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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 2016
PPP Urge Amerindians Not To Fall Prey To APNU+AFC Govt Amerindian employed as community support officers on the ground that they were political activists, removal of the name of ‘Amerindian’ from the ministry of Amerindian affairs and renaming it to “Indigenous Affairs” and attempting to change basic tenants the Amerindian Act and the non-use of the $6 billion allocated to the land titling project. According to Rohee, “…the PPP calls on all Amerindians to continue their struggle and to stand firm in their determination to protect their rights and dignity and not to fall prey to the pretenses and window-dressing by the APNU+AFC coalition administration.” He said, whether in ir out of government, the PPP will exert every effort to defend the gains and the rights of the Amerindian people. The NTC’s conference is being held at the Arthur Chung International Convention Centre at Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara. The forum will discuss strategies of improving the lives of the country’s Indigenous peoples. The conference will continue until 26th of August and is held under the theme “Guyana’s First People – Preserving our Culture and Land for life, and will address key issues such as food security, health, education, land titles, energy, infrastructure, and culture and tourism.”
The Opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has welcomed the leader and toshaos of the 216 Amerindian villages and communities across Guyana to the annual Nation Toshaos Council’s (NTC) conference which started today. General Secretary of the PPP, Clement Rohee during a press conference at Freedom House saluted the leaders and representative who traveled to the capital city to attend the annual forum and urged them not to fall prey to the “pretenses” of the coalition government. The General Secretary highlighted the struggles and hardships the Amerindian people endured during the years. He also highlighted the many strides the Amerindian people took under the PPP administration and related that the conference comes at a time when “ominous clouds threaten to diminish the achievements compounded by the political and economic challenges that has emerged with the APNU/AFC in government.” Rohee went on to list the “blows” which his party said has affected the Amerindian people in just 18 months. These includes the dismissal of two thousand young
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 2016
GOVERNMENT LACKING RESPONSIVENESS, EFFECTIVENESS Accor ding to the Demo cracy, Huma
n Rights and Governance Assessment report, Guyana is well formed, established, and functioning, but too large a portion of the nation’s human and financial resources is being invested in government for too little public good. Rural and hinterland communities are disproportionately affected. The report also stated that Institutions that should promote service delivery and accountability are weak or non-functional. Citizen dissatisfaction with government effectiveness is persistent, whether for national, regional, or local government. Stakeholders interviewed by the department’s assessment
team, identified many service deficiencies affecting them, from garbage collection, road and drainage maintenance, health, education, and security, to processes such as obtaining a passport or retrieving bail money. The perception of unequal access to services is exacerbated by, and exacerbates, Guyana’s ethno-political divide. The report further stated that several bodies are now defunct, including the vital Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC), which had among its many mandates the duty to ensure no ethnic bias in the production and distribution of public goods and services by government. Others that are established (such as the Integrity Commission and the Office of the Ombudsman) have no commissioners, are under resourced, to the extent that they do not add to effective oversight of governmental performance. The government effectively shirked its obligations by allowing these Commissions to remain vacant or under-funded to the point of impotence. The absence or weakness of the governance institutions deprives the public of non-partisan efforts to redress grievances and concerns as relates to the delivery of public services. The continued inability of these institutions to fulfill mandates relating to the challenges of ethnicity, integrity, and gender, for example, arguably contributes to the prolonging and even worsening of those challenges, the report stated.
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 2016
Guyana’s Justice System Out-Dated, UnderResourced And Understaffed –USAID Based on the Millennium Challenge Corporation index, Guyana and justice sector personnel, resources and infrastructure. One received below-average rankings for the rule of law at 41% and control of corruption at 30%. The USAID 2016 report stated that "(Guyana’s) justice system is out-dated, under-resourced and understaffed and cannot keep pace with the needs.” It was noted that the administration of justice in Guyana is slow, with uncertain access to fair and equitable justice. Moreover, the report recognized that there isn’t a National Human Rights institution established. The report stated that Guyana’s justice system is estimated that 90% of prosecutions are unsuccessful and that half of the 25,400 cases pending at the High Court would never go to trial. This is so because the cases were either settled or abandoned because the persons on bail disappeared, or the witnesses were no longer available. An overview was done of the justice sector reforms which were recommended. It was reported that most of those reforms were not implemented including the completion and adoption of new rules of court. The report said that despite efforts to reduce the court backlog at that time, a significant backlog still remains today. A report of the geographic location of administration of justice machinery was also done. “Areas outside of Georgetown in particular lack adequate security
Magistrate covers all the hinterland regions, visiting each region only once every three months.” Despite the slothfulness of the judicial system, according to the report,persons use this delay of justice to their advantage in order to derail justice in some cases, as it would prolong the time to resolve an issue. During this period witnesses as well as evidence disappear. All of these instances caused a reduction in public trust in the judicial institutions, according to the report. “Trust that courts could guarantee a fair trial dropped from more than 60% to below 45% in 2014 and confidence that the justice system would punish the guilty party also fell from more than 60% to close to 40%.” The report further stated.
Social Ills Continue To Plague Guyana
President David Grange has issued a call on the church to take the lead role in helping to address social ills such as suicide, interpersonal violence, poverty and drug and alcohol abuse, which plague communities. He also underscored the critical role of faith-based organisations in fostering social cohesion and national unity. The President was at the time speaking at the fifth anniversary of the Solomon’s Temple, located at Phillipi Village, Region Six, East Berbice-Corentyne. Accordingly to reports from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the World Health Organization (WHO), Guyana had the highest suicide rate in the world in 2012. The alarming figures of 44.2 fatalities per 100,000 persons, surpassed Suriname with 27.8 per 100,000 and Venezuela with 2.6 per 100,000 persons. The average suicide rate in the region is 6.1, Guyana exceeding this figure by 38.1. The PAHO/WHO in 2014, released a report highlighting the daily consumption of 8 Liters of pure alcohol in 2010 of Guyanese residents between the ages of 15 and older. According to monthly statistics summary provided by the Guyana Police Force, 72 road fatalities have been recorded by the end of July, which are 13 more for the same period last year. While there was a reduction in serious accidents, there have been increases in minor and damage accidents. The Guyana Police Force has charged 41,497 persons with traffic offences so far this year. This includes 15,427 for speeding and 1,035 for driving under the influence of alcohol. Domestic violence and delinquency represents an omnipotent challenge. At the end of February 2016 a total of 473 reports of domestic violence were made. A total of 25 murders were recorded at the end of February 2016, which was the similar number at the end of February 2015. Of the 25 murders at the end of February this year, 9 were committed during robberies, 5 were domestic related, 10 were of the disorderly type, and 1 is so far undetermined.
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 2016
Diamond/Grove Man Charged With Causing Road Death S h a meer M o h am m e d today appeared before Magistrate Judy Latchman in the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court charged with one count of causing the death of Wavell Sabsuth by dangerous driving and one count of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. Mohammed was released on a total $1,010,000 GYD bail after he entered a not guilty plea to the charge and will return to court on September 2, 2016 for continuation into the matter. Mohammed, 36, of Diamond/Grove, was represented in court by Attorney Peter Hugh who stated in his bail application that his client is not a flight risk since at the moment Mohammed is still nursing burn wounds to the foot that he received as a result
of the accident and therefore at the moment he does not even have the ability to walk. Hugh further explained to the Magistrate that his client is required to visit the Georgetown Pubic Hospital on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays to dress his wounds. After hearing the grounds on which Hugh was making the application, Police Prosecutor Corporal Kerry Bostwick made no objection to bail with the exception that the accused report to the officer in charge of Traffic at the Grove Police Station. It is alleged that on Sunday July 24, 2016 on the Diamond Public Road, East Bank Demerara, Mohammed drove motor vehicle PVV 2007 in a manner which was dangerous to the public hence causing the death of Wavell Sabsuth. It is also alleged that on the same day, Mohammed operated the motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, that is to say he had a blood alcohol content of 0.103mg hence he was unable to effectively control the said motor vehicle. -By- Jarred Singh, Guyana Daily News.
President Granger Against Vigilante Justice first case, which occurred early last week, two bandits were also
In commenting on the recent cases of “vigilante justice" President David Granger had warned against the practice of vigilantism, saying that not only is it unacceptable, but can lead to serious problems in society. On Sunday evening, the President said,“We can’t tolerate that. We accept that citizens have a right to protect their properties and so on, but we expect people to be organised in Community Policing Groups. But we can’t tolerate vigilantism, especially when it results in the injury or death of anybody; it can get out of hand.” P r e s i d e n t Granger ’s comments comes in light of two recent cases of vigilantism in which residents of communities took matters into their own hands a n d d e a l t vigilante justice to suspected bandits. In the
caught and beaten by North Ruimveldt residents after they attempted to rob 37-year-old barber Roger Lovell of his gold chain. One of the bandits reportedly acted as a lookout while the other made his way into Lovell’s home and woke him up by beating him with a gun after the ordeal a.32 pistol and several matching rounds were discovered at the scene. In the latest vigilantism incident, police have said that 21-yearold Seon Clarke, who is also known as Cash Money, a resident of Old Road, Land of Canaan, E.B.D., was killed and other person severely beaten by a group of citizens in the Pearl Village, E.B.D. community at about 22:30h on Saturday when residents suspected him to be a bandit. The injured person was not named by the Guyana Police Force. The initial reports are that Clarke and another male went into a grocery store at Johanna, E.B.D around 14:00h on Saturday, and were observed by the owner behaving “suspiciously”. The owner then made his way to the public road and alerted a policeman who was passing at the time and the policeman responded, and in the process summoned other policemen. Clarke and his associate then fled into the nearby bushes. A search was conducted but they were not found however, seven hours later they were seen in Perl was it was alleged that one of the public spirited citizens shot Clarke and inflicted a beating on his accomplice. It was report to the media on Sunday night that police were still searching for the suspected citizens who shot Clarke and had inflicted the beaten on his companion.
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 2016
Man Charged With ‘Freedom Day’ Murder In Laing Avenue
Magistrate Judy Latchman today remanded Regus Lamizan for the had previously posted bail for David after he was charged with offense of murder. The court heard that on August 01, he murdered murder before being acquitted. -By- Jarred Singh, Guyana Daily Orin Malik David at Laing Avenue, West Ruimveldt. Lamizan will News. return before the Chief Magistrate on September 8, 2016. He was represented by Attorney Paul Fung-a-Fat, who asked that the matter be sent to the High Court. In response, Magistrate Latchman said that decision will be made by the Prosecutor in the matter. Attorney Fung-a-Fat further made an application for bail stating that his client has a fixed address at Durban Street and is currently a construction worker. However, the Magistrate expressed shock that the seasoned lawyer would make a bail application for a man who is charged with murder before the Magistrate’s Court. It should be noted that a murder charge is not a bailable offense in the Magistrate’s Court. A bail application can be made in the High Court and it is the Judge’s discretion as to whether bail should be granted. It is alleged that on the day in question, Lamizan while armed with a gun, shot David three times about his body killing him. It was reported that an argument had ensued between David and a group of other men over monies in the sum of $150,000 GYD that was owed to Lamizan by David. The money was allegedly owed after Lamizan
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 2016
North Ruimveldt Alleged Robber Remanded.
One of the two men who were Tuesday last beaten by residents of North Ruimveldt after he allegedly attempted to rob another resident, today appeared before Magistrate Judy Latchman in the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court. Patrick Goodluck was remanded until September 2, 2016 when he will return for statements into the matter. Goodluck, 22, who was represented by Attorney Paul Fung-a-Fat, requested that his matter be trialed right before the Magistrate’s Court before he entered a Not Guilty plea to the charge. Attorney Fung-a-Fat made an application for bail stating that his client was visiting a friend in the neighborhood and was in the ‘wrong place at the wrong time’ when he was attacked by the residents of the area and suffered blows to the neck, back and head. Fung-a-Fat continued saying that his client at the moment is still unwell as he has stitches where he would have received the blows, and he also has four teeth missing and five on the verge of falling out, and therefore he would like reasonable bail to be granted. However the Police Prosecutor, Corporal Kerry Bostwick objected to bail stating that the accused was in the house of the virtual complainant and held him at gun point in an attempt to relieve him of a gold chain and his CG motorcycle. It is alleged that on August 17, 2016 at North Ruimveldt, Goodluck whist in
the company of another and armed attempted to commit a felony, that is to say attempted to rob Roger Lovel. It was then that Lovel allegedly raised an alarm and public spirited citizen came to his aid and attacked the two men leaving them in critical condition as they were rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital. -By- Jarred Singh, Guyana Daily News
President Proposes National Indigenous People’s Authority President David Granger has recommended the formation of a National Indigenous People’s Authority to oversee and fasttrack the implementation of decisions by the National Toshaos Council (NTC) and other decision-making bodies. During the official opening of the Toshaos conference on Monday at the Arthur Chung Convention Center, the President revealed that the proposed authority would be composed of five persons, tasked with implementing decisions by the NTC, Cabinet and the National Assembly because of the disjointed system currently in place across several ministries to address various problems in health, e c o n o m y, p h y s i c a l infrastructure, social protection, culture and environment. Chairman of the NTC, Joel Fredericks welcomed P r e s i d e n t G r a n g e r ’s proposal but had concerns over the inclusion of the
NTC themselves. He told members of the media that the proposed body should also include two representatives from the NTC. “I believe it’s a good idea from the President and I support it and I believe the Toshaos Council should be a part; at least one or two members should be a part of the five member team to make things happen because we are the people who go out in the fields and we know the issues out there and we can easily communicate with our people and bring back information so His Excellency (the President) can be well-informed,” he said However, speaking to an online media outfit, opposition Shadow Minister of Indigenous People’s Affairs, Pauline Sukhai raised serious concern that the proposed Authority would subvert the NTC and the Indigenous People’s Affairs Ministry. Sukhai said, “I notice that there is an attempt to usurp the power of the NTC now and even the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs where now you are going to propose to establish a fiveman committee to implement decisions. I don’t see independence in that.” However Sukhai offered no explanation on how the authority would usurp the NTC and Ministry’s role, but said that it’s only her speculation because the Authority comes at a time when there are two ministers of Indigenous Peoples Affairs.
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS Overseas-Based Guyanese Opens Educational Facilities At Woodley Park - Ministry Of Social Protection T o P a r t n e r O n S k i l l s T r a i n i n g PAGE 8
Children and youths of Woodley Park, Region Five now have yet another venue to socialise and learn a skill thanks to a group of overseas-based Guyanese, including the USA Guyana Humanitarian Inc. and the Ramrattan Family of the United States. Together, they opened a Library and Information Technology Laboratory at the Ramrattan Social Service Centre for Excellence earlier today. These facilities are now part of the Centre that was commissioned sometime back by the Ramrattan family to host the annual Academic and Skills Training Workshop for children and youths of the village. At Thursday’s ceremony, the group simultaneously hosted the graduation ceremony for this the third batch of students who completed the annual workshop. Commending the children and youths for participating, Minister of Social Protection Volda Lawrence noted that she was happy to see the large numbers, including parents, “because we can have villages filled with children, but if we do not have families, parents, guardians and concerned citizens who recognise the value of having an education, then ventures such as these would not be successful.” Lawrence commended the Ramrattan family and their partners and supporters for the work they have done to ensure it remains open. “I don’t think we can measure the value of what the Ramratan family has done in this community,” she said. The group hopes to further expand their services offered at the centre by partnering with the Ministries of Agriculture, Education, Social Cohesion and Social Protection. The Social Protection Minister noted that since her assumption of Office, she has “focused heavily on building stronger families because it is important to our communities and country. We can have the best teachers and the facilities could be open all day, but unless the elders instill the values in children, including that education plus God equals success, they will not come here.” She noted that too often adults believe that taking children along to church is all they need, “but we have to direct our children and lead them in the right direction.” She told the children that having academic certification is essential, but acquiring a skill is an invaluable experience, as it teaches discipline. “You can pass on that skill to your family, even your children,” Lawrence said. Hence, the Minister noted that her Ministry could not pass up the opportunity to partner with the supporters of these initiatives.Consequently, the Ministry of Social Protection, through the Board of Industrial Training [BIT] will begin a partnership to ensure that the Ramrattan Social Service Centre for Excellence is utilized throughout the year by hosting skills training in various fields for young people. At the moment, the facility is only opened when the Academic and Skills Training Workshop is held in August. Treasurer Minister of Social Protection of the Group, Ms. Angeli Hon. Volda Lawrence and Treasurer of the USA Guyana Humanitarian Inc. Maystry a professional Ms. Angeli Maystry cut the ribbon to the newly built teacher in the United Library and Information Technology Laboratory at the States, said that the Ramrattan Social Service Centre for Excellence. workshop is usually conducted in collaboration
MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 2016
with several local volunteers and the group is working on arrangements to have the library and computer facilities open to the children all year long with the support of those volunteers. Pandit Prabudyal Ramrattan on whose premise the Centre was erected, said he undertook the initiative in response to a need he saw locally during one of his visits home. A former teacher at the Rosignol Primary School, he left Guyana for England in 1966 and eventually settled in the United States. Pandit Ramrattan is a professional teacher and licensed acupuncturist, having taught at the University of Wales, among other schools. “I am now retired and so I am hoping to increase my visits back home and increase the work we do home to help young people. This all got started because I was in a discussion about how to prevent suicide and so we began with providing information and soon realised that the information alone did not work, we needed to provide people with resources. Hence, we came up with the idea of providing a skill to empower people. “Myself and family built this Centre, but we have been working with the USA Guyana Humanitarian Inc. and its supporters to conduct the activities,” he explained. President of the USA Guyana Humanitarian Inc. Mr. Mohan Singh said that he has been friends with Pandit Ramrattan for more than 25 years and did not hesitate to partner on this venture having seen the need in many local communities.Singh explained that annually they use the workshops to teach skills in information technology, photography, entrepreneurship, agriculture, leadership, and reading. Participants are also coursed in topical and social issues, and life skills to empower themselves, their families and community. He explained that the grouping also spread their wings in other areas, including Jamaica and New York. Ministry of Social Protection Press Release
President of the USA Guyana Humanitarian Inc. Mr. Mohan Singh presents a token of appreciation to Minister of Social Protection Hon. Volda Lawrence for the Ministry’s support to the Ramrattan Social Service Centre for Excellence. Also in photos are Pandit Prabudyal Ramrattan on whose premise the Centre was erected and Treasurer of the Group, Ms. Angeli Maystry.
Minister Lawrence, officials from the Ramrattan Social Service Centre for Excellence and staff from the Social Protection Ministry pose with students and volunteer teachers of this year’s Academic and Skills Training Workshop for children and youths of Woodley Park village under the auspices of the Ramrattan family and the USA Guyana Humanitarian Inc.
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 2016
RECOVERING CUB SCOUT RETURNS TO ST. LUCIA
Eight year-old St. Lucian Cub Scout Nick Omari Joseph actually spent about three and a half minutes under water and departed for home on Sunday along with his mom, Delia that was a little bit of a concern to doctors in the first five days. Finistere. Joseph received serious injuries following an This was treated and he responded very well,” Ali pointed out. accident on July 26 on Woolford Avenue, in the vicinity of the Ali emphasized that government ensured the best medical care Scout Association of Guyana (SAG) Headquarters. Fellow St. was provided to Joseph, which was critical in the first five days Lucian Cub Scout, nine year-old Darnell Matthews, was also of his hospitalization. Joaquin, who was performing the duties injured in the accident. He was treated for minor injuries and of Camp Chief of the 14th Caribbean Cuboree at the time of the sent away. Joseph had sustained a fractured skull and injury to accident, said while the incident was extremely unfortunate, it his lung as a result of being submerged after being hit by the served to bring the members of the scouting fraternity together. vehicle. Quick action by a team of doctors saw his condition “The positive is that as a Scout Association…we all bond being stabilized within hours of the accident and the Cub Scout together as a family and that is a positive; not only for scouting but for this country as a whole. has been recovering gradually since that time. Minister within the Ministry of Education, Hon. Nicolette We bond together to make sure that Nick had the best care and Henry, President of SAG and Chief Scout, Ramsay Ali, SAG that his mom had the best support. Scouting is really a family. If Chief Commissioner, Zaida Joaquin and friend of the Joseph people can recognize that as scouts we can live as family, I think family, Francisca Charles, were all at the Ogle International all other human beings can live as family. Because of this Airport to bid Joseph and his mother farewell. Joseph’s mother process I believed that is what held his mother up because we emotionally extended gratitude to all who played a role in his were in daily contact with her providing support and also recovery, noting she was extremely happy to be returning home Nick…,” she pointed out. Joaquin said she will be visiting St. with her son. In brief remarks, Minister Henry said she was Lucia in October to follow up on Joseph’s recovery in her happy that Joseph’s condition has improved to the point that he capacity as a representative of the Inter-America Scout Region. Joseph was among 1,000 Cub Scouts gathered in Guyana for the is now able to return home. She said she was also pleased that the Cuboree continued after Cuboree, at the time of the accident. the unfortunate accident, without further incident. “We will continue to be in touch with Nick’s family to the extent that we Scout Association of Guyana Press Release would like to be informed as to his full progress in recovery from this accident. I trust that the whole exercise here in Guyana was fruitful for all of the scouts that participated from the various countries,” she said. SAG President Ramsay Ali said the reaction from the Government of Guyana immediately after the accident was “extremely positive” and this, he believes, contributed to saving the child’s life. “To the doctors and everybody who was part of this whole process that brought us here on behalf of the Scout Association; I am extremely grateful for their support and I want to thank them,” Ali stated. Ali said the surgery Joseph underwent for his head injury was very successful, according to the doctor who performed the procedure, but the injury sustained to his lungs were of more concern to doctors. “What kept Nick in hospital for a longer period was in fact; some Seated at front L to R; Delia Finistere, Nick Omari Joseph and Minister damage was done to his lungs because he Henry. At back L to R; Francisca Charles, Ramsay Ali and Zaida Jaoquin.
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 2016
Religious Organisations Must Do More To Address Social Problems, Foster Social CohesionPresident Granger Tells Congregation At Solomon’s Temple In Berbice President David Granger, today, issued a call on the church to take cannot separate itself from village and citizens cannot separate the lead role in helping to address social ills such as suicide, interpersonal violence, poverty and drug and alcohol abuse, which plague communities. He also underscored the critical role of faithbased organisations in fostering social cohesion and national unity. The President was at the time speaking at the fifth anniversary of the Solomon’s Temple, located at Phillipi Village, Region Six, East Berbice-Corentyne. The Head of State told the congregation that if the church has a greater influence in communities, gradually the negative aspects of the culture of the Corentyne will be transformed from a ruthless confrontational type society to one of peace and compassion. “The church cannot close its eyes. It cannot be unaware of the causes and only act when the consequences become unbearable and painful… The Christian Church, as one of the oldest institutions, together with the Hindu and Islamic faiths, has a duty to act to help to eliminate the social problems that afflict the Region.The Church must attend to a person’s spiritual as well as material needs. The Church’s mission has a social character,” President Granger said. As it relates to social cohesion, he reminded that Christianity has only one doctrine, which does not separate the spiritual and from the social. The Head of State explained that a cohesive society is characterised by a sense of sympathy and solidarity and the Church must promote social cohesion by becoming a peacemaker and a bridge-builder; providing spiritual and physical relief to those in need and mending the emotional wounds caused by violence and protecting the vulnerable from malice and injustice and by advancing religious, ethnic and gender harmony.“This Church, and any other church, mandir or masjid on the Corentyne, must reach out to its neighbours. The Church cannot separate itself from society, village
themselves from each other. Faith cannot be divided into the personal and the public,” he said. Similar sentiments were expressed by Regional Chairman, Mr. David Armogan, who pointed out that the Government, Regional Administration and the police cannot deal with the myriad of social problems alone. He also called on parents to try their utmost to inculcate stronger moral values in their children at home. The Solomon’s Temple born18 years ago as the Glory Light Tabernacle Deliverance Centre. During the early years of its existence, worship services were conducted in a ‘bottom-house’ setting at Phillipi Village until the construction of a church five years ago. Today, the church has a membership of about 400 people. MOTP Press Release
President David Granger being greeted by Pastors Ewart and Egbert Bagot upon his arrival at the Solomon's Temple at Phillipi Village
President David Granger addressing the congregation at the Solomon's Temple on the occasion of the organisation's 5th anniversary
A section of the gathering
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 2016
Teixeira: Govt Insulted Amerindians By Relocating Walter Roth Museum Opposition Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira is of the view that the She said that the contractor informed the officials that the relocation of the Walter Roth Museum of Anthropology is the greatest insult to the Amerindian people of Guyana by the APNU+AFC Coalition Government. At a recent press conference at Freedom House, the PPP Parliamentarian said she is appalled at the non-consultation with the National Toshaos Council (NTC), over the issue. Additionally, Teixeira finds it “troubling” that the military was involved in the process. “The APNU+AFC still have no clue where they are relocating the Walter Roth Museum to,” Teixeira said, pointing out that Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Annette Furgeson, had sought the top floor of the Guyana Post Office building, but was met with much resistance from the staff there. As such, Teixeira and former Minister of Culture, Dr. Frank Anthony, have started a petition to save the Museum. The relocation of the museum from Main Street, Georgetown has since hit a snag. Jennifer Wishart, a co-founder and former director of the Walter Roth Museum is quoted in the Guyana Chronicle as saying that she was informed by staff of the museum that the contractors from the Ministry of Public Infrastructure along with other ministry officials visited the National Museum to decipher the scope of works which will have to be undertaken to extend and build a state-of-the art facility there.
presence of the trees at the space outside the museum, mainly their roots, would pose a long-term problem if the building is expanded. “The contractor said trees make it impossible for extension so they left,” Wishart said. Wishart, who has appealed to the government to reconsider the relocation of the museum, said to be the oldest of its kind in the Englishspeaking Caribbean, noted that a number of archaeologists are travelling to Guyana and will have a first-hand look at the relocation of the museum. President David Granger noted last week that the proposed relocation of the Walter Roth Museum was not a spur-of-the-moment decision. “This is not a whimsical move; it is because there are organisational changes,” he told reporters on Monday when braced on the subject following a function at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre at Liliendaal. The Walter Roth Museum of Anthropology is said to be the oldest such museum in the English-speaking Caribbean region. It was established in 1974, but not opened to the public until 1982. The museum is a non-profit institution created by the Government of Guyana to collect, exhibit and conserve artifacts relating to the ancient cultures of Guyana, to conduct anthropological research and disseminate knowledge of the Indigenous Peoples of Guyana through its in-house and outreach programs. The museum was founded with the collections of Guyanese archaeologist Dr. Denis Williams. In 1980 the ethnographic collections of Dr. Walter Roth, Mr J.J. Quelch and Sir Everard im Thurn were transferred to the Walter Roth Museum from the Guyana Museum. An ethnographic collection of the Waiwai was presented to the museum in 1991 by Guyanese Cultural anthropologist Dr George P. Mentore. The museum's collections also include excavated artifacts from all of the ten Administrative Regions of Guyana.
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 2016
Traffic Ranks Should Be Reminded Of Ticketable Offences. The Guyana Police Force in a press release dated January 5, 2013, outlined a list of offences for which traffic tickets may be issued. Drivers are questioning the move by the traffic ranks who are arresting and charging drivers for ticketable offences, instead of simply writing a ticket and avoid wasting the public’s time.Traffic ranks have been reminded of the procedures in relation to the issuance of traffic tickets for specified offences and are expected to comply with the directives.
* Unlighted Animal Drawn Vehicle (front) – Reg. 36 (a) * Unlighted Animal Drawn Vehicle (rear) – Reg. 36 (b) * Failing to carry Lamp on Hand-cart during Hours of Darkness – Reg. 37 * No Parking Brakes – Reg. 52 * No Reflecting Mirror – Reg. 57 * No Warning Appliance on Motor Vehicle – Reg. 59 * No Silencer – Reg. 60 * No Efficient Automatic Windscreen Wiper – Reg. 64 * No Efficient Speedometer (hire car, motor lorry, motor bus) – Reg. 65 * Unnecessary Sounding of Horn – Reg. 108 * No trailer to be drawn by Bus/Hire Car – Reg. 119? * Carrying more Persons than the Permitted Number – Reg. 164 (1) (a) * More Persons on the Front Seat than the Number Fixed to be carried thereon (hire car/motor bus) – Reg. 164 (1) (b) * Conductor (overload) – Reg. 164 (1) (a), (b) and (2) * Conduct of Driver and Conductor (breach) – Reg. 166 * Stopping within 30 feet from any Corner – Reg. 190 (e) * No Efficient Brakes on Bicycle and Tricycle – Reg. 194 * No Warning Appliance on Bicycle and Tricycle – Reg. 195
Following is a list of offences for which traffic tickets may be issued: * Driving Uncertified Motor Vehicle – Section 15 * Driving Motor Vehicle Without a Driver’s License – Section 23 (1) * Failing to Produce a Driver’s License – Section 23 (2) * Refusing to Declare Present Address – Section 23 (3) * Breaching of Conditions of Provisional License – Section 25 (2) * Speeding (Exceeding Speed Limit) – Section 34 (1) * Permitting More Than One Trailer to be Drawn – Section 41 * Failing to Stop When Required by Police in Uniform – Source: http://guyanachronicle.com/traffic-ranks-remindedSection 43 (3) * Leaving Motor Vehicle in Dangerous Position – Section 59 of-ticketable-offences/ * Driving Motorcycle without Safety Helmet – Breach of Reg. 3 (1) and (3) of the Motorcycles (Protective Helmets) Regulations – Reg. 19 of 1972, Cap. 51:02) * Driver Carrying Pillion-Rider without Safety Helmet – Breach of Reg. 3 (2) and (3) of the Motorcycles (Protective Helmets) Regulations – Reg. 19 of 1972, Cap. 51:02) * Failing to Exhibit Certificate of Fitness – Reg. 13 * Failing to Exhibit License for Motor Vehicle – Reg. 16 (1) * Unlighted Motor Vehicle (front) – Reg. 34 (1) (a) * Unlighted Motor Vehicle (rear) – Reg. 34 (1) (b) * Unlighted Motorcycle/Bicycle (front) – Reg. 35 (a) * Unlighted Motorcycle/Bicycle (rear) – Reg. 35 (b)
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
MONDAY,22 AUGUST, 2016
Art Can Change Our Behaviour Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley says the work of Trinidad’s first internationally renowned artist Michel-Jean Cazabon is so unknown in this country that it’s embarrassing. He said at least 95 per cent of students did not know “anything about Cazabon, far less his history and our history tied up in what Cazabon represents.” At the Octagon Room of the Diplomatic Centre on Saturday, 49 paintings depicting T&T’s iconic landscapes, nature, people and buildings were unveiled to guests. Some of the names in the collection include Old Woodbrook Estate, Pine House, House in Trinidad, East Indian Girl, Dry River, Port-of-Spain, River Scene and Maracas River. Rowley, during his address in the ballroom before the unveiling, said it was around 2005 that he encouraged former prime minister Patrick Manning “who willingly agreed to be encouraged” to have the country buy several pieces of paintings that were on sale in London and repatriate them to T&T. He said they were kept at a museum but he always felt they should have been made available to the public. “They were not presented to the people as they should,” he said. But later on, and during a difficult economic period, the PM said another batch of Cazabon’s paintings were being offered for sale. This time, as Prime Minister, he encouraged the Cabinet to make the purchase. “This evening is an opportunity to present them, firstly to you,” he said at the launch of the “Cazabon Legacy Exhibition.” Last year, the Government announced the purchase of 12 Cazabon paintings which cost close to $3 million via auction by Christie's Auction House of London. That decision was met with criticism from the Opposition and union leaders who said the money could have been spent on other priority items. The exhibition is open to the public until September 24. It is the first time the Diplomatic Centre will host such an exhibition. Rowley said 19th Century Cazabon should be embraced and that children needed to know their history. Cazabon was born on September 30, 1813 and died on November 20, 1888. He is buried at the Lapeyrouse Cemetery. Rowley said: “Look at the paintings and transpose yourselves from there to where we are now.” He said if there was any sense of hopelessness or disillusionment, look at the paintings and see the progress. “We are on the way to a brighter future,” he said. The Prime Minister said every day in the news there were reports of violence, even in his own constituency where four people were killed recently. “And some people would want to think that is what we are but there is a much wider canvas.” Rowley said the behaviour of the country could change if children were exposed to the work of the artist. In her remarks, Minister of Community Development, Culture and the Arts Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly
said the one-month exhibition was also a celebration of Emancipation, Independence and Republic Day. She said: “It is a time of taking stock of national introspection, a time when we think about who we are, where we are, where we are going and how we are going to get there.” Guests were treated to performances by the National Steel Symphony Orchestra which received high praises from Rowley. More info According to Cazabon’s biography as written by curator Geoffrey MacLean, the artist was sent to England at the age of 13 to attend St Edmund’s College in Ware. He studied art in Paris. Cazabon returned to Trinidad in 1848 and in 1851 produced a series of 18 lithographs—Views of Trinidad. In 1857, he published a second series—Album of Trinidad and in 1860, contributed to two other series—Views of Demerara and Album Martiniquaise. MacLean wrote: “Cazabon’s oeuvre is extensive; his work shows a wide knowledge of media —oils, watercolourist, gouache, gesso. Although he was primarily a watercolourist and landscape artist, both his formal and informal portraits are highly valued, and his illustration for the newspapers of the day are of important historic significance.” Cazabon married Louise Rosalie Trolard in Paris and had three children. (Trinidad Guardian)
Sheila Sandy, left, and Merle Ronnie admire Michel-Jean Cazabon’s 18th Century painting of the Bamboo Cathedral in Chaguaramas during a public exhibition showcasing the work of the famous artist at the Diplomatic Centre in St Ann’s, yesterday. Photo: SHIRLEY BAHADUR
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS CDA To Reclaim Convention Centre PAGE 14
Plans are afoot by the Chaguaramas Development Authority (CDA) to reclaim the historical Chaguaramas Hotel and Convention Centre, which was leased to an investor by the former People’s Partnership government. The move is being initiated by CDA’s chairman Anthony Pierre, who admitted that the authority has been negotiating with the local investor to get back the property under the State’s control at no cost to the Government. The property was leased in 2014 for 30 years. “I can’t say why the centre was put into the hands of an investor. What I can tell you is that we have been negotiating with the investor. So far, it seems positive. It seems CDA will be able to get back the centre. In a month or two we should be able to negotiate something. We are trying to broker a deal.” Pierre refused to identify the investor who paid $30 million which was the value of the centre. Once the CDA and the investor come to an agreement, Pierre said, the authority would take it to Cabinet for approval. “That was the premium they were supposed to pay for the property, but in fact, they did not pay all of it. I think they paid one-third of that figure,” Pierre said. Pierre said CDA was trying to hammer out an arrangement with the investor, who was being offered another property in exchange for the centre. In 2012, the People’s National Movement which traditionally used the centre to host its annual political party convention had to shift its venue to the Queen’s Park Savannah after they were informed that the building was under repair. Initially, Pierre said the PP government wanted to demolish the centre. Why is the CDA looking to recapture the property which was in a deplorable state and not generating money? Pierre said the property, which belongs to the CDA, should remain a historical site. He said the centre was where the Chaguaramas Treaty was signed establishing Caricom, while it was also considered the capital of the West Indies federation. “We are saying that a building of such significance and heritage should not be dealt with like an ordinary building. We would like to see it restored. While the government may not have the money to preserve the building right now, the CDA can enter into a private/public sector arrangement to have it refurbished and operate it as a hotel. But we will not destroy it.” Pierre was unable to say how much it would cost to have the building restored. “Once we have completed negotiations to get it back into our hands we will put out an expression of interest.” Whoever
MONDAY,22 AUGUST, 2016
expresses an interest in the property, Pierre said an arrangement would then be worked out, in that, the CDA would not put any money towards the centre’s refurbishment. “We would just remain the landlord. That would be the investor’s responsibility to finance, refurbish and operate it. We have to make it economically viable for whoever the private sector will be.” Tewarie: Hotel never made money Former minister of planning and sustainable development Dr Bhoe Tewarie, under whose purview the CDA fell, said if the board was renegotiating with the investor they were within their ambit, but stated that this had implications for other things, which he refused to elaborate. He said the idea of putting the property in the hands of an investor was due to the fact it never made money. “It has never been economically viable. It has gone through periods of renovation, upgrading and perpetual deterioration over the course of time.” Tewarie said the investor, whom he too refused to identify, would have commercialised the hotel and be driven by profits. “They would have had most likely to bring in an international operator to do that. The idea was to link the new convention centre facility which would have been a hotel facility with the hotel school. So there would have been some synergy between our education strategy into tourism and our divestment of the burden of subsidies from the convention centre.” He said this was part of the PP’s government tourism thrust for the northwestern peninsula. (Trinidad Guardian)
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
MONDAY,22 AUGUST, 2016
CSEC Performance Worsens Slightly In 2016 – CXC KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) has reported a decline in overall performance in the May/June 2016 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations. According to a release from CXC, only 66 per cent of candidates achieved acceptable scores of grades I-III. This reflects a two percentage point decrease in comparison to 2015 when 68 per cent of candidates achieved similar grades. While performance improved in 14 subject areas, CXC reported a decline in 17 subjects and constant grades in four Among the subjects which performed at 90 per cent or better this year are Physical Education and Sport with 98 per cent of entries achieving acceptable grades. Theatre Arts also topped the list with 95 per cent, Agricultural Science (Double Award) had 92 per cent pass rate, Electronic Document Preparation and Management recorded 91 per cent and Principles of Business had 90 per cent. CXC also reported mixed results in Mathematics and English. In English A, there was an improvement in performance with 67 per cent of entries achieving acceptable grades compared with 60 per cent in 2015. For English B however, there was a 15-percentage point decline as 62 per cent of entries achieved acceptable grades this year compared with 77 per cent in 2015. Meanwhile, there was a 13-
point decline in performance in Mathematics with 44 per cent of entries achieving acceptable grades this year compared with 57 per cent in 2015, CXC said. Performance also declined in Additional Mathematics: 67 per cent of entries achieved acceptable grades compared with 72 per cent last year. The number of subject entries for the May/June 2016 sitting increased to 585,223 subject entries this year, up from 578,035 entries in 2015. However, CXC reported a marginal decline in the number of candidates sitting exam with 132,674 candidates this year in comparison to 132,824 candidates in 2015. (Jamaica Observer)
Bad Economy May Spoil Future Plans For Rio's Olympic Park RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (AP) — The celebrations are done and the torch extinguished, but now that the Olympics are gone, Rio is left with questions about what will become of the city's plan to convert the Olympic Park into a bustling recreational district with luxury apartments and offices. Amid a continuing national recession, the consortium behind the park has sold less than 7 percent of the Olympic Village's 3,604 apartments, and real estate experts worry a similar fate is ahead for the main Olympic site where the city is hoping private companies build housing and offices in close to half of the park's land. "Right now we are in the bottom of a well. Nobody is making offers on apartments, and there are many apartments sitting empty," said Claudio Tavares de Alencar, president of the Latin American Real Estate Society. When Rio de Janeiro was picked as the Olympic host city seven years ago, the country was a darling of the emerging markets. Rich oil fields had been discovered and, in 2010, the nation's economy grew by 7.5 percent. Bidding wars for apartments were common then, and in 2005 some 1,500 apartments built for the Pan American Games sold out just hours after they went on the market. The financial landscape is far different now. Brazil's economy contracted 3.8 percent last year and is expected to keep shrinking, affected by a slowing demand for iron ore and other commodities. Across the nation, more than 5 million people have lost their jobs since the end of 2014. There's an oversupply of apartments all over Rio, obvious by the sight of partially built towers. After years of rising, prices per square meter have dropped 6 percent in the last year and a half to 10,241 reals, or about $3,200, according to real estate index FipeZap. With financial institutions charging prohibitively high rates for lending, real estate agencies have begun offering incentives such as honeymoon trips or private school tuition. Rio 2016 organizers and city officials have not talked about how the weak market could affect the potential for development of the 12.7-million-square-foot Olympic Park and its environs. But Leonardo Schneider, vice president of Rio's housing union, said residential and commercial space are key pieces of the puzzle and that too many buildings around the park are unfinished or vacant. "The problem is how we fill up those apartments," said Schneider. "As good as it sounds to live in the Olympic Park, it's going to take some time to find occupants and transform the area." Carlos Carvalho, the billionaire who developed the Olympic Park and village, has infuriated many in a country that desperately needs subsidized housing for saying the athletes village caters to the city's elite. It is called "Ilha Pura" — Pure Island — and apartments average 1.4 million reals ($435,000), offering amenities such as pools, a spa and a beauty salon. Penthouses of 1,700 square feet go for up to 2.3 million reals ($700,000). Another wealthy developer is building luxury marble and glass high-rise apartments around the Olympic golf course, with units that will start at about $2 million. "They are very nice-looking apartments," said Idenir Cunha, a 67-year-old
retired physician's assistant who lives in an older complex nearby. "If I had the money, I would love to buy one. But in the middle of this crisis, who does?" London 2012's village was turned into an affordable-housing complex, where people paid below-market purchase prices. In Rio, a study by real estate data company Geoimovel found that the village's apartments were advertising for well above the average price of most apartments with same features in Barra da Tijuca, a neighbourhood of flashy shopping malls and lavish high-rise apartments that is home to the Olympic Park and athletes village. Many in Brazil protested the 39.1 billion Brazilian reals, or $12 billion, in public and private money that went to building Olympic venues and infrastructure, and the spending isn't over. The city will pay more than $300 million to dismantle or convert some of the sporting venues inside Olympic Park. The arena that housed fencing and taekwondo will be turned into a school for about 1,000 students with a focus on sport. A racetrack will be added to the park. And salvaged materials from one of the stadiums will be used to build four schools elsewhere, the city says. Brazil faced scrutiny for building expensive venues for the 2014 World Cup that wound up being barely used after the event. Some of the stadiums that cost several times their initial estimates were built in remote areas without first-division soccer teams and are now playing host to weddings or are used as parking lots. With the Olympics, "everything was conceived in terms of what it would become after the games," Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes said this weekend in an interview with Globo TV. As for white elephants? "No way," he said. (Jamaica Observer)
In this August 10, 2016 file photo, people walk through Olympic Park in the rain at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo: AP)
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
MONDAY,22 AUGUST, 2016
Family Drowning In Medical Bills The parents of eight-year-old Kaj Romain, who underwent lifesaving brain surgery in Florida, United States, earlier this month, say they are making all attempts to find evidence to show that they did apply to the Government’s Children’s Life Fund in 2013 and was turned away. They have taken this route rather than submit a new application, as advised by Dennis Cox, interim chairman at the Children’s Life Fund. Najja Romain and Deena Gonzalez spoke to the T&T Guardian from their son’s bedside at the Florida Hospital for Children, last week, insisting that they were overlooked in 2013, shortly after being told by doctors that Kaj required corrective brain surgery. At age four, Kaj was diagnosed with epilepsy due to a congenital brain malformation. His parents claimed that staff at the Life Fund’s offices at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Mt Hope, had told them that his condition was not life-threatening, and he was unable to qualify. On August 12, Kaj underwent surgery after the family received donations from Republic Bank, First Citizens and close friends and family. “Doctors say it (surgery) was successful. This surgery does not typically offer seizure freedom, but a reduction in his seizure burden which was about 6 to 8 dropping episodes a day even while medicated. Since surgery he has not had any seizures but has developed weakness on his left side and a loss of tone in his neck. He regains strength daily...actually his doctors and therapists are truly amazed,” said Gonzalez. The couple said they also tried to get help with Kaj’s monthly and educational expenses. “We have tried all avenues, the Government Special Needs grant turned us down also, citing that they could not ‘establish a financial need’. Then we tried for help with his school fees, which amounted to $4,500 a term and I am still awaiting a response since last year September. You know they really fail sometimes in helping people who really need their help...it just takes too long,” Gonzalez said. She said Kaj’s expenses continue to exceed the family’s joint income. It is also ironic, she said, as she is awaiting months of outstanding salary, because the company she works for is currently owed payments from a government agency. Kaj’s medical costs has reached as high as US$1,100 a month. His education had been scaled down to three months a year, because of the frequency of his seizures then, which amounted to sometimes as many as eight “falling down” episodes daily. Kaj had to wear a helmet to protect himself from serious injury. As for their recent request for assistance with travel to Florida, Gonzalez said they were told by staff at the Health Ministry’s office that they do not “offer assistance related to medical travel.” The Government, though, she said, is very much aware of Kaj’s needs, as a letter seeking assistance, sent in May, had been acknowledged. “We really don’t know who in government to turn to next. But with Kaj’s medical expenses from the surgery still to be determined, we really are drowning here. We know we are going to have massive bills when this is over. I put on a smile for him, because
we are happy he had the surgery, but we are living by God’s good graces right now,” she said. Kaj has been transferred from the Florida Hospital to nearby Nemours Children’s Hospital for inpatient rehabilitation, which includes physical therapy. In the meantime, Gonzalez continues to lend support to other families through her initiative, Epilepsy Today Foundation TT. It was through her foundation, fundraisers and assistance from family, friends and well-wishers, they were able to raise a substantial amount of the required US$156,000. “Thanks to Republic Bank and First Citizens for their assistance, our close friends and family. The journey is not over and we are thankful for their support,” she said. The family expects to return by October 7. • Anyone willing to assist can contact the family at 678-4224. (Trinidad Guardian)
Kaj Romain with a member of staff from the Nemours Children's Hospital for in-patient rehabilitation in Florida, USA, following his surgery.
