November 24, 2016

LOCAL

GUYANA DAILY NEWS Police Promotion To Done By Ramnarine To Remain In Effect PAGE 2

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2016

Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, has indicated to the Cabinet that all of the police promotions by Assistant Commissioner of Police, David Ramnarine, will remain in place. This is according to Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, who told reporters at a post-Cabinet press briefing today that the promotions will remain in place while the issue between Commissioner of Police, Seelall Persaud and Ramnarine are being addressed by Minister Ramjattan. The promotions were approved and granted to police ranks across the country by Ramnarine while he performed the duties of Commissioner of Police, however, when Persaud returned from his 100 days of vacation leave, he wrote to the Administrative Department of the Force to revoke all of the promotions that were approved by Ramnarine. Persaud said that that although he was on leave, he remained the Police Commissioner and Ramnarine was only acting therefore he [Persaud] should have been the only one approving the promotions. The government had since frowned upon the public conflicted between the two top cops. Minister Harmon had previously stated that “It is important that these matters that occur in the public space, in the media, that they be dealt with in another way.” He went on to say that “the issues that came into the public space, are issues that could have been dealt with internally.”

Opposition Leader To Protest PPC Contracts Leader of the Opposition Bharrat Jagdeo on Thursday said that he would protest the award of Multi-Million dollar contracts by the Public Procurement Commission (PPC). Mr Jagdeo said that “we will use the Office of the Leader of the Opposition to lodge protests to the Public Procurement Commission.” The Opposition leader further noted that the Cabinet no longer has any role in offering its no-objection to contracts that have been approved by the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board. Jagdeo further noted that the Cabinet is not expected to call on the PPC to say whether a contract has been approved or disapproved. The five commissioners who constitute the Public Procurement Commission were sworn in on October this year by President David Granger. They are Emily Dodson, Carol Corbin, Sukrishnalall Pasha, Ivor Burnett-English and Nanda Gopaul. The five-member PPC is chaired

by Carol Corbin. The Commission’s salaries and other benefits have been approve and its office is temporarily housed at Parliament Building.

LOCAL

GUYANA DAILY NEWS Private Sector Not Optimistic About Guyana’s Growth PAGE 3

The Private Sector Commission (PSC) has noted that while Guyana’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is expected to reach 4% in 2016, this growth can be primarily attributed to increased production of gold, especially by large-scale production of two gold mining operations. This has masked the decline in performance of other economic sectors but this decline is having far reaching implications for the business sector. The PSC in a statement noted that one manifestation of this is the significant growth of non-performing loans in the commercial banking sector. The International Monetary Fund has reported that non-performing loans increased to 11.5% at the end of December 2015 as compared to 6% at the end of 2013. The challenge for Government, with the collaboration of the private sector, is to stimulate economic activity across all sectors. The PSC believes that there are several measures which would stimulate the economy and lead to balanced growth, as well as have a positive impact on Government revenue in the medium and long term. A synopsis of the recommendations of the Private Sector Commission is detailed below.

Fiscal measures which the Commission believes should be adopted: A permanent reduction of the Corporate Income Tax rate, over 10 years to 20%.

Reduce Personal Income Tax over 10 years to 20%.

Concessions on income taxation for the creation of new employment in all value added sectors.

Tax breaks for new tourism assets.

Tax breaks for companies which set up operations in depressed communities.

Concessions on export tax for businesses which export.

Relief on outstanding loans for rice industry.

Make security equipment free of all taxes.

Increase income tax threshold to $100,000 per month.

Make all overtime earnings tax free.

Enforcement of tax laws: Compulsory VAT registration.

Enforcement of VAT collection on all businesses which currently do not collect this tax.

Infrastructure: mplementation of all PSC supported infrastructure projects.

Urgent approval of a harbour finance model.

Speedy implementation of all Government projects to release Government spending.

Commence design and building of Lethem Road for completion over a 5 year period. Raise capital on international market with tolls being used over 25 years to repay loan.

Implement plans for alternative East Bank road.

Dredge Demerara Harbour.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2016

Build an alternative Demerara Harbour Bridge.

Energy Facilitate the process of ensuring reliable energy is provided at US 12 cents per KWH. Legislation Appoint an Economic Council for Guyana. Legislate for a separate non-political Council.

Legislate for internal audit departments in all government agencies.

Enact mergers and acquisitions legislation.

Introduce Bankruptcy Protection legislation.

Finalise and table E-Transactions Bill.

Revise Small Business Act, definition of small business.to be changed to turnover of $100m or more.

Miscellaneous Measures: Target a GDP growth rate of 8%; inflation rate of 2%; unemployment rate of 8%.

Retain system of zero-rating for selected goods for relief of lower income persons.

Sponsor workshops on corporate governance of state-owned enterprises.

Contractors should be graded in tiers related to their past performance.

Revision of trading rules to introduce odd lot system.

Outline a statement on an Economic Strategy/ Plan for Guyana.

Devise and implement plan for industrialisation of Guyana.

Reduce the purchase of Treasury Bills by 20% from prior year to increase liquidity and reduce commercial bank interest rates.

Liberalise telecommunications sector; implement regulations and enforce the new Act; allocation of spectrum.

Regularise national solid waste management.

Complete membership of Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative.

Utilise GGMC funds to commence set up of Sovereign Wealth Fund.

Finalise Single Window System.

Host investors’ conference.

Increase spending on marketing of Guyana, especially for tourism.

Improve Emergency Response and 911 systems.

Fund and operationalise Procurement Commission; Integrity Commission.

Uphold manifesto promise of increased salaries for public servants.

Implement enabling environment to improve ranking on Doing Business index.

Outline plans for diversification of economy away from traditional pillars of rice, sugar and gold.

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

LOCAL THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2016

Guyana, China Sign Agreement For ECD Road Widening Project

Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan, and outgoing Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China, Zhang Limin yesterday, signed a Framework Agreement for a concessional loan from the Exim Bank of China for the widening of the East Coast Demerara road. The signing took place at the Ministry of Finance in the presence of Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Annette Ferguson, Director, Project Cycle Management Division, Tarachand Balgobin and other representatives from the Ministries of Public Infrastructure, Finance, and the People’s Republic of China. Minister Jordan noted that under the agreement, the Chinese Government will provide a loan of US$45.5M to facilitate the widening of and

improvement of the East Coast thoroughfare.

The project will entail the widening of a section of the main road between Better Hope and Belfield, and will link numerous highly populated villages to Georgetown. Some of the immediate benefits to be accrued from this intervention include reduced travel time, traffic congestion, vehicular maintenance and accidents, Minister Jordan explained. The project is also expected to enhance local and inter-regional trade since a significant part of Guyana’s economic activities rely on this thoroughfare. The Minister noted that other interventions provided by grants from China include “the One Laptop per Teacher Project, acquisition of ferry vessels, design and construction and equipping of the Arthur Chung Conference Centre among others.”

The Finance Minister highlighted that possible future interventions include support for the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector, alternative energy options and a Guyana Public Service Staff College. Guyana has contributed $2.7B towards the project. Works including sand filling and removal of utilities are ongoing. This would ensure that the project will not be delayed like the West Coast Expansion Project and the East Bank Demerara Road Improvement project. Ambassador Zhang Limin said the project is a good initiative to improve infrastructure in Guyana.

Ambassador Limin gave the assurance that the Chinese Government is willing to assist in other projects. The outgoing ambassador noted that his successor is capable of executing his roles effectively to better the relationship between the two countries.

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

LOCAL THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2016

Wanted Bulletin Issued For US Based Guyanese For Murder

Marcus Brian Bisram

The Guyana Police Force has issued a wanted bulletin for the arrest of Marcus Brian Bisram age 27. Mr. Bisram is wanted for questioning in relation to the murder of Fiayaz Narinedatt of Number 70 Village Corentyne, Berbice, who was murdered on November 01, 2016. Mr. Bisram’s last known address in Guyana is 115 Section ‘A’ Number 70 Village Corentyne, Berbice. Mr. Bisram is also a resident in the United States. Anyone with information on his whereabouts of information that may lead to his arrest may contact the nearest police station or on telephone numbers, 333-2191, 333-2151-3, 225-2227, 2250575 or 911.

Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum on Tuesday noted that the Force is seeking the help of the United States law enforcement body in an attempt to have Mr. Bisram returned to Guyana to answer questions in relation to Narinedatt’s murder. Earlier this week, four men were charged with the murder of the carpenter, while two women were remanded to prison for allegedly trying to bribe police officers with $4 million dollars to drop the investigation.

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

LOCAL THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2016

Police Destroy $147M Worth Of Marijuana The seized marijuana being burnt and also cases coming from the in the incinerator on Princes Street(GINA) A quantity of marijuana, worth $147M was destroyed on Wednesday by the Guyana Police Force (GPF), Narcotics Branch. The exercise took place at the incinerator on Princes Street, Georgetown under heavy police guard. Superintendent, Wayne Dehart, who is in charge of the Police Narcotics Branch told media operatives that the illegal substance weighed 294.231Kg, and was as acquired from a number of cases over a two-year period.

“It’s (from) cases coming from operations that would have been conducted by the Narcotics Branch

division at large,” the Superintendent explained. Only recently, the GPF conducted a 10-hour operation destroying several acres of cannabis in Berbice. During the operation, over 8000 plants, ranging from 2 to 6 feet tall, and weighing an estimated total of 17,000 kilogrammes were destroyed.

Another 9000 kilogrammes of cannabis already packed away, was also destroyed during the operation.

Also, in October 2016, the GPF, during a drug eradication exercise at Araray Village, Upper Essequibo, destroyed in excess of nine acres of cannabis. An exercise of similar nature is expected to be conducted on Friday, November 25, 2016 by the Police Narcotics Branch

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

LOCAL THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2016

New Minimum Wage Pegged At $44,000 Private Businesses in Guyana will be required to pay their employees the new minimum wage which will set at $44,200 per month come January 1, 2017, in accordance with a new National Minimum Wage Order issued by the Social Protection Ministry. The current minimum wage is pegged at $35,000. Social Protection Minister Volda Lawrence ordered that “the minimum rate of wages payable to an employed person shall not be less than $255.00 per hour or $2,040 per day or $10,200.00 per week or $44,200.00 per month, as the case may be,” this is in accordance with Section 8 of the Labour Act. The direction will see persons operating in the food, transportation, manufacturing, social services, and health, hospitality and entertainment, security, garment, and agriculture and tourism sectors, among others. The Minister also noted that the minimum wage payable is not limited to the category of workers employed in the sectors listed in the schedule above, but shall be payable to all workers in similar categories who are earning less than the sums specified. “Where at the commencement of this Order, a worker is in receipt of a wage at a rate that is higher than that prescribed in this Order, the employer shall continue to pay to that worker wages at such higher rate and not to reduce the rate on account of this Order,” the Social Protection Minister Noted. The Minister also noted that the normal work week still stands at 40 hours per week and should not exceed five days per week. “Any hours of work beyond the normal hours shall at a minimum be paid at the rates set out in the Factories Act and the Labour (Conditions of Employment of Certain Workers) Act, or any other law or any collective bargaining agreement in force where workers are presented by a Trade Union,” the Minister further stated. The order further stated that any employer who fails to comply with the provisions of the order will be liable upon summary conviction to a fine of

$45,000 for the first offence and for any second or subsequent offence, to a fine of $90,000 and one month’s imprisonment.

