October 23, 2016 by Guyana Daily News

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

LOCAL MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2016

Burnham Era Is Back With Minister Patterson’s Threats – Political Commentators Many Political commentators have will now be at the forefront- actions condemned the alleged threats on Facebook by Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson. Patterson reportedly threatened to investigate and punish members of the Political Opposition for not listening to President David Granger’s speech to Parliament on Thursday last. Minister Patterson reportedly said that political opponents who dare to protest the abuse of the President’s executive power by being absent from his address to the Parliament, will now be at the fore front of the government priorities and will kick into higher gear. “What happens next is entirely due to the Opposition’s actions today- the kid gloves will be taken oﬀ, since an unwritten line was crossed… (Punishment for crime of corruption) will go into a higher gear; building of cases against alleged corrupt oﬃcials

which I support. By this boycott, it will strengthen the efforts,” Patterson said. The PPP walked out of the National Assembly when President Granger was about to address the opening of 43rd Session of Parliament, citing abuse of Executive Power. Some believe that Patterson’s remarks represent the entire government’s view to suppress the will of the people, which comes on the heels of the President’s attempts to remove a constitutional office holder from office. “We wish to remind Mr. Patterson and the government that citizens have a constitutional right to express their views and opinions without fear, and that these words by Mr. Patterson are testimonials to the dark days of the Burnham era”, some political commentators noted. They are calling on the international community to take note of these new developments.

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

LOCAL MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2016

Taxi Driver On Bail For Alleged Fraud

Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan today released a Green Ice taxi driver on $20,000 bail after he was accused of

converting $90,000, which is the property of Shawn Bali , for his own personal use and beneﬁt. Chetram Suknandan was not represented and pleaded not guilty to the charge. He will return before the Providence Magistrate’s Court on October 20, 2016 for report. The 37-year-old taxi driver promised the Magistrate to repay the VC; as such the

Magistrate instructed that he pay the money before the end of this week and Police Prosecutor Corporal Dinero Jones made no objection to bail. It is alleged that on October 10, 2016 at Herstelling, East Bank Demerara, Balio gave Suknandan the $90,000 to pay his [Balio], however the accused reportedly converted the money to his own use and beneﬁt.

Prime Minister Pushes Food Security, Urges Farmers To Diversify

Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo has noted that Guyana must not sacrifice food security for oil wealth as he urged farmers to remain in farming and embrace diversification. He alluded to the current crisis in neighbouring Venezuela which is rich in oil but have deficiency in food security; and which is now experiencing a food crisis and suffering from the steep drop in oil prices on the global market. “Soon we will have oil. Oil wealth is good and welcomed. But we must not sacrifice food security for oil wealth. There are countries today that are rich in oil but are net importers of food and, also, water. Our neighbour to the West, is a sad and tragic case in point, where there are daily scramble and even mini-riots for food and, even, toilet paper” the prime minister said at the opening of a World Food Day Exhibition and Fair at the Mahaicony Community Centre Ground on Sunday. The government is now pleading with local framers to embrace diversification in order to avoid a similar plight like that of Venezuela, making it a

full-time job. The diversification includes livestock and aquaculture but now seem to favour rice over sugar as Guyana’s made agricultural product. “Traditionally, Guyana’s agricultural sector has revolved around rice and sugar. We have seen some efforts to diversify into livestock and aquaculture. We must now move with alacrity in agricultural diversification so as to remain competitive and ensure that we are trailblazers within the Caribbean,” said the prime minister. Nagamooto said that Guyana must follow the examples of other countries where rice is used for value-added products and that Guyana needs to go into agro-processing. He reveled that, coming on the heels of his visit to India, that an exploratory team will be visiting Guyana soon. And “I will encourage them to invest in transforming the rice sector.” The Prime Minister highlighted some of the progress in the rice industry. “Guyana has made great progress in show-casing its rice. Packaging of Guyana’s rice has improved considerably through the efforts of some large scale millers and producers. Guyana’s rice can be seen on the supermarket shelves around the Caribbean. But rice is a base commodity. We need to also focus on value added products, cereals, biscuits, flour and a host of other product which are in demand across the world. We need to follow the examples of other countries where rice is used for

value-added products. We need to go into agro-processing.” Nagamootoo also mentioned that the government plans to expand that initiative of the rice producing mega farms in the Rupununi savannahs. The Prime Minister acknowledged that like rice, Guyana’s sugar is known globally as a product of premium quality. But “Perhaps it is time we consider focusing on a niche market.” Essentially, producing sugar aimed at satisfying speciﬁc market needs, as a speciﬁc price range, production quality and the demographics that is intended to impact such high end bakeries, restaurants. However, unlike rice, the Prime Minister did not mention anything about value added products of sugar.

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

LOCAL MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2016

Broadcasting Authority Gets New CEO The Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) has officially appointed a new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) which was effective since September 26, 2016. According to a press release issued today, Dr. Prudence Lewis- Bhola has being chosen to function in the position of CEO of the broadcasting entity because she boast a multitude of experience in broadcasting and private sector management. “Dr. LewisBhola exemplifies all the requisite skills, knowledge and abilities necessary to successfully execute the mandate of the GNBA.” The statement noted that Dr. Lewis- Bhola holds a doctorate in Transformational Leadership, having completed her doctoral degree in June of 2015 in the United States of America; she also holds a Bachelor of Laws and a Social Sciences Degree in Communication from the University of Guyana. The release stated that the newly appointed CEO is “Keenly aware of the issues and challenges of the local broadcast landscape, she is optimistic that much can be achieved from meaningful engagement and collaboration with all stakeholders in the broadcast industry.” In addition, the CEO plans to be “proactive and diligent in her efforts to execute the GNBA’s statutory mandate. She has already commenced strategic planning sessions with GNBA’s senior management team and hopes to lead a series of consultative sessions with broadcast operators over the next two months.” The GNBA is currently under a probe by Retired Major General, Joseph Singh into allegations of corruption made by a broadcaster

against two GNBA members. The appointment of the new CEO comes at the time when there are also reports that the Chairman of the GNBA, Leonard Craig has signaled that he would be stepping down due an opportunity to pursue a doctorate during the next three years In China.

Dr. Prudence Lewis-Bhola(GNBA/File Photo)

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS Government Awarded Contracts Hurting Farmers PAGE 5

According to several farmers, food security in Guyana seems to be a growing problem that must be addressed urgently by the current government. They noted that food security is a foundation in building social and economic development, however, the government

MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2016

does not seem to have any National Food Policy in place. Farmers noted that Guyana has a very high level of p o v e r t y a n d malnutrition and as such, the government should invest signiﬁcant resources in the shortterm in order to prevent food shortage. According to some farmers, the government not only failed to promote a viable food policy but they are taking away the market which aids the small farmers that will allow them to expand in the future. In this regard, it was noted that the government awarded the

contract to Suriname based company “Rudisa”. One farmer was quoted as saying “what happens to all the farmers that was supplying DDL, what is their future and what will become of their families that depended on farming for their livelihood.” World Food Day 2016 was observed on October 16 and the United Nations is highlighting the close links between climate change, sustainable agriculture, and food and nutrition security, with the message: “The climate is changing. Food and agriculture must, too.” “As the global population expands, we will need to satisfy an increasing demand for food,” said Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon in his message commemorating the Day.

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

LOCAL MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2016

Alleged Teen Bandit Remanded

Magistrate Leron Daly today remanded 17-year-old Shemar Thompson until October 25, 2016 after he appeared before her in the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court charged with two

counts of robbery underarms which he allegedly committed on October 13, 2016 in Georgetown. The accused was not allowed to plead to the indictable charge; however his Attorney argued innocence claiming that the matter is of mistaken identity. The Attorney also revealed to the court that her client was assaulted by ranks of the police force and arrested while he was on his way to meet his mother. However Police Prosecution revealed that the injuries the accused obtained

were at the hands of residents of the village where the incident occurred. The Prosecution objected to bail, stating that Thompson will pose a problem to return to court. It is alleged that on the day in question at around 4:55h, Thompson of West La Penitence while in the company of another and armed with a gun, robbed Steven Emanuel. It is further alleged that on the same day at around 6:00h, under the same circumstances the duo robbed Diana Richard of GY$14,520.

SWAPS Implantation To Help With Guyana’s Ease Of Doing Business

The implementation and full usage of the Single Windows System or Single Windows Automated Processing System (SWAPS) which is trade facilitation idea that enables international (cross-border) traders to submit regulatory documents at a single location and/or single entity

stands to benefit the business community and country as a whole, according to the Ministry of Business. Funding for the project is being sought from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB). In August of this year the Bank hired a consultant to conduct a review of all documents and reports associated with the project as well as to evaluate the cost of the project. The CDB is currently reviewing the consultant’s draft report, meanwhile another appraisal mission is planned during this week. The Ministry of Business views this project as one that will improve Guyana’s competitiveness and contribute to improvement in its ranking on the World Bank’s ease of doing business index and is keen to see it realized. However, while the logic of a simplistic approached to cross border trading is regard as a step in the right direction, the complexity of its implementation cannot take too lightly either, establishing a Single Window System is not a simple one step process, it is also very difficult to replicate a system has worked in one country into another country because different countries have different capabilities, resources, and institutional issues. The Ministry of Business, which is

championing the project, has appointed a steering committee comprising of Kim Stephen (Ministry of Business), Komal Singh (Private Sector), Sese Jones (Guyana Revenue Authority), Andrew Astwood (Shipping Association of Guyana) and Francis Simmons (Ministry of Public Telecommunication), Sheranne Isaacs (Ministry of Finance), and Nicola Namdeo (Ministry of Business) to oversee the implementation of SWAPS in Guyana. Once funding has been approved, the project is expected to begin in 2017, however, beneﬁts of the project will only be realized after full implementation, which is approximately 2 years after.

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

LOCAL MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2016

$1M Pledged To Science And Technology Programme At SVN-President Tells Students At Graduation Ceremony It is for this reason why I am happy to be here this

President David Granger, Professor Clement Sankat (on stage) and Mrs. Sita Nagamootoo (standing below) with SVN's graduating class of 2016 Georgetown, Guyana – (October 17, 2016) President David Granger, yesterday again emphasised the importance of designing curricula that are focused on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), which are the key areas necessary for the building for a strong, competitive economy and the development of a ‘green’ state. The Head of State, who was speaking at the Saraswati Vidya Niketan (SVN) Hindu School’s 12th graduation ceremony, said that as long as the school pursues STEM, the State will support the school and pledged $1M to bolster its science programme The ceremony was held at the school’s Cornelia Ida, West Coast Demerara campus. Over 90 students, who successfully completed this year’s Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) examinations, received certificates and the top students received various prizes. The school’s top student this year, Ms. Ramkumarie Ramdass, who attained 18 Grade Ones and one Grade Two, received a gift voucher, a laptop, a trophy and a certificate from President Granger. Wife of Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, Mrs. Sita Nagamootoo presented the Prime Minister’s Award of Excellence to Ms. Kimberley Najab, who gained 15 Grade Ones and three Grades Twos. Delivering the feature address, the Head of State spoke of the importance of imparting strong values through the education system. He said that even during periods of slavery and indentureship, Guyanese ancestors realised that education, more than anything else, was not only the way out of poverty, but also a way of inculcating strong values. “Our education system, despite earlier experiments, is still rooted in religion. It is still family-based. It was on the family and on the religious orders that the Guyanese poor relied for their children’s education after Emancipation and after the end of Indentureship… Our fore parents understood, from the start, that religion and education combined the sacred with the secular, the spiritual with the temporal,” President Granger said. He said that Guyana is fortunate to be a nation that has been enriched with the diverse cultures and civilisations of Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas. “Diversity is an asset, not a liability.

afternoon; because this very institution is monument to our diversity,” he said. He lauded the school’s administration for producing students, who are both disciplined and who are achieving academic excellence at examinations year after year. “The values of education are concerned with producing persons of quality. Education must edify the mind, enhance skills and emancipate the mind from arrogance, from anger and from hatred. Education can achieve these ends only if it embraces certain values and this school combines the values with value education… It equips students with the attitude, behaviour and character to become responsible members of society. Education instills respect for others, respect for authority…respect for the property of others. These are values, you don’t get this from a book,” President Granger said. The graduation was charge was delivered by distinguished Guyanese educator, Professor Clement Sankat, who said that the achievements of SVN over the past 14 years has eclipsed that of many other schools, which have been in existence for decades. He told the graduates that in the Caribbean region and the world at large faces many serious challenges that have a direct bearing on economic development. Some of the main challenges include crime, food security, environmental management, climate change, energy and energy conservation, economic diversiﬁcation, private sector-led growth, health care and lifestyle-led diseases, poverty reduction, sustainable development and trade. “In addition to the very noble careers that many of you aspire to, like doctors, lawyers and teachers, in this new world of the 21st century, you should aspire to a broader range of potential disciplines. This is the real world that you are facing…This century is about a new revolution, the environmental revolution and you have to be part of this,” he said. He also spoke of the importance of Information Communication Technology (ICT) and the boundless opportunities that it brings. This sector he said, is a major growth area in the world and noted that the wave of technologically-driven activities will only increase in propensity and use in the coming years and the young generation must be prepared to participate. Meanwhile, SVN’s Principal, Swami Aksharananda said that the school holds the second highest position in Guyana with regard to the number of students, who graduated with 11 Grade Ones and more and Eight Grade Ones and more. Additionally, the school’s matriculation rate is over 75 percent. He informed that the 2016 graduating batch has students, who were enrolled after less than 400 marks at the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) but have gained passes in over 10 subjects at the CSEC level including English and Mathematics. “Of this present batch of students, only two would be admitted in senior secondary schools in Georgetown, the rest would not be, yet according to the performances, at least 24 of them would be in the batch of high performers,” the Swami said. MOTP Press Release.

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

REGIONAL MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2016

UN Secretary General Visits Haiti In Aftermath Of Hurricane general stated, noting that some families groups in identiﬁed priority sectors, and it

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon greets people at a shelter during his visit to Haiti’s western city of Les Cayes, which was heavily damaged by Hurricane Matthew. Photo Logan Abassi UN/MINUSTAH PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti -- Haiti is facing its largest humanitarian disaster since the 2010 earthquake, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Saturday in Port-au-Prince, where he urged friends of the island nation worldwide to “step up” and provide the resources the Haitian people so desperately need in the wake of the “utter devastation” wrought by Hurricane Matthew. “It is one thing to read about the damage caused by the hurricane. It is another thing to see it for oneself,” Ban told reporters in the Haitian capital at the end of his mission to show solidarity with the people, many of whom had very little and now, he said, have lost everything in the aftermath of the powerful storm. The Category 4 storm slammed into the country on 4 October and, according to UN relief wing, caused extensive ﬂooding and mudslides, damage to road infrastructure and buildings, and electricity and water shortages, particularly in Haiti's southwestern departments where it made landfall. The UN estimates that 546 have been killed, 438 injured, and 128 are missing, with some 2.1 million people aﬀected throughout the country. “Today, in Les Cayes, I saw utter devastation. I have heard from many victims. I have felt their pain. I understand their frustrations, even anger,” the secretary-

have lost their homes, crops and livelihoods. “It is heartbreaking,” he said. Any attack against a humanitarian convoy is an attack against suffering, against those who are most needy At the same time, Ban strongly condemned all attacks against humanitarian convoys, telling the press conference that he had witnessed such an attack on Saturday in Les Cayes where World Food Programme (WFP) trucks were attacked at the base of the UN Stabilization Mission in the country, known as MINUSTAH. “Any attack against a humanitarian convoy is an attack against suffering, against those who are most needy. I understand the impatience and anger of the people waiting for emergency relief,” the secretarygeneral stressed, adding: “We are doing our best to open roads and allow this help to arrive as quickly as possible.” “But when [trucks carrying medicines] are attacked and looted, when food and water are plundered, this can only increase the distress of all and discourage international aid. I implore you: let the aid through,” he emphasized. And while many might feel alone, Ban stated that while in Les Cayes, one of the hardest-hit areas along with Jérémie, he had said loudly and clearly: “The United Nations is with you. I am with you.” 'The hurricane upended people's lives' In the face of this humanitarian disaster, he recalled that just days after Hurricane Matthew hit, the UN launched an emergency appeal of $120 million dollars. “I urge all friends of Haiti around the world to step up and give. Provide the resources the people of Haiti so desperately need. This is a matter of life and death,” underscored the UN chief. The so-called 'Flash Appeal,' launched by the UN on behalf of the international humanitarian community, seeks to respond to “the most urgent needs” of people impacted by the storm, now estimated to be some 750,000. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the appeal targets vulnerable

takes into account the national-level capacities and those of humanitarian partners on the ground. “The hurricane upended people's lives. it also disrupted the elections,” continued the secretarygeneral, stating that he is pleased the Provisional Electoral Council has announced new dates for the polls, with the first round to take place on 20 November. “This shows the government's commitment to a return to constitutional order despite the challenges faced by the hurricane,” he added. Fight against cholera made even more difficult by hurricane Turning to what he cited as another “vital challenge” made even more difficult by the hurricane – the fight against cholera, the secretary-general said: “I deeply regret the loss of life and suffering. I wish it could have been avoided.” Deeply regretting that the epidemic is continuing, “adding to the misery caused by the hurricane which has raised the risk of disease transmission,” he, announced: “The United Nations is intensifying actions on cholera. We are stepping up efforts to contain cholera and ensure all have access to clean water, sanitation and health systems.” On Friday at UN Headquarters in New York, Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson briefed member states on the issue, saying the first track of the new UN approach to tackling cholera involves intensifying efforts to treat and eliminate the disease; and the second track aims to develop a framework proposal to member states for material assistance to those Haitians most affected by cholera after the 2010 outbreak. Ban said on Saturday that he is pressing the international community for support on both fronts. “We must fulfil our moral duty,” he underscored. Concluding his remarks, the secretary-general again pledged his full support and solidarity with the people of Haiti and pledged to “work hard to ensure that the world remembers – and acts.” (Caribbean News Now!)

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

REGIONAL MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2016

Jamaica Foreign Minister To Issue Statement On Discussions With Trinidad And Tobago be presented to the Jamaican senate soon. This was disclosed by

Minister of Foreign Aﬀairs and Foreign Trade, Senator Kamina Johnson Smith, addresses Friday’s sitting of the Senate. JIS Photo By Chris Patterson KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) -- A formal statement outlining discussions to date between Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago will

minister of foreign affairs and foreign trade, Senator Kamina Johnson Smith, while responding to questions posed by opposition members regarding relations between the two countries, at Friday’s sitting of the senate. “The statement will provide a more complete update on where we are with the issues; suffice it to say that progress has been made,” she said. Johnson Smith informed that, although the new facility for persons who have been denied entry has not been completed by its July deadline at the Piarco International Airport, another area has been constructed and renovated to “facilitate persons who are not landed”. “It was toured by minister of national security, Hon. Robert Montague, and our high commissioner on October 13. There are improvements which we have asked for, including the installation of a telephone,” she said. Johnson Smith said the installation of the telephone will allow persons to communicate with relevant parties who could assist if they have been denied entry. The minister further noted that discussions were undertaken with minister of foreign and CARICOM affairs of Trinidad and Tobago, Senator Dennis Moses, during the 71st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), which was held in New York from September 19 to 24. (Caribbean News Now!)

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

REGIONAL MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2016

Hurricane Matthew Devastation Revives Talk Of French Reparations To Haiti in the Western Hemisphere, it was once the most proﬁtable

Service members from Joint Task Force Matthew and representatives from the United States Agency of International Development delivered relief supplies to areas affected by Hurricane Matthew to Jeremie, Haiti. Photo via the official US Navy Page, from Capt. Tyler Hopkins/US Navy [Public domain] via Wikimedia Commons PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti -- One week after Hurricane Matthew devastated Haiti, many on social media are suggesting it's time for France to repay its debt to the country. The Category-4 hurricane struck parts of the Caribbean nation on October 4, 2016, causing Haiti's largest humanitarian crisis since the 2010 earthquake. The Civil Protection Directorate in Haiti has confirmed 473 deaths, 339 injuries and 75 people missing, while many international media reports have put the death toll at more than 1,000 people. A further 1.4 million people are in need of assistance and some bloggers have been sharing links for “organisations that are quietly doing good work in Haiti that does not line the pockets of multinational aid corporations, or continue to fatten the Port au Prince elite”. In the wake of the disaster, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has launched a flash appeal to raise US$119.8 million in emergency funding. But the impact of the hurricane is also leading many people to ask whether France should provide financial assistance by finally repaying its colonial reparations to Haiti. As Facebook user Mandy Dalton put it: “The hurricane and the earthquake were not the worst disasters to happen to Haiti. The worst disaster was manmade. Haiti is still dealing with the aftermath of a debt that it should have never had to pay.” Leondra Saintil added: “Hurricane hitting Haiti is heartbreaking. You know what would help? France paying the $21 billion it owes in reparations.” While Haiti is now known as the poorest country

possession of the French Empire. Saint Domingue, as it was then known, traded extensively in coffee, cotton and sugar, among other exports. Haiti declared independence in 1804, after leading a successful anti-slavery and anti-colonial insurrection, and becoming the first country in modern times to officially abolish slavery. But it paid a heavy price for its freedom -- 150 million gold francs, later reduced to 90 million gold francs -- to compensate French settlers and slave-owners for their lost plantations. This was a tremendous sum, and it crippled the country. In fact, it took until 1947 for Haiti to finish paying it off. In 2003, former Haitian president Jean-Bertrand Aristide estimated that the “independence debt”, as it has come to be known, was worth a modern equivalent of about US$21 billion, including interest. Other people have put the figure closer to US$17 billion. In fact, after the devastating hurricane in 2010, 100 artists and scholars signed a petition to try to force France to repay this amount “as reparations for a 200-year-old injustice.” At the time, France dismissed it. Then in May 2015, the issue again drew international attention after French President Francois Hollande told an audience on the French island of Guadeloupe, “When I go to Haiti, I will, for my part, handle the debt that we have.” His aides later insisted he was referring to the moral debt, rather than a financial obligation. In his subsequent visit to Haiti, Hollande tried to sidestep the issue by telling the country, “You’re not asking for aid, you want development.” This exchange led to an outpouring of articles calling on France to finally compensate Haiti by paying back what it owed. Since last week's hurricane, many netizens have been reposting articles from that time, with many saying now is the time to revisit the issue. Facebook user Sol DjVaselli Duverne put it even more simply, captioning his post with a simple “PAY UP.” (Caribbean News Now!)

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

REGIONAL MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2016

Five Trinidadians Held In Venezuela On Terrorism Charges Set Free

National Security Minister Edmund Dillon PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad -- Five Trinidad and Tobago men who have been detained in Venezuela since 2014 on terrorism charges are being released and sent home on the basis of time served in custody, national security minister Edmund Dillon conﬁrmed on Saturday.

The ﬁve -- Dominic Pitilal, Wade Charles, Asim Luqman, Andre Battersby and Leslie Daisley -- were detained in Venezuela in March 2014 on terrorism activity charges, the Trinidad Guardian reported. They had gone to Caracas allegedly to seek visas for Hajj. Another Trinidad and Tobago group that had likewise gone to seek visas for a pilgrimage was also detained. However, that group, which included several imams, was released soon after and they returned home. During a May meeting in Port-of-Spain between Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, the Trinidad and Tobago government took the opportunity to ask for the matter regarding the men to be expedited. Shortly after, the charges were changed to intention to commit espionage and to commit a criminal act. The men continued appearing in court on these matters. But relatives said they were reluctant to plead guilty since they did not want such a conviction on their record as this would keep them under future scrutiny and prevent them from travelling. The case was heard in a Venezuelan court between Thursday and Friday of last week with Trinidad and Tobago Caracas Embassy senior oﬃcials present. “The judge passed

a guilty verdict and a sentence of two years, six months and 25 days was given,” Dillion said in a statement. He noted that was equivalent to the length of time they had been detained. “The judge ruled that they have already served time and are now free. As such they will now be processed and deported to Piarco at the earliest opportunity,” he added. Meanwhile, foreign aﬀairs minister Dennis Moses said last Tuesday that he had had talks while at a recent UN conference with the Turkish foreign minister and Saudi Arabian oﬃcials regarding Trinidad and Tobago nationals detained in both countries. He declined to divulge details. Islamic studies student Tariq Shamoon Mohammed has been detained in Saudi Arabia since August 2015. Mohammed, who had been studying there for several years, had returned home for a visit with his family, but was detained by Saudi authorities on his return. The government is also awaiting word on nine people carrying Trinidad and Tobago passports who were detained by Turkish authorities in July in company with a Syrian national reported to have been taking them to join Isis. The nine, including men, women and a child, are at a Turkish detention centre. (Caribbean News Now!)

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

REGIONAL MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2016

US Embassy Continues Citizen Science And Climate Change Program In St Vincent

Participants of the citizen scientists workshop pose for a group photo with presenter Dr Gillian Bowser, and Deputy Public Affairs Officer Jeff Barrus at the conclusion of the session at the St Vincent and the Grenadines Community College KINGSTOWN, St Vincent -- A threecountry traveling program to promote ways ordinary “citizen scientists” can help observe and promote awareness of climate change in their communities, sponsored by the US Embassy to Barbados, the Eastern Caribbean and the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), recently visited St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG). During her visit to SVG, program presenter Dr Gillian Bowser, research scientist at Colorado State University, met with science and geography students of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Community College. After an engaging discussion on

environmental issues facing SVG, Bowser led the students on an excursion outdoors where they observed various specimens found in shrubs and plants on the campus, and photographed their finds. Bowser also conducted a workshop for a group that was comprised of a number of environmental and non-governmental organizations, and members of the local hotel and tourism association. They collected specimens from various plants on the lush grounds of the venue, as well as from the beach. “The US Embassy hosted this program because the nations of the Eastern Caribbean are highly sensitive to the impacts of climate change due to their small geographic size, low coastal elevations, and fragile landscapes,” said deputy public affairs officer Jeff Barrus. “These impacts can have far-reaching ramifications for regional economic growth and development, public health, and food security. We support efforts to build capacity within the region to adapt to

and mitigate the eﬀects of climate change. This begins with widespread awareness of the problem by the general population.” Bowser is a research scientist at Colorado State University where her research is f o c u s e d o n b i o d i v e r s i t y, sustainability, and women’s scholarship. She has devoted much of her eﬀorts to how climate change impacts resources and communities. A native of Brooklyn, New York, she earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology at Northwestern University, a Master of Science in Zoology at the University of Vermont, and a doctoral degree at the University of Missouri – St Louis. She worked with the National Park Service for over 20 years as a wildlife ecologist, including 11 years spent studying insects, bison and rodents at Yellowstone National Park. (Caribbean News Now!)

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

REGIONAL MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2016

T&T Muslims Released From Venezuelan Jail. CARACAS, Venezuela, Oct. 16, CMC – A judge in Venezuela has ordered to release of ﬁve Trinidadian Muslims who were imprisoned for two years and seven months in a high security jail, on charges of suspicions of terrorist activities and espionage. The men – Wade Charles, Dominic Pitilal, Asim Luqman, Andre Battersby and Leslie Daisley, who were held on March 19, 2014,were taken to court on Thursday and Friday before being r e l e a s e d o n S a t u r d a y. “ We a r e overwhelmed with joy. We just happy it’s all over,” said Petital. However, the men remain at the Servicio Bolivariano de Inteligencia Nacional (SEBIN) jail – known as a jail for political dissidents – until they go through the immigration process. Also detained in March 2014, were the wives of three of them men along with eight children and

three Imams. They were detained at the Plaza Hotel in Sabana Grande, Caracas where they were staying while awaiting visas to undertake an Umrah pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia. The wives and the children were the ﬁrst to be allowed to return to Trinidad, while the Imams were freed after 45 days. At a press conference held Saturday, Head of the Islamic Front, Umar Abdullah asked that the nation welcome the men home. “This is what you can expect of a Muslim community when they return home,” he said. Abdullah also called on the government to put measures in place to make it easier for them to reintegrate back into society. In August, Abdullah told reporters that Caracas appears to be ﬁnding ways to prevent the return of the men whom he said had travelled to Venezuela in search of

visas to travel to Saudi Arabia. He then called on the government to have a “greater sense of leadership” and urged oﬃcials t o establish diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia to ensure that local Muslims will not have to travel to Caracas in search of visas to attend the Hajj, an annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, and a mandatory religious duty for Muslims. (Antigua Observer)

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

REGIONAL MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2016

Power Restored To Most Homes After Hurricane Onslaught

AMILTON, Bermuda, Oct 16, CMC — Only just over one thousand customers serviced by the Bermuda Electric Light Company (Belco) remained without power on Sunday as the island continues to return normal after being battered by Hurricane

Nicole last Thursday. During the passage of the storm, 27,000 customers, suﬀered outages as the Category three storm ploughed across the 21 square mile British Overseas Territory. However, work is being done to restore service and by early Sunday just 1,112 customers were without power, down from the 2,734 on Saturday. “Many of the remaining customers are in small pockets, many are single calls,” said a Belco spokeswoman. However, there are several areas where there are still double-digit numbers remaining to be restored.” Sean Durfy, chief executive oﬃcer of the Ascendant Group, which owns Belco, said

although Nicole was a Category 3, going on a Category 4 hurricane, “she wasn’t as devastating as she could have been”. Meanwhile, the Bermuda Telephone Company – the Internet and cable TV providers were also whittling down the number of customers who lost service during the storm. As a result of Nicole’s torrential rain, which left several areas ﬂooded, the island’s total rainfall for the year rise to 62 inches – that is 17 inches above normal. In addition, schools, which closed on Thursday, are due to reopen on Monday, although some places are still be assessed. (Antigua Observer)

Man Charged With Rape, Attempted Murder Of Dennery Woman

he male suspect in the October 8, 2016 rape and chopping incident of a female in Dennery has been charged with the oﬀences of rape, attempted murder and stealing from

person, the police have conﬁrmed. Police said the charges were laid against the alleged perpetrator on Friday, October 14, 2016. The woman claims she was oﬀered a drop to her home by the male assailant, who diverted and drove his car in a area with thick vegetation, where he forced her to have sex with him. Once he was done, the man allegedly instructed the woman to wipe her self. But while doing so, the woman said the man took out a sharp instrument from his car trunk and started chopping her. In an attempt to block her face, the woman placed her hands in the air and sustained

multiple chop wounds. The woman claims that the man then proceeded to put his hand over her mouth to stop her from screaming. Strangely, the man then left her behind, but not before taking her cash and mobile phone. The woman said she managed to run towards a public road and stopped a white van that assisted her to the police station, where she told them what happened. She was later taken to hospital for treatment. The victim had described the man as a ‘friend,’ who she never expected would have done that to her. (St. Lucia News Online)

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

REGIONAL MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2016

Daasrean Greene Officially Sworn In As New DPP Daasrean Greene Attorney-at-Law Daasrean Greene was officially sworn in as the country’s new Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), this morning at Government House. Greene, whose contract will last for one year, took the oath of office before Governor General Dame Pearlette Louisy. He will have the task of deciding on whether to appoint a special prosecutor to deal with both the IMPACS Lambirds cases. The new DPP will also be responsible for addressing the backlog of court cases that continue to be a major impediment to the local justice system. Greene has been in legal practice since 1999. He obtained his legal education from the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol). He joins Sixtus Stephen Brette, who was appointed acting Deputy DPP on June 20, 2016. (St. Lucia News Online)

Government Formulates Occupational Health Policy GIS – The Government of Saint Lucia is working towards formulating a comprehensive policy on Occupational Safety and Health. Labour Commissioner Ray Narcisse said injury or death on the job is a possibility that should be planned for. “Against the reality that occupational accidents and incidents happen every day, there is need for us to come together in a tripartite setting, that is government, employers and unions, to discuss all occupational principles, measures, procedures, and systems that can be put in place to prevent accidents and to help workers to feel safe and confident within the workplace.” These principles, measures and procedures will be collated into one document – a policy. Narcisse said once that policy available, it would be submitted to stakeholders for feedback before it is finalized. “We have unions. We have employers. They will fine tune the document and eventually come up with something that we can all agree to, and that document will be sent to government for final ratification. After you’ve had this document, then that document can be used as a benchmark for all public and private sector organizations so that the application of health and safety standards would meet that requirement.” Representatives from the International Labour Organization (ILO), were present for the consultation and

contributed to the policy. The ILO Constitution outlines that workers should be protected from sickness, disease and injury arising from their employment. The ILO has adopted more than 40 standards speciﬁcally dealing with occupational safety and health, as well as over 40 codes of practice. (St. Lucia News Online)

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2016

Mosul: Iraq And Kurdish Troops Make Gains In Battle Iraqi pro-government forces have made gains at the start "caliphate" in parts of Iraq and neighbouring Syria. The of a large-scale operation to retake Mosul, the last major stronghold of the so-called Islamic State (IS) in the country. Iraqi government troops and Kurdish fighters launched their push towards the city in the early hours of Monday. IS seized Mosul, then Iraq's second-largest city, in June 2014. The UN has expressed concern for civilians caught up in the offensive, which could last for months. The BBC's Orla Guerin, who is with Kurdish tank units advancing from the east, says they are now within 300m (about 1,000ft) of IS positions. The Kurds seized several villages in the first few hours of the operation. As the assault began, one Kurdish general told our correspondent: "If I am killed today I will die happy because I have done something for my people." An Iraqi military source told the BBC that combat units had inflicted heavy losses on IS forces as they moved in on the Hamdaniya district, east of Mosul. Progovernment forces have also made gains as they move on Mosul from the south, security sources say. Meanwhile IS claimed that a number of suicide attacks targeting pro-government forces on the outskirts of the city had suppressed the advance. The IS-linked news agency, Amaq, reported that eight suicide attacks had targeted Kurdish forces. But the group has not made an official comment on the launch of the offensive. Iraqi government troops and Kurdish fighters are operating from Qayyarah airbase, which was recaptured in August. The US-led coalition fighting IS is backing the assault on the city, which has a population of approximately 650,000, with air strikes. Who is fighting? About 30,000 pro-government troops are involved in the operation. The main assault is being led by Iraqi army troops. About 4,000 Kurdish fighters are trying to clear villages to the east of Mosul, to allow the army to move in. US Special Operations personnel are advising forces on the ground. Elite Iraqi counterterrorism forces are expected to join in the coming days. An estimated 4,000-8,000 Islamic State fighters are defending the city. Why Mosul matters Mosul, the oil-rich capital of Nineveh province, is Iraq's second-largest city. IS militants overran it in June 2014. Its capture became a symbol of the group's rise as a major force and its ability to control territory. It was there that IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi proclaimed a

city was one of Iraq's most diverse, comprising ethnic Sunni Arabs, Kurds, Assyrians and Turkmens, as well as a variety of religious minorities. While members of those minorities largely fled the onslaught by IS, many local Sunni Arabs initially welcomed the militants, angered by the sectarian policies of the previous Shia Arab-led central government. But after two years of brutal IS rule, opposition has reportedly grown inside Mosul. One major concern for those still there is the involvement of Shia militiamen in the offensive, after they were accused of sectarian abuses in other cities that have been recaptured. Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has sought to reassure them by saying only Iraqi security forces would be allowed to enter Mosul. Even if IS is driven out of Mosul, the group will still control areas of northern and eastern Iraq. What about the civilians in Mosul? Up to 100,000 Iraqi civilians may flee to Syria and Turkey to escape the military assault in Mosul, the UN says. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees has issued an appeal for an additional $61m (£50m) to provide tents, camps, and winter items such as blankets for displaced people inside Iraq and the two neighbouring countries. UN humanitarian chief Stephen O'Brien said: "I am extremely concerned for the safety of up to 1.5 million people living in Mosul who may be impacted." Many are expected to be caught in the fighting. There are fears that residents could be used as human shields by IS. As many as a million people could be forced to flee their homes. Most are expected to leave "with only the clothes on their backs," Becky Bakr Abdulla of the Norwegian Refugee Council told AFP news agency. (BBC)

Mosul Assault: On Front Line With Kurdish Fighters

INTERNATIONAL

GUYANA DAILY NEWS RT: NatWest 'Freezes Russian Channel's UK Bank Accounts' PAGE 17

NatWest bank has frozen the accounts of Russia's state-run broadcaster RT, its editor-in-chief says. Margarita Simonyan tweeted: "They've closed our accounts in Britain. All our accounts. 'The decision is not subject to review.' Praise be to freedom of speech!" RT says the bank gave no explanation for its decision. It said the entire Royal Bank of Scotland Group, of which NatWest is part, was refusing to service RT. The broadcaster, previously known as Russia Today, says NatWest wrote to its London office saying: "We have recently undertaken a review of your banking arrangements with us and reached the conclusion that we will no longer provide these facilities." The bank said its decision was final and it is "not prepared to enter into any discussion." A letter posted online by the channel appears to show that the freeze is not in effect yet. It warns that banking facilities will be "cancelled and closed" on 12 December. Ms Simonyan said the closure included the personal accounts of some senior RT staff working in the UK. She told Russian state media: "They haven't explained the reasons and I think they can't explain them because there can't be any reasons. We have an absolutely transparent operation there, absolutely transparent funding. There have never been any complaints in this regard at all. "They have failed to defeat us by simply vilifying us, by picking on our broadcast, so they decided to try the banking flank: 'Try broadcasting when all your accounts have been closed.' Yet we will try." RT, which is run by the Kremlin, has previously been sanctioned by UK broadcasting regulator Ofcom for biased reporting. This included claims that the BBC "staged" a chemical weapons attack for

MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2016

a news report on Syria. The BBC won a case against the TV channel after complaining to Ofcom, saying the allegations made in a programme called The Truthseeker were false and struck "at the heart" of its obligations to accuracy and impartiality. Ofcom ruled that elements of the programme were "materially misleading". Russian media outlets have made inroads into the UK recently. The state-funded Sputnik news agency set up in Edinburgh in August to broadcast live radio programmes from Scotland. It said its goal was "telling the untold" to Scottish and UK audiences, although critics say it will act as a Kremlin mouthpiece. (BBC)

Broadcaster RT is backed by the Kremlin(RUSSIA TODAY)

Hitler House In Austria 'To Be Demolished’ The house where Adolf Hitler was born is set to be demolished to stop it becoming a focal point for neoNazis. The future of the former guesthouse has been widely debated in Austria, where opinion was torn between tearing it down or changing its use. The argument was further complicated after its owner refused to sell. But Interior Minister Wolfgang Sobotka said a committee of experts had decided that the house should be demolished, reported Austrian newspaper Die Presse. A new building put in its place will be used for administrative or for charitable purposes, the paper added. "The Hitler house will be torn down. The foundations can remain but a new building will be erected. It will be be used by either a charity or the local authorities," Wolfgang Sobotka told Austrian newspaper Die Presse. The house has been the subject of years of legal wrangling between the owner and the government, which has been renting it since 1972 and currently pays about €4,800 ($5,300; £4,100) a month for it. But the woman who owns it, who is now retired, has repeatedly refused to sell the three-storey building in

Braunau am Inn to the government. But Austria's parliament is soon expected to pass a new law allowing it to seize the house from its owner. (BBC)

The Austrian government is looking to pass a law to allow it to tear down Hitler's birthplace (pictured)(AFP)

INTERNATIONAL

GUYANA DAILY NEWS North Dakota Pipeline: US Journalist Amy Goodman Faces Riot Charge US journalist Amy Goodman is facing charges of participating in a construction in North Dakota, saying it will desecrate sacred land and PAGE 18

"riot" after filming Native American-led protests over an oil pipeline in North Dakota. The Democracy Now! reporter said she would surrender to authorities on Monday in response to the charge. District Judge John Grinsteiner will decide whether there is sufficient evidence to support the riot charge. Ms Goodman filmed the crackdown on protesters by authorities last month. "I wasn't trespassing, I wasn't engaging in a riot, I was doing my job as a journalist by covering a violent attack on Native American protesters," Ms Goodman said. The charge relates to her Democracy Now! coverage of the protests against the Dakota Access pipeline on 3 September. Earlier this month US actress Shailene Woodley was arrested at a construction site for broadcasting the North Dakota protests on Facebook. The video by the Divergent star was viewed more than 2.4 million times on social media within hours of being posted. The Dakota Access oil pipeline project, which will cross four states, has drawn huge protests. Native Americans have halted its

MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2016

damage the environment. (BBC)

Amy Goodman said she was "doing my job as a journalist"(GETTY IMAGES)

Aleppo Bombing 'Kills 14 Members Of One Family’ Russian and Syrian bombings at the EU meeting in Luxembourg on

Fourteen members of one family have died in an air strike on rebelheld east Aleppo, volunteer rescuers say. Eight children and two women were among the dead, said the civil defence force known as the White Helmets. An Aleppo resident told the BBC the city had endured heavy bombing in the past 24 hours, with "bunker-buster" munitions shaking the ground. The EU foreign affairs chief has said sanctions against Syria might be expanded. But Federica Mogherini said increased sanctions against Syrian President Bashar Assad's Russian backers were not on the agenda. She was speaking as EU foreign ministers met in Luxembourg. The family died in the alMarja area of the city on Monday, after what the Syrian Civil Defence force said was a strike by a Russian jet. The White Helmets said another 25 people were killed late on Sunday in a strike on a residential building in the al-Qaterji district. Rescuers used a crane to extract a 12-year-old boy from an upper floor after part of the building collapsed on his legs, and they later carried a dead baby from the rubble, her face caked in mud, AFP reported. In a BBC interview, a teacher in Aleppo described the latest wave of air strikes: "They are using a new kind of weapons. The same bunker-busters but they are stronger. The earth would shake for longer time. We had to wake up about five or six times. This is the first time it happened like this." A ceasefire in Syria brokered last month collapsed after just a few days. Since then Syrian forces, backed by Russia, have been bombing the city of Aleppo - the most high-profile battleground in the country's civil war - in what Washington has called a war crime. Aid agencies say a 72-hour ceasefire is urgently needed to allow supplies in and civilians out of devastated areas in the rebel-held and governmentbesieged east of the city, where 275,000 people live. 'Crimes against humanity' The US and UK warned of new sanctions in response to continued air strikes on Aleppo following talks in London on Sunday. US Secretary of State John Kerry said "crimes against humanity" were taking place daily in Aleppo, after meeting his British counterpart Boris Johnson. Mr Johnson said that additional sanctions on the Syrian regime "and its supporters" were under consideration, as measures designed to "keep the pressure up". Britain, France and Germany are expected to push for strong condemnation of the

Monday. According to Reuters, diplomats say a fresh ceasefire with an observation mission, a renewed push for peace talks, access for EU aid and proposals for economic sanctions on some 20 Syrians suspected of directing attacks on civilians are all likely to be discussed. 'Full control' North of Aleppo, Turkey said it had largely regained security on a key stretch of border. The Turkish military said Turkish-backed rebels had seized control of nine areas from the Islamic State group, including the symbolically important town of Dabiq, 10km (six miles) from the border, on Sunday, Reuters reports. The small northern town holds great value for IS because of a prophecy of an apocalyptic battle, and features heavily in its propaganda. In August, Turkey launched an offensive to clear the border region of militants, meaning both IS and Kurdish rebels fighting IS. A war that started with an uprising against President Assad has now split Syria into many parts. It has been going on for more than five years and has claimed 300,000 lives. (BBC)