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
MONDAY,22 AUGUST, 2016
Maxi Driver Murdered,thatAbandoned In Caroni robberies had decreased over the past few years, Pierre said:
A 44-year-old maxi taxi driver from Cunupia was murdered in an apparent botched robbery sometime on Saturday night. Dudnath Beharry, a father of two, from Rangoo Trace, Warren Road, Cunupia, left home on Saturday afternoon to work the Curepe to Chaguanas maxi taxi route. His wife, Judy Subero, contacted police and the owner of the maxi after he failed to return home later that night. According to police reports, around 6 am yesterday, a farmer was walking to his garden at Caroni South Bank Road, Kelly Village, Caroni, when he saw a green band maxi taxi parked at the side of an abandoned sugarcane access road. He contacted police after he saw that the driver was unconscious and blood oozing from a head injury. The driver’s window was rolled down and the victim, still wearing his seatbelt, was slung over in the driver’s seat. He could not immediately be identified by police as his wallet was missing. Subero got the chilling news of her husband’s death when she went to the Cunupia Police Station to file a missing person’s report. Police took her to the crime scene where she identified his body. In an interview at her Cunupia home, hours after his body was found, Subero claimed that she sensed that something was wrong when he did not come home by 10 pm. “He wasn’t a limer. He would work in the morning and come home by 10 am for lunch and then go back out for a couple of hours in the evening,” Subero said. She said he had never deviated from the routine in the one and a half years he worked as a maxi taxi driver. Subero also questioned why her husband’s attackers would chose to shoot him after robbing him. “He don’t look for trouble. Anybody tell him something, he would just walk away. He would not have fought them,” Subero said. Subero said when she was searching for Beharry on Saturday night she spoke to other maxi taxi drivers who told her that they last saw him leaving the maxi taxi stand in Curepe with two male passengers around 9 pm. Investigators were expected to interview the drivers today as they work on tracking down Beharry’s killers. Former president of the Green Band Maxi Taxi Association Kelvin Pierre said yesterday that robberies are a major cause of concern for maxi taxi operators. Although he stated
“One is still too many.” Pierre said that most of the robberies occurred at night while drivers were parked in the maxi stand in Curepe waiting for passengers. Pierre also questioned the reason for killing Beharry as he claimed that he (Beharry) would not have had a large quantity of cash on him. “At that hour he would not have much more than his float, so the police need to look into this because it is outside the norm,” Pierre said. Meanwhile, police are continuing investigations into the murder of a 29-year-old man from San Juan, who was shot dead on Friday. According to reports, around 11.30 pm, Kester Alexander, of Laventille Road, San Juan, was liming with friends on the roadside near his home when the group was approached by two strangers. The men drew guns and shot Alexander several times. Alexander, who police said had several pending court cases for gun possession, died on the scene. So far, 293 people have been killed for the year. (Trinidad Guardian)
Judy Subero, left, is consoled by her sister Suzie at the family’s Rangoo Trace, Warren Road, Cunupia home yesterday. PHOTO: ABRAHAM DIAZ
Cuba Elected To Council of International Civil Aviation Organisation HAVANA, Cub, (CMC) — Cuba has been elected to occupy a seat in the council of the International Civil Aviation Organisation. At the recent meeting of the Latin American Civil Aviation Commission (LACAC), Cuba was elected from eight countries in the region. LACA President Carlos Fernando Velasquez told journalists that support for Cuba stood out among the agreements reached at the 88th meeting of the executive committee of the organisation. Velasquez who is also director-general of Civil Aeronautics of Guatemala, highlighted Cuba’s performance in the organisation in areas such as air transport and operational safety. He noted that the Spanish-speaking nation saw a growth of 18 per cent in air passenger traffic last year, and it is expected to reach about 25 to 30 per cent at the end of this year. The 39th Assembly of the International Civil Aviation Organization is scheduled to be held in Montréal, Canada from September 27 to October 7. (Jamaica Observer)
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
MONDAY,22 AUGUST, 2016
Tobago Teens Killed In Crash Two teenagers were killed in an accident in Tobago yesterday. Police identified them as Lariann Perez, 19, of Signal Hill, and Shi-ann Thomas, 13, a student, of Glen Road. The accident took place shortly after 4 am on the Auchenskeoch Buccoo Bay Road, Carnbee, near Republic Bank. Perez, who was the driver, was heading south in her friend's silver Almera, when she ran off the road, struck a traffic sign and ended up in a drain. Police said Thomas was thrown from the vehicle while Perez suffered head injuries. Both died on the spot. Investigators said Perez obtained her driver’s licence less than one month ago. Autopsies are scheduled to be performed today. Old Grange Police are continuing investigations. (Trinidad Guardian)
Nine-Year-Old Was Executed
Seon Paul
Southern Division police now believe nine-yearold Seon Paul was executed and not hit by a stray Lariann Perez, 19, of Signal Hill. bullet as they initially believed. Paul, of Byron Street, La Romaine, was shot shortly after 9 pm on Friday and initial reports stated he had been struck once by a stray bullet. However, yesterday police said Paul was shot four times, twice in his back and twice on his shoulders. Paul was a pupil of the La Romaine RC School and was expected to move up to Standard Two when the new term opens in September. Police are working with the theory that the shooter was a professional, as Paul’s cousin, Kenika Smalls was not shot, although the two were walking together when the incident occurred. On Saturday, Kenika told the T&T Guardian that she and Paul were going to buy hot dogs when they heard gunshots and ran. She had said they ran until Paul cried out and collapsed and then she realised he had been shot. He was taken to the San Fernando General Hospital by police but succumbed to his injuries during emergency surgery. The motive for Paul’s murder is believed to be an ongoing turf war for drug blocks in the area. An autopsy is expected to done on Paul’s body today at the Forensic Science Centre in Port-ofSpain. (Trinidad Guardian)
$200,000 In Cash Burnt In Bar Fire Over $200,000 in cash went up in flames yesterday as fire destroyed a bar in Chase Village, Chaguanas. Two employees narrowly escaped injury after bolting from the building. According to reports, around 2.30 pm, two employees of Club Samkiss at Southern Main Road, Chase Village, saw sparks coming from the building’s high voltage electrical connection from the roof. Eyewitnesses said within seconds the roof of the bar caught afire. As the fire quickly spread, the employees and customers at the bar evacuated. No one was injured. By the time fire officers from the Chaguanas Fire Station arrived, the building was already engulfed in flames. Fire officers also immediately began to douse water on Gable X, a plastic manufacturing factory located next door, to prevent the fire from spreading. When the T&T Guardian visited the scene, several residents said they heard a loud explosion shortly after the fire had started. However, fire officers suggested that the noise came from when the bar’s roof collapsed. In a brief interview, the bar’s owner Ramcharan Jankie said he was shocked when he received news of the fire. “I was very surprised because we did major electrical work here about three months ago,” Jankie said. Jankie estimated his losses to be approximately $3.75 million as he said he had over $200,000 in cash
and $300,000 in stock, stored in the section of the building that was completely destroyed. Jankie, who said that the business was his family’s for several decades, said they would seek to rebuild as soon as the property was cleared by fire inspectors. “Samkiss is a landmark in central Trinidad. People from all over Trinidad does lime here,” Jankie said. (Trinidad Guardian)
Fire officers at the scene of a fire which destroyed Club Samkiss in Chase Village, Chaguanas, yesterday. Photos: ABRAHAM DIAZ
INTERNATIONAL PAGE 19
GUYANA DAILY NEWS
MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 2016
A Day Like Today The agreement to fund a humanitarian, nonpartisan organization for the sick and wounded in times of war, was S o u r c e : h t t p : / / w w w . h i s t o r y . c o m / t h i s - d a y - i n adopted a day like today in the Geneva Convention 1864. The history/international-red-cross-founded Amelioration of the Condition of the wounded and sick of Armies in the Field, was adopted and approved by the majority -By- Rocio Perez, Guyana Daily News. in the congress, the first meeting of this kind to be celebrated with such purpose. Later to become the lead for the following Geneva Conventions. The idea was brought to life by Swiss humanitarian and first Nobel Prize, Jean-Henri Dunant. The inspiration for the foundation of such organization, came from Dunant’s traumatic experience during one of his business trips to Italy in 1859, where he was witness of the repercussion of the Battle Of Solferino. This armed conflict is denominated to be the last major battle, where the armies were under the personal command of their monarchs. Napoleon III for the French army, and Victor Enmanuel II for the Kingdom of Sardinia, predecessor state of Today’s Italy. Back in Switzerland, Dunant’s experience was embodied in a book that he named “Memories of Solferino”, book that became the draft for the foundation of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Even though Dunant wasn’t a direct witness of the clash, he walked the battlefield following the conflict, seen on his path fallen soldiers in the need of care. This momentum would mark him greatly. The proposal for humanitarian movement was approved, and the birth of the emblematic Red Cross was witnessed a day like today 1864. The symbolic ‘red cross’ in a white background was designed in honor to Dunant’s Swiss nationality, representing the Swiss flag inverted.
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 2016
Turkey Kurdish Wedding Bomber 'May Not Have Been Child’
Turkey's prime minister has backtracked on a statement by the president which said the suicide bomber who attacked a Kurdish wedding was a child. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in the aftermath of the attack in Gazantiep, which killed 54, that the bomber was aged between 12 and 14. PM Binali Yildirim says it is uncertain whether it was a child. Mr Erdogan has blamed so-called Islamic State (IS). Most of the victims of the bombing were children, media reports say. "A clue has not yet been found concerning the perpetrator," Mr Yildirim told reporters, following a weekly cabinet meeting. He said the earlier statement identifying the attacker as a child was a "guess" based on witness accounts. Gaziantep, near the Syrian border, is known to contain several IS cells. Twenty-nine victims of the attack, which took place on Sunday, were under the age of 18, reports said, with one official saying 22 were under the age of 14. Thirteen of those killed were women, Turkish media said. Sixty-six people are still in hospital, 14 of them in a serious condition, Dogan news agency reported. One woman lost four children in the attack, the Haberturk newspaper reported. Emine Arhan told the title "if it wasn't for my only surviving child, I would have killed myself". Another victim was a nine-year-old girl who had stayed on at the party to see the bride after her parents had left, according to the Vatan newspaper. A disproportionately large number of women and children
were killed in the attack because it targeted henna night, a part of the celebration attended mainly by women and children, says BBC Monitoring's Turkey analyst Pinar Sevinclidir. Hurriyet newspaper said the type of bomb, which contained scraps of metal, was similar to those used in previous attacks on proKurdish gatherings. Kurdish fighters, backed by the US-led coalition, have been at the forefront of the fight against IS in Syria. Prosecutors said a search was also under way for two people believed to have accompanied the suspected attacker to the wedding party but who left before the blast. In a defiant speech on Monday, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said IS should be "completely cleansed" from the border area with Turkey. He was speaking amid reports that Turkish-backed Syrian rebels were preparing to try to seize the IS-held border town of Jarablus. (BBC)
INTERNATIONAL PAGE 21
GUYANA DAILY NEWS
MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 2016
US Election: Questions Over Trump Deportation Plan Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has signalled he may drop his proposal to deport 11 million people who are living illegally in the US. His campaign manager Kellyanne Conway said the mass deportation plan, which was a central plank of his campaign, was yet "to be determined". Her comments at the weekend came after Mr Trump met with a new panel of Hispanic advisers. He told Fox News on Monday he was not "flip-flopping" but wanted a fair plan. The businessman is scheduled to deliver a speech on immigration in Colorado on Thursday. Mr Trump has taken a hardline stance on immigration since the beginning of his campaign, vowing to create a "deportation force" as well as make Mexico pay for the construction of a wall along the USMexico border. While struggling to keep up with Democratic rival Hillary Clinton in the polls, Mr Trump has addressed black and Hispanic voters in recent days with the aim of broadening his support beyond white working-class voters. "What he supports is to make sure we enforce the law, that we are respectful of those Americans who are looking for jobs, and that we are fair and humane to those who live among us," Ms Conway told CNN on Sunday. When asked to clarify if Mr Trump would maintain his position on creating a deportation force, Ms Conway responded: "To be determined." Donald Trump has repeatedly said the 11.4 million undocumented immigrants in the US "have to go". Now he may be wavering on that demand. The political risks of such a move - detractors will call it a flip-flop - are enormous. It will
be difficult for Mr Trump to convince Hispanic voters and moderates that his change of heart is authentic. Meanwhile, Mr Trump's core base of support could feel betrayed. The Republican nominee has survived sometimes contradictory positions - on issues such as gay rights, abortion and the minimum wage - that allow supporters to pick and choose what they think he believes. His position on illegal immigration, however, is different. It's a central part of his argument that the US working class has been grievously wounded by economic policies implemented by a globalist elite more concerned with profit margins than American jobs. A reversal here would be akin to his saying that maybe Nafta isn't so bad after all. It would tear at the heart of his message. Given that Mr Trump's standing with Hispanics particularly in key battleground states - has been an anchor on his presidential hopes, however, it may be a gamble he's decided to take. But Mr Trump's running mate, Mike Pence, insisted on Monday that the plan remains unchanged. "I don't think the message is changing at all. I think people are just getting to know Donald Trump better," Mr Pence said. Mrs Clinton's campaign later released a statement saying there would be little revision to his immigration plan despite Ms Conway's suggestions. "Donald Trump's immigration plan remains the same as it's always been - tear apart families and deport 16 million people from the United States," said campaign chair John Podesta. If the deportation plan is dropped or refashioned, it would not be the first shift in Mr Trump's immigration policy. His controversial plan to issue a "total and complete shutdown" of Muslims entering the country changed to a ban on countries with a history of terrorism against the US. That switch followed questions raised by constitutional experts. Last week, the Trump campaign faced a dramatic overhaul with the exit of campaign chairman Paul Manafort as well as the hiring of Breitbart News boss Stephen Bannon as CEO and Ms Conway as campaign manager. (BBC)
INTERNATIONAL PAGE 22
GUYANA DAILY NEWS
MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 2016
Hungary MEP Suggests Using Pig Heads To Deter Refugees
Hungary has erected a razor-wire fence along stretches of its southern border to keep out migrants(GETTY IMAGES)
A H u ng a r i a n member of the Europ ean Parliament has been criticised for suggesting pigs' heads could be put on border fences to deter refugees. Gyorgy Schopflin, a member of Hungary's ruling Fidesz party, made the remark after images emerged of vegetables carved into heads and placed along the country's southern frontier. "Human
images are haram... Pig's head would deter more effectively," he said. Hungary has taken a hard-line stance on migration into the country. Mr Schopflin made the comments responding to criticism from Andrew Stroehlein, European Media Director for the charity Human Rights Watch. Mr Stroehlein hit back at Mr Schopflin, accusing him of "xenophobic filth" and calling him an "embarrassment to Hungary, to Europe and to humanity". Other Twitter users called the MEP's comments "nasty" and accused him of racism. He has refused to apologise, saying the remark was "hypothetical" and "a thought experiment". Pork is considered impure by Muslims and its consumption forbidden. Under conservative Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Hungary has taken a tough approach to migrants and refugees entering the country. A razor wire-topped fence now separates stretches of the country's southern border from is neighbours and is patrolled by troops. In October the country will hold a referendum on whether it agrees on the EU's mandatory refugee resettlement policy. (BBC)
Germans Told To Stockpile Food And Water For Civil Defence For the first time since the Cold War the German government is advising citizens to stockpile food and water for use in a national emergency. Some opposition MPs said the new civil defence concept, to go before ministers on Wednesday, was scaremongering. Citizens are advised to store enough food to last them 10 days, because initially a disaster might put national emergency services beyond reach. Five days' water - two litres (half a gallon) per person daily - is advised. The German news website Frankfurter Allgemeine (FAZ) said the new concept was set out in a 69-page German Interior Ministry document. The document said "an attack on German territory, requiring conventional defence of the nation, is unlikely". But, it said, a major security threat to the nation in future could not be ruled out, so civil defence measures were necessary. Soon, Germans began tweeting ironically under the h a s h t a g "Hamsterkaeufe" (panic-buying). Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere told a group of schoolchildren that Germany must be prepared to react if Bottled water in Munich: Terror attacks have fuelled concern about national security(GETTY IMAGES)
water or food reserves were poisoned, or if oil and gas supplies were interrupted. The parliamentary head of the left-wing Die Linke party, Dietmar Bartsch, criticised the move, saying "you can completely unsettle people with yet another round of proposals, such as hoarding supplies". The Greens' deputy parliamentary leader, Konstantin von Notz, said it was sensible to update civil defence advice which had not been touched since 1995. But he warned against mixing up possible military or terrorist scenarios, saying "I can't see any attack scenario that merits a stockpiling of supplies by the population". Germany's civil defence: Cold War and now About 2,000 public bunkers and shelters were built in West Germany, with federal funding (former East Germany had its own communist network of shelters) There was a wide mix of shelters - eg in garages, schools, private cellars Special government nuclear bunker was built in Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler, 30km (19 miles) from Bonn Law says Cold War-era shelters must not be converted into new types of building Germany still has stockpiles of food - eg milk powder and beans - at secret locations, for a national emergency Inventories are regularly checked and renewed Emergency offices to issue food and fuel stamps, under national rationing system in a disaster (BBC)
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 2016
Russia 'Showed-Off' Over Use Of Iran Airbase For Syria Strikes Russia has stopped using an Iranian airbase to bomb targets in short and fixed span, corresponding [to an] operation in Syria". Syria, both countries have said. Iranian foreign ministry Gen Deghan was asked why Russia had chosen to reveal its spokesman Bahram Qasemi said the operation was "over for presence there whereas Iran had not. "The Russians are now" and the planes had gone. Iran's Defence Minister Hossein interested to show they are a superpower to guarantee their Deghan had earlier criticised Russia for publicising the raids share in the political future of Syria and, of course, there has last week, saying it had exhibited a "show-off" attitude. Russia been a kind of show-off and ungentlemanly [attitude] in this for its part has confirmed that all of its planes used from Iran for field." Syria strikes are now back in Russia. Russia. like Iran, is a key Gen Deghan explained that Russia had "decided to bring in ally of Syria's President Bashar al-Assad. Last Tuesday, more planes and boost its speed and accuracy in operations". Russia's defence ministry announced that Tupolev-22M3 long- "Therefore, it needed to refuel in an area closer to the operation. range bombers and Sukhoi-34 strike fighters had used the That's why they used the Nojeh base. But we have definitely not Shahid Nojeh airbase near the eastern city of Hamedan to carry given them a military base." Hours later, Mr Qasemi announced that Russia's deployment had ended. "It was a specific, out air strikes on "terrorists" in Syria. The raids were the first carried by Russia from a third country authorised mission and it's over for now. They conducted it and since it began an air campaign against Mr Assad's opponents they are gone now," he was quoted by the official news agency almost a year ago, and also the first launched from Iranian soil as saying. The US, which backs the opposition to Syria's by a foreign military since World War Two. Russia now says president, had said Russia's use of the Iranian base was that aircraft which were based at the Hamedan air base are no "unfortunate but not surprising". (BBC) longer located there and have returned to the Russian Federation. Defence ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov was quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying that future use of the base will now only take place "on the basis of mutual agreements between the two countries on the fight against terrorism and will depend on developments in Syria". The secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, Ali Shamkhani, previously lauded the "strategic" co-operation with Russia. But some MPs complained that it breached the Islamic Republic's constitution, which prohibits allowing foreign militaries to be based on its territory. In an interview with state TV on Monday, Gen Deghan stressed that Russia the Iranian airbase reduced the duration would only use the Nojeh airbase "for a very Using of the Russian bombers' missions(REUTERS)
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 2016
Gina-Lisa Lohfink: German Model Fined For False Rape Claim
German m o d e l Gina-Lisa Lohfink has b e e n convicted of making false rape allegations against two men in a case that has sparked debate across Germany. She was fined €20,000 (£17,200; $22,600) by a court in Berlin. A video showing Lohfink having sex with the two men in 2012 and saying "No" found its way on to the internet. She insists the incident was rape. But at a subsequent trial the two men were cleared of rape and Lohfink was accused of making false testimony. Lohfink is a former competitor on reality TV show Germany's Next Top Model, and the high-profile case partly informed a recent change to Germany's rape laws. A new law was passed in July clarifying that "no means no" even if the victim did not fight back. Prosecutor Corinna Supporters of Gina-Lisa Lohfink gathered outside the court at an earlier hearing(REUTERS)
Goegge said: "Ms Lohfink was not a victim of a sexual offence. "She lied and deliberately misled investigators." The court found that the sex was consensual but that Lohfink was saying "No" to it being filmed. But Lohfink has continued to insist that she was raped. "I'm not here to become famous," she told the court. "I didn't want the sex, nor the filming," she said in her final testimony, according to Tagesspiegel. After the verdict was read out, she cried, "I don't need to put myself through this" before storming out of the courtroom. Lohfink's defence lawyer described the verdict as "a scandal". Burkhard Benecken said he would discuss with her whether she had the strength for an appeal. He was now concerned for all women who wanted to report a rape, he said. One of the two men involved in the case pleaded guilty to a charge related to distributing videos showing the sex act. The case has been extensively covered throughout the German media. Tabloid Bild reported the verdict as "a bitter setback" for Lohfink, and said the verdict was greeted with boos from the public gallery. Die Zeit said that Monday's trial showed "how disrespectfully we treat people, when it comes to the accusation of rape". The case will stigmatise all parties in the long run, the paper said. (BBC)
Islamist Rebel Apologises For Destroying Timbuktu Shrines At ICC Trial An Islamist militant has admitted destroying cultural sites in He faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in jail. Nine victims are Timbuktu, Mali, in a landmark trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC). Ahmad al-Faqi al-Mahdi said he was "really sorry" for his actions and asked for forgiveness. He was accused of leading rebel forces who destroyed historic shrines at the world heritage site in 2012. It is the first time that the court in The Hague has tried a case of cultural destruction. It is also the first time a suspected Islamist militant has stood trial at the ICC and the first time a suspect has pleaded guilty. Prosecutors said Mahdi was a member of Ansar Dine, an Islamist group that occupied Timbuktu for months. Islamists regard the shrines and the city's ancient manuscripts, covering everything from history to astronomy, as idolatrous. Court documents describe Mahdi as a religious scholar who directed fighters to wreck several sites with pickaxes and chisels after failing to deter locals from praying at them. He was charged with war crimes over the destruction of nine mausoleums and a mosque. Pleading guilty, he said: "I am really sorry, I am really remorseful, and I regret all the damage that my actions have caused. "I would like to give a piece of advice to all Muslims in the world, not to get involved in the same acts I got involved in, because they are not going to lead to any good for humanity," he added Given his guilty plea the trial will probably be over by the end of this week.
later due to share their experiences in court. Human rights groups say their presence is especially significant in demonstrating how the destruction of cultural heritage not only harms buildings but tears through the social, cultural and historical fabric of communities. At the time, Unesco said the attack on the shrines of local saints was "tragic news for us all". Timbuktu is famous for its distinctive mud and wood architecture. It was a centre of Islamic learning between the 13th and 17th centuries and was added to the Unesco world heritage list in 1988. Ansar Dine, an extremist militia with roots in the nomadic Tuareg people, has ties to al-Qaeda. It was eventually driven out of Mali in a French-led intervention. The court has previously heard that Mahdi, a former teacher aged about 40, was a "zealous member" of the militia. He is alleged to have been the head of the section that enforced strict Islamic law in Timbuktu. Treasures of Timbuktu Timbuktu was a centre of Islamic learning from the 13th to the 17th Centuries 700,000 manuscripts had survived in public libraries and private collections Books on religion, law, literature and science Added to Unesco world heritage list in 1988 for its three mosques and 16 cemeteries and mausoleums They played a major role in spreading Islam in West Africa; the oldest dates from 1329 Islamists destroyed mausoleums after seizing the city in April 2012 (BBC)
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 2016
Harambe The Gorilla: Cincinnati Zoo 'Not Amused' By Memes
A zoo in Cincinnati, Ohio, says it is "not amused" by the numerous memes and petitions created after one of its gorillas was shot dead. Staff killed Harambe in May after he grabbed a three-year-old boy who got into his enclosure. Since then he has become a favourite subject of jokers, satirists and campaigners. Responding, Cincinnati Zoo said the constant mentions were making it difficult for staff to move on. "Our zoo family is still healing," director Thane Maynard told Associated Press in an email. “We are honouring Harambe by redoubling our gorilla conservation efforts and encouraging others to join us.'' Mr Maynard's twitter account was hacked over the weekend. The zoo's accounts have also been flooded with replies. Harambe's death sparked huge controversy. Debates touched on everything from whether zoo staff were correct to shoot him to why there was so much focus on him amid open conflicts elsewhere in the world. The boy's mother has faced abuse online from those who blamed her for the death of the 17-year-old gorilla. Prosecutors ruled against pressing charges. Cincinnati Zoo reopened its Gorilla World exhibit in June with a higher barrier in an attempt to prevent any more accidents. After his death, numerous petitions have been created in Harambe's
honour, some calling for him to be turned into a Pokemon Go character, to be put on a dollar, or carved into Mount Rushmore. A poll in Texas suggested he would get 2% of the popular vote in the US presidential race. Then there are the stream of jokes and references online. But Harambe has been appropriated in nasty ways, such as in the racist abuse of actress Leslie Jones. Retired Australian football player Adam Goodes also faced similar attacks online. (BBC)
Harambe was shot after a small boy got into his enclosure(REUTERS)
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 2016
Poll: Clinton Has Narrow Advantage Over Trump In Ohio
Hillary Clinton has a narrow advantage over Donald Trump in the swing state of Ohio, according to a new poll released Monday. The Monmouth University poll ďŹ nds Clinton up four points on Trump among likely Ohio voters, 43% to 39% -within the survey's 4.9-point margin of error. New electoral map shifts toward Clinton Additionally, Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson is getting substantial support in the state, with 10% saying they'll vote for him, while less than 1% say they will vote for Green Party candidate Jill Stein. Clinton's lead is consistent with most post-convention polling of the Buckeye state, where Clinton is generally shown leading by mid-single digits. The Monmouth poll found Clinton and Trump performing about the same with voters of their respective parties, which suggests there is growing party unity as the election approaches and both candidates continue to work to shore up their base. Trump is backed by 83% of Republicans, and Clinton gets the support of 88% of Democrats. Meanwhile, independents back Trump and Clinton in equal measure -- 35% -- with a full 20% saying they'll go for Johnson. In demographic terms, Clinton and Trump are both outperforming their predecessors, Barack Obama and Mitt Romney, among the groups that those candidates lost in 2012. Clinton leads Trump among black, Hispanic and Asian voters 72% to 10%. But in 2012, Obama beat Romney in that group by a larger margin, 84% to 14%. Conversely, Clinton is outperforming Obama among white voters. She draws 37% of their support to Trump's 45% -better than Obama's loss to Romney in that group by 16 points. This is partly because
while Trump leads comfortably among white men, 52% to 28%, he is losing white women to Clinton, 38% to her 46%. The Monmouth University poll also found that Ohio's governor, John Kasich, has not hurt his standing among his state's Republicans, despite his public refusal to support Trump as the GOP nominee. The survey found that 38% say they think more highly of Kasich for his position, while just 17% say they think less highly of him. Forty-four percent said his decision had no impact. Lastly, the Montmouth poll found incumbent GOP Senator Rob Portman leading the former Ohio governor Ted Strickland, his Democratic challenger, by 48% to 41%. The race could have major implications for control of the upper chamber of Congress. The Monmouth poll was conducted between August 18 and 21, and sampled 402 Ohio residents likely to vote in November. It has a margin of error of 4.9 points. (CNN)
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 2016
Former Singapore President Dead At 92 Former Singaporean President S R Nathan died Monday at the third presidential term. View image on Twitter After his age of 92, according to a statement from the country's Prime Minister, Lee Hsien Loong. Three weeks ago, Nathan had suffered a stroke, Loong said. According to Reuters, the stroke was his second in recent years, with the latest having placed him in critical condition. Nathan, who held office from 1999 to 2011, was the longest-serving president of Singapore, according to Loong. The Prime Minister described Nathan as a "warm and approachable" leader who "impressed visitors with his knowledge of world affairs, and served with dignity and distinction." “He was a true son of Singapore," Loong added. Born in 1924, Nathan was raised in Muar, Malaysia, before moving with his family to Singapore. He worked for the Japanese during World War II as a translator and later a civilian police official. After the war ended, he climbed through Singapore's bureaucratic ranks, holding a number of roles in security and foreign affairs, and was an ambassador to the United States. In a statement, current Singaporean President Tony Tan praised Nathan for establishing the Institute for Defence and Strategic Studies, an influential think tank in Southeast Asia, and the President's Challenge, an annual philanthropic campaign. In 2009, Nathan signed off on the unprecedented use of $4.9 billion from Singapore's national reserves to curb the effects of the Great Recession. As the economy recovered, he decided not to seek a
presidency, Nathan went on to hold several academic appointments, launched an educational fund to assist disadvantaged students and published two memoirs as well as a children's book. Three years ago, Nathan was the recipient of the Order of Temasek, one of Singapore's most prestigious awards. A state funeral service will be held Friday at the University Cultural Centre, according to Loong's office. (CNN)
Singaporean leader S R Nathan meets then-Australian Prime Minister John Howard in Canberra in 2005.
T u e s d a y A u g u s t 2 3 , 2 0 1 6 n r u T e s er a v e l o P
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
TUESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2016
PPP Wants Speedy Hearing Of Election Petition; Protest Outside High Court
The People’s Progressive Party (PPP), led by General Secretary Clement Rohee, held a peaceful picketing exercise outside the High Court in Georgetown, calling for a date on the hearing of the Elections petition that was filed by the PPP/C. According to Rohee, “Justice delayed is Justice denied”. He is calling for the hearing of the elections petitions to be expedited and is blaming the justice system for the willful delay in the hearing. He noted that the PPP will use the necessary avenues to challenge the May 2015 elections results, including protests and in the courts. On June 24, 2015 the PPP filed an election petition in the High Court, challenging the results of the May 11 General and Regional Elections, in which the APNU+AFC coalition was victorious. The petition is asking for the High Court to rule that the elections were null and void. The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) had subsequently filed a summons to strike out the summons, allowing the petition to go to trial. GECOM has petition. That hearing will be held on September 06, 2016. however appealed the ruling of the former Acting Chief Justice. Former acting Chief Justice Ian Chang had quashed the counter
PRESIDENT: ONE MORE MINISTERIAL PLANNING UNIT FOR BUDGET 2017 At the opening ceremony of the N a t i o n a l To s h a o s Council (NTC) on Monday, President David Granger announced that the 2017 National Budget will be presented on December 5 2016, but did not mention the budget amount. This 2016 budget was estimated at $230B, with the Ministry of the Presidency receiving – $4.8 billion, Office of the Prime Minister – $6.5 billion, the Guyana Elections Commission– $3.5 billion, Ministry of Social Protection – $13.9 billion and the defunct Ethnic Relations
Commission receiving– $81 million, among others. The President further stated that in order to maintain a pattern of preparation, the government will be considering the establishment of a ministerial planning unit. Currently the Budget office which is responsible for the planning and preparation of the annual budget is part of the Ministry of Finance. According to the Ministry, the objective of the Office of the Budget is “to foster strong economic development through effective management of the economy and more specifically public finances”. This is facilitated through the preparation of the country’s annual revenues and expenditure estimates, effective and efficient management and monitoring of resource allocation and utilization combined with the formulation of constructive and effective economic policy. Additionally, the office plays a pivotal role in the preparation and analysis of macroeconomic information, economic and fiscal policy generation which informs the national decision making bodies. The core responsibility of the office is to effectively and efficiently manage the budget of the Government of Guyana.
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
TUESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2016
Business Owners Concern About Smuggling Of Styrofoam Products Government had announced that the ban will the ban will take
Some business owners have raised concern about the presence of Styrofoam products in Guyana even though there is a ban in effect. Most businessmen/women who prefer to remain anonymous out of fear of victimization, told the Guyana Daily News that they have been abiding with the law by importing alternative products but this is proving to be counter-productive since there are other entities that are smuggling Styrofoam into the country. Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman at an August 11 post cabinet press briefing had revealed that the government is investigating reports of the illegal item being smuggled via Suriname into Berbice. He had noted that the Guyana Revenue Authority and the Environmental Protection Agency were notified and are in the process of making plans to seize and sanction those responsible. The Ministry of the Presidency had announced that it is placing a ban on Styrofoam products in keeping with the vision of a green economy and environment. The ban will be enforced through a collaborative effort between the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, the Ministries of Business, Legal Affairs, and Finance, through the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA). The
effect January 1, 2016 and a three month’s waiver on the importation of Styrofoam containers will end on March 31. Penalties for crimes committed against the ban include a fine of no less than GY$50,000 for importation and manufacture and if businesses are found prepackaging food in said ‘Styro’ products, they can be issued a warning or a fine.
Human Rights Association Continues Tirade Against State Assets Recovery Agency The Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) says that Guyana does not have the right constitution or political environment to handle the consequences of a State Assets Recovery Agency (SARA). The GHRA in a statement issued on Tuesday noted that the SARA Bill proposed by government should not be passed until there is constitutional reform in Guyana. “Our current constitutional and legal systems in which the SAR Bill will operate have been fundamentally flawed since the 1978 Constitution was approved by a turn-out of 14% of the population. No amount of tinkering and prevarication can disguise its deformity. The Constitution was fashioned to reflect the powers accumulated in the hands of the then President Forbes Burnham. The party flag flown over the Court of Appeal symbolized the end of politics as a process of prudence, conciliation and pluralism. Both confirmed the entry of Guyanese politics into an era of power struggle rather than that of a political contest,” the Association noted in the statement. The statement further noted that the Constitutional Reform Commission recommendations of the late ‘90s were largely axed by the Parliamentary Oversight Committee (under the chairmanship of the current Prime Minister), reflecting a disturbing capacity of Parliamentarians to suppress reforms aimed at weakening the over-weaning powers of the Presidency to their own benefit. “The legitimacy of the SAR Bill rests on ignoring this structural deformity of Parliament. No Parliamentarian can challenge the Bill (from the Government side) nor welcome it (from the opposition side) without risking expulsion from Parliament by their party leader.” According to
the GHRA, the Government is not seeking all-party support on the merit of the Bill but is relying instead on its Parliamentary majority - a power struggle without politics. “Instead of mechanisms to ensure moderation, candidates for the Directorship of SAR are required to possess the qualities of sainthood, essentially the same argument used by Dr. Jagan. The GHRA has issued numerous statements and organized several civic coalitions since the mid-1990s calling for constitutional reform of the electoral and parliamentary processes. In light of this experience, the GHRA has no realistic expectations that the current incumbents will go further than their predecessors without sustained civic and public pressure. Our releases and our actions will continue to be focused in this direction,” the statement concluded.
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
TUESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2016
GPL Is Working Assiduously To Return Cable To Operation On Thursday, August 18, 2016, a GPL team with assistance from a team of submarine cable experts from China r e t r i e v e d G P L’s submarine cable from the Demerara river bed in order to assess the extent of the damage to the cable. GPL had conducted a comprehensive test on the cable subsequent to a total shutdown on Tuesday, July 12 which attributed the incident to faulty insulation at the connection or “Pot Head” linking the 69KV submarine cable to the overhead transmission lines at Kingston; based on a preliminary distance readings obtained from the protective devices at our substations
at Kingston and Vreed-en- Hoop and concluded that the tests indicated damage to the cable. An inspection of the cable was necessary in order to determine the extent of the damage. Having established the degree of damage the submarine cable experts have since recommend a remedial course of action, that is to remove the section of the damaged cable and to joint the cable using a special submarine cable jointing kit which GPL is currently pursuing in order to bring the cable back into operation in the shortest possible time. In the interim the Company has confirmed that there is sufficient capacity within East Demerara and Berbice to meet the electricity demands of its customers. GPL remains committed to serving you. Guyana Power and Light Inc. Press Release
City Hall To Take NICIL To Court Over Massive Debt
THE Mayor and City Council (M&CC) is in the process of commencing legal proceedings against the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) for monies owed by the company, Town Clerk Royston King has revealed. King made the announcement on Monday during the Council’s statutory meeting at City Hall, and noted that NICIL owes billions of dollars to the M&CC in rates and taxes for the
Guyana National Industrial Company Incorporated (GNIC) which owes $172M, Central Garage Inc. and West Ruimveldt Industrial Site which owes $33M and state lands in the vicinity of the Oil Mill in Kingston which owes $179M. In a previous engagement with the media King said that business owners ought to be “ethical” in the way they manage their affairs and advised businesses to in come in an settle any outstanding debt they may have as he disclosed that the City Council recently received 14 judgments in its favour. King also noted that Council has a payment plan for those who are finding it difficult to discharge their liabilities to the M&CC in one payment. King related that the city is in a strained financial position, and is hopeful that all citizens will visit the rates and taxes division of the municipality and pay their outstanding balance.
LOCAL PAGE 33
GUYANA DAILY NEWS
TUESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2016
Minister Allicock To Sanction Indigenous Leaders Who Cause Division
Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Sydney Allicock, while speaking at National Toshaos Council (NTC) conference told Indigenous leaders that he will work with them to ensure they abide by the laws, but those who thrive on causing division and those who seek to cause conflict among their peoples will face sanctions. Minister Allicock expressed concern over the lack of respect shown for elected toshaos in the various villages and likewise the disrespect that some
toshaos have for the villagers.
“The same people who elected their leaders, show scant regards for those leaders as they manage the day to day affairs of the villages. Likewise, disrespect by some toshaos for the citizens of their villages is alarming. We cannot continue to operate in this manner if we are going to move forward, if we want to have a good life,” Allicock stated. The Minister also expressed concerns over the behaviour of the toshaos, some of which are using their office to enforce unlawful rules and punishment unheard of. “There are some leaders who seek to use their elected offices to their own self-interest and to the frustration of villagers… Expelling councillors from meetings for disagreeing with a toshao, threatening councillors with dismissal, making arbitrary decisions and entering into agreements to exploit village resources without council or village approval cannot be allowed to continue,” Allicock explained. The Minister urged the NTC to take its responsibility seriously, and the Community Development Officers (CDOs) to be more proactive. He said the laid back attitude by CDOs will no longer be tolerated, and their reports must be timely and specific. Meanwhile, Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Valerie Garrido-Lowe said the 10-point plan unveiled by President David Granger last year, is ongoing and stated that the youths are making full use of the HEYS programme which has currently been introduced in 106 communities. Minister Garrido–Lowe also commented that such an events such as the NTC conference is very important to Government in pursuit of a good life for all Guyanese. (Source: GINA)
LOCAL PAGE 34
GUYANA DAILY NEWS
TUESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2016
Hotel Owner Remanded For Attempted Bribery Of Investigator Veersammy Narine today appeared before Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court after he was arrested and charged with corruptly offering an agent employed by the Government of Guyana $400,000 GYD as a reward or inducement. Narine was remanded until August 29, 2016 where he will reappear before the court for report into the matter. Narine, 52, owner of Novo Hotel located at Robb and Cummings Street, Georgetown pleaded not guilty to the charge and was represented by Attorney Glenn Hanoman, who made an application for bail, stating that Narine has been in police custody since Saturday and had to be rushed to the hospital to receive medical treatment. The Attorney said his client has been unwell for the past few months as he did a surgery recently. Prosecutor Corporal Kerry Bostwick made no objection to bail but stated that the court considers special conditions seeing as though based on the nature of the offence the accused might be inclined to recommit the offence. Magistrate Latchman upon hearing both statements said that she considered all that was said, especially the claims of health issues and the closeness of the offence to
obstruction of Justice, therefore at the time the court will be unable to grant the accused bail. It is alleged that on August 20, 2016 at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters, Eve Leary, Veersammy Narine, offered a rank attached to CID, Suraj Singh, $400,000 GYD as a reward or inducement to show favour of Dennis Veersammy. -By- Jarred Singh, Guyana Daily News.
Duo Granted Bail On Armed Robbery Charge
Renol Frisko and Wavel Anthony today appeared before Magistrate Delon Best in the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court jointly charged with robbery under arms which they allegedly committed on August 17, 2016. The two men were granted
$20,000 bail each and are set to return to court on September 6, 2016 for continuation into the matter. Frisko and Anthony, who are residents of La Penitence, were unrepresented in court and pleaded not guilty after hearing the charge read to them. Magistrate Best in the absence of a lawyer asked the men various questions to aid in a bail application, which the prosecution did not object to. It is alleged that on the day in question in Georgetown the two accused while armed with a gun robbed the unnamed Virtual Complainant of one iPhone valued at $60,000, one Aspire Tablet valued at $25,000 and $25,000 cash, total value of $110,000. -By- Jarred Singh, Guyana Daily News.
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
TUESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2016
President Celebrates Raksha Bandhan With Brahma Kumaris -Says It Has Potential To Foster Social Cohesion Two representatives from the Brahma Kumaris, today, visited and celebrated Raksha Bandhan with President David Granger and his staff at the Ministry of the Presidency, an event which, the President said, has the potential to bridge gaps and promote social cohesion in Guyana. “I would like to thank you very much for thinking about us… Thank you for your thoughtfulness and bringing these blessings for us. Although it is a Hindu ceremony mainly, it is one that has universal relevance,” President Granger said. The two women, Sister Jean Ramnauth from the Guyana Chapter and Sister Bharti Khetwani, who is on a three-day visit to Guyana, tied ‘Rakhis’ or a sacred thread on the President’s hand, while offering prayers on his behalf, as is the custom of the observance. “All of us here are, of course, government servants but we believe that we have an obligation, not just to ourselves but a whole country and this ceremony helps us to understand how people of different ethnic and religious groups could come together. I think ceremonies like this would help to promote understanding and also brotherhood and sisterhood among us and of course, reverence to God. This is a good place to start in helping to spread the message of the festival,” the President said. In tying the sacred thread on President Granger’s right hand, Sister Bharti explained the relevance of the occasion. She noted that while the popular belief is that a sister should tie the thread on an individual she considers a brother; there is deeper meaning, one, which involves every person. “Raksha Bandhan is when a sister ties the sacred thread on her brother’s hands and prays to God that he will be protected and the brother takes the Oath for the sister, that he will protect her through her life. However, it has a more spiritual meaning. It is not the brother or sister, who requires protection only. It is all the human beings in the world. Whatever may be the relationship now requires a protection. It is the festival of the bond of love,” she explained. This occasion she said, must therefore serve to promote peace, unity and love and in so doing, a better world will be achieved. Several Ministers of Government including Minister of Social Protection, Ms. Volda Lawrence, Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources, Ms. Simona Broomes, Minister within the Ministry of Education, Ms. Nicolette Henry, Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Ms. Valerie Garrido-Lowe and Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Ms. Annette Ferguson, also participated in the ceremony. MOTP Press Release
Sister Bharti Khetwani ties a 'Rakhi' or sacred thread on the right hand of President David Granger, in observance of Raksha Bandhan.
Sister Bharti Khetwani applies the chandan tika to the forehead of President Granger before she ties the Rakhi thread.
President David Granger (centre) is flanked by (from far left) Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples' Affairs, Ms. Valerie Garrido-Lowe, Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources, Ms. Simona Broomes, Minister within the Ministry of Education, Ms. Nicolette Henry, Sister Bharti Khetwani, Sister Jean Ramnauth, Minister of Social Protection, Ms. Volda Lawrence, Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Ms. Annette Ferguson and Minister within the Ministry of Social Protection, Mr. Keith Scott, after the simple ceremony, today, at the Ministry of the Presidency.
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
TUESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2016
GPHC CEO To Be Sent On Leave Again
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), Michael Khan will be asked to take his accumulated annual leave to facilitate a review of investigative reports by the government into the affairs of the hospital. Khan was sent on administrative leave last year to facilitate a forensic audit which had a primary focus on scrutinizing the financial operations and functioning of the hospital. After the audit was completed, Khan resumed his duties at the institution which caused conflict between the Board of Directors and the government over whether he is fit to continue in the position. Cabinet then appointed Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Basil Williams as the mediator to intervene and make
recommendations to resolve issues between the Ministry of Public Health and the GPHC. Reports are that Khan would be asked to take his annual leave which according to his three-year contract began on the 1st of August 2014 and expires in August 2017/ He is permitted to have a 42 days’ vacation leave per year. According to the findings of the audit conducted by the Chartered Accountants of Ram and McRae, Khan deliberately broke the law when he refused to pay taxes on income earned. Mr. Khan was paid $100,000 per month for managing the department of Administrative Services after the transfer of Mr Leslie Cadogan to the New Amsterdam Hospital. Khan in a handwritten note to the Director of Financial and General Services, stated that the “allowance should be paid tax free.” The audit report said that Mr. Khan must have been aware that the Board made no decision on the tax implications of the payment to him of a responsibility allowance, that the payment by law is subject to PAYE (Pay As You Earn), and that the tax is deducted from responsibility allowances paid to other members of staff of the corporation. The responsibility allowance was paid with effect from January 1, 2011 an ended in September 2014 bringing the total amount paid to $4,400,000 thus attracting taxes of approximately $1,413,240. The report also found that he condoned questionable procurement practices at the institution especially Finance and Pharmacy departments where the CEO permitted sole sourcing without any adequate justification.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), Michael Khan
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
TUESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2016
President To Further Green Agenda On SideLines Of Upcoming UN Meeting President David Granger, today, met with senior officials of the various agencies that are responsible for the protection and management of the environment. During the meeting, the President requested that the group prepare a document, which details the priority areas, opportunities and other relevant information regarding Guyana’s biodiversity. He explained that this information will be used to inform his bilateral talks with heads of states on the side-lines of the 71st Regular Session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in New York next month. The Meeting was held at the Ministry of the Presidency and included Head of the Guyana Forestry Commission, Mr. James Singh, Director of the Environmental Protection Agency, Dr. Indarjit Ramdass, Head of the Wildlife Division, Ms. Alona Sankar, Commissioner of the Protected Areas Commission, Mr. Damian Fernandes, Iwokrama’s Consultant, Ms. Vanessa Benn, Mr. Nikolaus Oudkerk from the Ministry of the Presidency, Head of the Office of Climate Change, Ms. Jenelle Christian and Advisor on Climate Change at the Ministry of the Presidency, Ms. Ndibi Schwiers-Ceres. Noting that he will be seeking to advance his administration’s green agenda, during bilateral talks, the President said that, “this is a country we love. It has tremendous wealth and we can share that wealth for generations to come… We have poverty around us and we need to make our wealth work for us.” He informed that the Government will be establishing a department of environment to better coordinate the work of the different agencies that deal with the environment and help to address some of the challenges. The Head of State explained that as it stands, there are problems with deforestation, a decline in and smuggling of wildlife species and little to no mention of biodiversity, zoology and botany in schools’ curriculum. The President also spoke of the vast potential of
the Guiana Shield and said that Guyana cannot wait for other counties within the Shield to act. It must move ahead with its own plans and demonstrate leadership with the furtherance of its green agenda. “Our responsibilities are massive to this and future generations of Guyanese… Guyana is poised to play a dominant role in making the Guiana Shield central,” President Granger said. He also spoke of the need for children to be taught about the Guyana’s unique flora and fauna at an early age in order for them to develop a greater appreciation for the natural beauty that the country possesses. This he said, will help to attract more young people to the sciences, where they will develop viable careers and, at the same time, emerge as strong advocates for environmental protection. MOTP Press Release
From left: Mr. Nikolaus Oudkerk, Mr. James Singh, Ms. Jenelle Christian, President David Granger, Ms. Ndibi Schwiers-Ceres, Mr. Vanessa Benn, Ms. Alona Sankar, Dr. Indarjit Ramdass and Mr. Damian Fernandes at the Ministry of the Presidency
PSC Stalling Implementation Of Container Fees – Mayor Chase-Green
Mayor of Georgetown, Patrica Chase-Green
Mayor of Georgetown, Patrica Chase-Green has accused the Private Sector Commission (PSC) of stalling the implementation of the container fees. During the statutory meeting on Monday at City Hall, the Mayor said, “I don’t understand if this is a way of stalling what is happening at the City Council. I am asking the Town Clerk to write to the PSC to find out what is happening with the tripartite meetings. We are coming to the end and my understanding of the meeting that we had was that we were supposed to meet and complete at least by the end of this month.” The tripartite meeting was held between the Government, the Mayor and City Council and the Private Sector Commission which saw an agreement being made over the terms and conditions that will surround the implementation of the fee. After a meeting with the Georgetown Chamber and Commerce and Industry and the Public Sector Commission, the Mayor and her team made the decision to set up an interim period where there would be a decrease of the fee from $25,000 to $5,000. It was further reported that upon the completion of the period a secondary meeting would be held to further cement the by-laws surrounding the container fee.