Volda Lawrence, Minister of Social Protection

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2016

A Day Like Today Michael Montano, better known as the ‘soul of Calypso’, ‘the atman of Soca’ ‘the Trinidadian machinery’ is turning 42-yearsold today. The Caribbean dances. Montano was born on November 24th 1974, in Carenage, a community located at the northwestern of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. He grew up in a small but unified family. When Montano was small, his family decided to move to the southern part of the island, settling in the town of Siparia. There he attended the Siparia Boys' R.C., the only Catholic boys' school in the area. Michael was attracted by music from a young age, he would arrange his own shows at home during family gatherings. At the early age of 10 he and his older brother Marcus, formed a calypso band named ‘Pranasonic Express’. They would perform in school plays and local events. After finishing his primary education, he was admitted in the Presentation College, a prestigious secondary school in San Fernando, the second most populous Trinidadian city. There he also joined the high school choir. He was an artist in the making. This intrepid child, with Soca in his ‘bloodstream’, energetic stage presence and contagious charisma, called the attention of producers, who soon called him to participate in the television show, ‘Star Search’. He was a blast, and the following year was casted to compete in the ‘Trinidad and Tobago National Song Writers Festival’.

Montano was only 13 years when he competed on the show. He was placed second with his song ‘Dream Girl’. He also participated in the ‘Caribbean Song Festival in Barbados’.

Montano won the competition becoming the first Trinidadian and youngest contestant obtain the reach the first place. During the years that followed Montano and his brother continued to perform in local events, acquiring national recognition. They would be the boys in charger to spice the parties and make the multitude jump in small local concerts. But the band needed a catchier name. The would be called ‘Clamydia’, ‘The Xtatik Circus’, ‘Xtatik’, ‘The Road Marching Band’ and ‘The Band of the Year’, but none of this names reflected their rhythm. From 2007, they just decided to name it after the soul of the group, Michael Montano. The band was gradually acquiring international recognition thanks to social media. This was a major step for the artist, his music now could be enjoyed by those who didn’t know the sound of Soca. Montano became a music chemist. He would mix different music genres and see the popular reaction. Fortunately for him, his combinations were loved by the audience. It wasn’t pure Calypso, Soca, Folk or Reggae, it was a fusion of all. Giving him a distinct sound.

The contagious rhythm and fast beat of their songs was soon noticed by renowned international artist, such as American DJ and record producer, Diplo and American-Trinidadian singersongwriter, and producer Angela Hunte, who have been taking part of Montano’s produtions for the last 4 years. Today Montano is seen as the ‘king’ of Soca. He has been granted several ‘International Groovy Soca Monarch’ awards, and have

been the winner of two ‘Power Soca Monarch festivals’, for two consecutive years. Montano is qualified as an artist in constant renovation. The material representation of the Trinidadian rhythm.

Source: http://machelmontano.com/biography/

Trinidadian Singer and song writer, Michael Montano

Machel Montano performing at The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival (April 2016)

Michael Montano posing with the American electronic music band 'Major Lazer', composed by DJ Diplo, Jillionaire, and Walshy Fire

REGIONAL

GUYANA DAILY NEWS Prince Harry Arrives In St Kitts-Nevis Amid Claims Of Disrespect By PM PAGE 12

BASSETERRE, St Kitts -- Prince Harry, officially Prince Henry of Wales, received a warm welcome to the federation of St Kitts and Nevis when he disembarked from the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Wave Knight at Port Zante, Basseterre, on Wednesday. However, chairman of the opposition Labour Party, Marcella Liburd, said the fact that Prime Minister Dr Timothy Harris left St Kitts three days ahead of Prince Harry’s planned visit to the island smacks of disrespect. “I think it’s highly disrespectful for someone representing the monarchy to come into St Kitts -- we knew well in advance -- and for the prime minister to decide not to be here I think is a show of the type of disrespect that he metes out to people generally,” she said. Prince Harry arrived in St Kitts on Wednesday morning as part of his Caribbean tour, which had been announced since early September; Harris left the island on Sunday afternoon to travel to the Philippines where he was to receive a Gusi Peace Prize Award from a private foundation. Prince Harry was welcomed to the island by Governor General Sir Tapley Seaton, along with Deputy Prime Minister Shawn Richards. According to a press release on the official website of the British Royal Family, Prince Harry is on a tour of the Caribbean on behalf of the Queen, between November 20 and December 4, in the year of the Queen's 90th birthday, “to continue to develop The Royal Family's strong bonds with the people of these important Commonwealth countries.” The tour includes the countries of Antigua and Barbuda, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada and Barbados, as well as Guyana.

While in St Kitts, Prince Harry unveiled a plaque to dedicate the Central Forest National Park as part of the Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy. “We welcome this continued royal association with this national park,” Richards said. The deputy

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2016

prime minister warmly welcomed the prince and applauded his commendable efforts to promote conservation, the cause of wounded war veterans, the youth and other causes. Seaton stated that the Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy project was an opportunity for the Commonwealth family to unite to save the forest. He explained that a Pan Commonwealth Network will be created of forest conservation projects marking the Queen's service to the Commonwealth and conserving the forest for future generations. Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy project was launched at the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Malta in 2015. (Caribbean News Now!)

Prince Henry of Wales (L) and Governor General Sir Tapley Seaton unveiling a plaque to dedicate the Central Forest National Park in St Kitts as part of the Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2016

Grenada Cour t Denies Application For Injunction To Stop Constitutional Referendum ST GEORGE’S, Grenada (GIS) -- An attempt to stop Grenada’s first referendum since independence from taking place on Thursday has been dismissed. A high court judge on Tuesday refused an application by attorney Jimmy Bristol, acting on behalf of Valerie Thompson Duncan. The application, filed by Henry, Henry and Bristol on behalf of Thompson Duncan, sought to stop the constitutional reform referendum on the grounds that it violated sections of the Referendum Act. In her affidavit, she listed 18 alleged breaches that were all dismissed

by Judge Wyante Adrien-Roberts. Chairman of the Constitutional Review Commission (CRAC), Dr Francis Alexis QC, said the court had no hesitation in ruling that the writs were adequately published. “You can attach bills to writs when the governor general is sending them to the supervisor of elections as a matter of practicality and common sense,” Alexis told journalists. “You cannot do that when you are printing it in the newspaper. So it is a woeful misconception to be making noise around the country that the bills were not attached to the writs in the newspapers. It was always entirely devoid of merit and we are gratified that the court made the point.” A key argument advanced for the claimant by Bristol was that a certain form in the Referendum Regulations requires that the actual date of the referendum be on the referendum ballot paper, or else the referendum is invalid. That argument, said Alexis for the supervisor of elections, was a complete misreading by Bristol of what is a very simple form. Alexis took the court through a detailed and methodical examination of the form to show that the form has three distinct components, namely, the ballot paper, the counterfoil to the ballot paper, and the stub to

which the ballot paper is attached. The date to which Bristol was referring, Alexis pointed out, is not on the ballot paper, the ballot paper being clearly defined by the law as being the sheet of paper on which a voter votes to approve or not approve a constitutional amendment bill. Instead, the date is on the stub to which the ballot paper is attached, and that stub is not visible to any voter. Therefore, Alexis reasoned, there is absolutely no merit whatsoever in the submission by Bristol that a date has to be on the ballot paper. On Alexis taking the court through that form, Bristol told the presiding judge that, given that explanation, he was abandoning the claim that the referendum date has to be on the ballot paper. Bristol accordingly withdrew that argument. (Caribbean News Now!)

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS Slightly Weaker Otto Heads For Central America With Torrential Rains PAGE 15

By Caribbean News Now contributor MIAMI, USA -- Late season tropical cyclone Otto weakened slightly from hurricane force to a tropical storm as it took aim at Costa Rica and Nicaragua in Central America. According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami, at 4:00 pm EST on Wednesday, the centre of Tropical Storm Otto was located about 140 miles (230 km) northeast of Limon, Costa Rica, and about 180 miles (285 km) east-southeast of Bluefields, Nicaragua, moving toward the west near 7 mph (11 km/h). This general motion is expected for the next couple of days with an increase in speed on Thursday. On the forecast track, the centre of Otto will move onshore on Thursday. Maximum sustained winds remain near 70 mph (110 km/h) with higher gusts. Otto is forecast to become a hurricane again on Thursday before weakening over Central America after landfall. Tropicalstorm-force winds extend outward up to 70 miles (110 km) from the centre. A hurricane warning is in effect for Limon, Costa Rica, to Bluefields, Nicaragua. A hurricane watch is in effect for north of Bluefields to Sandy Bay Sirpi, Nicaragua, and south of Limon to the Costa Rica/Panama border. A tropical storm warning is in effect for north of Bluefields to Sandy Bay Sirpi, Nicaragua, San Andres and Puntarenas, Costa Rica, to Puerto Sandino, Nicaragua. A tropical storm watch is in effect for west of Colon, Panama to the Costa Rica/Panama border.

Total rainfall of 6 to 12 inches, with isolated amounts of 15 to 20 inches, can be expected across northern Costa Rica and southern Nicaragua through Thursday. These rains will likely result in life-threatening flash floods and mud slides. Outer rain bands from Otto are expected to produce rainfall accumulations of 4 to 8 inches over San Andres and Providencia islands, and the higher terrain of central and western Panama and southern Costa Rica through Wednesday. Hurricane conditions are expected within the hurricane warning area on Thursday, with tropical storm conditions expected to begin late Wednesday night or Thursday morning, making outside preparations

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2016

difficult or dangerous. Hurricane conditions are possible in the hurricane watch area on Thursday. Tropical storm conditions are expected on San Andres on Wednesday evening. Tropical storm conditions are expected within the warning area on the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua on Wednesday night and Thursday. The combination of a dangerous storm surge and large and destructive waves could raise water levels by as much 2 to 4 feet above normal tide levels in areas of onshore flow within the hurricane warning area. Swells generated by Otto are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions over the next several days along the coasts of Panama, Costa Rica, and Nicaragua. (Caribbean News Now!)

