DailyNews - May 06 2016

Vendors to occupy new Public officials among location tomorrow persons owing NIS

Vendors who were area were today told Mayor and City Minister of Natural monies owed to the lowing the discloremoved from the by representatives Council that they Resources, Raphael National Insurance sure in the entity’s Stabroek Market of the Georgetown will begin occupy- Trotman today paid Scheme (NIS) fol- forensic audit re-

RAMJATTAN WARY OF CRIME?

THREE CHARGED IN CASINO HEIST

President attends Energy Summit in U.S President David Granger has joined regional leaders from the Caribbean Community and Central America, at the U.S. State Department, Washington DC for the U.S.-Caribbean-Central American Energy Summit.

The Summit was held to consider the way forward for the Caribbean and Central America, arising out of the recommendations of a Task Force, which had been established to identity concrete

steps to promote energy security and clean energy development in the Caribbean and Central America.

The one-day Summit had its genesis in the June 2014 launch, by U.S. Vice President Joseph Biden, of the Caribbean Energy Security Initiative (CSEI).

This was followed in January 2015 by the hosting of the U.S.- Caribbean Energy Security Summit (CESS) in Washington DC. That summit

examined the regulatory and coordinating mechanisms needed to attract greater investment in the sustainable energy sector in the Caribbean.

The process was further advanced in April of 2015 when U.S. President Barack Obama met separately with the leaders of the Caribbean in Kingston, Jamaica and committed to providing early-stage funding for clean energy projects in the Caribbean.

At the said

meeting, the U.S. President also agreed to establish a Task Force for the Caribbean and Central American Energy Security (U.S.-CCA Task Force) to look at the future of clean energy development in the Caribbean and Central America.

The summit, which President Granger attended last

The current crime situation in Guyana is not being brushed aside by the A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) government.

This assurance was given by Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan in the National Assembly, on Wednesday night.

R amjatt an, who rose to respond to former Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee about what he

deems high crime wave, assured that the government is doing its utmost to bring down the crime rate.

According to him, “We on this side of the House are also very concerned about crime and especially serious crimes. We too grieve for those deaths that have been as a result of robberies and murders of whatever type. We too grieve, our hearts bleed over here too, and so it is important to understand that.”

Rohee also laid a motion in the House for the government to report on all of the measures it has in place to tackle crime.

The Minister told the House that the government while in opposition has always been concerned about the crime situation.

“Being the Minister today, we are doing all that is possible, all that can be done in the circumstances and we are having tremendous results,” Ramjattan assured.

A number of crime fighting initiatives have been streamlined, and put into action by the government through the law enforcement agencies, the National Assembly was told.

And according to Ramjattan, these initiatives have led to a reduction in crime over the past months.

Despite the current spate of robberies and murders and other crimes, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) on Tuesday reported

RAMJATTAN WARY OF CRIME?

Wednesday at the U.S. State Department, was intended as a follow-up to the work of the Task Force, according to a statement from Granger’s office.

It follows closely on the heels of Guyana’s signing of the Paris Agreement on climate change at the United Nations in New

that there has been a 19% decrease in serious crimes at the end of April this year relative to the same period last year.

According to statistics provided by the Force, there was a 9% reduction in reports of murder; a 9% decrease in gun-related robberies; an 8% decrease in armed robberies where other instruments were used by the perpetrators; a 38% decrease in robberies with violence; a 38% decrease in

York on April 22 last.

President Granger, in affixing his signature to the Paris Agreement, had promised that Guyana would invest in solar power, wind power and hydro-power to transition more rapidly to renewable sources of energy and reduce our dependence on fossil fuels as part of Guyana’s green development plans.

President Granger was accompanied to the summit

by Guyana’s Ambassador to Washington, Bayney Karran.

robberies with aggravation; an 18% decrease in rape; and a 22% decrease in break and enter and larceny.

The reports made in April 2016 represent a 32% decrease against those reported in March this year, the police say.

The GPF reported a 14% reduction in serious crime in March, a 12% decrease in February, and a 6% decrease in January.

NATA MOVES TO COURT TO STOP RENAMING OF OGLE AIRPORT The National Air Transportation Association (NATA) is planning to appeal a Supreme Court decision not to grant its injunction blocking the change of name of the Ogle International Airport to the Eugene F Correia International Airport.

