PAGE 2
GUYANA DAILY NEWS
LOCAL SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2016
Agriculture, Forestry In Guyana Slowly Declining –UNDP Report
The agriculture and forestry sectors are in need of repositioning in Caribbean development strategies and policies. The agriculture sector was one of tremendous importance in exports, domestic food supply, employment of men and women, development of rural communities and retention of people in rural areas, fiscal revenues and overall contribution to economic activity. This is the view of a United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Caribbean Human Development Report (CHDR). The report pointed out that in Guyana the agriculture and forestry sectors are important source of livelihoods for indigenous people. It has been estimated by United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (2015) that 22,000 full-time equivalent persons were directly employed in forestry in Guyana. The report noted that the role of the agriculture sector in Caribbean economies has diminished over recent decades. “Edgardo (2012) reports that agriculture’s proportion of GDP for the entire Caribbean decreased from 14.5 percent in 1981 to 11.1 percent in 1990, 6.5 percent in 2000 and 4.3 percent in 2010. More recent estimates show the GDP share as low as 0.8 percent in Trinidad and Tobago and being at its highest of 26-28 percent in Guyana and Haiti.”
Meanwhile, the UNDP report noted that there has not been a lack of strategic vision for agriculture in the Caribbean. “The Jagdeo Initiative: Strengthening Agriculture for Sustainable Development (proposed by Mr Bharrat Jagdeo, then President of Guyana, and adopted by the CARICOM Heads of Government in 2004) took note of the sector’s decline and the growth of food imports into the region and advocated a redefinition of the agricultural sector to include the entire agroproduct chain.” The some of the key plans the initiative called for was the development and strengthening of the forward linkages to the tourism and hospitality industries, the creation or development of a physical and regulatory infrastructure capable of reducing transactions costs and facilitating expansion of international trade, management of biodiversity, development of agrotourism and agroforestry products; and incorporation of women, youth and indigenous peoples into the mainstream. However, the problem that is causing Guyana and the rest of CARICOM much destress is implementation deficits. Ten years after the adoption of the Jagdeo Initiative, hardly any country, including Guyana, has formulated much less
implemented comprehensive action plans. Guyana’s only solution to the problem so far has been the utilization of financial mechanisms based on the valuation of natural capital, such as Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES). This was the birth of Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) which includes several social components attached to the Amerindian populations. The agreement secured Norway’s commitment to provide financial support of up to US$250 million, until 2015, for results achieved by Guyana in limiting emissions from deforestation and forest degradation.
PAGE 3
GUYANA DAILY NEWS
LOCAL SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2016
Essequibo Has Lost Faith In The AFC
Many supporters of the Alliance For Change (AFC) in Essequibo are very concerned about the minimal to nonexistent Party in the region. Some residents told the Guyana Daily News that the minority coalition party has lost credibility in the region and appears to be irrelevant in the government. One resident of Anna Regina said, “we are fed up about the many promises by the AFC that has proven to be untrue. The AFC has become very comfortable with APNU. It is living in the shadows of the party rather than acting like a party which was able to secure 40% of Cabinet and parliament seats for bringing less than
10% of the votes to the coalition.” Residents are of the view that the AFC has no strategy to mobilize the support of important sections of the middle class. The AFC had announced that it held the balance of power in the National Assembly; however the Prime Minister does not lead the government’s business in the House. One resident believes that “the AFC has collated with the APNU to frustrate the PPP government, the AFC has no power in the region and therefore cannot represent the views of the residents on the Essequibo Coast. The AFC was given the Minister of Home Affairs position, this was to send a message to the voters
here in Essequibo that security will be taken care of under the coalition government, however, crime is more rampant in the all parts of the country not only on the Essequibo Coast. We would like to know what is the next nesting ground for the AFC and where will they muster their support from for the next elections?”
PAGE 5
GUYANA DAILY NEWS
LOCAL SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2016
Why Is Guyana Ranked Second Poorest Country In CARICOM Guyanese are questioning why Guyana is consistently being compared to Haiti. In most international reports, Haiti historically has suffered from many unfortunate natural disasters, as recent as the devastating earthquake and hurricane, where they suffer from tremendous loss of life and economic setbacks. However, Guyana is fortunate with not having any of those monstrous encounters, we are also very blessed with the world’s best natural resources and yet time and time again we are economically compared with Haiti. According to the United Nations Development Program Multidimensional Progress report 2016, there is a problem of indigence, i.e.
extreme poverty, where indigence is defined as an individual’s incapacity to afford the basic food basket. The percentage of population estimated to be indigent is as high as 23.8 percent in Haiti and 18.6 percent in Guyana. The estimates compiled for the most recent years for nine countries, using national poverty lines, show high levels of poverty, one of those country is Guyana. The population weighted average poverty rate is 43.7 percent for CARICOM. These rates exceed those in Latin America and the Caribbean, as a whole, and are also higher than those in countries classified as Low and Middle Income. Haiti, because of its high share
in the CARICOM population and its poverty rate being much higher than those of the other countries, elevates the average for the region. If Haiti is excluded from the calculation, the average poverty rate becomes 24 percent. There has been a reduction in poverty in six countries and worsening of poverty in five countries. It is possible that countries experiencing economic growth recovery between 2011 and 2015 may have recovered from any slippage in their poverty rates or may have prevented slippage while those with negative or no growth would have experienced some deterioration.
PAGE 6
GUYANA DAILY NEWS
LOCAL SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2016
Gun Crimes At Its Highest Despite Police Reports– Former Army Chief
Former Chief-of-Staff of the Guyana D e f e n c e F o rc e ( G D F ) , R e t i re d Brigadier Mark Phillips Former Chief-of-Staff of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), Retired Brigadier Mark Phillips on Friday said that although the official police statistics show a decline in serious crimes, the feeling of insecurity among Guyanese is very high and thus it is necessary for collaboration among stakeholders. The Former Army Chief said while he is not bashing the Guyana Police Force (GDF), violent gun-related crimes are a pressing matter to Guyanese right now. “I place at number one violent crime, because notwithstanding the statistics that speak to a reduction in crime- and here I am not hitting at the police force- it is my firm belief, as a citizen of Guyana, that the high incidence of gun-related
crimes is today the most pressing problem in our Guyanese society,” Phillips said. Speaking at the opening ceremony of a one-day security forum and expo, organised by the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) on Friday afternoon at the Duke Lodge in Kingston, Phillips said that violent crimes are becoming more frequent. “Every day our citizens are exposed to more and more violent robberies at their places of business- be it shops, factories, delivery vehicles, rice fields, night clubs, churches and other places of worship and even in the sanctity of their homes.” He said. “No one is safe from violent crime and criminal activity,” he said, noting that it is only a matter of time when the criminals will “attack anyone of us.” The Retired Brigadier highlighted the need for collaboration among private and public sectors, civil society and the media to collectively ensure the security and safety of the Guyanese people. Philips is of the view that persons would be aware that an increase in violent crime would affect investments from the then international communities as North America and Europe. He noted that these crimes would also affect investment by Overseas Guyanese who are returning to
invest in their country. The GDF had earlier this month reported a 21 per cent decline in serious crimes at the end of September. According to statistics published by the police, there has been a 9 per cent reduction in reports of murder; a 5 per cent decrease in gun-related robberies; a 17 per cent decrease in armed robberies where other instruments were used; a 15 per cent decrease in robberies where no instruments were used; a 25 per cent decrease in robbery with violence; a 4% decrease in robbery with aggravation; a 33% decrease in larceny from the person; a 19% decrease in rape; a 13% decrease in burglary and a 21% decrease in break and enter and larceny respectively. The GCCI is lobbying for the VAT exemptions on security equipment to help business protect their investment. GCCI President, Vishnu Doerga at a press conference prior to the expo pointed out that the use of efficient Closed Circuit Televisions (CCTV) systems which have recently been greatly aiding the GPF in the apprehension of criminals who would have committed armed robberies on local businesses and thereafter and thereafter, their prosecution.
Bartica Man Found With Spent Shells In Linden possession.
Firearm and Ammunition found in ‘B’ Division
About 1830h. last evening an alert member of the Rural Constabulary observed a 32 year old, unemployed, male from Bartica, in the C o m m u n i t y o f Wi s m a r, Linden, with several bags acting in a suspicious manner. A search was conducted on the suspect and the following spent shells and live ammunition were found in his
Six (6) empty cartridges (casing) Thirty-one (31) spent .32 and 9 mm shells Twenty-one (21) live .32 and 9mm rounds Guyana Police Force Press Release
PAGE 8
GUYANA DAILY NEWS
LOCAL SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2016
Teenager To Stand Trial For Murder Of Friend Police reports indicated that on April 1, Nicholas Hercules, 19, of Princess deceased. Street, Georgetown was committed by City Magistrate Judy Latchman to stand trial in the High Court for the murder of Carlos Solomon on April 1, 2015. Upon completion of the Preliminary Inquiry into the matter, Police Prosecution revealed that based on the evidence provided to the court, they are of the belief that Hercules on the day in question had intent to cause serious actual bodily harm or to kill the now
Magistrate Latchman in passing her decision Friday, stated that based on the evidence, the court is within reason to believe that a prima facie case has been established against the defense and therefore Hercules will be called upon at the next sitting of the Demerara Assizes to lead a defence. Hercules, who was not allowed to plea to the charge, reiterated to the court that he is innocent of the offence.
2015 at Lot 44 Princess Street, Georgetown, where both the accused and deceased lived, an argument ensued between the two when, Hercules took a knife and stabbed Solomon in the armpit. Solomon was subsequently rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation where he succumbed as a result of the injury.
Coconut Festival A Major A Success
Exhibition of the numerous household uses of the coconut and Art Works of the participants of the Coconut Art festival The Arthur Conference Center opened its doors last night welcoming the multitude to participate in the Coconut Festival. Activities started around 17:00hrs, with a plenary in the conference room, where experts in the field gave a ‘walk through’ to the attendees about the purposes of the gala. The forum was opened by Executive Director of the Asia and Pacific Coconut Opening Ceremony of the Coconut Festival 2016 Community (APCC), Dr. Uron Salum who presented a study about the global scenario research about the industrial uses of of the coconut sector, with the theme coconut. Representatives from Brazil, ‘Coconuts for Social and Economic India and Mexico, also participated in the Development’.His exhibition was conference. followed by Ms. Sophie Makonnen, Inter- After the opening formalities were American Development Bank (IDB) fulfilled, the festival continued with stage Representative, about the business section performances of local dancers and steel of Coconut markets. Dr. Dawn Fox, drums musicians followed by the Lecturer in the Department of Chemistry exhibition of the numerous household uses in the University of Guyana and Dr. Pat of the coconut, such as its structural value, Francis, President of the University of jewelry, clothing lines, hats, shedding Guyana Workers Union, presented a local equipment, the benefits of the coconut
water. Art Works of the participants of the Coconut Art festival, competition promoted as part of the event, were also displayed as part of the attractions. The organizers of the festival will announce the winners of the Art Competition on October 23 during the award ceremony. The Festival- ‘Awakening a sleeping giant’- will see its closure on October 23. This event is part of the Agriculture Month and Coconut Awareness Week period in which the organizers of the event, along with interior decorator, coconut growers and agriculturist join forces to promote the personal and industrial benefits of the coconut tree, creating popular awareness about the product’s vast potential, on the national and international scope.
PAGE 9
GUYANA DAILY NEWS
Turkeyen Man Arrested For Cannabis Possession
LOCAL SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2016
Elderly Man Arrested For 52 Lbs Of Cannabis
Cannabis found at Takuba Lodge B a c k d a m , Konawaruk River
Cannabis f o u n d a t P r a s h a d N a g a r , Georgetown
About 2330h. last night ranks of the Guyana Police Force arrested a 69 y e a r s o l d , businessman, of South Turkeyen, ECD, at his place of business, after four hundred and ten (410) grams of cannabis was found in his premises. Police ranks acting on information went to the suspect’s shop at Takuba Lodge Backdam, Konawaruk River, and conducted a search, when the illegal substance was found. Guyana Police Force Press Release
A 60 year old male of Prashad Nagar was early this morning taken into custody, after in excess of fifty two (52) pounds of compressed cannabis was found in his house. Ranks of the Guyana Police Force acting on information received went to the suspect’s house and conducted a search, during which thirteen (13) taped parcels of the illegal substance with a weight of 24Kg were found. Guyana Police Force Press Release
LOCAL
GUYANA DAILY NEWS Government Invites Public To Donate To Relief Efforts For Haiti Following Devastating Losses Left In The Wake Of Hurricane Matthew Georgetown, Guyana – (October 21, 2016) Minister of State happen,” Minister Harmon said. He noted that based on PAGE 11
and National Disasters Management Coordinator, Mr. Joseph Harmon, today, invited members of the Guyanese public to donate to the relief efforts for the hurricane-ravaged island of Haiti, even as he announced that the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) will be moving to open several bank accounts at Republic Bank Limited to receive donations. Minister Harmon, who was at the time addressing the participants of a recently concluded Mass Casualty Management Systems Workshop held by the CDC in collaboration with the World Health Organisation/ Pan American Health Organisation (WHO/PAHO), said that that nation needs help now more than ever. The Minister noted that Haiti has suffered tragic losses and urged Guyanese to come together to show solidarity by contributing to the rebuilding efforts. At this time, with many of the locations still cut off and inaccessible to the Haitian authorities, monetary relief, he said, is most appropriate. “It is part of our responsibility as a CARICOM country, as member of the United Nations system to respond in a way that is consistent with our own circumstances, to a country affected in this way as Haiti has been affected. I want to lay out the response that Government has actually put in place already and some additional responses we want to put in place. We have pledged US$50,000 initially, but we would like to have a much stronger response to this situation so we are asking the Guyanese people to rally to the cause of the people of Haiti. The CDC, as part of the disaster management system of the region … is the body responsible for coordinating the country’s response. So I am asking anyone who wants to make a donation to the people of Haiti, to the rebuilding of the nation, [the] CDC is where it needs to be
PAHO/WHO Representative to Guyana, Dr. William Adu-Krow making his remarks
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2016
information from the Haitian Emergency Operations Centre and the Caribbean Disaster and Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), monetary donations are preferred since other forms of aid could take weeks and months before it reaches the country. There are no guarantees too that the aid would be able to reach the areas which have been significantly affected in a timely manner, while the specific needs for many of those areas have not yet been identified. “In the past we have come to the aid of Haiti, Dominica, Montserrat and several other countries but because of the logistics train, which has to move from Guyana to those countries and then to the areas affected, sometimes the aid [doesn’t] get to the people until months after the disaster would have struck.
