiry into the industry are extremely relevant, the report should not be the reason for infringing the Trade Union Recogni-tion Act. “We have expressed a lot of tolerance.

This is the first time we have reached the month of November and we have not started talks,” Chand had previously told this publication. GAWU’s wage-increase proposal was submitted since March.

To date the CoI report remains with the Minister of Agriculture and members of the cabinet who are to discuss and then pronounce on the findings after a government retreat on November 28. The report was handed over to the ministry on October 20.

Pomona porter remanded over rape charge

A

Pomona, Essequibo Coast man was remanded to prison when he appeared before the Charity Magistrate’s Court, charged with raping a woman.

Leson Jason Gilkes, 28, called ‘Red Man’, a porter, was not required to plead to the indictable charge read to him which stated that on November 18, on the Essequibo Coast, he engaged in sexual penetration of a woman without her consent.

It is the police’s case that on the day in question, the victim was asleep when she felt a hand on her face. She opened her eyes and saw the accused. She was ordered to be quiet and complied. The accused then had sexual intercourse with her for 8 to 9 minutes without her consent, after which he escaped.

According to information received by this publication, the woman alerted neighbours and Gilkes was caught and beaten and later handed over to the police. The man sustained injuries to his left hand and was hospitalized.

Attorney Latchmie Dindyal who represented the accused, asked for reasonable bail stating that Gilkes had no antecedents and was not a flight risk.

However, Prosecutor Ramsahoye Rambajue objected to bail citing the nature of the offence and the fact that the rape victim, who is six months pregnant is currently hospitalized and in danger of losing her child. He also stated that Gilkes had given the police his address as Reliance Essequibo Coast and if granted bail, he may not return to court.

When asked by Magistrate Sunil Scarce why he gave a different address to the police, an emotional Gilkes who stood in the prisoners’ dock said he was confused at the time of his arrest.

“Sir, this is just a embarrassment for me and my family,” the man said.

Bail was refused and the man was remanded to prison until December 16 when the matter is expected to be called at the Anna Regina Magistrates Court.

November 27–December 3, 2015 Caribbean Star Newspaper Accused get 81 years each for Robb St granny murder

O

rwin and Cleon Hinds, Kevin October and Roy Jacobs were yesterday each sentenced to 81 years in jail for the murder of 72-yearold Clementine Fiedtkou-Parris, who was gunned down at her Robb Street, Georgetown home just over four years ago.

The men, who continued to maintain their innocence in the crime, were sentenced by Justice Navindra Singh after a jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts at the conclusion of their trial at the High Court, in Georgetown.

The charge against them stated that on June 30th, 2011, they murdered the elderly woman, pursuant to an arrangement whereby money was intended to pass from one person to another. Orwin Hinds and October repeatedly shook their heads in disbelief after learning their fate. They muttered to themselves as they sat in the prisoner’s dock, gazing at the roof in apparent shock.

When given a chance to speak before being sentenced, the convicts all fumed about being convicted for an offence they knew nothing about, while maintaining their innocence.

Orwin Hinds, who celebrated his birthday yesterday, angrily argued that apart from him saying that he was innocent of the charge, his ex-girlfriend had also testified that he was at home with her at the time of the murder.

In mitigation, his attorney George Thomas said that Hinds had no previous antecedents. He begged the court for a minimum sentence and informed that his client was celebrating his birthday.

Hinds’ ex-girlfriend, Adel Campbell, had testified that on the night of the murder, he was at home with her after they both attended a birthday lime. Ac-

Clementine Fiedtkou-Parris Orwin Hinds cording to her, he was in her company all night.

October, meanwhile, questioned the possibility of him being able to commit the crime. His alibi was that he was in police custody when the crime was committed. He argued that the prosecution failed to disprove his claim that he was in custody at that time.

Referring to one of the police witnesses called by the state, October said that the witness testified that he was indeed in custody on the morning of June 30th, 2011.

“A check of the records would have shown that,” October argued.

His foster sister, Susan Weeks, had testified on his behalf that she had taken meals for him that morning at the lock-ups and that he was in police custody that entire day.

October’s lawyer, Moti Singh, also begged the court for a minimum sentence for his client.

However, rebutting October’s alibi, prosecutor Teshanna James-Lake had argued during the trial that while he was in custody in the morning, “he was on the road by the night of June 30th, 2011 to do his crime.”

The elderly woman was gunned down on that night at her Lot 42 Robb Street, Georgetown home.

Cleon Hinds

Kevin October

For his part, Cleon Hinds, 38, said that he was just picked-up by the police and slapped with the charge although he knew nothing about it. His attorney, Raymon Ali, asked for a minimum sentence as well. Jacobs too said that he knew nothing about the charge.

His attorney, Maxwell McKay, was absent when the verdicts were returned.

Thomas, however, begged for the minimum sentence for Jacobs also.

When asked whether the state had anything to say before the sentencing, Lake noted that, “the jury has spoken and the state would be guided by whatever sentence the court imposes.”

In handing down sentence, Justice Singh explained that irrespective of the roles each person would have played in the commission of the crime, they would each be sentenced to same amount of years behind bars. This, he said, is because the law views them as being equally liable, since they operated as parties of one common joint-enterprise plan.

Justice Singh commenced the sentence at a base of 60 years. He then added 10 years each for premeditation and the fact that the murder was executed for payment. One additional year was added because a firearm was used in the commission of the offence.

Roy Jacobs

Justice Singh noted the prevalence with which offences are being committed involving the use of guns.

The judge said that the convicts will become eligible for parole only after they would have spent 45 years behind bars.

Visibly overcome with emotion, relatives of the four men who could not contain themselves, had to leave the courtroom as their cries grew louder and louder. One woman who wailed loudly after hearing that the men had been convicted, left even before the sentences were passed.

As they made their way out of the courtroom, the disappointed convicts murmured among themselves. A visibly angry Orwin Hinds appeared quite agitated as a relative admonished him to “be strong.”

Before exiting the courtroom, Jacobs, in a barely audible tone, ranted towards Justice Singh that it was unfair that he had been convicted, and that God was his judge. “God is in charge though, and he’s me judge,” Jacobs declared.

Chaos broke out among relatives of the convicts on the corridors outside as they were being escorted from the courtroom under heavy police guard.

Attorneys Thomas and Singh sig-

11

naled their intention to appeal.

According to Lake, police investigations had led to Orwin, October, Cleon and Jacobs being arrested and charged.

The state in its closing addresses to the jury on Monday morning argued that the men were each responsible for the woman’s death. The prosecutor had argued further that the caution statements, which the accused gave, were freely and voluntarily provided by them.

The Hinds brothers and Jacobs had testified in their defence that they were badly beaten to sign statements prepared by the police. They claimed that they were in pain and afraid and, as a result, signed the documents.

Lake said that during police investigations, the men “sang like canaries.

They talked themselves into jail.”

The prosecutor also said that as they spoke to investigators, what the men did not know, was that it was immaterial whether each would have actually been the “triggerman or not.”

“They clearly did not know how the law operates,” Lake declared, while explaining to the jury that they each would be regarded as operating as part of a “joint enterprise,” irrespective of who actually did the shooting.

The evidence led at the trial included a statement from the dead woman’s brother, Fitzroy Fiedtkou, (who is also now deceased), who had identified Jacobs as the shooter.

Lake had argued during the trial that the evidence in the state’s case against the men was “overwhelming, cogent and compelling,” while adding that the state had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt.

The trial commenced on November 2nd and saw 28 state witnesses taking the stand.

12

November 27–December 3, 2015

Caribbean Star Newspaper

November 27–December 3, 2015 13 Caribbean Star Newspaper City collected $174M in rates for October - amnesty ends November 30

T

he Mayor and City Council (M&CC) collected in excess of $174 million in rates during the month of October, almost three times the $59 million collected for the corresponding period in 2014.

This is according to a report from the City Treasurer’s Department made public at Monday statutory meeting.

The increase in revenue, according to Town Clerk Royston King is a direct result of the amnesty and the public confidence in the council’s ability to deliver to taxpayers the services due.

Speaking on the amnesty, Counsellor Junior Garret explained that the coun-

cil has been able to collect in excess of $561 million over the almost three months it has been in effect.

On September 1, M&CC began offering property owners of Georgetown an amnesty on the interest accumulated on property rates owed to the council. The amnesty, which was originally offered from the Septem-ber 1 to 30, provides those who are in arrears with the M&CC an opportunity to clear their debt.

In September, the amnesty was able to generate $320 million. Amid complaints about the inefficiency of the City Treasurer’s Department a deci-

sion was taken to extend the amnesty to October 31. A further extension was granted, according to Public Relations Officer Debra Lewis, as a direct result of the overwhelming res-ponse of residents, the request by several residents to afford them an opportunity to obtain documents such as proof of ownership as well as the inability of several residents, mostly pensioners, to raise the principal. This extension, which the M&CC said is the last, comes to an end on November 30.

Under the amnesty, residential property owners have a 100% waiver on the interest of the rates they owe to the

council while commercial and corporate property owners are offered a 50% to 75% waiver, dependent on special circumstances.

A committee of counsellors led by Garret continues to meet commercial property owners to determine the extent of the amnesty to be offered them.

According to M&CC’s records 23% ($40 million) of the generated revenue has been used to pay wages and salaries.

King explained that the majority of the collected revenue is being filtered back into the community through the massive desilting and community lead clean-up campaign currently underway.

On November 6, the council launched a project designed to engender ownership among members of the communities within Georgetown.

This project employs members of the community as part of an initiative to keep their community clean. Fifty groups of young people were engaged to begin cleaning and to maintain the cleanliness of their surroundings.

According to reports made to the statutory meeting it is expected that each of these projects will cost roughly $1.5 million for a total of $75 million, while a sum of $80 million has been set aside for the cleaning of Le Repentir Cemetery.

Castello man stabbed to death in Albouystown

T

he police say that investigations are being conducted into the killing of Troy Brutus, 37 years, of Castello Housing Scheme, Georgetown, which occurred at about 1930h. last night at Garnett Street, Albouystown.

Investigations have revealed that Brutus, who was armed with a cutlass and a knife, attacked a man at Garnett Street and chopped him to his hand and face.

The police say that the man, however, managed to take away the knife from Brutus and stabbed him about his body.

He was pronounced dead on arrival at the GPHC. The suspect has been arrested and has been admitted to the GPHC where he is under police guard.

ADVERTISE

IN CARIBBEAN STAR Newspaper

CALL

347 759 3934

14

Caribbean Star Newspaper

November 27–December 3, 2015

ISLAM Peace / submission to the will of our creator.

So which of the favors of your lord will you deny? (Surah Rahman) Evolutionists believe that the earth, the universe, the stars and all living things are a result of chance. Those who say this say the same about our eyes.

They say, “The eyes occurred by themselves and through coincidence.” Can such a complex and wonderful system form by itself?

Let us give an example to clarify how ridiculous this opinion is: Engineers have manufactured the photographic and video cameras by copying the human eye. However, none of this equipment gives as clear a view as your eyes do. Now lift your head from the page and look around you. Isn’t your vision clear? There is no blur, snowy dots or missing lines in your vision. Now look at your screen.

Quite often, you see snowy dots or skipped lines in the image.

Even when these do not happen and even with all the new technology, screens still do not produce the perfect images that your eyes do.

Now, let us think for a moment. This means that our eyes are a lot more advanced and are of better quality than any video or photographic camera or television. What would you do if someone came up to you and said something like the following?

“There was a storm that caused some electrical cables, screws, hammers, screwdrivers to fly out the door and windows, to fly out of the house, and then all of them got together in the backyard. Then there was some rain and thunder and these things were mixed with the soil.

Some time passed and I saw a television set emerge. I picked it up and brought it home.”

Our bodies are perfect organisms that allow us to live on earth in comfort, to run and play, to read and write and, in short, they let us perform every task. These organisms are so wonderful that one cannot make anything that resembles them even with the most advanced technology.

How much do you know about this body of yours, which works non-stop and repairs itself when

it runs down?

Our Hearts For us, our heart is an essential organ. It beats about seventy-two times per minute and about forty million times per year. To understand what a tiring activity this is, just make a fist with your hand and then relax it, and continue making a fist and relaxing it. How many minutes do you think you will be able to keep this up?

Your heart, which is about the size of your fist, continues this action throughout your life without becoming tired or even stopping once. Our hearts don’t stop even while we are asleep.

If we become excited, our heart beats faster, and it beats slower while we rest. Our heart makes all these adjustments automatically while we are totally unaware.

Every time our heart beats, it pumps blood around our bodies.

What we need to survive is in this blood. Every one of our cells receives the necessary oxygen and food they need from the blood. Our heart pumps about 43,000 liters (approx. 11,000 gallons) of blood per day. Do you know just how much blood this means? This is about enough to fill 150 bathtubs. Wouldn’t you become tired if you tried to empty a single bathtub full of water with just a cup? Now imagine having to empty 150 bathtubs of water with just a single cup. Probably you wouldn’t have been able to accomplish such a difficult task. However, our heart does such a task and has done so since the day we were born and will continue to do so until the day we die. Moreover, it never takes a break. You, for example, would take a break while doing a difficult chore.

You would probably need to lie down, or take a rest, but our hearts don’t become tired, because they are essential for our survival. It is small but its task is enormous. This is why Allah has created it in such a way that it never tires.

Our Eyes Every object in the world reflects and emits light on to

its surroundings. For instance, while you are looking at this, the light reflected and emitted is going to the back of your eye through your pupil.

This light, after going through a series of processes at the back of your eye, turns into an electrical signal. This electrical signal goes to your brain. At the back of your brain is the center of vision that makes it possible for you to see. The center of vision is a small area. This is the tiny area where the electrical signals form the image and that is when you see this reading.

Even trying to explain these processes as briefly as possible takes such a long time, whereas the process is instantaneous.

These processes happen so fast that when you look at the book, at that instant you are able to see it.

Isn’t it such a perfect system?

Our Ears Allah has created our ears perfectly just like our eyes.

Imagine a stereo, for instance.

Even if you turn on the best of stereos, you hear some crackling and hissing sounds. Radio channels often become mixed up.

Right now, do not talk! but just listen! Do you hear any hissing?

Your ears never produce any.

You hear the sounds marvelously clearly. Well don’t you think that your ears could also have produced crackling just like stereos? Allah has created our ears perfectly and we are able to hear the sounds around us without experiencing any distortion.

Allah has created our ears in such a way that we are unable to hear certain sounds that would disturb us. The blood in our body, for instance, flows very fast and it makes a lot of noise during its circulation. However, our ears do not hear the noise that it makes. Our planet also produces quite a strong noise while it spins. Nevertheless, Allah has created our ears so ideally that we don’t hear this noise. Allah is very caring towards us. This is the reason why, throughout our lives, He doesn’t let us hear noises that will disturb us. This is why we have to

thank Allah for His benevolence.

Haroun Yahya And if you were to count Allah’s favors, you would not be able to number them; most surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. [Sūrah al-Nahl: 18] Our lives are a continuous succession of Allah’s gifts. Many people, due to their outlook on life or their circumstances, fail to see that they are receiving Allah’s bounty. Allah has made it clear that we will never be able to count all of His blessings upon us, since they are innumerable.

This statement is found elsewhere in the Qur’an, emphasizing humanity’s ungratefulness and heedlessness of Allah’s blessings: “If you were to count Allah’s favors, you would not be able to number them; most surely humanity is very unjust, very ungrateful.” [Sūrah Ibrāhīm: 34] Even if we entertain the idea that the blessings Allah bestows upon any one of us is some finite number, that number would not take into account all of the misfortunes that Allah withholds from us, though He certainly tries some of His servants with those misfortunes. Then there are all the blessings Allah has bestowed upon our predecessors, our contemporaries, and our descendants and on the incalculable aspects of creation upon which our lives depend.

Allah reminds us: “And whatever good thing you enjoy, it is from Allah. Then, when misfortune reaches you, you cry out to Him for help.” [Sūrah al-Nahl: 53] We should look at ourselves and the way we behave towards Allah’s blessings. Do we use them in obedience to His commands? Do we realize that Allah has a right over us in everything that He gives us? If we are blessed with wealth, the poor have a right in it. If we are blessed with health and strength, the weak and the infirm have a right in it.

If we are blessed with knowledge, then those who are in want of knowledge have a right in it. For every ability that we

are blessed with, those who are unable have some right in it.

We must praise Allah for empowering us to do that which others are incapable of doing.

Part of the thanks we owe Allah is to give something of whatever we are blessed with to those who cannot do for themselves.

We should remember that every blessing we enjoy would inevitably end. We will lose the blessing some day in our lives, or we will depart this life and leave that blessing behind.

Another part of our gratitude to Allah is to serve Him with what He gives us and to use what we have in ways that are lawful and pleasing to Him. We should not be like Pharaoh.

Some wise people advised him: “Do not exult. Surely Allah does not love the exultant.” [Sūrah al-Qasas: 76] Pharaoh replied: “I have been given this only on account of the knowledge I have.”

So Allah tells us: “Did he not know that Allah had destroyed of the generations before him those who were mightier in strength than he and greater in assemblage? And the guilty need not be asked about their sins.”

