August 17, 2016

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CXC 2016 Results Released Page8

LOCAL PAGE 2

GUYANA DAILY NEWS

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17, 2016

Businesses Continue To Suffer Excessive Taxes From GRA

The collection of Value Added Tax (VAT) for the first half of 2016 exceeded that of the corresponding period in 2015 by five percent. However, there was a significant decline on VAT collection from imports in the last 12 years, according to Chairman of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), Godfrey Statia. According to the mid-year report, as it relates to the performance of Guyana’s economy, presented by Minister of Finance Winston Jordan, $17.3B was collected in 2016 compared to $16.4B for the corresponding period in 2015.

Despite the increased collection of VAT overall, there has been a noticeable reduction on the amount of VAT collected on imports. Collection in this category declined by $1.4B, while VAT collected on domestic supplies, increased by $436.4M.

current state of the economy, the constant harassment by the Mayor and City Council, Customs and GRA, the introduction of new and increased taxes, the imminent Parking Meter fees, which are additional burden on the business community. Many businesses have been complaining to the Guyana Daily News about closures of their operations.

Business operators who wish to remain anonymous, are of the opinion that the Government do not have the right policies in place to foster the businesses in Guyana and are seriously contemplating investing in other countries. The Government had recently introduced a number of new taxes and fees, such as the container fee, whereby business operators will have to pay a fee of $25000 initially, for containers that are parked in front of This is a direct impact from the ongoing sluggish economy. The their business place, however, this amount was reduced to Commissioner General noted that increased collection on VAT $5000 pending change of the legislation. on domestic supplies has been credited to the raking in of almost $125M in VAT arrears and $74.7M from the local manufacturing and services sectors. Major industries in Guyana’s economy have recorded significant decline in their operations.

According to the Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan in his midyear report stated that the agriculture, fishing and forestry sectors contracted by 10.0 percent, the sugar industry shrunk by a whopping 30 percent, growth in the rice industry also declined during the first half of 2016, with rice production falling to 26.2 percent, the forestry sector contracted by 13.1 percent, the manufacturing sector overall contracted by 17.1 percent, wholesale and retail trade, and construction, which account for approximately a third of the sector, contracted by 11.3 percent and 7.5 percent, respectively. It should be noted that the term ‘contracted’ is in essence a decline.

These facts show that the economy could be on the path to a financial collapse. Businesses are complaining about the

LOCAL PAGE 3

GUYANA DAILY NEWS

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17, 2016

Central Bank Alarmed At Leakembezzled Of Confidential Info At SOCU or stole public monies for personal gain, accused

Bank of Guyana Governor, Dr Gobin Ganga has noted that the Bank is extremely concerned that confidential banking information had been leaked to the press and was widely published. Over the weekend various sections of the media had published the bank account numbers of Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of the Presidency, Omar Shariff who is under investigation by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) over the alleged theft of billions of dollars.

The bank account numbers of 14 accounts, along with a summary of its balances and withdrawals were revealed and included information pointing to several asset holdings for Shariff, including shares in a number of local organizations which includes shares owned in two local banks and Banks DIH Limited. Dr Ganga, in a report published on iNews said that the Bankers Association is likely to make a formal pronouncement on the matter shortly and as Central Bank Governor he is “very worried” about the divulged information, since it can only serve the banking sector in a negative way and is likely to bring dispute about the bankers.

The matter was raised during recent consultations held on the draft State Asset Recovery Bill when Nazla Faizoul, Legal Officer of the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) had fears about confidentiality and had questioned the security of the confidential information being passed onto agencies such as SOCU and State Assets Recovery Unit (SARU). Last week, Shariff, in relation to the allegations that he had laundered,

SOCU of leaking confidential information to the media.

According to the central bank Governor, the leakage of such confidential information can only serve to damage the public trust in the local banking sector and will hurt Guyana’s credibility on the international scene since such developments point to its enfeebled reliability to secure confidential information recalling that this was one of the reasons that the Bank of America had pulled out of Guyana.

He said that the BoG is monitoring the developments and is in fact looking to see what recourse is available to remedy the situation. In the past, the topic of leaked confidential information has generated much public debate since the SARU bills was presented to parliament and came back to the forefront of public opinion with the publishing of Shariff’s confidential information. -By- Pablo Cupido, Guyana Daily News.

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LOCAL PAGE 5

GUYANA DAILY NEWS

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17, 2016

GUYANA MUST TAKE THIS PATH TO BECOMING AN INDUSTRIALISED NATION Guyana’s successful path to the 21st century must move to becoming an Industrialized nation, it must have the right pro-business policies, competitive energy, educative energetic workforce, tax incentives, friendly legislation and environment is imperative to the reality of this dream. The most important being the Building of a Hydro Power Plant. According to the United Nations, manufacturing is an important employer, accounting for around 470 million jobs worldwide in 2009 – or around 16 per cent of the world’s workforce of 2.9 billion. In 2013, it is estimated that there were more than half a billion jobs in manufacturing.

Industrialization’s job multiplication effect has a positive impact on society. Every one job in manufacturing creates 2.2 jobs in other sectors. Small and medium-sized enterprises that engage in industrial processing and manufacturing are the most critical for the early stages of industrialization and are typically the largest job creators.

They make up over 90 per cent of business worldwide and account for between 50-60 per cent of employment. Guyana’s missed opportunity in becoming an industrialized nation lies with Amaila Falls Hydropower Project. This project would have seen GPL’s bill being brought down to 11.5 cents USD from 19.3 -20.7 cents USD per Kwh. The benefits of a Hydro Power Plant are numerous, and cannot be overstated. Hydropower uses water, meaning that it is clean energy, no fossil fuel is being used and therefore it will not aid in Global Warming. Hydropower will reduce significantly the energy bill of any manufacturing plant and it also has a longer life span. Although the initial cost to setup these venture is high, the long term benefits

will definitely outweigh the initial setup cost. Cheap energy is very essential for Industrialization. Competitive energy is essential for a successful industrialized nation along with adequate Infrastructure, will take Guyana to the next level.

In many emerging countries adequate infrastructure in communication, roads, schools, and health care are lacking. Poor infrastructure will become a barrier to trade, jobs will be affected, and lack of access to good education, farmers will have problems to get their produces from the satellite areas. The Government of Guyana should make this a priority when planning for the 21 Century.

Technology is essential for a developing nation, the world is linked by technology, whether be it trade, communication and infrastructure, the Government must place emphasis in this area, education in ICT must be had by everyone in Guyana.

Technology is the main driving force in any country becoming Industrialize. The work that goes on at our wharves everyday affects our lives. Approximately 90 percent of the goods that enter Guyana come via ships. From gas, cars, food items, medical supplies to the stationery in our offices, comes via Harbors and Ports, and is also the main exist to the rest of the world. Our Harbour is the main gate way to participation in the world trade, access to International Markets, as a matter of fact a significant amount of jobs in Guyana depends on the Ports and Harbors. The establishment of a deep water harbor is very significant to the development of the Economy.

With the establishment of online shipping agencies, where products are instantly being purchased from overseas, the items must be able to move from point A to B, hassle free. Guyana is strategically located for the establishment of a deep water harbor, it is the only English speaking country in South America, and is not land lock like most of the countries in South America. Brazil’s President and former President of Guyana Donald Ramotar, had discussion for the establishment of a deep water harbor.

With the establishment of a deep water harbor, Guyana will forge new trading partners and markets.

This is an important component of Industrialization, the products that will be manufactured will have to be exported, so the Government will have to set up the right environment to forge New Markets. Guyana will soon become an oil producing nation. In order for the country to adequately benefit from the proceeds of oil, the Government must have a blueprint for the 21 Century. Hydropower along with adequate infrastructure coupled with the building a deep water harbor and the necessary business policies, the country will gain from oil proceeds, and hence the path to an Industrialized Nation.

LOCAL PAGE 6

GUYANA DAILY NEWS

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17, 2016

Man Charged With Threatening Grandmother Magistrate Fabayo Azore released Devon Smith on GY$5000 bail after he appeared before her charged with making use of threatening behavior towards his grandmother. Smith, 27, of Laing Avenue, pleaded not guilty to the charge. He told the court that he has no idea what is happening and he does not know what he did wrong. Smith will return on September 16, 2016. -By- Jarred Singh, Guyana Daily News.

Man Threatens Wife With Knife After She Refused To Unlock Phone Magistrate Fabayo Azore today fined a gentleman by the name of Nelson GY$10,000 or three weeks imprisonment in default of the fine for the offense of making use of threatening behavior towards his common law wife of 12 years. Nelson was unrepresented and pleaded guilty with an explanation to the charge. The 35-year-old man told the court that on the day of the incident, he became upset when he picked up his wife’s phone to make a phone call and saw a lude message from an unknown number.

According to the man, an argument then ensued between them over the message and a couple days later, the issue was back up for discussion when he asked her to unlock her cellphone and she refused. Nelson noted that he then picked up a knife and threatened her to unlock the phone. The magistrate upon hearing this asked the Virtual Complainant if Nelson ever behaved in that manner before. She said no. Nelson issued a public apology to his wife and was then fined for the offense. By- Jarred Singh, Guyana Daily News.

Importation Of Vehicles Older Than 8 Years Is Now Restricted

In a press statement issued on Tuesday, the Guyana Revenue Authority reminded motor vehicle dealers and other importers that the recent legislative changes to the Customs Act restricts motor vehicles that are eight years and older, from the date of manufacture to the date of importation, from entering Guyana. GRA noted that this new Law already took effect from May 01, 2016.

According to the authority, it has already issued notices to this effect in the media and therefore urges vehicle importers to desist from purchasing such vehicles and attempting to import the restricted cars “since vehicles in contravention will be forfeited and disposed thereof, in accordance with the provisions of the Customs Laws. Other fines and penalties may also be imposed.” Importers should also note the restriction does not include heavy vehicles, namely trucks, Lorries, vehicles used in the agricultural and industrial sectors and special purpose vehicles. Finance Minister Winston Jordan had expressed the administration’s intentions to remove the excise tax on motor vehicles that are under four years old and lower than 1500cc.