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
TUESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2016
Second Time Drunk Driver Fined $15,000
A second time drunk driver who got caught up in a police roadblock, scoring more than four times the legal alcohol limit, was fined $15,000 yesterday and banned from driving for two years. Suraj Borilal, 28, a labourer, appeared in the San Fernando Traffic Court for the second time in a year charged with driving under the influence. He, however, claimed he did not deliberately set off to drive under the influence of alcohol but the designated driver was ill. Borilal, who was arrested by PC Sujeet Ramcharan on Sunday, pleaded guilty before Magistrate Taramatie Ramdass. Prosecutor Sgt Anil Manick said Borilal was stopped by the police around 1.15 am at La Plaisance Road, La Romaine, and the officer detected a strong scent of alcohol on his breath. When asked by Ramcharan if he was drinking, Borilal said: “I had two beers to drink.” However, the field sobriety test recorded a reading of 166 microgrammes and two further tests recorded readings of 148 and 146 microgrammes. The legal limit is 35 microgrammes. Borilal admitted that in February last year he was charged with driving under the influence and paid a fine. “The only reason I drove the car was because my friend who was suppose to drive... she was vomiting and feeling sick. There was no one else to drive so I took the responsibility (to drive).” However, the magistrate told him he should have called someone to pick them up, called a wrecker and the ambulance. Borilal claimed he drank “a good bit” of light beer. Advising him the second offence carries a penalty of $22,500 fine and/or jail up to five years and a disqualification from driving, she said: “You tell me why I should not send you to jail
for five years because this is no joke reading.” He replied: “I know the first time I said I not going to do it again but this time I was not suppose to be drinking.” Admonishing him for his alcohol intake, she asked him whether he wanted to end up with organ damage. Borilal claimed he went to a fete. If he fails to pay the fine in two months, he will serve three years in jail. As she disqualified him from holding or obtaining a permit for two years, she warned him he could be jailed if he was charged with a third breathalyser offence. (Trinidad Guardian)
Suraj Borilal fined $15,000 and banned from driving for two years
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
TUESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2016
Man Accused Of Rape, Attempted Murder On $85,000 Bail
A second time drunk driver who got caught up in a police roadblock, scoring more than four times the legal alcohol limit, was fined $15,000 yesterday and banned from driving for two years. Suraj Borilal, 28, a labourer, appeared in the San Fernando Traffic Court for the second time in a year charged with driving under the influence. He, however, claimed he did not deliberately set off to drive under the influence of alcohol but the designated driver was ill. Borilal, who was arrested by PC Sujeet Ramcharan on Sunday, pleaded Jesse Kangoo guilty before Magistrate Taramatie Ramdass. Prosecutor Sgt Anil Manick said Borilal was stopped by the police around 1.15 am at La Plaisance Road, La Romaine, and the officer detected a strong scent of alcohol on his breath.
When asked by Ramcharan if he was drinking, Borilal said: “I had two beers to drink.” However, the field sobriety test recorded a reading of 166 microgrammes and two further tests recorded readings of 148 and 146 microgrammes. The legal limit is 35 microgrammes. Borilal admitted that in February last year he was charged with driving under the influence and paid a fine. “The only reason I drove the car was because my friend who was suppose to drive... she was vomiting and feeling sick. There was no one else to drive so I took the responsibility (to drive).” However, the magistrate told him he should have called someone to pick them up, called a wrecker and the ambulance. Borilal claimed he drank “a good bit” of light beer. Advising him the second offence carries a penalty of $22,500 fine and/or jail up to five years and a disqualification from driving, she said: “You tell me why I should not send you to jail for five years because this is no joke reading.” He replied: “I know the first time I said I not going to do it again but this time I was not suppose to be drinking.” Admonishing him for his alcohol intake, she asked him whether he wanted to end up with organ damage. Borilal claimed he went to a fete. If he fails to pay the fine in two months, he will serve three years in jail. As she disqualified him from holding or obtaining a permit for two years, she warned him he could be jailed if he was charged with a third breathalyser offence. (Trinidad Guardian)
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
TUESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2016
Dog Pound Shut Down After Graphic Video A video of malnourished stray dogs being euthanised at the San Kuruvilla said. Meanwhile, vice-president of Animals Alive. Fernando pound through lethal injections, has prompted San Fernando Mayor Kazim Hosein to close the pound temporally. Although the facility remained locked yesterday, three whimpering stray dogs were seen lying inside the steel cages. Hosein’s decision to postpone all killings at the pound took place after footage of the dogs being euthanised were circulated on Facebook. In the video the stray dog handlers were seen hurling a bucket filled with puppies into a net. It also showed a fully grown dog was then placed stretched out on a table where they were administered the lethal injection. As one of the dogs crawled on the ground dying, three pups were seen licking her face. The dying dogs were then tossed on a pile one on top the other in a heap. Contacted yesterday president of the T&T Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (TTSPCA), Sita Kuruvilla, said she supported the permanent closure and relocation of the dog pound. Under past mayor Dr Navi Muradali, Kuruvilla said her group had a joint venture approach to manage the stray dog population with the city corporation. “We worked with the city engineer and our plans were to rebuild a new shelter in another location. A MOU was drawn up to cover the management of that facility,” Kuruvilla said. Saying too many animals were being abandoned, she said there was a need to have proper animal welfare legislation. “We have a very old Dogs Act and it focuses on picking up stray dogs. We have a Dog Control Act which gives little consideration to animal welfare. The time has come to look at legislation, embark on public awareness programmes which support low cost spaying and neutering for the animals,”
Stray dogs in a kennel at the San Fernando dog pound which has been closed by San Fernando Mayor Kazim Hosein until Wednesday. PHOTO: KRISTIAN DE SILVA
Jowelle de Souza, said she was appalled by the video. “For years I have been begging the corporation to work with us to rescue these animals. They are often left there with no food or water. I used to go every weekend to feed them but they threatened to lock me up if they see me anywhere near the pound,” De Souza said. She said instead of euthanising the dogs, it should become a criminal offence for pet owners to abandon the animals. De Souza also said owners should be mandated by law to spay and neuter their pets. She also revealed that the Animals Alive shelter at Ralph Narine Trace, South Oropouche, had over 600 dogs and each week new pets were being adopted. Find a more humane way—Hosein In an interview Mayor Kazim Hosein said yesterday he did not know that the animals were being starved and euthanised. Agreeing that it was better to have the dogs placed in a shelter, Hosein said he planned to embark on a proper upgrade of the pound. “I really did not know what was going on in there. One of the first things I did when I became mayor was to hold meetings for the relocation of the pound but they said we have no money for that. This year the Ministry of Local Government allocated some money to upgrade the pound,” Hosein said. He said he was also liaising with veterinary surgeon, Dr Kriyaan Singh, a former Independent Senator, who has offered his services free of charge. Hosein also said he planned to hold a meeting tomorrow at the corporation to discuss the issue. Singh in an interview said he was willing to go to the corporation once weekly to euthanise the dogs humanely. “Although I do not support the inhumane slaughter of animals I do support humane euthanasia as a form of animal control and humane cessation of pain and suffering,” Singh said. Admitting that not enough is being done to rehome the strays, Singh said every dog that was picked up by the corporation could be published on social media so its owner or a new owner could be found. Euthanasia, he said, should be the last resort. He said the management of the pound should be adjusted so citizens could easily go and adopt an animal at the pound without any hassle. (Trinidad Guardian)
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
TUESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2016
Security Ministers For Terrorism Talks
the operational activities of the Defence Force and police. “I am not aware that the police in Central is understaffed and/or underresourced. We have added resources to the Central Division, in particular in the Enterprise area, over the last period and there has been a reduction in terms of criminal incidents,” Phillip said. He said a request was also made for police officers to give extra hours of work and promised that they will be paid overtime. Dillon, in weighing in on the topic, gave the assurance that right now Acting Commissioner of Police Harold Phillip, right, they were treating with the issues of fiddles with his phone as National Security Minister Edmund Dillon, left, speaks during yesterday’s launch crime and criminality and areas are still of the 12th Conference of Defence Ministers of the Americas (XII CDMA) at the International Waterfront safe and secure. “The agencies of the Centre, Tower C, Wrighston Road, Port-of-Spain. Also in photo is Chief of Defence Staff Brigadier General State will continue to be outside there Rodney Smart. PHOTO: NICOLE DRAYTON on the streets doing their investigations and operations and again we present a secure environment for T&T citizens,” Dillon said. (Trinidad he upcoming 12th Conference of Defence Ministers of Guardian) the Americas, which will be held in T&T in October, will be used to discuss terrorism and terrorist threats related to Isis, the trafficking of arms and ammunition, drugs and human trafficking. All discussions will, however, take place in “side bar meetings,” T&T’s National Security Minister Edmund Dillon said yesterday during the media briefing about the three-day conference. The budget for the conference, where an unprecedented number of Ministers of Defence and delegates from the 34 nation states representing the Americas will be attending, is estimated to be at $9 million, but the majority of costs will be covered by corporate sponsors. He said they will be holding meetings on the issue of terrorism and terrorists within “our security landscape” and they will be looking at sharing information and intelligence gathering. “The sidebar meetings will also deal with how do we treat with the inflow of arms ammunition, drugs and human trafficking. The conference allows us to do that type of networking. Also, the trading of experiences and best practices,” Dillon said. He said there are three topics the meeting will be addressing: Security and Defence of the Americas in a Changing International Environment: The Evolving Role of the armed Forces, Environmental Protection and Resilience; and Hemispheric Security and Defense Cooperation Policy: Beginning with Strengthened Humanitarian Emergency Assistance. Cop asked to do overtime Questioned by the media about claims that the Central Division was understaffed and under-resourced at the same press conference, acting Police Commissioner, Harold Phillip, said he had full confidence in
T
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
TUESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2016
Another Oil Spill Off Trinmar’s Platform
More crude oil has spilled into the already polluted Gulf of Paria after a Petrotrin discharge line from an oil to shore pump of Trinmar’s Platform 17 developed a leak. It is uncertain how much crude oil spilled into the sea. A source said the oil spill occurred between Thursday night and Friday morning and was cleaned up within hours by Petrotrin personnel before it came to shore. The State-owned company did not issue an immediate public notice about the spill and it was only yesterday that the company acknowledged the leak when asked by the media. The source said the discharge line which pumps crude from Platform 17 to Trinmar’s Tank Farm is located about four miles from shore. It is uncertain what caused the line to leak but speculation is rife that the offshore infrastructure was in dire need of upgrade. Already two leaks have been plugged close to Trinmar’s S-20 platform by Petrotrin personnel which caused a shutdown of fishing operations along the villages of Bamboo, Bonasse, St Marie, Bois Bourg, Granville, Icacos and Fullerton. More than 1,200 fishermen and their dependents are relying on Petrotrin to provide compensation. Some of the fishermen said they lost more than two weeks of work because of the spills. Weeks before the oil spill became public, hundreds of dead fish began washing ashore on the western coastlines. Contacted yesterday, president general of the Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union Ancel Roget said he did not have details of the oil spill but will investigate. President of the Icacos Fishing Association Esook Ali said the entire fishing industry was closed down because many people have stopped buying fish. He said although the oil spill was minor, hundreds of fishermen were facing hardship. In response, Petrotrin’s communications manager Gillian Friday acknowledged that there was a leak. “On Friday, August 19th while conducting routine field checks, a leak was observed on one of our platforms in our marine operations. Corrective actions were taken by operations personnel and the situation has been normalised. The Environment Management Agency and the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries w e r e informed. Shoreline checks reveale Flashback...A Petrotrin crew during a clean-up exercise in the Gulf of Paria following a oil spill last month. Photo: RISHI RAGOONATH
d that there was no oil sighted along the beaches. Ongoing monitoring will continue.” In an earlier statement, Petrotrin said it was continuing to maintain constant vigilance and surveillance of all its land and marine installations. The company denied that chemicals were used in the cleanup, saying that primarily the use of absorbent materials achieved restoration of the affected areas. It also said it will continue to hold discussions with the fishermen and will work with them to resolve their issues. (Trinidad Guardian)
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
TUESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2016
Mother Of Nine-Year-Old Murder Victim: No Drug Link In My Son’s Killing “My son was not a drug dealer.” These were the words of Safiya Wi l l i a m s yesterday as she spoke out about the death of her n i n e - y e a r- o l d son, Cyon Paul. Cyon was shot and killed while walking along the Southern Main Road, La Cyon Paul Romaine, on Friday night. He had left his Byron Street home minutes before to buy hotdogs at a nearby food truck. His cousin, Kenika Smalls, was with him at the time but was not hurt. At her home yesterday, Williams denied rumours her son’s death was linked to an ongoing drug war in the area. Police had said on Sunday the child’s death seemed to be a hit and said then he was shot several times. An autopsy yesterday by forensic pathologist, Dr Valery Alexandrov, showed he was shot once, the bullet entering and exiting his left arm before re-entering the right side of his chest. Alexandrov said the bullet pierced the boy’s lung and heart before exiting through the right side. Given the circumstances of the shooting and the angle he was shot at, he said that differed
from an execution-style shooting. Whether medical assistance came sooner, Alexandrov said his injuries were non-survival as he lost a lot of blood which flooded his chest cavity quickly. “My son never sell no drugs. He never had anything to do with drugs. He was just a baby, he used to give me half of anything he was eating. even if it was one chewing gum, he would share it in half and give me. “You see running and playing? That’s what Cyon was into. He would play until dark and still ask to play more,” Williams said. She admitted to having shortcomings as a single parent but said: “I may not be the best mother but I always try to make my children happy. I never turned my back on them or leave them. My child didn’t do nothing to deserve this.” Williams, who also has a seven-year-old daughter, Tyra, wept as she recalled her fond memories of her son. She said Cyon would have turned ten on September 25. “He would say ‘Mommy, eight more years and I will be 18. What you think I should be?’ He used to tell me he wanted to be a policeman or a lawyer but we will never know,” she added. She said her son’s death was senseless and made a plea for justice for him. “I just want some kind of justice. My child didn’t deserve this. He was the sweetest child, like an angel, he never disrespect anyone,” she said. She said Cyon’s death was also taking a toll on Tyra. “She can’t sleep at night. She doesn’t really understand that he gone but when she asks I tell her Cyon in heaven. I don’t know how we going to handle this,” she added. Tentative arrangements are being made for a funeral service on Thursday. (Trinidad Guardian)
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
TUESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2016
Leaders Show Off Arsenal
A video depicting known gang leaders, some of whom are in currently in jail, is engaging the attention of Criminal Gang and Intelligence Unit (CGIU) and the Strategic Services Agency — this country’s main surveillance unit, as they gather information on suspected criminals. Police said last night that the video, which is being shared on WhatsApp, clearly identifies Rasta City gang leaders from Beetham Gardens, Sea Lots, Maloney, L’eau Place in Port-of-Spain, Maracas, Point Fortin and Caroni, among other areas. Police said the video was used primarily as a recruiting tool to lure new members by giving the impression of a glorified life of crime. In the video, gang members display a host of high-tech guns from their arsenal, including the Mach 10, Uzi, Tec-9, AK47 and AR15 rifles. Gang warfare between the Rasta City gang and what police have labelled as the Muslim gang has claimed lives of scores of young men from major crime hot spots across the country. Homicide Bureau officers said yesterday the war was mainly among young black men for control of drug turfs, Government contracts and the right to extort money from legitimate business people in exchange for protection. Statistics from the Crime and Problem Analysis Unit of the Police Service have shown over the years that gang murders accounted for the majority of the people killed each year. Between 2008, when there was a record high of 550 murders, and to date, close to 3,300 people have been murdered, with the detection rate well below the accepted standard. Police admitted they have stepped up patrols in known crime hot spots, identified in the video and have been carrying out sweeping raids with “varied success.” The extortion racket has grown over the years, particularly in central Trinidad, after a wave of kidnappings for ransom between 2002 and 2007 sparked fear and panic among members of the business community, police said. One of latest causalities in the ongoing war was Selwyn “Robocop” Alexis, who police said controlled the Central region with the help of crooked cops. Alexis, 52, was shot dead one month ago outside his Enterprise car wash and mini mart. Kevin Escayg, of San Juan, and Escayg’s fouryear-old son were also shot in that incident. The boy alone survived, while one of Alexis’ assailants, Thomas “Hamza” Sharpe, was also killed in the gunfire. Suspects under watch The video
at the beginning identifies slain gang leader Merlin “Cudjoe” Allamby, 40, as the general of the Rasta City gang. Allamby was shot dead in July 2008 with two other people during an ambush in Aranguez, San Juan. Unlike other videos of a similar nature, the men in the video made no attempt to conceal their identities. Police said the men in the video appeared to be posing with authentic assault weapons in known locations in Trinidad, while other guns featured in the twominute, 12-second video were taken off the Internet. CGIU officers said yesterday the video first appeared last year and recently resurfaced. Officers said the people identified in the video by their aliases are being monitored and profiles are being built on them. They insisted, however, that the information being compiled was not sufficient to convict them for any crime. A soundtrack accompanying the video describes methods of murder, including the dumping of bodies in Caroni. It also shows a decapitated corpse with what appears to be bullet wounds to the chest area. Police could not immediately confirm the authenticity of the body. Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister, Stuart Young, who was provided with a copy of the video yesterday, said: “Material of this nature is obviously cause for concern. It has been passed onto the relevant authorities for verification/authentication and any investigation that is deemed to be necessary.” (Trinidad Guardian) A member of the Rasta City gang displaying his assault rifle.
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
TUESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2016
JTA Spends $34m, So Far, To Recoup Stolen $100m ST JAMES, Jamaica — The Jamaica Teacher’s Association (JTA) reported that $34 million has been spent in its quest to recover more that $100 million that was siphoned by an employee in 2013. General Secretary of the association Byron Farquharson said much progress has been made in recouping members’ funds. “We can only trust that, the struggle and the cost will be worth it. We have gone too far to turn back now,” he said. “We note the long expensive and frustrating experience we have in trying to recover
what is ours, we have made some progress through the courts but the legal maze is still ongoing,” Farquharson said as he reported to delegates attending the JTA Annual Conference in Montego Bay, St James. The JTA delegates, according to a release, have been told that the association spent more than $10 million to cover legal costs and another $7 million to complete a forensic audit. Added to that, at one point $6 million was used to pay for crime and security consultations in tracking a former junior accountant believed to have defrauded the association. Farquharson noted that the absence of the main suspect from the process has complicated JTA’s efforts to restoring members’ funds. He said, “there are appeals and counter appeals and we are going through that, but based on what we know and what we have, it’s going to be difficult for them to get it away from us because it was duly awarded through the courts”. The JTA secretary general added that “one of the key players in the process is still missing and therefore it’s going to be difficult to fight without this persons being present.” (Jamaica Observer)
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
TUESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2016
Venezuelan Gov't Workers To Lose Jobs Over Recall Petition
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — President Nicolas Maduro is ordering retaliation against managers in government agencies who signed a petition to recall him from office. Socialist party leader Jorge Rodriguez said Monday that Maduro had set a 48-hour deadline for ministers to fire high-ranking public workers who added their name to a petition seeking a new presidential election. The sackings would affect the ministries of food, finance, work and basic business, as well as workers in the office of the president. Hundreds of public workers have already said they were fired this summer after signing the petition. The order recalls widespread official retaliation against those who signed a petition to recall former president Hugo Chavez in 2004. (Jamaica Observer)
President Nicolas Maduro
Tropical Wave Approaches Eastern Caribbean
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) — A tropical wave located about 750 miles east of the Lesser Antilles is producing disorganised shower and thunderstorm activity. Based on this, the Miami based National Hurricane Centre has advised interests in the Eastern Caribbean to monitor the progress of this system. The National Hurricane Centre says while dry air is expected to slow development during the next few days, environmental conditions could become more conducive for development late this week when the system is expected to move near Hispaniola and the southeastern and central Bahamas. An Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft is scheduled to investigate the system on Tuesday. The system has a 50 per cent chance of developing into a tropical cyclone during the next five days. Meanwhile, a low pressure area associated with a tropical wave was centred about 300 miles southwest of the southern Cabo Verde Islands. The associated showers and thunderstorms are well organized. Recent satellite data suggests the system has not yet developed a well-defined circulation. A tropical depression could form on Tuesday as the system moves westward to west-northwestward at 15 to 20 mph over the eastern tropical Atlantic Ocean. (Jamaica Observer)
INTERNATIONAL PAGE 47
GUYANA DAILY NEWS
TUESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2016
Paris Tourism Hit By Militant Attacks, Strikes And Floods
Attacks by Islamist militants, strikes and floods have caused a big fall in tourism in Paris. There were a million fewer visitors between January and June compared with the same period in 2015. Paris welcomes 16 million visitors a year and is one of the world's top tourist destinations. The drop is estimated to have cost about €750m (£644m) in lost revenue. One senior official described it as "an industrial disaster". France relies heavily on tourism, which generates more than 7% of its annual GDP. About half-a-million people in the Ile-de-France region, which includes Paris, have jobs linked to tourism, making it the biggest employer in the area. France's tourism industry has dipped sharply since gunmen from the so-called Islamic State killed 130 people in the November Paris attack. The city was only just beginning to recover from an attack in January 2015 on the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo. Tourist board figures show that nightly hotel stays were down 8.5% in the Ile-de-France region in the first half of 2016, with an 11.5% decline in foreign tourists and a 4.8% decline in French tourists. The board says that even the staging of the European football championships failed to arrest the decline. The Ile-de-France figures also show: A 46.2% decline in Japanese visitors compared with the same period in 2015 A 35% decline in Russian visitors A 19.6% decline in Chinese visitors A 5.7% decline in visitors from the US "It's time to realise that the tourism sector is going through an industrial disaster," Paris region tourist board head Frederic Valletoux said in a statement. "This is no longer the time for communication campaigns but to set up a relief plan." Mr Valletoux called for major
investment to protect jobs in the tourism sector and government and trades union action to address the problem. Ile-de-France regional President Valerie Pecresse told Le Figaro in an interview (in French) that the decline in the number of tourists had worrying economic implications and that recent attacks were the main reason for it. But she said Paris must also work out why tourists were spending less time in the city compared with London and "improve the quality of our offer". France's tourism sector was also damaged last month when a gunman drove a truck into crowds celebrating Bastille Day in the Riviera city of Nice. Two weeks later, two men suspected of belonging to the so called Islamic State group killed a priest in a small town in Normandy. Strikes and floods have also taken their toll. (BBC)
Pavement portraits - part of the Parisian tourist experience(REUTERS)
INTERNATIONAL PAGE 48
GUYANA DAILY NEWS
TUESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2016
34kg Pearl Found In Philippines 'Is World's Biggest'
Philippine officials believe they may have recovered biggest natural giant clam pearl in the world - weighing a whopping 34kg (5.2 stone). The pearl was found 10 years ago by a fisherman who was unaware of its value and kept it as a good luck charm, Palawan official Aileen Amurao said. "We were amazed when he brought it to us," she told local
media. Officials are awaiting confirmation from gemologists that the find is indeed the world's largest pearl. The pearl is 61cm (2ft) wide and 30cm long and, if confirmed, will easily beat the current record holder, the Pearl of Lao Tzu, which weighs 6.4kg. (BBC)
Philippines War On Drugs: '1,900 Killed' Amid Crackdown
The head of the Philippines police has said more than 1,900 people have been killed during a crackdown on illegal drugs in the past seven weeks. Ronald dela Rosa was speaking at a senate hearing into the sharp rise in deaths since Rodrigo Duterte became president. He said police operations had killed about 750 people, but the other deaths were still being investigated. Mr Duterte won the presidency with his hard-line policy to eradicate drugs. He has previously urged citizens to shoot and kill drug dealers who resisted arrest, and reiterated that the killings of drug suspects were lawful if the police acted in selfdefence. He also threatened to "separate" from the UN after it called his war on drugs a crime under international law. The US has said it is "deeply concerned" by the increase in drug-related killings. The senate joint inquiry is being conducted by Senator Leila de Lima, who has called on authorities to explain the "unprecedented" rise in deaths. It is also hearing from the relatives of some of those killed. Faces of the crackdown The family members of some of those killed are getting the chance to tell their stories to the inquiry. Wearing dark glasses and draped in a shawl, Harra Besorio said policemen raided her home in The inquiry will also hear from the relatives of those killed(AFP)
Pasay City without a warrant and stripped her infant daughter to check for drugs. Her partner, who she admitted was a small-time dealer, and his father were beaten up in front of them, she told the inquiry on Monday. They were later taken to a police station and allegedly killed there. The two police officers accused claimed an attempt had been made to grab one of their guns, but this was refuted by the Philippines Commission on Human Rights. It said they had been badly injured and were shot three times. The two officers have been charged with murder. Mr dela Rosa told the inquiry on Tuesday that a total of 1,916 deaths had been recorded during the crackdown, 756 of which were during police operations. He said the number had gone up even since he gave evidence on Monday, where he gave a figure of 1,800 deaths. “Not all deaths under investigations are drug-related," he told news agency Reuters, saying about 40 killings were due to robbery or personal disputes. However, Mr dela Rosa said there was no declared policy to kill drug users and pushers, saying police were "not butchers". The police director-general also added that about 300 police officers were suspected to be involved in the drugs trade, warning that they would be charged and removed from their positions if found guilty. Nearly 700,000 drug users and peddlers have turned themselves in since the launch of the campaign, Mr dela Rosa said. He also said that there was a decrease in overall crime, though the number of homicides and murders had increased. On Monday, Mr dela Rosa told the inquiry: "I admit many are dying but our campaign, now, we have the momentum." Senator Frank Drilon told Reuters that the number of deaths was "alarming" and had "a chilling effect". In his previous role as mayor of Davao, Mr Duterte built a reputation for blunt speaking and supporting the extrajudicial killings of suspected criminals. Crime rates in Davao decreased while he was in office, though human rights groups estimate than more than 1,000 people were killed with no legal process. (BBC)
INTERNATIONAL PAGE 49
GUYANA DAILY NEWS
TUESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2016
Germany Considers Return Of Conscription For Civil Defence Germany may reintroduce a form of national service for water, the advice is to stockpile five days' supply - two litres civilians to help the army deal with a future disaster. The role (3.5 pints) per person daily. of civilians is part of a new civil defence strategy to be A public health manager with the German Red Cross, discussed by the government on Wednesday. Since the Wolfgang Kast, told the broadcaster ARD (in German) that strategy was leaked to the media there has been intense debate the intense debate about stockpiling showed that "people about stockpiling food and water. In a crisis civilians might be have become less and less prepared for an emergency". obliged to help direct traffic or provide fuel and "We've got accustomed - not least because of the internet - to accommodation for the military, German news agency DPA having everything available at all times," he said. He listed as reported. Germans appeared generally unfazed by what some key emergency provisions: water, noodles and tomato sauce, MPs have called government "scaremongering" but the word along with any required medicines, a torch, spare batteries "Wehrpflicht" (conscription) was trending on social media on and candles. On its website the German Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance (BBK) gives citizens Tuesday. The topic of civil defence also boosted the popularity of a survival list for emergencies, enough to last two weeks. hamsters on social media, as Germans, with more than a hint The list includes: 28 litres (6.2 gallons) of drinking water of irony, adopted the hashtag "Hamsterkaeufe", which means 4.9kg (10.8 pounds) of bread, noodles, rice, potatoes 5.6kg panic-buying or hoarding like a hamster. Germany's Die (12.3 pounds) of vegetables and pulses (preferably preTageszeitung daily sported a big picture of a hamster on its cooked) 3.6kg (eight pounds) of fruit and nuts (in jars or tins) front page, with the headline "The End is Nigh" - which was About 2,000 public bunkers and shelters were built in West widely tweeted. A satirical article in Die Welt (in German) Germany, with federal funding (former East Germany had its joked that "Hamsters are sold out in Germany". It said the lack own communist network of shelters) There was a wide mix of of hamsters presented the nation with "an unprecedented shelters - eg in garages, schools, private cellars Special humanitarian disaster". The article was bylined, in English: government nuclear bunker was built in Bad NeuenahrAhrweiler, 30km (19 miles) from Bonn Law says Cold War"Jean Gnatzig, Head of Silly Content". Die Welt hamster pic - screenshot Threat of 'hybrid' conflict era shelters must not be converted into new types of building The government said a national disaster was "unlikely" but Germany still has stockpiles of food - eg milk powder and preparations were needed in case of a future terror attack or beans - at secret locations, for a national emergency "hybrid" conflict involving cyber warfare, which could Inventories are regularly checked and renewed Emergency damage key infrastructure. Russia's military intervention in offices to issue food and fuel stamps, under national rationing Ukraine in 2014 - the clandestine seizure of Crimea and system in a disaster support for separatist rebels - has been widely described as Sources: Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster "hybrid warfare". Germany scrapped compulsory national Assistance (BBK); Sueddeutsche Zeitung; Schutzbautenservice in 2011, but provision for it remains in the Stuttgart.de (BBC) constitution, so it could easily be reinstated, DPA says. During the Cold War, national service meant that West Germany could mobilise 495,000 soldiers and boost the numbers to about 1.2m if necessary by calling up reservists. School leavers had the option of doing 18 months' civilian service - for example in a hospital - instead of nine months in the military. But at the height of the Cold War - in the 1960s and 1980s - conscripts had to spend 18 months in the military. Women were exempt from conscription. Stocking up The new civil defence plan includes advice for citizens to store enough food to last 10 days, because emergency services might be fully stretched dealing with a major disaster. On drinking Until 2011 German conscripts had to do military service, like these cadets in Marienberg(GETTY IMAGES)
INTERNATIONAL PAGE 50
GUYANA DAILY NEWS
TUESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2016
Turkey Shells Both IS And Kurdish Positions In Syria
T
that the attacker was between 12 and 14 years old, saying this could not be confirmed. The pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) said the wedding was for one of its members, and IS have targeted Turkish Kurds in the past. Many of the victims were children - the two youngest were four years old. Sixty-six people are still in hospital, 14 of them in a serious condition, Turkey's Dogan news agency reported. A disproportionately large number of women and children were killed in the attack because it targeted henna night, a part of the celebration attended mainly by women and children, says BBC Monitoring's Turkey analyst Pinar Sevinclidir. Where is Assad in all this? Syrian government forces are not directly involved in the battle for the border at Jarablus, having gradually lost ground in the north over more than five years of civil war. Turkey's long-time position has been that President Bashar al-Assad must be ousted as a condition for peace in Syria. However, Prime Minister Yildirim acknowledged this week that he was one of the "actors" and suggested he could play a role in an interim leadership.
urkey has bombarded so-called Islamic State (IS) targets across the border in northern Syria ahead of an expected ground attack on an IS-held town. Some 1,500 Turkish-backed Syrian rebels have also gathered in the Turkish city of Gaziantep, poised for an offensive to drive IS out of Jarablus. Turkey has also shelled Syrian Kurdish forces nearby, apparently to deter them from taking Jarablus themselves. (BBC) Gaziantep was hit by a suicide bombing on Saturday which killed 54 people. The BBC's Mark Lowen in Gaziantep says the attack on a wedding in the city, blamed on IS, may have been spurred by reports of the imminent Syrian rebel offensive. More victims of the blast are being identified and our correspondent says the wave of bombings in Turkey could intensify as the country becomes ever more embroiled in the Syrian war. Why is Turkey shelling both IS and the Kurds? Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has said that IS should be "completely cleansed" from areas in northern Syria near its border. Turkish forces have been exchanging shellfire with IS positions in the Jarablus area since Monday. However, Turkey is also wary of moves that might bolster Syrian Kurdish forces, known as the YPG, which it views as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), a Turkish-Kurdish rebel group fighting for autonomy since the 1980s. On Monday, Turkey shelled YPG positions near Manbij, a town they took from IS this month. The 1,500 fighters poised to enter Syria from Gaziantep are believed to be Turkish-backed Syrian rebels. A senior rebel official quoted by Reuters said they were fighting under the banner of the Free Syrian Army. How the wedding attack in Gaziantep is connected The identity and motive of the suicide bomber who attacked the wedding party have yet to be revealed. Soon after the attack, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said IS was the likely perpetrator but Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said on Monday that investigators actually did "not have a clue". He downplayed earlier reports
INTERNATIONAL PAGE 51
GUYANA DAILY NEWS
TUESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2016
IS Conflict: UN Warns Of 'Huge Impact' Of Mosul Assault
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he humanitarian impact of a planned offensive by Iraqi been drawn up to provide shelter for up to 120,000 people pro-government forces to retake the city of Mosul is fleeing Mosul, while the agency looks to set up six new camps expected to be "enormous", the UN says. Up to 1.2 across northern Iraq. "Progress depends on both the million people living in and around Mosul could be affected availability of land and of funding," Mr Edwards said. by the operation to drive out jihadist militants from Islamic The UNHCR's appeal for $584m for displaced Iraqis is only State, it warns. More than 120,000 people have already been 38% funded, and many private landowners are unwilling to displaced by fighting since March as troops clear territory to lease land to the agency. More than 3.38 million people have the south. Mosul, Iraq's second largest city, has been under IS been forced to flee their homes in Iraq since 2014, when IS rule since June 2014. Earlier on Tuesday, elite troops militants overran large parts of the country's north and west launched an operation to recapture the key town of Qayyarah, and proclaimed the creation of a caliphate stretching into neighbouring Syria. An additional one million Iraqis were 60km (40 miles) to the south. A spokesman for the Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS), displaced as a result of the sectarian conflict that followed the Sabah Numan, said its forces were battling IS militants on the US-led invasion in 2003. "Worse is yet to come," said the town's outskirts and were working in co-ordination with UNHCR's representative in Iraq, Bruno Geddo. "We predict armed residents inside. Pro-government forces have been that it could result in massive displacement on a scale not seen preparing to move on Qayyarah for weeks, after recapturing a globally in many years." (BBC) nearby airbase that will be used as a logistics hub for the wider offensive on Mosul. The town's mayor, Saleh al-Jubouri, said an estimated 15,000 civilians were trapped there, but that most of the militants had fled or been killed. ‘Worse to come' Once the battle for Mosul begins, a further 400,000 people are expected to escape to the south of the city, 250,000 to the east and another 100,000 to the north-west. "The humanitarian impact of a military offensive there is expected to be enormous," UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) spokesman Adrian Edwards told reporters in Geneva. Contingency plans have Thousands of people fleeing fighting near Mosul have been arriving at camps in northern Iraq(AP)
INTERNATIONAL PAGE 52
GUYANA DAILY NEWS
TUESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2016
Ramen Noodles 'Are Most Valuable US Prison Commodity', Study Suggests Ramen noodles have other food items, clothing, hygiene products and even overtaken tobacco to become the most valuable commodity in some US prisons, a new study suggests. The research said the shift was a response to a decline in the quantity and quality of food on offer. "Because it is cheap, tasty, and rich in calories, ramen has become so valuable that it is used to exchange for other goods," said study author Michael Gibson-Light. US prison data shows spending has not kept pace with the number of inmates. How the US will end its 30-year history with private prisons Although the research is based on anecdotal evidence from fewer than 60 inmates and staff from one male state prison, the author points to other findings indicating that the trend toward using ramen noodles for exchanges is evident in other prisons. The shift was taking place across different groups within prisons and was not a response to bans on tobacco products within the prison system, Mr Gibson-Light said. Barter economy The noodles are exchanged for goods including Noodles can be exchanged for goods and services, the research found(GETTY IMAGES)
services such as laundry and bunk cleaning, Mr Gibson-Light said. Others use them as bargaining chips in gambling when playing card games or participating in football pools. They are also replacing other traditional forms of prison currency, such as stamps and envelopes, the study found. The US spent $52.4b (£39.7bn) on prison services in 2012. But expenditure has not kept up with a growing state prison population, which saw a rise of 343% between 1980 and 2013, although it has now declined slightly. Mr Gibson-Light said staff and inmates at the prison he visited said the amount of food being provided had decreased steadily over decades and warned the shift could have serious implications. “Prisoners are so unhappy with the quality and quantity of prison food that they receive that they have begun relying on ramen noodles - a cheap, durable food product - as a form of money in the underground economy," he said. "The form of money is not something that changes often or easily, even in the prison underground economy; it takes a major issue or shock to initiate such a change," he added. He called for more research into what the reduction in food could mean for the care of prisoners. (BBC)
INTERNATIONAL PAGE 53
GUYANA DAILY NEWS
TUESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2016
Boko Haram Crisis: Nigeria Air Strike 'Kills Commanders’
Nigeria's army says it has killed several commanders of the earlier this month, when the Islamic State group, to which Islamist group Boko Haram in an air strike and seriously Shekau had pledged allegiance in 2015, said he had been wounded its disputed leader. An army spokesman told the replaced as leader by Abu Musab al-Barnawi. Al-Barnawi is BBC's Hausa service that Abubakar Shekau's shoulder was reported to be the son of the group's founding leader, badly injured in the strike on Friday in north-eastern Borno Mohammed Yusuf, who was killed in police custody in 2009. state. There has been no independent confirmation of the In the last 18 months Boko Haram has lost most of the strike. Claims by the army that it has killed Shekau have territory it had controlled after being pushed back in an turned out to be false on previous occasions. The reports offensive by the forces of Nigeria and its neighbours. should therefore be treated with caution, says the BBC's Boko Haram at a glance: Founded in 2002, initially focused on opposing Western-style education Launched military Africa Security correspondent Tomi Oladipo. Boko Haram is fighting to overthrow Nigeria's government operations in 2009 Thousands killed, mostly in north-eastern and establish an Islamic State in the north. An army Nigeria, hundreds abducted, including at least 200 spokesman said warplanes struck as the militants met for schoolgirls Joined so-called Islamic State, calls itself IS's Friday prayers last week at a village deep within the Sambisa "West African province" Seized large area in north-east, forest in Borno State. The army's announcement coincided where it declared caliphate Regional force has retaken most with the arrival of US Secretary of State John Kerry in Nigeria territory Group splits after rival leaders emerge (BBC) on a two-day visit. Speaking in the northern city of Sokoto, Mr Kerry urged Nigeria to address the root causes of the Boko Haram insurgency. “Building public trust in government also requires cooperation from the military and law enforcement. Extremism can't be defeated through repression or fear," Reuters news agency quotes him as saying. Grab from Boko Haram video The Sambisa forest, which covers a vast area, is thought to be one of the places where the more than 200 abducted Chibok schoolgirls are being held by the group. A split in Boko Haram emerged Abubakar Shekau is in a power struggle for leadership of the group(AFP)
INTERNATIONAL PAGE 54
GUYANA DAILY NEWS
TUESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2016
Obama To Tour Louisiana Amid Criticism That He's Late
President Barack Obama has touched down in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on Tuesday and will tour the floodravaged city that quickly became a political football. Obama is set to see firsthand the damage in the state's capital that has caused more than 106,000 residents and households to register for assistance from Federal Emergency Management Agency. More than 60,000 homes were damaged, officials said, and 13 people were killed. Obama is expected to meet with family members of police officers killed in last month's Baton Rouge attack, a source with knowledge of the President's schedule told CNN. According to the source, the families are expected to meet with him at one location during his trip. Three Baton Rouge area police officers were killed last month when they were ambushed by a gunman. That gunman, Gavin Long, was shot and killed by police. Given the financial and human cost that has already taken its toll, the President's visit is too late for some Republicans -- and some Louisianans. The city's newspaper "The Advocate" originally criticized the President for not ending his vacation in Martha's Vineyard immediately to visit the region. His reluctance to do so made for offensive optics in the eyes of some Republicans: Obama enjoying rounds of golf with comedians like Larry David and basketball stars like Alonzo Mourning, while a state thousands of miles away faced devastation. But the editorial board praised his decision to arrive Tuesday. "We welcome news of President Barack Obama's planned visit to Louisiana today to survey flood damage, which should help to advance relief and recovery in the disaster area as a national priority," the editorial board wrote. Press secretary Josh Earnest said on Air Force One that Obama will be visiting a neighborhood in East Baton Rouge Parish, and defended the timing of the trip, saying the "President is used to people trying to score political points even in situations where they shouldn't." Earnest said that $120 million in aid has already been approved and is starting to be paid out to flood-impacted residents. Trump, who visited the state shortly after the floods, called Obama's visit "too late." “Tuesday's too late," Donald Trump, told Fox News this weekend. "Hop into the plane and go down and go to Louisiana and see what's going on, because it's a mess." That's exactly what Trump and his running mate, Mike Pence, did late last week as part of a visit meant to fill what they saw as a leadership vacuum. The Republican ticket toured the flood damage, met with church groups, and distributed supplies at a nearby high school. The visit was well-received by local officials, and for a moment it gave Trump a chance to reveal a presidential timber
that he insists he has. "Because it helped to shine a spotlight on Louisiana and on the dire situation that we have here, it was helpful," said John Bel Edwards, the state's Democratic governor. Edwards had previously said that he hoped Obama would wait a few weeks before making his visit to the state, given the entourage and Secret Service personnel that comes with presidential trips that would have strained resources while officials were coping with the floods. Baton Rouge's city newspaper last week had called on Obama to cut his vacation short. "A disaster this big begs for the personal presence of the President at ground zero," read a editorial in The Advocate on Thursday, a day before the Obama trip was announced. “The President's presence is already late to the crisis, but it's better latter than never." Hillary Clinton, Trump's Democratic opponent, said Monday that she too plans a trip to the flood site - but used similar reasoning to delay her trip. Her campaign said in a statement that she would come to the state at an unspecified time in the future. "This month's floods in Louisiana are a crisis that demand a national response," she said. "I am committed to visiting communities affected by these floods, at a time when the presence of a political campaign will not disrupt the response, to discuss how we can and will rebuild together." Obama's vacation ended Sunday, and the White House has maintained that he has been regularly briefed by senior staff on the situation on the ground and top administration officials also were sent to the Louisiana. Yet his response has earned some comparisons to how George W. Bush handled another natural catastrophe in a Louisiana city, New Orleans, during Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Obama has traveled to disaster sites in recent years, touring communities in Oklahoma and Arkansas destroyed by tornadoes along with New Jersey towns hit by Hurricane Sandy. (CNN)
INTERNATIONAL PAGE 55
GUYANA DAILY NEWS
TUESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2016
Found You! NASA Re-Establishes Contact With Missing Spacecraft Despite almost two years of silence, NASA never stopped searching for its long lost spacecraft STEREO-B. This week that determination paid off. NASA announced Sunday that it had re-established contact with STEREO-B after communications were lost in October 2014. Contact with the spacecraft -- which works in tandem with a second spacecraft STEREO-A to study the sun -- was lost during a test of one of its timers. Scientists had been testing the timer when STEREOB's line of sight and communication to Earth was blocked by the sun. Meanwhile STEREO-A was unaffected by testing, and continued working normally over the past 22 months. ...and found STEREO-B was recovered using NASA's Deep Space Network -- an array of giant radio antennas that tracks interplanetary missions. Now contact has been reestablished, the STEREO team will continue monitoring the spacecraft to see what kind of state it's in. What is the STEREO mission? Launched in October 2006, the STEREO mission includes two spacecraft --
one ahead of Earth in its orbit, the other behind -- tasked with monitoring the flow of energy and matter from the sun to Earth. The spacecrafts have already successfully revealed the structure of coronal mass ejections, which are eruptions of matter from the sun so powerful they can disrupt satellites. (CNN)
INTERNATIONAL PAGE 56
GUYANA DAILY NEWS
TUESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2016
A Day Like Today The Nazi-Soviet Nonaggression Pact was signed a day like today in 1939 by leader of the Nazi Party, Adolf Hitler and leader of the Soviet Union Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin. As the fierce force of Germany kept threatening with its hunger of expansion in the Eastern Europe, the surrounding nations started to feel the pressure to keep the peace, and the Nazi wave away. This was the case of the Soviet Union, a union of multiple subnational Soviet Republics in the denial to be occupied. Stalin looking to avoid a conflict with Germany, intended to reach a collective-security agreement with Britain and France.After this one turned infertile, Stalin made a major move and started dialogues with Hitler, reaching to the consensus of signing such pact. As a result Western Europe was divided into Germany and Soviets. The formalities of the pact consisted in the non-aggression of both countries, and not to support any third power that might attack the other party. This way, Germany and The Soviet Union became the most powerful powers of the region. The Pact was signed adjoin to a secret protocol. Stalin followers never expected a coalition with Germany, while Germany had all intentions of using this agreement as a freeway for its occupation to Poland, avoiding like this, the unification of the West. With confidence in his hands, and no threats on the way, Hitler invaded Poland the 1rst of September that same year. Twenty nine days later the partition of Poland was effected, being beneficial for the expansion of the German borders. This being one of the main detonators of WWII. Source: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-hitlerstalin-pact -By- Rocio Perez, Guyana Daily News.
Leader of the Soviet Union Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin and leader of the Nazi Party, Adolf Hitler
Signing of The Nazi-Soviet Nonaggression Pact
We d n e s d a y A u g u s t 2 4 , 2 0 1 6 n r u T e s er a v e l o P
PAGE 59
GUYANA DAILY NEWS
LOCAL WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2016
Jagdeo Stands Firm Against Legalization Of Marijuana
Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has made his position known that he is against the legalization of marijuana in Guyana. Jagdeo was at the time responding to recent reports in the media, where President David Granger had revealed there is a possibility that private use of the substance would be on the
Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo
cards in coming months. During the airing of the weekly televised programme – The Public Interest – the President said that Cabinet is awaiting advice and recommendations from the Ministries of Public Health and Public Security on how to move ahead with the issue. But Jagdeo told a news conference on Wednesday at Freedom House that the People’s Progressive Party has a firm stance against legalizing the herb; he however noted that the PPP supports the reduction or removal of the penalties of persons charged with the possession of small qualities of the substance since too many youths are being sent to jail for just a “joint.”“We don’t support the decriminalization of marijuana…we don’t support marijuana production, the growing of the trees, the sale, [or] the export but too many of our young people go to jail because they just have one joint and they can be sent to other places, they can be sent to community service rather than being sent to prison,” the Opposition Leader said.
PAGE 60
GUYANA DAILY NEWS
LOCAL WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2016
Man Shot Dead, Young Woman In Critical Condition
Colin Perreira, a resident of Barr Street, Kitty was gunned down on at around 21:00h. Reports are that Colin a.k.a “Malcom” was shot in Tuesday evening and Gailann Chachon, his female friend wounded the chest and stomach and died shortly after while Gailann who is when a businessman opened fire on their car in Perry Street Tucville from Port Kaituma, Region One was shot in the back and hands and was undergoing surgery last night at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation. Daily News understand that Pereira was on his way to drop off Chachon at relatives some three houses away from where the shooting occurred. The two who are known to be friends were shot by a businessman after Gailann who was reportedly taking driving lessons from Colin, attempted to turn the vehicle on the bridge leading to the man's property in Perry Street. Reports in the media are that the man, Robert Benn who is a licensed firearm holder told police that he was outside of his house at the time when the car turn on his bridge and he got scared and opened fire on the vehicle. The man who was described as hot tempted by neighbours has been arrested and is in police custody as the investigations continues.
Green Ice Taxi Driver Remanded Following Fight
Kevin Hawker, a taxi driver, was today remanded after he appeared before Magistrate Judy Latchman in the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court charged with unlawfully and maliciously inflicting grievous bodily harm to Kelvin Wills on August 20, 2016. Hawker was refused bail and remanded to prison until September 7, 2016 when he will return for statements into the matter The 36-yearold of Albouystown was unrepresented and pleaded not guilty to the charge. Police Prosecutor, Corporal Kerry Bostwick objected to bail, noting that the virtual complainant and accused are well known to each other as they work at the same taxi base. The Prosecutor reported that the accused had already issued a confession to the police in relation to the matter. It is alleged that on the day in question, Hawker and Wills, who are employed with Green Ice Taxi Service, got into an argument over a passenger when the accused picked up a brick and a Guinness bottle and pelted it at Wills. Wills received injuries to his forehead and ear and was rushed to the hospital where he received several stitches and sent away. -ByJarred Singh, Guyana Daily News.