Government has said that the injunction filed by NATA was dismissed, hence allowing for the Airport to be renamed. Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson said

government will be moving to rename the Airport on May 9.

On the other hand, NATA’s Attorney, Christopher Ram told the media that the body has already made a submission to the Court of Appeal seeking redress.

However, a date for that hearing is yet to be set.

He expressed optimism that the decision can be reversed on appeal.

Ram signaled the Association’s intention to move further to the Caribbean Court

of Justice (CCJ) if the Court does not rule in its favour.

In September last, President David Granger announced that the government will be moving to rename the Airport in recognition of Guyana’s first Minister

of Communications, Shipping and aviation, sparking much controversy.

Minister Patterson expressed the view that the name change will not affect the operation of the Airport.

M a n a g i n g Director of Roraima Group of Companies, Captain Gerry Gouveia earlier this week expressed disappointment in the President’s decision, stating that nine of the ten operating companies at the facility

oppose such a move.

They are arguing that it would create unfair competition, since the name is similar to that of the Chairman of the Board, Michael Correia.

He expressed the view that consultative democracy is “out the window.”

However, a reluctant posture adopted by stakeholders with regards to the renaming resulted in the President terming this as personality over nationality.

BBCI facing bankruptcy - Audit report

The Berbice Bridge Company Incorporated (BBCI) is facing bankruptcy with the Government’s decision to allow ‘water taxis’ to traverse the Berbice River.

According to a recently released audit report into the NIS; which is a major shareholder in BBCI, it was noted that the operation of the water taxis are “having a direct impact on vehicular traffic using the Bridge.”

Additionally, given the drop in fares to cross the bridge, the auditors stated that the Scheme’s Investment Committee must meet with the BBCI’s management to determine the Competitive Advan-

tage of the Bridge, noting that “this can be done by past and current flow of traffic by category; potential for increase in traffic flow at a reduced fare of $1,900 and closure of the Bridge to vehicular traffic only in the night. This will ensure that traffic flows continuously during the day.”

Expounding on the loss being incurred by the company, the report recommended that the Board carry out their own investigation to determine the value of the Bridge which was reported at G$6,284,045,483 net or US$29,924,026 at December 31, 2014 in the audited financial statements.

It was disclosed that to date, the BBCI has made accumulated losses of $1,507,062,759 based on its 2014 audited financial statements and the “continuation of the Company as a going concern is dependent on the ability of the Company to make substantial profits in the future and to generate a steady cash flow to meet liabilities as they fall due. It means therefore, that the Scheme’s invest-

ment in the BBCI’s is almost certain to be negatively affected.”

The auditors pointed out that “In the event that BBCI becomes insolvent because of its current loss making position, … the lowering of the bridge toll, its inability to generate adequate cash flows to meet its obligations and the fact that the company does not own a bridge (When the 2012 audit was finalized in May 2015, it became known to

management that the company does not own a bridge but instead a licence to operate a bridge), then the investors’ investments will be at severe risk of not being recovered.”

The forensic audit report also recommended that steps be taken for the NIS to have a more dominant role in the operations of the Berbice Bridge Company Incorporated (BBCI) in view of its shareholdings in the company.

“It needs to have proper representation on the BBCI’s board since it is the largest investor in the company. In our opinion, the Scheme should have a minimum of two representatives on the board one of which should be the Chairman/Chairperson” the report said. NIS currently has one representative on the Company’s Board.

It also urged the insurance scheme to restructure the existing ‘Concession Agreement’ which was signed with the government for the construction and operation of the Bridge for a period of 21 years, beginning on June 12, 2006 and expiring on June 11, 2027.

The auditors

Vendors to occupy new location tomorrow gruntled as they met with the officials including Town Clerk

Vendors who were removed from the Stabroek Market area were today told by representatives of the Georgetown Mayor and City Council that they will begin occupying their new location at the corner of

Hadfield and Lombard Streets from tomorrow.

The vendors which were removed from their previous location over the past week as the Council begun cleaning the area were very dis-

Royston King today.

Adding to the issue is the fact that the plot of land which is currently being prepared by the council can only accommodate 150 vendors according to the town clerk, however

BBCI facing... stated that they were not given the opportunity to view the concession agreement, however they disclosed that in 2015 (when the audit was conducted), the company was “seeking approval from the Government to extend the ‘Concession Agreement’ by another 21 years.”