Rescuers used a crane to reach this 12-year-old boy who was trapped in rubble(AFP)

INTERNATIONAL

GUYANA DAILY NEWS UK Spy Agencies 'Broke Privacy Rules' Says Tribunal PAGE 19

MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2016

UK spy agencies broke privacy rules by collecting large should be carried out lawfully came into force in February 2015 amounts of UK citizens' data without adequate oversight, the - this was put into practice by the intelligence agencies later the Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT) has ruled. Complaints same year. It included guidance as to how collected data should about data collection by GCHQ, MI5 and MI6 were put be acquired, managed and destroyed The tribunal found that, forward by campaign group Privacy International. The ruling prior to this, personal datasets compiled by spy agencies did not said some data collection did not comply with the European comply with Article 8 and were therefore "unlawful". "The Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). But it added that proper powers available to the security and intelligence agencies play statutory supervision was put in place last year. It was a "highly a vital role in protecting the UK and its citizens," said the Home significant judgement", Privacy International said. As part of its Office in a statement. "We are therefore pleased the tribunal has review of the spy agencies' activities, the IPT examined the confirmed the current lawfulness of the existing bulk organisations' collection of communications data - involving communications data and bulk personal dataset regimes." It the "who, where, when, how and with whom" was involved in added that the government was "committed" to providing conversations, but not their contents - and personal information greater transparency and stronger safeguards for bulk data about people. Such data is "vital for identifying and developing collection powers available to intelligence agencies. (BBC) intelligence targets", according to GCHQ. Article 8 of the ECHR states, however, that all citizens have the right to a private life and that any interference with personal data must be lawful and necessary "It is very significant," said Graham Smith of London law firm Bird & Bird. He added that much of the data collection had been carried out under an older piece of law - section 94 of the Telecommunications Act 1984. "It gave absolutely no clue at all that it could be used for this particular purpose," said Mr Smith. "Everyone accepts that what the agencies do operationally has to be secret, but the laws that say The Investigatory Powers Tribunal has made a new ruling what they can and can't do shouldn't be secret." 'Unlawful' about spy agencies' activities(THINKSTOCK) collection An official policy about how such data collection

Dutch Ambassador To China Suspended Amid 'Affair' Reports An inquiry has begun into the Dutch ambassador to China, Ron Keller, amid reports that he had a secret relationship with a local employee. The Dutch foreign ministry said Mr Keller would not remain actively in post while an investigation took place. An experienced diplomat, Ron Keller moved to Beijing in December 2015 after postings in Turkey and Russia. Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf reported on Monday that the relationship had only recently come to light. The Chinese woman worked in the embassy itself, it said, quoting insiders. Foreign diplomats in China are often advised against having relationships with local staﬀ because of the risk of a so-called honey trap, involving local women acting as agents for the Chinese government. The foreign ministry made no comment on the report but said in a statement that it was investigating a complaint and

always took complaints seriously. Mr Keller is currently in the Netherlands, De Telegraaf reports, adding that his return to Beijing is considered unlikely. He has not commented on his suspension. (BBC)

Ron Keller had only begun his posting in Beijing in December 2015(DUTCH EMBASSY)

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2016

Ben Needham 'Killed In Accident’ Toddler Ben Needham "most likely" died in an accident near to where he disappeared in 1991, police have said. Ben, from Sheffield, was 21 months old when he disappeared on the Greek island of Kos. An "item" believed to have been in Ben's possession at the time was found during fresh searches. South Yorkshire Police said the current line of inquiry, that Ben was killed accidentally, was the most probable cause of the boy's disappearance. The force said it remained committed to the investigation into Ben's disappearance and stressed the case remained open. Det Insp Jon Cousins, who is leading the inquiry, said: "During the course of the inquiries we have made over the last 19 months, we have closed off a large number of theories about what happened to Ben, many of which have been open for over 20 years. "My team and I know that machinery, including a large digger, was used to clear an area of land on 24 July 1991, behind the farmhouse that was being renovated by the Needhams. "It is my professional belief that Ben Needham died as a result of an accident near to the farmhouse in Iraklis where he was last seen playing." Digger machine The information that prompted the fresh searches was revealed to police following television appeals in May. A friend of a digger driver, who was clearing land with an excavator on the day the toddler went missing, said the man may have been responsible for Ben's death. The driver, Konstantinos Barkas, died of cancer in 2015. A team of 19 South Yorkshire Police officers, forensic specialists, an archaeologist and search and rescue personnel have spent 21 days digging near the farmhouse and a second site 750m away. Det Insp Cousins said an item, found on Saturday close to another item dated to 1991, had been shown to the Needham family. "It is our initial understanding that this item was in Ben's possession around the time he went missing," he said. "The recovery of this item, and its location, further adds to my belief that material was removed from the

farmhouse on or shortly after the day that Ben disappeared." The Needham family, who have long believed Ben may have been abducted, have been fully informed of the force's findings. Speaking to the Daily Mirror before the police briefing, Ben's mother, Kerry Needham, said: "They know he's dead but just can't find him. "Police said it's time we ended our 25-year search. They are right but I can't say goodbye knowing he's still on that island somewhere. I feel physically sick. I can't feel any worse than I do." She said she just wanted to "tear up" the whole island. "Someone knows where he is. For God's sake, help me find him. We know he's dead but we need to find him. When someone dies you find a special place." Det Insp Cousins said: "Our thoughts are with the family as they are given time to digest this and they have our full and continued support. "Our drive has always been the family, and their welfare." (BBC)

Police looking for Ben Needham say he "probably" died near where he vanished in 1991

Ludwigshafen Fire: BASFexplosion Blast Hits German HQ that happened three hours earlier in the nearby town of

At least one person has been killed and another six are missing after an explosion and fire at German chemical company BASF's headquarters in Ludwigshafen. Several more were injured in the blast. BASF said the explosion had happened during work on a pipeline route for transporting raw chemicals to shipping. Flames and a cloud of smoke could be seen in a harbour area in the north of the town, where oil and gas tankers supply the plant. Residents were told to close their windows as the cloud of smoke spread. The explosion happened at about 11:20 (09:20 GMT) on Monday. BASF officials said the fire that caused the blast began in a supply line that transported flammable liquids and liquefied gas to a tank at the harbour. Police ruled out that the incident was caused by a terrorist attack, reports said. Seven people were injured, six seriously. The company's medical director said the situation was still confused and changing from minute to minute. Several fires broke out after the blast and there were reports of some residents living close to the port having breathing difficulties. Officials later stressed there was no evidence of a risk to public health. A pall of smoke rose about 100m (330ft) into the air and nearby towns and cities were all warned of potential hazards. Five hours after the incident, small fires were still burning in the area, although all were under control, officials said. BASF manager Uwe Liebelt said the cause of the blast was not yet known but added that 14 facilities had been shut down. A separate

Lampertheim was not related, he said. The BASF plant is the world's biggest chemical complex. Among the facilities that were turned oﬀ were two steam crackers that make up the heart of its Ludwigshafen facility. Steam is used to "crack" naphtha gas at the site, ultimately to make products such as ethylene, propylene and hydrogen. Rhineland-Palatinate police warned motorists in the area to avoid the towns of Oppau, Edigheim and Pﬁngstweide. (BBC)

Hours after the initial explosion at Ludwigshafen, the ﬁre at the harbour was still burning(EPA)

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2016

Wikileaks: Julian Assange's Internet Access 'Cut' Wikileaks says an unidentified "state actor" has shut down internet access for its founder Julian Assange. The transparency activist has been claiming asylum at London's Ecuadorean embassy since 2012 to avoid extradition over sex assault allegations. There was no way to immediately verify if he had been knocked offline, and if so, how a state actor was suspected. Wikileaks has recently been releasing emails from Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign. The antisecrecy organisation did not return calls and emails on Monday, though it said in a tweet: "We have activated the appropriate contingency plans." A woman who picked up the phone at the Ecuadorean embassy said: "I cannot disclose any information." The ambassador has not yet responded to emails, and London's Metropolitan Police declined to comment. The Wikileaks claim follows the latest emails it disclosed from a hack of Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta's emails. It released three transcripts on Saturday of Mrs Clinton's paid speeches to Goldman Sachs, which her campaign had long refused to release. The scripts reveal her bantering relationship with the investment bank's executives, which is unlikely to allay fears among liberal Democrats that she is too cosy with Wall Street. The Democratic White House candidate's camp has claimed the cyber-breach was orchestrated by Russian hackers with the aim of undermining the US democratic process. While Mrs Clinton's team has neither confirmed nor denied the leaked emails are authentic, there have been no indications they are fake. 'Covert' Syrian action According to the latest leaked emails, Mrs Clinton told

a Goldman Sachs conference she would like to intervene secretly in Syria. She made the remark in answer to a question from Lloyd Blankfein, the bank's chief executive, in 2013 - months after she left oﬃce as secretary of state. "My view was you intervene as covertly as is possible for Americans to intervene," she told employees of the bank in South Carolina, which had paid her about $225,000 (£185,000) to give a speech. Mrs Clinton - who is accused of being hawkish by liberal critics - added: "We used to be much better at this than we are now. Now, you know, everybody can't help themselves. "They have to go out and tell their friendly reporters and somebody else: Look what we're doing and I want credit for it." (BBC)

Julian Assange has been claiming asylum at London's Ecuadorean embassy since 2012(AFP)

INTERNATIONAL PAGE 22

GUYANA DAILY NEWS

MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2016

BRICS, The Potential Engine For Global Economy The Heads of State and Government of Brazil, Russia, China, South Africa and Prime Minister of India, highlighted the slow progress of the global economy in the VIII Summit of BRICS, celebrated from 15th to the 16th of October, in the Taj Exotica hotel in Benaulim, Goa, western state of India. During the reunion, the leaders stressed the need for an active plan to accelerate the slow growth of the World’s Economy, pointing to the negative influence on the global economy of international conflicts, terrorism, and constant ‘flow’ of refuges and the uncertain situation of the United Kingdom (UK) after its exit from the European Union. The BRICS members are all leading developing or newly industrialized countries, distinguished by their large, fast-growing economies and significant influence on regional affairs. The BRICS is the acronym for the association of five major emerging national economies, Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. This term was formulated in 2001 by British economist and then chairman of Goldman Sachs Asset Management, Jim O'Neill, on his publication ‘Building Better Global Economic BRICs’. The document highlighted the positive impact on the global economy, of the collaboration between this 4 nations. The initial dialogue about the consolidation of this ‘economic alliance’, was held in New York City in September 2006. After three years of dialogues, the group was consolidated in Yekaterinburg, Russia, on June 16th 2009. South Africa became member state in 2011. Since its inception, the BRICS has focused its agenda on the cooperation among its 5 Members States, prioritizing the active participation on the G-20 (international forum for governments and central bank governors from the 20 major economies worldwide). Agriculture, science and technology, culture, outer space, internet governance and security, social welfare, intellectual property,

health, and tourism, are some of the areas in which this group is focused. Between their agreements, the BRICS promote yearly reforms in the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as a way to improve global stability. This group is also open to cooperation and constructive engagement with other countries, as well as international and regional organizations in dealing with current international issues. Since its formation, the BRICS advocate for a more inclusive representation and democratic international governance. Looking to be recognized as a legitimate organization by the United Nations (UN). According to La Nacion, during the convention held in Goa, the BRICS insisted that they are the ‘driving force’ for the improvement of the World’s Economy, due to being the holders of 43% of the world’s population, owning 30% of the gross domestic product (GDP) and 17% of the global trade. Currently the focus of international economists, is in the potential that the relatively new alliance of this 5 major emerging national economies, in collaboration with the BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) contribute to the ‘boost’ of the international market, alleviating the crisis left by the Brexit. Source: http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1947709los-brics-todavia-creen-en-su-proyecto

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2016

International Day For The Eradication Of Poverty Moving from humiliation and exclusion to participation: ending poverty in all its forms. Today is international day for the eradication of poverty, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal to “end poverty in all its forms everywhere” explicitly recognizes that poverty results not from the lack of just one thing but from many different interrelated factors that affect the lives of people living in poverty. The theme this year – selected in consultation with activists, civil society and nongovernmental organizations – highlights how important it is to recognize and address the humiliation and exclusion endured by many people living in poverty. The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty has been observed every year since 1993, when the United Nations General Assemblé, by resolution 47/196, designated this day to promote awareness of the need to eradicate poverty and destitution in all countries. Poverty eradication remains at the core of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty promotes dialogue and understanding between people living in poverty and their communities, and society at large. “It represents an opportunity to acknowledge the efforts and struggles of people living in poverty, a chance for them to make their concerns heard and a moment to recognize that poor people are in the forefront in the fight against poverty.” (United Nations, Report of the Secretary General, A/61/308, para. 58). Building a sustainable future requires us to intensify our efforts towards eradicating extreme poverty and

discrimination, and ensuring that everyone can fully exercise their human rights. The full participation of people living in poverty, particularly in the decisions that aﬀect their lives and communities, must be at the centre of policies and strategies to build a sustainable future. In this way, we can guarantee that our planet and our societies can fulﬁl the needs and aspirations of everyone – not only those of a privileged few – for this and future generations.

LOCAL

GUYANA DAILY NEWS Rear Admiral (Ret’d) Gary Best Sworn In To Probe Puruni Mining Death PAGE 26

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2016

Georgetown, Guyana – (October 18, 2016) Presidential Advisor on the Environment, Rear Admiral (ret’d) Gary Best was, today, sworn-in by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan to lead a probe into the mining pit collapse in Puruni, CuyuniMazaruni (Region Seven) that resulted in the death of a miner. The swearing-in ceremony was held in Court One of the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court. The ceremony followed the mandate given by President David Granger that a Commission of Inquiry be established to probe the incident under Section Two of the Commission of Inquiry Act, Cap. 19:03. Advisor Best has been commissioned to “enquire, examine, investigate and report into all conditions and circumstances” that led to the collapse of the mining pit and the resulting death of 33-year-old miner Mr. Keon Wilson on October 8, 2016. Mr. Best has also Presidential Advisor on the Environment, been tasked with enquiring “into the actions of the Guyana Rear Admiral (ret’d) Gary Best takes the oath, today, Geology and Mines Commission, and the mining operators” in Court One of the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court. and to report his ﬁndings and conclusions to determine the cause of the incident and make recommendations to prevent a recurrence. Ms. Geeta Chandan-Edmonds, Legal Advisor at the Ministry of the Presidency, Mr. Reginald Brotherson, Permanent Secretary, Department of Public Service, Ministry of the Presidency, Mr. Joslyn McKenzie, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Mr. Newell Dennison, Acting Commissioner of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission also attended the ceremony. MOTP Press Release

Fixing Roads Must Be a Priority Presidential Advisor on the Environment, For Government –commuters Rear Admiral (ret’d) Gary Best displays the

Many commuters of Georgetown have complained to the commissioning instrument as he stands beside Guyana Daily News that the roads in the capital city are being Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the close of the ceremony. neglected by the government. Reference was made to the deplorable state of some roads especially at Mandela Avenue and Aubrey Baker commonly known as “Back Road” which makes commuting extremely difficult. “Back Road” is the single most used thorough fare from the Timehri Airport, West Coast Demerara and the Islands to the Capital City, Georgetown. It is the view of some Georgetown residents that the government needs to place more emphasis on maintaining the ‘back road,’ noting that it is riddled with large pot holes, poor lighting and low visibility in road markings which is contributing to many accidents. One resident said, “this road is as equally as important as the road in Tiger Bay which was upgraded recently.” Residents blamed the government for poor supervision and a lackadaisical attitude towards road maintenance. “Effective and efficient road provides adequate transportation which results in economic benefits that has multiplier effects such as better accessibility to markets, employment and additional investments, the citizens who are deprived of transportation infrastructure miss out on several economic opportunities,” one resident noted.

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2016

The Unruly Horse STIFLING LOCAL DEMOCRACY By: Mohabir Anil Nandlall, MP.Attorney-at-Law

While in opposition, President Granger was a passionate campaigner for local democracy. Both in and out of Parliament, he emphasized the need to allow local leaders at the level of the villages to take charge and manage the affairs of their local communities. In opposition, his party pressed relentlessly for the enactment of the four Local Government Bills. In the Select Committees, their contributions had a common thread. They canvassed for a reduction of ministerial power and influence over local democratic organs, while at the same time, advocating for greater financial independence and functional autonomy for these organs. They argued for the urgent establishment of a bi-partisan local government commission, in which is to be vested, a plethora of power, which the Minister now enjoys. They were so aggressive on these matters that it was clear to many at the time, that they never expected to be the next government. In this equation, one cannot exclude their sudden and emphatic advocacy for the holding of local government elections, the postponement of which, they supported in the National Assembly for the past 15 years, immediately prior. After 2011, local government elections suddenly became a major priority. While in Government, during the campaign for the 2016 Local Government Elections, the posture of the President and his Government remained the same. They advocated for the empowerment of local leaders; they argued that these leaders must be allowed to determine and govern their affairs at the level of the local democratic organs and that Central Government's input must be minimal; they advocated for the newly elected local democratic organs to enjoy financial independence and functional autonomy Then came the Local Government Elections on the 18th of March, 2016. There is no doubt that its results flabbergasted the President and his Government. The APNU was devastated at those elections. That they were in Government for a year and their die hardsupporters still in a state of euphoria, after the 2015 General and Regional Elections “victory”, it was a

terrible blow to their political psyche and ego. The PPP won landslide victories in 48 of the 71 Local Authority Areas. In 6 of the remaining areas, the PPP tied with the APNU. In the remaining areas, the APNU was forced to share the spoils with independent groups, including, in areas where they boast great political strength. In short, the APNU was thrashed at those elections. Since the local government election results, one has witnessed an absolute change in the approach of the Government to the newly elected local organs. The rhetoric that we heard prior to those elections about local leaders taking charge of their affairs; that they must be allowed to do so without interference from Central Government; that they must be functionally autonomous and financially independent- all quickly vanished. This rhetoric was quickly replaced with exactly the opposite in actions. The Government has since been pursuing a policy flagrantly designed to denude these newly elected organs of all autonomy and independence and when there is resistance, to frustrate and stifle these organs in the discharge of their functions by withholding monies and constructing bureaucratic red tapes - all in an effort to make these organs politically beholden to Central Government. This is nothing short of an onslaught upon local democracy and a callous flouting of the will of the electorate as expressed at the local government elections. I will demonstrate my point with a few examples. 1. Perhaps the most conspicuous example of this Government's authoritarian attempt at thwarting local democracy is the vulgar and manifestly unlawful act of Minister Bulkan's handpicking of chairpersons in the five tied NDCs and handpicking the Mayor for the municipality of Mabaruma, in a shameless violation of the relevant statutory provisions. The clumsy strategy of the Attorney General to delay the hearing and determination of the cases filed challenging Bulkan's actions and the contrivance of frivolous and vexatious legal arguments, attempting to justify those actions, only compound this antidemocratic perversity. 2. Another example of the attempt to control these local government organs, is the use of the Town Clerks, in the case of municipalities, Regional Executive Officers in the case of RDCs and Overseers at the level of the NDCs- all servants/agents of the Minister, to micro-manage, frustrate and torpedo the work of these elected bodies. Only recently, their own Dr. Ramaya, resigned as REO of Region 6, citing pervasive corruption and the controlling power of the Minister, who criticized him for not approving works done by contractors, although according to Dr. Ramaya, these works were substandard. NDC Councilors, countrywide, with whom I spoke,

informed me that decisions of the council are not being carried out by the Overseers unless they receive the approval of the Minister. I have been told that no money can be spent without the prior approval of someone authorized by the Minister. I am aware that the NDCs received their statutory subventions almost four months late and that their budgets were only approved within the last two weeks. These are deliberate strategies employed by the Minister to undermine the functioning of these elected bodies. 3. Six months after the local government elections, this Government is still to submit its nominees to the Local Government Commission. As a result, this much touted Commission remains on paper only. The Government is deliberately delaying the establishment of this Commission, because once it becomes operational, the Minister and by extension the government, loses a tremendous amount of power. To the authoritarian, the loss of power is like the loss of life itself. 4. The democratic line demarcating the Georgetown City Council from the Government has become so blurred that the Council is operating almost like a department of Government. The Government gives policy directions to the Council with seamless ease; Cabinet reviews Council's decisions without anyone batting an eyelid; the Attorney General, nonchalantly, reviews contracts entered into by Council and renders to the Council, legal advice in relation thereto. In this incestuous matrix, all seem blind to the assault being committed upon local democracy. Sadly, in the milieu, there is no proverbial one eye man to take the throne. The cumulative impact of this all is that democracy is under siege at the level of the local democratic organs, as it is in the Parliament and elsewhere. But alas, what can one expect from a Government whose leader, two weeks ago, reiterated his idolatrous admiration of and strong commitment to the politics, ideas and ideals of Forbes Burnham – a politician whose lack of democratic credentials equals none in the English speaking Caribbean.

LOCAL

GUYANA DAILY NEWS GWI Must Publish Test Results For New Water Treatment Chief Executive Oﬃcer (CEO) of the Guyana Water Inc. Dr. Van 10H formulation is the one registered. Registration under the Thai PAGE 28

West Charles says he is disturbed about an article published in a local newspaper that GWI has stopped using Chlorine and is testing the uses of Antiseptic Polyhexanide, which is normally sold under the name Antinfek. However, GWI has stated that it has tested the product in its laboratory and it has shown favourable results, but many persons are questioning the move saying that Guyanese are not “lab rats” and want to know which lab this chemical was tested, who is conducted the test, the results of the test and whether the lab is accredited. Food and Drug Director Marlan Cole had admitted that their lab is not equipped to conduct any tests and that they solely rely on information on product labeling as guidelines when assessing composition and standard for food and drug deemed permissible. Antinfek TM 10H Antinfek 10H is a liquid disinfectant manufactured by Dove Biotech (Bangkok, Thailand). This product, with active ingredient poly(hexamethylene biguanide) hydrochloride (PHMB), is marketed for eliminating bacteria and fungi in drinking water, natural waters, pools, sewage and industrial water; and treating drinking water to prevent waterborne diseases (Dove Biotech n.d.) However, Antinfek 10H is not registered with NSF or EPA; other PHMB products are EPA-registered as antimicrobial pesticides for swimming pools, oil ﬁeld injection water, cut ﬂower preservation and hard surface disinfectants (US EPA 2004). Antinfek is registered with the Thai FDA (FDA Thailand n.d.-a), but we were unable to verify the

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2016

Hazardous Substances Control Group as an antimicrobial disinfectant requires antimicrobial eﬃ- cacy data (FDA Thailand n.d.-b). However, the Guyana Daily News was unable to determine whether registration indicates safety for human consumption since this product is manufactured in Thailand, registered in Thailand and the testing is only in an embryonic stage; they are not adequate studies conducted on this chemical to ascertain whether it is ﬁt for human consumption.

Chief Executive Oﬃcer (CEO) of the Guyana Water Inc. Dr. Van West Charles

LOCAL

GUYANA DAILY NEWS Man Who Allegedly Stole From Troy Resources Granted Bail PAGE 29

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2016

Machinery Operator, Renson Rawlins was granted bail in the sum of $70,000 by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan after he was charged with larceny. Rawlins will appear before the Bartica Magistrate’s Court on November 10, 2016. The 35year-old accused father of two was represented by Attorney Jerome Khan and pleaded not guilty to the charge. The lawyer in his bail application revealed that his client has a ﬁxed address at Kamaka Mines Upper Demerara River and that prior to the incident he was employed with Troy Resources for 20 months and has had no prior incidents. There was no objection made to the application by Police Prosecutor Navil Jeﬀords. It is alleged that between July 13, 2016 and July 15, 2016 at Camp Karuni, Hillside 14 Mile Isano Landing, Essequibo, the accused stole one Alternator valued at $300,000 from Troy Resources. According to police reports the stolen item has been recovered and is currently in police custody.

Islamic Bank To Fund National Psychosocial Rehabilitation Complex Representatives from the Islamic Bank met with Minister of Public Health, Dr. George Norton, on Friday last to discuss funding of the new National Psychosocial Rehabilitation Complex (NPRC) project which is slated for 2017. This project is expected to cost approximately US$20, 000. The Complexes will be erected in Regions two and six along with an upgrade to the Ministry’s Mental Health Unit to provide emergency clinical services to persons needing diagnose, care and treatment. According to a release from the Ministry, also engaged in the high level meeting were Minister within the Ministry of Public Health, Dr. Karen Cummings and other technical officers from the Ministry and Mr. Sayed Aqa - Vice President Cooperation and Country Programming Complex and his technical team. The institution will be designed to reduce the role of the National Psychiatric Hospital in the mental health system in Guyana. This will be aligned with the Pan American Health Organisation/ World Health Organisation recommendations to improve quality services and standards in mental health through the provision of better and specialized services in psychosocial rehabilitation, forensic psychiatry, drug abuse rehabilitation and psycho geriatric care. This involves a careful reintegration of patients into family and society, reducing psychiatric beds and transforming the functions of the former institution. The National Psychosocial Rehabilitation Complex is expected to provide diagnosis, management and treatment to persons with suicidal behaviour and attempts, affected disorders, general anxiety disorder, panic attacks, post- traumatic disorder, psychosis and violent behaviour, acute onset psychosis and chronic psychosis. The institution is also expected to provide care and treatment to persons suffering from psychosis due to medical condition (HIV, Non Communicable Diseases), substance abuse, hazardous drug reactions and interactions, personality disorders, epilepsy and Dementias (Alzheimer). Regional Health Facilities are expected to be equipped and better able to manage mental health patients in various regions who are required to be inpatients for a period of time. The Minister of Public Health has commenced consultations with the PAHO who has thus far opted to give full technical support especially in the area of training to improve mental health services. Statistics have showed that there are 10 to 15% if Guyanese with mental disorder at any one time. This means that 78, 000 to 114, 500 Guyanese are suffering from a mental disorder and require some level of mental health care service. Suicide is a leading cause of death among Guyanese hence the Ministry of Public Health will continue to work closely with its technical partners to eliminate this epidemic.

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

LOCAL TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2016

Eccles Businessman Charged For Assisting In Drug Traﬃcking A former United States resident who was deported to Guyana appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan on Tuesday, charged with using his Eccles, East Bank Demerara residence to traﬃc narcotics. The court heard that the incident occurred on October 15. The businessman, Deon Coats was represented by Attorney Paul Fung-a-Fat

and pleaded not guilty to the charge. He was granted $150,000 bail and will return to court on November 07, 2016. His lawyer told the court that Coats is involved in the Import and Export of goods, he is 39 years-old and has a wife who resides in the United States of America. The Prosecution, led by Navil Jeﬀords,

did not object to bail. It is alleged that on the day in question at Lot 930 Eccles New Housing Scheme, the accused used his vacuum sealer, automatic food press and a cellophane plastic wrapper to prepare cocaine to be shipped. According to police reports the items were found and residual matter of the cocaine was found on them.

GL&SC Lease Application Service To Be Offered Online By 2017

Manager of the Information Systems Department, Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission, Mr. David Cole Georgetown, Guyana – (October 18, 2016) Even as Government continues to work towards an eﬃcient and professional public service sector through, in part, the implementation of digitised systems, the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GL&SC) has begun work to oﬀer online lease application processing and instant response to questions and queries. These online systems will be implemented in a phased approach, which will be completed by the end of 2017. Information Systems Manager of the GL&SC, Mr. David Cole, during an interview earlier today, said that the

Commission is working on making available online all the services offered at its physical offices, through its website, which is currently being reconfigured. However, the first phase is the refining of content of the website and this will be completed by the end of 2016. “What we are doing right now in relation to the website specifically is that, we are revamping our existing website. We are changing its look. We are looking at refining its content and most importantly in another phase, making it much more interactive… we are working on creating a website that can effectively engage members of the public as well as any other stakeholder in the kind of services that we offer here as a Commission. We are designing a website, which can be used by not just the desktop but the smart phones so that when persons access it, it is fully responsive to the device it is being accessed from,” he said. In 2017, the Commission will be working to make the chat feature available by mid-year, to afford customers and members of the public instant responses to their questions, queries and suggestions while the online processing of applications is expected to take

shape by the end of 2017. “We are trying to make it very dynamic. We want to put in a chat feature… We want to be able to do a better display of our maps because a lot of persons do not know that we produce a variety of maps for any kind of use. We hope for it to be really efficient and for it to provide timely feedback. Whatever can be done at our physical offices we want our website to be able to provide that to our stakeholders. The application process is one such service. In moving in line with Government’s move to be more digital and this concept of egovernance, we want to be able to have our clients with the application process, doing it online, submitting the application, vetting it and processing it,” he said. While he noted that there are some legal ramifications in terms of notarised signatures among other things that are yet to be worked out, Mr. Cole said that the ultimate goal is a more efficient Commission and satisfied stakeholders. “Definitely the intention is to be as transparent as possible and to offer what we offer at our offices, online,” the Information Systems Manager said. While these works are ongoing inside the Commission, the

Government Unit of the Ministry of Public Telecommunications is also working alongside the Information Systems Department of the GL&SC to create a Wide Area Network (WAN), which will link all of the databases and record management systems of the various offices of the GL&SC. This will ensure that there is greater collaboration among the offices and better retrieval of client records, regardless of their location. Chief Executive Officer of the GL&SC, Mr. Trevor Benn, said that the Commission is working on serving the needs of its customers and stakeholders and as such, will review and reconfigure its services to suit this goal. Already, the Commission has removed its dress code, while the current application process is scheduled to undergo come changes. In the past, persons applying for renewals of their leases were required to undergo the same processes as someone applying for the first time. Since taking office however, Mr. Benn said that this has changed and persons are now able to have their renewals completed almost immediately, providing they would have satisfied the required criteria.

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

LOCAL TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2016

41 Stakeholders Benefit From Social Cohesion Consultations In Corriverton 20 Of 32 Planned Consultations Completed Georgetown, Guyana – (October 17, 2016) An additional 41 stakeholders cohesion under this current administration and led by the Ministry of Social from Corriverton, East Berbice-Corentyne (Region Six), today, were added to the hundreds of persons that have so far contributed to the Ministry of Social Cohesion’s countrywide Consultation Initiative, and the Ministry has said that the Consultations have so far been receiving an overwhelming response from participants around the country. Further, the consultation process has been used as a social cohesion awareness vehicle. Today’s session was the twentieth of 32 planned Consultations. Two other Consultations are planned for New Amsterdam and Rose Hall over the next two days. The participants ranged from members of Non-Governmental Organisations, religious and youth groups, and also included residents from the neighbouring indigenous communities of Orealla and Siparuta. Ministry of Social Cohesion, Technical Officer, Ms. Natasha Singh-Lewis said that part of the positive response coming out of all the Consultations include the sensitisation aspect, as residents are able to learn more about the Ministry’s work. “We have residents, especially from Hinterland communities, who are particularly happy to learn about social cohesion. ,’ she said. Lead Consultant for the Social Cohesion National Strategic Plan, Dr. Thomas Gittens said that the Consultations have also highlighted proposals and responses that reflect the particular issues that are affecting the communities, which, he noted gives tremendous insight into the needs of those communities. “We have had a tremendous level of participation and input at all the consultations. In many cases we have received very good content, because people have been speaking their minds,” he said. He added that the Ministry’s aim has been to make the Consultations free of politics, which he believes has led to people being more inclined to share their views. “We have also been seeing people thinking very deeply about what they want to see at a community and national level. There has been a lot of commitment in terms of how people are seeing the whole process and how they are modelling their participation to the process and it is very heartening,” he said. The participants were given the chance to provide feedback on five thematic areas affecting social cohesion in Guyana: economic equity and opportunities, citizens’ safety and security, social inclusion and tolerance, inclusive and participatory governance and harmonious ethnic and racial relations. Their feedback will contribute to the development of a 2017-2021 Strategic Plan on Social Cohesion in Guyana which is expected to be completed by this year-end. Speaking with regard to economic inclusion, Mr. Nicholas Jaundoo, a businessman from Corriverton, said that it is important for people of various professional backgrounds to have equal access to financing. “This will enable them to make a contribution in their community and will help to uplift the community. The whole idea of this programme is very inclusive with a wide cross section of people. I would like to see more of these consultations so that people can be informed of what the government has planned for the country,” he said. Ms. Loretta Angel, a resident of Corriverton, said that in the area of security, residents are concerned about crime and that it is important for all groups to work together to fight it. “If we can work together for our social wellness, we can be more comfortable and feel more secure. If we work together we would be at a better place when it comes to security, wellness of mind and socialising no matter what our differences. You get more from people when you have cooperation,” she said. The Consultations are supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Resident Representative of the UNDP to Guyana, Ms. Mikiko Tanaka, who was present at today’s session, said that the organisation is pleased to support the Ministry’s work, as social cohesion serves as a core foundation for peace and development, and as it is reflected in the Sustainable Development Goals. “In the context of Guyana, I am very happy to hear that this is a very important issue and objective for the country. This motto Guyana has of ‘One People, One Nation, One Destiny’ very much captures that aspiration that Guyana has, so the UNDP has been accompanying the process of developing a national strategy for social

Cohesion,” she said. Ms. Tanaka said that most importantly, it is the voice of the local people that make up the issues and challenges of social cohesion and what they would like to do to achieve social cohesion. “As a result of all of the consultations, we hope that we get a better sense at the national level or the regional levels of the strategic complimentary actions needed to really bring the society together,” she said.

From left, Ministry of Social Cohesion, Technical Officer, Mrs. Natasha Singh-Lewis, Resident Representative of the UNDP to Guyana, Ms. Mikiko Tanaka, Mayor of Corriverton, Mr. Ganesh Gangadin, Regional Executive Officer, Ms. Kim Stephens, Lead Consultant for the Social Cohesion National Strategic Plan, Dr. Thomas Gittens, Regional Health Officer, Mr. Jevon Stephens and representatives from the UNDP at the Social Cohesion Consultation in Corriverton.

Dr. Gittens interacts with one of the participants at the Consultation

The Participants were divided into groups to discuss ﬁve thematic areas on social cohesion

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

LOCAL TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2016

Best Sworn In To Probe Mining Death Retired Rear Admiral, Gary Best was today sworn in before the to do. The Retired Rear Admiral is expected to provide two Chief Magistrate as he prepares to lead the Commission of Inquiry (COI) into the death of miner, Keon Wilson at Puruni, Cuyuni Mazaruni on October 8, 2016 as a result of a collapsed mining area. Speaking to the media, the Ex-Military officer revealed that the COI into the death is a step in the right direction as he prepares to do his job which he pointed out is to prepare, examine and report into the death and in the end to provide recommendations to the Government so that an incident of similar nature does not occur. The Retired Rear Admiral explained that in order to carry out an effective job he will find out whether there were previous inquiries into such matters and use the information obtained, if any, in making his decisions. When questioned about the perception that most of the COI’s are only being led by Ex-Military officials, Best responded saying “I see no reason whether it’s an ex-military or civilian conducting inquiries, I think the issue of competence and confidence.” When questioned as to what are his Technical qualifications in the field that will make him competent, Best did not hesitate to say that he has none but revealed that the Commission will have to the ability to call upon experts. However when questioned about his qualifications to lead the COI, Best complimented himself saying “I think I have a fair and impartial mind and being an Attorney I know how to weigh information, weigh evidence”. Best referenced his ability to be a critical and strategic thinker and his general life experience in heading various agencies as his qualifications to lead the Commission of Inquiry. Questioned as to the difference between Commission of Inquiries and regular Inquires, Best said that he believes that the COI’s have Judicial powers which can be used to summon individuals before the Commission in order to obtain information which regular inquiries are unable

reports, a preliminary one to Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman on or before November 4, 2016 and the ﬁnal report on November 18, 2016, which he will present to President David Granger.

Retired Rear Admiral, Gary Best

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2016

CDB Approves US$200 Million Country Strategy For Belize

RIDGETO W N , Barbados -The board of directors of the C a r i b b e a n Development Bank ( C D B ) h a s approved a country strategy for Belize for 2016 to 2020. The strategy proposes support of US$200.5 million for Belize over the four-year period. It will help the country address some of the social, environmental and e c o n o m i c challenges it faces. Dr Justin Ram, director of economics, CDB,

noted: “CDB r e m a i n s a committed partner in helping Belize achieve sustained growth and development. This strategy will bolster the government of Belize’s ongoing reform eﬀorts by supporting interventions that will support inclusive social and e c o n o m i c development, environmental sustainability, and the promotion of good governance.” The strategy aims to drive ﬁve development outcomes:

• increasing competitiveness and productivity; • improved quality and access to education and training; • improved social sector outcomes; • enhanced environmental management and r e d u c e d vulnerability to natural disasters; and • improved governance and development planning. Gender equality, r e g i o n a l cooperation and integration, as well as energy security

and citizen security, will be key features o f C D B ’ s interventions delivered through the strategy programme. The US$200.5 million resource envelope includes US$126.5 million in loan resources and US$74 million in grant funds, including resources t o s u p p o r t necessary reforms to unlock Belize’s growth potential. The approved country strategy is aligned with CDB’s strategic objectives of promoting broad-based

economic growth a n d s o c i a l development, and promoting good governance. It builds on policy dialogue with key policymakers and stakeholders, and complements the government of Belize’s 2016-2019 growth and sustainable development strategy and the work of other development partners in Belize. (Caribbean News Now!)

GUYANA DAILY NEWS

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2016

Antigua-Barbuda Steps Up For Haiti

Prime Minister Gaston Browne

T JOHN’S, Antigua - Antigua and Barbuda prime minister, Gaston Browne, has announced that his government is giving US$100,000 to Haiti to help its people cope with the humanitarian crisis facing the country as a result of Hurricane Matthew. In addition, the prime minister revealed that the government of Qatar has pledged to him that it will make an immediate donation of US$500,000 to Haiti. The pledge was made by the prime minister of Qatar, Abdulah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani, in Doha last week when he and

Browne met to discuss bilateral matters. The Antigua and Barbuda leader said that, in his meeting with the Qatari government, “I was very conscious of the dire circumstances of the people of Haiti and the need for as much significant help as I could encourage for them, so I pleaded their case with Prime Minister Al Thani.” Browne revealed that, in a letter dated 16 October, he has received from the Qatar government, it has been confirmed that not only will Qatar give Haiti immediate help, it will also provide “long term support for the reconstruction of affected areas of Haiti”. The Qatari government letter

noted “the very impressive outreach made to our government” by the Antigua and Barbuda leader “on behalf of Haiti”. It continued: “We note your direct eﬀorts to encourage Qatar to assist Haiti. Your leadership and dedication to your region has allowed rapid and immediate

support to Haiti from the Qatar Fund for Development.” Browne said that he is “delighted by the Qatari g o v e r n m e n t ’s s w i f t response and its commitment to continuing support for Haiti”. “This is what our Caribbean Community should be about, looking out for each member states and the welfare of all our peoples. In this regard, I am especially pleased that my advocacy for Haiti with Qatar has borne fruit,” he said. Talking about his own government’s financial contribution, Browne said: “Despite our difficult circumstances, my government regards it as our fraternal duty to provide a hand to help relieve the unimaginable suffering of our brothers and sisters in Haiti.” (Caribbean News Now!)

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2016

Panama Hires Firm amid ongoing Panama Papers Fallout

By Will Fitzgibbon International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) WASHINGTON, USA -Arrests, protests and legal challenges continue across the world, and Panama has now officially engaged a public relations firm to m a n a g e t h e c o u n t r y ’s reputation amid ongoing global fallout from Panama Papers revelations. The Panamanian government has contracted communications and consulting firm Bellwether Strategies to “promote Panama's commercial and diplomatic objectives” and to provide centralized “crisis communication” strategies f o r t h e g o v e r n m e n t ’s response to the Panama Papers. The $50,000-a-month contract is detailed in filings with the United States’ Foreign Agents Registration Unit, which lists Panama’s

president Juan Carlos Varela and ambassador to the US Emanuel Gonzalez-Revilla as the officials overseeing B e l l w e t h e r ’s w o r k . Meanwhile in Israel, two investment and foreign exchange executives were arrested on suspicion of not declaring hundreds of thousands of dollars held offshore. The arrests are the first from t h e t a x a u t h o r i t y ’s investigations of the Panama Papers, and more arrests are expected, according to reports. In Ireland, Finance Minister Michael Noonan cited the Panama Papers as he handed down a budget that promised to boost tax enforcement powers and criminalize the facilitation of offshore tax evasion. “The release of the so-called Panama Papers earlier this year showed how defaulters use offshore structures and accounts to avoid paying tax,” Noonan told the parliament last week. In Malta, a former senior

minister, Dr Konrad Mizzi, faces continued calls for his resignation after revelations of an offshore trust in New Zealand. Mizzi, who lost his ministerial portfolios following the Panama Papers revelations but who remains a member of cabinet, refused to answer a journalist’s question on Thursday about why, according to emails contained within Panama Papers, he wanted to avoid alerting banks in Malta to his offshore company in New Zealand. Mizzi has asked the Maltese tax authorities to audit his financial affairs. Pakistani members of the opposition continue to accuse Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif of obstructing investigations set up in the wake of Panama Papers. Sharif’s children, including his daughter, who has been touted as a potential successor, were linked to at least three offshore c o m p a n i e s . S h a r i f ’s government pledged to establish a commission to look into allegations of wrongdoing but the process has been hampered by a lack of agreement on the terms of the commission’s investigation. Separately, a three-member bench of Pakistan’s Supreme Court will hear pleas this week from opposition parties asking the court to bar the Prime Minister from

carrying on with official duties amid allegations he lied to the country’s national assembly about the value of his assets. In Nigeria, protestors rallied in the capital, Abuja, on Wednesday, waving placards that called on President Muhammadu Buhari to probe Nigerians mentioned within Panama Papers. In Spain, ICIJ’s media partner El Confidencial announced last week that the publisher of its chief competitor planned to sue the newspaper for $9 million. Lawyers representing Grupo Prisa, the parent company of rival newspaper El Pais, reportedly admitted El Confidencial’s reporting was accurate, but claimed that the Panama Papers revelations relating to Grupo Prisa’s owner, Juan Luis Cebrián, amounted to unfair competition. Both newspapers are fighting for top-spot in the Spanish news market. Grupo Prisa claims it has lost readers and suffered economic loss because of El Confidencial’s report on the Panama Papers. Editor of El Confidencial, Nacho Cardero, told ICIJ that if the court challenge is successful, “this suit would mean that journalists can't write or investigate about other editors or journalistic companies” no matter the level of public interest. (Caribbean News Now!)

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2016

Trinidad And Tobago Looks To The Sport Tourism Niche

Professor Daniel Funk with Dr Patricia Butcher, Executive Director of the Trinidad and Tobago Hospitality and Tourism Institute PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad -“The time is opportune to focus on sport tourism, and it is a niche well worth following,” was the message sent out from the Sport To u r i s m M a s t e r C l a s s program that recently concluded in Port of Spain, Trinidad. Organised by the T r i n i d a d a n d To b a g o Hospitality and Tourism Association (TTHTI) and facilitated by Professor Daniel Funk of Temple University, the Sport Tourism Master Class took place on October 13 and 14, 2016.