From left: Director General of CDC, Colonel (ret’d) Chabilall Ramsarup, Minister of State, Mr. Joseph Harmon, Minister within the Ministry of Public Health, Dr. Karen Cummings and PAHO/WHO Representative to Guyana, Dr. William Adu-Krow surrounded by the successful participants of the Mass Casualty Management Systems Workshop.
continued to next page...
PAGE 12
GUYANA DAILY NEWS
LOCAL SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2016
Government Invites Public To Donate...con’t... I am advised that [on] the last occasion there were at least 25 containers that left Guyana for Haiti and it took several months before it got there. So what I am asking is that persons who [wish] to make a contribution, in the initial stages, we are going to ask that these donations be monetary contributions and as the situation is clearer, when CDEMA or the Haitian Operations Centre declare exactly what it is that they want and where, then we can take it to the next step to have other contributions made like water, clothing, food, medical supplies,” he said. While the bank accounts will be opened on Monday, October 24 at the Republic Bank Limited, there is a 24-hour hotline at the CDC, which persons can call to make donations. The telephone numbers are 226-1114, 226-1117 (extension 228) and 6007500. “I am asking that we cast our minds on the people of Haiti and to see how blessed and fortunate we are. Stay focused and connected,” Minister Harmon said. Meanwhile, the Minister presented certificates to 44 persons who completed the Mass Casualty Management Systems training on Saturday, October 15. The four-day Instructors’ Training in Mass Casualty Management course concluded last week, while the second phase began on Monday, October 10 and concluded on the evening of Saturday, October 15 with a written assessment and practical exercise. The training aimed to achieve a satisfactory level of knowledge transfer, where the participants were taught the principles of mass casualty management in keeping with the PAHO Mass Casualty System. The participants were required to complete a written examination as well as a practical exercise and achieve the 80 per cent minimum pass rate before they are awarded internationally recognised certificates from the PAHO/WHO. Director General of the CDC, Colonel (ret’d) Chabilall Ramsarup said that the training stemmed from the
Minister of State, Mr. Joseph Harmon addressing the participants at the closing ceremony of the Mass Casualty Management Systems Workshop, held earlier today at the Civil Defence Commission's headquarters.
weaknesses which were recognised during Guyana’s 50th Independence Anniversary Celebrations, which were held at the D’urban Park. After discussions with the Minister of State, PAHO was contacted and agreed to lend its support in this e n d e a v o u r. D r. Wi l l i a m A d u - K r o w, PA H O / W H O Representative in Guyana, remarked that while Guyana is a blessed country, systems must be put in place to ensure that in the event that there are incidents, interventions can be made. “It is imperative that we strengthen its capacity to respond with effective and timely interventions,” he said. MOTP Press Release
Minister of State, Mr. Joseph Harmon presents the Certificate of Pass to this participant from the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).
LOCAL
GUYANA DAILY NEWS Berbice Man Arrested For Unlicensed Gun Possession PAGE 14
A 41 year old driver of Palmyra, Berbice, was early this morning arrested with an unlicensed handgun and thirteen (13) rounds of ammunition. An alert police patrol spotted the suspect who was driving his motor car on the Palmyra Public Road, about 0130h. The suspect upon seeing the patrol attempted to speed away but was intercepted and searched, during which the gun (9mm pistol) and ammunition were found on his person. Guyana Police Force Press Release
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2016
Spent and Live Ammunition found in ‘E’ Division
Man In Custody Following Gun, Ammunition Bust About 0145h. this morning ranks of the Guyana Police Force acting on information received conducted a search in a shop at Black Water Backdam, Konawaruk River, and found an unlicensed .32 revolver with three (3) matching rounds and three (3) spent shells. A 56 year old male businessman of Diamond Housing Scheme, EBD, who claimed ownership, is in custody. Guyana Police Force Press Release Firearm and Ammunition found in ‘F’ Division
PAGE 15
GUYANA DAILY NEWS
LOCAL SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2016
Guyana Working To Empower Young Girls causes of poverty and inequality is programmes particularly geared towards
UNDP Regional Advisor Kenroy Roach Guyana is working with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to ensure that polices are inclusive to provide a better future for young girls as .securing the future of the country’s young girls means addressing poverty in all its forms. According to the UNFPA State of World Population 2016, there are 7,000 10-year-old girls in Guyana. These girls are the future of the country but they are also at a vulnerable point in their lives. The UNFPA has undertaken to secure a better future for girls worldwide through the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In the Caribbean, women and young girls are vulnerable to poverty and inequality according UNDP’s 2016 Caribbean Human Development Report (CHDR). The report estimates that 18.6 percent of Guyana’s population is indigent. Regional Adviser at the UNDP Kenroy Roach believes that addressing the root
inessential in securing a bright future particularly for young girls. “We believe that you need to improve women and youth, young women in particular access, to services as a way of removing or improving their health outcomes and improving the health challenges they see later in life,” Roach told the Government Information Agency (GINA). Guyana meantime has been making strides in addressing inequality. The CHDR noted that Guyana is an outstanding example for the Caribbean in its effort to reduce inequality with 31.3 percent of seats in Parliament being held by women. But ensuring greater female participation in the labour force remains a challenge for the country. For younger girls, ineffective school systems, teenage pregnancy and violence are the risk factors that make them vulnerable. Roach told GINA that it is important that “protective factors” are part of “public policies to protect youth but in particular young girls”. Guyana was however credited by the CHDR for better than expected performance in the following areas despite the country’s gross national income: Child malnutrition Infant mortality and Average schooling rates Primary school dropout rate Gross secondary school matriculation These are positive indicators for the future of Guyana’s young girls. Earlier this year, government ministers and stakeholders held a round table discussion to develop
young people and young adults. However Guyana still has to improve on i t s m a t e r n a l m o r t a l i t y, y o u t h unemployment and teenage pregnancy rates, the report indicated. Roach noted that Guyana and the wider Caribbean can rely on the tools available by the UNDP to “help the life chances of young women”. “We’re looking at to what extent sectorial planning whet her it’s in education, it’s in health, it’s in infrastructure how those plans are connected to the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) which targets of the SDGs they are connected to and then what are the gaps. Importantly what are the structural, what are the policy, what the programmatic gaps that exist and then UNDP supports governments in developing the policies and programmes to fill those gaps,” Roach explained. To secure the future of young girls and address their challenges, Minister of F i n a n c e Wi n s t o n J o r d a n s a i d comprehensive polices buttressed by a sustainable economic base is needed. The government has been working to ensure that its policies are inclusive of all vulnerablegroups. The CHDR noted that Guyana’s economy has registered positive economic growth over the last 10 years. Guyana is one of the 193 countries that has pledged over the next 15 years to achieve the 17 SDGs which underpin the achievement of the 2030 Agenda. (GINA)
STOCK MARKET PAGE 17
GUYANA DAILY NEWS
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2016
GUYANA STOCK MARKET UPDATE
GASCI reports that session 691's trading results showed consideration of $419,820 from 10,191 shares traded in 3 transactions as compared to session 690's trading results, which showed consideration of $2,649,334 from 86,878 shares traded in 15 transactions. The stocks active this week were DIH and DTC. Banks DIH Limited's (DIH) two trades totalling 10,000 shares represented 98.13% of the total shares traded. DIH's shares were traded at a Mean Weighted Average Price (MWAP) of $22.5, which showed an increase of $0.5 from its previous close of $22.0. DIH's trades contributed 53.59% ($225,000) of the total consideration. Both of DIH's trades were at $22.5. Demerara Tobacco Company Limited's (DTC) single trade of 191 shares at $1,020.0 represented 1.87% of the total shares traded. DTC's shares were traded at a Mean Weighted Average Price (MWAP) of $1,020.0, which showed no change from its previous close. DTC's trade contributed 46.41% ($194,820) of the total consideration. Best bid: The highest price that a buyer is willing to pay for a security. Best oer: The lowest price at which a seller is oering to sell securities.
PAGE 18
GUYANA DAILY NEWS
REGIONAL SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2016
St Vincent PM Addresses LIAT Issues
Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines and Chairman of the Majority Shareholder Governments of LIAT, Dr Ralph Gonsalves (L) speaking at Wednesday's press briefing while Barbados' Prime Minister Freundel Stuart listens. (C. Pitt/BGIS) By Theresa Blackman BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (BGIS) -- Prime minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr Ralph Gonsalves, has sought to “clear the air” on some of the misconceptions about regional air carrier LIAT. Gonsalves, who is the chairman of the majority shareholder governments of the carrier, was in Barbados for the prime ministerial grouping’s quarterly meeting. He told reporters during a press conference on Wednesday that, with the carrier being “very much” in the news, he wanted to share some factual information on its current status. Stating that LIAT was one of the few airlines in the world where all of its aircraft was under two years old, the prime minister noted that “it cost a lot of money to re-fleet”. “You will recall that the shareholder governments – Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda and St Vincent and the Grenadines had secured a loan from the Caribbean Development Bank for an investment for the re-fleeting … So, a few years ago, we carried out the re-fleeting exercise and we have disposed of the last Dash Eights,” he said. Adding that at one time LIAT had 16 or 17 aircraft serving the region, Gonsalves said the airline now had to do so with a smaller number of aircraft. “The difference then, compared to now, is that back then you had 37-seaters and 30-seaters and now we have 50-seaters and 70-seaters. So, even in terms of the carriage load there is not a real difference between what we had before and what we have now. The fact is, we have fewer aircraft actually moving people, so, therefore, we have to be very prudent as to the routes that we are serving,” he pointed out. In terms of performance as
outlined by LIAT’s management, the chairman explained that up to August this year there was a $5 million net profit, but it was forecast that the airline would lose EC$9.2 million by the end of this year. “But, this is moving from numbers close to $100 million to $57 million, and even last year, roughly half of the $57 million had to do with losses incurred and selling Dash Eights and paying severance pay,” Gonsalves explained. He also outlined that a number of reforms had been implemented, as reported in the press. The prime minister pointed out that when he took up his position as leader of St Vincent back in 2001, LIAT had approximately 1,200 persons employed; now it employed 669 individuals, and the head count in the budget was for 630. “Therefore, a review is being done at the Board level, as we are looking at the organisational structure to determine what is the optimal number of employees we must have going forward in order to serve the entire network…,” he disclosed. Gonsalves has identified “too many” bouts of illness by flight crew, as one of the major challenges plaguing the carrier. “We have too many cancellations caused by illness of flight staff and crew. Most of the flight crew, the overwhelming majority of them, are fit and hard workers and smart workers, but … we have too many bouts of illness, which result in cancellations. We have, also of course, the challenge, as I indicated earlier, of a smaller number of aircraft serving essentially the same markets…,” he lamented. Explaining that they also had “weak technology infrastructure systems” and some ground handling systems that were not optimal, the Vincentian leader noted that although frontline staff were “doing their best”, more training was required to ensure that they were “better able” to handle all of the challenges encountered in dealing with an airline like LIAT. Admitting that the network, based on the number of routes and flights that the airline served, was a complicated one, the Chairman stated that the airline also had “some really good performing routes”. “You know when you go on your hit parade you have your top 10, well we have a top 10 also… our top 10 routes. But, we also have routes that are non-performing in the sense of generating negative contribution margins,” he said. The prime minister disclosed that the priority actions to be taken by management at LIAT included stabilising the schedule by resolving operational challenges; taking action to reduce crew sickness; and communicating in a “sensitive” way with the workers, pilots and other professionals. The meeting was also attended by Barbados Prime Minister Freundel Stuart; Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Richard Sealy; and chairman of LIAT, Dr Jean Holder. (Caribbean News Now!)
GUYANA DAILY NEWS
PAGE 20
GUYANA DAILY NEWS
REGIONAL SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2016
Bahamas Opts Out Of Regional Insurance Facility
By K. Quincy Parker Nassau Guardian Business Editor NASSAU, Bahamas -- The Bahamas has opted out of the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility (CCRIF), and will instead put the $900,000 annual premium in the Disaster Relief Fund, beginning this year. The insurance facility has been around for nearly ten years, meaning that after paying $9 million in premiums, The Bahamas walks away from the fund with nary a dime in payout. Opposition leader Dr Hubert Minnis raised the issue in the House of Assembly yesterday, demanding answers on the relationship between The Bahamas and the insurance facility, and the status of payment of premiums. In response to Minnis’ probing, the administration revealed that The Bahamas has stopped paying premiums to CCRIF. That facility was founded in 2007 and has since made 21 payouts for hurricanes, earthquakes and excess rainfall to 10 member governments totalling approximately US$38.8 million. The Bahamas, a member since the founding along with the other Caribbean Community (CARICOM) states, has never had a payout. Millions In fact, while that facility has announced millions in payouts to countries affected by Hurricane Matthew, The Bahamas is absent from the list yet again. State Minister for Finance Michael Halkitis explained that a category five storm would have to hit New Providence directly before The Bahamas would get a payout. The CCRIF announced last week that payouts to Haiti from CCRIF will total US$23.4 million, and that Barbados was due a total payment of US$1.7 million as a result of Matthew. In fact, payouts will be made to Haiti, Barbados, Saint Lucia and St Vincent and the Grenadines as a result of the heavy rains from Hurricane Matthew. These payments would be made through tropical cyclone and excess rainfall policies -- two of the types of insurance facility available under the CCRIF. Fund Halkitis told Guardian Business that the premium, $900,000, will be put into the Disaster Relief Fund, where it will be
allowed to accumulate. In fact, the 2016 premium is already in the fund, he said. “What we will do is each year put that premium in the Disaster Relief Fund. We have already put this year’s premium in ... Just the premium is in the account. We may decide to increase the annual amount put in,” he said. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Perry Christie spoke to the House of Assembly on Thursday about what he called the contradictions in the program, since, for example, Barbados qualifies for a payout as noted above, but The Bahamas does not. “... That we have a Category 4 impact on islands that are extraordinarily vulnerable and they disqualify us in that regard. It was that thinking that led to The Bahamas deciding that it would rather insure itself by making contributions to a fund,” Christie said. The prime minister also noted the high per capita income in The Bahamas continues to disqualify the country from accessing concessionary lending and funding. Backdrop Minister for the Environment Ken Dorsett reported that, in the wake of Joaquin, Christie had led a delegation to Paris. He said at that time there was an issue of any claim that we could have recognized by CCRIF. According to Dorsett, Christie was as “very disturbed at the response to our claims then,” and met with the president of the Inter-American Development Bank -a creditor to CCRIF -- as well as the head of CCRIF in Paris. That meeting led the officials to visit The Bahamas in early 2016. “The prime minister himself went to great lengths to understand why, notwithstanding that we have been paying our premium for so many years, The Bahamas still remains unable to access it, and unfortunately it appears that unless a cat five hits New Providence we would not be able to claim anything. And so, great deliberation was undertaken to determine what was best for us as a nation, and as a result the Ministry of Finance took certain steps. “It’s misguiding the Bahamian people to believe that we did not pay our premiums. As a matter of fact we are one of the few countries in the region who have maintained and consistently paid our commitment under the CCRIF,” Dorsett said. Accountable Also in the House on Thursday, Christie said the level of accountability with respect to the $150 million the government seeks to raise for hurricane relief would be that of the budgetary process. “A line item will be created with $150 million, and go from year to year with the expenditure. But we will have to account. The Financial and Administration and Audit Act will be applicable, therefore the auditor general will have access to it, and we will be responsible in our obligation to Parliament, in being able to administer this on the levels of accountability that are constitutionally vested in us,” he said. (Caribbean News Now!)