The Insurance body, initially owned 80M shares in BBCI, however the remaining majority of the shares owned by the government through

the National Industrial and Commercial Investment Limited (NICIL) was sold to NIS, bringing its share stake to in excess of 1 billion.

Turning its attention to the decisions made in relation to this major investment, the auditors concluded that decisions made by NIS, were made by the then cabinet, and not members of the NIS board in contravention to Section 9 of the NIS Act which states “the Board has

the power to regulate its own proceedings.” It stated that the members of the board did not record any discussions, objections or alternatives to cabinet decisions, quoting from the minutes of the BODs minutes for the years 2011 to 2015.

In relation to buying the shares in the BBCI from NICIL, it was outlined that, in the minutes of the 445th BODs’ meeting, “the Chairman informed Directors that approval was

close to 300 vendors were displaced.

King told the vendors that “I have a mission to make Georgetown the greenest and cleanest city in the Caribbean and regardless of the difficulty it will happen.”

King promised that at the end of three months, the council will have a solution to the problem as they are only permitted to occupy that space for the short period as he told them that they are required to meet with the Clerk of Markets, to register for a spot under the new arrangement.

The vendors were slated to occupy the plot of land owned by private businessgiven by Cabinet for NICIL to sell 950,000 preference shares held in the Berbice Bridge Company Inc. to NIS…directors made no attempt to determine whether the investment was in the best interest of the Scheme.”

The Board was chaired by the Cabinet Secretary to the previous Government; Dr. Roger Luncheon while other members of the Board had no actuarial or insurance background except for the General Manager, the report said.

man, Hareshnarine ‘Chinee’ Sugrim earlier, however the businessman objected to the move on the basis that there is no signed agreement with the council, which in effect will not guarantee the removal of the vendors from the premises after three months.

It was further clarified that the vendors will operate a “take away operation” as they would not be able to put down tables and chairs.

Additionally, Vendors with stalls in the Mall will not be allowed to sell on the road or given a spot under the new arrangement and food vendors will only allowed to sell but only from 7pm to 5am.

In relation to a court action filed by vendor: Peter Warner who plies his trade at the former Guyana Stores Bond on Water Street, Georgetown, against the Town Clerk, King said, there will be no selling, particularly next to Guyana Stores bond.

High Court Judge, Roxanne George on May, 04 has issued an interim order, barring the Mayor and City Council (M&CC), from removing stall, goods and merchandise belonging to a vendor until the court hears a summons on the

matter. The case was set for May 10, 2016 at 10:30 AM. In court documents seen

by Guyana Daily News, the vendor is claiming that the use and occupation of a portion of the private property owned and controlled by either by the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited or Mr. Malcom Panday, for the purpose of trading and vending is lawful and duly authorized by the owners.

One of Warner’s lawyers; Anil Nandlall stated, in an email that this order will not only benefit the defendant but also other stall holders at the location. There are approximately 9 stalls located at the former Guyana Stores Bond.

Also addressing the gathering was Mayor Patricia Chase Green, who told the vendors that it is not right politically, socially or economically to take up the pavements and also set up residence there. She said the situation was left to continue for too long, however the council cannot allow the “unhealthy” situation to continue.

Vendors will have to pay a weekly cleansing fee of $1000 to occupy the new plot of land.

Body of Guyanese man murdered in T&T flown home Generous Trinidadians have responded to an appeal by Guyanese national Kumar Shivpersaud to help send the body of his murdered friend and countryman Khemraj Persaud back home for burial.

P e r s a u d ’s body was flown back to his Berbice home yesterday, 10 days after he was murdered.

Shivpersaud said his parents will receive the body. Funeral arrangements have been made for Saturday.

Shivpersaud, on Wednesday, thanked many individuals and cricket

teams Persaud represented in the eight years he has been visiting and working in Trinidad, for their generosity.

“Without their support, we would have never been able to send his body back home to Guyana, because he comes from a poor family.”

Shivpersaud said he was not entrusted with the funeral collection, so he could not say how much money was received.

“But there is a list of all the names of the people who contributed. Most of it

was used to pay Boodoo’s Funeral Home, where the body was stored and for his flight back to Guyana.

There is some left and that would be given to his (Khemraj’s) parents.”