LOCAL PAGE 61
GUYANA DAILY NEWS
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2016
Taxi Driver Granted Bail On Assault Charge
Mark Bailey of Festival City was granted GY$150,000 bail after he appeared before Magistrate Judy Latchman in the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday charged with unlawfully and maliciously assaulting Dexter Bailey on August 19, 2016 at Festival City. Bailey will return on September 6, 2016 for statements and continuation into the matter. The 47-year-old, who is a taxi driver from South Ruimveldt was unrepresented and initially pleaded guilty with an explanation; however after explaining his side of the story, Magistrate Latchman entered a not guilty plea on behalf of the accused. The court heard that on the day the virtual complainant approached Bailey after they had a conversation about money and attempted to hit him. According to Bailey, the complainant’s finger hit him in his eye and while blinded, he reached and picked up a cutlass and swung it at the accused in an attempt to ward him off when he inflicted the damage to him. Police Prosecutor Corporal Kerry Bostwick objected to bail, stating that the accused is well known to the complainant and therefore the prosecution has cause for worry about the health of the complainant. However bail was granted. -By- Jarred Singh, Guyana Daily News.
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2016
Rusal Expected To Correct Safety Breaches By Month End - Following Social Protection Ministry’s Visit Social Protection Minister Minister Volda Lawrence will meet Thursday with Bauxite Company Guyana Incorporated (BCGI) officials for a progress report on a number of safety and other violations which the bauxite company agreed to correct. A recent workplace inspection conducted by the Ministry of Social Protection at the BCG Inc at Aroaima, R e g i o n Te n ( U p p e r Demerara/Berbice) unearthed several infractions that pose threats to life and l i m b o f i t s employees which the company has agreed to remedy by August
30, 2016. When Lawrence, Minister within the MOSP, Keith Scott and a team of officials recently visited the mining company they found violations of the labour laws and regulations which included the absence of fire extinguishers in some areas and failure to post the Health and Safety Policy and the Occupational Safety and Health Act at the health centre. BCG Inc also had insufficient lighting at the cafeteria, inoperable fans, toilets in unsanitary condition and where they were found, fire extinguishers not serviced or mounted in the accommodation area. There was also no OSH Act and Health and Safety Policy posted in the workshop and plant production areas as stipulated in the OSH regulations and poor ventilation in the office areas. General concerns raised by workers included inadequate compensation for work outside of employees job description; problems with submission of sick leave, retirement benefits, and annual leave; safety in the workplace, lack of workers’ representation; victimisation for speaking out; poor conditions of work and the status of the tax-free overtime which was reported by the Government in December, 2015. Minister Lawrence committed to addressing the issues of safety, workers trade union and violations of the labour laws. She noted that that the Government is moving to have an Industrial Tribunal Court, and draft legislation would be placed before the National Assembly soon. Plans are also apace to have an Amendment to the Fines Act and Labour Act which states that the maximum the Magistrate Court can award is $100,000 to an employee. The Minister
opined that they should be a workers benefits plan at the company and having a trust fund. In addition, she enquired about vaccination of children in the community, since the schools were on the premises, and suggested that parents of those children should present their vaccination cards to the clinic. Labour Department will conduct training at BCGI for employees in various labour and OSH related areas and a follow up inspection will be conducted in September. The management of the BCGI expressed readiness to correct the breaches and stated that they were looking forward for support from the various Government Ministries, to enforce their standards in every respect.
Social Protection Press Release
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2016
Second Alleged North Ruimveldt Bandit Charged Magistrate Judy Latchman today remanded Colin Amos, the second alleged bandit who beaten on August 17 by residents of North Ruimveldt after he reportedly attempted to rob Roger Lovell in his North Ruimveldt home at gun point. Amos will return to court on September 6 before the Chief Magistrate for continuation into the matter. The 21-year-old was unrepresented and pleaded not guilty to the two charges - attempting to commit a felony and being in possession of a
firearm without being the holder of a valid firearm license. Police Prosecutor Corporal Kerry Bostwick objected to bail based on the severity of the offence and that the virtual complainant has already identified the accused. According to the Prosecutor, there are reasons to believe that the accused might flee the court or cause harm to the complainant. It is alleged that on the day in question at North Ruimveldt, the accused while in the company of another armed with a .9 mm firearm entered the home of Roger Lovell and attempted to rob him of a gold chain and one CG motorcycle. The other accused in this matter, Patrick Goodluck appeared before the court on Monday August 22, 2016, where he pleaded not guilty to the charge and was remanded until September 2, 2016. By- Jarred Singh, Guyana Daily News.
Gov’t To Tackle Community Crime And Violence Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan on We d n e s d a y l a u n c h e d component 1 of the Citizen Security Strengthening Program (CSSP), which deals with community crime and violence. In his remarks, the Minister said that crime and violence are a real threat to public security. The program will foster cooperation and partnership with communities affected by crime and violence. The first phase of the project will cost US$5.7 million and will last for four years. The specific objectives of this component is to improve behaviors for non- violent conflict resolution in the selected communities. This
component according to the Ministry, seeks to address the high levels of incidence of violent behaviors among youths. According to Ramjattan, the Government has placed more emphasis on youths with the drafting of a National Youth Policy, which will be tabled in the National Assembly soon. A total of 20 communities were selected for the first component of the program based on the 2012 census in areas of murder, domestic violence, robberies, breaking and entering, simple larceny. Those communities are: Buxton, Friendship, Vreed- en-Hoop, Alboystown, Charlestown, Sophia, South Ruimveldt, Albert town, Kingston, La Penitance, Mc Doom, Providence, Annandale, Enmore, Rosignol, Friendship, among others. Meanwhile, Minister Ramjattan was asked if he accepts the fact that the Guyana Police Force is the least trusted institution in Guyana to which he said “yes”. In a recent report by the US it was noted that, “The Guyana Police Force (GPF) is the least trusted institution in Guyana – a country with high levels of crime and violence–and urgently needs to strengthen its investigation and prosecution capacity since it currently records a dismal 90 per cent failure rate.” These are some of the dismal findings of a United States funded Report on Human Rights, Democracy and Governance in Guyana, and was produced for review by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
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LOCAL WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2016
Alleged Thief Remanded For Breaking Into Internet Café
Jason Joseph appeared before Magistrate Judy Latchman in the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday charged with breaking and entering which he allegedly committed on August 17, 2016 at Charlotte Street Bourda, Georgetown. Joseph was remanded until September 7, 2016, when he will return before the court for statements into the matter. The 31-year-old was unrepresented and pleaded not guilty to the charge. The prosecution objected to bail, stating that the defendant was positively identified via surveillance cameras and he may be a flight risk. It is alleged that on the day in question, Joseph broke and entered an Internet Café operated by Orlando Batson and stole one Dragon Touch Tablet valued at GY$25,000 and GY$142,000 cash. The court heard that the Dragon Touch Tablet was found in his possession. -ByJarred Singh, Guyana Daily News.
President Granger Praises Hamilton Lashley Foundation’s Charity Shield Soccer Tournament
President David Granger, this morning, declared open the Annual Village, Upper Takutu- Upper Essequibo (Region Nine). Chairman of Caribbean Children’s Charity Shield Soccer Classic Tournament; a the Foundation, Mr. Hamilton Lashley, said that the organisation is tri-nation event put on by the Hamilton Lashley Human Development delighted to be hosting the tournament in Guyana, even as the country Foundation at the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Sports Ground. is in its golden jubilee year of Independence. He noted that Guyanese During the declaration, the President expressed his appreciation for and even Caribbean nationals can expect more coming out of the this initiative, which he says, is an example of true regional organisation in the days to come. integration and regionalism and which brings young talent from “We are delighted to be here in Guyana. We are thankful for the hospitality. This tri nation relationship that we have developed grassroots communities into focus. The President said that the event presents not only a wonderful certainly will continue,” he said. President of the Guyana Football opportunity to youths, especially to those who are in need of activities Federation, Mr. Wayne Forde, said that the organisation welcomes to occupy their leisure time, but it also helps to build camaraderie, the initiative since it is in keeping with its goals. “We at the Guyana self- esteem and a positive outlook for the youths involved. “I Football Federation and the Executive Committee believe that this is commend the Foundation for [strengthening regional integration] the perfect opportunity to further our youth development programme. through its social work activism in grassroot communities. The As you may have seen over the past couple of months, there have been Foundation is fostering the spirit of social solidarity among the tremendous emphasis on youth development football,” he said. region’s young people. It is promoting regionalism from the bottom up, it is working at community levels to build greater self-esteem and MOTP Press Release self-worth, particularly among the youth and that is why we are all here this morning. This tournament has become a bridge among the three states,” the President said. Over 500 children from Trinidad, Barbados and Guyana are partaking in the tournament, w i t h participants from as far as President David Granger takes the salute from one of the President David Granger shares a light moment with Chairman of the Hamilton Lashley Human P a r i s h a r a team,s which participated in the march past this morning Development Foundation, Mr. Hamilton Lashley, before the commencement of the event this morning.
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
LOCAL WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2016
GAWU’s 21st Congress Concludes Successfully (Cont’d) The workers also stressed the need for unity among all workers in the bargaining units of the Union and workers in Guyana generally since only through their togetherness and working-class unity they would be able to overcome their various challenges. The Congress also received a number of messages of solidarity from organisations locally and overseas including the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU), the All-China Trade Union Federation (ACFTU) and the International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers' Associations (IUF). Also attending the Congress was Comrade Delrose Holgate, Assistant General Secretary of the University and Allied Workers Union (UAWU) of Jamaica. The Congress unanimously approved nine (9) resolutions which addressed safeguarding and defending workers’ gains in the sugar industry; rejecting re-privatisation and closure of the sugar industry; on education and training; unity of the working class; the National Insurance Scheme (NIS); wage/salary improvements and Annual Production Incentive (API); in solidarity with the workers of Wales Estate; on the public health situation, and in solidarity with all working oppressed peoples and for world peace. The resolutions will now be sent to different agencies and bodies for their attention. There was also six (6) workshops which discussed a number of matters of concern to workers, the recommendations from these workshops will be followed-up by the Union. Delegates also elected a fifty-two (52) member General Council which is charged with managing the affairs of the Union until its next Congress - 22nd
Delegates’ Congress. Members of the General Council, at their first meeting, will elect the officials of the Union in keeping with the Union’s Constitution. Attached is a list of the newly-elected General Council. The Congress concluded with a Charge given by the Union’s President, Cde Komal Chand. He took into account the massive challenges which confront the workers and the Union at this time and the threats which exist in the sugar industry and called on all workers to stand up to defend their rights. He echoed the need for unity among workers at this time and for the Union’s Organisational structure to be more effective and strong. He spoke to the need for support and cooperation to rebuild the important sugar industry and in so doing it would be possible to resist strongly any act to re-privatize it. He called for workers to continue to defend their gains and stressed the importance of their unity in these times. In this respect, he emphasized that the members must be wary of those who are misguiding them and seeking division of our ranks. He also stressed on the need for union members to make full use of the Union’s educational programme and for them to be more committed to the Union as it pursues and grapples with the various challenges faced by members. Notwithstanding the attempts to undermine and disrupt the Union’s 21st Congress, from all indications it was a genuine workers forum which concluded successfully.
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
LOCAL WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2016
GAWU’s 21st Congress Concludes Successfully (Cont’d) The workers also stressed the need for unity among all workers in the bargaining units of the Union and workers in Guyana generally since only through their togetherness and working-class unity they would be able to overcome their various challenges. The Congress also received a number of messages of solidarity from organisations locally and overseas including the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU), the All-China Trade Union Federation (ACFTU) and the International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers' Associations (IUF). Also attending the Congress was Comrade Delrose Holgate, Assistant General Secretary of the University and Allied Workers Union (UAWU) of Jamaica. The Congress unanimously approved nine (9) resolutions which addressed safeguarding and defending workers’ gains in the sugar industry; rejecting re-privatisation and closure of the sugar industry; on education and training; unity of the working class; the National Insurance Scheme (NIS); wage/salary improvements and Annual Production Incentive (API); in solidarity with the workers of Wales Estate; on the public health situation, and in solidarity with all working oppressed peoples and for world peace. The resolutions will now be sent to different agencies and bodies for their attention. There was also six (6) workshops which discussed a number of matters of concern to workers, the recommendations from these workshops will be followed-up by the Union. Delegates also elected a fifty-two (52) member General Council which is charged with managing the affairs of the Union until its next Congress - 22nd
Delegates’ Congress. Members of the General Council, at their first meeting, will elect the officials of the Union in keeping with the Union’s Constitution. Attached is a list of the newly-elected General Council. The Congress concluded with a Charge given by the Union’s President, Cde Komal Chand. He took into account the massive challenges which confront the workers and the Union at this time and the threats which exist in the sugar industry and called on all workers to stand up to defend their rights. He echoed the need for unity among workers at this time and for the Union’s Organisational structure to be more effective and strong. He spoke to the need for support and cooperation to rebuild the important sugar industry and in so doing it would be possible to resist strongly any act to re-privatize it. He called for workers to continue to defend their gains and stressed the importance of their unity in these times. In this respect, he emphasized that the members must be wary of those who are misguiding them and seeking division of our ranks. He also stressed on the need for union members to make full use of the Union’s educational programme and for them to be more committed to the Union as it pursues and grapples with the various challenges faced by members. Notwithstanding the attempts to undermine and disrupt the Union’s 21st Congress, from all indications it was a genuine workers forum which concluded successfully.
Continued on next page...
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
LOCAL WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2016
GAWU’s 21st Congress Concludes Successfully (Cont’d) GAWU General Council Members 1. Amolita Abrams 2. Jermaine Adams 3. Mohamad Ahamad 4. Francis Alabi 5. Joshua Appadu 6. Mahendra Baboolall 7. Badnarine Balkarran 8. Goordat Basdeo 9. Awad Bhagwandin
15. Cesiree Fordyce
44. Ram Persaud Singh 23. Lochan Sookram 34. Raywattie Persaud 45. Harvey Tambron Khandai 35. Sookram Persaud 46. Lalloo Teckchand 24. Denis Leacock 36. Rickey Rambeer 47. Dereck Thakur 25. Shawn Livan 37. Balkissoon 48. Cecilene Thomas Rambissoon 26. Mitchell Mc Bean
16. Janice Fowler
27. Narda A. E. Mohamed
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49. Gordon Thomas
17. Zaleena Gomes
28. Abrahim Nagamootoo
38. Harridial Ramdihal
50. Rajendra Tribhowan
18. Michael Indardat
29. Seepaul Narine
39. Willie Rodriques
51. Denise Williams
19. Stephen Indardat
30. Julius Nurse
40. Adrian Singh
52. Clarence Wrights
20. Satyawattie Kadaru
31. Nazeer Khan Ozeer
41. Aslim Singh
GAWU Press Release
11. David Budhram 12. Komal Chand 13. Dwayne Chase 14. Ronald DeFreitas
42. Bhikram Singh
21. Tajewattie Khan 32. Hernie Parks
10. Sevuraj Bridgelall
43. Narendra Singh 22. Talat Azad Khan
33. Dinesh Persaud
LOCAL
GUYANA DAILY NEWS WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2016 Minister Norton Encourages Students To Be More Physically Active - Following Ministry’s First Youth Fitness Challenge PAGE 68
Some 32 students from 5 secondary schools across Georgetown were since they are all winners Technical Development Officer attached to today rewarded for their participation in the Ministry of Public the National Sports Commission, Mr. Seon Erskine told the students Health’s first Annual Youth Fitness Challenge which was held in that they are ambassadors for promoting health and fitness in their collaboration with several organisations. The National Sports schools. He echoed the sentiments of Ms. Glen that next year’s Commission (NSC), Guyana Amateur Weight Lifting Association challenge will be bigger and better, while informing that schools from (GAWA) and B.E Fitness collaborated with the Ministry to host the Region 1 (Barima/Waini) and Region 9 (Upper Takutu/Upper event on Saturday, August 20 at the National Gymnasium in Essequibo) have been invite to participate. Mr. Erskine said that it is his hope that the students will not only observance of International Youth day 2016. Promoting physical activity in schools and encouraging adolescents encourage their colleagues to be more physically active, but their and young adults to exercise were the main aims of the activities. parents and other relatives as well. Medals were presented to all of the During the Fitness Challenge, students engaged in activities which students who participated in the challenge and prizes were also given included speed rope skipping, overhead presses, jumping jacks and to the males and females who garnered first, second and third place. suitcase crunches. The schools which participated are: Bishops High Trophies were also presented to the best fittest male and female, School, Charlestown Secondary School, New Campbelville Fittest School team and the best trainer. For the males, 1 st place went Secondary, South Ruimveldt Secondary and the St. Roses High to Vitor Rogers of the St. Roses High school, 2 nd to Christopher School. Addressing the students at the prize giving ceremony which Dharry of New Campbelville Secondary and 3 rd place went to was held at the Girls Guide Pavilion on Brickdam, Public Health Jamain Simon of Charlestown Secondary school. Minister, Dr. George Norton encouraged them to be involved in more The Best Fittest male prize was awarded to Christopher Dharry. For physical activities. He stressed that by engaging in physical activities, the females, 1 st place went to Rochelle Bynoe of the Bishops High they can avoid many Non- Communicable diseases such as Diabetes School, 2 nd to Corisa Conway of South Ruimveldt Secondary and 3 rd to Valencia Forde of the Bishops High School. The Best Fittest and Hypertension. Alluding to Guyana’s life expectancy of 73 years, Dr. Norton told the female prize was awarded to Rochelle Bynoe. New Campbelville students that by concentrating on proper nutrition and physical Secondary was awarded with the prize for the fittest school team, exercise, they can live far beyond the life expectancy. The Minister while their trainer, Mr. Christopher Gaskin was awarded the Best encouraged the students to use their experience during this first Youth Trainer. Each of the five schools was also presented with first-aid kits. Fitness challenge to train harder and return next year to receive prizes again. Meanwhile, Sexual and Reproductive Health Coordinator of MoPH Press Release the Ministry of P u b lic H ealth , Ms. Cilandell Glen noted that the Adolescent Health Unit is very interested in ensuring that youths are very fit. She told the students that they are fortunate to be a part of the pilot activity and next year will be even bigger and better, with more schools competing Ms. Glen encouraged the students to practice longer and harder for next year and congratulated all of them for their p a r t i c i p a t i o n , Public Health Minister, Dr. George Norton with the participants and organisers of the first annual Youth Fitness Challenge.
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2016
Time For Safety Policy From Gangs
Three criminologists yesterday expressed shock over a disturbing video of gang leaders displaying sophisticated guns as they called on the Government and Opposition to hold a high-level emergency meeting to work out a national policy on the public safety threats from gangs, murders and terrorism. The call was made by Prof Ramesh Deosaran, Darius Figueira and Ian Ramdhanie hours after the T&T Guardian published a front page article, titled “Exposed.” The video, shared on WhatsApp, identified Rasta City gang leaders from Beetham Gardens, Sea Lots, Maloney, Port-of-Spain, Maracas, Point Fortin and Caroni, among other areas, displaying a variety of weapons, including Mac 10s, Uzis, Tec-9s, Ak47s and AR15 rifles. A soundtrack accompanying the video describes methods of murder, including the dumping of bodies in Caroni. It also shows a decapitated corpse with what appears to be bullet wounds to the chest area. The video is now being probed by the Criminal Gang and Intelligence Unit (CGIU) and Strategic Services Agency, as they gather information on suspected criminals. Yesterday, Figueira said what caught his attention was the arsenal the gang leaders had in their possession, in particular the US-manufactured AR15 rifle. “That is not a common weapon. You cannot access it as easy as AK 47,” he said, adding T&T now has the highest seizures of AR15 rifles in the gang chain after Puerto Rico. “The question that arises is that we have a new network that is smuggling these sophisticated assault rifles from the US into the Caribbean. This is not good news for us. We are under threat from this gun smuggling ring. It’s frightening.” Noting that the AR15 rifle had been used in the killing of gang leader Selwyn “Robocop” Alexis, Figueira said that weapon was the preferred choice of the Mexican cartel. “When you can become linked to this network that is moving weaponry and ammunition from the US to the Caribbean and you are hooked into it, where you can display pictures of yourself and powerful guns, the impunity that you are enjoying in jail is like a vacation.” He said the video sent a strong message to the Government that that was the level the gang members were willing to go. “In the underworld the video is calling out the Government,” he added. Figueira appealed to the Government and Opposition to join hands to fight the criminal elements, saying that while they were bickering, citizens were caught in the middle of the crossfire. Deosaran repeated his appeal to the authorities to examine how and why so many black youths persistently drifted from the secondary education system into serious crimes and gang warfare. He added: “The regrettable delays and denials over this criminogenic phenomenon are creating havoc with public safety, as well as costly losses within our young generation. “I can do no more now than to encourage the authorities not only to enforce the law but to stop this tragic haemorrhage in our education system.” He said it was time for the country’s political directorate to address seriously the areas of serious crimes, terrorism and education particularly. “In the present circumstances, a public interest imperative now is for the Government and Opposition to hold a high-level emergency meeting to work out a national policy consensus over the public safety threats from gangs, murders, terrorism and the required institutional responses required,” he added. Saying the country could not continue along this path, Deosaran said the last time the former prime minister Patrick Manning-led government and the Basdeo Panday-led Opposition met on crime and law enforcement the results did not work well. “Let’s hope there is now a higher wisdom from that experience, especially since the public safety challenges have grown more seriously. “Looking for quick magic or overnight solutions will not work. I well know the constitutional role of the Government and the Opposition but with the country bleeding as it is now, there is still room for statesmanship. The reputed video and its contents are just another symptom of things yet to come,” Deosaran warned. Bottomless pit Principal of the Caribbean Institute for Security and Public Safety, Ian Ramdhanie, said the number of guns circulating in the country was unprecedented and worrying. He added: “Yes, the police have been making raids and recovering firearms and ammunition but it seems that there is a bottomless pit from which these guns are coming. The video is just a snippet, a minuscule idea of what really exists out there. “We need answers as to how come these high-powered weapons are so easily available, who pays for the guns and with what currency? Where does the money go? Which institutions are involved?” He appealed to the Government and Opposition to work in tandem to win the war on crime. “But given our adversarial nature of opposition politics, I will not be surprised if this doesn’t happen. The pressure must then come from civil society and voters from all sides who want decisive action to deal with crime. “We also need badly the provision of referendum that can get national consensus on what may be termed controversial crime-fighting strategies like the death penalty,” he added. President of the T&T Police Social and Welfare Association, Michael Seales, admitted that while the police have been seizing a number of guns, not many people were arrested and charged. He said holders of these illegal guns have tremendous difficulty in acquiring ammunition but the gun trade was just as thriving as the drug trade. “No longer are firearms being retained for the protection of the drugs itself... but it now has a firearm trade that is taking place in the country,” he said. Seales said videos of gang members that have gone viral have helped the CGUI. “It Alleged members of the Rasta City Gang display their arsenal in a video being circulated. gives you enough information to obtain a search warrant. I can say that the CGUI and Cyber Crime Unit have seen some measure of success when a video goes viral, you almost after a time see some measure of results,” he said. (Trinidad Guardian)
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2016
Guardian Media Ltd In Major Structural Shake-Up Guardian Media Limited’s Managing Director, Lucio Mesquita, announced a number of structural changes to the business today. In an address to all staff from the floor of the Guardian newsroom, an address that linked staff in Chaguanas, San Fernando, Port-of-Spain, Tobago and the group’s radio station in Guyana, Mesquita said the new structure is designed to make the most of the digital revolution sweeping the media sector by moving towards a “digital first” strategy and away from traditional platform-based divisions. From now on, Guardian Media will have Media Limited’s managing director, Lucio Mesquita, Content, News, Sales and Production left,Guardian addresses employees on changes in the company’s management a staff meeting at GML’s headquarters, Chaguanas, departments instead of its previous Radio, structure duringyesterday. PHOTO: DARREN BAHAW Television and Print divisions. General group. Mesquita said that the changes were needed to make sure Manager for Television, Nicholas Sabga, becomes the new Head of Content, responsible for a l l c o n t e n t Guardian Media had a strong future at times of considerable across the business, including an emerging new digital operation. A challenges to the media industry as the digital revolution disrupts new multimedia Sales department will be headed by current Radio traditional revenue models. Globally, newspapers in particular have GM, Steve Dipnarine, and a new Production department, bringing been suffering with a steep fall in advertising revenue with ad dollars together engineering and print operations, will be managed by also migrating away from radio and television to digital platforms. He Anthony Seegobin, the company’s current Chief Technology Officer. promised a “digital first” approach to Guardian Media with more A reconfigured News department will bring together all Guardian multimedia content to users and advertisers. Media’s news and current affairs, under the leadership of TV Head of Guardian Media owns the Guardian and Tobago Today newspapers, Content and journalist Shelly Dass. She will have ultimate six radio stations in T&T under the TBC network banner, a station in responsibility for the editorial content of the Guardian and Tobago Guyana and CNC3 television. It is also rolling out a number of Today newspapers, CNC3 News, radio news and the company’s electronic advertising billboards under the Big Board Company. In growing digital news presence. Orin Gordon, appointed Editor-in- the first six months of the year, Guardian Media Ltd saw a drop in Chief of the Guardian newspaper in February last year decided to revenue due to a reduction in advertising, with a significant fall in leave Guardian Media at the end of this month. Gordon said he is profit as a result. The changes announced will also reduce overall leaving journalism after 25 years in the business, to pursue other senior management costs as part of the company’s drive to increase efficiencies and control costs. (Trinidad Guardian) professional interests. GM Print Cyntra Achong has opted for a new role in the ANSA McAl
REGIONAL PAGE 71
GUYANA DAILY NEWS
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2016
Suspect Still Taunts Family A little over four months ago, Keino Jacob’s life changed forever when his Palo Seco home burnt to the ground. Jacob’s two young children—Keimel, four, and Kylah, nine-months-old—were asleep in the house at the time and both died from burns in the weeks that followed. Now Jacob says he has a hole in his heart which his children’s love and laughter had once filled and he is crying out for closure. In an interview with the T&T Guardian at his parents’ Palo Seco home, where he and his wife, Malicha Thomas, have been staying since the fire, Jacob said he wanted an intervention by the Commissioner of Police in the investigation. “We are still waiting for the police to tell us what has been going on. Will someone be charged for this?” he asked. “I made my statements. I told the police who I saw running from my house that day. They have not been telling us anything. “We waiting here everyday. When will we know? We need someone in high authority to look at this case and tell us what is happening. My children can’t die and go just so,” he said. Clutching framed photos of his children, Jacob said while he had been trying to rebuild a home for him and Thomas, the lack of closure was holding him back. “This is all I have now... all. A few months ago I had every happiness a man could want and look at me. From when I wake up to when I go to sleep, my children on my mind,” he said. His mother, Annmarie Jacob, said: “I woke up someday last week and came downstairs to find him asleep with the pictures next to him, I wanted to move it but I didn’t have the heart.” To compound his grief, Jacob said his problems with the person he believed burnt his home to ground continued to intensify. “He is not
leaving me alone. He told me if I build back any house, he will wait till I finish and burn it down again. “Sometimes I feel like he take everything from me and now he pushing me to throw the rest away,” he added. He complained that although he had been making reports against the person at the Santa Flora Police Station, he felt as though his reports were not being taken seriously. “The police telling us if it’s us again making reports, like we shouldn’t take this man threatening us seriously,” he said. (Trinidad Guardian)
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2016
IACHR Report On Historic Belize Judgment: Worsening Conditions For Gays In T&T
The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) says it welcomes the decision of the Supreme Court of Belize “that declared unconstitutional the criminalisation of consensual sexual relations between adults of the same sex.” “With this historic decision, Belize becomes the second country in the English-speaking Caribbean to repeal laws that criminalise consensual sex between adults of the same sex that originate in the region’s colonial past,” a release issued on Monday stated. A recent report on violence against members of the LGBTI community in the Americas has, however, noted a gradual worsening of legislative conditions for them in T&T and the Commonwealth Caribbean. The English version of a report on “Violence against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Persons in the Americas” released last week was researched by the IACHR and initially published in Spanish last November. The report notes that T&T “maintains legislation criminalising adult same-sex intimacy” and that “the issue of discrimination based on sexual orientation remains a matter of concern.” The Equal Opportunity Commission (EOC) has proposed an amendment to the Equal Opportunity Act to include coverage of “sexual orientation” as the basis for action in the event of discrimination in the provision of education, employment, accommodation and goods and services. In a press release on the matter, the EOC said it was nevertheless “very encouraged to note that the Honourable Prime Minister promised to revisit any laws that undermine the constitutional right of equality of treatment.” Executive director of the Coalition Advocating for Inclusion of Sexual Orientation (CAISO), Colin Robinson, told T&T Guardian: “The report helps expose the Caribbean myth that our sodomy laws are colonial.” He, however, added it did not take note of a provision of the Children Act of 2012 “which last year began criminalising uncoerced sexual touching between young people” and carries a penalty of life imprisonment. Robinson also lamented the fact that the law subjects parents to
jail terms and fines for not reporting “their children’s same-sex sexual exploration to the police.” Highlighted in the IACHR report is an incident in 2007 involving several men who sought male sexual partners on the Internet but fell prey to kidnap, torture and rape. They were then threatened with blackmail if they reported the crimes. There is also reference to a December 2014 report in which six “trans women sex workers” from Guyana and T&T were subjected to “inhumane and degrading treatment, including physical and verbal abuse related to their gender identity and gender expression” by the police in Suriname following a “passport check.” It is noted that during work on the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) for T&T in 2011, it had been suggested by country representatives that “effecting change (in) personal attitudes and community values (is) no easy task.” The UPR is a United Nations mechanism for monitoring human rights conditions in its member states. The report notes that over the years, penalties for same-sex legal violations have actually increased with longer prison sentences for buggery and introduction of the crime of “serious indecency” carrying a sentence of five years; up from the two-year penalty for what was, prior to 1986, known as “gross indecency” in the law. After 1986 it was replaced by the crime of serious indecency defined as an act other than sexual intercourse by a person involving the use of the genital organs to arouse or gratify sexual desire” and the punishment for “serious indecency for consenting adults increased to five years.” There is also concern that the defence of “provocation” is increasingly being employed in homicide cases throughout the Commonwealth Caribbean. These include instances in which defendants have either claimed that a female partner had been involved in a sexual relationship with another woman or instances in which a defendant has claimed that he was the subject of a “homosexual advance.” T&T is also cited in references to the “same-sex sexual advance defence” which is used either as “a partial defence resulting in a conviction for a lesser offence, for example, reducing a crime from murder to manslaughter, or as a full defence leading to acquittal, for example, cases in which homicide was deemed ‘justified’.” A 2013 study of such cases conducted by UK academic Dr Se-shauna Wheatle, which is cited in the IACHR report, calls for the “abolition of the defence of justifiable homicide and for reform of the defence of provocation to exclude the availability of the defence of provocation where the homicide occurred in response to a non-violent sexual advance.” The study recommends “the inclusion of sexual orientation as a prohibited ground of discrimination in judicial codes and in guidelines for judicial conduct, given that such codes derive from a judicial responsibility to observe standards of equality and fairness.” “The key pattern we have observed in the law, of which the Children Act is emblematic, is legislators’ consistent withholding of social protection provided to heterosexuals from homosexuals,” Robinson said. He said there was “a misguided rationale that the colonial criminalisation provisions create a barrier to doing so, while they do nothing to remove the original provisions, which the constitutional savings clauses prevents the victims of these laws from using their very constitutional rights to challenge.” (Trinidad Guardian)
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Inspectors Sent Home, Review For Contracts Employees of the Occupational Safety and Health Agency (OSHA), who are charged with safeguarding the lives of workers across the public and private sector, are now appealing for answers from the relevant authorities as to their continued employment at the State agency after more than ten inspectors were sent home pending contract renewal. According to some of the aggrieved workers whose contracts ended on August 18, there have been no communication from management on the issue. One inspector with nine years service said he and his colleagues were left in abeyance after their contracts ended and were now uncertain as to their continued employment. There were 13 inspectors employed by the agency, each of whom has nine years service. Of this number, two of them have post-graduate degrees while the remainder possess multiple under-graduate and post-graduate degrees. The employees have accused Labour Minister Jennifer Baptiste-Primus of neglecting their cries for help. He said they were sent home and told to await word on whether or not their three-year contracts would be renewed. Last Friday, the workers were prevented from entering the agency’s office on St James Street, San Fernando, while simultaneously at the Port-of-Spain office on Duke Street, two employees were seen completing a report for Labour Minister the acting executive Jennifer Baptiste-Primus
director Carolyn Sancho. The aggrieved inspectors questioned how that had been allowed as those inspectors also belonged to the cycle of affected officers whose contracts had ended on August 18. Baptiste-Primus confirmed, via text message, that the renewal of the contracts was engaging her attention and she had “requested the performance appraisals for the officers which should have been submitted along with the contract reviews.” Regarding the outstanding gratuity payments, Baptiste-Primus added: “That will be addressed in due course. We are very mindful of the officers anxiety. The process would be completed in a short while.” She said the agency had a very high staff turnover. The inspectors estimated that the current workforce comprised one person in San Fernando, three in Port-of-Spain and two in Tobago to service the entire country. Regarding the occupation of the OSHA office at Alexandra Street, St Clair, which was said to be overcrowded as fire officials had only approved 17 people to be on the premises but the workforce had close to 30 people working there daily, Baptiste-Primus directed that such answers be obtained from OSHA officials. Attempts to reach the acting executive director on Monday and yesterday proved futile, while HR manager, Cory Harrison, declined to comment. (Trinidad Guardian)
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Tobago Family Loses Everything In Blaze
Fire destroyed a house and variety shop in Plymouth, Tobago, on Monday night leaving a mother and her three children homeless. According to reports, Mourice Glod, 32, who operates a variety store out of her home at Long Street, locked up her business around 9.45 pm. Around 11 pm she received a call and was alerted that her house was on fire. Neighbours formed a bucket brigade before the Fire Services arrived on the scene but they were unable to control the blaze. The house was totally gutted. Damage have been estimated at $465,000. The fire also spread to a nearby property owned by businessman Fitzroy “Stumpy” Phillips but fire officials were able to extinguish the blaze before extensive damage occurred. Damage is estimated at $20,000. No one was injured. The cause of the blaze is yet to be ascertained. Glod told T&T Guardian it would be difficult to recover from the incident as everything she owned went up in the blaze. She also said school supplies, books and uniforms for her three children — aged between 12, 10, and five Fire officers on the scene of a fire on Monday which destroyed the home years old — for the new school term were also lost in of Mourice Glod in Plymouth, Tobago. PHOTO: CASWELL GORDON the fire. Investigations are continuing Anyone willing to assist the family can contact them at 747-0310 or 356-8613 (Trinidad Guardian)
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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2016
Man In Love Triangle Lured To His Death
Police are working on the theory that a 30-year-old Chaguanas man was killed yesterday morning because of a relationship he had with a married woman. According to police reports, Larry Mohammed, of Kolahal Road, Charlieville, was found in his black Toyota Altis along Cemetery Street, Charlieville, around 1.30 am. Police said his car was found idling and Mohammed slumped in the driver’s seat with gunshot wounds to the head and chest. Nothing of value was missing from the deceased, prompting police to believe that robbery was not a motive for his death. Homicide detectives told the T&T Guardian that Mohammed, a father of two, was in a relationship with a married woman from south Trinidad and they are working on the theory that the woman’s husband may be responsible for his killing. The officers added that Mohammed was supposedly in company with the woman moments before he died. Speaking with the media at the Forensic Science Centre, St James, yesterday, Mohammed’s father, John, said the eldest of his four children was “a family man” who was a professional fabricator. “I don’t live with him, I live Maracas, St Joseph, but I hear he was home and then someone called him and he went out. I never know him as a bad fella or in drugs or anything. He had his smoke, a little drink, normal thing,” he said. Asked about what the police were suggesting as a motive, the senior Mohammed said he had heard about the rumours of his son’s alleged infidelity in the past and when his son was confronted, he denied it. He said he could not say for certain if his son had an extramarital affair, adding that such a lifestyle was not how his son was raised. “I ain’t get chance to really let it soak in or process it so I really don’t know what to say about it,” Mohammed said when asked about his views on his son’s death. The latest killing took the murder toll for the year to 296, as compared to 264 at the same period last year. Dad and son shot In an unrelated incident, police are
investigating the shooting of a father and son in La Horquetta on Monday night. Police reports state that Jamal Hosten, 28, was outside his home at Aldwyn Roberts Crescent, Phase 3, La Horquetta, around 7.30 pm when a gunman on a bicycle stopped and opened fire on him. Hosten ran through his home with the gunman in pursuit. The gunman then fled the house. Police said Hosten was not shot but injured by bullet fragments. He also later found that his son, Azrial Farrell, 12, had been similarly injured by bullet fragments. Both were taken to hospital and treated for minor injuries and discharged. Police did not give a motive for the shooting. (Trinidad Guardian)
Larry Mohammed
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Talk Crime At Home first Two business communities are calling National Security Minister against crime. “We must understand that criminal elements in society, Edmund Dillon to fix crime in T&T first before sitting with ministers especially guns and drugs, are not related to T&T. So where is it from across the region to deal with the matter. The call came on the coming from? So we need this international intervention to discuss heels of Dillon’s announcement Monday that T&T would be hosting this to tackle the crime situation.” the XII Conference of Defence Ministers of the Americas (CDMA) in However, he said he hoped Dillon would get meaningful October. President of the Chaguanas Chamber of Commerce, Richie contributions to crime-fighting measures that T&T could take and Sookhai, called on the Government to talk crime first with all local modify. President of the Downtown Owners and Merchants stakeholders from communities before sitting in on the upcoming $9 Association, Gregory Aboud, said the questions arising in relation to the conference and its cost seemed to be related to the rapidly million conference. “Another multi-million dollar talk shop will yield no results if diminishing credibility of the national security agencies in T&T. He citizens are faced with deaf ears,” Sookhai said in a release. With the said: “We are going through a process of inconsistent comments that number of murders at 290 and counting, he said the country needed to have been the usual pronouncement of ministers who were given the find out why crime-fighting initiatives had failed. “We are calling on responsibility of protecting the citizens. the Government and the Commissioner of Police to begin “On the one hand we are being told that criminals will be made immediately conversations with the communities and all uncomfortable and will feel the full brunt of the law while on the other hand children are being murdered and criminals are posting stakeholders on how the cancer of crime can be curbed. “We believe that it is only through communication that a themselves on social media with high-powered weapons and comprehensive, multi-faceted, innovative and workable crime plan ammunition. “This, in our opinion, is at the heart of the questions that can be initiated that will address the multiple needs of the country are being raised about this conference and this is going to continue when it comes to addressing security issues,” Sookhai said He added until we start solving the savage murders and the gruesome killings it was evident the crime plans of T&T’s law enforcement bodies were which are occurring every single day.” not yielding desired results. Highlighting last Friday’s murder of The conference, which will run from october 11-12, will feature nine-year-old Cyon Paul of La Romaine, Sookhai said: “The murder countries and will foster mutual knowledge, analysis, debate and of nine-year old Cyon Paul, who died from a single bullet to the heart exchange of ideas and experiences on defence and security, Dillon while he and his family were on their way to buy food, is testimony of said during Monday’s launch. It is being hosted at a time when the Caricom region and the rest of the hemisphere face common threats to the darkness that has befallen this nation. “National Security Minister Edmund Dillon has said the crime national security which require collaboration and co-operation epidemic is ‘intolerable’ but expressions of dismay are not enough. among hemispheric partners. (Trinidad Guardian) We need to see concrete initiatives and plans being enacted so that our citizens can begin to feel a sense of security while going about their business in this country.” Sookhai also expressed disappointment that Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, in his capacity as the head of the National Security Council, was not more vocal in at least providing comfort through his own assurances to the people. “But we are cognizant of the fact that the Prime Minister has been dealing with his own health issues and are pleased that he has been given a clean bill of health by his doctors. “We are hopeful that now that his personal health issues have been dealt with that he and the Government will be better ready and able to address the fears of the national community,” he added. Couva Chamber of Commerce president Liaquat Ali also said he was concerned with the escalating crime and believed the relevant authorities should get their act together and deal with the situation. Ali, however, shared mixed views on the upcoming conference. He said: “Whilst it is good for the Government to deal with crime firstly, it is also good for the Government to know what other countries are doing to help curb the National Security Minister Edmund Dillon, centre, chats with permanent secretary Francis, left, as Chief of Defence Staff, Brigadier General Rodney Smart, looks crime situation in their respective countries so that, at Carl on following Monday’s launch of the 12th Conference of Defence Ministers of the the same time, we can try and do the same in the fight Americas (CDMA) at Tower C, Port-of-Spain. Francis is secretary general of the CDMA. PHOTO: NICOLE DRAYTON
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Venezuelan Hospitals Lack 80% Of Medicines, Supplies
CARACAS, Venezuela (AFP) – Hospitals in crisis-hit Venezuela are facing shortages of about eight in 10 medications and medical supplies needed to treat patients, according to a study published Tuesday. The 2016 National Hospital Survey found that 76 per cent of the medicines and 81 per cent of the medical and surgical supplies that doctors need had run out or were hit by severe shortages in the country's public hospitals. That was up from 67 per cent of medicines and 61 percent of supplies a year ago. The study, which analysed more than 240 health centers nationwide, was carried out by a non-profit medical organisation and academics at Central University of Venezuela. It found that 90 per cent of hospital emergency services were hit by "periodic failures" and that 70 per cent of hospital nutrition programs reported shortages, in a country where food has also grown scarce. The shortages "explain why there are waiting lists at all the hospitals," said opposition lawmaker Jose Manuel Olivares, who presented the study in congress. The opposition-held legislature passed a law in April requiring President Nicolas Maduro's leftist government to accept humanitarian aid for the food and medicine shortages. But the Supreme Court, which the opposition says Maduro controls, ruled the measure unconstitutional. UN Secretary-General Ban Kimoon has called the situation in Venezuela a "humanitarian crisis."
But Maduro's government rejects the term. The president blames the shortages hitting the once-booming oil producer on an "economic war" by wealthy elites seeking to destabilise his government. The opposition says the failure of Maduro's socialist economic model is to blame. (Jamaica Observer)
Legal Aid Council Resumes Operation At Downtown Office KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Ministry of Justice today said the Legal Aid Council resumed operations at its Harbour Street office, downtown Kingston on Monday. The resumption of operations came after the Ministry of Health confirmed last Friday that the air quality had returned to a standard that was safe for staff and clients. The operations of the office were affected by emissions that were suspected to have seeped through the air conditioning unit. The office of the Criminal and Civil Justice Administration, that was also affected, continues to operate from the Head Office of the
Ministry of Justice on Constant Spring Road. The Legal Aid Council provides legal representation to all persons who are in conflict with the justice system whether detained or charged; including Child Diversion cases and children experiencing severe behavioural challenges. (Jamaica Observer)
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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2016
Earthquake In Central Italy Leaves Dozens Dead
At least 73 people have been killed in an earthquake that hit a mountainous area of central Italy, authorities say. The magnitude 6.2 quake struck at 03:36 (01:36 GMT), 100km (65 miles) north-east of Rome, not far from Perugia. Many of the dead were in Accumoli, close to the epicentre, and a short distance away in Amatrice, where three-quarters of houses were destroyed. Many people are still believed buried under the rubble, and the death toll is expected to rise. Prime Minister Matteo Renzi paid tribute to the volunteers and civil defence officials who had rushed to the scene in the middle of the night and used their bare hands to dig for survivors, The quake struck at a shallow depth of 10km and its intensity was compared to that of the Aquila earthquake in April 2009 in which 309 people died. Some buildings in the capital shook for 20 seconds as the quake struck the regional border area of Umbria, Lazio and Le Marche. It was felt from Bologna in the north of Italy to Naples in the south. Some 80 aftershocks have been reported since. Italy's civil protection department said that at least 73 people were now known to have been killed. While the full extent of casualties is still emerging, Italian news agency Ansa is reporting that it believes at least 35 people have been killed in Amatrice and 11 in Accumoli, and another 17 in the villages of Arquata del Tronto and Pescara del Tronto. The mayor of Arquata del Tronto, Aleandro Petrucci, spoke of a disaster. "The village isn't there anymore. Almost all the houses in Pescara del Tronto have collapsed." An elderly couple and a boy were among the victims there, while 20 people have been taken to hospital. Two boys aged four and seven were pulled alive from the rubble of the house they had been staying in with their grandmother, Ansa reports. Rescuers were still trying to reach the remote village of Peracchia di Acqua Santa Terme a few kilometres to the east. Some of the worst damage was in Amatrice. The missing there include three nuns. "The roads in and out of town are cut off," said mayor Sergio Pirozzi.