In opening the program, Vi d i a h R a m k h e l a w a n , permanent secretary in the ministry of tourism, said, “Trinidad and Tobago has several stadia and sporting complexes across the country but what will make us a game player are hosting events that not only deliver sustainable economic, social and promotional benefits but also entwine the sport, heritage and culture of this country.” The ministry of tourism has identified sport tourism as one of its key tourism niches and has drafted a preliminary sport tourism policy to guide development in that area. The tourism ministry is collaborating with the ministry of sport and youth affairs and the Sport Company of Trinidad and

Tobago to ﬁnalise this policy in ﬁscal 2017. The policy will be informed by views of all major stakeholders. Sport tourism is said to be worth US$600 billion g l o b a l l y, a c c o r d i n g t o research from World Travel Market. This particular niche

market accounts for 14 percent of overall international travel and tourism receipts and this is predicted to grow over the next decade. Sport tourism is about more than just hosting great events. It oﬀers the potential for something much broader, including opportunities for Trinidad and Tobago to raise its identity as a sport destination, to generate new tourism business, and to achieve widespread international recognition through global media coverage. The Sport Tourism Master Class saw record attendance with presentations by several key persons in the sport and tourism ﬁelds. The program provided participants with an opportunity to develop the skill-sets necessary for Trinidad and Tobago to excel in the sport tourism arena. (Caribbean News Now!)

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2016

Caribbean Aquaculture Projects Offer New Citizenship By Investment Opportunities

avoiding any measurable environmental impacts. GSA is oﬀering investors a unique opportunity to DUBAI, UAE -- Grenada join the high technology Sustainable Aquaculture paradigm via intellectual ( G S A ) a n d A n t i g u a property (IP). GSA uses Sustainable Aquaculture the latest, world-leading (ASA) have recently aquaculture technologies, received the full support continuing to improve from both countries’ them where they own the governments. The open i n t e l l e c t u a l p r o p e r t y ocean environment rights. This can be combined with integrated extremely lucrative in multi-trophic aquaculture both the short and long( I M T A ) a n d g o o d term, as the unique IP may husbandry practices be licensed to other p r o d u c e s a p r e m i u m aquaculture projects for quality product while an annual fee plus a Integrated multi-trophic aquaculture

percentage of their annual gross sales This IP proﬁt centre is in addition to the sales of the core aquaculture products.

Citizenship by Investment "Prosperity, safety, global mobility – secure citizenship and visa free travel for your family via a safe and sound investment i n a p e a c e f u l Commonwealth of Nations state," said Leo Ford, director of GSA. Grenadian citizenship lasts for a lifetime, giving the individual the same rights and privileges as persons born in Grenada. The passport allows visafree travel to over 130 countries including the UK, Hong Kong, Singapore and most of Latin America. Grenada citizens may also travel and do business freely throughout the Caribbean C o m m u n i t y (CARICOM). (Caribbean News Now!)

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2016

Dominica PM Praises China

Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit (Source: http://alchetron.com) ROSEAU, Dominica, Oct 18, CMC – Dominica has praised China for its unwavering commitment to the socio-economic development of the island saying the Asian country has remained “true to its commitment and promises to Dominica. “Every single promise which the government and people of China has made to Dominica they have kept them,” Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit said. He said the outgoing China’s ambassador Li Jiannin “has certainly represented the most populous country, which

is a member of the UN Security Council with a veto, the second largest economy in re world with distinction”. Dominica and China established diplomatic relations in

2004 after Roseau broke oﬀ diplomatic relations w i t h Ta i w a n w h i c h Beijing considers a renegade province. China has also called on countries to adopt the

“One China” policy, the code for agreeing with Beijing that there is only “One China” and Taiwan is an inalienable part of it. In his statement, Skerrit said that China is at the “forefront of providing development assistance to the developing world. He said Beijing makes available in the form grants “several billions of dollars and in the form of very concessionary loans at two and three per cent with an extended grace period have been exceptional in its assistance to developing countries”. (Antigua Observer)

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2016

Caribbean Countries To Beneﬁt From New USAID Agreement

Dr. Carissa F. Etienne WASHINGTON, Oct 18, CMC – C a r i b b e a n countries are expected to beneﬁt from a multimillion dollar agreement signed between the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Pan American H e a l t h Organization (PAHO). USAID will provide more than US$31 million to improve health in Latin America and the Caribbean over the next ﬁve years and PAHO said the partnership will

support its t e c h n i c a l cooperation in its member states in areas including tuberculosis, malaria, neglected infectious diseases, maternal and neonatal health and inequities related to gender, ethnicity and other social determinants. The agreement also supports eﬀorts to strengthen health information systems, as well as health systems overall, PAHO said. “We are proud of the many health achievements that our work with U S A I D h a s produced in our member countries,

and we are grateful for the opportunity to continue this partnership to build o n t h o s e achievements,” s a i d PA H O Dominican-born Director Carissa F. Etienne. “We very much look forward to working together over the next ﬁve years.” PAHO said it has worked with USAID for nearly three decades to improve the health and lives of people in Latin America and the Caribbean. “This collaboration has led to health progress including the eradication of river blindness from several of the region’s countries,

continuing declines in malaria cases and deaths in 19 of the 21 endemic countries, and the attainment of most of the healthrelated Millennium Development Goals (MDGs),” PAHO said. “At the same time, this joint work has also highlighted the need for innovative strategies to build further on the progress achieved.” USAID’s Assistant Administrator for the Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean, Marcela Escobari, said “we are encouraged by the gains that the health sector in Latin America and the Caribbean has made in the decades since USAID ﬁrst embarked on partnership with PAHO. “ To g e t h e r, w i t h local ministries of health, we continue to help improve aﬀordable access to quality health care

for the most vulnerable people in the region,” said Escobari. PAHO said the new agreement will support continuing and new eﬀorts to build “strong, sustainable and equitable health systems” and advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with the long-term goal of achieving universal health. The new agreement includes support for PAHO as technical secretariat for a Promise Renewed for the Americas, an initiative to reduce inequities and a c c e l e r a t e improvements in reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health. Other partners include UNICEF, the World Bank, and the InterA m e r i c a n Development Bank. (Antigua Observer)

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2016

Caribbean Countries Urged To Do More To Reduce Poverty

ASHINGTON , Oct 18, CMC – The World Bank says in order to win the ﬁght against poverty in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), children need to have better access to basic opportunities. According to new data released to c o i n c i d e w i t h International Day of the Eradication of Poverty, the World Bank notes that from 2000 to 2014, extreme poverty -people living under US$2.50 a day- in Latin America and the Caribbean – decreased to 10.8 per cent from 25.5 per cent . But the Wa s h i n g t o n - b a s e d ﬁnancial institution said the reduction since 2012

has taken place at a much slower pace as a result of the economic slowdown. At the same time, the bank said inequality went down marginally, although it still remains high. In addition, the World Bank said the region made signiﬁcant gains in expanding access to opportunities, especially to basic services, such as electricity and school enrolment. However, it said continued progress is being overshadowed by the current economic slowdown, “which has already stopped the expansion of the middle class.” “For the region to continue with the great social transformation it embarked upon since the

turn of the century, we need to ensure that every child is given a fair chance to fulﬁl his or her true potential,” said Jorge Familiar, World Bank Vice President for Latin America and the Caribbean. “In the context of economic slowdown, it is even more important to improve opportunities for c h i l d r e n f r o m disadvantaged backgrounds, such as access to a good education.” The World B a n k ’s 2 0 1 6 H u m a n Opportunity Index (HOI) “Seeking Opportunities for All,” measures how equitably children, age 16 and under, have access to services needed for a

productive life such as education, water and sanitation, electricity and internet. While the analysis shows important gains in access to electricity and school enrollment – over 90 per cent coverage – the region still lags in access to running water, sanitation and internet, the World Bank said. “Unequal access to essential services can hinder the development and well-being of children, which ultimately limits their productivity in adult life and aﬀects the region’s potential to boost growth and further reduce poverty in the long term,” said Oscar CalvoGonzalez, author of the report and World Bank Practice Manager for Poverty and Equity in Latin America and the C a r i b b e a n . “Unfortunately, having parents with low education and income, as well as living in rural areas, remain important barriers for access to opportunities and economic mobility from one generation to the next,” he added. (Antigua Observer)

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2016

St. Lucian Cruise Ship Employee arrested For Alleged Sexual Assault

he Saint Lucian man being escorted by

police. A Saint Lucian national who is employed as a Disney Wonder crew member was arrested on sexual assault charges in Cadiz, Spain while the cruise ship was in dry dock in Navantia shipyard. Cruise Centre reported that the incident took place on Saturday morning (Oct.15) on the ship ‘Rhapsody’, which serves as hotel for crew members and other workers during the dry dock. The arrested crew member has been identiﬁed as a 28 -year-

old male from Saint Lucia with initials JGL. According to the victim’s statement, who is also working on Disney Wonder, there was a crew party on board the ship. After the party, she and JGL went in his cabin, where they had consensual sex, and spent the night together. In the morning,however, JGL tried to convince the woman to have anal sex, which she refused. Nevertheless, JGL allegedly insisted and had penetrated the victim anally, causing her pain. Cruise Centre said that after the sexual assault, the victim identiﬁed as a 27 year-old British

national, didn’t want to report the incident at ﬁrst, but ﬁnally did at around 9.a.m. by contacting C a d i z P o l i c e

Department. The police patrol moved to the scene and oﬃcers arrested the crew member and sent him to P r o v i n c i a l Commissioner of Cadiz, where he stayed overnight waiting to appear before the judicial authority. The judge decided to send him to pris on w ithout bail, considering that the story of the woman oﬀered no contradictions. If found guilty, the Saint Lucian crew member, can be sentenced from one to t h r e e y e a r s imprisonment. (St. Lucia News Online)

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2016

CDB Approves US$24.1M Project For St. Lucia’s Education System

RESS RELEASE – The Board of Directors of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) has approved USD23.4 million (mn) in ﬁnancing for a project, which aims to strengthen Saint Lucia’s education system to better address the needs of diverse learners. The Saint Lucia Education Quality Improvement Project (EQuIP) will support the enhancement of mechanisms and capacity for improved planning, leadership and delivery of education services; the rehabilitation, renovation and/or expansion of physical infrastructure at

various education levels; and institutional strengthening and capacity building. Daniel Best, Director of Projects, C D B n o t e s : “ We a r e committed to working with the Government of Saint Lucia to invest in improving access to quality education for all. This Project responds to the island’s most pressing needs in the education sector, and builds on our four decades of successful partnership with the Government and people of Saint Lucia.” EQuIP aligns with the Government of Saint Lucia’s Education Sector Development Plan (20152020), and will: -improve

the teaching and learning environment across the country through the e x p a n s i o n a n d rehabilitation of five schools; -enhance quality, r e l e v a n c e a n d instructional effectiveness by providing training for 25 teacher educators and 375 teachers in specific areas of need; -improve leadership and operational effectiveness by providing training for workers across the education system, including 120 principals and education officers; conduct a climate vulnerability assessment of project schools and develop prototype guidelines for use in climate vulnerability

assessment of schools nationally; -enhance special needs education by assessing what institutional and infrastructural improvements are needed to -provide quality education and equitable access to children with special educational needs (SEN). Loan ﬁnancing for EQuIP is complemented by a grant of USD740,000 to the Government of Saint Lucia, which also includes an allocation from resources provided by the European Investment Bank (EIB) to CDB under the EIB Grant Facility for Climate Action Support. The Government of Saint Lucia will contribute USD4.9 mn to the Project. The Project supports C D B ’s S a i n t L u c i a Country Strategy Paper (2013-2016), which prioritises improving the eﬃciency of social and economic infrastructure on the island. It is also consistent with the Bank’s strategic objective of supporting inclusive and sustainable growth and development as outlined in its Strategic Plan 20152019. (St. Lucia News Online)

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

REGIONAL TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2016

Guyana & Suriname To Participate In Caribe’s Animation & Digital Media Festival

Guyana & Suriname to participate in Caribe’s Animation & Digital Media Festival The Guyana and Suriname Animation Networks will be participating on the Animae Caribe Film and Digital Media Festival, which will be celebrated in Trinidad and Tobago from October 24-30, 2016. Guyana Animation Network (GAN) Ms. Jubilante Cutting, President of the Guyana Animation Network (GAN) expressed her enthusiasm towards the festival, and the ‘positive inﬂuence’ of this kind of events not only for the development of local artist, but for animators in the diaspora.

Animation Network (SAN) The President of the Suriname Animation Network (SAN) Adley Breeveld said the Animae Caribe Film and Digital Media Festival could represent a priceless opportunity for the participants to ‘network’ not only with the regional talents, but also with prestigious animators from International business such as American Computer Animation Film Studio Pixar, the Animated Film Production Company SONY and from the American diversiﬁed multinational Walt Disney.

Suriname. The Festival The Animae Caribe Animation and Digital Media Festival is the Caribbean’s biggest and most prestigious animation festival of the region. This yearly event provides a platform for the development of animators in the Caribbean, as well as the exposure of animation as a viable business. Since 2001, the Animae Caribe Festival has been bringing top animators to Trinidad and Tobago to present and host workshops for potential, novice and professional digital artists. Today, it continues to provide an outlet for innovative animators in the region to develop, expand and showcase their talents to a wider local and international audience. S o u r c e : https://www.facebook.com/animateguy ana/

Guyana Animation Network (GAN) “We will be able to learn and beneﬁt from the training from all the skilled professionals in the animation industry that will be participating in the festival,” Ms. Cutting stated. The Guyana Animation Network (GAN) began with the formation of an informal Board of Directors on May 31, 2016 led by Founder and President, Ms. Jubilanté Cutting. This was quickly followed by its oﬃcial launch on July 2nd, 2016, which facilitated a number of artists, animators, designers, story writers and researchers to display their work. Suriname

Suriname Animation Network (SAN) “It will be an amazing experience” Mr. Breeveld said. The Suriname Animation Network (SAN) was proclaimed on the 4th of July 2015, during the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Summit, a bi-yearly conference, in Suriname that oﬀers a platform for everyone in the ICT industry to come together to exchange ideas. The SAN was formed out of a need for collaboration in the animation sector of

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

REGIONAL TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2016

Venezuela Referendum: Court Tightens Rules On Maduro Recall

Supreme Court of Venezuela [BBC] - Venezuela's Supreme Court has delivered a blow to an opposition campaign to oust President Nicolas Maduro. His opponents want to end his term in oďŹ&#x192;ce early via a recall referendum.The court ruled on Monday that they must now secure signatures from 20% of voters in each of the 24 states, rather than 20% of the overall electorate. Venezuela is facing severe economic problems and although Mr Maduro's

popularity has plunged, he has control over key bodies such as the court. The key dates for the opposition campaign are 26 to 28 October. On those days it must collect and electronically verify enough signatures to trigger the recall referendum. It had faced a tough task already trying to reach a sum of around four million voters. Now it must meet a 20% threshold in each state, including rural areas where support for the left-wing government is stronger. The court said on Monday: "The failure to collect that percentage in any of the states or the capital district would nullify the validity of a presidential recall referendum." Another key date is 10 January. If the recall referendum happens after then and Mr Maduro loses the vote, which opinion polls suggest would be the case, he would be replaced by his handpicked vice-president. Mr Maduro has used institutions like courts to try to neutralise the control the opposition has over the National Assembly. Mr Maduro was elected in April 2013. His term runs until 2019. The oildependent country has seen three years of deep recession, with inďŹ&#x201A;ation expected to top 700% this year. There are huge shortages of food and medicines, and looting is widespread.

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2016

Mosul Hattle: EU 'Should Prepare For Returning Jihadists’

Smoke could be seen rising above Bartila, east of Mosul, after fighting on Tuesday(REUTERS) The EU should be prepared for returning jihadists if the socalled Islamic State (IS) is driven out of its Iraqi stronghold, Mosul, an official warns. Security Commissioner Julian King said even a small number of militants would pose "a serious threat that we must prepare ourselves for". Iraqi forces say they have captured 10 villages near Mosul since beginning their long-awaited offensive on Monday. As many as 5,000 IS fighters are believed to remain in the city. Government troops, moving in from the south, are currently some 40km (24 miles) from the city, while Kurdish fighters are some 30km to the east. The International Committee of the Red Cross has appealed to all sides to show their humanity as aid agencies brace for what they say could be the largest man-made humanitarian crisis of recent times. How big is the threat to Europe? Julian King, a British diplomat recently made the EU's security commissioner, told Die Welt newspaper (in German) the threat of IS fighters returning to Europe after the fall of Mosul was "very serious". There were currently about 2,500 fighters from EU countries in the combat zones, he said. However, he stressed it was "very unlikely that there would be a mass exodus of IS fighters to Europe". Similar cases in the past had shown, he said, that "only a few fighters come back". But he added: "I don't want to talk the risk down. Even a small number constitutes a threat." Some of the militants involved in the deadly IS attack on Paris last November had recently returned from Syria. What is the latest on the offensive? Some 34,000 Iraqi security personnel, Kurdish fighters, Sunni Muslim Arab tribesmen and Shia Muslim paramilitaries have been deployed against IS, with backing from the US, France and others. IS has issued a defiant video showing its fighters reportedly patrolling Mosul by night, with a spokesman goading the group's enemies to engage it in battle. The BBC's Ahmed Maher, reporting from the front line, says the strategy is to encircle the city before moving in on the centre itself. France's

Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian has warned the fight to liberate Mosul in its entirety could take a long time. "It's not a blitzkrieg," he said. "It's a city with 1.5 million residents, so it's a long-term project - several weeks, maybe months." Meanwhile, the Syrian army accused the US-led coalition of planning to allow IS fighters in Mosul to flee into Syria, Reuters news agency reports. The army, which has no control over Syria's border with Iraq, was quoted as saying it would resist any attempt by fighters to cross. The commander of Iraq's Counter-Terrorism Service, Maj-Gen Fadhil Jalil al-Barwari, has been quoted by the New Arab website as saying IS fighters are being offered two corridors "to go to Syria". How are civilians coping in Mosul? An Iraqi-American journalist who has been on the outskirts of Mosul and has relatives in the city said the situation there was currently calm. Steven Nabil said people were feeling a mixture of excitement at the prospect of being liberated, and "stress and worry" over what dangers the offensive would bring. Phone lines had been re-established with the city in recent days, giving residents access to a free phone line. "They've actually sent out hundreds of messages in the past hours telling the coalition" where IS locations are, particularly as they have moved into local neighbourhoods, he said. The UN is working to create new refugee sites outside Mosul amid fears that as many as a million people may be forced from their homes. Lise Grande, the UN's humanitarian co-ordinator for Iraq, said the organisation was working on the assumption that as many as 200,000 people might need shelter in the first days and weeks of the operation. There are also fears the fighters might use civilians as human shields as the offensive continues. Ms Grande said Iraqi security forces planned to vet fleeing civilians to ensure militants were not hiding among them. Why does Mosul matter? The oil-rich capital of Nineveh province was Iraq's second-largest city when IS militants overran it in June 2014, but many inhabitants subsequently fled. Its capture became a symbol of the group's rise as a major force and its ability to control territory, and it was there that IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi proclaimed a "caliphate" in parts of Iraq and neighbouring Syria.The city was one of Iraq's most diverse, comprising ethnic Sunni Arabs, Kurds, Assyrians and Turkmens, as well as a variety of religious minorities. While members of those minorities largely fled the onslaught by IS, many local Sunni Arabs initially welcomed the militants, angered by the sectarian policies of the previous Shia Arab-led central government. One major concern for those still there is the involvement of Shia militia groups in the offensive. The commander of one of the main groups, Hadi al-Ameri of the Badr Brigades, sought to reassure Sunnis on Tuesday by saying only the Iraqi security forces would be allowed to operate inside the city. Even if IS is driven out of Mosul, the group will still control areas of northern and eastern Iraq. (BBC)

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2016

Commons Vote To Ratify Brexit Very Likely, Says No 10

(GETTY IMAGES) Downing Street has said it is "very likely" MPs will be able to vote on the ﬁnal Brexit agreement reached between the UK and the European Union. A government lawyer made the comment in the High Court and No 10 conﬁrmed it was the "government's view that is being represented". The UK is expected to leave the European Union in 2019. The deal reached is expected to deal with migration controls and whether the UK remains in the single market. BBC assistant political editor Norman Smith said the government's move to allow a vote after an agreement has been negotiated with the EU was

unlikely to satisfy critics of Prime Minister Theresa May's approach to Brexit. They are pressing for a parliamentary vote before she begins negotiations next spring - but Mrs May opposes this, saying ministers should decide when to trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, which begins the two years of talks. Norman Smith said the latest government comments raised the possibility that any deal negotiated by Mrs May could be rejected by Parliament. The government is currently fighting a legal case over whether Parliament should have a vote before Article 50 is triggered. During the High Court hearing, government lawyer James Eadie QC moved on to what was likely to happen at the end of the negotiations, in 2019, saying: "The government view at the moment is it is very likely that any such agreement will be subject to ratification." If this vote ends with MPs rejecting the Brexit deal, the UK would still leave the EU, Lord Pannick, who is acting for the campaigners challenging the government, told the court. "Parliament cannot reverse the notification," he said. The UK would either leave with no agreement or reach a new one, he said, adding: "But the new agreement cannot restore the rights that are irretrievably lost, and whether there is a new agreement is out of the hands of Parliament." UK voters opted in favour of leaving the EU by 51.9% to 48.1% in a referendum in June. The three-day High Court hearing ends on Tuesday. (BBC)

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2016

Oikea Shanghai Frowns On Elderly Daters Who Occupy Cafeteria

(SINA WEIBO: CCTV NEWS) Sad news for elderly lonely hearts in Shanghai: they can no longer look for love in Ikea. The Swedish furniture giant's Shanghai store has seen a strange phenomenon of senior citizens descending upon its famed cafeteria to socialise and even find partners. Locals said it occurs twice weekly, usually on Tuesdays and Thursdays. China's state broadcaster CCTV News reported that the elderly patrons would often buy a cup of coffee or some bread and "spend an entire day just chatting with others". They are believed to be part of a dating community, making use of their Ikea membership cards. This week, Ikea put a stop to it by imposing a strict "no food, no seating" rule to discourage senior citizens from occupying canteen seats for "extended periods". In a notice posted at the entrance of the Ikea Shanghai Restaurant, staff identified an "illegal blind-dating group" and accused it of "uncivilised behaviour". "The situation has adversely affected the dining experience and security of most of

our customers," it said, adding that it had received public complaints about "spitting" and "quarrels and fights". "It is having a negative implication for our canteen's operation. From today, the restaurant will only be for people who purchase their food first." The news has attracted attention from netizens on Chinese social media, with many in support of the elderly. "They are harmless," wrote Ed Ed Chiu in a reply to a post by CCTV News on the popular Chinese micro-blogging Sina Weibo platform. Weibo user Lee Xin slammed the move as a "draconian measure" and said it was cruel to elderly patrons. "What wrong are they doing? They are lonely and are probably hoping to find some company again. If anything, the store should practise empathy and at least sympathise with these old people," she said. The move was criticised by some elderly patrons, who spoke to local media outlets. "We've been to fast food outlets like McDonald's - but there are barely any peers there," said an 86-year-old man who went by the name of Qiu. Mr Qiu told the state-controlled Global Times newspaper: "We feel like aliens - surrounded by youngsters. If there is another place in Shanghai where elderly people can gather, we are more than ready to pay twice as much and travel further." But others online voiced support for the store's management, praising its efforts in "maintaining store policy". "Intolerable behaviour," said one Weibo user. "I'm with the management on this. It's deplorable how people are caught photographed sleeping on Ikea displays, what more spitting and swearing in public? This should not be tolerated at all." Another user Lao Gao from Beijing wrote: "To everyone romanticising this, please also consider that the store has an image to uphold while protecting the interests of other paying customers. It is ugly behaviour to take up seats for such long durations while you make others wait." (BBC)

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2016

Syria War: Russia Halts Aleppo Bombing For Humanitarian Pause

Much of Aleppo lies in ruins after a sustained bombing campaign(AFP) Russian and Syrian warplanes have suspended air strikes in the Syrian city of Aleppo ahead of a humanitarian pause on Thursday, Russia has said. Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said the bombing had been halted early on Tuesday. Russia had already announced an eight-hour pause between 08:00 (05:00 GMT) and 16:00 on Thursday. Mr Shoigu urged rebels and civilians in the besieged eastern area of the city to use humanitarian corridors to leave.

Russian warplanes pounded the rebel-held areas of Aleppo shortly before announcing Tuesday's suspension, activists say. A couple and their three children were killed in the overnight bombing, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a monitoring group. More than 430 people have been killed in the recent bombardment of rebel areas, it says. UN agencies have criticised the planned length of Thursday's humanitarian pause, saying at least 12 hours will be needed for people to safely leave the besieged area. "We would welcome any pause in the ďŹ ghting, but there is a need for a longer pause in order to get the aid in," said UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric. Russia's initial announcement came hours after 14 members of one family were reportedly killed in a strike in Aleppo. Volunteer rescuers in Syria said eight children and two women were among the dead after heavy bombing, with "bunker-buster" munitions shaking the ground. Russia has come under increasing criticism from Western nations for its attacks on rebel-held east Aleppo, with the US and the EU calling for a war crimes investigation. Moscow denies the accusations. President Vladimir Putin dismissed such claims as "rhetoric" that did not take into account the realities in Syria. (BBC)

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2016

Brother Urges Paris Suspect Salah Abdeslam To Speak

Two of Mohamed Abdeslam's siblings participated in last November's bloody attacks, but he had no involvement(AFP) The brother of the main surviving suspect in last November's jihadist attacks in Paris has called on his jailed sibling to speak. Last week two lawyers said they could no longer represent Saleh Abdeslam, as he was remaining silent and refusing to co-operate with the investigation. "I ask my brother to speak," Mohamed Abdeslam told

France's RTL Radio. He said he wanted to know "exactly what had happened before and after" the attacks in which 130 people died. Socalled Islamic State said it was behind the co-ordinated assaults on bars, restaurants, a concert hall and the Stade de France. Salah Abdeslam - described as the sole surviving member of the group was arrested in Brussels in March and has kept silent since his transfer to France in April. Mohamed Abdeslam said his brother had withdrawn into himself and he had the impression that he was even more radicalised than before. "During my visits to Belgium, I really saw a Salah Abdeslam who was ready to talk. A few months later, it feels like I am looking at another person. I can conﬁrm that Salah is more withdrawn, more closed now," the suspect's sibling added. "His incarceration, the extremely diﬃcult conditions of his detention, his

withdrawal into himself; I sometimes have the impression he is more radicalised now, rather than deradicalised," said Mohamed Abdeslam, who has visited his brother in prison every three months. He said he was aware that Salah Abdeslam's silence was particularly hard for the families of the victims, and that it would be "a disappointment for us all" if he refused to testify at his trial. Salah Abdeslam's refusal to co-operate is said in part to stem from anger at the conditions in which he is being held - and particularly being under 24-hour video surveillance, his former lawyers have said. He is thought to have played a key role in planning the Paris attacks and transporting the attackers, but investigators are yet to determine his speciﬁc role. Another Abdeslam sibling, Brahim, blew himself up in the attacks. (BBC)

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2016

Bhubaneswar Hospitaleastern Fire Kills At Least 20 India. The ﬁre began in the intensive care unit of the

An electrical short circuit is believed to be the cause of the ﬁre(EURPOEAN PHOTOPRESS AGENCY) At least 20 people have been killed in a ﬁre at a hospital in

private SUM hospital in the city of Bhubaneswar in Odisha state and spread to other areas, officials say. An electrical short circuit is believed to be the cause. Most of the victims reportedly died from smoke inhalation. Dozens of patients were taken to other medical facilities in the city. PM Narendra Modi said he was "anguished" by the tragedy. "The fire left 20 people dead and more than 100 people injured. They have been admitted to various hospitals in Bhubaneswar and the medical college in Cuttack," the state's health secretary, Arati Ahuja, told the BBC. Many of the injured are in a critical condition. Earlier reports had put the death toll at 23. "Deeply anguished by the loss of lives in the hospital fire in Odisha. The tragedy is mindnumbing. My thoughts are with bereaved families," Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted. In 2011, 89 people died in a fire that broke out in a hospital in the eastern city of Kolkata. (BBC)

German TV Terror Drama Asks Public To Deliver Verdict

A programme trailer set out the dilemma facing the court, and the public TV viewers across Europe have taken part in a interactive courtroom drama centred on a fictional act of terror. The public was asked to judge whether a military pilot who downs a hijacked passenger jet due to be crashed into a football stadium is guilty of murder. Viewers in Germany, Switzerland and Austria gave their verdict online or by phone. The programme was also aired in Slovakia and the Czech Republic. The vast majority called for the pilot, Lars Koch, to be acquitted. The show, Terror - Your Verdict, was broadcast by German network ARD and was an adaptation of a play by bestselling author Ferdinand von Schirach. In the fictional plot, militants from an al-Qaeda offshoot hijack a Lufthansa Airbus A320 with 164 people on board and aim to

crash it into a stadium packed with 70,000 people during a football match between Germany and England. "If I don't shoot, tens of thousands will die," German air force Major Lars Koch says as he flouts the orders of his superiors and takes aim at an engine of the plane. The jet crashes into a field, killing everyone on board. "The viewer is yanked out of the passivity of television watching," ARD programming chief Volker Herres told German newspaper Bild. "He is actively called upon to become both an affected person and take a decision." 'Human dignity' In Germany, 86.9% of the 609,000 viewers who voted believed Koch made the right decision. A similar proportion of viewers backed Koch in Austria and Switzerland. Similar scenarios have been debated since the 2001 9/11 suicide attacks in the US. Then US Vice-President Dick Cheney said later that shooting down the hijacked planes would have been justified to prevent greater loss of life. However, in 2006 Germany's constitutional court ruled that such action would violate Article One of its Basic Law, that human dignity was inviolable. In a TV discussion programme broadcast after the drama, German ex-Defence Minister Franz Josef Jung argued that the lives of the plane passengers were already impossible to save, and that the spectators themselves had a right to human dignity. It was a case of extra-judicial emergency, he argued. A former interior minister, Gerhart Baum, disagreed, insisting that the pilot should be found guilty of murder as the fate of the passengers was not certain and human lives could not be measured against each other. (BBC)

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2016

US Election 2016: 'Quit Whining,' Obama Tells Donald Trump

President Barack Obama speaks during a joint news conference with Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi(REUTERS) US President Barack Obama has said Donald Trump's

"continued flattery" of Russia's president and claims of election rigging are "unprecedented". At a White House press conference, Mr Obama said he has never seen any US presidential candidate try to discredit a poll before it has even taken place. "I'd advise Mr Trump to quit whining," Mr Obama added. The Republican candidate has repeatedly claimed the 8 November election will be stolen for Hillary Clinton. "Mr Trump's continued flattery of Mr Putin and the degree to which he appears to model much of his policies and approach to politics on Mr Putin is unprecedented," Mr Obama said at Tuesday's Rose Garden news conference, alongside visiting Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi. Mr Trump, who has made several admiring remarks about Vladimir Putin, said on Monday he would consider visiting Russia before taking office, if elected. The businessman told a talk-radio host: "If I win on November 8, I could see myself meeting with Putin and meeting with Russia prior to the start of the administration." (BBC)

Pennsylvania Mayor Resigns After Racist Facebook Posts

Mayor Charles Wasko has said the he does not regret the racist posts(ABC) A town mayor in the US state of Pennsylvania has quit following uproar over his racist posts on Facebook. The council in West York unanimously accepted Charles Wasko's resignation offer on Monday night, prompting applause from a crowd in the chambers. The Republican was censured by the council this month for his posts, some depicting apes and lynching. Mr Wasko, who is white, said he was the target of a "witch hunt", but acknowledged making the posts. In June he uploaded a photo of orangutans in a wheelbarrow, captioned: "Aww... moving day at the Whitehouse has finally arrived." "Not soon enough!" Mr Wasko commented on the image, which had the phrase "Kenya or bust" superimposed on the hand cart. He said he was being targeted unfairly due to a fight with the police chief in the town of around 4,500 residents. But in an interview this month with Pennsylvania TV station

WHTM, Mr Wasko said: "The racist stuﬀ, yeah. I'll admit I did that, and I don't care what people label me as." Much of his Facebook activity has also targeted Hillary Clinton, the Democratic presidential candidate, or expressed support for Republican candidate Donald Trump. Several of Mr Wasko's posts make sexist comments regarding the appearance of Democratic female politicians, and others mock proponents of gun control. His resignation follows public forums in which community members, including young children, called on the mayor to step down. Democrat Shawn Mauck will now move from the town council to the mayor's oﬃce. "Sadly West York lately has been known primarily for one thing, what residents call 'their racist mayor,'" Mr Mauck said at a council meeting as he accepted the mayor's resignation. The mayor had said he would only step down if certain conditions were met by the council members. "The demands were kind of silly childish immature from a guy who's not displayed too much maturity the last couple days," said Mr Mauck. He would not elaborate on the mayor's demands, but he did make clear they were not met. (BBC)

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2016

Hitler Birthplace: Austrian Minister Retreats On Demolition subject of years of legal wrangling between the owner Gerlinde Pommer and the government, which has been renting it since 1972 to prevent any misuse. It currently pays about €4,800 ($5,300; £4,336) a month for the building. 'Demystiﬁcation' needed In a statement sent to the BBC, the committee of experts appointed to decide on the future of Hitler's birthplace said it was against demolishing the house.

The fate of the building in which Hitler was born in 1889 has long been a contentious issue in Braunau am Inn(REUTERS) Austria's Interior Minister Wolfgang Sobotka has rowed back on comments about plans to tear down the house in which Adolf Hitler was born in 1889. He had claimed a committee of experts had decided the house should be demolished. But the committee insists not, saying a demolition would "come close to a denial of the Nazi history in Austria". On Tuesday Mr Sobotka told journalists the house should be "converted so that it was no longer recognisable". He said one could debate about whether that entailed a demolition, and added that architects would be invited to put forward proposals to convert the house. Hitler was born in a rented room on the top ﬂoor of the building in Braunau am Inn, near the Austro-German border, on 20 April 1889. Adolf Hitler as an infant in about 1890 It has been the

Professor Clemens Jabloner and Professor Oliver Rathkolb said the impression had arisen that the committee had recommended the demolition. "This is clearly not the case. We have made… several proposals for the concrete [deﬁnitive] demystiﬁcation of this place" including a "thorough architectural conversion" so that the house would not have such symbolic power. "We clearly stated that a demolition would come close to a denial of the Nazi history in Austria." The statement suggested the house be used for administrative or social purposes but ruled out using it as a museum. Meanwhile, a parliamentary committee is due to discuss a legal amendment to allow them to seize the property, but a vote on the proposal is not expected until later, possibly November, sources told the BBC's Bethany Bell in Vienna. The future of the former guesthouse has been widely debated, with opinion torn between razing it to stop it becoming a focal point for neoNazis or changing its use. Some in the community want it to become a refugee centre, others a museum dedicated to Austria's liberation from Nazi rule. Others oppose the building's demolition because it is part of the historic city centre and therefore under heritage protection. Local people say the building still attracts some neo-Nazi sympathisers. (BBC)

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

LOCAL WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2016

Guyoil Ups Price Of Kero, Gasoil & Gasoline Drops By Mere $2

The state owned Guyana Oil Company Limited (Guyoil) has announced a $5 per litre in its prices for kerosene and gasoil, a move the oil company said is directly related to increased acquisition cost from its suppliers, which is consistent with the current trend of upward movement of fuel prices on the World market. These adjusted fuel prices are set to in effect from October 19, 2016. Guyoil has said that it has been absorbing these fluctuations but “recent movements have made these adjustments necessary”. The statement also revealed that “Conversely, Guyoil is happy to announce a reduction in the price for Gasoline by $2.00 per litre.” The oil company stated that this will not only have a positive impact on individuals who use their vehicles to go to work and conduct business but also on the transportation sector. According to the statement, Guyoil, a Guyanese company which is owned and managed by Guyanese is a major contributor to the national coffers, and that “Guyoil continues to contribute in a positive way to the overall development of

Guyana and remains steadfast in its commitment as stated in its motto - Excellence in Service.” Below is the table of the adjusted around the country.

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

LOCAL WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2016

Vehicle Overhead Pass For Diamond To Be Constructed In 2017 advertised early next month, and works would commence early next year.

Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Projects Manager, Sunil Ganesh The government of Guyana is planning to ease the traﬃc congestion at the Diamond intersection, East Bank Demerara. In a release from the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, it was noted that plans are being drawn to construct a vehicular overhead pass in this area. Tenders for the project should be

“There are about 20,000 vehicles that use that intersection, so this vehicle overhead pass would significantly reduce the backup of traffic existing in Diamond, so when the vehicle overhead pass is completed you have free flow of traffic coming out of Diamond, there will be almost zero delay,” Projects Manager, Sunil Ganesh explained in the statement. The Project manager added that in addition to the vehicular overhead pass, the pedestrian overhead passes would be constructed at the Harbour Bridge next to the office of the Neighbourhood Democratic Council, another at Eccles on the eastern side of the traffic light and

a third in the vicinity of the Houston Secondary School. The Ministry is currently working on installing traﬃc signs and road markings on certain sections of the road as that of the East Bank Four Lane expansion project that started in 2012.

The project was funded by the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB) at US$17 M. With rapid development in area as a result of Diamond/Grove housing and a number of commercial buildings such as a hospital, banks, schools etc., the diamond intersection has become a traﬃc nightmare, especially during the rush hours with drivers, pedestrians and residents calling for the construction for an alternative route into the scheme.

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

LOCAL WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2016

Islamic Bank Discusses Plans To Fund Government Housing Programme

Oﬃcials from the Ministry of Communities and the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA) on Friday met with a visiting team from the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) where a medium-long term housing program was presented. A release from

the Ministry of Communities noted that various interventions relating to the overall direction of the housing sector and the proposed construction of 10,000 housing units were discussed. The government has previously announced that its housing programme for 2017 will focus on providing housing for low income earners and state employees. The Ministry of Communities had said that apartments will be constructed for low income earners and state employees in 2017. This new approach housing programme was taken because the Government was discontinuing the 1000 homes Turnkey housing project at Perseverance and Providence. Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan had said that the government recognized that housing is a major public policy issue and a key area of focus not only in relation to the provision of shelter but in the alleviation of poverty. The minster disclosed that initial focus seeks to cater for the construction of 5,000 apartments. This however, is only part of medium terms plans to deliver 10,000 units to eligible Guyanese. Minister Bulkan pointed out that of the 63, 257 lots allocated in the past 20 years under the previous housing program, 28, 220 are still unoccupied but many are

question why hasn’t there been any plans prior to this housing programme to establish a loan system speciﬁcally design to cater for state employees and low income to build their own homes. The minister was quoted saying “the target of 10,0000 units was conceptualised based on an assessment of the current needs” and expressed optimism that components of the housing program will be included in Guyana’s eventual submission to the IsDB. Chairman of the CHPA Board, Hamilton Green stated that housing is an absolute necessity and priority and provides a space for individuals to feel safe and satisﬁed, with director of Country Programs Department and Special A d v i s o r t o t h e Vi c e - P r e s i d e n t , Mohammad Alsaati, echoing his sentiments. The IsDB executive related that the bank is anticipating “fruitful collaboration” and will work with the local stakeholders to develop worthwhile business opportunities. Proposals from the various government agencies and Ministries are being coordinated by the Ministry of Finance which has responsibility for presentation of Guyana’s development priorities and projects.

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

LOCAL WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2016

Nursing TutorsToyearBeneﬁt From Training In Brazil September,” Benn explained. There

Through collaboration efforts with international partners such as the Pan American Health Organisation and the World Health Organisation (PAHO WHO), thirteen Guyanese will have the opportunity to pursue Masters and Doctoral degrees in nursing education through the Sao Paulo University in Brazil. According to a release from Government Information Agency (GINA), Director of the Health Sciences and Education Faculty of Ministry of Public Health, Wilton Benn said that the offer was made when officials from the Ministry of Public Health and nursing schools across Guyana, visited Brazil. “We had some extensive discussions on ways we could collaborate and we were offered 13 scholarships for nursing tutors to study, eight at the Masters’ Degree and five at the Doctoral level. The scholarships should come on stream next

will be a process for the 13 tutors to be selected which will ensure transparency in the identification of successful applicants. “Currently we are in the preparatory phase which is making sure that we advertise for a large pool of nurses’ educators and out of that the final selection will be made at the Ministry of Public Health and the Faculty of the University of São Paulo,” Benn explained. The scholarship programme is a mix of local and overseas training. Students would have to make periodic visits to the Sao Paulo University for initial course and registration, thesis proposals and, final examinations and evaluation. Meanwhile 26 Nurse Tutors are expected to graduate in November with Certificates in Nursing Education from the University of Miami. The 26 tutors were registered in 2015 and were

involved in a dual mode training programme with the University of Miami. They have all successfully completed their training and are expected to graduate next month. These programmes are geared towards equipping nursing tutors and educators to be better able to provide eﬀective knowledge and teachings to nursing and allied health students at nursing schools across Guyana.

LOCAL

GUYANA DAILY NEWS Carpenter Slapped With Armed Robbery Charges Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan today remanded 23-year-old while armed with a gun, he robbed Lauren Rice of GY$60,000 PAGE 59

carpenter, Andrew Davis Escott, who faced five charges of armed robbery and one charge of possessing ammunition while not being a licensed firearm holder. Escott will return before the Wales Magistrate’s Court on November 3, 2016. With a bandaged arm and swollen face, Escott appeared before the court unrepresented and pleaded not guilty to the charge of possessing ammunition. He was not required to plead to the armed robbery charges. It is alleged that on October 15, 2016 at Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara, Escott was found to be in possession of three .32 rounds of ammunition while not being a licensed firearm holder. It is further alleged that on the same date in question, in the vicinity of the same location, Escott while in the company of others and armed with a gun, robbed a Chinese National, Anand Persaud and Vaugn Mille of cash and other items valued at GY$280,000, GY$224,000 and GY$186,000 respectively. It is also alleged that on October 11, 2016 at Parfaite Harmonie,

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2016

property of Jesus Resurrect Supermarket. It is also alleged that he robbed Double ‘J’ Supermarket of GY$100,000 and a cell phone valued $75,000.

LOCAL

GUYANA DAILY NEWS Man Accused Of Stealing From Brother Granted Bail PAGE 60

Andrew Colin Carter was today granted bail in the sum of GY$70,000 after he appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in the Georgetown

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2016

Magistrate’s Court charged with breaking and entering and larceny which he allegedly committed between September 30, 2016 and October 15, 2016. The accused will return before the court on November 7, 2016. Carter, 56 of Station Street, Kitty, was not represented and pleaded not guilty to the charge. The Prosecution, led by Inspector Navil Jeﬀords made no objection to bail but requested that bail should be substantial.

It is alleged that between the days in question, Carter broke and entered into the Storage Room of Lester Carter, his brother, at Station Street, Kitty and stole therein 15 cases of Banks Bottles, 2 Garden Hoses, 8 jumbo Barrels, 2 Motorbike Batteries, 2 Motorbike Shocks, 1 Fan, 1 Water Pump, 1 Tex Gas Cylinder head, one 19 inch Television Set and a quantity of other items, a total value of GY$425,000. The items have not been recovered.