PAGE 21
GUYANA DAILY NEWS
REGIONAL SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2016
Crackdown On Media In Cuba Includes Ban On Hurricane Matthew Coverage HAVANA, Cuba (RSF) -- The resolution defining how and p o s t u r e s a n d h e l p t h e arrests of journalists trying to inform fellow citizens about the widespread damage caused by Hurricane Matthew’s passage over eastern Cuba on 4 October are the latest example of how the Cuban government continues its harassment of independent journalism. Their reporting clearly did not please the authorities, Reporters Wi t h o u t B o r d e r s ( R S F ) reported. Maykel González Vivero, a journalist working for the Diario de Cuba news website, was arrested in the eastern city of Baracoa on 10 October while interviewing people about hurricane damage and was held for three days. He had just been fired from state-owned Radio Sagua for working for independent media. On 11 October, it was the turn of six members of the Havana-based Periodismo de Barrio news website, including its director, Elaine Díaz, to be arrested while visiting Baracoa to cover the aftermath of the hurricane. Their equipment was confiscated for several hours. According to the authorities, the journalists were arrested under the state of emergency proclaimed by President Raúl Castro on 4 October, which supposedly prohibited journalistic reporting without special authorization. But for the state of emergency to be valid, it should have been accompanied by a
in what regions of the country it was to be applied. No such resolution was ever formally issued by the authorities. There is no shortage of subjects that are off-limits for unauthorized media outlets. Reinaldo Escobar, a journalist with the 14ymedio website, was unable to cover the inauguration of the first regular flight between the United States and Cuba. He was arrested in Santa Clara on 31 August for doing “enemy journalism” and was forcibly escorted back to Havana. Oscar Sánchez Madan, a reporter for the Hablemos Press independent news agency, was arrested by three members of the National Evolutionary Police (PNR) in the municipality of Cárdenas on 18 August while interviewing Leticia Ramos Herrería, a representative of the Ladies in White, a movement formed by the wives of political prisoners. “We deplore the Cuban g o v e r n m e n t ’s g r o w i n g hostility towards the c o u n t r y ’s i n d e p e n d e n t media,” said Emmanuel Colombié, the head of RSF’s Latin America desk. “The recent attempts to censor ‘unofficial’ media, especially during a natural disaster, are completely unproductive and reinforce self-censorship, which is very harmful for the entire country. The Cuban government should drop its ideological
independent media to develop instead of systematically opposing them.” There have been many cases of harassment in recent months, making independent reporting impossible. RSF has learned that four Hablemos Press members – director Roberto Jesús Guerra Pérez, deputy director Eduardo Herrera, executive director Magalay Otero Suárez and reporter Arian Guerra – had no choice but to leave Cuba at the end of September after repeated threats. Hablemos Press has been the target of harassment and arbitrary arrests for 13 years. Guerra Pérez told RSF he had been constantly harassed by the government in recent weeks in the form of comments by state employees in the street, telephone death threats or being repeatedly prevented from working. Now that he is in exile, he fears an illegal raid on the news agency’s headquarters in the coming weeks. The Centro de Información Legal (Cubalex), a Cuban NGO that defends media freedom, has been subjected to various forms of harassment –including searches, disconnected phone lines and humiliating interrogations – since it issued a report on free speech in Cuba and presented it to the United Nations in Geneva. The level of persecution of
Cubalex got to the point that the office of the special rapporteur on freedom of expression of the InterAmerican Commission on Human Rights issued an alert on 13 October condemning the harassment. 14ymedio, the website found by Yoani Sánchez (an RSF media freedom heroine in 2014), revealed in an investigative report in September that C u b a ’s s t a t e - o w n e d telephone company Etecsa was blocking text messages containing the terms “human rights” or “hunger strike,” the name of the opposition magazine Convivencia, or the names of certain government opponents. At the same time, the list of websites that are blocked or are the target of cyber-attacks has lengthened this year and now includes such sites as Cubaencuentro and Martinoticias. Cuba is ranked 171st out of 180 countries in RSF’s 2016 World Press Freedom Index – the lowest position in Latin America. (Caribbean News Now!)
PAGE 23
GUYANA DAILY NEWS
REGIONAL SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2016
UWI Regional Task Force On Zika Tracks Rare Neurological Disorder
Thomas Langerak, PhD student at Erasmus Medical Centre, Holland, second from right, demonstrates the use of the new Caribbean database for Guillain-Barré syndrome to (L-R) Dr Azad Esack, Consultant, Neurologist, Eric Williams Medical Sciences Centre, Mount Hope (EWMSC); Dr Sherry Sandy, Lecturer in Adult Clinical Medicine at The University of the West Indies, St Augustine (UWI); and Dr Av i d e s h P a n d a y , C o n s u l t a n t , Neurologist, EWMSC, Mount Hope. The meeting took place at the Adult Medicine Unit, Department of Clinical Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, UWI, September 29, 2016 PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad -- The Caribbean has moved one step closer to uncovering the link between the zika virus disease and a rare neurological illness. Once an obscure pathogen, the mosquitoborne zika virus quickly spread to more than 40 countries in the Americas after an outbreak in northeast Brazil in early 2015. The outbreak could pose an economic burden of $3.5 billion on Latin America and the Caribbean alone, according to a World Bank estimate. Zika is now widely feared for causing microcephaly -- a birth defect in which children have malformed heads and severely stunted brain development. The virus is also linked with an uncommon neurological disorder called GuillainBarré syndrome, which involves extreme muscle weakness and eventual paralysis. Much is yet to be understood about the syndrome and its link to zika, in part because it is so rare. A study published in
The Lancet in April found “evidence for zika virus infection causing Guillain-Barré syndrome.” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said that the zika virus is “strongly associated” with the syndrome, but has stopped short of declaring it a cause of the condition. Another study published in The New England Journal of Medicine in August suggests that even asymptomatic zika infections could bring on Guillain-Barré syndrome. In seven countries that experienced zika outbreaks, there were also sharp increases in the numbers of people suffering from a form of temporary paralysis. From April 1, 2015, to March 31, 2016, a total of 164,237 confirmed and suspected cases of zika and 1,474 cases of the Guillain-Barré syndrome were reported in Brazil, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Honduras, S u r i n a m e a n d Ve n e z u e l a . A n e w Caribbean-based initiative, launched by The University of the West Indies (UWI) in partnership with the Erasmus Medical Centre in Holland, aims to shed even more light on the relationship between zika and Guillain-Barré syndrome. Researchers from both institutions are working together to collect data on confirmed Guillain-Barré syndrome patients who are also confirmed zika patients. The data can be used to generate meaningful insights into how the two illnesses are linked. “What are the chances that if you have the zika virus, you will develop Guillain-Barré syndrome? That’s something that we want to know,” said Thomas Langerak, a PhD student in virology at the Erasmus Medical Centre who is researching the neurological complications of the zika virus. In October, Langerak visited the UWI Faculty of Medical Sciences in Mount Hope, Trinidad, to meet with neurologists, medical researchers and laboratory technicians interested in collecting data for the international research project. “We are collecting the data through an online, secure database. Only investigators will be given access to
upload and view data. All the data is private and anonymous, and everything is done with the full consent of the patients,” Langerak said. The project in Trinidad and Tobago is the first step to establishing a Caribbean-wide network of data contributors. “You need quite a large group to be able to say something about an infection and a complication of the infection. And so, our aim is to collaborate with more Caribbean islands so that we have a larger number of patients involved in the study, so that we can have faster answers and more trustworthy results,” Langerak said. He added that the Virology Department at Erasmus would be offering to conduct laboratory tests on samples for zika and the Guillain-Barré syndrome antibodies for any researchers in the Caribbean contributing to the online database. The launch of the Caribbean GuillainBarré syndrome database comes a few months after the establishment of the UWI regional task force on zika, an initiative spearheaded by Vice Chancellor Sir Hilary Beckles. The creation of the task force is intended to improve information-sharing among Caribbean countries, in order to reduce duplicated effort and maximise scarce resources within the region. The 11member task force includes Eric van Gorp, a virologist at the Erasmus Medical Centre. Van Gorp was among 70 delegates who met in Bridgetown, Barbados, in May to hammer out new ways to harmonise the Caribbean’s response to the zika virus and other public health emergencies. The task force is chaired by deputy principal of The UWI Cave Hill campus and experienced medical researcher, Prof Clive Landis. “It is our hope that the regional GuillainBarré Syndrome database will assist Caribbean countries to confirm the association between zika and adult neurological syndromes and to strengthen the working relationship between The University of the West Indies and the duly designated public health agencies of the region when confronting high-level threats to the region,” Landis said. (Caribbean News Now!)
PAGE 24
GUYANA DAILY NEWS
REGIONAL SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2016
Boy, 5, Falls Into Oil-slicked River
Five-year-old Caleb Hart, who fell into a drain contaminated with crude oil while crossing a bridge on his way to school in Vance River, yesterday For the past month, residents of Fitz Lane, Vance River, La Brea, say they have been making complaints to State-owned oil giant Petrotrin, begging the company to clean up a spill in a watercourse that runs t h r o u g h t h e i r c o m m u n i t y. U n t i l Wednesday the residents’ complaints had gone unanswered. Then, while on his way to school that day, five-year-old Caleb Hart slipped on a narrow bridge leading from his home to the roadway and fell into the oily water. Luckily for Caleb, the waters were not deep and his father, Junior Jerome, who was walking him to school, was able to quickly fish him out. He was taken for treatment by Petrotrin doctors in Point Fortin and then sent to the Augustus Long Hospital. Yesterday, angry residents blocked the Guapo Main Road and burnt tyres in protest at the company’s lack of action. In an interview with the T&T Guardian, Caleb’s aunt Susan Jerome blamed Petrotrin and the Government for her nephew’s near-death experience. She said the accident could
have been prevented had the company lived up to its responsibilities. “We have been complaining for weeks to Petrotrin and it was only when I started to get on with them last week they came and dropped some sand on the concrete bridge,” Jerome said. “I told the Petrotrin man that throwing sand on a concrete bridge will be hazardous to children, that somebody will fall and when somebody get damaged, then they would want to come and clean the oil. “So said, so done...I want the country to know what it is that people have to put up with on a daily basis.” She explained why the residents protested, noting La Brea had been stigmatised as protesting for ‘nothing.’ “We didn’t block the road because we want jobs or we want the road fixed, we blocked the road basically because we have been calling on Petrotrin for the past three weeks to clean raw crude oil that is running more than 15 kilometres in a river that a child fell in and they don’t want to come and clean it. They reach so far to tell us don’t let it go viral and don’t involve the media.” After Caleb’s accident, the company pledged to send out crews to begin the clean-up work but Jerome said yesterday no one was seen until almost 3 pm. Jerome said the stench of the leaking
oil had caused numerous health problems among residents. “There are people living along the riverbank who have gotten coughs, wheezing, rashes and chest pains...this is affecting so many people in so many ways.” Her neighbour, Natasha Mitchell, who has a newborn son, held up a fistful of prescriptions, stating, “My son is only three months old and all of this is medication I have to buy for him because the scent of the oil real affecting him.” She said she gave birth to her son by Caesarean (C-)section and was experiencing problems with her stitches. “I am getting a lot of pain and I feel faint, mostly at night when the stench is overpowering.” In a release last night, Petrotrin said the source of the leak seemed to be a nearby abandoned oil well. It said a team had visited the area yesterday, met with residents and had also started remedial work and clean-up of the area, which is expected to be completed by next week. The company thanked the residents for their understanding and said it would continue to work with them to ensure the restoration efforts are concluded in a timely manner. Calls to La Brea MP Nicole Olivierre were also unsuccessful. (Trinidad Guardian)
PAGE 26
GUYANA DAILY NEWS
REGIONAL SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2016
Local Weed Cultivation On The Rise
Five-year-old Caleb Hart, who fell into a drain contaminated with crude oil while crossing a bridge on his way to school in Vance River, yesterday For the past month, residents of Fitz Lane, Vance River, La Brea, say they have been making complaints to State-owned oil giant Petrotrin, begging the company to clean up a spill in a watercourse that runs t h r o u g h t h e i r c o m m u n i t y. U n t i l Wednesday the residents’ complaints had gone unanswered. Then, while on his way to school that day, five-year-old Caleb Hart slipped on a narrow bridge leading from his home to the roadway and fell into the oily water. Luckily for Caleb, the waters were not deep and his father, Junior Jerome, who was walking him to school, was able to quickly fish him out. He was taken for treatment by Petrotrin doctors in Point Fortin and then sent to the Augustus Long Hospital. Yesterday, angry residents blocked the Guapo Main Road and burnt tyres in protest at the company’s lack of action. In an interview with the T&T Guardian, Caleb’s aunt Susan Jerome blamed Petrotrin and the Government for her nephew’s near-death experience. She said the accident could have been prevented had the company
lived up to its responsibilities. “We have been complaining for weeks to Petrotrin and it was only when I started to get on with them last week they came and dropped some sand on the concrete bridge,” Jerome said. “I told the Petrotrin man that throwing sand on a concrete bridge will be hazardous to children, that somebody will fall and when somebody get damaged, then they would want to come and clean the oil. “So said, so done...I want the country to know what it is that people have to put up with on a daily basis.” She explained why the residents protested, noting La Brea had been stigmatised as protesting for ‘nothing.’ “We didn’t block the road because we want jobs or we want the road fixed, we blocked the road basically because we have been calling on Petrotrin for the past three weeks to clean raw crude oil that is running more than 15 kilometres in a river that a child fell in and they don’t want to come and clean it. They reach so far to tell us don’t let it go viral and don’t involve the media.” After Caleb’s accident, the company pledged to send out crews to begin the clean-up work but Jerome said yesterday no one was seen until almost 3 pm. Jerome said the stench of the leaking oil had caused numerous health problems
among residents. “There are people living along the riverbank who have gotten coughs, wheezing, rashes and chest pains...this is affecting so many people in so many ways.” Her neighbour, Natasha Mitchell, who has a newborn son, held up a fistful of prescriptions, stating, “My son is only three months old and all of this is medication I have to buy for him because the scent of the oil real affecting him.” She said she gave birth to her son by Caesarean (C-)section and was experiencing problems with her stitches. “I am getting a lot of pain and I feel faint, mostly at night when the stench is overpowering.” In a release last night, Petrotrin said the source of the leak seemed to be a nearby abandoned oil well. It said a team had visited the area yesterday, met with residents and had also started remedial work and clean-up of the area, which is expected to be completed by next week. The company thanked the residents for their understanding and said it would continue to work with them to ensure the restoration efforts are concluded in a timely manner. Calls to La Brea MP Nicole Olivierre were also unsuccessful. (Trinidad Guardian)
PAGE 27
GUYANA DAILY NEWS
REGIONAL SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2016
Bitter Infighting Mars BLP Nominations
Ronnie Yearwood in Haynesville, St James today speaking to some residents. At second right is St Michael East MP Trevor Prescod. A political firestorm appears to be brewing simultaneously in at least two of the three constituencies where the Opposition Barbados Labour Party (BLP) is preparing to nominate candidates this coming weekend. Over the past week, there have been reports of serious infighting between representatives of two of the four political hopefuls in the constituency of St Michael N o r t h We s t . B a r b a d o s T O D AY understands that what started out as a verbal clash has ended up in threats which have been reported to police, following a heated row over voter eligibility. However, when contacted, neither Marsha Hinds-Layne nor Neil Rowe, who are seeking to carry the BLP’s banner in the urban riding, were willing to offer a public comment on the matter. The two other people who are due to present themselves for nomination this Sunday are former Member of Parliament for the area Mark Williams and Michael Harris. Another former BLP representative Rommel Marshall had earlier indicated an interest in taking the fight to incumbent Democratic Labour Party (DLP) representative Chris Sinckler, who is the country’s Minister of Finance. However, Marshall, who is the exparliamentarian for St Michael West
Central, has since withdrawn from the race. This after St Joseph MP Dale Marshall, against whom the other Marshall had canvassed in the last election, had opposed his nomination back in February. Meantime, it is also shaping up to be a ding-dong battle in St James South this weekend, as incumbent candidate Sandra Husbands, who lost to the DLP’s Donville Inniss in 2013, prepares to face off against newcomer Ronnie Yearwood. Today, Husbands took to the local airwaves to defend her stewardship in the constituency, while describing her opponent as an outsider, who was looking to “come in at the last minute” with the hope of taking advantage of a possible snap election announcement. Husbands further suggested that Yearwood was not qualified to represent the area, since he was not even resident in Barbados. “Our best chance in St James South is with the person who has been there to build the political currency, political relationship, social relationship at the various boxes and has put the time in. That is energy that we have to build on to do even better in the upcoming election,” said Husbands, who lost by 1,002 votes to Inniss in the last election, despite a swing away from the ruling DLP. In response, Yearwood accused Husbands of levelling personal attacks, which he said amounted to “an act of desperation” from someone “void of substance”.