Aerial images showed the extent of the damage in Amatrice(AP)
"Half the town is gone. There are people under the rubble. There's been a landslide and a bridge might collapse. "There are tens of victims, so many under the rubble. We're preparing a place for the bodies." Residents described using sheets to climb down from the upper floors of damaged houses. The local hospital was described as unusable and survivors were taken to nearby towns for treatment. The town's 13th Century bell tower was one of the few historic buildings in the centre that remained standing. Amatrice is popular with holidaymakers from Rome. The BBC's James Reynolds, who is in Amatrice, said that sniffer dogs were being sent into buildings to search for more survivors. In Accumoli, a short distance to the north of Amatrice, Mayor Stefano Petrucci said a family of four, including two small children, were missing under a collapsed house. A local photographer spoke of 15 rescuers digging with bare hands to try to reach the family. "They can hear the screams of the mum and one of the children," he said. Rescuers were also trying to dig out a 58-year-old man trapped in his home. Accumoli is popular with holidaymakers and most of the 2,500 people left displaced by the earthquake were said to be visitors. Mr Renzi promised affected areas that "no family, no city, no hamlet will be left alone". Why is Italy at risk of earthquakes? By Jonathan Amos Quakes are an ever-present danger for those who live along the Apennine mountain range in Italy. Through the centuries thousands have died as a result of tremors equal to, or not much bigger than, the event that struck in the early hours of Wednesday. The modern response, thankfully, has been more robust building and better preparation. Mediterranean seismicity is driven by the great collision between the African and Eurasian tectonic plates; but when it comes down to the specifics of this latest quake, the details are far more complicated. The Tyrrhenian Basin, or Sea, which lies to the west of Italy, between the mainland and Sardinia/Corsica, is slowly opening up. Scientists say this is contributing to extension, or "pull-apart", along the Apennines. This stress is compounded by movement in the east, in the Adriatic. The result is a major fault system that runs the length of the mountain range with a series of smaller faults that fan off to the sides. The foundations of cities like Perugia and L'Aquila stand on top of it all. Seismologist Andrea Tertulliani said there were sure to be further, numerous shocks that would probably diminish in intensity. "But it can't be ruled out that there could be another shock on the same scale as the main one," he added. Italy's civil protection agency described the earthquake as "severe". "It was so strong," Lina Mercantini of Ceselli, Umbria, told Reuters. "It seemed the bed was walking across the room by itself with us on it." (BBC)
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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2016
Turkey Sends Tanks Into Northern Syria Turkish tanks and other vehicles have rolled across the Syrian area. There were no immediate reports of fighting on the way in. border after heavy shelling of an area held by so-called Islamic Turkey has vowed to "completely cleanse" IS from its border State (IS). Military sources told Turkish media 70 targets in the region, blaming the group for a bomb attack on a wedding that Jarablus area had been destroyed by artillery and rocket strikes, killed at least 54 people in Gaziantep on Saturday. This is Turkey's and 12 by air strikes. Turkish-backed Syrian rebels who are first known ground incursion into Syria since a brief operation to following the advance say they have entered the town of Jarablus relocate the tomb of Suleyman Shah, a revered Ottoman figure, in itself. The operation is aimed against both IS and Kurdish fighters. February of last year. The air strikes are Turkey's first inside Syria Turkey shelled Syrian Kurdish forces in the region this week, since the downing of a Russian jet in November. Moscow and determined not to let them fill the vacuum if IS leaves. US Vice- Ankara only mended ties in June after punitive Russian sanctions. President Joe Biden warned Kurdish forces in Syria they would ‘Buffer zone' An unnamed senior US official in Washington told BBC News before the start of the Turkish operation that it was lose US support if they advanced west of the River Euphrates. “We have made it absolutely clear... that they must go back across "partly to create a buffer against the possibility of the Kurds the river," he said. "They cannot, will not and under no moving forward". Fighters from the Syrian Kurd YPG militia - the circumstances get American support if they do not keep that military wing of the PYD - led the battle to drive IS out of the commitment. Period." Making the highest-ranking visit to Ankara strategic crossroads town of Manbij this month. Responding to by a Western official since the failed Turkish coup on 15 July, Mr news of the Turkish advance, PYD leader Saleh Moslem tweeted Biden also sought to dispel any doubts about America's solidarity that Turkey was now in the "Syrian quagmire" and would be defeated like IS. with its Nato ally. Joe Biden is in Turkey to try and reset relations strained by the Turkey views the YPG as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers fallout from last month's failed coup attempt. Turks felt they did Party (PKK), a Turkish-Kurdish rebel group fighting for not get a clear message of support from Washington so Mr Biden is autonomy since the 1980s, but the YPG is backed by the US as one doing everything he can to send one - including deliberate of the most effective forces battling IS. Earlier, President Erdogan comparisons to the trauma Americans suffered after the 9/11 said he would press Vice-President Biden for the extradition of attacks. The Turkish government is also upset by America's US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom he blames for the coup alliance with Kurds in northern Syria. It believes they are linked to attempt. At a joint news conference with Turkish PM Binali Yildirim, Mr Turkish Kurds who are battling Ankara. The US finds the Syrian Kurds an effective force against Islamic Biden said of Mr Gulen: "We have no interest whatsoever in State militants but the Turks fear the alliance is helping them gain protecting anyone who has done harm but we need to meet the territory for an autonomous zone along the Turkish border. A US minimum legal standard of our law." Paying tribute to those Turks official travelling with Mr Biden admitted that some Turkish killed fighting the coup plotters, the US vice-president said: "The fighters had pushed further north than they should have and said United States of America did not have any foreknowledge of what Turkey's offensive on IS in Jarablus was probably partly to create a befell you on the 15th." (BBC) buffer zone against any further Kurdish advance. But he said the US had "put a lid" on any more such moves, creating a breathing space for the Jarablus operation, which the US supports and to which it is ready to contribute. Slow progress President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced in a speech in Ankara: "At 04:00 [01:00 GMT] our forces began an operation against the Daesh [IS] and PYD [Kurdish Democratic Union Party] terror groups." Operation Euphrates Shield was aimed at "putting an end" to problems on the border, he said. Between nine and 12 tanks crossed the border, followed by pick-up trucks believed to be carrying Turkish-backed Syrian rebels from the Free Syrian Army (FSA). The FSA said progress was slow because of mines planted by IS fighters in the Smoke billows after an air strike on Jarablus(AFP)
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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2016
France 'Burkini Ban': Images Of Police On Beach Fuel Debate
Pictures have emerged of French police appearing to enforce the controversial "burkini ban" on a woman on a beach in the southern city of Nice. Police appear to issue a fine to the woman, who is then seen removing a veil and baring her arms. Nice's deputy mayor said the removal of burkinis was a "necessity" after the deadly jihadist attack last month. The French Council of the Muslim Faith (CFCM) expressed concern at the direction the public debate was taking. A bid to overturn the ban is due to come before France's The incident happened close to where more than 80 highest administrative court people died in an Islamist attack in July(VANTAGENEWS) on Thursday. The incident, which took place on Tuesday, happe ned close to the site of the jihadist attack on Bastille Day in July. Rudy Salles, the deputy mayor of Nice, said: "It's a necessity after... the 14th of July on the Promenade des Anglais. "It is not the habit and the custom of the Muslims in Nice to wear [clothes] like this on the beach." Since the photographs went viral, Anouar Kbibech, the president of the CFCM, said he was "concerned over the direction the public debate is taking", citing the "growing fear of stigmatisation of Muslims in France". Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve has agreed to a meeting with the CFCM. Among many remarks about the incident on Twitter, the European Media Director of Human Rights Watch, Andrew Stroehlein, wrote: "Question of the day: How many armed policemen does it take to force a woman to strip in public?" It is not clear from the photographs if the woman was ordered to remove items of clothing by the police, or if she did so of her own accord. The 34-year-old mother, who gave her name only as Siam, told the AFP agency that she had been sitting on the beach in leggings, a tunic and a headscarf, when she was fined. She said: "I had no intention of swimming." The mayor of Cannes' ruling "Access to beaches and for swimming is banned to any person wearing improper clothes that are not respectful of good morals and secularism" "Beachwear which ostentatiously displays religious affiliation, when France and places of worship are currently the target of terrorist attacks, is liable to create risks of disrupting public order" The infringement is punishable with a fine of €38 (£33) The ban remains in place until 31 August 2016 The Muslim rights group, Collective against
Islamophobia, said that 16 women have been given fines in the past fortnight on the Riviera under the ban - but argues that none were wearing a burkini. The group said they were all wearing headscarves, tops and leggings. BBC Paris correspondent Hugh Schofield says the so-called burkini ban actually makes no mention of the burkini. The rules simply say beachwear must be respectful of good public manners and the principle of secularism which, he says, leaves large room for interpretation and confusion. The controversial rules surrounding swimwear have been imposed by more than 20 municipalities in France. (BBC)
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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2016
Vietnam Woman 'Cuts Off Limbs For Insurance Payout’
A Vietnamese woman has admitted to paying for her foot and part of her arm to be cut off in order to claim an insurance payout, police say. In May, the 30-year-old woman, named as "Ly Thi N", pretended she had been hit by a train, the People's Police Newspaper of Vietnam reports. But she has now reportedly admitted to having paid a friend $2,200 (£1,660) to sever her limbs. The aim was to claim more than $150,000 from her insurance company. A supposed bystander, "Doan Van D", the same person who did the cutting, had called an ambulance after "finding" the injured woman on a Hanoi railroad. Pictures published by the official police newspaper showed the woman three months later, with her wounds healed. She is believed to run a struggling business, according to local media. 'Only in Vietnam' The unusual case has led to heated discussion on social media in Vietnam. “A very typical case of insurance fraud. The kind of joke that only happens in Vietnam," Facebook user Ly Phan posted. "Lost 50 million, 1 hand, 1 leg, and now you are at risk to go to jail. No benefit at all." Several users decried the woman for the dangerous move, while others questioned how desperate she must have been. "She may be going bankrupt or urgently need money to do something like that.
It is never easy to cheat insurance companies," Thanh Phuong Quynh Le said. Hoa Nguyen said she felt sympathy for the woman: "How destitute must a person be to do such a thing?" Police have dropped the criminal investigation against both suspects, the Tuoi Tre newspaper reports. Le Van Luan, of the Hanoi Bar Association, told the BBC that it would be difficult to find the appropriate law to charge the pair with under the penal code. "We need a new article for this kind of fraud," he said. "Her self-harm is horrible and extremely rare." (BBC)
The woman originally claimed to have been involved in a train accident
Myanmar Earthquake: One Dead And Temples Damaged A 6.8 magnitude earthquake has hit central Myanmar, damaging temporarily suspended. At least 20 people were injured in the pagodas in the ancient city of Bagan and killing at least one person. Bangladeshi capital, Dhaka, as they fled a building, local media The quake struck 25km (15.5 miles) west of Chauk, at a depth of report. (BBC) 84km, the US Geological Survey said. Tremors were felt as far away as Thailand, Bangladesh and India, sending fearful residents into the streets. At least 66 stupas in Bagan have been damaged, a spokesman from the department of archaeology told the BBC. A 22-year-old man was killed in the town of Pakokku due to a building collapse. Videos posted on social media from Bagan show clouds of dust and the tops of some pagodas crumbling as the quake struck. The ancient capital is a major tourist site, home to thousands of Buddhist monuments. There are numerous reports of buildings being damaged elsewhere in the country, including the parliament building in Naypyidaw. Tall buildings shook in Yangon, Myanmar's largest city, the Thai capital Bangkok and Kolkata in India, The Dhammayangyi temple in Bagan where underground railway services were pictured as the earthquake struck(AFP)
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2016
Syrian Conjoined Twins Die Awaiting Transfer Abroad
One-month-old conjoined twin boys who were evacuated from a besieged rebel-held suburb of the Syrian capital Damascus have died, medics say. Nawras and Moaz Hashash were joined at the chest, with hearts in the same sac. They were moved to a hospital in a government-controlled area on 12 August after doctors launched an appeal. But on Wednesday, while waiting to travel abroad for surgery, the boys suffered heart failure and passed away, the Syrian Arab Red Crescent said. The Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS), a charity which supports hospitals and clinics in rebelheld areas and refugees elsewhere, had complained that the twins were unable to leave the country because they were not given permission. The SARC said approval had been given but the boys were too ill to travel. 'Ridiculous process' Moaz and Nawras weighed less than 12lb (5.4kg) when they were born by caesarean section on 23 July at the Zahra hospital in Douma, a town in the eastern Ghouta region outside Damascus. Douma has been completely besieged by government forces for two years and the undersupplied hospital was unable to provide the twins with the care they required. There are conflicting reports about why it took almost three weeks for the boys to be evacuated. The SAMS and doctors in Douma said the government only gave permission for an SARC ambulance to pass through the frontline because of a social media campaign they mounted, using the Twitter hashtag "#EvacuateTheTwins".
But the SARC insisted the authorities had approved an evacuation on 24 July, and accused medics in Douma of refusing to allow them out. After they had been moved to a private hospital in Damascus, SAMS warned that no facility in Syria was able to provide the surgery the twins needed and that they continued to suffer while waiting to be transferred abroad. Last week, the charity's Turkey advocacy manager Mohamad Katoub told the Wall Street Journal he was worried the transfer was being delayed because offers for treatment had come from the US and Saudi Arabia, both of which support the opposition to President Bashar al-Assad. On Wednesday morning, Mr Katoub announced that the boys had died. "The whole world couldn't have the permission to evacuate them," he added. He was later quoted by the pro-opposition website Enab Baladi as blaming "interference by the ministry of foreign affairs and its stalling of issuing a travel permit to any country to allow them to receive treatment". The SARC said the twins had received treatment in intensive care while being "registered in the formal civil records and having passports issued for them". But it added that the Bambino Gesu Children's Hospital in Rome had agreed to admit them and that "all formal leave approvals were signed in order to travel". "However, the bad general health condition [of the boys] was a hindrance." (BBC)
Nawras and Moaz required surgery that was only available outside Syria(SYRIAN ARAB RED CRESCENT)
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2016
North Korea Submarine Fires Ballistic Missile North Korea has fired a ballistic missile from a submarine off its would raise concerns at the UN. Japan urges restraint The launch east coast, say the US and South Korea. The KN-11 missile was launched from waters near Sinpo and flew about 500km (300 miles) before falling into the Sea of Japan, a US official said. Japan's PM said it fell inside Japan's Air Defence Identification Zone, calling it a "reckless act". It comes as South Korea and the US begin annual military drills, which routinely anger Pyongyang. Ulchi Freedom involves about 80,000 US and South Korean troops in a largely computer-simulated defence of South Korea from a fictional North Korean invasion.North Korea, which sees these drills as a rehearsal for invasion, recently warned they were pushing the Korean peninsula towards the brink of war and threatened a "pre-emptive nuclear strike" in retaliation. North Korea is banned by the UN from any use of ballistic or nuclear technology. But in recent months it has carried out repeated missile launches, and is believed to be close to conducting its fifth test of a nuclear device. Wednesday's early morning launch appears to have been its most successful test yet of a submarinelaunched ballistic missile (SLBM). SLBMs are of particular concern because of the mobility of submarines and the ease with which launch preparation can remain undetected. The South's military said it "seemed to be aimed at raising military tension in response to the SeoulWashington military drill", the Yonhap news agency reports. It said it would "sternly and strongly respond to any provocation by North Korea". Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe confirmed reports that the missile fell into Japan's ADIZ, an area of airspace over which a country exercises security controls. He said it was an "unforgivable, reckless act" which "poses a grave threat to Japan's security". The US State Department said it "strongly condemned" this, and previous missile tests, and
also coincided with a meeting of foreign ministers from Japan, China and South Korea in Tokyo. The three regional powers had agreed to "urge North Korea to exercise self-restraint regarding its provocative action, and to observe the UN Security Council's resolutions," Japan's Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida said. His Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, said that China was opposed to "any words and deeds that will cause further tension" on the Korean peninsula. Last month, the US and South Korea agreed to deploy a missile defence system to counter threats from the North. North Korea has conducted four nuclear tests to date - its most recent claimed to have used a hydrogen bomb - but despite its claims, it is not yet believed to have the ability to mount a nuclear device onto a warhead. Pyongyang has also been angered recently by several high profile defections, including its deputy ambassador to the UK, Thae Yong-ho. Mr Thae, thought to be the highest-ranking North Korean official ever to defect, was branded "human scum" by Pyongyang. (BBC)
Officials told South Korean media the missile travelled about 500km(AFP)
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2016
Canada's Mounties Allow Women In Uniform To Wear Hijabs
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police, known as the Mounties, is to allow women in uniform to wear hijabs. Government spokesman Scott Bardsley said the move was to reflect the diversity in Canada's communities and to attract more female Muslim officers. The iconic uniform, famed for its wide-brimmed hat, has barely changed since it was introduced two centuries ago. Recent figures show women make up about a fifth of the RCMP but it is not clear how many this measure will affect. Three types of hijabs were tested before one was selected as suitable for police work, local media reported. According to the Montreal newspaper La Presse, an internal memo said the hijab could be removed quickly and easily if needed, and did not encumber officers. Relaxing the rules The policy was introduced quietly earlier this year, though it was not The iconic uniform has seen few changes in its long history(AP) prompted by any requests from officers, according to the AFP s e n t w e s t t o p o l i c e American whisky traders. Inspired by agency. Some 30 officers had asked for a relaxing of the rules for British military uniforms of the period, it has since only undergone religious or cultural reasons over the past two years, La Presse minor changes. The RCMP has become the third police force in reported. In most cases, the requests were from male officers Canada to add the hijab option after Toronto and Edmonton. Police wanting to grow beards. in Sweden and Norway, and some US states, have adopted similar Sikh officers have been allowed to wear turbans since 1990. The policies, Mr Bardsley said. The Metropolitan Police in London uniform, with its red serge tunic, leather riding boots and felt approved a uniform hijab more than 10 years ago. (BBC) campaign hat, dates back to the 1800s - when mounted police were
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2016
Kabul Attack: Gunfire And Blast Rock American University
Gunfire and an explosion have been heard at the American University in the Afghan capital, Kabul, police say. Gunmen are believed to have attacked the building and special forces have been deployed. The emergency hospital said they had received five injured people from the scene so far. Student Ahmad Mukhtar told the BBC that he was 100m (320ft) away from the university's main entrance when he heard several shots and a big blast. The explosion created so much light that it momentarily lit up the surrounding area, he said. Then there were was more firing inside the campus. He added that he also heard students shouting. Another student told AFP news agency he was stuck inside his class with other students. "I heard explosions and gunfire is going on close by," he said by telephone. (BBC)
Afghan forces rushed to the scene after the blast and gunfire were heard(AP)
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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2016
Iraq Stops Would-Be Child Bbomber For ISIS army of child soldiers, stolen from their families and indoctrinated
A boy stands shaking in the street. Fear etched across his face. Two men flank him on either side as a third rips through the boy's Barcelona football shirt to reveal what appears to be an explosive belt. The Iraqi security officers grip the boy tightly. A small slip of the hand and the boy could reach the trigger and all four would die. This was the dramatic moment Iraqi police stopped Hussein, a 15year-old suspected in a suicide bombing attempt for ISIS in the Iraqi city of Kirkuk on Sunday. "Let me go," the boy whimpers. The officer shouts back: "We will take you down and go to God together." Footage appears to show officers restrain the visibly upset boy while they carefully but expertly cut the belt from the youth's torso. Once the belt has been removed, the boy is scooped up into custody. "Don't be afraid," the officer can be heard saying. Hussein begins to cry. Then scream. "Sorry uncle. I'm sorry." This is a teenager, with no parents, he tells authorities later, looking for somewhere to belong. Instead he is taken in by ISIS and brainwashed into becoming another child suicide bomber. Militants force-fed him with their extreme ideologies before sending him out into the world to kill for them. And authorities say the practice is becoming increasingly more prevalent. Kurdistan 24, a broadcast news station based out of Irbil, Iraq, first aired Sunday's dramatic capture, but new footage emerged Tuesday giving a clearer account of the arrest. Hussein isn't a lone wolf. Authorities tell CNN Hussein is originally from Mosul, ISIS' most significant stronghold outside Syria. They say the teen arrived in Kirkuk a week ago and he wasn't alone. Kurdish officials believe he is part of a sleeper cell sent by ISIS to the province to commit acts of terror. And while he didn't succeed, they say his friend, believed to be part of the same sleeper cell, detonated a device the day before killing a policeman. Another football shirt-wearing teenage boy brainwashed by ISIS recruiters. Additionally, Najmaldin Karim, the governor of Kirkuk Governorate, told CNN that three more would-be child bombers remain unaccounted for. "(Hussain) was captured before he reached his destination, which was a Shia mosque," added Karim. "The security guards noticed there was something wrong, especially that there was another suicide attack a bit earlier, and they captured him." Karim said the terrorist organization "trained and brainwashed" the boy. "They tell them if they do this, they will go to heaven and have a good time and get everything that they ever wanted," he said. The arrest in Kirkuk comes a day after a child bomber is believed to have targeted a Kurdish wedding in Turkey, killing at least 54 people. More than 20 of the victims were children under 14, a Turkish official said Monday. 'Cubs of the caliphate' As ISIS grows desperate, Kurdish authorities say the group is growing reliant on its child recruits. ISIS has a history of exploiting children through propaganda, but more recently it has used them as weapons on the front lines and to target civilians. The terrorist group maintains an
to their cause. These so-called cubs of the caliphate are inducted into ISIS' campaign of violence through myriad grim training practices, with children as young as 8 reconditioned to follow the terror group's ideology, according to UN reports. "We have had reports of children, especially children that are mentally challenged, who have been used as suicide bombers, most probably without them even understanding what has happened or what they have to expect," Renate Winter, an expert with the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, told CNN in 2015. The group is believed to use threats, intimidation and an unrelenting endurance training to break down the children. In some instances, boys are forced to witness ISIS militants shoot fellow recruits if they stop participating in drills. ISIS' deadly recruiting campaign The jihadi movement is also believed to have seized schools to re-educate and radicalize children to follow the group's extreme interpretation of Islam. Human Rights Watch has said ISIS and other extremist groups "have specifically recruited children through free schooling campaigns that include weapons training and have given them dangerous tasks, including suicide bombing missions." These terror tactics involving children have remained a top concern among lawmakers and human rights organizations. The first open source database documenting ISIS child propaganda was launched this year after 13 months of study. Researchers estimated 1,500 child soldiers are training and fighting in the terror group's ranks. "They are not just being used to shock people in execution videos. They are being used for their operational value as well," Charlie Winter, the study's co-author, told CNN in February. "This is something that sadly we have to expect to increase and accelerate as the situation becomes more precarious for ISIS in the years to come." ISIS is not the only terror group known to use child soldiers. Reports have emerged of children exploited by Boko Haram in Nigeria and Al-Shabaab in Somalia. (CNN)
T h u r s d a y A u g u s t , 2 5 , 2 0 1 6
n r u T e s er a v e l o P
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2016
GOVERNMENT MUST RESPECT RULE OF LAW – US REPORT According to the US report on human rights in Guyana, the legal framework provides for the rule of law and protection of human rights, but its implementation is citied as problematic. The report revealed that administration of justice is slow with uncertain access to fair and equitable justice, discrimination still exists, particularly for persons with limited means, especially in the hinterlands and women particularly. It was further noted that national human rights institutions are not fully established or effective and criminal violence is a critical problem. Guyana ranks among the top 20 countries worldwide in terms of murder rates; it has the fourth-highest homicide rate in South America with 17 homicides per 100,000 people. Guyana is also a transshipment point for guns and drugs from South America with all of its related problems, such as increased crime and corruption of law enforcement and judiciary actors. Legal professionals interviewed by the US thought that Guyana’s legal framework provided a solid foundation for the rule of law and protection of human rights despite need for updating. This is also reflected in the indicators for political rights, civil liberties, and freedom of information,
which are above average. Guyana’s legal framework is based on the 1980 constitution with significant revisions (1999/2000), which provides for equality among citizens and the protection of basic civil rights including freedom of assembly, expression, and religion. Guyana also incorporated several international conventions for human rights directly into its constitution, which would bring these requirements up to international standards.
Gov’t Makes Final Offer Of 10% Salary Increase For public servants unsustainability of any further addition to its offer with regard to the current and future budgets.” GPSU was reminded of the previous relief measures that were granted to public servants including an increase of the Minimum wage to $50,000; a 5% across-the-board plus $5000 increase; which was all within the 2015 National Budget, and, a one-off bonus of $50,000 for Public Servants earning below $500,000 per month in December 2015. The Government said it “took into A press statement for the Ministry of Presidency indicated the consideration the fundamental need for a restructured Public Service which included the adjustment of scales for wages and increases as follows: salaries; the implementation of a merit increment system; and a • Below $99,000 - 10% resolution of the issue of bunching. It was pointed out to the • $100,000 – $299,000 - 6% Union, that each of these would entail an additional cost to • $300,000 – $499,000 - 5% Government and result in increased earnings for Public • $500,000 – $799,000 - 4% Servants” this proposal was initially rejected by the Union • $800,000 – $999,000 - 2% which prompted the government to reconsideration its position • Above $1,000,000 - 1% an made the final offer 1-10% mentioned. The GPSU has agreed The initial proposal of the GPSU was for a 40% across the board to consider the Government’ offer and indicated that a response increase for public servants but this was subsequently adjusted will be issued after a meeting of its General Council. to 25%. The Union also requested that allowances be included in the negotiations. The negotiations last two month beginning 22nd of June and concluded on August 24 during which both parties resented proposals and recommendations agreeing that public servants needed immediate and necessary relief. The government in the statement released said its proposal “had taken into consideration the current socio-economic environment; the difficulty in agreeing to increases that would entail having to raise additional revenue and the Discussion on the wages and salaries increase for public servants between the Government of Guyana and the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) were concluded on Wednesday with the Government making a 10 percent increase in salaries for public servants working earning below $99, 000 and has made an offer of 1-6% for other categories of persons earning more that $99,000.
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THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2016
State Assets Recovery Bill Statement by Hon. Anil Nandlall
(A) The first issue that I wish to address is why this Bill in the first place. 1.This bill purports to create a series of new offences; it establishes an agency headed by a director, whom it vests with unparalleled powers, to investigate these newly created offences. 2.Like every country in the civilized world, Guyana has a National Police Force. It is over a 150 years old. The Police Act Chapter 16:01, Laws of Guyana, confers upon it wide and all encompassing powers. For example S.3 (2) of the Act provides as follows: The force shall be employed for the prevention and detection of crime, the preservation of law and order, the preservation of peace, the repression of internal disturbance, the protection property, the apprehension of offenders and the due enforcement of all laws and regulations with which it is directly charged and shall perform such military duties within Guyana as may be required of it by or under the authority of the Minister. 3. It is clear from S.3 (2) of the Police Act, that the Guyana Police Force has the legal powers and the statutory mandate to detect and investigate any offence created by the laws of Guyana, including, those created by the Bill. One may argue that because these are new offences, a new law enforcement agency is required to investigate them. This argument is as
myopic as it is misconceived. Over the last 150 years, innumerable new species of offences have been created. The same Police Force always retained the mandate to investigate them. Indeed, with the evolving nature of crime and the advent of new offences, the Police Force has had to undergo modifications, improve its capabilities and even establish new units within the force, to meet these new and dynamic changes in the criminal landscape. Even in the exceptional circumstance where a unit is created outside of the force, it normally falls under the supervision of the Commissioner of Police and more importantly, it enjoys powers similar to that of the Force. No civilian law enforcement agency enjoys greater power than the country's National Police Force. This Bill professes itself to be an offspring of the United Nation Convention Against Corruption 2003. I reject this notion. This Convention was simply invoked to camouflage this Bill with a veneer of acceptability and legitimacy. The reality is, 176 countries have signed on to this Convention, including, the entire Caribbean, but no Caricom country has a bill, even vaguely, resembling this one. I am now searching the entire Commonwealth, but to date, I have not been able to find a similar piece of legislation, thus far. The truth of the matter is that this Convention has been overtaken by the wave of anti-money laundering and terrorism legislation which have been sweeping the world. These legislation not only cover the obligations created by this Convention but their scope are much wider. In particular they set a very rigid network of statutory provisions which specifically target public officers, Ministers of Government, Members of Parliament, their family, relatives, associates and friends. They also target in a similar way almost every conceivable 4. group in a nation carrying on activities of a commercial or a quasi-commercial nature. 5. Indeed more than 90% of the offences
created by the SARA Bill are already in Guyana's AMLCFT legislation and other related legislation. 6. Having said all of this, I revert to my opening question: Why then this bill? The answer is undoubtedly simple. The scope of the Bill is quite narrow. It focuses on the recovery of State Assets suspected to have been acquired, unlawfully. It targets those who have held or are holding high public office in Government. Undoubtedly, the first targets of this Bill are former Ministers, possibly former Presidents and former senior functionaries of the PPP government and other important independent functionaries of state, including, the judiciary, the magistracy, the DPP, the Auditor General etc. No amount of linguistic devices or publicity gimmicks can disguise this clear objective. If one is to only look at the personalities pioneering and promoting this Bill and the content of what they are saying, the intent and policy of this bill should be clear. It will be used to target political opponents and important independent state institutions, In order to, eventually, break the back of their independence and to extract from them political loyalty and complicity. 7. It is a trite principle of law-making that laws are crafted to address a state of affairs deemed to be in existence and which warrants legislative attention. The greater the perceived problem, the stronger and more draconian would be the law crafted to address this problem. Having regard to the provisions of this Bill and the staggering powers which have been conferred upon the director, it is obvious that the framers of this Bill drafted it upon the hypothesis and belief that there have been a massive acquisition of State Assets by unlawful means by the PPP government, through its Ministers and functionaries and by other independent officials to whom I earlier made reference.
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4. It is no secret that the APNU/AFC campaigned at the 2015, General Elections, upon the platform that there was massive corruption in the PPP Government and in the administration of the Affairs of the State, in every sphere of activity, including, in the judiciary and elsewhere. They fed this propaganda to the world. They promised jail sentences and seizure of assets. It is in their manifesto. Their supporters and even beyond, drank this kool-aid in abundance. When they took office, the pressure begun to build upon them to deliver on this promise. Now in charge of the government, they quickly realize that they cannot find the evidence to support their propaganda. 5. 24 successive years of Auditor General Reports did not provide them with the required evidential weapon to carry out this agenda. So they handpicked forensic auditors of their own political ilk to search for this evidence. These forensic auditors came up empty-handed. The President, himself, conceded that the Forensic Audit reports lack the evidence required to institute criminal charges. Dozens of files were sent to the Police Force and the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions with instructions to charge. But no charges were instituted because of a lack of evidence. 6. It is against this backdrop that the SARA Bill emerges. Having failed to get the existing legal and constitutional institutions to carry out their political agenda, they have created a new law enforcement unit, whose officers are exceptionally empowered, they have even created new offences -- all in their efforts to carry out this agenda. The picture becomes even clearer, when one takes into account the fact that although this unit and its officers wield powers far and above officers of the Guyana Police Force, the constitutional and statutory safeguards which act as checks, balances and oversight over the Police Force and which insulate the Police Force from political interference, are all absent from this unit and they do not apply to the over-powerful officers of this unit. 7. However, this Bill is only one link in the chain of the Government's political vendetta. It will soon be complemented, aided and abetted by other soon to be created linkages. They have already signaled an intention to establish their own Prosecutor's Office, which no doubt, they will staff with cronies. I already predicted that they will establish new and separate courts to hear these offences. Already, one of their lackeys in the Guyana Bar Association, has echoed this call. 8. So the government is creating a parallel criminal justice system which they will control and manipulate and use the powers and resources of the state to persecute and witch-hunt political opponents and those who function in independent offices in order to extract political genuflection from them. They have their own auditors, their own investigators, they have created their own offences, they have their own prosecutors and soon they will have their own courts. Their mandate and business will have nothing to do with law and order. Theirs will be an agenda driven by politics and vendetta. (A) I will now highlight some conspicuous and abnormal features of this bill
1. This Bill creates an agency- the State Assets Recovery Agency. This agency is headed by a director. This director, would arguably be, apart from the President, the most powerful person in Guyana. Shockingly, the agency has no legal personality. But the director does. He is a corporate sole. That means that he is the legal embodiment of the agency. He is its alpha and it omega. In the discharge of his functions he is answerable to none, not even the President. He determines and controls all operational matters. There is no-line minister to guide him on policy matters. He hires whom he deems suitable. He has a right to demand any information from: the DPP, the Commissioner of Police, the director of the Financial Intelligence Unit, the Head of SOCU, the Chairman of the Integrity Commission, The Commissioner General, The Governor of the Bank of Guyana, The Head of CANU, The Chairman of the Gold Board, The Chairman of National Procurement and Tender Administration, every police officer not below the rank of inspector and many more. These officials are mandated to supply the information he requests. This Bill ignores the fact that many of those officials are prohibited by their respective legislation not to disclose certain information. The Bill also ignores the constitutional protection which is accorded to the DPP, making that office answerable to no one in the discharge of its functions. In this regard, it violates article 187 of the Constitution. 2. This Bill mandates all of the aforementioned public officers to cooperate with the director in investigative and operational matters. Again this Bill ignores and collides with statutory and constitutional provisions which confer upon some of these public officers independence and functional autonomy. 3. This director is empowered to call upon the Minister of Public Security to designate himself and other officers of SARA with powers of a police officer and powers of an immigration officer and to call upon the Minister of Finance to designate him and the other officers revenue and customs officers. So this monstrosity, reminiscent of the Greek's Mythical Hydra, will have police powers, immigration officer powers, customs officer power and revenue officer powers. 4. Fortunately, these Ministers themselves do not have these powers; neither do they have the lawful authority to confer these powers. These powers were conferred on the respective officers by parliament by virtue of different pieces of legislation. Ministers do not and cannot have legislative powers and therefore cannot give legislative powers. Any attempt by the executive to confer legislative power outside of the legislature would be heretic, a violation of separation of powers and an abrogation of the constitution. So these clauses in the Bill are unconstitutional and erroneous in principle. 5. I submit that no public officer should have the amount of powers which are concentrated in the director of SARA and its officers. There is bound to be abuse. Shockingly, there is absolutely no checks or balance or oversight over the operations and functions of these officers. There is no tribunal exercising disciplinary jurisdiction over this
THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2016
director or any of his officers. This is a recipe for abuse and misuse of power and authority. 6. The appointment process in relation to the director and deputy director is legally questionable. They are both appointed by a simple majority by the National Assembly. This Administration continues to make elementary but fundamental constitutional errors. They made the same error in the AMLCFT Bill 2015, by conferring upon the National Assembly, the power to appoint the Director and the Deputy Director of the Financial Intelligence Unit. Parliament has two essential functions: a law making functioning and an oversight function. Parliament is not an appointive body. The constitution never contemplated parliament appointing public officers. At its highest, Parliament may recommend for appointment, persons to sit on constitutional commissions. But this is expressly authorized by the constitution, itself. 7. Moreover, the use of the National Assembly to appoint the director and the deputy director is a mere charade, to create an illusion of independence and inclusivity in the appointment process. The truth is the Government has a simple majority in the National Assembly. And therefore, they alone will determine who are to be appointed to these positions. The Opposition will be a mere rubberstamp in this process. 8. As regard the offences created by the Bill, the conduct or actions of public officials which this Bill now outlaw, have all taken place already. The properties which may have been acquired and which the Bill now targets, are already vested in the names of individuals. For this Bill to apply to those actions and to those properties, this Bill must have a retroactive effect. The constitution does not permit laws creating criminal offences to operate retroactively. So you cannot pass a law today which makes an act which was not a crime yesterday, a crime today, and charge a person for that act committed yesterday. The rationale is simple. Yesterday when the act was committed it was not a crime. Similarly property which was acquired by a method which was lawful yesterday cannot be affected by a law passed today which makes that method of acquisition illegal. In short this Bill, so far as it creates criminal offences and it purports to affect property rights it can only operate prospectively and not retrospectively. 9. I can say much more. But I will stop here. The picture which I have painted should, by now, be crystal clear. This Bill is nothing but a wicked and vindictive manifestation of the government's intention to use the law, the legal process and state resources to persecute and witch-hunt its political opponents and to threaten and intimidate and to possibly persecute independent officials of state for example the DPP, judges, magistrates, the Auditor General and all those who have to perform independent oversight functions over the executive. It is an exhibition in authoritarianism. It is replete with unconstitutionalities. Definitely it will be challenged if enacted. It will not withstand objective judicial scrutiny.
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2016
Toshaos Urged To Assist In Eliminating TIP underscored the importance of parents and guardians to enquire
Minister of Social Protection Volda Lawrence on Wednesday urged leaders at the National Toshaos Council’s (NTC) conference to play their part in eliminating Trafficking in Persons (TIP). According to the Government Information Agency (GINA), the issue was discussed when several leaders shared their concerns and suggestions on tackling the issue of TIP, since it is a major concern for the Amerindian people. It was noted that many Amerindians travel to the city or leave their communities to pursue jobs and opportunities elsewhere and some of them fall prey to exploitation, sex slavery and or modern day slavery. Sister Lyn of Bamboo Landing, Region One emphasized the need for the government to look into the issue of school children being preyed on by wanted men in the area. Minister Lawrence related that she will commit to visit the area, along with a team from the Education Ministry. Additionally, another member of the conference supported the discussion by stating that there is need for the Ministry to look into the areas where there are large and medium scale mining, since these are the areas where TIP is most common. Minister Lawrence said that while outsiders are involved in these offences, it is usually, “someone from the community who takes the children out by saying that they will find them work.” She
where their children are being taken, who they will be staying with and also taking note of addresses and contact information for those who will be employing the children when their children are leaving the communities to seek work. In this regard the Minister explained that the Ministry has begun engaging large scale businesses in discussion.
Minister of Social Protection Volda Lawrence
No Increase For Police Force Anytime Soon As the negotiations between the Government of Guyana and the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) comes to a closure, the union has agreed to consider the Government’s final offer to increase public servants salary.But this falls way below the initial demand by the GPSU of a 40% across-the-board increase. Public servants are complaining that shortly after the APNU+AFC Government assumed office in May 2015, they gave themselves a 50 percent salary increase and did not follow through on the 20 percent increase from the campaign promise. The Government’s pay increase proposal are as follows: •Below $99,000 - 10% •$100,000 – $299,000 - 6% •$300,000 – $499,000 - 5% •$500,000 – $799,000 - 4% •$800,000 – $999,000 - 2% •Above $1,000,000 - 1% The Guyana Police Force is not included in this category and will not be getting any increase in the near future. According to Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, “that it is very difficult at this stage to increase salaries, the minute you start increasing police salaries, the nurses will jump on our back, the public servants will want an increases”.However, the public servants, which includes the nurses will be getting the proposed increase. Members of the disciplined services which includes
the Guyana Police Force, the Guyana Defense Force, the Guyana Fire Service are not unionized. President David Granger, in February of this year had stated that “The defense force, police force and the other disciplined services are not necessarily part of the traditional public service but there is some equivalence.” The president had said that, the absence of the report of the Commission of Inquiry into the public service is what is holding back the APNU+AFC administration in granting the increase to the police force.“Once we get the report we will draw some equivalence to the police, defense forces with positions in the public service so they are related.” Finance Minister, Winston Jordan had also said in February that the APNU+AFC government cannot keep its election promises to pay a 20 percent salary increase to the Guyana Police Force, because the Government had to get millions of dollars to bail out the sugar and rice industries.
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS Lindeners Still Waiting On The Good Life PAGE 93
THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2016
In a recent three day visit to the mining town of Linden, Road Building Materials $5,000; Trucks with Fuel $5,000; Fuel Minister of Social Protection, Volda Lawrence promised Tankers $5,800; Haulers $5,000; Haulers with Machine $7,000. Lindeners a good life, but according to residents, they are still waiting to see any signs of the promised “good life.” The delegation included Minister within the Ministry of Social Protection, Keith Scott and a team including social and labor workers at the Harmony Secondary School in Wismar. The Minister promised jobs for the residents of that community, stating that the Ministry will be hiring persons from October to do social work and “we want to work with NGOs (NonGovernmental Organizations), for them to come on board to ensure that teachers are trained on social issues apart from regular studies to assist our youths,” the Minister said. However, residents of the community are complaining bitterly about deteriorated schools, hospitals, broken roads, limited electricity, bad water and telephone services. The residents are very frustrated about the lack of jobs and opportunities in the region; they are also complaining that it has been over one year and nothing has been done to create employment in the region. According to one resident, James, “the Government promise us the “good life”, but we are not even seeing the good in life from this APNU+AFC Coalition Government. Under the PPP things were bad but not so bad, this government is putting more pressure on us, for example, instead of dropping the tolls in the region, they raised it from $2000 to $7000, this is a 250 percent increase, how can this be the ‘good life?”. In the Official Gazette dated August 20, 2016, every vehicle shall stop at a paying point at the toll station and the owner or person in charge of the vehicle shall pay the full toll for the vehicle, as follows: car with goods for Sale $2,000; minibuses with goods for sale $2,800; small canters with goods for sale $3,000; large canters with goods for sale $4,000; lumber trucks with boards $4,000; 20’ container $5,000; pick Ups and 4x4s with materials $3,000; trailers with boards $4,000; trucks with scrap iron $5,000; Timber Trucks with Logs $5,000; Trailers with Logs $5,000; Bedford Trucks $4,800; 40’ Container $7,000; Trucks with
LOCAL
GUYANA DAILY NEWS Welder Killed In Puruni Explosion PAGE 94
THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2016
Thirty- one- year old Welder, Christian Thompson known as ‘Johnny’ was killed on Wednesday morning during an explosion in Puruni Backdam, Cuyuni Mazaruni, Region 7. His distraught wife, Amanda Thompson told the Guyana Daily News that she was informed her husband was welding next to a fuel tank about 10:00h on Wednesday when it exploded. This theory was confirmed by Commander of 'F' Division, Ravindradat Budhram. Mrs. Thompson said her husband of eight years only went into the interior three weeks now along with his brother where they opened a mechanic shop. She is now worried how she and her three children will survive since her husband was the sole breadwinner of the family and she is unemployed. The children are ages 8, 6 and 4.
Dead: Christian Thompson known as ‘Johnny’
Thompson's children
LOCAL PAGE 95
GUYANA DAILY NEWS
THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2016
Krishna Janmashtami: A Celebration Of Love Krishna Janmashtami also known as Krishnashtami, Gokulashtami, Srikrishna Jayanti, Sree Jayanti or simply, the birth of Lord Krishna, is observed on the eight day after the full moon in the Hindu month of Bhadrapada (August–September). Janmashtami commemorates the earthly appearance of Krishna, who is described in India’s sacred writings as God Himself. It is one of the biggest religious festivals in the world, celebrated by nine hundred and thirty million people and two million in the US alone. Shri Krishna is one of the most widely revered and most popular of all Hindu Gods. He is worshiped as the eighth incarnation or avatar of Lord Vishnu, who is one third of the Holy Trinity. Krishna belonged to the Vrishni clan of Yadavas from Mathura, and was the eighth son born to the princess Devaki and her husband Vasudeva. To devotees, its Christmas and New Year’s in one, a day of deep spiritual renewal and celebration that effectively finishes an old year and begins a fresh one. Festivities begin before dawn and extend all day until midnight, the exact moment of the anniversary of Krishna’s appearance. Events include Kirtan, singing the Lord’s name along with other devotees and japa, a private, more intimate prayer. Some devotees cook a feast of over one hundred dishes, while others perform drama and dance. Some clothe and decorate the deity of Krishna while others string enormous flower garlands and other decorations for the temple. Incense burns, scriptures are read, and all but the young and the infirm fast all day. The deities are also bathed with a variety of auspicious liquids in a kind of ablution ceremony called
abhisheka. Sometimes taking over two hours, this is performed with great sense of reverence, adoration, and meditative awareness. At midnight, devotees gather around for devotional songs, dance and exchange gifts. Some temples also conduct readings of the Hindu religious scripture Bhagavad Gita. Followed by the Pujari pulling apart the curtains to reveal the freshly dressed deity of Lord Krishna on altar. Devotees perform detailed ritualistic Puja during midnight, which involves all sixteen steps of the Shodashopachara, or Puja Vidhi. It is a festivity of devotion and purification. A yearly celebration of love, an opportunity for devotees all over the world to show their commitment and dedication. Surce: http://www.drikpanchang.com/dashavatara/lordkrishna/krishna-janmashtami... -By- Rocio Perez, Guyana Daily News.
LOCAL PAGE 96
GUYANA DAILY NEWS
THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2016
Kitty Woman Remanded On Cocaine Charge Ariel Singh appeared before Magistrate Renita Singh in the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court on Thursday charged with possession of narcotics with the intent of trafficking on August 23, 2016. Singh was remanded until September 26, 2016, when she will return for continuation into the matter. Singh, 21, of Alexander Street Kitty, was represented by Attorney Adrian Thompson; she pleaded not guilty to the charge. Thompson applied for bail but it was denied following objection from the prosecution. It is alleged that on the day in question at Alexander Street, Kitty, Georgetown, Singh was found to be in possession of 4g of cocaine with the intent of trafficking. If found guilty, Singh can be jailed for 3-5 years and a fine of the street value of the narcotics. -By- Jarred Singh, Guyana Daily News.
Power Issues Affect Water Supply In Region 3 Over the past few weeks there has been several complaints by residents of Region 3 (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara) over the untimely disruption of power, criticizing the amount of blackouts per day. The disruption of power is now not only affecting the electricity provided to homes but residents have complained that it is also affecting the Guyana Water Co-operation from effectively carrying out its responsibility of supplying water to homes. This was also confirmed by Regional Divisional Manager of GWI, Martin Garrick, who has been reported by the Guyana Information Agency as saying that “whilst the residents may see power at their homes, the quality of supply at the well stations cannot suffice the operations of those wells, so sometimes we would have no water supply.” Garricks noted that they are currently working hand in hand with Guyana Power and Light in an effort to increase the effectivity of the services provided to residents. The GWI official also revealed that they are plans underway for the coming year to increase the quality of service provided by means of the digging of wells in the newly developing areas where housing schemes are being inhabited such as
Parfaite Harmonie, West Minster, Schnoord and Lust-en-Rust. “So whilst we have some challenges some amount of work is being done.” There are still some residents who are impatient and calling for the immediate fixing of the problem, noting that it is severely affecting them since they are now placed on a timetable of when water is available and when it is not.
LOCAL
GUYANA DAILY NEWS The Central Islamic Organisation Of Guyana (CIOG) Welcomes Mr. Terry SteersGonzalez, Deputy Chief Of Mission At The US Embassy In Guyana. PAGE 97
THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2016
The Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana CIOG Press Release (CIOG) was pleased to welcome Mr. Terry SteersGonzalez, Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy in Guyana. Mr. Gonzalez arrived in Guyana three weeks ago after the end of mission by Mr. Brian Hunt. During his courtesy visit to the CIOG Secretariat, Mr. Gonzalez was given a briefing of the activities of the Organisation by Sheik Moeenul Hack and Mr. Khakan Ramjohn. In his remarks Mr. Gonzalez spoke of the close relationship that exist between the US and the CIOG, and was pleased that the CIOG is working From L to R Khalil Ahmad-Deputy Treasurer-CIOG, Patrick Zephyr-Executive Member-CIOG, Mr. Gonzalez, closely with HAP to promote humanitarian Deputy Chief of Mission-US Embassy, assistance to those in need. The CIOG wished him Khakan Ramjohn-CIOG General Secretary, well during his tenure in Guyana and look forward Sheik Moeenul Hack-Director of Dawah & Education-CIOG, Mr. Gabe Mejia Assistant Directorto a continued good relationship that can redound US Humanitarian Assistance Programme. to the benefit of the Guyanese citizenry.
