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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
MONDAY, AUGUST 8, 2016
The PPP failed to convert the sugar industry Sugar was the most important crop throughout the Caribbean, although other crops such as coffee, cotton, indigo, and rice were also grown. Sugar cane was best grown on relatively flat land that was near the coast, where the soil was naturally yellow and fertile; mountainous parts of the islands were less likely to be used for cane cultivation. In the mid-17th century, sugar cane was brought into what later became the British West Indies by the Dutch, from Brazil. Upon landing in Barbados and other islands, they quickly urged local growers to change their main crops from cotton and tobacco to sugar cane. With depressed prices of cotton and tobacco, due mainly to stiff competition from the North American colonies, the farmers switched, leading to a boom in the Caribbean economies. Sugar was quickly snapped up by the British, who used it in cakes and to sweeten teas and other bakery ingredients. The extent of Guyana's economic decline in the 1980s was clearly reflected in the performance of the sugar sector. Production levels were halved, from 324,000 tons in 1978 to 168,000 tons in 1988. A number of factors contributed to the shrinking harvests. The first factor was nationalization and the rapid nationalization of the sugar industry in the mid-1970s led to severe management difficulties and an emigration of talent. The Guyana Sugar Corporation (Guysuco), which took over the sugar plantations, lacked needed experience. Perhaps more important, Guysuco did not have access to the reserves of foreign capital required to maintain sugar plantations and processing mills during economically difficult periods. When production fell, Guysuco became increasingly dependent on state support to pay the salaries of its 20,000 workers. Second, the industry was hard-hit by labor unrest directed at the government of Guyana. A four-week strike in early 1988 and a seven-week strike in 1989 contributed to the low harvests. Third, plant diseases and adverse weather plagued sugar crops. After disease wiped out much of the sugarcane crop in the early 1980s, farmers switched to a disease-resistant but less productive variety. Extreme weather in the form of both droughts and floods, especially in 1988, also led to smaller harvests. By this time the PPP should have realized that the sugar industry was very vulnerable. However, majority of the PPP supporters are from the sugar industry, thus they wanted to keep the industry afloat. So nothing was done to diversify the sector when they got into power. However, this did not stop the PPP from putting $50 billion into the modernization of the Skeldon factory, and promised to pumped $20 billion more if they had won the May, 2015 election, this did not help the ailing industry. The PPP government could have diversified the sugar sector into the blooming Soya Bean plantation. This country is positioned for trade with Latin America and the world, Guyana is the only English speaking country in Latin America and can accommodate a deep water Harbor. Derivatives from Soya Bean includes: protein powders, textured vegetable protein, soybean vegetable oil, edamame, dry beans, sprouts, livestock feed, gluten-free flour, natto, tempeh, tofu, soy milk, soy cheese and curds, margarine, shortening, soya chunks and much more. As the second largest producer of soybeans worldwide, Brazil accounts for 30 percent of the global production of the crop. The country has over 29 million hectares of land available and used for farming soybean. In the four most recent growing seasons up to 2014-15, soybean production has been on a steady rise, according to USDA. Annual production quantities in that time span have ranged from 66.5 to 94.5 million metric tons. In 2013, soybean exports earned the country $23 billion USD according to MIT data. Soybeans grown in Brazil have higher protein levels than those grown in many other parts of the world, and thereby fetch higher prices in international markets, according to Commodity Basis. The country also produces a large quantity of non-genetically modified (non-GMO) soybeans, which are also pricier than genetically modified ones. According to reports. In 2006 the European Union had stated that the EU Commission declared that the Sugar Protocol, under the terms of which sugar has been exported to the EU by ACP countries since 1975, is to be renounced at the end of September 2007, with a view to its ending on 30th September, 2009. Sugar was becoming irrelevant to Guyana’s economy. On October 1, 2009 the European Union cut Guyana’s preferential market with the European Union by 36 percent. Guyana will see earnings reduced by $7B annually, prices have been slashed from 523 Euros to 332 Euros over three years, according to the then Government. -By- Ronald Singh, Guyana Daily News
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
MONDAY, AUGUST 8, 2016
Ret’d Colonel sworn in to investigate challenges facing GDF veterans Retired Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Colonel Desmond Roberts was sworn in by Georgetown Magistrate Judy Latchman today to examine, advise, and report on the conditions and circumstances facing veterans of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF).A former Director General of the Guyana National Service (GNS), Roberts will also submit recommendations regarding the conditions and circumstances surrounding the GNS following a Commission of Inquiry (CoI). Speaking to the press after the official swearing in, Minister of State Joseph Harmon said that the CoI is something that was tabled in the National Assembly by then Opposition Leader David Granger.When asked about the current treatment meted out to veterans, Minister Harmon said, “They are some who are destitute and then there are those who retire at an early age and have to compete with others in the job pool and these are the men and women who would have risked their lives in the best years of their life and it is only right that we look into the manner in which they are being treated.” Minister Harmon said that the inquiry is slated to begin today as the Commissioner and his team is ready; the CoI is slated to last for two months, however it could be extended at the discretion of the Commissioner.Colonel Roberts said that he is very privileged to be a part of the inquiry and looks forward to serving to the best of his ability since he realizes that some of the talents possessed by the veterans are “quantifiable but not transferrable”. -By- Jarred Singh, Guyana Daily News. Head of The Commissioner of Inquiry, Colonel Desmond Roberts (Kaieteur News/ File Photo)
City Hall buckles under pressure! Container tax reduced Following heavy criticism and resistance from the business community, the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) of Georgetown has decided to reduce the container tax from $25,000 to $5,000. A statement from Town Clerk Royston King on Monday revealed that the reduction is an interim measure and the tax will be collected at the source, at the various ports and wharves, effective August 01. The statement further noted that the decision to reduce the tax was made following a meeting on August 05 between the M&CC, the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) and the Private Sector Commission (PSC). It was revealed that “Discussions were also held on the possible implementation of a per tonnage per cargo fee for all cargo within vehicles of specific type of weights traversing the streets of the City.” According to the statement, the Private Sector representatives have also indicated their interest in forming a Tripartite Committee between the Government of Guyana, M&CCC and the PSC to engage in continued discussions on other initiatives and the institutionalizing a solid partnership to develop and modernize Georgetown. This was agreed by all parties involved. The Committee will be in place by August 15, 2016. “The Council wishes to advise that the collection of container fee and tonnage fee are instituted by invoking section 274 (h) in conjunction with section 272 of the Municipal and District Council’s Act, Chapter 28:01. “The Council further advises that the collection of its revenue for container fees is an absolute necessity in order to execute road construction and repairs; drainage works; and other allied capital works such as the construction of bridges, etc. All
of the aforementioned are essential Municipal service that create an enabling environment for businesses and guarantees the safety of citizens and the public health of our local communities,” the statement concluded. City Hall’s decision to implement the tax a few months ago was met with much resistance from members of the business community, who even took the matter to the court, accusing the Council of illegally imposing such a fee. The issue took a dramatic turn on August 19 whenthe Georgetown Municipality blocked the movement of container-laden trucks from shipping companies’ city wharves. City Constables proceeded to place barricades outside the entrances of Muneshwers and John Fernandes Limited on Water Street, leaving company officials baffled at the move by the council.
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
MONDAY, AUGUST 8, 2016
More pressure for rice industry: Gov’t to increase rental fee for lease lands to farmers Former Attorney General Anil Nandlall has criticized government’s intention to increase the rental fees of lease lands for rice farmers. In a Facebook post, Nandlall lamented the already deplorable state of the rice industry and that the increase would only throw the industry into a deeper crisis.He blamed the APNU+AFC government for the ruined rice deals which the PPP had entered into with Venezuela. “They destroyed the Venezuelan market and they have abysmally failed to find a substitute,” Nandlall said. He blasted the government for not coming through on their promises to the rice farmers where it was promised that rice farmers will get $9,000 per bag for paddy, however this is not the case.Nandlall claimed that the PPP Opposition submitted an eleven points plan to the government to implement which will give aid the rice farmers. He said it included recommendations such as the waiver of taxes on things connected with the rice industry and the waiver of rentals in respect of rice lands leased by the state. Instead, he said that the Government imposed VAT on agricultural equipment and is now about to increase rental fees for rice lands. Nandlall bemoaned current rice industry situation saying “it as if there is a deliberate plot to destroy the industry.”A recent press release from the Ministry of Agriculture indicated that a white paper seeking Cabinet’s approval to increase the cost of land rentals in the Region 5 agricultural scheme, has been submitted subject Minister, Noel Holder. It also indicated that according to General Manager of the MMA/ADA, Aubrey Charles, “Currently it (fees) range between $400 per acre to $2500 per acre, per year, depending on the level (of service provided). In some areas we only provide drainage; this attracts a lower charge, for drainage and irrigation you pay more, let’s say $600, then you
have drainage and irrigation, primary with secondary irrigation. Once you are getting all of those things you pay at the max $2500 per acre per year,” Charles said.Previously, Minister Holder said the rates being paid by rice farmers for the services provided by the agricultural scheme are archaic and should be adjusted to real terms if the scheme is to be expanded. -By- Pablo Cupido, Guyana Daily News.
Former Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall
Hav eaNewswor t hyst or y? Cont act : GuyanaDai l ynews guyanadai l ynews@gmai l . com ( 592) 2265088 ( 592) 2265096 l ot 1 2&1 3Sher i f f s t . s ubr y anv i l l eGeor get own
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
MONDAY, AUGUST 8, 2016
GUYANA DAILY NEWS OPINION POLL: 20% of BUSINESSES CONSIDER CLOSING A poll conducted by the Guyana Daily News shows that 20% of businesses in Guyana are considering closure. The poll was prompted by the numerous complaints to this newspaper that businesses are experiencing difficulties in sales, government imposing increased and additional taxes, unfriendly legislation, crime and the constant harassment by GRA, Food and Drugs and other Governmental agencies. An analysis was done on the performance of the economy and it showed sluggishness and underperformance for the first half of 2016. According to information provided by the Guyana National Bureau of Statistics, the total imports for the first quarter of 2016 has declined to $64,607.6M when compared to the same period last year of $77,445.1M, a difference of $12.837.5M.For 2015 to present there was a steady decline in total imports; for food and household, beverage and tobacco there was a decline of these commodities when compared to the last quarter of last year; however beverage and tobacco had a slight increase when compared to with the same period last year of $175.3M. Food and household items fluctuated over the course of 2015, the same cannot be said for beverage and tobacco, where this commodity had a steady increase for 2015 and a slight decrease for the first quarter of 2016. Fuel and lubricants had a decline for the first quarter of 2016 as compared to the last quarter of 2015, there was a spike in imports for this item to $22,877.8M in the second quarter of 2015 and a sharp decline in the third quarter to $16,310.5M.Guyana’s economy is in serious crisis; traditional industries and other sectors of Guyana are in deep financial strain and banks are refusing to lend monies to these sectors. Banks make their monies by lending and making investments. Overdraft facilities, which amount to about $3 billion, are also being curtailed. The obvious downturn in the housing sector has a negative effect on the banking sector in Guyana, people are not borrowing monies as was the case under the Jagdeo led administration. The International Monetary Fund had recently warned banks in Guyana of non-performing loans, “Banks remain well capitalized, but heightened vigilance is warranted due to
increases in nonperforming loans”.From parking meter fees to container fees to increase property rates, another burden has been placed on the business community by the APNU+AFC Coalition Government, this time by the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS). Twenty commodities monitored by this agency will now have to pay $30,000 annually before their products can be sold on the markets. The items will range from domestic electric appliances, weighing and measuring devices, textiles, garments, footwear, safety matches, tyres, gas stoves, fertilisers, cigarettes, PVC pipes, furniture, toys, soap powder, Christmas trees and decorative lighting outfits, safety helmets, cellular phones, water and electricity meters and seat belts.The business community is contemplating their next move in an underperforming economy, where the policies of the Government are seen as anti-business overall; they are questioning the motives behind President Granger’s statement, that the Government cannot provide jobs, and that the 4000 young people who come out of the school system every year should become entrepreneurs. Business owners have questioned, how can they become entrepreneurs when the economy is not performing well? How can they become business people when the government’s policy is anti-business in nature? How can they become entrepreneurs when the government don’t have an economic plan for the country? -By- Ronald Singh, Guyana Daily News.