These vehicles currently attract excise tax at a rate of 30 percent with an effective tax rate of 118.7 percent. With this removal, Jordan explained, the effective tax rate will be reduced to 68.2 percent. Another major impact from the budget would be the reduction of excise tax from 50 percent to 10 percent on motor vehicles under four years old – that is for vehicles between 1500cc and under 2000cc.

The effective tax rate of 152.3 percent for this category will be reduced to 85 percent. It was believes that vehicles, especially the popular Toyota Premio and Allion sedan family cars, would become cheaper. However, local car importers are asking Government to reconsider the proposed tax changes for used, imported cars, stating that an eight-year-old restriction will effectively drive prices up as the newer the cars will have more expensive prices.

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LOCAL PAGE 8

GUYANA DAILY NEWS

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17, 2016

CXC 2016 Results Released The Caribbean Examination Council today held a conference announcing the results of the May/June 2016 Examination with this year’s top performer being Fatima Karim of Saint Roses High School who attained 19 grade ones and a single grade two. Present at the head table of the conference were Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Dilma Nedd, Superintendent of Examinations Ms. Kadir, Director of NCRED Jennifer Cumberbatch and the Chief Education Officer and the Assistance Chief Education Officer. The list of the Guyana’s Top Performers included 157 candidates those of who would have achieved grade one passes in eight subjects or more.

Of the 157 candidates there were 46 who secured grade one passes in 11 or more subjects. The top ten candidates being from 5 different schools namely St. Roses High School, Queen’s College, Sarawati Vidya Nakitan, Anna Regina Multilateral Secondary School and Skeldon Line Path Secondary.

The Top Ten performers being: · Fatima Karim 19 Ones, 1 Two ·

Kayshav Tewan

– St. Roses High School – –Queen’s College – 19 Ones

· Aadilah Ali – Queen’s College – 18 ones , 3 Twos, 1 Three

· Ramkumarie Ramdass Nakitan - 18 Ones, 1 Twos ·

Sarawati Vidya

Sariah Singh – Queen’s College – 18 Ones

· Jousha Indarjit - Skeldon Line Path Secondary – 17 Ones · Kimberly Najab - Sarawati Vidya Nakitan – 15 Ones, 3 Twos · Kevall Lall - Anna Regina Multilateral Secondary School – 15 Ones · Pritisha Baldeo - Sarawati Vidya Nakitan – 14 Ones, 3 Twos, 3 Threes · Narindra Persaud - Sarawati Vidya Nakitan – 14 Ones, 3 Twos, 3 Threes.

LOCAL PAGE 9

GUYANA DAILY NEWS

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17, 2016

Public Officers Who Break The Law Should Not Be Afforded Immunity-AG Minister of Legal Affairs and Attorney General (AG), Basil Williams, during a press briefing on Monday at his Chambers, Carmichael Street, told the media that public officials who pillage state assets should be persecuted despite immunity. The Attorney General said Public officials who are provided immunity under the Constitution will not be protected from the State Assets Recovery Bill once it has been found that state property was unlawfully acquired.

Guyana’s Constitution provides immunity against civil or criminal proceedings, in particular for the president, “during his term of office or thereafter” (Article 1821). However, the Attorney General pointed out that constitutional provision is a “question for debate.” “In terms of pillaging the assets of this country, equally we will argue that the immunity that purports

to in here, in the constitution, doesn’t afford him (or her) any defence,” the Attorney General said.

The Minister added that acts of crime such as corruption should not afford public officials immunity from the law. The draft State Assets Recovery Bill empowers the State Assets Recovery Agency (SARA) to recover state assets unlawfully acquired by public officials or other persons through civil proceedings. The issue of immunity was first brought up during national consultations of the draft Bill which was held last week at the Pegasus hotel. Chief Parliamentary Counsel, Cecil Dhurjon said that the Bill does not make provisions to address the issue of immunity. However, anyone who commits a crime is subject to persecution according to the laws, Dhurjon pointed out. (GINA)

LOCAL PAGE 11

GUYANA DAILY NEWS

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17, 2016

Woman Charged With Assault Sheron Hartmon appeared before Magistrate Fabayo Azore in the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court charged with unlawfully and maliciously assaulting Farleen Shafeek with intent to cause bodily harm. Hartmon who lives in North Cummingsburg, was not represented and pleaded not guilty to the charge. She was granted GY$25,000 bail and will return on September 16, 2016. It is alleged that on August 1, 2016 at New Market Street, Georgetown, Hartmon and Shafeek got into an argument which further ensued into a physical altercation. -By- Jarred Singh, Guyana Daily News.

Sophia Man Granted Bail Following Fight At GPHC Terence Patterson today also appeared before Magistrate Azore charged with unlawfully and maliciously assaulting Shondel Clarke with intent to cause bodily harm. Patterson, 51, who hails from Sophia, was not represented and pleaded not guilty to the charge. There was no objection to bail buy the prosecution and Patterson was granted GY$10,000 bail and will return to court on September 16. It is alleged that on August 15. 2016 at the Georgetown Public Hospital, Patterson assaulted Clarke. -ByJarred Singh, Guyana Daily News.

$5000 Bail For Man Who Allegedly Broke Car Window Rosco McIntyre appeared before Magistrate Azore charged with unlawfully causing damage to the property of Ganesh Vishnauth. McIntyre, 25, pleaded not guilty and there was no objection to bail by the prosecution. He was released on GY$5000 bail and is set to also return on September 16, 2016. It is alleged that on August 12, 2016 at Meadowbrook Georgetown, McIntyre physically assaulted and damaged the back window of the motor car which is property of Vishnauth. -By- Jarred Singh, Guyana Daily News.

REGIONAL PAGE 12

GUYANA DAILY NEWS

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17, 2016

MP Promises Ten Gold Medals In Tokyo Games

A $23 million indoor sporting complex was opened for business yesterday in Sangre Grande and the expectations were high from politicians for those who use the facility. Toco/Sangre Grande MP, Glenda Jennings-Smith, went so far as to promise that for the Tokyo Olympics in 2020 athletes from the eastern region would bring home ten gold medals. So far, for the Rio Olympics campaign none of T&T competitors have earned any medals. Jennings-Smith referred to the accomplishment of Toco resident, Keshorn Walcott, who captured gold in javelin in the 2012 games in London, saying Walcott had to travel out of the region to train.

Sports Minister Darryl Smith publicly praised former MP for the constituency and former sports minister Roger Boynes as one of the main people who championed the call for the complex to be constructed in Sangre Grande. He said the facility was about 60 per cent completed when the PNM came into office in September 2015 and could not understand why it was not completed by the former administration. He said while the facility was only marked for

MP for Toco Sangre Grande, Glenda Jennings-Smith, second from left, congratulates Sports Minister, Darryl Smith, second from right, following the unveiling of a plaque at yesterday’s opening of the North Eastern Regional Multi-purpose Sports Facility in Sangre Grande. Also in photo is chairman of the regional corporation, Terry Rondon, left, and former government minister Roger Boynes. PHOTOS: RALPH BANWARIE

basketball, he

h o p e d othe r athletes would use it for

other games. He said the youth of the nation wanted to have a voice and he was making every effort to accommodate them.

The minister said the abandoned Brian Lara Cricket Complex in Tarouba would be opened in December. Responding to negative comments on social media regarding T&T athletes participating in the Rio Olympics, Smith said it was the biggest team of athletes sent to the Olympics. He said it was the first time T&T had so many female competitors on its team and it was the youngest team ever sent to an Olympics.

He called upon those making negative comments on social media about T&T athletes to refrain from doing so and instead should give their support, respect and love. Terry Rondon, chairman of the Sangre Grande Regional Corporation, said there were so much sports in the region but there were no facilities for the training of athletes. He said he too was confident world class athletes would emerge from the facility. He appealed to the Minister of Sports to have staff housed at the facility. (Trinidad Guardian)

REGIONAL PAGE 14

GUYANA DAILY NEWS

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17, 2016

Fisherfolk Protest Market’s Closure

Vendors and fishermen at the Otaheite Fish Market burned tyres with the dead fish.” outside the market yesterday, blocking the roadway and preventing Threatening further protests, Charles said the vendors would not refurbishment works from starting on the compound. Around 1 pm stand down. “No work will be taking place in the community until the yesterday, the vendors threw old tyres across the roadway leading minister meets with us. We will protest every single day until he into the market and set them ablaze as they warned employees of comes,” he added. Minister: No request for meeting Contacted for Pioneer Construction 2000 Ltd against starting any work on the site. comment yesterday, Agriculture Minister Clarence Rambharat said Pioneer was contracted by Government to conduct refurbishment he had received no request for a meeting from the vendors and no works on the facility. The vendors chanted in front of the fire, calling requests for compensation either. on Agriculture Minister Clarence Rambharat to visit and speak to Asked if he would try to meet with the vendors given the current situation, Rambharat said: "There is a fisheries officer assigned to that them.

President of the Otaheite Vendors Association, Clement Charles, said area and a director of fisheries. The fishing association should be after meeting with officials from the Fisheries Division on Monday, dealing with the representatives of the Fisheries Division of the the vendors needed Rambharat’s intervention. “Right now we are Ministry." However, he added: "If it becomes necessary to meet with calling on the Minister of Agriculture to come and address the me, I am always available to meet. To date no one has asked to meet vendors because there is a contract awarded to Pioneer Construction with me." (Trinidad Guardian) 2000 Ltd and the members right now are disagreeing with the work they are organising to perform on the market and on the compound,” Clement said. Outlining the issues plaguing the industry in recent times, Charles said: “We need the minister to come down and address the people because earlier on, we had a fish spill and then an oil spill and our vendors are being affected presently where they can’t take care of their families in terms of making sales because the general public has been panicking recently.”

He said the proposed works for the upgrade of the facility would take about eight weeks but the vendors had no alternative accommodation until it was finished. “Now they are going to shut down here for about two months and we need some kind of monetary compensation that the vendors could take care of their families because this is school time... we need books. “We are losing money daily because the public is waiting on the Environmental Management Authority (EMA), Fish vendor Vishnu Cyril shows his disapproval on the timing of refurbishment works to the the Institute of Marine Affairs (IMA) and the Caribbean Otaheite Fishing Facility during a protest yesterday.

