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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
LOCAL MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2016
3 Years Jail For Driver In 2014 Fatal Accident
Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan today sentenced 28-year-old father of one, Roopnarine Harriwar to three years imprisonment after he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court charged with the 2014 offence of
causing the death of Ramulall Dhanraj by dangerous driving. The prosecution revealed that on November 15, 2014 at Pearl Public Road, East Bank Demerara, Roopnarine was driving motor vehicle GJJ 9557, while Dhanraj was proceeding on a bicycle along the western carriage way of the road when the incident occurred.
represented the accused argued that the evidence the witnesses provide lacked consistency and as such he was satisfied that no testimony given by an eyewitness was true. The Attorney revealed that he believes there was sufficient evidence on the roadway which showed that the accused did apply his brakes to avoid the collision.
In defense, the Attorney who
However Chief Magistrate
McLennan revealed that the court was satisfied with the Prosecution’s evidence which showed that the accused did drive in a manner dangerous to the public, recklessly or without consideration hence causing the death of Dhanraj. In mitigation the Attorney pleaded with the Magistrate for leniency in her custodial sentence stating that Roopnarine continues to apologize to the family of the deceased man.
Task Force To Clamp Down On Illegal Activities In Extractive Sector while the Guyana Geology and unregistered miners, all of it needs to stop Mines Commission (GGMC) is the regulatory body for most of the sector’s activities, it does not have law enforcement capabilities.
Director of Compliance at the Ministry o f N a t u r a l R e s o u rc e s , D e r r i c k Lawrence The Ministry of Natural Resources will soon establish a task force with policing powers to tackle illegal activities in the e x t r a c t i v e s e c t o r. D i r e c t o r o f Compliance, Derrick Lawrence, at the Ministry of Natural Resources, told the Government Information Agency (GINA) that the Ministry will introduce “a corps of wardens who will come with law enforcement authority and will not tolerate illegal activities within the sector.” Lawrence noted that illegal activities in the extractive sector have a negative impact on the economy and
Acting Commissioner, Newell Dennison said that “the challenges in monitoring that face us include boots on the ground, literally, having the work force and a suitable work force, people who are suitably trained and competent,” Dennison explained. The addition of the wardens is a welcome initiative that will address the monitoring challenge, Dennison stated. Moreover, GGMC’s field officers do not have arresting powers when they come across nonmining related illegal activities, Dennison pointed out. “If there is an immediacy of a law enforcement response that is required, those wardens are able to treat with that so I see it as strength to fill a gap that exists right now,” Dennison said of the wardens. The Ministry of Natural Resources has stated that it has zero tolerance for illegal activities in the extractive sector. “When we’re talking about legal mining or
because it actually impacts the economy in a negative way. If a person recognises that he or she could mine under the radar, then there is no need for declarations,” Lawrence emphasised. Dennison also said that a concerted effort also needs to be made to address the economic factors that lead to illegal mining. “We need to find alternatives that remove some of the economic drivers that lead people into mining on the one hand, and to create an atmosphere, where, if someone wants to get into mining, they’re properly prepared for it,” Dennison said. “Where we see people who are not documented, the officers advise how to become documented and where they should go. We have mining stations and there is the head office here too, that will allow you to buy privileges, that will allow you to get permission to operate and so on,” explained Dennison. Socioeconomic factors such as unemployment, coupled with the need for more available mining areas are among issues that often influence illegal and unsafe activity in the e x t r a c t i v e s e c t o r, p a r t i c u l a r l y undocumented and illegal mining, according to Dennison.
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
LOCAL MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2016
Government Must Improve ICT Sector University of Guyana are not optimistic about the upcoming Hackathon that will be hosted by the Ministry of Public Telecommunications. “The hackathon is a very good idea, but the government must first develop public infrastructure in order to have the ICT sector utilized to its fullest potential,” some students told the Guyana Daily News.
Many computer science students of the
They noted that there is a lot of problems facing the development of ICT in Guyana such as poor internet and telephone services, frequent power outages, the dire need for the fibre optic cable, limited high-tech companies among others. “Guyanese have the skills but the country doesn’t have the jobs for the skill,” some students opined. The Ministry of Public Telecommunications will be
hosting Guyana’s first Hackathon on Nov 4-6, 2016 at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre. The hackathon will be a 48 hour (nonstop) event where programmers or coders get to compete in teams to develop applications for possible use in the public and private sectors. Minister o f P u b l i c Te l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n Catherine Hughes at a press conference on Friday last said that this as an opportunity for young entrepreneurs in Information Communication Technology (ICT) to be creative, “Our people the young and not so young can learn and earn, establish new businesses, create linkages in and out of Guyana and ultimately contribute to the drive to digitize our nation”, Hughes stated. Hackathons are events, typically lasting several days, in which a large numbers of people meet to engage in collaborative computer programming.
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
LOCAL MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2016
Bauxite Industry Must Be Developed
A resident of Central Ameila’s Ward Linden is of the view that bauxite cannot be utilized to its potential in Guyana because the country does not have cheap electricity. In order to have cheap electricity, there must be hydropower; the resident criticized the David Granger administration for abandoning the Amaila’s Falls Hydro Power Plant. While in opposition, both APNU and the AFC criticized the previous administration for the lack of transparency surrounding the project, which was the flagship project of the Low Carbon D e v e l o p m e n t S t r a t e g y,
supported by Norway. According to a report by the Ministry of Natural Resources, the year 2016 signifies an iconic landmark in the still-unfolding story of bauxite mining in Guyana as we proudly celebrate 100 years of this glorious industry. This provides an opportunity for all Guyanese to commemorate a century of rich history that is marked by numerous accomplishments, continuous expansions and notable challenges. “Bauxite production in Guyana is one of the leading mineral sub-sectors, and accounts for a significant part of the GDP generated from
exports of the mineral. It is safe to say that the mining of bauxite has been one of a very few indelible influences that have shaped the way we think, behave and live as a people. “Thanks in large measure to bauxite mining, we have been imbued with a sense of pride that couples, and equals, our keen determination and sense of capability. Indeed, it is in these hills that previously unaccomplished feats of engineering and strength were achieved and mastered. Today, one hundred years after we began, much of that history is at risk of being lost and too, that sense of
pride and prowess has retreated. Government and Opposition, the companies, the unions, and most especially, the workers must all commit – jointly and severally, to keeping that history and “can do” attitude alive,” the release noted.
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
LOCAL MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2016
Crime Rate Down By 17% - Top Cop arms where other instruments are used is 254, robbery with violence 79, rape, 212, break and enter and larceny 1028.
Police Commissioner (ag) David Ramnarine Police Commissioner (ag) David Ramnarine has revealed that serious crime is down by 17% for the period 1st January, 2016 to 31st October, 2016 when
compared to the same period last year. He told a news conference today that for the year so far there has been 2,700 reports of serious crime, murder stands at 119 so far for the year, robbery under arms with the use of ďŹ re arm stands at 638, robbery under
However, several villages especially from the Berbice and other parts of the country have complained about the increase in criminal activities over the past years. They have raised concerns that the police are not doing enough to prevent crimes, it was noted that the police have been able to solve more crimes. In a recent survey conducted by the Guyana Daily News, the research showed that 85% of persons stated that serious crimes are up in the country, especially in the rural areas.
Seventy percent of respondents are also of the view that the government is doing nothing to curb the crime situation. The respondents are of the opinion that the police force should do more to combat crime, especially in vulnerable areas. In Berbice the murder rate has increased. A total of 17 murders were committed from the period January 1, 2015 to August 2015, but according to the United States Department of State Bureau of Diplomatic Sates, Guyana 2016 Crime & Safety Report, the general crime rate in Guyana is above the U.S. national average.
LOCAL
GUYANA DAILY NEWS GNRSC Wants Drunk Drivers’ License To Be Revoked Earlier this month, GNRSC had also announced PAGE 6
MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2016
that had planned to intensify its education and awareness campaigns to help stem the increasing number of road accidents and particular emphasis will be placed on drivers who drive under the influence of alcohol. According to the council, past awareness building and educational campaigns have not had the desired results so, the Council will be closely monitoring and evaluating the new campaign.
Chairman of GNRSC, Dennis Pompey The Guyana National Road Safety Council (GNRSC) has announced its plan to lobby the government to have the licenses of those found driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs revoked and also to have the licenses of those found texting and driving suspended. The announcement was made today by Chairman of GNRSC, Dennis Pompey at the launching of this year’s Road Safety Month, under the theme “Life does not have a reset button, Drive Carefully.” Pompey said that Council has planned a series of activities to observe the month and was geared towards reducing road deaths caused by road accidents which is on the rise in Guyana.
The GNSRC related that the proposal will be taken to the Minister of Public Security for him to discuss it at a governmental level and take action. Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan, who was also in attendance said it would take more than a month of awareness and sensitization activities to change the current “culture of recklessness. The minister urged road users to “abandoned individual irresponsibility” and the responsibility for care and safety should not only be carried by drivers but urged even pedestrians to “do the right thing. Ramjattan said that he does have solutions but if and when he implements them he will “get more cuss than anyone else.” Minister of Education Rupert Roopnarine said that “as legislators, we must do everything we can but it is one thing to make the laws and another to enforce them. We can pass as many laws as possible but what we need is a new culture of road safety.” At the end of 2015, a total of 106 road deaths were recorded. For the year so far GNRSC has recorded 109 deaths as a result of accidents.
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
LOCAL MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2016
A Response To The Attorney General By Mohabir Anil Nandlall MP, Attorney-at-Law
Carvil Duncan Carvil Duncan, has filed legal proceedings in the High Court challenging the actions by the Executive to remove him from office as Chairman and a member of the Public Service Commission, a member of the Judicial Service Commission and a member of the Police Service Commission. The quintessential issue for the determination of the court is whether or not it is lawful for the Government to have embarked upon this path, in light of the fact that there are pending criminal proceedings in the Magistrate’s Court, to which Carvil Duncan has pleaded not guilty and whereof he is protected by a Constitutional doctrine which presumes him innocent until proven guilty in those proceedings. Notwithstanding the existence of these pending proceedings in the High Court, in flagrant violation of the sub judice principle, the Attorney General has chosen to speak, publically, on the very issue which is engaging the attention of the Court. At a recent Press Conference, the Attorney General contends that the Government can lawfully remove Mr. Duncan from office during the pendency of the criminal proceedings and before their determination. Whether this is so or not, is the very pith and substance of the issue which the High Court is to determine. The Attorney General is no ordinary litigant. He is the head of the Bar and the Executive’s principal legal representative. His official influence can be overwhelming and he has publically signaled to the Judiciary and the particular judge, the Executive’s view and I dare say, its expectations. Is the Attorney General attempting to prejudice the outcome of the pending case? Is this the example the head of the Bar is setting for other lawyers? Should lawyers now engage in public articulation of
cases which are the subject of pending litigation? It is my considered view that the Attorney General has satisfied all the ingredients of the offence of Contempt of Court, for breach of the sub judice rule. In any properly functioning judicial system, Mr. Williams would have been hauled before the Judge for Contempt. But it is now a matter for the Judiciary. Since Mr. Williams has chosen to express his view on the merits of the pending litigation, justice and fairness compel a response. Almost every legal contention which the Attorney General posited at that Press Conference is misconceived and wrong. He labels Mr. Duncan a “Public Servant”, and then proceeds to wrongly apply his interpretation of the Public Service Commission Rules to Mr. Duncan. The Press Statement issued by GINA on 2016/10/25, reads: “The Attorney General (AG) is adamant that the Government does not have to await the conclusion of Carvil Duncan’s criminal matter in the court, to move administratively against the public servant. “We don’t have to wait for no criminal matter to be completed to move administratively against anybody, that’s always been the rule”, Attorney General, Basil Williams, told the press today, at a press briefing held at the Ministry of Legal Affairs … “If you are a public servant and you are charged for any offence in Guyana, what happens to you? You’re interdicted…”. Mr. Duncan is the Chairman of the Public Service Commission, a high constitutional office whose function is to employ, transfer, promote and discipline Public Servants. This office holder has a strong regime of security of tenure akin to that of a judge of the Supreme Court. By what rational process of reasoning and logic can such an office holder be equated to a public servant? The Public Service Commission Rules have no applicability whatsoever to Mr. Duncan. Indeed, it is Mr. Duncan’s responsibility to apply those rules to Public Servants. It is the constitution, the Supreme law, which applies to Mr. Duncan. Therefore, not even by analogy, can Mr. Duncan be sensibly equated to a Public Servant or can the Public Service Commission Rules apply to him. In any event, Mr. Duncan was not “interdicted”. The President established a disciplinary
tribunal to investigate his removal from office. Long after the establishment of the tribunal, Mr. Duncan was then “suspended”. Therefore the disciplinary process to remove Mr. Duncan from office commenced long before his suspension. B u t e v e n w o r s e , M r. Wi l l i a m s i s misrepresenting or misinterpreting the Public Service Commission Rules. In fact, I do not think he ever read them. These rules clearly provide that if a public servant is charged with a criminal proceeding no disciplinary action can be taken against him until those criminal proceedings are determined. The rationale is clear: to proceed with disciplinary proceedings while the criminal charges are pending, would not only abrogate the presumption of innocence, but would also prejudice the criminal proceedings. Rule 80. (1) of the Public Service Commission Rules provide: “Where criminal proceedings have been instituted in any court against an officer, Permanent Secretary or the Head of Department, the Commission shall not institute disciplinary proceedings against the officer upon any grounds arising out of criminal charge until after the court has determined the matter and the time allowed for an appeal from the decision of the court has expired; but where an officer, on conviction, has appealed, the Commission may commence proceedings after the withdrawl or determination of the appeal.” Applying the most elementary principle of common sense and logic to this situation, if a lowly ranked public servant has the kind of protection which rule 80 accords, does it not follow that the Chairman of the Public Service Commission, a high constitutional office holder who enjoys security of tenure similar to that of a judge of the Supreme Court, not entitled to, at a minimum, the same or, moreover, greater protection? Therefore, the Attorney General’s argument that one can move administratively against a public servant who is facing criminal proceedings. The striking similarity between the Attorney General’s contentions and that of the Chairperson of the Tribunal established to investigate Mr. Duncan’s removal from office, articulated when I appeared before that tribunal for Mr. Duncan over two weeks ago, has not escaped me.
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
LOCAL MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2016
Breast Cancer Still A Major Concern In GuyanaMore Than 300 Cases In The Past 6 Years County Hospital, New York, noted that in the United
The latest figures released from the Guyana Cancer Institute (GCI) show that over the past six years there have been 314 new cases of breast cancer detected in Guyana. Outreach Director at the Cancer Institute, Dr. Seyed Ghazi said that in 2010 there were only 15 new cases of the ailment, but the number climbed to 22 in 2011, increased to 23 in 2013 and jumped alarmingly to 76 and 77 in 2014 and 2015 respectively. And while the number had dipped to 41 in 2015, this year has already seen an average of six new cases each month, according to figures provided by Dr. Ghazi and far there have been 60 new cases recorded at the institute for 2016. Dr. Ghazi was that the time speaking at the recent Breast Cancer Sensitization Seminar hosted by the Ministry of Social Protection in collaboration with the Organization for Social and Health Advancement in Guyana (OSHAG), the Cancer Society, and the Cancer Institute. He related that the spike in figures is because of an increase in GCI’s outreach activities which led to more cases being uncovered, especially in remote parts of the country. The activities included frequent screenings for persons in Guyana’s remote areas, as well as the greater emphasis being placed on awareness and education, which saw the detection of the 314 new cases. Dr. Ghazi added that awareness and education should be prioritized all year round and not just during October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month. During the sensitisation seminar, visiting specialist, D r. T h e o p h i l u s L e w i s , Director of Surgery and the Cancer Care Centre at Kings
States, breast cancer is the number one cancer diagnosed among women and it is the number two cause of cancer related deaths among women. Dr. Lewis explained that while men are also at risk for breast cancer, the possibility of having the disease is higher for women, as one in every eight of them is likely to have it in their lifetime. He added that early detection remains key to saving lives and breasts. “We are still having too many patients coming to us at the late stages of breast cancer, especially Stages Three and Four,” Dr. Lewis said. “We can do so much more for people if we detect breast cancer early.” He explained that at stage one of breast cancer, 90 percent of the persons can go on to live longer than five years, while for stages two, three and four, the figures drops to 70, 50 and 15 percent respectively. He advised that women conduct self-examinations monthly, a week after their menstruation and for those women who have stopped having their mensturation, examinations should be done on their birthdays and on that date every month thereafter. With advanced treatment in the field the goal now is to save rather than remove the breasts. “The goal is breast conservation, but we need to detect the cancer early,” Lewis said. OSHAG conducts annual outreaches to Guyana at this time of the year and supports Guyanese women with breast cancer to access treatment and care.
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
LOCAL MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2016
Mason Granted Bail After Allegedly Stealing GY$1M In Items Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan today released 24-year-old mason, Christopher Small on GY$70,000 bail after he appeared before her in the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court charged with the
offence of larceny which he allegedly committed between October 1, 2016 and October 31, 2016. Unrepresented before the court, Small pleaded not guilty to the charge as he was required by the Chief Magistrate to provide the court with a fixed address if he was to be granted bail.
defendant, while being employed by virtual complainant John Raymond, stole the key used to open the door to Raymond’s private room and in Raymond’s absence stole therein one diamond ring valued at GY$550,000 and GY$450,000 cash, total value of $1M.
After a few minutes of deliberation and no objection by the Prosecution, the accused was able to provide an address of 93 West Ruimveldt Estate, Housing Scheme, hence securing himself bail. It is alleged that between the dates in question at Light Street, Alberttown, the
According to Police Prosecution led by Inspector Neville Jeffords, the accused admitted to the police that he had stolen the items, however none have been recovered. The defendant will return before the court on November 22, 2016 for continuation into the matter.
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
LOCAL MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2016
Sale Of Firecrackers Worries Guyana Police Force The Guyana Police Force recognizes that in the celebration of Diwali and thereafter leading into the festive season of Christmas, there usually be an increase in the sale of firecrackers and other similar kinds of explosives that are being used to culminate or recognize the season. The Force is hereby issuing a stern warning to those who sell these explosives which contribute a lot to serious bodily harm and injury to both users and innocent bystanders. There were instances in the past when both children and adults experienced grievous bodily harm, during the use of these firecrackers and we urge all concerned to exercise the necessary care and caution when deciding to allow themselves to engage in the purchase of firecrackers. Guyana Police Force Press Release
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
LOCAL MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2016
Scenes From the Motorcade 2016
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
MONDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2016
COTED Urges Trinidad To Resolve Legal Issues Preventing Duck Imports From Suriname
Suriname duck farm De Doksenclub By Ivan Cairo Caribbean News Now contributor GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands - A trade dispute preventing Surinamese duck meat from entering the market in Trinidad and Tobago could be resolved as soon as the Trinidad government amends its Animal Act, a Trinidad official told the CARICOM Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) on Friday. COTED has urged the Trinidad authorities to take the necessary steps to resolve the issue in a timely fashion. At the conclusion of its meeting at the end of the Caribbean Week of Agriculture 2016 in the Cayman Islands, COTED-chair and agriculture minister of Dominica,
Johnson Drigo, noted, however, that since legislative procedures could take some time Trinidad could not offer a timeline when the matter would be resolved definitely. Drigo said that the matter was discussed by the ministers and that “there was consensus on the undertakings given by both parties to work the situation out”. Since December 2015, Port-ofSpain has preventing the importation of meat from the Suriname duck farm De Doksenclub to Trinidad. Initially, Trinidad raised concerns that the processes at the duck facilities were not in conformity with international food safety measures. Once these issues were addressed to the satisfaction of the Trinidad veterinary authorities, Suriname was informed that legislation needed to be amended to allow Suriname to be
included on the schedule of countries that are allowed to export duck meat to Trinidad before De Doksenclub could receive an import licence. When subsequent bilateral discussions failed to resolve the dispute, Suriname’s agriculture minister Soeresh Algoe dropped the matter on the COTED table in April of this year. Shortly thereafter, on behalf of the Trinidadian authorities, the Caribbean Health and Food Safety Authority (CAHFSA) conducted a re-inspection of the facilities of De Doksenclub. “In general, from observations and explanations provided by the management of the facility and the Competent Authority of Suriname it can be reasonably stated that the facility has made every effort to comply with and remedy where necessary the requirements listed as non-conformances by Trinidad and Tobago,” the CAHFSA team that conducted the inspections said in its report. According to chief veterinary officer of Trinidad, David Kangaloo, the two countries “are close to resolving the issues”. “There is a draft cabinet note that has been prepared that will be taken to parliament. Once that is accepted and approved Suriname will have to be placed on the schedule to allow the legal imports of duck meat from Suriname,” the official said. He added that he was not able to give a timeline “because the legislative process takes a while”. (Caribbean News Now!)
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
MONDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2016
St Kitts-Nevis Sugar Fund CEO Fired
Terrance Crossman BASSETERRE, St Kitts -- The chief executive officer at the St Kitts and Nevis Sugar Industry Diversification Foundation (SIDF), Terrance Crossman, has been terminated. Crossman was handed a termination letter on Friday. The reasons for his dismissal are unclear. The dismissal comes days after Prime Minister Dr Timothy Harris indicated during his most recent press conference that ongoing investigations into the foundation were just about completed and the SIDF will soon be brought under Parliamentary scrutiny, as promised by his Team Unity administration prior to the 2015 elections. “The legislative framework being pursued by two QCs in our country is substantially complete, last I inquired they should be submitting it to us by next week. However they advised that it would be helpful to get the final report to see how that can be tweaked in light of any issues that may be pertinent to the new governance agenda. The commitments which we made in the manifesto to greater transparency would certainly be embedded in the next legislative creation that we would bring in relation to the SIDF and it may be called another name so that we distance ourselves from that grievance and abomination it turned out to be,” Harris said. The SIDF and its operations have come under heavy criticisms over the years over its lack of transparency and accountability. It was sharply criticized also for the fact that it operates as a private entity with funds generated from the sale of citizenships -- a national commodity and privilege “We will not recoil from any of the commitments which we made with respect to the SIDF, that there must be public accountability, there must be regular reports being submitted to the parliament so that the people of the country can know more and become a part of what is happening with their patrimony,” Harris added.
He indicated at the most recent press conference that the SIDF investigation was virtually complete except for necessary consideration and review by cabinet. “What has happened is once you get in to the tangled web there’s a lot more work that needed to be done for them to bring the kind of assurances. We expect very shortly and before the budget presentation, to be able to make a statement to the country in relation to that. It is not unheard of either in relation to a regular audit that you can have delays more so for the investigative nature of this one because part of it is to go through a maze of documents, find them, verify them etc and there has been some element of a lack of cooperation from some of the entities involved and that of course led to some delays in the finalization of the report but the report is substantially complete,” Harris said. “The absence of control at the SIDF was so bad that it was difficult for them to be able to move with the speed that had been anticipated and you add that to the fact that the SIDF had not produced audited financial statements for a significant period of time, the last one perhaps would have been 2013 that they had provided audited reports. You add that to the fact that you had entities such as the Kittitian Hill Belmont Resort whose report would impact upon the financial statement statements of SIDF and their accounting was not up to date in terms of auditing, so it is those complexities that has led to a prolonged engagement with respect to Ernst & Young presenting its report to us,” Harris concluded. The controversial management of the SIDF by the former Denzil Douglas-led administration came in for some unpleasant findings following a preliminary review in May by multinational firm Ernst & Young. Speaking at a monthly press conference held in May 2015, Harris said that the review of the SIDF operations over the period 2010-2014, which he announced on March 15, had revealed some troubling initial findings. “The review has revealed that the SIDF was operated in a manner unbecoming of a multi-million dollar entity. The board of councilors and senior management operated with scant regard for proper procedures and best practices expected of those with fiduciary responsibilities,” Harris said. The SIDF was touted by former PM and now leader of the opposition, Dr Denzil Douglas, as a private foundation outside the ambit of government oversight. Under the Douglas administration the fund amassed hundreds of millions of dollars from the sale of St Kitts-Nevis citizenship for up to US$400,000 cash per citizenship. The SIDF was founded in September 2006 by the National Bank Trust Company, which is a subsidiary of the St Kitts Nevis Anguilla National Bank, a public limited company with the majority shareholder being the federal government of St Kitts and Nevis. (Caribbean News Now!)
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
MONDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2016
Turks And Caicos Elections Postponed For Ten Days
Premier Dr Rufus Ewing By Caribbean News Now contributor PROVIDENCIALES, TCI -- General elections in the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) have been postponed by ten days from the December 5, 2016, date that was announced by Premier Dr Rufus Ewing on Thursday. The elections will now be held on December 15, 2016. The surprise postponement was announced late on Saturday by newly-appointed British Governor Dr John Freeman, who said the earlier date "will not give officials sufficient time to prepare for the election, as envisaged by section 26 of the Elections Ordinance." "Whilst the date of 5 December would be compliant with the constitution," the governor said, "in consultation with the premier, it has been decided that it would be most expedient to postpone the date for the election." According to local media, the postponement resulted from
confusion over the calculation of the number of working days after the dissolution of the House of Assembly that an election can be called. When the premier dissolved the House last Thursday, no date was given for Nomination Day. In a statement on Sunday, Ewing said, "I am advised that the election day proclamation that was published in the Gazette on Friday announcing the date of the general election was in order by being in accordance with the TCI constitution. “However, there was an issue with the timelines under section 26 of the Election Ordinance and hence the procedures for the appointment of a nomination day and election day could not have been executed in the minimum time frame provided for by the constitution.” He noted that there were several options available to him as premier to rectify the situation to permit the supervisor of elections to carry out the procedures required under the Election Ordinance and he exercised
the option of recommending to the governor to change the date of the election to a date of his (Ewing’s) choosing, which is December, 15, 2016. “The governor having consulted with me on this date will now issue an amendment to that proclamation published on Friday, October 28, 2016,” Ewing said. “Contrary to the opinion touted by persons from other political camps, the decision to exercise the option to change the date of election was made after much consultation and consideration with the executives and several legal minds of the Progressive National Party who advised and supported my decision to recommend a change to the election date," he concluded. In concluding his statement on the matter, Freeman said, "I would propose that consideration of whether or not to amend the Elections Ordinance should be on the agenda for Cabinet once the House has been recalled following the election." (Caribbean News Now!)
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
MONDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2016
Dominica PM And Cabinet Ministers Inspect Progress At Cabrits Resort Kempinksi
Construction in progress by Range Development at the Cabrits Resort Kempinski at Douglas Bay in Portsmouth ROSEAU, Dominica -- The prime minister of Dominica Roosevelt Skerrit and his cabinet of Ministers joined the principals of Range Developments for a tour of the construction site of the Cabrits Resort Kempinski at Douglas Bay in Portsmouth last Wednesday. Skerrit said the project was important to the development of tourism in Dominica, and he congratulated Range Developments on the progress. “We must commend Range Developments,” Skerrit said. “Range has proven itself in the market. We are here as a show of our interest, of our commitment and our firm resolve of working with Range to ensure that this project comes to a successful completion to the benefit of all our citizens.” Mohammed Asaria, vice chairman of Range
Developments, said that he was delighted with the progress to date. “We have made a good start on the project, and we have received encouraging feedback on the number of jobs it has created already for local people,” he said. The resort will be Kempinski’s first luxury hotel project in the Caribbean, and is due to open in 2018. The Cabrits Resort Kempinski Dominica will be a 160-room hotel on Douglas Bay in Cabrits on the north shore of the island, close to the town of Portsmouth. The luxury hotel offers a unique opportunity as the first government approved real estate project under Dominica’s citizenship by investment (CBI) program. Investors are eligible to obtain Dominica citizenship by purchasing a share in the development for US$220,000 in a limited partnership structure. Dominica’s CBI program is aimed at encouraging investment in the country.
Investors not only have a chance to invest, but once they meet the stringent requirements, receive citizenship of the country, with all the benefits. “In our country Dominica, we pride ourselves on managing a very transparent CBI program, which meets the test of scrutiny from independent international agencies and government,” Skerrit said. “The due diligence process must continue to be uncompromising and robust in nature.” Range Developments is an international property company focusing on hotel resorts in the Caribbean. Range focuses on luxury developments that are well-designed, sustainable and desirable. Its Park Hyatt St Kitts, currently under construction and due to open early 2017, won the prestigious Best New Hotel Construction and Design St Kitts and Nevis award at The International Property Awards 2014-2015. It also won the coveted award of Best New Hotel Construction and Design in the Caribbean 2014-2015. (Caribbean News Now!)
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
MONDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2016
CARICOM's 'Political Will' To Move Agriculture Forward Impresses Pacific Islands Neil Netaf, senior advisor to the Ministry of Agriculture in Vanuatu, says the Pacific Islands can learn much from what CARICOM has done in the agriculture sector By Kenton Chance
G
EORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands -- The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) may have made more progress in its agricultural sector than it realises, an official from the Pacific said, as his region took lessons from the Caribbean for its first Pacific Week of Agriculture, slated to take place next year. Neil Netaf, senior advisor to the ministry of agriculture in Vanuatu, praised what he described as a political will within CARICOM after observing “frank” discussions among CARICOM ministers during their closeddoor meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) on Friday. COTED promotes trade and economic development of the CARICOM and oversees the operations of the Single Market and Economy. Friday’s meeting formed part of the one-week annual Caribbean Week of Agriculture (CWA), which took place in the Cayman Islands from October 24 to 28. Vanuatu is preparing to host the first Pacific Week of Agriculture and agriculture stakeholders and the Netherlands-based Technical Centre for Agriculture and Rural Corporation (CTA), an African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States-European Union body, facilitated the participation in CWA 2016 of agriculture stakeholders from the Pacific. “What struck me here is the political will. I think that in all the small island countries, what I have seen here encourages me a lot -- how the government leaders have committed themselves to agriculture in the Caribbean,” Netaf said in an interview Friday after observing the COTED deliberations. “This is something that we wanted to see happen in the Pacific Island countries: the political will,” he added. He said that the number of leaders participating in the meeting demonstrates that political will, adding that he was also surprised that the private sector was invited to participate in meetings to devise ways forward for the agricultural sector. “I think it’s an open and straightforward discussion,” Netaf said, adding that sometimes, progress on discussions in the Pacific is hindered by diplomatic speak even when leaders should be frank with each other. “Very frankly, I love how the meeting was organised and the way people just speak openly and frankly on the issues,” he said. Like the CARICOM, the Pacific is also struggling with a high food import bill. While the figure was not immediately available, Netaf said he was surprised that CARICOM imports US$4 billion in food annually. “I think it is quite high,” he said, even as he noted that he considers his region’s food import bill to be high also. Another challenge that agriculture in the Caribbean and Pacific regions faces is the lack of
investment. CWA 2016 was held under the theme “Investing in Food and Agriculture”, with a heavy emphasis on youth entrepreneurship. Netaf said that Vanuatu is made up of 83 islands and 80 percent of the population is subsistence farmers. But infrastructure is lacking in a lot of areas. “So, if you talk about a value chain, there are a lot of hiccups as far as transport and warehouses with cold storage. I think that’s the difference compared to here with the smaller islands,” he said, adding that there is a ready market in the United States for Caribbean agricultural produce. “… for us in Vanuatu, the international market is there, but the infrastructure and logistics to get things out. Those are the challenges,” he said, adding that main market for local agriculture is the local consumer, mainly in the towns. To move agriculture forward in Vanuatu, roads and boats that have specific storage for agriculture are needed, Netaf said. CARICOM countries are adopting a number of strategies to encourage young people to take advantage of the opportunities in the agriculture sector and sometimes use the term “agripreneurs”, which Netaf said was new to him. Pacific Week of Agriculture is tentatively slated for May, and Netaf said the primary goal will be to get leaders to commit to the sector. “And we want to see in 2017 the beginning of a chapter in the Pacific for promoting, encouraging and developing agriculture in the Pacific region on a co-ordinated approach as has been done here in the Caribbean,” he said, noting that CWA started in 1999. Netaf said his country is not merely looking for a memorandum of understanding, but for Pacific leaders to commit to allocate resources to the industry, as well as national strategies. “Maybe it will be too early to develop a regional strategy but that’s something that we will actually dialogue on when we go back and then maybe have a draft circulated around a regional strategy for agriculture that all the Pacific countries can commit themselves to.” CWA 2016 also focused on value chains in the agriculture sector and Netaf also drew lessons from what has been done in CARICOM. “I was amazed to see cassava flour, cassava cake and all sorts of things; breadfruit as well. We have lots of breadfruit. So, practically, investing in the value chain of these products, it can work, and there are a lot of lessons for us from here that can be adopted in the Pacific Islands, or Vanuatu.” He said he will also encourage his region to adopt the idea of pushing local substitutes as a means of reducing its food import bill. “What I am pushing the minister now is for us to actually introduce an import substitution policy for the government. In Vanuatu, we have produced onions, we have produced broccoli, cauliflower -- all of the vegetables that we imported during the colonial days is planted. So, to discourage reliance on imports, we need to encourage import substitution policies. “I think that is the only way forward for the Pacific countries,” Netaf said, adding that there is also a role for the private sector in this regard. Like the Caribbean, he said his country sees a link between imported food and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes and hypertension. “Mainly in the cities, but it’s actually branching out to the rural areas. What you find in the rural areas is that they will plant taro but the comeback from the farm, the only fast food they can get is rice. It needs a lot of co-ordinated effort to tackle this issue,” Netaf said. (Caribbean News Now!)
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
MONDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2016
Press Association Condemns Use Of Legal Proceedings Against Media In Venezuela
MIAMI, USA -- The Inter American Press Association (IAPA) on Friday voiced a complaint that Venezuela is one of the countries in the Americas with most legal proceedings against journalists and news media, a mechanism used by the government, officials and state bodies to halt the dissemination of independent information and give rise to selfcensorship. The most recent incident involves the newspaper El Nuevo País, whose owner, Rafael Poleo, and a group of the news media outlet's journalists were sued by the president of the stateowned oil company Petróleos de Venezuela SA (PDVSA), Eulogio del Pino, in mid-October on a charge of constant aggravated defamation, with the request that the court prohibit the newspaper from reporting about PDVSA. In addition to Poleo (in exile since 2009) the lawsuit also was filed against editorial board members Graciela Requena and Jurate Rosales, reporter Camilo Rey Luna and general supervisor Luis Camacho, all of whom are prohibited from leaving the country. Another 44 journalists, news media executives and private citizens have been facing legal action since 2013, accused by the authorities of the offenses of defamation, libel, domestic
violence, dispute over property ownership, legitimizing of assets, offence to the armed forces and dissemination of false information. The editor of the Caracas newspaper El Nacional, Miguel Henrique Otero, who is also facing several lawsuits for alleged defamation, declared that "the harassment of journalists and media is every day worse in Venezuela. All the journalists that have been subjected to criminal proceedings and precautionary measures continue under the same conditions, in fact, they are on the increase." "To this situation," said Otero, regional vice chairman of the IAPA's Committee on Freedom of the Press and Information, "there should be added the excessive increase in repression of opponents and journalists, these latter regarded as serious enemies of the Bolivarian Revolution. Whoever has a camera or smart phone runs the risk of being brutally attacked by the repressive forces or paramilitary collectives. The few spaces of freedom of information that remain in the country are in grave danger of disappearing." IAPA president Matt Sanders, senior director and general manager of Deseret Digital Media in Salt Lake City, Utah, called attention to what he regarded as "an alarming industry of lawsuits brought by the Venezuelan authorities to amputate even more the independent press that in the country is facing numerous grievances." For his part Roberto Rock, chairman of the IAPA's Committee on Freedom of the Press and Information, editor of La Silla Rota, Mexico City, Mexico, added, "The case of the Venezuelan media accused of committing alleged offenses also has the disadvantage of their having to face a system of justice without independence." The editor of the newspaper Correo del Caroní, David Natera, charged with defamation and libel, was sentenced
earlier this year to four years imprisonment with prohibition from leaving the country. He has to present himself to the court every 30 days, he was prevented from working, is subject to surveillance for one fifth of the length of his sentence, and the newspaper was ordered to abstain from publishing information about a case of corruption. Also charged with defamation and libel were the newspapers El Diario de Los Llanos, La Prensa and La Noticia, members of Congress Ismael García and Carlos Eduardo Berrizbeitia Giliberti and former member of Congress Carlos Humberto Tablante Hidalgo. The only journalist being held in prison in Venezuela is Braulio Jatar, director of the portal Reporte Confidencial, arrested on Margarita Island on September 3. Jatar, 58, who has dual Chilean and Venezuelan nationality, was accused of "legitimizing of assets," an offence that carries with it 10 to 15 years' imprisonment. The arbitrary arrest of the journalist, who is now in a maximum security prison subjected to poor treatment and whose case was made public by his sister, Ana Julia Jatar, in Mexico City during the IAPA General Assembly, is regarded as a retaliation for disseminating information about and videos of local anti-government demonstrations. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) and its Office of Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression recently condemned actions by the Venezuelan government, among these the continual use of criminal law and other state controls to punish or prevent the work of the critical press, aimed at shutting down spaces of participation and prosecuting those who have exercised their right to freedom of expression. (Caribbean News Now!)
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
MONDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2016
Caribbean Faces Serious Cyber Security Threats
Carlos Martinez, Chief Technology Officer, Latin America and the Caribbean Internet Addresses delivers a presentation on regional cyber security at Internet Week St Maarten in Philipsburg on October 24, 2016. Photo: LACNIC By Gerard Best PHILIPSBURG, St Maarten -- Keep it secret. And make sure it’s safe. Don’t use your real name, your birth date, or any single word. Instead, try a short phrase that includes some numerals and even some punctuation. Devising secure passwords for your online accounts and your family’s Internet-connected devices is simple enough, if you follow a few easy guidelines like these. But most people just don’t. And a major attack on a little-known company underscores how much of the security of the global Internet now depends on that unwitting majority of ordinary Internet users. On October 21, a distributed denial of service, or DDoS attack, brought down a relatively obscure US-based firm called Dyn. Those attacks are fairly common, and they use huge networks of malicious software called botnets to bring down a specific service. What made the DDoS attack on Dyn more troubling was that it set a
dangerous precedent. Dyn provides domain name system or DNS services, which support part of the critical infrastructure underlying the global Internet. By targeting companies that make up the backbone of the Internet, hackers can bring down all kinds of other services. Also disturbing is the fact that the hackers used networks of common smart devices like watches, TVs and refrigerators, to cause the major disruption. Analysts have linked the attack to the Mirai malware, which uses the Internet of Things, or IoT, as botnets. The Mirai source code was released on hacking websites in October. Analysts are also linking the Dyn attack to others that took place within a five-week span, each larger than the previous, and all using Mirai. On September 20, a 660 Gbps attack was launched on the KrebsOnSecurity blog. A one Tbps attack was also launched on French hosting provider OVH on the same day. “In the last two years, we’ve had multiple attacks, and the most recent attacks are using IoT devices,” said Mark Kosters, chief technology officer of the American Registry of Internet Numbers, the organisation that provides number resource allocation and registration services for North America and parts of the Caribbean.
He explained that smart devices present an easy target for hackers to turn into botnets because users typically fail to secure them properly. “A lot of the devices are vulnerable. It means that more and more homes are very quietly becoming potential sites of DDOS attacks,” he said. “Now, we all have to make sure that all of those devices that we have around the house are secure.” As smart devices proliferate, it will become easier for hackers to launch significant cyber attacks using unsecured IoT devices, unless ordinary end-users become more security-conscious. When it comes to cyber security, it turns out personal choices can have global consequences. And for the foreseeable future, it is the network of human beings who will have to keep the Internet of Things safe. The ARIN CTO was speaking on the second day of a technology conference jointly held by the Caribbean Network Operators Group and the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) in Philipsburg, St Maarten, from October 24 to 26. He copresented with Carlos Martinez, chief technology officer of the Latin America and Caribbean Internet Addresses Registry (LACNIC), ARIN’s counterpart in the Caribbean, Central and South America. Also presenting on the technical, social and policy aspects of cyber security issues facing the Caribbean region were CaribNOG co-founder Bevil Wooding, an internet strategist with Packet Clearing House; Albert Daniels, ICANN senior manager for stakeholder engagement in the Caribbean; and Shernon Osepa, regional affairs manager for Latin America and the Caribbean at the Internet Society (ISOC). Supported by the Caribbean Telecommunications Union, Packet Clearing House and ArkiTechs, the event was part of Internet Week St Maarten, a five-day conference coordinated by the St Maarten telecommunications regulator, BTP and focused on developing the Caribbean Internet. The week ended with St Maarten on the Move, a two-day event jointly hosted by LACNIC and ISOC. (Caribbean News Now!)
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
MONDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2016
New Report Says Regional GDP Will Shrink In 2016
CARTEGENA, Oct. 30, CMC – A new joint report by the Development Center of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the United Nations Commission for Latin American and the Caribbean (ECLAC) and the Development Bank for Latin America (CAF) says that regional Gross Domestic Product (GDP) will shrink by between 0.9 percent and one percent this year. ECLAC says this will be the second consecutive year of negative growth and a rate of contraction the region has not seen since the early 1980s. According to the Latin American Economic Outlook 2017, the region should, however, recover in 2017, but with modest GDP growth of between 1.5 percent and two percent, still below expected growth in advanced economies. The report says the prolonged economic deceleration could jeopardize the region’s socio-economic progress. Based on the report, the organizations have called for investing in youth through better education, improved skills and entrepreneurship opportunities to ignite economic growth and build a
solid basis for long-term progress. The Outlook shows how social, ethnic, gender and geographical conditioning impacts individuals. It says nearly 30 million young people in the region are neither working nor engaged in education or training (NEET), which is 21 percent of the people in this age group, compared with 15 percent in OECD countries. It says another 19 percent of youths are in informal jobs. The report notes that women are particularly disadvantaged, making up 76 per cent of NEETS and occupying mainly unpaid jobs. It adds that at least six out of 10 youths living in poor households are NEETs, or working in the informal sector, and four out of 10 youths living in vulnerable middle-class households are NEETs, or in informal jobs. This compares to only two out of 10 from middle-class households, ECLAC said. “The region can gain from better including youth and offering quality education, skills and entrepreneurship opportunities in order to foster growth and inclusion,” said Alicia Bárcena, ECLAC’s Executive Secretary, at the launch of the report here at the
25th Ibero-American Summit. “The lack of good employment opportunities and the poor transition from school to work are hindering youth inclusion and disappointing expectations in our region,” she added. “Too many young people are left out of access to public services, savings and social mobility.” Although education in Latin America and the Caribbean has improved significantly in the last decade, the report says few students advance far enough up the education ladder to be productive later in life. The report says two out of three young people are not equipped to meet labor market needs for sophisticated technical, professional and management skills. At the same time, it says 50 percent of formal firms in the region report having difficulty filling jobs, compared to 36 percent in OECD countries. The report says countries must identify low performing students, improve the transition to higher levels of education and strengthen technical education and training. “Training programs should combine classroom and workplace learning to transition to formal jobs.” In this context, the report says 26 per cent of young entrepreneurs turn to entrepreneurship out of necessity, “because they have no better options for work,” compared with 16 percent in OECD countries. The report says barriers to entrepreneurship are 59 percent higher in Latin America and the Caribbean than in the OECD on average.
“The integration of young entrepreneurs in the region into global value chains is still limited, and they face challenges accessing financing, improving capacity building, developing business n e t w o r k s a n d a n entrepreneurial culture, accessing new markets, and overcoming regulatory barriers, even more so than their adult counterparts,” the report says. The Outlook recommends multidimensional policy support, such as complementing microcredits with lower regulatory barriers, linking young entrepreneurs with business networks, and expanding managerial and financial training. “Supporting access to broadband services, infrastructure and affordability to help youth make the most of the digital economy is also paramount,” ECLAC said. “Policy makers need to collect information and evaluate youth programs to design policies taking on board the current technological, political and social transformations that are metamorphosing the world of work and the environment, notably cities where 9 out of 10 youths in LAC (Latin America and the Caribbean) will live by 2050,” said Enrique García, CAF President and Chief Executive Officer. “At the same time, these investments should be programmed within a credible and sustainable fiscal framework,” he added. (Antigua Observer)
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
MONDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2016
LIAT Flight Attendants Call On Management To Accept Responsibility For Issues Plaguing The Airline
ST JOHN’S, Antigua -- The Leeward Islands Flight Attendant Association (LIFAA) said it views the press release issued by LIAT’s management on October 25, 2016, as unfortunate and misleading, when acting CEO Julie Reifer-Jones maintained that the airline has sufficient crew to operate the current schedule. The release stated that the airline employs 76 cabin crew and that LIAT’s crew sickness levels for 2016 equates to 13%, a pattern that has been in existence for some time. It was also stated that, so far this year, LIAT has cancelled 261 flights and delayed a further 564 due to crew sickness. “LIFAA over the past years, despite pressure from many quarters, has maintained its silence and has refused to speak publicly on certain matters with regards to LIAT. However, the company has brought some of these matters pertaining to our members to the public, we are left with no other choice but to respond. We would have preferred if management would have discussed these issues with LIFAA internally. “When LIFAA had a meeting with management and asked the difference between the sickness rate now, and the sickness rate 11 years ago, why were we told that there is no difference; it is the same; there is no unusual spike in sickness?” the flight attendants association said in a testament on Sunday. According to LIFAA, LIAT does NOT have 76 cabin crew members, and said it is
surprised that even something as simple as knowing how many crew members the company has is unknown to management. “Our last count put cabin crew at 56 operational members. There are another 12 on extended leave due to injuries sustained on the job or maternity leave. LIFAA would like to categorically state that LIAT is indeed short of crew members,” it continued. LIAT does indeed have less crew because they have fewer planes, LIFAA noted, but the schedule has not been adjusted to achieve maximum efficiency. Currently, due to poor scheduling, if two cabin crew were unable to make it to work on any given day, there will be several cancellations. “How could an airline be run this way?” the flight attendants asked. Earlier this year, the airline made several cabin crew redundant, reportedly against the strong advice of LIFAA. At that time, they claimed they had more crew than was needed. Fast forward a few short months where, after taking the decision to make redundant several trained and experienced crew members, LIAT is apparently in a panic mode and has begun hiring new crew members to replace and even add to those already made redundant. These cabin crew members will need approximately two months to be trained before they can be put on active duty. This means that during the airline’s peak Christmas season, new crew members will be on training, as well as existing crew members will have to be taken off flights to train these new members, instead of having all hands on deck. LIFAA said it is certain it can be agreed upon that this lack of proper planning and ineffective management is highly inefficient, especially considering that it warned of this foreseeable debacle. “ L I FA A l o n g s f o r t h e d a y w h e n management realizes that it does NOT have all the answers. It takes a team effort to run LIAT in the best interests of the travelling public. We h a v e t r i e d o u r b e s t t o a s s i s t management on some of these very issues, and we have made repeated sacrifices, but our solution oriented advisories always seem to fall on deaf ears,” the flight
attendants said, adding, “Misleading statements to the public by LIAT is not the way forward. Accepting full responsibility is.” LIFAA said it will not standby and allow management to use its cabin crew as scapegoats, in order to hide from the public its ineffective management and incompetence in airline operations. LIFAA confirmed the accuracy of the recent statement made by Leeward Islands Airline Pilots' Association (LIALPA), in that there is indeed an existing roach infestation problem, but it is not only in the cockpits but in the passenger cabins as well. “We have already expressed our concerns about the type of chemicals being used to rectify this situation and have asked management for more details as to the harmful effects these chemicals can have on human health,” the flight attendants said. LIFAA also agreed with LIALPA’s statement that, even though LIAT recorded a profit in the first half of this year, management has yet to recognize that this would not have been achieved without dedicated and hard working flight and cabin crew. There would have been no profits achieved if cabin crew did not make the sacrifice of working 12-13 hours per day, and without the company scheduling meal breaks, the flight attendants noted. “LIALPA is telling the travelling public the truth, and we stand in solidarity with them, because hiding the truth to cover managerial and operational flaws does not help LIAT to be successful,” LIFAA said. LIFAA assured the travelling public that it will continue to be committed and dedicated to serving passengers to the best of its ability, and to ensure that they receive the “reliable” product that they desire and deserve. “However, we can only do so much, as we are not responsible for making managerial decisions such as crew employment, working conditions, operational scheduling, and other critical matters. “We hope that management will refrain from making inaccurate statements to the public, where we will always be ready to clarify and set the record straight, LIFAA concluded. (Caribbean News Now!)