CLASSIFIEDS PAGE 98
GUYANA DAILY NEWS
THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2016
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REGIONAL PAGE 99
GUYANA DAILY NEWS
THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2016
Cepep Contractors Facing Termination The Community-based Environmental Protection and Enhancement Programme (Cepep) yesterday said it planned to remove contractors who have spent more than three years in the programme. The plan will affect 90 per cent of its contractors who, according to the company, have been operating in the system for over five years. The company made the announcement in a media statement published yesterday, in which it noted the move had become necessary because the programme had “deviated from the principles of transparency and uprightness” over the years. Up to last night, Cepep chairman Trevor Lynch had not responded to a call or text message querying how m a n y p e o p l e w o u l d b e Cepep workers on the job along Wrightson Road, Port-of-Spain, recently. affected, if the contracts would employees, as required by their contracts be reviewed and how many jobs would be lost in what appears a with Cepep and by law. But rather than discipline the contractors, Cepep said the streamlining exercise. Calls to Minister of Public Utilities Ancil former board established a point system to Antoine, under whose purview Cepep falls, grade contractors as “compliant” or “nona l s o w e n t u n a n s w e r e d . C e p e p w a s compliant.” conceptualised as an incubator facility It said in spite of finding only a handful of affording contractors the opportunity to learn compliant contractors the board “took no and grow their businesses over a three-year action against the contractors, who period. It was felt that upon graduating from misappropriated or embezzled as much as the programme, the contractor would be able $500,000 in some cases.” Cepep also noted to offer services and compete successfully in that all contractors’ employees were paid the private sector without Government directly by Cepep and not the contractors. support. But in its statement yesterday, The company is responsible for over 12,000 Cepep said: “Currently, 90 per cent of the staff, contractors and contractors’ employees, existing contractors have been engaged by it said. While Cepep assured that its overall the programme for more than five years. level of employment would be maintained, it Most of this group of contractors have six said the intent of the programme was to teams of ten persons per team and have provide short-term income support for the earned in that period over $3,500,000 (per employees of the contractors while contractor) in management fees.” The upgrading their skills through training. statement noted that some contractors had It said the company was currently in the signed new contracts in the weeks leading up process of realigning the programme with its to the last general election on September 7, core objective as a business incubator. The 2015 and in some cases on the day of the company said staff whose jobs were made election. It was also noted that contractors redundant under the emerging organisational engaged in the programme were not paying structure would be screened for suitability in health surcharge, NIS, VAT or Green Fund other areas of the company and subject to Levy to the State on behalf of their their acceptance, would be deployed to those
suitable positions. Moonilal: Diversion tactic In response to Cepep’s statement, former housing minister Roodal Moonilal, in a press release, insisted that it was seeking to divert attention from plans to dismiss 12,000 workers and contractors. Asked how many contractors awarded contracts for more than five years were likely to be released by Cepep, Moonilal estimated the figure to be 150 based on figures he had. He said that figure meant 10,000 employees could sacked. “The stark reality is that the company is moving to terminate contractors and workers without justification and appropriate public explanation. “That disturbing and irrefutable fact is compounded by grossly irregular hiring practices and summary removal of several staff employees.” (Trinidad Guardian)
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2016
Work Slows Down At Couva Corporation Work at the Couva/Tabaquite/Talparo Regional Corporation has slowed down near the end of the financial year as the recent suspension of four employees, currently before the court on corruption charges, has worsened manpower problems. Speaking at yesterday’s statutory meeting, chairman Henry Awong said he asked Rural Development and Local Government Minister Franklin Khan to remedy their staff shortages as work on almost 15 outstanding projects had ground to a halt. As a result estimates were still to be prepared, approvals have to be granted and funds were still to be allocated for the projects which many citizens were depending on, he added. He said there was also a lack of experience as there were some members in new positions, including Charmaine Dookie, who is acting in place of the suspended CEO Carol Dyal, while Viveka Pargass has recently taken up the position as corporate secretary. He said a Road Officer II, who was heading the Technical Department, recently said he did not have the knowledge or ability to continue in his acting role. Awong added: “This corporation is severely handicapped going forward at a critical time in the year when we are coming to the end of the financial year, when we have to look at how we are spending funds and how we need to balance our budget. “That was expressed to the minister yesterday and he indicated to the permanent secretary to do all in her power
to ensure that the relevant manpower be given to t h i s corporatio n. “All t h o s e things c a m e a b o u t because it is public knowledg e that four Chairman of the Couva/Tabaquite/Talparo Regional Corporation, Henry Awong, and acting CEO Charmaine Dookie during the corporation’s k e y statutory meeting yesterday. PHOTO: RISHI RAGOONATH persons in this corporation were charged o n permanent secretary Desdra Bascombe some matters that is before the court. That appoint a quantity surveyor to verify the I will not go into. Based on that, I have material being used on projects in which expressed that these positions be filled.” the corporation is engaged. O n A u g u s t 8 , D y a l , c o u n t y Rambaran said based on his research, he superintendent Maniram Mohess, believed some projects were being engineer Barry Samaroo and checker Ian overpriced and documents were being Gokool appeared before Port-of-Spain padded. He said the costing alone for the Magistrate Christine Charles charged Tabaquite Promenade was $1 million and w i t h c o n s p i r i n g t o d e f r a u d t h e when lumped with other projects, there was $2 million in questionable projects. corporation of $149,500. Fellow ILP alderman, Sunil Ramjitsingh, The charges relate to a contract awarded seconded the motion, questioning for the installation of outdoor exercise equipment at the San Pablo Recreation whether there was value for money in Ground and the Todd’s Road Activity these projects. He questioned whether the Centre. Businessman Mahase Sookai is amount of resources allocated for the a l s o a n a c c u s e d i n t h e m a t t e r. project reconciled with what was Independent Liberal Party (ILP) required or being used. (Trinidad alderman, Beeran Rambaran, raised a Guardian) motion yesterday, requesting that
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2016
Fishermen Admit To Dumping Fish
Fisherman Arkido Agard removes cutlass fish from the hull of a boat following his return to shore at Carli Bay, Couva. PHOTO: KRISTIAN DE SILVA
Fisherm e n claimed yesterday they were to blame for schools of dead fish washing ashore in the southwestern peninsular. The admission came almost a month after reports of dead fish washing ashore and claims that they were poisoned from oil spills. The fishermen said they have seen others dumping herrings, cat fish and mullet, trapped in their nets, back into the ocean. The mystery fish kill which surfaced last month has already eroded the public’s confidence in the consumption of fish. Fish sales also declined drastically when secretary of Fishermen and Friends of the Sea, Gary Aboud, called on the public not to purchase bottom dwelling fish caught in the Gulf of Paria saying total petroleum hydrocarbon levels were too high. However, at the Claxton Bay fishing port yesterday several people admitted to dumping by-catch, saying it was not true the dead fish surfaced because of pollution and toxicity in the Gulf. Desmond Belfast who has been fishing for over 20 years said their nets often bring in unwanted catch. He said those who use the Italian seine and seabed
trawling were usually the culprits. “People do not buy herring, mullet and catfish. They want cutlass fish, king fish, salmon and carite. Right now we are in a leap year and it is the most productive time of the year so we are catching a lot of fish. The waters are cold and the fish come to the shallow,” Belfast said. He said he had often seen the Italian seine operators dumping buckets of dead herrings and sardines at sea. Another fisherman, Lawrence Bailey, agreed with Belfast saying: “Even the trawler operators dump fish. Thousands of fish pass through the nets, especially in the warm shallows so when they get caught, they are thrown back in the water.” Denying the fish were being wasted, Bailey said birds and other fish consume the dead fish. However, he said, because of the unusual west wind, the dead by-catch had been washing ashore, making people believe that the fish died from poisoning. At the Carli Bay fishing port, one Italian seine operator said the herrings which became caught in their nets were usually thrown back alive. Captain Ashmead Khan said: “The
trawler operators throw back dead fish in the sea. The trawlers need to be regulated.” Boat owner Fawaz Khan said he did not believe the recent fish kill was caused by high toxicity levels in the Gulf. “We have seen people dumping the fish. Why don’t the EMA and Cariri take samples of live fish to test toxicity rather than test dead fish,” Khan asked. Vendor Rishi Sahadeo said he had to dump $5,000 worth of fish because of declining sales. Meanwhile, chairman of the EMA, Nadra Nathai-Gyan, said the Ministry of Planning was co-ordinating with the Public Health Department to do further testing abroad. She said the minister had asked the Public Health Inspectorate to go out and do further testing which would be sent to an international laboratory. Managing director of the EMA,Gayatri Badri-Maharaj, said the EMA would be continuing tests and would be collaborating with the Institute of Marine Affairs (IMA) to do a deeper analysis of tests. (Trinidad Guardian)
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2016
Cops Search For 2 Missing Teens
Amanyi Noel (Left) and Christene Alexander P o l i c e a r e s e e k i n g assistance from the public in locatingt w o m i s s i n g teenage girls, one of whom left two cryptic messages on Facebook the day she was last seen. According to police reports, Christene Alexander, 15, of Southern Gardens, Warden Road, Point Fortin, and Amanyi Noel, 16, of Saldina Terrace, Curepe, were reported missing by their families recently.
Noel was reported missing to the St Joseph Police Station by her mother, Karla Charles, around 8 pm on Saturday. Noel was last seen leaving home to attend classes at Civilian Conservation Corps, Mausica, around 9 am last Friday. She is of African descent, five feet, eight inches tall and of medium built and was wearing an orange jersey and black pants when she left home.
On Noel’s Facebook page, which had activity as recent as 4.17 pm on the day she went missing, she posted this status at 4.13 pm: “I am finally seeing what I should of seen a long time ago when I’m crying out for help no one is there but when I die my wake will be in a stadium. Please tell me why people doing that I cant understand.” In the second case, Alexander was reported missing to the Port Fortin Police S t a t i o n b y h e r m o t h e r, B e l i n d a Alexander, around 12.45 am on Tuesday. She was last seen at home at around 7.35 pm on Monday wearing a blue short pants and a multi-coloured, stripped long sleeve top. Alexander is a Form Three pupil of Vessigny Secondary School and is of African descent, five feet tall and slim built. (Trinidad Guardian)
Brazil Senate Starts Impeachment Trial Of President Rousseff RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (AP) — President Dilma Rousseff from office. Brazil's Senate has begun deliberating The impeachment trial is the final step on whether to permanently remove in a leadership fight that has all but paralyzed Congress since a measure to impeach her was introduced in the lower chamber late last year. Brazil's first female president is accused of illegally shifting money between government budgets to mask yawning deficits. Detractors say she did that to shore up support and argue Dilma Rousseff those maneuvers exacerbated
the recession in Latin America's largest economy. Rousseff denies wrongdoing. Instead, she says her enemies are conducting a "coup." The Senate impeached and suspended Rousseff in May. Vice President Michel Temer took over. Several days of testimony will culminate in a final vote next week. (Jamaica Observer)
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2016
St Kitts-Nevis Passes Legislation To Bring Relief To BAICO Policyholders
BASSETERRE, St Kitts (SKNIS) -- The BAICO (Plan of Arrangement) Bill, 2016, passed into law at the sitting of the St Kitts and Nevis National Assembly on Tuesday, will “provide the legal framework to implement a plan of arrangement to resolve the long outstanding matter of payments to the policyholders of the failed British American Insurance Company (BAICO)”, according to prime minister and minister of finance, Dr Timothy Harris, who brought the Bill to its fruition. The Plan of Arrangement is a statute based court approved legal process under which BAICO may enter into an arrangement or compromise with their creditors. Harris said that “the ECCU [Eastern Caribbean Currency Union] is approaching the problem in a coordinated way” and that “each country has to pass the law.” He outlined that Montserrat passed Plan of Arrangement (BAICO and CLICO) Act No. 5 of 2016, on 27 June 2016 and that a similar Bill was passed in the Parliament of Dominica. The Bill was approved in Antigua and Barbuda (2015), Grenada in July 2015, St Vincent and the Grenadines in October 2015 and Anguilla in November 2015. “Mr Speaker, I have
Prime Minister Dr Timothy Harris
looked at legislation in Antigua and Barbuda, Montserrat and Dominica. They are more or less identical. Semantic changes to do with name of territory or country, etc. but in substance all of them are the same. This is in keeping with the harmonized approach to legislation on this matter. “This company has had a long period of service to the people of the region including of us in the OECS, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago and The Bahamas. Regrettably it became insolvent in 2009. It was placed into Judicial Management in late 2009 in numerous jurisdictions including the Bahamas, Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, Montserrat, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia and St Vincent and the Grenadines. The Anguilla branch was also placed in administration at this time and an Agent of the Judicial Manager was appointed in Dominica. The suffering has been long and hard,” Harris said. “Today we offer a plan of arrangement which will allow for the parties affected to receive some payments with the blessings of the court, the participation of the creditors and guidance of the judicial manager,” Harris added. On September 8, 2009, on the hearing of a petition filed by the Insurance Commissi on of the Bahamas, BritishAmerican Insurance Company Limited (BAICO) was placed u n d e r judicial manageme nt and Juan (John) M. Lopez of
KPMG Restructuring Limited was appointed the judicial manager of the company. BAICO was incorporated In the Bahamas in 1920 and is a subsidiary of CL Financial Ltd. The failed insurance company operated subsidiaries, affiliates and/or branches throughout the Caribbean region whereby it sold life insurance, annuity business and other insurance products to policyholders. Harris reported to Parliament that the judicial managers of BAICO have “made significant recent progress regarding the proposal of a plan to facilitate the distribution of BAICO’s assets to its policyholders.” According to him, the plan requires the requisite legislation to be passed in several OECS (Organization of Eastern Caribbean States) jurisdictions. The legislation is intended to “set out a framework for agreeing final claims against the company and will require a court-ordered meeting of creditors to vote on the proposals.” Harris said that the Plan will be a court driven process with three critical elements: count driven process, approval of creditors, and distribution of BAICO’s assets on a consistent and equitable basis. Harris said that “the most recent payment information revealed that 1,315 policy holders were paid totally $15.9 million.” He said that Phase 3 “is ongoing with $3.2m to be paid to individuals who applied” and that 7,384 creditors for the branches in the Eastern Caribbean (St. Kitts and Nevis included) were paid EC $103.4 million and that EC $22.7 million remains to be paid to applicants under phase 3. “Mr Speaker, this is a debacle that has been going on for too long. Many families have suffered financially, my government is indeed pleased that we can legislate a plan that will lead to organized distribution of assets to creditors,” Harris said. (Caribbean News Now!)
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THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2016
St Kitts-Nevis Passes Legislation To Bring Relief To BAICO Policyholders home, which is in need of repair and has no running water, saying: “I am a single mother of two, I do not sell drugs. My son was not in drugs. Look where I living. “So I cannot melt my two gold earrings and make a chain for my child. So I cannot buy a $750 sneakers for my son.” Williams said the hand signs her son made in one of his photos was not a signature of any criminal gang. “He just love to dress up and pose,” she said. Asked if she wanted a police presence at his funeral service today, she said: “No, he was not a target. My son’s father was not a target.” Describing him as a loving, helpful and caring child, Williams, who is unemployed, said: “My son use to say ‘mummy don’t worry, I will get my education and get rich and build a house for you and we will have a pool and thing in our house.’” It was initially reported that the La Romaine RC School student was a target but investigators are now working on the theory that he was hit by a stray bullet. Residents fearful of talking Cyon’s death has also left the community in shock as residents described the child as respectful and helpful. A resident, who wished not to identified, said people knew what happened but they were afraid to talk. He said: “A rasta man and a young boy was playing with a nines (gun) on the opposite side of the road when it went off and the child get hit but everybody covering it up.” Wiping away tears, Michael Nurse, 73, a longstanding member of the community who lives close to Cyon, cried: “What that child do so? Everyday that child go by that tree and play there. I so sick since that child die I could hardly eat. Every night I crying. That child never disrespect nobody, he was a real loving child.” Commenting on the police post, resident Michaeline Wall said: “That will stop crime but they have to bring serious police. They should Safiya Williams, mother of nine-year-old Cyon Paul, who was shot dead last week, looks at the school uniform she purchased for him for the new school term at her La Romaine home yesterday. have done that a long time Paul’s funeral will take place today. Photo: RISHI RAGOONATH ago, all now so he (Cyon)
A police post in the crime-plagued community of La Romaine is being welcomed by residents and business people outraged over the recent killing of nine-yearold Cyon Paul. But for Safiya Williams, Cyon’s mother, the move is a little too late. The setting up of the post in the community was announced during the police media briefing in Port-of-Spain yesterday. The post will go up tomorrow, a week after Paul’s murder along Southern Main Road, close to his home. The child went to purchase something to eat with his other relatives when he was shot. Still trying to come to terms with her son’s death yesterday, Williams, in an interview with the T&T Guardian at her Byron Street home, said while the post was a good idea there was nothing anyone could do that would bring back her son. “Now they want to put a police post when I lost my boy. My son gone and nothing they do will bring back my son,” she said. Williams, who also has a seven-year-old daughter, bemoaned the amount of criminal activity in the community. She said in recent times about four people she knew had been victims of shootings and one had died. Again dismissing allegations that either she or her son was involved in drugs, she pointed to her
would be running up and down.” A 3 5 - y e a r- o l d m a n , w h o a s k e d f o r anonymity, suggested that the post be set up at the Charles Street area, which, he said, was abuzz with criminal activity. He said: “People with money financing the youths with gun. Is a war in La Romaine, they fighting for block.” Businesswoman SherryAnn Hosein, who runs a beauty salon and spar, said she ensured her door was locked, even during business hours, and did not work late hours because of the crime situation. “I personally think that should be a good thing because it will minimise crime and maybe fellahs out there who exposing themselves freely as gangsters will feel intimidated,” she added. The owner of La Romaine Automotive said a post was wonderful news given the spate of recent criminal activities in the area. “We will feel safer, expecially people with families, young ones, especially girls.” Moses Noor, who lives opposite to where the child lost his life, said Cyon would often visit his home. “He was a well-mannered and nice boy. The (bad) picture they painting him out to be is not the child I know. He was a helpful child in the village and loved by all. He was everybody teddy-bear,” he said. Fluently recalling memorable moments with her son, Cyon’s mother said she had already purchased her son’s uniform and books for school. “All I had to buy again was his bag and shoes,” said Williams, who added: “I feel I dreaming and everybody just trying to frighten me.” She said they have printed a photo of Cyon on jerseys which they would be wearing at his funeral today. She said her son would be dressed in a white and blue suit, his favourite colours. At the home of Cyon’s father, Sean Paul, a woman came out but refused to speak and walked off. Profile • Cyon was born on September 25, 2006. • Standard One student of La Romaine RC School. • Son of Safiya Williams and Sean Paul. • Brother of Tyra Richards, seven. • Lived in his deceased great grandfather’s house at Byron Street, La Romaine, with mother and sister. • He was described as a loving, respectful, generous and helpful child. • He had aspirations of becoming a lawyer or police officer (Trinidad Guardian)
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THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2016
US$33 Million To Finance Climate Change Resilient Infrastructure In The Caribbean
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados -- Officials from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) have signed an agreement to provide US$33 million towards financing sustainable infrastructure projects in the Caribbean region. At least 50 percent of the funds will be used to fund climate change adaptation and mitigation projects. The agreement was signed last month at the CDB headquarters in Barbados, by French ambassador to the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States and Barbados, Eric de la Moussaye, in the presence of CDB vice-president (operations), Patricia McKenzie. “Caribbean countries are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, with our geographical location leading to high exposure to natural hazards. Economic conditions also play a role, as there is a lack of access to long-term resources to finance sustainable climate-related infrastructure projects. We believe that these additional funds will go a long way towards building resilience and mitigating the impact of climate change in our region,” McKenzie said. The funds are being provided by AFD under a credit facility agreement with CDB.
AFD is the primary agency through which the promoting environmental sustainability. government of France provides funding for (Caribbean News Now!) sustainable development projects. This marks the first time that CDB has accessed financing from AFD. The facility will be used by CDB to augment financing for infrastructure projects in several areas: renewable energy, water and sanitation, waste management, adaptation of infrastructure to the effects of climate change, protection of coasts and rivers. Countries that are eligible to benefit from this facility are: Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Suriname. The facility is also complemented by a EUR3 million technical assistance grant, which will finance feasibility studies for projects eligible for financing under the credit facility. The agreement supports the improvement of Caribbean economies’ resilience and vitality through the development of sustainable infrastructure projects with significant environmental or climate impacts. It is in alignment with the Bank’s corporate priority of
Patricia McKenzie (centre), CDB Vice-President, Operations and Eric de la Moussaye (right), French Ambassador to the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States and Barbados, sign the Credit Facility Agreement. Looking on is Dave Waithe, Legal Counsel at CDB
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IMPACT Justice Project Releases Overview Of Model Sexual Harassment Legislation
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados -- Improved Access to Justice in the Caribbean (IMPACT Justice), a five year regional justice reform project funded by the government of Canada, has release an overview of model sexual harassment legislation for the region.IMPACT Justice is implemented from within the Caribbean Law Institute Centre, Faculty of Law, The University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, and has as its ultimate outcome, enhanced access to justice benefitting men, women, youth and business in 13 Caribbean Community (CARICOM) member states. IMPACT Justice is designed to address deficiencies in the justice sector in CARICOM, outside of those that are directly related to the judiciary and the courts. B a c k g ro u n d t o t h e M o d e l S e x u a l Harassment Bill In 1996, CARICOM produced model sexual harassment legislation for CARICOM member states. This Bill was enacted or considered for adoption, with modifications, by some CARICOM member states such as Belize which enacted a Protection Against Sexual Harassment Act in 1996; Barbados, which prepared a draft Protection Against Sexual Harassment in the Workplace Bill in 2005, and the Cayman Islands, which prepared a draft Sexual Harassment Bill in 2013. Provisions relating to sexual harassment have also been included in other legislation relating to education, domestic violence, labour law, criminal law or tort law of some member states, some prior to 1996. In 2014, at the request of CARICOM attorneys general, the IMPACT Justice Project commissioned the drafting of a background paper on sexual harassment legislation as well as an update to the CARICOM Model Bill. The result, the Sexual Harassment Report was presented to IMPACT Justice in March 2015. Based on the recommendations contained in the report, the project appointed a committee, with members from the CARICOM Secretariat, regional ministries of legal affairs, gender and social services respectively to consider a model draft Bill.
The Main Clauses of the Model Sexual (vi) sexual advance towards a person; or (vii) request for sexual favours from a person; Harassment Bill
A. The Expanded Scope of Sexual (b) providing a person with unwelcome sexual images or graphics ; or audio of a Harassment Conduct sexual nature; Consistent with the aim of sexual harassment legislation, the Model Bill seeks to establish (c) transmitting unwelcome electronic sexual harassment as a specific legal wrong messages of a sexual nature to person’ or wrongful act in respect of which the law must provide the appropriate remedies and (d) exposing a third party to any conduct which wrongful act may occur in a wide described in paragraph ©; variety of circumstances. Under the 1996 CARICOM Model, sexual harassment is (e) making it appear to the person seeking limited to the workplace, education and employment thataccommodation. The Model Bill provisions (i) the offer of employment to that person; or extend the scope of sexual harassment to (ii) the terms on which employment is include other institutions such as prisons and offered, hospitals and to the supplier and recipient of are contingent on that person’s acceptance of various kinds of goods including landlord or submission to sexual advances from the and tenant, vocational trainer and trainee, prospective employer; purchaser and vendor of property. (f) making it appear to a co-employee that the Sexual harassment may arise in a number of prospects or working conditions of that cocircumstances in which there is a perceived e m p l o y e e a r e c o n t i n g e n t u p o n t h e imbalance of power between the parties and employee’s acceptance or tolerance of sexual is therefore not confined to the workplace. It advances [from the person or his or her is also to be noted that the language in the Bill employer or supervisor]; is gender neutral so as to make it clear that both genders may be subjected to sexual (g) making it appear to another person that harassment whether by a person of the preferential treatment or advantage would opposite sex or of the same sex. According to only be provided upon the acceptance of or Clause 3 of the Model Bill sexual harassment submission of sexual advances [from the is defined to include conduct which involves first-mentioned person]; – (h) engaging in conduct of a sexual nature knowing that there is a likelihood that the (a) making an unwelcomeperson whom that conduct is intended to (i) sexual comment to a person; (ii) sexual comment about a person within his affect will become aware of the conduct; or her hearing; (I) directly or indirectly engaging in any other (iii) sexual innuendo to a person; form of unwelcome conduct of a sexual (iv) sexual gesture to a person; nature. (v) sexual contact with a person; Continued on next page...
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IMPACT Justice Project Releases Overview Of Model Sexual Harassment Legislation (Cont’d) B. Issuance of Sexual Harassment Policy conduct; ii. an order that the respondent redress any Statement loss or damaged suffered by the complainant An employer and a person in charge of an by performing such reasonable act or course institution, including an educational of conduct; institution, are under an obligation to ensure iii. the re-employment or employment of the that there is a written sexual harassment complainant; policy statement in place and that such policy iv. the promotion of the complainant; statement is brought to the attention of v. the payment of a money award to the employees, inmates, children, patients and complainant; members of staff as the case may be. To that vi. the payment of the legal fees and any other end, a model sexual harassment policy costs of the complainant; and statement is provided for in the Schedule to vii. dismissal of the complaint. the Bill. E. Penalties for Non-Compliance C. Available Remedies The penalties provided for in the Model Bill In seeking redress, the Model Bill provides are limited to the following situations: where the victim of sexual harassment with a a party publishes the proceedings of a court or number of options. The options are through tribunal or a report of a conciliation or reconciliation, by making a complaint to a mediation agreement, as the case may be, tribunal such as a labour tribunal within 18 without the consent of the other party; where months of the alleged act of sexual a person is threatened with any detriment on harassment or alternatively by bringing court the ground that such person proposes or has p r o c e e d i n g s . I n t h e c a s e o f c o u r t made a complaint; has furnished or proposes proceedings, the parties have a further option to furnish documents to the relevant authority; where a person induces or attempts to request the court to appoint a mediator. to induce another to engage in sexual harassment; where a person fails to attend an D. The Awards or Orders inquiry; where a person destroys or alters any Where the complaint has been investigated document required to be produced for the and a finding arrived at, the orders which the purpose of the Inquiry; where a person furnishes the court, mediator, conciliator or tribunal or the court may make include: tribunal with false or misleading i. an order restraining the repetition or information; where a person makes a false or continuation of the sexual harassment frivolous complaint of sexual harassment;
where a person fails to comply with an award or order of the court or tribunal and where there is wrongful communication by a person responsible for the administration of the Act to another person. F. Onus on the Recipient Placing the onus on the recipient of the act of sexual harassment to determine whether such an act has occurred as provided for by Clause 3 of the Model Bill is practical given that there will be instances in which the same comment may be viewed as harmless and depending on the circumstances, even as complimentary. G. Penalty for Failure to Issue a Sexual Harassment Policy Statement While the Bill provides for the issuance of a sexual harassment policy statement by the employer, there is no penalty provision such as that which occurs in a 2016 Barbados Bill which provides that where an employer contravenes this requirement he or she is guilty of an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of $5,000 or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding two years. This Model Sexual Harassment Bill is one of several pieces of model legislation the IMPACT Justice Project will produce after consultation with regional governments. (Caribbean News Now!)
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Venezuela, Colombian To Use ‘Trade’ Mechanism To Enhance Bilateral Commerce [El Nacional] - The authorities of both countries are analyzing the possibility of eliminating the requirement of importation and exportation for basic food products. Colombian Minister of Commerce Industry and Tourism, María Claudia Lacouture, announced last week in Caracas Venezuela, that Colombia and Venezuela are analyzing a possible ‘trade’ mechanism as a way of mutual payment along with the establishment of a payment rate that will be implemented within the economic agreement signed after the reopening of the common border. Lacouture mentioned that the objective of the reunion took place in Caracas Venezuela on August 11, between president of Colombia Juan Manuel Santos and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Referring to the topics addressed in such meeting, Lacouture said that both countries are looking to apply a “mechanism that allows not only to generate the use of foreign currency, but also this one to be done through trade.” The diplomat assured that they are waiting to establish such mechanism in a next reunion
with the Venezuelan authorities, defining to which products this will be applied. She pointed that the main aspects to take into consideration in this meeting, are the commerce of basic food products, school supplies, the exchange rate, the especial zones of the border and the control of the smuggling. Lacouture also pointed that the Colombian government “alongside with the Ve n e z u e l a g o v e r n m e n t , elaborated a list of the products that should be included in the trade, including uniforms, shoes and other products related to school supplies”. The creation of a special zone that generates space for a binational commerce, and allows to determine “which products Venezuela is needing and Colombia can provide” was also discussed. She also pointed out that the central banks of each country are working in a “process that allows a commercial rate
exchange of local currency”. The leaders are expected to meet again in the capital of Colombia, Bogota, where the topic of the implementation of such mechanism will be addressed, and the analysis on the recent reopening of the common border will continue.
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS Colombia, FARC Rebels Reach Deal To End Half-Century Of Bloodshed PAGE 109
[Reuters] Colombia's government and Marxist FARC rebels reached a final peace deal on Wednesday to end a five-decade war which once took the resource-rich country to the brink of collapse. Under the historic agreement to end one of the world's longest conflicts, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) will lay down arms and reintegrate into civilian life. More than 220,000 people were killed in the conflict, tens of thousands disappeared and millions fled their homes because of the violence. The accord, which was reached after almost four years of talks in Cuba, sparked celebrations in parks and bars in the Colombian capital, Bogota. It will now go to a plebiscite vote on Oct. 2. "Today I can say - from the bottom of my heart - that I have fulfilled the mandate that you gave me," said President Juan Manuel Santos, 65, who was re-elected in 2014 on the promise of a peace deal. "Colombians: the decision is in your hands. Never before have our citizens had within their reach the key to their future," he said in a televised address. Most opinion polls suggest Colombians will back the deal but Santos, who has staked his legacy on peace, will face fierce opposition from powerful sectors of the country who believe the only solution is to finish the FARC militarily. The deal is opposed by two former Colombian presidents, including popular right-wing
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hardliner Alvaro Uribe.In Bogota, several hundred people gathered around a giant screen in the rain to listen to the announcement, waving Colombian flags and banners. "I'm so happy. It was time to end the war," said Margarita Nieto, a 28-year- old accountant. "I know what is coming will be hard, but together we can cope." Others are more sceptical about the terms of the agreement, especially the participation of FARC rebels in politics and the fact
that they will not serve jail time for crimes committed during the war. "The future worries me," said Susana Antequeria, 30, as she milled around the screen. "But I'll put up with it for peace." Under the deal, the FARC will have non-voting representation in Congress until 2018 and can participate in elections. From then on, the 7,000 former rebels will have to win votes like any other political party, Santos said. The final text of the deal will be sent to Colombia's Congress on Thursday and will be available on the internet and social media, he said. "We have won the most beautiful of all battles" lead FARC negotiator Ivan Marquez said following the announcement in Havana on Wednesday. "The war with arms is over, now begins the debate of ideas." The two sides had signed a ceasefire in late June. U.S. President Barack Obama spoke by phone with Santos on Wednesday to congratulate him on the deal, the White House said. Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-colombia-rebelsidUSKCN10Z2HJ
INTERNATIONAL
GUYANA DAILY NEWS Italy Earthquake: Death Toll Passes 240 As Rescue Efforts Continue PAGE 110
The death toll in the Italian earthquake stands at 241 as rescuers continue efforts to find survivors. Dozens of people are believed trapped in ruined Amatrice, Accumoli and Pescara del Tronto, in mountainous central Italy. There have been hundreds of aftershocks since the quake struck, hampering relief efforts and damaging already unstable buildings. More than 4,300 rescuers are using heavy machinery and their bare hands. Rescuers have advised journalists and bystanders to leave Amatrice urgently, as "the town is crumbling", the BBC's Jenny Hill says. Another powerful aftershock struck the town on Thursday afternoon, sending a huge dust cloud into the air. Many of the earthquake's victims were children, the health minister said, and there were warnings the toll could rise further. The heaviest death toll was in Amatrice - 184, officials said. Another 46 died in Arquata, and 11 in Accumoli. A further 264 people have been treated in hospital. Officials revised down the number of dead after earlier giving a figure of 247. The 6.2-magnitude quake hit at 03:36 (01:36 GMT) on Wednesday 100km (65 miles) north-east of Rome. "We are sleeping in the car and there were shocks all night. When the biggest one came, the car started moving and shaking," said Monica, a survivor from Amatrice. Two firemen burrowed deep into the rubble looking for a survivor. "It's a dog," one of them shouted out. For half an hour the men kept digging. They passed water down to be given to the animal. And eventually they worked it free, then emerged, carrying it to the surface. There was a ripple of congratulations through the crowd. "It doesn't matter to us if it's a person or an animal, we save it," said Gianni Macerata, the fire officer in charge. So the digging goes on. But so little is left of Pescara del Tronto it is unlikely that more survivors will be found here. It seems unlikely too that this ancient little place, that has stood for centuries, can ever be rebuilt. Hundreds of years of history ended in an instant. A tented camp has been set up, as so many buildings are now unsafe. Prime Minister Matteo Renzi was chairing an emergency cabinet meeting on Thursday. The agenda included reconstruction plans for the devastated area. Rescuers said they had pulled five bodies from the ruins of the Hotel Roma in Amatrice. As many as 70 tourists were staying at the hotel when the quake struck. Many are feared to be in the rubble, though several were pulled out and given medical care. Many of those affected were Italians on holiday in the region. Some were in Amatrice for a festival to celebrate a famous local speciality - amatriciana bacon and tomato sauce. Late on Wednesday there were cheers in the village of Pescara del Tronto when a young girl was pulled alive from the rubble after being
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trapped for 17 hours. Almost all the houses there had collapsed, the mayor said. Among the victims was an 18month-old toddler, Marisol Piermarini, whose mother Martina Turco survived the deadly 2009 earthquake in L'Aquila and moved away from there after the experience, Italian news agency Ansa reported. Ms Turco was being treated in hospital after being pulled from the rubble in the village of Arquata del Tronto, Ansa said. The mayor of Amatrice said three-quarters of the town had been destroyed and no building was safe for habitation. The country is no stranger to earthquakes: the 2009 L'Aquila tremor killed more than 300 people and in May 2012 two tremors nine days apart killed more than 20 people in the northern Emilia Romagna region. Earthquakes are an ever-present danger for those who live along the Apennine mountain range in Italy. Through the centuries thousands have died as a result of tremors equal to, or not much bigger than, the event that struck in the early hours of Wednesday. The modern response, thankfully, has been more robust building and better preparation. Mediterranean seismicity is driven by the great collision between the African and Eurasian tectonic plates; but when it comes down to the specifics of this latest quake, the details are far more complicated. The Tyrrhenian Basin, or Sea, which lies to the west of Italy, between the mainland and Sardinia/Corsica, is slowly opening up. Scientists say this is contributing to extension, or "pullapart", along the Apennines. This stress is compounded by movement in the east, in the Adriatic. The result is a major fault system that runs the length of the mountain range with a series of smaller faults that fan off to the sides. The foundations of cities like Perugia and L'Aquila stand on top of it all. (BBC)
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France 'Burkini Ban': Court To Rule On Beach Fines A top French court is being asked to overturn bans imposed by 26 towns on women wearing full-body swimsuits known as "burkinis" on the beach. A human rights group and an anti-Islamophobia association argue the bans are in breach of French law. Mayors, particularly on the Riviera, say the bans are protecting public order and rules on secularism. Opinion polls suggest most French people back the bans but Muslims warn they are being targeted unfairly. According to an Ifop survey, 64% of French people are in favour of the bans while another 30% are indifferent. The bans appeared to have split senior members of the French government. Prime Minister Manuel Valls waded into the debate on Thursday, backing the mayors who had made public order decisions in the aftermath of the jihadist attack on Nice last month. The burkini represented the "enslavement of women", he added. Education Minister Najat Vallaud-Belkacem said that while she disapproved of the burkini as a feminist, she saw the bans as unwelcome and objected to the idea that the clothing a woman wore on a beach could have any link to terrorism or jihadist group Islamic State. The controversy has intensified in France after pictures of police appearing to enforce the ban prompted widespread anger, Some of the women pictured in Nice and Cannes were not wearing burkinis. Siam, 34, a mother from Toulouse, was fined €11 (£9, $12), although she insists she was not wearing a burkini at the time but leggings, a jacket and a headscarf. "The policeman told me I had to wear correct clothing and wear the hijab as a headband. But I left the beach and kept my hijab on," she told the BBC World Service. "I felt like a stranger in my own country. Some people came to comfort
The bans largely affect beaches on the French Rivera, but few towns have issued fines(EPA/AP)
me but others insulted me." French daily Liberation said on Thursday that the local laws were "stupid" and a gift to Islamist propaganda. Anouar Kbibech, president of the French Council of the Muslim Faith (CFCM), said he was "concerned over the direction the public debate is taking", citing the "growing fear of stigmatisation of Muslims in France". Most of the beaches where bans have been imposed are on the Riviera in south-east France. However, few are thought to have issued fines other than the authorities at Cannes and Nice, where more than 20 fines have been handed out. France's Human Rights League (LDH) and the anti-Islamophobia association (CCIF) argue the bans contravene freedom of opinion, religion, clothing and movement. They failed to persuade a court in Nice this week to overturn a ban at Villeneuve-Loubet west of Nice and are taking their case to France's highest administrative court, the Council of State (Conseil d'Etat). A ruling is expected within 48 hours. Why have the bans been imposed? After a militant Islamist ploughed a lorry into families on the seafront at Nice on 14 July, killing 86 people, the city's authorities said a ban was "a necessity". Local leaders have described their actions as appropriate and proportionate. But the bans are not just a response to a spate of deadly jihadist attacks on French soil. France has long-standing laws on secularism, and the Nice ban focused on "correct dress, respectful of accepted customs and secularism, as well as rules of hygiene and of safety in public bathing areas". The Council of State is expected to take 48 hours to deliver its verdict, but the interior minister has said there is nothing to stop mayors taking action, as long as it is "rigorously proportionate". What French law says on secularism and religious clothing In 2010, France became the first European country to ban the full-face veil in public A 2004 law forbids the wearing of religious emblems in schools and colleges The 1905 constitution aims to separate Church and state. It enshrines secularism in education but also guarantees the freedom of religion and freedom to exercise it. The original text made no reference to clothing The mayor of Cannes' ruling "Access to beaches and for swimming is banned to any person wearing improper clothes that are not respectful of accepted customs and secularism" "Beachwear which ostentatiously displays religious affiliation, when France and places of worship are currently the target of terrorist attacks, is liable to create risks of disrupting public order" The infringement is punishable with a fine of €38 (£33) The ban remains in place until 31 August 2016 (BBC)
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Prince's Paisley Park Home To Open To The Public Prince's private estate and studio complex is to open to the public six months after his death. The singer died in an elevator at the 65,000 square-foot complex in Minneapolis in April. The trust company overseeing his estate announced Paisley Park will open for daily public tours from 6 October, provided the city approves the plan. Prince's sister, Tyka Nelson, said: "Opening Paisley Park is something that Prince always wanted to do." The singer died after an accidental overdose of the painkiller fentanyl. Officials investigating his death said earlier this week the pills had been mislabelled as hydrocodone, a weaker type of opioid. "Only a few hundred people have had the rare opportunity to tour the estate during [Prince's] lifetime," Nelson said. "Now, fans from around the world will be able to experience Prince's world for the first time as we open the doors to this incredible place." The company that runs Elvis Presley's Prince died from an accidental overdose of Graceland will manage the project. More than 20 million people have the painkiller fentanyl(GETTY IMAGES) visited Graceland, where Presley died in 1977, since it opened to the public - with around 600,000 annual visitors in recent years. The plan says the tours will include studios where Prince recorded and mixed tour but VIP tours will also be offered to small groups. As the plan will his songs, and the soundstage where he rehearsed for tours and hosted require approval from the city, a planning commission hearing has private concerts. Tickets will cost $38.50 (£29.10) for the 70-minute been scheduled for 20 September. (BBC)
WhatsApp Users To Receive Adverts WhatsApp says it will begin sharing more data with Facebook and will start letting some companies send messages to users. It is the first time the company has changed its privacy policy since the firm was bought by Facebook in 2014. WhatsApp will now share users' phone numbers with the social network, which it will use to provide "more relevant" friend suggestions and advertisements. One analyst said some people might feel "betrayed" by the move. Data sharing WhatsApp said sharing users' phone numbers with Facebook would help tackle spam and abuse, as well as offer people "better friend suggestions and more relevant ads". Using the data, Facebook will be able to match people who have exchanged phone numbers, but have not added one another as "friends" on the social network. WhatsApp will also share information about when people last used the service, but said it would not share the contents of messages, which are encrypted. "Your encrypted messages stay private and no-one else can read them. Not WhatsApp, not Facebook, nor anyone else," the company said in a blogpost. The company said users would be able to opt out of sharing information with Facebook by following the steps outlined on its website. How can I opt out of data sharing? When prompted to accept the updated terms and conditions, tap Read to expand the full text A check box at the bottom of the new privacy policy will let you opt out of the data sharing WhatsApp states Facebook will still receive data in some situations "When WhatsApp was acquired by Facebook it was able to reassure users that it would remain independent," said Pamela Clark-Dickson, principal analyst at Ovum. "Now it's giving Facebook phone numbers - some might say that's a betrayal of trust. In a small way, it has gone back on what it said it wouldn't do." Marketing messages The updated privacy policy also paves the way for businesses to send messages to WhatsApp users. The company suggested messages typically sent via SMS text message - such as airline flight alerts or bank balance updates - could be sent via WhatsApp instead. It said that in addition to appointment information and delivery notifications, it would also allow
"marketing" messages. "Messages you may receive containing marketing could include an offer for something that might interest you," the company said. Ms Clark-Dickson said users may not mind the service "if they can opt in and the messages are useful". "It will help them generate revenue if they charge businesses a fee to send messages," she told the BBC. "But WhatsApp needs to be careful, a lot of people use it because they don't get advertising there." The company said it would test such messaging features in the coming months, but promised to avoid a "spammy experience" where people are inundated with ads. Other messaging apps such as China's WeChat have already enabled business-to-consumer communication to great success, but Ms Clark-Dickson suggested WhatsApp would take a different approach. "WeChat is a content-driven platform," she told the BBC. "It opened up its platform to third parties, letting people make payments, book taxis. That seems to be the direction Facebook is taking Messenger. "WhatsApp has the potential to be a great communication facility, if it concentrates on a solid user experience as its differential." (BBC)
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Turkey Warns Syrian Kurds To Withdraw East Of Euphrates Turkey has threatened further intervention in northern Syria gone east; some forces remain to finish clearing, [Improvised unless Kurdish-led forces fully withdraw east of the River Euphrates within a week. On Wednesday, Turkish forces helped Syrian rebels take the border town of Jarablus from so-called Islamic State. Turkish Defence Minister Fikri Isik said on Thursday the operation had two goals - to secure the border area and ensure the Kurds "are not there". Ankara fears Kurdish gains in Syria will fuel an insurgency at home. As Mr Isik spoke, a column of some 10 Turkish tanks and a similar number of armoured vehicles reportedly crossed the border near Jarablus. It was not immediately clear if the deployment was aimed at securing the town or helping members of the rebel Free Syrian Army push further into IS-held territory. Rebel commanders said they had advanced up to 10km (6 miles) south of Jarablus and 10km westwards along the Turkish frontier. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said fighters from the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), an alliance dominated by the Kurdish Popular Protection Units (YPG) militia, had meanwhile moved north from positions near Manbij, which they recently captured from IS. A rebel source told the Reuters news agency that the two sides clashed at the village of al-Amarna, on the western bank of the Euphrates, on Wednesday night. During a visit to Ankara on Wednesday, US Vice-President Joe Biden said Washington had warned the SDF not to move west of the Euphrates or risk losing American support. Mr Isik told NTV television: "If this withdrawal doesn't happen, Turkey has every right to intervene." Earlier, a spokesman for the US-led coalition against IS tweeted that SDF fighters had moved east across the Euphrates from Manbij to prepare for "the eventual liberation" of the IS stronghold of Raqqa. Col John Dorrian subsequently issued a clarification, which said: "Main element of SDF Manbij liberation force has
Explosive Device] removal as planned." The YPG meanwhile said in a statement that the SDF had handed over military command in Manbij and all of its positions in the town to the local Manbij Military Council. The BBC's Mark Lowen, who is on the Turkish-Syrian border, says that getting the US to demand the SDF withdraw was a major diplomatic victory for Turkey, which has long felt that the Americans have prioritised collaboration with the Kurds in Syria over supporting their Nato ally. The SDF has been the most effective opponent of IS on the ground in Syria and its fighters control an uninterrupted 400km (250-mile) stretch of the Syrian-Turkish border, from Iraq to the Euphrates, as well as an enclave around Afrin. However, Turkey views the YPG as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), a Turkish Kurdish rebel group fighting for autonomy since the 1980s. (BBC)
Turkish forces helped Syrian rebels take the border town of Jarablus on Wednesday(AP)
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US Urges Action Over 'Syrian Chemical Attacks’ The US has urged "strong and swift action" after a UN investigation concluded that Syria used chemical weapons against its own people. The year-long inquiry found the government used chlorine gas in attacks in Idlib province in 2014 and 2015. Chlorine is an industrial chemical and was not part of the weapons stockpile that Syria agreed to give up in 2013. However, use of it as a weapon would contravene conventions signed by President Bashar al-Assad. The US ambassador to the UN, Samantha Power, said the use of chemical weapons was "barbaric" and called for "all states to support strong and swift action". Ms Power accused the Syrian government of violating a September 2013 resolution which orders the UN Security Council (UNSC) to impose measures for "any use of chemical weapons by anyone in the Syrian Arab Republic". The investigation was carried out by the Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM) of the UN and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), an international chemical weapons watchdog. It also found that socalled Islamic State (IS) had carried out an attack using mustard gas. The JIM did not draw firm conclusions on other reported chemical weapons attacks which it investigated. The report will be discussed by the security council next week. Seeking accountability Ned Price, a spokesman for the US National Security Council, said it was now "impossible to deny" the Syrian regime used weapons in violation of international law. "The United States will work with our international partners to
seek accountability through appropriate diplomatic mechanisms," he said, adding that Russia and Iran should participate with UN member states. French ambassador to the UN Alexis Lamek also said "the council will have to act". "When it comes to proliferation, use of chemical weapons, such weapons of mass destruction, we cannot afford being weak," he added. Chemical weapons were used on a large scale in the Ghouta area near Damascus in 2013, according to a UN report at the time. Damascus, supported by Russia, denied claims by the US, UK and France that the Syrian government was to blame for the attacks. (BBC)
A chemical weapons attack near Damascus in 2013 prompted the UN to take action(REUTERS)
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2016
US election: Trump Calls Hillary Clinton A 'Bigot’ Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has accused Democratic rival Hillary Clinton of being a "bigot" in his latest appeal to minority voters. Speaking at a Mississippi rally, he said his opponent "sees people of colour only as votes not as human beings worthy of a better future". Mr Trump added that Mrs Clinton and the Democratic party had taken advantage of the African-American community. Mrs Clinton fired back, saying "he is taking a hate movement mainstream". The Democratic presidential nominee called out Mr Trump for questioning the citizenship of President Barack Obama and for failing to disavow former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke, adding that he was "peddling bigotry and prejudice and paranoia". Mr Trump took aim at Mrs Clinton during a campaign stop in Jackson, Mississippi, on Wednesday, where he was joined by Britain's outgoing UKIP leader Nigel Farage. Mr Farage, who is viewed as a major force behind the UK's exit from the EU, told Trump supporters to "get your walking boots on" and begin campaigning. In recent days, Mr Trump has attempted to court AfricanAmericans after failing to gain support among this key voting bloc. Only about 2% of black voters say they will vote for the New York businessman, according to current polls. Will 'bigot' charge work? Anthony Zurcher, BBC News, Washington It's a standard part of the American political playbook not just to try to exploit your campaign opponent's weaknesses, but also to diminish his or her perceived strengths. George W Bush adviser Karl Rove mastered this manoeuvre, best displayed in the 2004 attacks against John Kerry, a decorated veteran, for his Vietnam military service. So it's not exactly stunning that Donald Trump is attempting to undermine what a bedrock of Hillary Clinton's campaign - her support among minority voters, particularly blacks. The trick, however, is there has to be some appearance of substance behind the charges for them to stick. The reason Kerry was so damaged in 2004 was because the hits came from his fellow veterans and not Mr Bush. Mr Trump's calling Mrs Clinton a bigot in a few speeches will likely bounce of the Democratic nominee if that's all there is. A wealthy -
white - New York billionaire telling blacks how terrible their lives are under Democrats is just not likely fly. Indeed, attempting to paint the Democratic Party as unconcerned with minority issues, when the party's rank-and-file is close to a majority minority and its top elected official, Barack Obama, is black is a very tough lift indeed. Last week, Mr Trump made a direct appeal to black voters during a rally in Michigan, where he told a nearly all-white crowd that African-Americans "are living in poverty" and "their schools are no good". In an unscripted plea, he added: "What do you have to lose?" The New York billionaire's combined his minority outreach with his latest line of attack on Mrs Clinton in the deep-red state of Mississippi. "She doesn't care what her policies have done to your communities. She has no remorse," he said on Wednesday. "She's going to do nothing for Hispanics and AfricanAmericans." Mrs Clinton is due to speak later in Reno, Nevada, where she will accuse Mr Trump of "embracing extremism and presenting a divisive and dystopian view of America". The polls have the Democrat ahead nationally and in key states, with about 80 days to go before the election. (BBC)
Orlando Club Shooting: Survivors' Medical Bills Waived Hospitals in the US city of Orlando say they will not charge for treatment provided to survivors of the Pulse nightclub massacre in which 49 people were killed by a gunman in June. They say they will write off about $5.5m (£4.2m) in medical care expenses. After the attack by Omar Mateen on 12 June, 53 people needed immediate medical attention. The so-called Islamic State group has said it was behind the attack, but the extent of its involvement is not clear. Mateen, 29, was shot dead by police after what was the deadliest mass shooting in modern US history. Of the 53 people injured, 44 were treated at the Orlando Regional Medical Center (ORMC), managed by Orlando Health. None will be charged for their medical expenses, the company said. Likewise, the families of nine Pulse nightclub patients who died shortly after arriving at ORMC will also not be charged. "The Pulse shooting was a horrendous tragedy for the victims, their families and our entire community," Orlando Health President and CEO David Strong was quoted by the Orlando Sentinel as saying. "During this very trying time, many organisations, individuals and charities have reached out to Orlando Health to show their support. This is simply our way of paying that kindness forward." Orlando Health officials say that some
bills will be sent to health insurers for patients who had cover, but whatever injuries that are uncovered by those policies will be absorbed by the hospital chain. However, officials at Florida Hospital, where other injured club-goers were treated, say that they will not even bill the victims' insurance companies for the treatment. One uninsured victim who was hit by a bullet in the attack told the Orlando Sentinel that it was a huge relief not to have to worry about a potential $20,000 (£15,000) bill. (BBC)
The move by the hospitals has been welcomed by many survivors of the shooting(REUTERS)
INTERNATIONAL
GUYANA DAILY NEWS Czech Hiker Found After A Month In New Zealand Mountain Hut A Czech hiker who went missing a month ago has been found told stuff.co.nz that the poor conditions had prompted his own group PAGE 116
sheltering in a hut in the snowy mountains of southern New Zealand, telling police her husband had fallen to his death nearby. The woman, who has not been named, was found by a search team near Lake Mackenzie on Wednesday. Rescuers said she was "ecstatic" to be found and was in reasonable health. She was taken to hospital where police, who described the case as "very unusual", have been speaking to her. Heavy snowfall The woman told police, through a translator, that she and her partner, also thought to be Czech, had set out to hike the Routeburn track between Mount Aspiring and Fiordland National Parks on 24 July, New Zealand media report. Four days later, he fell down a slope and died, she said. She made it to the hut and stayed in place for the next month amid heavy snowfall. No search was launched initially as the couple had neither registered their hike with authorities nor were carrying emergency locator beacons. But after the Czech consulate reported the couple missing, police found their car, apparently parked for some time at one end of their route, and used a search helicopter to help locate the woman. Questions have been asked about how the woman was able to survive for a month and how they had met no other climbers. The Routeburn track usually takes a few days to complete. Robyn Orchard of New Zealand's Department of Conservation, which runs the warden's hut in which the woman sheltered, told the BBC that while there was no food inside, there would have been some in a nearby lodge. "She was able to use the heating to keep herself warm" she said, adding that the heavy snow meant track markers were unable to be seen. Richard Forbes, president of the Otago Tramping and Mountaineering Club,
THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2016
to change plans to hike that way last weekend. "If no-one's been in there because of the snow, I can see how it could happen. And if you're holed up in the warden's hut, you could go unnoticed." The Department of Conservation said it was a "tragic incident" It warns that in winter the route "should only be attempted by fit, experienced and well-equipped people" and that huts are not regularly checked. Local police Insp Olaf Jensen said it was "very unusual for someone to be missing in the New Zealand bush for such a long period without it being reported", the New Zealand Herald reported. "I appreciate there are a number of unanswered questions, however, until we can piece together exactly what has happened we are unable to say anything further." Police said they hoped to locate the body of the missing man soon. (BBC)
The couple began their hike in the southern end of the Mt Aspiring National Park(GETTY IMAGES)
India Unveils Plans To Ban Surrogacy The Indian government has unveiled a draft law which would ban commercial surrogacy. If approved by parliament, the law will also ban people who do not hold an Indian passport, as well as Indian single parents and gay people, from having children through surrogacy. Infertile couples would be able to seek a surrogate, which must be a relative. Infertility groups have criticised the proposed law, saying it could lead to an illegal industry. India is called the "surrogacy hub" of the world, where infertile couples, including many from overseas, pay local women to carry their embryos through to birth. The industry is estimated to be worth more than $1bn (£758m) a year. But there have been growing concerns over the unregulated business. 'Comprehensive bill' Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj told reporters that under the proposed law, only local infertile couples, married for at least five years, would be able to seek a surrogate, who must be a close relative "This is a comprehensive bill to completely ban commercial surrogacy," she told reporters. "Childless couples, who are medically unfit to have children, can take help from a close relative, which is called altruistic surrogacy," she said. Many have criticised the move, saying couples desperate
to have children would be left with few options. "While we need regulations to ensure that no women are forced into surrogacy, an outright ban isn't logical," fertility expert Archana Dhawan Bajaj told AFP news agency. Others said the law discriminated against gay people. India has onethird of the world's poorest people. Critics argue that poverty is a major factor driving women to become surrogate mothers in exchange for money. (BBC)
India is called the "surrogacy hub" of the world(AP)
INTERNATIONAL PAGE 117
GUYANA DAILY NEWS
THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2016
A Day Like Today
The Wizard of Oz, one of the most successful novel adaptation of all times, debuted on the silver screen, a day like today in 1939. The novel, widely known for its enchanting plot and imaginative scenarios, has been captivating children over a century. The author of the novel, Mr. Lyman Frank Baum puts the characters through challenging situations to keep the smooth flow of the story. Starting as a ‘seemly’ simple conception, the story picks up a rapid and exiting pace with every minute that passes. Dorothy, the main character of the tale is a farm girl whose house is suddenly caught in a tornado, and blown away from her home town in Kansas. After being in the air for a while, the small cabin is placed into the Munchin Country, in the Magic Land of Oz.