“Let me first say that we have to practise a new type of politics in this country. It starts with basically having the competence to fact check in order to understand your opponent and yourself, to issue correct information. My opponent has apparently issued information that I am in Trinidad, but the last time I checked I am in Barbados,” he told Barbados TODAY. “Apparently she also said that I haven’t completed law school and that I should spend eight months more completing my law degree and that I am not a practising lawyer. I don’t know how I could have practised law in London in last five years without going to law school or without having passed the requisite standards to do so,” countered Yearwood. “If you are going to be a candidate for a party you must have competence to get the facts straight before you start issuing statements about your opponent. It means you are desperate enough to think that is what is needed to win and that is not the situation we ought to be in,” he argued. However, Yearwood was prepared to take the challenges as they come. He drew a comparison between his current political fight and the one which is currently being waged for the presidency of the United States. “I think it is good for the party and it is healthy to have internal debates. If you look at what is going on in the US election this pales in comparison. So just because my opponent thinks it necessary to engage in this way and question even what I would think is my ‘Barbadianess’ and my right to stand as candidate, is not a road I am prepared to go down,” he stressed. The third BLP nomination this weekend is set for St John. (Barbados Today)
PAGE 29
GUYANA DAILY NEWS
REGIONAL SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2016
Public-sector Modernisation To Enhance Service Delivery – Williams
a l r e a d y, s o t h e y h a v e e x p a n d e d opportunities for persons who (previously) worked with government,” she added.
Minister of State for Finance and the Public Service, Fayval Williams (right), answers a question posed during Thursday’s (October 20) public forum hosted by the Hugh Lawson Shearer Trade Union Education Institute at the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus in St. Andrew. The forum was held under the theme ‘Public Sector Workers: Expectations Beyond March 2017’. Listening is Head of the Institute, Danny Roberts. (photo: JIS) KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) — State Minister for Finance and the Public Service Fayval Williams says publicsector modernisation is intended to enhance service delivery by State entities, while providing opportunities for the development of employees. Williams c o n t e n d s t h a t t h e g o v e r n m e n t ’s undertaking to make the public sector more efficient “goes beyond savings”, and entails determining how funding and other resources are administered for the effective delivery of front-line services. “It means delivering better outcomes and more effective governance while using
public money in the smartest possible way,” she pointed out. The state minister was speaking at a public forum hosted by the Hugh Lawson Shearer Trade Union Education Institute at the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus in St Andrew, on Thursday. Williams said the process is already yielding positive results, citing the Registrar General’s Department (RGD), which has modernised its operations, through the introduction of technology and other inputs. She noted that the entity has pioneered the concept of bedside birth registration and introduced online applications for birth, death and marriage certificates. “Since becoming an executive agency... under the Public Sector Modernisation P r o j e c t , t h e R e g i s t r a r G e n e r a l ’s Department has been awarded many outstanding accolades for innovation and customer service. Now, the RGD boasts 95 per cent customer satisfaction,” she pointed out. Williams also cited the recently divested Kingston Container Terminal, whose 800 employees now “work for a private entity”. “They have added (approximately) 100 people
Williams is encouraging civil servants to embrace public-sector modernisation by “opening your minds to the opportunities that could exist” Public-sector transformation is expected to be one of the pivotal areas of focus under the proposed three-year US$1.7-million successor agreement, which the government has negotiated with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Once approved by the IMF’s executive board, during its meeting in November, the new agreement will replace the four-year Extended Fund Facility, which concludes in March 2017. The forum, which was held under the t h e m e ‘ P u b l i c - S e c t o r Wo r k e r s : Expectations Beyond March 2017’, focused on the implications for Jamaica, particularly civil servants, consequent on the implementation of the successor economic programme. (Jamaica Observer)
REGIONAL
GUYANA DAILY NEWS 17-y-o girl Dies After Being Thrown From Bike In Crash ST ANDREW, Jamaica — The police Reports from the Half-Way-Tree police and the two were taken to hospital where PAGE 30
have confirmed that a 17-year-old girl who was a pillion passenger on a motorcycle was yesterday killed in a motor vehicle crash on Half-Way Tree Road in St Andrew. Dead is Chrissan Balaraman of Stony Hill, Kingston 9.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2016
are that about 3:20 pm, Chrissan was a pillion passenger on a motorcycle when it collided with a motor truck. Both Chrissan and the driver of the motorcycle were flung from the bike upon impact. The police were summoned
Chrissan was pronounced dead. The condition of the driver is not known at this time, the police say. The driver of the motor truck has been warned for prosecution. (Jamaica Observer)
Victim Wants National Debate men’s harassment stunned her into action. “They talked about how wet my private area was, they talked about what they wanted to do to it ... they talked about, just really lewd and ridiculous things,” she said. “It was just the straw that broke the camel’s back I think. I was just really fed up of it and the fact that they were following me I said no I have to tape it and I need to show people how annoying it is.
Karian Forde The young woman at the center of a social media debate on sexual harassment said yesterday she recorded and exposed the men because she was fed up at being a frequent victim of such acts. Speaking with CNC3 yesterday, Karian Forde said she while she had been a victim of such acts before, she was stunned by this most recent one and felt she had to act against it by publicly shaming the men and subsequently posting the video on social media. The video subsequently went viral Recalling that she had just left the gym and was sweating as she walked through the Brian Lara Promenade in Port-of-Spain, Forde said the three
She said she hoped her act would help the country rethink such acts more seriously. “I would like to see some form of national discussion happen out of it and really educate young men, older men, men in general, that this is not a compliment, it is not something nice, women don’t feel good when you give us those types of compliments. We feel scared, we’re angry, we’re hurt, and it’s the most uncomfortable feeling.” Forde’s comments came even as the Ministry of State in the Office of the Prime Minister (Gender and Child Affairs) condemned the act in the video. The ministry cautioned that women and girls must be allowed to walk the streets in peace and urged that they be treated with dignity and respect.
Saying sexual harassment was against the law, the ministry said according to the Against the Person Act, Chapter11:08. Section 30A, harassment included alarming the person or causing the person distress by engaging in a course of conduct including, for example, making contact with the person whether by gesture, directly, verbally by telephone, computer, post or in any other way, or giving offensive material to the person. In order for the conduct to constitute harassment, it must be carried out on at least two occasions, the release said, adding it carried a $2,000 fine or six months imprisonment upon summary conviction. It added that a person who indecently assaulted another was guilty of an offence and was liable on conviction to imprisonment for five years for a first offence and to imprisonment for ten years for a s u b s e q u e n t o ff e n c e . ( Tr i n i d a d Guardian)
REGIONAL
GUYANA DAILY NEWS OAS Concerned About Venezuela’s Chaotic Situation PAGE 32
President Nicolas Maduro and logo of the Organization of American States (OAS) OAS concerned about Venezuela’s chaotic situation Twelve country members of the Organization of American States (OAS) manifested their concern about the decision taken on Thursday last, by the Venezuelan National Electoral Council (CNE) to postpone the recollection of the 4 million votes needed to implement the Revocatory Referendum against President Nicolas Maduro. The recollection of the votes was scheduled to start from the 26th to the 28th of October, and it is now postponed until further notice. According to the Venezuelan Newspaper, El Nacional, the
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2016
Heads of State of Argentina, Brasil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, United States of America, Honduras, Paraguay, Mexico, Peru and Uruguay signed a communique, in which they expressed their concern about the sudden decision of the CNE. The report also addressed the decision taken by the Venezuelan Judiciary regarding the prohibition of the departure from national soil, of members of the opposition. The document makes a call on the main politicians in the country to concrete peaceful dialogues. This could be done with the leaders of both parties, or through the intervention and support of facilitators. The Heads of State of the 12 nations agreed that dialogue is the only way to find long term solutions in favor
of the democracy and the stability of the country. The General Secretary of the OAA, Mr. Luis Almagro condemned the democratic breakage in Venezuela, and called the international leaders to take action. State delegates of the Venezuelan government and the opposition will gather separately this weekend with an international mediation led by former President of Spain, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, in which the national crisis will be discussed. After the announcement of the CNE on Thursday, the MUD announced national protests that will take place on Wednesday next. Source: http://www.elnacional.com/mundo/paisesmanifestaron-preocupacion-Venezu...