Tractor Operator Charged For Setting Neighbour’s House On Fire Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan today released Bull Creek Tractor Driver, Lester Harris on GY$150,000 bail after he appeared before her in the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court charged with maliciously setting ﬁre to a house. Harris is slated to return before the Magistrate’s Court in the North West District on January 10, 2017.

Without an Attorney to represent him, the 29-year-old accused who hails from Kamaka, Moruca North West, pleaded not guilty to the charge. The prosecution did not object to his pretrial liberty. It is alleged that on October 16, 2016 at Kamaka, Moruca North West, Harris maliciously set ﬁre to his neighbour's house, property of Julian Cornelius.

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

LOCAL WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2016

MISS WORLD GUYANA 2016 IMPRESSES MINISTER OF STATE

Minister of State Joseph Harmon is pleased that Guyana is being represented on the international stage by Miss World Guyana 2016 Nuriyyih Gerrard. On Wednesday 19 th October 2016, the Beauty Queen paid a courtesy call on the Minister of State and presented him with a plaque expressing appreciation for support in her pageant journey. She was accompanied by Miss World Guyana Franchise Holder, Winston Martindale and Miss World Guyana Business Consultant, Brian Backer. Ms. Gerrard briefed Minister Harmon on her Mental Health Platform. She explained that quite a large percentage of Guyana’s population suﬀers from some form of mental health problem, noting that they require support. “As a young person I chose to focus primarily on the youth and children…I’ve founded a Non- Governmental Organization called ‘One Act Foundation’…we basically want to show Civil Society, other NonGovernmental and Governmental Organisations that together we all can make or have one act of kindness that can have a signiﬁcant impact on someone’s life” Gerrard also spoke of her background in theatre which she uses to incorporate in

mental health out reaches. “We utilize ‘One Act’ with skits that we try to use as a tool to address mental health issues…we are also working along with Software developers in India to help develop applications.” Minister Harmon congratulated Miss World Guyana on her “impressive eﬀorts” and encouraged her to establish a strong linkage with the Ministry of Public Health; he says mental

health is one of the Government of Guyana’s main focuses, and revealed that there will be additional resources placed in the 2017 budget to address the issue of mental health. The Minister of State specifically stressed that it is necessary for the world to learn about the “uniqueness of Guyana”, and promised to provide information that will help the beauty queen speak confidently about Guyana on the international stage. Office of the Minister of State Press Release.

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

LOCAL WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2016

President Granger condolences Pays Tribute To The Late Lord Canary to the children of the President David Granger signs the

President David Granger expressing his condolences to the children of the late Mr. Malcolm Corrica aka Lord Canary Georgetown, Guyana – (October 19, 2016) President David Granger, this morning, paid his ﬁnal respects to the late M r. M a l c o l m C o r r i c a , w h o w a s popularly known by his stage name “Lord Canary” at a viewing ceremony held at the Sandy’s Funeral Home. The Head of State also extended his

deceased, Mr. Malcolm Corrica Jr., Mr. Jeﬀrey Corrica and Ms. Pauline Pierre. Lord Canary died on October 10 at the Diamond Diagnostic Centre at the age of 79. He had been suﬀering from hypertension and other illnesses, which resulted in the amputation of his left leg a few years ago. The calypsonian, who was born on March 21, 1937 on the East Bank Demerara, was a member of the People’s National Congress (PNC), a party which he represented in Parliament for several years. During his tenure, he served as Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Works and Communication, Minister of State in the Ministry of Internal Trade and Consumer Protection, Minster of State for Culture in the Ministry of Education, Social Development and

Book of Condolence at the viewing ceremony for the late Mr. Malcolm Corrica, at the Sandy's Funeral Home. Culture. Mr. Corrica received the Medal of Service (M.S.) National Award in 1992 for his outstanding contribution in the political arena and in the ﬁeld of music and entertainment. MOTP Press Release

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2016

Qatar To Host Caribbean Development Conference In Antigua

Prime Minister Gaston Browne (L) in Qatar ST JOHN’S, Antigua -- The government of Qatar will hold a conference on small island developing states (SIDS) in Antigua in January designed to “initiate stronger bilateral ties between the countries of the Gulf States and the Caribbean”, as a result of an initiative by Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister Gaston Browne. The decision of the government of Qatar to hold the conference arises from discussions between Browne, and the prime minister of Qatar, Abdulah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani, in Doha last week. In a letter dated October 16 to Browne, the Qatari government stated that, as a

result of the meeting between the two prime ministers, there is “a new mandate for Qatar to focus on Caribbean development and expansion of Qatar social and economic ties to the region”. The letter also noted that, during his visit w i t h t h e Q a t a r i l e a d e r, B r o w n e “expressed the importance of inviting and hosting other Caribbean heads of government”. In pursuit of this suggestion, the Qatari prime minister indicated that he would invite Caribbean leaders, to include the prime ministers of Dominica, Haiti, St Lucia, St Kitts-Nevis and Trinidad and Tobago, for bilateral and regional discussions “to understand more about the challenges and opportunities for increased cooperation and social development”.

Commenting on the Qatari government’s positive response to his visit, Browne said: “While my visit to Qatar was a bilateral one, I recognise that the Caribbean region can benefit from strengthened relations with the member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council, which includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. That is why I urged the Qatari prime minister to involve other Caribbean leaders in a broad discussion on deepening relations in a development context. I am very pleased that he has confirmed he will do so.” The Antigua and Barbuda prime minister said that he is also “delighted that the Qatari government has decided to hold the conference in Antigua in January to build-up economic ties between the Caribbean and the states of the Gulf Council”. “This will provide an opportunity for our region to establish firm relations with some of the fastest growing economies in the world,” he said, noting that “The Gulf States’ regional funds amount to hundreds of billions of dollars. The potential for investment, in a mutually beneficial manner in the Caribbean, is boundless, and my government will certainly work to take advantage of it.” The prime minister added, “I have opened the door, not only for Antigua and Barbuda, but for the Caribbean as a whole.” (Caribbean News Now!)

REGIONAL PAGE 64

GUYANA DAILY NEWS

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2016

Buyer Revealed For Bahamas Megaresort Minister Perry Christie. In that letter, he oﬀer, which we are conﬁdent is both far

The Baha Mar resort By K. Quincy Parker Nassau Guardian Business Editor NASSAU, Bahamas -- The Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) has confirmed that the new owner of the financially troubled multi-billion dollar Baha Mar resort in The Bahamas is Perfect Luck Holdings Limited. However, the identities of the owners of that company remain shrouded in secrecy. The Christie administration has up to now kept mum about the status of Perfect Luck as anything other than the purchaser of the debt the bankrupt Baha Mar Ltd owed its employees and contractors. However, the OPM said in a statement on Monday, “The assets of Baha Mar have been acquired by Perfect Luck Holdings Limited. “The sale followed a lengthy marketing process by the receivers, and that process and the resulting sale of the assets to Perfect Luck were overseen and approved by the Bahamas Supreme Court.” Initial investigations by Guardian Business reveal only that a company named “Perfect Luck Holdings Limited” was registered in Hong Kong on March 29, 2014, with corporate number 2072340. The company was marked “live” in Hong Kong corporate registries up to July 2016. Letter Baha Mar’s original developer Sarkis Izmirlian last week published a letter he sent to vice chairman and president Liu Liange of the China Export-Import (CEXIM) Bank and copied to Prime

offered to beat any price being considered for the sale of Baha Mar, and appeared to criticize the arrangement between CEXIM Bank and the government that resulted in what appeared at the time to be the sale of the obligations to Baha Mar employees and creditors. In “consideration” for “concessions and permissions”, CEXIM Bank put up the money to create “Perfect Luck Company”, a special purpose vehicle (SPV) that is paying the settlements overseen by the claims committee established to pay out Baha Mar employees and creditors. The OPM statement contains no comment on the relationship between Perfect Luck Company and Perfect Luck Holdings Ltd. Writing on the arrangement, Izmirlian said: “In essence, CEXIM has taken all the potential viable assets out, including the claim against CCA (China Construction America), and left behind all the obligations. “It is our understanding that CEXIM then intends to complete the resort construction and proceed with a second transaction to sell the resort to an undisclosed Chinese party.” Izmirlian also wrote that the rumoured Chinese party was found outside the Deloitte -the receivers appointed by the bank -sales process. “This is very important and surprising,” Izmirlian said. “As you must be aware, we previously were advised on multiple occasions by your receivers that all offers were required to be tendered through the receivers’ process, and the multitude of bona fide offers we have made were not considered because of that. In fact, if our offers had been considered, it is very likely that Baha Mar would be open today, employing thousands of Bahamians. “Since the potential acquisition of Baha Mar by an unidentified party via an offer outside the receivers’ process is now what CEXIM is entertaining, we hereby submit [our]

superior economically and in the best interest of The Bahamas.” Statement Charging that Izmirlian’s letter contained “some extraordinary statements”, the OPM said, “Now that the assets are owned by Perfect Luck, that company may sell the resort to whomever it wishes, subject to the proposed purchaser being acceptable to the government and other bodies performing their public function.” The OPM challenged Izmirlian’s characterization of the sales process, stating, “At each stage of the process – which commenced when Baha Mar’s developer, Sarkis Izmirlian, without any prior notice, arranged for the Baha Mar companies to ﬁle Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings in the United States – Mr Izmirlian has had the opportunity to participate in discussions and the process surrounding the future of the resort.” The statement also implicitly questioned Izmirlian’s ability to aﬀord the claim he made in the letter. “If, as he states, Mr Izmirlian is in a position to, and wishes to work with CEXIM to deliver Baha Mar for the Bahamian people, then he should engage seriously with Perfect Luck and its advisors. If he is in a position to make a credible proposal to acquire Baha Mar from Perfect Luck, then he is free to do so,” the statement said. Assertion The OPM concluded its statement by asserting that the project is back on track. “... Remobilization has commenced, and through high level good faith negotiations, a substantial fund has been established by CEXIM for the payment of creditors’ claims and former Baha Mar Bahamian employees are already being paid.” The statement asserted that the government will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that Baha Mar is sold to a world class hotel and casino operator. (Caribbean News Now!)

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2016

Dutch Aid Ship Forced To Quit Haitian Port As Crowd Threatens Security PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti -- A Dutch the shore at Jeremie Port and, with navy ship carrying much-needed aid for stricken Haiti has had to turn back because of a lack of port security. The HNLMS Pelikaan has 35 tons of food, shelter and hygiene kits from Curacao to help after Hurricane Matthew, and is permanently stationed in the area for just this sort of operation. But thousands of people gathered on

minimal security or no organized way to distribute the aid, the ship was forced to leave. Post-hurricane ďŹ&#x201A;ooding has reactivated the cholera outbreak UN peacekeepers brought to Haiti after the 2010 earthquake, and Matthew has added a further 175,000 to the homeless list. Close to one and a half million people need urgent humanitarian aid. (Caribbean News Now!)

REGIONAL PAGE 66

GUYANA DAILY NEWS

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2016

Former Antigua-Barbuda PM Opposes Any New Russian Military Base In Cuba Russian news agencies as saying that Moscow is "rethinking" the decision to close the bases. Bird rejected what he contends would be a bad decision, and argues for the Caribbean to remain a zone of peace. “I don’t think that the next president is going to allow Cuba carte blanche to be able to allow Russia to once again embed itself in the Caribbean and even Latin American countries are saying that we want this area to be a zone of peace and that was the methodology that we used when I used to attend CARICOM meetings.

Lester Bird By Ken Richards BASSETERRE, St Kitts (WINN) -- A former prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Lester Bird, has urged the United States and the Caribbean to speak out against Russia re-establishing a military base in Cuba. The Russians are considering restoring military bases in Vietnam and Cuba, Cold War ﬂash points and lasting symbols of the enmity between the US and Soviet Union. The defence minister in Moscow, Nikolai Pankov, was quoted earlier this month by

The real notion is the Caribbean must be a zone of peace and if he’s gonna go and once again re-establish the Russian presence in Cuba we in the Caribbean are going to have a problem on our hands,” he said. According to the former prime minister, a Russian presence in the Caribbean would be dangerous for the whole hemisphere. “America cannot allow Russia to go into Cuba, so we’re back to 1962 all over again, where John Kennedy had to ﬂex his muscle. The question is what is CARICOM gonna do about it? Are we going to side with Putin? Are we going to side with the United States?” Bird asked. WINN FM pointed out that Russia and Cuba are sovereign nations if they are

allies they can take decisions in their own best interest. “No they cannot anymore willy nilly do it. In the days of the confrontation of communism and the west there was a vacuum that existed that allowed them to do that but I am saying to you that I don’t think that the United States is going to sit by and allow Cuba and Russia to establish a situation which is in confrontation with the United States and if you ask me what I mean I think it may come to the point of confrontation. That is what is possible, they can’t just take the position that ok, we heard it is a free situation and that they can go back in as it was before. The situation is not the same and I think that CARICOM and Latin America better begin to understand what is about to happen and to head it oﬀ at the pass, it is very, very vital,” Bird countered. Bird, who is a backbench MP in the Antigua parliament, said Russia and the US returning to a cold war situation is untenable. Recent tensions between the two are being seen as a stepping stone to such a development. “We have to be able to use our inﬂuence, such as it is in the United Nations and in other forums, to try and explain both to the United States and to Russia that those days are over, where they can just because they have nuclear weapons, that they cannot in fact control what happens in the world,” he said. (Caribbean News Now!)

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St Kitts-Nevis Citizenship Unit Announces Accelerated Application Process

Les Khan DUBAI, UAE -- Since taking up his post as the new CEO of the St Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU), Les Khan has been working hard to

implement reforms that will define the citizenship by investment (CBI) program as innovative and an international leader once again. He achieved this at a two-day CBI conference that took place last week in Dubai when he announced a step change in what the CBI program in St Kitts and Nevis has to offer. He advised delegates that the CIU will now be able to offer an accelerated application process where applicants will be fast tracked and approvals granted within 60 days. The CIU under Khan’s leadership has been undergoing a number of reforms including the strengthening of its vetting process and the implementation of a technical committee. This therefore means that the same high standards of due diligence will apply to every new applicant but as a result of increasing the team and expanding on their expertise,

applicants will now be able to be fast tracked at a premium. “It was my ambition to improve the service delivery and performance of the Citizenship by Investment Unit and I am grateful to the cabinet of the Prime Minister Dr Timothy Harris for sharing this vision, for having conﬁdence in the unit and for having a commitment to deliver a platinum service,” Khan said. He added that, with the improved processes and systems in place, St Kitts and Nevis is able to provide applicants with a fast track service, including the issue of passports, which previously had been subject to lengthy delays. Khan noted that the clients in Dubai were eager to implement this new program and to this end he will be releasing guidance on the implementation of the initiative shortly. (Caribbean News Now!)

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US Embassy Hosts Citizen Science And Climate Change Program In Dominica

Dr Gillian Bowser (centre) makes a point to the Kalinago group. Seated at her left is Chief Charles Williams, and on the right is Minister for Kalinago Aﬀairs Casius Darroux ROSEAU, Dominica -- A three-country traveling program to promote ways ordinary “citizen scientists” can help observe and promote awareness of climate change in their communities, sponsored by the US Embassy to Barbados, the Eastern Caribbean and the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), recently visited Dominica. During her visit to Dominica, program presenter Dr Gillian Bowser, research scientist at Colorado State University, traveled to the Kalinago

Territory, where she was warmly welcomed by leaders of the indigenous Kalinago community, including Chief Charles Williams and minister for Kalinago aﬀairs, Casius Darroux. Bowser was treated to a tour of the Territory before conducting a citizen science workshop that focused on environmental changes the Kalinago had observed in recent years. During the interactive workshop, Bowser led the group on an outdoor excursion to collect various plant and insect specimens, as well as to observe the ecology of the Territory. To supplement the workshop, and fully equip the Kalinago with the tools to implement techniques that Bowser shared, the US embassy donated a number of electronic devices including

two Apple iPads, a desktop computer, a printer, and a digital camera bundle. “The US embassy hosted this program because the nations of the Eastern Caribbean are highly sensitive to the impacts of climate change due to their small geographic size, low coastal elevations, and fragile landscapes,” said deputy public affairs officer Jeff Barrus. “We particularly wanted to hold this workshop with the Kalinago people because they are generational stewards of their environment and keen observers of the changes taking place in it. The US embassy supports efforts to build capacity within the region to adapt to and mitigate the effects of climate change. This begins with widespread awareness of the problem by the general population.” Bowser is a research scientist at Colorado State University where her research is focused on biodiversity, sustainability, and women’s scholarship. She has devoted much of her efforts to how climate change impacts resources and communities. A native of Brooklyn, New York, she earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology at Northwestern University, a Master of Science in Zoology at the University of Vermont, and a doctoral degree at the University of Missouri – St Louis. She worked with the National Park Service for over 20 years as a wildlife ecologist, including 11 years spent studying insects, bison and rodents a t Ye l l o w s t o n e N a t i o n a l P a r k . (Caribbean News Now!)

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CDB Approves US$24 Million Education Project In Saint Lucia BRIDGETOWN, Barbados -- The board of directors of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) has approved US$23.4 million in ﬁnancing for a project, which aims to strengthen Saint Lucia’s education system to better address the needs of diverse learners. The Saint Lucia Education Quality Improvement Project (EQuIP) will support the enhancement of mechanisms and capacity for improved planning, leadership and delivery of education services; the rehabilitation, renovation and/or expansion of physical infrastructure at various education levels; and institutional strengthening and capacity building. Daniel Best, director of projects, CDB noted: “We are committed to working with the Government of Saint Lucia to invest in improving access to quality education for all. This Project responds to the island’s most pressing needs in the education sector, and builds on our four decades of successful partnership with the government and people of Saint Lucia.” EQuIP aligns with the government of S a i n t L u c i a ’s E d u c a t i o n S e c t o r

Development Plan (2015-2020), and will: • improve the teaching and learning environment across the country through the expansion and rehabilitation of five schools; • enhance quality, relevance and instructional effectiveness by providing training for 25 teacher educators and 375 teachers in specific areas of need; • improve leadership and operational effectiveness by providing training for workers across the education system, including 120 principals and education officers; • conduct a climate vulnerability assessment of project schools and develop prototype guidelines for use in climate vulnerability assessment of schools nationally; • enhance special needs education by assessing what institutional and infrastructural improvements are needed to provide quality education and equitable access to children with special educational needs (SEN). Loan financing for EQuIP is complemented by a grant of US$740,000 to the government of Saint Lucia, which also includes an allocation from resources provided by the European Investment Bank (EIB) to CDB under the

EIB Grant Facility for Climate Action Support. The government of Saint Lucia will contribute US$4.9 million to the project. Saint Lucia Country Strategy Paper (2013-2016), which prioritises improving the eﬃciency of social and economic infrastructure on the island. It is also consistent with the bank’s strategic objective of supporting inclusive and sustainable growth and development as outlined in its Strategic Plan 2015-2019. (Caribbean News Now!)

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EBC Lawyers To Argue Against Opposition Appeal In General Election Results Case PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, Oct 19, CMC – Attorneys representing the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) are expected to argue their case Wednesday in the appeal brought by the opposition United National Congress (UNC) challenging the results of the September 7 general elections last year. On Tuesday, lawyers representing the ruling People’s National Movement (PNM) that won the election, argued that the EBC should be given powers to treat with the problems such as what transpired on polling day leading to a one hour extension. Senior Counsel Douglas Mendes urged the Court of Appeal to “modify the provision (of law) causing the problems.” But even as the judges indicated some “disquiet” over giving the EBC the power over the polls, Mendes suggested that they stick to the “narrow” issue of possible extension of voting hours due to inclement weather, as had been the case at the polls last year. The UNC, the biggest partner in the coalition People’s Partnership government that had governed the country from 2010-2015, had in petitions challenged the unilateral decision of the EBC to extend the voting period by one hour in Trinidad only due to the inclement weather on polling day. The PNM won 23 of the 41 seats that were at stake while the coalition, which had won 29 seats in 2010, was only able to win 18. The UNC is appealing the ruling of High Court Judge, Justice Mira Dean Armorer, in dismissing their election petitions in August. In a 54-page ruling, Justice Dean Armorer said: “I have in these petitions strove to hold the balance to protect the will of the majority, while ensuring that the patent mistakes of the Electoral and Boundaries Commission (EBC) not reduce the election of 2015 to a mere sham.” She said it is her view that the elections of 2015 in Trinidad and To b a g o “ w e r e s u b s t a n t i a l l y i n accordance with the prescribed law and it

does not appear to be that the breaches aﬀect the results”. “It is therefore my view and I hold that the election petition should be and is hereby dismissed.” The UNC had originally challenged the results in the San Fernando West, La Horquetta/Talparo, Toco/Sangre Grande, Tunapuna, St Joseph and Moruga/Tableland constituencies, which they lost and considered marginal. But the High Court had earlier dismissed the petition in the La Horquetta/Talparo, on the grounds that it had been ﬁled late. Mendes said while the EBC was mandated with administering and supervising the conduct of the election in accordance with the law and rules, the question of what happens if something does take place, as had been the case on September 7. Questioned by Chief Justice Archie and Justice Jamadar on whether the power should be given to the President, who issues the election writ, or the EBC, Mendes was reluctant to have the power reside with the President as he had no power, other than that which the law gives him. Mendes argued that the

President has to consult with Cabinet and warned of the likelihood of “giving power to one of the political parties contesting the election”. The Senior Counsel said it made more sense to give the power to adjust the time-tabling of the polls to the body that has supervisory power over an election. He also disagreed with the contention that a single corrupt practice on the part of an election official could invalidate an election. Mendes also submitted even if the appellate court rules that the EBC did not have the power to extend the voting, the extension did not materially affect the outcome of the election. Queen Counsel Timothey Straker, who is leading the UNC team that includes former attorney general Anand Ramlogan and former prime minister Kamla Persad Bissessar, argued before the three-member panel that the electoral returning officers had engaged in the corrupt practice by allowing persons to vote beyond the statutory closing time for the polls. Wednesday is the final day for making presentations before the Court of Appeal. (Antigua Observer)

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Caribbean Countries Warned To Closely Monitor National Insurance Schemes

WASHINGTON, Oct 19, CMC – Caribbean countries have been warned that they need to build national awareness of the fiscal risk associated with pension schemes and need for reforms. “At a minimum, the actuarial deficits should be systematically monitored and reported to the public with more frequency and a degree of detail to allow proper evaluation of the fiscal risk,” according to a new study released by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Since their establishment in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, contribution incomes have exceeded benefit payments and administrative expenses for most countries and the systems have accumulated a large fund. “The schemes appear relatively sound until about 2017. Thereafter, they are projected to incur substantial deficits and eventually run down their assets, raising the prospects that the government would have to bear a share of the promised pension benefits,” the study warned. “To avoid crowding out other priority expenditures, the authorities could, in the short term, implement parametric reforms that would help offset the impact of demographic pressures. Phasing in these reforms now will prevent a significant buildup of pressures and avoid the need for drastic measures in the future.” The study on National Insurance Scheme Reforms in the Caribbean, notes that National Insurance Schemes (NIS) in the Caribbean are weighed down by population aging, slow economic growth, and high unemployment. It said as a result of these factors, the NIS’s in the region are “projected to run substantial deficits and deplete their assets in the next decades, raising the prospects of government intervention”. The study, part of the IMF Working Papers, notes that population aging is putting increasing pressure on public finances in the Caribbean. “Long term projections point to continuing unfavourable demographic trends. Thus, pension schemes have become unsustainable. In addition, there is a concern that investment of pension funds may lead to high exposures to government securities.” The study warns that these developments, together with anemic economic growth, rising unemployment, and limited room for macroeconomic policy intervention, suggests that pension reforms are unavoidable. But it pointed out that a range of reform measures, with varying socio-economic impact could be implemented to contain the projected increase in pension spending. The study quantifies the impact of three parametric reforms, highlighting their implications for economic growth, intergenerational equity, and fiscal savings. “In addition to containing demographic pressures, raising the retirement age would not only be inter-generationally fair, but could also have a positive effect on economic growth in the long run by increasing participation in the

labour force,” the authors of the study said. They said that at the same time, it will reduce the welfare of older workers and the unemployment of the young. “An across-the-board freeze in old-age benefits for two years is shown to improve the financial position of the pension systems but it could somewhat dampen economic growth and, at the margin, could increase old-age poverty. “Finally, a one percentage point increase in the pension contribution rate would bring the contribution rate closer to global averages and improve the sustainability of the pension systems, but it could also discourage labour market participation and aggravate intergenerational imbalances.” The study notes that for most countries, implementing these three reform measures concurrently would suffice to put the pension scheme on a sustainable path. It said for other countries, such as Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Jamaica, and St Vincent and the Grenadines, these measures would need to be complemented by improvement in the coverage of the pension schemes. “While the appropriate combination of the measures necessary to eliminate the actuarial deficits varies depending on each country’s circumstances, most countries need to undertake these reforms now or risk even higher taxes, lower growth and unsustainable debt dynamics,” the study added. (Antigua Observer)

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS Bahamas Opposition Party Against ‘Hurricane Tax’ “But it’s a matter we have to look at PAGE 72

Prime Minister Christie touring devastated areas in the Bahamas (Photo: CMC) NASSAU, Bahamas (CMC) — The minority Opposition Democratic National Alliance (DNA) says it will not support the introduction of a “hurricane tax” by the Government as The Bahamas seeks to recover from the ravages of Hurricane Matthew that hit the chain of islands earlier this month. “The DNA demands that this government go back to the drawing board, trim the fat and reduce wastage in government so that Bahamians can receive the quality of assistance they deserve,” DNA leader Branville McCartney, said in a statement. Prime Minister Perry Christie said when Cabinet meets this week it could consider introducing and implementing a special tax to help finance the repair and recovery efforts following the passage of the hurricane. He said if implemented, such a tax may be imposed in a way that has a “minimal impact on people. “We have to give serious consideration to a more effective way of financing the loss that the country has experienced because we’re also paying now for Hurricane Joaquin and it may well be that we have to give consideration to a selective approach to raising money by taxing some item that would be of minimal impact on people.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2016

because it’s an enormous challenge to the country. We’ve been faced with downgrading. This is not an easy situation. We thought the way was clear with Baha Mar. But now we have Hurricane Matthew,” Christie said. But the DNA said that citizens have over the past four years watched helplessly as millions of dollars had been wasted by the government through mismanagement and reckless spending. “The DNA is not comforted by the PM’s promise of a ‘minimal impact’ tax. Over the past four years in office, the …government has failed to deliver on countless promises to the people of this country,” McCartney said. “Like many right thinking Bahamians, the DNA can’t help but wonder where the millions in VAT (value added tax) taxes collected over the past two years have gone! After bragging about the millions collected, the government has offered no details regarding how those monies have been spent or why they cannot be used to fund the current efforts.” He said that the country’s geographic location makes it vulnerable to the ravages of hurricanes. “In fact, in the past 15 years alone, we have had major storms rip through our archipelago causing millions in damage …and by now, a responsible government would have planned properly for the possibility of a major storm including ways to fund recovery and restore a sense of normalcy to its people,” the DNA leader added. (Jamaica Observer)

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Moment Of Truth Awaits Europe's Schiaparelli Mars Probe

Model of Schiaparelli: It will gather weather data for a few days after landing The European Space Agency (Esa) is getting ready to put a probe on Mars. Its Schiaparelli robot will attempt the risky descent to the surface in the coming hours, after a 500 million km journey from Earth. The touchdown is regarded as a dress rehearsal for a much more important venture in four years' time when Esa will bid to place a very expensive rover on the planet. This sixwheeled vehicle will drill beneath the surface to search for life. Getting the smaller Schiaparelli robot down ought to be the simpler affair. But as the scientific record shows, Mars is not the most welcoming of places, even for the most sophisticated of hardware. About half of the missions despatched to Earth's near neighbour have failed. Many of these were lost on the way, missed their target, or crashed on arrival. Schiaparelli's landing stages For Europe, the Schiaparelli spacecraft is a chance to wipe away the disappointment of the Beagle-2 lander, which in 2003 got down successfully but then almost immediately suffered a terminal malfunction. Schiaparelli will hope to fare better. It will use a combination of a heatshield, a parachute and a cluster of rockets to slow down its initial atmospheric entry speed

of 21,000km/h to a hovering zero just above the surface. The 600kg robot's ﬁnal two metres will see it dump down on to its belly. The Esa probe will emit UHF tones during the descent that an Indian radio telescope will try to capture and relay to controllers here in D a r m s t a d t , G e r m a n y. Touchdown should occur at 14:58 GMT (15:58 BST; 16:58 CEST). If the Indian facility can still hear Schiaparelli at the top of the hour, it will mean the Italian-built module must have reached the Martian terrain intact. "Everybody's smiling, everybody's optimistic but you can sense the tension as well," said Mark McCaughrean, Esa's senior science advisor. "I think as the hours tick by now towards that moment to those six minutes as we plummet through the atmosphere - there's going to be a lot more nerves. But we're going to do this because it teaches us hard lessons about how to operate in space." Some researchers like Colin Wilson from Oxford University will be experiencing the anxiety of 2003 all over again. He had a wind sensor on Beagle and he is ﬂying it once more on Schiaparelli. "It's nerve-wracking. I designed this instrument 14, 15 years ago and so it's been a long time waiting for this data. Then again, we know it's a high-risk game so we have to be involved in several missions," he told BBC News. Schiaparelli will do some meteorological work for as long as its batteries remain charged. That should be a few days. The science return may seem limited, but the probe is really geared towards technology demonstration. Assuming all goes well, the procedures used to get Schiaparelli down to the surface, together with some key

elements of its hardware, will be copied for the mission to put a six-wheeled rover on Mars in 2021. This solar-powered robot will spend several months drilling below the surface in a number of locations to search for the presence of microbial organisms. "Long ago we started with industry to define the procedures and strategy for entering into Mars' atmosphere and trying to land successfully," explained Paolo Ferri, the head of mission operations at Esa's control centre in Darmstadt. "It is all new for us. And going through this whole process, you gain enormous experience and expertise that will be very important and precious for the next landing attempt." Both the 2016 landing and the 2021 project are part of Esa's so-called ExoMars programme. This is a joint affair with Russia. Its space agency, Roscosmos, launched Schiaparelli and its mothership, the Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) from Earth earlier this year. And it will do the same for the forthcoming rover. Russian scientists also have instrumentation spread across the different spacecraft. While the media and public will of course focus on Schiaparelli on Wednesday, it is actually the TGO that represents the main interest for Esa this time around. And at about the same time that the descent robot is trying to achieve its objective, the satellite will be taking up a parking orbit at Mars. TGO plans to spend the coming years studying the behaviour of gases such as methane, water vapour and nitrogen dioxide in the Red Planet's atmosphere. Although present in only small amounts, these components - methane in particular hold clues about Mars' current state of activity. They may even hint at the existence of life. (BBC)

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WEDNEDSDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2016

US Election 2016: Clinton And Trump Face Final Debate Mrs Clinton has kept a

The debate will be closely followed in the US and around the world - these ﬁgurines were on display in Italy Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump will take to the stage in Las Vegas later for the ﬁnal debate in an increasingly bitter race for the US presidency. Polls show Mr Trump is losing in key battleground states after facing a slew of sexual assault allegations. But Mrs Clinton remains unpopular with many US voters and has faced more bad headlines about her use of a private email server. Most Americans will cast their votes on 8

November. Millions are expected to tune into the third and final debate at the University of Las Vegas, Nevada, which gets under way at 0900 EDT (0100 GMT) and will be moderated by Fox News journalist Chris Wa l l a c e . T h e t w o candidates will discuss six topics: The debt and e n t i t l e m e n t s , immigration, the economy, the Supreme Court, foreign flashpoints and their fitness to be president. Mr Trump has faced damaging fallout after a video emerged of him making obscene comments about groping women, with senior Republicans deserting

him. In recent days he has railed against the election process itself, warning the vote is "absolutely rigged" with "large-scale voter fraud" taking place. His remarks prompted a scathing response from President Barack Obama, who said the Republican challenger should "stop whining". Mr Trump has invited President Obama's estranged half-brother, Malik Obama - one of his supporters - as a guest. He also invited Patricia Smith, whose son was killed in an attack on the US diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya, in 2012, while Mrs Clinton was US secretary of state. In contrast to Mr Trump,

low proﬁle ahead of the debate to prepare for the showdown. Her spokesman said the Democratic nominee was ready for whatever "scorched-earth" tactics her rival might try. Mrs Clinton is likely to face questions about a batch of hacked emails from the account of her campaign boss, released by Wikileaks, that her rival has seized on. Before the last debate, Mr Trump appeared at a news conference with women who accused Bill Clinton of sexual misconduct. Since then he has suggested Mrs C l i n t o n t o o k performance-enhancing drugs ahead of that meeting. But Mrs Clinton's campaign has signalled their candidate will try to focus on policy. Among her guests, Mrs Clinton is bringing billionaire Trump critic Mark Cuban, as well as Hewlett Packard Enterprise CEO Meg Whitman, one of her highest-proﬁle Republican backers. (BBC)

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Mosul Battle: Some 5,000 Civilians Fled Ahead Of Fighting

Battle for Mosul: Iraq convoy repels IS suicide bomb Thousands of people have fled the Mosul area and more are expected as Iraqi troops move on the city to liberate it from the so-called Islamic State (IS). Some 5,000 people have crossed the border into Syria in the last 10 days, the aid agency Save the Children says. They have arrived at the al-Hol refugee camp where conditions are already reported to be filthy and overcrowded. Up to 1.5 million civilians are thought to still be in Mosul, with up to 5,000 IS fighters. The UN is preparing for what it fears could be the biggest manmade humanitarian crisis in recent times. Refugee camps are being built in the south, east and north of Mosul in preparation for a flood of people fleeing the city.

The UN says it expects at least 200,000 in the coming days and weeks. Mosul residents had been told by the Iraqi government that it might be safer to stay in the city while the operation is under way - with fears IS fighters have booby-trapped roads and placed snipers on routes in and out. But there are also fears that IS militants could use residents as human shields by moving into their neighbourhoods, and concern that the group may even use chemical weapons. Residents, reached by telephone by Reuters news agency, confirmed that IS was trying to prevent people from fleeing the city and had directed some of them towards buildings likely to be targeted by air strikes. US President Barack Obama said on Tuesday it was important to ensure that Mosul's residents could

safely flee the city. "If we aren't successful in helping ordinary people as they're fleeing Isil [IS], then that makes us vulnerable to seeing Isil return," he told reporters in Washington. Refugee camp is set up in Khazer, Iraq, on 19 October 2016 Many of those in and around Mosul who have already escaped have headed west to camps across the border in Syria, including al-Hol camp. Al-Hol was built to house 7,500 people but currently holds 9,000 refugees. The charity Save the Children says 5,000 people have arrived in the last 10 days, with 1,000 more waiting at the border. The UN has disputed these numbers and says that some of the new arrivals may be Syrian. It says says the camp received 912 people in the last 24 hours and is expecting a further 3,000 people who were dropped off

by smugglers and are being cleared by security. The camp is being expanded to eventually take in 50,000 people, but Save the Children says the camp currently has just 16 latrines, is littered with waste and faeces, and has no clean water. "These families arrive with nothing but the clothes on their backs and find almost nothing to help them," said the charity's Tarik Kadir. "The camp is bursting at the seams and risks being overwhelmed." Iraqi troops are moving towards Mosul from the south, while their Kurdish allies have been approaching from the east. They have taken back control of some 10 villages and are now 30-40km (19-25 miles) from the city. But progress is expected to be slow, and a Kurdish commander Sirwan Barzani told CNN that it could be two weeks before Iraqi troops enter Mosul and two months before the city is liberated. IS fighters appear to be putting up stiff resistance in places, with the group releasing video purporting to show them firing on coalition armoured vehicles. Mosul is the oil-rich capital of Nineveh province and Iraq's second-largest city. It was overrun by IS in June 2014 and was the place from where IS leader Abu Bakr alBaghdadi proclaimed a "caliphate" in parts of Iraq and neighbouring Syria. (BBC)

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Ecuador Curbs Assange's Internet To Halt US Election 'Interference'

Julian Assange has been claiming asylum at London's Ecuadorean embassy since 2012(AFP) Ecuador has acknowledged it partly restricted internet a c c e s s f o r Wi k i L e a k s founder Julian Assange, who is taking refuge at its London embassy. It said Mr Assange had in recent weeks released material that could have an impact on the US presidential election. Ecuador also said its move was not the result of pressure from Wa s h i n g t o n . T h e U S denied WikiLeaks accusations that it had asked Ecuador to stop the site publishing documents about presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. Tr a n s p a r e n c y a c t i v i s t

Julian Assange has sought asylum at London's Ecuadorean embassy since 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden over sex assault allegations. 'No pressure' In a statement (in Spanish), the Ecuadorean foreign ministry said WikiLeaks' decision to publish documents could have an impact on the US presidential election. It said the release was entirely the responsibility of the organisation, and Ecuador did not want to interfere in the electoral process. "In that respect, Ecuador, exercising its sovereign right, has temporarily restricted access to part of its communications systems in its UK Embassy," the statement said. It added that "Ecuador

does not yield to pressures from other countries". WikiLeaks earlier said that Ecuador had cut oﬀ Mr Assange's internet access on Saturday evening. The site has recently been releasing material from Hillary Clinton's campaign, including those from a hack of Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta's emails. It released transcripts on Saturday of paid speeches Mrs Clinton made to the US investment bank Goldman Sachs in the past, which her campaign had long refused to release. The scripts reveal bantering exchanges with bank executives, which correspondents say may increase concerns among liberal Democrats that she is too cosy with Wall Street.

The Democratic White House candidate's camp has claimed the cyberbreach was orchestrated by Russian hackers with the aim of undermining the US democratic process. While Mrs Clinton's team has neither conﬁrmed nor denied the leaked emails are authentic, there have been no indications they are fake. 'Covert' Syrian action According to the latest leaked emails, Mrs Clinton told a Goldman Sachs conference she would like to intervene secretly in Syria. She made the remark in answer to a question from Lloyd Blankfein, the bank's chief executive, in 2013 months after she left oﬃce as secretary of state. "My view was you intervene as covertly as is possible for Americans to intervene," she told employees of the bank in South Carolina, which had paid her about $225,000 (£185,000) to give a speech. Mrs Clinton who is accused of being hawkish by liberal critics added: "We used to be much better at this than we are now. Now, you know, everybody can't help themselves. "They have to go out and tell their friendly reporters and somebody else: Look what we're doing and I want credit for it." (BBC)

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Philippines Anti-US Protesters Rammed By Police Van

The demonstrators were mostly students, workers and tribespeople(EPA) A police van has rammed protesters in the Philippines capital Manila as a demonstration outside the US embassy turned violent. Footage showed protesters surrounding the van and hitting it with batons taken from police. The vehicle then drives into the crowd several times, injuring a number of people. Hundreds had met to demand the US end its military presence in the country. President Rodrigo Duterte has queried longstanding ties with the US. Police arrested at least 23 people, who threw red paint at them and a member of the US forces at the embassy. Tear gas was used against

the demonstrators, after they broke through a line of riot police. They also took control of the water hose of a ďŹ re truck being used to douse them and threw stones at police. It remains unclear how many people were injured by the police van and how serious their injuries are. Television footage of the incident shows the van driving into people at speed. At one point it knocks over a woman and drags her body along the road. The van brakes and she appears to scramble away. Renato Reyes of the leftwing activist group Bayan said at least three people were taken to hospital after being rammed by the van. "Even as the president avowed an independent foreign policy, Philippines

police forces still act as running dogs of the US," he said, adding there was "no justiďŹ cation" for the police violence. A spokesperson for the US embassy told the

BBC it had "seen reports" of injuries, but declined to comment further, directing inquiries to police. President Duterte is in Beijing, seeking to deepen ties and economic relations with China. Bilateral relations were strained under his predecessor over acrimonious territorial disputes in the South China Sea. Relations with the US, a longstanding ally, have deteriorated in recent months over Mr Duterte's controversial war on drugs. The US has questioned the crackdown, which has led to the deaths of 2,300 people. In response, Mr Duterte has insulted US President Barack Obama and the US ambassador to the Philippines. (BBC)

INTERNATIONAL PAGE 78

GUYANA DAILY NEWS

WEDNEDSDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2016

Germany Shootings: 'Far-right Gunman' Injures Bavaria Police

Police say the man began shooting at them as soon as they appeared at his property early on Wednesday(AFP) A 49-year-old man has been arrested after wounding four police officers in the southern state of Bavaria, German police say. The man opened fire after being asked to hand over his weapons, for which his permit had been revoked. One of the officers is said to have received life-threatening injuries in the incident in the town of Georgensgmuend, south of Nuremberg. The man is said to belong to the farright Reichsbuerger movement. He had previously refused on several occasions to co-operate with municipal

officials concerned about his ownership of 31 weapons, officials told a news conference. They requested the assistance of the police, who mounted an early-morning raid on the m a n ' s p r o p e r t y. B u t h e immediately began shooting at officers without opening the door. Two police officers suffered gunshot wounds and the other two had unspecified injuries, said Germany's DPA news agency. The gunman was lightly injured in the exchange. Reichsbuerger m o v e m e n t T h e Reichsbuerger ("Reich Citizens") group does not recognise the authority of the post-war German federal republic, seeing it merely as some sort of private company.