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
MONDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2016
Mosul Battle: Iraqi Forces Near City's Eastern Outskirts
Counter Terrorism Service forces entered Bazwaya after a dawn assault on Monday(AFP)
I
raqi special forces are now less than 1.5km from the eastern outskirts of Mosul and are preparing to enter the city held by Islamic State fighters. Hundreds of Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS) troops entered Bazwaya, the last village before the city limits, after launching a dawn assault on Monday. A BBC correspondent travelling with them says there was some resistance, with car bombs targeting the convoy. Units of the army's ninth division are meanwhile advancing from the south. Earlier, the military announced the start of an operation to retake Mosul's "left bank", a reference to the eastern side of the River Tigris, which flows through the city from north to south. The BBC's Ian Pannell, who is with a CTS unit,
says the assault on Bazwaya, about 3km (1.9 miles) from Mosul, began early on Monday. Hundreds of troops in heavily-armoured Humvees, together with tanks and bulldozers, advanced on the village, supported by US-led coalition air strikes, our correspondent adds. Within hours the head of the Iraqi military's Nineveh Operations Command, Lt-Gen Abdul Amir Yarallah, announced that they had entered Bazwaya and raised the Iraqi flag. Our correspondent says that a column of troops is now probing different parts of Mosul's outskirts, as commanders make a plan about where to go next. Map showing territory held by Iraqi army, Kurdish forces and IS around Mosul One senior officer told the Associated Press news agency that they aimed to enter the city limits later on Monday, while another told Reuters they were already fighting in the Karama district. CTS commander Lt Gen Abdul
Wahhab al-Saidi denied that the troops had entered Karama. But he did say that they were moving on Kokajili, an industrial zone west of Bazwaya that lies about 1km from Mosul's municipal boundary. It had been expected the CTS would halt its advance until troops and allied fighters on other frontlines also reached the outskirts of Mosul. Gen Yarallah announced earlier that the army's ninth division had taken control of the village of Ellag, 17km (10 miles) south of Mosul. Army units also recaptured a number of villages to the south-east and north, the military said, while federal police are moving north from the town of Shura towards Hamam alAlil. About 50,000 Iraqi security forces personnel, Kurdish Peshmerga fighters, Sunni Arab tribesmen and Shia militiamen are involved in the two-week-old offensive to drive IS militants out of their last major urban stronghold in the country. Mosul fell to the jihadists in June 2014 and their leader chose a mosque in the city as a place to proclaim the establishment of a "caliphate". Before the offensive began on 17 October, there were believed to be between 3,000 and 5,000 militants remaining in Mosul, along with up to 1.5 million civilians. More than 17,700 residents have fled so far and, according to the UN's worst-case scenario, as many as 700,000 others could follow suit. (BBC)
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
MONDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2016
NHL Goalie's 'Hell of A Game' For Cancer-stricken Wife
It was Nicholle Anderson who encouraged Craig to return and play(TWITTER) By all accounts, it was a great game for Ottawa Senators goalie Craig Anderson. He helped his team to 20 victory against the Edmonton Oilers on Sunday, shutting out 37 shots on goal. But Anderson had not been expected to play in that
National Hockey League (NHL) game in Edmonton at all. He was supposed to be on personal leave to be with his wife, Nicholle, who was recently diagnosed with cancer, but she was the one who urged him to play. She encouraged Anderson to return to the rink after backup goalie Andrew Hammond was injured, leaving the team without key
experience in net. "Nicholle wanted Craig to phone me," said Senators general manager Pierre Dorion. "She was the one who said, 'Craig, your teammates need you right now.'" A day earlier, Dorion announced on Anderson's behalf that his wife had been diagnosed with cancer, but that the goalie was coming back to play in Sunday's game. The team rallied around the emotional goaltender after the ďŹ nal horn at the end of the game. "We did everything we could to help him but he played a hell of a game himself," said team captain Erik Karlsson following the game. Rival Oilers fans also stuck around to cheer Anderson, who received the game's ďŹ rst star award. So did Oilers goalie Cam Talbot. Head coach Guy Boucher told reporters after the game that "we really love hockey, it's a great game. But there are things that are bigger". (BBC)
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
MONDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2016
Diwali Fireworks Choke Delhi, Angering Indians
Authorities issued pollution warnings in Delhi ahead of Diwali(AP) Angry residents of the Indian capital, Delhi, are sharing images of smog, one day after Diwali celebrations saw huge quantities of fireworks set off. Levels of pollutants in the air were 30 t i m e s t h e Wo r l d H e a l t h Organisation's recommended level in one neighbourhood. Authorities had warned that Delhi faced a polluted Diwali because of factors like humidity and wind speed. Diwali, the most important Hindu festival in north India, celebrates the victory of good over evil. On Monday morning, visibility across the city was extremely low, thanks to a thick blanket of smog covering the city. Residents were advised to stay indoors. Levels of tiny particulate matter (known as PM 2.5) that reaches deep into the lungs more than doubled within a few hours on Monday to 750 micrograms per cubic metre in the
worst affected parts, India's Central Pollution Control Board said That is 30 times a mean guideline set by the World Health Organization (WHO) of 25 micrograms per cubic metre on average over a 24-hour period. The US embassy in Delhi said its air pollution index late on Sunday had breached the "hazardous" upper limit level of 500, at which it stops measuring levels of particulate matter. Gufran Beig, chief scientist at India's state-run System of Air Quality Weather Forecasting and Research (Safar), told AFP news agency: "Almost 60-70% of the smoke came from the firecrackers." Safar said there was a "serious risk" of respiratory problems for people living in Delhi and advised against physical activities. Delhi, a city of 16 million people, is the 11th most polluted city in the world, according to a report released by the WHO in May. On the days before the festival, the air quality there was already bad. Authorities have tried to address the
issue, including banning old trucks from entering the city and briefly trialling a scheme that limited private vehicle usage to alternate days. But experts say such measures have done little to reduce pollution. During the winter months, Delhi's pollution is aggravated by many of the city's poor burning rubbish at night to stay warm. Agricultural waste is also set on fire across thousands of hectares around Delhi to clear cropland, which burns for days on end. Meanwhile, a new study by the UN's children's fund, Unicef, said that nearly one in seven children in the world breathes outdoor air at least six times dirtier than international guidelines recommend. Most of them live in South Asian cities, many in northern India. Air pollution is also a leading cause of premature death in India, with about 620,000 people dying every year from pollutionrelated diseases, says the WHO. Grey line For some they are an opportunity to show off wealth. Business families spend hundreds of thousands of rupees to buy fireworks which are then used in the course of a single night. Fireworks are also big business in India, with thousands of families employed in related factories. Before Diwali there were several campaigns asking people to cut down on the use of fireworks. Similar initiatives in the past have got little attention. How have people reacted to the smog? Many have been very angry. The hashtag #smog was a trending topic on Twitter India. "Good show last night, Delhi. Now choke!" read one angry tweet from user Pratik Prasenjit. (BBC)
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
MONDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2016
Clinton Emails: FBI Chief May Have Broken Law, Says Top Democrat
Mr Comey has come under fire from Democrats over the move(AP) The Democratic leader in the US Senate says the head of the FBI may have broken the law by revealing the bureau was investigating emails possibly linked to Hillary Clinton. Harry Reid accused FBI director James Comey of violating an act which bars officials from influencing an election. News of the FBI inquiry comes less than two weeks before the US election. The bureau has meanwhile obtained a warrant to search a cache of emails belonging to a top Clinton aide. Emails from Huma Abedin are believed to have been found on the laptop of her estranged husband, former congressman Anthony Weiner. There are reportedly 650,000 emails to search through on the laptop, making it unlikely investigators can give a verdict on them before election day. Mr Reid also accused Mr Comey of withholding "explosive information about close ties between [Republican candidate] Donald
Trump, his top advisers, and the Russian government". "The public has a right to know about this information. I wrote to you months ago calling for this information to be released to the public," Mr Reid said. The FBI believes the emails might be "pertinent" to its previous inquiry into Mrs Clinton's use of a private server when she was secretary of state in the Obama administration. The case was closed in July without any charges being brought against Mrs Clinton. Mr Weiner is subject to a separate investigation on suspicion of sending sexually explicit messages to an underage girl. 'Partisan actions' In a letter, Mr Reid accused Mr Comey of practising double standards with the intention of helping one political party over another. He said Mr Comey may have violated the Hatch Act, which bars officials from using their position to influence an election. "Through your partisan actions, you may have broken the law," he said. Richard Painter, a professor at the University of Minnesota Law School and the chief White House ethics
lawyer from 2005 to 2007, revealed on Sunday he had filed a complaint against the FBI with the Office of Special Counsel, which investigates Hatch Act violations. Writing in the New York Times he said: "I never thought that the FBI could be dragged into a political circus surrounding one of its investigations. Until this week." What is the Hatch Act? The act, passed in 1939, prevents federal employees from using their positions to benefit a particular political party. It also applies to some state, Washington DC and local government employees. The legislation was named after Senator Carl Hatch of New Mexico, who campaigned against federal employees' political activities during elections. It was amended in 1993 to clarify that most federal staff can work on partisan campaigns in their own time. With little more than a week to go before the 8 November election, opinion polls suggested that Mrs Clinton's lead against Mr Trump was tightening even before the email controversy surfaced again. An ABC News/Washington Post poll published on Sunday put Mrs Clinton just one percentage point ahead. Mrs Clinton has described Mr Comey's actions as "unprecedented" and "deeply troubling". But Mr Trump has praised the FBI's decision, accusing the justice department of protecting Mrs Clinton in a "rigged system". "The department of justice is trying their hardest to protect the criminal activity of Hillary Clinton," Mr Trump told a rally in Nevada. It emerged on Sunday that the department had urged the FBI not to inform Congress of the new inquiry so close to the election. (BBC)
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
MONDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2016
Italy Quake: At Least 15,000 In Temporar y Shelters
Drone footage shows the extent of the damage to the basilica of San Benedetto in Norcia Italy's most powerful earthquake since 1980 has left more than 15,000 people homeless, according to the country's civil protection agency. No-one was killed in Sunday's quake but 20 people were injured and there is extensive damage in and around Norcia. The 6.6-magnitude quake struck near the central region where nearly 300 people were killed by a quake in August. Prime Minister Matteo Renzi is due to chair a meeting of his cabinet to discuss e m e r g e n c y reconstruction. Mr Renzi said that Italy's soul was unsettled. It was an "enormous relief" that no-
one had died this time, he added. The earthquake struck on Sunday morning, destroying buildings or rendering them structurally unsafe in several towns and villages in the mountainous central region.Many of those affected are living with relatives or friends, but the civil protection agency said it was providing assistance to 15,000, with 10,000 accommodated in tents and converted sports halls. Thousands spent the night in their cars or under canvas. Hotels on the Adriatic coast are sheltering some 4,000. More than 100 aftershocks were registered overnight into Monday, including one of magnitude 4.2. Tremors from the latest earthquake were felt in the capital Rome, more than
100km (60 miles) away from the epicentre near the historic town of Norcia. The Rome metro system was closed on Sunday; an early 20th Century bridge, Ponte Mazzini, has been shut to traffic after cracks appeared; and a crack was visible on the facade of St Paul's Basilica, one of the four principal papal churches. In Norcia, in the Umbria region, locals have been demanding tents rather than moving out of the town. Some decided to stay in their homes. Norcia resident Stefano Boldrini, who is now living in a van with his eight-year-old daughter, was asked if they planned to stay in the area. "How could we? There's no more school, or church, or police station. There's nothing here any more," he said. The medieval basilica of St Benedict in Norcia was among many historic buildings destroyed. An evacuation of vulnerable buildings in central Italy last week, following strong aftershocks from August's quake, may have saved lives. Officials said three people were dug out of the rubble alive in the town of Tolentino on Sunday.
Sunday's quake - 6.6 as measured by the US Geological Survey - came on top of August's quake and two last week of magnitude 5.5 and 6.1. Other towns and villages to have suffered damage include Castelsantangelo, Preci, Ussita and Arquata. Central Italy has seen several major quakes in recent years. Earthquakes which devastated the town of L'Aquila in 2009 and Amatrice in August this year killed about 300 people each. But they both measured 6.2 and were deeper than Sunday's earthquake. Italy's most violent earthquakes since 1900 October 2016 - Norcia, central Italy, magnitude 6.6, no deaths reported so far November 1980 Campania, southern Italy (Naples badly hit), magnitude 6.9, up to 5,000 killed July 1930 - Irpinia, Campania, magnitude 6.6, 1,400 killed January 1915 - L'Aquila, magnitude 6.7, more than 30,000 killed December 1908 - Strait of Messina, magnitude 7.1, up to 200,000 killed by earthquake and tsunami September 1905 Calabria, magnitude 7.2, up to 2,500 killed by tsunami (BBC)
INTERNATIONAL PAGE 26
GUYANA DAILY NEWS
MONDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2016
Turkey Detains Opposition Cumhuriyet Journalists
Cumhuriyet has long been a thorn in the government's side(EPA) Turkish police have detained the editor and several writers of opposition newspaper Cumhuriyet amid a crackdown on media after the failed July coup. The journalists are suspected of links to US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, accused of plotting the coup, as well as Kurdish militants. Cumhuriyet is Turkey's oldest secular paper. At the weekend, 15 other media outlets were closed and 10,000 civil servants were dismissed. Those targeted include academics, teachers, health workers, prison guards and forensics experts. Critics have accused President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of using an emergency law imposed after the coup
attempt to silence opponents. Since then, a total of about 110,000 people have been sacked or suspended and 37,000 arrested. The government argues that Mr Gulen's network of followers is so vast that a wholesale purge is needed. Cumhuriyet editor Murat Sabuncu and eight other newspaper staff were detained o n M o n d a y, i n c l u d i n g columnists Aydin Engin and Guray Oz, state news agency Anadolu reported, Arrest warrants were also issued for other staff, including Cumhuriyet's previous editor Can Dundar, who resigned in August after being sentenced to five years in prison for revealing state secrets involving Turkey's operations in Syria. He fled Turkey when he was freed pending an appeal. Turkey
is currently under a state of emergency, imposed after the failed coup three months ago, in which more than 270 people died. A few copies of Monday's edition had been left at the gates of Cumhuriyet's premises. The headline read simply: "Coup against opposition." The story was about the suspension of thousands of civil servants and other laws introduced under emergency decrees. Only hours afterwards, the editor-in-chief and several writers were detained and arrest warrants issued for over a dozen of the paper's executives. An investigation into Cumhuriyet executives was launched in August amid allegations that some of its reports had legitimised the coup attempt. Cumhuriyet is one of the last few remaining opposition papers in Turkey. It was awarded the Freedom of the Press prize by Reporters Without Borders last year and received the Right Livelihood Award, known as the alternative Nobel Peace Prize. Last week, 15 Kurdish and leftist newspapers were closed down under emergency laws. Now the opposition fears they might be silenced even further. (BBC)
INTERNATIONAL PAGE 27
GUYANA DAILY NEWS
MONDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2016
South Africa Drops Charges Against Finance Minister Gordhan
The efforts of Pravin Gordhan (C) to rein in government spending have won him respect(GETTY IMAGES) South Africa's chief prosecutor has dropped fraud charges against Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan. Mr Gordhan had described the allegations as without merit and politically motivated. News of the charges earlier this month rattled the financial markets and the South African rand fell more than 3%. The finance minister has been seen as standing up to President Jacob Zuma in cabinet and has warned against corruption becoming rampant. He was appointed for a second stint in the job late last year after the president's preferred candidate lasted just a few days. The fraud c h a rg e s r e l a t e d t o a l l e g e d severance payments made to a senior executive at the South
African Revenue Service (Sars), when it was under Mr Gordhan's leadership 10 years ago. After reviewing the charges, the head of South Africa's National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Shaun Abrahams, said there had been no criminal intent. This is the latest in a series of blunders relating to the finance ministry that have cost South Africa's economy millions of dollars. Many had alleged that the fraud case against Mr Gordhan was politically motivated and the NPA's U-turn plays into those claims. It seems to have buckled under pressure following the public outcry against the decision to charge Mr Gordhan. Dozens of high-profile South Africans, including 100 stalwarts of the governing African National Congress had rallied behind the minister, seeing the charges as a political ploy aimed at ousting him
from office so that the treasury could be looted by corrupt people. The debacle has raised questions about the independence of the NPA and whether it has been reduced to a political tool. At a news conference on Monday, Mr Abrahams rejected criticism that the original charges had been politically motivated. He said that everyone was treated equally before the law, and that laying charges and reviewing them was normal practice, IOL news website quotes him as saying. He added that he did not owe anyone an apology and dismissed calls for him to resign. The financial markets reacted positively to the news and there was a spike in the value of the currency when it broke. When President Zuma sacked Nhlanhla Nene as finance minister last December, replacing him with David van Rooyen, the widelycriticised move sent the rand to record lows and caused the stock market to tumble. Within a few days Mr Gordhan was appointed in Mr Van Rooyen's place - a move designed to quell market discontent and restore some confidence. Many analysts believe that President Zuma would like to replace Mr Gordhan, who had previously served as South Africa's finance minister from 2009 until 2014. (BBC)
INTERNATIONAL PAGE 28
GUYANA DAILY NEWS
MONDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2016
Dutch Politician Geert Wilders Boycotts Hate-speechWildersTrial crossed a line when he
Anna Holligan reports: "Geert Wilders is refusing the attend the trial” Dutch anti-Islam politician Geert Wilders has failed to turn up for a trial where he is charged with racial discrimination and inciting hatred. The charges were brought after he led a chant for fewer Moroccans in the Netherlands at a rally 18 months ago. Mr Wilders, leader of the Dutch Freedom Party (PVV), said the trial at Schiphol,
was political and "a travesty". If convicted, he faces a fine and a year in prison. Mr Wilders has repeatedly criticised Islam, calling for the Koran to be banned and for the closure of all mosques in the Netherlands. 'Political trial' The trial, in a highsecurity courtroom, heard that 6,474 complaints had been made in response to Mr Wilders' remarks at a rally in 2014. A sample of 35 complaints was read out. Prosecutors argued that Geert
asked supporters if they wanted "fewer or more Moroccans" in the Netherlands. After supporters chanted back "fewer", he replied: "We'll organise that." Mr Wilders denounced the trial as an attempt to suppress freedom of speech. “This is a political process, and I refuse to co-operate with it. We have to talk about politics in parliament, not in the courtroom," he said in a statement read by his lawyer. But the prosecutor insisted Mr Wilders was wrong to assume that as a politician his remarks were exempt from laws on hate speech. In 2011, Mr Wilders was acquitted of incitement after being accused of encouraging hatred towards Muslims. The latest trial comes as opinion polls suggest the PVV is consistently faring well in polls, ahead of parliamentary elections in March. The party is currently second, behind Prime Minister Mark Rutte's liberal VVD, and is predicted to win 23 seats in the 150-seat parliament. (BBC)
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
MONDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2016
Tippi Hedren Claims Alfred Hitchcock S e x u a l l y A s s a u l tThene hedstartedHadding e threats, r
Hedren said Hitchcock vowed to ruin her career after she rejected him(GETTY IMAGES) Actress Tippi Hedren has claimed Alfred Hitchcock sexually harassed her while they worked together in the 1960s. Writing in her autobiography, she claimed the director "threw himself" on top of her in the back of his limousine and tried to kiss her. The actress described the encounter as "an awful, awful moment". Hedren added that she didn't tell anyone because "sexual harassment and stalking were terms that didn't exist" in the early 1960s. She continued: "Besides, he was Alfred Hitchcock, one of Universal's superstars, and I was just a lucky little blonde model he'd rescued from relative obscurity.
Which one of us was more valuable to the studio, him or me?" 'Shocked and repulsed' Hedren appeared in The Birds in 1963 and the following year starred in Marnie - both of which were directed by Hitchcock. The actress, now 86, made the claims in her autobiography Tippi: A Memoir, which is published in November. She has spoken in the past about the director's alleged treatment of her, but has gone into more detail in the memoir. Hedren described a later encounter in Hitchcock's office where the director "suddenly grabbed" her and "put his hands" on her. She wrote: "It was sexual, it was perverse, and it was ugly, and I couldn't have been more shocked and more repulsed. "The harder I fought him, the more aggressive he became.
as if he could do anything to me that was worse than what he was trying to do at that moment." After refusing his demands, Hedren said Hitchcock "looked directly into my eyes, his face red with rage, and promised, 'I'll ruin your career.'" The actress said Hitchcock then made her life difficult, refusing to submit her work for the Oscar nominations or let her take on other acting roles while he still had her under contract. Hedren, whose daughter Melanie Griffith is also an actress, said: "I've made it my mission ever since to see to it that while Hitchcock may have ruined my career, I never gave him the power to ruin my life." She went on to say that, despite his treatment of her, she felt "a wave of sadness" when he died in 1980. "It surprised everyone that I went to Hitchcock's funeral," she wrote, adding: "As far as I was concerned, there was no unfinished business between us, nothing more that needed to be said. "I'd already healed and moved on by the time Hitchcock died, far past anything I'd ever imagined for myself. So in the e n d , I w a s t h e r e t o s a y, 'Goodbye, and thank you, Hitch.'" (BBC)
INTERNATIONAL PAGE 30
GUYANA DAILY NEWS
MONDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2016
Nepal Drains Dangerous Everest Lake
The lake had its water levels lowered by over 3m(DEPARTMENT OF HYDROLOGY AND METEOROLOGY) Nepal's army says it has finished draining a dangerous glacial lake near Mount Everest to a safe level. The Imja glacial lake, at nearly 5,000m (16,400ft) high, was in danger of flooding downstream settlements, trekking trails and bridges. The lake, which was originally 149m deep in places, has had its water levels lowered by 3.4m after months of painstaking work, officials say. Imja is one of thousands of glacial lakes in the Himalayas. Many of the lakes are said to be filling up fast because of accelerated melting of glaciers amid rising global temperatures. Last year's earthquake in Nepal is also feared to have further destabilised Lake Imja.
The military said the project to make it safe was the highest drainage project of its kind, with army personnel and Sherpas working for six months to construct an outlet to gradually release the water. After the outlet was constructed, nearly four million cubic metres of water was released - in a process that took two months. Top Khatri, the project's manager with the department of hydrology and meteorology, told the BBC the process would now be applied to other lakes. "It was a pilot project that we completed without any unfortunate incident and now this model will be replicated to reduce risks in other glacial lakes as well," Mr Khatri said. The project was also challenging because of the heavy snow and the dangers of working at high altitude. Officials said teams could only work safely for a few hours each day. "We suffered
from some level of stress and fatigue as we were working at this high altitude and extreme location," Lt-Col Bharat Shrestha, who headed the army team, told the BBC from the Everest region. "In the beginning, a few people had to be evacuated as they suffered from high altitude sickness but gradually we all acclimatised ourselves to this place." The draining of the lake is a part of a UN project to help Nepal deal with the impact of climate change. The UN provided nearly $3m in funding to lower the lake's water levels. Early warning systems have also been installed for communities downstream. However, many local Sherpas feel too much attention has been given to Imja, with alarmist media reports panicking locals, while the risks posted by other glacial lakes are ignored by officials. "We live in fear that we might be surprisingly hit by floods from glacial lakes that are becoming dangerous but have not received any attention," said Nimji Sherpa, a leader in Thamo village. Glacial lakes have broken their banks in Nepal more than 20 times since the early 1960s. Three of those incidents have been in and around the Everest region. (BBC)
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2016
Former Attorney General Rebukes Government For ‘Pradoville 2’ Probe
Former Attorney-at-Law, Anil Nandlall The opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) is of the view that the APNU+AFC government is making a mockery of the justice system in Guyana. The government is being criticized for appointing special prosecutors to probe Pradoville 2 housing project at Sparendaam, East Coast
Demerara following the findings of a forensic audit. Minister of State Joseph Harmon had told a recent post cabinet media briefing that “Cabinet, upon examination of the reports, concluded that in both cases there were indications of criminal culpability that required further investigation. Cabinet agreed that in each case a special prosecutors’ team would be established, and that the Minister of Legal Affairs would submit a report to Cabinet — within one week — on the composition of such a team.”
Parliamentarian of the PPP and former Attorney-at-Law, Anil Nandlall rebuked the decision of the government. He said, “What we have now is the government hiring a group of prosecutors, to prosecute a group of persons, who happens to be its ( g o v e r n m e n t ’s ) political opponents, that by itself raises questions.” According to the Parliamentarian, the body enshrined to administer justice is the courts and that the office of the Director of Public Prosecutors
(DPP) is being bypassed. He further stated that the prosecutors will be handpicked by the government and paid by the government and therefore, they will carry out the will of the government.
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2016
Food & Drug To toConfiscate Unlabeled Foods purchase unlabeled items of processed their advice.
The Government Analyst – Food and Drug Department (GA-FDD) will soon be moving to seize and confiscate unlabeled foods that are consistently being released for sale on the local market in large volumes. The department has found businesses/manufacturers are continuing the illegal and unhealthy practice of selling unlabeled items of processed foods with little or no regards
GA-FDD also advised the general public particularly consumers against the selling and purchasing of unlabeled items of processed foods, such as flour, milk, sauces, spices and beverages. The department also pointed out that the sale of unlabeled processed foods is in contravention to the Laws of Guyana Food and Drug Act Chapter 34:03 Part II Section 6. (2) and the Food and Drug Regulation No. 10 of 1977 section 18. (1). Manufacturers and food processors who are involved in this prohibitive practice are guilty of an offence according to the Food and Drug Act. In addition, the GA-FDD said that this practice poses a public health risk and consumers are being advised not to
foods because unlabeled foods are in most cases manufactured and/or package under insanitary conditions by unlicensed manufacturers and may be subjected to adulteration (mixing) with substandard and or expired foods and listed several other factors. Consumers are taking a risk when purchasing unlabeled foods that is void of information (name and address of manufacturer, batch number, expiry date, list of ingredients etc.) in the event of food poisoning , complaint or the need litigation (legal action against) manufacturers or packagers. The Department would be left with no alternative but to enforce the laws by seizure and confiscation.
Blackout Woes Continue On The Essequibo Coast GPL recently replaced the damaged transmitting system at Anna Regina but the blackouts continue. At a recent post cabinet press briefing, Minister of State Joseph Harmon had noted that the recent blackouts in Demerara, Essequibo and Bartica was due to GPL’s maintenance schedule and its transmission and distribution networks.
Residents on the Essequibo Coast continue to suffer at the hands of the Guyana Power and Light Company (GPL). Some residents told this newspaper that on a daily basis they experience in excess of six hours of power outage without any explanation from GPL. The residents are at their wits end and blame government for its lackadaisical attitude towards the supply of power to the Essequibo Coast, pointing out that many of their electrical items have been damaged due to the unstable electricity. One resident from Hampton Court said, “This is too much for the residents on the Essequibo Coast. I have two children who are attending school, and they need power to study and do their homework.”
LOCAL
GUYANA DAILY NEWS Cabinet Engages GuySuCo On Sugar Industry’s Future Cabinet was treated to a full PAGE 35
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2016
presentation by Chief Executive Officer of GuySuCo, Mr. Errol Hanoman and Chairman of the Board, Professor Clive Thomas. At the close of the presentation, President Granger said that the report will be thoroughly examined and discussed at Cabinet in an effort to make a determination on the industry, which will be beneficial to all concerned. MOTP Press Release
President David Granger (fifth from right) and Members of his Cabinet being briefed by the Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) Mr. E r ro l H a n o m a n , a t C a b i n e t meeting today. Georgetown, Guyana – (November 1, 2016) Members of the Board of Directors of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), earlier this afternoon, engaged President David Granger and Cabinet members on the current status of operations at the organisation, as well as future plans.
LOCAL
GUYANA DAILY NEWS Top Cop Alludes To Possible Blackmail Of Magistrate PAGE 36
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2016
counts of discharging loaded firearms – in two cases it was at the police patrol, 1 case of attempt murder, 2 cases of serious wounding and in all those instances he was granted bail,” Ramnarine said. Ramnarine then went on to say that “information suggests that the then presiding Magistrate resided in a home in which the defendant’s lawyer had some control over.”
Police Commissioner (ag) David Ramnarine Police Commissioner (ag) David Ramnarine has alluded to the possible blackmail of a Magistrate, as it relates to an ongoing case in the court. At a press conference on Monday, the top cop highlighted the case against Raul Franklin, who was charged several times at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s court for serious offenses but was still granted
bail. “A case to note, we has this fellow Raul Franklin who is now a defendant and not what yuh call a repeat offender. He was arrested at Middle Street, La Penitence a few days ago. He was found in possession of a .04 pistol and four rounds. He (Franklin) was charged between 2013 and 2015 on several occasions at the Sparendaam Court on at least six counts of robbery under arms involving the use of firearms, three
However, the acting top cop did not give the name of the Magistrate nor the name of Franklin’s lawyer. Ramnarine then immediately avoid questioning by media operatives by noting, “I say no more.” Commissioner Ramnarine during a recent press conference said that he will not allow the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to be criticized for the failures of the other components in the criminal justice system. “I will not take responsibility for the behaviour of other people who constitute and have a role to play in the criminal justice system. I can only defend our actions in the Police Force,” the commissioner expressed.
LOCAL
GUYANA DAILY NEWS Ministers Attend Social Development Conference PAGE 37
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2016
Guyana at the Eighth Ministerial Forum for Development in Latin America and the Caribbean being held in the Dominican Republic. The two-day Santo Domingo meeting began yesterday to provide ministers and decision-makers a space to discuss social policy experiences and identify answers to the region's new challenges.
Minister of Social Protection, Volda Lawrence and Minister in the Ministry of Finance, Jaipaul Sharma are representing
The Ministers delivered a joint presentation on Guyana’s situation on the first day of the conference, inclusive of Government’s effort to boost socioeconomic development. United Nations Development Administrator Helen Clark noted that this Ministerial Forum will address three aspects of the challenges by countries.
They will look at how countries in the region are looking beyond Gross Domestic Product when measuring development progress; exchange experiences of how countries are taking on board the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; and take stock of current social protection efforts in the region and of the dynamics of current poverty reduction approaches. Ministers Lawrence and Sharma will also participate in the First Meeting of the Presiding Officers of the Regional Conference on Social Development in Latin America and the Caribbean while in the Dominican Republic.
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
LOCAL TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2016
Ramjattan Wants Business Community To Go “Plastic” Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan is of the view that members of the business community should switch to “plastic” as a way of securing themselves from criminal elements and use safer means of transacting their business. “There are lots of people walking around with millions and millions of dollars. We want to go plastic, and I want the business community to go that way because it cuts the rate (of crime) down by 35 percent,” Minister Ramjattan said in response to questions posed by media operatives yesterday at the launching of the opening of Road Safety Awareness Month today, at Parliament Square. Meanwhile the Minister also wants citizens to learn to trust the statistics issued by the Guyana Police Force (GPF). “I would like you to take the statistics from the (Police) Commissioner, yes, indeed as against previous weeks in this year there has been an increase in gun violence, but as against last year it has been lower,” Ramjattan said. Many persons and businesses, including the Private Sector Commission (PSC) is of the view that the police statistics do not truly reflect the nature of the gun related crime situation in Guyana. Acting Police Commissioner David Ramnarine at a press briefing on October 22 had indicated that there was an increase in armed robberies in ‘D’ Division but overall, over the last three years there has been a reduction and the end of September, serious crimes across the country were reportedly down 19 percent. The top cop yesterday again said that serious crime is down by 17% for the period 1st January, 2016 to 31st October, 2016 when compared to the same period last year. Minister Ramjattan said that his ministry has been working with the GPF to “as best as possible to deal with the situation” such as gun smuggling across the Brazilian border.
Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan
LOCAL
GUYANA DAILY NEWS Ramnarine Chastises PSC About Statements Made On Crime situation Police Commissioner (ag), David crimes threaten their wellbeing and
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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2016
Ramnarine
safety.”
Police Commissioner (ag), David Ramnarine has dismissed the concerns of the Private Sector Commission (PSC), which had stated that the government and the police force are unable to protect its citizens given the recent spate of crimes. Ramnarine told a news conference Monday that the statement made by the PSC is preposterous and it cannot be supported. The PSC had noted that “We believe that it is felt in the national concern of every citizen over the inability of the state to generally protect our citizens from widespread gun inspired
Major General retired Norman McLean who is a member of the Commission told media operatives that “we need to have detection plus so that the court play their part for us to have tertiary crime prevention. Not only detect and prosecute people but ensure that ultimately, they appear in the court and in a timely manner, are dealt with.” The Commission is calling on the Guyana Police Force to allocate resources where it is necessary and to have a more visible presence in areas where crimes are being perpetuated.
REGIONAL PAGE 40
GUYANA DAILY NEWS
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2016
Haiti Election Date Again In Doubt goal." According to the electoral adviser Jean Simon Saint-
PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti -- After publishing a new electoral calendar ďŹ xing the date of the presidential election on 20 November, which had originally been scheduled for October 9, but postponed because of the passage of Hurricane Matthew over Haiti, the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) on Monday indicated that it may not in fact be able to hold the elections as rescheduled. The reason given is the extent of damage caused by the hurricane to the electoral infrastructure (nearly 300 centres) and many access roads, while nothing is happening on the ground at the level of shared responsibility of the government to address these issues. In a letter dated October 27 [resembling an ultimatum] addressed to the de facto President Jocelerme Privert, LĂŠopold Berlanger, the president of the CEP gave the government ten days to make functional the 280 damaged voting centres, make passable the access roads leading to other 161 centres, provide a voting card to voters who lost theirs during the hurricane and release 40 schools to be used as voting centres but temporarily occupied by hurricane victims, otherwise there will be no elections on November 20, 2016, HaitiLibre reported. Berlanger was clear on this point, saying that he was "Convinced that only the expedited execution of these provisions will allow us to respect the deadline of 20 November for the elections, the CEP remains mobilized to collaborate with the executive to accomplish this
Hubert, if elections are not held on 20 November, the CEP will have to take a decision based on its mission, implying without saying that another failure could lead to the mass resignation of the CEP, thereby creating even more uncertainty and chaos. (Caribbean News Now!)
Provisional Electoral Council (CEP). File photo
REGIONAL
GUYANA DAILY NEWS British Overseas Territories Leaders To Form Brexit Group To Engage UK PAGE 41
LONDON, England (CNS) -- Concerned about how the UK’s departure from the European Union over the next two years will impact their communities, leaders from the British Overseas Territories have agreed to form a group to focus on the whole question of Brexit. Territory leaders attended the United Kingdom Overseas Territories Association (UKOTA) Political Council meeting on Monday morning, where the BOT delegations discussed their concerns before sitting down with UK officials at the Joint Ministerial Council meeting. Cayman Islands Premier Alden McLaughlin said a small forum of territories was needed to deal specifically with Brexit to keep the territories’ leaders informed and ensure engagement with the UK before Article 50 of the EU’s Lisbon Treaty is invoked to begin the work of separating the United Kingdom from the European Union. British Prime Minister Theresa May has stated that she expects to formally trigger talks with the EU under article 50 before March next year. “UKOTA members are concerned they will lose direct access to the EU with Brexit and agreed they will have to fight for representation,” according to a media release from the premier’s press secretary. “They also agreed that Brexit offers an opportunity for the Overseas Territories to improve their relationship with the UK.” McLaughlin said in the release, “The UKOTA Political Council meeting gives leaders of the Overseas Territories a chance to gather before we begin meetings of the JMC and to discuss matters relevant to the upcoming JMC sessions.” He added that he and the Cayman delegation would meet with members of the British parliament, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and others to discuss issues that are specific to Cayman. During her visit recent to Cayman, FCO Minister for the
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2016
Overseas Territories Baroness Anelay said she was confident that Britain’s departure from the European Union would not have a detrimental impact on the territories. However, at this point no one really knows what the Brexit will mean for the UK, let alone its dependent territories. While Brexit may dominate the agenda, there are other areas of concerns for the BOTs, some common to all and some more pertinent to specific territories. Marine and maritime management, biodiversity, climate change, financial services as well as immunities and privileges are some of the concerns that are expected to be on the agenda of the JMC, which starts Tuesday and will be chaired by Anelay. During Monday’s meeting the BOT leaders also agreed that, while the Pitcairn Islands will host next year’s major pre-JMC meeting, it will take place in London rather than on the very remote and sparsely populated islands in the Pacific. (Caribbean News Now!)
Cayman Islands Premier Alden McLaughlin
REGIONAL
GUYANA DAILY NEWS Some Caribbean Countries Transitioning To Cassava Flour PAGE 42
GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands -- At least three Caribbean countries – Barbados, Grenada and Trinidad and Tobago – are selling sliced bread made partly from cassava flour instead of only regular wheat flour and another five have had training in a bid to have the region use more cassava and its products, this according to Dr Lystra Fletcher-Paul from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Caribbean office. “Bakers from eight CARICOM countries have been trained in using grated cassava and/or cassava flour to replace up to 40% wheat flour,” said Fletcher-Paul, while addressing the opening ceremony of the Caribbean Week of Agriculture on Wednesday, October 26 in the Cayman Islands. “Supermarkets in Barbados, Grenada and Trinidad and Tobago now sell sliced bread made from 40% cassava.” Fletcher-Paul was speaking against the background that the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has an annual food import bill in excess of US$ 4 billion. With a large, growing market of 16 million people in 15 member states and food imports nearly doubling over the last ten years, she stressed that the region needed to find alternatives to reduce the food bill. The FAO in collaboration with other partners such as the Caribbean Agribusiness Association (CABA) and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) are a part of a regional cassava working group, which has been pushing for greater investment in cassava production in the Caribbean. According to an FAO brief on cassava, the product is a viable substitute to the importation of wheat and corn as a contributor to the high import bill. Some 900 000 metric tonnes of wheat for flour (valued at US$248.77 million) and 420 000 tonnes of corn (valued at US$145.46 million), mainly for poultry feed, is imported by CARICOM countries annually. Additionally, the regional beer industry imports nearly 100 000 tonnes of malt annually and uses high fructose corn syrup as another ingredient in beer. “Red Stripe is now using cassava in its beer production,” said Fletcher-Paul, while adding that the cassava market had expanded to coffee shops and hotels, to feed suppliers for livestock feed and breweries for beer. The FAO brief said that based on analyses conducted in several CARICOM countries, there is a huge, untapped import substitution market opportunity for food, flour, feed and beer (and possibly energy – if volumes of production permit) that can be addressed by using cassava. Cassava can: • replace 400 000 metric tonnes of wheaten flour in CARICOM countries
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• substitute up to 40% of the corn in poultry rations without adverse effects as well as a portion of other animal feeds • be more widely consumed as a healthy, staple food • on its own address approximately 5% of the food import bill. It made the case that the CARICOM region is wellplaced to move the cassava industry forward. Cassava already has a production base in almost all of the countries of the region and is adapted to a wide range of environments and soil types, making it an ideal crop for expansion on marginal and sub-marginal lands. Non-traditional uses that need to be more widely exploited currently include animal feed (cassava hay, chips, pellets and feed-grade single-cell protein) and industrial applications (bio-fuel feedstock; sweeteners, alcohol, plywood, textiles, paper). The CARICOM Secretariat, with funding from the European Union, is leading the development of a regional cassava policy with the other agencies contributing, especially from the standpoint of production, processing, marketing and consumption public policy needs. The issue of cassava was also an agenda item on the third day of discussions and the formulation of an investment policy for Caribbean Agriculture at the 14th staging of the Caribbean Week of Agriculture. (Caribbean News Now!)
Lamb burger and cassava bread – a hit at CWA: Assistant Director General for FAO, Raul Benitez (second left front row) and FAO Sub-Regional Coordinator for the Caribbean, Dr Lystra Fletcher-Paul (third right) as well as other FAO staff members enjoy lamb burgers made from blended cassava and wheat flour at the Caribbean Week of Agriculture
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
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Building The Caribbean Internet Economy By Gerard Best PHILIPSBURG, St Maarten -- In the Caribbean, change is in the air. In fact, it’s in the cloud. There’s a new conversation among the community of technology experts who spearhead Caribbean Internet development, and the buzz is no longer just about physical infrastructure. The architects of the region’s digital future are actively taking steps to strengthen the region’s economy by developing the Caribbean cloud. “We have to look beyond basic infrastructure deployment, to developing the local content, services and business models that can truly benefit the region,” said Bevil Wooding, Internet strategist with US-based non-profit Packet Clearing House (PCH). “Twelve Internet exchange points are already established in the Caribbean, and several others are being considered. While we continue to push for strengthening of critical Internet infrastructure in the region, our focus must also expand to development of the Caribbean Internet-based economy. We need to build out the Caribbean cloud,” he said. Internet exchange points, or IXPs, are pieces of critical infrastructure that provide points of physical interconnection between the networks that make up the global Internet. PCH has played an active role in setting up more than two-thirds of the world’s IXPs and almost all of the exchange points in the Caribbean. The non-profit firm has worked closely with the Caribbean Telecommunications Union, an inter-governmental CARICOM organisation that focuses on regional technology policy. Together, they have actively supported the proliferation of Internet exchanges in the Caribbean. While establishing physical exchange points is necessary, it is not sufficient to advance the regional Internet economy, Wooding said. Another crucial step is needed. “Getting the exchange points up and running is a start. But there has to be a shift in the conversation, from local traffic exchange to local content production, local application development and local innovation. What we want to see is not just more people on the Internet but more people actually taking advantage of the social and economic opportunities the Internet offers,” Wooding said. “The private sector, academia and governments all have to work in sync to create opportunities for digital innovators and entrepreneurs to take advantage of the Internet and build on the local IXPs that now exist. We have to actively build the Caribbean cloud.” Wooding was speaking as part of a panel discussion on developing the Caribbean Internet economy, held on the first day of St Maarten on the Move, a regional technology development conference jointly hosted by the Latin America and Caribbean Internet Addresses Registry and the Internet Society (ISOC) in Philipsburg, St Maarten. from October 27 to 28. He co-presented with Eldert Louisa, chairman of the Open Caribbean Internet Exchange and chief technical officer of St Maarten telecom operator TelEm Group. Karen Rose, senior director of strategy and analysis at ISOC, moderated the panel.
St Maarten on the Move was part of Internet Week St Maarten, a five-day conference coordinated by the St Maarten telecommunications regulator, BTP, and focused on developing the Caribbean Internet. The week started with the twelfth regional meeting of the Caribbean Network Operators Group, which was jointly held with the LAC-I-Roadshow of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, from October 24 to 26. A broad range of technical, social and policy issues related to Caribbean technology development were covered in the three-day event, held with the support of the CTU, the American Registry of Internet Numbers and ArkiTechs. (Caribbean News Now!)
Bevil Wooding, Internet Strategist, Packet Clearing House, delivers a presentation on developing the Caribbean Internet economy at Internet Week St Maarten, held in Philipsburg, St Maarten, on October 27, 2016. Photo: LACNIC
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS Alliouagana Festival Of The Word Begins Next Week In Montserrat PAGE 44
LITTLE BAY, Montserrat -- The eighth edition of Montserrat’s literary festival begins next week with book launches as well as international speakers. Te c h n o l o g y a n d t h e Wo r d : C o n t e m p o r a r y Manifestations is the theme of the 2016 Alliouagana Festival of the Word (AFW), which will run from November 10 to 13, 2016, at the Montserrat Cultural Centre. According to AFW chair, Gracelyn Cassell, the focus this year is on how technology has transformed the ways in which we communicate with our children, in business and what we need to be aware of as we receive information in a multi-media world. The festival will open with the fourth distinguished lecture in the Alphonsus ‘Arrow’ Cassell Memorial Lecture Series to be presented by Dr Samuel Joseph. His presentation will be ICTs - Transforming Cultural Industries. Along with the launch of several new books by Montserratian authors, there will be visiting speakers who work within the media, technology and word space. They include JD Scott, an actor and host of the HGTV show Property Brothers and model and makeup artist Annalee Belle, who will present technology and social media in branding. CaribbeanA m e r i c a n b l o g g e r E v a Wi l s o n - G r e e n e o f socamom.com discusses how her desire to raise her children in America with the Caribbean principles and
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culture she grew up with developed into an awardwinning website and brand. Alan and Amanda Springer will share other dimensions of life in a tech-driven world. Filmmakers Howard and Mitzi Allen of HAMAFilms Antigua will host the Caribbean Travelling Film Showcase on Sunday afternoon, sponsored by Goldenmedia and Discover Montserrat. The full schedule of activities is available on www.litfest.ms and www.discovermni.com. Follow updates on Montserrat’s only literary festival at h t t p s : / / w w w. f a c e b o o k . c o m / A F W- L i t f e s t 455550224634531/
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2016
Monkey Hill Woman Stabbed In Home Invasion in fear but I’m happy it’s me and nothing happened to her.”