INTERNATIONAL PAGE 33
GUYANA DAILY NEWS
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2016
Syria Blamed For Chemical Weapons Attack In 2015 Syrian government forces carried out a third chemical weapons released chlorine gas. The report said that the helicopter flights could attack last year, a confidential report to the UN Security Council has found. The leaked report says helicopters dropped barrel bombs holding chlorine gas, a prohibited weapon, on the north-west province of Idlib in March 2015. An earlier report by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) blamed the Syrian government for two other gas attacks in 2015. The government has not yet commented. Syria agreed to destroy its chemical weapons in 2013 under the terms of an agreement negotiated between Moscow and Washington. The Security Council backed up the agreement with a resolution that if Syria did not comply, it could face sanctions or military action under Chapter 7 of the UN Charter. The latest findings - the fourth report from the 13month-long inquiry by the UN and the OPCW - accused government forces of carrying out the toxic gas attack in Qmenas, Idlib governorate, on 16 March 2015. The conclusions could herald a disagreement between the five veto-wielding powers on the Security Council, correspondents say - with Russia and China against the US, the UK and France. The OPCW's third report, submitted in August, also accused the so-called Islamic State (IS) group of using sulphurmustard gas. At that time, Russia argued that the conclusions against it and the government should not be used a pretext to impose UN sanctions. The use of chlorine as a weapon is prohibited under the 1997 Chemical Weapons Convention, which Syria joined in 2013. Barrel bombs The latest report, which was supposed to be confidential but was widely leaked, accused Syrian government forces of using helicopters to drop barrel bombs, which in turn
have originated from two bases where the 253rd and 255th squadrons, part of the 63rd helicopter brigade, were based. Navy helicopters from the 618th squadron were also located at one of the bases. But the inquiry said it "could not confirm the names of the individuals who had command and control of the helicopter squadrons at the time". It recommended that those "with effective control in the military units... must be held accountable". The US ambassador to the UN, Samantha Power, has described the use of chemical weapons as "barbaric" and called for "all states to support strong and swift action". (BBC)
Syria agreed to destroy its chemical weapons in 2013 under the terms of an agreement negotiated between Moscow and Washington(REUTERS)
Thailand Presses Google Over Online Royal Insults Google has agreed to co-operate with the removal of online content insulting Thailand's monarchy, the country's deputy prime minister says. Prajin Juntong said he had met Google representatives to complain about material found using the search engine and on YouTube, a Google subsidiary. Google said it was following its existing policies on content removal. Thais, which have the some of strictest lese majeste laws in the world, are mourning King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Mr Juntong said more than 100 pieces of content insulting to the monarchy have been found on Google services since he died on 13 October. A spokesperson for Google told Reuters news agency that the company was following its guidelines for removal requests. "When we are notified of content that is illegal through official processes, we will restrict it in the country where it's illegal after a thorough review," they said. Google periodically publishes data on such requests in what it calls "transparency reports". In the six months between July and December 2015, it received 33 requests from the government of Thailand to remove content. Those requests covered 1,566 individual content items, 97% of which were cited as "government criticism". Google says it complied with 85% of the Thai government's requests - around 1,300 items - though it did not publish full details on how many items were restricted from viewing within Thailand or removed completely. 'Insult or
threat' Article 112 of Thailand's criminal code says anyone who "defames, insults or threatens the king, the queen, the heirapparent or the regent" will be punished with up to 15 years in prison. This has remained virtually unchanged since the creation of the country's first criminal code in 1908, although the penalty was toughened in 1976. However, there is no definition of what constitutes an insult to the monarchy. Complaints can be filed by anyone and they must always be formally investigated by the police. The details of the charges are rarely made public for fear of repeating the alleged offence. (BBC)
Thailand is mourning the death of King Bhumibol - who is protected from insult by law(REUTERS)
INTERNATIONAL PAGE 35
GUYANA DAILY NEWS
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2016
Russian Mi-8 Helicopter Crashes In Siberia, Killing 19 A Russian helicopter has crashed in north-western Siberia killing at least 19 people, officials say. The Mi-8 helicopter carrying 22 people, mostly oil and gas workers, went down on Friday in the YamaloNenetsky region. President Vladimir Putin has expressed his condolences to relatives of the victims, according to his spokesman. The helicopter "fell on its right side and the victims could not get out," a military spokesman said. Three survivors were flown to the hospital but fog and poor visibility had hindered search and rescue operations, according to officials. Crashed helicopter half buried in a field A criminal probe has been launched but investigators suspect the crash could have been caused by a violation of flight safety regulations, a mechanical problem or poor weather conditions. The helicopter was flying from an oil and gas field in the Siberian region of Krasnoyarsk to the small settlement of Urengoi. The region's governor Dmitry Kobylkin has announced a day of mourning, calling the crash a source of "great sorrow for all of us." (BBC)
The local emergency ministry said the Russian Mi-8 helicopter fell on its right side making it impossible for victims to get out(EPA)
Titanic Locker Key To Be Auctioned More than 200 items from the Titanic, including a locker key of the liner's most senior officers on Olympic stationery. and letters, are to be auctioned later. The key to a life-jacket cupboard was used by a steward to save lives as the liner sank in 1912. It could fetch up to £50,000, according to estimates. A letter to be sold reveals a senior officer had a "queer feeling" about his posting to the ship. Saturday's auction in Devizes is one of the biggest involving Titanic memorabilia for many years. RMS Titanic had been four days into a week-long transatlantic crossing from Southampton to New York when the supposedly "unsinkable" ship struck an iceberg on 14 April 1912. The ship sank less than three hours later at about 02:20 on 15 April. More than 1,500 passengers and crew were killed. The letter is part of a collection written over a 20-year period by Chief Officer Henry Wilde, who was second in command to the ship's skipper, Captain Edward Smith. Wilde had been expecting to take command of another ship, the Cymric, and only signed on to the Titanic on 9 April 1912, the day before it sailed. On 31 March 1912, he said he was "awfully disappointed to find the arrangements for my taking command of the Cymric have altered. I am now going to join the Titanic until some other ship turns up for me". In another letter to his sister, written onboard Titanic and posted at Queenstown (now Cobh) in Ireland, he indicated he had misgivings about the new ship. "I still don't like this ship... I have a queer feeling about it," he wrote. After the collision, Wilde took charge of the even-numbered lifeboats, and oversaw their loading and lowering into the water. He was among those who died in the tragedy. Auctioneer Andrew Aldridge, of Henry Aldridge & Son, said: "It is without doubt one of the finest Titanic-related letters, written by one
"This lot reveals previously unknown details and shows Wilde's obvious disappointment in being transferred to Titanic. "What is certain is that he worked diligently to load the boats once the seriousness of the situation was clear to him." Also included in the sale is a postcard from the ship's senior wireless operator, 25-year-old Jack Phillips, from Farncombe in Surrey, who carried on sending distress messages to other ships as the Titanic sank. Phillips, who drowned, was described as "the man who saved us all" by survivor and fellow wireless operator Harold Bridge. The card, signed "Love all, Jack", describes the weather as the ship left Cowes, Isle of Wight. It is expected to fetch about £20,000. Rare photos of Smith could sell for £1,000 each, the auction house has estimated. (BBC)
A key to a locker on the Titanic could fetch as much as £50,000, auctioneers believe(PA)
INTERNATIONAL
GUYANA DAILY NEWS Security Stepped Up After Arrest Over Tube Train Device Security has been stepped up around the transport network in The station was evacuated and members of the Met's bomb PAGE 36
London, after a man was arrested over the discovery of a suspect device on a Tube train. The 19-year-old suspect was detained by armed police on Friday afternoon in Holloway Road, north London. A Taser was discharged during the arrest. A controlled explosion was carried out on the suspicious item at North Greenwich station on Thursday morning. The suspect was taken to a London police station and is still in custody. Scotland Yard said the device was due to be forensically examined. Passengers have been told to expect to see more officers, including armed police, in and around transport hubs, while patrols by British Transport Police are in place on the Underground and at railway stations. A witness to the teenager's arrest described him as white, bearded and wearing a hoodie. Ali, aged 30, who did not give his full name, said the man had been walking along the street "normally" when police descended. "The armed police, I think five of them, ran behind him and put him on the floor," he said. "They were shouting 'armed police, don't struggle'. Everything happened so quick." The suspicious object was discovered on an eastbound Jubilee Line train at the south-east London station at about 11:00 BST. A source told the BBC the device was found by a member of the public and handed to a Tube driver. The driver treated it as a suspicious and said it contained "wires and possibly a clock".
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2016
squad carried out the explosion, after the item was described as looking "real enough". The Met said officers were keeping an open mind regarding any possible motive but said they were not looking for anyone else in relation to their investigation at this stage. The current threat level for international terrorism in the UK is severe - meaning an attack is deemed to be "highly likely". (BBC)
The arrested man is currently being held at a London police station
Canister Found After London City Airport Evacuation A suspected chemical incident that led to the evacuation of London City Airport may have been caused by a passenger accidentally discharging CS gas before check-in, police have said. A canister, believed to be "a CS gas or spray", was discovered by police during a search on Friday afternoon. About 500 people were evacuated from the east London airport at 16:00 BST after some passengers felt unwell. Two people were taken to hospital and 26 others treated at the scene. A spokesperson said that while "the cause of the incident has not yet been confirmed, officers are investigating if it was the result of an accidental discharge". "At this early stage officers are investigating whether it may have been discarded by a passenger prior to check-in," the spokesperson said. The Met have said they are not treating the case as terrorist-related. David Morris, 28, had been checking in for a BA flight to Edinburgh when he "started to cough to the point I was not able to keep talking". "It was getting quite bad and we saw other people starting to cough at the same time. The people behind the desk were coughing the most and quite aggressively," he said. Chris Daly, 35, from Southend, told the BBC he had just landed on a flight from Glasgow when he heard the fire alarms. "When we got into the airport terminal building we could hear the fire alarms going on, then there were
announcements in three different languages saying this is a fire alarm and the crew were directing us at the baggage carousel to evacuate the building," he said. London Fire Brigade said sweeps of the airport were carried out by crews wearing protective equipment. "No elevated readings were found and the building was ventilated, searched and declared safe," a spokesperson said. The airport was reopened after about three hours and is running as normal.
Ambulance staff treated 26 patients for breathing difficulties
ROYALSEA
CANNEDPRODUCTS T U N A I NVEGETABLEOI L
S A R D I N E S I NTOMATOSAUCE
JACK MA C K E R E L I NTOMATOSAUCE L OT8RUI MVE L DT , I NDUST RI A LE ST A T EGE ORGE T OWN| T E L #: 2 2 31 034 / 2 2 31 035E MA I L : SUP E RF OODSGY . COM
INTERNATIONAL PAGE 38
GUYANA DAILY NEWS
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2016
A Day Like Today ‘Doctor Emmett’, ‘Manic Chris’ or simply Christopher Lloyd is turning 78 today. Christopher Allen Lloyd was born on October 22nd 1938, in Stamford, Connecticut, lawyer Samuel R. Lloyd, Jr. and singer Ruth Lapham. He is the youngest of four girls and three boys. During his childhood Lloyd took acting classes in New York City, participating regularly in stage performances of his school and local theaters. His confident aptitude on stage gave him papers in small productions Off-Broadway and Broadway musicals. His first movie role was as a psychiatric patient in the 1975 American comedy-drama film ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest’. He is better known for his roles in the 70s sitcom ‘Taxi’, in which he played a hippie taxi driver named ‘Reverend Jim Ignatowski’, and his impersonation of the lovable Emmett ‘Doc’ Brown, in the 1980s sci-fi classic ‘Back to the Future’. In the years that followed he continued to appear in sitcom, TV Shows, small productions and screen collaborations, but Lloyd’s passion lays on the theatre. The smell of the freshly polished wood, the echo, ‘los palcos’(wooden crafted sits) the freedom of movement, the art to improvise without limitations and most importantly, the applause. This ephemeral but addictive feeling of daily selfaccomplishment, is what captivates Chris. His acting has earned him an Independent Spirit Award and multiple Primetime Emmy Awards, as well as nominations for Saturn Awards offered by the Academy of Science Fiction Fantasy and Horror Films and a Daytime Emmy Award, recognition offered by the American Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. American Actor, Christopher Allen Lloyd Source: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000502/
1985 American science fiction adventure comedy 'Back to the Future’
INTERNATIONAL PAGE 39
GUYANA DAILY NEWS
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2016
Mosul Battle: US Troops Mask Up Against Toxic Fumes Sunni Muslim fighters at a base in northern Iraq last year.
US soldiers at a base near the northern Iraqi city of Mosul have donned protective masks against toxic fumes from a sulphur plant set alight in fighting with so-called Islamic State. They took the precaution after the wind blew smoke from the fire towards Qayyarah air field. In Baghdad, Turkish attempts to join the offensive against IS were rebuffed. Meanwhile, advancing Iraqi forces entered the town of Qaraqosh, 32km (20 miles) south of Mosul, the IS capital. Qaraqosh, Iraq's largest Christian town before the war, is said to be largely empty but IS has laid landmines on the approaches to Mosul. The militants have been attacking with suicide bombers elsewhere, driving vehicles laden with explosives at high speed towards government lines. Friday's IS attack on the city of Kirkuk, 170km (105 miles) southeast of Mosul, now appears to be over, leaving at least 35 people dead and 120 wounded, according to medical sources. 'Two dead' Qayyarah acts as the main US hub for supporting the Iraqi government offensive to drive IS out of their Mosul stronghold. The fire began two days ago, when IS fighters reportedly set the sulphur plant alight in Mishraq, south of Mosul. "The winds have actually shifted south, so, as a precautionary measure, the troops at Qayyara West have donned their personal protective equipment - continuing their operations at this point in time," an official told Reuters news agency, speaking on condition of anonymity. An Iraqi commander, Qusay Hamid Kadhem, told AFP news agency two civilians had died from the fumes and "many others" had been injured. A similar fire at the Mishraq plant in 2003 burnt for weeks, sending huge amounts of sulphur dioxide into the air. It caused respiratory problems for local people and damaged the environment. How harmful can sulphur dioxide be? Sulphur dioxide gas is toxic when inhaled or when the skin or eyes are exposed. When inhaled, it causes irritation to the nose and throat. Exposure to high concentrations causes nausea, vomiting, stomach pain and corrosive damage to the airways and lungs. Skin contact causes stinging pain, redness of the skin and blisters, while eye contact causes watering and, in severe cases, may cause blindness. Turkey rebuffed US Defence Secretary Ash Carter made an unscheduled visit to Baghdad on Saturday after talks with Turkish leaders in Ankara on Friday on how they might play a part in the Mosul operation. Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi told Mr Carter: "I know that the Turks want to participate, we tell them thank you, this is something the Iraqis will handle. If help is needed, we will ask for it from Turkey or from other regional countries." Differences between Iraq and Turkey have come to the fore since hundreds of Turkish soldiers began training
The Sunni Turks fear the liberation of Mosul may be spearheaded by Shia Muslims and Kurds. Turkey says Kurdish fighters in Syria and Iraq have ties to the Kurdish militant PKK in Turkey. The presence of the Turkish military has also drawn protests among radical Shia in Baghdad. Mr Carter, who is in Iraq for the third time this year, has overseen a steady increase in US troop numbers there. More than 4,800 US soldiers are in Iraq and at least 100 US special operations personnel are operating with Iraqi units. The offensive against Mosul, which began on Monday, is a two-pronged operation, with Iraqi government forces attacking from the south and Kurdish fighters advancing from the east. Advance continues Reports on Tuesday that Qaraqosh had been liberated caused an outpouring of joy among Christians who had fled to Kurdish areas when IS swept into Mosul in June 2014. But the reports turned out to be premature as snipers impeded the progress of government forces. In Kirkuk, the governor, Najmiddin Karim, said "all" of the IS attackers had been killed by the security forces. However, Kurdish forces controlling the city detained a number of suspected IS members on Saturday, according to an AFP photographer who recorded the arrests. Photos of damaged buildings in the city show the full ferocity of Friday's combat, with facades peppered by gunfire. Concern for the fate of civilians in Mosul increased on Friday after reports that IS was herding villagers into the city, possibly to use them as human shields. The UN is also investigating reports 40 people were shot dead by IS fighters in one village. (BBC)
Smoke has been rising from the burning sulphur plant at Mishraq for two days now(REUTERS)
INTERNATIONAL PAGE 41
GUYANA DAILY NEWS
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2016
'Smart' Home Devices Used AsonWeapons In Website Attack Dyn, which acts as a directory service for huge numbers of
Hackers used internet-connected home devices, such as CCTV cameras and printers, to attack popular websites on Friday, security analysts say. Twitter, Spotify, and Reddit were among the sites taken offline on Friday. Each uses a company called Dyn, which was the target of the attack, to direct users to its website. Security analysts now believe the attack used the "internet of things" - web-connected home devices - to launch the assault. Dyn is a DNS service - an internet "phone book" which directs users to the internet address where the website is stored. Such services are a crucial part of web infrastructure. On Friday, it came under attack - a distributed denial of service (DDoS) - which relies on thousands of machines sending coordinated messages to overwhelm the service. The "global event" involved "tens of millions" of internet addresses. Jump media playerMedia player help Security firm Flashpoint said it had confirmed that the attack used "botnets" infected with the "Mirai" malware. Many of the devices involved come from Chinese manufacturers, with easy-to-guess usernames and passwords that cannot be changed by the user - a vulnerability which the malware exploits. "Mirai scours the Web for IoT (Internet of Things) devices protected by little more than factory-default usernames and passwords," explained cybersecurity expert Brian Krebs, "and then enlists the devices in attacks that hurl junk traffic at an online target until it can no longer accommodate legitimate visitors or users." The owner of the device would generally have no way of knowing that it had been compromised to use in an attack, he wrote. Mr Krebs is intimately familiar with this type of incident, after his website was targeted by a similar assault in September, in one of the biggest web attacks ever seen. Vulnerable to toasters The incidents mark a change in tactics for online attackers. DDoS attacks are typically aimed at a single website. Friday's attack
firms, affected several of the world's most popular websites at once. The use of internet-connected home devices to send the attacking messages is also a relatively new phenomenon, but may become more common. The Mirai software used in these attacks was released publicly in September - which means anyone with the skill could build their own attacking botnet. On social media, many researchers and analysts expressed frustration with the security gap being exploited by attackers. "Today we answered the question 'what would happen if we connected a vast number of cheap, crummy embedded devices to broadband networks?'" wrote Matthew Green, an assistant professor at the Johns Hopkins Information Security Institute. Jeff Jarmoc, head of security for global business service Salesforce, pointed out that internet infrastructure is supposed to be more robust. "In a relatively short time we've taken a system built to resist destruction by nuclear weapons and made it vulnerable to toasters," he tweeted. (BBC)
Net-connected cameras are helping attackers in large-scale attacks(THINKSTOCK)
INTERNATIONAL PAGE 42
GUYANA DAILY NEWS
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2016
Ceta Talks: EU Hopes To Unblock Canada Trade Deal economy, the BBC's Canada editor Jessica Murphy writes.