[Sūrah al-Qasas: 78] We often do not notice a blessing that we have until we lose that blessing or are threatened with its loss. How many of our faculties, our limbs, and our talents do we take for granted? These are but some of the blessings in our own bodies.

How many blessings surround us, in our families, our friends, our work, the status we enjoy, the connections we have, even our hopes and our dreams?

Even the world on which we live is a blessing, how it possesses everything needed for life to thrive. How many other planets do we see and are still discovering in the heavens, some approximating our Earth in size, some smaller, some many times larger, but we find them to be sterile, hostile, unaccommodating worlds.

Praise be to Allah, who possesses all things and who gives to whomsoever he wills.

November 27–December 3, 2015 15 Caribbean Star Newspaper Cuban Medical Brigade ‘saves’ over 4,000 lives — during first half of 2015

T

HE Cuban Medical Brigade in Guyana has been credited with ‘saving’ 4,143 lives during the first six months of 2015 under the Cuban Comprehensive Health Project which is being rolled out simultaneously with the Operation Miracle Project at the Port Mourant Ophthalmology Centre. This is according to head of the Cuban Medical Brigade, Midalys Otero Hernandez who spoke with the Guyana Chronicle during an exclusive interview.

“During the first six months of this current year our Cuban Medical Brigade has treated an amount of 208,596 patients by

different specialists, and surgeons have treated 6,605 patients, being 4,143 lives saved,” Hernandez said.

She said the Cuban Brigade, which is made up of 85 doctors and 33 nurses, has been working hand-in-hand with Guyanese doctors and nurses in seven regions.

“We work together with the Ministry of Public Health of Guyana promoting the international dates of the health system; we organise health activities and guide Guyanese people towards the education and prevention of health affectations.

“We take part together with the Guya-

nese medical staff in outreaches in distant places, this task our collaborators do with happiness; motivated, they are not afraid of tiredness.”

According to Hernandez, “they only do that to increase and support Guyana’s people health indicators.”

On the international stage, 325,710 collaborators are offering their service in 158 countries while 50,281 Cuban health professionals are operating in 68 nations.

The Cuban Medical School annually graduates more than 68,000 foreign students from 157 countries

Head of the Cuban Medical Brigade Midalys Otero Hernandez GUYANA’S SOLIDARITY AND COURAGE Cuba remembers the act of solidarity and courage shown by Guyana and three other independent countries in 1972. It has consistently forged and strengthened its relations with Guyana through cooperation agreements in the areas of health, education, culture, sport and agriculture, among others. Guyana has been receiving Cuban medical personnel since 1978. The Cubans have provided healthcare and services to Guyanese at home and to those who have travelled to Cuba for specialist treatment at little or no cost. Guyana has the largest contingent of scholarship students from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) studying in Cuba.

The Operation Milagro Programme and the three diagnostic centres in different regions of Guyana perhaps best illustrate the value of the relationship.

Ed Ahmad sentencing deferred

G

uyana-born US businessman Edul Ahmad who pleaded guilty in 2012 to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and wire fraud will not be sentenced on January 15, 2016 as originally announced.

According to court documents filed, due to an oversight, US Probation Officer John Lanigan was not notified to prepare the offence conduct section for the presentence report (PSR) until October 9, 2015. While the presentence interview has now been done more information is required to complete the PSR and the relevant US court officer will not be available until November 30. The Probation Department therefore requested an adjournment of the sentencing date for four weeks and this request was granted by the judge. A new date is to be set.

ADVERTISE

IN CARIBBEAN STAR Newspaper

CALL

347 759 3934

16

Caribbean Star Newspaper

November 27–December 3, 2015

EU team to lobby gov’t, judiciary on abolishing death penalty

A

team from the European Union (EU) Delegation in Guyana will tomorrow be meeting with government and the judiciary to discuss Guyana’s need to join with other countries worldwide in abolishing the death penalty.

Derek Lambe, Head of Political, Press and Infor-mation Section of the EU Delegation, told Stabroek News that dialogue will be held with Minister State Joseph Harmon at the Ministry of Presidency and also with the acting Chancellor of the Judiciary Justice Carl Singh.

According to Lambe, this will present an opportunity to lobby the government and get a sense of how it views the issue.

Lambe said that one of main messages that will be put to government during the dialogue is that historically in countries, particularly those in Europe, it was political leadership which abolished the death penalty in the “face of public support” for it. He said that once the political leadership had abolished the death penalty, “public opinion then followed” and came in favour of abolition.

The death penalty is still on Guyana’s law books though only for certain categories of murder. The last execution was done in 1997 and prisoners on death row have successfully applied to the court to have their sentences com-

muted to life in prison.

The Delegation of the EU and the British High Commission in cooperation with the International Commission against the Death Penalty are hosting a Caribbean Conference on the Abolition of the Death Penalty in Guyana, which will conclude today.

The Conference began last evening with an opening ceremony. Today’s programme includes three panel discussions—“Death Penalty in the Caribbean,” “Experiences of the other countries in the abolition of the death penalty,” and “Death penalty as a deterrent: Does it work?” The panelists include lawyers, human rights activists and death penalty advocates.

In a press release, the EU Delegation said that participants in the conference represent the whole Caribbean region as well as other parts of the world, demonstrating that there is a strong and continuing trend towards the abolition of the death penalty in all regions of the world and that it is time for the Caribbean region to join this trend and become a death penalty free zone.

The release said during the discussions, various compelling reasons for the abolition of the death penalty are to be highlighted, including the ever-present risk of executing innocent people that exists in any justice system; the arbitrary application of the death pen-

Derek Lambe alty; the incompatibility of the death penalty with human rights and human dignity; and the ineffectiveness of the death penalty in deterring crime.

The release informed that the European Union is the world’s leading institutional actor in the fight against the death penalty and its action in this area represents “a key priority of its external human rights policy.” It was stated that experience in Europe and other parts of the world has taught that the death penalty does not prevent an increase in violent crime, nor does it bring justice to the victims of such crimes.

The International Com-mission against the Death Penalty (ICDP) was established on October 7, 2010 and is

Registered :- October 21st 1998

Dr. Ravideen Ramsamooj. Phd. Trained Music Teacher.

currently composed of 17 Commissioners who are persons of high international standing from all regions of the world and who act with total independence and neutrality, the release said, while adding that ICDP opposes the death penalty under any circumstances, “believing that it violates the right to life enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.”

It said that the work of the Commission is supported by a diverse group of 18 states from all regions of the world that are committed to abolition of the death penalty. Its secretariat is based in Madrid.

“The death penalty undermines human dignity and violates the right to life proclaimed by the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and that it should never be used–regardless of the circumstances. The death penalty is the ultimate denial of human rights–it is cruel, morally wrong, violates basic human rights and harms society. The death penalty is inherently wrong and fundamentally flawed. Murder is wrong, whether committed by an individual or the state. Imposition of the death penalty contravenes the right to life and the right not to be subjected to cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment. Any miscarriage of justice–which is inevitable in any legal system–could lead to innocent persons being killed and is irreversible,” the release added.

Pta. Bharati Ramsamooj. B.A. Trained Hindi Teacher.

Our Mission

To promote East Indian Culture and Spiritual awareness through Music, Language, and other Art Forms.

We are committed to helping our students raise their level of ethical and moral consciousness so that they are better prepared to meet the challenges of the society in which they live.

SNAP for more info.

• • • • •

Classes are available for the following:-

Classical Vocal.

Bhajans.

Ghazals.

Geets.

Folk & light genres.

• • • • •

Tabla.

Harmonium.

Violin.

Flute.

Sarangi.

• • • •

Sarod.

Sitar.

Hindi.

Sanskrit.

718-738-7836

Visit us at www.eima.us

• Moral education - teachings from the • Vedas.

• Upanishads.

• Bhagavad Gita.

• Ramayan.

Caribbean Star Newspaper

November 27–December 3, 2015

17

VACANCY MONDAY TO FRIDAY 9A – 4PM

SUMMIT SECURITY SERVICES INC. 16 W. 36TH STREET, 3RD FLOOR NEW YORK, NY 10018

MUST BRING: NYS DMV ID/ DRIVER LICENSE NYS GUARD LICENSE- ENTRY LEVEL OKAY

SECURITY OFFICERS NEEDED FOR QUEENS / NASSAU BORDER (FLORAL PARK) IMMEDIATE OPENINGS- FLEXIBLE WORKING HOURS DAYS /EVENINGS / WEEKENDS MUST BE AT LEAST 18 YEAR OLD

• EMPLOYEE BENEFITS • UNIFORMS PROVIDED • MEDICAL BENEFITS • PAID TIME OFF

212-730-4600

• DIRECT DEPOSIT • INCENTIVE PROGRAMS • PAID HOLIDAYS • REFERRAL BONUS PROGRAM

18

Caribbean Star Newspaper

November 27–December 3, 2015

HAPPY

ThanksGiving From

and Kevin Kleens Powerwashing

Caribbean Star Newspaper

November 27–December 3, 2015

19

THE ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE “It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O Most High: To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night.” Psalm 92:1-2

T

he story is told by Pastor Steve Shepherd of a 12 year old boy named David who was born without an immune system. He underwent a bone marrow transplant in order to correct the deficiency. Up to that point he had spent his entire life in a plastic bubble in order to prevent exposure to common germs, bacteria, and viruses that could kill him.

He lived without ever knowing human contact. When asked what he’d like to do if and when released from his protective bubble, he replied, “I want to walk barefoot on grass, and touch my mother’s hand.” This story illustrates how things we take for granted are precious to some people. We need to stop ever so often and think how blessed we are, then express thankfulness to God.

thankful for small blessings such as warm clothing, a warm home, daily provision of food, a friend, our job or business, healing when we are sick, sound sleep, and so much more. We sure are thankful we are still in the land of the living. We thank God for our family – loved ones that surround us with comfort and support. It is a real joy to have little children playing, parents to care for us, siblings to have fun with and help us with our work. Our Pastor and church family are important to us. What can you thank God for?

Can you think of something you are thankful for?

Can you think about something specific you can say “thank you” to God for? We may not have everything we dream of, yet we have sufficient to go on. I came across an anonymous free verse that goes like this: “If you have food in your fridge, clothes on your back, a roof over your head and a place to sleep you are richer than 75% of the world.

If you have money in the bank, your wallet, and some spare change you are among the top 8% of the world’s wealthy.

If you woke up this morning with more health than illness you are more blessed than the million people who will not survive this week.

If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the agony of imprisonment or torture, or the horrible pangs of starvation you are luckier than 500 million people alive and suffering.

If you can read this message you are more fortunate than 3 billion people in the world who cannot read it at all.”

Gratitude is an attitude of the heart.

A thankful heart or, as they say, an attitude of gratitude comes out of a heart that recognizes our needs and the One who satisfies those needs. We cannot make it on our own. God cares for us and our gratitude will strengthen our relationship with Him. A thankful heart will enjoy prayer and singing praises. On the other hand, a complaining attitude will dim our vision to Him and cause everything around us to appear dark and taste sour. A complaining spirit arises when we compare ourselves with others. We must never compare ourselves with other people. We might think we are entitled to special treatment and someone is either cheating us or we are not getting what we deserve. In truth and in fact, we won’t want what we really deserve. God in great mercy withholds what we deserve for our sins and in great grace He offers us what we don’t deserve – His love and goodness. By complaining, we challenge God’s sovereignty, spoil our own testimony of God’s power, and can possibly cause disharmony among brethren. We ought to be thankful for what we have and not complain about what we don’t have. We are not merely surviving, but with life, we have hope and ambition. Things will get better if we confidently trust God and be thankful for what He has given us.

The least among us can thank God for something.

We don’t have to wait for really big things to come our way that would make life better in some way. We must be

We must be thankful for salvation.

Regardless of our estate of worldly possessions, we have a wonderful gift that money cannot buy. God has provided the greatest gift for us in Je-

sus Christ. Just think how filthy in sin we were in the sight of a holy God. He has not rejected us, but He loved us in our sinful state and gave His Son to pay the price of our sins. There is no other way to obtain salvation and eternal life. Jesus is not one of many ways back to God. Jesus is the only way! The Bible says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” John 3:16-17. Jesus declared, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 14:6. The gospel produces changed lives. Our hearts are at peace with God through Jesus Christ.

Preacher Gypsy Smith tells of walking in the Scotland streets and feeling a tug at his sleeves. He turned and saw a little girl in rags, holding something wrapped in dirty paper. “What is it, my dear?” “I want you to have my candy.”

“Why?” “Oh, sir, because we have a new daddy at home. He was never sober, but last Saturday, he was sober because he sat in your meeting, and now he is so wonderful at home.” Gypsy Smith took her and the candy and hugged her, with tears down his eyes. The little girl was so grateful for “a new daddy” that she was willing to give up her candy which was precious to a child. How can we express our thankfulness for God’s love and power to change our lives?

A right attitude will open our eyes to God’s goodness.

We have so much whereas others have so little. How much He has blessed us!

How little we express our gratitude to Him! Hear the story of a little six year old boy who was invited out to lunch in a neighbor’s home. When all were seated at the table the food was served. The little boy was puzzled, and with the frankness of a child, asked the host: “Don’t you say any prayer before you eat?” The host was highly embarrassed over the boy’s blunt inquiry, and mumbled, “No, we don’t take time for that.” The boy was silent for a little and then said, “You’re just like my dog.

You start right in.”

Be thankful to God and take your family to church this weekend. Happy Thanksgiving!

Pastor Haniff Bacchus Calvary Assembly

of God

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

20

November 27–December 3, 2015

Caribbean Star Newspaper

Khan’s Tutorial Celebrates 325 Students for Outstanding Common Core State Exam Scores & Exceptional SAT and Regent Success

N

ew York, NY - On Saturday, November 14th, Khan’s Tutorial (KT) hosted its second Annual Achievement Awards Ceremony. KT celebrated students in the third through eighth grades who received 4s and double 4 scores on their ELA and Math Citywide Exams this past year. A score of 4 means that these students met and excelled beyond the standards set for elementary and junior high school students. This puts them amongst the top 9% of all NYS students who scored a 4 on their 2015 ELA exam and the top 16% of students who scored a 4 on their 2015 Math exam. In addition, we recognized the accomplishments of our high school students who scored highly on their Regents, SATs, and ACTs. “I am very happy to see such young, talented, and ambitious individuals come to KT and take advantage of our resources to advance their growth in knowledge. Today, in addition to our Common Core students we have many HSAP students who scored above a 2000 on the SAT and 95 or higher on multiple Regents Exams. I hope the students can take this time recognize and appreciate the hard work and support of their parents. It is really the parents who sacrifice so much for their children so that they can succeed,” said Mrs. Nayeema Khan, Khan’s Tutorial Chairperson.

Amongst our honored guests were Consul General Shamim Ahsan, and Special Assistant Anas Uddin who attended in place of NYC Comptroller Scott Stringer. Comptroller Stringer was honored by Khan’s Tutorial for his constant work in the community, his attention to new immigrant issues, and his dedication to education. In turn, the Comptroller awarded Khan’s Tutorial with a Commendation for KT’s tutoring and mentorship work with low-income communities.

KT held the ceremony due to the overwhelming success of their signature Common Core Program, which was started in the past few years. Today, KT’s Common Core Program has become as successful as its well-established and recognized SHSAT Program.

“We are proud to see our Common Core program grow and improve every year. Our personalized approach which includes constant communication with parents has tremendously benefitted our students who scored perfect 4s,” said Dr. Ivan Khan, CEO of Khan’s Tutorial.

The KT Common Core Program stresses the importance of constant communication by holding weekly Parent Teacher Conferences and offering KT Original Monthly Diagnostic Exams to track progress. In addition, Khan’s Tutorial is a registered vendor with the Department of Education and works closely with school leaders, especially around report card time.

“I’m very proud of our students and the Instructors that helped it all happen. It is through our Instructors’ dedication that we see our students’ success rates multiply each year,” said the Director of Common Core at Khan’s Tutorial, Nadia Hossain.

For the past 21 years, Khan’s Tutorial’s vision has been to provide quality education at affordable costs. With 10 locations in the outer boroughs of New York City, including Brooklyn, Castle Hill, Parkchester, Jackson Heights, Jamaica, Sutphin, Richmond Hill, Astoria, Ozone Park, and Floral Park, Khan’s Tutorial primarily serves in assisting families in low-income neighborhoods and new immigrant communities.

Mrs. Nayeema Khan, Chairperson, and Dr. Ivan Khan, CEO of Khan’s Tutorial

Anas Uddin, Special Assistant to NYC Comptroller Scott Stringer presents special Commendation to Dr. Ivan Khan and Mrs. Nayeema Khan for their work in education with low-income communities.

Khan’s Tutorial recognizes Quality Managers for their key roles in helping students.

Dr. Ivan Khan and KT Brooklyn Director Nusrat Hoque celebrate with award winning students.

Contact: Paulina Baltazar Email: Paulina.Baltazar@khanstutorial.com

Dr. Ivan Khan and KT Richmond Hill Director Lisa Puran celebrate with award winning student and his father.

Dr. Ivan Khan and Mrs. Nayeema Khan celebrate with award winning students.

Khan’s Tutorial staff celebrate.