Persaud, 30, was shot to death at Duncan Village, La Romaine, on April 25. His friend, Guyanese Sean Boodhoo, with whom he shared an apartment, was also shot and remains warded at the San Fernando General Hospital. The two men were employed in construction work in T&T.

To date, po-

lice have not made any arrests and suspect that shooter may have fled to Venezuela.

Shivpersaud said he hoping the suspect is caught and convicted for the crime but left everything in the hands of the police.

According to a police report, the suspect, while visiting

turbance. However, the suspect went to his parked vehicle, took out a gun and opened fire, hitting both men.

Persaud was shot twice in the head and died on the spot.

Boodhoo was shot a relative in the apart- in the chest and was ment building where taken to the hospital Persaud and Bood- where he underwent hoo lived, reportedly emergency surgery. urinated on a wash- Shivpersaud said he ing machine the men visited Boodhoo on Tuesday and he is reused.

During an covering well. Invesargument Boodhoo, tigations are continuwho witnessed the ing. act, chastised the sus- (Trinidad Guardian) pect. Persaud who was inside the apartment came out and tried to quell the dis-

Public officials among - Trotman makes persons owing NIS payment Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman today paid monies owed to the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) following the disclosure in the entity’s forensic audit report.

In a statement today, Minister Trotman said he “was not aware that he had been

in default and this morning met with a representative of the National Insurance Scheme to clarify the matter… (He) was advised that the matter does not relate to remitting NIS contributions for any staff member of his, but rather, pertain to his personal contributions whilst he was in law practice.”

The statement added that an immediate payment to the insurance body.

The recently released audit report

of the entity shows that NIS is owed over $2.5 billion in contributions inclusive of public officials.

The report named Minister Trotman as owing $554,850 and Former Attorney General Anil Nandlall as having owing $4,412,272.

Also Former Minister of Amernidian Affairs (now Indigenous Peoples Affairs) Pauline Sukhai is listed as owing $1,633,015.

The report stated that management has never been able to maintain an accurate/com-

prehensive listing of receivables from the inception of the Scheme. The Operations Manager presented to us a list of receivables totalling $1,091,172,705 at August 2015 which does not include GUYSUCO’s whose indebtedness is $1,574,283,889 for the period September 2014 to April 2015.

In the 2013 audited financial statements of NIS states that “Employers’ and employees’ contribution are recognised as contri-

bution income only when received”.

This means that contributions owed to the Scheme are not recorded, notwithstanding part of it would have been impaired over the years, the report said.

A perusal of the Scheme’s audited financial statements for 2013 revealed that sundry receivables were $168M part of which dates back to 2001. Included in this amount, is a balance of $116M owed by Ministry of Finance and an

amount of $38M which represents dishonored cheques from contributors.

Further, over $20M of the $38M are in excess of five years. “Management has advised that these balances were referred to the Guyana Police Force but were sent back to the Scheme to be dealt with under their debt recovery policy” the auditors said.

The report recommended major updating and upgrading of the entity’s systems in order to improve record keeping.

Three charged in Casino Heist

Three men including one security officer employed at the Ramada Princess Casino at Providence, East Bank Demerara

(EBD) were today remanded for the recent robbery at the casino.

The men represented by Attor-

neys-at-Law George Thomas and Mark Conway appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McClennan. The prosecution’s objec-

The High Court today gave an interim ruling, barring the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) from making any worker of the Wales Estate at West Bank Demerara redundant until consulting with the unions.

The court gave an interim injunction restraining

the Corporation from proceeding to implement a decision contained in a letter dated 22nd March, 2016, addressed to the union until the hearing and determination of a Summons.

A motion filed on the 11th day of April, 2016 by the General Secretary of Guyana Agricultural

and General Workers Union (GAWU) SeepaulNarine and National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE) General Secretary Kenneth Joseph, stated a letter was issued on 22nd day of March, 2016, sent by the Chief Industrial Relations

tion to bail was upheld.

Twenty-nine year old Wayne Griffith of Bagotsville and Andre Blackman and 30-year-old Junior Stewart of Kitty will appear in Court on May 20.

The Court heard that the men along with others invaded the Casino while firing shots on April 29 where they managed to rob two staff members a total of $8.9 million, which was the property of the Casino.