The European Parliament president says he is optimistic that a free-trade deal between the EU and Canada can be signed soon despite last-minute obstacles. Objections by a Belgian region, which opposes the deal, "are for us Europeans to solve", Martin Schulz said. He was speaking after meetings in Brussels with Canadian Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland and the head of Belgium's Wallonia region. Ms Freeland said: "It's time for Europe to finish doing its job." After seven years of negotiations on the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (Ceta), talks broke down on Friday. This followed a rejection of the deal by Wallonia. Exercising its right under the Belgian federal constitution, it called for clarity on safeguards to protect labour, environmental and consumer standards. The deadlock has called into question the EU's ability to make trade deals. All 28 EU member states support the agreement, which was to be signed next week. On Saturday Mr Schultz held meetings with Paul Magnette, the head of the Walloon government, and Mrs Freeland. Afterwards he told reporters that the emergency talks have given him "much reason for optimism about the positive conclusion of Ceta as soon as possible." He added: "I am convinced that, by fully addressing the last remaining concerns, we can turn the apparent European division on Ceta (...) into a victory for every participant." "The ball is in Europe's court," Ms Freeland said. "We hope that it is possible to find a solution." What is Ceta? Canada and the EU would eliminate 98% of tariffs under Ceta, which was negotiated over five years between 2009 and 2014. Supporters say this would increase trade between them by 20%. Critics argue that the deal lowers product standards and protects big business, allowing corporations to sue governments. Why does success hinge on one small region? Wallonia is a region of just 3.6 million people. The EU as a whole has a population of 508 million while there are 36.3 million Canadians. Belgium's constitution stipulates that each of its regional governments must back the deal before the federal government can sign it. Wallonia has remained opposed to Ceta, seeing it as a threat to farmers and welfare standards. The French-speaking region has a strong socialist tradition. Its fears echo those of anti-globalisation activists, who say Ceta and deals like it give too much power to multinationals. There have also been big demonstrations in several EU countries against Ceta and the TTIP trade talks between the EU and the US. How big a deal is this for Canada? The deal was completed under the former Conservative government but is a major priority for the Liberals, who are under pressure to boost the country's
They dispatched special envoy Pierre Pettigrew, a former cabinet minister with a wealth of experience in international trade, to help save the flagging agreement. Federal Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland has repeatedly met European leaders in recent months to shepherd it through. On Friday, she said agreement now seemed "impossible". How does the EU look now? The failure to clinch the EU-Canada Ceta deal is an embarrassment, writes Laurence Peter, the BBC website's EU analyst. The European Commission insists Ceta is not over but it also refuses to unpick the massive text. Chances of any EU free trade deals with the US, China or India now look remote. Anti-globalisation groups, anxious to protect Europe's welfare and environmental standards, may feel they are winning the argument. For now, any Ceta boost for small businesses and jobs has been postponed. Are there lessons for Brexit? A very obvious one is that it is going to be difficult for the EU to implement trade and investment deals, perhaps with anyone, writes Andrew Walker, the BBC's economics correspondent. For the UK post-Brexit, it suggests two contrasting implications: Negotiating a trade agreement that gives British exporters barrier free access to the EU's single market could be a huge challenge. For sure, there will be some important differences. For the EU, Britain is a more important export market than Canada, so some EU states will have a good deal to lose from failing to agree. But securing the agreement of all of them is unlikely to be straightforward On the other hand, negotiating an agreement with other countries outside the EU should become easier. To put it bluntly, the British government will not need to care what the Walloon parliament, for example, thinks(BBC)
Canada's Chrystia Freeland and Martin Schulz agreed the ball was in the EU's court(EPA)
PREMI UM PI NE AND LOCALLY DRES S ED LUMBER LOT8RUI MVELDT,I NDUS TRI ALES TATEGEORGETOWN| TELEPHONE#2318344| FAX:2318590| WWW. bui l di ngde pot gy. c om
INTERNATIONAL
GUYANA DAILY NEWS US Election: Trump Takes Aim At First Lady Michelle Obama PAGE 44
Trump has launched a rare attack on Michelle Obama, saying "all she wants to do is campaign" for his rival. He also accused the first lady of attacking Hillary Clinton in 2007 by invoking a line she had said about fitness to run the White House. The Obama campaign had denied the line referred to Mrs Clinton. Mrs Clinton, meanwhile, accused Mr Trump of threatening democracy if he did not accept the election result. "We know the difference between leadership and dictatorship, and the peaceful transition of power is one of the things that sets us apart," she told a crowd in Cleveland, Ohio. "Donald Trump refused to say that he'd respect the results of this election. By doing that, he's threatening our democracy." At his own rally in North Carolina, Donald Trump told supporters, "I see how much [Michelle Obama] likes Hillary." "But wasn't she the one that originally started the statement, 'If you can't take care of your home,' right? 'You can't take care of the White House or the country?' Where's that? I don't hear that. I don't hear that." Mrs Obama said: "If you can't run your own house, you certainly can't run the White House". Some critics asked whether the comment had been aimed at Mrs Clinton's relationship with her husband, former President Bill Clinton. But the Obama campaign maintained the line was not directed at the Clintons and instead referred to their own struggle with parenting during a campaign. "So, we've adjusted our schedules to make sure that our girls are first, so while he's traveling around, I do day trips," Mrs Obama continued in her 2007 speech. "That means I get up in the morning, I get the girls ready, I get them off, I go and do trips, I'm home before bedtime." Mr Trump was back on the campaign trail a day after he and Mrs Clinton appeared together at the Alfred E Smith
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2016
Memorial Foundation charity dinner in New York City. The event, which takes place during election years, offers presidential candidates a chance to crack jokes about one another. But Alfred E Smith V told CNN on Friday Mr Trump had "crossed the line and took it a little too far". "The room did get a little uncomfortable," he added. What happens next? The two candidates will spend the remaining 18 days before the election criss-crossing the US in their bid to persuade undecided voters. Expect to see lots of appearances in battleground states such as Ohio, North Carolina, Florida and Pennsylvania Voters will go to the polls on Tuesday 8 November to decide who becomes the 45th president of the US The new president will be inaugurated on 20 January 2017 (BBC)
Trump: “All she wants to do is campaign”
FUN CORNER PAGE 45
GUYANA DAILY NEWS
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2016
The King Of Rock & Roll-Word Search
J UMBOFAMI L YSI ZE
REGULARFAMI L YSI ZE
Buy8pc sChi c k enandget a 2L i t r eBus t aAbs ol ut el yF r ee F l av orof Y ourChoi c e
LOT12& 13FI FTH STREETAVENUESUBRYANVI LLESHERI FFST. GEORGETOWN 7601/2237602 DELI VERY:223-
CLASSIFIEDS PAGE 47
WANTED
Fast Growing Food Distribution Company Seeking Salespersons. Must Have a Drivers License And Valid Police Clearance. Some Experience Necessary. Call For Interview Tel# 2318344 Or 223-1034 **** One Receptionist. Must be Computer literate, 18 years or older. For more information call 2316338.
GUYANA DAILY NEWS
VACANCY
Fast Growing Food Distribution Company Seeking Canter Driver. Must Have A Driver License And Valid Police Clearance. Some Experience Necessary. Call For Interview Tel # 231-8344 Or 223-1034
VACANCY
Fast growing reputable Food Importer & Distributor seeking a Warehouse Worker. Must have Experience & Valid Police Clearance. For more info Please call 231-8344 / 223-1034
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2016
VACANCY
FOR SALE
One Pharmacy Assistant Please call 231-5900 **** One Lab Assistant Please call 231-5900 **** One Lab Technician Must have a Diploma in Medical Technology, be able to work as part of a fast moving team. MUST BE LICENSED Please call 231-5900
Eccles lot for sale. 50x100. $6M Please call 638-7677
SERVICES
Tattoo Removal, Laser Lipo, Hair Removal and more. For more information call Skin Care Clinic on Tel: 231-5900.
PAGE 48
This Saturday Pulse Entertainment will take you on yet another epic adventure exploring your true side. Pulse Entertainment’s Thriller 2016The Sexiest Halloween Costume Party Saints & Sinners on Saturday October 22nd at Palm Court from 9pm.Choose your costume, express yourself and party the night away.
All Costumes Allowed. Hang tight to your halos or horns for the sinful mixes by Trinidadian superstar, DJ Marcus Williams, also featuring Dj Anisah,Selector Carl and DJ Ryan. Tickets Cost: General:$3,000 VIP balcony Tickets: $8000 inclusive of Free Cocktails & Finger Foods
Dream the ultimate All White Event this Saturday at Club Privilege Guyana Come out for a night of elegance, luxury and style. Prizes for the best dressed couple. Music by Gully Ras & Diamond, DJ Energy, and DJ David. DREAM THE ULTIMATE ALL WHITE AFFAIR.
Source: https://www.facebook.com/clubprivilegegy/?fref=ts
Ticket Locations: Pulse Online Shopping MovieTown DVD Club Palm Court Gizmos &Gadgets Game Express Sponsored By: Pulse Online Shopping Gizmos & Gadgets Shoe Heaven Glamour Designer Brands Banks DIH Best Warehouse Deals 93.1 Real FM Turbo Fruta Pulse Rentals Game Express S o u r c e : https://www.facebook.com/events/2193 38938483853/
HOROSCOPE PAGE 50
GUYANA DAILY NEWS
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2016
Daily Horoscope
Source: www.starlightastrology.com
You can make excellent investments if you are in the right place at the right time. Jealousy may get in the way of a good relationship. Set a limit, or you'll wind up on a tight budget.
Today is not the day to try to comer people by giving them ultimatums. Ignore colleagues who appear to be going in circles. Your dynamic, determined approach will win favors as well as a helping hand.
Think before you act. Don't settle for less than the best. Your doubt could lead to insecurity.
Don't overlook that fact that someone you care about may be hiding something. You must be extremely careful not to let relatives or friends interfere in your personal life. Your mate may be distressed if you refuse to make a commitment.
You should get out and enjoy social events where you are likely to meet new potential mates; however, don't over spend. Someone you care about may not be too well. You can elaborate on your creative ideas and get involved in groups that relate to the arts. Be sure that you have all the facts before you take action. Your willingness to help others can and will lead to fatigue if you don't learn to say no. An older member of the family may need assistance. Keep an eye on your weight. Your ability to work with detail will bring recognition. You will enjoy travel and getting together with peers. You can accomplish a lot if you deal with other people's money or possessions today. You can develop your creative talents if you take the time to practice your art. Direct your energy wisely today. Anger will prevail if you expect help from others.
Don't be too quick to judge your position or surroundings at work. It's a great day to attend social functions. Be tactful if you see aws in someone else's work. Get involved in worthwhile endeavors and meet new friends. Make any decisions you have to in order to avoid feeling unsettled. If you haven't already, don't be afraid to start your own small business on the side. Plan a trip to the country or take a drive to the beach. If you can't trust someone, question the connection. Strong willpower will come to your rescue. Travel if it's needed to start the ball rolling. You can accomplish a lot if you put some effort into household duties or redecorating plans. Travel will initiate new friendships or love connections.
RECIPE PAGE 51
GUYANA DAILY NEWS
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2016
PUMPKIN SPICE CARAMEL RICE KRISPIES Ingredients 5 tablespoons of PALMBOOM* butter 1 and 1/2 teaspoons of pumpkin spice seasoning 2 (10 ounce) bags of mini marshmallows 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 tablespoon of MILKO* milk solution 1 (11 ounce) bag of caramel squares 1 tablespoon of MILKO* milk solution 6 cups of rice cereal
Preparation Melt your butter and pumpkin spice seasoning together over low heat. When your butter is melted, stir in the vanilla extract and 1 full bag of the marshmallows and half of the second bag. While the marshmallows are melting you can go ahead and unwrap and melt your caramel squares. (Make sure you stir your marshmallows every couple of minutes while they are melting). Throw the caramels in a bowl and heat them in the microwave for 30 seconds at a time, stirring in-between each interval, until they are smooth and melted. Then whisk in 1 tablespoon of milk. Once your marshmallows in the pot are melted, add in the last of the marshmallows and the tablespoon of milk and stir just until they are coated. After you stirred in the milk and the marshmallows, add in your rice cereal. and stir to combine. Once that’s all combined, spray your pan with non-stick spray or coat it in butter and add HALF of the mixture to your pan and flatten it out. Here’s a little tip to help you flatten it and keep your sanity: spray a piece of parchment paper with non-stick spray and then lay it (sprayed side down) on the pan over the rice krispies, and use that to press them flat. Just make sure you don’t smash them down too hard or your treats will be really hard. After you’ve flattened your first layer, pour all of the melted caramel and spread it evenly over the top. Now you can add your final layer of the rice krispie mixture and using the same piece of parchment paper, flatten them out over the caramel. Let them cool to room temperature and then slice and serve!!
**Imported and distributed by SUPERFOODS
PAGE 53
SportsMax Offers Football Fans Trip To Spain across the Caribbean the chance to win a trip for 2 to see 2-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo and Real Madrid in action against Valencia on December 18. Dubbed 'The La Liga Experience', SportsMax will fly one lucky winner plus a guest to Valencia in Spain from December 15 – 19, for an all-inclusive VIP trip which includes airfare, transportation and accommodation for two, plus a tour of the city of Valencia & the Mestalla stadium, pre-match locker room access, amazing seats for match day, plus spending money.
S
portsMax have teamed up with La Liga, the world’s most star-studded football league, to offer football fans
SportsMax head of marketing Tanya Lee says the La Liga Experience is a means of rewarding Caribbean football fans with a once-in-a-lifetime experience. “SportsMax wishes to unite 2 lucky fans with their
beloved team. Last season we sent two fans to Spain to watch Messi, Neymar and Barcelona in action against Real Betis. This trip, our winners will have a chance to see the likes of world stars Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale live on matchday, surrounded by fans from all over the world.