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
MONDAY, AUGUST 8, 2016
The fire season strikes again As the sirens of the fire trucks becomes a common sound to be heard on a daily basis, the concern about where the deadly flames will strike next is mutual between citizens not only from Georgetown, but also residents of neighboring communities. The climate in Guyana plays a major role in this topic. A tropical rainforest weather with equatorial winds could turn tricky. Two wet seasons followed by dry heated ones, contribute to any spark become a deadly flame. The “Fire Season” as is called, falls on the most heated months o f th e y ear, b etw een J u n e an d September. This period is known to be the driest of the year, post ‘wet’ season, the soil unable to absorb humidity provided by sporadic rains, and dew, easily dries at a fastest pace. The green of the landscape slowly disappear, transforming the grass, or any type of bush to an easily flammable source. Forest fires, are placed in the top of the list by the authorities, when the ‘dry’ months arrive. Warnings about a responsible behavior about this matter are publicly addressed, so that the community can be aware of their actions. An article in the Guyana Times indicated that in May this year, Head of the Guyana Fire Service (GFS), Chief Fire Officer Marlon Gentle, called the public for a responsible behavior towards the upcoming season. The last couple months the headlines of the local media have been dominated by consuming flames leaving many homeless. The Guyana Daily News, in the middle of this ‘heated’ topic, took the opportunity to analyze the matter from another angle. A survey was carried out to have a better view on the public’s opinion. “Fire have been a problem for as long as I can remember and the response time of the fire service have not get any better, I think it has to
do partly with the traffic situation. Also when the fire fighters arrive sometimes there aren't easy means to get water so I think we need more working fire hydrant,” Neil Andrew, from Enmore, East coast Demerara (ECD), expressed. A next resident of the area mentioned that the voltage fluctuation could be one of the main causes. Internal electric fires have been one of the more commonly reported. “Electric devices left plugged when there is blackout, and then the light comes back, causes not only the damage of the devices, but also could be a cause for the fires, especially when there is no one home. I believe there should be an education program about fire prevention,” Andrea Seecharran said. A common observation about the apparent correlation in some cases, where the delay response of the fire service was also raised. “The time the fire service reach the location is also key. So much could be saved with good timing. The police have a part to play by making sure people follow the traffic laws, and so doing the fire trucks can meet their destination faster. Something must about the fluctuations in the current as well,” said Ameer Azeez from the community of Foulis, East Coast Demerara (ECD) The prevention is possible and cooperation from, not only from governmental institutions, but o from the public, can make a significant reduction. According to resident of Cummings Lodge, Pablo Cupido, “It can be reduced if the fire service can be more efficient, the response time and the infrastructure that the fire service has is not enough to deal with the constant fires taking place. The constant shortages of water, are also a factor to take into consideration.”The last fire reported was on Sunday and five persons were left homeless after a
two-storey house went up in flames, in Manchester Village, Corentyne, East Berbice. The cause remains unknown. Reports indicate that after leaving the house at early hours in the morning to go church, owner of the residency, 59year-old, Emella Chesney heard about a fire, little did she know that was her house the one in flames. The Guyana Daily News Understands that the response from the fire department was slow, and the time the New Amsterdam Fire Department reached the scene, the residence was already consumed by the flames. “I think we need to work together in this matter. The Public needs to take extra precautions, anything lose wire, any spark could easily become a threat. The Guyana Power & Light Inc. (GPL) needs to find a fast solution for the constant power outings and voltage fluctuations, as well as the Fire Department needs to set priorities in the rapid and efficient delivery of their service,” stated a source that preferred to stay anonymous. Source: http://guyanachronicle.com/mancheste r-fire-leaves-5-homeless/ http://www.guyanatimesgy.com/2016/ 03/24/fire-chief-issues-warning-about... -By- Rocio Perez, Guyana Daily News.
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
MONDAY, AUGUST 8, 2016
PSC, TERI ink MoU; will promote green growth, sustainable development The Private Sector Commission (PSC) and The Energy and Resource Institute (TERI), today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which will see the private sector benefiting from the financial and technical expertise that TERI will make available to them. The MoU, which is slated to last three years sees TERI looking to establishing a local office in Guyana by October of this year from which they can begin research work in energy efficiency, climate change, and environmental management and to share information and give advice to the PSC through which sustainable development in Guyana can occur. A prospect which the PSC can look forward to is the expertise and guidance of The Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL). The India base company focuses on implementing projects and programmes to promote clean energy technologies through innovative policy based business model. The partnership will also bring in people and institutions that work on the policy side into the market based interventions. It will also enable global linkages so that there is an exchange of information and replication of interventions which will see Guyana private sector linking with India private sector Director General of TERI, Dr. Ajay Mathur, in his first visit to Guyana stated his excitement in working with the private sector. Dr. Mathur said one of the newer areas of research that TERI does which Guyana can benefit is the preservation and protection of the forest. He said that work will be done to establish a bio-gas facility that will biomass waste such as the husk of sugarcane to produce biofuel. In the past, the government of Guyana through the office of climate change has conducted serval studies with TERI in areas of efficient street lightning, efficient energy use in the sugarcane industry, the feasible of establishing a Biodiversity Centre in Guyana etc. “We want to move to a new level of being able to support Guyanese society in particularly in the private sector, in not only talking about cleaner and more sustainable development but also in have the tools that are need to take it further.” Meanwhile, Chairman of the PSC, Edward Boyer, s indicated that the signing of the MoU indicates that the business community is keeping with President David Granger’s commitment of Guyana taking part in the global effort in combating climate change. Additionally, Junior Finance Minister, Jaipaul Sharma who was speaking on behalf of the government, pointed to the importance of the partnership with the private sector and TERI and reiterated that the partnership was in accordance with the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) and the president’s green economy initiative.Signing of MoU between TERI and Private Sector Commission By Pablo Cupido- Guyana Daily News
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
MONDAY, AUGUST 8, 2016
PPP Councillor wants audit into City Hall’s finances, says motion being blocked by Town Clerk People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Councillor on the Mayor and City Council (M&CC), Bishram Kuppen says he is “deeply troubled” about the lack of accountability and transparency at City Hall as it relates to the finances. During a press conference at the PPP Headquarters at Freedom House on Monday, Kuppen told reporters that billions of dollars of taxpayers money is being spent without any credible financial reports or audits performed for the money, which is required by the Municipal & District Councils Act Chap 28:01 Sect 177. “I have consistently called for a forensic audit to be conducted of the City of Georgetown finances. And I am not the only one who has been calling for this forensic audit. When any new Council takes over, it should be a presented with an audited financial statement of the Council's finances from the Auditor General, as soon as possible,” the PPP Councillor said. He further noted that there is the widespread perception that corruption is rampant at City Hall, which he explained is fueled by the lack of accountability for hundreds of millions of dollars spent on projects with no public tendering. The PPP Councillor also pointed to improper financial reporting and four hidden bank accounts which are not included in any financial reports to Councillors and financial deficits being reported on a consistent basis every month. “I have attempted to move a motion for a Forensic Audit on three occasions by submitting a written request to the Mayor and Town Clerk to have the motions included on the agenda for the statutory meeting. One each occasion, the Town Clerk has responded that he found fault with the motions but did not advise what those deficiencies were,” Kuppen said. The Councillor is of the belief that the motion is being deliberately blocked by the Town Clerk and others. “The City of Georgetown is not an independent
sovereign state, and it is in the interest of all citizens and the Central Government to ensure that a forensic audit is conducted of the City's finances as soon as possible,” he concluded. Mr. Capen also noted that major projects and works being carried out by the council are not being discussed at the statutory meeting, contracts are not made available to councilors, for e.g. the city cleanup project, the removal of Stabroek Vendors, the ongoing works at Merriman’s Mall, the Kitty Market works, the Parking Meter Contract, among others. Meanwhile, the Councillor also called for the scrapping of the Parking Meter project, which he said is burdensome. -By- Ronald Singh, Guyana Daily News.
Town Clerk of Georgetown, Royston King.