On November 22 at 2:24 pm EST the VIIRS instrument aboard NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP satellite captured this image of Otto as it was strengthening into a hurricane in the Caribbean Sea. NASA/NOAA/MODIS Rapid Response Team

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2016

China President Invites Caribbean And Latin America Media To Work Closer Together exploits of advanced technology today.” The Chinese president

By Earl Bousquet SANTIAGO, Chile -- China’s President Xi Jinping has invited journalists and media houses in Latin America and the Caribbean to join their Chinese counterparts to do more to better cover growing ties between China and the Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) region. Xi made the call on the first day of the November 22-23 Santiago Summit of Media and Communications of China and Latin America. The media summit brought together over 80 journalists and media managers from China and 24 South American and Caribbean states and Xi spoke on arrival following his attendance at the just-concluded APEC Summit in Peru. Noting that distance should not be a deterrent or barrier, the China leader quoted a Chinese proverb that says ‘Shared aspirations can unite us even if we don’t know each other’. He then called on the media in China and the LAC region to use available technology to bridge the gap. The China president, on his third visit to the region since taking office in 2013 (and his fifth since being vice president), said the media on the two sides of the Pacific “can do more to help each other.” Xi called on the gathered journalists to “strengthen mutual support”, to use available technology “to tell the world the reality on both sides and make our voices heard together on issues of world peace,” and to “develop and consolidate mutual confidence to help each other be objective about trends of development, complementary advantages and joint development.” The Chinese leader also called on the media on both sides to “use opportunities to promote models of cooperation and mutual exchange visits” to promote journalism cooperation at all levels. He also invited the region’s media houses to send journalists to China “to study and share the

also invited Latin American and Caribbean media companies to open branches in China. Xi disclosed at the end of his brief address that, during the next five years, China will be inviting over 500 LAC journalists and media professionals to China to share in joint exchanges towards closer cooperation. Most Latin American states were represented at the Santiago Summit of Media and Communications of China and Latin America.

The Caribbean was represented by teams from Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago. (The Diplomatic Courier) (Caribbean News Now!)

President Xi Jinping

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2016

After Officers Kill 15-Year-Old 'Known Pest', Trindadians Take Aim At Police Tactics PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad -- Trinidad and Tobago is divided apparently the two are interchangeable and that justifies extra over the police killing of 15-year-old boy Josiah Ramsahai on November 17, 2016. Officers insist the young man was armed and fired at them, before he was killed in an encounter. The boy's relatives, however, claim he was murdered. The police subsequently produced a 9mm pistol that they said Ramsahai had been carrying and they referred to him as “a known pest”, because he had as many as 13 previous charges against him, including theft, gun and drug possession, and rape. His relatives insist those charges were all trumped-up “frame cases”.

Ramsahai was released on bail from a juvenile facility less than a month before he was killed. The teen's family also said that they filed a complaint against two police officers whom they say had been threatening Ramsahai since he was released, but the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) has noted that there is nothing on their record. Meanwhile, there have been conflicting reports about the incident. Some eyewitnesses said that Ramsahai never used his weapon, choosing instead to run away from the police; others say he did shoot at the officers, who returned fire and allegedly shot him between six and 17 times.

The killing has again raised the issue of public distrust of the police, who are often perceived as taking the law into their own hands. The country's chief of police, Stephen Williams, said recently that as many as 150 rogue police officers have been suspended on suspicion of a number of criminal activities, including murder. Wired868 quipped: "You know your country’s crime problem is even more serious than you thought with the discovery that budding criminals are joining the police service to turn pro […] Mr Live Wire thinks a good way to curb crime might be to walk in to a random station and hold everybody on the Anti-Gang Legislation." On Facebook, the discussion was heated. Rhoda Bharath made a reference to the Black Lives Matter campaign in the United States, saying: In Trinidad, Black Lives does only Matter in the US. Due process only exists there as well. Here we have pests who look for what they get. #DeViceCyahDone The comments on that thread ranged from one Facebook user saying that society has become desensitised to violence, to another being incredulous that people were prepared to “sit and get all Oprah on a young thug.”

The thread continued, with one commenter making the point that “there is a difference between being innocent and being a criminal […] Innocent people who get killed is murder…criminals who get killed is justice.” Jere Blacks immediately responded: "The problem is ‘who’ decides who is criminal and who is not." Another commenter, Danielle Ifayemisi Frederick, suggested that money and connections also come into play in cases like this, adding: "The police and media do the same thing….they blame the victim….this one had outstanding charges […] not convictions, charges….to us

judicial killings….I am not saying either was right or wrong but excuse me if I DON'T take the word of the esteemed members of the TTPS as gospel!" The unprofessionalism of labelling of the young man as anything other than a suspect is also what has struck a sour note with many social media users. Vernal Damion Cadogan explained: “It's not the shooting that is the issue, the issues are the unprofessional and insensitive way the police diminish a human life to that of a ‘known pest’ and the citizenry's disgusting habit of applauding these killing before a probe has even been launched to verify whether the shooting was justified or any details about the shooting were made public to suggest such. "At this rate the TTPS simply has to shoot an Afro-Trini youth and brand him a ‘known pest’ and the public will be content with that because they are under seige [sic] by criminals. "I don't think there is any redemption for Trinidad with the caliber of citizenry that currently comprise it." Later on, he added: "The truly frustrating part about these discussions is that people will look at comments such as mine and construe them to be in support of the deceased and in opposition to the TTPS [Trinidad and Tobago Police Service]." One commenter, who identified himself as a police officer, responded: "Neighborhood Pest is a term that has always been used, I find it strange that all of a sudden ppl has an issue with this because it's a 16yrs [sic] old kid. Do you know this kid personally? I do, myself and countless other officers within the district talked to him about the rd he was heading down, unfortunately the family never helped." The Police Complaints Authority has since launched an investigation into the killing. (Caribbean News Now!)

A Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) vehicle. Photo by Taran Rampersad, used with permission

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS Damage To Agricultural Sector In Storm-Hit Haiti Estimated At $580 Million PAGE 20

PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti -- Post-disaster assessments by the United Nations food security and emergency food relief agencies in hurricane-hit Haiti have revealed “extensive” damage to crops, livestock and fisheries as well as to infrastructure such as irrigation – with the most affected areas having up to 100 percent crop damage or destruction.

According to a situation report issued on Tuesday by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), local food production and livelihoods have been “almost destroyed” in the south-west departments of Grand'Anse and Sud, where Hurricane Matthew first made landfall in early October. “With much of the country relying on subsistence production to meet their food needs, restoring agriculture and fishery-based livelihoods is critical to avoid dependency on food aid in the coming months,” said FAO in the report. The storm also aggravated the effects of El Niño-related events, including a drought that had already reduced food production and access to fresh water over the past year, severely impacting the capacity of Haitians to purchase food to eat or agricultural inputs to resume production. Based on an emergency food security assessment, conducted by FAO, UN World Food Programme and the country's National Commission on Food Security, some 1.4 million Haitians are estimated to need humanitarian

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2016

assistance of which 806,000 are in need of urgent food aid.

(Caribbean News Now!)

In some areas of Haiti, Hurricane Matthew has wiped out crops, undermining people’s ability to feed themselves.

Photo: WFP/Alexis Masciarelli

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2016

Regional Top Education Awards 2016 BRIDGETOWN, Barbados -- Two students, one from Dominica and one from Grenada, have created history by becoming the first students to be awarded regional top awards for the Caribbean Certificate of Secondary Level Competence (CCSLC). The first recipients, Jason Philip of Presentation Brothers College, Grenada, and Keiana Brown of Northeast Comprehensive School, Dominica, will receive their awards at the opening of council and regional top awards ceremony slated for Thursday 1 December in Barbados. Both students achieved five subjects including Mastery in CCSLC English and Mathematics. Keiana achieved Master in CCSLC English and Mathematics and Grade I in CSEC Food and Nutrition, Technical Drawing and Electronic Document Preparation and Management. Jason achieved Master in CCSLC English and Mathematics and Grade I in Information Technology, Physical Education and Sport and Electronic and Electrical Technology. Ardenne Tops CAPE For the first time in the ten-year history of regional awards for the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE), the sister of a former awardee is the winner of the Dennis Irvine Award, the symbol of academic excellence at the CAPE level. Varna Thomas of Ardenne High School in Jamaica is the winner of this year’s Dennis Irvine Award. Varna is the sister of 2013 winner Dea Thomas also of Ardenne High School. Varna achieved Grade I in 12 CAPE Units: Applied Mathematics Units 1 and 2, Biology Units 1 and 2, Caribbean Studies, Chemistry Units 1 and 2, Communications Studies, Physics Unit 1 and 2, and Pure Mathematics Units 1 and 2. Larissa Wiltshire of Queen’s College, Guyana wins the award for the Outstanding Candidate in Natural Sciences with Grade I in 12 Units. They are Applied Mathematics Units 1 and 2, Biology Units 1 and 2, Caribbean Studies, Communications Studies, Chemistry Units 1 and 2, and Environmental Science Units 1 and 2. Trinidad and Tobago Students Dominate Awards The other awards were taken by students from Trinidad and Tobago.