PHOTO: RISHI RAGOONATH Industrial Research Institute (Cariri) to address the situation

REGIONAL PAGE 15

GUYANA DAILY NEWS

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17, 2016

I Suffer Like A Dog In Cell

San Fernando resident Anthony Gaskin, who spent a night in a cell and was fined $250 for littering the road with a styrofoam cup, believes he was unfairly treated by the police. However, PC Ramchairth, the officer who arrested and charged Gaskin, has caught the attention of environmental activist Marc de Verteuil, who has hailed him as hero. Speaking with reporters yesterday at his home at Embacadere, San Fernando, Gaskin felt the police had spited him by not giving station bail for “such a minor offence.

“I suffer like a dog (in the police station cell) on Sunday,” said Gaskin as he recalled the incident. Gaskin, who is unemployed, was arrested shortly after 9 am on Sunday at Mucurapo Street and taken to the San Fernando Police Station, where he remained until Monday morning when he was taken before a San Fernando magistrate charged with littering.

He pleaded guilty before Senior Magistrate Nanette Forde-John and was fined $250. The magistrate scolded Gaskin for his actions, saying if everyone acted like him the country would be a dirty place.

She ordered him to pay $70 forthwith and gave him seven days to pay the balance of the fine or else face jail time.

Shaking his head as he recalled his experience yesterday, Gaskin, who will celebrate his 54th birthday next Tuesday, said he went to the grocery to buy ingredients to cook lunch, which consisted of lentil peas, rice and liver, for his two daughters. On his way back home, Gaskin said he stopped and bought a drink of puncheon. “When I done I just throw the cup on the road and the police van stop and the officers just come and handcuff me,” he said. At the time, Gaskin said he was not sure for what he was being arrested.

He said, however, he was told by the police that after they took his fingerprints he would be granted his own bail but that never happened. “I had to lie down on the cold concrete (in the cell). It did not feel good at all. They had no right to keep me in there for so long for that petty offence. That offence come like gambling and obscene language. What they did was wrong,” he added. Gaskin said the pack of liver was put in the refrigerator in the station after he complained to the police it would spoil. Although he was offered meals at the station, Gaskin said he declined. While he is aware that littering is against the law, Gaskin said he never thought he would be arrested for the offence.

But Gaskin, who admitted he had previous run-ins with the law, said he had put the incident behind him and offered this advice to other people: “Do not litter.” He said he was released from the cell shortly after the case was called after the officer who charged him went to the station and retrieved the $70 he had on him when he was arrested and took it to him so he could pay the court. Gaskin said he has been going through difficult financial issues and even received an eviction notice from the Housing Development Corporation. He appealed to members of the public to help him find a job so he could keep his home and improve his living conditions.

Kudos from environmentalist However, environmentalist Marc de Verteuil, who publicly commended Ramchairth as a hero on his Facebook page, said in an email to this newspaper that while he could not comment on the police procedure, he would like to commend

Ramchairth for taking a leadership stance in the war on litter.

“Trinidad is slowly becoming a labasse with people thinking it is perfectly okay to drop their trash where they stand.

“If all police acted like Constable Ramchairth, 99 per cent of littering would stop. Constable Ramchairth is my hero for the day.” De Verteuil offered the officer, through his company WOW Expeditions, a free, private tour, for him, his wife and children “to say thank you on behalf of a litter-weary nation.” He said Ramchairth was a fine example to all. (Trinidad Guardian)

GUYANA DAILY NEWS

REGIONAL

GUYANA DAILY NEWS Hinds Warns Road Contractors: Quality Work Or Face Blacklist Road work contractors can face a blacklist if they submit shoddy talk.” He added: “Forgive him, he knows not of what he speaks. Very PAGE 17

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17, 2016

work which begin to fall apart before the expiration of 15 to 20 years, recently we went to the constituency of Naparima to attend to says Works and Transport Minister Fitzgerald Hinds. Maintaining his problems there so what you would have heard from that MP is just the Government was committed to getting value for money, Hinds said usual political small talk. contractors who failed to deliver quality work would not be “We have told the country in our campaign, we told this country for contracted in the future. He said when roads were repaired, they 60 years, we told this country by our example and by our leadership, expected 15 to 20 years of service from them. He said if it meant that we govern for the benefit for all of Trinidad and Tobago. “That is spending extra time and money to address drainage and other issues, the reason why we are in Government today. The people understood it would be done. “We need to have smooth roads without having to that and they voted resoundingly for a PNM Government. And we are be dancing through manholes and potholes. In this country, like it wise enough to know that if you want this country to develop and you want this country to do well, you can’t look at selected areas, so you happens in other parts of the world, it can be done, it must be done.

So the contractors who come out, they will not be giving us sub- can ignore him.” standard work, they will give us quality work, otherwise they won’t Last weekend, Indarsingh accused the Government of discriminating get to work for us again,” Hinds said during a tour of Chatham against Freeport residents who used Beaucarro Road. He said he yesterday. His visit came three months after Chatham residents wrote to Hinds on three occasions, pleading for repair works on the protested for repairs to a landslip that threatened to cut them off from road but all his requests have fallen on deaf ears. He questioned the rest of the country. Hinds told residents that work would begin whether the stoppage of work was an act of political discrimination before the end of next month. But that news was somewhat subdued against the residents, adding millions are being spent on remedial as when Hinds and Point Fortin MP Edmund Dillon visited the works on the Southern Main Road, La Brea, which is a PNM community yesterday, four new landslips had developed along the constituency. (Trinidad Guardian) Southern Main Road. Promising those slippages will also be repaired, Hinds said assessments would have to be done first and contracts issued.

However, he again stressed that the country did not generate the amount of revenues it did when oil and gas prices were high. “It takes money to care,” Hinds told a handful of residents gathered under a tent near one of the landslips. At least two of the landslips created one-lane traffic and a resident said they worsened with each rainfall. Hinds said his technical officers, who accompanied him on the trip, had a look at the landslips and plans were underway to shore up the areas to prevent further slippage. “My focus was initially on the slope slippage a bit up from here. That was what Minister Dillon focused our attention on and we sorted it out and we are ready to get on with that. I came to deal with one matter and he has given me more.

“Right behind us is a very recent development so we have our experts here and they have already cast their eyes on that and we will get Earth Investigations Systems Ltd to come here very shortly and conduct some soil test,” Hinds said. As with other project, Hinds said he did not have the cost. He also promised to have Richardson Road Extension, Point Fortin, paved when funding became available. The road is expected to be used as an alternative route to access the Guapo beach to ease the usual weekend traffic congestion.

Forgive Indarsingh Responding to Couva South MP Rudranath Indarsingh’s accusation that Government was politically discriminating against Freeport residents, Hinds said the PNM had always governed all of T&T. For this reason, he said, the Works and Transport Minister, Fitzgerald Hinds, left, along with director of Pure, Hayden Phillip citizenry elected them into Government and and National Security Minister Edmund Dillon assess a landslip along the Southern Main Road, Chatham, yesterday. PHOTO: KRISTIAN DE SILVA Indarsingh’s claims were merely “political small

REGIONAL PAGE 18

GUYANA DAILY NEWS

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17, 2016

Sunrise Airways On Final Approach To Jamaica PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti, Wednesday, August 17, 2016 – Haiti-based Sunrise Airways today announced that it has entered into the final phase of its application process toward initiating its first-ever flights to Jamaica. “Our journey to this point has been long, with some minor turbulence endured along the way, but I’m very pleased to say that we are now, indeed, on final approach to spread our wings to Jamaica this fall,” said Philippe Bayard, President of Sunrise Airways.

Building upon its initial plan to serve the Kingston–Port-auPrince route, Sunrise has vastly expanded its commitment to the Jamaica market.

“Our current application to the J a m a i c a n C i v i l Av i a t i o n Authority features a total of 25 HAITIAN CARRIER SUNRISE AIRWAYS ANTICIPATES RECEIVING FINAL possible new routes,” said APPROVAL BY SEPTEMBER 2016 ON FIRST-EVER FLIGHTS TO/FROM JAMAICA. Bayard. “Unique to our plan, Sunrise intends to be the only airline serving all three of Jamaica’s international gateways – as unique leisure travel options enabling vacationers to experience Norman Manley in Kingston, Sangster International in Montego Bay, the best of both countries in a more seamless fashion.” and Ian Flemming International Airport in Ocho Rios – with overseas Sunrise Airways will deploy its flagship ATR 42-320 aircraft on its new Jamaica routes. With newly refurbished cabins, a maximum flights.” seating capacity of 46 seats, in-flight service, onboard lavatory, ample Sunrise Airways’ proposed new flights from Jamaica will connect all overhead space, legroom, and cargo capacity, Sunrise ATR’s are three of the country’s international airports with destinations in Haiti, setting a new standard for excellence in Western Caribbean skies. the Dominican Republic, and Cuba. “We see tremendous potential Sunrise Airways anticipates receiving final clearance from the for growth along all of our proposed lines of flying, especially the Jamaican Civil Aviation Authority (JCAA) by September 1, 2016 for Jamaica–Cuba routes,” said Bayard. “We’re committed to serving the launch of its new Jamaica flights during the fall of 2016. more of Cuba from more of Jamaica than any other airline, creating (Caribbean360) valuable links for foreign commercial and cultural exchange, as well

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REGIONAL PAGE 20

GUYANA DAILY NEWS

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17, 2016

Sandals Acted Illegally, SaysbackBahamas Labour Minister to us within 24 hours,” Gibson said. “However, after not hearing

NASSAU, Bahamas -- Bahamas minister of labour Shane Gibson on Monday claimed that officials at Sandals Royal Bahamian Resort were demanding that the 600-plus employees they made redundant sign a deed of release in order to receive their redundancy package.

He called the move “illegal”. In a communication to Parliament, Gibson said, “We were advised that Sandals was demanding that employees being made redundant sign a deed of release.

“I understand that this is illegal, as the law does not require employees being made redundant to sign such a document for redundancy money that they are entitled to.” Sandals plans to close for renovations until sometime in October. The government admitted to being blindsided by the move. On Sunday, Gibson said the ministry of labour did not learn of Sandals’ plans to close until an August 2 letter advising of the closure was “leaked” to the media.