Source: winnfm.com St Kitts – St. Kitts and Nevis (WINN FM): A young mother is thanking God that she and her toddler daughter are alive following a home invasion Tuesday morning which left the woman with several stab wounds. Police have confirmed a home invasion in Parrays Village, St. Peters around 1:50am, which they say they are presently investigating. Unofficial reports indicate the woman was roused from sleep when an intruder attacked her in her bedroom, where she had been sleeping with the young child. A struggle reportedly ensued, during which the woman sustained the injuries. The intruder eventually abandoned his mission and fled the home. nThe woman was transported to the JNF Hospital where she was treated for wounds and released. The victim subsequently took to social media, posting on Facebook, “Father God thanks for sparing my life and my daughter’s life. I now have to live
(Antigua Observer)
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS Six Diagnosed With Microcephaly –Mother Fears Stigmatisation PAGE 46
Microcephaly (Source: guyanachronicle.com) SIX babies have been diagnosed with microcephaly so far for 2016, mere months after the first case of zika infection was registered in Guyana.The cases have not been linked to the zika virus, as none of the pregnant mothers has developed signs and symptoms associated with the virus, which broke out in neighbouring Brazil in late 2014. One of these six babies was a stillbirth. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), zika is spread mostly by the bite of an infected Aedes Aegypti mosquito, and can be passed from a pregnant woman to her foetus. It can also be spread through sexual contact. Once a pregnant woman is infected, her baby can have defects when born. The CDC also noted that those infected with the virus either would not have symptoms or would have mild symptoms; but the most common of the symptoms are fever, rashes, joint pain, conjunctivitis, and headache. There is currently no vaccine or cure for the zika virus. Microcephaly, on the other hand, is a birth defect wherein a baby’s head is smaller than usual when compared to babies of the same age and sex. Babies with microcephaly often have smaller brains that may not have been fully developed during pregnancy, or have stopped growing after birth, the CDC said. The occurrence of microcephaly was a shocker for Felicia Lewis, 18, a first time mother who had never previously heard of the disease. Opening up to Guyana Chronicle after some hesitation, Lewis, who hails from Region 7, in a low tone of voice, said she was expecting nothing but a healthy baby girl. “I was surprised at first, but not scared,” she said, pointing out that despite the abnormality she embraced her new born with deep love, care and affection. The infant, born in September, has been doing well, and family members have been very supportive, the young mother said. “I worry about her… because she was born with this sickness,” Lewis said, relating that her husband was also worried, but “told me everything would be okay…because we trust in God”. While upbeat about the future of her child, the young mother said she is a bit worried that her daughter would be subjected to stigmatisation once society finds out that she has microcephaly. Guyana’s first case of zika infection was reported in January, a few months after Brazil reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) that it suspected it had 141 cases of microcephaly in Pernambuco state. By November 2015, that country had declared a national public health emergency as cases of microcephaly continued to increase. The following month, Brazil reported 2,975 suspected cases of microcephaly, a number which was higher than any other part of the north-east region. So far, Guyana has reported only 35 cases of zika. Zika, however, was not the only infection that was prevalent around that time, as chikungunya was still on the radar. Like zika, chikungunya is a mosquito-borne disease that is transmitted by the aedes aegypti mosquito, the same mosquito known to spread dengue and yellow fever diseases. Adolescent Health
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Coordinator of the Ministry of Public Health, Dr Oneka Scott, was the acting Maternal and Child Health Director just around the time the second baby was born here with microcephaly after the outbreak in Brazil. HIGH GEAR Health officials, she said, went into high gear. “We have a team approach. The Government, through the Ministry of Public Health, has paid lots of attention to psycho-social support; it is not easy giving birth to a child with microcephaly,” she said, while noting that locally there is some doubt of the correlation between microcephaly and zika. Earlier this year, the New England Journal of Medicine published the preliminary results of a large study done on pregnant Colombian women infected with zika; and according to that study, of nearly 12,000 pregnant women infected with the virus, there was no case of microcephaly. Brazil, however, has sought to link the two; and that is something that must not be taken for granted, said Dr. Scott. “This is the basis of our response, because we need to prepare these women if any were diagnosed with zika. We needed to have information out there that would lend to informed choices; not for everybody to jump and say ‘Oh, I am diagnosed with zika’, or ‘I have symptoms and I want to have an abortion because I am pregnant’,” she told Guyana Chronicle. When the first case was diagnosed here, a team of workers — including a surveillance officer, a doctor, public health nurse, a representative of the vector control office and a counsellor — was formed to provide psycho-social support to pregnant women who were infected with zika. “We tell them what to expect; what are the likely outcomes and, most importantly, what are their choices,” Dr. Scott said, noting that abortion is legal and remains an option. “It isn’t just another child, it is a child with special needs,” she stressed, disclosing that the six mothers who delivered babies with microcephaly were not previously diagnosed with zika. Dr. Scott also pointed out that microcephaly is not new in Guyana, and has been around even before zika. “We do not know where our baseline is… if it is that we saw one or two microcephaly babies per year; this is less than a month that we have six. So you have to put a question mark of doubt, and you have to act upon that doubt and create an action plan…which is already created because of the association of zika and microcephaly,” she added. According to her, during investigation, the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) could not state the number of babies born there with microcephaly. “Nobody could have told me for 2014 or 2015 if we had two or three cases,” the doctor told Guyana Chronicle. MULTI-SECTORAL APPROACH The Ministry of Public Health is collaborating with the Ministries of Education and Social Protection to create a multi-sectoral approach to dealing with children born with microcephaly. “To have a child with microcephaly -– a child with special needs, the development is slow.
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They reach milestones less, the care may be more, and you may have a child who cannot be put in regular daycare; so some type of public assistance or external Government support is needed. The Ministry of Public Health cannot do it alone,” Dr. Scott said, noting that rehabilitation for each child is a must. Dr. Ertenisa Hamilton, Director of the Maternal and Child Health Department of the Ministry of Public Health, has been working on the protocols, work plan and other documents relative to microcephaly, even before a case was reported. Disability and Rehabilitation Director Ariane Mangar said that when children are born they are evaluated, and those with abnormalities are referred to a rehabilitation facility for treatment. At these State facilities, all services are free of cost. Mangar, like Dr. Scott, made it clear that microcephaly is not a new phenomenon here, but noted that persons are more aware of it now because of the
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zika virus and all the reports related to it. Psychologist Mosa Hutson said that while there is much awareness about zika, not much is known about microcephaly; and this gap must be closed, since it can help in staving off stigmatisation. “There (are) lots of stigma attached to people and children who are differently-abled…. Young parents are not as strong as the experienced ones, and we have to support them. The child must have as much support as possible, despite what society would say,” she said. Hutson noted that the brunt of the worry comes from what people say. She stressed that parents ought not to be ashamed if they see their child are born with microcephaly. She is currently working to have group sessions with mothers who have children that are infected with microcephaly, to facilitate information sharing among them so that they can better care for their bundles of joy. (Antigua Observer)
‘Barbados’ Cultural Industry Missing Out On Billions’ by adhering to set standards, performers in the industry are likelier to
Barbados may be missing out on its share of a near $US200 billion global cultural trade due to its continued failure to preserve, formalize and market its indigenous products, Minister of Labour Dr Esther Byer-Suckoo said. Dr Byer-Suckoo told a seminar conducted by the Pineland’s Creative Workshop Monday, the losses would continue until the cultural product was refined into something that is internationally palatable. Quoting figures produced by the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the minister sought to make a link between the international trade agreements that Barbados has signed and opportunities available to the cultural sector. “Trade agreements such as the economic partnership between the EU [European Union] and the African Caribbean Pacific [ACP] group, have created an enabling environment for significant trade in this sector if full advantage is taken of these opportunities. The potential of this sector is undeniable. UNESCO noted that by 2013, global trade of cultural goods amounted to 190.5 billion US dollars,” Dr Byer-Suckoo said. A similar point was raised by Programme Manager for Education and Employment with the European Union Delegation Dr Stephen Boyce regarding the current state of the Barbadian cultural industry. According to the EU official, there is a significant difference between recognizing the enormous potential of the cultural industry and putting the necessary steps in place to maximise the lucrative spinoff. Boyce said the time had come for the cultural landscape to be expanded beyond the bounds of Crop Over and the National Independence Festival of Creative Arts. He also argued that structures must be put in place for the arts to be recognised as viable employment opportunity. “Youth must be encouraged to seek careers in culture as viable professional options. We should also ensure that organizations that trade in culture are registered with the Barbados Accreditation Council and adhere to the national qualifications framework. So for example if you are in Pinelands [Pinelands Creative Workshop] and you have been drumming for the last ten years that needs to be translated into something, which can then give you further mobility within the sector,” Boyce said. He stressed that
be paid what they are worth. “So someone knows if you come to them with a CVQ [Caribbean Vocational Qualification] or NVQ National Vocational Qualification] level of three or four, they can’t pay you a $100 for three hours of work because that is not what you would pay a professional in academia,” he explained. The EU official also criticised the practice of centralizing facilities for the performing arts, and called for a repurposing of community centres into such facilities. “Attention must be paid to the venues for performing arts. We need to recognise that having this one centralized area may be a challenge. There are opportunities for re-thinking existing community centres as multi-purpose hubs and facilities for performing arts,” he added. Boyce said this would help reshape blocks with negative reputations, as well as revitalize urban rural communities. (Antigua Observer)
Barbados Minister of Labour Dr Esther Byer-Suckoo (Source: barbadostoday.bb)
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
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NUPW Votes To Strike was unceremoniously removed from the senior position of
Barbados – The Government sector could be hit by industrial action as early as Wednesday. During an emergency meeting at its headquarters Monday, the National Council –– the highest decision-making body of the National Union of Public Workers (NUPW) –– gave the green light for the NUPW to take whatever action it deemed necessary to force the Personnel Administration Division (PAD) to reinstate NUPW President Akanni McDowall to the acting senior position from which he was removed. General Secretary Roslyn Smith told Barbados TODAY they were yet to receive a response from the Chief Personnel Officer (CPO) to a request made two weeks ago for a meeting to discuss the issue. Smith also warned that unless such communication was forthcoming from the CPO’s office Tuesday, protest action would follow almost immediately. “We [the National Council] had a unanimous decision to take whatever action we deem necessary to bring a resolution to the matter as quickly as possible. Tomorrow me and my officers will meet and decide on the strategy that will be implemented. We wrote the Chief Personnel Officer two Fridays ago and we were of the view we would have been given an early response, but to date, we have no such response. “Therefore, unless we are going to receive a call by tomorrow, we will be putting things in train to bring pressure to bear on the Government to have the brother reinstated,” Smith added. She also expressed complained about Government’s overall treatment of public officers, stating that this issue involving McDowall extended beyond the union president. “This issue will affect all public officers who could find themselves in a similar position and with the lack of consultation,” Smith said. Asked if the planned protest would involve a call-out of its entire membership, the NUPW executive said she preferred to keep the details close to her chest, but she sought to assure that whatever steps were taken would be effective. McDowall, who has been carrying his union’s fight to the Freundel Stuart administration for well over a year since his ascension to the presidency back in May 2015,
Acting Health Planning Officer 1 and sent back to his substantive post of Environmental Health Assistant 1. When word first reached the union, it said the “sudden reversion of its president” was nothing short of victimization, while pointing out that he had recently been strongly opposed to Government’s efforts to privatize the state-run Sanitation Service Authority. However, in Government’s defence, Minister of Labour Dr Esther Byer-Suckoo said last week there was no foul play involved in the removal of McDowall from his acting position. Dr Byer-Suckoo said as far as she was aware McDowall’s time in the acting position had simply come to an end. It was also last week that NUPW Acting General Secretary Delcia Burke had told Barbados TODAY that the union had received word through unofficial channels that the Personnel Administration Division had filled the position with an employee who was not only McDowall’s subordinate, but who had no experience in that field. She said at the time that it had been troubling to public servants who had been calling the union to complain that the newly elevated employee had superseded both McDowall and several other officers. (Antigua Observer)
National Union of Public Workers General Secretary Roslyn Smith (Source: barbadostoday.bb)
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2016
New Ministers Ready To Prove Themselves Newly-appointed Works and Transport Minister Rohan industry, so that is my professional training. I intend to bring my Sinanan says he is humbled by the confidence placed in him by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley “to run one of the largest ministries at a time when the country needs the Ministry of Works to get going.” He is promising to “work in the interest of the country and the people.” Sinanan, who ran the People’s National Movement’s successful 2015 general election campaign, replaces Fitzgerald Hinds as Works and Transport Minister. Hinds has been reassigned to the Public Utilities Ministry following the dismissal of retired Brigadier Ancil Antoine. Also getting the axe in yesterday’s Cabinet reshuffle was Energy Minister Nicole Olivierre, who has been replaced by former Rural Development and Local Government Minister Franklin Khan. The new Minister of Rural Development and Local Government is former San Fernando Mayor Kazim Hosein. Sinanan, a deputy political leader of the People’s National Movement (PNM), admitted his new ministerial responsibilities would be a challenge, “especially with the economic circumstances because the Ministry of Works is where you need a heavy bud He said he planned to give it his all and would “scrutinise the award of contracts” given questions raised under the former administration. Sinanan said he intended to meet with the permanent secretary and senior ministry staff to chart the way forward. “My job is to make sure Government policy is implemented within the framework of a detailed plan,” he said. Among the projects on the table are the Valencia to Toco Highway, the Wallerfield to Manzanilla Highway, continuation of the Point Fortin Highway and the Chaguaramas causeway. He said he intended to make sure that he lived up to his oath of office and not disappoint people who put their trust in him. He said his objective was to “serve the people and the country to the best of my ability.” Curiously, following the official announcement of Sinanan’s appointment a story published in December last year started circulating on social media about a 50th birthday party at his Valsayn home which was attended by Prime Minister Rowley. Among the guests were Jack Warner and businessman Ishwar Galbaransingh, both of whom are currently challenging extradition request by US authorities. Reports also surfaced that Sinanan bought land once occupied by the Kay Donna Drive-in Cinema which is earmarked to be acquired for the Curepe Interchange. He told the T&T Guardian: “While it is true I do have an interest in the land which was once occupied by the Kay Donna Cinema along with other shareholders, what has been circulating is very untrue. Now they will see the truth.” Sinanan said he also owned property in Valsayn and Sangre Grande but denied he owned land in Toco. He also dismissed as “garbage” claims that he was paid money by the Government. In the case of Khan, while this is the first time he has been appointed Energy Minister, he is no stranger to the sector. “I am a petroleum geologist and I worked for over two decades in the
expertise to bear on the Ministry of Energy,” he said. Khan, the chairman of the PNM, has served on the Cabinet Standing Committee on Energy in both the Patrick Manning and Keith Rowley administrations and said he is “reasonably familiar with some of the issues.” Asked whether there would be any conflict of interest in his new portfolio given his involvement in the sector in a previous incarnation, Khan said: “I have no interest in any energy sector companies as we speak.” More info In the Cabinet reshuffle announced via a press release from the Office of the Prime Minister, the former San Fernando Mayor replaces Sarah Budhu in the Senate and now holds the Rural Development and Local Government portfolio previously held by Khan. Budhu contested the seat for Caroni East for the PNM in the last general election but was unsuccessful. Minister in the Office of the Attorney General and Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister Stuart Young is now Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister. (Trinidad Guardian)
President Anthony Carmona, left, and Prime Minister Keith Rowley, right, with newly-appointed Cabinet Ministers Kazim Hosein, second from left, and Rohan Sinanan, after the swearing-in ceremony, yesterday. PHOTO: SHIRLEY BAHADUR
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
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Mosul Battle: Iraqi SpecialAsForces Enter City Limits Mosul is encircled, UN officials have expressed
Iraqi forces have for the first time entered the eastern outskirts of Mosul, as they attempt to drive Islamic State (IS) militants from the northern city. Elite CounterTerrorism Service troops seized control of the state television building in Kukjali hours after launching an assault on the area. But a BBC journalist embedded with them says they are facing fierce resistance. Units of the army's ninth division are meanwhile said to be bearing down on south-eastern districts of the city. On Monday, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi told the 3,000 to 5,000 militants believed to be inside Mosul, which they overran in June 2014, that there was "no escape" and to "either surrender or die". About 50,000 Iraqi security forces personnel, Kurdish fighters, Sunni Arab tribesmen and Shia militiamen are involved in the two-week-old offensive to drive IS militants out of their last major urban stronghold in the country. CTS units retook Bazwaya, the last village before Mosul's eastern outskirts, in a dawn assault on Monday and then advanced on the Kukjali industrial zone. They moved out again shortly before first light on Tuesday, this time with the aim of entering the adjoining Kukjali residential area, which is within the city limits. If the troops can establish a foothold inside Mosul, it will be a big day for Iraq and all the other countries involved in the fight against the jihadist group, our correspondent says. However, they are coming up against much more fierce resistance than he has seen in the past few days. The troops have responded to the RPG, machine-gun and sniper fire with heavy weapons, and also by calling in air strikes by the US-led coalition against IS. A number of civilians have also approached them, some waving white flags. By noon, the troops were approaching the more built-up Karama district, Maj Gen Sami al-Airdi of the CTS told the Associated Press news agency. In an attempt to slow the advance, militants had set up concrete blast walls to block the main road into Karama, and also planted bombs along it, he said. Later, as the state television building was retaken, CTS commander Lt Gen Abdul Wahhab al-Saidi said most of Kokjali had been cleared. One resident of the neighbouring Quds district told Reuters news agency: "We can see [IS] fighters firing towards the Iraqi forces and moving in cars between the alleys of the neighbourhood." The Iraqi military also announced on Tuesday that the ninth armoured division was approaching the south-eastern districts of Somer, Palestine, Yarimjah and Intisar, having recaptured the outlying villages of Allag, Tahrawah and Tubraq Ziyarah.
concern for the safety of the 1.5 million civilians estimated to be living there. The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights said on Tuesday that it had received fresh reports of mass killings and forced relocations carried out by IS. Militants were alleged to have killed 40 former soldiers from the Shura area south of Mosul and from villages surrounding the town of Hamam al-Alil, and then thrown their bodies into the River Tigris, spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani said. IS also brought dozens of lorries and mini-buses into Hamam al-Alil early on Monday in an attempt to forcibly transfer 25,000 to the city itself, she added. Many of the vehicles were prevented from moving by coalition military operations in the area. But some did reach Abu Saif, just outside Mosul's international airport. More than 17,900 people have fled Mosul since the offensive began. According to the UN's worst-case scenario, as many as 700,000 others could follow suit. Separately on Tuesday, Turkey began deploying tanks and other vehicles to its border with Iraq. A convoy was seen moving towards the Turkish town of Silopi, about 100km (62 miles) north-west of Mosul. Defence Minister Fikri Isik said Turkey was "making preparations for all kinds of possibilities". Turkey is concerned about any strengthening of influence of the Kurdish PKK organisation, which it regards as a terrorist group. It has also said it wants to protect Iraq's Turkmen community - ethnic Turks who reside in Iraq, Iran and Syria. (BBC)
PM Haider al-Abadi told the 3,000 to 5,000 militants in Mosul there was "no escape"(@BBCIPANNEL)
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS US Election 2016: Clinton Camp Blasts FBI 'Double Standards’ PAGE 51
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2016
The Clinton campaign has blasted FBI Director James allegations that former congressman Anthony Weiner Comey for "blatant double standards" over the new sent illicit text messages to a 15-year-old girl in North inquiry into Hillary Clinton's email use. The comments Carolina. Mr Weiner is married to one of Mrs Clinton's came after US media reports that Mr Comey had urged closest aides, Huma Abedin. The FBI has reportedly against publicly accusing Russia of interfering in the US obtained a warrant to search the cache of emails election, including alleged email hacking. Mr Comey's belonging to Ms Abedin, which are believed to have concern about releasing the information was due to the been found on her estranged husband's laptop. There are proximity to the election, reports say. The FBI declined reportedly 650,000 emails to search through on the to comment to the BBC. The statement that Mr Comey laptop, but it is unclear who sent or received the emails reportedly declined to sign off on was released by the or what they were about. On Monday, Mr Trump said Department of Homeland Security and the Office of the the FBI was going to find a "motherlode" of missing Director of National Intelligence on 7 October."The US emails and he hoped the Democratic candidate's 33,000 intelligence community is confident that the Russian deleted messages could now be recovered. Mrs Clinton Government directed the recent compromises of emails later told a rally she had nothing to hide. Mr Comey and from US persons and institutions, including from US Attorney General Loretta Lynch have said they are political organisations... these thefts and disclosures are working quickly to sift through the newly discovered intended to interfere with the US election process," it emails. Earlier, a spokesman for President Barack said. Mr Comey agreed with the statement but was Obama said the president did not suspect Mr Comey of against making it public before the election, according trying to secretly influence the election through his to US media. There have been allegations that Russian announcement on Friday of the inquiry and the White hackers have targeted the Democrats in an effort to skew House would neither defend nor criticise the FBI the election in favour of Donald Trump. "It is decision. Josh Earnest said Mr Comey was "a man of impossible to view this as anything less than a blatant integrity, a man of character, a man of principle and he double standard," Clinton campaign manager Robby has a very difficult job". Democrats have angrily Mook said. He also called on Mr Comey to demanded that the embattled Mr Comey rapidly make "immediately explain this incongruence and apply the public what the agency knows about the new email same standard to Donald Trump's associates as he has trove. On Sunday, Democratic leader in the US Senate applied to Hillary Clinton's." Mr Comey has faced a Harry Reid accused Mr Comey of violating an act which fierce backlash for announcing on Friday, just 11 days bars officials from influencing an election by revealing before the presidential election, that the FBI is the bureau was investigating emails possibly linked to investigating new emails that may be linked to its probe Mrs Clinton. (BBC) into Mrs Clinton's private email server. It emerged in March 2015 that Mrs Clinton had been breaking federal rules by operating a private email server while she was secretary of state from 2009-13. Her lawyers combed through the server and provided the State Department with 30,000 work-related emails, but her campaign deleted another 33,000 messages, saying they were personal in nature. Mr Comey concluded in July that Mrs Clinton had been "extremely careless" in handling classified information, but there were no grounds for any charges. But on Friday, he told Congress he had learned of fresh emails which might be "pertinent" to its Mr Trump continued campaigning on Monday previous inquiry and renewed the FBI probe. The latest he said Hillary had "nobody to blame but emails were found in a separate investigation into herself for her mounting legal troubles"(GETTY IMAGES)
INTERNATIONAL
GUYANA DAILY NEWS Halloween Bike 'Ride Out' Closes Kirkstall Road, Leeds PAGE 52
A gang of bikers caused traffic chaos during a Halloween "ride out" on a busy city road. The group of around 50 offroad motorcycles and quad bikes brought Kirkstall Road, a major route into Leeds, to a standstill on Monday night. Witnesses posted videos on Twitter and described the scenes as "utter chaos" and "madness" and compared them to those in the Mel Gibson film Mad Max. A 26-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the incident. Police closed the road until the group had dispersed. Videos posted online show bikers riding in convoy, with some pulling wheelies. Others can be seen riding on the pavement. There were also reports of vehicles being driven around pedestrianised parts of Leeds city centre, according to some witnesses. Kirkstall Road was believed to have closed for around 90 minutes while drivers on other roads around the city also reported similar problems. A police helicopter also attended the incident. West Yorkshire Police confirmed the event had been organised on social media and the road was closed in order to resolve the situation. It said the group had dispersed by about 22:00 GMT. The force said detectives were trying to
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"identify those involved and take robust action against them". On Sunday, the Met Police arrested eight men for failing to stop during a similar "ride-out" in London. Officers used tyre deflation devices to stop 17 motorbikes and three quad bikes. (BBC)
Witnesses described the scene as "utter chaos"(@PEOPLEOFLEEDS)
INTERNATIONAL
GUYANA DAILY NEWS Zhuhai Air Show: China J-20 Fighter Jet In Public Debut buyers. Previously the jets had only Exhibition - also called Airshow China PAGE 53
been seen by bloggers. The fighters are being seen as symbol of Beijing's desire to modernise and upgrade its military capabilities. President Xi Jinping wants to toughen China's armed forces as it takes a more assertive stance in the region, especially in the South China and East China seas. The J20 has been developed and made by the Chengdu Aircraft Industries The Y-20 strategic transport plane has Group, a subsidiary of Aviation already been unveiled at the Zhuhai air show(GETTY IMAGES) Industry Corporation of China. Some have likened the new fighter China has showcased its long-awaited J- to Lockheed Martin's F-22 Raptor jet, 20 stealth fighter in public for the first with industry analyst Bradley Perret of time. Two of the radar-evading jets did a Aviation Week saying the jet was "clearly 60-second flypast at the Zhuhai air show a big step forward in Chinese combat in Guangdong province - the country's capability," Hotly anticipated China's biggest meeting of plane makers and International Aviation and Aerospace
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has become one of the world's biggest events of its kind. And with China set to become the world's biggest aviation market in the next decade, the show is an opportunity for Beijing to demonstrate its ambitions in civil aviation as well as defence. Although firms from around the world are exhibiting at the meeting, it is the latest Chinese aircraft and weapons that are getting the most attention on day one of the event. The Y-20, China's first heavy transporter jet has already been unveiled. Also hotly anticipated is the AG-600 seaplane, the largest of its kind in the world and likely to be used for search and rescue missions as well as patrolling China's seas. A Xian H-6K bomber and the new Changhe Z-10K attack helicopter are also expected to make their first appearances. (BBC)
INTERNATIONAL
GUYANA DAILY NEWS South Africa's Zuma ShouldBe Fired, Says Mandela Foundation PAGE 54
The Nelson Mandela Foundation (NMF) has called for South Africa's President Jacob Zuma to be sacked. He had "failed the test" of leadership and South Africa needed to hold to account those who were "looting" state resources, it said. Mr Zuma has been dogged by allegations of corruption for more than a decade. The call by the NMF, which is run by colleagues of South Africa's first black president, is the latest sign of growing discontent with his rule. Its intervention came as a court began hearing a bid by Mr Zuma's legal team to prevent the release of a report by former anticorruption chief Thuli Madonsela. She investigated allegations that he let the wealthy Gupta family wield undue influence in his government. Both Mr Zuma and the Guptas have denied any wrongdoing. In a statement entitled Time to account for crippling the state, the NMF said the governing African National Congress (ANC) needed to take steps to put the government back in "safe and capable hands". "Twenty years since Nelson Mandela signed South Africa's constitution into law and as the third anniversary of his passing approaches, it is painful for us at the Nelson Mandela Foundation to bear witness to the wheels coming off the vehicle of our state," the NMF added in a statement. Mr Mandela spent more than 27 years in prison for fighting white-minority rule and became South Africa's first democratically elected leader in 1994. He stepped down five years later and died in December 2013 at the age of 95. The NMF said South Africa's democracy was now under a "real threat", with key government institutions being used to advance "private interests". "We are reaping the results of a political trend of personalising matters of state around a single individual leader. This in a constitutional democracy is to be deplored," it added. Impeachment vote? Ms Madonsela's investigation was triggered by allegations in March by Deputy Finance Minister Mcebisi Jonas that the Gupta family had made "a mockery of our hardearned democracy" by offering him the finance minister's post last year. Mr Jonas said he rejected the offer; the Guptas accused him of political pointscoring. Former ANC MP Vytjie Mentor also alleged that the family offered her the powerful public enterprise minister's post in 2010 in exchange for business favours. Ms Mentor alleged that Mr Zuma was
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in another part of the Gupta's family home in Johannesburg when the offer was made. Mr Zuma's office said at the time that he had no "recollection" of Ms Mentor, while the family strongly denied her allegation. Ms Mentor and opposition parties, including the Democratic Alliance (DA) and Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), are challenging Mr Zuma in court, insisting that the report be released. EFF supporters are protesting outside the High Court in the capital, Pretoria, to demand its publication. Mr Zuma's court action prevented Ms Madonsela from publishing the report before she stepped down as public protector at the end of her term last month. This was the second time she investigated Mr Zuma during her seven-year term. In March, South Africa's highest court upheld her findings that Mr Zuma "unduly benefited" from government money used to upgrade his private rural home. It led to widespread calls for Mr Zuma to resign, but he survived a DA-sponsored impeachment vote in parliament after ANC MPs rallied behind him. Correspondents say while the contents of Ms Madonsela's latest report are unclear, Mr Zuma will almost certainly face another impeachment vote if there are any adverse findings about him. The president is also at the centre of another case and is trying to overturn a unanimous ruling of a High Court that he should stand trial on more than 700 counts of corruption in relation to an arms deal negotiated in 1999. (BBC)
Jacob Zuma has been involved in a series of court battles over corruption allegations(GETTY IMAGES)
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2016
China's Alibaba In 'Flying Pig' Controversy A Chinese Muslim's call for e-commerce giant Alibaba to rename one of its services because it uses the word "pig" has sparked a backlash in China. It all began when Alibaba changed the name of its popular travel booking app from Alitrip to one that means "Flying Pig" in Chinese. Its English name is Fliggy. Over the weekend, Uighur businessman Adil Memettur criticised this decision on popular microblogging network Sina Weibo, where he has hundreds of thousands of followers. He noted that the app is popular among minorities because it lets people whose names have unusual spellings make bookings. "But now that Alitrip has changed its name to Flying Pig, I can only uninstall it, and maybe all my Muslim friends too, because the word "pig" is taboo to Muslims all over the world. Alibaba is an international corporation, could it take Muslim taboos into consideration?" he said. His post quickly sparked condemnation and ridicule from other Chinese online, with some asking if this meant China had to expunge all references to pigs in popular culture and literature. "We each have our own way of life; we do not force you to live according to our rules, but you cannot force us to change the law," said Weibo user Fireflyinred. Mr Memettur quickly took down the post and on Sunday night he posted an apology. Alibaba told the BBC that they decided to rebrand the app to appeal to a younger demographic. "We embrace diversity and respect all creeds and religions. The name change is meant to reflect the demographic's aspirations to pursue dreams, sit back and enjoy life," said the spokesman. The visceral pushback stems from the fact that the pig occupies an important place in Chinese culture. Pork is not only a staple of Chinese cuisine - the government keeps a national reserve of pork in case of market shortages - but the pig is also celebrated in folklore and the Chinese zodiac. Online, the reaction to Mr Memettur has been intense, often descending into derogatory comments and insulting jokes about Muslims and Uighur culture. It has also highlighted how gaps in understanding between Muslim minorities and the Han Chinese majority can arise. Because of their relatively small
numbers, concentrated mostly in the West, Muslims still do not figure largely in Chinese public discourse. China's 21 million Muslims, comprising minority ethnic groups such as the Huis and Uighurs, make up only 1.6% of the population, with the rest from the Han ethnic majority and they have mostly co-existed peacefully. The western province of Xinjiang, home to many Chinese Uighurs, has seen unrest with residents saying they have been economically and culturally displaced by a growing influx of Han migrants. Violence there has been attributed by the authorities to Islamist militants and separatists - rights groups point to increasingly tight control by Beijing. In this instance some online, like blogger Han Dongyan, have called for respect and calm. "Don't extend this to all Muslims... (Mr Memettur) has made a mistake and he can be criticised, but don't respond to an extreme with another extreme and tar them all with the same brush, this is wrong too!" he wrote in one popular post. (BBC)
Chinese internet services conglomerate Alibaba changed the name of its Alitrip service to Feizhu, or 'flying pig' in Chinese
INTERNATIONAL
GUYANA DAILY NEWS Andrew Gaskell: Missing Australian Found In Malaysia Jungle PAGE 56
An Australian tourist missing in a Malaysian mountain range for nearly two weeks has been found alive. Andrew Gaskell was reported missing on 20 October as he was trekking alone in Mulu National Park in the Sarawak region of Malaysian Borneo. Mr Gaskell seemed to have suffered from malnourishment but was conscious and able to talk to his rescuers, the Borneo Post reported. "Numerous leeches" were found on his legs, said the paper. He has been taken to hospital in Miri. Mr Gaskell's family and Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade have confirmed his rescue. His relatives had previously thanked Malaysian authorities for their help in "the difficult time". More than 60 personnel were involved with the search mission for the 26-year-old engineer from Tasmania. Mr Gaskell had written on his blog that he was setting out on a trip to Asia in August. "And maybe, just maybe, in the course of my travels I'll come to some sort of conclusion as to who I am and what I
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want to do with my life," he wrote. "And so begins my journey beyond the horizon." A World Heritage site, the Mulu National Park is famed for its caves and limestone formations. (BBC)
Rescuers said Mr Gaskell was malnourished but able to communicate with them(RTM SARAWAK0)
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2016
Heseltine: I Did Not Kill My Mother's Alsatian Lord Heseltine says it was a "terrible misrepresentation" to say spokesman said the organisation "can only investigate and he killed his mother's pet dog, an Alsatian called Kim, after it started biting him. He told Tatler magazine the animal had a "mental breakdown", so he grabbed it by the "choker chain and pulled it tight" until "he went limp". The ex-deputy PM clarified to the BBC that Kim had not died but reverted to being "the dog we all knew and loved". He had a "terrible dilemma" but had him put down the next day, he added. Speaking to BBC Radio 4's PM programme, Lord Heseltine said he had been minding Kim one day in 1964 when the dog appeared to have developed a problem with its paw. He said when he reached down to help, "the dog flew at me... on his hind legs". No choice' "I immediately got out of my chair," he added, "and there was a certain amount of blood, as he was biting my wrists. I shouted to my wife to get out of the room as she was heavily pregnant at the time. "I managed to catch the choker chain that was around his neck and, twisting that, obviously got a grip on the dog. "After, it all seemed so long in the event but it probably wasn't more than 15 seconds, he went quite limp and reverted to being the dog we all knew and loved." Lord Heseltine said the incident had left him with a "most awful dilemma" about what to do with Kim. "We had to talk to the vet," he said. "There isn't any choice. Frankly, you cannot have your wife left alone in a flat or my mother when she came back with an Alsatian that can go berserk." Stories involving an altercation between Lord Heseltine and a dog have been in circulation at Westminster for decades. In 1990, when he was running to be leader of the Conservative Party, the Observer newspaper mentioned a rumour "in which Heseltine allegedly strangled his own pet at a party", but this was dismissed by one of his biographers as "journalists' exaggeration". Asked about a similar story, in which he was said to have killed a dog with his bare hands after it attacked a child, Lord Heseltine told Tatler about Kim instead, leading to misplaced speculation on social media that he had killed - rather than disables - it. Shot squirrels An RSPCA
prosecute summary-only offences - like those under the Animal Welfare Act - within three years of that alleged offence being committed". "There is no rule that says a dog should automatically be put to sleep if it bites someone," he added. "If you are concerned about your dog's behaviour, the RSPCA would advise that you seek expert advice. "It is important to get your pet checked by a vet, as the dog may have become aggressive due to being in pain. If a vet rules out any form of illness or injury that could be causing the issue, they can then refer you to a behaviour expert for further help." Earlier this month, Lord Heseltine revealed he had shot 350 grey squirrels in six months at his home in Northamptonshire. The 83-yearold was deputy prime minister from 1995 to 1997, having previously served as defence secretary, environment secretary and president of the Board of Trade. (BBC)
Lord Heseltine said he feared Kim would also attack his wife, pregnant at the time(GETTY IMAGES)
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2016
Famous Indian Lion Ram Dies Of Old Age In Gir Forest One of India's oldest and most popular lions in the wild has died from old age, forest officials told the BBC. Ram was found dead on Saturday, officials at the Gir sanctuary in western Gujarat state said. He was thought to be about 15 years old. Forest officials described him as "beautiful" and "flamboyant" and said Ram was their "most photographed lion". Gir sanctuary is home to more than 500 lions and is the only habitat of Asiatic lions in the world. Ram and his brother Shyam were a famous pair of lions that ruled over Gir forest in recent years. "We carried out a post mortem on him to ascertain the cause of death. He died from natural causes. He was cremated in the presence of government and local village officials." deputy conservator of forests Ram Ratan Nala told the BBC. Mr Nala said Ram was loved in the neighbourhood and many forest staff in the area fasted for a day to mourn his death. "Ram along with his brother Shyam ruled over Gir for many years and the two fathered many cubs over the years," Sandeep Kumar, who was Mr Nala's predecessor, told the BBC. "At one point, the duo had about two dozen cubs in their pride," he said. The forest staff named the lions Ram and Shyam which are popular Indian names and also the name of a hit Bollywood film. Unlike tigers who do not share their territories with other males, lions generally form a coalition with another male member of their family and the two protect their territory together, Mr Kumar explained. "But every kingdom must come to an end. With Ram now dead and Shyam getting on in years, it will get very difficult for Shyam to
protect their territory and the area is likely to be taken over by other younger males soon," he added. (BBC)
Forest officials described Ram as "beautiful" and "flamboyant"(SANDEEP KUMAR)
Kidlington Chinese Tourists Attracted By 'Quiet Houses’ Chinese tourists are descending on an English village in search of "the true sense" of the UK, the BBC can reveal. Residents were baffled by coaches of sightseers arriving in Kidlington, Oxfordshire and posing for photos in front gardens and against parked cars. But a guide has now confirmed the tourists are attracted by the quiet houses and gardens. The guide was responding to a BBC question sheet that was handed to tourists. The tourists were first identified in Benmead Road and the Moors in July, the Spotted: Kidlington Facebook page reported. Anne Clifton, who lives in the Moors, handed the BBC's question sheet to a member of the tour party when they reappeared in the road on 23 October. She said: "I asked a woman standing at the door of the coach if she would be good enough to complete the form. "She was not actually one of the tourists, but was leading the party." Solving the mystery A tour guide provided the following answers to the BBC question sheet: Q: We are happy to have you here but why have you come? A: 为我们中国 有，这里有我们找国 的感 觉 Translation: "Because we don't have [these] in China. Here, we are looking for the true sense of this country. " Q: Do you like it? A: 返璞 归真 Translation: "[Yes]. Because the environment makes you feel you are closer to the simplicity of your original self." Q: What do you like here? A: 房子，花园 Translation: "The houses [and] gardens." The tourists were a short walk from thatched cottages and a church but preferred to take photos outside modern houses. 'Beautiful English Village' Previous theories for the cause of the influx included
mistaken identity, a covert social experiment or possibly Oxfordshire's connection to Inspector Morse. Baz Daniels, who has lived in Kidlington for more than 20 years, said he had been in touch with a friend in China to try to get to the bottom of the tourist influx. "Kidlington is apparently being marketed by Chinese tourist agencies as a beautiful English village on the way to Bicester Village shopping centre," he said. "Many of the visitors live in cities and love to see things like the hanging baskets and little flowers in people's gardens." (BBC)
Samantha Anderson said the sightseers were seen in people's front gardens(JANIS HARWOOD)
LOCAL
GUYANA DAILY NEWS Parking Meter Creates Controversy With Employees in GT PAGE 61
Many workers in Georgetown with vehicles are extremely frustrated with City Hall and Smart City Solutions for not making provisions for them as it relates to parking during working hours. Employees in the capital city believe that it is a selfish move by City Hall to implement parking meters, without taking workers into consideration. They are of the view that the current fee structure is too high for them to pay on a daily basis. The fee is $50 for 15 minutes, which works out to be $1,900 per day or $38,000 per month for a regular work shift, Monday- Friday, excluding overtime hours, which is not affordable for workers to pay on a monthly basis. The current minimum wage in Guyana’s public sector stands at $50,000 and in the Private Sector $35,000. An employee of a popular business in Georgetown related to the Guyana Daily News that Guyana’s salary structure cannot accommodate additional expenses for parking meters in its current form and is calling on City Hall to make the contract public and to facilitate workers in and around Georgetown. Many businesses are complaining
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that they are experiencing a further decline in their businesses because shoppers cannot afford this additional financial burden of parking meters. Several business owners have warned against the Parking Meter system, stating that Smart City Solutions, Inc. (SCSI), the private investor which has been given the contract to erect and manage parking meters in Georgetown, is in Guyana to exploit citizens in collaboration with officials from the Mayor and City Council (M&CC).
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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2016
Date: 2nd November, 2016 Statement by Mr. Mohabir Anil Nandlall, MP, Attorney-at-law The dismissal of the criminal charges against Mr. Carvil Duncan has several implications. 1) It vindicates Mr. Duncan's innocence. The prosecution has failed to rebut the constitutionally guaranteed presumption of innocence which Mr. Duncan enjoys. Therefore, in the eyes of the law, Mr. Duncan has committed no legal wrong. 2) It vindicates my contention from the inception that the Prime Minister and the President acted prematurely, precipitously, capriciously, arbitrarily and unconstitutionally when they activated a process to remove Mr. Duncan from office before the hearing and determination of the criminal charges. As it now turns out, they are attempting to remove from office, a high Constitutional Office holder who enjoys security of tenure of office and who has done no legal wrong that would be considered “misbehavior” to warrant his removal from office. 3) As I predicted and cautioned the Tribunal established by the President has now been proven to have embarked upon an unlawful and unconstitutional course of action. This Tribunal therefore, has no legal jurisdiction whatsoever to proceed with its work, even if the Court Order prohibiting it from proceeding, is discharged. 4) In conclusion, the Executive has wasted a lot of time, energy and financial resources in its indecent haste to remove Mr. Duncan from office. In the end, the Rule of Law and an independent Judiciary have prevailed. In the circumstances, the President is now obliged to do the decent thing, which is, to disband the Tribunal forthwith and to rescind his suspension of Mr. Duncan from performing his various constitutional functions.
LOCAL
GUYANA DAILY NEWS Former BK Employee Accused Of Embezzling $28M PAGE 63
Tw e n t y - fi v e - y e a r o l d To t o r a m Ramcharran appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann Mclennan in the Georgetown Magistrate's Court charged with the offence of fraudulently embezzling from BK Quarries Inc. The accused was granted bail in the sum of Gy$250,000 and will return before the court on December 5, 2016 for continuation into the matter. Represented before the court,
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2016
Ramcharran pleaded not guilty to the charge as he heard his Attorney make an application for bail revealing to the court that his client is on GY$74,000 station bail. The Attorney said that since being arrested his client has been cooperating and assisting officers with the investigations and as such there is no reason for the court to believe that Ramcharran is a flight risk. The Police Prosecution made no
objections to bail but requested that the accused lodge his passport at the Eve Leary Police Station and make visits at least once a week. The Chief Magistrate granted the requests. It is alleged that between July 20 and September 13, 2016 at Georgetown, Ramcharran whilst being employed as a clerk at BK Queries Inc. fraudulently embezzled GY$28M, taking into possession for himself instead for his employer.
Guyana Filaria Program Dangerous
Many residents on the West Coast of Demerara have complained to the Guyana Daily News that the Mass Drug Administration (MDA) of the drugs Diethyl Carbamazine (the DEC Tablet) and Albendazole tablets for the prevention and treatment of Lymphatic filariasis which is being distributed by the Ministry of Public Health lacks dispensing protocol. One recipient of the drugs said that the Ministry has personnel with very limited medical training administering the treatment to persons and that the Ministry of Public Health bypassed the local Health Centers and workers. “No medical examinations were conducted in order to ascertain whether [a patient] was eligible for the treatment, if the quantity of the dosage was correct and whether this medication could be harmful due to the other medication [a patient] is currently taken,” one person said. According to research, the dosage of the drug is based on weight, medical condition, and response to treatment. A reliable source at the Ministry of Public Health told the Guyana Daily News that persons were trained for approximately two weeks before being hired to administer the drugs to persons, and that the necessary procedures were not followed before giving the drugs and also many medical doctors at the hospital are not in agreement with the dosage being administered. Research on the use of DEC is 6mg per Kg of an individual for
12 doses to be completed in two weeks every two years. This means that a person with 80kg should be given 480mg, However, an official at the Vector Disease Control Centre confirmed that they are giving DEC tablets of 100-milligram strength is based on age, Children between the ages of 2 and 11 are given 2 tablets of DEC and 1 tablet of 400mg Albenazole, while those between the ages of 11 and 15 are administered the same treatment. However, those 16 years and older are given 3 DEC tablets of 100mg and 1 Albenazole of 400mg, in other words all individuals, regardless of age, are given a standard 400-milligram strength dose Albendazole tablet. Another resident from the East Coast of Demerara said, “no medical questions were being asked much less tests being conducted such as Body Mass Index (BMI), which is important for the administering of the drugs, they only ask questions relating to a census such as name, and household members”. Many Guyanese are asking that the Ministry make public the importer of the drugs, along with the certification and authorization of using the drugs and they must warn users of the side effects. According to the U.S. Centre for Disease Control (CDC), the DEC drug is no longer approved by the
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the USA and cannot be sold in the U.S. Physicians who wish to obtain the medication from CDC must do so after confirmed positive lab results, the CDC warns DEC should not be administered to patients who may also have onchocerciasis aka “river blindness” (an eye and skin disease caused by a worm (filaria) as DEC can worsen onchocercal eye disease, In patients with loiasis (A chronic disease caused by the filarial nematode), DEC can cause serious adverse reactions, including encephalopathy (a disease in which the functioning of the brain is affected by some agent or condition (such as viral infection or toxins in the blood). and death.