Joshua Ramkissoon of Hill View College ensures the Award for Most Outstanding Performance in Mathematics stays at Hill View for a second consecutive year. He achieved the award with Grade I in ten Units: Applied Mathematics Units 1 and 2, Caribbean Studies, Communications Studies, Chemistry Units 1 and 2, Physics Units 1 and 2, and Pure Mathematics Units 1 and 2. Raquel Leblanc of St Joseph’s Convent (Port of Spain) receives the award for Most Outstanding Candidate in Business Studies with Grade I in ten Units: Accounting Units 1 and 2, Caribbean Studies, Communications Studies, Economics Units 1 and 2, Literatures in English Units 1 and 2, and Management of Business Units 1 and 2. Two students from Naprima Girls’ High School are among the awardees. They are Saajida Baksh who wins the Humanities Award, which is sponsored by Hodder Education; and Ilisha Manerikar who takes the Language Studies award, both with eight Units at Grade I. Saajida achieved Grade I in Caribbean Studies, Communication Studies, History Units 1 and 2, Literatures in English Units 1 and 2, Sociology Unit 1 and Grade II in Sociology Unit 2. Ilisha achieved Grade I in Caribbean Studies, Communication Studies, French Units 1 and 2, Literatures in English Units 1 and 2, and Spanish Units 1 and 2. Shabanah Mohammed of ASJA Girls, (San Fernando) is the winner of the Environmental Science award with Grade I in eight Units. Shabanah achieved Grade I in Biology Units 1 and 2, Caribbean Studies, Communication Studies, Environmental Science Units 1 and 2, and Geography Units 1 and 2. For producing the Most Outstanding Candidate Overall in 2016, Ardenne High School, Jamaica, receives the award for the CAPE School of the Year, the second time in four years. QC Tops CSEC; Jamaica Dominates Students from schools in Jamaica dominate the 2016 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) Regional Top Awards list; however, a student from Queen’s College in Guyana is this year’s Most Outstanding Candidate Overall. Kayshav Tewari of Queens’ College achieved Grade I in 16

subjects to win the Most Outstanding Candidate Overall award. He also wins the award for the Most Outstanding Candidate in the Sciences. He achieved Grade I in: Additional Mathematics, Agricultural Science, Biology, Chemistry, Caribbean History, Economics, English A, English B, Electronic Document Preparation and Management, Geography, Human and Social Biology, Information Technology, Integrated Science, Mathematics, Physics, Principles of Accounts, Principles of Business, Religious Education, Social Studies and Spanish. Three students from Jamaica are in winners' row this year, the most for any one country at CSEC. Sahara Pinnock of Holy Childhood High School cops the Business Studies Award with Grade I in ten subjects. She achieved Grade I in Caribbean History, Economics, English A, Information Technology, Mathematics, Office Administration, Principles of Accounts, Principles of Business, Social Studies and Spanish. Danielle Williams of Campion College gets the award for the Best Short Story. The story is based on the stimulus: “He looked nervously around him and decided that the time was right. It was now or never.” The other Jamaican awardee is Jevauny Simpson of St Georges College for Most Outstanding Performer in 2Dimensional Art in the Visual Arts examination. “This is an excellent example of drawing in which the candidate demonstrates mastery of technical skills, superior understanding of the medium and design principles to create a composition that is creative, innotive and aesthetically appealing,” the Chief Examiner stated. Sydni Walker of St Joseph’s Convent, Grenada gets the award for Most Outstanding Performer in Humanities. Sydni achieved Grade I in ten subjects and Grade II in one subject: Biology, Caribbean History, English A, English B, Geography, Information Technology, Mathematics, Physics, Social Studies and Spanish, and Grade II in Physics. Glevaughn Smith of Edward P Yorke High School in Belize is the winner of the Technical/Vocational Award with 16 subjects, 14 Grade Is and two Grade IIs. He achieved Grade I in Building Technology (woods), Chemistry, English A, English B, Food and Nutrition, Electronic Document Preparation and Management, Geography, Huma and Social Biology, Information Technology, Integrated Science, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering Technology, Physics, Technical Drawing, Physical Education and Sport, and Grade II in Office Administration, and Spanish. Moesha Tyson has ensured that Bishop Anstey High School of Trinidad and Tobago has a hat-trick of wins in the 3-Dimensional Art Award. Moesha’s piece is taken from the Sculpture and Ceramics Option and is entitled “Old Boot.” Commenting on the selection of Moesha’s work, the Chief Examiner noted, “The product exhibits great technical skill, sensitivity to the medium and mastery of the construction technique.

In that the candidate demonstrates excellent understanding of the medium, and has used the clay to convincingly communicate motion, gravity, weight, texture, emotion and atmosphere.”

(Caribbean News Now!)

Kayshav Tewari – CSEC Top Awardee

REGIONAL

GUYANA DAILY NEWS Passport Kiosks To Be Introduced At Barbados Airport Next February PAGE 23

By Joy Springer BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (BGIS) -- Minister with responsibility for immigration, Senator Darcy Boyce, announced on Wednesday that new border control technology would be introduced at the Grantley Adams International Airport in Barbados next year, aimed at speeding up the processing of arriving passengers. Speaking at a citizenship induction ceremony, Boyce assured immigration officers that the new technology would not threaten their jobs. He disclosed that 14 automated passport control (APC) kiosks were being installed in the arrival hall and the 20 immigration counters currently in use would be maintained. The kiosks, which are expected to be operational from February 2017, will initially be available for use by Barbadians and persons with permanent status in Barbados, he revealed. According to the minister, passengers opting to use the kiosks would spend an estimated 90 seconds completing the process. Facilitation officers would be on hand to assist anyone who needs it, he added. Boyce said that handling the administrative part of the inspection at the kiosks was expected to result in passengers being cleared four

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2016

times faster than with the traditional process. He noted that the system was already in place at several international airports, and according to feedback, wait times in arrivals halls had dropped by 40 to 50 percent. (Caribbean News Now)

Jamaica Committed Protecting Human Rights – PM the government intends to review the Constabulary Force

KINGSTON, Jamaica, Nov. 24, CMC -Prime Minister Andrew Holness has reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to ensuring human rights of all Jamaicans are protected, preserved and maintained. This assurance was given to members of the international human rights group Amnesty International when they met Holness and presented the report titled “Waiting in Vain” an examination of challenges facing the Jamaica Constabulary Force. Holness said even though the police force has the authority to use force in specified circumstances, it must do so sparingly. He also made it clear that persons who are empowered to uphold the law must preserve the law and further added that the government will continue to maintain the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM), as a critical partner in ensuring probity, transparency and integrity in Jamaica’s security operations. “We reject violence. The government is of the view that the state should set the example and not use violence as a means of conflict resolution. We want a far more peaceful and loving society,” he asserted. The Prime Minister said some of the recommendations made in the report such as improving legislation and the justice system are being tackled by his administration. “We are taking a comprehensive approach to deal with our crime problem, which will also require the support of all citizens.” The Prime Minister also noted that

Act as part of its medium term strategy. In their report, Amnesty accused Jamaican authorities and local police of promoting a culture of fear amongst women and their families in marginalized communities to cover up thousands of alleged unlawful police killings amid systematic injustice. “Jamaica’s shocking culture of fear and violence is allowing police officers to get away with hundreds of unlawful killings every year. Shocking injustice is the norm,” said Erika Guevara-Rosas, Americas Director at Amnesty International. “Unlawful killings of young men and terrorizing their relatives into silence seems to be the alternative to proper investigations into crimes. Over the last two decades, Jamaica’s ‘fight violence with violence’ approach to crime is not only short-sighted but has proven utterly ineffective in tackling the root causes of violence.” Jamaica has long had one of the highest homicide rates in the world. In 2015, there were 43 murders per 100,000 inhabitants.

Eight per cent of these were at the hands of law enforcement officials. (Antigua Observer)

REGIONAL PAGE 24

GUYANA DAILY NEWS

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2016

Grenadians Vote In Historic Referendum ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada, Nov. 24, CMC – The polls opened here early Thursday as the people of vote in a referendum that will decide whether or not the 1974 Constitution which the island received on attaining political independence from Britain should be changed. The bills to be voted upon include one that changes the name of the State from ‘Grenada’ to ‘Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique and another would institute term limits for the Prime Minister; ensure that there is always an Opposition Leader; enable Parliament to provide fixed dates for general elections; institute an Elections and Boundaries Commission; introduce the modern styling ‘Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court’; and require that allegiance be sworn, no longer to the Queen, but to Grenada.

There is also a bill that will allow Grenadians to decide whether or not to replace the London-based Privy Council with the Trinidad-based Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) as the island’s final court. All seven bills need to be passed by a two-thirds majority of those voting in the referendum to become law. In a radio and television broadcast on Tuesday night, Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell made an impassioned plea to Grenadians to vote, stating that referenda like these do not happen regularly. “Whichever direction the vote goes, I am

assured of one thing: Grenada will win on Thursday. I look forward to us waking up on Friday as a greater nation,” the Prime Minister said. Meanwhile, the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) said it had every confidence that Grenadians will “do what is right” for the island when they vote. The NDC said that the address by Mitchell in which he urged citizens to come out and vote “has once again demonstrated the contempt and disregard which his Government has for the people of Grenada”. The outcome of this referendum will be known late Thursday or early Friday.

(Antigua Observer)

REGIONAL PAGE 26

GUYANA DAILY NEWS

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2016

Leader of FARC Sent A Greeting To Trump During Signing Of The Peace Agreement Leader of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), Rodrigo Londoño Echeverria, better known as ‘Timochenko’, sent a warm greeting to USA president elect, Donald Trump reaffirming the need to keep fruitful relations between Colombian and the United States.

According to El Nuevo Herald, Timochenko took the opportunity to express the vital necessity of keeping healthy bilateral relations with the United States, during his emotional speech at the signing of the new Peace agreement between the FARC and the Colombian Government. The memorable event was held today, at the ‘Columbus Theatre’, Bogota, Colombia. Timochenko noted that the economy of the country largely relies on the relations between the two countries, and that the recently Peace agreement would be endangered if this alliance failed. He also stressed on Trump’s need to maintain world peace at all cost. Timochenko returned to Colombia on Sunday last, after finalizing the peace negotiations with Colombian President, Juan Manuel Santos in Habana,

Cuba.

S o u r c e : h t t p : / / w w w. e l nacional.com/mundo/Timochenko-Donald-Trump-EEUU_0_9641036...

Leader of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), Rodrigo Londoño Echeverria 'Timochenko'

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

INTERNATIONAL THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2016

Egypt Ancient city Unearthed By Archaeologists

The site may have been home to ancient Egyptian tomb builders(EGYPTIAN MINISTRY OF ANTIQUITIES) Archaeologists in Egypt have unearthed what they describe as a city that dates back more than 5,000 years, containing houses, tools, pottery and huge graves. It lies by the River Nile, close to the Temple of Seti the First in Abydos. Experts say the size of the 15 newly discovered graves indicates the high social standing of those buried. It is believed the city was home to important officials and tomb builders and would have flourished during

early-era ancient Egyptian times. The discovery comes at a time when the country is trying re-energise its tourism industry, which has suffered amid militant violence since President Hosni Mubarak was overthrown in 2011.

Archaeologists have made a range of finds in the newlydiscovered city including buildings, shards of pottery and tools. It is believed that this location was home to important officials and tomb builders who may have been engaged in the construction of royal graves in the nearby sacred city of Abydos - a place of many temples, and a capital in an early period of ancient Egyptian history. The area is in the southern province of Sohag, in Upper Egypt, home also to the city of Luxor, one of the country's most popular tourist sites.