KT Director of Common Core Nadia Hossain thanks parents and students for their hard work and dedication. (Photo credit: Faisal Photography)

Khan’s Tutorial Staff. (Photo credit: Faisal Photography)

Anas Uddin, Special Assistant to NYC Comptroller Scott Stringer​addresses families and presents awards to students.

Khan’s Tutorial Celebrates 325 Students for Outstanding Common Core State Exam Scores & Exceptional SAT and Regent Success.(Photo credit: Faisal Photography)

Caribbean Star Newspaper

November 27–December 3, 2015

21

Call 347-759-3934 FOR A FREE ESTIMATE!!

The One Stop for that Special Occasion!

ROXANNE - CEO

Unique Professional CREATION INC.

Located: 88-07 212th St., Queens Village, NY 11427

Call For Appointment Office: (718) 465-2567 Cell: (347) 447-0802 Fax: (718) 465-4057

Office: (718) 465-2567 Cell: (347) 447-0802

ORDER YOUR HOLIDAY BLACK CAKE

Classes Available Specializing in wedding cake decoration

EMAIL: ROXANNESOO@AOL.COM

ALL OCCASIONS Favors & Balloons Hall Decorating Cake Box & Invitations Floral Arrangments Ribbon Imprinting

22

Caribbean Star Newspaper

November 27–December 3, 2015

Rugen Fisch Welch's smoked herring Concord fillets grape jelly 6.7oz

$1

32oz

99 $ 6.99

Keebler Club crackers 3 packs

Caprisun 10 pouches-6oz

$5

00 $ 3.99

Goya Chick Peas 61bs 4oz

2 for

$1

99 $ 44.99

Listerine twin pack 3 liters

$10

99 $ 10.99

• Lamb black pudding

$16 .89c

99

Trident gum SELECTIVE types 18sticks

3 PACK

$

• White pudding Cheerios Cereal reg twin pack

• Souse $

7.99

krishna vegetable ghee

Ovaltine

$6

$5

$12

99 $ 1.09

Poland Spring gal water

Colgate cavity protection 5 pc 8.2oz

Huggies wipes Natural Care 552ct

Now available

Cheerios reg whole grain cereal 40.7oz

Guyanese Pride Rice 1 OOlbs

NYQUIL OR ZZZQUIL

$9

99 $ .69c

Scott's toilet paper

800g

4.4lbs

99 $ .89c

Gatorade 20oz

99 2/$ 1.09 V8 juice 11.Soz

Chief Chinese sauce

Ajax dish liquid

$3

$5

90oz

28oz

99 $ 13.99

Always ultra thin pads 88ct

99 2.99

Gillette good news 5pcs

$

Dove beauty soap

Tide plus downy

ALL detergent

Febreze air effects

$15

$12

$15

$6

16 bars

99 6.99

Palmolive dishwashing liquid original 90oz

$

140oz

99 7.99

Lever soap original 16bars

$

225oz

Nivea Essentially Enriched body lotion twin pack

99 10.99

$

3cans 9.7oz

Old Spice Pure Sport deodorant 4pk

99 8.99

$

Caribbean Star Newspaper 15 YEARS OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH WITH OVER 3,000 PHYSICIANS, CLINICS, UNIVERSITIES

FOR YOU FOR LIFE FOR ENERGY

November 27–December 3, 2015 FREE workshop on seed nutrition with rain international the world leaders.

Healthy lifestyles lead to Increased productivity and improved happiness.

At Rain International we want each individual to inspire others and leave a mark on the world. Take control of your journey set your own course and become who you have afways dreamed of becoming

RAIN INTRODUCES

FORM SEED PROTEIN REDEFINED

• OVER 50 MEDICAL PUBLICATIONS • 60 EMPLOYESS TO SUPPORT YOUR BUSINESS • 5 PATENTS WORLDWIDE • OVER 1 MILLION USERS WORLDWIDE WITH 600 IN THE USA ALONG • OVER 7,000 BEMER PARTNERS IN OVER 40 COUNTRIES • GERMAN ENGINEERING/SCIENCE AND SWISS CRAFTSMANSHIP • EMPIRIC RESEARCH & CLINICAL STUDIES WORLDWIDE PENDING FDA APPROVAL AS A MEDICAL DEVICE CLASS 1

NEARLY 100 TRILLION CELLS IN OUR BODY ARE FED AND CLEANSED VIA CAPPILLARIES, WHERE NUTRIENTS AND OXYGEN ARE DELIVERED AND TOXINS ELIMINATED EVERY DAY APPROXIMATELY 2,000 GALLONS OF BLOOD ARE MOVED THROUGHT OUT THE HUMAN BODY. The word BEMER stands for Bio-Electro-MagneticEnergy-Regulation and it is a novel therapy that helps to regulate the flow of energy in your body.

The: B.E.M.E.R stands for Bio Electro-Magnetic Energy Regulation “Electromagnetic energy is known as the oldest form of energy in the universe. Since the beginning, nature has produced this form of energy as the basis for the proper functioning of all organisms.” Peter Gleim, president of Inomad International AG, the manufacturing corporation of the BEMER, a pulsed magnetic field device.

What is the significance of electro-magnetic fields to our bodies?

Our bodies are electrical. Each cell communicates with other cells using electrical signals. We have an electromagnetic field around our bodies created by the electrical impulses of our heart, brain and tissues. The earth has its own electro-magnetic field.

When our bodies are moving, our energy fields interact with the electro-magnetic field of the earth, stimulating physiological molecular reactions in our bodies. We were designed to move and be active. Our ancestors were hunters and gatherers who covered 10 -15 miles a day on foot across the earth. Their bodies received plenty of stimulation from their movement. Nowadays, we move less in our sedentary modern lives. The pulsed magnetic field of the BEMER reproduces the stimulation we should be getting daily. In just two eight minute BEMER sessions a day, the body physiologically experiences what happens in the equivalent of a 15 mile run. The BEMER'S pulsed electromagnetic energy strengthens the body's own capacity to heal itself. Activating the body's own regenerative abilities, it supports the natural regulatory processes of the body. It is not a substitute for a healthy life style, but it allows the cells of our body to do what they were designed to do. The BEMER is like a battery charger for our cells. It has a complex and broad band spectrum signal with many

frequencies and a low direct current intensity that is able to enter and resonate with many cells of the body. It was developed by Professor Wolf Kafka, a German physicist and physiologist who worked for NASA for many years.

Dr. Kafka used a complex mathematical equation to create the patented BEMER signal. The intensity of the signal is below that of the earth's. It ranges from 3.5 to 35 micro tesla. Here in California, the earth's magnetic field is about 45 micro tesla.

What are the components of the BEMER? The BEMER plugs into the wall. It has a rectifier that changes alternating current or AC to direct current or DC. Direct current is the current that is recognized by our cells.

The earth's current is DC. The BEMER has a mat with 6 copper coils in it. The direct current runs through the coils creating an electro-magnetic field. The force of the field flows out perpendicular to the mat and extends 16 inches above and below it. The BEMER also comes with an Intensive Applicator. The Intensive Applicator focuses the BEMER signal so it can penetrate into specific desired areas of the body. The recommended use of the BEMER mat is two or three eight minute sessions daily.

Where is it made and what are its certifications?

The BEMER is manufactured in Liechtenstein and has been on the market for over 11 years. It is sold in 42 countries world wide. In Europe, the BEMER has a highly respected certification in its classification as a Medical Device IIA. There have been no complaints of negative side effects of the BEMER reported to the governing World Health Organization who set the European guidelines for public exposure to electro magnetic frequencies. The BEMER corporation in America was recently awarded an IRB # by the FDA. It is the only company in the US that has been given this number, allowing medical doctors in the U.S. To use the device in their practice and bill the insurance companies.

What are the benefits to the body?

•After a two minute application, there is a 24% increase in microcirculation, which is the distribution of blood through the capillaries. Microcirculation is the most important parameter in our physiology because the tiny capillaries transport the blood, which delivers oxygen, nutrients, hormones and neurotransmitters to nourish the cells. Toxins, waste, and CO2 are concurrently removed.

• The body becomes more alkaline when there is an increase in oxygen.

•After an eight minute session, there is an 18% increase in production of the energy molecule known as ATP. This vital ATP provides the cells the energy they need to work. It is also used to maintain the proper voltage around the cell membranes. Without proper voltage levels, the cell membranes collapse.

• The BEMER enhances the immune system. White blood cells are supposed to roll slowly along the vessel walls. If the person's immune system is not working well, the white blood cells will move too fast and they can't recognize pathogens and toxic substances. After the use of the BEMER, the white blood cells roll slowly along the vessel walls and are able to do their job of recognizing and destroying pathogens.

• The BEMER stimulates the release of Nitric Oxide in the body. It helps the vessels stay dilated.

• The BEMER is helpful for bone healing, wound healing, and recovery from surgery.

• The BEMER is very helpful for auto-immune diseases.

• The BEMER soothingly supports rest, repose and repair, which are part of the parasympathetic nervous system.

• Increased athletic performance, and regeneration occur when using the BEMER. • The BEMER aids sleep and a feeling of general well-being.

Experience the scientific breakthrough of this medical device that causes the body & mind to heal itself of a wide range of diseases on humanity today.

48

Call Us Today to Purchase a Unit for Your Medical Facility, Hospital, Clinic, Beauty Salon, Etc. Every health practitioner needs one of these units if you really want to help your patients get well.

SAA ENTERPRISES 917-754-2731• 929-293-5504 • E-mail: bibi5402ansel@optonline.net October 23–29, WWW.ONLY8MINUTES.COM 2015 THE B.E.M.E.R IS HELPING PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD AND IT CAN HELP YOU AS WELL

23

WE ARE EXCITED FOR YOU TO TRY THE BEST PROTEIN SUPPLEMENT ON THE MARKET. RAIN FORM! THIS PREMIUM SEED BASED FORMULA SET OUT TO BETTER THE BEST OPTIONS OUT THERE AND KNOCKED IT OUT OF THE PARK. WE WOT ONLY CREATED A POWDER THAT TASTES GREAT. BUT DREW THE PROTEIN FROM A SUPERlS^SOURCE THAT'S EASIER AND FASTER TO DIGEST MAKING IT MORE BIOAVAILABLE FOR OPTIMAL GAINS IN MUSCLE LEAN NESS AND LOSSES OF FAT.*

SACHA INCHI SEED • Promotes weight loss through high levels of tryptophan, a precursor to serotonin which helps to regulate appetite* • High concentration of omega3 and omega6 fatty acids which are linked to reducing risk for heart conditions* • Rich in antioxidants and antiinflammatoiy properties* • Supports cell damage repair* PEA PROTEIN • Promotes an increase of lean muscle density when supplementing appropriate training* • Functions as a shortterm appetite suppressor* • Binds and concentrates cranberry polyphenols (antioxidants) which enhance gut health* • Linked to lowering cholesterol and triglycerides* • Supports healthy homeostasis among cellular fatty acids* HEMP SEED OIL • Greater renal (kidney) protective properties compared to other plant-derrived proteins* • Kidney damage occurs at a higher rate in those involved in rigorous exercise and/or consistent use of diuretics than those who don't*

DAIRY FREE / GLUTEN FREE / VEGAN / VEGETARIAN LOW CALORIE / ALL AROUND SUPERFOOD / NO GMO'S PALEO-APPROVED \ HYPOALLERGENIC

CHIA SEED EXTRACT • Supports body weight loss and reduction of triglyceride and blood glucose levels* • Maintains a balanced bloodlipid profile* • Increased essential fatty acids in plasma in trials, including ALA, the only fatty acid that cannot be created by the human body*

The science behind weight and fat loss is simple and time tested: consume fewer calories than your body uses. For those who want to lose weight Form is a fat reducing, muscle leaning supplement This premium nutrition product is a lowcalorie (116 calories total) complete protein seed supplement It can also be used as a meal replacement to really cut down on overall caloric intake*

CRANBERRY SEED • Great dietary source of natural antioxidants* • Contains antiproliferative compounds, substances which may slew the spread of malignant cells in the body* • Strengthens human immune function and reduces side effects of illness*

Form's protein is highly bioavailable and is quickly absorbed into the body It also contains a high concentration of branchedchain amino acids (BCAAs) which fuel muscles and stimulate protein production.

Among the 20 amino acids in Form are leucine, isoleucine and valine critical components to muscle growth and energy during workouts.*

PUMPKIN SEED • Benefits blood pressure and promotes prevention of heart conditions* • Helps to relax blood vessels and promote proper bowl function* • Supports healthy immunity, cell growth and division sleep and mood* • High in anti inflammatories and omega 3s*

Form is easily and quickly digested, delivering most of its nutrients and amino acids to your muscle cells in less than a half hour. Rapid transference of amino acids to muscles is key to pushing lean muscle growth

WE ARE RAIN

Rain International is a leader in harnessing the concentrated power of botanical seeds to create delicious, powerful packets of phytonutrients We encourage everyone, everywhere to become more.

Pursue your dreams, become more passionate about life and exploring more. We believe in fulfilling goals creating opportunity and being active.

SUGGESTED USE Take it after a work out to repair and rebuild lean muscle and lose the fat Also for optimal muscle grcv/th and gains, take right before bed right after waking and a half hour before a workout to set up an "anabolic window." which lessens the breaking down of muscle that results from weight training PREPARATION INSTRUCTIONS 1. PLACE 2 SCOOPS OF FORM INTO A GLASS WITH 8-10 OZ OF WATER 2. STIR UNTIL THOROUGHLY MIXED AND ENJOY 3. TAKE 1-2 TIMES DAILY AS NEEDED.

• Those statements hae not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

We are looking for serious leaders in your area who want to help the community to a better life style (both in health and wealth) We invite ONLY the first 30 individuals to an exclusive showcase of Rain International-the leaders in seed nutrition in 26 countries.

Date: Monday November 16th World Famous ONLY 30 SEATS Time: 6:30PM sharp 917-754-2731 Locations: 118-16 101st Ave, BUSSINESS ATTIRE Villa Russo 23–29, 2015 49 South Richmond Hill,October NY 11419 email; bibi5402ansel@optonline.net EMAIL: bibi5402ansel@optonline.net www.myrainintl.com/saaenterprises Catering Hall CALL 917-754-2731 to RSVP ASAP

Caribbean Star Newspaper Caribbean Star Newspaper

18

October 23–29, 2015

917-754-2731 • 929-293-5504

FOR $2.33 A DAY YOU CAN PROTECT YOUR CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM www.argi9solutions.com/heartforheart

Every doctors needs this for their patients, if you can’t wait for your doctor $70.00 for a 30 day supply shipped to you.

917-754-2731 • 929-293-5504

FOR $2.33 A DAY YOU CAN PROTECT YOUR CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM www.argi9solutions.com/heartforheart

Caribbean Star Newspaper

Every doctors needs this for their patients, if you can’t wait for your doctor $70.00 for a 30 day supply shipped to you.

24

November 27–December 3, 2015

Caribbean Star Newspaper

GRAND OPENING SALE! NEW LOCATION!!! & st ES 126-11-13-15 101 AVENUE C N A I S L RICHMOND HILL, NY 11419 APP TRONIC ELEC Tel.: (718) 641-5455 / Fax: (718) 323-5199 TVs • VIDEOS • HI-FI SYSTEMS • CAMERAS • APPLIANCES Security cameras packages 4ch,8ch,12ch

ALL MAJOR BRAND Refrigerator Frigidaire 26.7 cu ft $ 00

1299

40" LED TV – 1080p

LED TV boasts full HD 1080p for incredible detail and Edge LED backlighting for boosted contrast.

Built-in Wi-Fi, lets you stream HD videos from popular services like Netflix, ouTube and more.

$

379

Authorized SONY and BOSE Dealer

Pioneer USB CD Player $ 99

74

QFX HDTV DVD Player $ 95

24

AVAILABLE!

Caribbean Star Newspaper

November 27–December 3, 2015

25

Government’s decision expands retirement flexibility.

It’s not often the federal government makes a decision that nearly everyone is happy with, but that’s what happened with a regulation that was recently finalized by the U.S. Treasury Department. Changes to the regulations under Internal Revenue Code section 401(a)(9) allow individuals the ability to defer the distribution of their qualified assets beyond age 70 through the purchase of a Qualifying Longevity Annuity Contract (QLAC).

G

enerally, the new rules provide an exception to Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) by allowing a QLAC to start making payments as late as age 85, meaning people can defer paying taxes on money that they may not need in early retirement. This is big news for those people who have been taking RMDs be-

cause they have to, not because they want to.

A QLAC can provide more flexibility for your retirement planning by allowing you to better match your retirement income to your needs, and the ability to control when taxes can be paid on your qualified assets.

A QLAC will also ensure that you

will not outlive your money, because as an annuity it provides guaranteed income for life.

There are some limitations to QLACs that you should know.

Most importantly, there is a cap on how much of your qualified money you can put into a QLAC. Contributions are limited to the lesser of $125,000 or 25% of the owner’s qualified account balances, less previous QLAC contributions. The 25% limit applies on a plan by plan basis and to IRAs on an aggregate basis. Also, QLACs can only be established through a deferred income annuity with no liquidity features.

Other important rules you should be aware of include: • Eligible accounts include 401(a), 401(k), 403(b), governmental 457(b) or IRA, • Income payments must begin no later than the first day of the month

• • •

following the owner’s attained age 85.