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
MONDAY, AUGUST 8, 2016
GAWU, GuySuCo war continues The Guyana Agricultural and General factory” where the representative G u y S u C o ’ s d i v e r s i fi c a t i o n Workers Union (GAWU) is astounded continued that GAWU hopes that this programme. We strongly believe that by comments made by a representative brings greater clarity to the issue. In the whatever the new venture/s at Wales of the Guyana Sugar Corporation release, GAWU said that it believes may be it/they will not make available (GuySuCo) in a letter that appeared in that if GuySuCo had decided, five (5) a similar number of remunerative jobs the August 06, 2016 edition of years later, to close the operations at as is provided currently by the Estate. It Stabroek News under the authorship of LBI then it should be forthright about seems that GuySuCo is again engaging t h e C o r p o r a t i o n ’ s S e n i o r that decision in spite of the hardship to in semantics despite the fact that the C o m m u n i c a t i o n ’s O ffi c e r, M s the workers that will result. “Dressing livelihoods of thousands of Guyanese Audreyanna Thomas. GAWU in a up the issue to say that the matter was stand threatened. Should GuySuCo r e l e a s e s t a t e d t h a t , “ T h e fi r s t closed back in 2011 only serves to rub and the Government fail to rescind observation that we wish to highlight is salt in a fresh wound.” GAWU t h e i r u n c o n s c i o n a b l e d e c i s i o n that the closure of the LBI sugar continued by saying that it strongly surrounding Wales Estate, the almost factory in May 2011 was a standalone disputes that GuySuCo, at the meeting 1,600 workers currently in the employ a c t b y t h e s u g a r c o r p o r a t i o n . on April 12, 2016, informed them and would look forward to their severance Communication in 2011 to that effect NACCIE that all LBI workers would pay in keeping with the conditions set by GuySuCo to the GAWU and the be transferred to Enmore Estate saying out in TESPA and the Collective National Association of Agricultural, “In fact, GuySuCo’s representative, in Labour Agreement between the Union Commercial and Industrial Employees response to a question from our Union and the Corporation.” On the concepts (NAACIE) was given during the about the status of the LBI field that Ms. Thomas spoke on of “New engagement of the parties when they workers, said pointedly that the LBI GuySuCo” and “One GuySuCo” met to address the deployment of the field operations would continue and GAWU express ignorance saying that LBI factory workers to the Enmore the workers would remain at LBI. He If these notions are references to factory. This was five (5) years ago. If it was clear and unambiguous.” The GuySuCo’s diversification intentions, was the Corporation’s decision in 2011 press release did confirm that Unions then the Corporation should bear in to close the entire LBI operations then and GuySuCo, at the April, 2016 mind that this is certainly not new. why is it being carried out five (5) years meeting, did begin to consider the fate GuySuCo in the article called for the later? Why, during this time, was the of the workers of the LBI estate with need for a progressive relationship Field Workshop enlarged to undertake respect to their deployment to Enmore between the parties involved but a greater volume of work? It should be Estate and the entitlements to some GAWU stated “it is GuySuCo which is noted that several of the top GuySuCo who may be retrenched. In that displaying disrespect to our Union.” personnel who were involved in the process, each worker concerned was By- Ronald Singh, Guyana Daily 2011 partial close down of LBI are still interviewed in the presence of the News. at the helm up to today but, for some Unions (GAWU and NAACIE) in reason could not implement a decision keeping with the Termination of made since 2011. Well, well is this Employment and Severance Pay Act another instance of the competence (TESPA). That exercise resulted in 42 that GuySuCo management is known w o r k e r s ( n o t 4 0 ) b e i n g m a d e for?” Ms. Thomas was then directed to redundant and 178 being transferred to another newspaper article this time to a work at Enmore Estate. In response to letter appearing in the April 27, 2016 the comments made that the Wales edition of Kaieteur News by former Estate. GAWu said “Our Union asks:GuySuCo Human Resource Director isn’t the cessation of cane growing and Jairam Petam where he stated inter alia sugar processing at Wales not a closure that in 2011:- “it was never the of the Estate? We are also now told by intention of the Company to close any Ms Thomas that Wales Estate would operation beyond that of the LBI s e r v e a s a l a u n c h i n g p a d f o r
LOCAL
GUYANA DAILY NEWS Gov’t to set up commission to address anomalies with communal lands -President Granger tells gathering at Cuffy 250 forum PAGE 12
President David Granger announced that his Government will establish a Lands Commission which will be tasked to rectify that existing anomalies and resolve the controversies surrounding thousands of hectares of communal lands across the country. He was at the time addressing a large gathering at the Fourth Annual State of the African Guyanese Forum held at the Critchlow Labour College earlier today. The forum, which was organised by the Cuffy 250 Committee, was held under the theme, “African Guyanese self-realisation: Challenges for the next 50 years. The President said that these communal villages are the cradles of the free economy and of local democracy as a whole. He called on the Cuffy 250 Committee to pay closer attention to what is happening at the level of the villages. Creating opportunities to foster the growth of village economies is one of the five objectives which he outlined as part of Guyana’s plan of action for the United Nations (UN) designated International Decade for People of African Descent. “We have to walk on two legs, not only looking at the economy but also looking at the way those villages are governed. The villages were the homes of our households, homes of our schools, homes of our churches, homes of our farms… So the plan of action which I ask you to contemplate today should aim at revitalizing village economies,” President Granger said. The Head of State pointed out that twenty months of the ‘International Decade’ have already elapsed and as such, there needs to be, now, an organisation and a plan in order to ensure the implementation of the Programme. The main objective of the ‘International Year’ was to raise awareness of the challenges facing People of African Descent with the view of fostering discussions that could generate proposals for solutions to tackle these challenges. He assured that his Government will work with nongovernmental organisations which represent people of African Descent in fulfilling the objectives of the decade, another of which includes education. The President said that education remains the way out of poverty and inequality. He pointed out that while the right to free primary education is protected under the Constitution, it does not prevent more than 4,000 Guyanese children from dropping-out of school each year. “Just as our illiterate fore parents 178 years ago, saw the benefits of education, we their educated descendants, can do no better than to ensure that every single child goes to school and stay in school… This is what the boats, bicycles, and buses programme is all about. It is about getting children to school and keeping them in school,” the Head of State said. Achieving equality and eliminating ethnic discrimination is another objective which the President said Guyanese should endeavour to fulfil. “Discrimination against anyone promotes insecurity and social exclusion and that could lead to disorder,” he said.
MONDAY, AUGUST 8, 2016
President David Granger shares a light moment with Dr. David Hinds and Mr. Vincent Alexander (extreme right)
Mr. Gerald George performing a libation ceremony at the beginning of the forum
continued on next page...
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS Gov’t to set up commission...con’t...
He assured that his Government will work with nongovernmental organisations which represent people of African Descent in fulfilling the objectives of the decade, another of which includes education. The President said that education remains the way out of poverty and inequality. He pointed out that while the right to free primary education is protected under the Constitution, it does not prevent more than 4,000 Guyanese children from dropping-out of school each year. “Just as our illiterate fore parents 178 years ago, saw the benefits of education, we their educated descendants, can do no better than to ensure that every single child goes to school and stay in school… This is what the boats, bicycles, and buses programme is all about. It is about getting children to school and keeping them in school,” the Head of State said. Achieving equality and eliminating ethnic discrimination is another objective which the President said Guyanese should endeavour to fulfil. “Discrimination against anyone promotes insecurity and social exclusion and that could lead to disorder,” he said. He also spoke about employment and said that the Government is aware of the plight faced by many school-leavers to find jobs. “The Plan of Action must aim at reducing the high incidence of unemployment in the economy and aim at creating an entrepreneurship programme to assist young Guyanese to establish and manage their businesses,” he said. Speaking of the horrors of the system of slavery which Africans have had to endure, President Granger said that Governments of the Caribbean including that of Guyana are insisting on an apology for the crime of enslavement and for the payment of reparations but noted that this is not the time to agonise interminably about the conditions in which the country finds itself. “This is the time to organize and mobilise so that at the end of the decade, the Government and the Guyanese people on the whole can report confidently they have achieved the objectives of the United Nations International Decade for People of African Descent,” the President said. He called on African Guyanese organisations to get more involved and consult among themselves so that the main objectives of the International Decade for people of African Descent as well as other specific measurable targets, can be achieved.“August 2016 obliges us not only to look back at the contributions of those who helped to build Guyana but also to look forward to the type of country we wish to bequeath to our children and grandchildren. All Guyanese are entitled to share equitably in the patrimony of this great country,” President Granger said. The Cuffy 250 Committee is made up of a group of Guyanese in the United States and Guyana who came together in 2013 to observe the 250th anniversary of the Berbice Revolt, led by Cuffy, against the slave system. It is dedicated to encouraging socio-economic and cultural revitalization within the African Guyanese community and the fostering of ethnic and racial equality in Guyana. (GINA)
MONDAY, AUGUST 8, 2016
President David Granger delivering the keynote address at the at the Fourth Annual State of the African Guyanese Forum held at the Critchlow Labour College
A section of the gathering
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First Lady pleased by massive response to Lego Robotics STEM workshop First Lady, Mrs. Sandra Granger, today, said that she is encouraged by the interest that the Lego Robotics Building and Programming Workshop has generated in young people and she expressed hope that the “seamless” collaboration that facilitated the sessions can be expanded to benefit more young people in communities across the country. The First Lady expressed this view at the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Guyana Graduation Ceremony, which was hosted at the National Sports Resource Centre on Woolford Avenue. One hundred and forty students from Georgetown, Buxton/Friendship and Lusignan-Good Hope graduated from the programme, which was hosted under the auspices of the Office of the First Lady. This number 18 volunteers, who have been taught as trainers to start STEM Clubs in Guyana.Mrs. Granger expressed gratitude to the Coordinator of the workshop, Ms. Karen Abrams and her children, Ima, Asha, Caleb and Joshua Christian for undertaking this task. The First Lady said in October 2015, when Ms. Abrams first expressed an interest in offering to train youth in Guyana in computer code and robotics she was excited about the possibilities that it would open to them. “I appreciate the value of the knowledge that has been passed on over the past three weeks, both to the volunteer trainers and to the youthful participants in these workshops. More than the transfer of knowledge and know-how, I have been struck by the excitement and interest that have generated in the minds of our young people, their parents, and among enlightened persons in the field of education and members of the corporate community,” the First Lady said. Mrs. Granger also said that she was heartened by the response of Guyanese, both here and in the diaspora, and in the public and private corporate community, who provided funds and other resources to facilitate the workshops. “I believe that our young people now understand that there is much more to information and communication technologies than email [and other social media platforms]…for they have now dipped their metaphorical toes in robotics… Robotics not only opens to us the possibilities for entertainment but expands our horizons for professional growth and development, hitting all the bases in STEM… It provides new avenues for learning beyond the traditional classroom… It encourages our children to use their minds, their intuitive logic, to solve problems while also on occasion, underlining the benefits of team work,” the First Lady said. Continued on next page...
First Lady, Mrs. Sandra Granger takes a closer look at the robot built by these participants.
Graduates, trainers, parents and other supporters at the graduation ceremony of the Lego Robotics STEM workshop
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS First Lady pleased by massive response...con’t...
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Meanwhile, Ms. Carolynne Moore, who spoke on behalf of one of the sponsors, the Guyana Action Committee (GAC), a non-profit organisation based in the United States (US), said her organisation focuses on helping youths to develop holistically. As such, when Ms. Abrams made a request for assistance to purchase robots for the STEM camp here, the GAC responded immediately. Ms. Moore is also one of the many individual sponsors of Team STEM Guyana based in the US. In giving the Vote of Thanks, Mr. Colin Sawh, who is one of the oldest participants in the workshop, expressed gratitude to the First Lady and Ms. Abrams and her family for hosting the programme. “I want to assure you that what I have seen at the camps … this will not be the last… I want to encourage all [the participants] to keep apace with the [training], he said. Mr. Sawh said he was particularly pleased that children from far-flung communities and depressed communities were invited to participate and pledged to take the knowledge that he has gained to youth clubs in Tiger Bay and other South Georgetown areas where he volunteers. Sixteen donors and sponsors, both local and overseas-based supported and facilitated the workshop. MOTP Press Release
MONDAY, AUGUST 8, 2016
First Lady Mrs. Sandra Granger presents a token of appreciation to Ms. Ima Christian at the graduation ceremony of the Lego Robotics STEM workshop held at the National Sports Resource Centre.