He said up to Monday, Sandals’ management had yet to respond directly to a letter the ministry of labour wrote dated August 4. “We have never had a major employer in this country proceed this way in making hundreds of employees redundant without first meeting with the ministry of labour,” Gibson said. “I am again calling on the National Tripartite Council to move post haste for updating our redundancy laws, making it mandatory that proper notice be given and consultation take place before moving to make employees redundant.”

Gibson noted that he requested a meeting on August 3 and met with [Sandals] CEO Adam Stewart. He said it was suggested during that meeting that Sandals lay off the employees, instead of making them redundant. “They told us they would consider this suggestion and get

Minister of Labour Shane Gibson

from them, my ministry wrote Sandals a letter on August 4 requesting Sandals’ latest position and further details on the proposed closure.

“Sandals has yet to respond to my ministry.

“Instead, resort representatives wrote to the attorney general and copied the ministry of labour on Friday, August 12, informing us of their decision. “We were advised the resort would be closed [for] eight weeks beginning today. “Mr Speaker, we got the letter on Friday advising us that the resort will be closed for eight weeks beginning today to carry out repairs and renovations to the Sandals property.

“The resort informed us that this work could not be carried out in the presence of guests, therefore staff members will be let go with the exception of 44 Bahamian managers, 13 work permit holders and 44 line staff. “... Additionally, some 60 line staff members have been retained and will be sent to Sandals Emerald Bay, Exuma. “That letter did not include the necessary details for my ministry to proceed how we normally do. “In fact, we are still waiting on a response to a letter we sent 11 days ago.” In a statement, opposition leader Dr Hubert Minnis questioned how the government could allow the resort to close and make workers redundant without engaging in dialogue to ease the impact. Just over a week ago, Prime Minister Perry Christie told The Nassau Guardian he was deeply concerned about the looming closure of Sandals and had personally intervened in the matter. When asked about the matter on Monday in the foyer of the House of Assembly, Christie declined to comment. (Caribbean News Now!)

REGIONAL PAGE 21

GUYANA DAILY NEWS

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17, 2016

Training Exercise Held For CARICOM's Primary Disaster Relief Unit BRIDGETOWN, Barbados -- Thirty-two participants from the disciplined forces, including police, military and fire services, successfully completed four days of training in preparation for their role in providing relief and humanitarian assistance in the event of a disaster. The annual training workshop of the CARICOM Disaster Relief Unit (CDRU) was held at the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency’s (CDEMA) headquarters in Barbados from August 8 to 12, 2016.

The training was facilitated by CDEMA in collaboration with the Regional Security System Headquarters (RSS HQ) with funding from the US government through the US Southern Command. The CDRU is one of the specialised teams trained by CDEMA each year as part of the Regional Response Mechanism (RRM).The RRM is coordinated by CDEMA to provide humanitarian and technical support in a timely manner if requested by any of the CDEMA’s 18 participating states.

The system is extremely dependent on the readiness and willingness of the governments of participating states, regional institutions, key development partners, agencies of the United Nations and humanitarian partners to work together in offering immediate assistance when the call comes from the CDEMA Coordinating Unit.

From 1992 -2015 the Regional Response Mechanism has been in action 17 times and in several instances to multiple islands at the same time.

The response has been to disasters resulting from volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and weather related events. In his feature address at the closing ceremony last Friday, Ronald Jackson, executive director of

CDEMA said, “I am very proud of what we have accomplished together, not just this week but over the past 25 years of CDERA’s/CDEMA’s existence. Whilst many were talking about civil/military cooperation and coordination, the CARICOM Community under the leadership of CDEMA and in partnership with the RSS and the region’s military, security and fire chiefs were actually actively doing it.”

“The significance of the RRM and the CDRU should not be understated. There is real capacity in the region to assist our participating states,” he added. The CDRU comprises military, fire and police assets drawn from the 18 CDEMA participating states. The Unit is deployed to provide humanitarian assistance in direct support to the civil authorities of any state affected by natural or technological hazards. The CDRU's mission is to conduct disaster response and relief operations and its main tasks include the management of relief supplies, emergency telecommunications and the provision of appropriate personnel for repairing critical lifeline facilities.

The four-day training included introductions to disaster management, national disaster management and the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC), introductions to the Regional Supply Tracking System (RSTS), incident command system, urban search and rescue in CDEMA participating states, dignity and human rights and civil/military coordination. The training concluded with a field training exercise that allowed the Unit to perform their specific roles in a hazard impact scenario with bases established at the airport and sea port.

The field exercise setting allowed for the various phases of operations to be tested – from alert to deactivation. The CDRU is activated, mobilised and deployed by the Regional Security System's Central Liaison Office (RSS/CLO) in consultation with and on behalf of CDEMA. Its operations are guided by the CDRU operational plan, standing operating procedures and a m e m o r a n d u m o f understanding between CDEMA and the RSS. (Caribbean News Now!)

Members of CDRU team participating in the field training exercise at the Regional Security System Headquarters, Paragon, Christ Church, Barbados

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17, 2016

Vincentians Benefit From Two Major USAID Projects

KINGSTOWN, St Vincent -- Vincentians are benefitting from a modernized juvenile justice system and are better equipped to adapt to climate change as a result of two major projects supported by the US government through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in collaboration with the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). United States deputy chief of mission to Barbados, the Eastern Caribbean and the OECS, Laura Griesmer, highlighted these developments during a close-out ceremony for the St Vincent and the Grenadines phase of the Caribbean regional US$5.8 million “Juvenile Justice Reform Project” and the US$9.5 million “Rallying the Region to Action on Climate Change” project.

Griesmer told the gathering that of this US$15.3 million regional investment, the US government provided approximately $1.3 million in assistance to support reform efforts in St Vincent’s juvenile justice sector and $1.5 million to improve the country’s resilience to climate change. Commending the St Vincent and the Grenadines government for improving its juvenile justice system, she praised the local implementing committee for ensuring that programming was integrated across both the public and non-governmental sector and that the island’s social services department was reorganized to enhance efficiency.

“These accomplishments are exciting, as they demonstrate a willingness to make appropriate changes in systems and procedures within the context of juvenile justice reform. As a result, the treatment of youth in conflict with the law has vastly improved and greater

advocacy for children’s rights and holistic juvenile justice reform exists both at this facility and in the country,” Griesmer stated. She commended the youth present for their willingness to make positive changes that would ultimately benefit their family, community, and country. To help reform the country’s juvenile justice system and meet international standards, the US envoy noted that the juvenile justice reform project supported the development of a national juvenile justice strategy and a draft child justice bill, which seeks to protect vulnerable children placed before the judicial system.

She further noted that over 200 juvenile justice practitioners and media personnel had undergone extensive and specialized training to enhance their knowledge of modern approaches resulting in improved treatment of youth within the system. In addition to making significant progress on juvenile justice reforms, Griesmer said under the RRACC project the government of St Vincent and the Grenadines also “took positive steps toward enhancing its resilience to climate change.”

To combat severe water scarcity, USAID supported a rainwater harvesting and disaster management demonstration project at six designated disaster shelters in St Vincent and Bequia. In Bequia, additional water storage was provided for the island’s desalination plant and distribution lines installed to facilitate reliable access to freshwater. “Turning public buildings and disaster shelters into water catchment centers provides a welcome solution to citizens who lack access to water during severe droughts and emergencies,” said Griesmer. “This drastically improves sanitation, health, and the wellbeing for vulnerable communities – particularly following natural disasters when the groundwater is polluted and infrastructure is damaged.

USAID Mission Director, Chris Cushing delivers remarks at the close out of the USAID projects in St Vincent and the Grenadines

By working together with the communities to develop and implement climate smart techniques, St. Vincent and the Grenadines has a more dependable supply of clean water and increased capacity for climate change adaptation and resilience.” Reiterating t h e U S g o v e r n m e n t ’s continued commitment to supporting future juvenile justice and regional climate change initiatives, Griesmer said the activities and lessons learned in St Vincent and the Grenadines were models that could be easily replicated across the region.

(Caribbean News Now!)

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17, 2016

IMPACT Justice Legal Education Survey Hits The Road BRIDGETOWN, Barbados -- The Canadian governmentfunded Improved Access to Justice in the Caribbean (IMPACT Justice) project has appointed three consultants to conduct interviews of key stakeholders in the region for its legal education survey. The consultants are Dr Adrian Cummins, prominent attorney-at-law from Barbados, Professor Jane Ching, professor of professional legal education, Nottingham Law School, United Kingdom, and Dr Noel Watson, CEO of AZ Information Jamaica Limited.

The survey, which is now in its final phase, was suggested by the Council of Legal Education. It is intended to consider the purpose of legal education and revisit the “West Indian System” to see how thinking has changed since it was designed in the 1960s and consider whether it is adequately meeting the needs of the region, particularly having regard to, inter alia:

(4) the extent to which information technology is being used to cut cost through the provision of online courses; and (5) how well equipped are new practitioners graduating from the West Indian System of Legal Education for practice in nontraditional areas of law?

Stage one of the (1) the current and projected demand for legal education and the stakeholder’s interviews will commence in The need for the services of legally trained persons; Bahamas on August 17 (2) the current arrangement for funding legal education and the 19 and move on to Jamaica (August 19–23), Antigua and scope for change, particularly taking into account the prevailing Barbuda (August 25-26), Montserrat (August 26–27), St Kitts and Nevis (August 29–30) and Dominica (August 31 and projected economic environment; September 1). Amongst those selected for interviews are: (3) the current system of admissions in the Council of Legal attorneys general, ministers of education, deans of faculties of Education’s Law Schools and in the Faculties of Law of the law, principals of law schools, presidents of bar associations University of the West Indies (UWI), University of Guyana and prominent attorneys-at-law in these territories.

(Caribbean News Now!) (UG) and the University of Technology, Jamaica (UTECH);

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17, 2016

Rambharat Buffs Delinquent Farmers, Public Servants “Non-performing public servants from the Land Management Division will not prevent me from doing my job,” Agriculture Minister Clarence Rambharat said yesterday as he vowed to crack down on land grabbers and delinquent farmers. The tough talking Rambharat was addressing hundreds of former Caroni 1975 Limited workers who were retrenched in 2003 when the sugar industry was shutdown. Saying land grabbing was evident across the country, Rambharat admitted to experiencing “tremendous frustration” by the lack of co-operation from public servants working in the Land Management Division.