The contract must state from inception that it is intended to be a QLAC. Once income starts, the payments must satisfy RMD rules.

The contract cannot have any cash surrender value or commutation benefit

A QLAC can be a powerful tool for those who want more control of how and when they start taking money out of their qualified retirement accounts. With people living longer than ever before, the government has taken an important step in allowing people to have more flexibility with regard to their retirement assets. This is an opportunity that should be a serious consideration for many people nearing, or even in, retirement. Contact your tax/legal advisor for implications to your specific situation.

This educational third-party article is being provided as a courtesy by Indra Puran. For additional information on the information or topic(s) discussed, please contact Indra Puran at New York Life Insurance Company at 646 266 5416.

Indra Puran,

LUTCF, CLTC Agent New York Life Insurance Company 420 Lexington Avenue, 15th fl New York, NY 10170 (646) 266-5416

JEAN TRAVEL & TOURS A WORLDWIDE SERVICE Located at 175-14 Hillside Avenue 2nd Floor Jamaica,NY11432

TEL:718-658-6100 ASK FOR JEAN

AD ID

IN

ALL FEARS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE

TR

G

A N A Y U

FOR THE BEST RATES & PACKAGES CALL NOW LOW FARES ARE AVAILABLE TO ALL DOMESTIC & INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT

26

Caribbean Star Newspaper

November 27–December 3, 2015

Another Guyanese woman busted with Man arrested as cops, GGMC probe gang rape report cocaine at JFK airport

T

A

JOINT operation conducted last Saturday by local and US drug enforcement agents at the John F Kennedy Airport in the U.S. succeeded in snaring yet another Guyanese woman with cocaine. The woman, who is alleged to have had several pellets of the substance in her stomach, has been identified as Shellon Beckles, and taken into police custody at the American airport.

Her apprehension comes mere weeks after a similar operation saw a Guyanese hairdresser being busted at the said JFK with over 100 pellets of cocaine in her stomach.

Beckles was nabbed by Customs and Border Protection officers who engage in a daily battle against drug mules trying new ways to conceal their cargo.

Two weeks ago, 26-year-old Shureen Giddings was charged for unlawfully importing cocaine into the United States.

Giddings was apprehended on November 9, after arriving on a flight from Guyana. According to court documents, Giddings was subjected to a Customs and Border Protection examination. The court documents revealed that during the examination, Giddings appeared nervous, prompting the officers to conduct a ‘patdown’.

However after extensive questioning, she admitted swallowing the co-

caine-filled pellets, and told the agents that she could no longer hold them, requesting to use the bathroom, the court documents revealed. One hundred and five pellets were expelled from her body, carrying a total weight of just over three pounds. She was immediately arrested and charged.

Meanwhile, US officials have noted that within the International Arrivals Building at Kennedy Airport’s vast terminals, there is a daily battle of wits between drug mules trying to conceal their illicit cargo in everyday objects like salt shakers, food, wigs, underwear, kitchen pots, prosthetic limbs and body cavities.

Of the nearly 14 million travellers passing through the terminal last year, about 400 were targeted for further investigation, and 26 per cent of those targeted were caught with contraband, officials said.

he Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) has launched an investigation into allegations that four of its employees drugged and gang raped a woman at the entity’s Mahdia location and police have apprehended a suspect.

Deputy Commissioner of GGMC Newell Dennison, when contacted, said that after a report of the incident was made to him he assembled a team to travel to the location to conduct an investigation, notwithstanding what the police are doing.

It was reported to Stabroek News that the woman was invited for a drink by a GGMC cook. As she made her way up to the hallway of one of the buildings at the location she passed three men. She then met the cook, with whom she was familiar and he offered her a beer which she accepted.

When she awakened, she found herself on a bed in a room with four men, one of whom was lying next to her. There were used condoms nearby and she was in severe pain. She managed to escape and after recounting the episode to relatives, travelled to George-town almost immediately.

The woman has relatives living at Mahdia and she was visiting them. She had already been in the area for several days when the rape occurred.

An official police report was made on Saturday and 25-year-old woman was later taken to the hospital to be medically examined. Police are also aware of several text messages sent to the woman by the cook

in which he apologized for his actions and asked for forgiveness.

Contacted yesterday Divisional Commander Senior Superintendent Ravindradat Budhram told Stabroek News that one of the men has been arrested and he will be brought to Georgetown for questioning. He said that the arrest occurred on Sunday.

It is unclear why ranks have been unable to apprehend the three other suspects.

Sources close to the woman said that from all appearances she was drugged before being raped. Up to late yesterday she was reportedly still feeling the effects of whatever was used to spike her drink.

The relative said that earlier in the day they met Minister of Social Protection Volda Lawrence as well as Junior Minster Simona Broomes. Stabroek News was informed that as the behest of the minister, the policewoman who took the report on Saturday went to the ministry’s Lamaha Street location where the woman’s statement was completed and signed.

The relative had expressed concern at the way in which the case was being treated, complaining at the lack of sensitivity of the officer taking the statement and that the woman was not being treated as a victim but rather was being interrogated.

Persons close to case expressed hope that all four men will be made to face the law and that the police make good use of the text messages that were sent to the woman’s cellphone.

New orders welcome

917-562-0075

(full menu available)

butterflykisses319@gmail.com

86-30 102nd Avenue (between 86 & 88th streets Ozone Park NY, 11416)

"Delicious and unique cupcakes for all occasions (birthday parties, anniversaries, graduations, sports events, religious events, baby/bridal showers, weddings, etc)

Please contact me for a full menu, pricing information, or to place an order.

Phone: 917-562-0075 Email: butterflykisses319@gmail.com cdeonarine319@gmail.com Website: cupcakesbychristina.vpweb.com Facebook: cupcakesbychristina1

Delicious, homemade cupcakes on sale, priced from $1.50 Several classic and new varieties will be on display

Caribbean Star Newspaper

November 27–December 3, 2015

27

28

November 27–December 3, 2015

Caribbean Star Newspaper

WHITE CHICKEN $1.99 • DUCK $3.50 • GRAY CHICKEN $2.49 • GOAT/LAMB $4.50

Caribbean Star Newspaper

November 27–December 3, 2015

29

World News Highlights

ISTANBUL/NIZHNY TAGIL, Russia Russia sent an advanced missile system to Syria on Wednesday to protect its jets operating there and pledged its air force would keep flying missions near Turkish air space, sounding a defiant note after Turkey shot down a Russian fighter jet.

NAIROBI Pope Francis said on Wednesday he wanted to offer “spiritual and material” support to Africans on his first tour of the continent, where he will address a fast-growing Catholic congregation and seek to heal Christian-Muslim divisions.

BEIRUT A Lebanese military court charged 26 people on Wednesday with belonging to a terrorist group, Islamic State, which claimed responsibility for

twin bomb attacks that killed 44 people in Beirut this month, a judicial source said.

both at risk if member nations continue erecting internal barriers to keep out refugees.

there was nothing wrong with them, the mayor’s office said on Wednesday.

ringleader must have known of a militant plot, and Belgium issued a warrant for a new suspect.

TUNIS Tunisian authorities said on Wednesday a suicide bomber carried out the attack a day earlier on a presidential guard bus, killing at least 12 people and forcing the government to impose a nationwide state of emergency.

JERUSALEM A Palestinian stabbed and critically wounded an Israeli soldier on Wednesday and was shot dead by troops, the army and a hospital official said, a day after a visit by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry to explore how to end eight weeks of violence.

ANKARA Turkey’s foreign minister and his Russian counterpart agreed during a phone call on Wednesday that they could meet in Belgrade next week, a Turkish government official said, after Turkey shot down a Russian jet near the Turkish border.

France and Belgium are hunting suspects and would-be assailants following the Nov. 13 attacks in Paris that killed 130 people and injured hundreds more.

DUBLIN It will be difficult but not impossible for officials renegotiating Britain’s EU membership to have a framework ready for substantial discussion at next month’s European Union summit, the EU’s chief negotiator said on Wednesday.

BUENOS AIRES Argentine President-elect Mauricio Macri will name former central bank chief Alfonso Prat-Gay as his finance minister tasked with rebooting the stalled economy, a close adviser said on Wednesday.

ANKARA Turkey’s foreign minister and his Russian counterpart agreed during a phone call on Wednesday that they could meet in Belgrade next week, a Turkish government official said, after Turkey shot down a Russian jet near the Turkish border.

BRUSSELS/IDOMENI, Greece The European Union’s chief executive warned on Wednesday that the survival of Europe’s “partially comatose” open border travel zone and its single currency were

ROME A court in Florence has closed its investigation into expense claims filed by Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi when he was mayor of the city between 2009 and 2014 and concluded

PARIS/BRUSSELS An investigation into the Nov. 13 attacks in Paris widened on Tuesday when French prosecutors said a man who provided lodging to the suspected

TOULOUSE, France A French court handed a six-month suspended jail sentence on Wednesday to a man suspected of mentoring young jihadists for his possession of a hunting rifle, in a case that demonstrates heightened security concerns after Nov. 13 attacks in Paris.

BEIRUT A Syrian military source said rebels are making heavy use of U.S.-made anti-tank missiles paid for by Saudi Arabia and supplied via Turkey in recent weeks and the weapons are having an impact on the battlefield.

APNU+AFC ticket for LGE …Harmon says agreement struck at Cabinet retreat

M

inister of State Joseph Harmon has dismissed speculations that the Alliance For Change (AFC) and the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) will contest the March 18 Local Government Elections (LGE) separately.

Harmon, who is also APNU General Secretary, told the Guyana Chronicle that the coalition which surged to power in the May 11 elections, will be contesting the LGE together.

“We had a Cabinet retreat some time ago and agreed on the matter,” he said.

Working People’s Alliance (WPA) Executive Dr David Hinds in his weekly column ‘Hind’s Sight’ carried by this publication on Sunday, said despite temptations to the contrary, the governing coalition should contest the LGE together.

The WPA is a member of the six-party coalition led by President David Granger.

“The first big hurdle would be whether the governing coalition would contest the election together or separately,” he said. Though many may consider it to be a foregone conclusion that the coalition would go into LGE as one, Dr Hinds, a seasoned political activist believes that the AFC may be tempted to compete separately. There has been much speculation as to the path the coalition would take with respect to competing at the LGE. In a Sunday Stabroek News headlined “AFC will keep its identity…”, party co-leader and Minister of National

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon

Dr. David Hinds

Security Khemraj Ramjattan maintained that the AFC will keep its identity. “We are going to maintain ourselves as AFC,” he said, adding: “I would rather resign as leader of the AFC than have that happen,” Stabroek News quoted him as saying.

AFC General Secretary David Patterson, who is also Minister of Infrastructure, told this publication on Sunday that the party will make public his decision shortly on whether it will be contesting the LGE separately or with the APNU. The LGE, Dr Hinds contends is going to be a referendum on the government’s tenure since May 11.

A REFERENDUM “Ironically, it would be a referendum against its own supporters,” he said, pointing out that the challenge the coalition faces, whether it runs as one or separately, is mobilising its supporters to go to the polls. “My sense is that it would take some serious work that would be

better done if they contest as a united coalition.” The Opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has said that it is prepared at any time to contest the LGE. Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan last week announced that the long delayed Local Government Elections (LGE) will be held on March 18 next year.

He said the hosting of LGE represents “an important time in our history,” stressing that “the entire local government system is currently rotten and must be rehabilitated and made fully functional.”

The polls will be held in the nine towns and 62 Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs). Local government polls have not been held since 1994 although the Constitution stipulates that they are to be held every three years. Bulkan said that “democratic renewal of local government organs is long overdue.” The Minister of Communities also noted that “the last local government elections were held

here in 1994. Since then, there have been several protests against the former People’s Progressive Party (PPP) demanding that power be returned to the people to enable them to effectively manage their communities. “A functioning local government system is a fundamental aspect of democratic governance. It is important because it deals with people’s lives in their communities. Strong local government is at the heart of national development because who wields decision-making power at the municipal and neighbourhood levels directly determine and decide where and how your tax dollars will be used to develop individual communities and ultimately, the nation,” he noted.

As a result, Bulkan said development at every level is important and depends on a “strong system of good, democratic, effective and efficient local governance.”

Citing Article 12 of the Constitution of Guyana which states that local government is an integral part of the democratic organisation of the State, Bulkan said government is committed to upholding the rule of law.

Local governments, he said, are in place to provide essential services to the people and help to improve living conditions, create jobs, maintain roads, bridges and other infrastructure, garbage collections, and promoting a healthy environment while encouraging citizen’s involvement in their communities.

30

Caribbean Star Newspaper

November 27–December 3, 2015

The decisions you don’t make can have the most impact on your life.

WEEKLY HOROSCOPE ARIES

(March 21-April 19) Monday and Tuesday will be troubling for you, but not so much that you can’t deal with life. Try to avoid signing or agreeing to anything, and things will turn out all right. Midweek is much better as you feel a surge of energy that just won’t quit. Almost any move you make will turn out to be the right one. You might find yourself drawn toward art or highbrow culture. The weekend will bring finances and a nostalgia for times past to the forefront of your mind. This could be a great time for shopping -- if you can afford it.

LEO

(July 23-Aug. 22) Lie low early in the week; you’ll need to really watch it when handling money or considering purchases. Do your homework, but make sure to also listen to your gut. New and exciting information comes your way on Thursday or Friday that should dramatically improve your mood.

It might be a good time for a celebration.

Job worries might keep you up late over the weekend, especially if you’re struggling with an ethical dilemma. Try to rise above the situation, and you might find an unexpected answer.

SAGITTARIUS

(Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Monday and Tuesday will be slow-moving and maybe a little awkward for you. Be careful with valuables, as you’re at high risk of losing things until Wednesday. At that time, you’ll feel an influx of strong and active energy that will cause you to seek out fun in all its forms. Romance is waiting for you, if you’re interested. The weekend will be great if you narrow your focus to the small tasks that keep your life humming along. It’s a good time to communicate with a partner.

P

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

TAURUS

(April 20-May 20) The first few days of the week will be filled with friends -- and their needs. You won’t mind at all, and will actually notice your relationships grow more rewarding. The middle of the week might zip past you, but don’t pick up your pace to try to catch up, especially if it’s your birthday. That deal that seems too good to be true probably is. The weekend will be fun and filled with good times and good people. Taking it easy is your best bet, but anything you choose to do will work out well.

Money shouldn’t be a problem.

VIRGO

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22) People will disappoint you on Monday and Tuesday, but try not to let it show. As much as you’d like to set them straight, there’s no way they’ll be able to take your criticism at this point. You’ll feel invigorated and somewhat above the situation by midweek, and you may likely find an exciting new sense of direction and purpose.

Try to rein in the impulse to spend like crazy; it will pass. Social engagements over the weekend will be more harmonious than you had hoped, and could result in deeper relationships.

CAPRICORN

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Your creativity will be unleashed Monday and Tuesday, so make sure to get it all down. Writing will be especially appealing, though any form of expression should suit you just fine. Some regularly scheduled event in the middle of the week will put your home and work life at odds with each other, but you’ll make the right decision in the end. Over the weekend, you’ll feel a lovely sense of calm that should help you with any difficult discussions you’ve been putting off. It’s also a great time to go bargain-hunting.

GEMINI

(May 21-June 20) Your job situation will be slightly confusing on Monday, and the situation won’t resolve itself for a day or two. Someone you can ordinarily count on for clarity will become obscure. Soon the fog will lift, and you’ll have more good advice than you’ll know what to do with. Get organized and see if you can move up to a new level. You might have to get the ball rolling, but others will help once you get things started. The weekend will bring challenges, but they’ll mostly be opportunities to discover hidden strengths.

LIBRA

(Oct. 23-Nov. 21) The first two days of this week will be filled with interruptions and distractions that threaten to keep you from completing your daily tasks. Try to lie low and ride it out. Wednesday and Thursday will focus on your important relationships, and you’ll find yourself feeling quite strongly. If you’re unhappy, look more deeply at things, and you might find that it’s a matter of perspective. You’ll feel more attractive than usual over the weekend, but don’t let that tempt you into being stingy with your time and attention. Give everyone their due.

(Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Early in the week don’t spend a nickel, and leave your credit cards at home. Even if you’re not maxed out at the moment, you’re about to run into a great opportunity that you’ll need some ready cash to exploit. It could come as early as Wednesday, when you discover something new that’s considerably more exciting than anything you’ve experienced in a while.

Parents or more distant relatives will play a role in the weekend’s activities, and you might have to deal with their weirdness in a whole new way.

Woman stabbed and tossed from car

olice have confirmed that the mother of four who was stabbed, allegedly by her partner, and dumped from a car onto a city stree , died at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH).

Just moments after Lisa Skeete, 33, a dispatcher at the GPH, left work, she was rushed back to the institution bloodied and in an unconscious state.

“She just left and she greet me before she gone and then I see this vehicle rushing back with she,” an employee of the GPH said.

Skeete left work around 3 pm and entered a waiting car, which then drove off. Not long after, the car, which was heavily-tinted, was seen swaying out of control as it sped along Carmichael Street, much to the horror of onlookers.

A security guard at a building on Carmichael Street said that the car caught the attention of the school children and others as it drove by. “It look like they were fighting in the car

based on how the car was moving,” the guard said.