Griffith had been caught moments after the robbery, allegedly with a firearm in his possession while the Security officer; Blackman, was arrested two days after the robbery. The third suspect was apprehended in a house on Sunday, last and was found to be in possession of a large amount of cash, believed to be taken from the casino.

It is believed that the casino’s security officer was the mastermind be-

hind the robbery and therefore responsible for pulling the team together and informing them of the best time to commit the crime.

A total of five persons were shot and injured in the wee hours of April 29 when the gunmen barged into the casino and demanded cash and other valuables from the cashiers and patrons. Police are looking for two other suspects as investigations continue.

Manager of GuySuCo, informing the unions of the “names of the employees who have opted for redundancy in accordance with the provisions of the Termination of Employment and Severance Pay Act 1997.”

The unions are claiming that the course of conduct is in flagrant violation and contravention of section 12 (3) (b) of the Termination

of the Employment and Severance Pay Act Cap. 99:08 which mandates the Respondent to consult with the Applicants before any such or similar decision can be lawfully made.

Further, the Unions believe “Unless restrained by this Honourable Court, the Respondent will continue to treat with the workers without any consultation whatsoever with their

Trade Union and that when the Trade Unions are excluded from this process, the workers are not receiving the best available option, terms and conditions.”

A t t o r neys-at-Law; Mohabir Anil Nandlall,Euclin Gomes, SaseGunraj, Manoj Narayan & Sasha Mahadeo are representing GAWU and NAACIE.

Court bars GuySuCo from making Wales workers redundant

Syrian government troops have stormed a prison in the central city of Hama to try to put down a mutiny among some 800 inmates, monitoring groups say.

The troops fired tear gas, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said, but it is unclear whether the operation was successful.

The mutiny began on Monday when inmates took some guards hostage.

The prisoners reportedly objected

Syrian troops storm mutinous prison to a plan to transfer some of them to the army-run Saydnaya prison near Damascus.

Troops surrounded the facility after the guards were taken on Monday, the Observatory said.

It said prisoners were also angry at delays to trials.

Some 46 prisoners had been released since the pro-

test began, it said.

Human rights groups say thousands of Syrians are held in

jails without charge.

Syria’s main opposition grouping, the High Nego-

tiations Committee (HNC), had earlier warned there could be a massacre of prisoners.

It said the inmates, who include political and jihadist prisoners, wanted better conditions.

More than 270,000 people have died in five years of

conflict in Syria.

A nationwide, and very shaky, partial truce agreement between government forces and non-jihadist rebel groups has been in place since February.

It does not include so-called Islamic State or the al-Qaeda-affiliated Nusra Front. (BBC)

Cologne sex attack charge dismissed

says the full extent of the damages is “not presently known”, and therefore the amount could be amended before or at trial “if given six month sus- deemed necessary by pended sentences.

The largescale sexual assaults and robberies by men of North African and Arab appearance shocked Germany.

More than 1,000 criminal comspokesman told the BBC “it could not plaints were filed, be proven” that the hundreds of them al26-year-old took part leging sexual assault, after women reportin the sexual assault.

He and a fel- ed being surrounded low Algerian, 23, by groups of men in were convicted of and around Cologne’s lesser charges and main station.

A gunman has opened fire at Turkish journalist Can Dundar, who is standing trial in Istanbul accused of on

the court”.

In the lawsuit, Hall said he has had little contact with O’Connor and questioned her knowledge of Prince’s life, noting

that she previously admitted a tense relationship with him.

Investigators have not yet released a cause of death for Prince.

Gunman attacks Turkey journalist

A judge in the German city of Cologne has dismissed sexual assault charges against an Algerian man, in the first case over a wave of New Year attacks.

A court

Arsenio Hall to sue O’Connor over Prince comments Comedian Arsenio Hall is suing Sinead O’Connor after she suggested he supplied drugs to Prince.

O’Connor alleged on Facebook that Hall had been providing drugs to the singer, who died last month, for “decades”.

Hall filed a $5m (£3.46m) libel suit against O’Connor on Thursday, for damages to his reputation.

The comedian said O’Connor’s accusations were “despicable, fabricated lies” and labelled her a “desperate attention-seeker.”

O’C on n or claimed she had reported Hall to the sheriff ’s department in the Minneapolis suburbs that is investigating Prince’s sud-

den death.