“I will not be hindered by non-performing public servants in the conduct of my duties as a minister. From now to September I have made a promise that I will accelerate the work I am doing and where there is waste, including human resources who are idle, that I will take the appropriate steps,” Rambharat warned.

He also said an audit was being done by PricewaterhouseCoopers on every contract given out by the Estate Management Business Company (EMBD), a State enterprise which took charge of Caroni’s land assets when the company became defunct. “We will audit every single contract awarded by EMBD in relation to development of those lands.

Up to 2010, the development of a residential lot by EMBD was costing $160,000 at maximum. By 2015, it was costing taxpayers $760,000 to develop a lot of land,” Rambharat said. He added: “If contractors were paid without doing work, or if contractors were paid more than they should be paid, steps will be taken to retrieve that money.”

The minister also said farmers who received their agricultural plots were likely to lose their lands if it was not under cultivation. He said it was not satisfactory that former workers had agricultural leases for more than two years

and had not done any cultivation. One former worker, Cecil Teelucksingh, admitted yesterday he had not cultivated his land because he did not know where it was located. “We have no access to the lands and it is costing a lot to prepare the land. We don’t get subsidies and we cannot get loans. Caroni had $100 million in equipment.

Why didn’t Caroni provide the equipment to prepare the land?

Fertilizers and seedlings cost a lot of money,” Teelucksingh added.

Latchman Ramjohn also said he could not plant because there was no access to his plot. “It is dangerous, too, because we have no lights or water on the land,” Ramjohn added. President general of the All Trinidad General Workers Trade Union, Nirvan Maharaj, could not be reached yesterday as calls to his cellphone went unanswered.

(Trinidad Guardian)

Farmer Ramkissoon Khadoo, right, thanks Agriculture Minister Clarence Rambharat after receiving his land lease during yesterday’s VSEP lease distribution ceremony for former Caroni 1975 Limited workers at Rienzi Complex, Couva. PHOTO: ABRAHAM DIAZ

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17, 2016

California Wildfire: 80,000 Evacuated East Of Los Angeles department of forestry and fire protection said. The authorities

A rapidly moving wildfire has forced the evacuation of some 82,000 people in San Bernardino County, just east of Los Angeles, officials say. The blaze broke out on Tuesday in a mountain pass and has already engulfed about 15,000 acres (6,070 ha) of land. Tens of thousands of homes are at risk from the so-called Bluecut fire. A state of emergency has been declared. Another fire, the Clayton, which broke out on Saturday in northern California, has destroyed 175 homes. 'Raining ash' The Bluecut fire spread with great speed in the parched canyons around San Bernardino. At least a dozen buildings have already been engulfed. US Forest Service spokeswoman Lyn Sieliet said: "It is a very fast-moving fire, it has wind behind it."

California Governor Jerry Brown has declared a state of emergency in San Bernardino County to bring in federal assistance. The blaze forced the closure of a stretch of Interstate 15, the main road between Las Vegas and Los Angeles area. Some 700 firefighters are battling to control the blaze in the Cajon Pass. Its cause remains unknown. The fire is now heading into the Mojave Desert. The main communities forced to evacuate were the ski resort of Wrightwood and the desert town of Phelan. A rancher in Phelan, Shannon Anderson, told Associated Press news agency: "It's raining ash." Further north, the Clayton Fire in Lake County was now 35% contained, California's

announced on Tuesday that Damin Pashilk, 40, was facing 17 counts of arson and was suspected of involvement in numerous other fires in the Lake County area over the past year. He will appear in court on Wednesday. A third fire, the Chimney, has affected 6,900 acres since Saturday and has destroyed about 40 buildings in central California.

(BBC)

The Blue Cut fire spread at speed in the canyons around San Bernadino

US Police Catch Cuban Fugitive Known As The Ghost After 26 Years On The Run Police in Florida on Tuesday announced the arrest of a Cuban fugitive who had been on the run for 26 years, earning himself the nickname The Ghost. Anibal Mustelier, 66, was detained in Hialeah, near Miami, on charges of armed robbery and grand theft. He is also suspected of having worked as a contract killer, officials say. Police say they were led to Mr Mustelier by an informant who had knowledge about a jewellery theft on 7 August which allegedly involved him. Big fish US Marshalls first issued an arrest warrant for Mr Mustelier in 1990. Hialeah Police Sergeant Carl Zogby said arresting officers had not at first realised who they had in their custody because Mr Mustelier had given them a false name. "We went fishing for a grouper, and we caught ourselves a whale," Sgt Zogby said, adding that Mr Mustelier had become known as The Ghost for his ability to hide in plain sight. "He was an international fugitive from ATF [Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives], FBI and the US Marshals." Sgt Zogby said Mr Mustelier was wanted for his alleged participation in two murder attempts in 1989 and 1990, during the heyday of the Miami drug wars, when rival drug dealers fought over control of the city. Hit man? Officials believe Mr Mustelier was hired by fellow Cuban Orestes Blanco Lima to kill another Cuban in Miami, Francisco Condom-Gil. But an attempt to shoot Francisco Condom-Gil dead and a subsequent attempt to blow him up in his car both failed. Francisco Condom-Gil was a veteran of the 1961 Bay of Pigs failed military invasion of Cuba and claimed that he was being targeted for his anti-Castro views. This gave rise to the theory that Mr Mustelier had links to Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro. But Blanco Lima later said he wanted Francisco Condom-Gil dead because he had once kidnapped Blanco Lima's son. Blanco Lima was sentenced to 10 years in prison for the attempted murder and Mr

Mustelier, who could not be found, was indicted on charges of conspiracy to murder in his absence. Second career Police believe during his time on the run, Mr Mustelier went on to become a prolific bank robber. He is suspected of being behind one of the largest robberies in Florida, when about $5m (£3.9m) worth of jewels were stolen from safety deposits in a bank in Brickell. Police originally thought that after the 1996 robbery he had fled to either his native Cuba or to Venezuela. But they now suspect he may have been hiding all along in the Miami area, using a number of aliases. For the past 18 months, Mr Mustelier had been sharing a small, single-storey, detached home in Hialeah with his girlfriend, Sgt Zogby said. Hialeah police suspect him of being behind a recent string of jewellery store robberies. He was arrested on Sunday after police managed to infiltrate his alleged gang, officials said. (BBC)

Anibal Mustelier had been on the run for 26 years (MIAMI-DADE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS)

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17, 2016

Diesel Oil Spills From Grounded Oil Rig On Scottish Island A British oďŹƒcial says thousands of liters (gallons) of diesel have likely spilled from an oil rig that was blown onto a remote Scottish beach. The Transocean Winner was being towed when it broke free of its tug and ran aground on the Isle of Lewis on Monday. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency says two fuel tanks on the rig have been breached.

Hugh Shaw, the government representative for maritime and salvage, said "we're probably talking about a maximum of 52 (metric) tons of diesel oil as the worst-case scenario." That's more than 50,000 liters (13,000 gallons). Shaw told the BBC Thursday that any oil spill was a concern, "but this is extremely low-risk." He said there was no sign of oil on the ocean surface or coastline. (ABC News)

The Transocean Winner drilling rig is seen o the coast of the Isle of Lewis, Scotland, after it ran aground in severe weather conditions, Tuesday Aug. 9, 2016. The oil rig, carrying 280 tonnes of diesel, broke free of its tug and ran aground on the remote Scottish beach where it is being monitored by a counter-pollution team.

(Andrew Milligan / PA via AP)

INTERNATIONAL

GUYANA DAILY NEWS Donald Trump's New Nickname For Hillary Clinton Puzzles Germans In his big foreign policy speech Monday, of the refugee crisis, compared with 34 percent Merkel’s title out of a list of several options; PAGE 30

Donald Trump coined a new nickname for his Democratic opponent: “America’s Angela Merkel.” “In short, Hillary Clinton wants to be America’s Angela Merkel,” he said at the event in Youngstown, Ohio. “And you know what a disaster this massive immigration has been to Germany and the people of Germany. Crime has risen to levels that no one thought they would ever, ever see. It is a catastrophe.” Trump was clearly trying to make a point about the European refugee crisis, arguing that Clinton’s policy toward refugees was approaching the scale of Germany’s. In 2015, Germany took in just over 1 million refugees from the Middle East and Africa, a policy which has divided the country’s residents and created a complex political situation there. But those listening to Trump’s comments from across the Atlantic in Berlin noted the comparison with both a bit of confusion and a certain amount of amusement-because while it’s true that the refugee crisis in Germany has presented a new political challenge for Merkel, she’s still relatively popular and overall remains one of the most influential, well-regarded leaders in Europe.

And what’s more, many Americans probably have no idea--or only the vaguest idea--who Merkel actually is. “It struck me when I heard these comments of Trump,” said Peter Matuschek, chief political analyst for the German polling firm Forsa. “[Merkel] still is enjoying approval rates that [former Chancellor Helmut] Kohl had never dreamed of.” Trump’s comments Monday about the German leader were only the latest in a string of criticism he’s thrown Merkel’s way: the GOP nominee has previously claimed that Merkel is “ruining Germany,” that she is a “catastrophic leader” and even that she’ll “be out if they don’t have a revolution.” “I don’t know what happened to her,” Trump said back in January.