Map of Abydos in Egypt "About a mile behind where this material is said to be we have the necropolis with royal tombs going from before history to the period where we start getting royal names, we start getting identifiable kings," Prof Chris Eyre, an Egyptologist based at the University of Liverpool, told the BBC. "So, this appears to be the town, the capital at the very beginning of Egyptian history." The discovery was made by an archaeological mission that belongs to the country's Antiquities Ministry, and not a foreign group, officials quoted in Egypt Independent website said. (BBC)

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

INTERNATIONAL THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2016

Myanmar Wants Ethnic Cleansing Of Rohingya - UN Official

Soldiers are "killing men, slaughtering children, raping women", says John McKissick of the UN refugee agency in Bangladesh Myanmar is seeking the ethnic cleansing of the Muslim Rohingya minority from its territory, a senior UN official has told the BBC. Armed forces have been killing Rohingya in Rakhine state, forcing many to flee to neighbouring Bangladesh, says John McKissick of the UN refugee agency. The government of Myanmar, also known as Burma, has been conducting counterinsurgency operations since coordinated attacks on border guards in October. It denies reports of atrocities. A spokesman said the government was "very, very disappointed" by the comments. Burmese officials say Rohingya are setting fire to their own houses in northern Rakhine state. The BBC cannot visit the area to verify what is occurring there as journalists and aid workers have been barred. The Rohingya, who number about one million, are seen by many of Myanmar's Buddhist majority as illegal migrants from Bangladesh. 'Collective punishment' Although Bangladesh's official policy is not to allow in illegal entrants across the border, the foreign ministry has confirmed that thousands of Rohingya have already sought refuge in the country. Thousands more are reportedly gathering on the border.

Efforts to resolve the issue must focus on "the root cause" inside Myanmar, Mr McKissick, head of the UN refugee agency UNHCR in the Bangladeshi border town of Cox's Bazar, told BBC Bengali's Akbar Hossain. He said the Myanmar military and Border Guard Police had "engaged in collective punishment of the Rohingya minority" after the murders of nine border guards on 9 October which some politicians blamed on a Rohingya militant group. Security forces have been "killing men, shooting them, slaughtering children, raping women, burning and looting houses, forcing these people to cross the river" into Bangladesh, Mr McKissick said. "Now it's very difficult for the Bangladeshi government to say the border is open because this would further encourage the government of

Myanmar to continue the atrocities and push them out until they have achieved their ultimate goal of ethnic cleansing of the Muslim minority in Myanmar," he said.

Myanmar's presidential spokesman Zaw Htay said Mr McKissick "should maintain his professionalism and his ethics as a United Nations officer because his comments are just allegations". "He should only speak based on concrete and strong evidence on the ground," he said. On Wednesday, the Bangladesh foreign ministry summoned Myanmar's ambassador to express "deep concern" over the military operation in northern Rakhine state. It said "desperate people" were crossing the border seeking safety and shelter and asked Myanmar to "ensure the integrity of its border". Authorities in Bangladesh have been detaining and repatriating hundreds of fleeing Rohingya. Earlier this week, Human Rights Watch released satellite images which it said showed that more than 1,200 homes had been razed in Rohingya villages over the past six weeks. What is happening in Rakhine state? A massive security operation was launched last month after nine police officers were killed in co-ordinated attacks on border posts in Maungdaw. Some government officials blamed a militant Rohingya group for the attacks.

Security forces then sealed off access to Maungdaw district and launched a counter-insurgency operation. Rohingya activists say more than 100 people have been killed and hundreds arrested amid the crackdown. Soldiers have also been accused of serious human rights abuses, including torture, rape and executions, which the government has flatly denied. It says militants have attacked helicopter gunships providing air support to troops.

Who are the Rohingya? The estimated one million Muslim Rohingya are seen by many in mainly Buddhist Myanmar as illegal migrants from Bangladesh. They are denied citizenship by the government despite many having lived there for generations.

Communal violence in Rakhine state in 2012 left scores dead and displaced more than 100,000 people, with many Rohingya still remaining in decrepit camps. They face widespread discrimination and mistreatment. Is the government to blame?

Myanmar held its first openly contested election in 25 years last November, with Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy winning a landslide victory. Though she is barred from the presidency due to a constitutional rule, Ms Suu Kyi, who serves as State Counsellor, is seen as de-facto leader.

But her government, led as it is by a former human rights icon, has faced international criticism over the dire situation in Rakhine state. Rights groups have questioned why journalists and aid workers are not being allowed to enter northern Rakhine.

Presidential spokesman Zaw Htay says the international media is misreporting what is going on. (BBC)

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

INTERNATIONAL THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2016

Iraq Suicide Bomb: Shia Pilgrims Among Nearly 80 Dead attack at a road stop in Iraq, a security oďŹƒcial says. The blast struck at a petrol station and restaurant near Hilla, some 100km (60 miles) south of Baghdad. The road stop was full of people returning from the Arbaeen pilgrimage in the city of Karbala. Many of the dead were reportedly Iranians.

Nearly 80 people, many of them Shia pilgrims, have been killed in a truck bomb

The Islamic State jihadist group said it carried out the attack. It claimed

that as many as 200 people had been killed and wounded in the blast, in a statement delivered by its news agency Amaq.

Buses carrying Iranian Shia pilgrims appear to have been targeted in the attack, which struck near the village of Shomali.

Provincial security chief Falah al-Radi Radhi told the BBC that Iranians were among nearly 80 people who had been killed and more than 20 wounded in the attack. The toll was expected to rise, he said. (BBC)

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

INTERNATIONAL THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2016

Israel Fires: Tens Of Thousands Flee As Fires Hit Haifa

Huge flames threaten to engulfed whole apartment blocks in Haifa(GETTY IMAGES) Tens of thousands of people are being evacuated from their homes as wildfires rage through parts of the Israeli city of Haifa. Huge flames are being fanned by hot, dry winds in residential areas in the north of the city of about 300,000.

Fires are also threatening homes near Jerusalem and in the West Bank. A minister has said that half of the fires were "apparently arson", but police have not confirmed that any had been started deliberately. Hundreds of military reservists have been called up to help battle the three-day outbreak of fires. No deaths or serious injuries have been reported, though the national ambulance service said 35 people had been treated for smoke inhalation. In Haifa, schools, kindergartens,

the university and an old people's home were evacuated.

Residents loaded up supermarket trolleys with belongings and fled their homes, the Associated Press news agency reports. Haifa Mayor Yonah Yahav told Channel 2 TV there were indications that one of the fires started when "someone tossed a cigarette in an area full of oil and flammable fluids" in an industrial zone. Further south, Highway 443 - which links Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, crossing through the West Bank - was closed to morning traffic on Thursday as another blaze reached the city of Modi'in. Homes and cars were damaged, and 300 students were evacuated from a school, in Talmon, an Israel settlement in the occupied West Bank, police said. Palestinian Civil Defence officers said it had taken them five hours to put out a fire in fields nearby on Wednesday.

Several countries - including Cyprus, Russia, Italy, Croatia and Greece - have sent help and equipment, including aircraft, to help tackle the blazes. Four Palestinian have been arrested and are due to appear in court on suspicion of starting a bonfire negligently. "Almost 50% of the fires are apparently arson," Internal Security Minister Gilad Erdan told Army Radio. Education Minister Naftali Bennett, the leader of the Jewish Home party, said on Twitter in Hebrew: "Only those to whom the country does not belong are capable of burning it."

Meanwhile, the Arabic-language hashtag #Israel_on_fire began trending, with the majority of tweets expressing pleasure over the outbreak. In 2010, 42 people died in a fire on Mount Carmel, just south of Haifa. (BBC)

INTERNATIONAL

GUYANA DAILY NEWS IS Conflict: Turkish Soldiers Killed In Syria Attack PAGE 33

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2016

contain US-backed Syrian Kurdish Popular Protection Units (YPG) militia, which it says is an extension of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in Turkey. So far, the rebels have driven IS militants out of more than 1,800 sq km (694 sq miles) of territory, according to the Turkish military, and recaptured the key border town of Jarablus and the symbolically important village of Dabiq. They are now besieging the town of al-Bab, the last IS stronghold in Aleppo province. The Turkish military statement said the soldiers who were killed were deployed in northern Syria when they were targeted at about 03:30 (00:30 GMT) in an air strike that it "assessed to have been carried out by Syrian regime forces".

Turkish troops, tanks and artillery are backing a threemonth-old rebel offensive against IS(REUTERS) Three Turkish soldiers have been killed and 10 wounded in an attack in northern Syria, but there are conflicting reports about what may have happened. Turkey's military said the soldiers had been targeted in a Syrian government air strike before dawn on Thursday, during an offensive by Turkish-backed rebels against so-called Islamic State. However, a Syrian monitoring group said the deaths were caused by a suicide bomb attack on Wednesday claimed by IS. Syria's military has not yet commented. It would be the first time Turkish soldiers have been killed by Syrian government forces in the offensive, which Damascus has denounced as a "flagrant violation of Syrian sovereignty".

Dubbed Operation Euphrates Shield, the offensive was launched three months ago with the aim of pushing IS militants away from the Turkish border. The Turkish government also wants to

It did not give an exact location, but the state-run Anadolu news agency reported that it was close to al-Bab. The dead and injured soldiers, one of whom was said to be in a critical condition, were taken to hospitals in the southern Turkish provinces of Kilis and Gaziantep. Later on Thursday, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights disputed the Turkish military's account, saying the soldiers had been killed an IS suicide bombing on Wednesday near the village of Waqqah, north-west of al-Bab. IS also issued a statement saying it had carried out a suicide bombing on a Turkish army position near Waqqah on Wednesday evening that caused an unspecified number of casualties. Its self-styled news agency, Amaq, released video footage of the attack showing an explosives-filled armoured vehicle driving towards the frontline and then exploding. The three deaths mean that at least 15 Turkish soldiers have been killed since Operation Euphrates Shield began, according to AFP news agency. Most died in clashes with IS, but one was killed in an attack blamed on the YPG. (BBC)

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

INTERNATIONAL THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2016

India Rupee Ban: Ex-PM Manmohan Singh Rubbishes Modi Crackdown He said it amounted to "legalised plunder". Earlier, the rupee fell to almost 69 to the US dollar, a record low. "[The] prime minister has been arguing that this is the way to curb black money... I do not disagree with these objectives, but there is monumental mismanagement of which there are no two opinions in the country as a whole," Mr Singh said. "Even those who say that this measure will do harm or cause distress in the short term but be in the interests of the country in the long run should be reminded of what John Keynes said once, 'In the long run all of us are dead'."