The Land of Oz was dominated by two good witches, the Good Witch of the North and of the one from South, and two evil witches The Wicked Witch of the East, the one of the West. The plot takes rhythm after Dorothy’s small house landing, kills the Wicked witch of the East, starting this way her journey through a yellow brick road, as the ‘chosen one’ to liberate the land of Oz from all evil.
Emerald.
Only wizard who can help fulfill their particular ‘dreams’, and powerful enough to defeat, along with Dorothy, the Wicket Witch of the West. After uncountable challenges, good triumphs over evil, providing the story of a well-deserved happy ending. The success of the story lays, on the deep message in the importance of friendship, family, loyalty and Our little brave girl, on her path finds peculiar courage, emphasizing in the need of defeating characters that will help her on her quest. our own fears accordingly to be able to Better known for their catchy names, and the conquer your goals. irony behind their meaning. The Cowardly Lion who wants to be brave, the Thin Source: http://www.history.com/this-day-inWoodman who wants a heart and the history/the-wizard-of-oz-debuts Scarecrow who wants wisdom, are her partners through the daring journey. They all -By- Rocio Perez, Guyana Daily News. team up to find the Wizard of Oz in the City of
F r i d a y A u g u s t , 2 6 , 2 0 1 6
n r u T e s er a v e l o P
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2016
Revoke Bond Deal! Jagdeo Says Norton’s Apology Is “Crocodile Tears” Embattled Public Health Minister Dr George Norton has released the details of the controversial contract he signed with Linden Holdings Inc for a storage bond, but it was met with much more criticism from Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo. The contract was presented to Parliament by Dr Norton but did not have any signatures affixed to it and according to Jagdeo, the contract which Dr Norton released is for a “professional office” and not a bond. The Opposition Leader in a statement late Thursday night revealed that inspite of the public statements made by the Minister of Public Health in the National Assembly and the Cabinet Sub- Committee that the Bond is PAHO/WHO compliant, the contract makes for no such stipulation. It was further noted that the contract also has exceedingly generous conditions for the Landlord for 3 years with a 12 month notice of termination. “This scandalous corrupt act demonstrates the level of petulance, fickleness, lack of transparency and accountability, and irresponsible use of taxpayers’ money. Crocodile tears will not work; this corrupt act involves the entire Cabinet. Nothing short of the revocation of this contract will suffice,” the former President noted. Meanwhile, Jagdeo noted that Dr Norton’s apology for misleading the nation is nothing more than “crocodile tears” describing it as “insufficient, unacceptable and a downright media gimmick.” Minister Norton has been bitterly
criticized about the contract since he made disclosures about it after intense questioning in Parliament on August 8 during consideration of a financial paper. It was later revealed that Dr Norton provided false answers to several of the questions, thus the apology. However, former President Jagdeo is of the view that the bond deal is a corrupt act involving the entire cabinet. “This corrupt act was triggered by vindictiveness; Minister Trotman admitted that they were not “in the mood” to acknowledge or rent from the New GPC. Furthermore, Minister Ramjattan continues to mislead by repeating that the NGPC was calling for $19M per month and the Sussex St Bond is being rented for $12.5M per month trying to fool people that the cabinet is getting a good deal,” Jagdeo noted. He further noted, “Which competent and responsible Cabinet would approve a contract of $12.5 M VAT exclusive ($14.5M) for a 6,000 square feet residential building versus $19M VAT Inclusive for a 70,000 square feet modern internationally certified pharmaceutical bond? Per square foot the government is paying $2,416 for a 6,000 square feet building versus $271 for a 70,000 square feet fully equipped and certified pharmaceutical bond! This can only be sent as an act of corruption.”
Cocaine Bust In Kitty, Two Arrested At about 13:00h on Thursday, ranks of the Guyana Police Force acting on information intercepted a motor car on Duncan Street, Kitty. A search was conducted and a bag containing 5,466 grams of suspected cocaine, was found in the vehicle. The driver and an occupant of the vehicle are in custody.
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2016
The Unruly Horse Corruption, Incompetence and More Corruption By: Mohabir Anil Nandlall, MP. Attorney-at-Law
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he Rental of The Storage Bond Fiasco. The nation continues to reel from the shock generated by the 12.5 million dollars per month rental of a storage bond at Sussex Street, Charlestown, Georgetown by the Ministry of Public Health for a fixed term of 3 years. It is already established that the security deposit of 25 million dollars paid by the Government was used by the landlord to purchase the property that an investment of $ 25,000,000 yields returns of $12.5 million per month and will yield $450 million in 3 years, makes this one of the most lucrative transactions ever done in the history of this country. Minister Dr. George Norton told the Committee of Supply that drugs and pharmaceuticals were already in the bond and that the bond satisfied the standard international requirements for such facilities. Within the hour of that disclosure, the press descended upon that facility and found carpenters still renovating and no drugs or pharmaceuticals were at the premise. Another inaccuracy peddled by the Minister was that the Government was renting bond facilities from new GPC at a cost of 19 million per month. The landlord
is Linden Holding Inc, whose principal shareholder is a known associate of the Administration. The Office of this company is located in a building owned by Minister Cathy Hughes. This contract was simply handed to the landlord in complete disregard and in violation of the Procurement Act. The nation was told that Cabinet examined, discussed and deliberated on this contract, but found nothing wrong with these alarming details and gave the contract its approval. When the astonishing information regarding this rental contract were made public and the pressure begun to build, Cabinet made another egregious blunder. It appointed a sub-committee of Cabinet to investigate a decision of Cabinet. It is as if Cabinet fell into a state of comatose. It became oblivious to the principles of natural justice and the axiomatic conflict of interest and naked incest which permeate that decision. That this Committee is comprised of three lawyers only compounds the stench. Two decipherable recommendations have emanated from this impugned sub-committee: that Minister Norton must apologize; and the contract must be reviewed. Without the consent of the landlord, a review of the contract would be a futile exercise. It is already executed. It is a done deal. It can only be altered or amended with the consent of the parties.Upon my written request, Minister Norton finally furnished a copy of the rental agreement to the National Assembly as promised over two weeks ago. It has generated even greater scandal. It is important that I highlight the
following.(i) The copy circulated is unsigned. I believe this is deliberate. They do not wish to disclose the signatories to this agreement. (ii) The contract purports to be between Linden Holdings Inc. and “The Ministry of Public Health, a statutory body corporate”. The Ministry of Public Health is not a statutory body corporate. It is simply a department of government. Therefore, it has no legal personality and cannot enter into a contract in law. (iii) The agreement binds the tenant “to use the Demised Premises for the purpose of a professional office”. Not a bond to store pharmaceuticals. (iv) There is no provision in the Lease that speaks to any PAHO/WAHO or any standard requirements in relation to the storage of drugs. (v) The contract was granted in violation of the Procurement Act and is unlawful.The three lawyers who reviewed the contract either found none of the above objectionable or did not read the contract. In either situation, the incompetence is intolerable. No apology can fix this. This is not a blunder. This is negligence of a criminal degree. Nothing short of revocation shall suffice.
continued on next page...
FEATURE PAGE 122
GUYANA DAILY NEWS
FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2016
The Unruly Horse (Cont’d) Corruption, Incompetence and More Corruption By: Mohabir Anil Nandlall, MP. Attorney-at-Law BK International /Haagsbosch. This Saga, as it is unfolding, has more twist and turns in its plot, than any Hollywood or Bollywood movie I have ever seen. With every passing day a different slant emerges from Government, in a desperate effort to defend and justify the payment of 5.7 million USD to BK International, whom the Government itself accused, of breaching its contractual obligations and doing sub-standard works at the Haagsbosch dump site. When approval of the first payment was sought in the National Assembly in February 2016, the nation was told that it was monies which were paid in January 2016, towards “an out-of court settlement” in relation to legal proceedings filed by BK for compensation. When Kaieteur News broke the story in March 2016, that the Government is paying this contractor 5.7 million USD as a “settlement”, the Attorney General dispatched a letter threatening to sue the newspaper. His contention then was that the “settlement” was being “negotiated” but not concluded. So at that point in time, the preposterous position of the Government was that they already made a payment in relation to a “settlement” whose terms were still being negotiated. From March-August 2016, the nation was repeatedly told by several Ministers of Government that this $ 5.7 million USD was paid as an “out of court settlement” in relation to legal proceedings filed by BK seeking compensation from the Government to the tune of 10 million U S D . Indeed the government,
narcissistically, patted itself on the back for being able to reduce this sum of 10 million USD suit for BK International to 5.7 million USD. On a hunch, I decided to search for a copy of this mysterious legal proceedings filed by BK. I searched the Supreme Court Registry for the years 2015-2016 but could find no such proceedings. I made this information public. To its credit, Kaieteur News was relentless in its pursuit of the truth in this matter. Finally the camel’s back broke. Minister Bulkan eventually conceded that no such proceedings were ever filed by BK and that the monies were paid based upon a mere letter threatening litigation. Every practicing lawyer in Guyana will tell you that this letter is the most potent and fruitful pre-action letter ever written. It demanded 10 million USD and yielded 5.7 million USD in return. This letter should be framed and hung on the wall of the office of every lawyer in this country. But the Saga does not end there. Enter a surprising and unscripted character: the Solicitor General. She discloses, but only to the Chronicle, that the PPP agreed to pay off BK! Her tale is that the $5.7 million USD represents payments for the works completed. So in two sentences, she has dismantled all the explanations the Government has proffered over the last 8 months about “out-of court settlement”, “settlement” etc.For the record, I reject the contention the PPP ever agreed to pay BK International any sum of money as is alleged by the Solicitor General. The gravamen of the contention between the
Government and the contractor was precisely the non- payment of monies by the Government because of the substandard works by the contractor; hence, the termination of the contract. If the Government had agreed to pay, then the monies would have been paid. There would have been no problem. The office of the Solicitor’s General is steeped in certain high traditions. The holder of that office never descends into political arena and enters into political debates. The incumbent, has unfortunately, soiled the professional standing of that office. Fortunately I am not surmising but I know that she was instructed to say what was said by a desperate superior who will throw anyone under the bus in pursuit of selfpreservation.
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2016
GPSU Says Govt’s “Final Offer” Does Not Meet Demands The Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) in a press statement made it clear that the Government of Guyana’s “final offer” on the wages and salaries discussion will not be decided upon before the union’s General Council meeting that is to be held by September 2. In the statement, the union noted that “The pronouncement of the General Council will be communicated to the members, the Government of Guyana and the general public.” The union stated that the state’s negotiating team is yet to address the issues of de-bunching and allowances. It was reported in the media that prior to the beginning of the negotiation in June that GPSU’s President Patrick Yarde had relayed that the allowances and de-bunching were of significant importance to the Union and would play a critical role in both parties arriving at a consensus. According to the statement the union noted that the two important components which were essential parts of the negotiations have not been addressed by the government’s delegation. The GPSU has maintained that over the over it has been engaging the government for the provision of “a living wage” for public servants. The union has been calling on the government to lift wages and salaries to a living wage, resolve the issue of de-bunching within the salary scales as well as address the adequacy of allowances paid to public servants. The Government had issued a statement highlighting its “final offer” to the GPSU and the details of the negotiations. While in the statement it acknowledged that the matter of allowances was brought up by the GPSU, government said it “took into consideration the fundamental need for a restructured Public Service which included the adjustment of scales for wages and salaries; the implementation of a merit increment system; and a resolution of the issue of bunching. It was pointed out to the Union, that each of these would entail an additional cost to Government and result in increased earnings for Public Servants” The Union also rejected the claim by the government that it had put forward a 40% increase proposal which it supposedly reduced to 25%. Saying it has never proposed an isolated 25% increase for wages, salaries and allowances. It related that during the initial period of the negotiations, the government’s negotiating team made two offers commencing at the base at 5.5%. They then increased that by .5% to 6% both of which was rejected by the union. The Government then said it was prepared to pay a “final offer” for 10 per cent increase to persons earning $99,000 or less; six per cent to persons
who earn between $100,000 and $299,000; five per cent to public servants earning between $300,000 and $799,000; two per cent for those earning between $800,000 and $999,000; and one per cent for those earning above $1M. However, the union maintains that during negotiations, a request was made for detailed information on several aspects of the government’s revenue and expenditure, which had not been provided. In the case of allowances, the GPSU had told the government’s team that the Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan had previously agreed to begin reviewing the allowances paid to public workers and he was also agreed that a tripartite committee would be established which be compose of representatives from both the Ministry of finance and the GPSU. “There has been an inordinate delay in addressing this matter. Execution of same should commence from a current date (in 2016) and completed within two months,” the GPSU stated. The in statement the GPSU said that it believes Guyana’s economy has been structured on a pattern of low wages which results in mass migration for far too long. “We further believe that once the compensation pay for those at the bottom of the scale is taken care of, consequential increases and adjustments will satisfy the need for those at the top. The union is not unmindful of the immediate implication of implementing what a living wage should be and is prepared to support a multi-year approach to achieve this goal.”
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2016
Health Minister Apologises, Does Not Believe Bond Contract Should Be Revoked Public Health Minister, Dr. George Norton today issued an apology for providing misinformation to the National Assembly on the contract for the rental of a pharmaceutical bond on Sussex Street, Georgetown. The apology which was to explain the circumstances to which his utterances were made to the National Assembly was recommended by a Cabinet Sub Committee which was set up to review the issue. At a press conference at Parliament Buildings, Dr. Norton accepted responsibility for his blunders while noting that he was misled in some instances. He opted not to tell the media who misled him but made it clear that he accepts full responsibility. “I gave answers based on knowledge…and information presented to me,” he said making reference to his statements before the House on August 8 in response to the payment of money owed to the New GPC, the pharmaceutical company whose bond the Ministry of Health rented in the past and the acquisition of the storage bond belonging to Larry Singh of Linden Holdings Inc. He does not believe that the contract for the rental of the controversial Sussex Street bond owned by Linden Holdings Inc. should be revoked. “I offer my sincere, profound regret to President David Granger, Dr Barton Scotland, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, my parliamentary colleagues, the parliamentary opposition and all others,” Dr Norton said. He further noted, “As Minister of Public Health, I know a high standard of duty is expected of me…I take full responsibility and you have my commitment that it will not reoccur.” Meanwhile, he does not believe his mistakes warrant his resignation noting that he has been a health care giver for approximately three decades, representing all of his professional life.
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2016
Hinterland Pension Issues To Be Rectified
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he National Toshaos Council (NTC) Meeting 2016, be accepted. A representative of Bumbury, Region One raised highlighted issues surrounding old age pension in the concerns about residents having to wait for long hours to uplift hinterland, and these were addressed by Minister of their pensions. Minister Lawrence noted that efforts are being Social Protection, Volda Lawrence and team. At the meeting at made, not only to improve the conditions of this facility, but to the Arthur Chung Convention Centre (ACCC), on Wednesday, also create a building, where pensioners from far flung areas Indigenous leaders were able to raise concerns pertaining to can overnight. (GINA) difficulties experienced by the elderly in uplifting their Old Age Pension. Minister Lawrence addressed these concerns by pointing out that the Ministry is currently working with various companies, both local and international, to address the issue of effective and timely payments. The Minister said that it has been brought to her attention that many times pensioners have to travel long distances to uplift their money, and it is a huge disappointment when they are told that the money at the post office has “just finished.” The Minister added that she has engaged the Minister of Public Telecommunications, Cathy Hughes and efforts are being made to address this situation. Further, the Minister noted that while there may be one post office serving several communities; it is not enough because some elderly people have to travel Minister of Social Protection, Volda Lawrence addressing from village to village. To address this situation, the gathering at the National Toshaos Council Meeting 2016 Minister Lawrence explained that the Ministry will carry out a review to determine which post offices can be re-opened or where new ones can be established. Participants at the NTC Meeting raised the need for a standard form of identification. In the various communities, pensioners use their Passports and old Identification Cards (ID) to try to uplift their pensions. One toshao stated that the argument given for not obtaining the last issued identification cards was “we are old and will die soon…” One acceptable form of ID Ricardo Banwarie, Assistant Chief Probation and Social Services Officer responded to this concern by stating that the Ministry has only one acceptable form of A section of the participants at the identification, which is the last issued National Toshaos Council Meeting 2016 ID card, and only this document will
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2016
‘Cutlass Happy Man’ Released On Bail M
ervin Luther appeared before Magistrate Judy Latchman in the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court charged with making use of threatening behavior in an attempt to disrupt the peace towards his neighbour, Latoya Jacobs on August 24, 2016. Luther was granted bail in the sum of GY$20,000 and will return to court on September 6, 2016 for continuation into the matter. The 41-year-old man, appeared unrepresented in court today as he initially pleaded guilty with an explanation. When asked by the Magistrate what his explanation was, Luther explained that on the day in question he overheard a conversation between the virtual complainant and another neighbour about someone that was close to him. He explained he became intrigued and went to the fence and tried to get their attention to figure out what they were saying about the person. After hearing the explanation provided the Magistrate entered a not guilty plea. There was no objection to bail by
Prosecutor Corporal Kerry Bostwick. It is alleged that on the day in question in Linden, the accused used threatening behavior, that is to say he took a cutlass and started hitting the fence of Latoya Jacobs in a manner that scared her. -By- Jarred Singh, Guyana Daily News.
Pregnant Mother Of 8, Male Friend On Marijuana Charge
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igel Duke and Sharda Mohammed today reappeared at the residence dropping off food. -BY- Jarred Singh, before Magistrate Judy Latchman in the Georgetown Guyana Daily News. Magistrate’s Court after their June 16, 2016 appearance. They pleaded not guilty to possession of 2.738kg of marijuana with intent to traffic. The two accused will return before the court on September 1, 2016 for continuation into the matter. They are both on bail. It is alleged that on June 15, 2016 at Nutmeg Street, North Ruimveldt Georgetown, Mohammed and Duke both had in their possession the afore mention 2.738 kg of Cannabis Sativa with the intent trafficking the mentioned narcotics. The court heard that police officers acting on information received visited the residence where Duke lived and requested to conduct a search, upon which they found the narcotics in the kitchen. The police reported that Duke, 41, confessed to being the owner of the narcotics while Mohammed, 47, who is a pregnant mother of 8, maintained her innocence stating that she was only
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2016
House In Which Illegal Brazilians Were Caught Belongs To Magistrate The house in which seven Brazilian nationals were found on Thursday night in Essequibo allegedly belongs to Magistrate Alex Moore, who reportedly rented it to the suspect who traďŹƒcked them. The house is located in Buddy’s Housing Scheme on the East Bank of Demerara. It is alleged that the man keeps the nationals in the house and sells them to rich men who are in the area. The Brazilians are reportedly in police custody assisting with investigations into the matter. Further reports reaching the Guyana Daily News indicated that the nationals are in Guyana illegally and are set to be deported. The suspect remains in custody.
More Thieves At Police Training College Thieves continue to plague the Felix Austin Police Academy as there are now reports of a Trainee's wallet being stolen which contained an undisclosed amount of cash. Police investigations are under way and as new information unfolds the Guyana Daily News will provide information. This is the third reported incident for the month of August which involves personal items of trainees reported missing.
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2016
$5.2B Budget For UG, Administrative Changes Made
The Finance and General Purpose Committee (F&GPC) of the University of Guyana which is the second highest policy making body after the University council, has endorsed the Vice Chancellor’s bold and all-time-high budget request to the Government of Guyana of $5.2 billion for financial year 2017. The F&GPC also approved a proposal by Vice-Chancellor Professor Ivelaw Griffith to comprehensively restructure the university’s leadership. A statement from the university noted that a meeting held on Monday, at the Turkeyen Campus revealed that “the university is seeking GUY$3.0 billion for recurrent expenditure and GUY$2.2 billion for capital works. The priorities of the administration focus on increased salaries for academic and non-academic staff, the provision of basic supplies and facilities that have been undermining efficiency and morale for years, campus security, and improving several of the facilities that negatively impact health and safety as well as security.” Capital works which the Vice-chancellor had envision includes a new library and an academic complex to house the Business School, the Center for Teaching and Learning, the School of Graduate Studies and Research, and the Office of Undergraduate Research. Also approved at the meeting was the purchase of a badly-needed student center, using existing resources from the Learning Resource funds. The ViceChancellor plans to have the student center operational during the upcoming semester. The administrative changes will see a few existing officials being reassigned, promotion of one individual and establishing a few new positions. In referring to the 2013 Hamilton Consultant Report on the university, which called for “the university to undergo a major restructuring…to make it a high performance institution”, Vice-Chancellor Griffith, who is in his first three months at the university said, “I am of the strong view that greater levels of effectiveness and efficiency can only
be achieved through the immediate reorganization of the administration of the university through realignment of functions and roles.” These changes, according to the statement will be effective from October 1 this year, the changes will see Dr. Michael Scott, until recently Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, become Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Academic Engagement. In addition to the Faculties within his portfolio, Dr. Scott will have oversight over several new units: the Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning; the School of Graduate Studies and Research; and the Office of Undergraduate Research, the latter two of which will get some initial leadership guidance from the Vice-Chancellor because of his expertise and experience in those areas. The current Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Academics, Dr. Barbara Reynolds, has been reassigned as Deputy ViceChancellor for Planning and International Engagement, a new entity intended to streamline and extend UG’s international relationships and build new grant, research, and other relationships with other universities and with international organisations. With her years of experience in UNICEF and other international agencies, Dr. Reynolds is expected to facilitate new and dynamic international pursuits. Dr. Paloma Mohamed, a former Director of the Center for Communication Studies and a former Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, will occupy the newly created position of Deputy ViceChancellor of Philanthropy, Alumni and Civic Engagement. Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Planning and Development, Dr Elizabeth Ramlal, has been invited to become Executive Director of the Institute of Distance and Continuing Education (IDCE), to lead the realignment of the Institute to strengthen its service delivery across the country and realise it entrepreneurial potential. On assuming office, Vice-Chancellor Griffith had outlined in his Values and Vision Statement that Capital Investment, Academic Enhancement, Economic Viability and Alumni Engagement, are imperatives for the university to undergo a paradigmatic shift as part of its renaissance. The new leadership order is expected to greatly contribute to the renaissance of the university. Another notable aspect of the Griffith Plan is the re-designation of the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences as a full-fledged Faculty with a Dean. Vice-Chancellor Griffith observed that in addition to the superior teaching and research already being done by that unit, elevating it to a Faculty enhances its respectability and the prospects for more grants and consulting contracts by the academic staff there. (source: Guyana Chronicle, UG news release)
LOCAL PAGE 129
GUYANA DAILY NEWS
FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2016
Guyana Chess Federation Pays Courtesy Call On President Granger
P
resident David Granger, today, received a courtesy call from an eight-member team from the Guyana Chess Federation, at the Ministry of the Presidency. During the visit, the team inducted the President as an honorary member of the Federation. The team will be departing Guyana on Monday for Baku, Azerbaijan to participate in the 2016 Chess Olympiad, organised by the Fédération Internationale des Échecs (FIDE). The team will be headed by President of the GCF, Mr. Irshad Mohamed. During the meeting, President Granger pledged his support and commitment. He also expressed an interest in meeting with the team again on their return home to discuss what measures can
President David Granger is flanked by the members of the Guyana Chess Federation, who paid a courtesy call on him at the Ministry of the Presidency.
be taken to help the Federation to advance the sport in Guyana. “You have my support. We can sit down and discuss some of the initiatives that can be implemented when you get back. It is a very good sport and we will like to see it in the schools, the villages. It is a sport like any other,” President Granger said. The President wished the team the best, adding that “Guyana used to have a footprint in this sport years ago. I hope that you can have that footprint globally”. Mr. Mohamed expressed his gratitude to the President for his support and pledged that the team will do its best to succeed.
President David Granger shares a light moment with President of the Federation, Mr. Irshad Mohamed, as the other members look on
LOCAL PAGE 130
GUYANA DAILY NEWS
FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2016
Minister Harmon Receives Courtesy Call From New US Deputy Chief Of Mission
M
inister of State, Mr. Joseph Harmon, this morning, extended a warm welcome to newly installed United States Deputy Chief of Mission in Guyana, Mr. Terry Steers-Gonzalez, during his first official meeting at the Ministry of the Presidency. Minister Harmon said his office has always shared good relations with the United States Embassy in Guyana and he is looking forward to a continued productive relationship. He also informed Mr. Steers-Gonzalez that the Ministry has an open door policy. In response, Mr. Steers-Gonzalez said he was looking forward to working with the Ministry and that he is cognisant of the good relations both parties enjoy. Head of the Political Division at the Ministry of the Presidency, Mr. Frederick McWilfred, also attended the meeting.
Minister of State, Mr. Joseph Harmon, United States Deputy Chief of Mission in Guyana, Mr. Terry Steers-Gonzalez and Head of the Political Division at the Ministry of the Presidency, Mr. Frederick McWilfred at the Ministry of the Presidency
Minister of State, Mr. Joseph Harmon and United States Deputy Chief of Mission in Guyana, Mr. Terry Steers-Gonzalez during a meeting at the Ministry of the Presidency.
Minister of State, Mr. Joseph Harmon and United States Deputy Chief of Mission in Guyana, Mr. Terry Steers-Gonzalez shake hands at the first official meeting at the Ministry of the Presidency.
CLASSIFIEDS PAGE 131
GUYANA DAILY NEWS
FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2016
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HEALTH TIP PAGE 132
GUYANA DAILY NEWS
SATURDAY, AUGUST 13, 2016
Diabetic neuropathy Diabetic neuropathy is a type of nerve damage that can occur if you have diabetes. High blood sugar can injure nerve fibers throughout your body, but diabetic neuropathy most often damages nerves in your legs and feet. Depending on the affected nerves, symptoms of diabetic neuropathy can range from pain and numbness in your extremities to problems with your digestive system, urinary tract, blood vessels and heart. For some people, these symptoms are mild; for others, diabetic neuropathy can be painful, disabling and even fatal. Diabetic neuropathy is a common serious complication of diabetes. Yet you can often prevent diabetic neuropathy or slow its progress with tight blood sugar control and a healthy lifestyle There are four main types of diabetic neuropathy. You may have just one type or symptoms of several types. Most develop gradually, and you may not notice problems until considerable damage has occurred. The signs and symptoms of diabetic neuropathy vary, depending on the type of neuropathy and which nerves are affected. Peripheral neuropathy Peripheral neuropathy is the most common form of diabetic neuropathy. Your feet and legs are often affected first, followed by your hands and arms. Signs and symptoms of peripheral neuropathy are often worse at night, and may include: · Numbness or reduced ability to feel pain or temperature changes · A tingling or burning sensation · Sharp pains or cramps · Increased sensitivity to touch — for some people, even the weight of a bed sheet can be agonizing · Muscle weakness · Loss of reflexes, especially in the ankle · Loss of balance and coordination · Serious foot problems, such as ulcers, infections, deformities, and bone and joint pain There are other kind of diabetic neuropathy like Autonomic neuropathy Radiculoplexus neuropathy (diabetic amyotrophy) Mononeuropathy When to see a doctor Seek medical care if you notice: · A cut or sore on your foot that doesn't seem to be healing, is infected or is getting worse · Burning, tingling, weakness or pain in your hands or feet that interferes with your daily routine or your sleep · Dizziness · Changes in your digestion, urination or sexual function These signs and symptoms don't always indicate nerve damage, but they may signal other problems that require medical care. Early diagnosis and treatment offer the best chance for controlling symptoms and preventing more-severe problems. Even minor sores on the feet that don't heal can turn into ulcers. In the most severe cases, untreated foot ulcers may become gangrenous — a condition in which the tissue dies — and require surgery or even amputation of your foot. Early treatment can help prevent this from happening.
Damage to nerves and blood vessels Prolonged exposure to high blood sugar can damage delicate nerve fibers, causing diabetic neuropathy. Why this happens isn't completely clear, but a combination of factors likely plays a role, including the complex interaction between nerves and blood vessels. High blood sugar interferes with the ability of the nerves to transmit signals. It also weakens the walls of the small blood vessels (capillaries) that supply the nerves with oxygen and nutrients. Risk factors Anyone who has diabetes can develop neuropathy, but these factors make you more susceptible to nerve damage: · Poor blood sugar control. This is the greatest risk factor for every complication of diabetes, including nerve damage. Keeping blood sugar consistently within your target range is the best way to protect the health of your nerves and blood vessels. · Length of time you have diabetes. Your risk of diabetic neuropathy increases the longer you have diabetes, especially if your blood sugar isn't well-controlled. · Kidney disease. Diabetes can cause damage to the kidneys, which may increase the toxins in the blood and contribute to nerve damage. · Being overweight. Having a body mass index greater than 24 may increase your risk of developing diabetic neuropathy. · Smoking. Smoking narrows and hardens your arteries, reducing blood flow to your legs and feet. This makes it more difficult for wounds to heal and damages the integrity of the peripheral nerves. Complications Diabetic neuropathy can cause a number of serious complications, including: · Loss of a limb. Because nerve damage can cause a lack of feeling in your feet, cuts and sores may go unnoticed and eventually become severely infected or ulcerated — a condition in which the skin and soft tissues break down. The risk of infection is high because diabetes reduces blood flow to your feet. Infections that spread to the bone and cause tissue death (gangrene) may be impossible to treat and require amputation of a toe, foot or even the lower leg. · Charcot joint. This occurs when a joint, usually in the foot, deteriorates because of nerve damage. Charcot joint is marked by loss of sensation, as well as swelling, instability and sometimes deformity in the joint itself. Early treatment can promote healing and prevent further damage. · Urinary tract infections and urinary incontinence. Damage to the nerves that control your bladder can prevent it from emptying completely. This allows bacteria to multiply in your bladder and kidneys, leading to urinary tract infections. Nerve damage can also affect your ability to feel when you need to urinate or to control the muscles that release urine.
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HEALTH TIP PAGE 133
GUYANA DAILY NEWS
SATURDAY, AUGUST 13, 2016
Diabetic neuropathy · Hypoglycemia unawareness. Normally, when your blood sugar drops too low — below 70 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL), or 3.9 millimoles per liter (mmol/L) — you develop symptoms such as shakiness, sweating and a fast heartbeat. Autonomic neuropathy can interfere with your ability to notice these symptoms. · Low blood pressure. Damage to the nerves that control circulation can affect your body's ability to adjust blood pressure. This can cause a sharp drop in pressure when you stand after sitting (orthostatic hypotension), which may lead to dizziness and fainting. · Digestive problems. Nerve damage in the digestive system can cause constipation or diarrhea — or alternating bouts of constipation and diarrhea — as well as nausea, vomiting, bloating and loss of appetite. It can also cause gastroparesis, a condition in which the stomach empties too slowly or not at all. This can interfere with digestion and cause nausea, vomiting and bloating, and severely affect blood sugar levels and nutrition. · Sexual dysfunction. Autonomic neuropathy often damages the nerves that affect the sex organs, leading to erectile dysfunction in men and problems with lubrication and arousal in women. · Increased or decreased sweating. When the sweat glands don't function normally, your body isn't able to regulate its temperature properly. A reduced or complete lack of perspiration (anhidrosis) can be lifethreatening. Autonomic neuropathy may also cause excessive sweating, particularly at night or while eating. · You can have some questions · Is diabetes the most likely cause of my symptoms? · Do I need tests to confirm the cause of my symptoms? Do these tests require any special preparation? · Is this condition temporary or long lasting? · If I control my blood sugar, will these symptoms improve or go away? · Are there treatments available, and which do you recommend? · What types of side effects can I expect from treatment? · I have other health conditions. How can I best manage them together? · Are there brochures or other printed material I can take with me? What websites do you recommend? · Do I need to see other doctors, a certified diabetes educator or a dietitian? What to expect from your doctor Your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions, such as: · How is your blood sugar control? · When did you begin experiencing symptoms? · Have your symptoms been continuous or occasional? · How severe are your symptoms? · Does anything seem to improve your symptoms? · What, if anything, appears to worsen your symptoms? · What aspects of diabetes management do you find most challenging? · What might help you manage your diabetes better? Tests and diagnosis Diabetic neuropathy is usually diagnosed based on your symptoms, your medical history and a physical exam. During the exam, your doctor is likely to check your muscle strength and tone, tendon reflexes, and sensitivity to touch, temperature and vibration. The doctors recommends that all people with diabetes have a comprehensive foot exam — either by a doctor or by a foot specialist (podiatrist) — at least once a year. In addition, your feet should be checked for sores, cracked skin, calluses, blisters, and bone and joint abnormalities at every office visit. Treatments and drugs Diabetic neuropathy has no known cure. Treatment for diabetic neuropathy focuses on:
· Slowing progression of the disease · Relieving pain · Managing complications and restoring function Slowing progression of the disease Consistently keeping blood sugar within a target range can help prevent or delay the progression of diabetic neuropathy and may even improve some of the symptoms you already have. Your doctor will determine the best target range for you based on several factors, such as your age, how long you've had diabetes, and your overall health and the presence of other medical conditions. For many people who have diabetes, Mayo Clinic generally recommends target blood sugar levels that are: · Between 80 and 120 mg/dL, or 4.4 and 6.7 mmol/L, for people age 59 and younger who have no other underlying medical conditions · Between 100 and 140 mg/dL, or 5.6 and 7.8 mmol/L, for people age 60 and older, or those who have other medical conditions, such as heart, lung or kidney disease To help slow nerve damage: · Follow your doctor's recommendations for good foot care · Keep your blood pressure under control · Follow a healthy-eating plan · Get plenty of physical activity · Maintain a healthy weight · Stop smoking · Avoid alcohol or, if drinking is allowed, drink only in moderation Relieving pain Several medications are used to relieve nerve pain, but they don't work for everyone and most have side effects that must be weighed against the benefits they offer. There are also a number of alternative therapies, such as capsaicin cream (made from chili peppers), physical therapy or acupuncture, that may help with pain relief. Doctors frequently use them in conjunction with medications, but some may be effective on their own.
REGIONAL PAGE 134
GUYANA DAILY NEWS
FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2016
Rowley Welcomes Crime Talks With Kamla, Warns: Collaboration Key To Success
I
n the face of calls from various quarters for his Government to do more to fight the criminal elements as the murder toll approaches 300, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley yesterday assured the population that the structure of the State to respond to those involved in crime was intact, vigorous and on the frontburner. He also welcomed talks with Opposition Leader Kamla PersadBissessar on the issues, saying he hopes it will not be used to score political points. Rowley said the police needed to improve on their response time to crime, while a deeper trust between the T&T Police Service and the public needed to be fostered and a substantive commissioner of police who we can be held accountable must be appointed. The PM made the comment in response to the Downtown Owners and Merchants Association (DOMA) and Chaguanas C h a m b e r ’s r e c e n t c r i t i c i s m o f h i s Government’s failure to bring the rising crime scourge, and in particular murders, under control. Speaking at yesterday’s postCabinet media briefing at the Office of the Prime Minister, St Clair, Rowley said the fight against crime was not simple but a multi-faceted issue which had implications within our borders and externally. “Today, I am hearing that the current Opposition wants to meet with the Prime Minister and Government. I welcome that. I hope out of it will come the collaboration that is required to allow us as a Government and a people to treat with crime outside of the attempts of scoring political points,” he said. Rowley said although he had not received any correspondence from Persad-Bissessar, he hoped there were suggestions which they could all agree on. “If there is anything the Government can do to improve the situation we have no problem,” he added. Yesterday, Persad Bissessar, in a press release, asked for an urgent meeting with Government and members of the national security teams to engage in a non-partisan dialogue on a way forward to combat the serious crime situation which had gripped the country. Rowley said the frequency of violent crimes resulting in the lost of life was unacceptable. “This is nothing new. And the responsibility of the Government to do everything possible to minimise and eliminate these outcomes remains as is.
“Nobody in this country is comfortable seeing a nine-year-old gunned down in Trinidad and Tobago because criminals have taken action in that outcome,” he said. The PM assured that “the structure of State to respond to the criminal element remains intact, is vigorous and is on the frontburner. Crime-fighting in Trinidad and Tobago is at the forefront of the efforts of this Government. There is no switch that we can click and change or turn around the issue. But turn around we must,” he said. Rowley said while certain quarters were making demands, it was important that the population understood how they have been approaching this problem. He appealed to those who were encouraging crime to desist. As chair of the National Security Council (NSC), Rowley responded to DOMA, who called on him to take charge of the crime situation. He said as PM he had taken charge of the NSC “and the council is functioning and we are in fact providing all the support that is required for the agencies whose responsibility it is to treat with the violent crime scourge in this country.” He said the NSC comprised heads of security agencies
who meet on a regular basis to monitor and review what the national security services were doing, how they were functioning, using resources available and treating with violent crime. Every Tuesday, Rowley said the NSC met and the outcome was withheld from the public. He said the Police Service Commission wis also pursuing the matter for a CoP without Government interference. “That is the area... crime or no crime, where our parliamentary colleagues have hung their hats in not supporting our efforts. People are fearful of governmental interference in what should be an independent service commission,” he added. Rowley said the Government’s decision to host a $9 million international crime conference in Port-of- Spain, which had been condemned by the Chaguanas Chamber and other organisations, was already sanctioned by the former government when they assumed office last September. Initially, he said the budget for the conference was $16.5 million which was reduced to $9 million. (Trinidad Guardian)
REGIONAL PAGE 135
GUYANA DAILY NEWS
FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2016
Woman Complains At Community Meeting: Police Pouncing On Grande Drivers
A
resident of Sangre Grande complained that traffic police officers were not exercising their discretion in issuing tickets in the eastern town and were rather hiding and lying in wait to pounce on suspected errant motorists. Anthea Brizan told the audience at a stakeholders meeting at the Sangre Grande Civic Centre that police officers were not accepting any excuses from drivers and there was limited parking areas in the main shopping areas. She said police officers issued a ticket to her brother because he stopped on the Eastern Main Road to drop off their mother who could not walk properly. Brizan said instead of assisting the woman, the police reprimanded and charged her brother. “Some of the police officers hiding and when you stop, they will say ah ketch you. Police are trained and must act as responsible to members of the public,” she added. Brizan said police officers often stop drivers for a broken windscreen, no identification lights and without asking any questions or accepting any reasons, drivers were charged. She called for police officers to be more reasonable with members of the public. “It is simple, give the offenders a warning and if they are caught again with the same issue then a ticket should be issued to the driver,” she suggested. Brizan also complained about the hours she had to spend trapped in road during roadblocks during beach outings. This could be addressed quite easily, she said, as
police should be stationed at parties and at beaches so they could monitor those that who were drinking alcohol excessively and deal with them right on spot. Toco/Sangre Grande MP, Glenda Jennings-Smith, who is the Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of National Security, and a former senior police officer, in response advised Brizan to attend the Police Town meetings and voice her concerns. Tanya Thomas said she was not in favour of construction of a port at Toco. Toco would become more commercialised and would lost its essence, she said. “The natural habitat will be destroyed. Toco has a lot to do with ecotourism. What about our turtles, which nest not too far from where the port is earmarked
Anthea Brizan voices her opinion on the traffic situation in Sangre Grande during yesterday’s stakeholders consultation at the Sangre Grande Civic Centre. PHOTO: RALPH BANWARIE
to be built. There will be an influx of people coming to live in Toco,” she added. She also believes the private and quiet lives that people live will be affected by the criminal elements. She called for a committee to be set up before any construction began. Jennings-Smith said a decision was already taken on the development of the port and ferry service in Toco and was expected to be completed within a five-year period. She said she was happy when a member of the audience reported that a feasibility study and plans were in place to continue with the extension of the Valencia by-pass, which is causing a bottle neck traffic and pile-up from Turure to Sangre Grande. (Trinidad Guardian)
REGIONAL PAGE 136
GUYANA DAILY NEWS
FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2016
Video Evidence Tendered In Court
A
22-minute video recording of murder accused Rajaee Ali being interviewed by police was admitted into evidence as the preliminary enquiry into the killing of former special State prosecutor Dana Seetahal continued yesterday. The video was tendered into evidence through police officer, Sgt Joseph Sutherland of the Criminal Gang and Intelligence Unit, along with two statements relating to Ali’s interrogation. Ali and ten other men were charged on July 27 last year with the murder of Seetahal. Seetahal was shot dead on May 4, 2014 while driving along Hamilton Holder Street, Woodbrook. Sutherland spent the bulk of two hours standing giving evidence in a humid courtroom. The air conditioning was not working and the sound of heavy rainfall outside and a hovering national security helicopter echoed inside the courtroom. Presiding magistrate Indrani Cedeno offered the witness a bottled water as his voice
cracked. Sutherland will have to resume enough to stop yesterday’s proceedings. Ali, testimony on September 1 after Deputy h i s b r o t h e r s — I s h m a e l a n d H a m i d Director of Public Prosecutions, George Ali—Devaughn Cummings, Ricardo Stewart, Earl Richards, Stephan Cummings, Busby, sought an adjournment. Kevin Parkinson, Leston Gonzales, Roget He said he had to catch a flight to Tobago for Boucher and Gareth Wiseman remain on trial another court matter this morning. During his for Seetahal’s murder. Stacy Griffith, who is testimony the lights in the courtroom not charged with murder, is charged with flickered at least four times but it was not benefiting from a gang. (Trinidad Guardian)
REGIONAL PAGE 137
GUYANA DAILY NEWS
FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2016
$1m Assistance For ‘Beached’ Fishermen P
rime Minister Dr Keith Rowley announced yesterday that Cabinet had approved a $1 million “assistance” for fisherman who have lost earnings as a result of a string of fish kills in the Gulf of Paria. This is the first time the State has compensated fishermen who are unable to ply their trade due to an environmental disaster. The payout comes one month after dead fish began to wash ashore in the southwestern peninsular, scaring off customers and contradictory scientific reports on the reason for the fish deaths have crippled fish sales across the country.