The vehicle came to an abrupt stop close to Church Street and Skeete was pushed out of the car before it sped away, the guard added.

As the car left, Skeete began calling for help and she started running along the street before collapsing.

She was unconscious and bleeding profusely, the guard recounted. He said persons attempted to stop the flow of blood from the wounds by bandaging them with cloth as they awaited transportation to the hospital.

An anxious crowd quickly flocked Skeete’s body and persons began calling for the police and the ambulance but they received no response as the calls went unanswered.

According to the guard, about 20 minutes had elapsed before an open back pick-up stopped and rendered assistance in transporting the woman to the hospital.

An eyewitness said that Skeete

AQUARIUS

appeared to have been stabbed to her chest and head.

The woman, a Bartician, lives on Prince William Street, Plaisance, East Coast Demerara. Police issued the following press release: Investigations are being conducted into the murder of Melissa Skeete, 31 years, of Prince William Street, Plaisance, ECD, which occurred about 1515h. yesterday Monday November 23, 2015.

Investigations have revealed that Melissa Skeete was fatally stabbed to her abdomen by a man with whom she shared a relationship and who had picked her up in a motor car from work at the GPHC. Melissa Skeete was later seen coming out of the motor vehicle in Carmichael Street, Georgetown, with stab wounds and was taken to the GPHC by public-spirited persons. She later succumbed while receiving medical treatment.

The suspect has not been arrested as yet.

CANCER

(June 21-July 22) Monday and Tuesday bring a tidal surge of tremendous energy that help you move forward on large-scale efforts, but it may also keep you from paying close attention to small details. The middle of the week sharpens your mind and your focus, so you should be able to catch anything you missed earlier. Be careful not to say too much before you’ve thought things through. The weekend should be intensely social for you and allow you to follow up on introductions and suggestions from earlier in the week.

SCORPIO

(Oct. 23-Nov. 21) The early part of the week is a great time to make your dreams come true -- especially if those dreams involve love or romance. Don’t be shy about creating new opportunities for yourself. You’ll want to take some kind of direct action on Thursday and Friday, but make sure there’s at least an element of generosity in your motivation or you’ll risk looking mean-spirited. What you do this weekend will affect your close friends and relations, so try to be as open as possible with them.

PISCES

(Feb. 19-March 20) It may not be your birthday, but it could very well feel like it on Monday -- and Tuesday also. Treat yourself well, and others will follow suit. Be careful of getting too self-absorbed though, because by midweek you’ll find yourself surrounded by confusing signs and gestures that will leave you struggling to understand what people mean. Everything will become clear over the weekend, so don’t worry too much until then. Writing will be especially helpful for you.

JFK passport mistake only let 13 unchecked travelers in, not 150: border agency

T

he agency charged with monitoring travelers entering the U.S. said Monday it inflated the number of international travelers mistakenly allowed to walk out of JFK without showing passports.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection initially said 150 passengers coming from Cancun on American Airlines Flight 1671 left JFK on Friday night without proper scrutiny. But that number was overblown, spokesman Michael Friel clarified Monday. The agency said only “13 of the 76 passengers inadvertently exited through a domestic gate” without going through customs.

Ten passengers have since been processed and the three who haven’t been

are U.S. citizens, Friel said.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection claims that "13 of the 76 passengers inadvertently exited through a domestic gate” on Friday night. JFK and Customs have launched an investigation into how the mistake occurred, Friel added. He said the mixup happened because he was reading from his BlackBerry.

That didn’t appease Mayor de Blasio, who blasted the snafu.

“I’m very concerned. That is a very unusual incident, but it is absolutely unacceptable,” he said.

He added he’s been in touch with the Port Authority, which oversees the New York area’s three major airports.

Caribbean Star Newspaper

November 27–December 3, 2015

Entertainment News

31

'The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2'

mints $247 mn globally

P

opular dystopian science fiction adventure franchise "The Hunger Games" continues to receive wide acclaim with the fourth and final film in the series, "Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2", raking in $247 million worldwide in its first weekend.

Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 released in 87 international markets and 32,500 screens, making it the widest dayand-date release of the year. Roughly $146 million of its total came from foreign territories, reports variety.com.

Kaley Cuoco plans to get tattoo of her favourite dog Norman

Sofia Vergara, Joe Manganiello get married

A

fter perfect preparations and elaborate celebrations over the weekend, actress Sofia Vergara and Joe Manganiello exchanged wedding vows on Sunday.

The good looking couple tied the knot in a lovely setting at The Breakers Resort in Palm Beach, Florida, reported People magazine.

'Spectre' earns Rs 31.9 crore in opening weekend

D

aniel Craig-starrer "Spectre", the highly anticipated 24th James Bond film, has grossed Rs 31.9 crore in its opening weekend.

Sony Pictures India released the film exclusively in high-quality 2K digital format in 1250 screens in four languages English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu - and in 2D and IMAX formats.

A

ctress Kaley Cuoco's love for dogs is known to the world, but her pet Norman holds a special place in her life and she even plans to get a tattoo of him.

The 29-year-old Big Bang Theory star, who attended and hosted the All-Star Dog Rescue Celebration at Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California, said the dog is everything to her, reported ET online.

Charlie Sheen Gay Sex Tape: Actually in Existence?!

I

n the weeks since Charlie Sheen revealed that he's HIV positive in an interview with Matt Lauer, the bad boy actor's sex life has come under intense scrutiny.

Sheen's been accused of failing to inform sex partners about his condition, thus putting them at risk for contracting the illness themselves.

Several longtime associates of the actor have claimed that he did nothing to curtail his risky behavior after he received his diagnosis.

Porn star Lisa Ann tweeted that Sheen put countless men and women at risk over the past four years, as he fre-

quently engaged in unprotected sex with both sexes.

Now, Radar Online is reporting that several videos that show Sheen performing oral sex on a man while high on crack cocaine are currently circulating online.

Reporters for the website claim to have personally viewed three 30-second clips

that show Sheen smoking crack before fellating an unidentified man.

According to sources, the footage was recorded in Nevada in 2011 - the same year Sheen was diagnosed as HIV positive.

It's unknown if the actor was already infected with HIV at that time, but interestingly, the video was reportedly entered into evidence in a $20 million lawsuit involving allegations that Sheen knowingly spread herpes to several sex partners.

At the time, both the plaintiff and defendant (who is now believed to be Sheen) were

unidentified, and court documents refer to the parties only as "J. Doe" and "J. Roe." Sheen reportedly settled out of court for several million dollars after he learned of the existence of the tape.

“Charlie had his team buy it off the market and settle the lawsuit because he and his camp believed it could destroy his life if it ever got out,” says one insider.

“He must be quaking in his boots that it could see the light of day.”

We'll have updates on this strange development as more information becomes available.

Vin Diesel announces third ''Riddick'' film, TV series

A

ction star Vin Diesel gave his fans a double treat when he broke the news of the third installment of "Chronicles of Riddick" in making, along with a TV series "Merc City".

The 48-year-old Fast and Furious actor confirmed in an Instagram post that the film will be titled Furia.

32

Caribbean Star Newspaper Bollywood Gossip: Katrina doesn't like talking about Salman November 27–December 3, 2015

in the lead.

The film is said to be directed by Farah Khan, who has been holed out in Goa for some time now working on her script.

Yuvraj had previously dated Bollywood actress Kim Sharma and was also linked with Deepika Padukone.

Shah Rukh Khan shows his 'love bite'

Salman and Katrina promote 'Ek Tha Tiger'. (Supplied)

K

atrina Kaif, who is Ranbir Kapoor's girlfriend, feels that it would be disrespecting her 'existing relationship' if she talks in public about her ex-boyfriend Salman Khan.

During an appearance on Niranjan Iyengar's talk show 'Look Who's Talking with Niranjan', Katrina was asked about her relationship with the 'Dabangg' actor.

Katrina replied: "He is an amazing person and everyone in and out of the industry knows that. His parents and family treated me like a daughter always. But it does not seem respectful to my existing relationship if I talk about Salman or his family in the media; hence I choose not to mostly."

On being asked about her 'existing relationship' and her marriage plans with Ranbir, she said: 'Ranbir is my all-time friend'.

Shah Rukh to bring Parineeti, Alia together?

According to rumours Shah Rukh Khan is going to produce a female oriented flick starring Alia Bhatt and Parineeti Chopra

Farah is considering Parineeti and Alia to star in her two heroine drama flick.

Farah has also revealed that Shah Rukh will be producing her next project.

Parineeti had a rough 2014 with back to back flops like 'Daawat-e-Ishq' and 'Kill Dil' while Alia has been giving one hit after another until 'Shaandaar'.

The two girls have been often pitted against each other and it will be interesting to see how things work out in this chick-flick.

And some time back, there was a rumour doing the rounds that Salman is secretly engaged to Iulia.

But later the actor rubbished all the rumours by saying, "There is a lot of buzz about a lot of things about me, which is never true. Yes, I read what is written, hear what is said, and my right answer to your question would be that I am indifferent to all of it. The small things don't bother me at all, but they bother my parents. And that really bothers me."

Salman has always been linked to leading ladies such as Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Katrina Kaif.

But the actor is still unmarried and always laughs it off when he is asked about his marriage.

Yuvraj Singh, Hazel ready for marriage?

Salman talks about rumoured girlfriend Iulia The grapevine has always been abuzz with talks of Salman Khan and Romanian TV personality Iulia Vantur being in a relationship.

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan is back on the sets of Rohit Shetty's 'Dilwale' after his birthday celebrations and apparently the actor got into a bit of trouble.

The actor got in a 'pub brawl' which resulted in a bruise on his arm.

Shah Rukh posted a picture of his 'pretty and pink love-bite' explaining that since he is the 'romantic hero' and all that, even his injuries reflect the same.

Looks like the actor shot for a bar fight scene for 'Dilwale' and got this bruise.

He tweeted, "My love bite from a bar fight. Being a romantic hero even my injuries look…well…pretty & pink! From sets of #Dilwale."

Are Hrithik, Kangana avoiding each other?

Before the dust could settle around the big fat Indian wedding of cricketer Harbhajan Singh and actress Geeta Basra, cricketer Yuvraj Singh and actress Hazel Keech's marriage rumours is creating a buzz in the gossip columns.

It is an open secret that Yuvraj and Hazel are a couple and the two attended Harbhajan's wedding together.

Indian media also reported that the couple will be formally engaged by the end of November and wedding will be held in February 2016.

The cricketer's tongue-in-cheek reply to these rumours has put all speculations to an end.

The all-rounder took to Twitter to deny reports about his 'impending wedding'.

He wrote, "So now my dear media has decided the venue and month of my marriage can u also tell me the dates so I can get ready well in time!"

Rumours of a fling between Hrithik Roshan and Kangana Ranaut was the talk of the town till they decided to part ways.

The 'Queen' actress was rumoured to have ended the relationship as Hrithik was not ready to take it forward.

It was also speculated that perhaps they had a bitter break-up.

The two actors, who worked together in 'Krrish 3', are till conscious of prying

Caribbean Star Newspaper eyes. During the opening ceremony of ongoing MAMI film festival they avoided each other like the plague.

Though they had a common group of friends at the event, the two stars never mingled with them together.

They did pose for a group picture and maintained a distance between them much to their relief.

While Hrithik was seen chatting up with Alia Bhatt, Katrina Kaif and Aditya Roy Kapoor, Kangana was seated far away. However, as soon as Hrithik left the gang, Kangana joined the others and chatted away.

Deepika trying to follow Priyanka Chopra?

In this file photograph taken on April 28, 2015, Indian Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone poses during a promotional event ahead of the forthcoming Hindi film ‘Piku’ in Mumbai. AFP Deepika Padukone is keen on doing Hollywood films and wants to explore to work in the West.

During the ongoing Jio MAMI festival the actress said that she is interested in doing Hollywood films and is ready to explore work opportunities.

Deepika was earlier offered a role in 'Furious 7' which she had to decline due to her commitment to 'Ram Leela' promotions.

Priyanka Chopra poses for a photograph during the 'Star Guild Awards 2015'. (AFP) As she gears up for two back-to-back releases, Deepika said if something interesting comes her way she will definitely take it up. Actors like Priyanka Chopra and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan have made appearances in Hollywood projects.

Priyanka is the first female actor from India to play lead in a US TV series. The actor is playing the role of Alex Parrish, a rookie FBI recruit with a mysterious past in 'Quantico'.

Anushka not ready to marry Virat

Last weekend, Anushka Sharma was spotted out with boyfriend Virat Kohli and her father on what was rumoured to be a house-hunting spree.

A report in mid-day quotes a source as saying, "Anushka and Virat have been open about their relationship because they are sure about taking it to the marriage altar. Their families will meet soon and decide the wedding date. In all like-

November 27–December 3, 2015 lihood, they will get hitched early next year."

But the actress isn't getting married any time soon, insists a statement on behalf of the 'Dil Dhadakne Do' star, seemingly impelled by reports in the press of a possible 2016 wedding to cricketer Virat Kohli.

The statement reads: "There is no truth to the stories/rumours about Anushka Sharma's impending wedding. Currently she is busy and happy with her work commitments. She has always been open about her life and would appreciate it and request everyone to wait for her to make announcements about her life instead of speculating."

Deepika, Ranbir's chemistry made Katrina insecure?

33

Actress Katrina Kaif has not asked filmmaker Anurag Basu to 'fire up' her chemistry with boyfriend Ranbir Kapoor in their upcoming comedy-drama film 'Jagga Jasoos', said her spokesperson.

Katrina is reportedly worried about Ranbir's chemistry with his former girlfriend, actress Deepika Padukone's in upcoming film 'Tamasha'.

"These rumours are clearly someone's imagination running wild. Though this makes fodder for gossip, it is categorically and entirely untrue. These stories are misleading to the audience and fans in general. Such idle gossip is really avoidable and childish," Katrina's spokesperson said in a statement.

Deepika and Ranbir are returning on the silver screen together after two years in filmmaker Imtiaz Ali's 'Tamasha', which is slated to release on November 26 in UAE.

34

Caribbean Star Newspaper

November 27–December 3, 2015

Caribbean Connections

Venezuela military pilots flew drugs to Haiti for trafficking into US, reports say

N

ISIS fighters (Photo: ibtimes.co.uk)

Mother of ISIS fighter urges Trinidadians to stay home

P

ORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) – The mother of a young man who left Trinidad and Tobago to fight alongside the terrorist group, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) said Monday she only became aware of his involvement with the group when his name was published on the Internet by the Islamic group.

The woman, who preferred to be known only as “Mrs Johnson”, said her son Abu Khalid was killed fighting in Syria and that she had no idea when he left the country to join the terrorist group. She said he had been recruited through the Internet.

“My son was in Trinidad here and I did not know (he left) until he died and I got his name… on the computer and when I go through it I was shock.

“As a mother, I said what nah, all this my son involve in,” she said on the “Take Two Programme” on I.995fm radio on Monday that discussed the involvement of Trinidad and Tobago nationals in ISIS. She said her son was going to a school here and “the system fail people because when time come to get a job to do his work, they keep telling him to come back… but when my son left here he did not leave to go ISIS, he left to go to the Philippines and from there he went to there (Syria)” She told radio listeners “if you go on the Internet… the ISIS study group, his name keep popping up all the time coming”.

She is urging parents to pay close attention to children while they are using the Internet.

“Definitely the Internet lures them… because I never understand why he liked to work at nights because during the day he used to be on the Internet whole day and that’s how after he died and I got his Muslim name,” she said, adding that following the terrorist attacks in Paris that killed more than 130 people, his name keep coming up because he is into the ISIS, into the group.

Prior to his departure for Malta on Sunday, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley told reporters that he was urging the security forces here to ensure the safety of citizens.

“We hold ourselves out in the hands of the security services,” Rowley said, adding “the simplest advice I can give is to be vigilant and call on our security services whose job it is to secure us, to double their efforts to ensure that we don’t fall prey to those who would set out to harm us”.

Last week, the head of the Islamic Front of Trinidad and Tobago Umar Abdullah said Trinidad and Tobago nationals who have joined the terrorist group should be welcomed back into the country.

Abdullah, who acknowledged that he was once a firebrand Muslim, told television viewers that he has had a close relationship with some of the Trinidadians who had journeyed to Syria to fight alongside the ISIS fighters.

“I know these individuals and I know a lot of them who have went away and who have gone and joined with ISIS and so on. Some of them were part of my group.

That was in the ‘earlies’ when I had expressed radical views,” Abdullah said.

Last month, ISIS released an 11-minute-20-second video featuring four fighters from Trinidad and Tobago calling on Muslims here to migrate to Syria to fight.

The video titled “Those who Believe and made the Journey” was distributed on the social network and pro-Islamic state television networks.

National Security Minister retired major General Edmund Dillon told the Senate on Tuesday that the authorities in Trinidad were beefing up immigration controls and deepening surveillance measures in light of the attack in Paris earlier this month that killed more than 129 people.

EW YORK, United States, Monday November 23, 2015 – The latest developments in the drug trafficking case involving relatives of Venezuela’s first lady Cilia Flores indicate that the Venezuelan military is involved in transporting cocaine to Haiti for transhipment into the US. According to the District Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, a Cessna Citation 500 aircraft carrying more than 800 kg (1,700 lbs) of cocaine took off from a terminal reserved for government officials at Simon Bolivar International Airport in Caracas on November 8.