It believes in the continued existence of a German empire, or Reich, dating back to 1937 or even earlier. Its roots are said to go back some

three decades. Bavarian oﬃcials said the group's ideology was "nationalist and antiSemitic.... clearly extreme right". Their circle had grown in recently years, they said, and included "whingers, nutcases, conspiracy theorists, but also the farright". The diversity of beliefs and views within the group militates against a simple hierarchical structure or clear leadership. But the group should not be dismissed simply as an "association of crackpots", said Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann. Some of its members were obviously capable of brutal violence, particularly targeting representatives of the German state, he warned. Others use their rejection in the authority of the German state as grounds to refuse to pay taxes or creditors. (BBC)

INTERNATIONAL PAGE 79

GUYANA DAILY NEWS

WEDNEDSDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2016

Saudi Prince Executed For Murdering Man In Brawl

It is unusual for members of the Saudi Arabian royal family to be executed(GETTY IMAGES) A Saudi prince has been executed for shooting a man dead during a mass brawl three years ago outside Riyadh. Prince Turki bin Saud al-Kabir was put to death in the capital. No details were given as to how he was executed - most condemned people are beheaded. The prince is the 134th person to be put to death this year, according to a tally compiled by the AFP news agency. But it is rare for members of the royal family, who are estimated to number several thousand, to be executed. One of the most well-known cases of a Saudi royal being

executed was that of Faisal bin Musaid al Saud, who assassinated his uncle, King Faisal, in 1975. 'Blood money refused' Prince Turki had been convicted by a General Court of murdering his compatriot, Adel bin Suleiman al-Muhaimeed, and sentenced to death, the interior ministry said. The verdict and sentence were upheld by the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court, and a royal decree was issued to proceed with the execution, it added. The victim's family refused oﬀers of "blood money" by which they would receive ﬁnancial compensation in return for not demanding the death sentence, Saudiowned Al-Arabiya network reported. The interior ministry said the government was "keen to

keep order, stabilise security and bring about justice through implementing the rules prescribed by Allah". Some Saudis praised King Salman on social media for

being "decisive" while others said they were pleased to see that the "law applied to everyone". Most people executed in Saudi Arabia are convicted for murder and drug traﬃcking, although nearly 50 people convicted of terrorism oﬀences were put to death on a single day in January, among them the prominent Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr. Also on Tuesday, another Saudi citizen was executed in the Qatif region of Eastern Province, the interior ministry said in a separate statement. Saad Bin Ahmed al-Shamrani was convicted of abducting and raping a young woman, it added. (BBC)

INTERNATIONAL PAGE 80

GUYANA DAILY NEWS

WEDNEDSDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2016

DR Congo's Bemba Found Guilty A t I C C O f W i t n e s s B rBemba's i b iMLC n gparty -

Jean-Pierre Bemba was jailed in June for crimes against humanity(AFP) Former Congolese Vice President Jean-Pierre Bemba has been found guilty by the International Criminal Court (ICC) of bribing witnesses. Bemba was found guilty earlier this year of war crimes and crimes against humanity, and jailed for 18 years. On We d n e s d a y h e w a s convicted of corruptly inﬂuencing witnesses and falsifying evidence in that trial. Four close aides were also found guilty. It is the ﬁrst such corruption trial in the history of the ICC in The Hague. The court heard that Bemba had masterminded a witness corruption network from

inside his prison cell during his original trial. His team used secret phones and coded language to bribe, coach and manipulate at least 14 key witnesses who came to give evidence. The case was brought following a tip-off to the prosecutors' office. 'Clear message' Delivering the verdict, Judge Bertram Schmitt said the case was "about c l e a r, a n d d o w n r i g h t criminal behaviour of the five accused... that resulted in serious offences against the administration of justice". "No legal system in the world can accept the bribing of witnesses, the inducement of witnesses to lie or the coaching of witnesses.

Today's judgement sends a clear message that the court is not willing to allow its proceedings to be hampered or destroyed," he said. Also found guilty were Bemba's lawyer Aime Kilolo; his legal case manager Jean-Jacques Mangenda; Congolese politician Fidele Babala and Narcisse Arido, who had been a witness for the defence. All ﬁve had pleaded not guilty to more than 100 combined charges. They will be sentenced at a later date. Kilolo was found guilty of telling witnesses exactly what to say in return for money. Mangenda played the role of messenger and tried to conceal the plan while Babala - a member of

handled money transfers, the court heard. Arido, who was an expert on military operations, was found guilty of getting witnesses to pose as soldiers, even providing them with fake military insignia. Bemba was convicted in March of crimes committed in the neighbouring Central African Republic (CAR) in 2002-2003. He was accused of failing to stop his rebel forces from killing and raping people. He was jailed in June and is appealing against his conviction. Who is JeanPierre Bemba? A wellconnected businessman and the son of prominent Congolese businessman Bemba Saolona 1998: Helped by Uganda to form MLC rebel group in Democratic Republic of Congo 2003: Becomes vice-president under peace deal 2006: Loses run-oﬀ election to President Joseph Kabila but gets most votes in western DR Congo, including Kinshasa 2007: Flees to Belgium after clashes in Kinshasa 2008: Arrested in Brussels and handed over to ICC 2010: Trial begins 2016: Found guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity (BBC)

INTERNATIONAL PAGE 81

GUYANA DAILY NEWS

WEDNEDSDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2016

US Air Force Base Leaks Toxic Chemicals Into Sewer System

The risk to local communities from the leak at Peterson air base is being investigated(GETTY IMAGES)

An air base in the US state of Colorado says it has accidentally released 150,000 gallons of toxic contaminated water into the sewer system of the nearby

city of Colorado Springs. Peterson Air Force base said the water contained perfluorinated compounds or PFCs, a component of firefighting foam. It did not say how high the levels of chemicals were. A spokesman said the spillage did not affect the city's drinking water supply but was discharged into a creek. The air force said the tainted water was released from a storage tank sometime in the past week. The cause of the leaks and the risks to local communities was being investigated.

The tainted water passed through a wastewater treatment plant that was however not set up to remove PFCs, so they were still in the water when it was discharged into Fountain Creek, spokesman Steve Berry said. PFCs have been linked to prostate, kidney and testicular cancer, along with other illnesses. Peterson base is also being investigated as the likely source of PFC contamination found in well water in two other nearby communities. (BBC)

Migrants Climb On Spain Detention Centre

The demonstrators chanted and held up banners calling for freedom and dignity(AFP) Dozens of migrants, mainly Algerians, broke furniture and climbed on the roof of a

Spanish detention centre to stage a protest about living conditions. The protest began late on Tuesday with reports that security cameras were covered up and a security door broken. The protesters held up banners demanding

freedom and dignity before agreeing to come down 12 hours later. The incident has highlighted Spain's policy of holding illegal immigrants at eight detention centres. Humanitarian organisations and residents have long complained about conditions at the Madrid centre, in the western Aluche area of the capital. As the protest began, Madrid Mayor Manuela Carmena immediately oﬀered to mediate, expressing concern about what was

going on at the centre. Council security spokesman Javier Barbero suggested that the protest may have been sparked by a recent decision to deport a number of migrants. The detention centres were "failed institutions", he said. Left-wing leader Pablo Iglesias called for authorities to observe human rights, end the stand-oﬀ and then close the centre. Police sources told Spanish media that stones and furniture were thrown. However, none of the demonstrators was armed and no-one was hurt. (BBC)

PAGE 84

GUYANA DAILY NEWS

LOCAL THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2016

After 25 Years, Barama Not Renewing Forest Concessions- Says Economic Conditions Not Encouraging Malaysian-owned, Barama Company Investment Agreement which mainly agreement.” According to the company Limited (BCL), which has been operating in Guyana for more than 25 years yesterday announced its plans to relinquish its 1.6 million hectares forest concession. In a press release from the logging company, that was made clear that “Barama Company Limited will not be seeking a renewal/extension of its Forest Concession Agreement with the Government.” The company had said that the previous agreement had expired on the 15th October, 2016 and that the government was informed that the said time. The logging company also said that it will not be renewing or extending its

relates to the Forest Concessions that also expired on the 15th October, 2016. Barama had noted that on 2nd September of last year (2015), it had approached the government with a proposal for the renewal of both its Investment and Forest Concession Agreement and have had continued discussions with the government over this period of time. The company however, seems to change its mind mainly due to poor economic conditions in Guyana’s forest industry, stating that “earlier this year, Barama in Correspondence with government, had advised government that economic conditions inﬂuencing the company’s continuing investing in Guyana’s forest industry were not encouraging.” As a result the logging company stated “Barama has, as a consequence, now regrettably concluded that it is no longer viable for the company to continue its forestry operations. The company looks forward to engaging with government to explore the continuation of its other operations to sustain our value-added and job creation potential in Guyana and to determine a new investment

release, Barama has very much regrets having to make the decision to close its forest concession operations after having, over the past 25 years, invested approximately $45B in the development of Guyana’s forest industry. With the seizure of forestry concessions from Chinese company BaiShanLin, and t h e n o n - r e n e w a l o f B a r a m a ’s Concessions, Guyana has seen the lost the top two biggest forest concession holders in the country. On the up side however, the company said that it will be continuing all the other projects in Guyana and will instead concentrate on its plywood and veneer manufacturing and sawmilling operations. With the scaling down of Barma’s operations there is sure to a rippling eﬀect on business who reply on the logging company such as transportation services etc. The company through the years has played signiﬁcant role in road construction and maintenance in the North West area, Region One. Barama is a subsidiary of Samling Global Limited, and has been established in Guyana since 1991.

PAGE 85

GUYANA DAILY NEWS

LOCAL THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2016

The Judicial System Must Remain Independent From Government

Many Guyanese have complained to the Guyana Daily News about the slothfulness of the Judiciary System in Guyana, saying “since the new Acting C h i e f J u s t i c e M a d a m Yo n e t t e Cummings-Edwards was appointed by the coalition government to replace former Chief Justice Ian Chang, not a single ruling has been given in the High Court on any cases ﬁled from January to present on breached of Constitutional rights, action of the government and public oﬃcers.

Some lawyers are questioning the fairness and impartially of the approach in the highest level of the Judiciary System and whether it is independent of the administrative branch of the Government.” Lawyers have congratulated the move to have more judges in the High Court, but say that there is need for more judges in the Court of Appeal, noting that court records need to be more protected. The issues of tampering of case ﬁles and important ﬁles missing were also raised.

However, Chancellor (ag) Justice Carl Singh is of the belief that time limits for judicial decisions as set out in the recent legislation can actually contribute to an increase in the chronic backlog of cases. He believes a change in the judicial work ethic is what is required, for judges to adopt a more responsible attitude to timely delivery of judgments, which “perhaps could have been achieved without parliamentary intervention.”

Government Must Make Cost Of COIs Public Government Must Make Cost of COIs T h e s t a t e a u d i t s w a s d o n e i n i n d i v i d u a l s w h o s t a t e d t h a t t h e Public Many Guyanese are questioning the motives behind the Commission of Inquiries (COI) being conducted by the government and would like to know the total cost so far conducting these COI’s. The government had spent approximately GYD$300 million to Commissioners for the Commission of Inquiries (CoIs) and Audits into various state agencies and ministries, this excludes the Barry Dataram, the mysterious air craft, the prison riot COI’s and among others.

approximately 30 government agencies including ministries. Government spent approximately GYD$50 million to government sympathizers Christopher Ram and Anand Goolsarran, for their audit services. These auditors were handpicked by the government to conduct forensic audits. Some places that were audited were the Guyana Sugar Corporation, Guyana Gold Board, NICIL, Guyana Geology and Mines Commission among others. The Guyana Daily News spoke to several

APNU+AFC government was very critical of the PPP, pointing to wide spread corruption under the administration, however, to date nothing is being done with the alleged ﬁndings of corruption by the APNU+AFC government. They are of the opinion that the COI’s are political payback, questioning why is it only military personnel are being selected to head these inquiries.

PAGE 86

GUYANA DAILY NEWS

LOCAL THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2016

NTC Chairman Urges Toshaos To Put Aside Political Differences

The Chairman of the National Toshaos Council (NTC), Joel Fredericks The Chairman of the National Toshaos Council (NTC), Joel Fredericks, is

urging all Toshaos to put political differences aside for the development of their communities. Fredericks said one of the main factors hindering the development of many indigenous communities is their different political affiliation. “As a leader who is elected to serve your people, you must be openminded to work with people, work with the government, work with different stakeholders for the development of your community,” Fredericks said in an interview with the Government Information Agency (GINA). Fredericks said that in every community

there are different levels of cohesion. He noted that many people are not open to the possibilities of working together and also pointed out that the Toshaos need to recognize the importance of the three years they spend as a leader of their community. “If you would only fight and find fault in the three years, at the end, you would not accomplish anything for your people, so I see partnership as important for the development of your community,” he said. Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Sydney Allicock , has also been urging Toshaos to work with residents and develop plans for the development of their communities and encouraged Toshaos to keep in contact with the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affair which stands as the supportive body for development.

PAGE 87

GUYANA DAILY NEWS

LOCAL THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2016

‘Road Map’ For Future Ofproductivity Coconut Industry Discussed and improve regional scale. During the meeting it was pest and disease management.

Today the Coconut Festival had their preevent activities at the Grand Coastal Conference Room where experts in the field discussed the ‘Roadmap’ for the future of the coconut industry in Guyana. Members of the Planning Committee of the Guyana Coconut Festival, organizers of the Coconut Awareness Week, agriculturist, coconut growers, interior decorators, manufacturer and investors, gathered to discuss details about the future and development of the coconut industry in Guyana. The Conference was hosted by Chairman of the National Stakeholders Platform for Coconut Development (NSP) Raymond Trotz, Vice President of the NSP, V. de Silva and Chief Executive Officer of the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) Dr. Oudho Homenauth. Goals of the Road Map: Improve access to finance and promote innovative schemes that respond to the needs of the sector. Improve research for availability and multiplication of right varieties for planting. Promote better farming practices and extension services to increase

This Goals will be accomplished by: The assessment study on the coconut industry in the Caribbean region. The implementation of a roadmap for developing the Caribbean coconut industry within a three to ﬁve-year period at national and regional level. The collaboration between stakeholders to strengthen the supply chain through the region. The improvement in production and productivity. The development of a proﬁtable market for coconut-base value products made by artisanal entrepreneurs. This goals would only be accomplished by the implementation of a road map, a project that follows a conducive environmental policy on a national and

also pointed the need of financial support of governmental entities and organisms involved in the development of the coconut industry. And the necessary marketing and business interventions for coconut-base value products made by artisanal entrepreneurs. In the convention the many attributes of the ‘Tree Of Life’ were highlighted. The numerous household uses for this fruit and the export value of every single part of the nuts, the leaves and branches, stressing on its industrial weigh on the regional and local market. The Festival named ‘Awakening a sleeping giant’ will be launched on October 21st at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre, and it will see its closure on October 23rd. The festival 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 reflect the importance of the Tree of Life (Coconut Tree) and its vast benefits.

PAGE 88

GUYANA DAILY NEWS

LOCAL THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2016

Investigation On The way Into Alleged Armed Robbery quantity of gold jewellery. The male with the investigation.

Police are investigating an alleged robbery under arms committed on an overseas based Guyanese, during which a 42 year old, Peterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hall resident was shot to his neck, at Herstelling, EBD, about 0300h. this morning by four masked men, two of whom were armed with handguns. Enquiries disclosed that the female overseas based victim had a family reunion at her Herstelling property and shortly after the guests departed, the bandits pounced and relieved her of a

victim, during the process put up a struggle with one of the gunmen and was shot to his neck, after which the men escaped. The shot victim was rushed to the Diamond Diagnostic Hospital and was transferred to the GPHC where he underwent s u rg e r y. H i s c o n d i t i o n i s regarded as stable but serious. A 21 year old male of Herstelling is in police custody assisting

Guyana Police Force Press Release

Banks DIH Limited Delivery Truck Driver Robbed At Beterverwagting Public Road, ECD Police are investigating an alleged robbery under arms committed on the driver of a delivery truck, which occurred about 1900h. last night at Beterverwagting Public Road, ECD, of a sum of money by three males, one armed with a handgun. Enquiries disclosed that the driver/salesman Trevor Thom, of West Ruimveldt, and two porters, all employees of Banks DIH Limited, were in the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vehicle proceeding west, when they were allegedly intercepted by a dark-coloured motor car, which suddenly stopped in front of their vehicle, causing theirs to do likewise; in

the process, the men exited the motor car, approached their vehicle and relieved them of the cash which was in the vehicle, after which the men placed a piece of cloth over their face, causing them to loose consciousness. About 2030h. they found themselves in the back of the truck, bound with duct tape and were subsequently freed by a passerby who heard them banging the walls of the truck. Their location then was Enmore Railway Embankment.

Guyana Police Force Press Release

PAGE 89

GUYANA DAILY NEWS

LOCAL THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2016

GCCI Doubts Police’s Crime Stats, Wants Vat Free Security Equipment

The Georgetown Chamber of Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) is of the view that the official police crime statistics do not reflect the true situation, questioning the accuracy of the stats. The GCCI at a press conference on Wednesday noted although the latest police statistics show there has been a 21 percent decline in serious crimes there is a big difference between released statistics and public perception. While acknowledging the Guyana Police Force’s (GPF) efforts in solving old cases and aggressively pursuing new one, the private sector organization is calling for an increase in manpower the Police force and the removal of the 16 percent Value Added Tax (VAT) on security equipment. GCCI President, Vishnu Doerga said that the allegedly inaccurate information in the reports could be from persons not reporting crimes. “There is some under-reporting and it would have to be a guesstimate of what the level of under-reporting is of people, of people who feel that it might not even be worth it to report it to actually report and that is significant there might not be a reduction,” Doerga said. It has been a burning question to many in the public as to how the police acquire their information and how factual the information is. GCCI Junior Vice President, Nicholas Boyer also share this concern when he told media operatives that he could not give his opinion on the accuracy of the police statistics. “We have not audited how they got their information. Right

now, I can’t really give an opinion on the accuracy of their figures because I’m not at the station levels where the officers are taking the reports so I have to trust in the police force, I have to trust the system,” the junior vice president said. Meanwhile, Doerga in lobbying for the VAT exemptions 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. The GCCI’s inaugural Security Forum and Expo is a platform create to present security strategies, both tradition sense and in addition to the modern cyber security. The Expo will be hosted on Friday at the Roraima Duke Lodge in Kingston, Georgetown starting at 3PM.

PAGE 90

GUYANA DAILY NEWS

LOCAL THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2016

Ministry Of Public Telecommunications Hosting “Hackathon 2016” The Ministry of Public Telecommunications will hosting Guyana’s ever Hackathon event at the Arthur Chung Conference Center (ACCC), Liliendaal, ECD. Although under the name “hackathon” there will be no actual hacking (hopefully). The event is a competition that is design to target Guyanese ICT professionals and enthusiasts to develop applications that respond to “speciﬁc GUYANESE challenges.” and real world solutions. The competition is for anyone with coding Knowledge and especially for computer programmers, mobile application creators or other software developer. The competition, which will be begin at noon on the Friday, 4th November, 2016 and will end at noon, two days later on the 6th will see teams of of 3 – 5 persons competing for Cash Prizes and the “ultimate bragging rights” with 48 hours of non-stop Coding. First place is

G$300,000, Second place G$ 200,000 and third place G$150,000. The Hackathon 2016 is being held under the theme “Code ’til yuh DROP!” and interested person are being asked to register now because there is limited space and the registration process ends on October 31. For Registration Form, Terms of Participation and for further information and queries, person can ask by email: events@mopt.gov.gy.

PAGE 91

GUYANA DAILY NEWS

LOCAL THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2016

Motion Issued By Mr. Anil Nandlall Challenging Presidential Tribunal Against Carvil Duncan and the Police Service Commission, ought removal from oﬃce as a member and

Carvil Duncan 2016-HC- DEM-CIV- CMIN THE HIGH COURT OF THE SUPREME COURT OF JUDICATURE CIVIL JURISDICTION CONSTITUTIONAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISION In the matter of an application by CARVIL DUNCAN for Writs of Certiorari and Prohibition. BEFORE THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE FRANKLIN HOLDER (IN CHAMBERS) DATED THE DAY OF OCTOBER, 2016 ENTERED THE DAY OF OCTOBER, 2016 UPON READING the Notice of Motion on the part of CARVIL DUNCAN, the abovenamed Applicant, filed herein on the 12 th day of October, 2016, for Writs of Certiorari and Prohibition AND the Affidavit of the said Applicant sworn to on the day of October, 2016, and filed in support of the said Application AND UPON HEARING Attorney-at- Law for the Applicant IT IS ORDERED that an Order or Rule Nisi of Certiorari be and is hereby issued directed to the Honourable Prime Minister, Mr. Moses Nagamootoo, quashing his advice tendered to the President on or about the 14 th day of September, 2016, pursuant to Article 225 (4) of the Constitution that the question of removing the Applicant from office as a member and chairman of the Public Service Commission, Judicial Service Commission

to be investigated, on the grounds that the said advice was tendered is unconstitutionally, unlawfully, illegally, prematurely, prejudicially, contrary to the rules of natural justice, arbitrarily, capriciously and in breach of the Applicant’s legitimate expectation and is null, void and of no effect, unless sufficient cause is shown why the said Order or Rule Nisi of Certiorari should not be made a b s o l u t e A N D I T I S F U RT H E R ORDERED that an Order or Rule Nisi of Prohibition be and is hereby issued directed to the Tribunal and each of the member thereof appointed on the 15 th day of September, 2016, and comprising the Honourable Madam Justice George, Justice (retired) Winston Patterson and Robert Ramcharran, prohibiting them from proceeding to investigate the Applicant’s removal’s from office as a member and chairman of the Public Service Commission, Judicial Service Commission and the Police Service Commission, on the ground that the advice tendered by the Honourable Prime Minister to the President, pursuant to Article 225 (4) of the Constitution to investigate the Applicant’s removal from office as a member and chairman of the Public Service Commission, Judicial Service Commission and the Police Service Commission is unconstitutionally, unlawfully, illegally, prematurely, prejudicially, contrary to the rules of natural justice, arbitrarily, capriciously and in breach of the Applicant’s legitimate expectation and is null, void and of no effect, and that the said advice which has triggered the establishment of the said tribunal, unless sufficient cause is shown why the said Order or Rule Nisi of Prohibition should not be made absolute AND IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that an Order or Rule Nisi of Prohibition be and is hereby issued directed to the Tribunal and each of the member thereof appointed on the 15th day of September, 2016, and comprising the Honourable Madam Justice George, Justice (retired) Winston Patterson and Robert Ramcharran, prohibiting them from proceeding to investigate the Applicant’s

chairman of the Public Service Commission, Judicial Service Commission and the Police Service Commission, on the ground that the inquiry that they have embarked upon is unconstitutionally, unlawfully, illegally, prematurely, prejudicially, contrary to the rules of natural justice, arbitrarily, capriciously and in breach of the Applicant’s legitimate expectation and is null, void and of no effect, unless sufficient cause is shown why the said Order or Rule Nisi of Prohibition should not be made absolute AND IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that an Order or Rule Nisi of Certiorari be and is hereby issued directed to Tribunal and each of the members thereof appointed on the 15th day of September, 2016, and comprising the Honourable Madam Justice George, Justice (retired) Winston Patterson and Robert Ramcharran quashing any decision/recommendation/ruling made by the said Tribunal on the ground that such a decision/recommendation/ruling is unconstitutionally, unlawfully, illegally, prematurely, prejudicially, contrary to the rules of natural justice, arbitrarily, capriciously and in breach of the Applicant’s legitimate expectation and is null, void and of no effect, unless sufficient cause is shown why the said Order or Rule Nisi of Certiorari should not be made a b s o l u t e A N D I T I S F U RT H E R ORDERED that the Applicant be at liberty to issue and serve on the Honourable Prime Minister, Mr. Moses Nagamootoo, the Honourable Madam Justice George, Justice (retired) Winston Patterson and Robert Ramcharran, a sealed and certified copy of the Notice of Motion with the Affidavit in Support of Motion, filed on the 12th day of October, 2016, together with a sealed and certified copy of this Nisi Order AND IT IS FURTHER ORDERED this matter do stand adjourned to the ………. day of October, 2016, at ……… am, before the Honourable Mr. Justice Franklin Holder. BY THE COURT FOR REGISTRAR

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LOCAL

GUYANA DAILY NEWS Motion Issued By Mr. Anil Nandlall Challenging Presidential Tribunal Against Carvil Duncan (Cont’d) PAGE 92

MEMORANDUM “If you the within named the Honourable Prime Minister, Mr. Moses Nagamootoo, the Honourable Madam Justice George, Justice (retired) Winston Patterson and Robert Ramcharran, by your servants and/or agents, neglect to obey this Order you will be liable to process of execution for the purpose of compelling you to obey the same Order”. 201-HC-DEM-CIV-CMIN THE HIGH COURT OF THE SUPREME COURT OF JUDICATURE CIVIL JURISDICTION CONSTITUTIONAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISION In the matter of an application by CARVIL DUNCAN for Writs of Certiorari and Prohibition.

NOTICE OF MOTION TAKE NOTICE that this Honourable Court will be moved on the ……… day of October, 2016, in the forenoon or as soon thereafter as Counsel can be heard by MR. MOHABIR ANIL NANDLALL, Attorney-at-Law, on behalf of the Applicant for the following Orders: 1. an Order or Rule Nisi of Certiorari be directed to the Honourable Prime Minister, Mr. Moses Nagamootoo, quashing his advice tendered to the President on or about the 14th day of September, 2016, pursuant to Article 225 (4) of the Constitution that the question of removing the Applicant from oﬃce as a member and chairman of the Public Service Commission, Judicial Service Commission and the Police Service Commission, ought to be investigated, on the grounds that the said advice was tendered is unconstitutionally, unlawfully, illegally, prematurely, prejudicially, contrary to the rules of natural justice, arbitrarily, capriciously and in breach of the Applicant’s legitimate expectation and is null, void and of no eﬀect, AND that the said Honourable Prime Minister, Mr. Moses

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2016

Nagamootoo be directed to show cause why this Order or Rule Nisi of Certiorari should not be made absolute; 2. a Writ of Certiorari be directed to the Honourable Prime Minister, Mr. Moses Nagamootoo, quashing his advice tendered to the President on or about the 14th day of September, 2016, pursuant to Article 225 (4) of the Constitution that the question of removing the Applicant from office as a member and chairman of the Public Service Commission, Judicial Service Commission and the Police Service Commission, ought to be investigated, on the grounds that the said advice was tendered is unconstitutionally, unlawfully, illegally, prematurely, prejudicially, contrary to the rules of natural justice, arbitrarily, capriciously and in breach of the Applicant’s legitimate expectation and is null, void and of no effect; 3. an Order or Rule Nisi of Prohibition be directed to the Tribunal and each of the member thereof appointed on the 15th day of September, 2016, and comprising the Honourable Madam Justice George, Justice (retired) Winston Patterson and Robert Ramcharran, prohibiting them from proceeding to investigate the Applicant’s removal’s from office as a member and chairman of the Public Service Commission, Judicial Service Commission and the Police Service Commission, on the ground that the advice tendered by the Honourable Prime Minister to the President, pursuant to Article 225 (4) of the Constitution to investigate the Applicant’s removal from office as a member and chairman of the Public Service Commission, Judicial Service Commission and the Police Service Commission is unconstitutionally, unlawfully, illegally, prematurely, prejudicially, contrary to the rules of natural justice, arbitrarily, capriciously and in breach of the Applicant’s legitimate expectation and is null, void and of no effect, and that the said advice which has triggered the establishment of the said tribunal AND that the said Tribunal and each of the member thereof, be directed to show cause why this Order or Rule Nisi of Prohibition should not be made absolute;

4. a Writ of Prohibition be directed to the Tribunal and each of the member thereof appointed on the 15th day of September, 2016, and comprising the Honourable Madam Justice George, Justice (retired) Winston Patterson and Robert Ramcharran, prohibiting them from proceeding to investigate the Applicant’s removal’s from office as a member and chairman of the Public Service Commission, Judicial Service Commission and the Police Service Commission, on the ground that the advice tendered by the Honourable Prime Minister to the President, pursuant to Article 225 (4) of the Constitution to investigate the Applicant’s removal from office as a member and chairman of the Public Service Commission, Judicial Service Commission and the Police Service Commission, is unconstitutionally, unlawfully, illegally, prematurely, prejudicially, contrary to the rules of natural justice, arbitrarily, capriciously and in breach of the Applicant’s legitimate expectation and is null, void and of no effect and that the said advice which has triggered the establishment of the said tribunal; 5. an Order or Rule Nisi of Prohibition be directed to the Tribunal and each of the member thereof appointed on the 15th day of September, 2016, and comprising the Honourable Madam Justice George, Justice (retired) Winston Patterson and Robert Ramcharran, prohibiting them from proceeding to investigate the Applicant’s removal from office as a member and chairman of the Public Service Commission, Judicial Service Commission and the Police Service Commission, on the ground that the inquiry that they have embarked upon is unconstitutionally, unlawfully, illegally, prematurely, prejudicially, contrary to the rules of natural justice, arbitrarily, capriciously and in breach of the Applicant’s legitimate expectation and is null, void and of no effect, AND that the said Tribunal and each of the member thereof, be directed to show cause why this Order or Rule Nisi of Prohibition should not be made absolute;

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS Motion Issued By Mr. Anil Nandlall Challenging Presidential Tribunal Against Carvil Duncan (Cont’d) PAGE 93

6. a Writ of Prohibition be directed to the Tribunal and each of the member thereof appointed on the 15th day of September, 2016, and comprising the Honourable Madam Justice George, Justice (retired) Wi n s t o n P a t t e r s o n a n d R o b e r t Ramcharran, prohibiting them from proceeding to investigate the Applicant’s removal from office as a member and chairman of the Public Service Commission, Judicial Service Commission and the Police Service Commission, on the ground that the inquiry that they have embarked upon is unconstitutionally, unlawfully, illegally, prematurely, prejudicially, contrary to the rules of natural justice, arbitrarily, capriciously and in breach of the Applicant’s legitimate expectation and is null, void and of no effect; 7. an Order or Rule Nisi of Certiorari directed to Tribunal and each of the members thereof appointed on the 15th day of September, 2016, and comprising the Honourable Madam Justice George, Justice (retired) Winston Patterson and Robert Ramcharran quashing any decision/recommendation/ruling made by the said Tribunal on the ground that such a decision/recommendation/ruling is unconstitutionally, unlawfully, illegally, prematurely, prejudicially, contrary to the rules of natural justice, arbitrarily, capriciously and in breach of the Applicant’s legitimate expectation and is null, void and of no effect, AND that the said Tribunal and each of the member thereof, be directed to show cause why this Order or Rule Nisi of Certiorari should not be made absolute; 8. a Writ of Certiorari directed to Tribunal and each of the members thereof appointed on the 15th day of September, 2016, and comprising the Honourable Madam Justice George, Justice (retired) Wi n s t o n P a t t e r s o n a n d R o b e r t Ramcharran quashing any decision/recommendation/ruling made by the said Tribunal on the ground that such a decision/recommendation/ruling is

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unconstitutionally, unlawfully, illegally, prematurely, prejudicially, contrary to the rules of natural justice, arbitrarily, capriciously and in breach of the Applicant’s legitimate expectation and is null, void and of no effect; 9. any further Order or relief as the Court may deem just; 10. costs. AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that the grounds of this Application are as follows: 1. the Applicant is the Chairman of the Public Service Commission established by Article 135 of the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana and enjoys the protection afforded to him by Article 200 thereof including the right not be removed therefrom except in accordance with Article 225 of the Constitution; 2. the Applicant by virtue of being the Chairman of the Public Service Commission is a member of the Judicial Service Commission and the Police Service Commission established respectively by Articles 134 and 137of the Constitution; 3. that on or about the 26th day of January, 2016, the Applicant was charged for offences of larceny and conspiracy to c o m m i t a f e l o n y. T h e c r i m i n a l proceedings which are being heard in the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court are still pending. There has been no determination of guilt against the Applicant; 4. on or about the 15th day of September, 2016, the President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana purported to appoint pursuant to Article 225 (4) of the Constitution a tribunal comprising the Honourable Justice Roxanne George, Justice (retired) Winston Patterson and Robert Ramcharran, Attorney-at-Law, to investigate the question of the Applicant’s removal from office; 5. that the Honourable Prime Minister being the prescribed authority under Article 200 of the Constitution advised the

President that the question of the removal of the Applicant from office ought to be investigated. The Honourable Prime Minister allegedly wrote a letter addressed to the Applicant to show cause why a tribunal should not be set up to investigate his removal from office. The applicant never received the said letter. The Prime Minster failed when requested to do so in writing to provide any evidence to establish delivery of the said letter to the Applicant; 6. the said decision by the Honourable Prime Minister was taken in violation of the principles of natural justice. The Applicant was never afforded an opportunity to be heard by the Honourable Prime Minister prior to his decision to advise the President to investigate the Applicant’s removal from office; 7. the decision by the Prime Minister was unreasonable and arbitrary; 8. the tribunal commenced its work on the 10th day of October, 2016. The Applicant through his Attorneys-at-Law objected to the legality of the purpose for which the tribunal was established and called upon the members of the tribunal in writing to desist from furthering its terms of reference. The tribunal overruled the objections and proceeded to conduct its enquiry into the Applicant; 9. the establishment of and all the actions of the tribunal are in violation of the Applicant’s fundamental right to the presumption of innocence guaranteed to him by Article 144 of the Constitution of Guyana and as such the entire proceedings are null and void; 10. the tribunal has been established for the unlawful purpose of deciding whether the institution of criminal charges against the Applicant is grounds for his removal from office. The said purpose disregards the presumption innocence and requires the tribunal not to regard or treat the Applicant as wholly innocent;

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS Motion Issued By Mr. Anil Nandlall Challenging Presidential Tribunal Against Carvil Duncan (Cont’d) PAGE 94

11. the tribunal is acting for a purpose contrary to Article 144 of the Constitution of Guyana. The fact that charges have been laid against the Applicant does not amount to conduct for which a tribunal could have been established in accordance with the Constitution. The tribunal has no jurisdiction to pursue the terms of reference and/or to proceed with the said hearing. The tribunal is not vested with jurisdiction to proceed upon an enquiry in violation of the fundamental rights of the Applicant. The purported assumption of jurisdiction in circumstances is illegal, null and void; 12. the said tribunal is exercising powers in breach of the Applicant’s fundamental right to the presumption of innocence. The said decision to investigate the Applicant has the unreasonable and illegal consequence of overriding the Applicant’s most fundamental constitutional right to the presumption of innocence and deprives him of the benefit of the rule of law; 13. the tribunal has breached its duty to act fairly and in keeping with the Constitution. The tribunal is acting in a manner that violates the Applicant’s fundamental right to have the said allegations determined by a fair and impartial judicial tribunal. The decision to investigate the Applicant for allegations which being investigated by a court of competent jurisdiction is an abuse of process; 14. the enquiry by the tribunal prejudices the Applicant’s fair trial rights. The decision to investigate the Applicant reflects a premature conclusion and/or opinion by the State that he is guilty even before he is tried and proved guilty before the Court which is properly seized of the criminal charges preferred against him; 15. the tribunal is unlawful and the members thereof are not properly appointed individually or as a collective; 16. any decision of the tribunal is unconstitutional, illegal, null, void and of no effect. THIS NOTICE OF MOTION was issued by MR. MOHABIR ANIL NANDLALL, M R . M A N O J N A R AYA N , M R S . SASHA S. MAHADEO-NARAYAN, MR. RAJENDRA R. JAIGOBIN & MR.

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CHANDRAPRAKESH VIKASH SATRAM, Attorneys-at-Law for the Applicant, whose address for service and place of business is at their Chambers, Mohabir A. Nandlall & Associates, ‘Bhagwati Chambers’, 217 South Street, Lacytown, Georgetown. MOHABIR ANIL NANDLALL Attorney-at-Law for the Applicant Dated at Georgetown, Demerara This 12th day of October, 2016 2016-HC-DEM-CIV-CMIN THE HIGH COURT OF THE SUPREME COURT OF JUDICATURE CIVIL JURISDICTION CONSTITUTIONAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISION In the matter of an application by CARVIL DUNCAN for Writs of Certiorari and Prohibition. AFFIDAVIT IN SUPPORT OF NOTICE OF MOTION I, CARVIL DUNCAN of Lot 1977, Lanstead Road, Festival City, Georgetown, Guyana, being duly sworn make oath and say as follows: 1. I am the Applicant herein and the facts and matters hereinafter deposed are within my personal knowledge save and except where otherwise stated. 2. I am the Chairman of the Public Service Commission established by Article 135 of the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana and I enjoy the protection aﬀorded to me by Article 200 thereof, including the right not be removed therefrom, except in accordance with Article 225 of the Constitution. 3. By virtue of being the Chairman of the Public Service Commission, I am a member of the Judicial Service Commission and the Police Service Commission established, respectively, by Articles 134 and 137 of the Constitution. 4. That on or about the 26th day of January, 2016, I was charged with the oﬀences of larceny and conspiracy to commit a felony. 5. The criminal proceedings which are being heard in the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court are still pending. 6. There has been no determination of guilt

against me. 7. On or about the 15th day of September, 2016, the President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana purported to appoint, pursuant to Article 225 (4) of the Constitution, a tribunal comprising the Honourable Justice Roxanne George, Justice (retired) Winston Patterson and Robert Ramcharran, Attorney-at-Law, to investigate the question of my removal from office. 8. That the Honourable Prime Minister being the prescribed authority under Article 200 of the Constitution advised the President that the question of my removal from office ought to be investigated. 9. The Honourable Prime Minister allegedly wrote a letter addressed to me to show cause why a tribunal should not be set up to investigate my removal from office. 10. I never received the said letter. 11. I first learnt about the said letter when reference was made to it in the press during the month of September, 2016. 12. This letter was supposed to have been sent to me during the month of March, 2016. 13. I receive mails at three (3) locations: namely, the Office of the Public Service Commission, De Winkle Building, Fort Street, Kingston, Georgetown, the Office of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG), Camp Street, Georgetown, and at my home at Lot 1977, Lanstead Road, Festival City, Georgetown. 14. That I made enquiries at all three (3) of the said locations and was informed do verily believe that no such letter was received by anyone at any of the aforesaid location. 15. That I further checked with the Guyana Post Office Branch located at West Ruimveldt, Georgetown, for any mails which may not have been delivered to me and I was duly informed by the officers and do verily believe that no such mails were at the Post Office. 16. As a result, I caused my Attorney-atLaw, Mr. Mohabir Anil Nandlall, Attorneyat-Law, to write in the following terms:

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS Motion Issued By Mr. Anil Nandlall Challenging Presidential Tribunal Against Carvil Duncan (Cont’d) PAGE 95

“The Honourable Mr. Moses Nagamootoo, Prime Minister of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, Wright's Lane, Kingston, Georgetown. 18th September, 2016 Dear Prime Minister, Re: Tribunal established pursuant to Article 225 of the Constitution We act on behalf of Mr. Carvil Duncan, the Chairman and a Member of the Public Service Commission. It is widely published in the press that on the 15th day of September, 2016, pursuant to the provisions of Article 225 of the Constitution of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, His Excellency, President David Granger, appointed a Tribunal to enquire into, investigate and recommend whether our client ought to be removed as Chairman and a Member of the Public Service Commission for inability to discharge his duties. The press reports also indicate that during the month of March, 2016 and, presumably, in your capacity as the “Prescribed Authority” by virtue of Article 200(4) of the Constitution of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, you dispatched a letter to our client requesting him to show cause why a Tribunal should not be established, as provided for in Article 225 of the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana. I hereby request the following: 1. a copy of the alleged letter dispatched to my client in March, 2016; 2. the date, time and place of its delivery; 3. to whom it was delivered; 4. any evidence which tends to establish its delivery and acceptance thereof; 5. a copy of the Terms of Reference establishing the mandate and remit of the aforesaid Tribunal appointed by His Excellency, President David Granger. Time is of the essence and therefore, an early response would be appreciated. Yours faithfully, …...Sgd................................... Mohabir Anil Nandlall

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Attorney-at-Law Mohabir A. Nandlall & Associates” I hereto attach and mark exhibit “A” a copy of the said letter. 17. The Prime Minister responded to the aforementioned letter but failed and/or omitted to provide the information requested, save and except, a copy of the letter purportedly sent to me and dated 29th March, 2016. I hereto attach and mark exhibit “B” a copy of the said letter. 18. Therefore, the advice tendered by the Honourable Prime Minister to the President that the question of removing me from office under Article 225 (4) of the Constitution was done so in violation of natural justice, in as much as, I was never afforded a fair and adequate opportunity to be heard prior to that advice being tendered. 19. That acting upon the said advice tendered by the Honourable Prime Minister, His Excellency, President David Granger, appointed a tribunal under Article 224 of the Constitution to enquire, investigate and recommend to the President whether I, Chairman of the Public Service Commission and a Member of the Judicial Commission and a Member of the Police Service Commission ought to be removed from office for inability to discharge the functions of my office pursuant to Article 225 (2) of the Constitution. 20. In pursuance thereof, the President constituted and appointed a tribunal under Article 225 (4) of the Constitution comprising Her Honour, Justice George, Justice (retired) Winston Patterson and Robert Ramcharran, Attorney-at-Law. 21. The Terms of Reference under which the said tribunal was established states its purposes to be as follows: “To inquire into complaints made against Mr. Carvil Duncan, appointed Member and Chairman of the Public Service Commission, and member of the Judicial Service Commission by virtue of Article

198 (1) and member of the Police Service Commission by virtue of Article 210 (1) (b) of the Constitution of Guyana, to wit that having been criminally charged on the 26th day of January, 2016, with the following offences: a. Larceny, whereby it is alleged that he stole he stole nine hundred and eightyfour thousand nine hundred dollars $984,900 from the Guyana Power and Light Inc. at Georgetown on the 31st of March, 2015; b. Conspiracy to commit a felony, whereby it is alleged that Mr. Duncan conspired with another to commit a felony that is to say between May 7th and 8th, 2015 at Georgetown conspired to steal twenty-seven million seven hundred and fifty- seven thousand and five hundred dollars ($27,757,500.00) property of the Guyana Power and Light Inc. He failed to vacate the position of member and chairman of the Public Service Commission, and the position of member of the Judicial Service Commission and the position of member of the Police Service Commission pending the hearing and determination of the said criminal charges against him.” 22. The said tribunal commenced hearing on the 10th day of October, 2016. 23. I caused my Attorney-at-Law to write to each member of the tribunal in the following terms: 10th October 2016 Mr. Robert Ramcharran Attorney-at-Law Croal Street Dear Sir, Re: Tribunal under Article 225 of the Constitution We act for Carvil Duncan of 198 Camp Street, South Cummingsburg, Georgetown. Reference is hereby made to the Official Gazette of the 17th September, 2016 whereby you were appointed a member of a Tribunal to consider whether our client ought to be removed from his constitutional offices.