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
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MEETING HELD BETWEEN THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF GEORGETOWN, THE GUYANA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR COMMISSION RE: COLLECTION OF CONTAINER FEE Earlier today, August 5, 2016 the Mayor and City Council of Georgetown met with the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Private Sector Commission to address the issue of Container Fee. The meeting was held in an atmosphere of understanding and cooperation. It was a very successful meeting, being the second held in a series of continued meetings, to address the issue of container fee and other allied issues. Discussions and deliberations on the main issue concluded with those in attendance proposing that the Council reduces the current Twenty Five Thousand dollars (25,000.00) Container Fee to Five Thousand dollars ($5,000.00) as an interim measure. It will be collected at the source, at the various Ports and Wharves, effective 1 st of August, 2016. Discussions were also held on the possible implementation of a per tonnage per cargo fee for all cargo within vehicles of specific type of weights traversing the streets of the City. The Private Sector representatives have also indicated their interest in forming a Tripartite Committee between the Government of Guyana, The Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown and the Private Sector Commission to engage in continued discussions on other initiatives and the institutionalizing a solid partnership to develop and modernize Georgetown. This was agreed by all parties involved. The Committee will be in place by August 15, 2016. The Council wishes to advise that the collection of container fee and tonnage fee are instituted by invoking section 274 (h) in conjunction with section 272 of the
Municipal and District Council’s Act, Chapter 28:01. The Council further advises that the collection of its revenue for container fees is an absolute necessity in order to execute road construction and repairs; drainage works; and other allied capital works such as the construction of bridges, etc. All of the aforementioned are essential Municipal service that create an enabling environment for businesses and guarantees the safety of citizens and the public health of our local communities. Mayor and City Council Press Release
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President, First Lady attend ‘A celebration of African Heritage 9’ Dance Production President David Granger and First Lady, Mrs. Sandra Granger, last evening, attended ‘A celebration of African Heritage 9’, a dance production, which was staged by the National Dance Company in collaboration with the Department of Culture, Youth and Sport at the National Cultural Centre. The performance pieces focused the African identity, spirituality, tradition and culture and celebrated the triumph of freedom and emancipation. The show was directed and choreographed by Ms. Vivienne Daniel and captured the imagination of audience members. This production is a calendar event staged around this time for the past nine years to celebrate Emancipation, which is observed on August 1.
President David Granger and First Lady, Mrs. Sandra Granger (centre) are all smiles as they share a photo opportunity with the performers of ‘A celebration of African Heritage 9’ Dance Production, which was staged by the National Dance Company, in collaboration with the Department of Culture, Youth
The Dance Production captured the imagination of President David Granger and First Lady, Mrs. Sandra Granger, along with members of the audience, who were present at the National Cultural Centre last evening for the event.
This piece, which came under ‘Resolution’ was a crowd favourite tat the staging of the ‘A celebration of African Heritage 9’ Dance Production, which was held at the National Cultural Centre, last evening.
‘Children of Africa’; one of the dances, which was performed this evening at the National Cultural Centre, as the students and members of the National Dance Company, staged their ‘A celebration of African Heritage 9’ Dance Production.
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MONDAY, AUGUST 8, 2016
Organise and mobilise, don’t agonise Organise and mobilise, don’t agonise August is an awesome month. It reminds us of the Demerara Revolt when, on the bloody morning of 20thAugust 1823, the British Army massacred over 200 Africans at Bachelor’s Adventure. This was the time, long before Facebook, when over 11,000 enslaved people from 55 plantations were able to assemble at a single time to demand their freedom and they were massacred. August reminds us of the Essequibo Revolt which erupted on 3rd August 1834. This was the time when Africans thought that they had been freed because the Emancipation Act was brought into force on 1stAugust that year. When they were told that they were far from free and had to go back to the same plantations to work for four more years as a period of ‘apprenticeship’, they assembled in the Churchyard at La Belle Alliance and revolted in protest. August reminds us of Emancipation Day which we celebrated six days ago. On the 1st August 1838, over 85,000 Africans were finally freed after over 200 years of enslavement on the Guyanese plantations. August, therefore, is a fitting time to come together to commemorate the bloody sacrifices of our African forebears. They struggled, suffered and were slaughtered fighting for the freedom we enjoy today. We pay homage to them for the gift of Emancipation which they bought dearly and bequeathed to us. It was their legacy. My brothers and sisters, the celebration of anniversaries and jubilees and the commemoration of revolts are important for every generation to remember and to re-learn the lessons of the past. But we must now move forward. We now have the opportunity and there is now a necessity for us to do so. The Trans-Atlantic Trade in Captive Africans There are about 200,000 or more Persons of African Descent living in Guyana and their ancestors have been living here for over three hundred and fifty years. The Dutch were the first Europeans to colonise our territory and they brought Africans with them from as early as the 17th century. The subsequent development of plantations in the colonies of Essequibo, Berbice and Demerara created an increased demand for labour. So over that period, the supply of Africans, particularly from West Africa was almost continuous. This was the start of the Trans-Atlantic Trade in Captive Africans which – in scale, in scope and in span of time – was the most inhumane system in the history of human civilization. It was a crime against humanity and it is punishable under international law. The forced labour of enslaved Africans earned enormous amounts of wealth which enriched the exchequers of the European Empires – mainly the British, Dutch, French, Portuguese and Spanish. The era of enslavement, however, inflicted an enduring legacy of underdevelopment in Guyana, the Caribbean and elsewhere. Emancipation brought no compensation or reparation for the inequities, injustices and injuries of enslavement. It brought no end to economic exploitation and ethnic discrimination. International year for People of African Descent The United Nations stated that around 200 million people who identify themselves as being of African descent live in the Americas. Many millions more live in other parts of the world, outside of the African continent. The international community realised, belatedly, that enslavement, indeed was a great crime against People of African Descent, that the consequences have caused damage and that compensation or some form or reparation must be made to heal the wounds and this basically is what I want to speak about today. The Declaration of the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance issued at the conclusion of the Conference held in Durban, South Africa in 2001, asserted that people of African and Asian descent along with indigenous peoples continue to be victims of the consequences of the slave trade, slavery and colonialism. The ‘Declaration’ stated: “… that slavery and the slave trade are a crime against humanity and should always have been so.” The United Nations General Assembly, on the 18th December 2009, nearly seven years ago, proclaimed the year beginning on 1st January 2011 as the International Year for People of African Descent. The main objective of the ‘International Year’ was to raise awareness of the challenges facing People of African descent and to hope that the ‘Year’ would foster discussions that could generate proposals for solutions to tackle these challenges. The ‘International Year’ was aimed at strengthening national action and regional and international cooperation for the benefit of people of African descent.
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Organise and mobilise, don’t agonise (Cont’d) This included their full enjoyment of economic, cultural, social, civil and political rights, their participation and integration in all political, economic, social and cultural aspects of society and the promotion of a greater knowledge of, and respect for, their diverse heritage and culture. In proclaiming the International Year, the international community tried to recognise that People of African Descent represented a distinct group whose human rights must be promoted and protected. The Government-of-the-day had other plans for the ‘International Year’ and cleverly turned it into an all-but-forgotten ‘song-anddance’ show. African organisations assembled and expressed their displeasure at the process implemented by the Guyana Government at that time to design a programme for the observance of the International Year for People of African Descent. The assembly, that is the assembly of African organisations, passed a resolution expressing: “displeasure with the process used to create the Government’s Programme as it did not properly consult with major African groups, organizations and stakeholders in Guyana.” At the dawn of the ‘International Year’, the situation was already dire. It did recognize that, despite the efforts to establish an independent agrarian village-based economy in Guyana in the post emancipation decades, the planter class and the governmentof-the-day undermined the African initiative. It did recognize that People of African Descent continued to be subject to ethnic discrimination after emancipation. Guyana and other countries of the Caribbean have not fully overcome these class inequalities which have their origin in the era of enslavement: ·The economic structures of the region today, retain the emphasis on the production and exportation of primary commodities which has rendered Caribbean economies dependent and underdeveloped. ·The people of the Caribbean have been bequeathed a legacy of dispossession. African Caribbean people, including AfricanGuyanese, continue to struggle for “recognition, justice and development.” They continue to agitate for ‘reparative justice’ for the crimes of the slave trade and slavery. The international community, at the end of the International Year of People of African Descent, recognised that much more had to be done. International Decade for People of African Descent The United Nations General Assembly, by Resolution 68/237 on the 23rd December 2013, designated the decade 1st January 2015 to 31st December 2024, as the International Decade for the People of African Descent. Twenty months ago this decade started. The General Assembly, also, by Resolution 69/16 of 18th November, 2014 adopted a Programme of activities for the implementation of the International Decade for People of African Descent. My brothers and sisters we don’t have to reinvent the wheel, there is already on the table a programme of activities for the implementation of the International Decade for People of African Descent crafted by the United Nations. The latter ‘Resolution’ called upon the member states to “take concrete and practical steps… to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance faced by people of African descent….” The ‘Resolution’ outlined areas for action by member states of which Guyana is one. My brothers and sisters in the event that you are not aware, some African-Guyanese organizations did launch the ‘International Decade’ on 24th January 2015 at Independence Park in Georgetown, which I had the honour to address. It was not well-attended, it was on a Saturday. I had the honour, also, to address the International Youth Reparations Rally on 20th May, also at Independence Park. Guyana, therefore, has an obligation to take action in accordance with the Declaration’. The Government of Guyana fully supports this ‘Programme of activities which includes the demand for reparations for People of African descent and for indigenous peoples. Twenty months of the ‘International Decade’ have elapsed. There needs to be, now, an organisation and a plan in order to ensure the implementation of the‘Programme.’ Guyana will continue to agitate for reparations for the international crime of enslavement. The Government will work with non-governmental organisations which represent people of African Descent – during the remaining years of the International Decade. I would like to commit myself and the Government which I lead to the fulfillment of the programme in five main areas. There are 10 areas in the international programme but I have extracted five. The first is expiation or what some people call an apology. Expiation: It is a hard thing to apologize, they have apologized to the Jews for the holocaust, but this is a hard thing and the Caribbean Governments are insisting on an apology because a crime was committed and you must say you are sorry. As you know, a National Reparations Committee was established in Guyana in February of 2014.