In one of two Facebook posts about Hall, the Irish singer advised the comedian to “expect their call”.

“They are aware you spiked me years ago at Eddie Murphy’s house. You best get tidying your man cave,” she wrote.

Hall is best known as the former presenter of a popular late-night talk show in the US and as Murphy’s co-star in the film Coming to America.

A lawsuit by

his lawyers filed in a Los Angeles court stated: “O’Connor is now known perhaps as much for her bizarre, unhinged rants as for her music.”

It added the accusations would have been read by “countless people” on Facebook and through subsequent news reports.

He has asked for a jury trial for libel, estimating the damages to his reputation to be “not less than” $5m.

The complaint

trial accused of revealing state secrets.

Eyewitnesses said the assailant fired at least three shots outside the court.

MrDundar escaped unharmed but a reporter was injured, reports said.

MrDundar, a former newspaper editor, was awaiting a verdict in his trial.

Tu r k e y ’s President RecepTayyipErdogan has faced international criticism over the decision to prosecute MrDundar.

Jamaica No Stranger To Havoc of Mosquito Disease for more than a year.

The lifespan of the adult mosquito is two weeks to a month.

With data showing that fogging only controls approximately 30 per cent of the Aedesaegypti population (mainly because the breed is always hiding inside homes), public education has consistently been targeted at householders to eliminate mosquito breeding sites in and around homes, the community, and other areas where people congregate.

“The sterile insect technique would really just be a part of the overall programme to control the vector. A large component in controlling this breed

of mosquito is based on community participation and persons taking action to rid their environment of the breeding sites,” said Huntley-Jones.

“So the difficulty in controlling the Aedesaegypti will always be the fact that persons are not taking the necessary action to control the breeding in and around their environment.” Because of this inability to manage the Aedesaegypti, she said, other control methods were being looked at.

“If people would take the necessary action and change their behaviour as it relates to controlling this vector, there would be no need for the sterile

insect technique.”

Last week, agencies in the United States (US) met to examine the best solutions to control the Aedesaegypti, even as they, too, face a ZIKV outbreak.

Aerial spraying won’t “get to the mosquito that’s sitting on the wall of your bedroom,” noted David Dyjack, executive director of the US National Environmental Health Association.

Officials in the Florida Keys are now working with the Food and Drug Administration to launch a trial using genetically engineered male mosquitoes, whose larvae die before adulthood.

for breaking budget laws. The full senate will now vote next week on whether the trial should proceed.

If as expected the vote goes against her, Ms Rousseff will be instantly suspended for up to six months and replaced by the vice-president.

She has denied any wrongdoing, and described the impeachment procedure as a coup attempt by political enemies.

Her removal would mark an end to 13 years of rule by the left wing Worker’s Party. senate A senate committee mended that Pres- seff should face an The in Brazil has recom- ident Dilma Rous- impeachment trial committee on Friday

voted 15-5 for the impeachment trial.

The vote paves the way for a full Senate vote on Wednesday on whether the president should face trial for allegedly manipulating budget figures.

If a majority votes in favour, she will be suspended from office and Vice-President Michel Temer will take over as interim president.

At the end of a trial that could take up up to 180 days, senators will vote on whether she is guilty or not. If convicted, Ms Rousseff will

stand down permanently.

Friday’s developments are the latest in a series of political manoeuvrings surrounding the president.

On Thursday Brazil’s top court suspended Lower House Speaker Eduardo Cunha from his mandate, following a request by the country’s attorney general.

Mr Cunha an outspoken critic of the president - has been accused of trying to obstruct a corruption investigation against him and intimidating lawmakers.

Although Jamaica currently only has eight confirmed cases of the Zika virus (ZIKV), the country is no stranger to the mayhem of the disease-carrying Aedesaegyptimosquito as both dengue fever and chikungunya have wreaked havoc on the population.

Outside of its islandwide ‘Mosquito Search and Destroy’ operation, where communities are included in an aggressive approach to destroying the

breeding sites of this domestic mosquito, Jamaica is also looking at more effective control methods, including the sterile insect technique, using genetically modified mosquitoes.

Sherine Huntley-Jones, medical entomologist at the Ministry of Health, shared that although Jamaica actually has 68 species of mosquitoes, only one type feeds mainly on human blood and transmits diseases: the Aedesaegypti. It also

breeds in domestic environments such as homes, communities, schools, business places, and anywhere people congregate.