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LOCAL WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2016
Nurses Recruited For Training Depends On Several Factors - Health Sciences Director The system in place for the recruitment of nurses and allied health professionals caters for careful consideration for a sufficient intake that will complement the student - tutor ratio at nursing institutes across Guyana. The recruitment of nursing professionals is not only to satisfy demands of nursing countrywide, but to ensure that competent staff is provided to facilitate effective services to those seeking assistance. Director of Health Sciences and Education Faculty, Ministry of Public Health, Wilton Benn told the Government Information Agency (GINA) that although there are a great number of individuals qualifying for training, a limit is placed on acceptance, considering those who may make use of the training and become excellent health care professionals. “Usually we have a highly qualified intake based on the CXC standard and there has always been a lot of interest particularly in relation to nursing, and in some respect, sometimes, some measure of frustration comes into young people because they are saying, ‘I’m not getting in and I applied three times’. The fact is there is only a certain amount of nursing students that can be in any given classroom because a critical issue is not only are we interested in terms of the quantum of people we produce, but quality is very important,” the director stated. Benn further explained that meeting the demands of required staff is based on the competence of those recruited, and that there needs to be a balance within the learning environment of these nurses. “Sometimes there are a lot of demands from some of the other stakeholders. They question why is it we cannot increase some of those numbers significantly, but the issue is very clear, there must be some sort of balance between the number of students you have, the resources that you have and the faculty,” Wilton Benn explained Benn added that although a large number of eligible students look forward to being recruited by the nursing institute, greater consideration is given to those that are willing
to perform in the capacity of medical personnel. “We cannot say that we don’t have a high level of interest, really it is the converse in terms of not being able to meet the demands from the standpoint of young people who want to have training in health careers, and so it is more and more competitive. …some areas of public service you can make mistakes you can correct them. We are dealing with people’s lives. A very good nurse saves lives every day.” Recruiting and training of medical personnel, more specifically nurses contribute overall to the public health sector’s complement of nurses who make the functions of other health care personnel easier.
Director of Health Sciences and Education Faculty, Ministry of Public Health, Wilton Benn
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
LOCAL WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2016
GDF Warned Against Abuse Of Trainees
Chief-of-staff of the Guyana Defense Force (GDF), Brigadier George Lewis has warned against the abuse of trainees and said that the practice would not be tolerated by the military. Addressing soldiers at a church service to mark the GDF’s 51st Anniversary, Brigadier Lewis stressed that it is desirable to have an environment of mutual respect, wherein trainees are treated humanely and with respect, and they, in turn, respect their instructors. “No abuse of
trainees will be accepted. I emphasise: no abuse of trainees will be accepted. Further, in the training environment, we must work from one common doctrine to support our operations, and we must conform to the relevant tactics, techniques and procedures. Change is necessary, and this is the time for change,” Lewis declared. “I say all of this to you because I believe that the officer and rank that we will see in the future GDF will be a replica of what we teach him or her today in their formative years. I also believe that to develop a defence force that is professional and highly respected in the future, we who serve today must change our thinking and attitudes in the training environment, and implement those measures necessary for change,” he added. In 2006, two soldiers
were charged with the death of Officer Cadet Amar Rajcumar, who was then undergoing training at Camp Stephenson, Timehri. Christopher Harmon and Kurt Trotman were charged with allegedly murdering the soldier. Reports were that Rajcumar, who had joined the GDF nine days prior to his death, collapsed after a training session. A post-mortem later found, among other things, that he died from a blow to the head. An army training officer was dismissed in 2007 after he allegedly abused recruits while they were undergoing training at Tacama. One of those recruits was a pregnant female. In a press statement issued back then, the GDF had said that investigation had confirmed instances of excessive punishment administered by overenthusiastic training instructors.
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Former GPL Director Not Guilty Of Theft Former Director of the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Carvil Duncan was set free of the arms of the law as City Magistrate Leron Daly dismissed the case of simple larceny against him. In her decision Magistrate Daly revealed that the Police led Prosecution had failed to provide sufficient evidence against Duncan and as such a Prime Facie case had not been established and as such she could not call upon the accused to lead a defense. It had been alleged that on March 31, 2015 in Georgetown, Duncan while being the Chairman of the Remuneration committee of the Guyana Power and Light Cooperation, stole GY$984,900, a charge which he had pleaded not guilty to. Duncan will return before the court on January 4, 2017 to answer to the charge of conspiring with another to commit a felony, that is to say, they Former Director of the Guyana Power and Light (GPL), Carvil Duncan conspired to steal in excess of GY$27M from the Guyana Power and Light.
Half Of Government’s New Housing Will Cost GY$50B Additional GY$60B Needed For Completion Of Existing Schemes The projected cost of half of government’s new housing programme which includes 5,000 housing units is an estimated GY$ 50 billion (US$250 million) while an additional G$60 billion is also needed for completion of infrastructure in existing schemes. This is according to the Chairman of the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), Hamilton Green. In a statement issued by the CH&PA yesterday, Green said the cost is one of the major challenges faced to bring coherence to a housing programme that provides solutions or shelter as opposed to the sale of house lots. When the new government came into power, they had conceptualized that a new model to improve the housing delivery system with the building and supply of housing units. It was noted that this will seek to address the backlog of 25,000 applicants, particularly the 17,851 who can be classified as low-income households; as 45% of the lots granted under the previous government between 1992 and 2015 are still unoccupied. “This new model seeks to move beyond the provision of serviced lots to create livable and wholesome communities through the provision of full
infrastructure; the necessary social facilities and services and the supply of housing units,” Green explained. However, the pronouncement by the CH&PA comes at a troubling time as the government is aware that the construction of its new model housing programme may stretch the State’s limited coffers. The country’s economy, dampened by the situation on lower commodity prices, has been affected.
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Berbician Labourer In Custody For Brutal Murder of Neighbor A 39 year old labourer of Belvedere, Corentyne, Berbice is in custody for the brutal murder of his opposite neighbor about 09:30h. this morning, whilst the victim was in her yard. Investigations revealed that the victim Bhumattie Delall, 53 years of 351 5th Street South
Belvedere, Corentyne, Berbice, was standing in her yard, when the suspect armed with a cutlass, approached and dealt her several chops to her neck, almost severing same after which he left and went home where he was promptly arrested by investigators, to whom he
handed over the alleged murder weapon. The body is presently at the New Amsterdam Mortuary awaiting a postmortem examination later today. Guyana Police Force Press Release
Armed Bandit Shot And Killed In Attempted Break In Of Diamond Home One of two armed bandits was shot and into a southern door. He made an alarm neck, to the Diamond Diagnostic killed by a licensed firearm holder, early this morning as they attempted to break into his 5th Avenue Diamond Housing Scheme, home. Investigations revealed that about 02:15h., the 38 years Miner was awoken by a loud noise coming from the lower flat of his house, and upon investigating saw two males one armed with a handgun, attempting to gain entry
and during this process, discharged his firearm in the bandits’ direction, hitting one of them who fell, whilst his accomplice with the firearm managed to scale the fenced yard and escaped. The matter was reported and ranks of a mobile patrol responded promptly and rushed the shot bandit, who is clad in a ¾ pants and a black vest tied around his
Hospital where he was pronounced DOA with two suspected gunshot wounds to his neck. His identity is yet to be ascertained. The body is presently at the Lyken Funeral Home. A 27 year old male from West Ruimveldt who was arrested in the vicinity of the crime scene, is assisting with the investigation. Guyana Police Force Press Release
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS Brazil’s Military Commander Pays Courtesy Call On President Granger PAGE 68
Georgetown, Guyana – (November 2, 2016) Military Commander of the North of the Brazilian Armed Forces, General Carlos Alberto Neiva Barcellos, today, paid a courtesy call on President David Granger, at the Ministry of the Presidency. General Barcellos was accompanied by Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Brigadier George Lewis, Brazilian Ambassador to Guyana, Mr. Lineu Pupo De Paula, Colonel Oswaldo Benedito Romao DaSilva and Colonel Emerson DaSilva, both of the Brazilian army and Major Meer Khan of the GDF. During the meeting, several areas relating to security and territorial integrity as well as the existing areas of cooperation between the two countries were discussed. Brigadier Lewis, in an invited comment, said that the Brazilian team is in Guyana for discussions with the GDF in areas of cooperation, in an effort to build a stronger, friendlier relationship between the two military organisations.
President David Granger engaging the Military Commander of the North of the Brazilian Armed Forces, General Carlos Alberto Neiva Barcellos, during their meeting, this morning, at the Ministry of the Presidency.
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From left: Colonel Emerson DaSilva, Colonel Oswaldo DaSilva, Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force, Brigadier George Lewis, President David Granger, Military Commander of the North of the Brazilian Armed Forces, General Carlos Alberto Neiva Barcellos, Brazilian Ambassador to Guyana, Mr. Lineu Pupo De Paula and Major Meer Khan of the GDF.
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS Venezuela Rivals' 'Truce' Crumbles Amid Name Calling Tension has again risen between Venezuela leader Nicolas off Thursday's protest march. The party did not attend the PAGE 69
Maduro and the opposition just hours after they had taken steps to defuse the situation. An opposition spokesman said President Maduro had "broken the truce" when he had labelled opposition politician Freddy Guevara a "terrorist". Mr Guevara had incurred the anger of Mr Maduro by saying that he did not agree with an opposition coalition decision to call off a protest march. The march was planned for 3 November. Rollercoaster ride Events in Venezuela have been moving fast since an unexpected meeting between Pope Francis and President Maduro on 24 October. The Vatican announced it would mediate in talks aimed at defusing Venezuela's political and economic crisis. The country is deeply divided into followers of Mr Maduro and those who blame the president for the dire state of Venezuela's economy. Venezuela is suffering from spiralling inflation and severe shortages of basic goods which have led to some Venezuelans saying they are going hungry. The opposition wants to remove Mr Maduro from office, which has led the president to accuse them of coupmongering. The two sides met face to face for the first time this year on Sunday for talks mediated by a Vatican envoy and former international leaders from Spain, the Dominican Republic and Panama. They agreed to create four working groups and to reconvene on 11 November. What signs of goodwill have there been? Since Sunday's meeting, both sides have taken conciliatory measures. The government and the opposition agreed to "cool down the rhetoric" The government released five detained opposition politicians The opposition delayed a planned symbolic trial of President Maduro in the National Assembly The opposition called off a protest march to the presidential palace planned for 3 November Following Sunday's meeting, both sides did indeed tone down their rhetoric. On Tuesday, President Maduro praised the opposition's decision to call off the protest march. He also called National Assembly leader Henry Ramos Allup "sensible", which contrasts with the insults he has in the past directed at him. The president also looked relaxed during the recording of his new radio programme, Salsa Hour, during which he could be seen dancing with his wife, Cilia Flores. However, his choice for the first song seemed a thinly-veiled message to those who want to see him gone from power: Ray Barretto's "Indestructible". What went wrong? Divisions within the opposition surfaced shortly after the National Assembly meeting. Popular Will, the party of jailed opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez, said it did not agree with the opposition coalition's decision to postpone Mr Maduro's trial and to call
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Vatican-mediated talks on Sunday and is considered one of the more hard-line in the Democratic Unity coalition (MUD). Its interim leader, Freddy Guevara, said Popular Will would not join any dialogue until Mr Lopez had been released. How did Mr Maduro respond? President Maduro called Mr Guevara "a coward" and warned that his immunity as a member of the National Assembly would not protect him from going to jail. He said that Popular Will was a party of "terrorists" and called on the courts "to take action" against it and Mr Guevara. He did not say what possible charges Mr Guevara could be facing or what alleged "crimes" they had committed. What did the opposition say? Mr Guevara said the party would not bow before President Maduro and his threats. He was backed up by the spokesman for the MUD coalition, Jesus Torrealba, who tweeted that "by attacking Freddy Guevara and Popular Will, Maduro is attacking the negotiating table and mocks the word of @Pontifex-es", referring to the Pope's Twitter handle. Mr Torrealba also said that Mr Maduro had "broken the truce" and accused Mr Maduro of "dynamiting the negotiating table". What now? It is currently not clear whether the protest march planned for 3 November may now be back on. While the Popular Will party could hold its own protest march, it would draw smaller numbers than one organised by the opposition as a whole. With the rival sides trading barbs again, the Vatican envoy and other mediators will have their hands full trying to ensure that the next round of talks goes ahead as planned on 11 November. Meanwhile, international pressure is mounting for the two sides to find a solution to ease the economic crisis which is leaving Venezuelans increasingly desperate. (BBC)
Proceedings in the National Assembly had been unusually friendly before a new spat erupted(AFP)
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Trinidad PM Reshuffles Cabinet new portfolio, Khan said: “I have no interest in any energy By Caribbean News Now contributor PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad -- On Monday, Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley announced the following changes in a Cabinet reshuffle: • The appointment of Sarah Budhu as a senator has been revoked; • The appointment of Nicole Olivierre as minister of energy and energy industries has been revoked; • The appointment of Brigadier General (retired) Ancil Antoine as minister of public utilities has been revoked; • Franklyn Khan has been reassigned from minister of rural development and local government to minister of energy and energy industries; • Kazim Hosein has been appointed as senator and minister of rural development and local government; • Fitzgerald Ethelbert Hinds has been reassigned from minister of works and transport to minister of public utilities; • Senator Rohan Sinanan has been appointed as minister of works and transport; • Stuart Young has been reassigned from minister in the ministry of the attorney general and legal affairs and minister of state in the office of the prime minister to minister in the ministry of the attorney general and legal affairs and minister in the office of the prime minister. Newly-appointed works and transport minister Rohan Sinanan said he is humbled by the confidence placed in him by Rowley “to run one of the largest ministries at a time when the country needs the ministry of works to get going”. Sinanan, a deputy political leader of the People’s National Movement (PNM), admitted his new ministerial responsibilities would be a challenge. He said he planned to give it his all and would “scrutinise the award of contracts” given questions raised under the former administration. Following Monday’s official announcement of Sinanan’s appointment, a story published in December last year started recirculating on social media about a 50th birthday party at his Valsayn home that was attended by Rowley, the Trinidad Guardian reported. Among the guests were Jack Warner and businessman Ishwar Galbaransingh, both of whom are currently challenging extradition request by US authorities. In the case of Khan, while this is the first time he has been appointed energy minister, he is no stranger to the sector. “I am a petroleum geologist and I worked for over two decades in the industry, so that is my professional training. I intend to bring my expertise to bear on the ministry of energy,” he said. Khan, the chairman of the PNM, has served on the Cabinet Standing Committee on Energy in both the Patrick Manning and Keith Rowley administrations and said he is “reasonably familiar with some of the issues.” Asked whether there would be any conflict of interest in his
sector companies as we speak.” Meanwhile, opposition leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar questioned why the attorney general and the ministers of health, education and national security were not changed in Monday’s reshuffle. “They have been colossal failures in their respective portfolios and have yet escaped being removed. A cloud remains over the head of attorney general (Faris) Al-Rawi for his handling of the Malcolm Jones and other fiascos,” Persad-Bissessar said in a release. “This is a classic case of reshuffling bush cards. It is now apparent that Dr Rowley does not have a team of competent, knowledgeable and experienced professionals from whom to select Cabinet Ministers. Suitably qualified professionals clearly do not want to be a part of the failing Rowley regime,” she added. “The country has previously seen Franklin Khan at work and has not been impressed by his performance. His promotion to the critical ministry of energy and energy affairs does not provide any comfort of visionary leadership to improve the activities in this vital sector,” Persad-Bissessar said. “The removal of Fitzgerald Hinds as minister of works was anticipated in light of the absence of any infrastructural works in the first 13 months of the Rowley regime. His replacement, Rohan Sinanan, has been handed a major ministerial plum without any proper experience in public service,” she said. (Caribbean News Now!)
At the swearing-in ceremony of new senators: (L-R) President Anthony Carmona; Senator Karim Hosein, Minister of Rural Development and Local Government; Senator Rohan Sinanan, Minister of Works and Transport; and Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley. Photo: Office of the Prime Minister
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS Suriname Foreign Minister Addresses Korea-Caribbean Forum In Seoul PAGE 71
By Ray Chickrie Caribbean News Now contributor SEOUL , Korea -- The foreign minister of Suriname, Niermala Badrising, who was the keynote speaker at the sixth high-level forum of the Korea-Caribbean Partnership in Seoul on October 26, held under the theme “Climate Change and Food Security”, told the gathering that climate change has become a major challenge facing small island developing states (SIDS). “For many of us belonging to the small island developing states (SIDS), it is a question of survival or extinction. For countries with low-lying coastal areas, like my own country Suriname, the effects of climate change, are no longer a distant threat! Climate change has become the main challenge we are facing, and we are aware that our collective actions hereto will decide the fate of future generations,” she said. In her address to the forum attended by Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries, Badrising linked the issues of climate change and food security. The consequences of climate change on food production, she said, are of grave concern to small economies like Suriname and Caribbean islands. She called for financial and technological support to affected countries. “Increased financing and a large replenishment of the Green Climate Fund is required in order to assist small island developing (SIDS) countries and countries with a low-lying coastal area to implement the Paris Agreement,” she added. She also thanked South Korea for its “pledges and contributions to the Green Climate Fund”. The forum has established itself as an important mechanism for dialogue on cooperation between Korea and the Caribbean. The sixth meeting served as a good opportunity to expand and deepened bilateral cooperation in infrastructure, egovernment, and healthcare, according to a Korea foreign ministry press statement. Besides the Korean ministry of foreign affairs, the ministry of land, infrastructure and transport, the ministry of security and public administration, and the ministry of health and welfare participated in the forum. On October 24, the Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se and
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Badrising held bilateral discussions. The diplomats exchanged views on South Korea/Suriname bilateral relations and the situation on the Korean Peninsula. The ministers noted the “steady advances in the friendly and cooperative ties between Korea and Suriname, and they agreed to step up mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields, including economy, trade, development, and information and communications technology, as well as further cooperation on global issues”. Byung-se discussed with Badrising what he termed “provocations, including nuclear tests and ballistic missile launches, a grave threat to the Korean Peninsula and beyond”. Korea again reiterated its call for the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula. Byung-se said that the issue needs strong global cooperation. On that issue, he asked for Suriname’s support and cooperation. Badrising offered her government’s support to South Korea. South Korea has offered to train Surinamese diplomats and, in addition, has offered to support Suriname’s needs of digitalization and automation of data systems. Guyana, where CARICOM headquarters are located, did not participate in the forum. (Caribbean News Now!)
Suriname Foreign Minister, Niermala Badrising (L) meets with Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS Caribbean Nationals Strongly Encouraged To Join Emergency Managers Association PAGE 72
SAVANNAH, USA -- The International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM) global chair Ellis Stanley Sr.; president of the IAEM Latin America and Caribbean Council Roberto Macchiavello; and IAEM Global Student Council new member coordinator Dr Mutryce KenningsWilliams are strongly encouraging nationals of the Caribbean region to join the organization. According to Stanley, Macchiavello and Kennings-Williams, engaging emergency management professionals and practitioners within the Caribbean region, whose presence was noticeably absent from the meeting, was one of the key topics discussed at the recently concluded IAEM Latin America and Caribbean Council meeting held during the 64th IAEM annual conference in Savannah Georgia on October 19, 2016. The team was keen on highlighting that the Caribbean region is susceptible to a myriad of natural disasters, such as hurricanes, earthquakes, and tsunamis. They also said that, given the region’s geographic disposition, the region faces unique logistical and security challenges. They said that membership in an organization such as the IAEM, which seeks to promote the tenets and principles of the emergency management profession, will prove beneficial to those charged with the protection and preservation of lives, property and infrastructure within the Caribbean region. According to Stanley, the IAEM (founded in 1952, with a current membership of over 6,000 professionals), brings together emergency managers and disaster response professionals from all levels of government, as well as the military, the private sector and volunteer organizations around the world. He said that the purpose of IAEM is to serve the emergency manager by: • Encouraging the development of disaster resistant communities to reduce the effect of disasters on life and property; • Providing a forum for creative and innovative problem-solving on emergency management issues; • Maintaining and expanding standards for emergency management programs and professionals; • Fostering informed decision-making on public policy in the emergency management arena; • Acting as a clearing house for information on comprehensive management issues. Kennings-Williams, a native of St Kitts and Nevis, said that IAEM membership is open to individuals who are in the field of emergency management/disaster preparedness, emergency management civil defence assignment in government, military, industry or volunteer organizations, students of emergency management, individuals who have an interest in protecting lives and property through an all hazards approach; are concerned with national security or
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who bear a tremendous responsibility for the protection of life and property in an emergency situation. She said that IAEM membership provides many benefits, such as providing up-to-date information and guidance that would help the professional fulfill his or her emergency management/disaster response role. She said that it also provides a platform for the sharing of best practices, offering constructive views that can enhance the profession, certification, professional development and networking. Macchiavello, who is also a retired Chilean Navy admiral, said that his interest in the organization stemmed from having to lead the recovery efforts after the 2010 Chile earthquake. He said, “As one of the highest ranking officials, an admiral in the Chilean Navy, I was charged with leading the recovery efforts. I saw such devastation as this was an 8.8 earthquake and I knew that there had to be another way. Disasters are inevitable, I know that, but I kept asking the question of how do we lessen the impact? I found a lot of those answers from networking with individuals of the IAEM, an organization which aims to promote safer, stronger and more resilient societies, based the application of the best technical principles and strict ethical framework, ensuring adequate preparedness and response in critical events.” (Caribbean News Now!)
From left: Ellis Stanley Sr., IAEM-Global Chair; Dr Mutryce Kennings-Williams, IAEM-GSC New Member Coordinator – a native of St Kitts and Nevis; and Roberto Macchiavello, President, IAEM Latin America and Caribbean Council, at the IAEM-LAC Council meeting held during the IAEM Annual Conference in Savannah, Georgia, October 19, 2016
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS Bahamian Motivational Speaker Gives Keynote Speech At Kidney Centre Anniversary Event NASSAU, Bahamas – Bahamas-based international motivational speaker, corporate trainer, talk show host and author of Phoenix Rising, PAGE 73
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Master Motivator Spence Finlayson, recently gave the keynote address at the Kidney Center’s 30th anniversary and employee recognition banquet held in Nassau recently. Dr Ronald Knowles, CEO of the Kidney Center and former minister of health in the Ingraham administration, brought remarks and spoke about his vision to provide access to dialysis beyond what was available when he returned to The Bahamas after completing a residency in Internal medicine at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, and a nephrology fellowship at the University of Miami in 1976. His vision changed the healthcare landscape in The Bahamas. Today, the Kidney Centre can boast of three locations: Nassau, Freeport and Abaco. Spence Finlayson gave a stirring motivational and inspirational address and he spoke fondly of growing up in the Valley as a young boy who looked up to persons like Dr Knowles, Prime Minister Perry Christie, First Lady Bernadette Christie, Joan Albury, CEO of The Counselors Limited, and Campbell Cleare, partner at McKinney Bancroft and Hughes, who all were in attendance at the gala banquet. He thanked them for raising the ceiling on his possibilities. Spence Finlayson, fondly known as the Bishop of Motivation, is the founder and CEO of The Phoenix Institute for Positive Development and Empowerment, a human resources development firm Prime Minister Perry Christie based in Nassau with international clients. He can be reached for bookings at 242- (L) with Spence Finlayson 601-6162. (Caribbean News Now!)
Williams Re-appointed To Act As Top Cop For Ninth Time PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, Nov 2, CMC – Stephen Williams has been appointed to serve as acting police commissioner for the ninth time amid speculation that he was not the preferred choice of the Police service Commission (PSC). Williams, who was appointed to the post since Canadian-born Dwayne Gibbs, who along with his compatriot Deputy Commissioner Jack Ewatski resigned in July 2012 with more than a year of their threeyear contracts, has signalled his intention to apply for the post whenever it is advertised. “(The) Service Commission has given me an additional appointment of six months which they have done on eight previous occasions, “Williams told reporters, adding that “I have publicly announced that you can’t be functioning in an office, then refuse to apply for the substantive position. “So I will apply whenever the opportunity arises, right now there is no such opportunity because they have not advertised the position as yet,” he said. Last Sunday, Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley said that he faces the prospect of not knowing on Monday “who is or who will be in charge of the police service and I am head of the National Security Council”. Rowley has been calling for the appointment of a top cop in order to guide the police service in the fight against criminal activities here adding that the fact the Police Service Commission and the police senior ranks themselves “may not know (who is the top cop) should tell you why we are underperforming in our necessary response to the criminal elements”. If he applies for the post, this will be Williams’s
third attempt after having being bypassed for the post as far back as 2007 Meanwhile, media reports here say that the PSC had been divided in their consideration to provide an additional six month stint for Williams. The reports note that the Commission was divided by a 3-2 margin in favour of retaining Harold Phillip, acting Deputy Commissioner, to continue acting as Commissioner of Police. One newspaper quoted sources as saying that based on legal advice that Williams had been acting for four years and a half years in this post and went on leave and therefore would have had a legitimate expectation of being reappointed as acting Commissioner of Police on the resumption of duties. Senior Counsel also noted that Williams had no unfavourable appraisals of his performance, the newspaper added. (Antigua Observer)
Stephen Williams
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS Trinidad And Tobago Hosting IMF Conference For Regional Countries PAGE 74
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2016
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, Nov 2, CMC – Finance Ministers from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) are meeting in Trinidad and Tobago on Wednesday for the 2016 High Level Caribbean Forum. The one day forum is being hosted by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Trinidad and Tobago government under the theme “Shifting Tides: Challenges and Opportunities”. The forum will bring together regional prime ministers, finance ministers and Central Bank Governors, donors, and representatives from international financial institutions and the private sector to exchange views on the unique challenges and opportunities for the Caribbean region. It will address issues such as: Global and regional challenges (growth, competitiveness, and oil prices); spillovers from Cuba, and policies to address de-risking. (Antigua Observer)
No Stealing, Vows New Works Minister Trinidad – “Under the leadership of Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley and under my watch at the Ministry of Works no money will be stolen,” new Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan vowed yesterday immediately after he was sworn in at President’s House, St Ann’s. He said he would ensure public funds are well accounted for and the process of awarding of contracts is transparent and fair. Sinanan also stated he intended to get things done at the ministry. “I intend to hit the road running and make sure that we achieve the policies and plans of the Government,” he said. He said if one looked at the PNM manifesto the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure has a lot of projects. “I intend to carry out all these projects on time and within budget. And I am sure that this (the projects) will stimulate the economy a lot. “I am sure that the population is a bit anxious to see things happening,” he said. Asked how he planned to execute projects in the face of the economic circumstances, Sinanan said revenue would always be a challenge. “We have to prioritise and I can tell you one thing I am good at is getting more from less,” he said. On the issue of transport, Sinanan said he intended to work with the technocrats at the ministry to ensure that no part of his ministry is left behind. Sinanan said he was “humbled and honoured” that the Prime Minister had the confidence in him to assign him responsibility for one of the bigger ministries in Trinidad and Tobago. At yesterday’s function at President House, St Ann’s, Sinanan swore on the Bhagavad Gita, while Hosein swore on the Holy Qur’an, to discharge their duties as ministers, without fear or favour, affection or ill will. Minister of Rural Development and Local Government Kazim Hosein said he resigned as mayor just before leaving San Fernando to attend the swearing-in ceremony. “I
submitted my letter to the chief executive officer just before I came here,” he said, adding it was “accepted with some hesitation”. He said he would make the best of his appointment, having come with a wealth of knowledge from local government after working 40 years in this area. “This is the right time for me to be in the ministry. The country is looking forward to local government reform, Hosein said. He said he believed in giving autonomy to local government bodies and planned to visit all corporations once a month after the new corporations are in place following the local government election. He said this is because he would want to make sure everything is going smoothly in the 14 corporations. Fitzgerald Hinds, who was moved from the Works Ministry to Public Utilities, said yesterday he was looking forward to continuing to make the contribution that he could to the Government. He said it was too early to say what his priorities would be in his new ministry since he would be briefed by the officials at the Ministry of Public Utilities when he goes there tomorrow. (Antigua Observer)
Newly sworn-in Minister Rohan Sinanan (Source: trinidadexpress.com)
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“It Depends On What You Decide To Do But Its Around €3000 A Month” – Victim Of Alleged Job Scam Speaks One of the clients of the woman arrested for allegedly operating a job and visa scam has come forward to speak to St. Lucia News Online about what she experienced. The victim, who will not be named, resides in an area close to where the woman is known to operate from. “About a little over 3 weeks ago a close friend of my family contacted me and told me he had his good friend who was giving opportunities for people to go to Martinique. He also said i would have to provide $425 EC to complete the process which is the ticket to go to Martinique and the permit,” she said. “He also added that if I didn’t have a passport I would have to pay $200 more and 4 passport photos signed by a JP because the lady can also get me a passport,” she added. She was so excited that she mentioned the whole thing to family members and friends who also became interested in the offer. She, along with a male companion who was also interested, met up with the woman at a bus stop where they handed over a total of $625 EC to the lady. At this point, with the spread of the news to her family members, her brother also got interested and so she ended up handing over a further $425 EC to the woman for what she believed was her brother’s ticket to Martinique. The two, trying to get more information on the jobs available, were told that the salary would be €3000 a month and that the jobs available range from construction and farming for men to housekeeping and cooking for women. The enormous sum left the victims baffled and excited as it also included food and accommodation covered by the employer. Things only began to go south when a guy, whom she loaned money to in order to apply for the jobs in Martinique, started to doubt the authenticity of the woman’s claims due to rumors which were circulating at the time. The same man had said he would give her back the money that she lent him and when this did not materialize, she called the lady and mentioned that the guy was having doubts and now wanted his money and passport back. “She had numerous passports” When the two met up with the woman again at the bus stop the woman had along with her a gym bag full of passports: “she came with a gym bag with countless, and i mean countless estimated over 80, passports looking for the guys passport,” she said. When the passport was found the guy handed over back the money that she loaned him, the lady offering the jobs then told them that the persons were leaving on the 5th of November for Martinique. “I called a few times and she said paper work was in process but since the lady was so overwhelmed with ppl wanting to go its going to take a little longer,” she said. She is now trying to recover her passport and money, during her last call she was told that she needs to go to the Criminal Investigations Department as they now had all the documents
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS Antigua PM Promises 5,000 New Jobs Over The Next Two Years PAGE 76
ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC) — Prime Minister Gaston Browne says over the next two years his administration will create 5,000 new jobs in addition to the more than 3,000 ones it has created since coming to office two years ago. In his Independence address to the nation on Monday, Browne said his government, which came to office in June 2014, had been able to reduce unemployment significantly and the “proof of the number of jobs is measured by the number of additional contributors to the Social Security and Medical Benefits schemes”. He told the nation celebrating its 35th year of political independence from Britain, that a number of projects will be undertaken over the next two years including the creation of 500 jobs next year at the Expert Global Solutions, a call centre that will also partner with Amazon (a publicly traded conglomerate) and the government to construct a new training facility at the Five Islands Campus. “The US$25 million investment by Call Centre Services, in a new multi-story facility at Woods will create another 800 jobs. Construction of this facility has commenced and it will provide up to 150 construction jobs,” Browne said, adding that within the next few weeks, housing construction at the Paynters and Cooks housing sites will be scaled-up, causing openings for new employment; “In 2017, my government will spend in excess of
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EC$100 million (One EC dollar =US$0.37 cents) in the repair and expansion of our decrepit roads, curbs and drains, including, in the nation’s capital where the infrastructure is dilapidated and unwholesome.“ Browne said that the programme will also generate a few hundred jobs and that “several thousand jobs will be created from new hotel investment projects, including US$100 million Valley Church Resort in which our Government will be investing up to US$30 million”. (Jamaica Observer)
Teen Suicides Worry Minister Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister Ayanna Webster-Roy is calling on parents and teachers to create safe spaces for children to speak about their feelings. Webster-Roy made the call in a press release yesterday in response to two recent reports of teenagers committing suicide. Last Friday, a 14-year-old boy was found hanging at his Arima home. He was said to be suffering from depression. On Sunday, a 13year-old girl was found hanging at her Princes Town home. Yesterday, Webster-Roy urged parents not to allow children to suffer in silence, saying childhood should not be a burden to them. “Instead, childhood should be filled with love, happiness and a sure and certain hope for a bright future for all our nation’s children,” she said. Noting that even adults struggle to cope with the challenges of life, Webster-Roy said, “We can therefore only imagine how much more amplified challenges are to children. As such, we must ensure that our children have access to school counsellors, psychologists and social workers in order to prevent future incidents.” She advised youngsters who may be feeling overwhelmed and depressed to talk to someone they trust about how they feel, call for help if they feel helpless or hopeless, surround themselves with positive and caring people or visit their school counsellor for support and assistance. She also encouraged them to call 800SAVE, 131 or 800-4321 or visit www.childlinett.org for information on how to access support services. News anchor’s story The minister’s statement came even as CNC3 news weather anchor Seigonie Mohammed yesterday opened up to a group of students about contemplating suicide after being bullied in high school. Her touching story brought students to tears at the Caribbean Colour Splash’s Secondary School Anti-Bullying Conference at the Naparima Bowl, San Fernando. Mohammed hosted the event and before introducing the keynote speaker, she related her experience with bullying. “I was bullied for a long time in high school. I literally had my hair pulled out sometimes and it became so bad that mentally, emotionally, physically, I was drained and I turned to pills for comfort...I even considered suicide,” Mohammed said. Luckily, she said, her mother, Madge Mohammed, was able to recognise that young Seigonie was struggling through her teenaged years. “But then, that one person came and saved me and that person was my mother—she is sitting right here with us today,” she said as the students applauded. However, Seigonie admitted she was afraid and ashamed to confide in her mother initially. “I didn’t know how to tell my mother what I was going through...when you are bullied sometimes you don’t want to speak to your parents, you don’t want to tell them what’s going on. It took a long time for me to gain that trust in her to confide in her.” She urged the students to confide in a trusted adult if they ever fall victim to bullies. “You too have that support, whether it be your parents, your grandparents, your aunts and uncles, find someone you trust and let them know what is going on in your life.” (Trinidad Guardian)
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS Venezuelan Govt ‘Indifferent’ About Dialogue With Oppositiona PAGE 77
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President of the Venezuelan National Assembly, Source: http://www.el-nacional.com/politica/RamosHenry Ramos Allup during a press conference on Allup-asegura-gobierno-dialogo... Tuesday said that the government is being ‘indifferent’ about carrying official dialogue with the opposition leaders. According to the Venezuelan Newspaper El Nacional, Ramos noted the vital necessity to materialize this dialogue, in order to bring certain stability to the volatile situation in the country. The matter was equally addressed on Monday last, in an official meeting held by heads of the National Assembly and members of the Popular Will Party (Partido de Voluntad Popular). This last organization, characterized for representing the people’s needs, using the popular action as a main engine for progress. Ramos stated that the National Assembly will make several announcements of national interests, on the President of the Venezuelan National days to come, regarding the actions to be taken in order Assembly, Henry Ramos Allup to end the ‘chaos’ in which Venezuela is submerged. ‘Venezuela will make history’, he said.
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South Africa: Jacob Zuma 'Corruption' Report Released trying to nominate cabinet Jonas said he rejected the offer; the Guptas
Opposition parties have repeatedly accused Mr Zuma of being corrupt, which he denies(AP) The findings of an investigation into corruption allegations against South Africa's President Jacob Zuma have been released. In the report, former Public Protector Thuli Madonsela recommends Mr Zuma should establish a judicial commission of inquiry with 30 days. The ANC leader is accused of an improper relationship with wealthy businessmen. Mr Zuma had tried to block the release of the report. But he dropped his court bid on Wednesday, with his office releasing a statement revealing the decision was made "in the interest of justice and speedy resolution of the matter". "The president will give consideration to the contents of the report in order to ascertain whether it should be a subject of a court challenge," the statement added. Thousands of people gathered in the capital Pretoria and in other cities on Wed n es d ay ah ead o f th e r ep o r t' s publication, demanding his resignation. Police fired water cannon to disperse protesters. The protesters, supporters of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party, had gathered outside Mr Zuma's main administrative offices in Pretoria. Opposition groups are also rallying in South Africa's other major cities. The president has been dogged by corruption allegations for more than a decade, but has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. Ms Madonsela investigated allegations that he let the wealthy Gupta family wield undue influence in his government. The Guptas were accused of
ministers in exchange for business favours. Both Mr Zuma and the Gupta family have denied the allegation. Mr Zuma's bid to block the report's release was challenged by opposition parties, which are now demanding that he pays their legal costs. Thousands of opposition supporters have been rallying in Pretoria, shouting "Zuma must fall". Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Musi Maimane said state coffers were being "plundered" by "crooks", but the "good guys" were winning in the battle to safeguard the democracy which emerged in South Africa at the end of minority rule in 1994. "This is about letting Zuma, the Guptas and all their useful idiots know that their days are numbered," Mr Maimane said. President Zuma's move was unexpected but it has been welcomed. So why the U-turn? "He's acknowledging that he has no grounds to prevent the release of the Report on State Capture," said constitutional expert Lawson Naidoo. For many South Africans who have harboured doubts about whether Mr Zuma should stay in power, his close relationship with the wealthy Gupta family is the final straw. Although all concerned have denied any wrongdoing, many feel Mr Zuma can no longer be trusted to act in the best interests of the country and its hard-fought constitution. This is why thousands of people from various opposition parties marched through the streets of Pretoria, calling for Mr Zuma to go. It is not clear what Mr Zuma's next move is, but he is under pressure from all sides, even many in the governing African National Congress (ANC). As for South Africans, they say the time of sitting idly by is over - they are fighting back. Ms Madonsela's investigation was triggered by allegations in March by Deputy Finance Minister Mcebisi Jonas that the Gupta family had made "a mockery of our hard-earned democracy" by offering him the finance minister's post last year. Mr
denied the allegation and accused him of political point-scoring. Former ANC MP Vytjie Mentor also alleged that the family offered her the powerful public enterprise minister's post in 2010 in exchange for business favours. Ms Mentor alleged that Mr Zuma was in another part of the Guptas' family home in Johannesburg when the offer was made. Mr Zuma's office said at the time that he had no "recollection" of Ms Mentor, while the family strongly denied her allegation. Ajay, Atul and Rajesh Gupta moved to South Africa from India in 1993 Set up businesses in air travel, mining, energy, technology and media Opposition nicknamed them and the president as "Zuptas" because of their close relationship Deny influencing ministerial appointments to advance their business interests Accused of being involved in "suspicious" transactions worth about $490m (£400m) Say they are withdrawing from their South African businesses because of political backlash Big banks have refused to do business with them Who are the Guptas? Ms Madonsela had planned to release the report last month, before the end of her seven-year term as South Africa's public protector. The investigation is her second into Mr Zuma since he took office in 2009. In March, South Africa's highest court upheld her earlier findings that Mr Zuma "unduly benefited" from government money used to upgrade his private rural home. It led to widespread calls for Mr Zuma to resign, but he survived an impeachment vote in parliament after ANC MPs rallied behind him. Correspondents say that Mr Zuma will almost certainly face another impeachment vote if there are any adverse findings about him in the latest report. The president is also at the centre of another case and is trying to overturn a unanimous ruling of a High Court that he should stand trial on 783 counts of corruption in relation to an arms deal negotiated in 1999. Mr Zuma's term as president is due to end in 2019. (BBC)
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Lowa Police Killing: Suspect Held After Two Officers Shot killing nine black churchgoers in South Carolina last year. "I was peacefully protesting," the man in the video says.
Scott Greene was named as a suspect(AP) Police in the US state of Iowa say they have arrested the suspect in the "ambush style" killing of two police officers. They were searching for Scott Michael Greene, a 46-year-old man from Urbandale, a suburb of Des Moines. The first officer was found shot in Urbandale at 01:06 local time (06:06 GMT) on Wednesday. The second was found 20 minutes later several blocks away.
Both were sitting in their patrol cars when they were attacked. The motive for the attacks is unclear. Jump media playerMedia player help However a mobile phone video posted under Mr Greene's name in October shows a man complaining to police that a group of black people had hit him and taken from him a Confederate flag he was holding during a high school sports event. The Confederate flag is widely seen as a symbol of slavery. It was also heavily associated with the man accused of
"You have to understand that in the social climate that we're in, when you fly a Confederate flag in front of a group of African-Americans, that's going to cause a disturbance," a police officer replies. Another video appears to show a photo of Mr Greene holding the Confederate flag in front of several black people. Police officers gather evidence at the scene of a shooting, Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2016, in Urbandale, Iowa Speaking earlier at a news conference, Sergeant Paul Parizek of Des Moines police said there was "somebody out there shooting police officers". "We hope we find him before anybody else gets hurt. We definitely don't want anybody in the public, here in the community to get hurt but there's a clear and present danger to police officers right now, and we've doubled up our officers." Iowa Governor Terry Branstad said in a statement that the killings were "an attack on the public safety of all Iowans". (BBC)
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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2016
Flight MH370 'Made Rapid Descent’
Australian experts have examined this wing flap which was found off the Tanzanian coast(ATSB) Flight MH370 most likely made a rapid and uncontrolled descent into the Indian Ocean, a new report says. The Boeing 777 disappeared while flying to Beijing from Kuala Lumpur with 239 people on board in March 2014. Despite an extensive search no trace of the plane's fuselage has been found. But the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) said analysis of two recovered
wing flaps showed they were not in the landing position when the plane went down in the Indian Ocean. Satellite data also indicated a "high and increasing rate of descent", said the report. "You can draw your own conclusions as to whether that means someone was in control or not," the ATSB's search director Peter Foley told reporters. The release of the report comes as a team of international aviation and communications experts gather in Canberra to discuss the next stage of the search for the plane. A 120,000 sq km area of seabed has already been scoured by China, Australia and Malaysia. Barring a major new discovery, the search is due to end early next year. So far only seven of the 20 pieces of recovered debris have been identified as definitely or highly likely to be from the missing
plane. The new report says a wing flap which carried MH370's unique numbers was "most likely in the retracted position at the time it separated from the wing", meaning it had not been readied for landing. The report also used mathematical models and replica parts to work out how the confirmed debris might have moved through the water, and so where the plane most likely came down. It said all the analysis indicated the debris came from "within the current search area or further north", indicating the bureau could be considering the growing calls to extend the zone. But Mr Foley stressed that the bureau was "very reluctant to express absolute certainty". "You can never be 100%," he said. Australia's Transport Minister Darren Chester said the Canberra meeting would "inform the remainder of the search effort, and develop guidance for any future search operations". (BBC)
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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2016
Mosul Battle: Iraqi Troops Secure Foothold In Eastern Outskirts
Villagers returned to their homes with white flags after Iraqi forces arrived(AFP) Iraqi forces are securing their foothold in the city of Mosul, moving from house to house to clear areas of Islamic State (IS) militants. Soldiers and special forces paused their advance on Wednesday, a day after pushing into the eastern outskirts. A BBC journalist says they are moving with caution, amid fears of ambushes, secret tunnels and booby traps. Meanwhile, an aid agency has warned that the lives of civilians in Mosul are "in grave danger". Wolfgang Gressmann of the Norwegian Refugee Council said its staff were "now bracing... for the worst" as the battle for the city intensified. "The lives of 1.2 million civilians are in grave danger, and the
future of all of Iraq is now in the balance," he added. Elite Counter-Terrorism Service troops retook the eastern Kukjali area and reached the more built-up Karama district, on Tuesday, having entered the city for the first time since it was overrun by IS in June 2014. The BBC's Ian Pannell, who was travelling with them, says those militants who chose to stand and fight were killed while others fled deeper into the city. The Iraqi military said that units from the army's ninth armoured division and first division had also entered the Judaydat al-Mufti district, to the south-east, after capturing several outlying villages. On Wednesday, a senior CTS officer, Brig Gen Haider Fadhil, told the Associated Press that they had paused their advance because poor weather was hampering visibility. They are also waiting for reinforcements before attempting to push into the city centre, our correspondent says. For now, troops are now moving from house to house, making the ground secure for the civilians who are still there, he adds. Families who spoke to the BBC said they had been living in a state of fear under IS. For the women, in particular, there was a tentative sense of relief. One said she had left her home only twice in the last two years and that she would have been beaten for even hanging her washing out on the roof. Some 50,000 Iraqi security forces, Kurdish Peshmerga fighters, Sunni Arab tribesmen and Shia militiamen are involved in the operation to take back Mosul, which began on 17 October. The operation is receiving air and ground support from the US-led multinational coalition against IS. (BBC)
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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2016
Washington Mother Accused Of Giving Children Heroin McIver faces similar charges. The three children were removed
The defendant, Ashlee Hutt, 24, has three small children A young couple in the US state of Washington are accused of injecting three young children with heroin to "make them go to sleep". Police say Ashlee Hutt and Mac Leroy McIver were found living with three children, aged six, four and two, among rat droppings, drug needles and heroin. Ms Hutt appeared in court on Monday and faces child endangerment charges. Mr
from the home last November. The couple deny the charges against them. Pierce County Sheri's Department spokesman Ed Troyer told The Washington Post: "The kids lived in deplorable conditions. It wasn't a good living situation even without the issue of heroin." According to court documents, the six-year-old told investigators the couple gave him "feel good medicine" which he described "as white powder which was mixed with water" and injected with needles. He said after they were injected the three children would go to sleep. Two of the children tested positive for the drug, and puncture marks and bruising, consistent with needle injections were also found on the children's bodies, according to reports. Both Ms Hutt and Mr McIver have pleaded not guilty to the charges, though they both admitted to being heroin users. In September, Ohio police released a graphic photo of a couple overdosing on heroin with a boy in the car to raise awareness of the state's heroin problem. The US is in the throes of a heroin and opioid epidemic - drug overdose has become the leading cause of accidental death, overtaking traďŹƒc accidents. (BBC)
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Miscarriage Can Trigger Post-traumatic Stress Disorder pregnancy during the first 23 weeks. An ectopic pregnancy is when a fertilised egg implants itself outside of the womb, usually in one of the fallopian tubes. It is not possible to save the pregnancy. It usually has to be removed using medicine or an operation. Line Her subsequent third miscarriage a few months later left her a nervous wreck. "I was a mess," she says.