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS Motion Issued By Mr. Anil Nandlall Challenging Presidential Tribunal Against Carvil Duncan (Cont’d) PAGE 96

Our client is advised that the appointment of the Tribunal is an interference with the administration of criminal justice and that the Tribunal will assume illegal purposes in the event it furthers the terms of reference. Our client is entitled to the presumption of innocence guaranteed to him by Article 144 of the Constitution of Guyana and is to be treated as a person wholly innocent of the charges referred to. No enquiry can be conducted by the Tribunal into the allegations that are the subject of the criminal proceedings. In the premises our client is advised that your appointment is unlawful and that the Tribunal has been established for illegal purposes to his prejudice and in subversion of the rule of law. Our client received no communication from the Honourable Prime Minister and was not afforded an opportunity to be heard prior to the decision taken by the Prime Minister advising the President that the question of our client’s removal from office should be investigated. It is therefore proposed that legal proceedings be taken by our client forthwith for such redress as he may be entitled to including a prohibition of the work of the Tribunal which has been unlawfully appointed. Yours sincerely, ……Sgd……………. C. V. Satram Attorney-at-Law I hereto attach and mark exhibit “C” a copy of the said letter. 24. Additionally, I appeared before the tribunal with my Attorney-at-Law and Mr. Mohabir Anil Nandlall, invited the tribunal not to proceed with its investigation on the following grounds: a. that no hearing was afforded to me prior to the Prime Minister tendering his advice to the President to launch that my removal from office should be investigated pursuant to Article 225 (4) of the Constitution and therefore, the tribunal itself, was unlawfully established;

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b. that the course of action which the tribunal is embarking upon is in violation of and repugnant to the presumption of innocence accorded to me as a fundamental right and freedom by Article 144 of the Constitution and therefore the tribunal will be acting unconstitutionally, unlawfully and illegally. 25. The aforesaid objections were all overruled and the tribunal is proceeding to discharge its mandate. 26. I am advised by Mr. Mohabir Anil Nandlall, Attorney-at-Law, and do verily believe that: a. the establishment of and all the actions of the tribunal are in violation of my fundamental right to the presumption of innocence guaranteed to me by Article 144 of the Constitution of Guyana and as such the entire proceedings are null and void; b. the tribunal has been established for the unlawful purpose of deciding whether the institution of criminal charges against me is grounds for my removal from oﬃce; c. the said purpose disregards the presumption innocence and requires the tribunal not to regard or treat me as wholly innocent; d. the tribunal is acting for a purpose contrary to Article 144 of the Constitution of Guyana; e. the fact that charges have been laid against me does not amount to conduct for which a tribunal could have been established in accordance with the Constitution; f. the tribunal has no jurisdiction to pursue the terms of reference and/or to proceed with the said hearing; g. the tribunal is not vested with jurisdiction to proceed upon an enquiry in violation of my fundamental rights; h. the purported assumption of jurisdiction in circumstances is illegal, null and void; I. the said tribunal is exercising powers in breach of my fundamental right to the presumption of innocence; j. the said decision to investigate me has

the unreasonable and illegal consequence of overriding my most fundamental constitutional right to the presumption of innocence and deprives me of the benefit of the rule of law; k. the tribunal has breached its duty to act fairly and in keeping with the Constitution; l. the tribunal is acting in a manner that violates my fundamental right to have the said allegations determined by a fair and impartial judicial tribunal; m. the decision to investigate me for allegations which being investigated by a court of competent jurisdiction is an abuse of process; n. the enquiry by the tribunal prejudices my fair trial rights; o. the decision to investigate me reflects a premature conclusion and/or opinion by the State that I am guilty even before I am tried and proved guilty before the Court which is properly seized of the criminal charges preferred against me; p. the tribunal is unlawful and the members thereof are not properly appointed individually or as a collective; q. any decision of the tribunal is unconstitutional, illegal, null, void and of no effect. 27. In the circumstances, I humbly pray that the reliefs set out in the Notice of Motion herein be granted. 28. This Affidavit was drawn upon my instructions and on my behalf by Mr. Mohabir Anil Nandlall, Attorney-at-Law. 29. I hereby authorize and Mr. Mohabir Anil Nandlall, Mr. Manoj Narayan, Mrs. Sasha S. Mahadeo-Narayan, Mr. Rajendra R. Jaigobin & Mr. Chandraprakesh Vikash Satram, Attorneys-at-Law, to be my Attorneys-at-Law in this cause and to do all acts and things necessary therein on my behalf and to collect all sums of money payable to me and to give good and valid receipts therefor and my address for service and place of business is at their Chambers, Mohabir A. Nandlall & Associates, ‘Bhagwati Chambers’, 217 South Street, Lacytown, Georgetown. Continued on next page...

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS Motion Issued By Mr. Anil Nandlall Challenging Presidential Tribunal Against Carvil Duncan (Cont’d) PAGE 97

................................CARVIL DUNCAN Sworn to at Georgetown, Demerara

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2016

SUPREME COURT OF JUDICATURE CIVIL JURISDICTION CONSTITUTIONAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISION

This day of October, 2016 BEFORE ME A COMMISSIONER OF OATHS TO AFFIDAVITS 2016-HC-DEM-CIV-CMIN THE HIGH COURT OF THE

In the matter of an application by CARVIL DUNCAN for Writs of Certiorari and Prohibition. ………………………………………… NOTICE OF MOTION AND AFFIDAVIT IN SUPPORT OF NOTICE

OF MOTION ………………………………………… MR. MOHABIR ANIL NANDLALL, MR. MANOJ NARAYAN, MRS. SASHA MAHADEONARAYAN, MR. RAJENDRA R. JAIGOBIN & MR. CHANDRAPRAKESH VIKASH SATRAM ATTORNEYS-AT-LAW FOR THE APPLICANT

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS Venezuela MPs Hit By Power Cut As They Discuss Electricity PAGE 98

A power cut left Venezuela's parliament in the dark as it discussed a law dedicated to the energy sector. Lights first went off as Ramon Lobo, a pro-government lawmaker, defended the energy policies of President Nicolas Maduro, reports said. Opposition MP Luis Florido quipped on Twitter: "The country's reality has hit them in the face." The session was later suspended. Venezuela faces a severe electricity crisis and shortages are frequent. Venezuela's National Assembly is controlled by the opposition. Delsa Solorzano, an opposition MP, tweeted a video of the chamber in the dark. MP Freddy Guevara, also from the opposition, said: "What a shame: the parliament session was interrupted because the energy went off. Right on the day we're discussing the energy sector law." Oilrich Venezuela is in the middle of a deep economic crisis caused by a drop in global oil prices. The country is suffering from a shortage of basic goods, food and electricity. Earlier this year, the government introduced power rationing and a two-day working week for public sector workers as ways to tackle the crisis. It said a major drought, which dramatically reduced water levels at its main hydroelectric dam, was to blame. But

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the opposition accused authorities of mismanagement. Some of the measures have already been lifted. (BBC)

Power cuts are frequent as Venezuela faces a severe electricity crisis(GETTY IMAGES)

Grenada Government Postpones Constitutional Referendum Again By Caribbean News Now contributor ST GEORGE'S, Grenada -- Citing a need for additional time to complete the public education process, the government of Grenada has postponed yet again the referendum on constitutional reform most recently planned for October 27. In a press statement, the government noted, that proposed constitutional reform has been ongoing for many years, with a well-documented history of academic research and consultations that have informed this latest attempt. However, with seven Bills ﬁnally settled on, and with the announced date approaching, the government, as well as the leadership of Constitutional Review Advisory Committee (CRAC), said it had noticed that the entire nation has begun to pay attention to the issues, in a way that has been unprecedented. "We have sensed a genuine increase in national interest – and at the same time, people are asking for more time to become more familiar with what is being proposed. "While we appreciate that we cannot have an open-ended process, we understand the magnitude and historic signiﬁcance of the Bills being presented to Grenadians for their approval," the statement read. According to the government, iIn particular, one clause in the Rights and Freedoms Bill has caused growing concerns in some circles. After extensive general discussion, including with the chairman and other members of CRAC, the government said it believes that this, and any other lingering issues of clarity, must be addressed. "All the contributions of the various stakeholders on this matter have been considered and against this background, the cabinet has decided that it would serve the public good if approximately another month be given for the

education process to be completed," the statement continued. The governor general has therefore been advised that a new date should be set for the holding of a referendum and the Office of the Governor General will issue the relevant writs to give effect to this new decision. The Electoral Office will take charge of the process. "We believe that this decision is in the broader national interest, and is consistent with the consultative posture of the government, as well the Constitutional Review Commission from the very onset. "We invite all Grenadians to remain engaged in this dynamic process as we continue this long march to improving our constitutional arrangements – and in building a brighter future for not only this generation – but those to come," the statement concluded. (Caribbean News Now!)

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS UN Calls For Robust Hurricane Response To Tackle Extremely Diﬃcult Situation Haiti PAGE 99

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti -- Hurricane Matthew, which ripped through Haiti two weeks ago, has left more than 700,000 people in an “extremely difficult situation,” United Nations special adviser David Nabarro said on Wednesday, and while steady progress is being made, led by Haitians themselves, the response must be accelerated as the needs are still great, frustrations are high, and access to hard-hit areas remains tough. Yet, even with so many people lacking food, water and healthcare in the southwestern part of the tiny nation where the Category 4 storm made landfall on 4 October, Nabarro told UN Radio from Port-au-Prince that “so many excellent things are already happening […] as the people themselves are hard at work, readjusting their lives so they are protected from the elements.” They are also gathering as much food as they can and “doing everything they can to be careful with the water they drink because they know that the water from the rivers and the brooks can give rise to cholera,” said Nabarro, who for the past two months has been helping design the UN system’s new approach to cholera in Haiti. Another “positive” is the work being done by Haitian authorities, the mayors, the officials in charge of different departments, as well as the Civil Protection Department in Port-au-Prince. “But I have to say, this a really big challenge – a logistical challenge to get things to where they are needed because the roads are so heavily damaged and there’s a limit to what you can do with helicopters." Nabarro went on to say that over the past four days he had seen that travelling in the interior of the country is still very difficult, and another key challenge is that there are people that are very frustrated in some areas. “Anyone who’s been affected by this kind of mass tragedy is frustrated. They are also, in some cases, scared because of disease and hunger. So yes, there is a combination of frustration and fear,” he said, adding that at the same time, getting relief to such a large number of people in such challenging circumstances is “just very difficult.” So, while there is a real willingness on the part of so many [relief workers] to help, “we have at the same time frustration on the part of ordinary people because they are not getting what they need.” Having been in Les

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Cayes and Jérémie, two of the hardest hit areas, Nabarro said he has talked to health workers, people in shelters, people trying to get food and other assistance, “and the basic message is: ‘Please help us. We need food and we need help […] in a more timely way.’” Some of those he met “are, in a way, quite desperate for help, and so the job for everybody here, particularly now, is to spare no eﬀort to get the best coordination on getting the basics that people need to where they are […] in an absolutely robust way.” Nabarro said that the response must be carried out amid adequate security and communication with the public to reduce the threat of looting, which is making distribution “very diﬃcult.” As for the cholera situation in Haiti, he said: “Cholera is here. It stalks everybody.” Yet, the disease is treatable with solid recovery rates, provided people get to treatment centres. “We are seeing cholera cases everywhere we go. What we don’t know is how many cases there are that don’t get to the centres. This is why a more detailed study [of the situation in the] interior [of the country] is so important.” He said that he believed cholera and malnutrition are the “big risks” for the people of Hait “and we recognize that in everything we do.” (Caribbean News Now!)

United Nations Special Adviser David Nabarro meeting and supporting people in Jeremie, Haiti, which was severely aﬀected by Hurricane Matthew. Photo: UN Haiti

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS Motion Of No Conﬁdence Against Dominica PM Defeated evidenced by rising unemployment, sharp declines in By Clive Bacchus PAGE 100

ROSEAU, Dominica (WINN) -- Plans by the opposition in Dominica to move a motion of no conﬁdence against Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit hit a wall on Wednesday after opposition leader Lennox Linton refused a demand for an apology from Speaker Alix Boyd Knights and was barred from proceeding. “I pointed out to the member that I have a general authority understanding order 86.1 and 2 to conduct the business of the house. I also pointed him to standing order 49 where the Speaker of the House or the Chairing committee shall be responsible for the observance for rules of the House. The member then suggested that I have a demon in me and says because I said it at some other point that it’s okay for him to say so. What the member does not realize is that I was responding to something that his side said and he now cannot say that I have a demon in me, which is exactly what he said and I think I am within my right both as Speaker and as a member of parliament to point out to him that he is using unparliamentary language towards me and that he was rude to suggest that I have a demon in me and I called on him to apologize and I am further stating that when he apologizes he can continue. If he’s not willing to continue can the next member rise to support the motion please," the speaker said. According to the opposition motion, the prime minister is allegedly mismanaging the economy, as

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performance of agriculture, tourism, manufacturing, construction, a massive national debt and an increase in the trade deﬁcit. Eventually the motion was defeated by the government side after the opposition MPs refused to speak in solidarity with Linton. They also refused to register their votes on the motion after a count was requested in the House. (Caribbean News Now!)

Opposition Leader Lennox Linton speaking in Parliament

Phone Call Made By Fugitive Drug Trafficker's Wife Gave Up His Location In Suriname PARAMARIBO, Suriname -- A phone call that was said to be concealment support in Colombia. Dataram and his wife have made from Suriname by fugitive drug trafficker Barry Dataram’s common law wife to someone believed to be his aunt in Guyana on Sunday, 9 October 2016, was more than the crack that US cyber intelligence had needed in order to point out his location to Surinamese authorities, who subsequently swooped down on the fugitive’s hideout at Latour, on the southern side of Paramaribo. The Guyana Guardian has received credible information from a usually reliable source from within the US Department of State, who established that, since the United States has an interest in the fugitive, Washington had automatically extended its intelligence support to the Dutchspeaking country when it was certain that Dataram had indeed crossed into Suriname. A self-confessed drug baron, Dataram became a fugitive from the Guyanese justice system after he skipped bail upon the conclusion of a trial, at which he was found guilty, but made a decision to flee Guyana before a magistrate’s five year sentencing decision could have been handed down. Previously establishing that the convict and his wife had fled from Guyana to across the border in Suriname using forged travel documents, Guyanese authorities were on a race against time to apprehend him for fear that efforts were afoot by him to flee further south in a bid to reach out for

since been extradited to Guyana. However, only the drug baron himself is facing a ﬁve-year conviction. (Caribbean News Now!)

A satellite image of an area in Latour, Suriname, where a telephone call was ﬁrst made by Barry Dataram’s common law wife to his aunt. The red circle area denotes the probable location from where the device was ﬁrst used

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS Cuban Ambassador Doubtful About Russian Military Base PAGE 101

By Ken Richards BASSETERRE, St Kitts (WINN) -- Cuba’s St Kitts and Nevis based ambassador, Hugo Ruiz Cabrera, has downplayed the likelihood of Russia re-establishing a military base in Cuba. The defence minister in Moscow, Nikolai Pankov, has been quoted by Russian news agencies as saying that Moscow is considering that option. However, Cabrera told WINN FM that, while he has seen the media reports about the matter, he is not sure that they are accurate. “I have read the article that referred to that matter but I don’t believe it is true, it is far from the truth. Despite that we have a very good relationship with Russia historically and with our bilateral ties but nowadays it is very hard to talk about military ways," he noted As WINN FM recently reported, former prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Lester Bird, has warned that a Russian presence in the Caribbean would be dangerous for the whole hemisphere. “America cannot allow Russia to go into Cuba, so we’re back to 1962 all over again, where John Kennedy had to ﬂex his muscle. The question is what is CARICOM gonna do about it? In the days of the confrontation of communism and the west there was a vacuum that existed that allowed them to do that but I am saying to you that I don’t think that the United States is going to sit by and allow Cuba and Russia to establish a situation which is in confrontation with the United States," Bird said. Cabrera says he is not aware of such discussions taking place between Havana and Moscow. “As far as I know we have

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not discussed anything like that so I don’t believe that something like that will be come true at least in the short term," he said. WINN FM asked if Cuba would be open to Russia asking for a base there. “It’s a very hard question and I am no expert in the Cuba and Russia relationship. I can talk about the Caribbean’s relationship with Cuba which I feel extremely happy about," Cabrera said. (Caribbean News Now!)

Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) with his Cuban counterpart Raul Castro

US Secretary Of Health To Pay Working Visit To Cuba HAVANA, Cuba (ACN) -- Sylvia Burwell, US Secretary of Health and Human Services, will attend a regional meeting on zika and other mosquito-borne diseases to take place in Havana on Thursday and Friday. The general director of the United States department at the Cuban ministry of foreign affairs, Josefina Vidal tweeted that Burwell will be in Cuba on a working visit from October 20 through the 22. The US official is visiting to Cuba as part of the process of normalizing relations between Cuba and the United States, and hers is one of the seven high level exchanges between the two countries in October and November. His Cuban counterpart, Dr Roberto Morales, traveled to the US last June for official talks. That same month the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding to cooperate in the health sector. The regional meeting on zika and other mosquito-borne diseases is organized by the PanAmerican Health Organization (PAHO) and the Cuban health US Secretary of Health and ministry. (Caribbean News Now!) Human Services, Sylvia Burwell

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS CDB Approves Technical Assistance For Jamaica's Ministry Of Finance PAGE 102

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados -- The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) is providing Jamaica with a technical assistance grant to strengthen the capacity of the country’s ministry of finance. The funding will help to support Jamaica in the ongoing implementation of its economic reform programme, under which critical macroeconomic and structural reforms are being undertaken with the objective of stabilizing the economy and setting the stage for inclusive economic growth. The government of Jamaica has identified a need to bolster the ministry of finance’s technical expertise in fiscal and macroeconomic policy that supports the country’s reforms under its homegrown structural adjustment programme. The programme is aided and assisted by the IMF and other development partners including CDB, the Inter-American Development Bank, the World Bank, and the European Union. The grant of US$400,000, approved by CDB’s board of directors last week, will help to: • strengthen the MOF management team’s capabilities to guide the implementation of critical reforms to support the achievement of key mediumterm macroeconomic results; • provide technical advice to the minister of finance and, by extension, the Cabinet on macroeconomic policy issues in general and, specifically, on how best to achieve the goals and objectives of GOJ’s reform programme; and • enhance relevant skills of technical staff within MOF through training and transfer of expertise and knowledge. Director, Economics at CDB, Dr Justin Ram, noted that the bank attaches particular importance to the transfer of expertise and knowledge within strategic institutions, such as the finance ministry. “The transfer of knowledge and expertise

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will help to up-skill relevant managerial and technical staff. This will contribute to improved capacity for strategic policy formulation, management and coordination. Through this grant, the Government of Jamaica will benefit from enhanced policy advice; and increased technical capability to effectively facilitate the implementation of fiscal and structural reforms in particular, and economic development policies in general,” Ram said. (Caribbean News Now!)

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS Asia-Paciﬁc Region Remains A Fundamental Market For BVI PAGE 103

By Nadia James-Harris HONG KONG -- The Asia Pacific Region remains a fundamental market for the British Virgin Islands as premier and minister of finance, Dr Orlando Smith, concluded the first day of meetings during the BVI Asian Trade Mission in Hong Kong. Speaking on the achievements of the day, Smith said, "The first day on the ground in Hong Kong was extremely productive. I took several opportunities to reinforce one of our key messages that BVI is the region's international business partner. It was encouraging to have been received with enthusiasm from both public sector officials and government practitioners.” The premier added, “This signals that BVI remains very welcomed in Hong Kong and China and this can only bode well for a continued fruitful relationship." Smith led his delegation in a number of meetings with both private sector and government officials during a full first day of meetings. Meetings began with discussions between the BVI Delegation and executives of Top Search International Holdings, a multi-disciplinary financial services group with expertise in insurance, asset management and banking. The group discussed developments in the global financial services industry, as well as developments within the BVI Financial Services Industry. The delegation also met with executives of the Bank of Asia BVI Limited to receive an update on the bank's progress. Executives reported that the bank is progressing well, and finalising its technology platform as well as firming up its timeline for roll out. The technology is expected to be demonstrated at this week's Business BVI Asia conference. The launch of the bank is eagerly anticipated by practitioners in Hong Kong and the BVI. Also on the first day of meetings, Smith and the delegation received a warm welcome from the chief executive of the Hong Kong and SAR government, Chun-Ying Leung, who acknowledged the important relationship between BVI and Hong Kong. Smith reciprocated the gratitude and expounded on the fruitful long term relationship

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between the two countries, particularly in financial services. The pair provided updates on development in their respective financial services industries and exchanged views and updates on other sectors including banking, tourism, education, transportation and sports. Both leaders agreed to continue dialogue and exchanges in areas of mutual interest. The delegation also paid a courtesy call on the British consul general, Andrew Heyn. The newly appointed consul general also reiterated his office’s support for BVI House Asia. As part of the day’s activities, Smith hosted a luncheon with a diversified and influential group of approximately 14 financial services practitioners and business women in Hong Kong. The guests represented sectors in banking, asset management, securities, energy, real estate and commercial property development, and manufacturing. During the luncheon, Smith took the opportunity to reiterate the strong partnership between Hong Kong, China and BVI, and also explained the BVI’s advantages and successes. He also provided a briefing on developments in the BVI financial services arena such a beneficial ownership, the launch of the BVI arbitration centre and global regulation. (Caribbean News Now!)

BVI delegation at industry cocktail reception with British Consul General Andrew Heyn and Mrs Heyn. Photo: Premier’s Oﬃce

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS SLP Urges Gov't To Reconsider Decision To Implement New Taxes PAGE 104

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additional cost of EC$215 per person. Consequently, a Saint Lucian family of four and who are resident oversees, coming home to see relatives will have to pay nearly EC$900 extra. The Saint Lucia Labour Party believes that at a time when tourism is facing increased competition the new taxes will make Saint Lucia more uncompetitive.

A9X9B5 Tax Rate button on calculator PRESS RELEASE â&#x20AC;&#x201C; The Saint Lucia Labour Party has expressed its outrage over news that the Government of Saint Lucia has agreed to an increase in the Departure Ta x a s w e l l a s t h e reinstatement of the Airport Development Tax, eďŹ&#x20AC;ective April 1st, 2017 and is calling on the Prime Minister to reconsider the decision. The Labour Party sees these increases in taxation as a betrayal by the UWP Government which had severely criticised the previous SLP Administration

claiming that the people of Saint Lucia were too heavily taxed. Further, the UWP had promised that existing taxes would be reduced to make life more bearable for Saint Lucians. The latest increase in taxes mean that D e p a r t u r e Ta x f o r persons travelling to CARICOM countries and the French Caribbean Islands will be increased from US$25 to US$35 whilst Departure Tax for persons travelling outside of CARICOM countries and the French Caribbean Islands will be increased from US$25 to US$65; The Airport Development Tax will be

reinstated at a rate of US$35 for persons travelling outside of CARICOM countries and the French Caribbean Islands. This Tax was previously suspended by the Saint Lucia Labour Party in 2012. With these new taxes Saint Lucians travelling to any CARICOM island or any French island, will automatically be subjected to an increase of C$27 per ticket. Whilst Saint Lucians travelling to other places, for example, New York, M i a m i , To r o n t o o r London, will pay an additional EC$215. All visitors to our island will also have to bear the

It is also strange that this comes after Saint Lucia joined the rest of CARICOM in rebuking the UK Government for having the Airline Passenger Duty (APD) arguing that the tax was hurting tourism. The Saint Lucia Labour Party calls on the UWP Government to stick to its election promises. The Saint Lucia Labour Party also calls on the UWP Government to provide Parliament with a statement on the proposed taxes and those which will be imposed in the coming months. Saint Lucians need to know what the monies collected will be used for and how will it be accounted for. (St. Lucia News Online)

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US Election: Trump Will Accept Result 'If I Win’ debate for suggesting that he might

Mr Trump says he reserves his right to file a legal challenge(POOL) Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has said he will accept the results of the US election "if I win". "I would accept a clear election result but I would also reserve the right to file a legal challenge in the case of a questionable result," Mr Trump said. He appeared a rally in Delaware, Ohio, for the first time since the third and final debate on Wednesday night. Mr Trump came under fire during the

not accept the election's outcome. When moderator Chris Wallace asked Mr Trump if he would accept a losing outcome to his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton, Mr Trump said he would "keep you in suspense". Mr Trump's campaign manager, Kellyanne Conway, later clariﬁed that the candidate meant he would not concede until the "results are actually known". (BBC)

Mosul: Islamic State Is 'A Brutal Opponent', Says US General The so-called Islamic State (IS) group is "a brutal opponent" in the fight for Mosul, the head of coalition forces for Iraq and Syria has told the BBC. US Lt Gen Stephen Townsend was speaking on the sidelines of the battle to retake the Iraqi city from the jihadist group. Gen Townsend also said IS was "adaptable, creative and cunning". Iraqi forces on Thursday said they had re-captured the town of Bartella, less than 15km (10 miles) east of Mosul. The town had seen fierce IS resistance, with reports of several suicide car bombs by militants in response to the special forces' advance. Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said on Thursday the operation to retake Mosul was progressing faster than planned. The Iraqi army is moving from the south, as Kurdish fighters launch a large-scale operation east and north of the city. "They're using human shields in there," Gen Townsend said in an

exclusive interview with the BBC on Thursday, speaking from an artillery position where US troops were providing fire support to Iraqi forces. "This is a b r u t a l opponent that has to be stopped," said Gen Townsend, who heads foreign forces in the fight against IS. "They saw people's heads off on TV, they drown people and video it, they burn people alive in cages, they crucify people and they drive over people on the street with bulldozers." Mosul has been in the

hands of IS since 2014 and is the militants' last major Iraqi stronghold. As many as 1.5 million civilians are thought to still be inside the city. Officials have warned that the push to take Mosul could take weeks or months, with IS fighters appearing to be putting up stiff resistance in some areas. (BBC)

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

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Schiaparelli Mars Probe's Parachute 'Jettisoned Too Early'

Artwork: The retrorockets should have fired for about 30 seconds(ESA) Europe's Schiaparelli lander did not behave as expected as it headed down to the surface of Mars on Wednesday. Telemetry data recovered from the probe during its descent indicates that its parachute was jettisoned too early. The rockets it was supposed to use to bring itself to a standstill just above the ground also appeared to fire for too short a time. The European Space Agency (Esa) has not yet conceded that the lander crashed but the mood is not positive. Experts will continue to analyse the data and they may also try to call out to Schiaparelli in the blind hope that it is actually sitting on the Red Planet intact. In addition, the Americans will use one of their satellites at Mars to image the targeted landing zone to see if they can detect any hardware. Although, the chances are slim because the probe is small. For the moment, all Esa has to work with is the relatively large volume of engineering data Schiaparelli managed to transmit back to the "mothership" that dropped it off at Mars - the Trace Gas Orbiter. This shows that everything was fine as the probe entered the atmosphere. Its heatshield appeared to do the job of slowing the craft, and the parachute opened as expected to further decelerate the robot. But it is at the end of the parachute phase that the data indicates unusual behaviour. "We cannot resolve yet under which, let's say, logic that the machine has decided to eject the parachute. But this is definitely far too early compared to our expectations," Andrea Accomazzo, the head of operations for Esa's planetary missions, told BBC News. Not only is the chute jettisoned earlier than called

for in the predicted timeline, but the retrorockets that were due to switch on immediately afterwards are seen to fire for just three or four seconds. They were expected to fire for a good 30 seconds. In the downlinked telemetry, Schiaparelli then continues transmitting a radio signal for 19 seconds after the apparent thruster shutoff. The eventual loss of signal occurs 50 seconds before Schiaparelli was supposed to be on the surface. Many scientists here at mission control have taken all this information to mean one thing - that the probe crashed at high speed. It is likely it went into freefall a kilometre or two above the surface. Officially, though, Esa experts say they cannot at this stage fully interpret what happened until a velocity profile for the probe is properly reconstructed. Once that is done, a match can be made against known events and their predicted altitudes. It ought then to be possible to gauge with some confidence whether Schiaparelli did indeed hit the ground at a catastrophic speed. Landing on Mars is always a daunting prospect. It is necessarily a high-speed approach that has to be got just right or the spacecraft runs the risk of smashing into the ground. If the robot is later confirmed as lost, it will obviously be a major blow to Esa which suffered the disappointment of the Beagle2 lander's failure at Mars in 2003.

But officials here have tried to emphasise Schiaparelli's role as a technology demonstrator - a project to give Europe the learning experience and the confidence to go ahead with the landing on Mars in 2021 of an ambitious six-wheeled rover. This future vehicle is expected to use some of the same technology as Schiaparelli, including its doppler radar to sense the distance to the surface on descent, and its guidance, navigation and control algorithms. What will concern commentators is that the budget for the rover is not yet secure. It is short by about 300m euros. If Schiaparelli is indeed lost, Esa officials may find themselves having to work harder to explain to member states why the extra investment remains worthwhile. The agency's director-general, Jan Woerner, was bullish, however. The achievement of getting the TGO into a parking orbit at Mars to do several years of atmospheric study, combined with the retrieval of engineering data from Schiaparelli's descent, would, he said, play well with Europe's space ministers when they came to make decisions about the rover. "I think they will see that this mission is a success. We have the function that we need for the 2020 mission, and therefore I think we don't have to convince them - we just have to show them. The results are obvious," he told reporters. (BBC)

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Jakarta attacks: IS Bombmaker Smiles After 10-year Sentence

Suridi smiled and made a gesture associated with Islamic State in court(EPA) An Indonesian man has been jailed for 10 years for his role in a bomb and gun attack in Jakarta in January. Four civilians died in the terror attack, the country's worst in years. Dodi Suridi, 23, a supporter of the

so-called Islamic State group (IS), helped make one of the bombs used on the day. He said he accepted the verdict as "the risk of being a terrorist". Five assailants were killed by police during the attack and about 40 have since been arrested. Prosecutors said Suridi altered gas canisters to provide bombs for two attackers who blew themselves up at a

police post. He was arrested the day after the attack. A second IS supporter, 48-yearold Ali Hamka, was jailed for four years for attempting to source guns and ammunition for the attack. Hamka did not obtain the guns but was still found guilty of breaking anti-terror laws. As he was led away from court, Suridi shouted "Allahu akbar", Arabic for God is great, and smiled at journalists in the court. Judge Achmad Fauzi said his actions had "disturbed the community and shaken the life of our nation". He and Hamka both made a gesture that has come to be associated with IS, pointing one finger towards the sky. The attack in January was the first attack linked to IS in south-east Asia but Indonesia has since suffered several attacks carried out under the group's banner. As Suridi and Hamka were appearing in court on Thursday, a man carrying a machete, suspected pipe bombs and an IS symbol launched an attack on officers near Jakarta before being shot dead by police. (BBC)

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS Catalan Bullﬁghts: Spanish Top Court Overturns Ban Alicia Sanchez-Camacho "welcomed" the PAGE 108

About 2,000 bullfights are held across Spain every year(EPA) Spain's constitutional court has overturned a ban on bullfighting in Catalonia, declaring it unconstitutional. The court said bullfighting was part of Spanish heritage and therefore any decision on banning it could only be taken by central government. Bullfighting was banned in Catalonia in 2010 on the grounds that it was incompatible with Catalan tradition. Analysts say similar laws in other regions could now also be reversed. Catalonia became the second Spanish region after the Canary Islands to ban the tradition. Bans are also being debated in the Balearic Islands and several Spanish municipalities. The Spanish constitutional court's ruling is like a red rag to a bull for those who

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already support independence for Catalonia because many will disagree with a decision that has taken years to arrive. Unlike other attempts by Catalonia to forge its own laws, the ban on bullfighting was not immediately suspended by Spain's top court, leading the quintessentially Spanish practice to become a thing of the past in the region. Bullfighting has declined in popularity across Spain as younger audiences increasingly stay away. Local authorities have already said they will do everything they can to prevent bullfights making a return. So the scene is set for a showdown. Catalonia's freedom to rule its affairs is on one side of the ring and the Spanish state on the other. Grey line The ban was taken to court by the Catalan branch of the governing centreright Popular Party (PP). Branch president

court's decision, tweeting that the PP would "continue to defend" freedom and bullfighting. But Gabriel Rufian, a Catalan separatist politician and activist, tweeted: "In the Spanish state, it's unconstitutional to ban the public torture and murder of an animal. Enough said." Spanish animal rights group Pacma criticised the decision as politically motivated. "Once more they have been found to use animals in a political war," said spokeswoman Ana Bayle, adding: "They don't know anything about animals, nor do they care." In Catalonia the ban which was announced in 2010 and came into force in January 2012 - was seen by many as an attempt by Catalan nationalists to distinguish the region from the rest of Spain. 'Ancient art form' About 2,000 bullfights are held every year across Spain but recent opinion polls suggest public support has waned. Opponents say the pageants are barbaric while supporters, who including Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, say the tradition is an ancient art form rooted in Spanish history. Last month, thousands of people took to the streets of the capital Madrid to demand an end to bullfighting. Protesters held up banners saying "Bullfighting, the school of cruelty" and "Bullfighting, a national shame". Supporters have also organised rallies in favour of the tradition. In July, a matador died after being gored by a bull in the eastern town of Teruel - the first Spanish bullfighter to die in the ring for more than 30 years. (BBC)

INTERNATIONAL

GUYANA DAILY NEWS Duterte In China: Xi Laudsmaritime 'Milestone' Duterte Visit aﬀairs. The Philippines also used his speech to mock PAGE 109

New allies - Xi Jinping and Rodrigo Duterte shake hands after presiding over trade deals(GETTY IMAGES) China's President Xi Jinping has welcomed his Filipino counterpart Rodrigo Duterte on a visit to Beijing which he described as a "milestone". Mr Duterte arrived on Tuesday for a four-day trip expected to boost trade and mend ties between the nations. Both sides were ready to move on from a bitter row over islands in the South China Sea, a top Chinese official said. The visit also shows Mr Duterte's efforts to engage China as he moves away from the US, a long-time ally. He has twice announced a "separation" of the countries, but a US official said no official request had been made to change their relationship. Meanwhile, nearly 50 police officers who were involved in clashes with pro-China protesters outside the US embassy in Manila on Wednesday have been suspended. During the demonstration, a police van which came under attack drove into the crowd, knocking people down. The dispute over the South China Seas did not take centre stage in Mr Duterte's discussions with Chinese officials. "Both sides agreed that this issue is not the sum total of bilateral relations," Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin told reporters after the meeting. The two countries had agreed to seek "settlement through bilateral dialogue", he said. Mr Duterte and President Xi presided over the signing of documents covering several trade deals as well as co-operation in cultural, tourism, anti-narcotics and

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P h i l i p p i n e Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez said on Thursday that the deals to be signed during the week would amount to $13.5bn. The relationship between China and the Philippines had worsened in recent years as both claim the Spratly Islands and Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea. The dispute reached a peak in July when an international tribunal sided with Manila and rejected Beijing's claims. Although he maintained a blustery position towards Beijing during his presidential campaign, Mr Duterte sounded a note of reconciliation shortly after taking power. At the same time, Mr Duterte has said he would end joint military exercises with the US, admonished the US for criticising him over his bloody war against drugs that has been linked with thousands of extrajudicial killings, and said US President Barack Obama could "go to hell". On Wednesday, Mr Duterte told a cheering crowd in Beijing: "I will not go to America any more. We will just be insulted there. So, time to say goodbye my friend." On Thursday he repeated his pledge, telling Chinese and Philippine businesspeople: "I announce my separation from the United States. Both in military, not maybe social, but economics also. America has lost." "I've realigned myself in your ideological flow and maybe I will also go to Russia to talk to [President Vladimir] Putin and tell him that there are three of us against the world - China, Philippines, and Russia. It's the only way," Mr Duterte said. But an unnamed US official told the AFP news agency that the US had "not received any requests through official channels to alter our assistance to or co-operation with the Philippines". The president of the

American accents, saying the American "larynx is not greatly adjusted to civility" captured in a video shot by a journalist from the Philippines in China on Thursday. The BBC's John Sudworth in Beijing said Mr Duterte appeared to have calculated that taking a less confrontational approach than his predecessor on the South China Sea dispute would help him secure aid from China. For his part, Mr Xi welcomed the renewed friendship with the Philippines. "I hope we can follow the wishes of the people and use this visit as an opportunity to push China-Philippines relations back on a friendly footing and fully improve things," he said. What does Duterte want from China? China is the Philippines' second-largest trading partner, with the latter supplying mostly electronic products but looking to diversify with more food exports for instance. Earlier this year, angry Chinese netizens called for a boycott of Filipino mangoes amid tensions over South China Sea claims. Tourists The tensions also prompted Beijing to issue a travel advisory against the Philippines in 2014. Since then Chinese holidaymakers have ﬂocked to elsewhere in south-east Asia; the hope is that they come back when Beijing lifts the advisory, which it has promised to do. Weapons and boats In a pre-visit interview with Chinese cable station Phoenix TV , Mr Duterte complained of inadequate military support from the US and said he planned to buy Chinese weapons and boats as part of a military equipment overhaul. "If China does not help us in this endeavour, we will ﬁnd it hard," he said. Silence and support Filipino men place their hands over their heads as they are rounded up during a police operation as part of the continuing Image copyrightAP Mr Duterte's controversial war on drugs has attracted accusations of human rights violations by the West including the United States. But Beijing - no stranger to such criticism - has kept quiet, and has even pledged to support Mr Duterte. (BBC)

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Syria Conﬂict: Russia Extends Aleppo Ceaseﬁre By 24 Hours

Some 2,700 people have been killed or injured in rebel-held Aleppo in the past month, monitors say(REUTERS) Russia says it will extend by 24 hours its "humanitarian pause" in air strikes on rebel-held eastern Aleppo, taking the break up until Friday afternoon. Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said President Vladimir Putin had ordered the extension to 16:00 (13:00 GMT). UN humanitarian chief Jan Egeland said he hoped hundreds of sick and wounded could be evacuated by the deadline. But rebels have rejected the truce, with reports of continued clashes and few residents heeding calls to leave. Mr Egeland said he hoped the first of "several hundred" people most in need of medical help could be brought out on Friday with the help of the World Health Organization and the Red Cross. "We believe we now have all of the green lights that we need both from the Russians and the government and from the armed opposition groups," he said. But he warned: "This is Syria, so everything can go wrong at every possible opportunity." Russian and Syrian forces first suspended their air strikes on Tuesday. Russian officials say the pause has opened eight exit corridors from the east of the city to allow civilians and rebel fighers to leave. But soon after the truce took effect, at 05:00 GMT on Tuesday, some of the corridors were reported to have come under fire, with opposition and government forces blaming each other. The UN was told Russia would continue the truce for 11 hours a day until Saturday, Mr Egeland said, but Russia has so far only publicly confirmed an extension of 24 hours. Syria is also offering an eight-hour daily truce, according to state media, but it was not clear how long for. But the truce was reported to have had little impact on the ground.

Ammar Jaber, a correspondent for Orient News, a Dubai-based pro-opposition TV channel, said he had seen just a few civilians leaving at two of the crossings intended for evacuation. Mr Jaber said Syrian government forces were targeting the corridors with sniper and rocket fire. Syria's state-run news agency has blamed "terrorist groups" for the exchanges of fire, and the Russian state-run broadcaster Rossiya 24 said members of Jabhat Fatah al-Sham, a militant group once aligned with al-Qaeda, were preventing people from leaving. Last month, Syrian government forces encircled the eastern section and launched an all-out assault backed by Russia. Some 2,700 people have been killed or injured in the bombardment since then, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based monitoring group. About 250,000 civilians who live in Aleppo have been trapped by the fighting. Western leaders have said Russian and Syrian air strikes on Aleppo could amount to war crimes, an accusation rejected by Russia. European Council President Donald Tusk said on Thursday his organisation should keep "all options open, including sanctions" when considering Russia's involvement in Syria. Jihadist group Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, which was known as alNusra Front until it broke formal ties with al-Qaeda in July, has vowed to fight on despite Russia's pledge of a truce. Mainstream rebel factions also dismissed Russia's proposal as a gimmick. The UN, which regards Jabhat Fateh al-Sham as a terrorist organisation, says the group has 900 fighters inside Aleppo, out of a maximum of 8,000 rebels in total. (BBC)

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS Gable Tostee Not Guilty In Australia 'Tinder Death’ PAGE 111

The court saw photographs they had taken together(QUEENSLAND SUPREME COURT) An Australian man has been acquitted of the murder of a New Zealand woman during their ﬁrst Tinder date. Gable Tostee, 30, was charged after Warriena Wright, 26, fell from his balcony in Queensland's Gold Coast in August 2014. Prosecutors argued that she was so intimidated that she tried to escape by climbing to a lower ﬂoor, but fell. After four days of deliberation, the jury

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found him not guilty of murder and manslaughter. Defence lawyer Nick Dore said outside the court that his client was "relieved this matter is now behind him and he's looking forward to moving on with his life". 'Just let me go home' Mr Tostee and Ms Wright connected on the popular dating app Tinder and exchanged messages back and forth. They met in person for the ﬁrst time on 7 August 2014 at a seaside resort called Surfers Paradise. Hours later Ms Wright plunged to her death from his 14th storey balcony. During the trial, the key piece of evidence was a 199-minute audio recording of her pleading to be allowed to leave the apartment. The recording was found on Mr Tostee's phone after he made a decision to secretly record their altercation before Ms Wright's fall, according to the Australian media. Prosecutors said the recording proved his guilt, while his defence lawyers said it showed he was innocent. Mr Tostee can be heard saying Ms Wright physically assaulted him after allegedly throwing ornamental rocks at him. "You're lucky I haven't chucked you oﬀ my balcony," Mr Tostee says on the recording made on his phone. "If you try to pull anything, I'll knock you out." Ms Wright is later heard saying "just let me go home", after he allegedly locked her on the balcony. (BBC)

World Wine Output Expected To Hit Four-year Low output since 2000, it added. However, it said it was unlikely this would aﬀect prices in the shops.

World wine output is expected to hit a four-year low in 2016(LOIC VENANCE) World wine output is expected to hit a four-year low in 2016 after bad weather hit production in France and South America, industry forecasts say. Trade group the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV) has estimated output will reach 259.5m hectolitres (mhl) this year - a fall of 5% compared with 2015. This would be among the three poorest years for

"Some price tensions could appear in some geographic areas impacted by [bad weather]," an OIV spokesperson told the BBC. "But very often wine producers and wine industries keep wine stocks in order to respond to such risks." In Europe, the OIV said Italy was again set to be the world's leading producer - even though output is expected to fall 2% this year to 48.8 mhl. But in France - the number two producer - it said production was likely to fall 12% after vineyards endured frost and hailstorms in the spring, then drought in the summer. In South America, production was also hit by "climatic events". As a result, Argentina is likely to report a 35% plunge in output, Chile a 21% fall and Brazil a 50% fall when compared with 2015. South Africa, meanwhile, is on track to report a bruising 19% fall in production - but other New World producers are doing better. The OIV said Australia was expected to see a 5% rise in production, New Zealand a 34% jump and the US - the world's fourth-largest producer of wine - growth of 2%. (BBC)

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2016

Theresa May: We'll Still Work Closely With EU After Brexit

"We must continue to work together", said UK PM Theresa May Theresa May has pledged to continue to "work closely" with the EU after Brexit, as she arrived for her ﬁrst Brussels summit as prime minister. She said it was important to have a "united European stance" against "Russian aggression" that included "sickening" violence in Syria. European Council President Donald Tusk called the summit a "nest of doves". But French President Francois Hollande warned if Mrs May pursued a "hard Brexit", negotiations would be hard. The 28 EU leaders taking part in the meeting will hold a working dinner on Thursday, during and after which Brexit is likely to be discussed Mrs May is expected to call for a "smooth, constructive, orderly" Brexit. The prime minister has promised to trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty - beginning two years of formal exit negotiations with the EU - by the end of next March. This means Brexit, backed in a UK-wide referendum in June, will take place by the summer of 2019. The Brussels summit is not focused on the UK's withdrawal, with the oﬃcial agenda instead dominated by migration, trade and relations with Russia. The prime minister was keen to emphasise this when she arrived in Brussels, saying: "I'm here with a clear message. The UK is leaving the EU, but we will continue to play a full role until we leave and we will be a strong and dependable partner after we have left. "It's in the interests of both the UK and the EU that we continue to work closely together, including at this summit." She added: "We must continue that robust and united European stance in the face of Russian aggression." It was "vital" to "put pressure on Russia to stop its appalling atrocities, its sickening atrocities, in Syria", the prime minister said. Several European leaders have questioned whether the UK can continue to have access to the European single market once it leaves the EU, particularly as this is likely to mean greater controls on immigration from within Europe. European Council President

Donald Tusk has insisted no formal talks between the UK and the EU can start until Article 50 is invoked. 'Hard work' But he offered summit debutante Mrs May some words of encouragement: "Some media described her first meeting in the European Council as entering the lion's den. It's not true. It's more like a nest of doves. "Just look at me - I think it's obvious also for you. You can be sure she will be absolutely safe with us." At the working dinner Mrs May is expected to be invited to talk about Brexit over coffee. She will tell leaders that "hard work and goodwill" are needed on both sides during negotiations to secure a smooth UK departure from the EU, a Downing Street source said. Arriving at the summit, French President Francois Hollande said: "I say very firmly, (if) Mrs May wants a hard Brexit, the negotiations will be hard." At home, the government is facing fierce criticism from opposition parties - and a landmark legal challenge - over its refusal to offer MPs a vote on its Brexit strategy before triggering Article 50. Ministers say they welcome scrutiny but do not want MPs and peers to micro-manage the process or compromise the government's negotiating hand. Speaking in the Commons, Brexit Secretary David Davis said that he wanted Parliament to be "involved throughout" the process, but added: "There will be a balance to be struck between transparency and good negotiating practice, and I am confident we can strike that balance." 'Unprecedented complexity' A vote is expected in 2019 on the final deal reached after the talks. But critics say they are being offered a choice between the government's deal or no deal at all as, by this stage, the UK would be on the verge of leaving the EU. Labour MP Hilary Benn, who has been elected chairman of the Commons committee overseeing scrutiny of Brexit, said it was "inconceivable" Parliament would not have a say at that stage. He told the BBC: "I'm very clear that Parliament will want to have a say both in scrutinising what the negotiating plan is when it is published, but also Parliament will want to take a decision on the final deal." In a report published on Thursday, the House of Lords EU committee said Parliament should vote on the government's negotiation strategy before Article 50, predicting the talks would be "unprecedented in their complexity and their impact upon domestic policy". (BBC)

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2016

Nintendo Switch Console Plays Games Home And Away

What will the Nintendo Switch do? Nintendo has revealed that its next games machine will be a handheld, portable device that doubles up as a home console. Previously code-named NX, now named the Nintendo Switch, the device looks like a tablet computer with controllers that attach to its sides. The device was revealed in a short "teaser" video posted on YouTube. One analyst said the device could be Nintendo's "last shot" at selling a home console. "The Wii U was a car crash, basically," said Paul Jackson of the Ovum consultancy. "They fudged the communication and confused everybody with the controller and what the screen was for.