“She was doing well, maybe she got powerhungry, maybe she thought she was invincible ... the German people are saying we’ve had it, we’ve had it.” It’s certainly true that the refugee crisis has put Merkel--who has typically had sky-high approval ratings--in one of the toughest spots of her political career. Her approval ratings have bounced up and down over the last year as the refugee crisis and various related terrorist attacks hit the headlines; that was especially true after reports of women being sexually assaulted in Cologne on New Year’s Eve this year, attacks that were largely believed to be perpetrated by refugees and recent migrants. A new poll out from the German TV station ARD found that two-thirds of Germans disapproved of Merkel’s handling

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17, 2016

who were in favor. As for her overall approval rating in the poll, part of a series called DeutschlandTrend, Merkel was at 47 percent approval--higher than in February after the New Year’s Eve attacks, but far lower than the 75 percent approval rating she had in April of 2015 before the refugee crisis heated up. (By comparison, an August CBS News poll had Trump’s favorability rating at 36 percent among U.S. voters; Clinton’s was at 46 percent.) “I would say the beginning was the New Year’s Eve incident in Cologne. That was a point where people were looking at this whole thing differently,” said Jan Philipp Burgard, a German journalist and political scientist who covered the 2008 and 2012 U.S. elections for ARD. In his speech, Trump specifically referred to that incident. “In Cologne, Germany, on New Year’s Eve, we have seen the reports of sexual violence and assault, far greater than anybody knows,” Trump said Monday. He’d previously claimed that there were “hundreds and hundreds of rapes” during that night, which is an exaggeration of the actual reported numbers. Still, Merkel is viewed internationally as perhaps the strongest and most visible leader in Europe--something that does not go overlooked when it comes to her political fortunes at home. Merkel is still strongly favored to win a fourth term next year when Germany holds its next national elections. According to a Forsa poll from late July, 46 percent of German citizens named Merkel as their pick for chancellor if the position were elected directly--down from the mid-50s last year, but still more than 30 points higher than any of her potential opponents. The leader of the second-biggest party in Germany, the Social Democratic Party’s Sigmar Gabriel, took only 15 percent in the same poll. “Her approval rates are still very high, especially compared to the other politicians,” Matuschek said. “Although there has been some dissatisfaction in her rank and file with the refugee issue, of course when people decide to vote they do not only evaluate one policy field but the whole picture.” (For reference, Forsa also asked Germans how they felt about Trump’s proposed Muslim ban last month. Just 10 percent said they were in favor of something similar--and 87 percent of those surveyed were against it.) If Trump was hoping the new nickname would stick to Clinton the way “Crooked Hillary” or “Lyin’ Ted” did, he might have a tougher time with this one just because of how relatively unknown Merkel is in the U.S. In a Pew Research Center survey in 2012, American respondents were asked to identify

two-thirds couldn’t say. Of those who did have an answer, twenty-two percent were correctly able to name her as the leader of Germany; 4 percent thought she was the leader of France, 5 percent said she headed the International Monetary Fund and 4 percent thought she was in charge of NATO. (Those numbers may have gone up in the last four years, but it’s probably fair to say that Merkel is still relatively unknown among average U.S. voters.) Still, that lack of more than a basic knowledge among American voters about Merkel and what’s happening in Germany could potentially work to Trump’s advantage, some said. “I think that for Americans there’s certainly admiration but also a little bit of puzzlement about what Angela Merkel has undertaken with letting refugees come in with no upper limit into Germany,” said Sudha David-Wilp, a senior transatlantic fellow at the German Marshall Fund in Berlin. “Donald Trump is using that sort of grey-zone of lack of information-because we really don’t know what the outcome will be in Germany, there are arguments for and arguments against it.” It’s unclear how sustained Trump’s use of the new moniker will be--he hasn’t seemed attached to “Crooked Hillary,” expressing some regret at one point that he’d already used “Lyin’” for Cruz (In fact in June, he launched LyingCrookedHillary.com). But he clearly intended to test it out beyond the confines of his speech: the GOP mogul’s new branding continued with subsequent campaign emails bearing the “Merkel” nickname, all pertaining to the refugee issue. “America’s Merkel Plans 620,000 Refugees,” one read. “When Will America’s Merkel Answer Questions On Her Radical Refugee Plans?” said another. Merkel, for her part, is staying above the U.S. election fray and refraining from commenting on Trump. “I don’t want to wade into the American debate,” she said during a July news conference when asked about Trump. “I’m following it with interest. I’ll just wait for the vote result.”

(CBS News)

INTERNATIONAL PAGE 32

GUYANA DAILY NEWS

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17, 2016

India: Three Die As Kite String Slits Their Throats Three people, including two children, have died after their throats were slit by glass-coated strings used for flying kites on India's Independence Day. Saanchi Goyal, 3, and Harry, 4, were looking out through the sunroof of their cars in different parts of Delhi when sharp strings slit their throats. Zafar Khan, 22, died in the same manner when he was riding his motorbike. Glass-coated strings are used to bring down competitors' kites, but they also end up injuring and killing people. Many Indians fly kites to celebrate festivals and important occasions like the Independence Day, which is celebrated on 15 August. But every year, there are reports of people dying or getting wounded from the kite strings - locally known as manja treated with powdered glass or metal to sharpen them.

Similar strings killed a five-year-old boy in 2015 in the northern town of Moradabad, and a five-year-old girl died in Jaipur in 2014. These strings also kill and maim hundreds of birds annually - at least 500 birds have been admitted to the Charity Birds Hospital in Delhi in the past three days alone, Indian media reports say. The hospital says it treats up to 8,000 birds every year. On Monday, a policeman in Delhi was also injured from a sharpened string. The Delhi government has now banned the use of

sharpened manja to fly kites and promised to run campaigns to educate people about the dangers of using such strings. Authorities said the sale, production and storage of nylon, plastic or any other glass or metal-coated manja would be prohibited in the capital city and those who violated the ban would have to pay a penalty of 100,000 rupees ($1,495; £1,148) and could be jailed for up to five years. (BBC)

Kite-flying is a popular sport in many parts of India(GETTY IMAGES)

North Korea Diplomat In London Defects To South A top North Korean diplomat who disappeared from the country's embassy in London has defected to South Korea, officials in Seoul have confirmed. Thae Yong-ho and his family are under the government's protection, a South Korean official said. Mr Thae was the ambassador's deputy and is thought to be the highest-ranking North Korean official ever to defect. His main mission in London had been to spread positive perceptions of the North Korean leadership. He had been due to return to Pyongyang with his wife and children. Mr Thae had come under pressure from his government to quash growing criticism of North Korea's human rights record, sources say. The BBC's diplomatic correspondent, James Robbins, says it now looks as if Mr Thae's heart may not have been in the task of defending North Korea. In the past, Mr Thae had argued the British were brainwashed by their ruling class into believing "shocking, terrifying" lies about North Korea under its leader Kim Jong-un. "If the people in this country, or in America, knew that there is a country in the world where there is a free education, free housing, free medical care, then they'd have second thoughts," he had said in one

speech. South Korea spokesman Jeong Joon-hee said: "On his reasons for defection, Minister Thae cited disgust with Kim Jong-Un's regime, admiration for South Korea's free, democratic system and the future of his family." (BBC)

It is confirmed that Mr Thae (seen on the right in this file picture) is in South Korea(GETTY IMAGES)

INTERNATIONAL PAGE 33

GUYANA DAILY NEWS

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17, 2016

Russia Attacks: 'Militants' Killed In St Petersburg And Moscow A special forces raid in St Petersburg and an attack by gunmen near Moscow have left at least six suspected militants dead, officials say.

Four were killed at a block of flats in St Petersburg, as special forces searched for North Caucasus militants. Later, two gunmen suspected to be from the North Caucasus injured two traffic police officers east of Moscow before being killed by security forces. Russia has been battling a long and bitter insurgency in the region. 'Firearms and axes' Russia's FSB security service said the St Petersburg raid had been aimed at detaining "wanted persons accused of participating in illegal armed groups in the North Caucasus". It added: "Criminals were destroyed by return fire when they attempted to resist." Reports said a number of arrests had also been made at the block of flats. Images showed balaclava-clad officers surrounding the block on the outskirts of the city. In the later incident, two gunmen attacked traffic police on the Shchelkovskoye highway in Balashikha, 20km (12 miles) east of Moscow. Police were investigating whether the men were from the North Caucasus. A spokesman for the Russian Investigative Committee told the Tass news agency: "Two policemen were wounded in the attack. One of them is in a serious condition. "The attackers had firearms and axes. One of them was shot dead by the police during the attack and the other was killed when he was resisting arrest." A police source told Tass one of the traffic police officers had died but this has not been confirmed. Security operations against

Russian security forces raided suspected North Caucasus militants in St Petersburg(EPA) militants are common in the North Caucasus region itself but are rarer in major cities outside. The insurgency in North Caucasus followed two bitter separatist conflicts in Russia's Chechnya republic and has occasionally spilled over into violence in other parts of Russia. (BBC)

Freed Nigeria Chibok Schoolgirl 'Misses Militant Husband’ The first Nigerian schoolgirl from Chibok to be rescued from Boko 21-year-old said she was unhappy about being separated from Mr Haram says she misses the father of her baby, a suspected Islamist militant. In her first interview since being found with her baby in May, Amina Ali Nkeki told Reuters she also wanted to go home to Chibok, a town in the north. She and her child are being held in the capital, Abuja, for what the government calls a restoration process. More than 200 girls were kidnapped from a school in Chibok in April 2014. The abduction led to the #BringBackOurGirls campaign, that was supported by US First Lady Michelle Obama and Pakistani activist Malala Yousafzai. The Boko Haram group has waged a violent insurgency for several years in north-eastern Nigeria in its quest for Islamic rule. Ms Nkeki was found three months ago by a vigilante group in a forest with suspected militant Mohammed Hayatu, who identified himself as her husband, and their child of four months. The

Hayatu, who was arrested after they were found. "I want him to know that I am still thinking about him," she told Reuters. "Just because we got separated, that does not mean that I don't think about him." During the interview she only lifted her gaze from the floor once to breastfeed her daughter when the baby was brought into the room, Reuters reports. "I just want to go home - I don't know about school," she said.

"I will decide about school when I get back." Her mother, Binta Ali, told the BBC Hausa service earlier this week that her daughter wanted the government to give her a sewing machine so she could become a seamstress. She said the man claiming to be her daughter's husband had said he was a mechanic from the town of Mubi before he was captured by Boko Haram - and that he had organised their escape.

Earlier her brother had told the BBC that because of an increase in air strikes Mr Hayatu was no longer willing to continue fighting and they had planned to leave together. Ms Nkeki said she had not watched the video, released by Boko Haram on Sunday, which apparently shows recent footage of some the other missing Chibok girls. "I think about them a lot - I would tell them to be hopeful and prayerful," she said.