Nicole was not part of the trial, but hopes that by sharing her experience she can help support other people who have lost a baby to miscarriage(NICOLE MARTIN) Women who have recently had a miscarriage are at risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder, doctors at Imperial College London have said. At their early pregnancy loss clinic, a third of the women have PTSD symptoms. Nicole Martin had three miscarriages in a year, her "dark days". "Everyone thinks because you've already got a child it's easier. In a lot of respects it definitely is easier than not having a child, but I wanted another child for [my child's] sake." Nicole and her husband, Ben, started trying for their second child just after their first, Eva, had turned one. "I was 38 years old and fully aware of the risks associated with having children a bit later in life," she says. "It took me longer than expected to fall pregnant, and when I did I felt very anxious because many of my friends had suffered at least one miscarriage." Nicole's story She was carrying twins, but both died - one at five weeks and the other seven weeks into the pregnancy. Nicole had to have an operation under general anaesthetic to treat the miscarriage. Although shell-shocked by the experience, Ben and Nicole continued to try for a baby. Two months later, Nicole was pregnant, but had another miscarriage at seven weeks. "The scan showed there was no heartbeat," she says. "We had to have medical management this time. "You get given a tablet which breaks down the lining of your womb and you just get sent home to miscarry. "It's really not pleasant. "It's your baby, and you have to flush it down the loo. "It's horrendous." Line Pregnancy loss and PTSD Post-traumatic stress disorder can develop after a very stressful, frightening or distressing event, or a prolonged traumatic experience. As many as one in four pregnancies is thought to end in a miscarriage - loss of a
"Everywhere I went mothers were asking me, 'When are you going to have another child?' "I never ask a woman now about whether she's having babies, or having a second baby, because you never know their story." Nicole says she nearly gave up all hope. "I found it just unbelievably cruel," she says. "I remember phoning my consultant who was great. "I said, 'Just tell me what I should do.' "I really wanted someone from the medical profession to say, 'Just give up.'" Instead, the consultant told Nicole to keep trying if she had the emotional strength because there was still a good chance she would be able to have a healthy baby. Two months later - just after Nicole's 40th birthday - she was pregnant with her son, Joseph, who is now nearly two years old. "I still worry a lot, and I'm having cognitive behavioural therapy to help me cope with that," she says. "Even though we have two beautiful children, I still feel anxious to this day because I can't quite believe it's all over. "I feel that something's going to spoil our lovely family unit because it was such a struggle getting there." Dr Jessica Farren, who carried out the BMJ Open study on nearly 90 women attending the pregnancy clinic at Imperial College London for a suspected miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy, says although only a minority might have full-blown PTSD, many will suffer from moderate-to-severe anxiety. "It's the tip of the iceberg really," he says. "There will be a huge number of women who would still benefit from some support. But the NHS isn't geared up for it. "Once we've looked after these women clinically and discharged them, there's no real opportunity to check how they are coping emotionally." After a healthy pregnancy, all women get screened for depression at their six-week check. But following a miscarriage, there are no routine emotional checks. Dr Farren and her colleagues are studying more women at their clinic to see if they can better spot those that will need the most support. In the meantime, they say help is out there if you know where to look. "There are some really good charities and organisations that can offer counselling, and your GP is a good place to start if you want some help accessing support," says Dr Farren. (BBC)
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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2016
Calais 'Jungle': Last Remaining Children Evacuated From Camp
The first buses left at 08:30 local time(AFP/GETTY) French authorities have begun moving 1,500 migrant children from the Calais "Jungle" camp, a week after demolition began. Two buses carrying the first minors left the area at 08:30 local time (07:30 GMT). The unaccompanied children will be taken to reception centres around the country. They had been living in converted shipping containers, hoping to travel to the UK.
But the French authorities have now given them documents saying no further applications for transfer to the UK will be handled in Calais. Their cases could now be investigated individually by UK officials once they have been transferred to reception centres in France, French President Francois Hollande told La Voix du Nord newspaper on Tuesday. France and the UK have argued over where the migrant children should go, with France urging the UK to take in more. The UK has so far
taken in about 270 of the children who have relatives in the UK or are deemed particularly vulnerable. The others will be looked after in France, Mr Hollande said. The first of some 30 buses scheduled to leave Calais on Wednesday was headed to Carcassonne in south-western France, the second to Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer near Montpellier in southern France. Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said more than half of the children had left Calais during the morning and expected the operation to be over by the end of the day. No-one will be allowed back into the dismantled camp, a staging post for irregular migrants fleeing war and poverty and trying to cross the Channel to the UK, Mr Hollande said. The final shelters in Calais were destroyed on Monday after an operation to move some 7,000 people to centres elsewhere in France. On Tuesday night riot police were called to the camp when fighting broke out between Eritrean Christian and Afghan Muslim teenagers. Police said about 100 youths were involved. Dozens of Eritreans reportedly took sanctuary in a makeshift church. (BBC)
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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2016
Val Kilmer Denies Michael Douglas's 'Misinformed' Cancer Claim
Kilmer said he was 'rehabbing steadily' as a result of a swollen tongue(GETTY IMAGES) US actor Val Kilmer has denied he has cancer, following Michael Douglas's claim that his former co-star is ill. "I love Michael Douglas but he is misinformed," the Top Gun and Batman Forever star wrote in a Facebook post. In a talk in London on Sunday, Douglas claimed that Kilmer was "dealing with" throat cancer - the same ailment that Douglas was diagnosed with in 2010. Kilmer,
however, said he was "rehabbing steadily" from "a swollen tongue" and had "no cancer whatsoever". "The last time I spoke to [Douglas] was almost two years ago, when I asked him for a referral for a specialist to get a diagnosis for a lump in my throat," wrote the 56-year-old. "I ended up using a team at UCLA [University of California, Los Angeles] and have no cancer whatsoever," he continued. Kilmer is also known for his roles in films including The Doors, Heat and Tombstone. Following Douglas's comments, it was reported that he had been reluctant to seek medical treatment due to his Christian Science faith. Many Christian Scientists believe that diseases can be healed with prayer, although the Church does not forbid adherents seeking medical aid. ‘Devoted friend' In his post, Kilmer said "concerns about [his] health" had been
raised "by publications that have no respect for the truth". He added: "Some fans have mistakenly thought my silence about my personal issues meant that somehow I wasn't being responsible to my health, because of my reliance on prayer and Love. "Nothing could be further from the truth... Being healthy and having the respect of my peers and love from my family, friends, peers and fans is a DAILY source of inspiration, for which I am so grateful." Kilmer described Douglas as "a loving and devoted friend", adding: "I'm sure he meant no harm." The actor said he would be making personal appearances later this month at screenings of Cinema Twain, a film of his one-man play about author Mark Twain. Kilmer's post follows a number of Facebook messages last year in which he assured fans he had "no tumour or infection of any kind". (BBC)
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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2016
Amnesty International's Moscow Office 'Sealed By Authorities'
privately-owned Russian news agency Interfax. Tough new laws Laws require all NGOs receiving any overseas funding to register as foreign agents and so face restrictions.
The director of Amnesty's Moscow office, Sergei Nikitin, posted a picture of the city's official seal across the office door on Facebook(SERGEI NIKITIN) Amnesty International's office in Moscow has been sealed off by the city authorities, say members of staff. Arriving for work on Wednesday, they found official seals placed across the office entrances, the locks had been changed and the power was cut off. The human rights group says it was given no warning but hoped there was "a simple administrative explanation". It has in the past complained of harassment by the authorities in Russia. Amnesty's Moscow director, Sergei Nikitin, posted photos of the seals and discarded locks on Facebook. Staff member Alexander Artemyev told independent Dozhd TV internet broadcaster that the organisation had been renting an office belonging to Moscow's department of city property for 20 years. 'Unwelcome surprise' It had always paid its rent on time, he reportedly said. John Dalhuisen,
Amnesty International's Europe director, said: "We do not know what prompted Moscow authorities to prevent our staff from accessing our offices - an unwelcome surprise for which we received no prior warning. "Given the current climate for civil society work in Russia, there are clearly any number of plausible explanations, but it's too early to draw any conclusions. We are working to resolve the situation as swiftly as possible and very much hope there is a simple administrative explanation for this setback to our work. "We are 100% confident that we fulfilled all our obligations as tenants." He said staff were seeking a meeting with municipal authorities to try to resolve the situation. President Vladimir Putin's spokesman said he had no information about what had happened. "This is the first time I've heard about it," Dmitry Peskov told journalists, according to
The Russian authorities say the law is needed to protect Russia from outside attempts to influence internal politics, but many organisations complain the law is used to try to clamp down on their activities. Last year, Russia passed a law allowing foreign organisations to be banned from operating in the country if designated as "undesirable" on national security grounds. At the time, Mr Nikitin condemned the law as "another sobering sign of how the Russian authorities are quickly closing in on fundamental freedoms and the work of independent civil society groups in the country". (BBC)
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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2016
J-pop Row: Sony Apologises For Keyakizaka46's 'Nazi' Outfits
apology. The band is a sister act to the country's popular AKB48 super group. Both are produced by Japanese hitmaker Yasushi Akimoto, an executive board member of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics committee. In a statement on the band's website he also apologised for his "lack of oversight", saying he had not been aware of the clothing choice before the performance and that he did not think the designers had intended the Nazi parallels. Staff will be better educated and outfits will be checked in future, he said.
Scary on more levels than they perhaps intended(@KEYAKIZAKA46) Sony Music has apologised after one of its Japanese girl bands caused uproar by appearing at a concert wearing Nazithemed Halloween costumes. Keyakizaka46 went on stage in Yokohama on 22 October wearing black capes and caps resembling those of SS
officers Social media users were quick to point out similarities with the uniforms of Hitler's brutal paramilitary force. Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) said in a statement: "We express our heartfelt apology for causing offence." It blamed "our lack of understanding" for the incident, which had prompted the Simon Wiesenthal Centre to demand an
With Japan determined to make a good impression in 2020 despite spiralling costs and scandal, the girls' outfits prompted some to hope (in Japanese) that the Games' opening ceremony was being prepared with a bit more care. Ignorance of the offensiveness of Nazi iconography is surprisingly widespread in Japan and across Asia, and commentators have suggested the mostly teenage pop stars themselves were unaware of the significance of their striking look - one that Sony in Japan has had to apologise for before, when boy band Kishidan appeared on TV in similar uniforms in 2011. (BBC)
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2016
Stop The Witch-hunting And Get On With The People’s Business – Opinion Poll and associates, 70% of the respondents noted that the government should focus on propelling the stagnated economy, while 20% said that the government should do more to fix the job market and the remaining 10% said that more emphasis should be placed on enhancing and fixing public infrastructure.
In a recent poll conducted by the Guyana Daily News, regarding the state of the economy and government’s attitude towards former government ministers
Majority of the respondents are of the opinion that the government has a personal vendetta against former PPP government officials and is forsaking the ailing economy. They made reference to the firing of almost 2000 Community
Service Officers (CSO’s), the dismissal of numerous government employees and the hiring of a special prosecutor for the Pradoville 2 issue.
Respondents said that the government should stop the witch-hunting and get on with the people’s business. Opposition Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira had noted that the establishment of a special prosecution unit is another form of witch-hunting. Government plans to establish a special prosecutions unit to investigate and prosecute based on the findings of the forensic audits.
LOCAL
GUYANA DAILY NEWS Attorney General Defends Hiring Special Prosecutors The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Williams said that DDP is unwilling to PAGE 91
Attorney General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams Attorney General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams is of the view that there is nothing wrong with the use of special prosecutors in high profile cases. “This is something that is not unusual in Guyana, so I don’t know what the hue and cry is,” the minister said in a Guyana information Agency (GINA) release. The government announced that it will be using special prosecutors after it concludes investigations into cases involving Pradoville 2, and Cricket World Cup among others.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2016
opposition chastised the APNU+AFC government about this move citing that this government is making a mockery of the justice system in Guyana. Former Attorney general and Attorney-at-Law, Anil Nandlall rebuked the decision of the government. He said, “What we have now is the government hiring a group of prosecutors, to prosecute a group of persons, who happens to be its (government’s) political opponents, that by itself raises questions.” According to the PPP Parliamentarian, the body enshrined to administer justice is the court and that the office of the Director of Public Prosecutors (DPP) is being bypassed. He further stated that the prosecutors will be hand-picked by the government and paid by the government and therefore, they will carry out the will of the government. However, Minister
handle the cases because they are of a political nature and one of the reasons why special prosecutors are being used is because “We (government) don’t want people whose heart is not in it to mess up the prosecutions,” the AG said. The minister stated that special prosecutors have already been tapped to deal with these cases. “We have identified people that are known, and if we have to bring in special prosecutors from abroad, we will do so,” the Attorney General said. The AG told GINA he does not foresee the DPP having any problems issuing fiats, granting permission for the use of special prosecutors. A fiat is a short order or warrant of a judge or magistrate directing some act to be done; an authority issuing from some competent source for undertaking of some legal act.
LOCAL
GUYANA DAILY NEWS PPP To Hammer Government On Cost Of ‘Jubilee Park’ PAGE 92
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spending on the project. According to Edghill, the government proceeded to construct a facility in the square of the revolution now known as the Jubilee Park, to host Guyana’s 50th Independence Anniversary celebrations, which included the Flag Raising Ceremony and Float Parade. The PPP Parliamentarian noted that the government informed the National Assembly that the project will be funded by private individuals through an unnamed private organization and that there will be no budgetary allocations for the project.
Former Junior Minister of Finance Juan Edghill Members of the political opposition are questioning the government on expenditure relating to the Durban Park Project which was slated to be completed for the jubilee celebrations. Former Junior Minister of Finance Juan Edghill, is expected to move a motion in the National Assembly tomorrow, seeking answers on Government’s
However, after taking over the project, the Ministry of Public Infrastructure announced that GYD$150M of its budgetary allocation will be used for the completion of the project. The political opposition is also questioning the government as to why there was no public consultations or disclosures with citizens or national stakeholders and why there was no architectural designs. The PPP also wants to know the projected cost for the construction, which should be made public.
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Business Owners Bash President’s Decision To Limit Issuance Of Gun Licenses Many business owners around the country are questioning President David Granger’s statement that fewer gun licenses should be issued to private citizens. The President, speaking during his weekly televised programe, The Public Interest, said that government is aiming to have less guns on the streets by limiting the issuance of firearm licenses to private citizens. It is the President’s personal view that weapons should only be used by law enforcement authorities. He revealed that there are legitimate firearm license holders in Guyana who rent their weapons to criminals. As such, the Head of State explained that he is working in collaboration with Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan to reduce the number of gun licenses issued. However, in response to the President,
business owners noted that have a licensed firearm is the only means for them to protect themselves, family and business, given the fact that the majority of the population have lost faith in the Police Force. One business o w n e r, w h o p r e f e r s t o r e m a i n anonymous told this newspaper that “the criminals have far more advance guns and ammunitions than the Guyana Police Force and if the President has information that there are business people who rent their firearms to criminals, then the president should investigate those persons, in-fact there is no evidence to support this assertion.” Others revealed that the majority of firearm holders in Guyana are business people and if the government decides to take away their licenses then their businesses and property will be left at
the mercies of the criminals like presently exists. Another business owner from downtown Georgetown also noted, “It was no surprise that this statement from the President came on the heels of the recent shooting to death of a bandit by a license firearm holder who happens to be a businessman. The man was in his rights to protect his life and property, if the criminals had a chance then they would have robbed and probably kill him and his family. Is this statement by the President appears to be more sympathetic to the criminals?” Several other Guyanese on social media have noted that President Granger somewhat contributes to the crime by pardoning known criminals without adequate consultation and investigation with the law enforcement and legal system.
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Government To Consider Closure Of Some Of GuySuCo’s Operations By Year End going close down anything you are because the administration did not have to consider the workers and how you deal with them…we are still in early days where that is concerned,” he stated.
Government today noted that the closure of some of the operations of the highlyindebted Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuco) is likely to be considered as an option by a Cabinet sub-committee before the end of year. This is according Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, who made the revelation after being questioned by media operatives about whether the 2017 National Budget would account for severance of GuySuco workers. “All of these are the options; these are all options because if you are
Members of the Board of Directors of the GuySuCo, on Tuesday, engaged President David Granger and Cabinet members on the current status of operations at the organisation. A subcommittee made up of the Ministers of Agriculture, Finance, Natural Resources and State has been established to consider the next step. The cabinet subcommittee is expected to submit its report by mid-November and “some decisions would have to be made about GuySuco before the end of 2016.” Harmon said government was cautious about saying what the choices available
want to send mixed signals and in the end such a decision would not be taken. The Minister of State said after the subcommittee reports back to the wider executive decision-making body, consultations would be held with the opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), National Assembly, workers and workers representatives. “These consultations at the end of it might very well point you in a direction that is not consistent with what you thought of in the first instance,” Harmon said. Harmon said GuySuco was still a “going entity” and was still tasked with finding markets and reducing its cost of operations. Government has already closed Wales Estate, however, the Commission of Inquiry into the Wales estate operations did not recommend ceasing operations.
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First Lady Meets With CYLAN Foundation To Explore Possible Partnerships projects which are similar to several that the First Lady has undertaken. “They came to… find out how we can collaborate. I pointed out that I have some projects, which…. parallel their own, which have already started. So it was an exploratory visit, sharing ideas and information about how we can go about doing things. They want to have a family oriented kind of network to get things done,” Mrs. Granger said. Meanwhile, in an invited comment, Ms. Clarke said the group provides services that support the wellbeing of families and is interested in collaborating with all the government agencies in this regard. First Lady, Mrs. Sandra Granger (centre) is flanked by, from left to right: Ms. Maureen Daniels-Clarke, Ms. Alana Clarke, Ms. June Archer and Mr. Joel Sutherland of CYLAN Foundation. Georgetown, Guyana – (November 3, 2016) First Lady, Mrs. Sandra Granger, today, met with Ms. Alana Clarke, and a team from the Community Learning and Networking (CYLAN) Foundation, to explore the possibilities of collaborating on partnerships that provide support to families and communities. The meeting was held at the Office of the First Lady at State House. During the discussions, it was revealed that the group has started
The group reached out to the First Lady for guidance on areas which they can target. “We’re a family charity that is focusing on programmes specifically for locally based families… and also working holistically with communities who have needs, for instance education needs, any p r o g r a m m e s [ r e l a t e d t o ] l i t e r a c y, d o m e s t i c violence….We’re looking at not just working with one group, but other groups [such as] senior citizens, young people,” she said. Ms. Clarke was accompanied to the meeting by Ms. Maureen Daniels-Clarke, Ms. June Archer and Mr. Joel Sutherland. MOTP Press Release
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Let’s Have An Accident-Free Christmas Season population in general. The no respect of traffic lights by
Christmas is one of the most awaited and feared seasons of the year, especially in Guyana were the statistics of delinquency and road fatalities reach their highest peak. Alcoholism represents one of the main cores of social pathologies in the country. On average, Guyanese, aged fifteen or older, consumed more than eight litres daily of pure alcohol in 2010, compared to the global figure of 6.2 litres, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said in a 2014 report. However, the average drinker in Guyana consumes more than 3.5 gallons/13.7 litres of total alcohol daily. Oneseventh of this consumption (14%) was unrecorded ‒ homemade alcohol, illegally produced or sold outside normal government controls. This figures multiply during holidays, reaching dangerous levels during the Christmas season. The irresponsible consumption of alcohol by reckless drivers, easily turns a joyful period into a sad reminder that ‘ethanol’ on the wheel is equal to disaster. According to recent reports given by the Guyana Police Force (GPF), the numbers of road fatalities increased to 33% this year, with one hundred deaths recorded at the end of September, which is ten more than the same period last year. After launching the ‘Operation Safeway’ from September 15th to October 11th. There was recorded an overall decrease in all categories of road accidents: Fatal accidents decreased by 44.4% Serious accidents decreased by 46% Minor accidents decreased by 32.1% Damage accidents decreased by 36.1% But the efforts of the local authorities are being slowly erased by the behavior of not only careless drivers, but the
motorist, the no use of the crosswalk by the pedestrians and the bad practices that these execute on the daily basics, such as the use of their cellular devices while crossing the streets or having their earphones plugged. This small details turns a pedestrian into a vulnerable target when on the road. Even though the initiative to put the ‘Operation Safeway’ in motion was a temporary success, daily reports of reckless drivers being involved in medium, severe or fatal accidents are again, common topics on the headlines of any local newspapers. Fatalities that could have been avoided in countless ways. But drivers involved in this kind of sinister are again notified to be on the wheel, while their alcohol levels are above of the legal terms. A sad ‘pothole’ in which we are falling again. On an Open Letter recently published by the Guyana Police Force, the Cops and Faith Community Network made a call to the conscience of all Guyanese, noticing the proximity of the Christmas season, and its bad reputation concerning road fatality rates. In the document is highlighted the need to be responsible while on the road, no matter if is as a driver or a pedestrian. Making emphasis on the necessity as citizens, to implement the five Cs (Care, Courtesy, Consideration, Common Sense and Caution). Five easy and effective ways to avoid a sinister. “(..)The horrific road accidents which have resulted in the tragic loss of lives are certainly not reflective of a season in which the precious gift of human life ought to be valued and celebrated by all. The cumulative effects of road accidents we would agree are not only limited to the affected families but also to our communities and they strike at the heart of our Guyanese civility. The recent incidents of road accidents highlight an area of our national life where the exercise of greater civic mindedness is extremely necessary”. Is not a secret that temporary measures won’t solve a problem that is been vivid for decades. Radical regulations must be outlined to create social conscience about this palpating matter that affects us all. Christmas is approaching. Don’t drink and drive, let’s be joyful, responsible, let’s have another ‘tomorrow’. Source: http://guyanapoliceforce.gy/police/policingmenu/traffic-and-safety-tips
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Retired Assistant Police Commissioner To Probe Procurement Allegations pharmaceuticals at the Ministry of The Board is expected to investigate, Public Health. In handing over the TORs, Minister Harmon said that Government eagerly awaits that Report and the findings, so that appropriate action can be taken.
Retired Assistant Commissioner of Police, Mr. Winston Cosbert Retired Assistant Commissioner of Police, Mr. Winston Cosbert was recently given the Terms of Reference (TORs) by Minister of State, Mr. Joseph Harmon, to probe into the allegations of unauthorised disclosure of information, mismanagement and malpractices in the procurement of
In a Ministry of The Presidency (MoTP) release, Harmon was quoted as saying, “I have the confidence in your ability; I have seen your work before and you have done inquiries before. I look forward to the report. This is an important inquiry … and when you have to go after these things, you have to have evidence and facts [because] Government cannot act on innuendos and hearsay. We have to have an investigation and based on that, the Government acts.” The Board of Inquiry (BoI) commenced today, November 3, 2016 and is expected to render its written report and findings to the Minister of State on or before November 30, 2016. The Inquiry is expected to take place at the Department of Public Service and at any other place, in which the Commissioner deems fit.
examine and report on the “procurement and management processes by which the Ministry of Public Health awards contracts for the procurement of pharmaceuticals, services and supplies to bidders; whether there were unauthorised disclosure of any information on the procurement of pharmaceuticals by the staff of the Ministry of Public Health and the facts surrounding such unauthorised disclosure; the facts surrounding the allegation that Ms. Kandasie Aaron, without prior consent from the Ministry of Public Health, divulged any information on the procurement of pharmaceuticals; to what extent this specific disclosure is an isolated incident and if not, does it represent a more general practice at the Ministry of Public Health.” It is also expected to investigate the procedure which exists to identify and control the unauthorised disclosure of price sensitive information in the procurement of pharmaceuticals and how and when did the Ministry of Public Health become aware of these disclosures and what actions, if any, were taken by the Ministry.
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS Bahamas Minister In Tangle Over $2-billion Chinese Project each of the 100 corporate entities participating in the initiative, By Candia Dames PAGE 98
Nassau Guardian Managing Editor NASSAU, Bahamas -- Hours after minister of agriculture and marine resources Alfred Gray acknowledged to reporters that he gave the goahead for the Bahamas Embassy in China to have discussions with the Chinese government on a $2.1 billion proposal for an agrifisheries project, Gray claimed in a statement that The Nassau Guardian’s story detailing the proposal was “utterly false”. “The government is not considering the grant of Crown land nor any other matter as set out in the article,” he said. However, in a letter to Bahamas ambassador to China Paul “Andy” Gomez, dated October 3, Gray acknowledged that the initiative calls for Crown land leases. He also indicated in the letter that he thinks the proposal is a good idea. “The ministry believes that this initiative, which has been developed by the Embassy of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas to the People’s Republic of China in consultation with certain Bahamian governmental agencies, is very progressive,” the minister wrote in the letter. Gray then authorized the ambassador to pursue the initiative further. “As a result of our understanding of how the initiative is expected to work, and in response to your request for our ministry’s authorization for the embassy in Beijing to proceed with the further development of this initiative, the Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources hereby authorizes the Embassy of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas to the People’s Republic of China to initiate discussions with the Chinese embassy here in The Bahamas, and with the relevant Chinese governmental agencies in China, in order to produce a comprehensive report on the viability of the proposed initiative,” the minister wrote. The letter confirms that Gray met with the Bahamian ambassador on the proposal. The minister wrote in his letter, “Further to our recent meeting regarding the captioned, please be advised that the Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources has had an opportunity to review the final draft of ‘the Proposed China-Bahamas Agriculture and Fisheries Initiative’, and believe that it could be a very impactful project that economically benefits hundreds of Bahamian families for decades, provided that the level of investment sought is viewed by the Chinese government as acceptable.” Gray then outlined the primary features of the initiative as understood by his ministry. Under the proposal, China, or its substantive representative(s), will partner with Bahamian corporate entities to form up to 100 corporate structures that will be engaged primarily in the agriculture and fisheries industry in The Bahamas. Each of the 100 corporate structures will be owned equally (that is, 50-50) by China and Bahamian corporate entities. China will provide funding equivalent to $2.1 billion over a ten-year period, in the form of cash, agriculture and fisheries equipment, as well as skilled expertise. Gray wrote that, “Each Bahamian owned entity that partners equally with the PR will contribute the following to the joint venture: one hundred acres of leased Andros farm land with an option to access 100 additional acres, provided certain performance benchmarks are attained. “Unprofitable entities that end in liquidation will have their land leases canceled by the Bahamas government. “A cash contribution of $225,000 must be paid at the start of each entity’s operations (i.e. required contributions of $25,000 by each of the ten shareholders equals $250,000, less $25,000 for entity’s administrative expenses). “The Government of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas will provide fishing licences to
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consistent with existing laws.” Gray wrote: “Only Bahamian farmers and farm labourers, along with Bahamian fishermen, will make up the initiative’s workforce. “The Bahamas government recognizes that each entity will probably require the services of one fishing and one farming expert for a limited period, who will probably be Chinese.” Gray also wrote: “Furthermore, and central to your discussions with representatives of the Chinese government, it is important to emphasize that it is the Bahamas government’s policy that no foreigner is allowed to physically fish in Bahamian waters by himself or in partnership with others, and therefore only Bahamians are allowed on the fishing vessels. “This is non-negotiable, and your report should therefore reflect this policy position of the government.” Gray added in his October letter to Gomez: “... Consistent with the government policy, foreign investors may own and may participate in the ownership of related land-based activities, such as processing and packaging houses for agricultural and fishing products.” The Bahamas embassy was also asked to provide recommendations to the Bahamas government “specifically in the event that the Chinese government wishes to proceed and participate in this joint venture initiative”. As reported by The Nassau Guardian, the actual proposal states that the initiative hopes to qualify for funding under a regional program of the Chinese government, which has budgeted $35 billion for such initiatives. Last night, the Bahamas Embassy in Beijing released the following statement on the matter: “In pursuit of my responsibilities as ambassador to China I have engaged in vigorous discussions within China to generate new economic activity for The Bahamas. “The objective is to attract and create new activities and opportunities for Bahamians and our country. The issue that has raised attention in the local media is along those lines. “I sought and received permission from the minister responsible for agriculture and fisheries merely to continue dialogue and to prepare reports on the economic possibilities in China. That is what happened. We are presently evaluating the possibilities in China. No report or proposal has been submitted to the minister of foreign affairs or minister of agriculture and fisheries or any other minister of the government of The Bahamas.” (Caribbean News Now!)
Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources Alfred Gray
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IMF Committed To Assisting Caribbean Countries Address Challenges, Says Deputy MD By LK Hewlett PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (WINN) -- The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has re-affirmed its commitment to working with Caribbean nations in addressing the challenges that stand in the way of securing strong, inclusive and sustainable growth. Caribbean prime ministers, finance ministers and central bank governors, donors, representatives from international financial institutions, and the private sector were recently in Trinidad attending the IMF’s 2016 High Level Caribbean Forum. During the November 1-2 forum these economic stakeholders exchanged views on the unique challenges and opportunities for the Caribbean region, focusing on global and regional challenges such as de-risking and stagnant growth. IMF deputy managing director Tao Zhang said, since the previous forum in Trinidad in September 2012, countries in the region have made progress addressing important issues such as low growth and high debt, however more work remains to be done. “I would like to reiterate that the IMF is deeply committed to its work with the Caribbean countries. We are committed to supporting policy reforms, and reconstruction efforts. Tides may shift, seas may rise, but the Fund’s unwavering commitment to the region will remain unchanged,” he said. According to the IMF, shifting global trends have contributed to the subdued growth recovery in Caribbean economies, thus 2016 is proving to be another year of lacklustre growth. The withdrawal of correspondent banking relationships presents clear and imminent challenges to the Caribbean, despite some countries in the region having stepped up efforts to reduce gaps in their regulatory and supervisory frameworks. Zhang said the IMF is working with national authorities and regional and global organizations to provide technical assistance to strengthen these frameworks. “We
believe a durable solution to this issue requires dialogue between countries, regulators and banks, and increased information exchange. This can help clarify regulatory expectations, build trust, facilitate capacity building, and share best practices,” he said. Some other regional challenges discussed include natural disasters, and a weak financial sector. Zhang also noted the pervasive problem facing a number of the Caribbean countries- the challenge of sustaining fiscal adjustment measures aimed at public debt reduction amid weak economic growth. The IMF deputy managing director highlighted Jamaica, Grenada, and St Kitts and Nevis as some clear success stories of having achieved important results reducing their fiscal and external vulnerabilities over the last few years. Zhang said, “Our work continues in the Caribbean by providing policy advice, technical assistance and training, and by providing financing. “Whatever new challenges arise, we will work together with you to find solutions,” he concluded. (Caribbean News Now!)
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS Bahamas To Improve Skills-based Training Programs With IDB Assistance PAGE 100
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WASHINGTON, USA -- The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the government of The Bahamas are partnering in a new jobs initiative to increase workplace skills and improve employability among young people and adults who have had difficulty finding work. The $50 million initiative, to be financed with government resources and a $25 million loan from the IDB, aims to establish a nation-wide demand-driven apprenticeship program that will combine on and off-the-job training to provide unemployed youth and adults between the ages of 16 and 40 with the skills they need to succeed in the workplace. In addition, the program will improve the effectiveness of The Bahamas’ public employment services and will help to coordinate efforts of different Bahamian government agencies involved in collecting data that help monitor the country’s labor market performance. In 2015, it was reported that 14.8 percent of the Bahamian workforce was unemployed. The unemployment rate for youths ages 15-24 is twice as high, at 30 percent, having doubled since 2001. At the same time, most employers in The Bahamas report difficulties in finding workers with the right set of skills, noting that the lack of job-specific skills is the most important recruitment obstacle (34 percent), followed by applicants’ lack of experience (29 percent), and lack of soft skills (28 percent). The country also faces the challenge of improving labour productivity, which decreased on average 1 percent annually between 2000 and 2011. (Caribbean News Now!)
Woman Involved In Alleged Job, Visa Scam Released A woman who is at the height of a massive alleged job and visa scam involving dozens of victims have been released by police. The release occurred yesterday after her 72 hours under arrest had passed. Reports are that the police lack sufficient evidence to pursue charges at this time and are still conducting investigations on the wide-reaching case. SNO broke the story of the woman’s arrest two days ago. Since her arrest multiple persons have come forward to give their side of the story on how they ended up handing over their money and passport to the woman. All documents including dozens of passports were confiscated by the Criminal Investigations Department of the RSLPF. (St. Lucia News Online)
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS House Debates Bill To Protect Children From Abduction PAGE 101
KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) — Debate on the Children (Guardianship and Custody) (Amendment) Act began in the House of Representatives on Tuesday. The Bill seeks to give effect to the Government’s decision to enact legislation to implement the terms of the 1980 Hague Convention on Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction and to facilitate Jamaica’s accession to it. The Hague Convention aims to protect children from the harmful effects of abduction and retention across international boundaries, by providing a procedure to bring about their prompt return. In piloting the Bill, Minister of Justice Delroy Chuck said incidents of international child abductions continue to pose a serious challenge in light of the ease in international travel and the rise in divorce rates, among other factors. “The location, recovery and return of abducted children are made more difficult because children are sometimes removed and taken to states with different legal systems and cultural and social structures,” he noted. The Minister informed that over the years, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade has received complaints in the diaspora, as well as other nationals, about the wrongful removal of Jamaican children. Chuck said, currently, there are three active court cases in the United States (US) involving children being moved by parents between Jamaica and the US. He added that there are also at least 10 other active cases outside of the court system, of which the Ministry is aware, involving Jamaican children being removed to or from, or being
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retained in the Cayman Islands, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America. “Without the Convention, the process in Jamaica and elsewhere of seeking the return of these children is often long, expensive and without any guarantee of success. By becoming party to the Convention, children unlawfully brought to, or taken from Jamaica can promptly be returned to their country of habitual residence where a proper determination on custody can be made,” he said. As of July, 2016, 95 countries were parties to the Hague Convention, including The Bahamas, United States of America, Trinidad and Tobago, Canada, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain. The Bill was passed in the Upper House in July. (Jamaica Observer)
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Cybercrime Victims Urged To Report Incidents Head of the Cyber Incident Response Team (CIRT) in the Ministry of Science, Energy and Technology, Dr Moniphia Hewling, speaking during a day of activities to observe Cyber Security Awareness Day held on October 31 at the Police Officers’ Club, Hope Road, St Andrew. (Photo: JIS) KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) — Head of the Cyber Incident Response Team (CIRT) in the Ministry of Science, Energy, and Technology, Dr Moniphia Hewling, is urging victims of cybercrimes to come forward and make a report. She said reports can be made to CIRT or the Communication Forensics and Cybercrimes Unit of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF). Cybercrime is any unlawful activity carried out by means of the computer or the Internet. These include identity theft, fraud, copyright infringement, cyberstalking, child pornography, revenge pornography, and bullying. Dr Hewling noted that these incidents often go unreported because some persons are unaware that they are actual crimes. “They are not familiar with the Cybercrimes Act of 2015. Then there are those people who cannot be bothered; they may lose a couple hundred, thousands or millions of dollars and they sort it out with the bank and they have an agreement,” she pointed out. Dr Hewling was speaking to JIS News, during a day of activities to observe Cyber Security Awareness Day at the Police Officers’ Club on Hope Road, St Andrew, on October 31. She advised persons to exercise caution when using the Internet and to “stop and think before they
click”. “They need to realise that there is real and present danger that exists... they must also be aware at all times to protect their PIN when they use point-ofsales terminals,” she said. Head of the Cybercrimes Unit of the JCF, Inspector Warren Williams, provided some online safety tips. He advised persons to use passwords that are long and utilise alphanumeric characters consisting of letters and numerals. He said digital devices should be sanitised before being disposed of, which requires the removal of data so that it is nearly impossible to recover. He further advised persons to disable the Bluetooth option when not in use, to not click on untrusted cookies or websites, and to never volunteer personal information. (Jamaica Observer)
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Gas Prices Down $1.88, Diesel Down $0.71 KINGSTON, Jamaica — Motorists should see a decrease at the pumps in the prices of gasoline and diesel, effective Thursday, November 3, according to the latest ex-refinery costs from Petrojam. 87- and 90-octane gasoline will be sold for $107.87 and $109.53 per litre, respectively, down by $1.88 each. Automotive diesel fuel will be sold for $102.14 per litre following a decrease of $0.71, while ultra-low sulphur diesel is down by $1.02, and will be sold for $110.83 per litre. Meanwhile, kerosene decreased in price by $1.23 and will be sold for $90.05 per litre. Propane liquid petroleum will be sold for $36.42 per litre, down by $0.69 and butane liquid petroleum will be sold for $44.35 per litre after a decrease of $1.02. Marketing companies and retailers will add their respective mark-up to these prices. (Jamaica Observer)
‘Government Can’t Offer will More Than 14 Per Cent’ end up (but), it will be less than 14 (per cent).”
Wage and salary hikes in 2017 will be less than 14 per cent, Finance Minister Colm Imbert said yesterday. He said so during a hastily arranged news conference yesterday at his Eric Williams Finance Building office to clarify media reports of the imposition of a wage freeze in T&T for fiscal 2017, which began on October 1. Imbert stressed that there was to be no wage freeze in T&T. He said he never said earlier that there would be a wage freeze but a wage restraint. “There is no wage freeze. There is no Government policy of a wage freeze and I never said there is going to be a wage freeze,” he said. There was widespread panic and concern after reports suggested public servants would face a wage freeze based on Imbert’s earlier comment during an International Monetary Fund event yesterday. Imbert said he called the news conference after being informed of the alleged statement made by him via a telephone conversation with the leader of a major trade union in the country. Imbert said it was important to ensure the matter was clarified and that he was not seeking to condemn anyone. He said the matter was very sensitive and words have meaning. On his reason for suggesting that negotiations on the collective agreement for public servants would start at 0-0-0 for the new three-year negotiating period at the IMF event, which led to the interpretation and public reaction to it, Imbert said: “With respect to the use of the word ‘zero’, that is the (the figure to be proposed at) start (of the negotiations). That cannot be the end (rate) because if you are in a negotiation what kind of person goes into a negotiation and stays at the starting point (offer). I have nowhere we
Imbert said, however, that “as we move forward the settlement will have to be lower than they were in the past.” He said a wage restraint meants that there would be increases but within a limited range while a wage freeze meant “you are not budging. And there is no indication on our (Government) side that we are not going to move at all. “The T&T Government has no policy of a wage freeze. We have a policy on wage restraint,” he said, insisting there will have to be wage restraints going forward. He reiterated that zero per cent was the figure the Government would be offering at the start of the collective negotiations but noted the figure would move. (Trinidad Guardian)
Finance Minister Colm Imbert reacts to a question during a press conference at the Ministry of Finance, Port-of-Spain, yesterday. PHOTO: MARCUS GONZALES
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UNC Seeks To Keep Six Corporations, Capture More
The United National Congress (UNC) will be launching its manifesto for the November 28 Local Government elections in the next few weeks. Tabaquite MP Dr Suruj Rambachan, who is one of the strategists for the UNC campaign, told the T&T Guardian that the manifesto was complete and had gone out to print. He said areas it covered would be released by the political leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar as the party continued its series of public meetings. The UNC is contesting all 137 seats in the 14 regional corporations across the country. Rambachan said the party would hold its first national meeting tomorrow, in Fyzabad. The party had been presenting its candidates for the polls at its Monday night forum. At the October 17 Monday night meeting in Diego Martin, candidates for the Diego Martin Regional Corporation were presented. Rambachan said the party has focused its campaign on “working
harder for the people’s future.” He said there had been “a colossal betrayal by the ruling People’s National Movement who have failed to deliver on several promises which they made.” He said in the manifesto the UNC philosophy was “based on consensus and participation by the people in nation-building so people will have a genuine say in what they are doing.” Rambachan said the UNC had a “track record of delivering at a phenomenal rate. He said: “We brought services and quality care to the people, the proof is in the doing. We have a track record of delivery, they do not.” He said 13 months into office, the PNM had nothing tangible to show for it.” Where did the $61 billion go?” he asked, adding: “There is no tangible evidence that people’s lives have improved.” According to Rambachan, all the projects which have been opened by the PNM were actually started by the former government. He said the party was “working very hard to
regain what we lost.” In 2013 the UNC won six of the 14 corporations and the PNM eight. Rambachan said: “We are hoping to retain all that we now hold and to make gains in the others.” He said on the ground “people are disappointed with the PNM, people feel cheated because the PNM is not delivering.” Rambachan said the UNC campaign was being run by all MPs and senators with the political leader co-ordinating the campaign. Asked whether there would be a launch similar to that held by the PNM on Sunday when it presented its 137 candidates at the party’s convention at the Queen’s Park Savannah, Rambachan said, “Not at this time.” He said the candidates were being presented in the regions and for this entire week there would be cottage meetings. At the PNM launch of its Local Government campaign on Sunday, PNM political leader Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley rallied his forces telling them just as he did last September “I am calling you again.” He reiterated his government’s commitment to Local Government reform, saying the objective is to improve the quality of life for households across the country. The Prime Minister said the legislation that gives more autonomy to Local Government bodies would be ready by the middle of next year. (Trinidad Guardian)
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Barbados Union Fights To Get Its Leader Back In Senior Public Servant Post
PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL UNION OF PUBLIC WORKERS AKANNI MCDOWALL WAS SENT BACK TO AN ENTRY-LEVEL POSITION IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND THE UNION IS CRYING VICTIMIZATION. BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Wednesday November 2, 2016 – Barbados’ largest public sector trade union is threatening to go as far as a national shutdown to force authorities to return its president to an acting senior post in the Ministry of Health. And from as early as today, some government workers are expected to take industrial
action, although the nature and extent of it is unclear. After having acted in the post of health promotion officer, president of the National Union of Public Wo r k e r s ( N U P W ) A k a n n i McDowall was sent back to an entry-level position of environmental assistant which he held more than a decade ago. The union has been putting pressure on the Personnel Administration Division (PAD) to meet to discuss concerns over the move. But having had no response to a letter it sent to the PAD two weeks ago seeking an urgent meeting to settle the contentious issue, the NUPW says it will start phased action, beginning with summoning
environmental health officers who work at polyclinics across the island and at the country’s ports of entry, including the two privately owned marinas in the north of the island, to a meeting this morning at 10 o’clock. On M o n d a y, N U P W g e n e r a l secretary Roslyn Smith disclosed that the union’s National Council had unanimously agreed to take whatever action was necessary to force the Chief Personnel Officer to reinstate McDowall to the senior acting position. “We are not backing down from this one, and it will be escalated if necessary,” Smith told the Daily Nation newspaper. “If it [has to come] to a shutdown of a country, it will come to that.” The union has accused the Government of victimizing its president for leading the charge against the Freundel Stuart administration on several industrial relations issues. It subsequently charged that the position McDowall had been acting in, has since been filled by someone junior to not only him but several other public servants as well. Smith said the union was prepared to go the legal route if that is what it took to get McDowall back in the job. (Caribbean360)
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The Vatican As Last Resource To Solve The Situation In Venezuela
Governor of the State of Miranda, and member of the Democratic Round Table (MUD) Henrique Capriles Radonski The Venezuelan opposition postponed the national protest, scheduled for today November 3, after representatives of the Vatican intervened to promote peaceful dialogues between leaders of the opposition and President Nicolas Maduro. According to the Venezuelan newspaper, El Nacional, Governor of the State of Miranda, and member of the Democratic Round Table (MUD) Henrique Capriles Radonski,, called for the
nation to be ‘patient’ and ‘hopeful’ for the effective intervention of the Vatican in the decadent situation of the country. He addressed that even though the church called for a period of ‘truce’ to find a better way to solve the situation in the country, the MUD will still carry public protest if by the end of next week there is no positive answer by the government. Capriles announced that if the Vatican interference is not effective, the ‘Operation Troya’ will be implemented to take over the Miraflores Palace and remove the president of his charge.
This operation consist in the infiltration of members of the opposition in the mentioned governmental institution. The national protest was scheduled to start on November 3 in order to ask for the constitutional rights of the people and surround the General Assembly, to ask for the permanent removal of Maduro from his charge as a peaceful way of civil fight. The protest was also aiming to serve as a way to give President Maduro public trial, in which he could be judge for his ‘poor ’ performance as president, and his responsibilities as leader of a nation. Capriles announced that official conversations between representatives of the Vatican and the government are scheduled to continue on November 11th. Period in which the opposition will keep a ‘slow’ and peaceful agenda of public activities, in order to maintain a national atmosphere of temporarily quietude. S o u r c e : h t t p : / / w w w. e l nacional.com/politica/Capril es-electoral-objetivorevocato...
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Migrant Crisis: 'Hundreds Dead' In Shipwrecks Off Libya
Migrant boats, such as this one on the left, are often packed full of people(AFP) About 240 migrants are believed drowned in two shipwrecks off the coast of Libya, migration officials say. The UN refugee agency was told the news by survivors brought ashore on the Italian island of Lampedusa,
spokeswoman Carlotta Sami said. No bodies have so far been recovered. More than 4,200 migrants have died making the dangerous journey across the Mediterranean Sea this year, International Organization of Migration spokesman Leonard Doyle says. The UN has warned 2016 could be the deadliest for migrants
making the journey. Nearly 330,000 migrants have crossed the sea so far this year, compared with more than one million in 2015. Many of those killed in the latest two incidents are believed to be migrants from West Africa. Ms Sami said 29 people had survived one of the shipwrecks but about 120 others were missing, feared dead. In the second, two people were picked up after swimming for safety but another 120 migrants were still missing. Smugglers who organise the treacherous journeys overload flimsy boats and often send them off in bad weather, the UN says. Italy has seen an increase in the trafficking of migrants from Libya ever since an EU-Turkey agreement to halt migrants travelling to the Greek islands came into force in March. (BBC)
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Brexit Court Defeat For UK Government Brexit challenger Gina Miller: "This result is about all our futures” Parliament must vote on whether the UK can start the process of leaving the EU, the High Court has ruled. This means the government cannot trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty - beginning formal exit negotiations with the EU - on its own. Theresa May says the referendum - and existing ministerial powers - mean MPs do not need to vote, but campaigners called this unconstitutional. The government is appealing, with a further hearing expected next month. A statement is to be made to MPs on Monday but the prime minister's official spokesman said the government had "no intention of letting" the judgement "derail Article 50 or the timetable we have set out. We are determined to continue with our plan". Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn urged the government "to bring its negotiating terms to Parliament without delay", adding that "there must be transparency and accountability to Parliament on the terms of Brexit". And UKIP leader Nigel Farage said he feared a "betrayal" of the 51.9% of voters who backed leaving the EU in June's referendum and voiced concern at the prospect of a "half Brexit". BBC assistant political editor Norman Smith said, if the court's decision was not overturned, there could be delays with potentially "months and months" of parliamentary hurdles. But there was not yet "clarity" - if the judgement was not overturned - on whether there would be a "short, sharp" vote or whether Parliament would have to consider complex legislation, he added. He predicted that, although a majority of MPs had backed the Remain campaign, most would ultimately be likely to vote for
Article 50, as Brexit had been supported in the referendum. The prime minister has said she will activate Article 50, formally notifying the EU of the UK's intention to leave, by the end of next March. The other 27 member states have said negotiations about the terms of the UK's exit - due to last two years - cannot begin until Article 50 has been invoked. Investment manager Gina Miller, who brought the case, said outside the High Court that the government should make the "wise decision of not appealing". She said: "The result today is about all of us. It's not about me or my team. It's about our United Kingdom and all our futures." It is one of the most important constitutional court cases in generations. And the result creates a nightmare scenario for the government. Theresa May had said she wanted to start Brexit talks before the end of March next year but this ruling has thrown the prime minister's timetable up in the air. Campaigners who brought the case insist it was about "process not politics", but behind the doors of No 10 there will now be serious head-scratching about what the government's next steps should be. This decision has huge implications, not just on the timing of Brexit but on the terms of Brexit. That's because it's given the initiative to those on the Remain side in the House of Commons who, it's now likely, will argue Article 50 can only be triggered when Parliament is ready and that could mean when they're happy with the terms of any future deal. Of course, it will be immensely difficult to satisfy and get agreement from all those MPs who voted to remain. Could an early general election be on the cards after all? But a government spokesman announced it would contest the ruling in the Supreme Court. He said: "The country voted to leave the European Union in a referendum approved by Act of Parliament. And the government is determined to respect the result of the referendum." Government lawyers had argued that prerogative powers were a legitimate way to give effect "to the will of the people".