Mr Singh has rarely addressed parliament in the two and a half years since his party lost power. He and other opposition MPs are insisting that Mr Modi address parliament on the cash crisis, which he has not yet done There have been chaotic scenes in India ever since the currency ban was announced two weeks ago.

(AFP) Former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has rubbished the government's move to ban two major currency notes, calling it "monumental mismanagement". Mr Singh, the architect of economic reforms in the 1990s, said GDP would fall "by about 2%" because of the move. Earlier this month Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that 500 and 1,000 rupee notes had become illegal as part of a crackdown on corruption. But scarcity of new notes has brought the economy to a virtual standstill. Mr Singh, who is credited with opening up India's economy when he was ďŹ nance minister in 1992, told MPs the move "can weaken and erode our people's conďŹ dence in the currency system and in the banking system".

People have been queuing up for hours outside banks and cash machines which are fast running out of money. In some instances the police have had to be called in to manage queues of anxious customers trying to change their savings in banned notes for legal tender. People have been told they can deposit or change their old notes in banks until 30 December and new 500 and 2,000 rupee notes have been issued. A new 1,000 rupee note will also be issued, but there is no clarity on when. Until midnight on 24 November Indians are also able to change a small sum of old cash into legal tender as long as they produce ID. This amount was reduced from a total of 4,500 rupees to 2,000 rupees on 17 November. Anything above this amount needs to be credited to a bank account. (BBC)

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

INTERNATIONAL THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2016

US Election Recount: Jill Stein Raises Funds To Examine Wisconsin Result

Mr Trump gained plenty of support in Wisconsin, including from this man, b u t i s h i s re s u l t t h e re o p e n t o question?(GETTY IMAGES) A former presidential candidate looks likely to spur a last-minute recount of part of the result of the US election. Donald Trump narrowly beat Hillary Clinton in Wisconsin, but two voting rights experts say the result needs to be more closely analysed. Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein says she has gathered enough money to fund a recount in Wisconsin. There is no indication Mr Trump's win was down to cyberhacking, one of the experts said on Wednesday. One election official in Wisconsin said they are preparing for a possible recount.

What are the concerns? On Tuesday, New York magazine first reported that a group of experts, led by voting-rights lawyer John Bonifaz and J Alex Halderman, the director of the University of Michigan

Center for Computer Security and Society, had contacted Mrs Clinton's campaign.

The experts urged her campaign to request recounts in two states narrowly won by Mr Trump - Wisconsin and Pennsylvania - as well as Michigan, where he has a small lead. In a post on Medium on Wednesday, Mr Halderman repeated concerns he has voiced in the past over the vulnerabilities of paperless voting machines.

The fact that the results in the three states was different from what polls predicted was "probably not" down to hacking, Mr Halderman said. Concerns over possible Russian interference were expressed in the run-up to the vote. "The only way to know whether a cyberattack changed the result is to closely examine the available physical evidence ," he wrote. Why the urgency? There is a deadline for any candidates to demand a recount, and they need to pay fees to file a request. The deadline for Wisconsin is Friday.

Pennsylvania's is Monday, and Michigan's is Wednesday. This is where Jill Stein comes in - on her website, she wrote that recounts were needed "to attempt to shine a light on just how untrustworthy the US election system is". By late on Wednesday, she had raised, through a crowdfunding campaign, more than $2.5m (£2m), enough to fund a recount request in Wisconsin. The campaign estimates that up to $7m may be needed to pay for

recounts in all three states.

What happened in Wisconsin? Unofficial results from the state showed Mr Trump won by only 27,000 votes, media in the state say. The BBC's results show he won 47.9% of the vote, with 46.9% going to Mrs Clinton (Jill Stein won only 1% of the votes there). Before then, the state had gone with the Democrats for seven elections running. A Clinton victory in Wisconsin alone would not have been enough to overturn Mr Trump's lead - it provides only 10 votes in the crucial electoral college that gave him victory.

But wins in Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania would have clinched the presidency for the Democrat. The Wisconsin State Journal quoted the state's election commission director Michael Haas as saying that the organisation had not seen "any reason to suspect that any voting equipment has been tampered with". The commission was now preparing for a recount, Mr Haas told the newspaper, that added that such a move would be "unprecedented". What have the other candidates said? Nothing, yet. There has been no official comment from Mr Trump's camp, and while supporters of Mrs Clinton have been taking to social media with the hashtag #AuditTheVote, there has been no formal request for a recount on her side, or the party's. (BBC)

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

INTERNATIONAL THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2016

Euro MPs Vote To Freeze Turkey EU Membership Talks But it will fall on deaf ears, the BBC's Mark Lowen reports from Istanbul. The resolution was passed by an overwhelming majority of MEPs, with 479 votes in favour and 37 against, with 107 abstentions. After the coup attempt by mutinous Turkish military officers Mr Erdogan accused the EU of siding with "terrorism" rather than supporting his country. Strategic ally MEPs are concerned about his crackdown on opponents. About 120,000 Turks have been dismissed or suspended from their public sector jobs, 40,000 arrested, scores of journalists rounded up and opposition pro-Kurdish MPs detained. But Turkey is a key player in Europe's efforts to curb the influx of non-EU migrants and in containing the threat from Islamic State (IS) jihadists.

Opposition has grown in the EU to the prospect of Turkey joining the bloc(AFP) The European Parliament has voted to suspend Turkey's EU membership talks because of the Turkish government's crackdown since a coup attempt in July. The MEPs' non-binding vote has already been dismissed as "worthless" by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The MEPs asked the European Commission and 28 national governments to impose a "temporary freeze" on the talks. EU-Turkish ties have soured after years of stop-start negotiations, which are likely to go on, albeit very slowly. Turkey's EU accession talks began in 2005, but only one of the 35 policy areas - called "chapters" - has been closed. A country is only ready to join the EU when it has met the criteria in all 35 chapters. MEPs say Thursday's non-binding resolution aims to send a political message to President Erdogan.

The EU's foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said the vote would not yield positive results and urged engagement with Turkey. The fear is that an increasingly anti-Western Mr Erdogan could jettison the EU-Turkey deal, struck in March, to stem the migrant flow to Europe. European leaders are unlikely to adhere to the MEPs' vote, our correspondent says. But, he adds, for now nobody expects that Turkey's decades-long dream of EU accession will become a reality. The MEPs' resolution said Turkey should remain "anchored" to the EU, and they pledged to review their position once the "disproportionate repressive measures" in Turkey were lifted. "Turkey is an important partner of the EU," they said. "But in partnerships, the will to co-operate has to be two-sided... Turkey is not showing this political will as the government's actions are further diverting Turkey from its European path." (BBC)

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

INTERNATIONAL THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2016

Extraordinary Coincidence Reunites Migrant Girl, 4, With Mother

A police handout picture shows officer Maria Volpe taking care of Oumoh, whose face has been blurred(AFP) A lost four-year-old migrant girl, who travelled alone from northern Africa to Italy, will be reunited with her mother after an extraordinary coincidence. Oumoh's mother took her from her father's family in Ivory Coast to save her from female genital mutilation. But the pair were separated when Oumoh's mother left her with a friend in Tunis to fetch things from home. When the friend had an opportunity to travel to Italy, she took Oumoh with her but then left the girl alone. Oumoh was rescued at sea and brought to the Italian island of Lampedusa, where none of the boat's other passengers knew who she was. Police inspector Maria Volpe - known as "Mamma Maria" for her job looking after unaccompanied migrant children - went to the island to collect

Oumoh.

She was traumatised and could not communicate with the staff, Marilena Cefala, the head of the centre told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. She was taken from the centre to a children's community in Palermo. Then, days later, back at the reception centre on Lampedusa, a happy coincidence intervened. Among a group rescued off the coast of Libya one day was Nassande, an eight-year-old girl, and her mother and brother. Ms Cefala gave Nassade her mobile phone to play with while she interviewed her mother. Swiping through pictures on the phone, Nassade saw someone she recognised. "It's Oumoh, it's Oumoh!" she said. The two girls had crossed paths in Tunis, Nassade said. A Facebook search took Ms Cefala to one of Oumoh's relatives in France, who passed on a phone number for her mother. "She cried tears of joy when I told her that her daughter was safe and alive," Ms Volpe told Thomson Reuters.

Oumoh's mother said she had fled her family to spare her daughter from the worst form of female genital mutilation - in which external genitalia are sliced off and the vagina is sewn up. She said she left her daughter with a friend in order to retrieve belongings from her home in Ivory Coast, but the friend decided she had to take the opportunity to travel to Italy and took the girl with her. A DNA test would be carried out as soon as possible to confirm that the two were mother and daughter, so they could be reunited, Ms Volpe said. "It touches your heart when you see the eyes of the children, who are so small," she said. "They cling to you quickly, you become their reference point. But it is an honour to be able to do this work with love and humanity." (BBC)

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

INTERNATIONAL THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2016

Storm Over Local Ban On French Gay Safe-Sex Posters morality but denying homophobic motives. Health minister Marisol Touraine said she would fight back via the judiciary.

The posters, sent to 130 towns and featuring a range of men of different ages and races, have captions such as "With a lover, with a friend, with an unknown.

Situations vary. And so do modes of protection".

One of the health ministry's safe-sex posters on the streets of Rennes, western France.(AFP) French judges are considering a controversial decision by several conservative mayors to take down HIVawareness posters featuring gay love. The campaign, launched by the socialist government, shows men embracing, with safe-sex slogans underneath. At least 10 mayors have decided to remove the posters, questioning the campaign's

Ms Touraine said the local bans were unacceptable. On Twitter she urged people to share the images, which, she said, was the best response against critics who wanted to censor them. Critics have called the posters "provocative" and "against good values and morality". Bruno Beschizza, the conservative mayor of Aulnay-sous-Bois near Paris, was among those seeking to block the images, but denied homophobia, saying he would have responded the same way if the posters had featured heterosexual couples.

The mayor of the western city of Angers, Christophe Bechsaid, said he had asked for the posters to be taken down but "only in the vicinity of schools and the route of school buses".

He said residents had complained, particularly parents. Conservatism is said to be on the rise in France, with right-wing politicians outperforming the left. ExPrime Minister Francois Fillon, a Catholic known for his traditional values, is the frontrunner to be the centre-right's presidential candidate. He goes head to head with Alain Juppe in a run-off vote on Sunday. When asked about the posters on Tuesday, Mr Fillon said did not consider the campaign to be very skilful and he understood why people might be shocked.