Francisco Flores, 29, and Efrain Campos, 30, the nephews of first lady Cilia Flores, and both allegedly carrying Venezuelan diplomatic passports, were among four passengers and two pilots on the Haiti-bound Citation 500.

According to the flight log, the plane was co-piloted by Pablo Urbano Perez, a military official, and Pedro Miguel Rodriguez, a lieutenant-colonel in the Venezuelan Air Force.

Flores and Campos were arrested on arrival in Haiti on charges of conspiring to smuggle cocaine into the United States. They are being held without bail in New York after a federal grand jury handed up an indictment. They have both pleaded not guilty.

The flight log shows the other two passengers were Marco Uzcategui and Jesfran Moreno, who along with the co-pilots are believed to be back in Caracas.

US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents searched the jet and allowed it to return to Venezuela since US authorities did not have time to produce official charges against the four, despite their apparent involvement in the scheme, according to ABC News.

The aircraft in question is registered in Venezuela to Sabenpe, a waste-management company that has received a myriad government contracts in the past, according to the National Registry of Contractors.

Sabenpe appears registered, but is listed as “inactive.”

ABC News reports that the informer who led to the arrest of Flores’ nephews claimed that the two regularly flew drugs out of Terminal 4 of Simon Bolivar airport. He also disclosed that they had funnelled illicit funds into Maduro’s 2013 presidential campaign.

According to El Nuevo Herald, al-

legations of official involvement in drug trafficking have dogged Maduro’s presidency. Among those being investigated are the first lady’s son and Caracas judge Walter Jacobo Gavidia; Venezuela’s number two, National Assembly President Diosdado Cabello, and Aragua State Governor Tarek El Aissami.

Drug trafficking measures have turned increasingly lax in Venezuela in the last decade and a half, according to analysts consulted recently by Fox News Latino.

Just months into his presidency, late President Hugo Chavez stopped a programme that allowed the DEA to fly surveillance and interdiction planes over Venezuelan airspace. In 2005, cooperation between Venezuela and the DEA came to a complete halt.

Today, the DEA estimates that 200 tonnes of cocaine travel through Venezuela every year. However, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the country ranks fourth in the world in terms of cocaine seizures.

The current drug bust is not the first time that issues have arisen involving the first lady’s relatives, according to Fox. Soon after Cilia Flores was elected President of the National Assembly in 2006, she fired 46 employees from the legislative body and hired 47 relatives, a dozen of whom carried the last name Flores.

Cilia Flores, who married President Nicolas Maduro not long after he was sworn into office in 2013, was the first woman to preside over the National Assembly in Venezuelan history.

She is also remembered for her tendency to bar the press from the premises, according to Fox. The arrests of her nephews come as Maduro’s government is reeling from an economic crisis marked by triple-digit inflation and widespread shortages that have emboldened its opponents.

Polls suggest that Venezuelans could hand the ruling socialist party its biggest electoral defeat in 16 years in next month’s legislative elections.

Caribbean Star Newspaper Senior cop nabbed in sting operation

A

police inspector in charge of crime, with more than 20 years’ service, remained locked up in a cell at the Belmont Police Station yesterday during a sting operation, in which he and a police constable were nabbed, which was carried out by officers of the Professional Standards Bureau (PSB) of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS).

The constable, who is assigned to the Port-of-Spain Division, remained detained in a cell at the Woodbrook Police Station and was expected to be interviewed yesterday by officers of the PSB. According to reports, the senior officer, who is assigned to the Central Division, was under surveillance for about three days prior to his arrest. Police sources revealed to Newsday that the senior officer, who was only assigned to the Central Division one month ago as the Inspector in charge of crime, was seen driving a Mercedes Benz in company with a police constable shortly after midday on Saturday.

The Benz belongs to a used-car dealer from the Chaguanas area who is under investigation for a series of offences.

It is being alleged that a man, described by police as a known drug dealer, also from central Trinidad, had made arrangements to pay the senior officer and the constable a $25,000 bribe to forego prosecution.

The two officers and the drug dealer were placed under surveillance between last Thursday and Saturday by PSB head, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Harrikrishen Baldeo, Superintendent Renwick, Inspectors Chandool and Montrechard, Sergeant Hosten and others.

At about 2.35 pm on Saturday, the two officers were seen at the Chase Village Flyover allegedly accepting an envelope containing $15,000.

PSB officers who were close by in unmarked vehicles, nabbed the three men.

The money was seized and, according to

reports, the two officers began pleading with their colleagues to give them a chance.

The police inspector reportedly began crying and asked for a chance because he was worried that his career had now come to an end. Despite his pleas, the inspector was arrested and taken to the Belmont Police Station while the constable was placed in a cell at the Woodbrook Police Station.

The Mercedes Benz was towed to the Woodbrook Police Station, where officers of the Stolen Vehicles Squad are expected to do a complete check of the vehicle to ascertain if it was stolen or had been tampered with.

PSB officers then went to the San Fernando home of the inspector where they conducted a search of the premises. They then went to his office in the Central Division and searched there also.

The police firearm issued to the inspector as well as his 9mm gun, which was a personally issued firearm, were seized.

The alleged drug dealer was also taken into custody but is expected to be used as a witness against the two officers.

Sources told Newsday that the two detained officers were to be interviewed, following which, advice would be sought from the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

Yesterday officers of the Central Division said they felt ashamed over the arrest, stating the inspector had been placed there specifically to deal with crime. They added that they saw his alleged misconduct as a betrayal.

The constable who was detained allegedly moonlights for a well-known bailiff in the Central Division.

Acting Commissioner of Police (CoP), Stephen Williams, was informed of the arrests and investigations are continuing.

Close to 40 persons have been arrested and charged by officers of the PSB over the past year.

Suriname devalues currency as gold and oil prices drop

P

ARAMARIBO, Suriname, Monday November 23, 2015 – For the second time in four years, Suriname has devalued its currency – this time by more than 20 per cent, following a drop in the oil and gold prices.

Suriname’s economy is dominated by gold, oil and alumina exports.

The Central Bank has said it will devalue the official exchange rate to 4.00 Suriname dollars to the US dollar. It was previously 3.50 to the US dollar.

The bank said that the country’s financial re-

November 27–December 3, 2015

35

Political history in Barbados as Opposition party expels sitting MP

B

RIDGETOWN, Barbados, Monday November 23, 2015 – In an unprecedented move, the Opposition Barbados Labour Party (BLP) has expelled one of its members, a sitting Member of Parliament, over what it says was inappropriate conduct and her failure to be a team player.

Opposition Leader Mia Mottley announced at a press conference last night that Christ Church West MP Dr. Maria Agard was no longer a member of the BLP. The disclosure followed Agard’s appearance before the party’s National Council.

Agard had been summoned to appear before the panel yesterday evening on nine charges related to “breaches of discipline”, following a four-year battle with the executive of her own branch that recently played out in the traditional and social media.

She attended the hearing with a legal representative Hal Gollop Q.C., but they both walked out less than an hour later.

Mottley said the decision to expel Agard was not an easy one, but it had to be taken as a matter of principle.

“These charges, contrary to those who would seek to trivialize them, are fundamental. At the very heart of it, they go to the respect for the authority of organs of the party, that are critical to its functioning as a mass-based political organization – in other words, the failure of Dr. Agard to recognize the legitimacy of a democratically elected branch of this party – her own branch,” she said.

“They speak to the failure of Dr. Agard to be guided by the party’s Council – not to further speak to the media on this matter, so

DR. MARIA AGARD (RIGHT) AFTER EMERGING FROM THE MEETING WITH HER ATTORNEY HAL GOLLOP Q.C. as to allow for reconciliation between herself and her branch. They also speak to her inappropriate conduct, whether in misconstruing the facts in the media or offensive profanities posted on social media.

“And finally, they speak to the failure of Dr. Agard to be a team player – and to play her part by attendance at the Annual Conference and a series of nominations in the very parish where she is the only sitting Member of Parliament for the party,” the BLP leader added.

Mottley insisted that the issue had nothing to do with freedom of speech, but one of discipline and respect for authority and willingness to work together in an organization with other people.

But Gollop described the tribunal as “unfair” and charged that the same people who brought the charges against his client were also sitting on the disciplinary panel.

INDIAN PHYSIC & HEALER PANDITH : RAJ ALL NATIONALITY WELCOME

PANDIT CAN READ YOUR PRESENT FAST & FUTURE OPEN 6:30am to 8:00pm mon-sun saturday FREE reading

serves had declined to US$370 million from US$1 billion in December 2012.

“Suriname is momentarily experiencing a genuine commodity shock,” the Central Bank said in a statement announcing the devaluation.

Back in January 2011, the local currency was devalued by 16.4 per cent and government announced tax raises on alcohol, tobacco, gasoline and basic services as it sought to offset the impact of payments of overdue public worker salaries.

TO GET PERMANENT SOLUTIONS TO ALL YOUR PROBLEMS SUCH AS: EDUCATION • IMMIGRETION • VISA PROBLEM PROMOTION • WORK • BUSINESS • COURT CASE LOVE/MARRIAGE • HUSBAND-WIFE RELATIONSHIP STOP DIVORCE • BAD CURSE • SICKNESS • DEPRESSION SEXUAL PROB • BAD LUCK • JEALOUSY BLACK MAGIC • EVIL SPEEL

347.279.8165 119-03 LIBERTY AVE. RICHMOND HILL NY 11419

(NEXT DOOR TO McDonald´s UPSTAIRS BRIDAL BOUTIQUE)

36

November 27–December 3, 2015

Caribbean Star Newspaper Against the odds, Caribbean doubles down for 1.5-degree deal in Paris

K

ADVERTISE IN CARIBBEAN STAR Newspaper

CALL 347 759 3934

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

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

INGSTON, Jamaica, Monday November 23, 2015, IPS – Negotiators from the 15-member Caribbean Community (CARICOM) are intent on striking a deal to keep the global temperature rise at 1.5 degrees of pre-industrial levels, but many fear that a 10-year-old agreement to buy cheap petroleum from Venezuela puts their discussions in jeopardy.

Across the region, countries are rolling out their “1.5 to Stay Alive” Campaign to raise awareness about the effects of climate change, while building momentum for the region’s negotiating position ahead of the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP21) of the United Nations Conference on Climate Change (UNCCC) in France in December.

Some say the petroleum agreement could cause friction between member nations because of new incentives including assistance with healthcare and agriculture through a Caribbean Economic Development Zone. President of the Venezuelan Republic Nicolas Maduro pledged to maintain the PetroCaribe deal, a legacy of his late predecessor Hugo Chavez alive, while celebrating its 10th anniversary in Jamaica on September 9.

PetroCaribe is an alliance between 12 member states of CARICOM and Venezuela for the purchase of oil at market prices with between five and 50 per cent up-front payment. There is a grace period of one to two years for paying the balance or through financing over 17 to 25 years at one per cent interest if prices are above US$40 per barrel. Media reports say Maduro is negotiating with non-members of OPEC to keep oil prices stable in support of the pact.

While agreeing that PetroCaribe could be a disincentive for investments in domestic renewable energy, Alexander Ochs, Director of Climate and Energy at WorldWatch Institute noted, “Caribbean governments are increasingly aware of the enormous financial, environmental and social costs associated with continued dependence on fossil fuels.”

The #Caribbean is highly vulnerable to #climatechange. Why must global warming stay below 2C? https://t.co/VLWwKukwPR #COP21 #roadtoparis — World Bank Caribbean (@WBCaribbean) November 19, 2015 Caribbean SIDS are not major contributors to global warming and resulting climate change but are expected to bear the burden of the effects from the heat and rising seas: coastal flooding, more intense hurricanes, extended droughts, coral death and up to 50 per cent reduction in valuable marine species.

Behind the 1.5 to Stay Alive campaign are warnings that inaction could cost the community about US$10.7 billion by 2025 or five per cent of GDP and about US$22 billion by 2050, roughly 10 per cent of GDP. Most CARICOM states are already experiencing climate change with associated damage between 1990 and 2008 estimated at US$136 billion.

Head of the CARICOM Energy Unit, Devon Gardner, told IPS, “The region is still campaigning for 1.5 degrees Celsius with the understanding that other negotiators including the European Union are looking at 2.0 degrees.”

An agreement for any less than 1.5 some argue could mean the inundation of many nations and the loss of a critical infrastructure of others.

Several member states are below sea level and most are island nations with limited land. In most states, critical infrastructures are located mainly along the coast and are already subject to flooding.

In 2013, the community adopted a regional energy policy to make renewables 48 per cent of their electricity generation by 2027 and a roadmap was drawn up to guide the process.

“Even if the problem of global warming did not exist, and the burning of fossil fuels did not result in extensive local air and water pollution, CARICOM would still have to mandate to transition away from these fuels as swiftly as possible for reasons of social opportunity, economic competitiveness and national security, “said Ochs, one of the authors of the new Caribbean Sustainable Energy Roadmap and Strategy (C-SERMS)

Baseline Report and Assessment, launched on

THE HIGH COST OF ELECTRICITY IN THE CARIBBEAN IS PUSHING MANY TO INSTALL ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCES. October 28.

“C-SERMS is pivotal to the attainment of the sustainable energy and development goals of the Caribbean Community,” said Gardner in a press release announcing its launch. He is also the CARICOM Secretariat’s Program Manager for Energy and is overseeing the sustainable energy roadmap.

“CARICOM envisions that implementing the C-SERMS Baseline Report and Assessment advances regional goals whilst simultaneously supporting member states,” Gardner continued.

Most CARICOM states spend up to half of their earnings on petroleum products but get less energy than they need. WorldWatch Data from 2013 shows the region generating an estimated 18,369 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of electricity and consuming about 20,776 GWh. Investments are, however helping to keep the region on track to reduce their dependence on fossil fuel, reduce emissions and cut electricity costs.

On November 3, Barbados signed a US$4 million EU agreement to, among other things, increase the share of economically viable renewable energy on the island. In June, the EU announced US$23 million grants and loans for sustainable energy projects in the Eastern Caribbean. In January, US Vice-President Joe Biden promised US$10 million to help Jamaica achieve the renewable energy targets of its National Development Plan.

In Jamaica, where electricity costs four times as it does in the US, more than US$200 million has been invested to add 115 megawatts of alternative energy to the grid. The aim is to reduce petroleum-generated electricity by 30 per cent by 2020. On September 19, the island’s single electricity retailer Jamaica Public Service Company signed 20-year ‘power purchase agreements’ to add 78 MW of renewable energy to the grid.

Even with additional investments in renewables, the US continues to see, PetroCarib as a contradiction of regional efforts to reduce carbon emissions and keep temperatures down.

“There is no reason why countries from this region should be relying on dirty fuels supplied largely by one country when there is an abundance of sun, wind, geothermal and natural gas capability,” US Energy Bureau envoy Amos Hochstein told reporters at the Caribbean Renewable Energy Forum (CREF) held in Florida in October.

Ochs and Jamaica’s Junior Minister for Energy Julian Robinson are confident that in the long run, energy security and the positive spin off from sustainable energy solutions will influence the region’s long-term goals.

“The falling cost of renewable energy technologies as well as government policies will make these energy alternatives attractive for investors and ordinary people,” Robinson said.

Ochs noted, “In tandem with renewable energy technologies, it will be important for countries to look towards investing in more energy efficiency and conservation projects. Energy efficiency measures are often both the cheapest and fastest way to lessen the environmental and economic costs associated with a given energy system.”

Member states attending the UNCCC negotiate within the CARICOM framework and as a bloc as part of the Alliance of Small Island States.

Caribbean Star Newspaper

November 27–December 3, 2015

37

Pope Francis says Christmas is charade after recent terrorist attacks

R

OME, Italy, Monday November 23, 2015 – Pope Francis referred to Christmas as a “charade” during a sermon in which he lamented recent terrorist attacks worldwide.

Christmas celebrations will seem empty in a world that has chosen “war and hate,” the pontiff said.

“Christmas is approaching: there will be lights, parties, Christmas trees and nativity scenes… it’s all a charade,” he said at Mass in the chapel of the Santa Marta residence.

“The world continues to go to war. The world has not chosen a peaceful path. There are wars today everywhere, and hate.

“We should ask for the grace to weep for this world, which does not recognise the path to peace. To weep for those who live for war and have the cyni-

POPE FRANCIS SAYS WHILE THERE WILL BE PARTIES AND CELEBRATIONS AT CHRISTMAS, THE WORLD IS AT WAR. cism to deny it,” the pope said.

“God weeps, Jesus weeps,” he added.

Pope Francis was speaking against the backdrop of the November 13 Paris atrocities, which left 130 dead; the double suicide bombing in Lebanon on November 12, which killed at least 43 and wounded 239, and the bombing of a Russian Metrojet airliner over Egypt on October 31, which killed all 224 people on board.

Here’s my comments on Pope Francis’ statement that Christmas is a “charade” with so much global conflict…. https://t. co/1bjlubU13z — Fr. Jonathan Morris (@fatherjonathan) November 23, 2015 The sermon cast a pall over the start of the festive season at the Vatican, where a massive Christmas tree was unveiled.