They have seen it in HD on our channels and now they get to live it in person! There is truly nothing that can beat that experience!” To enter, fans from SportsMax’s 25 Caribbean countries can log on to live.sportsmax.tv/laliga and fill out the entry form provided. For more information on the La Liga Experience visit the SportsMax website www.sportsmax.tv and follow SportsMax on social media. (SportsMax)
PAGE 54
Sampaoli Different To Bielsa, Says Simeone
D
iego Simeone cites Marcelo Bielsa as a key influence on him as a coach, but does not see parallels between the veteran and Jorge Sampaoli. Atletico Madrid head coach Diego Simeone is a keen admirer of Jorge Sampaoli, but believes comparisons between his Sevilla counterpart and South American coaching great Marcelo Bielsa are wide of the mark. Atleti travel to Sevilla for an intriguing LaLiga encounter on Sunday, with Simeone's men top of the table heading into the weekend fixtures – a point above their hosts in third. Sampaoli succeeded Unai Emery after the former Valencia boss moved on to Paris
Saint-Germain on the back of a third successive Europa League crown. It marked a return to club football for the 56-year-old Argentinian, who led Chile to Copa America glory to prompt comparisons with countryman Bielsa's time in charge of La Roja between 2007 and 2011. Simeone played under Bielsa for the Argentina national team and credits him as one of the many coaches to have influenced his own approach in the dugout, although he does not necessarily recognise a common thread between the 61-year-old and Sampaoli. "I have the influence of several coaches: Bielsa, [Sven-Goran] Eriksson, [Alfio] Basile ... they have left a mark, but I
see no comparison between Bielsa and Sampaoli," he told a pre-match news conference. "I see a great coach with very clear ideas but I never like comparisons." Simeone's Atletico have shown a more expansive style this season, adding flourishes to the dogged hard-working defensive approach that has become their calling card and the coach credits the players at his disposal for their role in this evolution. "I'm not a coach who thinks there is only play one way, my way is not the only one that counts," he added. "I value my players and from them I seek the best way to play together." (SportsMax)
PAGE 56
Immense Stokes Regains Control For England
England 293 and 228 for 8 (Stokes 85, Bairstow 47, Shakib 5-79) lead Bangladesh 248 (Tamim 78, Mushfiqur 48, Stokes 4-26) by 273 runs Ben Stokes produced a day of all-round dominance to rival anything produced by an England player in the subcontinent, to drag his side - wicket by wicket, run by run - into the ascendancy in a thrilling first Test against Bangladesh at Chittagong. With four crucial wickets in a supreme display of reverse-swing bowling in Bangladesh's first innings, followed by a technically formidable 85 from 151 balls in England's second, Stokes twice hauled England back from the point of no return, and in so doing, sapped the spirit of a Bangladesh side that had made much of the running in the first two days of the contest. By the close, England had recovered from a ropey 64 for 5 in their second innings to reach the close on 228 for 8 - an overall lead of 273 - with Stuart Broad and Chris Woakes once again demonstrating the depth of England's batting resources in a comfortable ninth-wicket stand. However, with the second new ball looming within four overs of the resumption, the vagaries of the pitch are sure to be revealed once again when Bangladesh's spinners are armed with a hard new cherry, which in turn will reaffirm the magnificence of Stokes' performance. The ball was in its 19th over when Stokes began his vigil, with men around the bat and England in some strife after the loss of four wickets for 20 runs in the space of ten overs either side of lunch. But, in a doughty display of patience and controlled aggression, Stokes demonstrated both maturity and the fruits of his own hard graft in the nets, as he played largely off the back foot to give himself time to react to whatever came his way. Aside from one early sweep for six over square leg off Taijul Islam, it wasn't until the final session that Stokes unfurled his more belligerent strokes, as he began to warm to the lessening bite of the spinners to crunch six fours and two more sixes in a stay that spanned 46 overs. The second of his sixes, again off Taijul, was hoisted high over midwicket to bring up a 102-ball fifty. Jonny Bairstow was his principal ally in a sixth-wicket stand of 127, during which time Bairstow went past Andy Flower's record for the most runs by a wicketkeeper in a calendar year. He finally chopped on for 47 to give Kamrul Islam Rabbi his maiden Test wicket - a rare success for Bangladesh's seamers who contributed 11 overs all told and none before the 40th over - and Stokes followed three overs later to give Shakib Al Hasan the fourth wicket of a fighting haul of 5 for 79. However, as Stokes departed to huge acclaim from his team-mates, it was clear that he had already carried the destiny of this match beyond any reasonable doubt. Bangladesh cannot be entirely ruled out, of course, but in what is already a stiff fourth-innings
requirement, it will require a performance of at least equal skill and resolve if they are to secure a win that would surely count as their greatest Test victory. To devalue Stokes' efforts by commenting on the identity of his opponents would do a disservice to both parties. Bangladesh may have lost all eight of their previous Tests against England, but much like Sri Lanka in the early 1990s, there comes a point when past history counts for little and teams deserve to be judged on the here and now. And for two days of absorbing, and very traditional, subcontinental cricket, it had been Bangladesh putting in all of the inspirational performances - from Mehedi Hasan's six-wicket debut, to Tamim Iqbal's cool-headed 78. England started the third day with a lead of 73 and five Bangladesh wickets still to claim, no easy task given the listlessness of their spinners when armed with the soft old ball. It was clear that a lead of any description on this surface would be critical to either side, so Stokes made it his duty to be the man that England needed. Their day did, however, begin with a gift-wrapped opening wicket. His later wickets atoned for the misjudgement to a degree but, as their last remaining senior batsman, Shakib's decision to gallop down the pitch to Moeen Ali's second delivery of the morning was an aberration. He was stumped by three yards to depart for 31, and when the nightwatchman Shafiul Islam slogged an Adil Rashid legbreak to mid-on for 2, the door was flapping open for Stokes to kick through the tail. He had already made arguably the key incision of the match by extracting Mushfiqur Rahim for 48 on the second evening and, with the ball moving both ways seemingly at will, from over and round the wicket, Stokes was threatening left- and righthanders alike on both sides of the bat - as well as flush on the helmet, when he pinned the debutant Sabbir Rahman with a pinpoint bouncer. By the time he plucked out Rabbi's off stump with a perfect inswinger, he had completed innings figures of 4 for 26 in 14 overs, including 4 for 10 in his last ten. By lunch, however, the pricelessness of England's 45-run lead had become all too apparent, as Bangladesh's spinners once again surged to the fore, armed with the hard new ball that seemed at times to detonate from the crumbling surface. In the space of eight deliveries, England lost both of their most acclaimed players of spin, as Alastair Cook was lured into a poke to slip off Mehedi before Joe Root - always eager to rotate the strike - dropped to one knee and was pinned lbw by Shakib. And right on the stroke of lunch, England lost their third wicket for two runs in the space of 20 balls, as Ben Duckett lobbed a simple chance off Shakib to short leg. Stokes' appearance followed soon after the resumption when Gary Ballance, who had never looked comfortable as Bangladesh cramped his pads with a tight leg-stump line, swept firmly into Imrul Kayes' midriff at leg slip for 9, and though Moeen survived his sixth TV referral of the match after a catch to short leg had been deflected off the fielder's helmet, he too fell on the sweep to leave the fate of the game hanging on England's redoubtable middle order. Not for the first time in recent months, they responded to the challenge. (ESPNcricinfo)
PAGE 57
Bournemouth 0 Tottenham 0: Cherries Hold Toothless Spurs
Bournemouth did well to hold Tottenham to a scoreless draw as Mauricio Pochettino's men spilled points away from home for the third time. Tottenham missed the chance to establish a two-point advantage at the top of the Premier League - for three hours at least - after a feisty 0-0 draw at Bournemouth. Mauricio Pochettino's men won the corresponding fixture 5-1 last season but there was never any prospect of a repeat and the visitors were hanging on for a point at the end. Spurs can also count themselves extremely fortunate to finish with 11 men on the field with both Erik Lamela and, in particular, substitute Moussa Sissoko lucky to escape red cards. Lamela was given the benefit of the doubt in the first half when, having already been booked, he slid carelessly into Dan Gosling while Sissoko could face further action from the Football Association for an inexplicable elbow into the face of Harry Arter as the pair jostled for a ball at a throw in. With Harry Kane still unavailable due to injury, Pochettino opted to give Son Heung-min the nod up front ahead of Vincent Janssen, but the South Korea international was hooked in favour of the Dutchman on the hour mark after an anonymous performance. Most of Spurs' danger came from midfield, with Christian Eriksen, Dele Alli and Lamela all testing home
goalkeeper Artur Boruc - the Argentine even hitting the upright - but there was no way through for the visitors. The best the energetic hosts could muster was when Charlie Daniels hit the crossbar early on, but they will be happy with a draw and a clean sheet against a title contender. Bournemouth came close to grabbing an early lead when Daniels called goalkeeper Hugo Lloris into action after a short corner in the fifth minute - the France international only just managing to divert the left-back’s attempt from close range onto the woodwork after some good work from Gosling to create the chance. Tottenham were next to hit the frame of the goal when Lamela tried his luck from 20 yards after a sublime piece of skill from Alli. The winger’s curled attempt towards the top corner beat Boruc but struck the outside of the far post. The away side struggled to create any further chances of note in the opening 25 minutes, but they threatened from long range a second time when Eriksen forced Boruc into a sublime save after his shot
took a wicked deflection off Arter. Lamela was fortunate to escape a second yellow card after bringing down Gosling in midfield late in the first half, having previously been booked for a foul on Adam Smith, referee Craig Pawson opting to spare the former Roma star. Spurs sprung to life early in the second half and had halfchances via Alli and Lamela, the former testing Boruc from long range, before the latter blasted a shot over the crossbar from a narrow angle. Danny Rose had the chance to win it for Tottenham with 15 minutes left on the clock after a low cross from Sissoko, but his right-footed shot lacked the power to really worry Boruc. Sissoko had replaced Alli after 72 minutes but should have had a short afternoon, the referee and his assistants somehow failing to spot his flailing arm into the face of Arter. The incident fired up Bournemouth and they had one final chance to win it through Benik Afobe but the striker's header after a good cross from Simon Francis went inches over the bar as it remained scoreless. (SportsMax)
PAGE 59
Gut Wins Season-opening Race In Solden
A giant slalom masterclass from Lara Gut in her first World Cup run of the season set up an emphatic victory for the overall champion. Lara Gut made a blistering start to the defence of her overall FIS Alpine Ski World Cup title by winning the seasonopening giant slalom race in Solden on Saturday. Gut claimed
her first overall crown back in March and the Swiss laid down a marker on the first day of the 2016/17 season, winning by an emphatic margin of a minute and 44 seconds. The 25-year-old, who won the super-G crystal globe for a second time earlier this year, topped the podium just twice in the giant slalom discipline last season but was in a class of her own in Tirol. She opened up a whopping 1.42-second advantage with a rapid opening run of 1:10.11 under blue skies on the Rettenbach glacier. Gut clocked 1:12.91 second time around to start a campaign which marks the 50th anniversary year of the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup with maximum points. Mikaela Shiffrin, favourite to wrestle Gut's overall title off her, was second and last year's Solden giant slalom winner Federica Brignone produced another bold showing to fill the podium. It was a day to forget for giant slalom crystal globe holder EvaMaria Brem, who finished way down in 26th place in her homeland Lindsey Vonn, Anna Veith and Viktoria Rebensburg missed the opening weekend of the season as they recover from injuries. (SportsMax)
PAGE 60
Pakistan On Top After Two Late Wickets West Indies 106 for 4 (Bravo 43, Samuels 30, Rahat 2-31) trail (Pakistan 452 (Younis 127, Misbah 96, Shafiq 68, Sarfraz 56, Gabriel 5-96) by 346 runs Through most of the second day, West Indies fought to keep Pakistan from assuming an impregnable position in the Abu Dhabi Test. Shannon Gabriel's maiden five-wicket haul helped bowl Pakistan out for 452, and West Indies seemed to be in a fairly manageable position heading to stumps, but two wickets in the last two overs of the day sent them spiralling back to square one. At stumps, West Indies were four down and trailing by 346 runs, with Yasir Shah beginning to cause all manner of problems, ripping the ball out of the rough from around the wicket. Leon Johnson and Dwayne Bravo, opening because Kraigg Brathwaite had to make up for time spent off the field during Pakistan's innings, looked comfortable at the start of the West Indies innings, with the conditions offering little help for either the seamers or the spinners. Then, in the third over after tea, Rahat Ali produced reverse-swing with a 13-over-old ball to get Johnson lbw, beating his inside edge as he looked to work the ball into the leg side. Rahat then nearly had Brathwaite third ball, finding his outside edge as he poked uncertainly with no footwork at a length ball swinging away from him, but the ball fell just short of the wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed. Rahat and Sohail Khan continued to reverse the ball, though not extravagantly, and Bravo was untroubled by both of them as he drove with authority off both feet. It took until the 23rd over for Misbah-ul-Haq to turn to his legspinner, and Yasir struck at the start of his fourth over, straightening one from a middle-stump line to beat Bravo's risky front-foot pull and strike his front pad. Michael Gough turned down Yasir's appeal, but Pakistan's review showed there was no inside-edge and that the ball pitched in line, and indicated it would have gone on to hit middle and leg stumps. Marlon Samuels nearly went first ball, an inside-edge saving him, on review, after Gough had given him out lbw. Samuels' front-andacross trigger movement continued to cause him problems early in his innings against the spinners, but having survived that period, he began to play his shots. He took three fours off one Yasir over, moving back to slap him twice through the cover-point region and stepping forward in between to drive through mid-off. But he never really looked settled, and Rahat, in the penultimate over of the day, got the ball to reverse away from just short of a good length. Staying leg-side of the ball and not covering its line, Samuels poked at it and edged to slip. Then, Brathwaite pushed Yasir into the covers and called for one. Devendra Bishoo, the nightwatchman, sent him back when he was already halfway down the pitch, and two set batsmen had disappeared had disappeared in a flash. Pakistan were 304 for 4 overnight, and had gone past 500 in their last three first innings at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, but Gabriel and Jason Holder prevented them from doing so again. They took two
early wickets in the morning session, and then, after a 70-run seventh-wicket stand between Sarfraz and Mohammad Nawaz, picked up the last four wickets in the space of 8.4 overs. The lowerorder slump began in the second over after lunch, when Gabriel speared a reverse-swinging 152kph full-toss between Sarfraz's bat and pad and hit the base of off stump. Sarfraz had just stroked him for two fours in four balls and moved past the half-century mark. Another full, reverse-swinging delivery sent Nawaz back for 25 when he played across a Holder yorker from around the wicket. Sohail responded by hitting three fours in one Gabriel over, barely moving his feet but timing his shots crisply. He couldn't quite middle an attempted pull off Holder, however, and fell to a catch at midwicket. A successful lbw review from Sohail had kept Gabriel waiting for his fifth wicket, but he didn't have to wait too long before Zulfiqar, failing to get fully forward to drive, sent a thin edge through to wicketkeeper Shai Hope West Indies took the second new ball at the start of the day's play, and Gabriel struck in the fifth over of the morning. The last six times Misbah had resumed his innings overnight before this, he had added no runs to his score four times. Today he added six runs to his overnight 90 before Gabriel got one to seam back a touch and go past his inside edge as he looked to work the ball into the leg side. Misbah reviewed Gough's decision to give him out, and had to walk back when ball-tracking returned an 'umpire's call' judgment on whether the ball would have gone on to strike leg stump or not. Yasir, who walked in as nightwatchman on the first evening but didn't get to face a single ball, played some pleasing shots in reaching 23 - his three fours including a straight drive and a wristy pull, both off Holder - before pulling one straight to square leg. Pakistan were in danger of losing some of the ground they had gained on day one, but in Sarfraz they had just the right batsman for the situation, with the ability to score quickly and put the bowling team back on the back foot. Moving around the crease and often out of it to disrupt the bowlers' lines and lengths, he began finding the gaps and rotating the strike as soon as he walked in, usually with nimble flicks and deflections into the leg side. Sarfraz didn't hit any boundaries in his first 25 balls, but then hit two in two balls when Miguel Cummins tried to peg him back with the short ball, pulling him through square leg before helping him over the slips. Those were the last two balls of pace in the session. Spinners Devendra Bishoo and Roston Chase bowled the last 10 overs before lunch, and Pakistan comfortably milked 43 runs off them. Nawaz, who made a duck in his only innings in his debut Test in Dubai, waited ten balls to get off the mark here, but didn't show any urgency or nerves while doing so. The introduction of the spinners freed him up to an extent, and he brought up his first Test boundary in the fifth over before lunch with a rasping square cut off Chase. It remained the only boundary in his 71-ball 25. (ESPNcricinfo)
PAGE 62
Simeone Expects Title Challenge From Sevilla
Sevilla represent a threat to Atletico's LaLiga ambitions says Diego Simone, who hailed Yannick Carrasco after the winger signed a new deal. Diego Simeone believes his Atletico Madrid side are taking on a LaLiga title rival when they travel to Sevilla on Sunday. Atleti are top of the table, above city rivals Real Madrid on goal difference, with Sevilla a point further back in third.