But the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd, declared: "The government does not have power under the Crown's prerogative to give notice pursuant to Article 50 for the UK to withdraw from the European Union." The three judges looking at the case found there was no constitutional convention of the royal prerogative - powers used by ministers being used in legislation relating to the EU. They added that triggering Article 50 would fundamentally change UK people's rights - and that the government cannot change or do away with rights under UK law unless Parliament gives it authority to do so. Calling the case "a pure question of law", Lord Thomas said: "The court is not concerned with and does not express any view about the merits of leaving the European Union: that is a political issue." Reacting to the ruling, International Trade Secretary Liam Fox told the House of Commons the government was "disappointed" but remained "determined to respect the result of the referendum". 'Give people a chance to say no' He added: "There will be numerous opportunities for the House to examine and discuss what the government is negotiating." Mr Farage said: "We are heading for a half Brexit." He added: "I worry that a betrayal may be near at hand... I now fear that every attempt will be made to block or delay the triggering of Article 50. If this is so, they have no idea of the level of public anger they will provoke." Mr Corbyn said: "This ruling underlines the need for the government to bring its negotiating terms to Parliament without delay. Labour respects the decision of the British people to leave the European Union. But there must be transparency and accountability to parliament on the terms of Brexit." But Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron said: "Ultimately, the British people voted for a departure but not for a destination, which is why what really matters is allowing them to vote again on the final deal, giving them the chance to say no to an irresponsible hard Brexit that risks our economy and our jobs." (BBC)
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Mosul Battle: 'IS Leader Baghdadi' Urges No Retreat
Kurdish Peshmerga soldiers (pictured) are working alongside the Iraqi army, Shia militias and Sunni Arab tribesmen to retake Mosul(AP) The Islamic State (IS) group has released an audiotape which it says is from its leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, ordering Iraqis to defend the city of Mosul against the Iraqi army. The recording has not been verified yet but analysts believe it is genuine. Baghdadi's whereabouts are unknown. Some officials have said he may be inside Mosul alongside IS fighters. It comes as Iraqi army forces continue their three-front advance on the city, the last IS stronghold in the country. Mosul is where Baghdadi declared a caliphate two years ago. Iraqi forces have already retaken dozens of villages and towns on the outskirts of the city, with the help of Kurdish Peshmerga forces, Shia Muslim militias and Sunni Arab tribesmen. Baghdadi's rallying cry was timed to coincide with the entry of Iraqi forces into the outskirts of Mosul, at a critical moment for the group. Some of his comments appeared to betray concerns that military pressure on the group in Mosul might lead to a broader erosion of support. He called on his fighters to obey their leaders, warned Iraqi Sunnis of the consequences of turning
against IS and appealed to IS's far flung outposts to stay loyal to the group - from Indonesia to West Africa. Baghdadi rarely speaks publicly, but the last time he did so - in December last year - he delivered a similar mix of defiant insistence on ultimate victory combined with implicit acknowledgment of setbacks on the ground. Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, whose real name is Ibrahim Awwad Ibrahim al-Badri, was born in 1971 to a lower-middle class Sunni Muslim family in Samarra, Iraq. He had a passion for Koranic recitation and was nicknamed "the Believer" for chastising his relatives for failing to live up to his stringent standards. After pursuing his religious interests at university, Baghdadi gravitated towards the violent ultra-conservatives in the Muslim Brotherhood. By the year 2000, he had embraced Salafist jihadism and went on to found the insurgent group Jaysh Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jamaah after the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003. After a year in prison, Baghdadi travelled to Damascus to take control of propaganda for al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI). The group would later be dissolved, in place of Islamic State in Iraq (ISI) - the former name for IS. Baghdadi quickly rose through the ranks mainly due to his ability to bridge the gaps between the foreigners who founded the group and local
Iraqis who joined later. The military plan is to hold ground, clear houses and make it safe as the Iraqi army looks for pockets of IS fighters. They know there are secret tunnels and rat runs between houses and there are IS fighters still in the outlying areas of the city. These fighters are willing to stand and die for their cause and that makes for a very, very tough enemy. There will be IS fighters trying to get out of the city westwards because that leads to Raqqa, the last potential remaining IS stronghold if and when Mosul falls. Commanders in Iraq's counter-terrorism forces say some of the IS leadership has already left Mosul. There are likely to be a lot of fellow travellers on the same route - people who were perhaps pleased to see IS fighters enter Mosul in the first place because of poor relations and treatment by some of the government forces who had been in control. There are also many foreign fighters who have nowhere else to go and who will stand and fight to the death. How is the advance going? Army units captured a number of villages south-west of Mosul on Thursday, as clashes were reported to the east of the city in the Karama district. A day earlier they were combing the streets for any remaining IS fighters in the recaptured Kukjali district, also in the east. Meanwhile, Shia Popular Mobilisation Units are focusing their efforts on retaking Tal Afar, a town to the west of Mosul which lies on the IS supply line between the city and the militants' Syrian stronghold, Raqqa. Amnesty International said on Wednesday people suspected of having ties to IS have been beaten, given electric shocks or dragged through the streets by cars as areas on the outskirts of Mosul were retaken by Sunni tribal militia fighters, according to eyewitnesses on the ground. There are also concerns for the estimated 1.2 million civilians who remain inside the city, with the Norwegian Refugee Council warning that their lives are in "grave danger" because of the fighting. Some have fled to a camp for internally displaced people, east of Mosul. (SportsMax)
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Alleged Weiner Victim Hits Out At FBI Over Clinton Emails
Anthony Weiner admitted sending sexual messages to several women while married to a Hillary Clinton aide(AP) A 15-year-old girl who was allegedly sent indecent messages by former US congressman Anthony Weiner has criticised the director of the FBI. The teenager said James Comey's decision to publicise part of the FBI's investigation into Mr Weiner had led to her being hounded by news reporters. Mr Comey announced last week that the investigation had turned up fresh emails relating to Hillary Clinton. Mr Weiner is married to Mrs Clinton's political aide Huma Abedin. In an open letter, the teenager said reporters had "canvassed" her area. "Every media outlet from local to national has contacted me and my family to get my 'story'", she wrote. "Why couldn't your letter have waited until after the election, so I
would not have to be the centre of attention the last week of the election cycle?" She accused the FBI director of taking a "vague approach" in announcing that emails had been discovered on Mr Weiner's laptop that related to Mrs Clinton. She said the lack of detail in his announcement led reporters to chase her for clues about what might have been found. In the letter, addressed directly to Mr Comey and published by Buzzfeed, the alleged victim wrote: "I am the 15-year-old (now 16) who was the victim of Anthony Weiner. "I now add you to the list of people who have victimized me. I told my story originally to protect other young girls that might be a victim of online predators." She went on to say: "I thought your job as FBI Director was to protect me. I thought if I cooperated with your investigation, my identity as a minor would be kept secret. That is no longer the case. My family and I are barraged by
reporters' phone calls and emails. “I have been even been blamed in a newspaper for causing Donald Trump to now be leading in some polls and costing Hillary the election. "Anthony Weiner is the abuser. Your letter helped that abuse to continue. How can I rebuild my life when you have made finding out my "story" the goal of every reporter?" She signed the letter "Girl that lost her faith in America". Mr Weiner and Ms Abedin recently split following a series of revelations that Mr Weiner had exchanged sexual messages with other women. Reports on Thursday said he had entered a rehab clinic to treat sex addiction. The FBI last month closed a largescale investigation into Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server, but Mr Comey announced last week that the law enforcement body was examining fresh emails found on Mr Weiner's laptop. The FBI director has been heavily criticised by leading Democrats, who allege that the timing of his announcement threatens to influence next week's general election. US law prohibits public officials such as Mr Comey from using their position to influence the outcome of an election. Opinion polls showed that Mrs Clinton's lead over her Republican rival Donald Trump had narrowed slightly in the wake of Mr Comey's announcement. Both candidates have been campaigning in the key swing state of Florida ahead of next Tuesday's election. (BBC)
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Egypt Allows Its Currency To Float Freely
(AFP) Egypt has floated its currency in a move that has reduced its value by almost 50% against the dollar. One US dollar is buying around 14 Egyptian pounds, up from the nine Egyptian pounds the central bank was trying to keep it at. The country's central bank said the move was one of a list of reforms designed to strengthen confidence in the economy. Egypt's main stock index jumped by more than 8% on Thursday. The central bank has also increased interest rates by 3 percentage points to 14.75%. The move is a key requirement of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), from which Egypt is asking for a $12bn loan over three years. The IMF's mission chief for Egypt, Chris Jarvis, said the move would make more foreign exchange available and would "help foster growth, job creation and stronger external position for the country". Hardship Although the liberalisation should help the country to strengthen its economy, it will make life harder for
Egyptians and the cost of all imported goods will rise sharply. Another reform it is facing is reducing or removing altogether state subsidies on fuel to meet IMF conditions. It has already cut subsidies on household electricity and increased the price of sugar by 40% for some Egyptians. Egypt imports about a third of its sugar needs but a shortage of hard currency has meant traders have struggled to buy from outside the country. Sugar being distributed The military has been told to distribute a one-off package of basic food items, including sugar, at half price, to cushion the effect among the poorest. Egypt has struggled to attract foreign investment since the political turmoil in 2011 during the so-called Arab Spring that saw former president Hosni Mubarak overthrown. The change of regime dented tourism numbers, one of Egypt's most important foreign currency earners, and prompted a general fall in international investor confidence. Egypt is seeking IMF support (a £12bn loan) for an economic reform programme. One central element is a
more flexible currency policy. The country's pound certainly looked seriously over-valued. The central bank has to run down its foreign exchange reserves to prop the currency up. There was a wide divergence between official and unofficial rates. Inflation is in double figures and there is what the IMF calls an "elevated" deficit in the country's international trade. The sharp currency depreciation will improve competiveness and should in time help to bring down the trade deficit. It should stop the haemorrhaging of reserves. In the short term, it's likely to aggravate inflation by making imports more expensive. But as long as it's a one-off effect, and doesn't lead to an inflationary spiral, that will be seen as a price that has to be paid. The decline in hard currency income was exacerbated by the central bank's efforts to prop up Egypt's own currency. It was trying to hold it at the official rate of 8.88 Egyptian pounds, although on the black market dealers could buy far more Egyptian pounds. Value The bank said in a statement it had moved to a "liberalised exchange rate... to create an environment for a reliable and sustainable supply of foreign currency". A central bank auction of dollars was being held on Thursday, allowing supply and demand to determine the value of the pound for the first time in decades. Banks will be allowed to open their branches until 9pm and over the weekend to allow more transactions. Egypt's economy is the second largest in the Arab world, after Saudi Arabia. (BBC)
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Afghanistan Nato: '30 Civilians Killed' During Taliban Fighting Images showed the body of an infant
Afghan troops have struggled to regain control of Kunduz from the Taliban(REUTERS) Thirty civilians have been killed in northern Afghanistan during an Afghan special forces mission supported by Nato, an Afghan spokesman says. Provincial officials say many of the deaths were caused by Nato air strikes. The air support was called in after troops were surrounded by Taliban militants, who took shelter in civilian homes, the spokesman said. Nato says it will investigate reports of civilian
deaths. Two US soldiers were also killed in the fighting. "US forces conducted strikes in Kunduz to defend friendly forces. All civilian casualty claims will be investigated," the Nato-led Resolute Support mission said. Mahmood Danish, a spokesman for the governor of Kunduz province, told the BBC the operation took place in an area called Body Kandahari, about 5km (3 miles) from Kunduz city centre. There were angry protests from civilians, who brought bodies of some of the dead to the governor's office in Kunduz city.
girl being carried by a group of civilians. Taza Gul, a 55-year-old labourer, said: "I am heartbroken. I have lost seven members of my family. I want to know, why these innocent children were killed? Were they Taliban? No, they were innocent children." A further 25 civilians were wounded in the operation in Kunduz, Mr Danish said, and 26 Taliban fighters were killed, including two commanders. The Taliban say only three of their fighters were killed. US soldiers killed The US military said its soldiers died after coming under fire during a mission to clear a Taliban position. Two other US soldiers were wounded, it said. General John Nicholson said the soldiers' loss was "heartbreaking". Ta l i b a n fi g h t e r s c a m e c l o s e t o overrunning Kunduz city last month and the security situation in the area remains febrile. The insurgents control large areas of the province around the city. US combat operations against the Taliban officially ended in 2014 but special forces have continued to provide support to Afghan troops. Afghan forces have suffered thousands of casualties, with more than 5,500 killed in the first eight months of 2016. (BBC)
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Huawei Mate 9 Phones Unveiled After Note 7 Meltdown
Huawei says the Porsche Design version of the phone will be a "limited edition"(HUAWEI) Huawei has launched new large-screened smartphones in the wake of Samsung's Galaxy Note 7 disaster. The Mate 9 handsets are among the first to be powered by Android 7 and come in two designs: a model with a 1080p "full HD" display, and a Porsche-branded edition with double the resolution. The Chinese company says it has also tackled smartphones' tendency to slow down over time. But one expert said Western consumers were still uncertain about its brand. "Huawei has never been a company to miss an opportunity, and it seems as though it has moved mountains to get the Mate 9 to market as quickly as possible," said Ben Wood, from the CCS Insight consultancy. "But the phone is not a like-for-like comparison with the Note 7 - for one, it doesn't have a stylus. "Huawei's brand also doesn't have the status of Samsung as yet. "That's why it seems to be blending its brand with others. "So, for the camera, it has partnered with Leica, and for the limited edition model, it has worked with Porsche. "But Blackberry also partnered with Porsche in the past, and although that generated interest and created a halo-effect for other products, they didn't sell massive volumes."
Explosive fault Samsung scrapped its Note 7 phablets last month after dozens of the devices caught fire. The South Korean company initially thought a battery fault was to blame, and switched its own component for a third-party power cell. But the problems continued, and after failing to identify the cause, Samsung halted production and said it was scrapping the 4.3 million handsets it had already manufactured. Like the Note 7, Huawei's new phones also feature a "supercharging" battery technology that promises to deliver a day's worth of power within 30 minutes and a full two-day charge in 90 minutes. The company's senior product manager, Michael Seitz, told the BBC that the system had been through a nine-month development and testing process and had been checked by an independent research lab. "It keeps really cool in your hand even while recharging," he said. Several analysts have suggested Huawei is best placed to benefit from Samsung's setback. Apple underestimated demand for its largest model, the iPhone 7 Plus, leading to a backlog in orders. And Google has acknowledged having a similar problem with its Pixel XL phone. It has also locked itself into exclusive deals with single operators in the US, UK and Australia struck before the Note 7 fiasco - which will limit sales. Mr Seitz said that Huawei had
enough production capabilities to meet high demand for the Mate 9 and intended to be the bestselling brand by 2020. Faster phones The Mate 9 phones are slightly smaller than last year's models. The standard edition has a 5.9in (15cm) screen and starts at €699 ($774; £622). The Porsche Design has a 2K curved display measuring 5.5in (14.0cm) and costs €1,395 ($1,545; £1,240). They are both powered by a new chip - the Kirin 960, which was designed by Huawei itself. It says it is the fastest smartphone processor to date. Moreover, Huawei says it has developed proprietary technology to address the fact that smartphones tend to run slower once they have been used for several months. "Our phones will on average be 80% faster than another device after one year," a spokesman said. The Mate 9 phones lack an artificial intelligence interface, like the Google Assistant or Apple's Siri. But unlike those handsets, they can be fitted with a microSD card, offering up to two terabytes of extra storage. In addition, they offer an unusual audio facility thanks to four in-built microphones. After a recording has been made, an app allows the user to remove one sound source to better hear another. This can be used to hear what one person was saying at a meeting, for example, if others were talking over them, or to improve recordings from a concert. In addition, the technology provides a noise-cancelling facility during phone calls, making it easier to have a conversation at a busy location. But Mr Wood suggested the most significant change was an overhaul of the phones' software, which is designed to reduce the number of taps needed to reach its features. "Huawei has recognised that its previous Chinese-flavoured user interface design didn't translate well to all markets of the world, and has gone for a softer, cleaner interface this time round," he said. "It strikes me that it has really looked at the competitive landscape, recognised the things that do well on the iPhone and Samsung devices, and evolved its own product in that direction." (BBC)
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Pakistan Accuses India Of Running Islamabad 'Spy Ring’ "economic contacts
Tensions have flared over a deadly militant attack and alleged Indian atrocities in Kashmir(AP) Pakistan says it has uncovered a network of spies working from India's mission in Islamabad. The names and photos of eight officials accused of running an alleged espionage ring were leaked to the press. On Wednesday, Pakistan said it was withdrawing six officials from its mission in Delhi after they were outed as suspected spies by India. Tensions flared after 19 Indian troops were killed by Kashmir militants in S e p t e m b e r. P a k i s t a n denied any link. Plainclothes policemen present two Indian men (bottom 2nd R and 2nd L), who they
said are accused of spying for Pakistan, before the media inside the police headquarters in New Delhi, India, October 27, 2016. "We are disappointed that India has not only been found involved in promoting terrorist activities and terror financing... but India has also been using its diplomatic mission for its nefarious designs," said a statement from Pakistan's foreign ministry. It is not clear if India will withdraw the eight officials named or whether Pakistan might e x p e l t h e m . " We completely reject baseless and unsubstantiated allegations made by Pakistan against certain officials of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad," Indian foreign
ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup told reporters. He said the Indian officials had been falsely implicated and had been working on
between the two countries". Both sides have accused each other in recent weeks of violating a 2003 ceasefire in disputed Kashmir, the source of two of their three wars since independence from Britain in 1947. At least 24 people, most of them civilians, had been killed in cross-border firing since Friday, the BBC reported on Tuesday. Brother of Indian woman Rajinder Kaur, who was killed in Pakistani shelling wails during her funeral at Khour village in Ramgarh sector, Samba district of J a m m u a n d K a s h m i r, I n d i a , Tu e s d a y, 1 November, 2016 (BBC)
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EU Commissioner Oettinger Apologises For China Speech
It is not clear whether Mr Oettinger will also become a Commission vicepresident(EPA) The EU's Digital Economy Commissioner Guenther Oettinger has formally apologised for making derogatory remarks about Chinese officials. "I would like to apologise for any remark that was not as respectful as it should have been," he said on Thursday. In a speech to German business leaders he had spoken of Chinese officials having "hair combed... with black shoe polish" and called them "slittyeyed". China said Mr Oettinger had revealed a "baffling sense of superiority". The German official has been named as the next EU budget commissioner, replacing Bulgaria's Kristalina
Georgieva. She resigned last month, to take up the post of World Bank CEO. She was also a Commission vice-president - and it is not clear if Mr Oettinger will get the European Parliament's approval for that role. Political opponents called his Hamburg speech "racist" and said he was unfit to hold such a senior post in the EU. 'Wake-up call' "I had time to reflect on my speech, and I can now see that the words I used have created bad feelings and may even have hurt people. This was not my intention," he said in his apology. He said he had sought to speak frankly, "to give a wake-up call to the German audience". Among the issues he touched on was the EU's last-minute wrangling over the huge Ceta free trade deal with Canada,
which involved tense negotiations with Belgium's Wallonia region. Walloon objections were finally addressed and Ceta - the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement - was signed in Brussels on Sunday. Belgium's Le Soir newspaper said Mr Oettinger described Wallonia as "a micro-region run by Communists that blocks the whole of Europe". In his apology on Thursday, the commissioner said he had been misquoted on that point. He went on to say Wallonia "is not only historically an important European region, but actively contributes to the cultural and political diversity of Europe". Dismissive remarks he made about women and gay marriage in his Hamburg speech also caused offence, with some calling it "homophobic". He scorned Germany's political agenda, saying it was all about "mothers' pensions, minimum pensions, pensions at 63, welfare payments... soon it'll be compulsory gay marriages". On Twitter, after his apologetic statement, Mr Oettinger said "since decades I am a liberal" and "I have always supported gay partnerships, legally and with legislative processes". (BBC)
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THURSDAY NOVEMBER 03, 2016
US Election 2016: Trump And Clinton Trust In Daughter Power
Either Ivanka Trump or Chelsea Clinton is about to acquire new responsibilities(LAURA CAVANAUGH/FILMMAGIC) Despite the pressure that the US presidential election campaign has placed on their parents, Chelsea Clinton and Ivanka Trump maintain that they are good friends. But depending on the outcome of the vote on 8 November, one of the two can expect to be thrust into a major financial role. Donald Trump has said that if he becomes president, he will hand control of his business empire to Ivanka and her brothers, Don and Eric. If Hillary Clinton wins the race for the White House, the intention is for her and husband Bill to step down from the board of the Clinton Foundation and for Chelsea, currently its vice-chair, to take over its day-to-day operations. Both candidates' plans have come under fierce scrutiny from critics, who say they involve big conflicts of interest. So what are the risks and why should they be allowed to get away with such arrangements? Blind trusts Well, first of all, there is absolutely no law that prevents them. Previous presidents, from Lyndon B Johnson on, have avoided any hint of impropriety by placing their business interests into what is known as a blind trust. This means that the president gives up the right to manage his (or her) money personally, handing the task over to independent trustees. In LBJ's case, he set one up in 1963, after assuming the presidency in the wake of John F Kennedy's assassination. He and his wife, Lady Bird, owned a TV station, KTBC, in Austin, Texas, and wanted to avoid regulatory problems without having to sell it. In 1978, the Ethics in Government Act formalised the rules on blind trusts, but left them entirely voluntary as far as presidents are concerned. Mr Trump has spoken about putting his holdings into a blind trust, but then said that his three oldest children would be in charge of the company, which would not pass the independence test. "I don't know if it's a blind trust if Ivanka, Don and Eric run it," he said earlier this year. “If that's a blind trust, I don't know. "But I would probably have my children run it with my executives and I wouldn't ever be involved." In any case, even if Mr Trump no longer controls
those assets directly, he could hardly be expected to forget what they were, so he would remain vulnerable to allegations that his political decisions were designed to favour his business interests. Foreign donors The Clinton Foundation, which came into being in 2001, poses a different set of problems. Former US presidents tend to set up some kind of charitable centre on leaving office, usually with a presidential library attached, and Hillary's husband Bill was no exception. But, of course, there has never before been a presidential candidate married to an ex-president, so the foundation has turned into a headache for Hillary. Donors to the foundation have included a number of foreign governments, including Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Algeria and Qatar, as well as various rich individuals and companies. Critics of the Clintons say these donations, many of them made while Hillary was Secretary of State, represent attempts to influence US policy. And for those opponents, if Hillary wins, putting Chelsea in charge would not be an acceptable solution, even though the foundation's president, Donna Shalala, has pledged that many of its programmes will be spun off as separate nongovernmental organisations and foreign donations will no longer be accepted. Foreign income And there is another big spanner in the works for both presidential candidates: the US constitution has a provision that could make life very difficult for either of them. The constitution's Emoluments Clause states: "No title of nobility shall be granted by the United States: and no person holding any office of profit or trust under them, shall, without the consent of the Congress, accept of any present, emolument, office, or title, of any kind whatever, from any king, prince, or foreign state." It's easy to see what the point of that was. Having created a republic and enshrined the ideal of equality, the Founding Fathers wanted to prevent the US acquiring an aristocracy or being beholden to foreign powers that might undermine those ideals. But it also seems to say that no-one in senior public office should have any foreign income. Does that apply to the Clinton Foundation, with its record of foreign donors? And more directly, does that also apply to the Trump Organization, which has joint property ventures and licensing deals stretching from Panama City to Istanbul? In theory, yes. In practice, it probably depends on that little phrase, "the consent of the Congress". Any foreign deal or donation involving either of those bodies could easily spawn a Congressional investigation into a possible breach of the constitution. And once the juggernaut started to roll, it could lead all the way to impeachment. For either Chelsea or Ivanka, life is set to get a whole lot busier after 8 November. But unless their activities are genuinely outside parental control, Mrs Clinton or Mr Trump cannot be sure of escaping unscathed. (BBC)
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
LOCAL FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2016
Government Must Consider Economic Benefits Of Guysuco
Minister of State, Joseph Harmon Minister of State, Joseph Harmon has noted that the government is considering the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry into the operations of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo). When asked to list some of the recommendations of the CoI at a post cabinet media briefing on Thursday, Mr. Harmon said, “There were a range of options that have been presented to Cabinet and I would not want to be very specific with these options but I gave you what I call the continuum of opportunities
and that is to say from doing nothing which is maintaining the status quo to diversification.” When further pressed as to the secrecy and the possibility of closure of more estates, Mr. Harmon said that the government has to be careful with the information it feeds the media. However, many cane harvesters told the Guyana Daily News that they are very worried about these statements by the Minister of State, since they are unsure about their future. Many economists, both in Guyana and New York, have questioned the government’s move to close the Wales and LBI estates and the possibility of closing more in
2017. They believe that this might be done through spitefulness against PPP supporters. The economists further stated that the government is incapable of managing the affairs by maintaining the current income pattern of the state and is unable to create new revenue. One prominent economist and political commentator said that the sugar workers should not be the victim of the government’s lack of vision and inability to run the country. The economists recommend that the government should continue to subsidize the industry and diversify the sector slowly over a five year period.
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
LOCAL FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2016
OP:ED- Guyana Should Not Get The “Dutch Disease”
With the recent oil finds, Guyana has been placed on the international scene, however if the government does not implement the right economic policies, then the country can very well implode with further corruption and economic decline. Guyana is ranked among the most corrupt countries in the world by Transparency International’s (TI). The latest Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) ranks Guyana of 119 and a score of 29. The present government is in the spot light for alleged corrupt practices which will eventually have a humongous impact on the country’s new found wealth, for example, in the current state of the oil agreement, Guyana is the
Landlord. Upon collection of revenues from Exxon, the government will less the burden on the tax payers and duties among others, hence there will be less cry of corruption because there can be complacency when examining the actions of the government. This finding is supported by extremely low Transparency International Corruption Perception Indices for Nigeria, Libya, Sudan, Venezuela, Yemen, etc. but we know of the Socioeconomic impacts of these countries. According to Paul Collier, The Bottom Billion, one of the main determining factors that continue to plague the developing nation is that of the
resource curse. Nations faced with the imminence of riches from resources are faced with many more problems than solutions. In 1970 and 1980s, economists came up with an explanation known as the ‘Dutch Disease’, after they observed that the crippling effects of the North Sea gas discovery on the Dutch economy. In other words, this disease causes the currency of the country under focus to rapidly increase in value against other currencies. Guyana can easily fall into this category with its low value. So what will happen to the produces that we export, rice, sugar, timber, etc? There should more focus on checks and balances than focusing on programs that are geared on community development. Guyana’s chances of failure are very high because of corrupt practices. The country cannot afford another stint as was under the PNC regime. Guyana’s new found wealth, we might be able to benefit, but if the government continues in its current form we will be the next Venezuela or Nigeria. The government must stop playing the witch-hunting game and focus on the things that are necessary for the development of its citizens and not white elephant projects like the Durban Park.
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
LOCAL FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2016
Linden Wary Of Toll Booth Operations
Linden recently opened toll booth With the opening of the new toll booth in the mining town earlier this week, Lindeners are divided on the implementation of the toll booth. While most of the residents are in favour of the toll since it will generate much needed revenues for the town, others are not, nothing that the toll also applies to Lindeners. The Guyana Daily News spoke with several residents today who are not in favour of paying the feel. One Food Store owner decried that Linden cannot pay any toll right now, at least not in the current economic situation facing the town. She suggested that the officials in charge should hold off on making residents pay any toll until the people of the town can
afford to do so. The food vendor reasoned that when the toll operations gather enough money to fix some of the problems that Linden faces then she is sure the people would have no problem paying the toll. However, she noted that she is not willing to pay any toll even as at a 25% reduction because she simply cannot afford to do so. Another resident, who is a Canter driver, expressed that the toll booth is inconvenient to drivers of the area. He related that while he understands that it is necessary for the toll booth to be in place, it has some unwanted effects. He said that during his work if he has to pass the booth five times per day, he has to stop at the toll booth.
The driver said that he wasn’t aware of the 25% reduction for the t o w n ’s p e o p l e . T h e d r i v e r suggested that a pass of some sort should be issued to domestic vehicles that do not venture out of the town. The toll booth operations saw the imposition of tolls for 18 categories of vehicles; the tolls mostly target vehicles passing through the town with fuel, lumber or merchandise. These includes canter selling fruits, vegetables, dry goods, trucks, machine haulers, container rucks and etc. Linden registered businesses will also have to pay the tolls but at a 25% for their category vehicles. Hire cars, private cars and vehicles entering the town will not be subjected to pay the tolls.
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
LOCAL FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2016
Rice Production To Be Increased
The Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) is intensifying its efforts to produce aromatic rice on a larger scale through collaboration with private farmers. The aromatic rice is said to be a cost-effective and beneficial economic source of commodity, s according to Research Scientist, Dr Mahendra Persaud. Dr. Persaud, who is stationed at GRDB’s research station, Burma, told the Government Information Agency
(GINA) that previous trials were carried out on a number of other rice varieties, but the GRDB decided to go large scale with the production of the aromatic variety. “We are expanding the production and marketing, and it has been going well. From last season we had around 300 acres in the farmers’ fields, and this current season, harvesting is around 3,000 acres and that is, in collaboration with the millers, destined for export,” Dr Persaud
explained. Dr. Persaud said research has been further extended to develop other aromatic rice varieties which will further expand the local rice line. “We have a back-up programme, we have an organised breeding programme to deliver more aromatic varieties in the future because we thought it’s the way forward for the rice industry, and are providing more options to the farmers and millers and everyone,” Dr. Persaud said General Manager of the GRDB, Nizam Hassan said that, “the price being paid for specialty rice was in some cases more than 100 percent of what was being paid for regular white rice, and so that became very attractive. Prices meet as much as $1200 per ton when it’s being traded globally, so you can see, once Guyana can respond to an increasing demand for specialty rice and get the rice to be grown in larger volumes, larger acres which would mean more tons being produced, then we can tap into the appropriate markets, then we can have economic benefits for the stakeholders.” In 2015, the Ministry of Agriculture launched a new line of the aromatic rice variety. The product has already been presented to the international market through surveys, boosting awareness. The Government is currently at the stage of securing export markets for the rice.
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
LOCAL FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2016
Dominican Republic National Remanded For Alleged Forgery
Dominican Republic National, Providencia Guzman was today fined GY$60,000 and remanded to prison after she appeared in the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court charged with one
count of overstaying her granted time in Guyana and one count of conspiracy to commit a felony. She will return before the court on November 14, 2016. She pleaded guilty to the charge of overstaying; the court heard that between April 14 and October 13, 2016, she failed to comply with the terms of her stay in Guyana and overstayed the allotted time of one month. However, Guzman pleaded not guilty
to the charge of conspiracy to commit a felony which read that between April 14 and October 26, 2016 she along with others conspired to commit the crime of forgery. The accused who entered Guyana on April 14, 2016 and was granted one month’s stay by an immigration officer, allegedly forged a passport stamp for an extension of three months stay in Guyana, in favour of herself.
More Needs To Be Done To Secure Justice For Abused Victims – Min Lawrence Minister of Social Protection Volda Lawrence said that while the legislations to protect girls and others from abuse are “some of the best pieces” there is need for timely enforcement of the laws. “We have to ensure that we strengthen our police force so that when they write those charges that they are done in such a way that they can hold,” an impassioned Minister Lawrence told the Guyana Information Agency (GINA) The Minister lamented the “length of time it takes” to process these matters in the courts, and added that “that in itself in another punishment” for the victims of heinous crimes such as sexual abuse. The Minister said, “It is unbearable hurt” when a victim endures a lengthy court case with no justice in the end. The pain is tremendous when a person, or a victim, one of our girls, would have gone through all the years of waiting, going to all the court dates and so on and then at the end this matter is thrown out,” the Minister said. “And that is what we must fix,” Minister Lawrence
stressed. The Ministry of Social Protection has been building the capacity of its social workers and other staff “to correct the deficiencies which existed within the departments”. Additionally, the Ministry has been collaborating with sister ministries and other agencies to work towards ensuring that justice for victims of abuse is delivered in a timely manner. “That is why we are partnering to ensure that we get it right at that end, to get it right so that our young victims can understand that we do care, and that there is justice, and that the perpetrators will not just walk away with a smile on their face,” Minister Lawrence said. The Ministry has been collaborating with the Director of Public Prosecution, the Acting Chancellor of the Judiciary and the Commissioner of Police to develop a holistic approach towards the protection of victims, particularly children, Lawrence noted. “We want to ensure that whether it’s an issue of trafficking, whether it’s an issue of abuse, whether it’s an issue of child labour that our approach is correct so that when these matters go before the court, we can be successful,” Minister Lawrence said.
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
LOCAL FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2016
Government Must Be Transparent On New Housing Program Spending
Many prospective home owners are questioning where the Central Housing and Planning Authority will get GY$100B to invest in some 10,000 housing units and duplexes, when the government criticized the PPP administration for leaving the treasury bankrupt. According to Hamilton Green, Chairman of the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) “The current administration inherited an overly ambitious programme that sought to provide a serviced house lot to anyone desirous of acquiring one and latterly the provision turnkey units.” He further explained that the administration recently came up with the idea of a new model to improve the housing system in Guyana and to address the backlog of 25,000 applicants, particularly the 17,851 who can be categorized as low income households. “This new model seeks to move beyond the provision of serviced lots to create livable and wholesome communities through the provision of full infrastructure; the necessary social facilities and services and the supply of housing units.”
hinterland Indigenous households. It incorporates an urban renewal component to restore and beautify open spaces/reserves through the relocation and re-settlement of squatters living under disastrous and unsafe conditions to livable and wholesome communities.” Mr. Greene said the projected cost of construction of approximately half of the 10,000 housing units-apartments and duplexes – inclusive of infrastructural works – is around $50 billion (US$250M). The Guyana Daily News spoke to several applicants of the CH&PA for house lots, who said, “if the government is spending GY$50B on 5000 apartments then one will cost GY$10,000,000, now if one of those apartment cost $10,0000,000 what will be the selling price, and since the government is targeting low income families, how will they afford that kind of money?” Applicants want the government “ T h e p r o g r a m m e a l s o p r o m o t e s to make available the specifications of inclusivity and good planning practices, these apartments, such as size, finishes, since it focuses on improving the living locations etc. conditions of both coastal dwellers and
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
LOCAL FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2016
Trinidadian Charged For Defrauding City Hotels In Guyana
Twenty eight year old Trinidadian resident Anthony Nestor today appeared before city Magistrate Judy Latchman in the the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court charged with two
c o u n t s o f Incurring debt under false pretenses. He was remanded and will return before the court on November 18, 2016. Represented by Attorney at Law, James Bond, the accused pleaded not guilty as Bond made an application for bail stating that his client is willing to comply with any of the conditions set by the prosecution if
granted bail. Police Prosecution however objected to the application and its terms stating that is their belief that since the accused is a Trinidadian National he will not return before the court if granted bail. It is alleged that between April 1 and 15, 2016 Nestor incurred a debt of just over GY$200,000 at the Bransville Hotel, Campbellville, Georgetown, while falsely declaring that he was the holder of a valid credit card. It is further alleged that between April 15 and 18, 2016 the accused also incurred a debt of GY$66,000 at Opus Hotel located at Croal Street, Georgetown under the same false pretense.
Father Of Seven Charged With Armed Robberies
Magistrate Fabayo Azore today remanded 35-year-old Patrick Smith after he appeared before her in the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court slapped with two counts of robbery under arms which he allegedly committed on June 26, 2016 in the
vicinity of Georgetown. He will return before the court on November 18, 2016 for continuation of the matter. Smith, a father of seven of Albouystown, Georgetown, initially entered a plea of guilty with an
explanation to the charge but after revealing to the court the reason behind his plea, Magistrate Azore entered a not guilty plea on his behalf. He was however denied bail after the Police Prosecution objected, citing the nature and severity of the offense. It is alleged that on the day in question at the mentioned location, Smith while in the company of others and armed with a gun robbed Gajraj Vidgelall of cash and items, totaling GY$700,000. It is further alleged that on the same day in question the accused while armed with a gun and in the company of others robbed Carletta Vidgelall of cash and items totaling GY$475,000.
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
REGIONAL FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2016
West Demerara Coops To Government… ‘Don’t let us sink’
people will be able to determine for themselves whether it is a proposal from Chinese or it was something coming from the Bahamian ambassador to this minister. That’s the essence of it. I have nothing else to say about it.” Gray’s letter to Gomez started on the front page of Wednesday’s Nassau Guardian and continued in full on page three. The letter summarizes ‘The Proposed China-Bahamas Agriculture and Fisheries Initiative’. Gray’s letter does say no foreigner will be allowed on fishing vessels, but it says they can own processing and packaging houses for agriculture and fishing products. The letter states: “Furthermore, and central to your discussions with representatives of the Chinese government, it is important to emphasize that it is the Bahamas government’s policy that no foreigner is allowed to physically fish in Bahamian waters by himself or in partnership with others, and therefore only Bahamians are allowed on the fishing vessels. This is non-negotiable, and your report should therefore reflect this policy position of the government.
Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources Alfred Gray
N
ASSAU, Bahamas -- Bahamas minister of agriculture and marine resources Alfred Gray falsely claimed in the House of Assembly on Wednesday that his letter to Bahamas ambassador to China Paul Andy Gomez giving him authorization to develop further a proposed $2.1 billion joint venture initiative with the Chinese was not published in full by the press. But that statement by Gray was false. Gray’s full letter was in fact published in The Nassau Guardian on Wednesday, as the newspaper pointed out on Thursday under the headline “Gray tells a lie”. A day after he claimed The Guardian’s story on Tuesday revealing that Gomez was given authorization to further pursue the possible joint venture initiative with the Chinese was “utterly false”, Gray also acknowledged in the House that he did in fact give the ambassador permission to discuss the investment with investors. The matter exploded in Parliament after opposition MP Loretta Butler-Turner said the minister needed to provide answers. Rising on a point of order, Gray said, “Mr Speaker, the truth is this: I said in a statement that there was no proposal before the government of The Bahamas or this minister for any Chinese to enter into fishing in The Bahamas and that is true. “Mr Speaker, there could be no way that this minister or this government would give foreigners, whether Chinese, American, Dominican, no foreigners will ever get a licence to fish in The Bahamas. Full stop. And that’s part of what my letter said. “That’s why they don’t want to print the whole letter. If you print the letter, you would see the letter said that is a non-starter, don’t even bring it up, non-negotiable is the term I used. “Don’t even bring it up because it cannot happen. And Mr Speaker, the letter I wrote was to the Bahamian ambassador to China; I never spoke to any Chinese... The Bahamas ambassador presented me a few initiatives that he was considering and he was approached by investors and he wanted my permission to discuss those initiatives that he had for investment in The Bahamas, and we gave him the permission to discuss it. “Now, Mr Speaker, if you consider giving the ambassador permission to discuss investment, a proposal... Mr Speaker, that is the extent of the letter, and I challenge the press to print the whole letter. Print it. Not a little piece there. Print the whole letter, and Mr Speaker the Bahamian
“Also, and consistent with the government’s policy, foreign investors may own and may participate in the ownership of related land-based activities, such as processing and packaging houses for agricultural and fishing products.” In the same letter, Gray gave Gomez approval “to initiate discussions with the Chinese Embassy here in The Bahamas, and with the relevant Chinese government agencies in China, in order to produce a comprehensive report on the viability of the proposed initiative”. According to the proposal, the initiative will entail the incorporation of 100 Bahamian companies under the Companies Act of 1992 and each of the 100 companies will be owned 50-50 by both China and by Bahamians or Bahamian entities. The initiative would see China or its substantive representatives contributing to the 100 participating companies the $2.1 billion in cash (for working capital), agricultural and farming equipment as well as skilled expertise. If the proposal is approved, the Bahamas government would lease with an option to renew the lease for additional years, to all 100 companies, 10,000 acres of Crown land in Andros. Lease options would be available to each company for an additional 100 acres, provided certain clearly defined performance benchmarks are achieved. The Bahamas government would also grant to each of the companies fishing licenses consistent with existing Bahamian laws. The letter said, “Only Bahamian farmers and farm labourers, along with Bahamian fishermen, will make up the initiative’s workforce. The Bahamas government recognizes that each entity will probably require the service of one fishing and one farming expert, for a limited period, who will probably be Chinese.” When she addressed the matter in the House yesterday, Butler-Turner said “they need to explain to the Bahamian people what sort of deal they are doing with the Chinese”. She noted that Gray’s letter was in Wednesday’s paper. Butler-Turner also said: “Let me tell you something, we have one resource in this country, besides our water and that is our fisheries and we have a minister of this government that has the audacity to be entering into discussions to sort of [give away] our wonderful resources that belong to the Bahamian people, but Mr Speaker, it’s not going to happen, because the Bahamian people aren’t going to stand for it, so when that minister gets an opportunity to talk, get up and talk about his deal with the Chinese.” (Caribbean News Now!)