The 25m (82ft) tall pine tree was imported from the German state of Bavaria, the homeland of former pope Benedict XVI. Scheduled to be decorated for the start of the Vatican’s Holy Year on December 8, the giant pine will be festooned with ornaments made by children from cancer wards in hospitals across Italy.

This year’s nativity scene will comprise 24 life-size figures, sculpted from wood and

hand-painted, complemented by sculptures of ordinary people, including a man supporting an elderly person in need.

Meanwhile, as if to echo the pontiff’s sombre tone, Italy responded to the Paris attacks by deploying 700 extra troops in Rome, in addition to the 1,300 already involved in a highly visible “safe streets” operation.

The soldiers have been deployed on the capital’s train stations, underground rail network and airports, as well as at major shopping centres.

Media reports have suggested that the number of sites identified as possible targets for terrorism has been increased from 90 to 150.

Security around the pope has also been tightened, with additional checks on people entering the Vatican and an increased

Brussels on high alert as police hunt Paris attack fugitive

B

RUSSELS (AP) — Belgium announced charges Monday against a fourth suspect on terrorism charges related to the Paris attacks after launching new raids in the capital and beyond in their hunt for a fugitive suspect in the Paris carnage, as Brussels entered a work week grappling with a third day of unprecedented security measures that have closed subways, shopping districts and now schools.

In Paris, British Prime Minister David Cameron said he will ask for parliamentary approval for the U.K. to join airstrikes against Islamic State extremists in Syria. If approved, Britain would join other nations carrying out bombings in Syria, including the U.S., France and Russia.

France's Defense Ministry said it had launched its first airstrikes from the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier, bombing IS targets in the Iraqi cities of Ramadi and Mosul in a seven-hour operation. The ministry said that four Rafale fighter jets were sent from the carrier on Monday afternoon, with two each flying over each city. France has already carried out strikes against IS targets in Syria.

The raids in Belgium began late Sunday, capping a tense weekend that saw hundreds of troops patrolling streets and authorities hunting for one or more suspected extremists, including Salah Abdeslam, a fugitive since being named a suspect in the Paris attacks that killed 130 and wounded hundreds of others on Nov. 13. Between Sunday night and midday Monday, 21 people were detained.

The federal prosecutor said a fourth suspect, who was not identified, was charged with terrorism offences related to the Paris attacks after authorities detained 16 people Sunday.

Authorities had charged three others with similar offenses last week. The other 15 people detained Sunday evening were released.

The Belgian government kept the capital on the highest state of alert in the face of what it described as a "serious and imminent" threat, preventing a return to normal in the city that is also host to the European Union's main institutions.

Federal prosecutor Eric Van Der Sypt said 19 raids were carried out Sunday in Molenbeek, home to many of the Paris attackers, and other boroughs of Brussels, and three raids were carried out in Charleroi. Abdeslam was not among those arrested. Van Der Sypt said no firearms or explosives were found.

Belgian Interior Minister Jan Jambon told the RTL network that Abdeslam "must have a

A French gendarme officer patrols in front of the Arc de Triomphe, on the Champs Elysees, in Paris, Monday Nov. 23, 2015.

French President Francois Hollande will preside over a national ceremony on Nov. 27 honoring the at least 130 victims of the deadliest attacks on France in decades. lot of support on our territory. That's why all these searches being conducted at the moment are important."

Police fired two shots at a car that approached them as they searched a snack bar in Molenbeek, Van Der Sypt said. The vehicle escaped but was stopped later in Brussels, and a wounded person inside was arrested. It wasn't immediately known if the person was linked to the investigation into the Paris attacks.

Cameron and French President Francois Hollande, meeting in Paris, paid a quiet visit to the Bataclan concert venue, which saw the worst of the carnage in Paris. Hollande plans to meet Tuesday with President Barack Obama, then Wednesday with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday in pursuit of a unified strategy in Syria.

Britain has been carrying out airstrikes in Iraq, but Cameron has long wished for an expanded mandate to include targets in Syria.

But having lost a vote once two years ago, his government had been reluctant to even suggest a vote until it could be certain it would win.

Belgian authorities said more raids Monday in Brussels and eastern Liege yielded five more detentions.

The federal prosecutor said in a statement that a BMW sighting near Liege that had been rumored to contain Abdeslam had no links with the ongoing investigation.

Frank Foley, lecturer in war studies at King's College London and a terrorism expert, said it was difficult to know if what Belgium was do-

number of bodyguards on duty for his weekly appearance in St Peter’s square.

The enhanced security measures have been implemented as Rome is gearing up to host the Jubilee Year of Mercy proposed by Francis, which begins in December and is expected to draw millions of tourists.

Recently, Italian media have given prominence to warnings from Islamic State propagandists that they will come to Rome and plant their flag on top of St Peter’s.

Officials have generally downplayed such threats, insisting they had no knowledge of a specific or credible plot to attack Rome or the Vatican.

The prefect of Rome, Franco Gabrielli, has urged Italians to stay cool-headed, “without however underestimating the threats.”

ing was justified because authorities have provided so few details about their decision.

Foley said the measures intended to avoid attacks similar to the ones that caused devastating carnage in Paris could even be counterproductive if they last too long.

"If these dramatic measures continue in Brussels, we will be doing the terrorists' job for them," he said. "The government may be unintentionally contributing to the atmosphere of fear."

But Henry Willis, director of RAND Homeland Security and Defense Center, likened the clampdown in Paris to the reaction of U.S. authorities after the Boston marathon bombing.

"They did shut down the city for a couple of days and when they lifted those restrictions, that's when they caught the terrorist," he said.

Several of the Paris attackers had lived in Brussels, including Abdelhamid Abaaoud, the man who authorities say orchestrated the plot.

He was killed Wednesday in a standoff with French police.

French police issued a new public appeal for help in identifying the third attacker who was killed in the assault at the national stadium. On Sunday, they posted a photo of the man on Twitter, asking the public for information.

Greek police confirmed that the man posed as an asylum seeker before the carnage. Public Order Minister Nikos Toskas said the man traveled to the island of Leros on Oct. 3, but he gave no further details.

Two senior Greek law enforcement officials told The Associated Press that the man traveled with another attacker identified as Ahmad Al Mohammad. Both men were rescued by the Greek coast guard while traveling from nearby Turkey on a boat carrying nearly 200 migrants and refugees that sank before reaching Greece. The officials requested anonymity because they weren't authorized to speak to the media.

France has extended a state of emergency which allows police raids, searches and house arrest without permission from a judge, for three months. On Saturday, it also extended a ban on demonstrations and other gatherings through Nov. 30, when a U.N. climate conference with more than 100 heads of state is scheduled to start.

The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for Paris attacks; the suicide bombings in Beirut that killed 43 people and injured more than 200; and the downing of the Russian jetliner carrying 224 people in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula. All happened within the past month.

Father and son killed in Princes Town crash

he wrecked Toyota Altis that Namdeo Harriram and Lalchan Harriram,

A

father and son are now dead following a mid-morning accident today on M1 Ring Road, Princes

Town.

Namdeo Harriram from Daly Road, New Grant, was taking his son, Lalchan Harriram, to a doctor’s office. Reports stated that at the time of the accident the road was wet and the black Toyota Corolla Altis they were in began to skid and swerve. It then slammed into a ten-tonne truck.

The two other occupants of the car, Namdeo’s wife Havanti Harriram and their daughter seven-year-old Tricia Harriram were injured.

Lalchan, who was in the back seat, and Namdeo succumbed to their injuries.

Dave Ramkissoon, the driver of the truck, was not injured. However, his passenger Nizam Mohammed, sustained slight injuries and is seeking medical attention.

Havanti and Mohammed were taken to San Fernando General Hospital. While Tricia was taken by a passerby to the Princes Town District Health Facility.

The accident caused traffic to back up for miles.

Investigations into the accident continue.

38

November 27–December 3, 2015

Caribbean Star Newspaper

CRICKET & Sports

Guyana, Jamaica wrap up victories Jamaica 291 (McCarthy 121, Imran 7-90) and 156 for 4 (Campbell 83*, Kantasingh 3-51) beat Trinidad & Tobago 271 (Solozano 110, Bernard 3-25) and 175 (Campbell 7-73) by six wickets

O

ffspinner John Campbell finished with career-best match figures of 8 for 93 and scored a crucial 83 in the second innings, helping Jamaica beat Trinidad & Tobago by six wickets in Port of Spain. T&T, batting first, found themselves precariously placed at 104 for 5 before they were rescued by a 115-run partnership between Jeremy Solozano and Steven Katwaroo. Katwaroo was run out for 45, but Solozano stroked his way to 110, with 10 fours, guiding the team to 271. Jamaica, though, replied with a centurion of their own, as Andre McCarthy’s patient 121 helped withstand a seven-for from legspinner Imran Khan.

McCarthy added 149 for the fourth wicket with Tamar Lambert, who contributed just 45 to the partnership. No other batsman produced a score of note, but the platform laid by McCarthy meant Jamaica posted a total of 291 and secured a lead

of 20. T&T fared poorly in the second innings, losing wickets at regular intervals right from the off, as Campbell wrecked their line-up on his way to picking up 7 for 73. The team lasted less than 70 overs and was bowled out for 175, setting Jamaica a target of 156. Campbell then marshaled Jamaica’s chase by hitting seven fours for his 83 not out, and ran the target down inside 49 overs.

Guyana 337 (Vishaul 121, Johnson 74, Stoute 3-40) and 43 for 1 beat Barbados 104 (Motie 3-19, Permaul 3-41) and 272 (Carter 89, Motie 6-79) by nine wickets A first-innings century from Vishaul Singh, and a nine-wicket match haul from left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie were the cornerstones of Guyana’s nine-wicket win against Barbados at the Providence Stadium. Guyana, opting to bat, were lifted by Vishaul’s 121, as well as his 50-plus partnerships with Leon Johnson (74) and Raymon Reifer (32). The team fell away slightly after Reifer’s wicket, but Guyana nonetheless finished with a healthy 337.

Guyana then further cemented their advantage by bowling the visitors out for

John Campbell’s match haul of 8 for 93 spun Jamaica to victory © WICB Media/Ashley Allen 104, with no Barbados batsman managing a score more than 19. With a lead of 233 in hand, Guyana enforced the follow-on, but Barbados showed more fight in their second dig. Half-centuries from Jonathan Carter, Sharmarh Brooks and

Roston Chase guided the team forward, but Motie ran through their line-up on his way to collecting 6 for 79, bundling Barbados out for 272. It meant Guyana needed just 40 for victory, and the team achieved that target inside eight overs.

BPL controversy over Bopara, Cobb NOCs

T

he BPL descended into farce on the second day, when the Sylhet-Chittagong match was delayed by more than an hour because the Sylhet franchise did not have No-Objection Certificates (NOCs) for Ravi Bopara and Josh Cobb. When the NOCs did arrive after the toss, Chittagong refused to take the field since Bopara and Cobb were not included in Sylhet’s original playing XI. Trouble started when the scheduled toss didn’t take place at 1.30pm as Chittagong Vikings captain Tamim Iqbal and match referee Raqibul Hasan stood near the pitch waiting for Sylhet Superstars captain Mushfiqur Rahim. Some of the BPL officials could be seen standing around the Sylhet dressing-room.

The BPL’s technical committee chairman, Jalal Yunus, told ESPNcricinfo at this point that the toss was delayed, “because the BPL wasn’t allowing Sylhet to take the field with two players since they didn’t have the prerequisite No-Objection Certificates”.

The toss took place with Sylhet deciding to field first and both captains went back in possession of each other’s playing XI on a sheet of paper. Neither Bopara nor Cobb was named in the Sylhet team, although the list did not have their captain and manager’s signatures at the bottom, while the Chittagong team sheet did.

The level of confusion then rose. As

The presence of Ravi Bopara and Josh Cobb as Sylhet walked out led to Chittagong refusing to bat © Daily Kaler Kantho Tamim and Tillakaratne Dilshan were walking out to bat at 2.15pm - a delay of 15 minutes - they saw Cobb and Bopara walking out with the Sylhet players.

Immediately the Chittagong openers returned to their dressing room, with BPL officials coming down to the field to take stock of the situation. There followed some heated exchanges among the BPL officials, Sylhet owners and Chittagong officials.

The crowd at Mirpur, around 2000 of

them, started to get impatient and finally, at 2.55pm, nearly an hour after the scheduled start of play, the Sylhet players started to warm up with Cobb and Bopara sitting on the sidelines.

Tamim and Dilshan still appeared reluctant to head out of the dressing room and only after some more to-ing and froing did they take the field. During this time, the Sylhet players had warmed up and taken their position and then got back together, warmed up a little more

and returned to their fielding positions.

The match eventually got underway at 3.08pm.

Yunus explained after the game that the BPL technical committee was willing to allow Sylhet to include Bopara and Cobb at the last minute, but Tamim had refused the request.

“The NOCs of Joshua Cobb and Ravi Bopara arrived at 1.59pm. The match was supposed to start at 2pm,” Yunus said. “We had told them earlier that a player cannot take the field without an NOC. Accordingly, they sent the players’ list.

“In the greater interest of the game, a captain could allow the opposing team to have a change in their line-up before the game, even after the toss. So we asked Tamim to consider that with his permission Sylhet can field the four foreign players. So we informed Sylhet that since the opposing captain isn’t agreeing, you have to play without the two players. Sylhet agreed in the end, but a lot of time was wasted. We tried to solve the problem for the sake of cricket.”

Yunus said Sylhet had “made a mistake” by allowing Bopara and Cobb to take the field. Without the pair, Sylhet were unable to field the mandatory four foreign players, required by the tournament rules. Sylhet included only Ajantha Mendis and Dilshan Munaweera, of Sri Lanka, with BPL officials allowing an exception.

Caribbean Star Newspaper After pink ball, four-day Tests?

F

ormer Australian captain Greg Chappell has endorsed the idea of four-day Tests to shake up the longest form of the game.

Chappell’s endorsement comes just before the first ever day-night Test match between Australia and New Zealand which starts here from November 27.

Chappell, who was involved in the breakaway World Series of Cricket in the late 1970s that introduced day-night cricket, color uniforms and white balls, isn’t afraid of changing Test cricket if it means the game will continue to thrive.

“I am a traditionalist but I am not that frightened by four-day Test matches,” Chappell was quoted as saying by cricket. com.au.

“It was only the early part of last century they had unlimited days for Test cricket, never ending Tests, they used to go seven or eight days. In this day and age you have to consider these things. If you played enough overs in the day, and I think they’re talking about 100 overs in the day in four days, that’s 400 overs of Test cricket.”

“A lot of Test matches haven’t gone that far. It’s a hell of a lot of cricket - you should be able to get a result in that time.

I think any business, and sport is a business, I think more than anything else if you don’t continue to be evolving you’re likely to be going backwards. I think we

November 27–December 3, 2015

Late Phil Hughes to be honored during the Adelaide Test

F Greg Chappell with his not-so-favorite person Ganguly should look at all these things.”

Chappell also said he would want to limit the number of overs to be moved to 100 in the first innings adding that it would not make the batsmen suffer and added that the game needs a Test championship.

“The idea of a Test Championship has been put up a few times and it hasn’t got through the voting system at this point,” Chappell said.

“Each of the sovereign nations want to have some control over when and how they play their Test cricket. I would love the idea over a four-year period that you have a Test Championship and a semi-final and a final at a venue each four years. Every Test match then would have meaning.”

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

39

ormer cricketer Philip Hughes, who passed away last year succumbing to the injuries sustained after being hit on the back of his head by a bouncer while playing for South Australia, will be honored during the Adelaide Test, the first day of which falls on Hughes’ first death anniversary, cricket. com.aureports.

Cricket Australia (CA) announced that players from Australia and New Zealand as well as from the three Sheffield Shield matches to be played during the time will wear black armbands during the matches as a mark of respect for Hughes.

A video tribute will also be played on the giant screen at the Adelaide Oval during the first break of the day-night Test at 4:08 PM – in reference to Hughes’ Test cap number of 408.

Though CA were mulling on further plans to mark the occasion, the remembrance have been kept to a minimal

at the request of Hughes’ family.

South Australia as well as New South Wales (NSW), the team Hughes was facing on that fateful day at the SCG last year, are among the teams that will be in Sheffield Shield action during the time, and the former announced that they will be staging a team dinner on Friday, November 27, to mark Hughes’ death.

“Phillip Hughes will always be dearly missed here at SACA by his teammates and friends,” said South Australian Cricket Association (SACA) chief executive Keith Bradshaw.

“Phillip was much loved and even in his short time with us he had a profound

effect on South Australian cricket and everyone who was lucky enough to know him. It will be an emotional time for all of us and our players and staff will have appropriate support around them.”

Nathan Lyon, who, along with David Warner and Mitchell Starc, was playing for NSW on that day, echoed the same thoughts while speaking about Hughes.

“It’s going to be tough times, there’s no doubt about it,” Lyon said. We’ve lost a mate and it’s been 12 months since then. It’s another chance to go out and pay our respects to Phil Hughes. It’s going to be a sad time. It’s like losing anyone, a close friend or family member, it’s tough. There’s no point hiding behind it.”

The Adelaide Test is set to be the first Day-Night Test and will be played with the pink ball and will indeed turn out to be special in more ways than one.

Idlewild Terrace Inc.