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Organise and mobilise, don’t agonise (Cont’d) This was in response to a mandate given seven months earlier by the Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community at the 34th Regular Meeting of the Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community. The Heads, also in March 2014 in St Vincent, accepted a 10-point Draft Regional Strategic Operational Plan for a Caribbean Reparatory Justice Programme (CRJP). The Plan of Action, inter alia, must demand an apology for slavery and the payment of reparations. I want you to remember these dates and documents because we must not sleep walk into the future without understanding that we must follow a plan and I feel it is part of the task today of this Cuffy 250 forum to work with that plan and not abandon that plan. Twenty months have passed; we only have another 100 months for this decade. We have to make this decade work for people of African descent. ·Education: The fore-parents of present-day African-Guyanese had the vision, after Emancipation, to recognize that education was the means to lift them and their children out of the morass of poverty and economic exclusion. Education remains the way out of poverty and inequality. The right to free primary education – protected under our ‘Constitution’ – does not prevent more than 4,000 Guyanese children from dropping-out of school each year. We have to take responsibility because nobody else will. This is what the boats, bicycles, and buses are all about. It is about getting children to school and keeping them in school. Just as our illiterate fore parents 178 years ago, saw the benefits of education, we their educated descendants, can do no better than to ensure that every single child goes to school and stay in school. ·Equality: Ethnic discrimination and lack of equal access to public services contribute to inequality. People of African Descent, in the past, have alleged acts of discrimination in both the public and private sectors and there was evidence that there was discrimination. We must now correct that situation because discrimination against anyone promotes insecurity and social exclusion and that could lead to disorder. The Plan of Action must give the assurance that no group or community would be disenfranchised or prevented from accessing public services. People of African Descent must be assured that they would not be discriminated against and hindered in accessing public services – including housing, education, health, utilities and most important their land rights. ·Economy: The village movement began at least in November 1839, a little more than a year after Emancipation. Those villages and the impact that they had on the Guyanese society must be imprinted on our psyche. I have seen writings by East Indian writers 100 years ago, encouraging Indians to do like the Africans and buy land and establish villages. So it made an impact. The villages were cradles not only of a free economy which gave rise to village markets but it was also the cradle of local democracy which allowed villagers to run their own communities. The village economy is important because that is where most Africans live. Many people believe the myth that Africans are city dwellers. It is true that they may form the majority of the population in Georgetown, New Amsterdam and Linden but the majority of Africans live in the countryside. The villages as I said are the cradle of democracy and the cradle of the local economy and it is right that Cuffy 250 should focus on what has been happening in the villages. The hurdles that had to be overcome were daunting and the legislative barriers and the aggression, particularly from what was then called the Court of Policy which is now the equivalent of the National Assembly, did tremendous damages to the villages. So we have to walk on two legs, not only looking at the economy but also looking at the way those villages are governed. The villages were the home of our households, homes of our schools, homes of our churches, homes of our farms. Those villages gave dignity to the freed Africans coming out of the indescribable circumstances of enslavement. So the plan of action which I ask you to contemplate today should aim at revitalizing village economies. The thrifty fore-parents of African-Guyanese accumulated their limited resources after Emancipation and bought lands on which were established propriety and communal villages. It is the intention of this Government to establish a Lands Commission in order to rectify the anomalies and resolve the controversies which up to now, surrounds thousands of hectares of communal lands which were purchased in the post-Emancipation Village Movement.
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Organise and mobilise, don’t agonise (Cont’d) ·Employment: The problem of unemployment is one that is of serious concern to People of African Descent. The government is aware of the plight faced by many school-leavers to find jobs. The Plan of Action must aim at reducing the high incidence of unemployment in the economy and aim at creating an entrepreneurship programme to assist young Guyanese to establish and manage their businesses. Time to organize, time to mobilise We have to plan seriously for the next 100 months of the Decade for People of African Descent. I iterate that twenty months of the ‘International Decade’ have elapsed already. This is the time to organize. This is the time to mobilise and not to agonize interminably about the condition in which we find ourselves as a nation. This is the time to organize and mobilise so that at the end of the decade, the Government and the Guyanese people can report confidently they have achieved the objectives of the United Nations International Decade for people of African Descent. Consult among yourselves how best the African Guyanese organizations in Guyana can be mobilized to achieve specific measureable targets month after month, year after year in the fulfillment and achievement of those objectives. Guyanese recall that, over the past 25 years, there has been a remarkable revival of social consciousness. Several AfricanGuyanese organisations — the African Cultural Development Association (ACDA); African Heritage Foundation (AHP); African Welfare Convention (AWC); All African-Guyanese Council (AAGC); Forum for the Liberation of African-Guyanese (FLAG); National Emancipation Trust (NET); Movement for Economic Empowerment (MEE); Pan-African Movement (PAM); ‘Revival of Awareness and Promotion of African Culture (RAPAC); for example — have been established. I ask that some forum be created, so that nobody could be left out, everyone could be involved and consulted if we are to achieve the objectives of this international decade. My brothers and sisters, this is the time to organize, the time to mobilize. August 2016 obliges us not only to look back at the contributions of those who helped to build Guyana but also to look forward to the type of country we wish to bequeath to our children and grandchildren. (GINA)
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS Antigua rattled by earthquake PAGE 24
MONDAY, AUGUST 8, 2016
ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC) — An earthquake with a magnitude of 4.8 rocked Antigua on Monday but there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries. The Trinidad-based Seismic Research Centre (SRC) at the University of the West Indies (UWI) said that the quake occurred at 6:15 am and had a depth of 31 kilometers (km). It said that the earthquake was located at latitude: 17.42N and Longitude: 61.93W and was 35 km north-north west of the capital. The quake was also felt 90 km east of Basseterre, St Kitts and Nevis and 137 km north-northwest of Point-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe.
Tesha Miller listed as person of interest KINGSTON, Jamaica — The police's Counter Terrorism and Organized Crime Investigation Branch (C-TOC) has listed Tesha Miller as a person of interest. He is being asked to make himself available to detectives at the Major Investigation Division (MID) located at 230 Spanish Town Road, Kingston, by midday, Tuesday. Miller was designated a ‘Person of Interest’ following intensive investigations and intelligence led operations, by senior detectives from the C-TOC and MID. Recently the police have recorded an increase in murders and other violent crimes in St Catherine, particularly the Spanish Town area where the Clansman Gang is actively engaged in criminal activities, the Corporate Communications Unit (CCU) revealed in a release Sunday. Detectives disclosed that during the first quarter of 2016, while Tesha Miller was incarcerated overseas, the St Catherine North Division recorded a 48 per cent reduction in murder when compared with the same period in 2015. This figure also represents the lowest number of murders in the division for the comparative period in the last five years. The murder figure in St Catherine North now stands at 73, moving from 21 at the end of the first quarter of 2016, according to the lawmen. Based on the available
intelligence, the police believe that Miller can assist the police with the investigation of several of the murders recorded in Spanish Town and sections of Portmore. Most of the killings, the CCU said, have been linked to an internal feud within the Clansman Gang since the deportation of Tesha Miller on March 29. Several attempts by the police to contact him have proven futile. Tesha Miller or anyone knowing his whereabouts is being asked to contact C-TOC at 922-2373, the St Catherine North Police at 9842305, police 119 emergency number, 311, 811, the nearest police station or use the Stay Alert App, which can be downloaded from the Google Play Store. (Jamaica Observer)
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Man killed, four hurt in ambush Two grandmothers cried out for justice yesterday, after losing their grandsons to gun violence in two separate incidents on Saturday. In the second case, grandmother Shirley Addly was mourning the death of Jerome Julien, 21, who was killed while liming in a track off Blackford Lane, Cantaro Village, Santa Cruz, on Saturday night. Julien, who lived at Upper Sam Boucaud, Santa Cruz, died while being taken to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Mt Hope. Yesterday, Addly said her grandson had earlier in the day borrowed a stove top from her to cook dumplings and callaloo, which he shared with friends and two men he had stopped speaking to. He was on his way to his girlfriend’s house to drop off some of the meal when he was killed. Police said around 11 pm, three masked men approached a group of men Julien was with and opened fire. Julien and four unidentified men were hit. All were taken to hospital but only Julien died. Speaking at her home yesterday, Addly described her grandson as a handsome man who did nothing to deserve his death. She noted, however, that he seemed to have associated with people “marked for death”. She added that her grandson was given the nickname “Kemo” because he was handsome like a soap opera star and his signature smile could uplift a gloomy room. Julien’s mother, Aleen Sween, said her son, who worked at Linda’s Bakery, was a jolly man. She said she last saw him last week when he went to visit her. She recalled her son telling her that the men he associated with were being “hunted,” but added that they were “cool fellas” and that she should not worry. In the first case, Vella Roberts, 59, yesterday recalled how grandson Jerrel Roberts, whom she raised as her own from a young age, was shot in the head around 1.30 am Saturday. The 14-year-old pupil, who was about to enter form three, died around 3.45 pm at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital. Speaking to the media at her Pioneer Drive, Sea Lots home, Roberts called on the shooter and other killers to put down their guns. She said her grandchild was now one of three relatives killed by the gun in the area they called home and it was hurting her, especially having lived in the community for over 50 years. “When will this stop? These youths not getting to live, it is time to stop the senseless killing. I lost three by gun shots. Jah see and know all, if it is revenge then the killing would not stop,” Roberts said. “Right now I want God to come
in my heart because I feeling different about this. To the shooter, you have children, how would you feel if somebody do this to them?” According to police reports, a street fete was being held in Sea Lots when around 1.30 am a gunman opened fire indiscriminately, hitting Roberts in the head. He was taken to hospital where he died while being treated. Roberts said her grandson was not involved in any criminal activity. Outside of football he loved going to his aunt for lunch and playing cards, she said. She questioned why someone would want to kill her grandchild, adding that the shooter had no reason to be armed at a party in his own community. On January 6, 2008, Roberts also lost her first grandchild to gunmen. Neil Roberts succumbed to injuries he sustained after being shot in the leg five days earlier when a friend, Dameon “Chucky” Charles, was killed while liming at Pioneer Drive. Two months later on March 14, her son, Damien Roberts, was killed while standing in a shop in the area. Both grandmothers will be at the Forensic Science Centre, St James, today for the autopsies. The murder toll now stands at 274 for the year. (Trinidad Guardian)
Jerome Julien.