"In the same way God rescued me, he will also rescue them." Boko Haram at a glance: Founded in 2002, initially focused on opposing Western-style education - Boko Haram means "Western education is forbidden" in the Hausa language Launched military operations in 2009 Thousands killed, mostly in north-eastern Nigeria, hundreds abducted, including at least 200 schoolgirls Joined so-called Islamic State, now calls itself IS's "West African province" - though splits have recently emerged Seized large area in north-east, where it declared caliphate Regional force has retaken most territory last year (BBC)

INTERNATIONAL PAGE 35

GUYANA DAILY NEWS

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17, 2016

US Election 2016: Trump Overhauls Campaign Team Again Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has well you're going to pivot, you're going to.' I don't want to overhauled his campaign team for the second time in two months, with two new leaders. Pollster Kellyanne Conway becomes campaign manager and Stephen Bannon of Breitbart News the CEO. Paul Manafort remains campaign chairman, but analysts say he has effectively been demoted. Mr Trump told AP the new leaders were "terrific people... they're champs". Mr Trump has seen his poll ratings slip since the party conventions last month. He trails Democratic Party candidate Hillary Clinton both nationally and in key battleground states. 'I don't want to change' The latest shakeup comes just 82 days before the election. On his website, Mr Trump said: "I have known Steve and Kellyanne both for many years. They are extremely capable, highly qualified people who love to win and know how to win." The Associated Press news agency said the details of the new hierarchy were hammered out at a lengthy senior staff meeting at Trump Tower on Tuesday and that more senior appointments were expected in the coming days. The executive chairman of Breitbart has himself described his role there as "virulently anti-establishment", views that have led the website into staunch support of Mr Trump. An article in Bloomberg in October last year described Mr Bannon as "the most dangerous political operative in America" - a phrase Mr Trump's own website was happy to repeat in announcing his appointment. He will temporarily step down from Breitbart to work on the campaign full time and is expected to lead a highly aggressive strategy. The new appointments come ahead of the Trump team's first major TV advertisements, due to start this week. Although Mr Manafort stays in his job, analysts say the new appointments, which come two months after campaign manager Corey Lewandowski was sacked, represent a demotion. The Washington Post cited Trump campaign aides as saying Mr Trump respected Mr Manafort but felt "boxed in" by people "who barely knew him". Mr Manafort, a former adviser to George HW Bush and Bob Dole, only joined the Trump campaign in March. Ms Conway has experience with political campaigns, having previously worked with former Vice-President Dan Quayle and former House speaker Newt Gingrich. In a Republican press release last month, Ms Conway was said to be widely regarded as "an expert on female consumers and female voters". Her ability to accurately predict election results in the past has won her awards. Mr Trump has been pressed by some Republicans to tone down his fiery rhetoric in the wake of a number of controversial comments in the past two weeks and the subsequent drop in poll ratings. But Mr Trump appears to want to stand by the campaign style that won him the Republican nomination. He said on Tuesday: "You know, I am who I am.

It's me. I don't want to change. "Everyone talks about, 'Oh,

pivot. I mean, you have to be you. If you start pivoting, you're not being honest with people." What is Breitbart? Politically conservative news and opinion website based in California, with sections in London, Jerusalem and Texas. Founded in 2007 by Andrew Breitbart, the conservative commentator who had worked on the Drudge Report and Huffington Post, among others. He died of heart failure in March 2012. Key stories include: Shirley Sherrod case. Breitbart posted excerpts of a speech appearing to suggest racist remarks by a Georgia agriculture official. She was sacked but a full transcript revealed the comments not to be racist. Breitbart later settled a lawsuit Anthony Weiner sexting scandals: Played a key role in publishing text and photos in the so-called Weinergate affair that eventually led to the resignation of the New York congressman Mr Manafort has had a troubled week, following a report in the New York Times that ledgers in Ukraine showed he was earmarked for $12.7m (£9.8m) in undisclosed cash payments from the former pro-Russian government between 2007 and 2012. He denied receiving any "off-the-books cash payment". The Trump team's alleged proRussia links have been a key issue of the campaign, and the latest allegations sparked a call from the Clinton campaign for a full disclosure. Opinion polls since the national conventions have made grim reading for the Trump team, both nationally and in key states. The national lead for the Democratic candidate is currently between seven and eight points, the polls suggest. The New York Times said on Monday that no modern candidate trailing by this much three weeks after the conventions had won the election. An opinion poll in the state of Virginia, carried in the Washington Post on Tuesday, gave Mrs Clinton a 14 point lead there. (BBC)

Mr Trump has seen his poll ratings slip since the party conventions last month(GETTY IMAGES)

INTERNATIONAL PAGE 36

GUYANA DAILY NEWS

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17, 2016

A Day Like Today Not every actor is a carrier of the gift to ‘reach’ the audience, sometimes it takes a special connection with the script and the camera to transmit a message. The lines, if not interpreted with the delicacy or strength required could drift away, get perpetually lost

and forgotten as the abstract process that the exchange of words represent. For some, transforming a written speech to an immortal momentum is the personification of a challenge that can be battled with practice and dedication. But for others it is a natural actionreaction process.

Getting into the skin of a character turns easy as 1 2 3. This is the case of Robert Anthony De Niro, one of the greatest actors of modern filmography. De Niro was born a day like today in Manhattan, United States, 1943. Son of a poet and an abstract painter, he was easily dragged into the artistic side of his genes.

Starting his career in his early 20s appearing on off-Broadway small productions. His performances were soon noticed by blooming actor and director, Martin Scorsese who put his name on the billboards with the 1973 film ‘Mean Streets’.

His career took off with his 1974 interpretation of Vito Corleone, in the ‘God Father II’, starring with high profile figures such as Al Pacino, Robert Duvall and Diane Keaton, paper that gave him the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. A rough diamond was taking shape into a dazzling gem. The 70s were certainly the foundation for his career, but the 80s and 90s were the consolidation of this. Showing his versatile skills on memorable roles, such as the mafia lord Al-Capone, in the 1987 gangster film ‘The Untouchables’, followed by his impersonation of a catatonic patient in the 1990 drama ‘Awakenings’.

De Niro was destined to make his name resound like a strong eco in movie theaters around the globe, making it a synonym of acting power. Today his flexible techniques and rough interpretations, define him as a gifted ‘thespian’ and legend of the big screen.

Source: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/robert-deniro-born -By- Rocio Perez, Guyana Daily News.

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FUN CORNER PAGE 38

GUYANA DAILY NEWS

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17, 2016

HOROSCOPE PAGE 39

GUYANA DAILY NEWS

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17, 2016

Daily Horoscope Not everything you hear will be legitimate.

Trying to deal with your mate will be unproductive and possibly hurtful. Be careful while traveling.

Unfortunately, your personal life may suffer from a lack spare time. Don't be afraid of opposition; your suggestions are valid.

Question your mate if you must.

Don't let your jealousy be the reason for a decaying relationship. You will have to put those you live with in their place if they try to interfere with your work. You're on to something tangible and need to act fast

Take things slowly, especially for the sake of those you love. New methods and innovative technology will make your job far easier than you anticipated. You need to be around friends and family.

Don't go out of your way, and don't let these unexpected guests cost you money.

You may find yourself changing plans for some form of entertainment. In-laws may cause difficulties. Travel should be considered.

You can make major gains professionally by completing projects on time. Don't let emotional upset force you into the poorhouse. You will encounter those who can help you further your goals if you attend functions that attract prominent people.

You will get along well in social situations. Outdoor sports events should entice you. Stay away from social unpleasantness.

You will be in the doghouse if you are being.

Pleasure trips will be favorable and bring about possible romance. Promotions will be yours if you have acted professionally in times of crisis.

Your reputation will be affected. Don't let your emotions interfere with your professional integrity. A change in position could be better than you thought.

You may not be happy if members of your family are not pulling their weight. Self-improvement projects will payoff in more ways than one. Don't hesitate to visit someone who hasn't been well.

Someone may be trying to damage your reputation. Learn some new skills that will increase your income. Don't give in too quickly.

You can expect changes in your living arrangements. You can get support from groups that you belong to if you're willing to step out on a limb and voice your opinions. You can make some money if you get involved in a conservative financial prospect that is presented to you.

Answer: The Letter “E”

RECIPE PAGE 41

Ingredients

GUYANA DAILY NEWS

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17, 2016

RECIPE OF THE DAY: LEMON MERINGUE PIE

1 cup white sugar 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 3 tablespoons cornstarch 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 1/2 cups water 2 lemons, juiced and zested 2 tablespoons PALMBOOM* butter 4 egg yolks, beaten 1 (9 inch) pie crust, baked 4 egg whites 6 tablespoons white sugar

Preparation Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

To Make Lemon Filling: In a medium saucepan, whisk together 1 cup sugar, flour, cornstarch, and salt. Stir in water, lemon juice and lemon zest. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until mixture comes to a boil. Stir in butter. Place egg yolks in a small bowl and gradually whisk in 1/2 cup of hot sugar mixture. Whisk egg yolk mixture back into remaining sugar mixture. Bring to a boil and continue to cook while stirring constantly until thick. Remove from heat. Pour filling into baked pastry shell.

To Make Meringue: In a large glass or metal bowl, whip egg whites until foamy. Add sugar gradually, and continue to whip until stiff peaks form. Spread meringue over pie, sealing the edges at the crust.

Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes, or until meringue is golden brown. **Imported and distributed by SUPERFOODS

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India Replace Australia As Top Test Team Australia's 3-0 whitewash in Sri Lanka has led to India replacing them as the top Test team in the world in the latest ICC rankings. India have become the top Test team in the world in the new ICC rankings thanks to Australia's series whitewash at the hands of Sri Lanka. Steve Smith's men were thrashed in Colombo on Wednesday to complete a 3-0 series defeat and that result sees India propelled to the top of the Test Championship.

Pakistan move up to second in the rankings, just a point behind India, after fighting back to seal a 2-2 draw against England by winning at The Oval, with Australia now third and England fourth. However, if India are to retain top spot in the rankings they have to win the fourth Test against West Indies, which begins in Port of Spain on Thursday and batsman Ajinkya Rahane says the team is focused on being the top-ranked Test team in the world. "Our goal is to play attacking cricket and dominate West Indies here because we have been playing good cricket and it is important to finish well on this tour," he said. "30 will be very good and yes, our long-term goal is to be the number one team. "Right now it is important to stay in the present moment. We want to express ourselves in the middle.