Weddings Anniversaries Showers Private Parties Holiday Events Church service Graduations Meetings Seminars Conferences and Non-profit Fundraisers

Your Events’ Venue

Call us:

917.916.3006 157-13 Rockaway Blvd.

Jamaica, NY 11434

Idlewild Terrace Inc. is a multi propose events venue. It is conveniently located near the JFK Airport and major highways including; the Belt Parkway, Van Wyck Expressway & Cross Island Parkway. This updated space is very cozy yet it has four bathrooms, a utility room, a DJ booth, a bar, TVs and equipped with a projector for presentations.

40

November 27–December 3, 2015

Caribbean Star Newspaper

The West Indian . Oct 17, 2015 . Page 61

Caribbean Star Newspaper

T

November 27–December 3, 2015

Cairns jury retires, will reconvene on Friday

he jury in the Chris Cairns perjury trial has retired to consider its verdict and will reconvene at Southwark Crown Court on Friday to continue its deliberations.

The presiding Judge, Mr Justice Sweeney, concluded his two-and-a-half days of summing-up at 1.02pm this afternoon, at which point he advised the jury that they should feel under no time pressure to return a verdict in a case that is already into its eighth week.

Cairns denies two counts of perjury and perverting the course of justice, relating to his successful libel action against Lalit Modi, the founder of the IPL, at the High Court in 2012. His co-defendant and former legal advisor, Andrew Fitch-Holland, denies one count of perverting the course of justice, after allegedly attempting to secure a false witness statement from Lou Vincent to support Cairns’ case against Modi.

If the jury finds Cairns guilty of perjury, in relation to his statement at the High Court that he had “never” cheated at cricket and would not contemplate doing so, then they can move onto the charge of perverting the course of justice, in which Fitch-Holland is considered the primary perpetrator. If Fitch-Holland is found not guilty, then Cairns must also be acquitted of that charge. If he is found guilty, the jury can then consider whether Cairns had conspired with Fitch-Holland in a “joint enterprise” to

obtain the statement.

In his final day of summing-up, Mr Justice Sweeney took the jury through the evidence provided by Brendon McCullum, the New Zealand captain who, along with Vincent and Vincent’s exwife, Eleanor Riley, is considered one of the three key witnesses to the perjury charge. The judge reminded the jury that at least two of those testimonies must be considered true for the charge to be upheld.

Revisiting McCullum’s evidence, Mr Justice Sweeney reminded the jury that McCullum had claimed to have been approached three times by Cairns to match-fix, firstly on the eve of the inaugural Indian Premier League in Kolkata in April 2008, then by phone a few days later, and finally in person in Worcester on June 11, during New Zealand’s Test tour of England.

The details of these approaches, which Cairns denies, only came to light after an ICC anti-corruption briefing in Bangladesh in February 2011, on the eve of the World Cup. McCullum, who had previously confided in two teammates, Daniel Vettori and Kyle Mills, was encouraged to come clean and did so in the course of three interviews with the ICC Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) briefings between 2011 and 2014.

John Rhodes, the ACSU officer who conducted the interviews, said in his ev-

Here are the nine cities vying for IPL teams

T

o which uncharted territory shall the IPL be moving to in 2016?

It had earlier been reported that nine cities were in contention to be hosting the two new teams in IPL 8, and it has now come out that those cities are Pune, Rajkot, Indore, Chennai, Dharamshala, Ranchi, Visakhapatnam, Nagpur and Cuttack, according to The Hindu.

Kochi and Jaipur have been eliminated from the possible list of cities, for undisclosed reasons.

There has been considerable interest to pick up the Invitation to Tender (ITT) form, to determine which the two teams will be to replace Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings – the two teams serving a 2 year ban for having partaken in match fixing activities in 2013.

The ITT has been made available at the BCCI office here from November 16 to 30 at a non-refundable and non-adjustable cost of Rs. 2 lakh.

Interested parties, which

already includes several corporates, will be bidding to set up a team at any of these nine cities on December 8, starting at the base price of 40 crore. The players’ auction will be held in 2017.

Five players each from each of suspended franchises would be put up for draft while others will be auctioned.

Controversy over ownership of Chennai franchise A Chennai-based corporate named Chettinad Cements has bought the Invitation To Tender (ITT) document from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) office. It is one of the five firms to have shown interest in owning a temporary IPL team, for the 2-year

duration when Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals remain suspended from the league.

CSK, the existing Chennai franchise, are also owned by a Chennai-based cement company – India Cements, of which MS Dhoni is even the Vice-President and N Srinivasan the Managing Director.

No existing link has been found between India Cements, the party who have been banned, and Chettinad Cements – the party who are in line to be owning a Chennai-based team next season.

What muddies the waters even more is that Chettinad Cement is headed by M.A.M.R. Muthiah, who shares his name with bitter rival of N Srinivasan, AC Muthiah – leading sections of media to report that the new Chennai firm interested in IPL 8 was in fact owned by the former BCCI President.

Other firms who have expressed interest in owning the new teams include Videocon and the Goenka brothers.

Chris Cairns arrives on the final day of the judge’s summing-up at Southwark Crown Court © Getty Images idence that McCullum had come across as a “very nervous young man” who was “struggling in relation to his relationship to Chris Cairns”.

“The inference was clear”, Rhodes had added, that McCullum had been ap-

41

proached to underperform, but it was not his role, as the interviewer, to put words in McCullum’s mouth. However, the ICC did not go on to investigate Cairns in the wake of McCullum’s statement, even though, in the words of Sir Ronnie Flanagan, the ACSU chairman, it was added to a file on Cairns which contained other information that went “beyond rumor”.

In each of his three interviews with Rhodes, the transcripts of which were available to the jury in a Q&A format, McCullum added extra details, including the name of Ricky Ponting, who had been present in the hotel bar in Kolkata when Cairns had phoned to make his first approach, and who also gave evidence earlier in the trial.

Mr Justice Sweeney told the jury that “it is a matter for you” whether McCullum had deliberately altered his account to serve his own interests, as the defense have suggested, or whether the extra details were innocently provided on account of more careful questioning in each of the three interviews.

Sri Lanka frontrunner to host Ind-Pak series

S

ri Lanka is fast emerging as the likeliest venue to host a shortened bilateral series between Pakistan and India. Sri Lanka Cricket has been sounded out by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), and appear very keen to host the series.

Things have moved fast since BCCI president Shashank Manohar and PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan met at the ICC headquarters in Dubai on Sunday afternoon to break the deadlock over where the series should be held. The BCCI has made no comment as yet on the meeting, and Manohar left Dubai this morning to return to India.

Shaharyar left too, and was meant to meet Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in Lahore on Monday, to brief him on the discussions in Dubai. But the meeting could not take place as Sharif was busy.

“I could not meet him as he was very occupied with various things, so I will communicate to him in writing all that transpired at the meeting,” Khan said.

He also pointed out that he would not be travelling back to Dubai on November 25, as originally planned, to meet ECB president Giles Clarke, who is acting as a mediator between PCB and BCCI.* Shaharyar and Najam Sethi, PCB’s head of executive committee, had come out of the Dubai meeting sounding optimistic, but they did not divulge any details. Those were supposed to be provided by Clarke at a media briefing today in Dubai but it is understood that will not happen. The ICC also confirmed there was no media conference scheduled.

The biggest hurdle to the series was the venue: the BCCI had made it clear that it would not play Pakistan anywhere else but in India. Rejecting that offer, the PCB responded by saying the memorandum of understanding signed by both countries in 2014 clearly stated India would travel to the UAE. Then, last

Friday, Shaharyar added that the final decision would be taken by the Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

The UAE has not been dropped as a venue, officially speaking, but Manohar’s opposition to play there remained. So holding the series in neutral ground like Sri Lanka was one of the proposals the PCB placed at the Dubai meeting. Also with South Africa’s tour of India finishing on December 7 and India travelling to Australia for a limited-overs series from January 12, both boards decided to modify the original schedule. The best possible option was playing three ODIs and two T20Is. In the ICC FTP Pakistan are listed to host India for a full tour comprising two Tests, five ODIs and two T20Is. According to an official privy to the details of the meeting, a final decision on the series would be made by November 27.

He added that dates and stadiums haven’t been chalked out yet but indicated the matches would be played towards the latter part of December to avoid washouts.

A Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) official said Khettarama and Pallekele were the likeliest venues to host the tour. It has rained almost daily in both Colombo and Kandy this month, but the weather is expected to clear towards the end of December.

The northeast monsoon typically tapers off quicker in these cities than in Hambantota or Dambulla.

There is a potential clash since Khettarama is scheduled to host domestic T20 matches on December 23rd and 30th, but those games may be moved elsewhere.

Pallekele’s schedule is wide open in the window for the Pakistan-India series.

Since Pakistan would play the host, the series would be broadcast by Ten Sports.

No official from Ten was available for comment. Although no definite plans have been made yet, the Sri Lankan official said SLC would expect significant compensation for the use of their stadiums.

42

Caribbean Star Newspaper Canelo Alvarez victorious against Cotto Jayawardene proposes All-Stars v USA in future November 27–December 3, 2015

Canelo Alvarez W12 Miguel Cotto Wins world middleweight title Scores: 119-109, 118110, 117-111 Records: Alvarez (461-1, 32 KOs); Cotto (40-5, 33 KOs) Rafael’s remarks: As Alvarez said so explicitly following this huge victory in front of an electric crowd of 11,274 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center: “Now it’s my era.” Truer words were never spoken as Alvarez, the 25-year-old Mexican star, recorded a career-defining victory to become the lineal middleweight world champion (as well as claiming an alphabet belt stripped from Cotto four days before the fight in a dispute over the sanctioning fee). lvarez, a former unified junior middleweight titleholder, won his fourth fight in a row since his lone loss in a record-breaking title unification showdown with Floyd Mayweather in 2013, and he gave Mexico a massive win in its epic and decades-long boxing rivalry with Puerto Rico.

Alvarez was a star before the Mayweather fight, and after this win, he will be even bigger. He is now the face of boxing in the wake of Mayweather’s retirement in September and Manny Pacquiao’s imminent departure from

A

center stage.

In fact, Alvarez’s fight with Cotto, contracted at a catchweight of 155 pounds, was the most anticipated of the year other than the May 2 megafight between Mayweather and Pacquiao. There were lofty expectations for Cotto-Alvarez also, and although perhaps it was not the classic some hoped for it was still a very good fight fought at a high level. It was thoroughly entertaining and competitive, despite the absurdly wide scorecards in a fight that virtually every top media member had either 116112 or 115-113 in favor of Alvarez, who undoubtedly was the rightful winner.

The 35-year-old Cotto, who became the first Puerto Rican fighter to win world titles in four divisions when he upset Sergio Martinez in June 2014, was making the second defense of the lineal world title, and while he may have lost, he looked pretty sharp. He followed Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach’s game plan to a T, which was to box and stay on his toes while sticking his jab. He did just that and showed good stamina, but he simply could not overcome Alvarez, who was the much bigger and stronger man, as well as a decade younger.

The difference in the fight boiled down to one thing: Alvarez’s punches were

F much harder than Cotto’s and the judges scored it that way, even if their cards were too wide. While the quicker Cotto boxed and moved, only occasionally trading, Alvarez walked Cotto down all night and fired bigger, more powerful shots, especially with his right hand. According to CompuBox punch statistics, Alvarez landed 155 of 484 punches (32 percent), and Cotto landed 129 of 629 (21 percent).

The early rounds were more boxing match than fight, but it heated up as it moved along with the back-and-forth and exciting eighth round being the best of the fight, which HBO will replay on Saturday night at 10:15 p.m.

ET/PT. Cotto showed himself to be a sore loser -- not the first time -- by refusing to do an interview with HBO PPV in the ring as well as blowing off the postfight news conference, so his future plans are unknown.

If he elects to fight again, he could seek a rematch with Alvarez, since both

fighters had rematch options in their contracts in what was, in essence, a two-fight deal. He could also opt to return full time to junior middleweight, where he previously held a title. He fought well enough where retirement would be a surprise. Alvarez, however, will have plenty of big fights to come, be it a rematch with Cotto or somebody else.

The fight everyone wants to see is a unification match between Alvarez and Gennady Golovkin, who also happens to be Alvarez’s mandatory challenger because he also has an interim belt to go with his two full titles. That would be a massive fight but seems very unlikely to be next, although it probably will happen down the road. Whomever Alvarez fights next, Golden Boy Promotions CEO Oscar De La Hoya announced that Alvarez would fight in 2016 in May and September on the traditional Mexican holiday dates, and that they will big events.

WORLD FAMOUS PALMIST & SPIRITUALIST PANDITH: RAMAN SHASTRY

300 years traditional

Are you disappointed meeting astrologers and not gettting solutions then once meet god gifted Spiritualist - Pandith Raman Shastry to get permanent solution to all your problems.

SKILEED IN ASTROLOGY *PALMISTRY *NUMEROLOGY *HOROSCOPE & *FACE READING

SUGGESTIONS & SOLUTIONS ON: • Business Problems • Love Problems • Money Problems • Enemy Problems • Family Argument • Jealousy • Childless Couples • Marriage Problems

• Sexual Problems • Property • House Problems • Worried about loved ones

OVER POWERS IMPOSSIBLE PROBLEMS

He can Handle, Remove & Destroy Black Magic, Voodoo, Obey, Witchcraft Demonic Forces, Evil, Bad Luck & all Negativity and Gives Protection Destroy your problems before they destroy you and live a life of happiness, peace, love, and prosperity like a millions of people across the world.

Opening Hours: 9:00 am to 8:00pm | 7 DAYS A WEEK Private and Confidential CALL FOR APPOINTMENT WITH SPIRITUAL HEALER Private House (only apnt.)

347-341-2541 646-255-3052 128-09 Liberty Avenue, Richmond Hill, NY 11419

103-02 Lefferts Blvd. S.Richmond Hill. NY 11419 (Private House)

100% Guaranteed Result

ormer Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene has proposed having greater participation from the USA national team players in future endeavours involving the Cricket All-Stars, including the potential for a USA v All-Stars exhibition match.

“If the opportunity arises, the ideal scenario would be for an AllStar team to play the USA team, if we come next time around,” Jayawardene told ESPNcricinfo in Los Angeles, during the final stop on the Cricket All-Stars tour.

“If you get a few of the younger guys involved in it, who have just recently retired, you can probably have a good game. You can give [USA] an opportunity to play a match against some of the good players. I still think guys like Warney [Shane Warne] and Murali [Muttiah Muralitharan] probably still can bowl the way they were bowling. So it is a great opportunity I think.”

According to several sources, a push was made behind the scenes by local officials to have USA players included in the actual All-Stars squads. At the top of the list was Barbados Tridents wicketkeeper-batsman Steven Taylor, while several other USA players who were recentlychosen to be a part of a combined ICC Americas team to play in the 2016 WICB Nagico Super50 were also believed to be in the mix.

Instead, a compromise was reached to have USA national and regional players serve as net bowlers in the All-Stars training sessions, with two players designated as 12th Man for either team in the games in each city. This allowed local talent to participate in the festivities andsoak up tips from the All-Stars.

Jayawardene is vouching for them to get more genuine opportunities on a follow-up visit though, describing their skill level as “quite good” through his interactions with them on tour.

“They were getting tips from Warne and Murali and [Glenn] McGrath and

all these guys, it’s fantastic for them,” Jayawardene said. “That kind of interaction for them, you understand the game in a better way, how it works in the mind as well. So it’s a great opportunity, and this is just at practice. Imagine if you could get those guys to play in tournaments as well and proper matches.

“That’s something that we could look forward to if everything goes well, and something that US cricket could come up with and see whether they can have a match organized. There are opportunities and things we could try to do to get the profile of cricket in the US to a different level. If we are to promote the game and to get the kids involved and get the ball rolling, I think we just need to keep doing these kind of events on a regular basis.”

Jayawardene recalled his visit with the Sri Lanka team to Florida in 2010 when they played New Zealand in the first two T20Is by Full Members in the USA. At the same venue, USA played Jamaica separately in a pair of T20 matches that were scheduled as a doubleheader alongside the Sri Lanka v New Zealand matches.

Jayawardene said he felt there is no reason why a tri-series or other multi-team tournament cannot be organized instead to give Associate teams opportunities against Full Members.

“It gives them a bit of exposure so that people get to see where they are and what needs to be done to improve,” Jayawardene said. “[The All-Stars] is just a byproduct I think and you need to make sure the international game should come here as well, especially places like Toronto where you have good cricket grounds.

“We went there [in 2008] and it was a good tournament as well. Pakistan, us, [Zimbabwe] and Canada played in it as well, so it gave their guys a national opportunity. So we should try to see whether that kind of tournament can be organized on a regular basis.”

Caribbean Star Newspaper

November 27–December 3, 2015

149-15 177ST JAMAICA NY 11434 TEL: 718-917 6492, 718-244 8247 FAX: 718-553 7943

43

Your Faith, Our Home

R

Traditional & Non-Traditional Services Family Owned Since 1974 Offers a WIDE Variety of Services Shipping to Anywhere in the World Free Video and Newspaper Tributes Pre plan and save 130-02 Liberty Avenue, QUEENS, NY 11419

(718) 845-7408

www.ElcockFuneralHome.com

ТМ