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‘Come clean on Rowley’s health’ Calls for Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley and the Government to “come clean” with the nation on his health condition have mounted, following Rowley’s recent hint that there appear o be some “changes” in his health issues which both his local and foreign doctors feel should be “investigated further.” Politicians and analysts say his health cannot be his personal business when he’s a public figure and the country’s leader. Three weeks ago, Rowley announced he would do a medical check during a two-week vacation he was taking. Soon after, Office of the Prime Minister spokesman Stuart Young had said at this stage there was no cause for concern about Rowley’s medical condition, but asked people to “pray” for Rowley. The PM left last Thursday for the US, accompanied by his wife Sharon. He is due to check into a Los Angeles clinic today following statements he made about having to check up changes in his health over the weekend. Rowley was quoted as saying for the past 35 years he’d “managed his health issues with diligent, disciplined guidance from chosen doctors locally and in California.” He said he’d been reviewed over the years, but due to the intensity of work, hadn’t kept appointments in last 36 months until recently. Rowley after he did an examination locally and the results were transmitted to his doctors abroad, “there appeared to be some changes which both sets of doctors conclude should be investigated further.” He said the various processes and procedures will take about a week but added that his health matters were his personal business. Rowley’s statements set off vast speculation in the ruling People’s National Movement and T&T quarters. Yesterday, Congress of the People leader Dr Anirudh Mahabir, at a media briefing following his first council meeting, said he’d noted Rowley’s statement that he’d been referred by local doctors to overseas practitioners. Mahabir said, “It seems if he’s going to be hospitalised for a week overseas then it must be something extremely serious. Therefore, the health of the Prime Minister cannot be seen as his personal business; it’s the country’s business. “He should therefore come clean and let us all know what is happening and reassure the country about his health and that he’ll be here long term; and also so that T&T can plan ahead.” Mahabir, a leading local opthalmologist, queried what would happen to the country’s government if the PM’s situation turned out to be serious. He expressed concern that a continuing speculative situation could lead to infighting in the PNM for leadership and “confusion” and noted possible impact which
uncertainty would have on planning T&T’s future. Also commenting on the situation, former public service head Reginald Dumas said, “I appreciate someone may not want to discuss his private matters in public. But it was the Prime Minister who raised the matter and opened the door to speculation when he said at a (PNM) function he was going on vacation, would have a check-up and asked people to pray for him. “I found that to be a rather strange statement to make. You don’t pray for someone who has a cold. So naturally there’s speculation. Since he’s opened the door to speculation by that statement, he has to say something to T&T. “He is, after, all the Prime Minister. He cannot say all of this is private. The public also has a right to know and especially since any treatment he may get is at taxpayers’ expense.” Dumas added, “I’d hope after the diagnosis, perhaps, he says something, either he’s well or if it’s more serious than thought and if so, what’s needed, in the interest of transparency. Since he opened the door to speculation, he now has to give the information.” Analyst: Duty to divulge Prime ministers Basdeo Panday, Patrick Manning and Kamla Persad-Bissessar had all disclosed health issues while in office, political analyst Dr Bishnu Ragoonath agreed yesterday. “I’m sure people wish Dr Rowley the best for his health, but the country should know the state of health of its prime minister, especially when the Prime Minister is in office and one would expect he’d be there for another four years. “Once in public office, you’re in public life. When you took on the job it wasn’t as a private individual, but as a public individual. One can have as many health issues as one wants over 35 years but as Prime Minister, he’s no longer a private individual.” Opposition MP Dr Suruj Rambachan added, “We’d like to wish the Prime Minister all the best. Anyone can fall ill. We don’t know the exact nature of his illness, but the fact he has to spend a week in hospital is an indication he’s taken this health matter very seriously.” “Considering his statements, it is now important in the interest of stability and governance that the country and citizens are apprised of the state of the PM’s health in the shortest possible time, especially since situations like these can create uncertainty. Not only in a country like ours, but whenever leaders are ill, there are issues that affect the citizens. One has to remember he is the country’s leader.” Hazel sends best wishes In the face of Rowley’s statements, government members have remained silent, while the ruling PNM has also not issued any statement of best wishes to the PM. Acting Prime Minister Colm
Imbert, contacted on Rowley’s statements, yesterday refused to say anything. He declined to say if he’d spoken to Rowley or addressed the many rumours increasing around Rowley’s health. “You know I will not comment, no matter what,” Imbert said in an e-mailed response to the T&T Guardian. Party members mum PNM deputy leader Marlene McDonald, who worked closely with Rowley in Opposition, also declined comment. Communication Minister Maxie Cuffie said he only knew Rowley went on holiday and was having a check-up and didn’t expect updates. But the T&T Guardian confirmed that Hazel Manning, wife of late former prime minister Patrick Manning, sent Rowley a text message of best wishes on behalf of herself and sons Brian and David last Saturday. Close associates of Rowley said yesterday, “It may not be as dire as it seems, but he seems to feel this check is necessary, since he’s 66 and turns 67 in October.” They noted the three preceding PNM prime ministers and political leaders—the late Dr Eric Williams, George Chambers and Manning—all died at age 69. PNM officials said Rowley was due back by August 15, in time for the start of screening of PNM Local Government nominees on August 17. In the last seven months, Finance Minister Colm Imbert has had gallbladder removal surgery, Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh contracted dengue, Trade Minister Paula GopeeScoon, appendicitis surgery and Local Government Minister Franklin Khan received a heart stent installation. (Trinidad Guardian)
Dr Keith Rowley
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
MONDAY, AUGUST 8, 2016
6 months after Japan pannist’s murder Cops probe 20, wait on forensics Today’s marks six months since the murder of Japanese pannist and masquerader Asami Nagakiya and police probing the case have interviewed over 20 people from T&T and Japan and are also awaiting the final pathologist’s report, the T&T Guardian has confirmed. The Japanese Embassy recently expressed hope to the T&T Guardian that the case would be solved soon by police. Embassy officials are expected to meet with police again tomorrow for a monthly update, which has been taking place since the murder. Nagakiya, 31, was murdered sometime between Carnival Tuesday (February 9) and early Ash Wednesday. Initial reports stated that she was last seen alive on Carnival Tuesday around 6.15 pm walking with a male companion near Picton Court, Newtown. Her body, still clad in a yellow costume from the Legends band with which she had played mas earlier, was found by a CEPEP worker in the roots of a large tree in the Queen’s Park Savannah (west). An autopsy found she had been strangled. An accomplished pannist, Nagakiya, from Sapporo-shi, Hokkaido, had been coming to T&T over the last seven years to play pan. She had played with several Woodbrook bands including Phase II and Modernaires. Her body was flown home via CAL on February 20 and she was subsequently cremated. The T&T Guardian spoke recently to Masatoshi Sato, Embassy deputy head of mission, who said: “We understand the probe is underway and we hope the case will be solved as soon as possible.” Sato said, “We have to rely on the efforts of the authorities and we hope police will make the utmost efforts in finding who is responsible.” Also contacted on the matter, Port-of-Spain Division Snr Supt McDonald Jacobs said police still needed to interview “several more persons from both T&T and Japan” in the case. “It’s by no means a dead (cold) case,” Jacobs said. Homicide officials said while people from both T&T and Japan had been interviewed, there were still several more people from both places to speak with due to inconsistencies in some submissions. The final pathologist’s report being awaited, they said, — noting backlogs at the Forensic Science Centre—would greatly assist in furthering progress, since it would indicate results of DNA and other testing and pinpoint signs of specifics regarding any struggle. One of Nagakiya’s Silver Stars colleagues, drill master Marcus
Ash, who was among those who put flowers at the QPS site two weeks ago, also called on the authorities to ensure the case does not go cold. “We miss Asami every day. Just this morning I was in touch with one of our friends in Japan and she sent me a picture of her and Asami with the words ‘I miss you, Asami.’ It’s a void in all our lives,” Ash said “We urge the police not to give up. It’s unfortunate there’s been no closure yet. Preparations for Carnival 2017 are well underway and this issue from Carnival 2016 isn’t yet solved. I assisted a St Lucia band recently and some of them are keen to come to T&T, but they’re aware of the incident with Asami and are a bit concerned. We must make it safe for our visitors.” Ash and other colleagues will put flowers and candles at the QPS site today. (Trinidad Guardian)
Asami Nagakiya
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
MONDAY, AUGUST 8, 2016
Pakistan hospital bomb attack kills dozens in Quetta A suicide bomb attack has killed at least 70 people at a hospital in Quetta in south-west Pakistan, officials say. About 120 others were injured in the blast, which happened at the entrance to the emergency department where the body of a prominent lawyer shot dead earlier on Monday was being brought. The casualties included lawyers and journalists accompanying the body of Bilal Anwar Kasi. A faction of the Pakistani Taliban has said it was behind the bombing. Jamaat-ulAhrar said it had also carried out the earlier attack on Mr Kasi, who was president of the Balochistan Bar Association and had been shot while on his way from his home to the main court complex in Quetta. Witnesses described scenes of chaos after the hospital blast, with "bodies everywhere" and survivors shouting for help through the smoke and dust. Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and chief of army staff Gen Raheel Sharif have both gone to Quetta and will hold talks with security officials. Gen Sharif met some of those wounded at the Quetta Civil Hospital. Mr Sharif expressed his "deep grief and anguish", adding: "No-one will be allowed to disturb the peace of the province. The people, policy and security forces in Balochistan have given sacrifices for the country." The president of Pakistan's Supreme Court Bar Association, Syed Ali Zafa, denounced the assault as "an attack on justice". The Pakistan Bar Council has announced a nationwide strike by lawyers on Tuesday. The Chief Minister of Balochistan, Sanaullah Zehri, said those injured should be given the best medical treatment and facilities available. There have been a number of targeted killings in Quetta and the victims in recent weeks have included several lawyers. Mr Kasi had strongly condemned the
attacks and local media said he had announced a two-day boycott of court sessions in protest at the killing of a colleague last week. Those killed in the hospital attack were said to include Baz Muhammad Kakar, a predecessor of Mr Kasi as provincial bar president, and 17 other lawyers. Two journalists have also been identified among the dead - Shahzad Khan, a cameraman for Aaj TV, and Mehmood Khan, a cameraman for DawnNews. Lawyers in Lahore staged a demonstration to condemn the attack. Some journalists also protested, demanding protection for freedom of expression. Facebook has activated its safety check feature for Quetta, allowing users to mark themselves or others as being safe. (BBC)
Lawyers and journalists were among those injured and killed(AFP)