"As a result it sold about a tenth of what the original Wii sold." The Wii U was rapidly outsold by Sony's PS4 and Microsoft's Xbox One, although Nintendo has enjoyed success with its handheld 3DS device. The new Switch console can be seated in a dock to play games on a television or used as a stand-alone portable device. Games will be delivered on small cartridges - a nod to older Nintendo consoles. Mr Jackson said it was no surprise the new device was a "bit of both" console and handheld. "Two of the most successful consoles ever are Nintendo's portable devices - both the Gameboy and DS sold more than 100 million each." Nintendo has announced that leading games studios and publishers such as Activision, Bethesda, EA Games, Sega, Ubisoft and Warner Brothers had signed up to produce software. However, Mr Jackson said Nintendo would need a strong roster of games to launch its console. "On the software side, they need the big Mario game, the Zelda game, the Metroid game - front and centre, exclusive to Switch and available at the same time as the console. "In the past they've got that wrong - and if you have a lousy launch, suddenly you're in the wilderness for a few years." Nintendo has already announced that its highly-anticipated title Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild will be released on the Switch. However, it is yet to reveal the technical speciďŹ cations of the device, which is due to be released in March 2017. (BBC)

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2016

The United States Elections. A Global Horror Movie Still a high percent of the population on the Unites States is

The 8th of November 2016 is expected to be one of the most controversial days in modern history. The ‘Empire of the North’ will celebrate its elections on this date, defining the future of millions that depend on this decision. The ‘American dream’ has been the main engine for massive migrations since the mid-50s. Migration dominated mostly by Latin-American nationals, in search not for a dream, but a better quality of life. Sadly a ‘better quality of life’ is far from reality when your legal rights are nowhere to be found because you are ‘not legal’. ‘Wet feet, dry feet’ are the denomination for those entered the country through the desert or sea. But what happens when u reach? Long hours of hard work and a minimum salary. Years of being a ghost, not to be deported. Risk that many are willing to take. But this is the good side of the story for those who can make it over the border. But what about for those who don’t make it, those that are left behind on the way to ‘The North’, those who are latter missed by the family that never saw them go? They become the white cross at the side of the ‘Wall of Death’, the reminder of a sacrifice that was never worth to be taken. Massive migration becomes a problem, when the country that receives the migrants loses the balance of the quantity of those entering, risking the security of their nationals. The United States has managed to keep under control this situation, and use the high rate of immigrants as a labor force. But today immigrants are being threatened at gun point, and tagged as an imminent threat for the countries security. A race that does not belongs. Ironically the 17% of the United States Population is from Hispanic origins, this figures without counting those not documented. Meaning that 56million of the 333million persons that live in the northern country are Hispanic Americans. This is five times Cuba’s Population. Still, this side of the society along with the large African American community are greatly discriminated in the nation. A diverse country with a problematic definition of ‘Diversity’. The United States dominant race is Caucasian, being a slight trigger for racist remarks towards the mix races. During the 60s anti-racist movements fought for social equality in the United States. Feeling that was spread as gunpowder around the world, transmitting a message of emancipation and unification. Today the ideal that many good mans and martyrs fought for, is being slowly shattered. Donald John Trump, the Republican candidate to the presidency of the upcoming elections, has based his entire campaign in the necessity to rescue the ‘essence’ of an aria race in the country, emphasizing on the male dominance as the main engine to push forward the economy of the nation. Looking at his vision closely, this remarks simply enhance two social evils such as: racism and gender discrimination.

voting to support him. Since the presidential campaign started, public manifestation against the immigrants and armed confrontations between African Americans and the police force qualifying this last ones as ‘race crimes’, have been making headlines on the international and local newspaper. A leader is not the one that incites public confrontations, leader is the one that inspires the unification of his nation for a better tomorrow. On the other had the Democratic candidate Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton, has been making an emphasis on the necessity of equality and the importance of empowering the female side of the society. Aspects that don’t seem to make a significant weight, according to the present poles statistics. The elections are slightly tilting towards Clinton’s side, but any wrong move from the ‘swinging states’, which are Arizona, Florida, North Carolina, Ohio could put the ‘modern Hitler’ in charge of the Empire. Anything could happen. The last presidential debate was held last night in Nevada. In it, the ‘jaws’ of both candidates opened to devour each other in a fight of speed, intelligence, common sense and tact. A fight to win a country, a fight for the power that an Empire offers. There is global tension, there is panic. In less than a month the faith of the planet (and I am not overreacting) will be decided. What started as the most random choice of candidates for a presidential election, could easily turn in the worst mistake made by the human kind. Those that once migrated to the North looking for the ‘American dream’ are living a nightmare, those that searched for freedom are suffocating, those that left are coming back, those that died in the desert and in sea, died in vain. This is the reality in which we are living today. The land of freedom is no longer.

Presidential Candidates: Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS Unpaid Public Debts Destroys Future Generations –Economist PAGE 117

Guyanese continue to register their complaints to Guyana Daily News about the new government failed promises which dominated their elections campaign. “It is amazing that the same government that criticized the PPP administration did not deliver on any single promise that was made in the campaign” one citizen said. That person, who spoke under the condition of anonymity cited the Bank of Guyana Report which indicated that current revenue fell in 2015 by $741 million. “When the government of the day cannot create income but spends excessively, then the country is certainly heading for a disaster” the person said. She noted that this can also result in Police, teachers, nurses, other public servants and other ﬁrst responders not getting a pay increase, which has a trickledown eﬀect of quality social services being neglected by these employees. Other citizens expressed concerns regarding the shortfall in public debt that was under paid by G$20.292M as was mentioned in the Auditor General’s report for 2016. As such, Guyanese are therefore questioning whether the Minister of Finance is aware that he under-paid the public debt by G$20B. Additionally, they want to know why the President has

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2016

not objected to this kind of “reckless behavior” by the Minister. Meanwhile, one prominent Economist told the Guyana Daily News that defaulting on current national debts destroys the credibility and credit rating of Guyana and would eventually pass on that burden to current and future generations. “This should not and must not be the vision for a good life” the economist said.

“Country Was Left In Good Shape” –Jagdeo clear. I am just going to talk broadly because I can go into details but I

Despite claims by the APNU+AFC government of inheriting a “broken economy,” Opposition Leader and former President Bharrat Jagdeo has sought to make it clear that the economy was left in “good shape” when that government assumed office last year. Mr Jagdeo expressed this view on Thursday during a press conference held at the PPP’s Freedom House headquarters. According to the Opposition Leader, who served two terms as President, Guyana’s reserves were close to USD$700 million dollars when the David Granger-led administration assumed office in May of 2015. He said that a number of projects that were worth over USD$800M were left by the PPP after that party left office. Among these were the Ameila falls hydro power project, discovery of oil and gas which was piloted by the PPP, and two new gold mines. Given these developmental projects which were already in the pipeline when this government took over, the Opposition Leader contended that for someone to say that the economy was left in a bad shape, that person has to be “sick.” Among those who have, and continue to blame the state of Guyana’s struggling economy on the former Government are; President David Granger; Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan; Minister of State, Joseph Harmon; Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman. Mr. Jagdeo also slammed the government for saying that it had to divert monies that was intended for the development of the country, to bail out the Sugar industry. “There are lots of things that could be done. But first of all, it is the government having a matrix that allows development, which is infused with the philosophy of growth and development” he said. The Opposition Leader, who is a qualified economist, went on to explain that the matrix for growth must be shielded from extraneous issues that can harm that objective. “This matrix has to be composed of consistent, clear policies to investors… [But] what you have now is every single Minister commenting on issues that could harm the investment environment. So it must be

don’t want to do so at this press conference” he added. Further, he pointed out that consistency with government policies which include incentives, must be prioritized. He noted that there must be uniform application when it comes to those policies, and that the Minister of Finance must focus more on economic growth rather than managing for ratios. “So I think if those things happen, clear guidelines to investors, uniformity in application of those guidelines and an enabling budgetary environment supporting those initiatives, that you can do well in an economy like ours. I can disaggregate those three into hundreds of examples and policies…” he said.

Opposition Leader and former President Bharrat Jagdeo

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Sugar Workersamounted Protest GuySuCo No Pay Rise to some $1.1B. A disaggregation

Thousands of sugar workers across the sugar belt protested yesterday (October 20, 2016) for the second time this week. The workers action followed a meeting between the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) and the Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc (GuySuCo) on October 19, 2016, the third in a recent series which addressed several matters among which, most importantly, is pay increase. The Corporation’s chief representative at the meeting, the same at the previous two, is no stranger to such type of discussions. On this occasion, unlike the meetings before, the GuySuCo’s representative adopted a strange, rather disrespectful and disdainful attitude. This unusual behaviour was vexing to the workers from the different estates that were in attendance and resulting in a less than cordial meeting. Such display by GuySuCo’s spokesman left us with the impression that is was purposeful. If so, to what end? At the meeting, GuySuCo informed the negotiations team that the financial constraints do not allow the Corporation to offer a pay increase again this year. This would mean that it is the second consecutive year that employees of the sugar industry are being denied an increase in pay even as other sectors of the state employees will be receiving this benefit, though it is inadequate. This dire message, in effect, represents another blow to the livelihood of the some 17,000 workers and t h e i r f a m i l i e s . O b v i o u s l y, t h i s unacceptable stance would leave the workers incensed. Such an adamant, discriminatory stance adopted by the relevant authorities must be looked at against the backdrop of other factors. We have noted that the 2015 audited financial statements revealed a loss of $2.6B by GuySuCo although, at a previous meeting, the Corporation had informed the Union that its loss was $16.6B last year. Additionally, the Union noted the o v e r s t a t e m e n t o f t h e i n d u s t r y ’s employment costs which were pegged at $21.6B last year (2015) through the inclusion, for the first time, of a new charge – employee retirement benefit – which

of the employment expenditure revealed that a whopping $1.8B was deemed other costs for which the Corporation is yet to provide an explanation. While GuySuCo constantly harps on its financial state, the workers and the Union are shocked to learn that a few of the Corporation’s hierarchy earned $396M in 2015. Indeed it is a stupendous sum that works out over a million dollars per day among the lucky few. The Union also is of the opinion that the Corporation is engaged with unnecessary work, if not wasteful spending at this time, especially on learning of plans to spend a huge sum of $500M on diversification initiatives as well as a further $1.5B on a road from Wales to Uitvlugt. Our Union is also puzzled as to how is it that the Corporation spent nearly $11B in 2015 to procure items such as fertilizers, chemicals, among other things, but such massive expenditure are not reflect in improved sugar productivity and production. It is recalled, that sugar production this year was pegged to be in the vicinity of 242,000 tonnes according to the 2016 National Budget. The Corporation itself has repudiated its previous production target and identified a new production level, some months ago, of 194,000 tonnes, a nearly 20 per cent decline. In terms of the Corporation’s financial status, it was pleasing to observe that GuySuCo’s finances were improving with cash resources rising from $700M at the end of 2014 to $1.9B at the end of 2015. The bank overdraft is on the decline from over $2B at the end of 2014 to about $400M currently. GAWU, however, wants to express its concern over GuySuCo incurring a higher interest charges for overdrafts though the balance has declined. The Corporation has not yet provided any clarification on this. At the meeting of October 19, the GAWU argued that the GuySuCo stance of not offering pay rises for 2015 and 2016 were serving to diminish workers’ morale and commitment which are certainly counterproductive at this time and defeat

the Corporation’s ‘One GuySuCo’ slogan which we understand, among other things, is expected to promote camaraderie, dedication and motivation among the workers. The Union stressed the need for the Corporation to invest in its human capital – its most important asset – and noted that the general well-being of the workers is also declining taking into account the rising cost-of-living. Our Union argued too that the Corporation can have a viable and sustainable future and we re-emphasized diversification into electricity production, white sugar and alcohol. The much touted diversification efforts into aquaculture, seed paddy cultivation, citrus fruits have had miserable results in the past and, so far we understand, there is no empirical evidence to point to their success this time around. The Corporation’s denial of a wage increase, at this time, is unprecedented. And, as if to rub salt into the workers’ wounds, GuySuCo’s attitude at the October 19 meeting was most unbecoming and harks back to a practice belonging, hopefully, to a past era. The GAWU as a democratic organization will consider collectively our response to this latest injustice. Sugar workers are learning, yet again, that essential bread and butter issues and their deserving benefit will come only out of their united struggles. The present elites seem to be pushing them in this direction. The workers have limited choices. In the face of so many blunders made by the top echelon of GuySuCo and others, we think it is yet not too late to turnaround fully from the current course that is not, in anyway, supportive of the industry, and indeed, the country’s economy. GAWU Press Release

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS Guyana Child Labour Rate Highest In The Caribbean –UNDP Report PAGE 119

A United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Caribbean Human Development Report (CHDR) has revealed that the child labour rate in Guyana, which stands at 16.4 percent, is the highest in the Caribbean. The report, which is titled ‘Multidimensional progress: Human Resilience Beyond Income’ is the first of its kind and seeks to address the vulnerabilities and key strengths of Caribbean countries. It was officially launched yesterday the University of Guyana’s (UG’s) Education Lecture Theatre, Turkeyen. The CHDR, among a list of other issues, found that there is an increasing human vulnerability in the region, particularly among women, youth and the elderly. Under the section titled “Vulnerabilities of children at risk of or actively participating in exploitative labour conditions and street children” the report pointed out that “in Caribbean countries, the child labour rate fluctuates between 0.7 percent in Trinidad and Tobago and 16.4 percent in Guyana.” Further, the report indicates that Guyana is the only country that is above the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) average which is pegged at 11 percent. To deal with this issue, the report highlighted some recommendations to improve that situation. These include; the improvement of policies and programmes against child labour; to strengthen social assistance (e.g. food stamp programmes) to parents and community-based multidimensional support (education, counselling, training etc.); promote the return to school and remedial education and apprenticeship; legislation against the presence of children in bars and clubs; awareness-raising campaigns and immunization. Another human vulnerability that the UNDP report highlighted was that of Indigenous people. The report pointed out that in Guyana, 11 to 25 percent of indigenous people live in the hinterland where they are the most populous ethnic group with a 42 to 89 percent population

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2016

share in the various administrative districts. It went on to state that “multiple deprivations are high in Indigenous communities, ranging from limited health care, to poor quality educational facilities. Issues of access to land and land rights are some of the persistent challenges faced by indigenous people in countries such as Guyana and Suriname.” Notwithstanding this, the report stated that some amount of progress has been made with regards to access to land and land rights in the two neighbouring countries.

LOCAL

GUYANA DAILY NEWS Security Guard Shot During Botched Robbery An armed gunman this morning shot a security guard stationed at the Electronics City branch located at the Forgarty’s Building on PAGE 120

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2016

Water Street during a brazen daylight robbery. According to reports reaching Guyana Daily News, the security guard whose name was given as Quincy Michael Joseph was shot in his chest, puncturing one of his lungs. He was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he received medical attention and was subsequently transferred to the Woodland’s Hospital. Reports have further stated that an employee of Unique Apartments, who has been identiﬁed as Abdel Odie, was being followed back to his car after he had cashed a cheaque next door at Republic Bank Limited in the value of $1.2M Gyd. Odie realizing he was being followed turned in the Electronic City store in an attempt to elude his pursuer and stood for about 10 minutes before greeted by the robber who followed him in the store and pressed a pistol against his side demanding that he release the package contained the money. It was noted that the Security Guard of the store was not initially in a position to see the robber's gun and as such when he came into view and tried to draw his weapon to counter, he was shot by the fugitive who proceeded to escape via a waiting motorcycle. Investigations are currently under way.

Gov’t To Review Barama’s Forestry Concessions & Focus On Conservation - A Move Condemned By Opposition Leader The Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) on Thursday in a press release conﬁrmed that Barama Company Limited’s (BCL) will not be renewing its Forest Concession Agreement following the expiration of its agreement on October 15, 2016 and that the decision will now facilitate a revision of the importance of standing forests and determine the value that Guyana had been beneﬁting from for the last 25 years. The Ministry said that review will pave the way for a decision on what to do with 1.6M hectares that the logging company has given up. “The MNR notes that the decision of BCL presents an opportunity to engage in a stocktaking exercise where Government can objectively assess the value of the standing forest through its contribution to the ecosystem while simultaneously examining the value of the past 25 years to the people of Guyana. Such an exercise would be pivotal in decision-making as it relates to economic empowerment and development of sustainable livelihoods of present and future generations,” the release stated. The ministry related that it has mandated the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) to work with BCL to ensure a “smooth closure” of all concession related activities within the stipulated period, and to ensure that “all labour and other related issues” are fully addressed in a holistic manner in keeping with applicable laws and regulations and thanked the logging company for its years of service in Guyana and will engage the company on added value activities. “The government thanks BCL for its involvement over the past 25 years, and will be engaging the company in further discussions on its stated interest in the continuation of the added value activities.” Meanwhile on the same day, Leader of the Opposition Dr. Barrat Jagdeo and issued a warning to the government against moving away from the model of balanced development between sustainable development and conservation. The opposition leader had said that the focus on

conservation will chase away logging activities. “They now have moved to conservation so it’s chasing away logging activities, etc promising another two million hectares to conservation. If the new strategy is dominated by an approach to conservation the country loses out in the big scheme of things globally and our path to prosperity becomes even more difficult. More people will lose jobs here in Guyana…,” said Jagdeo. He related that the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) which was establish under the previous administration was the result of “tons of consultations,” which eventually lead to a US$250 million forest carbon sale to Norway. With the seizure of forestry concessions from Chinese company BaiShanLin, and the non-renewal of Barama’s Concessions, Guyana has seen the lost the top two biggest forest concession holders in the country. The scaling down of Barma’s operations is sure to have a rippling effect on business who reply on the logging company such as transportation services etc. The company through the years has played significant role in road construction and maintenance in the North West area, Region One. Barama is a subsidiary of Samling Global Limited, and has been established in Guyana since 1991.

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LOCAL FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2016

Police Divisions "A", "E", "C" and "D" To Beneﬁt From Mobile Resources In its continuing eﬀorts to equip the Guyana Police Force the Government of Guyana through the Ministry of Public Security, has made available addition mobile resources in the form of four-wheel and two-wheel vehicles. While the full complement of these mobile resources is yet to be realized, the Supplier has thus far delivered, seven (7) All Terrain Vehicles, three (3) Pick-ups, and eight (8) motor cycles. With the trust of the Force to beef up policing arrangements in Region 9 and in particular in the Rupununi District additional manpower and increased supervisory capacity have been

allocated to Annai Police Station which now has ﬁve (5) policemen stationed there and two (2) All Terrain Vehicles. In ‘E’ Division (Linden), an additional All Terrain Vehicle has been allocated to Mabura Police Station and a new All Terrain Vehicle to Ituni Police Station while two (2) motor cycles for AntiCrime patrols purpose were allocated to Mackenzie Police Station. In ‘A’ Division (Georgetown/East Bank Demerara) one new four by four (4x4) and four (4) new two wheel motor cycles have been allocated for Ant-Crime patrols. In ‘C’ Division (East Coast

Demerara) one new four by four (4x4) vehicle has been allocated for AntiCrime patrol. In ‘D’ Division (West Coast/West Bank Demerara) two (2) new two-wheel motor cycles and one new four by four (4x4) vehicle have been allocated for Anti-Crime patrols. On receipt of the additional mobile resources, further allocation will be made and this will be communicated. Guyana Police Froce Press Release

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

LOCAL FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2016

President Says Environmental Protection Cooperation An Obligation, Not Option -At Conservation International Board Meeting

from left- Mr. Russell Mittermeier, P h . D . , E x e c u t i v e V i c e C h a i r, Conservation International, President Ian Khama of Botswana, Chairman, Chief Executive Oﬃcer and Cofounder of Conservation International, Mr. Peter Seligmann, President David Granger, former President Anote Tong of Kiribati, former President Olafur Ragnar Grimsson of Iceland and Chairman of the Executive Committee, Mr. Rob Walton Washington D.C. – (October 21, 2016) Chairman, Chief Executive Oﬃcer and Co-founder of Conservation International (CI), Mr. Peter Seligmann described President David Granger as a visionary and steadfast leader and

committed the organisation’s support for his ‘green’ agenda, even as the Head of State made the case for ‘green’ economic development and conservation in Guyana, during a panel discussion at the oﬃcial dinner of the Board of Directors Meeting. President Granger was joined on the panel by President Ian Khama of Botswana at the Decatur House in Washington, D.C. The Guyanese Head of State declared his commitment, as incoming Chairman of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and as leader of a country that sits in the heart of the Guiana Shield, to work to develop and expand regional cooperation for conservation eﬀorts. He said, “In the Guiana Shield itself we need a build a stronger alliance because the Guiana Shield incorporates part of Colombia, part of Venezuela, all of Guyana and all of Suriname, all of La Guyane and part of Amapá and other parts of northern Brazil. We have to collaborate… It is obligatory, not optional for us to collaborate and… my closest [CARICOM] neighbour is Suriname and we have already engaged in some level of collaboration and I would like to invite the other nations in northern South America to join us in

Chief Executive Oﬃcer and Co-founder of Conservation International, Mr. Peter Seligmann chairing the panel discussion with President David Granger and President Ian Khama of Botswana

ensuring that that Guiana Shield remains the second ‘garden of eden’. Mr. Seligmann lauded the President’s position that the future of Guyana depends on the protection of the standing forest and his commitment to work within the Guiana Shield and the Caribbean Community to establish strong regional cooperation in the defence of the environment. “He has made a commitment of putting 10 percent of his nation into protection; two million hectares and that is just the ﬁrst step and he has come here to meet with CI, to meet with you to learn how we operate and what is it that we can do to support his visionary eﬀorts as he looks at how you engage and involve Indigenous people, how you transform oil and gas revenues into forest conservation and how you actually create a strong economy that is balanced with the protection of nature. This is the type of leadership that the world needs,” he said. Guyana is focused on the development of protected areas, wildlife management, coastal zone protection, as well as, the development of renewable sources of energy, even as the country’s value to the world as a new carbon sink in the reduction of climate change is emphasised, the President said. However, he also indicated that education of Guyanese is important in ensuring that people understand the value of their natural resources in an economy with historical reliance on the extractive sectors. “There are challenges largely because of ignorance and we need to educate our children about the potential or possibility of making better use of our environment,” he said. Speaking on the value of agreements like the Guyana REDD+ Investment Fund and Norway Partnership, the President indicated that it is a model that can be replicated through similar agreements with other states since countries like Guyana are providing a service to the world.

Continued on next page...

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

LOCAL FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2016

President Says Environmental Protection Cooperation An Obligation, Not Option -At Conservation International Board Meeting (Cont’d)

President David Granger and Chief Executive Oﬃcer and Co-founder of Conservation International, Mr. Peter Seligmann, who chaired the panel discussion at the oﬃcial Board dinner.

He said, “By protecting our forests we are making a contribution to the world and we are very happy to have such an agreement… It is good model and we would like to renew that model… and embark on similar agreements with other industrialised countries because we are providing a global asset, a global facility by absorbing so much carbon dioxide.” The President added, though, that he looks forward to an renewal of that agreement that allows for the

development of renewable energy options, beyond the current options for hydro-electricity. Mr. Seligmann declared CI’s commitment to supporting President Granger’s vision. “It is extraordinary leadership and really, really timely. We have seen so many of the forest areas on this planet disappear and your leadership and engagement and stimulus to others is really important and I just want to say for everybody in this room and everybody at CI, we are totally

Chairman, Chief Executive Oﬃcer and Co-founder of Conservation International (CI), Mr. Peter Seligmann (at far right) leading a session of the Board meeting yesterday

committed to helping you,” he said. Earlier in the day, President Granger had met with the Botswanan Head of State, President Khama, and in an invited comment following that meeting, he said that while the two countries are diﬀerent geographically, there opportunities to learn from regional cooperation leadership. “[President Kama] has been a leader in pioneering inter State cooperation for environmental protection and he has brought together several African states. There's the Gaborone Declaration for Sustainable Development in Africa, where several states cooperate to preserve their environment and Guyana too, as a part of the Guiana Shield, is working with Suriname, French Guiana and the other states of the Guiana Shield; Brazil and Venezuela to do the same thing. So we are heading in the same direction and I believe that we have lessons to learn,” he said. President Granger has expressed gratitude for the work CI has been doing in Guyana for more than 14 years, noting that a lot of the environmental protection education that has already occurred in Indigenous communities in Guyana has been through the organisations work. He said, “Conservation International has been a very important partner. It is a very powerful non-governmental organisation. It has done work in Guyana; a lot of work has been done in the protected areas in the hinterland particularly in the Rupununi, and we have a lot to learn from their experiences and I believe we have a lot to beneﬁt from their participation in future environmental projects.” Guyana’s Head of State deliver an address to the members of the Board today. Also in attendance at the meeting are former President Olafur Ragnar Grimsson of Iceland and former President Anote Tong of Kiribati. MOTP Press Release

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

LOCAL FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2016

Suspect In Morning Robbery Shot As Investigations Continue Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting of a male juvenile, who allegedly committed a crime of Simple Larceny, in the compound of Republic Bank Limited at Waterloo and New Market Streets, Georgetown, early this morning. Investigation revealed that about 0400h. a female security guard on duty at the facility, observed the suspect in the compound in possession of her handbag which she left on a table. She raised an alarm and the suspect dropped the bag and scaled the fence. The guard then alerted her supervisor from the Professional Guard Service and shortly after a patrol responded. A male ﬁtting the description of the suspect was seen in the area and was confronted and in this intervening process, a round was discharged from the shotgun in possession of a member of the patrol. The suspect was rushed to the GPHC where he is presently undergoing surgery for gunshot wounds to his face and body. Guyana Police Force Press Release

Man Reprimanded For Stealing So He Could ‘Return To Georgetown’ Frankie Junior Smoke will now be required to do eight weeks of community service after he confessed to robbing a Lethem resident of valuables which he was hoping he could sell to get money to travel to Georgetown. Smoke appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates court recently where he was charged with Breaking and Entering and Robbery. After pleading guilty with explanation and presenting the court with his explanation, Magistrate McLennan sentenced him to serve eight weeks community service or 6 months imprisonment if found in default of the sentence. Unrepresented before the court, the 33-year old, explain that he had recently been released from Prison and was in the process of obtaining his own home when he went to Lethem to visit his mother. He said that at the time, he was homeless and having recently been released from prison, he did not have money to return to Georgetown. As such, he stole some items from Michelle Kimeon of Lethem, as a means of acquiring money to return to Georgetown. Magistrate McLennan upon hearing this, questioned him as to whether he did in fact commit the crime as a means of obtaining transportation back “to town” - a claim which Smoke did not deny. It was noted that on October 3, 2016 at Beverly Hills Drive Central Rupununi, Lethem, the Virtual Complainant, Michelle Kimeon secured her premises and retired to bed. Upon waking up the next morning at around 06:15 hrs, she observed the back door of the building opened and several items missing. The items included; 1 Macbook Air, 1 iPhone 6, 1 Hp Laptop, 1 Kindle and 1 pair of shears, totaling over $525,000 GYD. She subsequently reported the matter to the police, who, acting on information went to the house at which the accused was staying and found the items and later arrested Smoke.

Mason Freed Of Recruiting Cocaine Trafficker Three Months after being charged for allegedly recruiting convicted attempted drug trafficker Patrima Issacs, Mason, Shemar Morris was today released after the case was dismissed by Magistrate Leron Daly at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court. It was alleged that Morris, of Lot 60 Durban Street, Lodge, between March 1, 2016 and July 3, 2016 had recruited Isaacs to traffic 698 grams of cocaine. He was remanded to prison for the duration of the trial. The Prosecution revealed today that based on the information provided to the court via testimonies, evidence and investigations carried out, a Prima Facie case had been established. However, Defense Attorney, Adrian Thomas maintained his no case submission against the Prosecution. Magistrate Daly in her ruling stated that she does not believe that a Prima Facie case had been established and as such she was on able to call on the accused to lead a defense. Isaacs, after appearing in court pleaded Guilty to the charge which stated that on July 5, 2016 at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport she was in possession of 698 grams of Cocaine within the handle of her bag and disguised in sanitary pads between her legs. She was ordered to pay a fine of $1.8M GYD and sentenced to three years imprisonment.

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

REGIONAL FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2016

Trinidad Appeal Court Rejects Opposition Election Challenge

Members of the UNC legal team, from left, Wayne Sturge, Jayanti Lutchmedial, Timothy Straker QC, Anand Ramlogan SC, Gerald Ramdeen and Kent Samlal leave the Hall of Justice, Port-of-Spain, after the election petition was dismissed on Monday. Photo: Nicole Drayton/Trinidad Guardian PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad -- The Court of Appeal in Port of Spain, Trinidad, took just two hours on Monday to reject an appeal by the opposition United National Congress (UNC) challenging the dismissal of its election petitions over the results of last year's general election. Chief Justice Ivor Archie and Appellate Judges Allan Mendonca and Peter Jamadar dashed the UNC’s hopes of having a by-election in five marginal constituencies as they ruled that the polls had been conducted “in a free and fair manner consistent with the constitutional requirements for democracy," the Trinidad Guardian reported. However, the appeal panel, comprised of the country’s most senior judges, ruled that the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) overstepped its remit when it decided to extend the polls by one hour in Trinidad due to heavy rainfall. “The population can feel safe that the democratic process has not been undermined,” Archie said as he noted that the EBC’s breach was not egregious enough to taint the election result and render it null and void, as contended by the UNC. Referring to a cross-appeal filed by the EBC, Archie said the court was not in a position to afford the commission the power to make adjustments to an election in extenuating circumstances, such as natural disasters. “It is improper for us to interfere as any rules are in the providence of Parliament,” Archie said. The Court of Appeal’s

decision on the issue is final, as there is no right of appeal to the United Kingdom-based Privy Council in election petition cases. The panel’s decision to deliver its judgment just hours after submissions in the appeal, after two-and-ahalf days of hearings, appeared to surprise the legal teams in the case, as the Appeal Court almost always reserves their decision at the end of appeals, the Trinidad Guardian noted. While delivering the brief oral decision, however, Archie explained that the panel felt that an almost instant decision was needed as election petitions are required to be handled expeditiously. “The result was clear to us and we thought that we should not keep the population waiting,” Archie said. The panel’s decision was consistent with High Court Mira Dean-Armorer ’s judgment in the case delivered in August, except in terms of the distribution of legal costs to the parties. While Dean-Armorer ruled that the UNC should pay the legal costs incurred by People’s National Movement (PNM) candidates in successfully defending the petitions, the Court of Appeal felt that the costs should be borne by each individual as the petitions dealt with issues that were of public interest. About The Case Following its 23-18 defeat in last year’s general election, the UNC initially filed petitions for six marginal constituencies. Both the PNM and the EBC initially appealed trial judge Mira Dean-Armorer’s decision to grant the UNC leave to pursue the claim but were denied by the Court of Appeal. In March, the petition for one constituency was struck out by Dean-Armorer after the UNC failed to serve it on successful PNM candidate Maxie Cuffie by the deadline for doing so. In its petitions, the UNC contended that its loss in the election was affected by the EBC’s decision to extend the time for the polls. Both the PNM and the EBC had claimed that the commission was allowed to take the decision and, even if it was not, the results of the election would remain the same, even if all the votes cast during the extension, regardless of candidate chosen, were to be subtracted from the totals of the winning candidates. Besides the petitions, Dean-Armorer has also been assigned two cases in which three private citizens are challenging the EBC’s decision, including an application for judicial review seeking the court’s clarification on whether the EBC had the constitutional power to make the decision and a claim claiming that the EBC breached the constitutional rights of Tobagonians by not allowing them an extension. Both cases were deferred as they are directly affected by the outcome of Dean-Armorer and the Court of Appeal’s decisions on the petitions. (Caribbean News Now!)

PAGE 126

GUYANA DAILY NEWS

REGIONAL FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2016

Bahamas Hurricane Damage Estimated At Over $500 Million

A home damaged by Hurricane Matthew in North Andros By Royston Jones Jr. Nassau Guardian Staff Reporter NASSAU, Bahamas -- Prime Minister Perry Christie said on Wednesday the estimate for the damage caused by Hurricane Matthew in The Bahamas earlier this month is over half a billion dollars. The government on Wednesday brought a resolution to Parliament to borrow up to $150 million to help cover the cost of relief efforts related to Matthew and Joaquin, which hit a year ago. Speaking in the House of Assembly, Christie said Matthew caused “unmeasured personal loss” and great damage to government buildings, airport facilities and roads. “In fact, we have a running debate between the financial secretary and myself,” Christie said. “He is projecting that the loss to the country; the combined loss of Matthew and Joaquin, would be some $800 million.” Christie said the ministry of finance has advised him that Joaquin, which decimated the central and southern islands last October, could cost up to $200 million. Hurricane Matthew is estimated to have caused $500 million in damage, but could cost up to $600 million, Christie said. The prime minister noted that the final damage assessments have not been completed. Joaquin was originally pegged to have caused $100 million in damage. Noting that the reconstruction efforts since Joaquin are ongoing, Christie explained that the ministry of works has awarded around $68 million in road and bridge repair contracts. He said another $6.8 million in contracts is ready to be awarded, which would bring the cost of Joaquin to more than $70 million, without taking into account the cost of home repairs and reconstruction, repairs to seawalls, assisting the agricultural and fisheries industries, and recent tax reductions. Matthew impacted The Bahamas between October 3-7, causing widespread destruction on several islands, including New

Providence, Andros, Grand Bahama and the Berry Islands. It remains unclear just how many people were impacted by the storm. Addressing criticisms that the government did not prepare sufficiently for Matthew, Christie said the government was well prepared and took steps to protect The Bahamas. To this end, he said, the government engaged financial experts to complete a study on the country’s ability to finance the potential disaster prior to the storm. He said the government made this decision so it would be in a position where it would not “panic over an issue of this kind”. According to the study, which has not been released to the public, “With a more structured compliance program, the revenue base could grow by 10 percent in the short term and up to 20 percent in the medium term of up to three to five years.” In addition to implementing an exigency order, suspending duty on items needed for rebuilding and restoration efforts, Christie said the government intends to “create some more efficient and effective ways to bring relief to our people”. As it relates to the bond issue, Christie said the ministry of finance designed a two tranche financing, a structured financing model – a tranche for commercial banks up to $120 million and a tranche for the public of $30 million. He said the government accepted the Central Bank’s recommendation that nonresidents with a nexus to The Bahamas be allowed to participate in the offering. The prime minister also said that all of the commercial banks the government approached for funding agreed to the mechanism for financing that the government presented to Parliament. (Caribbean News Now!)

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

REGIONAL FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2016

UN Chief Calls On General Assembly To 'Fulﬁl Moral Duty' To Assist Storm-ravaged Haiti

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (centre) visits a temporary shelter for victims of Hurricane Matthew in Les Cayes, Haiti, during a trip on 15 October 2016 to meet with communities, government officials, and humanitarians working in the country. UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe NEW YORK, USA -- Briefing the United Nations General Assembly on the humanitarian situation in Haiti following the devastation caused by Hurricane Matthew, Secretary-General Ban Kimoon underlined the urgency of additional resources to help respond to the dire needs in the country. “People who before had little, now have nothing. No homes. No crops. No livestock and no livelihoods,” Ban told an informal meeting of the General Assembly on Thursday. “Access to the hardest hit areas is difficult. People are in desperate need of food, water and shelter,” he added, recalling his visit to Les Cayes, one of the most-affected areas, along with Jérémie, in the south-west of the country, where the hurricane made landfallon 4 October. Barely a

week after the storm, on 10 October, the UN launched a nearly $120 million “flash appeal” to fund its humanitarian response in the aftermath of the disaster. A large part of the request ($56 million) focused on providing emergency food, nutrition and agriculture to the people of Haiti. Other sectors in the appeal included water and sanitation, emergency shelter and non-food items, health, protection, logistics and communication, early recovery and livelihoods, education, and coordination. However, ten days since its launch, the appeal is only 22 percent funded, Ban said. The UN chief stressed that funding is required to step-up response in the fight against cholera on the island. Efforts to address this waterborne disease were also severely affected after Hurricane Matthew hit. “Last Friday, Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson briefed the member states on our efforts,” Ban reminded delegations on Thursday, informing them that the Organization is also developing a proposal to bring assistance to those most directly affected by cholera and that he would present this plan to the Assembly in due course. Appealing to all member states to respond with financial support needed on both these tracks to ensure success, the secretary-general emphasized: “We must fulfil our moral duty to the people of Haiti.” (Caribbean News Now!)

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

REGIONAL FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2016

US-China WTO Wrangle Strengthens Antigua-Barbuda Resolve Against US

Prime Minister Gaston Browne ST JOHN’S, Antigua -- Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister Gaston Browne has noted the robust response on 18 October by the United States government to a trade dispute with China, discussed under World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules. Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee of the US House of Representatives, Kevin Brady, has called the action against China a “victory”, describing it as "another example of how our nation wins when we rigorously enforce our trade agreements." Brady went on to say that the US “must continue to hold China and our trading partners accountable”. Browne said that he

expects the US government to uphold its obligations to Antigua and Barbuda, arising from a WTO judgment over Internet gaming, in the same way that US oﬃcials demand compliance from other countries. Joining in US triumphalism on the China matter, the US Trade Representative, Michael Froman, said in a statement, "This is another important victory for United States aerospace manufacturers, and the many thousands of American workers and families they employ.” Browne observed that, more than 12 years after winning a judgment at the WTO against the US for a violation of WTO trade rules, “Antiguan and Barbudan workers and their families are yet to see the US compensate our country for the sum of US$21 million per year since 2007 that the WTO ruled is due to our country”. In this connection, Browne disclosed that Antigua and Barbuda’s ambassador to the US, Sir Ronald Sanders, who was tasked in August this year to lead discussions with the US, has been instructed to re-energise discussions with the US Trade Representative’s Oﬃce to secure Antigua and Barbuda’s entitlements, or the government will be forced to implement the terms of the WTO award against the US. The award allows Antigua and Barbuda to sell US copyrighted material without paying fees or royalties up to the sum of US$21 million per annum. The prime minister also disclosed that, in a few weeks’ time, his government will inform the WTO of the continued failure of the US to settle the matter and of the steps being contemplated to hold its trading partner to account. (Caribbean News Now!)

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

REGIONAL FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2016

Auditors Examining Venezuela State Oil Company Find $11 Billion Missing National Assembly have found that more than $11 billion is missing and unaccounted for at Petróleos de Venezuela SA (PDVSA), the country's state-owned petroleum agency, and have pointed fingers squarely at the agency's former head, Rafael Ramirez, the current Venezuelan ambassador to the United Nations. Ramirez has not responded to the allegations. PDVSA has been reportedly the object of massive corruption, including overpricing of purchases, and diverting the difference to corrupt Venezuelan politically exposed persons (PEPs), PDVSA managers, and oil industry officials.

By Kenneth Rijock MIAMI, USA -- Auditors working on behalf of Venezuela's

The agency has also been accused of laundering drug proﬁts, being an illegal source of US dollars, and massive cases of corruption, The agency's proﬁts, which are the property of the people of Venezuela, have disappeared, leaving it unable to service its bond issues, as they come due, and it may actually be insolvent, all due to systemic corruption. Oil revenues are the major funding source for the Venezuelan government. (Caribbean News Now!)

REGIONAL

GUYANA DAILY NEWS CCRIF Completes US$29 Million Payouts To Member Governments Affected By Hurricane Matthew payouts to 10 member governments management and ﬁnancing strategies in PAGE 130

CCRIF CEO Isaac Anthony (L) presents a cheque for US$3,781,788 to Saint Lucia Prime Minister Allen Chastanet. Photo: Government of Saint Lucia GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands -- On Monday, CCRIF SPC completed payments totalling US$29,204,248 to the four CCRIF member countries affected by Hurricane Matthew. These payouts were made to Haiti, Barbados, Saint Lucia and St Vincent and the Grenadines on their tropical cyclone and/or excess rainfall insurance policies – all within 14 days of the end of the event. On Wednesday, CCRIF CEO Isaac Anthony officially presented the payout cheque for US$3,781,788 to Saint Lucia Prime Minister Allen Chastanet at a short ceremony at the Prime Minister’s Office. Chastanet indicated that “this cheque will be going directly to strengthening and rebuilding our agriculture sector and to paying for some of the costs that we have". Anthony congratulated Saint Lucia on its commitment to securing catastrophe insurance through CCRIF and stressed that it is essential for all countries to have some form of disaster risk coverage. Since CCRIF’s inception in 2007, the facility has made a total of 21

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2016

totalling almost US$68 million. CCRIF members consistently indicate that these rapid payouts are an invaluable benefit of membership. Almost immediately after an event, CCRIF is able to inform countries if their policies were triggered and if so, the approximate payout amount. These infusions of cash within two weeks after an event are critical for immediate repair and recovery activities. Small farmers and other individuals in Saint Lucia also benefited from quick insurance payouts due to Tropical Cyclone Matthew. Thirty-one individuals in Saint Lucia received payouts totalling US$102,000 on their livelihood protection policies (LPPs). This microinsurance product was developed under the Climate Risk Adaptation and Insurance in the Caribbean Project implemented by the Munich Climate Insurance Initiative (MCII) in collaboration with CCRIF, MicroEnsure and Munich Re. The livelihood protection policy provides insurance coverage to low-income persons such as small farmers, day labourers, tourism workers, fisherfolk, etc. for extreme weather events such as rainfall and wind. Like CCRIF’s sovereign products, the LPP is parametric and therefore payouts can be made very quickly and all payouts were made within 14 days of Matthew’s passage through Saint Lucia. The LPP also is available in Jamaica and Grenada and MCII, CCRIF and other partners plan to expand access to other countries in the region starting early next year. The sovereign insurance purchased by CCRIF member countries is effectively complemented by microinsurance at the individual level, which supports people whose livelihoods can be affected by natural hazard events without them having to wait for help from other sources like the government. CCRIF noted that countries can employ a range of disaster risk

an attempt to enhance resilience and reduce vulnerability. These may include both risk mitigation and risk transfer strategies such as insurance. Broadening access to risk transfer has been cited as a necessary part of climate change adaptation. With respect to risk financing, two main types of strategies are usually pursued – exante and ex-post strategies. Ex-post instruments do not require advance planning and include, for example, budget reallocation after a disaster hits, tax increases and donor assistance. On the other hand, using ex-ante risk financing instruments such as CCRIF requires proactive advance planning and involves investing in national catastrophe risk management prior to a natural disaster occurring. Such strategies allow governments to reduce their budget volatility through a combination of self-retention (for example, dedicated domestic reserve funds) and risk transfer instruments (such as insurance that CCRIF provides). The use of risk transfer mechanisms can therefore be seen to be taking a proactive and comprehensive approach to disaster risk management, one that also focuses on fiscal and debt sustainability, towards safeguarding national growth prospects. (Caribbean News Now!)