Despite a close-season of upheaval, featuring significant player turnover – including star striker Kevin Gameiro joining Atletico – and Jorge Sampaoli replacing Paris Saint-Germain-bound coach Unai Emery, Simeone thinks Sevilla are capable of lasting the course. "Sevilla is a team with tools, and looking at the numbers, it is a team that can fight for the title," he told a pre-match news conference. "Sevilla and us, with Barcelona and Real Madrid, are on that path of hope. Sevilla always compete very well and are winning titles. "They have changed many players and their game is changing and developing but they are still very competitive. “In the Champions League they are doing very well and are strong in LaLiga." Former Argentina international Simeone began his career in Spain at
Sevilla, spending two years at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan before signing for Atleti in 1994. "Whenever I face Sevilla it is special," he said. "I always remember my passage in the team as a kid. "The people, the atmosphere… I am very grateful for this first stage in Sevilla, which gave me some of the best memories. It is always exciting to visit the Pizjuan." A youngster with his star on the rise in Simeone's current squad is Belgium w i n g e r Ya n n i c k C a r r a s c o , w h o celebrated four goals in the space of a week against Granada and Rostov by penning a new long-term contract at the Vicente Calderon on Friday. "Carrasco is growing and will be all that he wants to be," Simeone added. "Speed, intensity, he is scoring goals. The renewal is a deserved reward for his hard work." (SportsMax)
PAGE 63
NZ Chase Consistency, India Target Growth could also keep the bigger picture of the Champions Trophy in mind.
New Zealand would want to lend their captain Kane Williamson a lot more support while batting © BCCI Big Picture Landscape-gazing from an airplane window is a fascinating exercise, mostly because the topography of each city tells its own story. While Dharamsala has gorgeously irregular shapes, with its jagged hills and silent valleys, Delhi's tightlypacked clusters paint a chaotic visual. New Zealand's performance in the first two ODIs mirrored these patterns. There was one big innings in between several small ones in Dharamsala. Then the bowlers banded together and found redemption in a panicky finish in Delhi. The 1-1 scoreline may offer temporary respite, but for New Zealand to pull ahead their batting needs to go beyond the twin-prongs of Tom Latham and captain Kane Williamson. Should they replicate the consistency of Chandigarh's neatly carved, symmetric landscape in their performances, they would have done their job. India, on the other hand, won't worry over the Delhi loss. MS Dhoni's grouse about the absence of big partnerships may be justified, but the middle and lower-middle orders didn't look entirely out of depth. Kedar Jadhav was very good before Hardik Pandya's bravado, in the company of Umesh Yadav, almost took them home. India will want to win the series, but in making allowance for the younger players to make mistakes, learn from them and find their feet in their respective roles, they
Form guide India LWWWW (last five completed matches, most recent first) New Zealand WLWLW In the spotlight Kedar Jadhav has provided excellent value for money in this series. He is very new to the role of part-time bowler but has delivered wickets on order in both the games. Then he smashed a 37-ball 41 on a sluggish Kotla surface where batsmen struggled to score quickly. If Jadhav could be moulded into a finisher alongside Pandya, he would count as among India's biggest gains from this series. Tom Latham has the most runs for New Zealand on the tour. He also has the most fifties. While he carried his bat in Dharamsala, his dismissal against the run of play in Delhi slowed down his team's scoring rate. With the middle order not pulling its weight, Latham will be expected to bat deep into the innings again. Team news India's media manager Nishant Arora confirmed Suresh Raina, who has been recovering from a fever, wasn't travelling with the squad. This could mean Jadhav getting an extended run in the middle order. Rohit Sharma trained with no apparent discomfort after he seemed to suffer a cramp in his left arm during the second ODI. India (probable): 1 Rohit Sharma, 2 Ajinkya Rahane, 3 Virat Kohli, 4 Manish Pandey, 5 MS Dhoni (capt & wk), 6 Kedar Jadhav, 7 Hardik Pandya, 8 Axar Patel, 9 Amit Mishra, 10 Umesh Yadav, 11 Jasprit Bumrah James Neesham was seen having a long bowl in the nets. With the Mohali pitch not as dry as Delhi's, he might come in place of Anton Devcich. Tim Southee ruled out
resting Trent Boult or Matt Henry as part of New Zealand's workload-management strategy for the rest of the series. New Zealand (probable): 1 Martin Guptill, 2 Tom Latham, 3 Kane Williamson (capt), 4 Ross Taylor, 5 Corey Anderson, 6 Luke Ronchi (wk), 7 James Neesham/Anton Devcich, 8 Mitchell Santner, 9 Tim Southee, 10 Trent Boult, 11 Matt Henry
Pitch and conditions Southee said he was pleased to see some grass on the pitch in Mohali, although not much could be read into that considering the venue has traditionally been good for batting in ODIs. In the afternoon, head curator Daljeet Singh and Dhoni were seen having a long chat, following which the light roller was used on the pitch. Stats and trivia India have won three of their last four ODIs in Mohali MS Dhoni needs 22 runs to become the third wicketkeeper to 9000 runs in ODIs. Kumar Sangakkara and Adam Gilchrist are the other two. Kane Williamson has the highest aggregate (396 runs) for a New Zealand batsman in a five-match ODI series. Ross Taylor is second on the list with 375 runs. Both batsmen achieved this during New Zealand's tour to England last year. Quotes Ross [Taylor] has had a difficult Test series, but he is a class batsman. Every cricketer goes through form slumps. He is obviously disappointed and he wants to leave with runs. We know there is a big score around the corner for him. Tim Southee backs his team-mate to rediscover his form Anil [Kumble]bhai doesn't talk a lot about technique, but mentally he helps a lot. He talks a lot about the mental frame of mind even when you are not playing in the XI. His batting tips to tailenders, especially, have been very crucial as well. Amit Mishra can't stop raving about India's coach (ESPNcricinfo)
PAGE 65
Cibulkova's Cinderella Ttory Sweetens Singapore Field months in Acapulco this February, where defeat to Sloane Stephens and an immediate first-round loss in Monterrey could have shaken her confidence. Victories in Katowice and Eastbourne over a couple of months propelled her into form, Cibulkova reached the quarter-finals of Wimbledon - another victory would have led to the postponement of her wedding, though she then - fortunately or unfortunately depending on your view - lost to Elena Vesnina at Sw19. And though she could only follow that up with a third-round appearance at the US Open, a run to the final in Wuhan and going all the way in Linz just last week propelled the 26-yearold to a career-high eighth in the world and secured her a spot at the Finals for the first time in her career.
World number one Angelique Kerber is heavy favourite for the WTA Tour Finals, having won two grand slams in 2016. Though the WTA Finals may lack a certain stardust in the absence of Serena Williams, Dominika Cibulkova's road to Singapore gives the season-ending showpiece a heart-warming glow. Having lost her place as world number one to Angelique Kerber, Serena will skip Singapore for a second year in succession to focus on recovering from injury and preparing for the hard slog of her 22nd year among the professional ranks. Big names such as Maria Sharapova, Caroline Wozniacki and Victoria Azarenka are also missing for differing reasons, but Cibulkova ought to give the fans something to cheer after a redemptive 2016. THE FALL A quarter-final run at the Australian Open would not prove to be a fair omen for the Czech's 2015. After an Achilles injury wiped her out for four months, Cibulkova's return could not have gone much worse, losing eight of her 15 matches through the grass-court and US Open swings, suffering four first-round eliminations. Further poor form in Asia and yet another first-round exit at this year's Australian Open left Cibulkova 66th in the world. What has followed has been nothing short of spectacular... THE RISE Cibulkova reached her first final in 22
WHO ELSE IS IN ACTION? Top-ranked Kerber is naturally involved after a silver-lined year so far thanks to her victories at the Australian Open and US Open. Runs to the final at Wimbledon and the Olympic Games also mark out Kerber as the woman to beat. She has been drawn in the red group alongside Cibulkova, Simona Halep and Madison Keys. Defending champion Agnieszka Radwanska headlines the white group alongside French Open champion Garbine Muguruza.Karolina Pliskova is also in the group, with Svetlana Kuznetsova snatching the final spot from Johanna Konta thanks to her Kremlin Cup win on Saturday, just one day out from play beginning in Singapore. (SportsMax)
PAGE 66
Special Quality Makes Messi0 win Better Than Ronaldo - Tite over Deportivo La Coruna, before he netted a hat-trick in
Brazil boss Tite has explained why he thinks Lionel Messi is the world's best player, ahead of his side's match with Argentina in November. Lionel Messi possesses a "special quality" that makes him the best player in the world above Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar, according to Brazil head coach Tite. The Barcelona star scored on his return from a groin injury in the 4-
the 4-0 Champions League victory over Manchester City at Camp Nou on Wednesday. Brazil meet Argentina on November 11 in what could prove to be a pivotal World Cup qualifier, with Messi set to meet teammate Neymar in an international encounter for the first time since a 1-1 draw in a friendly in Beijing in 2014. While Tite believes Neymar has established himself as one of the three finest footballers in the world, along with Messi and Ronaldo, he considers Messi to be a cut above the rest. "They are the top three," he said. "This is nothing new, they're the top three that have been chosen for the Ballon d'Or before. "They are different generations - Messi and Ronaldo are more or less the same in terms of their timeline, being 29 and 31 years old. Neymar is a player who is on the rise, who is evolving. "But today, Messi, for me, is the best. He has this special quality that brings something new to the game, and for us it's a challenge to be able to go up against him for all the virtues and qualities that he has." Brazil sit top of South America's qualifying table for Russia 2018 with 21 points from 10 matches, five ahead of Argentina in fifth. (SportsMax)
PAGE 68
Jamaica Names WakenedNetball Team For Fast5 Tourney Jamaica. They were also unavailable for the Sunshine
Jamaica will be without its two best players as it departs for Melbourne, Australia on Saturday to compete in the upcoming Fast5 World Series set for October 29 and 30. Three-time ANZ champion Romelda Aiken and former ANZ top shooter Jhanielle Fowler have not been named on the team released by
Girls’ tour of New Zealand in September. The squad is being coached by former head coach Connie Francis, who returns to the national programme following a stint in St Lucia. The squad, which is being captained by veteran player Althea Byfield, includes Kasey Evering, former captain Nicole Aiken-Pinnock, Vangelee Williams, Nicole Dixon, Trishana Hanson, Anna-Kay Griffiths, Shantal Slater, Gezelle Allison and Vanessa Walker. President of Netball Jamaica, Dr Paula Daley Morris, said she expects the team to be competitive. "The team has been in training since June in preparation for the tournament," Morris told SportsMax.tv. "We are hoping to put up a very tough fight and if all goes well we will wish to medal but all I am expecting from these young ladies is for them to do their best every time they go on the court and if they continue to do so, we should have good results." The Sunshine Girls will open their campaign against South Africa on October 29, before they take on the mighty Australians and then Malawi. Then on October 30, they play New Zealand and England. The playoffs for positions will follow. (SportsMax)
Antigua And Barbuda Name 40-strong Swim Squad For Upcoming Championships Gobinet and Brandon Derrick in the 14-15 category. Joie Zriebe swims in the 16-17 category while Aliah Maginley will be the country’s lone participant in the 18 and over category. Meanwhile, the swimmers include Hailey Derrick, Angelique Gittens, Kimberlee Warner, Jaya Isaac-Carr, Luke Pollen-Brooks, Naeem DeSouza, Kalan Christopher and Lucah Mascoll-Gomes, who will compete in the 9-10year-old age group. Among the 11-12 year-olds are Olivia Fuller, Maia Nord-Hadeed and Arianna John as well as Joshua Edwards, Tanner Esty and Kyle Christopher.
Antigua and Barbuda has named a 40-man swim team to prepare for upcoming championships in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. All but two of the swimmers will compete at the OECS Championships that will run from November 10-13. Six swimmers will contest the Open Water Championships, slated for November 13. They include Sally Benjamin, Sebastian
Bianca Mitchell, Gabriella Gittens, Zoe Dennis, Sally Benjamin, Lleyton Martin, Jadon Wuilliez, Alexander Bento and Diallo Marshall will represent in the 13-14 age group. Antigua and Barbuda will be represented in the 1517 age category by Devon Wuilliez, Joie Zriebe, Aliah Maginley, Stefano Mitchell, Nathan Marshall and Daryl Appleton, while the 18 and over category will be contested by Camaria Sampson, J’Air Smith and Robert Watkins. The team will be coached by Terrell Bruno with assistance from Nelson Molina and Wayne Mitchell. (SportsMax)