Delta: Thousands of passengers stranded by power cut Thousands of air passengers around the world have been left stranded after a power cut forced the US airline Delta to suspend flights. The incident caused delays across the US and in Japan, Italy and the UK. Airport check-in systems, passenger advisory screens, the airline's website and smartphone apps were affected by the systems failure on Monday. After six hours, Delta said flights had resumed on a limited basis but warned of continuing delays and cancellations. The airline suspended dozens of departures early on Monday, with airport agents forced to write out boarding passes by hand. "Our systems are down everywhere," the company at one point told its customers on Twitter. Passengers around the world complained of long checkin queues, with many sleeping on the floor. A Delta statement said the power cut caused its computer systems to crash. After the problem was resolved, the airline warned that many passengers still faced delays and cancellations because of the knock-on effect of the earlier disruption. Delta ranks third in the world in terms of passengers carried, according to industry body the IATA. The airline has advised customers to check the status of their flight before heading to the airport. The overnight power failure took place in Atlanta, near Delta's headquarters, the company said. It will damage Delta's reputation for punctuality and lack of cancellations, USA Today commented. One passenger told the BBC he was waiting with "several hundred"
fellow stranded passengers at San Francisco airport, after being asked to leave a plane he had boarded. "We were ordered off the plane after approximately an hour or more," said Dick Ginkowski, who said that tempers were starting to get strained. Delta has been responding to unhappy customers on Twitter. The airline serves about 180 million customers a year, employing over 80,000 people, its website says. It is the latest carrier to suffer computer problems, with Southwest Airlines last month forced to cancel more than 2,000 flights after an outage prevented travellers checking in. (BBC)
Delta passengers in Las Vegas were severely affected by the outage(AP)
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
MONDAY, AUGUST 8, 2016
Japan's Emperor Akihito hints at wish to abdicate Japan's Emperor Akihito has strongly indicated he wants to step down, saying he fears his age will make it difficult to fulfil his duties. The revered 82year-old emperor's comments came in only his second-ever televised address to the public. Emperor Akihito did not explicitly say he wanted to abdicate as he is barred from making political statements. PM Shinzo Abe said the government would take the remarks "seriously" and discuss what could be done. "Upon reflecting how he handles his official duty and so on, his age and the current situation of how he works, I do respect the heavy responsibility the emperor must be feeling and I believe we need to think hard about what we can do," he said. Akihito, who has had heart surgery and was treated for prostate cancer, has been on the throne in Japan since the death of his father, Hirohito, in 1989. In his 10-minute pre-recorded message, he said he had "started to reflect" on his years as as emperor, and contemplate his position in the years to come. Why can't the emperor abdicate? Abdication is not mentioned under Japan's existing laws, so they would need to be changed for the emperor to be able to stand down. The changes would also have to be approved by parliament. What do the public think? Most support the emperor's desire to step down - a recent survey by the Kyodo news agency found more than 85% saying abdication should be legalised. But the move is opposed by some more conservative sections of Japanese society. Is this the first time a revision of the law has been discussed? A debate about whether or not a woman would be able to ascend the throne was triggered in 2006 when the emperor had no grandsons, but was postponed after a boy was born to the imperial family. What does the emperor do? The emperor has no political powers but has several official duties, such as greeting foreign dignitaries. Japan's monarchy is entwined in the Shinto religion and the emperor still performs religious ceremonies. He also plants and
harvests a small rice paddy inside the palace while the empress raises silkworms. If he were to abdicate, it would be the first time a Japanese emperor has stepped down since Emperor Kokaku in 1817. The BBC's Rupert Wingfield-Hayes in Tokyo says right wing nationalists who support Mr Abe's government do not want any change to the current law, which insists emperors must serve until they die. Emperor Akihito said he hoped the duties of the emperor as a symbol of the state could continue steadily without any breaks. He said one possibility when an emperor could not fulfil his duties because of age or illness was that a regency could be established. But he suggested this was not the ideal outcome, saying: "I think it is not possible to continue reducing perpetually the emperor's acts in matters of state and his duties as the symbol of the state." Akihito's eldest son, 56-year-old Crown Prince Naruhito is first in line to the Chrysanthemum throne, followed by his younger brother Prince Akishino. Women are not allowed to inherit the throne and so Princess Aiko, the daughter of Crown Prince Naruhito, cannot succeed her father. (BBC)
Emperor Akihito did not publicly express a wish to abdicate, as that could be interpreted as him interfering in politics(AFP)
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
MONDAY, AUGUST 8, 2016
Edward Daly: Retired Bishop of Derry dies The retired Catholic Bishop of Derry, Dr Edward Daly, whose photograph became the iconic image of Bloody Sunday in 1972, has died aged 82. He had been ill in hospital and died the early hours of Monday morning. Tributes have been pouring in for the bishop, who was from Ballyshannon, County Donegal. The image of the then Fr Daly waving a handkerchief over one of the Bloody Sunday victims, was one of the most enduring images of the Troubles. He was then a 39-year-old curate at St Eugene's Cathedral in Londonderry having been a priest in the city since June 1962. He was appointed Bishop of Derry in 1974. He was forced into full retirement in 1994 after he suffered a stroke but he continued in the role of chaplain to Derry's Foyle Hospice until February, 2016. Bishop Daly made headlines in 2011 when he said there needed to be a place in the modern Catholic Church for married priests. He addressed the controversial issue in his book about his life in the church, A Troubled See. Bishop Daly said allowing clergymen to marry would ease the church's problems. He received the Freedom of the City of Derry in 2015. 'Fearless peacebuilder' Archbishop Eamon Martin, the Catholic primate of Ireland, said he had learned of the bishop's death with great sadness and described him as "an iconic figure in the civic and church life of Ireland". "As the bishop who ordained me to the priesthood in 1987, I had huge admiration for Bishop Edward. I shall always be grateful for his pastoral guidance, kindness and support," the archbishop said. "Bishop Edward will be remembered as a fearless peace-builder - as exemplified by his courage on Bloody Sunday in Derry - and as a holy and humble faith leader. "Bishop Edward's bravery was also apparent in his lived conviction that violence from any side during the Troubles was futile and could never be morally justified." Bishop Donal
McKeown, the current bishop of Derry, said: "Bishop Daly served, without any concern for himself, throughout the traumatic years of the Troubles, finding his ministry shaped by the experience of witnessing violence and its effects. "Through this dreadful period he always strove to preach the Gospel of the peace of Christ." Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said Bishop Daly was "a constant right throughout the course of the last 40 odd years in the city through the good times and bad". "People, I suppose, need to understand that Bishop Daly was inherently a shy person, he was not someone who sought the headlines, but he was propelled into the headlines because of Bloody Sunday, as he tried to help Jackie Duddy, for that iconic image," he said. "He was a bishop and priest who was very in tune with the local community." Mr McGuinness said Bishop Daly was always very critical of the IRA and "anyone that was involved in the conflict". (BBC)
Bishop Daly was forced into full retirement in 1994 after he suffered a stroke but he continued in the role of chaplain to Derry's Foyle Hospice until February, 2016(PACEMAKER)
Boy dies on Kansas water slide billed as world's biggest A 10-year-old boy has died on a water slide, billed as (181-249kg). (BBC) the world's biggest, in the US state of Kansas. A spokeswoman for the Schlitterbahn Water Park in Kansas City said it was saddened by the death and the park had been closed pending an investigation. The incident happened on Sunday on the Verrueckt ride, which drops users almost 169 feet (52 metres) at 65mph (105kph) in a three-person raft. No details were immediately given about the circumstances of the incident. However, Kansas police have said it is being treated as an accident. "We honestly don't know what's happened," Schlitterbahn spokeswoman Winter Prosapio said. "That's why a full investigation is necessary. We have to understand what's happened." The boy was identified by his family as Caleb Schwab, the son of a state politician, Scott Schwab. The park's website says all users of the Verrueckt must be at least 54in (1.37 metres) tall and the combined weight of Users of the slide descend in a raft(AP) people in the raft must be between 400 and 550 pounds
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FUN CORNER PAGE 34
GUYANA DAILY NEWS
MONDAY, AUGUST 8, 2016
DIY (DO IT YOURSELF): YARN CRAFT
HOROSCOPE PAGE 35
GUYANA DAILY NEWS
Daily Horoscope Get busy on those home improvement projects that you've been procrastinating about. People trying to entice you to join in will be less than trustworthy. You must make them stand on their own two feet regardless of how much you want to make things better for them.
You must be careful not to ignore the needs of the youngsters in your family. Purchases will be well worth it and they will last a long time. You have more than enough on your plate already
You are best to keep hard feelings to yourself. Opportunities for travel must be carefully considered. Travel will be most enticing. Consider a cruise.
Depression may be likely if you're away from home. Keep your ears open, especially to those who care about you. Self-improvement could bring amazing results.
You may ďŹ nd that your boss is not delighted with your work lately. You need time to make things better. Try not to skirt issues if you think you'll hurt someone's feelings.
Refrain from using the highway as a racetrack. You can make progress if you deal with the right individuals. Don't let coworkers get wind of your ideas or they might try to take credit for your hard work.
This is a good day to check out your investments. Things may not be as harmonious as you would like with colleagues or employers today. Put your time and energy into travel, philosophy, and soul-searching.
Don't take your frustrations out on loved ones. Plan to visit friends or relatives. You will gain valuable insight and knowledge through the experiences you have along the way.
You have to know what your boss wants if you expect to do your job correctly. Don't hesitate to come right out and ask for the pertinent information. People you live with will not be terribly happy with you regardless of what you do today.
Your doubt could lead to insecurity. You will ďŹ nd that uncertain individuals will want to draw you into joint ventures. Pay attention to small but important details.
Your lack of interest in your partner is a problem. Romance can develop; however, it will most probably be short-lived. Don't let the erratic behavior of someone you live with interfere with your professional performance.
Do not be surprised if your partner doesn't understand your needs. Don't let your emotional upset interfere with your professional objectives. Romance and social activity will be a promising combination.
MONDAY, AUGUST 8, 2016
RECIPE PAGE 36
GUYANA DAILY NEWS
Ingredients
RECIPE OF THE DAY: COCONUT ICE CREAM
2 coconuts, grated 1 tsp almond essence 4 pints milk 4 eggs 2 oz custard powder Sugar to taste
Preparation Heat 1½ pints of milk, pour it over the grated coconut and leave to stand for 5 minutes. Squeeze the milk/coconut mixture thoroughly to extract the flavour and then strain out the gratings (cous-cous). ·Blend the custard powder with 4 tablespoons plain milk. ·Heat the remaining 2½ pints of milk in a saucepan. Remove from the heat and add the custard powder, blending well. Return to the pan on heat and stir constantly until the mixture thickens. Remove from the heat. ·Whisk the eggs lightly with sugar, add the essence, pour the hot custard in and whisk well. Add the coconut milk and mix well. Cool and freeze as usual. Note: Milk which has been flavoured with coconut should not be heated.
Alternative Recipe Ingredients 2 medium-sized coconuts 1 tin evaporated milk 1 tin condensed milk or two pints boiled cow's milk 2 cups sugar if fresh milk is used Preparation Peel and grate coconut, and to it, add one and a half pints of water. Mix well to extract milk, then strain through a fine cloth or sieve. Heat the milk, thickening, and sugar together. Add the coconut milk. Keep pouring this backwards and forward from one vessel to another until cool, emulsifying the globules of fat from the coconut and making the mixture more appetizing and digestible. Strain, then place in freezer.