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
REGIONAL FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2016
Barbados Records Increase In Dengue Fever Cases
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) — Barbados is reporting a significant increase in dengue fever this year as compared to the same period last year. However, there are no deaths
associated with the illness. The Ministry of Health said that for the week ending October 8, the island had recorded 467 confirmed cases and 1,378 suspected cases as against 70
confirmed cases, 309 suspected cases and one death last year. In 2014, there were 1,858 suspected cases reported to the ministry and 337 confirmed. No deaths were recorded. The Ministry of Health said the majority of confirmed cases were recorded during January, February, August, and September, when outbreaks occurred. The figures also show that there were 625 suspected Zika virus-related cases with 30 being confirmed. Three of the confirmed cases occurred last year. “The total number of pregnant women infected now stands at 23. There have also been two suspected cases of Zika-associated congenital syndrome identified so far this year, and four cases of Guillain Barre Syndrome,” the Ministry of Health noted. It said that the authorities here continue to work closely with the Trinidadbased Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) on laboratory confirmation of the mosquito borne Zika virus and urged Barbadians to do everything in their power to reduce the Aedes aegypti mosquito population on the island. (Jamaica Observer)
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
REGIONAL FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2016
Bahamas To Establish Drug Treatment Court
National Security Minister Bernard J. Nottage addressing CICAD conference. (Photo: CMC) NASSAU, Bahamas (CMC) — The Bahamas Government says it is in the process of establishing a drug treatment court to provide an alternative to incarceration for drug-dependent offenders through treatment and rehabilitation. National Security Minister Bernard J Nottage addressing the 60th regular session of the InterAmerican Drug Abuse and Control Commission (CICAD), said The Bahamas has embarked upon on a series of initiatives focused on at-risk youth including the establishment of Community Youth Centres that will provide healthy alternative services and programmes. He said the focus is as a result of youth being “overwhelmingly represented as both victims and perpetrators of drugrelated crime and violence locally. “Participating youth will receive training in hospitality, self-esteem building, motivational and personal development. These centres will be a space where youth can have positive interactions and hopefully be dissuaded from using illicit
drugs, joining gangs or engaging in conflict with the law,” Nottage told delegates, adding that Nassau is “resolved” in its responses to the drug problem. “The Bahamas is a willing and committed partner and confident that underpinning the discussions of this 60th regular session, the resolve is united to improve the effectiveness of our responses to the drug problem in the mutual interests of all member states. “It is our hope that ideas and experiences shared over the next three days will bolster our efforts in addressing the world drug problem.” CICAD was established by the General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS) in 1986. Each member government appoints a high-ranking representative to the commission that meets twice a year. CICAD promotes regional cooperation and coordination among OAS member states through action programmes, carried out by CICAD’s Executive Secretariat, to prevent and treat substance abuse; reduce the supply and availability of illicit drugs; strengthen national drug control institutions and machinery as well as improve money
laundering control laws and practice. Nottage said that the meeting here is significant because this year, CICAD commemorates its 30th anniversary. “We congratulate the Organization of American States (OAS) for seeing it imperative to establish a branch with the responsibility to promote regional partnerships and coordination among member states to reduce drug production, trafficking and use of illicit drugs, while addressing public health, social and criminality of the drug trade,” Nottage said. He told delegates that the Bahamas has been on the “frontline” of drug control and reduction and has committed itself to “weakening illicit drug enterprises that exist around us regionally and globally” over the past four decades. “Even though the Bahamas is not a major producer of illicit drugs, our country is strategically situated within the transhipment zone between markets in North America and Europe. Due to our sparsely populated archipelago and vast water borders, transnational criminals continue to traffic drugs through our maritime borders and ports of entry.” Nottage said cocaine and marijuana – which he called the signature drugs produced in the region – are the principle drugs in the transit traffic through The Bahamas. “Some of the drugs that are moved through our country make their way on our streets and negatively impact our communities and the most vulnerable among us, in particular our youth.” Nottage said the programmes the government has implemented and will implement, will help to reverse those negative impacts on the country’s at-risk youth insofar as crime, criminality and violence are concerned. (Jamaica Observer)
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
REGIONAL FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2016
Government To Borrow Funds From To Improve Water Quality
Source: benonicitytimes NASSAU, Bahamas, Nov. 3, CMC – The Perry Christie administration will be borrowing US$28.3 million from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), in an effort to improve the access and quality of water across the country. Minister of State in the Finance Minister, Michael Halkitis in tabling the resolution for the Water and Sewerage Water Supply Improvement Project in Parliament on Wednesday said the
government will get a “five day holiday” and will not a have to start replaying the loan until five years after the date of execution. The payments will be made in 48 quarterly installments. Halkitis went on to defend the government’s need to borrow the money, telling Parliamentarians that water is essential. “Water is a necessity, it is far from a luxury. Good, clean healthy water is a necessity and to give people access to it, it is an indication of human
development, it enhances property value, and it improves peoples lives.” “We will be able to provide water for communities that really need it. I expect during the debate, I am sure members will be able to testify on the long suffering of their constituents. My constituency will also be affected; works are underway in Coral Lakes and Boatswain where no water infrastructure has been in place. When you look at the amount of funds that we are borrowing, it is a relatively small amount,” he said. The scope of the project involves pre-investment studies, the acquisition of land in certain islands for the execution of the project, a public health and education awareness programme as well as the upgrade of the supply and distribution systems on the islands of New Providence, Crooked Island, Harbour Island, Eleuthera, Long Island, San Salvador and South Andros. (Antigua Observer)
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
REGIONAL FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2016
St. Lucian Man, 2 Other Caribbean Nationals, Nabbed In St. Maarten For Human Smuggling A St. Lucian man along with two other Caribbean nationals were detained by Dutch authorities in St. Maarten after being suspected of being involved in human smuggling. The men were captured after Dutch coast guard vessels spotted them in a boat in Dutch waters. The men were accompanied by at least 11 Cubans whom they are suspected of attempting to smuggle to the US Virgin Islands. The other men were of Montserratian and Antiguan origin. The men have not been charged as yet as Dutch police is still investigating. (St. Lucia News Online) Jaguar P810, one of three cutters operated by the Dutch Caribbean
Coastguard. Photo credit: Pbase.com
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
REGIONAL FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2016
St. Vincent And The Grenadines To Outlaw Killing Of Sea Turtles
Photo taken from: Awesomeocean.com KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent Nov 3, C M C - S t . Vi n c e n t a n d t h e Grenadines will as of January 1, make it illegal to catch or kill sea turtles or disturb their nest. Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves announced the planned change in the law on Tuesday at an event in Calliaqua, to the south of here , held to upgrade the fisheries facility in the town. Under the current law, sea turtles are protected species in St Vincent, with the open season running from August 1 to February 28. But during the open season, it is illegal to catch, sell, buy or have in one’s possession undersized turtles or their shells. The minimum weights for sea turtles that can be caught during the open season are: leatherback turtles — 350 lbs; green turtles — 180 lbs; hawksbill turtles – 85 lbs; and loggerhead turtles — 160 lbs. It is always illegal to interfere with the
eggs and nests of sea turtles and anyone found violating these regulations is liable to a fine of up to EC$5,000. According to Gonsalves, the government has been working with the SVG Preservation Fund to upgrade the facility that was funded by Japan under a US$4.6 million grant secured in 2014. Gonsalves also addressed the issue of whaling as humpback whales are being killed in Bequia and pilot whales are killed in Barrouallie. “And there is nothing inconsistent with our traditional whaling and whale watching,” Gonsalves said. “And I know a lot of our young folk are interested not so much in the actual traditional whaling, but in whale watching, which is a legitimate activity. I think you do it in Japan too,” Gonsalves said. The Prime Minister was address Japan’s Ambassador to the island Mistuhiko Okada who also attended the c e r e m o n y. T h e A m b a s s a d o r expressed appreciation to St Vincent for the “valuable cooperation” it has
extended to Tokyo in International Whaling Commission (IWC) matters. It is speculated that the fisheries facilities built by Japan in countries such as St. Vincent are payback for their support in the IWC. According to conservationists, Japan uses its money to dominate in order to continue commercial whaling under the guise of scientific research. But Gonsalves said he wanted to indicate to the Japanese that there is a strong conservation movement that is growing, “which means that we have to have a proper education about the sustainable use of marine resources. I want to say, and I’ll make this announcement because Cabinet has already decided that as of January the 1st, in keeping with the mantra, no extinction in our generation, that we are imposing a complete ban on the hunting and killing of turtles and also of the eggs.” Gonsalves said that a project for turtle watching was already being devised. He said that the beaches between Colonaire and Black Point and up at Sandy Bay at Big Sand on St. Vincent’s north-eastern coast are two main places in St. Vincent where turtles nest. The prime minister further said his government is doing a lot of education in schools, adding that while there is a conservation “challenge” with one specie of turtle in local waters, his government will protect all four species that live here. However, he made it clear that he was not talking of banning traditional whaling. (Antigua Observer)
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Turks And Caicos Airline Boosts Regional Connectivity Tortola, BVI, 4x weekly via San Juan onward to Antigua Connections link the above cities via a typical 45-minute hassle-free transit in Providenciales.
PROVIDENCIALES, TCI -- With its new enhanced winter timetable, interCaribbean Airways substantially boosts regional connectivity and convenience via its fast-growing hub at Providenciales in the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI). "Both the passenger's connecting experience at Providenciales, and the flight connecting schedules are now much improved," explained CEO, Tr e v o r S a d l e r. C o n n e c t i n g passengers will in the very near future, bypass immigration, proceeding directly through international security screening and into the departures lounge. This "via Provo" connection for transit passengers will be completely hassle-free following global best practices and avoiding major hubs. "We can now focus on the needs of travelers in the region," said interCaribbean Chairman Lyndon Gardiner, adding that good air service is crucial and integral to business location decisions. The Tu r k s a n d C a i c o s A i r p o r t s
Authority CEO, John Smith, said, "We are pleased to partner with Immigration and interCaribbean in facilitating in-transit passengers at Providenciales." Effective November 14, interCaribbean will operate these services to/from the Providenciales hub: San Juan, Puerto Rico, 4x weekly
The TCI isn't the first small territory to energetically position itself as a connecting hub, look at Antigua, Panama, Iceland, Dubai, Singapore and other such "mice that roared," noted Gardiner. Inter-island travel difficulty has been documented and lamented by countless economists, executives, development experts, politicians, NGOs and others. Caribbean islands near each other have been mutually accessible only through extraordinarily circuitous and expensive airline routings via distant hubs.
"We are changing this, with huge passenger savings in time, comfort and trip expense," said Gardiner.interCaribbean, founded 25 years ago, is based in the TCI. The company operates EMB 120, Tw i n O t t e r, B E 9 9 a i r c r a f t connecting the TCI, Antigua, Port-au-Prince, Haiti, 4x weekly Tortola, Puerto Rico, Dominican Cap Haitian, Haiti, daily Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, Bahamas and Cuba; and domestic flights in Santiago, Cuba, 3x weekly Jamaica between Kingston and Havana, Cuba 2x weekly Montego Bay. The TCI as a UK territory applies rigorous airline Kingston, and Montego Bay, regulatory standards. (Caribbean Jamaica, daily News Now!) Santiago, Dominican Republic, 4x weekly Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, 4x weekly Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, 3x weekly
Nassau, Bahamas, 6x weekly
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FA O S e t s 2 0 2 0 D e a d l i n e T o R e m o v e Caribbean Countries From World Hunger List
FAO Regional Representative for Latin America and the Caribbean, Raul Benitez GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands -Regional representative of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) Raul Benitez says his organization is working towards eradicating hunger in eleven Caribbean islands by 2020. “I would like to propose 2020 as a deadline to remove the eleven countries of the English speaking Caribbean states that still remain in the FAO’s Hunger Map,” said Benitez, while addressing t h e 1 4 t h C a r i b b e a n We e k o f Agriculture (CWA) held in the Cayman Islands last week. “In figures, less than 180,000 people need to achieve food security in order to reduce the prevalence of undernourishment to below 5 percent and attain this task,” said Benitez, who is FAO’s Regional Representative for Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). FAO's focus is on the eradication of hunger, food insecurity
and malnutrition; the elimination of poverty and the promotion of economic and social progress for all; and, the sustainable management of natural resources, for the benefit of present and future generations. According to an FAO document titled the CELAC Plan for Food and Nutrition Security and the eradication of Hunger 2025, Latin America is the subregion that has made the most progress, achieving both the M i l l e n n i u m Development Goal target to reduce the prevalence of undernourishment from 14.4 per cent in 1990/1992 to 5.1 per cent in 2012/2014 as well as the more ambitious target set by the World Food Summit (WFS) of 1996 where Latin America also reduced
the number of people suffering from hunger from 60.3 million to 29.5 million in the same period. Benitez indicated that the 2020 deadline would not be easy to meet but that it would be a significant achievement once it was achieved. “This is no easy task, however, it is possible, and for us all, it would be an excellent achievement that no country in the English-speaking Caribbean appears in the hunger map,” he said while addressing a ministerial session at CWA. The CWA is one of the region’s premier agricultural events and attracted delegates from over 15 Caribbean countries and several islands in the Pacific. Ministers of agriculture from several islands as well as policy and decision-makers from around the region participated in the week of discussions. At the end of the week key recommendations for action were tabled for the ministers to work on after the meeting. (Caribbean News Now!)
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IICA Holds Workshop On Food Labelling For Agro-processors In St Kitts-Nevis
Food labelling workshop participants pose for a group picture on the final day. Presenter Jihan Williams is standing (front row) 2nd right BASSETERRE, St Kitts -- Small-scale agro-processors in St Kitts and Nevis are now better positioned, as business proprietors, to contribute to sustainable agriculture development thanks to the timely intervention by the InterAmerican Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), which conducted a one-and-a-half-day workshop on food labelling. Assistant secretary in the federal ministry of agriculture, Natasha Daniel, who opened the workshop held in Basseterre on Thursday, October 27, commented that the workshop had come on the heels of a recently held marketing workshop for agro-processors. “Today we move to another level of the marketing chain, labelling, where processors can better position themselves as business proprietors, contribute to sustainable agricultural development, assist in the reduction of poverty and malnutrition and reduce food wastage through agro-processing,” Daniel said. The workshop, which was organised by Augustine Merchant, IICA representative for the St Kitts and Nevis delegation, was facilitated on the first day by Oriel Walters from Koncep Branding Antigua and I-Ronn Audain from the St Kitts Bureau of Standards, while on the final day (Tuesday, November 1) by Jihan Williams from the federal government
intellectual property rights office. Audain’s presentation was on ‘Labels Standards and Regulation’ and Walter’s presentation was on ‘Labelling Design’, while Williams’ presentation on the final day was on ‘Intellectual Property Rights’. Also in attendance on the first day was the IICA representative for Antigua and Barbuda Craig Thomas. Chairing the session was Andy Blanchette, institutional liaison to agriculture. “This workshop is being held with funding from the 10th European Development Fund Agriculture Policy Programme,” Merchant said. “This programme is being executed through an agreement signed between the European Union and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture with other implementing bodies such as the Caribbean Agriculture Research and Development Institute (CARDI) and the CARICOM Secretariat.” According to Merchant, the programme is being implemented within the context of two major challenges which agriculture faces in the CARIFORUM states, namely an increasing regional food import bill estimated at over $5 billion annually; and climate change, which is of particular significance to the Caribbean, comprising largely of small island developing states with low lying coastal areas and deemed the second most prone in the world to natural hazards. He said the main aims of the workshop were to enable small-scale enterprises in St Kitts and Nevis, including women and youth, to strengthen value added processes and marketing opportunities to meet the demands of retailers and consumers, and to strengthen the capacity to increase the volume, quality, standard and differentiation of local value added products. “The label is the first point of contact between the consumer and producer,” Merchant informed the workshop participants. “It is used to identify one
product from another and also to make a discussion over which product to purchase. The label is therefore the most important marketing tool for a product. “It should be attractive and eye-catching while at the same time being informative. A dirty confusing and untidy label will not help to sell a product. Small scale food processors should aim to label their products with the best label they can obtain or afford in relation to the product.” On the first day the workshop participants were divided into four groups where they worked on label designs, and presentation of the work groups was done by group leaders, while feedback on presentation made by the groups was presented by Walters. A number of the agro-processors brought their labels that they put on display, and which caught the eye of Daniel. “Labels should be attractive, eye catching while at the same time informative,” she said. “I take pride in our very own local products, produce by the Agro-processing Unit and other agro-processors such as Ms Connor’s DLightfully Sweet, Grandmas Special, which is nicely designed with our National Anthem theme, ‘Oh Land of Beauty’. “We are on the right path. A dirty, confused, untidy label will not sell a product. Hence the importance of this workshop, to provide the guidance, techniques and know-how in order to better improve your product while at the s a m e t i m e m a k i n g m o n e y. ” S h e encouraged the agro-processors to try their best to label their products with the best labels available and affordable in relation to the value of the product, pointing out that “the ministry is here to support you and provide the necessary assistance to attain your goals.” (Caribbbean News Now!)
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Some 20,000 Jamaicans Deported From The US Over The Past Ten Years
Jamaica’s Ambassador to the United States, Audrey Marks, delivers the keynote address at the inaugural Jamaica Diaspora Northeast Trailblazer Awards in Queens, NY, on Saturday, October 29, 2016 By Derrick Scott WASHINGTON, USA -- Jamaica’s ambassador to the United States, Audrey Marks, has revealed that some 20,000 Jamaicans have been deported from the US to Jamaica over the past ten years. Jamaica has also received the highest share of individuals deported from the US on criminal grounds, with those convicted of criminal offences accounting for 90 percent of Jamaicans deported, the ambassador said. “Nearly 90 percent of Jamaicans returned from all countries, namely the United Kingdom and Canada, during this period were deported for reasons unrelated with violent crimes, the most common offences being immigration and drug related offenses,” Marks said.
Speaking in New York last Saturday, Marks said it is now time to bring the full force of the talent and resources of the Diaspora to this problem. “We must stop the deportation of young members of the Diaspora that have spent most of their lives right here and currently are more American than Jamaican,” she said. The ambassador called on Diaspora organizations throughout the United States to unite as mentors and protect marginalized immigrant youths from being recruited into criminal activities. The ambassador commended the creation of the Diaspora Crime
Prevention Task Force, but pointed out that the task force does not need to make another fact-finding trip to Jamaica “as the problem starts here and your talents are right here and if organized into an intervention force in Jamaican communities throughout the US, you can put a dent in exporting the crime problem back to Jamaica.” “We need to, firstly, ensure that every eligible Jamaican green card holder become a citizen,” the ambassador said, “because I am seeing too many cases of young men who came here at basic and primary school age and are now being deported back to Jamaica when they are at college age with no opportunities for a second chance in Jamaica.” Marks said there was a need to create a path to college program and stop the supply of deported criminals to Jamaica, mostly from the United States. (Caribbean News Now!)
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Mosul Battle: Iraqi Army Fights Its Way Into New Suburb
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roops advanced rapidly after BBC Arabic's Feras Kilani, who is with breaking down IS defences the elite force. Inside al-Zahra, militants continued to fight back and a coalition (Picture: Feras Kilani) air strike was ordered to destroy an IS Iraqi government forces have battled position.Map of Mosul districts There their way into another suburb of Mosul, were no civilians to be seen but the northern city held for more two years commanders repeatedly instructed by the Islamic State (IS) group. Troops troops via walkie-talkies to spare them broke through IS defences and reached any harm. the eastern district of al-Zahra, which A military spokesman said IS was they say is now 90% under their control. putting up stiff resistance. "The battle is Special forces have been fighting the currently going on, the enemy is using jihadists in the streets and alleys. snipers, car bombs and directed Meanwhile, the UN says there is missiles," said Lt Gen Abdel-Wahab algrowing evidence of IS atrocities in and Saadi. "God willing, we will return fire around Mosul. It has already expressed and will liberate the neighbourhood (of concern for the estimated 1.5 million al-Zahra) soon."Residents who spoke to civilians living in the city amid reports our correspondent said IS had been of mass killings and people being expecting the attack and had withdrawn two days earlier, leaving behind four rounded up for use as human shields. Government and Kurdish forces began a pockets of resistance to slow down the US-backed offensive on 17 October to government advance. Three IS suicide drive out the jihadists. They have attackers tried to drive explosives-laden already retaken dozens of villages and vehicles at government troops but were towns in the surrounding area. Troops destroyed. from the Counter-Terrorism Service One was a bulldozer hit by an air strike, began their push towards al-Zahra, Lt-Col Muhanad al-Timimi told the formerly known as Saddam district, at Associated Press news agency. Troops 07:00 (04:00 GMT), advancing rapidly came under fire from mortars, automatic after breaking down IS defences, said weapons, snipers and anti-tank rockets.
Iraqi forces trying to enter another Mosul suburb - Karama, south of alZahra - had to partially pull back when IS launched fierce resistance. "We The UN humanA contingent of 200 Iranian Kurdish women fighters have joined the fight against IS around Mosul, Reuters news agency reports. They are now part of a larger unit of some 600 fighters aligned to the Kurdistan Freedom Party. "We are working hand in hand with the men who are fighting, our brothers, we fight together and co-operate with each other," said one of the women, Karin. "We work together to protect our land from any threats it might face." rights offi ce (U N H CR) provided more evidence on Friday of human rights violations taking place in and around Mosul. It said that IS had shot around 50 of its own fighters for desertion on Monday and added that 180 government employees may also have been killed by the group. UNHCR spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani said that more than 1,000 civilians were reportedly taken from the town of Hamam al-Alil to Tal Afar, possibly for use as human shields, and families in Hamam al-Alil were told to hand over children, especially boys over the age of nine, in an apparent attempt to recruit them as child soldiers. "Apparently they have also been using loudspeakers mounted on the back of pick-up trucks or at the back of vehicles, and threatening severe punishment for families that do not comply with their order," she said. expecting such resistance. They had blocked all the roads," said one officer, quoted by AFP news agency. "There are large numbers of jihadists. It was preferable to pull back and devise a new plan." (BBC)
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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2016
Jordan Shooting: Two US Military Trainers Killed At Air Base
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wo US military trainers have been shot dead in an exchange of fire at an air base in Jordan, Jordan's military says. The shooting occurred when the car they were in failed to stop at the gate of the al-Jafr base in
the south of the country and it was fired upon by Jordanian security forces, a military statement said. The US embassy in Jordan confirmed that an incident had taken place. At least one person was also wounded in the gunfire. "There was an exchange of fire at the entrance to the base after an attempt by the trainers' vehicle to enter the gate without heeding orders of the guards to stop," the Jordanian statement said. The wounded person has been taken to hospital and an investigation is under way to determine the cause of the shooting, the statement said. Jordan is a
close ally of the US and a member of the US-led coalition fighting the so-called Islamic State (IS) group in Syria and Iraq. US forces have trained a small group of Syrian rebels in Jordan as well as Iraqi and Palestinian security forces. Last November, a Jordanian police captain opened fire at a police training centre near the capital Amman, killing two Americans, a South African and two Jordanians. The Jordanian government subsequently said the police captain had been a troubled individual. (BBC)
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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2016
Turkey HDP: Blast After Pro-Kurdish Leaders Demir tas And Yuksekdag Detained
Selahattin Demirtas (L) and Figen Yuksekdag have been detained as well as other MPs from their party(AP/REUTERS)
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he joint leaders of Turkey's proKurdish opposition party, People's Democracy (HDP), have been arrested along with at least nine other MPs. Selahattin Demirtas and Figen Yuksekdag are accused of spreading propaganda for militants fighting the Turkish state. Hours after Mr Demirtas was arrested in Diyarbakir, a car bomb killed eight people and injured more than 100. Militants have been fighting for years to achieve independence for the Kurds, Turkey's biggest ethnic minority. Turkey remains under a state of emergency that was imposed after a failed military coup in July. The emergency allows President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his cabinet to bypass parliament when drafting new laws and to restrict or suspend rights and freedoms. The government says those detained had failed to respond to a summons for questioning
and issued an arrest warrant for two other HDP MPs currently abroad. This is a major escalation of a clampdown that has seen Kurdish media closed down and the mayor of Diyarbakir arrested. Hopes of an end to Turkey's decades-long Kurdish problem have evaporated since a ceasefire with the [Kurdistan Workers' Party] PKK broke down in 2015, leading to a wave of titfor-tat attacks. Mr Demirtas elicited international support with his liberal politics but critics say he has failed to distance the party sufficiently from the PKK. Friday's detentions are likely to provoke more tension among Kurds and more violence too. Why were the party leaders arrested? The government says they were detained for failing to co-operate with a counterterrorism investigation, which the two leaders vowed to boycott in June. Defending the arrests, Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag said: "They did not respect the law." The MPs are also accused of spreading propaganda for the PKK, the Kurdish group suspected of a wave of recent attacks including
Friday's car bomb. Deemed a terrorist organisation by the US, the EU and Turkey, the PKK has been fighting the state since the 1970s in a war which has claimed at least 40,000 lives. Can MPs really be arrested just like this in Turkey? Turkish politicians normally have immunity from prosecution but this was removed from the HDP and some other MPs in May. Last month, the joint mayors of Diyarbakir, Turkey's largest Kurdish-majority city, were also arrested as part of a terrorism investigation. Is the HDP linked to the PKK? While commonly seen as the main pro-Kurdish party, HDP is an eclectic grouping which also appeals to leftists, liberals, environmentalists, gay rights activists and pious Muslims. That explains why it is Turkey's thirdlargest party. It entered parliament for the first time last year, winning 59 seats. During the election campaign, it carried a moderate message despite dozens of attacks against party supporters and offices, culminating in a deadly attack on its largest election rally in Diyarbakir two days before the vote. The party strongly denies any links to the PKK. Mr Demirtas and others accuse President Erdogan of seeking to push the party out of parliament and increase his own power. One MP, who is currently abroad, told the BBC the government was acting like Nazis. "This crackdown tonight is nothing to do with procedural law, criminal law, any law whatsoever or the constitution," Ertugrul Kurkcu said. "This is an unlawful hijacking of HDP parliamentarians." (BBC)
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South Korea's Park Denies Following Cult As Scandal Continues
Ms Park said she had "put too much faith" in her friendship with Ms Choi(AFP) The South Korean President, Park Geun-hye, has publicly denied falling victim to a religious cult as scandal threatens to engulf her leadership. Appearing close to tears in a televised address, she apologised for allowing a long-standing friend inappropriate access to government policy-making. She agreed to be questioned over the scandal but did not offer to resign. Choi Soon-sil is suspected of using their friendship to solicit donations to a nonprofit fund she controlled. Ms Choi is in detention facing charges of fraud and abuse of power. The main opposition party said the president's apology lacked sincerity and it called on Ms Park to step back from state affairs. Scuffles broke out between police and demonstrators demanding Ms Park's resignation in central Seoul on Friday. 'Absolutely not true' Ms Choi, a longtime friend of Ms Park's, is the daughter of Choi Tae-min, a shadowy
quasi-religious leader who was closely linked to Ms Park's father, thenpresident Park Chung-hee. On Friday, Ms Park went on TV to deny allowing cultish rituals to be held in the presidential palace. "There have been claims that I fell for a religious cult or had [shamanist rituals] performed in the Blue House, but I would like to clarify that those are absolutely not true," the president said.
She said she took sole responsibility for access to government documents and was willing to be investigated. She had, she said, "put too much faith in a personal relationship and didn't look carefully at what was happening". Anyone found to have done wrong would be punished, she said, and "if necessary, I'm determined to let prosecutors investigate me and accept an investigation by an independent counsel too". The scandal has left Ms Park with an approval rating of just 5%. She has already replaced her prime minster, reshuffled her cabinet and dismissed several aides, but there are growing calls for her resignation or impeachment. Choo Mi-ae, leader of the main opposition Democratic Party, said she did not believe the apology was genuine and called on her to accept a new prime minister recommended by parliament. Ms Park became her country's first female president when she was elected in a close-run contest in December 2012. (BBC)
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Brexit: May 'Confident' Of Winning Article 50 Case Appeal He told Radio 4's Today that he also wanted to give the public "a say" on the final deal after EU negotiations are complete. The government's appeal is expected to be heard in early December by the full Supreme Court - 11 judges - for the first time in its history. The judgement may not be handed down until January. If the appeal fails, it is thought the government will then have to bring forward legislation - which would Theresa May and Jean-Claude Juncker have to be approved by both Houses of spoke by telephone(GETTY IMAGES) Parliament. The bill could be subject to amendments. MPs and peers may push for Theresa May has said she is "confident" that more details of the government's negotiating the government will win its appeal against a strategy or possibly for a second High Court ruling on triggering Brexit talks. referendum. She told European Commission president The government wants to trigger Article 50 Jean-Claude Juncker and Germany's Angela by the end of March 2017 so any legislation Merkel she was committed to triggering would need to be approved by then if the Article 50 by March 2017. Three judges timetable is not to be pushed back. "These ruled that she cannot do so without are fundamental issues which, of course, as Parliament's support. It comes as MP part of this process need to be brought before Stephen Phillips said he was quitting due to MPs, and MPs should feel free to scrutinise "irreconcilable" differences with the them," he said. "And if they believe that the government. government is pursuing an unnecessarily Mr Phillips has been among Tory MPs hard, in other words an unnecessarily selfpushing for Parliament to be consulted over harming version of Brexit, then of course the UK's negotiating strategy, accusing MPs should be free to reject that." But ministers of trying to "ignore their views". former Conservative cabinet minister The government is appealing against Theresa Villiers told the programme: Thursday's ruling to the Supreme Court - all "Frankly I think it would be a constitutional 11 judges are due to hear the case in early outrage if unelected Liberal Democrat peers December. The prime minister called Mr were to stand in the way of implementing the Juncker and Mrs Merkel on Friday morning. clear result of a referendum in which 33 Her spokesman said she told them the million people took part." government was "disappointed" at Thursday's High Court ruling found that the Thursday's court ruling but that "the focus of government could not trigger Article 50 of the government is on the Supreme Court the Lisbon Treaty alone, without the backing case. We are confident of winning that case of Parliament - which would require and proceeding with Article 50". publishing legislation to be debated by the Jump media playerMedia player help If it Commons and the Lords. The government loses that appeal, it is expected that the has argued that it cannot "show its hand in government will have to publish some form detail" ahead of negotiations with 27 other of new law for MPs - and the House of Lords EU member states, despite calls from MPs - to vote on. But former deputy prime to clarify her plans. Communities Secretary minister Nick Clegg - now the Lib Dems' Sajid Javid told BBC One's Question Time Europe spokesman - said his party would that the ruling by the High Court was a "clear seek to join with others "in both the House of attempt to frustrate the will of the British Commons and the House of Lords to amend people" despite a "very, very clear" result the legislation" to tell the government to from the EU referendum. Early election? pursue a "soft Brexit" that would keep the For Labour, shadow foreign secretary Emily UK within the EU's single market. Thornberry said that while she thought "that
in the end Parliament will vote for Article 50 to be triggered" the judgement meant the government would have to give MPs "some basic terms on which they are going to negotiate Brexit". And Conservative peer Lady Wheatcroft told BBC Radio 4's Today she was willing to table an amendment to future legislation to delay the Brexit process, saying it was "only right to delay triggering Article 50 until we have a clearer idea of what it actually entails". However Labour MP Lisa Nandy told Question Time: "Britain is leaving the EU and whether or not Parliament has to vote to trigger Article 50, this will happen because, in reality, there are no more than a handful of parliamentarians who would seek to block that decision." The prime minister's spokeswoman has played down suggestions that Mrs May may call an early general election if she cannot get Parliamentary support, saying that the prime minister believed "there shouldn't be an election until 2020 and that remains her view". The government had argued it could use ancient prerogative powers to give effect "to the will of the people". 'Line crossed' But the three judges looking at the case found there was no constitutional convention of the royal prerogative being used in legislation relating to the EU. They added that triggering Article 50 would fundamentally change UK people's rights - and that the government cannot change or do away with rights under UK law unless Parliament gives it authority to do so. Speaking to the BBC's Daily Politics, UKIP leadership contender Suzanne Evans said the line was being crossed by "increasingly politically active" judges. "Judges are allowing pressure groups and campaigners to bring cases for judicial review and making rulings which would not stand up to scrutiny at the ballot box," she said. The UK voted by 52% to 48% to leave the European Union in a referendum on 23 June. The EU's other 27 member states have said negotiations about the terms of the UK's exit - due to last two years - cannot begin until Article 50 has been invoked. (BBC)
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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2016
Scott Ludlam: Australian Senator Takes Leave To Treat Depression And Anxiety
Senator Scott Ludlam said he was "getting the very best of care" and would return to work as soon as possible(GETTY IMAGES) An Australian senator has been flooded with support after announcing he is taking a leave of absence to treat depression and anxiety. Scott Ludlam, 46, who is deputy leader of the Australian Greens party, made the announcement in a Facebook post. He said he had been dealing with mental health issues "for a while". "I will return to work as soon as I'm able to give the commitment the work demands," Senator Ludlam wrote. "I am fortunate to be getting the very best of care from my friends and family, and my health professionals," he added. Figures from across Australian politics wished Mr Ludlam well on social media, praising his honesty. "Wishing my dear friend and colleague @SenatorLudlam all the best for a speedy recovery. We love you Scott," Australian Greens chief Richard Di Natale tweeted. Western Australia Labor Leader Mark McGowan wrote: "Thinking of you @SenatorLudlam. A brave thing to do today. All WA parliamentarians wish you the very best. MM." As the news spread on Twitter, many Australians spoke of
their respect for the Greens leader, suggesting that his openness would help others who are fighting mental health battles. During his absence, Senator Ludlam will be offered a "pair" in the Australian Senate. This means a single vote on the opposing side of debates will be cancelled out for as long as he is on leave. Mr Ludlam is a popular figure among young left-wingers in Australia, and has been vocal about online privacy issues. In 2015 he branded the Australian government's new national security legislation a privacy invasion, and provided a list of ways for people to circumvent data retention laws. The senator said his work for Western Australia - which includes communications, international aid, defence, foreign affairs and nuclear technology spheres - would be handled by "senate colleagues" and "the team in my office". 'Absolute hell' According to the Sydney Morning Herald, a large number of Australian MPs have admitted privately that they struggle to cope with alcoholism, feelings of isolation, and stress from marriage breakdowns or scandals. Warren Entsch, a Liberal party leader and former MP, told the Herald he was left in "absolute hell" back in 1999 when the opposition Labor party were pursuing him over a defence contract they said was dodgy. "I was sick. I was devastated. I had to go to Canberra Hospital for chest pains. There were a couple of days where I couldn't get off the couch in my office," he said. "I always feel for someone who is getting beaten up by the media - what you go through from a mental health perspective is absolutely intense." Former MP Doctor Malcolm Washer, a qualified GP who was known as "the doctor in the
house", has claimed there is a "significant" amount of depression among Australian politicians, adding that the job is "very isolating". He has estimated that around 20% of people working in Parliament House are taking anti-depressants, and many more are on sleeping pills. Mr Ludlam is not the first senior leader to go public about his depression. Former Liberal MP Andrew Robb took leave for six months in 2010 to address the condition, and is now a passionate advocate for mental health. Scott Ludlam is one of a number of high-profile figures who have spoken about their mental health issues in recent days. Singer Zayn Malik, a former member of the wildly successful boyband One Direction, has talked about his battle with "extreme anxiety", saying: "Anxiety is something people don't necessarily want to advertise because it's seen, in a way, like a weakness." The 23-year-old said he had pulled out of several live performances earlier this year due to mental health struggles. "I speak about it so that people understand that it doesn't matter what level of success you have, where you're from, who you are, what sex you are, what you do - you can still experience these things," Mr Malik told ES magazine. Another world-famous singer, Adele, shared her experience of postnatal depression after the birth of her son Angelo. She told Vanity Fair that while she "loves her son more than anything", she sometimes felt she had made "the worst decision" of her life as she struggled to adjust to motherhood. She told the magazine a breakthrough came when she opened up, admitting: "One day I said to a friend, 'I ****** hate this,' and she just burst into tears and said, 'I ****** hate this, too." (BBC)
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2016
Parents In Spain Go On Homework Strike
They spend longer hours bent over their homework, but does it amount to better results for Spanish students?(REUTERS) Thousands of parents in Spain are going on strike against state schools this weekend over the large amount of homework given to their children. Students from 12,000 schools nationwide will be told not to do their weekend homework for the month of November. The Spanish Alliance of Parents' Associations (CEAPA), which called the strike, argues that homework is detrimental to children. Spain was high up on a homework league table in a 2012 education report. The PISA study, by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, found that Spanish children and teenagers have 6.5 hours of homework a week, compared with an average of 4.9 from a group of 38 countries. Spain ranked 11th on a list of 64 countries or locations in a PISA table covering the amount of homework given. The workload does not necessarily translate in better results for Spanish students - they have traditionally scored low results in
maths, reading and science in other PISA reports. By contrast, in Finland and South Korea, two of the countries with the best student performances according to PISA - the average time spent on homework every week was less than three hours. So what does this say about the learning methods used in Spain? CEAPA president Jose Luis Pazos says education in Spain has been very reliant on the traditional method of
rote-learning - memorising work. He stresses that what children have to learn is how to manage information and how to decide what to memorise and what not. "Society has changed deeply, but the environment in the classroom hasn't," he says. The homework debate has been raging in other countries too, and it is not just parents who are concerned. In the US state of Texas, a secondary school teacher near Dallas sent a letter to parents telling them that she will not be assigning homework to students this year. Instead, she said she wanted them to spend more time with their families. A high school in Britain scrapped traditional homework at the start of term in favour of a more "independent" approach to learning. And even in South Korea, the authorities are considering reducing homework for younger pupils even further. The Yonhap news agency reported in August that the city education oďŹƒce in Seoul was banning primary schools from giving homework to lower grade students, starting next year. (BBC)
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2016
Syria Conflict: End Of Aleppo Ceasefire Looms
This picture - released by Fatah alSham Front rebels - purportedly shows black smoke rising from a bomb attack against Syrian government forces in western Aleppo(AP) A temporary ceasefire by Russian and Syrian government forces in Aleppo, described by Russia as the final chance for rebels to leave besieged areas, is nearing its end. Rebels have rejected the 10-hour pause and continued a counteroffensive aimed at breaking the siege. No-one appears to have left. Russia said two of its soldiers were wounded by rebel shelling. About 250,000 people are trapped, enduring food a n d m e d i c a l s h o r t a g e s . Te x t messages sent to residents by the Syrian government urged civilians to leave eastern Aleppo, telling the opposition to "stop resisting or die". It added that they would "destroy group leaders". Rebels can leave unharmed and with their weapons using two specially created corridors between 09:00 and 19:00 (09:00 and 16:00 GMT), the Russian defence
ministry said. Six other routes were to be opened for civilians. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based monitoring group, no-one had left the areas in the first hours of the so-called "humanitarian pause". Zakaria Malahifji, a Turkey-based official from the politburo of the Fastaqim group, which is present in Aleppo, said: "Nobody will leave and the Russians will escalate. The Russians declared this." Syrian state media accused the opposition of preventing residents from fleeing. It reported that rebels fired rockets at one of the evacuation passages. And Russia's defence ministry said two soldiers who were monitoring the ceasefire were lightly wounded by shelling from home-made gas canister bombs and mortars that hit the western part of the key Castello road route. Rebels in eastern Aleppo had increased their attacks on western government-held areas of the city on Thursday. At least 12 people had died and 200 were injured in rocket fire, gunfire and car bombs, state media reported. Government
forces have been besieging the rebelheld east almost continually since July. This is the second time Russia and the Syrian government have said passages are open for evacuations, but their last unilateral ceasefire in October ended with almost no-one leaving over three days. The UN said it could not use this temporary ceasefire to deliver aid to the besieged areas because it did not have the needed security guarantees. And a spokeswoman for UN Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura said the organisation was also against the evacuation of civilians unless it was voluntary. "Our position remains the call for a complete nationwide cessation of hostilities but of course anything that contributes to saving lives, we welcome it," Jessy Chahine-Mankouche said. And Save the Children warned that injured children in eastern Aleppo would remain trapped in the besieged city, without access to vital medical treatment and unable to leave, as the corridors failed to offer a viable solution for civilians in need. Russian and Syrian warplanes are expected to resume attacks on rebel areas when the truce ends. Meanwhile, a Russian helicopter was damaged by mortar fire while delivering aid, near Palmyra in Homs province, the country's military said. It could not fly back to base but the crew were rescued and are safe. The so-called Islamic State group may be behind the attack. It claimed to have shot down a Russian attack helicopter in Homs province in a strike which it said killed the crew. (BBC)
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2016
Missing South Carolina Woman Found 'Chained Like A Dog’
was "obviously traumatised" after her time in the container. It was described by Spartanburg County Sheriff Chuck Wright as "a hellish place to be locked in hot weather. No lights, no Banging noises and screams windows, no air flow". Four from inside a metal shipping container alerted deputies searching for Kala Brown on a 100-acre South Carolina estate. They found her alive "chained like a dog" to the inside of the box, a local sheriff told US media. Ms Brown went missing in late August this year with her boyfriend, Charlie Calver, who is yet to be found. Registered sex offender Todd Kohlhepp, 45, was arrested on Thursday in connection with the incident. Ms Brown told police that she had been fed twice a day but Kala Brown was found alive but boyfriend Charlie Calver is still missing(FACEBOOK/FIND KALA AND CHARLIE)
people may be buried on the p r o p e r t y, a c c o r d i n g t o a testament given by Ms Brown to Sheriff Wright. “We're trying to make sure we don't have a serial killer on our hands," Sheriff Wright said. "It very possibly could be what we have." Sheriff Wright added that a cadaver dog, trained to smell human decomposition, had picked up on "something, it's not clear what", while searching. Officers had been led to the 100-acre property thanks to a tip-off by a sexc r i m e i n v e s t i g a t o r. U S broadcaster WYFF say a massive investigation is now underway. (BBC)
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2016
Michael Buble 'Devastated' After Son Noah Diagnosed With Cancer
importance of family and the love Michael Buble and Luisana we have for our children. Lopilato said Noah is having treatment in the US(REUTERS) Luisana and I have put our careers on hold in order to devote all our Singer Michael Buble and his time and attention to helping wife Luisana Lopilato have said Noah get well. "At this difficult they are "devastated" after their time, we ask only for your prayers three-year-old son Noah was and respect for our privacy. "We diagnosed with cancer. The have a long journey in front of us Canadian star broke the news on and hope that with the support of his Facebook page. He did not family, friends and fans around give any details about the type of the world, we will win this battle, cancer. He said he and Lopilato, a God willing." Buble and Lopilato model and actress, were giving up have another son, nine-month-old work commitments to concentrate Elias. During a recent appearance on "helping Noah get well". Buble on ITV's Loose Women, the 41has appeared on TV and radio in year-old crooner said: "I had no recent days to promote his new idea how much I would love being album. 'Long journey' ahead His a dad. "That's it, that's all I care s t a t e m e n t s a i d : " We a r e about... I love them too much devastated about the recent cancer probably, if there was such a thing. diagnosis of our oldest son Noah "It's made everything else so who is currently undergoing insignificant, moments that I was treatment in the US. "We have afraid of and moments that would always been very vocal about the overwhelm me have now become
a joy because I've realised how not serious they are compared to what is really important, which is Noah and Eli and that's it." Forthcoming plans Buble's scheduled appearances in the coming months include a slot at the BBC Music Awards on 12 December. He is also due to host the Brit Awards in London on 22 February and the Canadian equivalent, the Juno Awards, in Ottawa on 2 April. His spokesman said he did not know "anything more at this stage" about whether these and other engagements would be called off. Buble's new album Nobody But Me went into the UK chart at number two last week. An average of 3.2 million people watched a TV special, titled Buble at the BBC, on BBC One on Thursday, according to overnight ratings. On Monday, Lopilato, from Argentina, announced that she was working on a new film titled Los Que Aman, Odian (Those Who Love, Hate), adapted from the novel by Adolfo Bioy Casares and Silvina Ocampo. To mark Noah's third birthday in August, she posted five of her son's "best moments" on her website, including a shot of him just after birth and a video of him on stage singing with his father on New Year's Eve 2015. (BBC)
CLASSIFIEDS PAGE 146
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
VACANCY
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VACANCY
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2016
Bulkan Under Pressure From Opposition -Admits GWI Used Chemical For Purification Of Some Water Supply Lines answers given and continued to press to know whether the chemical was being used for purification of drinking water and whether a decision has being taken to replace chlorine with the chemical. Bulkan related that no decision was taken to use the chemical and maintained that GWI was still using chlorine in addition to lime and alum to treat and purify its water. The minister said that the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) had written to GWI following reports of the chemical being used and GWI briefed the PUC, at the regulator’s request, about the use of the chemical.
Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan on Friday in the National Assembly said that controversial water purifier, “Antinfex” was not being used by the Guyana Water Inc. (GWI) as a chemical to decontaminate water before it is used by citizens. Bulkan repeatedly said that Antifex “has not been used for purification at any of the water treatment plants.” Instead, only chlorine, lime and alum are being used. But after intense pressure from the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) in the National Assembly, Minister Bulkan admitted that Antinfex, contrary to what he previously said, was in fact used for purification purposes. The minister was questioned by Opposition MP, Dr. Frank Anthony who was unsatisfied with the
Dr. Anthony continued to press the issues and asked whether any Antifex had been purchased and for what purpose, to which the Minister disclosed that 100 litres of the biocide had been purchased for testing and some purification purposes. “The information is that some of the product that was procured was used for purification of some of the water supply lines in limited locations,” Bulkan told the House. However, Dr. Anthony was blocked from asking any other follow-up questions by House Speaker Dr. Barton Scotland because he had already exceeded the two allotted follow-up questions.
“I cannot allow you additional questions. We all agree that it is important but that is not why we should break the rules,” said Dr. Scotland. Dr. Anthony had wanted to know who authorised the use of Antifex, when the decision was taken use it instead of chlorine, locations, population size, which international agencies have certified its use, possible side effects due to prolonged consumption and what is the system in place to monitor sideeffects. The Minister said that he had not been fully prepared to respond to all of the opposition questions, but assured that the answers would be provided before or early in the next House sitting.
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2016
Lindeners Complain About Lack Of Job Creation According to John Semple, a t h e a r e a , c i t i n g l a b o r l a w resident of Central Ameila’s ward, “jobs are very hard to find in this area, unemployment is very high, the government came and promised us jobs during their elections campaign, but over 15 months and nothing is being done to create jobs for the people in this area.”
O
n a recent visit to the mining town of Linden, many residents complained to the Guyana Daily News about the high level of unemployment in the area especially among the youths.
He further stated that Minister with the Ministry of Natural Resources, Simone Brooms took away jobs instead of creating it during her stint at the Ministry of Social Protection. He alluded to the instance where the Minister closed down a call centre in
infringements. Another resident who spoke on terms of anonymity, said that she wrote the CSEC exams and did very well, however, she cannot get a job in the area. “If I am to get a job in the area, I have to leave the region and my family.” Many residents are calling on the government to fulfill their 2015 elections manifesto promise by providing jobs, creating more industries and making monies available to create businesses so that the community can become sustainable.
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LOCAL SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2016
GPHC Troubled By Overcrowding
Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Hospital, Dr. Sheikh Amir The Georgetown Public
Hospital Corporation (GPHC) over the years has been known not to be the most spacious hospital as the problem of overcrowding and the availability of space continues to trouble those at the institution. According to the Government Information Agency (GINA), Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Hospital, Dr. Sheikh Amir outlined some of the reasons behind the hospital being unable to provide bed space and treatment for the critical cases at the hospital.
He lamented that many persons do not claim or take their relatives from the
hospital. “Some patients are discharged, but their relatives do not come for them to take them home so many times they are left in the hospital for weeks and months with no family member to claim them. Even when they die, family members do not claim them, so the expense is on the hospital to care for them and b u r y t h e m , ” D r. A m i r explained. The acting CEO explained that there were 1000 beds in the hospital, but now there are 500.
This, he said, coupled with the fact that there are many referred cases from regional hospitals and health centres,
is responsible for the inefficiency in treating patients. He added that the XRay and laboratory departments treat patients on a 24- hour basis and this can lead to damage of equipment. Additionally, the acting CEO stated that many referred patients would pass on, not as a result of negligence by the hospital, but due to the time it takes for the patients to get to the hospital from their location. Dr. Amir emphasised that patients are properly taken care of, but there are many other challenges the hospital faces, including drug and bed availability.
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LOCAL SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2016
DPP Slams AG -Says DPP’s Lawyers Are Not Uncomfortable With “Highly Political” Cases Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Shalimar Ali-Hack has rejected a statement made by Attorney General Basil Williams that State prosecutors shun “highly political” cases. In a release to the press in response to an article appearing in the State Newspaper Guyana Chronicle, Ali-Hack said that her office is professional and that no prosecutor has indicated any discomfort or unease in doing their jobs as it relates to “highly political” cases to which the AG had referred. “The DPP, Mrs. Ali-Hack or any other lawyer in these Chambers have never indicated that they are uncomfortable in prosecuting any criminal matters, whether political or otherwise…,” the release stated. Minister Williams was quoted saying that the unwillingness of state prosecutors to appear in “highly political,” cases had left the government with no other choice but to seek out special attorneys to fight their cause in the Pradoville 2 and the Guyana Cricket World Cup Inc. scams. “We were forced into that position because the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had indicated that the members of her department had some discomfort in having to prosecute the case of a former minister (Jennifer Westford) and as a result of that…if the state’s prosecution department is saying that they don’t wish to prosecute these types of matters that are political, what was the state supposed to do, fiddle with its hands?” Williams was quoted saying. The release added that for the AG to make these comments is defamatory, “to say that State Prosecutors shun highly political cases is defamatory.” AliHack stressed that none of the lawyer attached to DPP’s Chambers has ever indicated that they are uncomfortable in prosecuting any criminal matters, “whether political or otherwise.” She said, “The staff at the DPP Chambers examine the evidence in police files in relation to the prevailing law and
advice charges accordingly; prosecutions are based on the evidence in the file and the law. This is so regardless of whom the accused persons are and the positions they hold.”
Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Shalimar Ali-Hack
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LOCAL SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2016
City Hall Still To Pay Contractors Hundreds Of Millions For Garbage Collection King said that he fully understands the positon of the companies and is grateful for their understanding over the years. Puran Brothers Disposal Inc. and Cevons Waste Management have given notice to the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) of their intention to suspend their collection services from November 14 if they are not paid. King said that the council would have to develop a strategic plan to tackle the garbage situation if it is unable to make payments to the companies in time.
The City of Georgetown may soon face a garbage crisis once again as the two major private garbage collecting companies -Puran Brothers Disposal S e r v i c e a n d C e v o n ’s Wa s t e Management- are threatening the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) to withdraw
their services if they are not paid the hundreds of millions owed to them within the next ten days. City Hall’s Town Clerk had confirmed to sections of the media that indeed he had received letters from the companies indicating that they will be pulling their services.