The female Aedesaegypti, easily recognised by the contrasting black and white rings on its legs and the lyreshaped pattern of silver markings on the upper surface of the thorax, is the main culprit.

Fogging Kills 30 Per Cent H u n t ley-Jones said this mosquito feeds on human blood and produces on average 100 to 200 eggs per batch, which hatch in seven to 15 days.

Laid eggs can survive for very long periods in a dry state, often

Brazil senate committee backs Dilma Rousseff trial

Lara says return of Bravo, Pollard vital for Tri-Nations Batting legend Brian Lara wants to see the return of the likes of Kieron Pollard and Dwayne Bravo, for next month’s Tri-Nations Series involving Australia and South Africa.

Both players have been overlooked by selectors for OneDay Internationals since the controversial abandoned limited overs tour of India two years ago, but Lara said having them involved in Twenty20 Internationals alone was a backward step. “In terms of the Tri-Nations, I think it’s going to be a pretty exciting Tri-Nations

series,” the former West Indies captain said.

“And hopefully we can have the likes of Pollard and Bravo – some guys who have not played that form of the game [recently] – back in the team because they are integral to any West Indies team.

“Just to have them for the T20 version, I think, is doing a disservice to West Indies cricket.”

The non-selection of Pollard and Bravo have resulted in controversy over the last year, and was at the heart of an outburst by West Indies

coach Phil Simmons, who claimed there was “outside influence” on selectors, in keeping them out of

the squad.

Bravo is a veteran of 164 ODIs, and is just 32 runs short of 3,000 runs and one wicket shy of 200 scalps in the format.

Pollard, meanwhile, has struck three centuries in 91 ODIs, and taken 44 wickets with his slow medium.

Under West Indies Cricket Board regulations, neither player is eligible for the tournament after failing to participate in January’s Regional Super50.

The Tri-Nations Series, which runs from June 3-26 in Guyana, St Kitts and Nevis and Barbados, will act as a precursor to a fourTest series against

the powerful Indians starting in July.

And Lara, who plundered 11,953 runs from 131 Tests, believes West Indies will have to be at their best against an in-form India side, despite having the advantage of home conditions.

“You saw their (India) performances against Australia … and not just in India, but also playing away from home; there have been great performances,” Lara noted.

“I do believe that playing in home conditions is a slight advantage. I’m hoping that Phil Simmons is doing his homework [and] getting his play-

ers ready to play good Test cricket.

“For us, West Indians, we’re not too disappointed if we get defeated playing hard cricket. I think what is very disappointing is when the team falls apart and we look like we don’t know anything about cricket at all.”

West Indies are coming off their capture of the Twenty20 World Cup in India last month, where they beat England in the final to win the tournament for the second time in five years.

(The Daily Observer)

WORLD CHAMPS WINDIES CRASH TO THIRD IN T20S West Indies have slumped to third spot in the International Cricket Council’s Twenty20 rankings, just a month after emphatically winning the Twenty20 World Cup in India.

They have been bizarrely overtaken by New Zealand who bowed out to losing finalists England at the

semi-final stage of the recent tournament.

The Black Caps are now 10 points clear of West Indies at the top of the standings, on 132 points, after leaping from third place and overtaking both India and the Caribbean side.

Following their four-wicket victory over England

in the T20 World Cup final at Eden Gardens on April 3, West Indies had vaulted into second spot, just one point behind India who topped the rankings with 126 points.

New Zealand were third on 120 points.

Since then, however, New Zealand have gained 12 points without

playing a single game, while the second-placed India have gained three and West Indies, in contrast, have lost three points.

According to the ICC, the West Indies suffered from the fact the points from the 2012-13 season, which included those from their maiden T20 World Cup triumph

in Sri Lanka, have now been dropped.

South Africa are three points behind West Indies in fourth, England lie fifth while Australia sit in sixth place.

In the OneDay International rankings, West Indies have crept back into the top eight after gaining two points to edge ahead of Pakistan.

They now have 88 points, just one clear of Pakistan, with reigning World champions Australia leading the pack on 124 points.

The Windies were ranked ninth at the September 30 cut-off date last year, causing them to miss out on a spot at the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy in England.