However, he added that the fight against Aids was more important. On Wednesday, Mr Juppe told a French radio station he would not have banned the posters. (BBC)

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PAGE 44

Medel Knee Surgery A Success

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ary Medel looks set to be out of action for Inter until 2017 after successfully

undergoing knee surgery in Barcelona on Thursday. Inter have confirmed that Gary Medel's knee surgery on Thursday was a success and he is expected to be out for around two months.

T h e C h i l e international was forced off after just 37 minutes in Sunday's derby clash with AC Milan, suffering damage to his lateral meniscus, which makes up

part of the knee joint. Inter refused to set a specific timescale for his return, but he is expected to be out at least until early January, meaning he will miss Serie A contests against the likes of Fiorentina, Napoli and Lazio.

A brief club statement read: "Gary Medel underwent successful arthroscopic surgery in Barcelona on T h u r s d a y. " T h e l a t e r a l meniscectomy procedure was performed by Dr Ramon Cugat at the request of FC Internazionale. Club doctor Alessandro Corsini was in attendance during the operation."

(SportsMax)

Clarification Needed After Du Plessis Charge - Woakes

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mid ongoing debate over whether Faf du Plessis should have been found guilty of ball tampering, Chris Woakes has called for clarification.

England seamer Chris Woakes believes clarification needs to be provided to teams in the wake of Faf du Plessis being found guilty of ball tampering in the second Test between Australia and South Africa. Du Plessis was fined 100 per cent of his match fee by the ICC - but cleared to play in the ongoing third Test, in

which he made a century on Thursday - after he was ruled to have applied an artificial substance to the ball in Hobart, in the form of saliva and residue from a mint or sweet that he had been sucking on the field.

Asked for his thoughts on the issue ahead of England's meeting with India in Mohali, Woakes suggested guidance was required from cricket's governing body. "If you're placing a sweet on the ball that is obviously against the rules. But everything else seems to be a little bit of a grey area," said the 27-year-old, who is expected to return to Alastair Cook's side after sitting out the second Test in Visakhapatnam. "We won't be changing anything we do when we go out there this week. There's always cameras on you, there always have been, so there's nothing we need to change. "Hashim Amla said he had chewing gum in his mouth pretty

much all day.

Is that deemed as wrong and as cheating? I think it needs to be clarified exactly what the problem is.

"At drinks breaks, guys have sweets or mints just to freshen up and keep the energy going, but nothing from a sweet is allowed to go on a ball so therefore we don't do that. It's just a sugar boost really. "Gatorade has sugar in it as well. We take those drinks on board and then lick our [finger] and put that on the ball. Is that classed as a sugary substance going on the ball? I don't know." Woakes appears likely to replace Stuart Broad for the third Test between India and England, after the latter sat out training in Mohali on Thursday after sustaining a foot injury last week.

England could also recall Gareth Batty in place of fellow spinner Zafar Ansari. (SportsMax)

PAGE 45

Kumble Explains Why ParthivKumble Pipped Pant explained that Dinesh

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eenager Rishabh Pant has been in stunning form, but Parthiv Patel's greater experience and keeping skills appealed to India's selectors. India head coach Anil Kumble has cited Parthiv Patel's vast experience and wicketkeeping skills as key factors in his selection ahead of rising star Rishabh Pant for the third Test against England.

Parthiv will make his first Test appearance since August 2008 in Mohali on Saturday, having been called up following an injury to first-choice keeper Wriddhiman Saha. India could have turned to Pant given the 19-year-old's remarkable form in the Ranji Trophy for Delhi.

In six matches, Pant has

Karthik was not in the running for a recall, due to the fact he is playing as a specialist batsman for Tamil Nadu. A hand injury is reportedly the reason for Karthik not keeping wicket at present. Reflecting on the thigh problem that resulted in Saha being stood down, Kumble added: "It's unfortunate. He had a strain on the final day of the Te s t m a t c h a n d h e w a s obviously in the starting line-up for this but the scans yesterday showed that there was a little bit compiled 874 runs - more than of tendonitis there, so it was any other player - at an average better that we gave him a of 97 and a strike-rate of 114. break." (SportsMax) However, it is Parthiv - who made his Test debut for India in 2002 at the age of 17 - who has been given the chance to impress in Saha's absence.

"Parthiv has been really consistent, both in his keeping as well as his batting," said Kumble on Thursday. "That's why he was chosen. "Rishant has certainly shown the exuberance and what a young cricketer can bring, he's shown his batting skills. "He's obviously got a lot of runs this season on the domestic circuit, but Parthiv was chosen for his keeping skills as well, his keeping and his experience."

PAGE 47

Defoe, Anichebe Have Klopp Worried behind Sunderland's recent

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urgen Klopp insists Liverpool will face a tough match against Sunderland, picking out Jermain Defoe and Victor Anichebe as big threats.

Jurgen Klopp railed against the news of Steven Gerrard's retirement overshadowing the clash between Liverpool and S u n d e r l a n d o n S a t u r d a y, insisting it will be a difficult assignment. Klopp's pre-match news conference on Thursday was dominated by the former captain's decision to hang up his boots, forcing the German manager to publicly acknowledge the 36-year-old is welcome to seek a coaching role back at his old club. For now, though, the team's focus needs to be on the visit of David

Moyes' resurgent Sunderland to Anfield this weekend, the Black Cats having won successive matches away to Bournemouth and at home to Hull City to climb off the foot of the table.

"You don't want to ask about the Sunderland game," Klopp said.

"It's like the points are already counted. "It will be the o p p o s i t e o f e a s y. Ve r y difficult. That's what we have to show. "Everything is prepared for a good football game - if we do our job. Until now it's good but the next job is already there. We have to do the good things again." Klopp picked out veteran striker Jermain Defoe and former Everton centre-forward Victor Anichebe as key factors

improvement. "Everyone knows everything about Defoe," h e s a i d . " G o o d s t r i k e r, experienced, still really quick. "[And] especially Anichebe.

A physical, strong guy. Maybe they have played better games than against Hull and Bournemouth but they won.

They have confidence now."

Liverpool were held to a 0-0 draw away to Southampton last time out and sit joint second with Manchester City, one point behind leaders Chelsea, prompting Klopp to try and contain the mounting expectations of supporters. "If anyone was disappointed about us not being in the first position after last weekend, that's crazy," he said. "We need to improve to keep this position."

(SportsMax)

PAGE 48

Ranieri Challenges Fringe Players To Ease Drinkwater Absence [Drinkwater]. It's difficult to

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anny Drinkwater's suspension comes as a blow to Leicester City, but Claudio Ranieri remains optimistic about the situation.

Leicester City coach Claudio Ranieri is optimistic his fringe players will rise to the challenge of replacing Danny Drinkwater while the midfielder serves his threematch suspension. It was confirmed on Thursday that Drinkwater had accepted a Football Association charge for elbowing Watford's Valon Behrami in Saturday's meeting

a t Vi c a r a g e R o a d , t h u s sidelining the England international. Drinkwater has only missed three league games since the start of last season and will leave a significant hole in the midfield as Leicester prepare to host Middlesbrough, but Ranieri is hopeful his absence will not have a major impact. "Andy King and Daniel Amartey have played so well so far," Ranieri told reporters.

"I think they play [against Middlesbrough] but let me think. Matty James isn't ready yet. "I hope we don't miss him

say what we'll miss. "I hope the players who are involved play well, play together and support his absence. Drinky is an important player for us. I'm sure the team will react very well." Leicester go into the Boro clash on the back of a 2-1 win over Club Brugge that sealed their place in the knockout phase of the Champions League, but Ranieri has urged his players to put European football to the back of their minds.

And the Italian also has no worries about the mindset of Jamie Vardy, who has not scored for Leicester since September 10. "Always Jamie Va r d y w o r k s h a r d , " s a i d Ranieri. "Jamie is always normal; you don't see him nervous or frustrated. Always smiling. "In the league when we create chances we don't score. In the Champions League we do. If we keep working hard, it will come. "I told the players to forget the Champions League and 100 percent concentrate on the league and Middlesbrough."

(SportsMax)

PAGE 50

Australia Caught Out By Du Plessis Declaration

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af du Plessis confirmed that a chance to bowl under the lights at an Australian top order missing David Warner was too good to pass on. Australia bowler Josh Hazlewood admitted the hosts were caught out by Faf du Plessis' declaration late on the first day of the Adelaide day/night Test. Du Plessis responded to ball-tampering charges to score a magnificent 118 not out to lead the Proteas to 259-9 before putting the hosts in to bat with a handful of overs left in the twilight. "I was so driven but the position of the game it was time to declare," he explained. "There was a lot of talk about the pink ball at night so it was a great opportunity to try and at least make a positive

move."

Du Plessis was also canny in declaring with David Warner having left the field for treatment on a shoulder injury - meaning the vice-captain could not open alongside debutant Matt Renshaw. The England-born left-hander and Usman Khawaja, however, scrapped their way to stumps on 14-0. "I listened to the conversation he had with the umpires, one ear talking to the batter and one ear listening to him and then I heard he had six minutes left before he could bat again so I thought 'let's

have a crack'," Du Plessis said.

Hazlewood said of the situation brought on by Warner throwing his shoulder out: "He went off for some treatment towards the end and was off for too long.

So they messed their timings up and he couldn't bat straight away.

Uzzy had to bat and adapted pretty well and we got through.

"The guys were a little bit annoyed, especially Smithy and probably Uzzy who had to go out and bat, but it's just one of those things. It rarely happens, but it happened today and the way Uzzy adapted to the situation he did a great job for us today."

Hazlewood had nothing but praise for Du Plessis spotting the opportunity to put pressure on the hosts adding: "I think he might've had a rough idea. "He's quite cagey like that, pulled the pin and declared and caught us out a little bit." (SportsMax)

PAGE 51

Pochettino Wants Spurs To Stick With Wembley

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ottenham will persist with playing matches at Wembley despite their poor form at the venue, according to Mauricio Pochettino.

Mauricio Pochettino says Tottenham will continue to play European matches at Wembley should they qualify for the Europa League. Spurs are unable to reach the knockout stages of the Champions League after losing 21 to Monaco on Tuesday, although they can still book a place the Europa League's round of 32 by finishing third in Group E. Moussa Sissoko, a big-money signing from Newcastle United in August, has suggested fixtures in UEFA's second-tier competition should not take place at the 90,000-seat national stadium, which has been used for Tottenham's Champions League home games as White Hart

Lane undergoes redevelopment.