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

REGIONAL FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2016

Eastern Caribbean Works To Promote Broader Usage Of Electronic Payments BASSETERRE, St Kitts -- A recent periphery of engagement in the electronic payments conference and workshop aimed at promoting broader usage of electronic payments in the Eastern Caribbean and the possibility of reducing the usage of cash was held at the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) headquarters in St Kitts on Monday. The workshop was hosted by the ECCB and VISA School of Public Policy. Prime minister and minister of finance, Dr Timothy Harris, noted that the workshop was timely and important. He congratulated the ECCB for taking the initiative to host such important discussions. “It is for us in the sub region, a time where we can be considered to be at a critical juncture and so we need to assess where we are now and where we need to position ourselves in the development of the financial services sector,” Harris said. “It is therefore important for all stakeholders to keep abreast of global developments in the financial services especially those developments related to e-money, virtual currencies and other innovations that have significant implications for the business environment in our currency union. The prime minister said that there needs to be some sort of measure to get more people involved in utilizing the financial services. “It is estimated that about two billion people around the world do not have access to basic financial service,” he said, while noting that the issue of financial inclusion was discussed during his recent meetings in Washington DC. “Part of that discussion was how do we enable and empower more people across the world to become involved in the formal systems. Luckily for us in the currency union we have a different lived reality in that our people, the large measure, are not at the

financial services sector but are very active participants in that sector.” Harris praised the ECCB for its continued efforts in ensuring that the proper systems are in place. “To date, the Central Bank as part of its mandate has managed to ensure that the appropriate systems are in place to allow for the proper management and supervision of our payments systems,” he said. “With the introduction of timely upgrades, the ECCB has successfully maintained the real time gross settlement system that supports the electronic capturing and processing of financial transactions from the point of initiation to the final settlement. This has allowed our citizens and residents to benefit from faster and more efficient processing of their business and personal transactions while using our banking system.” Harris said that financial institutions have made notable contribution to the development of the financial services sector in the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU). He added that important strides were made with the introduction of credit cards and online banking services. “In fact, electronic payments were successfully introduced into our financial services since the mid-1990s and are now widely used by many of our citizens and residents,” he said, while adding that stakeholders in the Federation can attest to the fact that the services have introduced more convenient and efficient payment alternatives over and above the offerings of traditional banking. “These changes have also helped to reduce transaction costs for financial institutions and hopefully for their customers. We have taken great strides over the

years to expand financial services. Generally, the financial institutions and the ECCB have met expectations in the past with the introduction of new products and services and the maintenance of a reliable and accessible payment system which have served us well. Mobile banking has taken root and is already transforming the way we conduct business on a daily basis. In some cases vast improvements are noted in comparison to the traditional banking which required a physical visit to the bank with various pieces of documents to complete a transaction," he said. Harris said that in facing the realities of the region’s current status in 2016, all stakeholders in the economic space of the region including ECCB, the regional governments and the financial institutions must realize that there is no place for complacency. He said that all involved now, have a duty to become much more proactive in building the financial architecture of the region. (Caribbean News Now!)

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

REGIONAL FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2016

BVI Asian Trade Mission Spends Second Day In Beijing the response of oﬃcials of the CNTA to Elise Donovan By Natalia Prieto BEIJING, China -- During the second day of the BVI Asian Trade Mission’s stop in Beijing, premier and minister of ﬁnance, Dr Orlando Smith, and his delegation met with vice chairman Li Shihong and other senior members of the marketing and international cooperation departments of the China National To u r i s m A s s o c i a t i o n ( C N TA ) t o familiarise the organisation with the British Virgin Islands (BVI) as a tourism destination. As part of the meeting, the BVI delegation shared a video that showcased the territory, and they were pleased with

the territory’s scenic natural beauty. Additionally, the ﬁrst in a series of roadshows hosted by BVI Finance during the BVI Asian Trade Mission was held in Beijing. The roadshow was held under the theme “Strategies for Global Success - BVI: The International Partner of Choice” and featured a welcome in Mandarin by executive director of BVI House Asia, Elise Donovan, a keynote speech by Smith and various panel discussions on the BVI advantage. The event culminated with a networking session where the delegation was able to conduct one-on-one discussions with the audience. (Caribbean News Now!)

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

REGIONAL FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2016

The Cuban Embargo, A Barrier To Development. trade between April 2013 and June 2014 H o w e v e r, j o i n t v e n t u r e s f o r t h e

USA embargo against Cuba

Over the last year, the relations between Cuba and the United States have been slightly normalized. Fifty three years after the detonation of the Cold War between these two countries, US President Barak Obama traveled to the capital city Habana, Cuba to materialize the normalization of the relations between the two countries. Obama is the first American President to ‘step’ in Cuba for more than 90 years. It was considered a ‘new chapter in history’. A promising step for the development of the country’s economy. Cuba was removed from the Statesponsors of Terrorism list on 2015, followed by the upgrade to Embassies of the Interest Offices in both countries. This marked the official end of decades of hostilities. Small steps are being taken from both sides to accelerate stable economic relations between the two countries. But, there is a major barrier, the ‘Embargo’. The Embargo, in Cuba called the ‘The blockade’ is the partial or complete prohibition of commerce and trade with a particular country or a group of countries; in this case Cuba. The ‘blockade’ was imposed on the island on October 19, 1960 by former US President, John F. Kennedy. It was later extended to restrict almost all imports on the island, on February 1962. It was considered one of the cruelest ramifications of the Cold War. The economy of the island has been, since then, threaten to the point of a collapse. The Cuban government has been forced to ‘adapt’, implementing ingenious measures to keep the nation’s economy afloat. The support of the extinct Soviet Union for three decades was the key to survival, then the solidification of bilateral relations with Venezuela and China in the late 90s helped to keep the island on the qualification of ‘developing country’. But Cuba struggles with an omnipotent monster. According to statistics, Cuba has lost around $1.1 trillion since Washington imposed the sanctions in 1960, taking into account the depreciation of the dollar against gold. The damage to Cuban foreign

amounted to $3.9 billion, the report said. Without the embargo, Cuba could have earned $205.8 million selling products. The Cuban government estimates the loss in the national economy around $685 million annually. Adding to this figure is the fact that Cuba cannot export or import products to the United States freely; use the US dollar in its international financial transactions; or have access to bank loans in the United Sates or any of its affiliates in third countries or international financial institutions. Cuba’s condition of ‘developing country’ rests entirely on foreign trades, technology, foreign capital, loans, investments and the international solidarity. Since the normalization process between Cuba and the USA started to be implemented in the island on 2014, a set of changes have been seen. Bilateral arrangements have been implemented, migratory policies have been discussed, memorandums establishing cooperative relations have been singed but the embargo remains. The US President issued a presidential policy directive this October 14th, in which a set of measures to help consolidate the bilateral relationships between the two countries were to be implemented. This one includes the authorization of the import, promotion, sale and distribution of Cuban pharmaceutical products approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States. Likewise, the green light was given for the development of joint medical research projects, for commercial and noncommercial purposes, between people and institutions of both countries, as well as the opening of bank accounts in Cuba by persons and entities linked with these activities.

development and marketing of products in this industry are still banned. Another measure adopted was the elimination of the import limit of up to $400 of Cuban goods acquired either on the island or in third countries for personal use placed on U.S. citizens. However, Cuba remains unable to sell these products in the U.S. market. According to the Cuban Newspaper. Granma, the Cuban Government has expressed their commitment to continue solidifying this relations, but has stressed on the need to implement radical measures by the USA government in order to improve Cuba’s economy. Changes to be implemented · Allow Cuba to open travel information oﬃces in the United States. · Authorize exports to Cuba of U.S. products for essential sectors of the island’s economy, such as mining, tourism, biotechnology, and oil, among others. · Authorize imports of Cuban products to the U.S, beyond those produced by the non-state sector. 4- Authorize imports to the U.S. of goods manufactured or containing products grown, produced or made by Cuban state entities (nickel, sugar, tobacco, rum and others). To date, only biopharmaceutical products are permitted.

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The Cuban Embargo, A Barrier To Development. (Cont’d) · Allow exports to Cuba of medical supplies and equipment which can be used in the production of biotechnological products on the island. · Allow broader forms of collaboration for the development, marketing and supply of Cuban medicines and biomedical products, such as direct investment by U.S. companies and joint ventures. · Authorize the sale of the raw materials Cuba requires to produce medicines for the country’s population and those of other developing nations. · Authorize U.S. companies to sell Cuban medical treatments in the U.S. · Allow U.S. citizens to receive and pay for medical treatment in Cuba.

· Allow Cuban entities to open bank accounts in the U.S.

hydrocarbons located in Cuba’s Exclusive Economic Zone (ZEE).

· Instruct U.S. representatives in international ﬁnancial institutions not to block the granting of credits and other ﬁnancial facilities to Cuba.

· Authorize foreign companies to use oﬀ-shore oil exploration and extraction platforms, which have more than 25% U.S. made components.

· Allow U.S. citizens and companies to make investments in Cuba, beyond those approved within the telecommunications sector.

In order for the U.S. government to promote policies to help Cubans, it is imperative that it remove blockade restrictions to contribute to decisively dismantling this unjust policy. The economic, commercial and ﬁnancial blockade imposed on Cuba for more than 50 years is a ﬂagrant, massive and systematic violation of human rights.

· Authorize U.S. subsidiaries unrelated to the import and export of goods to Cuba (the latter prohibited under the Torricelli Act) to do business with Cuba, such as providing services. · Authorize U.S. companies to carry out all transactions and exports related to the exploration and extraction of

S o u r c e : http://www.granma.cu/mundo/2016-1020/medidas-en-el-camino-correcto-pero...

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS Ceta: EU 'Not Capable' Of Signing Canada Deal, Freeland Says PAGE 135

A trade deal between the EU and Canada is on the brink of collapse after talks between Canada and a Belgian region broke down on Friday. Canada's Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland left the talks in Brussels, saying the EU was "not capable" of signing a trade deal even with Canada. Talks on the deal began in 2009. Belgium, the only country blocking agreement, needed consent from the regional parliament of Wallonia. The deal was to be signed next week. Speaking outside the seat of the Walloon government, Ms Freeland told reporters: "It seems evident for me and for Canada that the European Union is not now capable of having an international accord even with a country that has values as European as Canada." She added: ``Canada is disappointed, but I think it is impossible.'' It was unclear whether the EU would keep negotiating with Wallonia in coming days to solve the impasse. The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, or Ceta, is expected to boost bilateral trade. But Wallonia - with just 3.6m people - sees the accord as a threat to farmers and welfare standards. The region has a strong socialist tradition. Its fears echo those of antiglobalisation activists, who say Ceta and deals like it give too much power to multinationals - power even to intimidate governments. There have also been big demonstrations in several EU countries against Ceta and the TTIP trade talks with the US. At a glance: Ceta Negotiations began in 2009 and ended in August 2014 The deal aims to eliminate 98% of tariďŹ&#x20AC;s between Canada and EU It includes new courts for investors,

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harmonised regulations, sustainable development clauses and access to public sector tenders The deal is opposed by various groups, including environmental activists, trade unionists and Austrian Socialists. Despite this, the European Commission, in charge of the EU's negotiations, has refused to unpick the text which was agreed with Canada in 2014. Some EU leaders, including European Council President Donald Tusk, have voiced frustration that French-speaking Wallonia is delaying a deal that took seven years to negotiate. (BBC)

European nations were still hoping to sign a deal(AFP)

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS Syria Conﬂict: Aleppo A Slaughterhouse, UN Rights Chief Says PAGE 136

UN human rights chief Zeid Raad Al Hussein has described the Syrian city of Aleppo as a "slaughterhouse". In a speech, he said the siege and bombardment of Aleppo's rebel-held east were among the "crimes of historic proportions" being committed in Syria. Almost 500 people have been killed and 2,000 injured since government forces, backed by Russian air strikes, launched an assault on the east a month ago. Syria's government has said civilians are suffering because of "terrorists". Meanwhile, the UN said a lack of security guarantees had forced it to delay plans to carry out medical evacuations from Aleppo on Friday during the second 11-hour "humanitarian pause" declared unilaterally by the government and its ally, Russia. Russia has said it will also suspend air strikes between 08:00 and 19:00 local time (05:0016:00 GMT) on Saturday to allow civilians and rebels to leave the city via safe corridors. However, very few people have reportedly taken advantage of the offer, with rebel factions asserting that it would amount to forced displacement and surrender. Aleppo, once Syria's largest city and the country's commercial and industrial hub, has been devastated by fighting since 2012. It has been left divided roughly in two, with President Bashar al-Assad's forces controlling the west and rebels the east. At the start of September, troops and Iranian-backed militiamen severed the rebels' last route into the east and placed its 275,000 residents under siege. Two weeks later, following the collapse of a nationwide truce brokered by the US and Russia, the government launched a ground offensive to take full control of the city, accompanied by an aerial bombardment of unprecedented scale and intensity. At an emergency session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on Friday, Mr Zeid warned that "crimes of historic proportions" were being committed in eastern Aleppo and elsewhere in Syria. "The ancient city of Aleppo, a place of millennial civility and beauty, is today a slaughterhouse - a gruesome locus of pain and fear, where the lifeless bodies of small children are trapped under streets of rubble and pregnant women deliberately bombed," he said. Mr Zeid added that his staff had "documented violations of international humanitarian law by all

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parties in Aleppo". "Armed opposition groups continue to ﬁre mortars and other projectiles into civilian neighbourhoods of western Aleppo, but indiscriminate air strikes across the eastern part of the city by government forces and their allies are responsible for the overwhelming majority of civilian casualties. "These violations constitute war crimes. And if knowingly committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack directed against civilians, they c o n s t i t u t e c r i m e s a g a i n s t h u m a n i t y. " T h e commissioner said the failure of the international community - particularly the UN Security Council - to protect civilians and halt the bloodshed "should haunt everyone of us". Syria's permanent representative to the UN, Hussam al-Din Ala, made a visibly angry statement afterwards, insisting that the Syrian government was waging a battle against terrorism. Later, the charity Save the Children warned that aid workers and medical professionals in eastern Aleppo were reporting the widespread use of cluster bombs, which are banned under international law. It cited the Violations Documentation Centre, an activist-run site, as recording 137 cluster-bomb attacks in Aleppo between 10 September and 10 October - a 791% increase on the average of the previous eight months. (BBC)

Almost 500 people have been killed in rebel-held eastern Aleppo in the past month, the UN says(REUTERS)

INTERNATIONAL

GUYANA DAILY NEWS Pakistan Court Says Schizophrenia 'Not Mental Disorder’ PAGE 137

The Supreme Court in Pakistan has ruled that schizophrenia is not a mental illness, paving the way for the execution of a paranoid schizophrenic man convicted of murder. Imdad Ali was declared clinically insane after killing a cleric in 2002. Safia Bano, Mr Ali's wife, had appealed against her husband's conviction on the grounds that he was insane. But the court rejected the appeal on Friday, saying schizophrenia was "not a permanent mental disorder". A copy of the court verdict, obtained by the local Express Tribune said: "The prognosis has been improved with drugs, by vigorous psychological and social managements, and rehabilitation. "It [schizophrenia] is, therefore, a recoverable disease, which in all the cases, does not fall with the definition of 'mental disorder'." Mr Ali's lawyers say he does not understand crime or punishment, and his doctors say he is delusional, hears voices in his head, and suffers from a persecution complex. The United Nations says it would be a violation of international law to execute Imdad Ali. The American Psychological Association defines schizophrenia as "a serious mental illness characterised by incoherent or illogical thoughts, bizarre behaviour and speech, and

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delusions or hallucinations, such as hearing voices". In 2015, Pakistan ended a a seven-year death penalty suspension. The ruling means Mr Ali could be hanged as early as next week. (BBC)

Saﬁa Bano has pleaded for mercy for her husband(AP)

INTERNATIONAL

GUYANA DAILY NEWS Mosul Battle: IS Launches Iraq Counter-Attack At Kirkuk PAGE 138

Islamic State (IS) militants have mounted a ferocious counter-attack in north Iraq, killing at least 19 people in and around the city of Kirkuk. They attacked government buildings, killing at least six police officers, and a power station under construction, where 13 employees died, officials say. Twelve IS fighters also reportedly died and fighting seems to be continuing. Government and Kurdish forces began a long-awaited operation against the IS capital in Iraq, Mosul, on Monday. Mosul lies 170km (105 miles) to the north-west of Kirkuk, a multi-ethnic city claimed both by Iraq's central government and the Kurds. The BBC's Richard Galpin, in northern Iraq, said IS had attempted an "audacious" counter-attack on Kirkuk that had tried to show it was still a force to be reckoned with. The attack was "clearly aimed at diverting the Iraqi army" from Mosul, he said. Hours after the initial assault, witnesses in Kirkuk said gunfire could still be heard and militants were walking openly through the streets. A state of emergency was declared and Friday sermons were cancelled as mosques remain closed. A news agency affiliated to IS said fighters had broken into Kirkuk's city hall and seized a central hotel but officials denied this. District police chief Brig Gen Sarhad Qadir told the BBC suicide bombers and other IS fighters had attacked three police buildings and the headquarters of a political party in Kirkuk. "All of the militants who attacked the police emergency building and the old building of the Kirkuk police directorate have been killed but a number of other militants are still in Dumez district," he said. The governor of Kirkuk, Najm al-Din Karim, insisted that Kurdish Peshmerga fighters and counter-terrorism forces were completely in control of the situation. He blamed the attack on IS sleeper cells. "Because of the ongoing Mosul offensive, they may want to create a situation where forces would be withdrawn from there and the focus shifted to Kirkuk," Mr Karim

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told Kurdish news agency Rudaw. "Also because they are being defeated in Mosul, they want to boost their morale with these kinds of actions." Five Iranian employees are believed to be among the dead in the attack on the power plant to the north of Kirkuk, Iraq's electricity ministry said. Seven other employees and ﬁve police guards were wounded. The power plant, which is still under construction, is being built by an Iranian company. Associated Press reported that the IS ﬁghters had asked to be taken to the Iranian workers before killing them. Government forces said on Friday they had regained control of a further two villages - al-Awaizat and Nanaha south of Mosul, killing 15 IS militants and forcing 65 families to evacuate their homes. On Friday, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Raad Al Hussein said the organisation had received reports of IS using people living near Mosul as human shields. There were also reports the group had "shot dead civilians who have tried to rise up against them or who they suspect are disloyal", he added. (BBC)

Kurdish forces joined Iraqi government forces in the operation against the attack in Kirkuk(REUTERS)

INTERNATIONAL

GUYANA DAILY NEWS Russian Warships Pass Through English Channel PAGE 139

A flotilla of Russian warships is passing through the English Channel en route to Syria. Two British naval ships are shadowing the vessels. The Ministry of Defence said they would be "manmarked every step of the way" while near UK waters. A Russian tug, believed to be in convoy with the taskforce, entered the channel first off the coast near Ramsgate. EU leaders have strongly condemned Russia's involvement in bombing the Syrian city of Aleppo. The ships are within international waters but Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said the UK would "be watching as part of our steadfast commitment to keep Britain safe". The UK's Type 45 destroyer HMS Duncan, escorted by the Type 23 frigate HMS Richmond, sailed from Portsmouth on Tuesday to track the Kuznetsov group as it headed south from the Norwegian Sea. The aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov and other Russian naval vessels are believed to be heading to the eastern Mediterranean. It is the only carrier in the Russian navy and can carry more than 50 aircraft. Its weapons systems include granit anti-ship cruise missiles. Why such a large-scale deployment? One Russian newspaper this week described the Russian warships heading to the Mediterranean as an "armada". But why such a large-scale deployment? And why is Moscow sending its only aircraft carrier, the Admiral Kuznetsov, to the region? Friday's Komsomolskaya Pravda makes it clear: "This is no tourist trip to the Med. It will strengthen Russia's current naval presence off the Syrian coast and provide air cover. The aircraft carrier planes and on-board weapons may also be used for strikes against terrorists." But this is not just about boosting Russian firepower in Syria. If that was the case, it would be easier for Moscow to deploy more bombers to its airbase in Syria near Latakia. Sending a large Russian flotilla through the North Sea and the English Channel sends a clear message to the West: anything you can do, we

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can do just as well - or even better. Russia wants to be seen as a global player, a major military power. And it wants to be respected or feared (or both) by the West. Russia already has about 10 ships off Syria, which have fired cruise missiles during Russia's bombardment of what it says are antigovernment rebels in Syria. The deployment comes as a "humanitarian pause" in attacks on rebel-held eastern Aleppo in Syria begins. The temporary truce is part of a plan to allow civilians and fighters to leave, and Russian and Syrian air strikes have been halted since Tuesday. Prime Minister Theresa May urged European leaders to send a "robust united message" to Moscow over its bombing campaign. At a Brussels summit on Thursday, Mrs May told her counterparts the current assault on Aleppo was "particularly horrific" and Russia's actions had "undermined the West's efforts" to provide a political settlement, Downing Street sources said. Although the EU imposed sanctions on Russia following the conflict in eastern Ukraine, it has so far failed to act over Moscow's military intervention in Syria. (BBC)

Russian warships passing through the English Channel

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

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South Africa To Withdraw From War Crimes Court South Africa has formally begun the process of withdrawing from the International Criminal Court (ICC), notifying the UN of its decision. South Africa did not want to execute ICC arrest warrants which would lead to "regime change", a minister said. Last year, a South African court criticised the government for refusing to arrest Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir. He is wanted by the ICC on charges of genocide and war crimes. Mr Bashir was attending an African Union summit in Johannesburg, when the government ignored an ICC request to arrest him. He denies allegations that he committed atrocities in Sudan's troubled western Darfur region. Several media outlets say they have obtained a copy of the "Instrument of Withdrawal", signed by South Africa's foreign minister. "The Republic of South Africa has found that its obligations with respect to the peaceful resolution of conflicts at times are incompatible with the interpretation given by the International Criminal Court," the document says. Runaway train' Justice Minister Michael Masutha said at a press conference that the government would table legislation in parliament to withdraw South Africa from the ICC. The Rome Statute, under which the ICC was set up, required the arrest of heads of state for whom a warrant was issued. The consequence of this would be "regime change" and the statute was incompatible with South African legislation which gave heads of state diplomatic immunity, he added. The ICC has a notoriously fractious relationship with the African continent. Despite 34 African nations voluntarily signing up to the court's jurisdiction - in recent years a handful of governments have decided their idea of international justice is incompatible with that set out in the Rome Statute. When the Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta was charged with crimes against humanity, the African Union argued that heads of state should be entitled to immunity for the duration of their term in office, a direct contravention of the ICC's raison d'etre to hold the most powerful to account. The trial against Mr Kenyatta later collapsed because of a lack of evidence. There were almost farcical scenes when the Sudanese president attended a summit in Johannesburg at the invitation of the African Union, then disappeared during dinner after resounding calls from human rights groups for South Africa to uphold its obligation as a member of the ICC to detain him in line with the outstanding arrest warrant. It seems this divided loyalty between the competing demands of AU and ICC has driven South Africa to initiate the process of pulling out. Nine out of 10 of the ICC's current investigations are in Africa - leading to allegations of bias against African countries. So is this the beginning of the end of the world's first permanent war crimes court? The answer will partly depend on whether this withdrawal generates a domino effect. Human Rights Watch has criticised South Africa's decision. "South Africa's proposed withdrawal from the International Criminal Court shows startling disregard for justice from a country long seen as a global leader on

accountability for victims of the gravest crimes," said Dewa Mavhinga, the NGO's Africa division senior researcher. "It's important both for South Africa and the region that this runaway train be slowed down and South Africa's hard-won legacy of standing with victims of mass atrocities be restored," Mr Mavhinga said. Mr Masutha said the government had also decided to drop its appeal against a ruling of South Africa's High Court, that it had violated its international obligations by failing to arrest Mr Bashir. The appeal was due to have been heard next month. The move to leave comes a week after the South African President Jacob Zuma visited Kenya, a country that has been highly critical of the ICC ever since the prosecutor charged its President Uhuru Kenyatta with crimes against humanity. He denied the charges, and the trial later collapsed beceause of a lack of evidence. The ICC and global justice: Came into force in 2002 The Rome Statute that set it up has been ratified by 123 countries, but the US is a notable absence It aims to prosecute and bring to justice those responsible for the worst crimes - genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes In the court's 14-year history it has only brought charges against Africans. Two weeks ago Burundi said it would pull out of the ICC - a decision described by the court as "a setback in the fight against impunity". MPs backed the decision and its president signed the measure into law on Tuesday. Last year, Namibia also said it planned to withdraw from the ICC, describing the court as an an "abomination" which wanted to "dictate" to Africans on how they should be governed. Previously, the African Union has urged member states not to co-operate with the ICC, accusing it of being racially biased against Africa by failing to prosecute suspected war criminals from other parts of the world. The ICC denies the allegation, saying it pursues justice on behalf of Africans who are victims of atrocities. The 124-member ICC opened in 2002. It is the first legal body with permanent international jurisdiction to prosecute genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. (BBC)

Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir was in South Africa for a meeting of African leaders in 2015(AFP/GETTY IMAGES)

INTERNATIONAL

GUYANA DAILY NEWS Theresa May 'Optimistic' She Can Get Right Brexit Deal For UK PAGE 141

Theresa May has predicted "difficult moments" ahead in Brexit negotiations but said she is optimistic she can get a deal "that is right for the UK". Speaking at a summit in Brussels, she said she felt it could be achieved, despite the continuing deadlock over a landmark EU-Canada trade deal . Mrs May said she had played an active role in discussions and was not "backwards in coming forwards". It is her first EU summit since she became PM following the Brexit vote. At a news conference before meeting European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker for a working lunch, Mrs May said Britain would be "a confident, outward-looking country". 'Mature relationship' She said she aimed to "cement Britain as a close partner of the EU once we have left", with the country able to control its immigration but trade freely with the EU. She said she would seek a "mature cooperative relationship" with the EU. "I recognise the scale of the challenge ahead. I am sure there will be difficult moments - it will require some give and take. "But I firmly believe that if we approach this in a constructive spirit, as I am, then we can deliver a smooth departure and build a powerful new relationship that works both for the UK and for the countries of the EU, looking for opportunities, not problems." Asked whether the difficulties over Ceta - an EU-Canada trade deal that has stalled because one Belgian region has objected - might affect a UK post-Brexit deal, Mrs May said she was "not looking to adopt a model that another country has" but was seeking a new relationship with the European Union. "Obviously we have got negotiations ahead... those negotiations will take time, as I say, there will be some difficult moments, it will need some give and take but I'm optimistic that we can achieve a deal that is right for the UK because I actually think the deal that is right for the UK will also be right for the European Union." The prime minister arrived for the two-day summit on Thursday. She was given a few minutes at the end of a working dinner on Thursday to talk about the latest Brexit news - which was reportedly met with silence by other EU leaders. BBC correspondent Damian Grammaticas said Mrs May had received a "pretty good reception" and other EU leaders had been "pretty complimentary" about her but she had only had five minutes to talk about Brexit at 1am - the UK's departure from the EU is not on the main agenda at the summit. Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron accused the prime minister of a "haphazard" approach to Brexit in her own cabinet, adding: "It's not surprising she is struggling to

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convince other European leaders that this will be anything like the 'smooth withdrawal' her office is briefing. "Instead of putting the views of a minority of hardline Tory Brexiteers first, our prime minister should be doing what's right for the British people. This means remaining in the single market, maintaining cross-border security and ensuring that Brexit leaves nobody worse off." 'Immigration debate' Meanwhile the man seen as frontrunner to replace French President Francois Hollande, Alain Juppe, has said he would revoke a treaty that allows UK border officials to check passports in Calais - known as Le Touquet - should he be elected president next year. The former French PM blamed the 2003 agreement for the creation of the "Jungle" encampment and said: "We cannot accept making the selection on French territory of people that Britain does or doesn't want. It's up to Britain to do that job." He added: "A debate must be opened and a new accord obtained with Britain." Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is also in Brussels, where he held talks on the sidelines of the European Council with politicians including Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka and Party of European Socialists president Sergei Stanishev. He invited socialist EU politicians to London for a meeting in February about Brexit. Formal exit negotiations will not begin until Mrs May triggers Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, something she has said will be done by the end of March 2017. This means Brexit, backed in a UK-wide referendum in June, is likely to take effect by the summer of 2019. (BBC)

Mrs May said she had not been "backwards in coming forwards" at the summit(REUTERS)

INTERNATIONAL

GUYANA DAILY NEWS Millions Of Indian Debit Cards 'Compromised' In Security Breach PAGE 142

A number of major Indian banks are taking safety measures amid fears that the security of more than 3.2 million debit cards has been compromised. Some of the affected banks have been asking their customers to change security codes. They are also blocking and replacing debit cards. The breach is thought to have been caused by malware on an ATM network. Some customers are complaining that large sums of money have been taken from their accounts. Indian banks have issued nearly 700 million debit cards. The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), which controls all retail payments systems in India, confirmed in a statement that there was a "possible compromise at one of the payment switch provider's systems". A security breach of this scale is likely to create a lot of negative sentiment among bank customers. While the government is now investigating the incident and most people don't expect a big monetary impact, the reputation damage will be large. Already, Indians are suspicious of electronic payments and the country is largely a cash economy. Most people use cash for most purchases - whether it's buying vegetables from the street vendor or buying gold jewellery in high end store. According to a study by Visa, only 10 digital transactions per capita are carried out in India compared to 163 in Brazil or 429 in Sweden. This poses a huge financial burden on the economy and banks have been trying hard to wean Indians from cash. But they haven't been very successful. Indian banks had issued 697 million debit cards as of July this year - a small number compared to many other countries. But while the government has been trying to sell cards as a risk free method of payment compared to using physical money, not many are convinced that banks are taking enough cyber security measures. Indian banks have reported close to 12,000 frauds related to credit and debit cards and net banking in 2015, the government told the Upper House of the parliament earlier this year. All Indian Banks have cyber security protocols comparable to their international peers says Mohit Bahl, Head, Forensic Services at KPMG India. "But they are not as robust in constantly monitoring and updating their security measures. This breach could have happened

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in anywhere in the world. Banking and financial services sector is particularly vulnerable.'' "All affected banks have been alerted by card networks that a total card base of about 3.2 million could have been possibly compromised," the NCPI statement said. It added that a total of 13m rupees ($194,612;£159,031) have been withdrawn, mainly in China and the US, through fraudulent transactions so far, affecting 19 banks and 641 customers. The NPCI has urged customers "not to panic" because "corrective actions already have been taken". "The advisory issued by NPCI to banks for re-cardification [reissuing of new cards] is more a preventive exercise," it said. Payment platforms like Visa, Mastercard and RuPay said their own networks were not affected but they were helping Indian authorities in their investigation. Several banks have also confirmed that they were taking measures to avoid fraudulent transactions. The State Bank of India (SBI), the country's top lender, said it had found about 620,000 of its more than 200 million cards were "vulnerable". But Mrutyunjay Mahapatra, a deputy managing director at SBI, told the Reuters news agency that he did not expect any significant financial loss to take place. Standard Chartered, Yes Bank, HDFC, ICICI and Axis bank have also taken similar "precautionary measures". (BBC)

Indian banks have issued nearly 700 million debit cards(GETTY IMAGES)

INTERNATIONAL

GUYANA DAILY NEWS US Election: Clinton And Trump Trade Barbs At Al Smith Dinner White House rivals Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump have when, in an attempt to mock Mr Trump's calls for a ban on Muslim PAGE 143

poked fun at each other at a charity dinner, a day after their bitter duel on the debate stage. She laughed as Mr Trump joked about her well-paid speeches and the FBI investigation into her private email. But the Republican was booed when he joked that his Democratic opponent hated Roman Catholics. Opinion polls suggest Mrs Clinton's lead over Mr Trump has narrowed, less than three weeks before the election. Just four percentage points now separate the candidates, according to the BBC's poll tracker. Americans vote on 8 November to elect a successor to President Barack Obama, a Democrat, as well as members of Congress, currently dominated by the Republicans. The annual Alfred E Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner in New York is a white-tie gala that every four years features the presidential candidates. There is a tradition that the rivals stand up and make jokes about each other but this year it comes after one of the most rancorous campaigns in memory. On Wednesday night in Las Vegas at their final debate, Mr Trump called his Democratic rival a "nasty woman" and they both interrupted each other throughout. They refused to shake hands before or after. But at the New York event, they briefly put their differences aside and sat just one seat apart, with Cardinal Timothy Dolan between them. They did not shake hands or make eye contact but when Mr Trump stood up to speak, he gave her a friendly double-pat on her shoulder. He joked that this crowd - of about 1,500 people - was her biggest audience yet and, in a dig at her Wall St connections, he said it would be unusual for her to be with so many corporate leaders and not get paid. But when he said she was so corrupt she got booted off the Watergate commission, boos rang out. And they resurfaced when, in a reference to emails hacked within her campaign team, he said she was "pretending not to hate Catholics". It was one of the few occasions when the smile left Mrs Clinton's face. Perhaps his best line was when he referred in jest to his wife Melania's plagiarised speech in July, which borrowed from First Lady Michelle Obama. Some of her jokes... "I've had to listen to Donald Trump for three full debates… I have now stood next to Donald Trump longer than any of his campaign managers." "After listening to your speech, I will enjoy hearing [his running mate] Mike Pence deny that you ever gave it." "I'm so flattered Donald thought I used some kind of performance enhancer [before the debate]. I did. It's called preparation." "He [Mr Trump] actually sent a car for me tonight. Actually, it was a hearse." And his... "Last night, I called Hillary a nasty woman, but this stuff is all relative. After listening to Hillary rattle on and on and on, I don't think so badly of Rosie O'Donnell anymore." "Now I'm told Hillary went to confession before tonight's event, but the priest was having a hard time when he asked her about her sins, and she said she couldn't remember 39 times." Then Mrs Clinton stood up and had her chance. "We'll either have the first female president or the first president who started a Twitter war with Cher," she said. Instead of seeing the Statue of Liberty being a beacon of hope, Mr Trump rates her looks as a "four" or "maybe a five" if she loses the torch and tablet, and changes her hair, Mrs Clinton joked. She drew fewer laughs

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2016

immigration, she referred to the current president as a Muslim. Mr Obama is a Christian but conspiracy theorists have sought to portray him as a secret follower of Islam because of his father's religion at birth. Conjuring up a Trump White House, Mrs Clinton imagined a reunion of former presidents involving Mr Obama and asked, "How is Barack going to get past the Muslim ban?" Both candidates were reading from notes but Mrs Clinton poked fun at a recent incident when Mr Trump's teleprompter broke down at a rally in North Carolina. Having described Mr Trump as the puppet of Russian President Vladimir Putin during Wednesday's presidential debate, she suggested he had had trouble using his teleprompter because he was "translating from the original Russian". Guess who came to dinner: US media reaction New York Times: "Breaking with decades of tradition at the gathering once he took the microphone, Mr. Trump set off on a blistering, grievance-filled performance that translated poorly to the staid setting, stunning many of the well-heeled guests..." Fox News: "Some of Trump's attack lines showed a sense of humor. Clinton was the first one to laugh when Trump joked that she had bumped into him earlier in the night "and she very simply said `Pardon me"' -- an unsubtle reference to the Republican nominee's frequent declarations that his opponent should go to jail..." LA Times: At times, the crowd was outright booing and hissing at Trump as the Republican presidential nominee delivered lines that sounded more like angry campaign rants than humor... Not all of Clinton's jokes landed either, but she did not get as rough of a time from the crowd or use quite as sharp a knife as Trump wielded." The Daily Beast: "The night progressed as Trump himself strove to be humorous, remaining enough of a truly nasty man to inspire more boos... Clinton had her turn and was tough enough and good enough that you were almost glad Trump had been invited." (BBC)

They called a truce although some of the jokes were close to the bone(AFP)

INTERNATIONAL

GUYANA DAILY NEWS Slow Lorises Being Sold On Facebook Rescued In West Java PAGE 144

Indonesian police have rescued 34 slow lorises destined to be sold as pets on Facebook. The officers discovered the criticallyendangered species crammed into cages in West Java. The world's only venomous primate has become popular in recent years thanks to a proliferation of YouTube videos portraying them as cute and cuddly. But the rising demand for slow lorises as pets is pushing the species to the brink of extinction. Hunters sell the lorises to dealers for £3 ($3.66), while traffickers can get as much as £31 ($37.90) each, said Diki Budiman, assistant director of the police unit dealing with the case in West Java. Teeth cutting Captivity alone is traumatic for each loris - just being in a brightly lit room is painful for the nocturnal creature. Animal traffickers go further, cutting their teeth with pliers, wire cutters or clippers to make them easier and safer to handle. The painful procedure can be fatal. If they survive, more than half will die during transport. "It is a bit difficult to say how many die exactly, but we estimate it probably is about 80%," Christine Rattel, of International Animal Rescue, who are now caring for the lorises, told the BBC. "They can die from stress alone." Under Indonesian law, hunting, capturing or keeping slow lorises as pets is strictly forbidden. But the reality is that slow lorises are sold openly in the markets of Indonesia, and now Facebook makes it easy for traders to set up business. On this occasion, Indonesian police managed to arrest five people -

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2016

two alleged hunters and three dealers - before the lorises had even gone on sale. Because of their swift actions, the animals got away relatively unscathed, with only one having its teeth cut. International Animal Rescue later discovered six were pregnant. More worryingly, at least five had air rifle bullet wounds, with one of the pregnant females losing her sight in one eye. "The good thing in this particular case is that they had been hunted just before," said Ms Rattel. "They have not been long in captivity, and we will probably be able to release them fairly soon. "We just need to find somewhere to return them to the wild." (BBC)

The slow loris is the world's only venomous primate(INTERNATIONAL ANIMAL RESCUE)

INTERNATIONAL PAGE 145

GUYANA DAILY NEWS

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2016

Princess Diana's Stepmother Raine Spencer Dies At 87 Raine Spencer, stepmother of Diana, Princess of Wales, has died at 87 after a short illness, her family has announced. Countess Spencer died on Friday morning at her London home, her son William Legge, the Earl of Dartmouth and a UKIP MEP, confirmed. Her marriage to Diana's father Earl Spencer from 1976 to 1992 was the second of three in her life. She was the daughter of romance novelist Dame Barbara Cartland. In her early life, she served as a Westminster city councillor from 1954 to 1965. Her first marriage was to the Earl of Dartmouth and lasted from 1948 to 1976. Following the death of Earl Spencer, her second husband, she married Count Jean-Francois de Chambrun in 1993, but the marriage only lasted three years. When she married Earl Spencer and moved into the ancestral home at Althorp, Northamptonshire, she became stepmother to sixyear-old Diana and three-year-old Charles, who now holds his father's title. 'Diana's best friend' Ingrid Seward, friend of the countess and editorin-chief of Majesty magazine, told the BBC: "When she first married Spencer, they [his children] loathed her. And they made her life extremely difficult. "They used to call her 'acid Raine'. Now I don't know which of the children invented that one but Raine was very stoic and she put up with it all. "And when Earl Spencer became ill she virtually did save his life. She was at his bedside the entire time and I think Diana suddenly saw that this stepmother wasn't as bad as she had imagined. "And then later in Diana's life almost at the end of her life, suddenly Raine Spencer was Diana's best friend." She said Countess Spencer was a "very intelligent, witty woman". "She had that wonderful energy, she could get anything done, which is why I think Spencer fell in love with her," she said. Ms Seward said that after the death of Earl Spencer, Countess Spencer went to work in department store Harrods. "She ran the shop floor, she worked everywhere and then she ended up in

men's ties," she said. "But then she worked for the international side of Harrods. She spoke ﬂuent French she was very bright, she was charming, so she was the perfect ambassador for Harrods." Inquest appearance For many years, Countess Spencer was also on the board of directors at Harrods. But at the 2007 inquest into Diana's death she said: "I never went shopping in Harrods. It was my husband who practically lived there." In that appearance at the inquest she talked about her relationship she had enjoyed with Diana in the years before her death in 1997. "She always said I had no hidden agenda," she said in her evidence. "So many people, because she was so popular and so world famous, wanted something out of her. It was a very draining life." Speaking at the inquest about press intrusion into Diana's life, she said: "I suppose this happens with pop stars and celebrities and people who call themselves celebrities nowadays." Countess Spencer and Diana were pictured talking in June 1997, just 13 weeks before the death of the Princess of Wales, when the countess was invited to a private viewing of Diana's dresses that were being auctioned by Christie's. (BBC)

Countess Spencer was pictured with her stepdaughter Diana, Princess of Wales, in London just 13 weeks before the death of the princess.(GETTY IMAGES)

CLASSIFIEDS PAGE 146

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

VACANCY

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PAGE 149

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.

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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?”

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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.

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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

LOCAL

GUYANA DAILY NEWS Berbice Man Arrested For Unlicensed Gun Possession PAGE 153

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

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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

PAGE 155

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.

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 156

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...

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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).

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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 159

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 oďŹ&#x20AC;er: The lowest price at which a seller is oďŹ&#x20AC;ering to sell securities.

PAGE 160

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!)

PAGE 161

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 162

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 163

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 164

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 165

GUYANA DAILY NEWS

REGIONAL SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2016

Local Weed Cultivation On The Rise

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 166

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 167

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)

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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 168

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)

17-y-o girl Dies After Being Thrown From Bike In Crash 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)

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS OAS Concerned About Venezuela’s Chaotic Situation PAGE 169

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...

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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)

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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)

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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)

INTERNATIONAL

GUYANA DAILY NEWS US Election: Trump Takes Aim At First Lady Michelle Obama PAGE 173

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”

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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)

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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 176

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