King related that defaulting tax payers and seeking help from central government may the only way to pay off the $300M debt. This is not the first time that the garbage collection companies have threatened to withdraw their services from City Hall for failing to pay overdue monies. In May, both firms had threatened to end their services to the M&CC after the council would have owned some $97 million to Puran Brothers Waste Disposal Inc. and some $ 1 6 8 m i l l i o n t o C e v o n ’s Wa s t e Management.
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
LOCAL SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2016
Lindeners: “Business Is Bad”
Many business owners of the mining town of Linden
have complained to the Guyana Daily News about the state of the business climate in the region. One business owner told the Daily News that businesses are practically dead in the town especially over the past year.
a lot of sellers but few buyers, which is sending a message that the economy is on a downward spiral. The Guyana Daily News visited several businesses in the town and found that they all share the same view.
“The government has promised to boost the local economy when they get into power, but to date nothing has been done to create jobs and businesses in the region,” the businesswoman said. She further noted that there are
They are calling on the government to take initiatives to resuscitate the collapsing business environment in the area, claiming that this is due to ineffective business policies and lack of vision by the APNU+AFC
government. They are also calling on the Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin to come up with a viable business plan for the entire region, pointing out that earlier in the year, he had stated that some US$10 million will be spent to boost business activities in the Lethem area. Business owners want the initiatives to be implemented in the region which is predominantly supportive of the APNU+AFC government.
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
LOCAL SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2016
Lindeners Yet To Get The Good Life Many Lindeners have expressed their dissatisfaction with the David Granger administration. According to a great percentage of the citizens in the area, the residents have a lot of burning issues, such as violations of tax remittances. During a recent visit to the town, some residents told the Daily News that there is no economic development in the region. “Persons out of schools with a lot of CSEC subjects can’t get jobs and the RDC don’t have the solutions to these issues.” He stated that a budget of $3.4 billion was allocated for the region in
2016, but he is not seeing any development taking place. “It’s a hopeless case for the children of tomorrow,” he said. The Lindeners are calling on the government to fulfill their promises; they alluded to a visit by Minister of Social Protection, Volda Lawrence, who promised the good life to the residents. “We are waiting on the good life the government promised.” The residents are hoping that relief would come to the region soon, and that not all the emphasis should be placed on Georgetown
LOCAL
GUYANA DAILY NEWS New Generators Destined For Bartica As Power Outages Continue PAGE 156
Following the recent 30 hour Blackout that plagued the town of Bartica, the Chairman of the Region has taken to commend the Government over their intervention and their method of problem solving as it relates to the town receiving a brand new generator so as to aid in the reduction in the number of power outages. This solution is however temporary as the Government still plans to unfold it’s green energy initiative that will see the town’s power source being transferred from fossil fuel to green energy, according to information from the Government Information Agency. The Chairman explained that the problem is not one which will be solved overnight as there are various processes that have to be completed for the entire Bartica to benefit from an improvement in power distribution. Bradford went onto point out that while he is of the understanding that the generator will not fully eradicate the problem of power outages it will reduce the amounts and lengths of the blackout received for the statutory purposes. In concluding,
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2016
Bradford complemented the workers of GPL who were working during the time of the blackout stating, “I’ll take this opportunity to take my hats off to those persons working with GPL, they really do a lot which we don’t understand…” However several residents of the town who spoke to the Guyana Daily News did not share the same positive thoughts. Residents want to know why nothing was done to prevent the problem.
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LOCAL SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2016
Nuriyyah Gerrard To Represent Guyana In Miss World 2016 World Guyana 2016, Nuriyyah Gerrard. Before reaching the ‘runway’, Gerrard’s agenda will be filled with meetings and appearance on the ‘Land of the Free’, sharing her thoughts on the problem that mental health represents, not only for Guyana for the globe. This last activity was incorporated as part of the Beauty Pageant, in order to involve the contestants in greater and noble campaigns while being part of the event.
M i s s Wo r l d G u y a n a 2 0 1 6 , Nuriyyih Gerrard Miss World 2016 kicks off on November 26 when the contestants will gather to begin their final journey to the Miss World Crown. Over 110 contestants from all over the world will gather for this once in a lifetime experience. ‘The Land of Many Waters’ will be represented by Miss
According to a release from the M i s s G u y a n a Wo r l d O r g a n i s a t i o n , G e r r a d ’s fi r s t engagement was a meet and greet event at the John F. Kennedy Airport organized by Fly Jamaica, sponsors of the Miss World-Guyana delegation to travel to New York City. Our Queen delegation is formed by 1st Princess, Region 7, Treasure James, 2nd Princess Region 2, Najuma Nelson along with Malika London -
Miss World Operations Manager and Phillip Williams Consultant, PS Media Group. During the cultural presentation of next month’s most anticipated Miss World pageant, Gerrard is expected to amaze the audience with a large and colorful display of Guyana’s rich diversity Making emphasis on the indigenous culture, due to her indigenous heritage. Guyana will heat up the runway with this beautiful and confident young lady that aims for nothing more than Excellency in her future performances. Gerrard was crowned as the winner of Miss World Guyana 2016, on May last. She now succeeds Lisa Punch, the outgoing Miss World Guyana. Nuriyyih is a Radio Jockey by profession in Guyana. She interned at the National AIDS Programme Secretariat, and as part of the communications strategy. Miss World is the oldest surviving major international Beauty pageant. It was created in the United Kingdom by Eric Morley in 1951. Today is one of the three most publicized beauty contests in the world. This year the competition will take place at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Centre, National Harbour in Maryland, United States. Closing its doors on the Grand Final, scheduled to be celebrated on Sunday 18th December. S o u r c e : http://www.missworld.com/news / Nuriyyih Gerrard during her coronation as Miss World Guyana 2016(Photo Credit:Global Beauties)
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LOCAL SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2016
Preliminaries For The National Drama Festival To Start On Monday
Outreach and mentoring in Kuru Kuru with Kuru Kuru College and Dora Secondary School. The Preliminary Round of the National Drama Festival 2016, a collaboration between The Ministry of Education Department of Culture, Youth & Sport with the Unit of Allied Arts and
Digicel Guyana, has begun. Theatre groups will battle from November 7 to 14 at the Theatre Guild to reach the finals. Since its launching on October 30, efforts have been made to ensure that all regions are involved in the event. The different organization responsible for the development of the event, have guaranteed that the ‘soul’ of the festival reaches each and every corner of the country. The annual event aims to stimulate creativity and the theatrical spirit of local talents. A wide spectrum of activities have been taking place nationwide to allow local talents to openly express their abilities in the field. A casting system has selected the best plays to battle for the ‘crown’ by month end. This year’s festival has $6M up for grabs in the Open-Full Length, Open Short or One Act, Junior, Debutante and Secondary Schools categories. Prizes will be given out for best production, best new Guyanese play, best director, best costume, best set, best use of lights, best use of sound, best performing cast, best actor, best actress and best performing cast. The National Drama Festival was created by the National School of Theatre Arts and Drama (NSTAD) with the intention to promote the artistic movement nationwide. The NSTAD aims high with this festival, looking forward to become the biggest theatrical event of the Caribbean. Bringing communities, villages from all over the country together for the noble sake of art. The National Drama Festival, has made the corners of every village shine with a subtle glow. Source: https://www.facebook.com/National-Drama-Festivalof-Guyana-517146615117506/
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2016
Region 5 NDC’s To See Development currently evaluating contracts to be awarded for developmental works to be done and completed.
Ten Neighborhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) in the Region 5, Mahaica-Berbice areas are to soon benefit from the Subvention Program as the Government is
Developmental works to be done in the area include the upgrading of streets along with the development of playgrounds by landfilling and scaping. In addition there are plans to do rehabilitation works on concrete structures so as to prevent erosion or further erosion. The works all a part of the GY$157M that was allocated
to the NDC’s apart of the 2016 Budget.
The NDC’s that are set to benefit from the programme are Blairmont/Gelderland, Rosignol/Zeelust, Bel Air/Woodlands, Bath/Woodley Park, Union/Naarstigheid, Tempie/Seafield, Profit/Rising, Mahaicony/Abary, Hamlet/Chance and Woodlands/Farm. S o u r c e : http://guyanachronicle.com/2016/1 1/05/contracts-for-subventionprogramme...
LOCAL
GUYANA DAILY NEWS Residents To Suffer From 10-Hour Blackout Sunday blackout so as to facilitate maintenance works to be PAGE 160
The areas of the East Coast of Demerara, East Bank of Demerara and majority of the City of Georgetown will on Sunday November 6, 2016 suffer from a 10 hour-long
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2016
carried out by the Guyana Power and Light. The power company has asked that persons who are affected to be patient as the works will be done on the medium and high voltage network that runs between the Power Stations at Kingston and Sophia. The rush to carry out the maintenance exercise comes as several areas have been plagued by blackouts which has been traced back to problems at the surrounding power stations. The blackout is expected to last from 08:30 a.m to 06:30 p.m and will see in addition to the above mentioned areas, communities such as Campbellville, Vlissengen Road, Subryanville, Prashad Nagar and Bel Air Park being affected, together with the close by surrounding areas.
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Dominica Baroness A Regional Embarrassment, Says Antigua PM
Notwithstanding persistent allegations of cronyism (said to be “a form of corruption”) as secretary-general of the Commonwealth, Baroness Scotland is expected to deliver Transparency International UK’s 2016 Anti-Corruption Lecture on December 8, 2016. Photo: TI-UK By Caribbean News Now contributor LONDON, England -- Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne has described reports of profligate misspending and wastage by Commonwealth secretary general, Dominicanborn Baroness Patricia Scotland, as an embarrassment to the Caribbean. Browne said that, instead of bringing benefits to the region, she brought shame, the Antigua Observer reported. He said the election of a real Caribbean person of great competence and experience was missed because of insularity, a culture of non-cooperation and hate of our own. The prime minister blamed regional individuals he referred to as shortsighted opposition leaders and others within the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) for supporting Scotland, whose ‘dominant nationality’ is in fact British, not Dominican. At the Commonwealth heads of government meeting (CHOGM) last November, support from a few Caribbean countries allegedly came as a result of a process described as “utterly corrupt” by Dominican opposition leader Lennox Linton that involved the award of knighthoods for rich friends and dubious investments in a few countries by a disgraced British sect of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George. Dominica’s Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit was among those “knighted” and given promises of investment just six months before he nominated her as the country’s candidate for Commonwealth secretary general. However, the legitimate Order, based in Spain, has disowned the British sect. Scotland was a vice delegate for England of the British sect along with her “dear friend” Anthony Bailey, who masquerades in Britain
as “Sir” contrary to established rules laid down by Buckingham Palace regarding foreign ‘knighthoods’. Meanwhile, reliable sources have told Caribbean News Now that Scotland was visibly shaken at an October 10 meeting of the Commonwealth Board of Governors by the strong reaction of African countries, supported by Asia, over the perceived abuse of her authority as secretary-general in at least three areas. These were: the lavish spending on refurbishing and redecorating the grace and favour mansion in Mayfair in which she now lives; trying to implement a reorganisational plan that she commissioned from her selfdescribed “partner in crime” Lord Patel without the Board’s agreement and prior to a strategic plan being finalised; and her proposal that the three deputy secretaries-general be fired, leaving her and her cronies in her private office in full charge of all the Secretariat’s affairs. The African group of countries had reportedly met before the meeting to harmonise their position and are said to have been systematic in their opposition to Scotland’s plans. In rejecting Scotland’s plans to get rid of the three deputy secretaries-general, the Board members pointed out that the memorandum of understanding establishing the Secretariat clearly states that “there will be deputy secretaries-general” for the clear reason of putting checks and balances on the secretary general. The three deputies – all of whom are known to be “extremely unhappy” with Scotland’s abrasiveness – are from Australia (administration), Kenya (political) and Trinidad and Tobago (economic). The Scotland/Patel re-organisational plan was also rejected by the Board pending “further and better particulars”, as was her request for additional funding. According to Britain’s Sun newspaper, India has now hinted they could pull their share of Commonwealth funding after “spendaholic” Scotland left the organisation’s headquarters penniless. New Delhi newspaper The Wire reported Indian government sources claiming: “We are the fourth largest financial contributor to the Commonwealth. We have concerns in how the budget is being spent.” Along with Britain, Canada and Australia, Indian taxpayers are the largest contributors to the Commonwealth group. The most recent in a long string of damaging revelations will increase pressure on the embattled £160,000 (US$200,000)-a-year secretary-general to quit after a slew of embarrassing leaks about her expenses, the Sun noted. Earlier, Scotland has been accused of wasting £45,000 (US$56,000) of Commonwealth taxpayers’ money on a nineday junket to the Rio Olympics, despite having told reporters that she was only travelling to Brazil to attend the games for “a few days” to meet with officials, open a one-day conference and visit the athletes’ village.
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Dominica Baroness A Regional Embarrassment, Says Antigua PM (Cont’d) The Mail on Sunday reported at the time that even the Scotland’s staff was surprised by the lavish trip, saying that her predecessors had only made brief visits to the Olympics of three days at the most. Scotland won the post of secretarygeneral with fewer than 50 percent of the votes at the CHOGM in Malta a year ago, becoming the first secretary-general ever to be elected on a minority vote. On the final round of voting, of the 53 member states, she received 25 votes with former deputy secretary-general, Mmasekgoa Masire-Mwamba of Botswana, securing 24 and 2 votes spoiled. Scotland has nevertheless asserted she was elected unanimously. While Scotland was nominated for the post by Dominica, on the basis that it was ‘the Caribbean’s turn’ to fill the post, it was well known that she was the British candidate, actively promoted by then Prime Minister David Cameron, who she served as trade envoy to South Africa. However, according to the Sun, new British Prime Minister Theresa May delivered a “hammer blow to scandal-hit Baroness Scotland by publicly withdrawing support for embattled Commonwealth boss”.
May’s official spokeswoman refused to say she had the backing of the prime minister, saying merely that May supported the role of the secretary general rather than Scotland personally. “The PM supports the role of secretary general of the Commonwealth and the important work the office does,” she said. Downing Street also directly refuted a claim by Scotland that she had received a “wonderful letter” from the prime minister dated October 31, expressing support for her work. However, Downing Street officials said the letter was in response to other correspondence and only indicated support for the work of the Commonwealth, not Scotland personally. On a visit to Dominica after winning the Commonwealth vote, the baroness told detractors of the Skerrit regime there to "sousey sel" (suck salt) -- a deeply offensive Creole curse. Now it could be the baroness who is left “sucking salt” as Commonwealth nations become increasingly frustrated at her behaviour, the Sun noted. (Caribbean News Now!)
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Bahamas Minister Called On To Resign
Walt Saunders By Sloan Smith Nassau Guardian Staff Reporter NASSAU, Bahamas -- Bahamas opposition Free National Movement (FNM) candidate for MICAL (Mayaguana, Inagua, Crooked Island, Acklins and Long Island) Walt Saunders on Thursday called for the resignation of minister of agriculture and marine resources, Alfred Gray, over his contradictory statements on the $2.1 billion proposed China-Bahamas agriculture and fisheries initiative. “V. Alfred Gray has yet again proven to be an embarrassment to MICAL,” Saunders said. “Had he a shred of honour left, he would resign his position in Cabinet immediately, particularly in light of the disgrace he has already covered himself in with regard to the recent island administrator on Mayaguana debacle. “At the very least, it would give him time to focus on his long neglected constituency before he is removed in the next general election.” In March last year, police investigated allegations that Gray had interfered in a judicial matter. Gray was accused of ordering Mayaguana administrator Zephaniah
Newbold (acting in his capacity as an island magistrate) to release a convict. But the attorney general determined no one would face criminal charges over the allegations due to “the conflicting nature of the evidence”. Saunders said Gray's display in the House of Assembly on Tuesday was particularly shameful as he sought to back-pedal on his claim that The Nassau Guardian’s story on the proposed China-Bahamas agriculture and fisheries initiative was “utterly false”. The Guardian reported on Tuesday that the government has given Bahamas ambassador to China Paul Andy Gomez the green light to pursue the development of the proposed initiative further. While Gray called the story utterly false, he later acknowledged that what The Guardian reported about the authorization given to Gomez was in fact correct. Gray also claimed in the House of Assembly the press had refused to print in full the October 3 letter he wrote to Gomez providing the authorization. The minister suggested that the press was deliberately hiding portions of his letter. But that was also false. The Guardian printed the letter in full on Wednesday, the same day Gray made the false statement. Saunders said, “Unfortunately, this is nothing new for those of us in his neglected constituency. “We in MICAL are well familiar with Mr Gray’s misleading talk, empty promises and hearing his story change over and over again. “He has long been an embarrassment to us all. “But not to worry, come the next general election, we will rid MICAL of Mr Gray for good and return our country to sensible, responsible governance.” The proposal for the joint venture initiative was printed in The Nassau Guardian on Thursday.
The letter printed the day before repeated the primary features of the proposal, including the plan to incorporate 100 companies (to be owned 50-50 by Bahamians and Chinese) and the plan to
grant each of those companies 100 acres of leased Andros farmland with an opportunity to access 100 additional acres. Saunders said the government should not approve the initiative, and should avoid further Chinese investments. “It is reprehensible that this administration, which came into office on the promise of believing in Bahamians, would be so foolish as to enwrap itself further in the flag of the People’s Republic of China,” he said. “Has this PLP administration lost all confidence in Bahamians as they continue to give away the country to their new Chinese allies? “Mr Gray should be well aware that this proposal could destroy the fishing grounds of the country, which [are] the lifeblood of tens of thousands of Bahamians, including the good people of MICAL. “The Chinese have already overfished their waters; what do you think will happen to our fishing reserves if this proposal becomes reality? “What can this government possibly be thinking? “This proposal for Andros, which we know is the nesting ground for our fishing industry, could deplete one of our last remaining national assets. “Such a proposal by this administration is an affront to the people of The Bahamas and should be rejected in the strongest terms possible. “The Chinese already control our shipping port in Grand Bahama; they are moving to be the dominant force in our tourism industry with this secret deal on Baha Mar, The Pointe, and the redevelopment of Bay Street, and now they will be taking over our fishing and farming industries. “How much more of this country can this government sell out to the Chinese? “Under this PLP administration, The Bahamas has gone from a nation for sale to a nation sold. “The Bahamian people should resist this and all other involvement of Chinese investment in the country before we are colonized once again.” (Caribbean News Now!)
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Bahamas MSome Regional Central Bank Banks Turn To SWIFT To Combat De-risking Threatinister Called On To Resign Paraguay, hope to enhance transparency and build greater trust with the international financial community, mitigating the threat of being disconnected by their foreign counterparts. In addition to adopting the KYC Registry themselves, some of the central banks have also endorsed the uptake of the services across their entire jurisdictions, doubling the number of regional institutions adopting SWIFT’s financial crime compliance tools over the past 12 months.
Curacao central bank WILLEMSTAD, Curacao -- Eight regional central banks have signed up to adopt the sanctions screening service and Know Your Customer (KYC) Registry provided by the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT) in an effort to combat the threat posed to the region by de-risking measures imposed in correspondent banking relationships. The trend of de-
risking – the decision taken by international banks partially or fully to exit certain jurisdictions, product domains and currencies by exiting their foreign correspondent banking relationships – has been pervasive in the Caribbean and Latin America. By taking up SWIFT's financial crime compliance services, the central banks of Belize, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Curacao, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Haiti and
“De-risking in some regions has become so extreme that banks are now being challenged to address the problem, and the focus has moved from a commercial issue to one of financial inclusion,” said Fedra Ware, lead compliance services Latin America, SWIFT. “Implementing the right compliance controls within an organization, as well as ensuring enhanced transparency and collaboration between private and public entities, is critical to avoid being on the receiving end of a de-risking decision.” (Caribbean News Now!)
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Dozens Of Illegal Haitian Migrants Discovered In St Martin Haitian nationality (28 men, 17 women and 7 children), were piled on board a catamaran with a capacity of 12 people, which was anchored in the bay.
Marigot, St Martin. Photo: Zerokarma/Wikimedia CC BY-SA 3.0 . MARIGOT, St Martin -- Police officers of French border control, Police aux Frontières (PAF), who suspected
trafficking of migrants in Marigot Bay in the French part of the island of St Martin/St Maarten), discovered during a control operation conducted with support of Customs and the gendarmerie, that 52 illegal migrants, mostly of
The three crew members, two Dutch – a man and a woman – as well as a St Lucian, all three residents on the island, were arrested and confessed to participating in human trafficking for money. Accused of belonging to organized gang and endangerment of others, they were due to appear in court on Friday in Basse-Terre, HaitiLibre reported. According to the migrants’ testimony, gathered by the deputy prosecutor, the crew was to take them to St Thomas in the US Virgin Islands and some had to stay in St Martin. The price paid varied between US$1,000 and 7,000 per person. The illegal migrants were asked to leave French territory, but no deportation proceedings were launched, the deputy prosecutor noted. (Caribbean News Now!)
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Shipment Of Counterfeit Lubricant Seized In Puerto Rico October 17, CBP officers inspected Company in San Diego, California. merchandise consisting of 30 boxes of product declared as an “anti-rust lubricant.” Further examination revealed possible infringement to a registered trademark. CBP contacted the manufacturer and trademark owner who confirmed the intellectual property rights (IPR) violation. The estimated manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of the shipment is nearly $8,000.
WD-40 is a very popular lubricant in Puerto Rico SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico -- US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) San Juan Area Port seized a shipment containing nearly 1,500 cans of counterfeit WD-40 brand lubricant sent from China. On
“Our dedicated CBP officers, import specialists, paralegal specialists and seized property specialists continue to be vigilant to detect and seize products that can impact the health and safety of the American public,” said Edward Ryan, assistant director of trade for Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. CBP works with IP rights holders to accurately detect and seize fraudulent products. “WD-40 Company is very pleased to know that CBP is actively protecting the interests of rights holders as well as the public from infringing products such as these,” stated Richard Clampitt, general counsel at WD-40
“The work of CBP and strong IPR laws in the US provide assurance to US consumers that counterfeit WD-40 brand products are rarely found in our markets.” CBP protects businesses and consumers every day through an aggressive IPR enforcement program. CBP targets and seizes imports of counterfeit and pirated goods, and enforces exclusion orders on patent infringing and other IPR goods. CBP encourages the public to submit an e-Allegation about counterfeit merchandise being illegally imported into the United States. The e-Allegation provides a means for the public to anonymously report to CBP any suspected violations of trade laws or regulations related to the importation of goods into the US. These types of violations include misclassification of merchandise, false country of origin markings, health and safety issues, valuation issues, and intellectual property rights. (Caribbean News Now!)
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Regional Countries Urged To Strengthen AML/CFT To Deal With Correspondent Banking been proffered at the meeting and
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PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, Nov 4, CMC – Caribbean countries have been urged to strengthen their Anti-Money Laundering/Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) legislation as well as their administrative procedures as the region seeks to combat with the issue of correspondent banking and derisking. Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne, who was here earlier this week attending the one-day ne-day 2016 High Level Caribbean Forum that brought together Caribbean Community (CARICOM) prime ministers and finance ministers, told the Caribbean Media Corporation(CMC) that several recommendations had been made to deal with the banking issue at an international conference on the matter held in his country late last month. Browne, who is leading the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) reaction to the correspondent banking problem, said the meeting also urged the regional countries to adopt the recommendations so as to “give some comfort to the correspondent banks so that they could understand that
we have the necessary framework in place in order to manage risks”. Correspondent banks, which are mainly large, international banks domiciled in the United States of America, Europe and Canada, provide Caribbean states with vital access to the international financial system, by offering services to smaller, domestic banks and financial institutions to complete international payments and settlements. However, many banks, which provide correspondent banking services have been seeking to manage their risks by severing ties with institutions in the region. The issue of corresponding banking was a major item at the annual summit of CARICOM leaders in Guyana in July and the meeting is here is as a result of such deliberations. Browne told CMC that the meeting in St. John’s also discussed the contentious labelling of the Caribbean as a tax haven, saying “we have decided that we need to embark on a process of re-branding the region, as a stable region…rather than have the region seen as a tax haven. ”Some other very good ideas in terms of utilising technology to manage risks had
adopted and even at the level of the banks at the micro level for them to undertake to have greater dialogue with the regulators and certainly the corresponding banks in the United States so that they could understand the framework that they have in place to manage risks…” Browne agreed with a statement made late last month by the Governor of the Central Bank of Belize, Joy Grant, that the correspondent bank situation is not a matter that will be solved “any time soon” even as she had acknowledged that there were some “small steps” being taken by the international community to understand the problem facing developing countries. “De-risking is here to stay especially for institutions and countries that do not comply or strengthen the AML/CFT regulations and the administration of those issues as well as ensuring that they adhere to all those transparency requirements. “So it will be here for a long time, however it is important though that banks and certainly the region take steps to mitigate against the risks of derisking,” he said, adding that “I believe that on the basis that we have a good solid framework to deal with the various risks as perceived by the correspondent banks that will help to mitigate against derisking”. Browne said many of the international financial organisations have adopted a position that “de-risking should be risked base and not base on ….the fancy of some individual law. ‘So even though it is here to say I think with a greater collaboration…and advocacy to have the legal and administrative framework in place that we can actually mitigate against risks,” he added. (Antigua Observer)
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS OECS Welcomes Ratification Of COP 21 Agreement date on which at least 55 Parties to the ratified. PAGE 168
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2016
Convention that account for at least an estimated 55 per cent of the total global greenhouse gas emissions have deposited their instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession with the Depositary.
Source: file photo CASTRIES, St. Lucia, Nov 4, CMC – The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Friday said it welcomed the entry into force of the historic Paris Climate Change. Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) adopted the Paris Agreement at the 21st session of the Conference of the Parties held in France in December 2015. The conference agreed that the Agreement would only come into force on the 13th day after the
The agreement came into force on October 5, 2016 with 86, of the 197 Parties to the UNFCCC Convention, having ratified. The St. Lucia-based OECS Commission said that Small Island Developing States (SIDS) led the way in ratifying the Agreement as the effects of climate change such as intense hurricanes, droughts and sea level rise, will directly impact their survival and people. It said all six independent OECS member states – Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Lucia, St. KittsNevis and St. Vincent and the Grenadines – “have made a bold statement and
“The 1.5 to Stay Alive campaign across the wider Caribbean region, in addition to representation and participation at COP21 at the highest level was unprecedented and contributed significantly to the cause of Caribbean SIDS,” the Commission noted. It said that under the Paris Agreement, all countries have agreed to combat climate change and to unleash actions and investment towards a low carbon, resilient and sustainable future that will keep a global average temperature rise well below the two degrees Celsius with the accepted international aim of working to limit it to 1.5 degrees Celsius. The first session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement (CMA1) takes places in Morocco from November 7 – 18 this year. (Antigua Observer)
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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2016
US Denies Visa Waiverreports Forthat Trinidad And Tobago Nationals Trinidad and Tobago
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, Nov 4, CMC – The United States Friday denied
nationals no longer required visas to enter the North American country. The US embassy here said that the reports that the visa had been abolished for Trinidad and Tobago were circulating on social media. “The U.S. Embassy would like to remind travellers using Trinidad and Tobago passports, wishing to visit the United States, of the continued requirement of a valid visa.
“Recent reports on social media advising that the Department of State has placed Trinidad and Tobago on the Visa Waiver Programme are inaccurate. Citizens of Trinidad and Tobago are required to possess a valid visa to enter the U.S,” the embassy said. It also warned applicants to exercise caution with their personal information and to refrain from paying anyone who promises to process their ‘visa’ or to expedite the application process. (Antigua Observer)
Direct Commercial Flights Commence From US To Santiago De Cuba people onboard to open the eastern Cuba city to direct commercial flights from the United States. The aircraft, a small Saab 340-B, arrived to the traditional water cannon baptism.
HAVANA, Cuba (ACN) -- Flight 098 of US airline Silver Airways landed on Thursday in Santiago de Cuba with 34
It is the first of the daily one hour-fifty five minutes flights from Fort Lauderdale to Santiago de Cuba. Silver Airways representative in Cuba, Jorge Vargas, told the press that his airline is the only American airline with flights to Santa Clara, Holguin, Camaguey and
Cienfuegos airports, and that they will also open routes to Cayo Coco, Varadero and Manzanillo.
Vargas said they could increase the amount of daily flights to Santiago up to five, but the limitations set by the US embargo of Cuba prevents them from doing so, though they are satisfied with the possibility of expanding Silver Airways operations through the region. (Caribbean News Now!)
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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2016
Government Announces Anti-corruption Case Against Former Government Officials speaking to reporters after the officials and public officers from the last weekly Cabinet meeting on Thursday, said that the case is against persons “who have improperly removed public monies for their own benefit through conspiracies.
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, Nov 4, CMC – The Trinidad and Tobago government says it has filed its first anti-corruption case against former officials of the former People’s Partnership government that was removed from office in the September 7 general elections last year. Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley,
“The Government will make the public’s claim in the court and the matters will be adjudicated there, and those against whom the allegations are made will defend themselves there,” Rowley said. While Rowley did not name the persons or state institution involved in the matter, Attorney general Faris Al Rawi said that the matter involves nine former government
administration. Al Rawi said the matter involved t10 months of continuous work in keeping the commitment which the People’s National Movement (PNM) gave when it campaigned for the general election. “… I can confirm that this is certainly action relative to areas of supervision by the last government. We have an obligation to safeguard the public purse and to prosecute action where it is advisable to do that, and we are certainly going to do that with fairness and propriety about the process,” he added. (Antigua Observer)
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SATURDAY NOVEMBER 05, 2016
US Election 2016: Trump And Clinton Target Florida
Some Latinos support Trump, despite his tough rhetoric on immigrants(REUTERS) Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are campaigning in Florida, a key battleground state that could tip Tuesday's US presidential election. Florida is the largest swing state and is a must-win for Mr Trump. The Republican candidate will later fly to North Carolina before heading west to Nevada. Opinion polls in recent days have suggested Mr Trump is gaining support but he still remains behind Mrs Clinton in most surveys. In Florida, the contest appears to be tight. Real Clear Politics' poll average puts the Democratic candidate ahead, but poll analysis website FiveThirtyEight says Mr Trump has a 52.4% chance of winning the state. US President Barack Obama won Florida in 2012 by a margin of just 0.9% over Republican Mitt Romney. Candidates need 270 electoral college votes to win the presidency. Florida is worth 29. Some 37 million early voters have already cast their ballots. Reports suggest many more Latino voters are turning out early in key states including Florida, Arizona and Nevada compared to past elections. After campaigning in South Florida, Mrs Clinton will make an appearance in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the evening alongside pop star Katy Perry. Hispanics make up 16% of registered voters in Florida this election, the Associated Press reports, up from 13.5% in 2012. American Hispanics mostly vote
Democrat but Florida's large Cuban population - which make up 31% of the state's Hispanic vote - have traditionally voted Republican. Donald Trump recently began to speak out against the US lifting its economic embargo on Cuba in a play for older voters, analysts say. But they also point out that as more younger Cubans have settled in Miami, support for warming US-Cuba relations which Mrs Clinton backs - is growing among the community. Polls now suggest that more Miami Cubans are against the embargo than for it. Mr Trump's divisive comments about immigrants from Mexico and elsewhere have also angered many Latinos. Both candidates held rallies in Ohio and Pennsylvania on Friday. In Cleveland, Mrs Clinton ended the day's campaigning at a concert, where she was joined by the singer Beyonce and her husband, rapper Jay Z. The Clinton campaign is putting on several events with high-profile figures from the entertainment world as it tries to energise young and minority voters. Rocker Jon Bon Jovi will later appear with Democratic vice-presidential candidate Tim Kaine in St. Petersburg, Florida. On Friday night, Mr Trump told supporters in Hershey, Pennsylvania that he "didn't have to bring J-Lo or Jay Z" to draw crowds. "I am here all by myself. Just me. No guitar, no piano, no nothing," he said. In other campaign developments: Documents alleging to show that Mr Trump's wife, Melania, worked illegally as a model in the US for a brief period two decades ago before she obtained the legal right to work have been obtained by the Associated Press. The National Enquirer, a US tabloid, paid $150,000 (£120,000) to a former Playboy model for exclusive rights to the story of an alleged affair she had with Donald Trump from 2006-2007, the Wall Street Journal reports. But the Enquirer,
which supports Mr Trump, then killed the story, it says. The National Enquirer has denied paying to suppress the story and the Trump campaign says the alleged affair did not occur. Democratic campaign chief John Podesta said Mr Trump should ask the governor of New Jersey, Chris Christie, to step down as the head of his transition team after two of his aides were found guilty of orchestrating traffic jams in New Jersey as an act of political retribution against a local Democratic mayor. Mr Christie has denied any involvement. Mrs Clinton has faced renewed scrutiny and a torrent of negative headlines after the FBI said last week it was looking into emails that may be connected to her use of a private email server while she was secretary of state in the Obama administration. Mrs Clinton has said she is confident the new inquiry will not change the FBI's original finding in July, which criticised her but cleared her of any illegal acts. The Clinton camp have questioned the timing of the announcement. Two senior Democrats have now called for an investigation into the role of former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani, a Trump surrogate, after he appeared to suggest he knew about the inquiry before it was announced. "I had no role in it. Did I hear about it? You're darn right I heard about it," he said in a Fox News interview. But Mr Giuliani later denied having prior knowledge of the inquiry. Separately, US authorities have said they are assessing the credibility of information on a possible al-Qaeda extremist attack before election day. New York City, Texas and Virginia were said to be possible targets but a police spokesman said the information "lacks specificity". Officials say they regularly assess all possible threats before major events. (BBC)
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SATURDAY NOVEMBER 05, 2016
Iraq Conflict: IS Bombs Kill 17 Civilians As Mosul Battle Rages
Residents who have managed to flee Hawija are being housed at a camp near Irbil(REUTERS) Seventeen civilians have been killed by roadside bombs in Iraq as they fled from a northern town held by so-called Islamic State (IS), police say. Several families were riding in a lorry when it was hit by two explosions. A policeman also died. They were fleeing from Hawija, west of the city of Kirkuk. The deaths came as Iraqi government-led forces continued their assault on Mosul further north - the last city still occupied by IS. Iraqi forces also attacked Hamam al-Alil, south of Mosul on the Tigris river, and overcame fierce resistance before raising the Iraqi flag in the centre, the army said. The lorry containing the displaced families was taking them from Hawija, which is about 120km (75
miles) south of Mosul, to the town of al-Alam further south, Images on social media showed charred corpses and the remains of the vehicle. The battle in Mosul continued on Saturday as government forces tried to clear the eastern districts, including al-
Zahra, that they entered on Friday. Government troops and IS fighters exchanged sniper fire from residential rooftops, with both sides also firing mortar rounds. The fiercest clashes were in the alBakr area. Iraq's state-run Iraqia News TV said on Saturday that PM Haider al-Abadi had travelled to Mosul and had inspected frontline combat units. Mosul has been in IS hands for more than two years. Meanwhile, newly released satellite images taken on Monday f o r Te x a s - b a s e d p r i v a t e intelligence firm Stratfor purport to show the defences set out by IS in southern Mosul. Concrete barricades, rubble and earthen berms block key streets. while buildings have been levelled near Mosul airport for line-of-sight reasons. (BBC)
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SATURDAY NOVEMBER 05, 2016
Playboy Model Charged Over Locker rRoom 'Body-shaming' Image charge the model, Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer took aim at "body-shaming", calling it "humiliating, with often painful, long-term consequences". “It mocks and stigmatises its victims, tearing down selfrespect and perpetuating the harmful idea that our unique physical appearances should be compared to air-brushed notions of 'perfect'." Ms Mathers has been permanently banned from the chain of gyms, lost her job on a radio show and has faced widespread criticism online. (BBC)
DANI MATHERS Los Angeles police have charged Playboy model Dani Mathers over a "body-shaming" image she took of an older woman in a gym locker room. The picture of the naked 70year-old was taken in LA Fitness in July without her consent and posted on social media. She uploaded the photo to Snapchat alongside one of herself and the caption: "If I can't unsee this then you can't either". Ms Mathers faces a charge of invasion of privacy.
She could face up to six months in jail and a $1,000 (£800) fine if convicted. Ms Mathers, 29, apologised soon after uploading the image, saying she thought her Snapchat post had been a private conversation and acknowledging that "bodyshaming" is wrong. However, her lawyer, Thomas Mesereau, is quoted in the Los Angeles Times as saying his client did nothing illegal, neither invading anyone's privacy nor violating any laws. Announcing the decision to
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
SATURDAY NOVEMBER 05, 2016
Turkey Detains Cumhuriyet Newspaper Journalists
Nine journalists from Turkey's pro-opposition newspaper Cumhuriyet have been arrested and remanded in custody by a court in Istanbul. The newspaper's editor, a well-known cartoonist, and an antigovernment columnist were among those arrested. They are the latest in a series of charges laid against critics of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. On Friday, nine politicians, including the leaders of the country's pro-Kurdish HDP party, were also jailed. A further nine officials from the HDP, including regional heads from the south-eastern province of Adana, were detained on Saturday. The detention of the nine HDP politicians on Friday coincided with a bomb blast in the Kurdishdominated city of Diyarbakir in the south-east which killed 11
people and injured dozens more. Confusion remained on Saturday as to who carried out the attack. The governor's office in Diyarbakir said that the PKK, which has conducted a campaign of violence for years to push for Kurdish autonomy, was behind the blast. It based this on what it said were intercepted communications. But on Friday, so-called Islamic State said, via its Amaq news agency, that it was behind the attack. The Cumhuriyet newspaper is one of the few Turkish media outlets which remains critical of Mr Erdogan. Its journalists have been charged with links to USbased cleric Fethullah Gulen, who is accused of plotting the attempted July coup. On the night of 15 July, rebel soldiers used military hardware including tanks
and fighter jets in a failed attempt to seize control. Since the coup attempt, a total of about 110,000 people, mainly state employees, have been sacked or suspended and 37,000 arrested. Both the Cumhuriyet journalists and HDP politicians will be held in jail until trial. No date has been set for either hearing. Cumhuriyet was one of four winners of the "alternative Nobel Prize" in October, alongside Syria's White Helmets and others. It was awarded "for their fearless investigative journalism and commitment to freedom of expression in the face of oppression, censorship, imprisonment and death threats." It also received the Freedom of the Press prize from Reporters Without Borders last year, which said the paper was "the target of frequent persecution by the Turkish regime." President Erdogan currently holds emergency powers in the aftermath of the failed July coup. They allow the president and his cabinet to bypass parliament when drafting new laws and to restrict or suspend rights and freedoms. Critics claim he is using those powers to silence opponents. At the beginning of November, 15 media outlets were closed and 10,000 civil servants were dismissed. (BBC)
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Brexit Ruling: Lord Chancellor Backs Judiciary Amid Row
The Lord Chancellor has backed the independence of the UK's judiciary but stopped short of condemning attacks on senior judges over the Brexit ruling. The Bar Council had demanded Liz Truss respond to criticism from some MPs and newspapers over the decision that MPs should vote on triggering Article 50. The Daily Mail branded judges "Enemies of the people"; the Daily Express said it was "the day democracy died". Ms Truss said the "impartiality" of the courts was "respected the world over". On Thursday, the High Court ruled Parliament should vote on when the government can trigger Article 50, beginning the formal process of the UK leaving the EU. Three judges found that the government could not start the formal process by using the royal prerogative alone, and would need the backing of both the Commons and the Lords. The government is seeking to overturn the decision at the Supreme Court, the UK's final court of appeal, next month. Following fierce criticism of the ruling, the Bar Council of England and Wales
called for Ms Truss - who as Lord Chancellor is responsible for courts, prisons, probation and constitutional affairs - to defend the judges. In a statement it said it regretted "the lack of public statement by the Lord Chancellor condemning these attacks". It called on her to do so "as a matter of urgency". "A strong independent judiciary is essential to a functioning democracy and to upholding the rule of law," it said. In a statement, Ms Truss said: "The independence of the judiciary is the foundation upon which our rule of law is built and our judiciary is rightly respected the world over for its independence and impartiality. "In relation to the case heard in the High Court, the government has made it clear it will appeal to the Supreme Court. Legal process must be followed." 'Silence embarrassing' Earlier, Tory MP and former AttorneyGeneral, Dominic Grieve, compared coverage in one UK newspaper to the Nazi party's mouthpiece, the Voelkischer Beobachter. He told BBC Radio 5 live: "Newspapers in a free society can do
what they like. "But if you did decide to behave immoderately and whip up frenzied hatred you can do that in a free society if you set about it and newspapers like the Daily Mail are no d i ff e r e n t f r o m t h e Vo e l k i s c h e r Beobachter in Nazi Germany if they run headlines of that type." Shadow justice secretary Richard Burgon had called on the government to intervene to curb the level of criticism. He said the "first duty" of the Lord Chancellor was to protect the independence of the judiciary. "To be frank her silence on this is embarrassing, and she's letting down the British judiciary and the British legal system. Giving judges a roasting isn't part and parcel of any healthy democracy," he said. However, Daily Mail columnist Stephen Glover defended his newspaper's stance, saying he did not believe the judges would "feel frightened or worried" by the criticism. He said they had made a "decisive intervention" in the political process, and "must expect some comeback". Some MPs have also attacked the judges, including UKIP MP Douglas Carswell who called them "politicians without accountability". Meanwhile, Gina Miller, the investment manager and philanthropist who led the legal campaign, has said she plans to report online trolls to police after receiving rape and death threats. "I am really cross at the politicians and the media who are whipping this up because they are the ones inciting racism and violence and acrimony," she said. Prime Minister Theresa May has said she is "confident" the government will win its Supreme Court appeal and is committed to triggering Article 50 by March 2017. (BBC)
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SATURDAY NOVEMBER 05, 2016
Philippines Mayor Linked To Drugs Trade Shot Dead In Cell
Mayor Espinosa (L) surrendered to police in August(AFP) A mayor linked to the drugs trade in the Philippines has been shot dead in his jail cell by police. Rolando Espinosa, mayor of the central town of Albuera, had fired at officers searching for weapons, police said. The death comes after President Rodrigo Duterte vowed to step up his policy of killing
suspected drug dealers. A new stage in the crackdown was announced last week to include mayors and senior drug lords. The "war on drugs" has killed up to 4,000 people. Mr Duterte, 71, was elected in May on a platform of preventing the Philippines becoming a "narco state" by sanctioning the extrajudicial killing of drug criminals who fail to turn themselves in. The
policy has faced strong criticism from human rights groups and put Mr Duterte at odds with the United States - a staunch ally of the Philippines. But he won the election by a landslide and the controversial policy remains popular with many Filipinos. There have been calls for Mr Espinosa's death to be investigated to determine in particular how weapons ended up in his cell and how the exchange of fire broke out. He is the second mayor to be killed within two weeks. Samsudin Dimaukom died, reportedly in a gun battle, in the s outhern Philippines. Both men were among officials named by Mr Duterte in August as having links to the drug trade. Mr Espinosa gave himself up to police in August, was then released but was later re-arrested on drugs and firearms charges. (BBC)
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SATURDAY NOVEMBER 05, 2016
Two Italians And A Canadian Freed In Libya
Two Italians and a Canadian who were kidnapped in Libya in September have been released and
fl o w n t o I t a l y, t h e I t a l i a n government says. Armed men abducted the three in the southwestern town of Ghat, where they were working for an Italian company doing maintenance work at the airport. They were freed after co-operation with Libyan officials, Italy's foreign ministry said, without giving details. There has never been any claim or
public request for ransom. Numerous criminal and armed groups are active in Libya's southwestern desert. The Italians were identified as Danilo Calonego and Bruno Cacace, and the Canadian as Frank Poccia. Their state of health was not clear. Ghat is controlled by the Tripoli-based government of national unity. (BBC)
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Giant Snowballs Appear On Russian Beach In Siberia
Natural snowballs of varying sizes have covered part of the Gulf of Ob(SERGEI BYCHENKOV) A strange and beautiful sight greeted locals in the Gulf of Ob, in northwest Siberia, after thousands of natural snowballs formed on the beach. An 11-mile (18km) stretch of coast was covered in the icy spheres. The sculptural shapes range from the size of a tennis ball to almost 1m (3ft) across. They result from a rare environmental process where small pieces of ice form, are
rolled by wind and water, and end up as giant snowballs. Locals in the village of Nyda, which lies on the Yamal Peninsula just above the Arctic Circle, say they have never seen anything to compare to them. Russian TV quoted an explanation from Sergei Lisenkov, press secretary of the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute: "As a rule, ďŹ rst there is a primary natural phenomenon - sludge
ice, slob ice. Then comes a combination of the eects of the wind, the lay of the coastline, and the temperature and wind conditions. "It can be such an original combination that it results in the formation of balls like these." A similar phenomenon was witnessed in the Gulf of Finland in December 2014, and on Lake Michigan in December 2015, the Ura.ru website said. Pictures of the snowballs have charmed Russians online. A reader of the TJournal news site calling himself "Anton Antonov" joked: "Soon the peninsula will be invaded by hatched snowsaurs!" (BBC)
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Nigeria Schoolgirl Missing From Chibok 'Found With Baby’
Boko Haram uses the schoolgirls it holds in propaganda videos(AFP) One of the Chibok schoolgirls abducted in Nigeria has been found with a 10-month-old baby son, the military says. The girl was discovered in Pulka in northern Borno state, spokesman Sani Usman said. The announcement
came nearly a month after another 21 Chibok girls were freed after negotiations with Boko Haram Islamist militants. More than 270 schoolgirls were seized from the north-eastern town in April 2014, sparking international outrage. Mr Usman said the latest girl to be found was discovered by soldiers screening escapees from Boko Haram's base in the Sambisa
forest. Boko Haram has been fighting a long insurgency in its quest for an Islamic state in northern Nigeria. The conflict is estimated to have killed more than 30,000 people. Boko Haram has kidnapped thousands of other people during its seven-year insurgency in northern Nigeria and many people have been made homeless. The freeing of 21 girls in October came after talks mediated by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Swiss government. Until then, there had only been one confirmed release of a student kidnapped from Chibok - a 19-year-old woman found by an army-backed vigilante group. More than 50 managed to escape on the day they were captured. Officials have promised to find the remaining 200 still being held. (BBC)