That means we want to dominate here again like we did in the three Tests. "It is important to be in that process regularly and think about achieving the number one ranking as a team."

Pakistan will lead the ICC rankings for the first time if India fail to beat West Indies. (SportsMax)

Rio 2016: OCI Seeks 'Total Clarity' On Hickey Arrest Reports Reports that Patrick Hickey has been arrested in Brazil are being investigated by the Olympic Council of Ireland. The Olympic Council of Ireland (OCI) says it is "seeking total clarity" on reports that its president Patrick Hickey has been arrested in Brazil over illegal Olympic ticket sales.

Reports in the Brazilian media say Hickey has been arrested for passing on tickets to be re-sold at extortionate prices. It is claimed by the Brazilian media that Hickey's arrest is in connection with that of countryman Kevin Mallon, who is alleged to have passed OCI tickets to THG Sports. Mallon is a director of the company. The OCI released a statement in reaction to the reports and says it will ascertain the full facts before commenting further.

“The OCI is aware of the media stories regarding Pat Hickey and we are seeking total clarity on the situation before we comment further," read a brief statement on the OCI's official website. Hickey,

who is also president of the European Olympic Committee, is also reported to have received medical attention after falling ill following his arrest. (SportsMax)

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Rio 2016: McLeod Claims Hurdles Gold Jamaica’s Omar McLeod claimed the country’s first Olympic gold medal in the men’s 110m hurdles after a distinguished performance in Tuesday night’s final. McLeod, the only athlete in the world to go under 13 seconds in the event this season, certainly lived up to the billing as the favourite heading into the final after winning the event by a comfortable margin in the end. The hurdler captured the gold medal with a time of 13:05 seconds, finishing well clear of second place Orlando Ortega of Spain who clocked 13.17s for the silver medal. Dimitri Bascou of France was third in 13.24s. McLeod’s trademark bullet start saw him shoot out of the blocks quickly and by the fifth hurdle it seemed clear that only a colossal

error would prevent the athlete from claiming the top spot. The athlete, who had experience a couple of calamitous results in the lead up to the Olympic Games, this time held his form and nerve to cross the line in first spot. (SportsMax)

Rio 2016: Thompson, Ahye Advance - Schippers Lays Down 200m Marker Jamaica 100m gold medallist Elaine Thompson and Trinidad and Tobago’s Michelle-Lee Ahye remain in contention for podium spots in the women’s 200m after ensuring qualification from Tuesday’s semi-finals. However, it was World Champion Dafne who delivered a clear reminder of her pedigree in the event, setting the second fastest 200 metres time in the world this year heading to the final. Schippers surged to victory in the first of the three semi-finals at the Olympic Stadium, winning in 21.96 seconds, just shy of her world-leading season's best of 21.93secs, ahead of Thompson who clocked 22.13 for second place.

Tori Bowie appears likely to be Schippers' main threat for gold aside from Thompson, the American - silver medallist in the 100m - claimed victory in the third semi-final in 22.13secs. Ahye ran a national-record time of 22.25secs to qualify behind Bowie. The second semi saw Ivory Coast's Marie-Josee Ta Lou run a personal best of

22.28secs to triumph ahead of Bulgaria's Ivet Lalova-Collio, who qualified with a season's best of 22.42secs. Deajah Stevens of United States and Great Britain's Dina Asher-Smith progressed as fastest losers. (SportsMax)

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Rio 2016: Whyte Claims Spot In Men's 400mh Final Jamaica’s Annsert Whyte ran a season’s best to secure a spot in the final of the men’s 400m hurdles on Tuesday night. Whyte a first time Olympic finalist led from almost start to finish in semi-final 2 of the event, crossing the line in 48.32s. Puerto Rican Javier Culson, the 2012 London Olympics bronze medallist, was second in 48.46s, with Yasmani Copello (48.61s) and Rasmus Magi (48.64s) also securing qualifying spots to the final.

Two other Jamaicans in the qualifying rounds Jaheel Hyde and Roxroy Cato, and Puerto Rico’s Eric Alejandro, failed to advance after disappointing results in their races. Alejandro placed seventh in semi-final 3, with Cato was disqualified in the same event. The semi-final was won by Ireland’s Thomas Barr (48.39s), with Haron Koech (48.49s) finishing second. Hyde,

who contested semi-final 1, found it difficult to keep in touch with the leaders early on, and despite a late surge finished fifth in 49.17s. American Kerron Clement claimed the heat in 48.26s, while Kenya’s Boniface Muncheru finished second in 48.85s. (SportsMax)

Rio 2016: Three Jamaicans To Contest Women's 400m Hurdles Final Three Jamaican women will contest the final of the 400m hurdles on Thursday with Janieve Russell, Ristannana Tracey and Leah Nugent all securing a spot in the event. Tracey was the most impressive qualifier on the night after finishing second in semi-final 1 behind a seemingly resurgent Zuzana Hejnova of Czech Republic. Hejnova has struggled with injuries for most of the season, but clocked an impressive 54.55s to claim semi-final one ahead of Tracey who finished second in 54.80s. Russell was also second in semi-final 2, caught and passed only metres from the line by American Ashley Spencer. Spencer lost balance after clipping the final hurdle, but stormed back to win in 54.87s, just ahead of Russell’s 54.92s. Leah Nugent, who was only reinstated for the semi-final after an appeal was lodged by the Jamaican delegation, had perhaps the most dramatic route to qualification. Trailing early Nugent powered down

the home stretch to secure a fastest qualifier spot after clocking 54.98s for third place. The United States’ Dalilah Muhammad took the event in 53.89s, by far the fastest qualifier, continuing what has been an excellent season so far. Sara Petersen of Denmark claimed the second spot in 54.55s.

(SportsMax)

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Rio 2016: Trinidad’s Coaches Say It’s Time For Athletes To Train At ‘Home’ Following the failure of many of their athletes to make an impression at the Olympic Games currently under-way in Rio, Brazil, several coaches from Trinidad and Tobago are making the call for their athletes to begin training at home. So far in Rio only Machel Cedenio, who set a new national record of 44.01s for fourth place in the 400 metres final and Michelle Lee-Ahye, who was sixth in the final of the women’s 100-metre final, Trinidad’s athletes have failed to make an impression at the 31st Olympiad.

The country is also so far without a medal on the track or in the field as Richard Thompson, Kelly-Ann Baptiste, Lalonde Gordon are among several who have been unable to break into the top three or even make the finals of their respective disciplines. Colin Mark, coach of the Mason Hall Police Youth Club, believes if the twinisland republic is to enjoy a reversal of fortunes, setting up an academy for the country’s athletes at home may be the answer to the country’s medal drought. Mark said the dependency on American training for TT athletes must stop and an academy set up to offer training locally. Noting that many athletes were extended various courtesies when leaving on sports scholarships and that some do not return the favour, he said that a local academy would ensure that Olympic athletes train at home as a team. He cited the success of fellow Caribbean island Jamaica that has already won two gold medals in Rio and 12 in the previous three Olympiads.

Mark noted not even the country’s 4x400m relay team times were good and that the country’s only remaining hope for a medal was 2012 Olympic champion Keshorn Walcott’s campaign in the

javelin. Mark’s sentiments were echoed by Coach Arlon Morrison of the Kaiser Panthers Athletic Club, who believes that the showing by TT athletes in Rio was reflective of what the athletes were capable of based on their current abilities. He said the country now has to support those who have made progress while ensuring that appropriate facilities, systems and structures are put in place to ensure a better level of predictability. Meanwhile, sprint coach Reyon John questioned whether the weather conditions in Brazil were affecting his country’s athletes’ ability to perform. John noted though that Cedeno and Lee Ahye were able to reach finals running under the same conditions, saying that it was disappointing that some athletes did not make it out of the preliminary rounds and into the semi-finals. (SportsMax)

Rio 2016: 'My Mind Went Blank' - Miller Hardly Recalls Gold Medal Winning Tumble Bahamian Olympic gold medallist Shaunae Miller claims she tracked the Bahamian with determination in the closing stages remembers very little about a stumbling finish to claim the of the race. (SportsMax) women’s 400m title. Miller bested American Alysson Felix in one of the most talked about moment of the Games so far, diving towards the finish line after seeming to lose her balance in the final few metres. Jamaican Shericka Jackson finished in third place. While some have looked upon the incident in a negative light, even going as far as to suggest it was unsportsman-like conduct on the path of the Bahamian; Miller insists she has very little recollection of those now famous final few metres. "I was thinking, 'Oh my gosh, I am lying on the ground right now.' I don't know what happened. My mind just went blank. I heard my mom screaming. When I heard her screaming, I was like, 'OK, I had to have won the race,” Miller said following the race.

"It's such an amazing feeling. My coaches were so pumped.

This is the moment I've been waiting for; I just gave it my all.

I've never done it before. I have cuts and bruises, a few burns but, hey, I got a medal out of it." Miller’s time of 49.44 was a lifetime best seven hundredths of a second ahead of Felix who

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Rio 2016: 'Not About The Hair'- Fraser Pryce Annoyed By Reference To Fancy Do Jamaican Olympic bronze medallist Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce appears frustrated by constant references to her brightly coloured hair ahead of her accomplishments in the sport of track and field.

Fraser-Pryce harboured hopes of becoming the first female sprinter to claim a gold medal in the 100m in three consecutive Olympic Games, but had to settle for bronze behind compatriot Elaine Thompson and American Tori Bowie. FraserPryce struggled with a toe injury for most of the season and says she was delighted just to have made the podium in her most difficult race to date.

Despite being so close to a historic win the athlete has, however, garnered plenty of attention for her green and gold coloured themed hairstyle at the Games. The hairdo earned the athlete best ‘opening ceremony hair’ in an online poll.

Constant references to both the injury and hair have apparently proven to be an annoyance to the

athlete. “Because SFP [referring to herself] did not come this far to be remembered for her ‘ombre’ hair and injured toe, but for resilience and faithfulness. This bronze was the hardest to earn but like my gold and silver, it’s equally ‘Pryceless’ :),” Fraser-Pryce posted via social media outlet Facebook. (SportsMax)