However, speaking to the media before the Premier League trip to Chelsea on Saturday, Pochettino rejected those claims. "The player needs to focus on playing," he said. "We will play the Europa League in Wembley and we need to make it our home. "Next season we need to play 19 [league] games and European competition [at Wembley]. "We need to make it our home. Never, never [we will move venues] - we will play in Wembley." Spurs scored twice in the closing stages to come from behind and seal a dramatic 3-2 win at home to West Ham in the Premier League last weekend. They face a tough task away to Antonio

Conte's league leaders in their next outing, with Pochettino determined to begin putting right the disappointment of an underwhelming Champions League campaign.

"For me, it's a big motivation," he said. "You always want to move forward, not stop and complain or blame. "Only you can stop to analyse and be calm to assess the team. "I am looking forward to trying to get more possibilities to play in Wembley and the team can start to feel like home. "The new stadium is coming - we need to move to Wembley next season and we cannot complain next season.

We need to start to avoid all the negative things." According to the Argentine, Toby Alderweireld has returned to training but will not be fit to face Chelsea, with Erik Lamela and Ben Davies also ruled out of the clash. (SportsMax)

PAGE 53

Lydiate Replaces Injured Warburton For Springboks Clash

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ethin Jenkins will take over the captaincy as Wales attempt to end a disappointing November series on a high note by downing South Africa Wales skipper Sam Warburton will miss Saturday's Test against South Africa in Cardiff after failing to recover from a shoulder injury sustained in training earlier this week.

Warburton's absence means a return to the starting XV for Ospreys flanker Dan Lydiate, who is poised to win his 60th Test cap. Having shuffled his pack for last weekend's game against Japan, coach Rob Howley has reverted to a more familiar lineup for the Springboks clash, with Warburton the only change from the side that edged out Argentina

a fortnight ago.

That means experienced centre Jamie Roberts has to be content with a place on the bench, where he will be joined by Taulupe Faletau despite the fact that the Bath number eight has only played 55 minutes of club rugby since returning from a knee injury. Wales have endured a disappointing November series to date, losing heavily to Australia before scraping unconvincing wins over Argentina and Japan. And Howley has called upon his players to lift their performance levels against a South African side that was humbled by Italy last time out. "There is the tinge of disappointment in terms of performance against Japan and

we want to put that right," he said.

“Not only are we looking to win this weekend, we want a performance to go with it. "We were pleased with the win against Argentina so have gone with virtually the same team for South Africa. "We've made just one change, in the back-row.

Sam picked up a bit of a stinger injury on Tuesday and isn't quite ready so Dan comes in. Dan played particularly well against Japan so we are pleased he gets the opportunity again. "It's good to have Taulupe back in the squad, he will add a good impact from the bench." Gethin Jenkins will lead Wales in Warburton's absence, while Leigh Halfpenny will start at full-back with Liam Williams on the wing and Dan Biggar at fly-half.

Wales: Leigh Halfpenny, George North, Jonathan Davies, Scott Williams, Liam Williams, Dan Biggar, Gareth Davies; Gethin Jenkins ©, Ken Owens, Tomas Francis, Luke Charteris, Alun Wyn Jones, Dan Lydiate, Justin Tipuric, Ross Moriarty Replacements: Scott Baldwin, Nicky Smith, Samson Lee, Cory Hill, Taulupe Faletau, Lloyd Williams, Sam Davies, Jamie Roberts (SportsMax)

PAGE 54

Walters Proud To Be Jamaican Boxing's Standard Bearer

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amaica boxing star Nicholas ‘Axeman’ Walters hopes to be an example for future generations of boxers looking to emulate his success. Walters, considered by some to be among the best pound for pound fighters in world boxing, became the latest in a long line of boxers from the island to experience success on the international stage. The list of famous fighters includes the likes of Trevor Berbick, Richard McCallum, Simon Brown and George ‘Bunny’ Grant.

Walters, who hails from the c i t y o f M o n t e g o B a y, announced himself as potentially the next Jamaican

do have a champion, we have a steady and a real champion.

The ‘Body snatcher' (Mike McCaullum), Glenn Johnson, Simon Brown, just to name a few,” he added.

Walters was of the opinion that more top-ranked boxers could be developed from the nation, with better promotion of the sport. “I think if the promoters in boxing just spent some more time in boxing icon after capturing Jamaica, just promoting the WBA featherweight title boxing then you’d see more in Kingston, Jamaica in champions coming out of 2012.

Jamaica.” (SportsMax) “In Jamaica when you talk about boxing you talk about the ‘Axeman’ the youngsters want to be like the ‘Axeman’.

For me that’s a n accomplishme nt, for me that is a definite plus,” Walters said. “Jamaica has always had a steady champion.

Whenever we

PAGE 56

Walters Dismisses Impact Of Long Layoff

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amaican pugilist Nicholas Walters does not expect to be severely impacted by a lengthy layoff from the ring ahead of Saturday’s clash at The Cosmopolitan with WBO super featherweight champion Vasyl Lomachenko. Concerns are that Walters could be ring rusty with

the former WBA featherweight champion not having stepped into the ring competitively since December of last year when he battled to a draw with American Jason Sosa.

According to Walters, however, staying sharp for competition even in the event of a layoff is a

part of the game. “The layoff? I am in the motivation business, so the layoff is definitely part of the boxing business. As a fighter I have always been in the gym working out and everything so the layoff wouldn’t even bother me and I wouldn’t take the fight if I thought I wasn’t going to be ready for the fight,” Walters said.

Walters, who lost the title after failing to make the weight at the scales early last year, will go into the fight hoping for a measure of redemption. “I don’t even think for a minute that I only want to please Nicholas. I want to please the fans and my country, both Panama and Jamaica and all of my fans in Mexico and all over the world. I am not just taking the fight for Nicholas. I am taking the fight for everybody and come Saturday I am going to be ready for the fight – just like all of the other fights.” (SportsMax)

PAGE 57

Gatlin To Play In Dirty Medics Band For J’ouvert

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aving tried unsuccessfully to unseat Usain Bolt as Olympic champion this past summer, American sprinter Justin Gatlin is to try his hand at something new next year. The Olympic 100-metre silver medalist will try his hand at playing in a J’ouvert band in Trinidad for

Carnival in early 2017. According to the Trinidad Express, the brash American sprinter is expected to play in the Dirty Medics band after he was invited by its members who are old school friends . “I have to come experience what is said to be one of the greatest shows on earth for myself. I'm excited to play for the first time and looking forward to having fun with my family and friends,” Gatlin told The Express. “I'm looking forward to the J'ouvert the most. Trinidad and Tobago is a beautiful country and I have a great time every time I come. I love being able to relax as well as experience the culture. The

food is amazing! I always look forward to my visits to either Trinidad or Tobago.”

Bandleader Mark Ayen revealed that Gatlin always enjoys himself when he visits the twin-island republic. “He (Gatlin) wants to come to Trinidad for Carnival and we spoke to him about the band we are having and he is willing to participate. He has no problem being in the band. He even did a video for us,” Ayden said. The Dirty Medics plan to have about 800 members for J’ouvert 2017.

(SportsMax)

Klopp: Liverpool's Door Always Open To Gerrard

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teven Gerrard should look no further than Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp if he wants to pursue a coaching career after retiring from playing. Jurgen Klopp says Liverpool can help if Steven Gerrard wants to pursue a career in coaching after announcing his retirement. Gerrard confirmed on Thursday he is hanging up his boots after opting not to extend his stay at MLS franchise LA Galaxy. The 36year-old has already spoken of his interest in management, although he turned down the opportunity to take over at MK Dons in League One, and a position on Klopp's backroom staff would appear an ideal first step into life on the touchline.

Speaking to the media ahead of Liverpool's Premier League match at home to Sunderland on Saturday,

Klopp, after initially being reluctant to address the issue at length, was pressed on whether or not we can expect to see Gerrard back in a Reds tracksuit at the Melwood training ground soon. "One day in the future there will be something to announce, I'm pretty sure," he said. "The door is always open. If he wants, I'm sure he will, and if he wants to make whatever career then we want to help him. "Stop being so excited about his

next step. In life you need space to learn something new.

"He was a young player and now he will be a young whatever. I'm the wrong person to talk about it." The German, who succeeded Gerrard's final Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers in October 2015, had already claimed he is not worthy of passing judgement on the Champions League and FA Cup winner's contribution to the club. "I'm only here 14 months," he said. "How can I be the person who says how big this person [Gerrard] is? He's a great person. "I met Stevie already and he is a great person, and he is far away from wanting to be handled like a legend. He is a normal guy. "It's good to hear that he's back in town. On LFC TV you can watch all 186 of his goals." (SportsMax)

PAGE 59

Ibrahimovic Slams Media For Showing Rooney 'No Respect’

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ayne Rooney has been the centre of attention for recently being photographed intoxicated, but Zlatan Ibrahimovic has defended his captain. Zlatan Ibrahimovic has slammed the media for showing "a lack of respect" to Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney after he was photographed intoxicated on international duty. Rooney was snapped looking worse for wear as he reportedly crashed a wedding at England's team hotel in Hertfordshire between the recent international matches against Scotland and Spain. Sections of the media claimed Rooney's role as England captain was in jeopardy as a result of reportedly being drunk, with interim manager Gareth Southgate apparently disappointed

by the striker's conduct.

However, the Football Association confirmed that Rooney had the night off and Ibrahimovic was not impressed with the media circus surrounding the situation.

Ibrahimovic told BT Sport: "People talk, people write; I mean I really don't know what has happened and I'm 100 per cent sure the media doesn't really know the real story.

"He is a public person; he is a captain for the national team, for the club and people want to write about him. "I think there is a lack of respect and just pushing out everything instead of appreciating him for who he is and what he has done, so I think the situation is exaggerated. "I have the same thing when it comes to me."

Ibrahimovic has also received

significant attention in recent weeks, but rather for his struggles on the pitch, with a double in the 31 win over Swansea City on November 6 ending a run of six consecutive matches across all competitions without a goal. “I'm not worried about the goals," he insisted. "I would be worried if I don't create the chances or if I don't have the chances because that is the moment you feel like you're not able to do what you're used to, but the goals will come. "I have more than 450 goals in my career so that is the last thing I'm worried about."

Feyenoord at home in the Europa League on Thursday is next for United and, while Ibrahimovic is adamant the club belong in the Champions League, he cheekily suggested that he still has room on his mantelpiece for a medal from Europe's second-tier competition.

"I want to win everything I play for," he added. "When I go in training I don't accept to lose, I don't like to lose; I'll do everything to win. "We play in the Europa League, I think the team belongs in the Champions League but it is what it is, and we will do everything to win it. "I have a lot of medals, a lot, and I want more. You know what, I have a very big house - there I keep them [the medals].

That [the Europa League] would fit very good, there is also a place for that trophy." (SportsMax)