MONDAY, AUGUST 8, 2016
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Barcelona agree Vermaelen deal with Roma Barcelona have agreed to loan Thomas Vermaelen to Roma with the Serie A club having the option to buy the Belgium defender. Thomas Vermaelen will spend next season on loan at Roma with the Serie A club also having the option to purchase the Belgium international at the end of 2016-17, Barcelona have announced. Vermaelen arrived on Sunday to undergo his medical and the 30-year-old has now completed his move to the Italian capital. The centre-back joined Barca from Arsenal in August 2014, but injuries prevented him from making an impact at Camp Nou. He made just one appearance in his ďŹ rst season at the Catalans, before making an additional 20 appearances last term. Vermaelen won two domestic doubles as well as the Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup during his time at Barcelona. Roma previously already brought in Alisson, Mario Rui, Juan Jesus, Federico Fazio and Wojciech Szczesny, who played at Arsenal with Vermaelen. (SportsMax)
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Allen interested in NBA comeback, eyes Celtics or Bucks At 41 years of age, Ray Allen could return to the league after two years without basketball. Ray Allen is seriously weighing up a comeback, with the two-time NBA champion having held talks with former teams the Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks. Allen - a 10-time NBA All-Star and Olympic Games gold medallist with the United States in 2000 - has not played since he was part of the Miami Heat squad in 2014. An 18season veteran, the 41-year-old - who was pick five in the 1995 NBA Draft - feels he is in shape to finally suit up again following contact with the Celtics and Bucks, while the San Antonio Spurs and Los Angeles Clippers have emerged as possible destination. "I would love going back to those places [Boston or Milwaukee] if it worked out because both teams are good, too," Allen told the
Hartford Courant on Saturday. "It doesn't necessarily have to be championship-or-bust for me to go back to the NBA. "I want to be in a situation where I thought I could help, play a little bit and help where they have good young talent." Allen, who has averaged 18.9 points throughout his illustrious career but could officially retire should he not find a suitable role, added: "I worked out the other day in New York with a friend of mine. I was shooting, I was going through my routine just like I'd always done. "I was a little winded, but I was able to go through my routine like I'd always gone through my routine and I didn't feel like I'd missed any time in doing what I was doing. For me, it's not 'Can I do it anymore?' It's how I feel after I do it. And yesterday, I felt great. "I could not have learned all that I've learned in 20 years of my life, dealing with coach [Jim] Calhoun, and how to sleep right, eat right, and then go to the NBA and do what I've done there and then afterwards just drop the ball and let everything go. I still weigh the same I weighed in college." "My decision is predicated on what is available," he continued. "I said that I was interested because I never retired for a reason. I've been watching, seeing what teams have been doing and I've been waiting to see if the opportunity presented itself where I think I could fit." (SportsMax)
Rio 2016: Historic gymnasts Williams, Dick fail to qualify
Historic Caribbean gymnasts Toni-Ann Williams and Marisa Dick both failed in their bid to advance from the preliminary rounds of the all-round women’s competition at the Rio Olympics on Sunday. The Jamaica Williams who competed in
subdivision one finished with a total of 50.966 to end in 54th spot after completing in four disciplines. The Trinidadian Dick finished one spot behind on 55th having amassed 50.832. The gymnast’s strongest performances came in the vault where she landed a strong 14.100 and the floor routine where she scored 13.200, ending the move with the signature pose of compatriot and sprint superstar Usain Bolt. The Jamaican, however, struggled with the uneven bars and balance beam where she scored 12.133 and a disappointing 11.533. The Trinidadian Dick, who competed in subdivision four, got off to flyer with her trademarked balance beam mount ‘The Dick’ and went on to score 13.066 on the apparatus. Dick also landed a solid score on the vault with 13.900, but then struggled with 12.533 during the floor exercises. Like Williams, Dick had her biggest struggles on the uneven bars where tumbling from the apparatus cost her a huge d e d u c t i o n . D i c k e n d e d w i t h 11 . 3 3 3 . (SportsMax)
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Rio 2016: Williams scores 50.966 in qualification round - Does Bolt pose
Jamaican gymnast Toni-Ann Williams finished with a total of 50.966 from four appliances in the first subdivision of qualifying at the Rio O l y m p i c Games on Sunday. In her four rotations Williams put in t h e m o s t impressive performances
in the floor exercise where she scored 13.200 and vault where she scored 14.100. The gymnast, however, struggled with the uneven bars and balance beam where she scored 12.133 and 11.533 respectively to put her close to the bottom of the field. Williams who is the first Jamaica to represent the country in gymnastics at an Olympic Games also added a bit of spice to the proceedings when she paid homage to famous teammate and sprint king Usain Bolt. Williams executed the sprinter signature pose following her floor routine. Williams now faces a nervous wait until around 8:00pm tonight to see which if any of the events see will qualify to the final of. (SportsMax)
Rio 2016: Atkinson only bright spot on tough day for Caribbean swimmers
Jamaica’s Alia Atkinson was the only athlete to advance past the early rounds of swimming at the Olympic Aquatics Stadium, which proved difficult to navigate for Caribbean athletes on Sunday. Atkinson placed second in Heat 5 of the women’s 100m breastroke in a time of 1:06.72. The event was won by Russian champion Yuli Efimova in 1:05.79. Another Caribbean athlete in the breaststroke, Izzy Shne Joachim of St Vincent and the Grenadines, failed to advance to the next round after fishing 7th in Heat 2 with a time of 1:17.37. Jamaica’s Timothy Wynter finsihed second behind Merdan Atayev of Turkmenistan in Heat 1 of the men’s 100m backstroke, but his time of 57.20 was also not enough to advance to the next round. Atayev took the event in 56.34. There was also disappointment for Antigua and Barbuda’s Noah Mascoll-Gomes who clocked 1:53.16 in Heat 1 of the men’s 200m freestyle for fifth place, one ahead of Aruba’s Mikel Schreuders who finished in 1:55.10. Lara Butler of The Cayman Island’s also managed fifth place in Heat 2 of the women’s 100m backstroke in 1:04.21, one place ahead of the USVI’s Caylee Watson who clocked 1:07.19. Joanna Evans of the Cayman Islands secured second spot in the women’s 400m freestyle in 4:07.60, with Lani Cabrera of Barbados placing sixth. Evans will continue competition next week in the women’s 200m freestyle, and women’s 800m freestyle. (SportsMax)
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Tallawahs rout Warriors to claim second CPL title Jamaica Tallawahs 95 for 1 (Gayle 54, Walton 25*, Emrit 113) beat Guyana Amazon Warriors 95 (Tanvir 42, Imad 3-21, Williams 2-12, Shakib 2-25) by nine wickets A rematch from Wednesday's first Caribbean Premier League playoff qualifier between the regular season's top two teams quickly turned into an uncontested romp for Jamaica Tallawahs, who rampaged past Guyana Amazon Warriors by nine wickets to claim their second CPL title on Sunday night at Warner Park. For Warriors, it was a flat effort that left them runner-up for the third time in four CPL seasons, twice to Tallawahs. Warriors were the regular season table-toppers and beat Tallawahs in two of their prior three meetings, including by four wickets in Wednesday's opening playoff match. On Sunday, however, they stumbled badly after being sent in by Chris Gayle at the toss and were bowled out for a franchise record low total of 93 in just 16.1 overs. Warriors never won a game while batting first in 2016, and lost all three games in which they batted first, with two of those losses coming against Tallawahs. Warriors were under pressure early when Nic Maddinson became the first of three batsmen dismissed first ball, edging Andre Russell behind in the first over. A bigger blow came at the start of the third over when Chris Lynn, the tournament's leading scorer, carved Shakib Al Hasan straight to Jonathan Foo at backward point for 7. Lefthanded Sohail Tanvir was promoted up the order to No. 4 in an attempt to combat the left-arm spin threat posed by Shakib and Imad Wasim. At an individual level, the plan worked as Tanvir top-scored with 42 off 37 balls, but the rest of his team-mates struggled. Despite Tanvir's calm, chaos was ever-present at the opposite end. Dwayne Smith was one of just two others apart from Tanvir to reach double-figures but his stay ended for 17 when he top-edged a pull off Oshane Thomas to Rovman Powell at mid-on to make it 50 for 3 in the eighth. With the top three removed, Shakib and eventual Man of the Match Imad Wasim set about tearing through the middle order in ruthless fashion. Jason Mohammed was trapped playing down the wrong line to an arm ball from Shakib for a golden duck to make it 53 for 4 before Imad took the first of his three wickets as Christopher Barnwell mistimed a slog to Gayle at short midwicket for 10. Two balls later, Anthony Bramble was bowled backing away for a slog and Imad claimed his third in four balls to start the 15th when Rayad Emrit was stumped for nought missing a flick to a legside wide to make it 83 for 7. Kesrick Williams also was on a hat-trick in the 16th over - he had Tanvir caught by Foo
running in from the midwicket boundary, and followed it up with a gem of a delivery that jagged back in to knock Steven Jacobs' off stump for 7. Adam Zampa survived the hat-trick ball to end the over, but was out one ball later after failing to ground his bat coming back for a second run with Williams' relay from long leg to Sangakkara producing the end of the innings. Gayle propelled the chase with his third fifty-plus score of the season, reaching his half-century off 22 balls and ending up with 54 off 27 balls. He was dismissed flicking Emrit to Jacobs at deep midwicket. The Tallawahs captain ended the campaign as his side's leading scorer with 425 runs, third overall behind Lynn and St Lucia Zouks' Johnson Charles. Gayle's opening partner Chadwick Walton steered the rest of the chase with 25 not out, ending seventh overall in the CPL run charts with 301 runs and second for Tallawahs. However, it was the old pro Kumar Sangakkara who struck the winning runs with a four smeared wide of long-on off Veerasammy Permaul to clinch the title with 7.1 overs to spare. Russell was named Player of the Tournament thanks in large part to his scintillating 100 in Friday's knockout game against Trinbago Knight Riders. Russell struck the fastest century in Caribbean T20 history, off just 42 balls, and also broke a three-game Tallawahs losing streak lifting them into the final. (ESPNcricinfo)
Kesrick Williams picked up two wickets off two balls in the 16th over CPL/Sportsfile
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Rio 2016: Ledecky's 12 world records... and more to come The records just keep on coming for teenage swimming sensation Katie Ledecky, who set another best at Rio 2016 on Sunday.Katie Ledecky broke one of her many world records in the 400 metre freestyle on Sunday, adding to the 19-year-old's growing legend.She delivered the United States' first gold of Rio 2016, clocking 3:56.46, eclipsing her previous best by almost two seconds.It is a habit of hers, with Ledecky having set 12 world records in her stellar career. Here, we take a look at all of her landmark times. 400m FREESTYLE 3:58.86 - USA Championships, Irvine. August 9 2014 3:58.37 - Pan Pacific Championships, Gold Coast. August 23 2014. 3:56.46 - Olympic Games, Rio de Janeiro. August 7 2016. 800m FREESTYLE 8:13.86 - World Championships, Barcelona. August 3 2013 8:11.00 - Woodlands Senior Invitational Meet, Shenandoah, June 22 2014. 8:07.39 - World Championships, Kazan. August 8 2015 8:06.68 - Arena Pro Swim Series, Austin. January 17 2016. 1500m FREESTYLE 15:36.53 - World Championships, Barcelona. July 30 2013. 15:34.23 - Woodlands Senior Invitational Meet, Shenandoah. June 19 2014 15:28.36 - Pan Pacific Championships, Gold Coast. August 24 2014. 15:27.71 - World Championships, Kazan. August 3 2015. 15:25.48 - World Championships, Kazan. August 4 2015.
So one down, one to go in terms of existing records. Her 1500m landmark is safe - the event is not part of the women's Olympic program. The 800m freestyle heats are on Thursday before Saturday's final when gold will once again be near-certain for the Washington D.C. native. Before that comes the 200m freestyle, which takes place this week from Monday through Wednesday. This event could serve to remind that Ledecky is human after all. Her personal best over four lengths is 1:54.43, slower than rival Sarah Sjostrom (1:54.31) and almost a second and a half off the world-record pace of 1:52.98, set by Italy's Federica Pellegrini in 2009. After setting her personal best in January this year, Ledecky has swum under one minute 55 seconds just three times in three 200m outings. (SportsMax)