The PM stated, however, that if State-owned Petrotrin was found to be liable of any oil leak which contributed to the fish kill they would have to compensate fishermen who were thrown on the breadline in the last few weeks.
Rowley said the problem on the southwest coast had been clearly affected by dead fish which appeared to have been killed in circumstance not yet unconfirmed. “Dead fish appear on the beach and there is a State agency (Environmental Management Authority) whose job it is to look at it and tell us what happened there.”
On the first fish kill, Rowley said he was told those were fish that were caught in nets and dumped. “But there was fear of poisoning because of an earlier time because of a product that was used (corexit) to diffuse oil (spill in 2013) and that products were known to have some debilitating effects,” he added. Rowley said if we accepted that the first fish kill was dumped that should not create any fear in the minds of the public. However, Rowley said another school of dead fish
A fisherman displays his catch at the Cocorite Fishing Depot, Cocorite, yesterday. Government has agreed to give $1 million to South fishermen as “assistance” after they complained of dwindling sales due to warnings regarding the presence of hydrocarbons in certain types of fish in the Gulf of Paria. PHOTO: MARCUS GONZALES
appeared on the beach and tests conducted were inconclusive.
“Without seeing the documentation myself, I am hearing that it appears to be some connection with some of those dead fish and hydrocarbon. Once we get to that stage that there might be... and we did see also reports of pollutants on the beaches, in one particular area... all is taking place in the same general area.” Rowley said Petrotrin was the only agency that would be called to account. “If there is in fact oil leak or pollution in the area because if it is determined that Petrotrin activities would have cost any outcome there are legal liabilities in which Petrotrin must discharge and that is where compensation comes in,” he added. He said they were still trying to determine if the fish were poisoned. He said Cabinet instructed Finance Minister Colm Imbert “to allocate and find for use $1 million to allow, without prejudice, assistance to those persons who have lost their livelihood as result of what is happening in that particular area. It is not compensation it is assistance.” Last night, president of the Claxton Bay Fisherman Association, Kishore Boodram, said fishermen should be thankful for what little they would be getting because of the widespread fish kill in the Gulf of Paria. He said he was hopeful for a meeting with Agriculture Minister Clarence Rambharat to address their concerns. (Trinidad Guardian)
REGIONAL PAGE 138
GUYANA DAILY NEWS
FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2016
Workers Safe B
etween 160 and 175 of the 265 contractors employed with the Community-based Environmental Protection and Enhancement Programme (CEPEP) will be axed from the programme for now, but the 12,000-odd employees currently engaged will stay. In fact, once the budgetary allocation to CEPEP was maintained in the next fiscal year, the number of employees was likely to rise and the new set of contractors would be “community persons” from constituencies all over T&T, chairman Trevor Lynch said yesterday. “The CEPEP company wishes to hereby state for the purpose of clarification that the change out of contractors under the current restructuring of the programme will not affect the 12,000-odd employees currently engaged with the programme,” Lynch said in response to questions from the T&T Guardian. “Once the subventions are maintained in the next financial year, the CEPEP employment figure is likely to rise as the company increases efficiencies and reduces wastage,” he added. As for the contractors, he said: “There are 265 contractors now. We wouldn’t change all yet, just between 160 to 175. We don’t know what the next budget will be like. This is in case there is a reduction in subvention.” Lynch’s “revised statement” giving assurance that none of the 12,000-
odd employees will lose their jobs came one day after CEPEP put out a two-page media statement in the daily newspapers to correct “grossly inaccurate” statements made by former housing minister, Dr Roodal Moonilal, on the company’s restructuring plan. In the statement, the company indicated that 90 per cent of the contractors who were employed with the programme for more than five years would not have their contracts renewed. The statement resulted in some confusion among CEPEP labourers who feared they would also lose their jobs. In a telephone interview with the T&T Guardian yesterday, Lynch said: “We are really adjusting the contractors who have been with the company for over five years. Not the employees, most of them will be retained.” Screening process Putting to rest notions that the restructuring was an undercover plot to rehire friends and associates, Lynch said in order to avoid that very thing the company had placed ads in the newspapers since December last year asking contractors to apply. “We got 3,000 applications but we have been screening them,” he said. Outlining the selection criteria, he said the company had a plan to cover all the constituencies. “We want the contractors to be from the constituencies and they must be communit
CEPEP workers cut grass at the Golconda Interchange along the Solomon Hochoy Highway Extension yesterday. CEPEP has announced a plan to remove 90 per cent of its contractors from the programme. PHOTO: KRISTIAN DE SILVA
y persons, not like big people,” he added. He said some previous contractors were big business people. In its newspaper media statement, CEPEP said each of the existing contractors who were employed for over five years had six teams comprising ten workers a team and earned $3,500,000. It said most of those contractors had their contracts renewed in the weeks preceding last year’s general election even though the former board and management knew they were not paying health surcharge, national insurance, Value Added Tax and the Green Fund Levy to the State on behalf of their employees. CEPEP also pointed out that workers were paid by the company and not the contractors. (Trinidad Guardian)
REGIONAL PAGE 139
GUYANA DAILY NEWS
FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2016
Suspect Held Wearing Hijab
T
he two other suspects involved in Wednesday’s gun attack against two off-duty police officers were arrested yesterday. Officers from the North Eastern Divisional Task Force held the suspects in two separate incidents. One of them tried to disguise himself by wearing a hijab, a headpiece worn by Muslims to conceal their face. Police said that suspect, a 35-year-old man of Valencia, was held hiding in some bushes suffering from gunshot injuries in Charlieville, Chaguanas. They believe he stole the Muslim wear from someone’s clothesline. He was taken to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Mt Hope, to undergo emergency surgery. The other suspect, a Barataria man, was held soon after the gunfight with the police. On Wednesday around 2.30 pm, PCs
Mervyn Williams and Adesh Mano were about to enter Williams’ home at Edinburgh 500, Chaguanas, when they were accosted by three suspects. The off-duty officers exchanged gunfire with the bandits before they escaped in a Nissan AD wagon. Williams was shot in the foot and taken to the Chaguanas Health Facility and then was transferred to EWMSC for treatment. Mano alerted his colleagues and several units responded. Police arrested the third suspect shortly after the crime near the Monroe Road Flyover after the suspects abandoned the vehicle. (Trinidad Guardian)
REGIONAL PAGE 140
GUYANA DAILY NEWS
FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2016
Several Industry Groups Record Increases In Employment — PIOJ
K
INGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) — According to director general of the Planning Institute of Jamaica, Dr Wayne Henry, eight of the 16 industry groups have recorded increased employment levels, resulting from greater recruitment of workers. According to Henry, “The largest increases were recorded for hotel and restaurant services, up 12,900 persons; construction, up 12,500 persons; other community, social and personal service activities, up 8,800 persons; and manufacturing, up 7,900 persons.” Meanwhile, Henry said the expansion in the labour force was attributable to several factors. These, he outlined, include an increase in the working-age population, 14 years and older, by 4,100 people and a contraction in the number of people outside the labour force by 49,000 persons. Dr Henry said the main reasons for the contraction were a reduction in the number of individuals indicating they did not want to work, by 43,300 people; a 5,500 decline in the number of people indicating that they were staying home with dependents; and a 3,500 reduction in the number of people indicating they were at school part-time. The director general said as a result of the expanded labour force, the unemployment rate recorded for April stood at 13.7 per cent. This, he indicated, was 0.4 per cent higher than the figure for the
corresponding period in 2015. Meanwhile, the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) is reporting that the country’s labour force increased by 53,100 persons to 1,353,500 as at April 2016. According to STATIN’s Labour Force Survey for that month, 1,168,600 people secured employment, representing an increase of 40,100 over the corresponding period in 2015. (Jamaica Observer)
The ‘Capture Of Caracas’ - National Protest Scheduled For September
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he Venezuelan Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD) has summoned the people to stage one of the biggest protest seen in Venezuela since days of the Independency. ‘La Toma de Caracas’ or the ‘Capture of Caracas’ is schedule for the 1st of September next. The opposition in the southern country, is determined to use the power of the mass to accelerate the announcement for the date of the Revocatory Referendum against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. According to Venezuelan local newspaper El Nacional, Executive Secretary of the MUD, Jesús ‘Chúo’ Torrealba assured that the massive protest is aiming to impose “peace to the government”. The protest is set to start from different strategic locations in the city. The final destination of the protest will be announced on August 30th by the opposition leaders.Even though the MUD is encouraging the people to come to the streets and let their voice be heard, it also calls for a pacific, civic and organized marchQualified as a reflection of history on the making, the ‘Capture of Caracas’, could have drastic
repercussions in the fate of Venezuela. A total twist in the history of this nation. Source: http://www.el-nacional.com/politica/MaduroP l a n - O f e n s i v a - R e v o l u c i o n a r i a Caracas_0_910109002.html
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Cyon Murder Suspect In Hiding After Talk With Cops... I Did Not Kill Him
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ollowing two hits on his life, Marlon Lynch, the man wrongfully accused of killing nine-year-old Cyon Paul yesterday went into hiding after he surrendered to the San Fernando police and was subsequently released after he was questioned. But insisting he was never responsible for the child’s murder, Lynch said he was fond of Cyon and would never have pulled the trigger which ended the little boy’s life. As rumours spread of his alleged involvement in the murder, Lynch, 35, went to the San Fernando Homicide Bureau after midday yesterday and spoke to investigators. He left the police station around 3.30 pm after which he spoke to the T&T Guardian about the terror he had been experiencing since the rumour spread that he was responsible for the child’s death. Lynch revealed that two hits were made on his life over the past week. The first occurred on the night Cyon died last Friday and the second on Sunday night when he was almost ran off the road by unknown gunmen who fired a volley of gunshots behind his Nissan B14 car. Lynch said the bullet which killed Cyon was probably meant for him and his partner after they had a disagreement with another group of men some time ago. Recalling the events surrounding Cyon’s murder, Lynch said he and his friends were liming on the roadside near the Torque Turn bar at Southern Main Road, La Romaine, last Friday night when “wild bullets” started to fire. “I don’t know where it came from. Maybe someone was hiding and started to fire or maybe it came from someone who was in a car. I don’t know but when I heard the gunshots I started to run,” Lynch said. He said thats was probably why people blamed him for the child’s murder. “People are always passing and shooting my partner’s house, so maybe when the other team heard we liming there at the bar they set up their network and start to shoot at us. The little youth man get stick up in the altercation. We heard three explosions. I really think those bullets could have been meant for us but I am not sure.” Saying he only wanted to clear his name, Lynch said he was relieved when he spoke with the police yesterday. “I know they believed me because they spoke with other people as well. They told me they will do more investigations and get back to me,” Lynch added. He said on Sunday he went to a Reggae Sunday lime in Couva when he was attacked. “When I done lime and come down the road, they followed me down the highway and I decide to take the fast road to drop off my friend. “We ended up on the Tasker Road heading to Princes Town and then suddenly a white Totoya Axio pulled out and block my car completely. I see gunmen start to jump out and I graze way their car and they started to shoot at Cyon Paul my car. I drove straight to Princes Town station. That was
around 2 am,” Lynch said. Saying he was going into hiding in the wake of the attacks, Lynch said he hoped the police could offer him some protection. “I have to lay low. I work taxi and now I cannot go and work taxi because of this. I want people to understand that it was not me who killed that little boy. I have three children and they are not with me. I know vigilantes want to kill me,” Lynch said. Saying he was worried about the safety of his family, Lynch said: “They have nowhere to go. I want the police to protect us.” Remembering Cyon, whose funeral was yesterday, Lynch described him as a “nice good mannered little boy. “To hear that this happened to him was really sad. He was innocent. He got caught in the gunfire. He was a favourite and everybody liked him. I was never involved in that and I want police to know this,” he said. Princes Town police confirmed yesterday that they received a report of a shooting along the M2 Ring Road. Paul, a First Standard pupil of the La Romaine RC School, lived with his mother, Safiya Williams, at Byron Street, La Romaine. Around 9 pm last Friday, he was walking to a hotdog stall near his home, in the company of a 13-year-old cousin, when he was shot. (Trinidad Guardian)
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Trinidadians Taking Zika Virus 'Too Lightly' — T&T Health Minister
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ORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago (CMC) — Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh has arranged to meet with public health inspectors to underscore the need to enforce regulations related to the fight against the mosquito borne Zika virus. During a post Cabinet news conference on Thursday, the health minister expressed concern that Trinidadians and the global population have been taking the Zika outbreak “too lightly”. “We need to step up the campaign,” he said, adding that in order to do this, fines for unkempt lots which could harbour breeding sites for mosquitoes have been increased from TT$350 to TT$3,500. He said if the population does not partner with the government “we will not win this fight with Zika”. So far the number of confirmed cases of the virus in the twin island republic is 335 – and according to the health minister this could be just “the tip of the iceberg”. (Jamaica Observer)
Trinidad and Tobago Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh
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Primary Schools Must Focus On Literacy, Numeracy — Reid
Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Ruel Reid
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INGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) — The Ministry of Education, Youth and Information has instructed primary-school administrators to focus on literacy and numeracy for the new school year. Portfolio Minister, Senator Ruel Reid, said all students must master reading and math at the grade-four level. “For those who don’t, immediate steps must be put in place for them to catch up,” Reid emphasised. He was speaking at the 2016 Sagicor Foundation Scholarship awards function, held at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel yesterday. The Minister said primary schools in need of assistance will have available to them a group of literacy coaches. Reid
further noted that additional numeracy specialists will be available to schools for the continuation of a mathematics intensification programme. “If all our students are literate and numerate, then they are better able to do well in other subjects as they progress through the education system,” he said. The minister used the forum to appeal to parents to shop wisely for textbooks, while noting that the Government already provides textbooks free of cost in primary schools, and on a rental scheme in secondary schools. The ministry is also scheduled to supply schools with several thousand pieces of furniture by August 31 and has approved some schools to procure or repair furniture from existing accounts. “School administrators have done their best to have their institutions ready for the new academic year,” Reid said. Meanwhile, 27 students attending six tertiary-level institutions were presented with scholarships valued at $250,000 each. The institutions are the University of the West Indies, University of Technology, Northern Caribbean
University, The Mico University College, Caribbean Maritime Institute, and the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts. The scholarships are renewable annually, once students maintain a grade point average of 3.0. Fifteen scholarships were presented to children of Sagicor stakeholders, who excelled in the 2016 Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT). Sagicor also awarded scholarships to the top boy and girl in the Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA)/Sagicor National Primary, All-Age and Junior High School’s Athletic Championships. The minister congratulated the students who received scholarships for the 2016/17 academic year. He encouraged them to set goals and stay focused to achieve them. For his part, Chairman, Sagicor Group Jamaica and Sagicor Foundation, R Danny Williams, challenged the awardees to contribute to the successes of the country. “I want to encourage you to utilise not only your educational and academic capabilities to influence the world, but also to be aware of your surroundings and community and foster empathy for the less fortunate in society,” Williams said. (Jamaica Observer)
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FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2016
France Burkini: Highest Court Suspends Ban
A woman in a burkini in Marseille in southern France(REUTERS)
France's highest administrative court has suspended a ban on full-body "burkini" swimsuits that was imposed in a town on the Mediterranean coast. The ban in Villeneuve-Loubet "seriously and clearly illegally breached fundamental freedoms", it found, including freedom of belief. The ruling could set a precedent for up to 30 other towns that imposed bans on their beaches, chiefly on the Riviera. The court will make a final decision on the legality of the bans later. Correspondents in France say the court's decision means that all the bans on burkinis are likely now to be overturned but one mayor in Corsica has already vowed to keep the ban in place on his town beach. A human rights group, the Human Rights League (LDH), and an anti-Islamophobia association (CCIF), brought the ban in Villeneuve-Loubet to the court's attention. Patrice Spinosi, a lawyer for the LDH, said outside court that people who had been fined could claim their money back. 'Public humiliation' Amnesty International welcomed the court's decision. The human rights group's Europe director, John Dalhuisen, said it had "drawn a line in the sand". He said: "French authorities must now drop the pretence that these measures do anything to protect the rights of women. "These bans do nothing to increase public safety but do a lot to promote public humiliation." The burkini bans have ignited fierce debate in France and worldwide. Opinions polls suggested most French people backed the bans, which town mayors said were protecting public order and secularism. Muslims said they were being targeted unfairly. The "burkini bans" actually make no mention of the burkini. The rules simply say beachwear must be respectful of good public manners and the principle of secularism. The controversy intensified after pictures and video of police appearing to enforce the ban by making a woman take off an item of clothing prompted widespread anger. The court said
local authorities did not have the power to restrict individual liberties in this way without "proven risk" to public order. Why have the bans been imposed? After a militant Islamist ploughed a lorry into families on the seafront at Nice on 14 July, killing 86 people, the city's authorities said a ban was "a necessity". Local leaders have described their actions as appropriate and proportionate. But the bans are not just a response to a spate of deadly jihadist attacks on French soil. France has long-standing laws on secularism, and the Nice ban focused on "correct dress, respectful of accepted customs and secularism, as well as rules of hygiene and of safety in public bathing areas". The Council of State is expected to take 48 hours to deliver its verdict, but the interior minister has said there is nothing to stop mayors taking action, as long as it is "rigorously proportionate". What French law says on secularism and religious clothing In 2010, France became the first European country to ban the fullface veil in public A 2004 law forbids the wearing of religious emblems in schools and colleges The 1905 constitution aims to separate Church and state. It enshrines secularism in education but also guarantees the freedom of religion and freedom to exercise it. The original text made no reference to clothing (BBC)
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FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2016
Syria Darayya: Evacuation Of Siege Town Begins Civilians and rebel fighters have begun leaving the Syrian town of Darayya after a deal was reached ending a four-year government siege. The first buses left the town, near the capital Damascus, accompanied by ambulances and Red Crescent vehicles. But the UN has expressed concern over the plan, saying it is essential that those leaving do so v o l u n t a r i l y. T h e S y r i a n a r m y encircled Darayya in 2012 and just one aid delivery has reached the town since then. The first bus to emerge from the town carried mostly children, women and elderly people, AFP news agency reports. Some 700 armed men and 4,000 Some of those leaving said conditions had become uninhabitable(AFP) civilians will be evacuated as part of I t is up to John Kerry and Sergei Lavrov to try to close the the agreement, according to Syrian state media. last difficult gaps. One of the most sensitive issues is said to be Opposition fighters are due to be given safe passage to the rebel- the grounding of Syria's warplanes. Western sources say senior held city of Idlib, while civilians will go to government shelters US defence officials are deeply sceptical, if not resistant, to in Damascus. The office of UN Special Envoy Staffan de closer military co-operation with Moscow. But achieving Mistura sounded a note of caution saying it was "imperative progress in Syria, especially in the battle against so-called that people of Darayya are protected in any evacuation that Islamic State, is one of the White House's key goals. So John takes place, and that this takes place voluntarily". Kerry continues his determined diplomacy to reach some kind A statement said the UN was neither involved nor consulted of deal with Russia. But today's evacuation in Darayya which about the evacuation plan, but added, "the world is watching." involves the surrender of rebel forces, underlines the Syrian For years those living in Darayya have endured constant government's long-held view that the road to peace goes shelling, as well as suffering shortages of food, water and through local Syrian deals, largely on its terms. (BBC) electricity. Some of those leaving said the town had become uninhabitable. Darayya saw some of the first protests against the Syrian government, an uprising that transformed into a fullblown civil conflict. The withdrawal of rebels just a few miles from Damascus is a boost for President Bashar al-Assad, analysts say. The evacuation comes as US Secretary of State John Kerry holds talks on Syria with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Geneva. They are meeting in a bid to broker a temporary ceasefire in the city of Aleppo, where fighting between government and rebel forces has escalated in recent weeks, leaving hundreds dead. Russia's President Vladimir Putin and Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan have agreed a deal to boost aid to Aleppo, Turkish media reported. Russian and American teams in Geneva, involving military officials and diplomats, have been able to reach agreement on most details of a possible deal.
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FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2016
Sarah Palin Warns Donald Trump On Deportation U-Turn change of stance on deportations. Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton dismissed his new policy as a "a desperate effort" while Mr B u s h c a l l e d Tr u m p ' s repositioning "abhorrent". "I can only say that whatever his views are this morning, they might change this afternoon, and they were different than they were last night, and they'll be different tomorrow," said the former Florida governor. But his new campaign manager, Mrs Palin says there would be a "huge erosion of support" if Kellyanne Conway, insists Mr Trump softens his immigration policy(GETTY IMAGES) "nothing has changed in terms of the policies". Mr F o r m e r A l a s k a governor Sarah Palin has warned Donald Trump is expected to outline his new immigration policy in a Trump of "massive disappointment" if he backs down on his speech next week, after postponing one that was due this week plan to deport undocumented immigrants. The Republican in Colorado. (BBC) presidential nominee has signalled he will soften his immigration plan, which was a central plank of his primary campaign. Instead of sending all 11 million people living illegally in the US, he now says only criminals will go. Mrs Palin's backing of Trump in January was regarded as a coup. She demonstrated as John McCain's running mate in 2008 that she possesses a rare star power in the Republican party. But on Friday she told the Wall Street Journal that "wishywashy positions" on core positions would result in "massive disappointment". "Parts of the message we heard in the last week are clearly not consistent with the stringent position and message that supporters have received all along," she said. The New York businessman made his tough line on immigration central to his win in the primary contests, a triumph that was unexpected when he launched his campaign with a controversial attack on Mexican immigrants as "rapists". He often derided Republican rivals Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio as weak on immigration and his plan to build a wall on the Mexican border became a chant at his rallies. But this week he has openly talked about how tough it is to break up families and said people who have been in the US a long time and not broken any laws should stay. He has not backed down on the wall, but staunch conservatives like columnist Ann Coulter and radio host Rush Limbaugh have also expressed concerns about his
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FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2016
Italy Quake: Emergency Declared As Hopes For More Survivors Fade
Whole buildings in Amatrice were flattened(GETTY IMAGES)
I t a l y has declared a s t a t e o f emergency in the regions worst h i t b y Wednesday's earthquake as hopes of finding more survivors fade. Prime Minister Matteo Renzi has pledged €50m (£42m) in funds for rebuilding. At least 268 people are now known to have died and 400 were injured. Teams have continued to search the rubble of toppled buildings for a second night. However, hundreds of aftershocks have hampered the efforts of the 5,000 rescuers. Another magnitude4.7 tremor struck early on Friday. In addition to the funds, Mr Renzi cancelled taxes for residents and announced a new initiative, "Italian Homes", to tackle criticism over shoddy construction. But he also said that it was "absurd" to think that Italy could build completely quake-proof buildings. It follows criticism in the Italian press over building standards in high-risk areas. Some of the buildings that collapsed had recently been renovated. Historic towns do not have to conform to anti-quake building regulations, which are also often not applied when new buildings are put up. Tourists among dead The 6.2-magnitude quake hit in the early hours of Wednesday, 100km (65 miles) north-east of Rome in mountainous central Italy. The worst affected towns - Amatrice, Arquata, Accumoli and Pescara del Tronto - are usually sparsely populated but have been swelled by tourists visiting for summer, making estimates for the precise number missing difficult. More than 200 people died in Amatrice alone. At least three Britons died in the quake, a local official in Amatrice told the BBC. The Romanian government said 11 of its citizens were missing.
Bodies are still being found in the town, including one discovered in the rubble of the Hotel Roma in the city late on Thursday. An official with the fire department, Lorenzo Botti, admitted they were facing a race against time. "The chances of finding people alive in these conditions, in this type of setting, well, it's challenging," he said. But other rescuers said there was still hope, noting that one survivor was pulled from ruins in L'Aquila in 2009 three days after an earthquake that killed more than 300 people. Search teams have asked locals to disable their wi-fi passwords to help rescue workers communicate more effectively. Police have also arrested a man for attempting to break into and loot an empty home in the town, Ansa reported. (BBC)
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UN Blames UK Politicians For Brexit Hate Crime Spike "Divisive" and "anti-immigrant" rhetoric by UK politicians during the EU referendum helped to fuel a spike in race hate crimes in the weeks before and after the vote, a UN body has said. It said prominent political figures had "failed to condemn" racist abuse and created prejudices during the campaign. The report expressed concerns at the negative portrayal of immigrants in the UK and a rise of racist online abuse. Some 3,198 hate crimes were reported from 16-30 June - a 42% rise on 2015.
unpunished." It said the UK government's anti-terrorism Prevent strategy had created "an atmosphere of suspicion towards members of Muslim communities". It urged the government to review the counter-terrorism measure to ensure it does not "constitute profiling and discrimination on the grounds of race, colour, descent or national or ethnic origin". The report also criticised plans to replace the Human Rights Act of 1998 with a new British Bill of Rights, warning that it could lead to "decreased levels of human rights protection". 'Acrimonious and divisive' Imogen Foulkes, BBC Geneva correspondent, said the report had made some "pretty blunt criticisms". She said it had called for politicians to be "much more open about condemning abuse" and for strict sentences against those guilty of expressing hatred. "There are laws in Britain against hate crime that the UN feels are not being used and that therefore there is a climate of impunity," our correspondent added.
The EU referendum was held on 23 June - when the UK voted to leave the European Union. Abuse peaked on 25 June - the day after the result was announced - when 289 hate crimes and incidents were reported across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. A further 3,001 reports of hate crimes were made to police between 1 and 14 July - equivalent to more than 200 every day. 'Atmosphere of suspicion' The report - by the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination - said it was "seriously concerned" at the sharp increase. It said the EU referendum campaign had been marked by "divisive, anti- David Isaac, chairman of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, said the organisation shared the UN's concerns immigrant and xenophobic rhetoric". and supported its call for "effective investigation and The report added: "The committee remains concerned that prosecution of all acts of racist hate crime". "There are concerns despite the recent increase in the reporting of hate crimes, the that the acrimonious and divisive manner in which the problem of underreporting persists, and the gap between referendum debate was conducted exacerbated worrying reported cases and successful prosecution remains significant. divisions in British society, and has been used by a minority to "As a result, a large number of racist hate crimes seem to go legitimise race hate", he said. "Political parties need to come together and show leadership, working with the relevant crime prevention agencies," he added. (BBC)
A Polish family targeted by arsonists in Plymouth in July received what police called a "hate-filled" letter(EWA BANASZAK)
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Turkey PKK Conflict: Cizre Bomb Kills 11 Policemen A car bomb in Cizre, south-east Turkey, has killed 11 policemen negotiations until the group completely disarms. and injured 78. The explosion targeted a checkpoint and left the The latest violence comes as the army reels from a huge purge nearby police HQ in ruins. The banned Kurdistan Workers Party, following a coup attempt in July. As well as fighting the PKK, PKK, said it was behind the attack. Turkish Prime Minister Binali Turkey is battling so-called Islamic State, whose militants have Yildirim vowed to give the "vile attackers the answer they carried out a series of bloody attacks over the past year. The PKK, deserve". Cizre has often been under curfew since last July when which is banned in Turkey, launched its insurgency in 1984, a two-year ceasefire with the PKK collapsed, heralding a return alleging widespread abuse and discrimination against Kurds by Turkish authorities. (BBC) to deadly violence. The UN and human rights organisations have demanded an investigation into allegations that more than 100 people were burned to death while sheltering in basements in Cizre during one of those curfews. The Turkish government has rejected allegations that it targeted civilians. A string of PKK attacks have targeted Turkish security forces recently. On Friday, the Kurdish militants denied deliberately targeting Kemal Kilicdaroglu, leader of the secularist Republican People's Party (CHP), near the northeastern city of Artvin, on Thursday. Mr Kilicdaroglu escaped unharmed. Turkish military operations in the south-east and retaliatory attacks by the PKK have left hundreds of people dead. Turkey's PKK conflict shows no sign of abating, says the BBC's Mark Lowen, and the government has ruled out any The riot police headquarters was completely gutted
Ex-PM Stephen Harper Quits Canada Politics Former Prime Minister Stephen Harper has given up his seat as Harper lost the election to Justin Trudeau and then resigned as an MP, leaving Canadian politics after more than 20 years to Conservative leader. He said representing Calgary in Parliament focus on his businesses. The news comes 10 months after Mr had been an honour. He was first elected as a Reform MP in 1993 and later led the Conservative Party to three election victories. In a written statement, he said: "Friends, we did a lot together, but I know the best is yet to come. “Our country must continue to serve as a model of prosperity and freedom." He listed his achievements as cutting taxes and balancing the national budget. "We got tough on crime and put families first. We managed our G7 economy through the worst global recession since the Great Depression, and came out in the strongest position of them all." He said he was preparing for "the next chapter" of his life. According to Bloomberg, the 57-yearold will work on his consulting, with the intention of launching a firm in Calgary which will focus on international issues. (BBC)
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FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2016
Indonesian Man Arrested As 650 Pangolins Found Dead In Freezers Indonesian authorities have seized more than 650 dead pangolins hidden in freezers and arrested a man. The The pangolins were wrapped in plastic and frozen(AFP) critically endangered species is a delicacy in parts of Asia and is used in traditional medicine. Police found the animals when they raided a house in Jombang district on the main island of Java, after neighbours became suspicious about the number of freezers at the property. The 55-year-old house owner has been arrested as a suspect. He could face five years in prison and a fine of 100m rupiah ($7,500) for breaking wildlife protection laws. The pangolins were found wrapped in plastic and stored in five large freezers, East Java province police spokesman Raden Prabowo Argo Yuwono told news agency AFP. Mr Yuwono said: "The suspect insisted the pangolins were not his, a friend asked him to store the animals because he has freezers." Pangolins, known as "scaly anteaters", are used in Union for Conservation of Nature classifies the pangolin species parts of Asia for their meat, skin and scales. The International found in Indonesia as critically endangered. (BBC)
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A Day Like Today
Who doesn’t remember that golden hair mischievous child running up and down in an empty house trying to keep it safe from evil thieves? The same one in charge of reminding us that Christmas is near. Better known as Kevin McCallister the brat kid from ‘Home Alone’ or Macaulay Culkin, was born a day like today 1980. As an irony of life, our ‘Bor Star’ was born surrounded by considerable amount of siblings, just like in the film that gave him fame. Mac, the third of seven children, grew up in a small apartment in New York to hard working mother and a religious father. Soon the charms and fearless performance of this captivating little guy, attracted the attention of filmmakers. Starting his career as early as 1984 in stage productions and Macaulay Culkin small films, building his foundations through the 80s. The audience of his still vivid existence. As an experimental actor, his 90s reached, and so the paper that would forever immortalize him as the personification of innocent rebellion. voice can also be heard in his comedy rock band named ‘The Home Alone became the highest-grossing live action comedy Pizza Underground’. film of all time in the US, and also held the record worldwide until Sadly due to the ephemeral success of the group, Macaulay announced that the last album was going to be launched this year it was overtaken by The Hangover Part II in 2011. It is the highest grossing Christmas movie of all time at the North (2016) as a farewell for the band. It is inevitable not lo love him. American box office. But as a child star, fame became a wild Despite the ups and downs in his turbulent life, Macaulay Carson beast hard to control. Soon after puberty, scandals about Culkin, will always be seen as that small angel that makes us substance abuse were often related to his name. Conflicts in his laugh at year end, making ‘Home Alone’ stand firm as a symbol family life, legal issues, the temporary abandon of his acting of the Christmas spirit, twenty six years after its blasting debut. career at the age of 14, and an early marriage at the age of 17 were Source: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/homethe detonators for dark decade on the young actor’s life. Even alone-star-macaulay-culk... though his years of inactivity and controversy deemed his image to a dangerous point, -By- Rocio Perez, Guyana Daily News. he managed to take back his prestige with baby steps. The 2000s didn’t close the doors for the still blooming actor, he starred in a diversity of roles, from voice-work in the stop motion comedy ‘Robot Chicken’ in 2001, to impersonations of drug addict, murderer and exconvict Michael Alig in 2003. He continued to appear in small productions through the years, reminding the
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FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2016
Clinton Aims To Reframe 2016 Debate T
he speech that Hillary Clinton delivered on Thursday was the one that many Democrats had been waiting for. It was a blistering attack on Donald Trump's divisive rhetoric that left no gaffe or alleged dog-whistle unmentioned, framing him as a vessel for hate speech, a champion of conspiracy theories, and a representative of the farright fringe of the Republican Party. Race has long been an unsettling undercurrent of the 2016 presidential race. But this week, the two major candidates forced that debate into the open with Clinton's speech l i n k i n g Tr u m p t o t h e " a l t - r i g h t " movement, and Trump's new charge that the former secretary of state is "a bigot" who has pandered to minorities with feckless policies as part of a calculated quest for votes. Clinton was clearly seeking to reframe the campaign debate as a referendum on Trump's fitness to be commander in chief during a week in which she has dealt with an onslaught of allegations that she used her influence as secretary of state to help donors to the Clinton Foundation. "From the start, Donald Trump has built his campaign on prejudice and paranoia," Clinton said during her speech at Truckee Meadows Community College in Reno, Nevada. "He is taking hate groups mainstream and helping a radical fringe take over the Republican Party. His disregard for the values that make our country great is profoundly dangerous." Clinton described Trump as a candidate "with a long history of racial discrimination, who traffics in dark conspiracy theories drawn from the pages of the supermarket tabloids and the far, dark reaches of the internet." At a time when Trump seems to be attempting to adopt a more inclusive tone, Clinton reminded her audience that Trump opened his campaign by suggesting that some
undocumented immigrants from Mexico were rapists and criminals. And she seized the opening that Trump gave her earlier this month when he hired Steve Bannon, the former chairman of Breitbart News, as his campaign's chief executive. At her rally in Reno, Clinton charged that Trump has essentially embraced the ideas of the so-called "alt-right," an amorphous movement closely tied with white nationalism that has been criticized as racist, misogynistic and anti-Semitic. Altright thinkers and writers, she noted, have found a home at conservative news sites like Breitbart. Alleging that Trump is trying to bring a hate movement into the mainstream, she noted that the real estate magnate's admirers include members of the Ku Klux Klan; that he was slow to disavow praise from former Klan leader David Duke during the Republican primaries; and that he has retweeted comments from white supremacists online. "Through it all, he has continued pushing discredited conspiracy theories with racist undertones," she said. There was little subtlety in Clinton's speech. In a moment that drew gasps and jeers from the Reno audience, she read a series of recent headlines from the Breitbart website. Among them: "'Birth Control Makes Women Unattractive and Crazy" and "Hoist It High And Proud: The Confederate Flag Proclaims A Glorious Heritage." Trump responded to Clinton's speech during an interview with CNN's Anderson Cooper, arguing that his campaign was "bringing love," not hate, and that his rallies are packed with Americans who have been left behind. Calling Clinton a "third-rate politician," he argued that African-Americans are just realizing that the Democrats who have "run" the nation's inner cities have left them behind. Trump also rejected the notion that he was embracing the "alt-
right" movement. "Nobody even knows what that is," Trump told CNN's Cooper. "There is no alt right or left." When Cooper noted that Bannon, Trump's new campaign chief executive, has used the term "alt-right," Trump professed ignorance. “I don't know what Steve said," he said in the interview on "Anderson Cooper 360," before pivoting back to Clinton and her email controversies. "She is all talk, no action. ... She should be ashamed of herself." Trump made those comments at a time when he is trying to expand his outreach to African-Americans and Hispanics, who widely disapprove of his rhetoric, his denunciations of undocumented immigrants, and his more outlandish proposals -- like a wall along the Mexican border that would be paid for by the Mexican government. Given their sky-high unfavorable ratings, both Clinton and Trump hope to make the campaign a referendum on each other. While Clinton wants to blunt any inroads that Trump might make with minority communities, she was also making the case for her candidacy on Thursday to moderates, independents and Republicans who are alarmed by Trump's associations with the more nefarious elements of the internet. Throughout her speech, she praised Republicans, like former GOP presidential nominee John McCain, for standing up to hate speech. Trump did his best to refute Clinton's attacks on Thursday as he attempts to rescue his poll numbers in key swing states. During an interview with WMUR, a New Hampshire television station, Trump was asked whether he wants white supremacists to vote for him. "No. I don't at all," Trump replied. "This is not about hate, this is about love. We love our country; we want our country to come back; we want our country to be strong again." (CNN)
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2016
Sir Richard Branson 'Thought He Would Die' In Bike Crash Sir Richard Branson posted photographs of his injuries on Virgin's website(VIRGIN.COM)
S
ir Richard Branson says he thought he was "going to die" after crashing his bike on Caribbean island Virgin Gorda. The businessman said he was "extremely fortunate" only to have suffered a cracked cheek and torn ligaments. Sir Richard said he was cycling down a hill when he hit a speed bump, and "the next thing I knew, I was being hurled over the handlebars and my life was literally flashing before my eyes." His bicycle "went flying off the cliff and disappeared", he said. In a post on the Virgin website, the 66-year-old said: "I was
heading down a hill towards Leverick Bay when it suddenly got really dark and I managed to hit a sleeping policeman hump in the road head on. ‘Completely destroyed' "I really thought I was going to die. I went flying head-first towards the concrete road, but fortunately my shoulder and cheek took the brunt of the impact, and I was wearing a helmet that saved my life. "We've since recovered the crumpled bicycle, completely destroyed. My cheek has been badly damaged and my knee, chin, shoulder and body severely cut." Sir Richard said his assistant, Helen, was first on the scene as he was "lying prostrate on the road" and then another member of his team, George, "sprinted from the bottom of the hill" to assist. He travelled to Miami for X-rays and scans, and later posted photographs online showing his bloodied face. Endurance training The accident happened on the fifth anniversary of a fire which
destroyed his luxury home on Necker Island. Sir Richard was cycling with his children Holly and Sam as part of his training for the Virgin Strive Challenge endurance event from the base of the Matterhorn in the Alps to the summit of Mount Etna in Sicily. He still hopes to take part in the event. "My attitude has always been, if you fall flat on your face, at least you're moving forward," he said. "All you have to do is get back up and try again. At least I'm practising what I preach - though a little too literally!" Sir Richard made headlines earlier this week when his Twitter account posted CCTV images appearing to show Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn walking past empty unreserved train seats before he was filmed sitting on the floor complaining about "rampacked" carriages on a Virgin Trains service. (BBC)
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2016
Police “F” Division Reports 52% Drop In Serious Crimes.
The Division “F” based Guyana Police Force on Thursday received praises as Senior Superintendent of the Division, Ravindradat Budhram, reported at the recently concluded National Toshao’s Conference that there has been a 52% drop in the number of serious crimes such as Robbery and Robbery under Arms, Breaking and Entering, Sexual Offences and Larceny, in the Division. This percentage drop he said is in comparison to the 2015 reports of crime within the period of the year transpired. The Government Information Agency has reported the figures stating that there has been a reduction of 29 % of robbery, 67%; sexual offences, 14%; break and enter and larceny, 82%; and robbery under arms, 67%, which the Superintendent said was due to the development and addition of resources in the Division which covers
the afore mentioned 67% decrease in sexual offences and this was noted by Minister of Social Protection Volda Lawrence who in her presentation at the conference on Wednesday would have state to the Toshaos present that they needed to increase the part they play in This seemingly positive declaration the eliminating Human trafficking in their comes as in the light of the recent United respective villages and communities. States USAID report which was reported to have stated in layman’s terms that the Minister Lawrence also went as far as to Guyana Police Force is the least trusted refer to the offence as an exploitation and government institution in Guyana. as “modern day slavery”. Despite the According to the report Guyana hosts one reported drop in crimes, Superintendent of the highest failure rates in the Budhram did report to GINA that the prosecution of charged felons together Guyana Police Force Division still faces with some of the highest rates in domestic m u l t i p l e d i ffi c u l t i e s i n t e r m o f and gender based crimes together with communications between the officers stationed in the different villages due to gun and drug related crimes. the lack of radio signals however he It was also mentioned that Guyana has a maintained that the officers in the regions high Trafficking in Persons rate despite are operating to the best of their abilities. Administrative Regions 1, 7, 8 and 9. The addition of resources came as 68 new recruits joined the division together with the force receiving new equipment and moods of transportation to get aid in moving from point A to B.
PNCR Following Burnham’s Socialist Ideology President David Granger in his address at who did not fully endorsed the socialist others in transforming this country’s the 19th Biennial Delegates Congress of the PNCR said that “The PNCR’s ideology is inspired, largely, by the ideas of Forbes Burnham, its Founder-Leader. His ideas grew out of historical experience and social action. He employed these ideas as instruments to transform society.” In the president’s speech which was released via Facebook, the president mulled over the history of the life and the social impact of colonialism on Forbes Burnham He indicated that over the past four years the PNCR has established three new institutions to ensure that the ideas of Burnham continue to inform current leaders and inspire future generations, these being the Burnham Education Scholarship Trust (BEST), The Burnham Book Trust (BBT), and The Burnham Research Institute (BRI). The president however did not mention any other former leaders who contributed to the history of the PNCR especially Burnham’s successor, Desmond Hoyte,
ideology, and shift the state control confrontational, divisive winner-takeseconomy to a market-oriented system all p o litical cu ltu r e in to o n e o f backed by radical political reforms cooperation, based on inclusionary including free and fair elections. The d e m o c r a c y. ” T h e p r e s i d e n t s a i d president touched on the party’s current “Coalition is the bulwark against the partnership in the APNU collation saying cronyism, corruption and criminality – “The PNCR, today, is in another misgovernment, which dragged our country to the edge of catastrophe and coalition. It is our task, collectively for the next fifty i n t o t h e p i t o f h u m a n u n d e r years, to complete our historic mission to development.” provide ‘a good life’ for a l l . ’ We m u s t a c t resolutely to make the changes that are essential to building a resilient economy — one that is adaptive to the changes and responsive to the challenges of the global economy.” He said,“The PNCR’s objective was to give institutional form to its ideological faith. President David Granger speaking( at the 19th Biennial Delegates Congress of the PNCR (PNC Reform/ Facebook Photo) Its objective was to join
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SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2016
Dr. Norton, The Sacrificial Lamb sole sourced, the Minister stated there was an immediate need for the storage facility, and that the Ministry does not need more space but did not opt for the space at the Eccles bond. He also said that the New GPC had written to the Ministry and had to pay an amount of money and that the Ministry was anxious to secure another facility. When asked by the Guyana Daily News about the justification of renting a bond of 3000sq. ft. for $12.5 million the minister could not justify this. The Minister also said that the contract will be reviewed in spite of legal implications by the term and conditions of contractual arrangements. When asked how Linden Holdings Inc. became aware of the facility the Minister could not answer. Many commentators including members of the opposition PPP are of the view that the issue goes way beyond Dr. Norton pointing out that the David Granger cabinet approved the contract. Dr Norton himself had noted that he was misled by his staff on the information relating to the contract but he refused to state which one of his employees misled him and instead took full responsibility for the blunder. The PPP is of the opinion that top officials of the government are involved in the bond deal and are using Dr Norton as the sacrificial Minister of Health Dr. George Norton (Left) and lamb.
At a press conference on Friday at the Public Buildings Georgetown, Minister of Health Dr. George Norton publicly apologized for misinforming the National Assembly on the contract for the rental of a pharmaceutical bond on Sussex Street, Georgetown. Dr. Norton initially stated in his opening remarks that he gave a written apology to Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr. Barton Scotland, however later when questioned by the media he said no written apology was given to the Speaker due to some technicalities. However, shortly after the press conference, the apology was delivered to the Speaker. The seemingly nervous Health Minister was very careful in his response to the media. When asked by the Guyana Daily News as to why the facility was
Director of Public Informtion, Mr. Imran Khan
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2016
Attorney General, Basil Williams To Enquire About Validity Of Land Title Certificates At the recently concluded National Toshaos council’s (NTC) Conference the issue of the validity of the land title certificates which residents are claiming have no legal standing was discussed. Government has since mandated Attorney General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs Basil Williams to look into the legality of a number of certificates of titles issued to several indigenous communities. The matter was raised in Imbamadai by Mr. Austin, Vice-Captain, OmanaikKambary Village, Region Seven and then again at the NTC with Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman. Mr. Austin was quoted in a GINA release addressing the minister saying “We understand that it is not recognised by the GGMC, (Guyana Geology and Mines Commission) and we often wondered if this certificate is valid, and why it is not public or gazetted, and none of the GGMC officers could recognize it.” In response, Minister Trotman said that the Government has found many villages that were issued certificates of titles, but have no records to show that the certificates are valid. “I spent all afternoon with the National Toshaos Council and some of the very things that you are saying, that just before elections a set of documents, in law, you say purporting to be titles were handed out, but when we checked the records, there is a missing gap between the process and the signatures,” the Minister told the ViceCaptain. The Natural Resources Minister said the government is looking in the situation “Many of them are with the Attorney General Chambers now to see if somebody should be charged for fooling the people…because it’s mischief…it is cruelty to come and lie to you and fool (you), to try to get the vote, I’m not sure,…but we are investigating these things and we would have had to pass them over to the police actually,” the Minister said. However, President David Granger is set to present 10 indigenous leaders with the certificate of title for their respective villages. The instrument will be handed over to the village leaders at a reception which will be hosted at the Arthur Chung International Convention Centre, today at 19:00hrs. It is unclear if the certificates being presented to the leaders have being legally corrected or modified in any way. Mervyn
Williams, Ministerial Advisor to the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, indicated that the villages to receive the certificate of title are Yakarinta and Rupunau Region Nine; Taruka, Tuseneng and Karisparu, Region Eight; Baramita and Kariako Region One; and Chinoweing, Kato and Batavia, Region Seven. Meanwhile, the villages of Yakarinta, and Kato would be receiving titles for extension to their lands. Source: (GINA)
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2016
"Jubilee Done, Clean Up Done"
Several vendors of the Stabroek market area are complaining about the sudden ending of the clean-up exercise in and around the city. The vendors are frustrated at this move, they are of the opinion that the clean-up exercise was only for the Jubilee celebrations. “Jubliee done, clean-up done” they said. Guyana Daily News contacted a councilor from the Mayor and City Council and asked why the clean-up exercise had stopped?, he told us that the council do not have sufficient funds to continue the program. Soon after the APNU+AFC Coalition assumed office in May, 2015, a country wide clean up exercise got on the way, this exercise saw many persons from both the private and public sector taking up the mantle to get the city clean. This exercise resulted in vendors being relocated from the Stabroek market to other areas. The vendors are also complaining about the Styrofoam products ended up in the water ways around the city and blocks the flow of water resulting in floods and garbage pile and they do not understand why the government cannot enforce the ban on this item complained by one of the vendor name, Ms. George. As the APNU+AFC government clamps down on the use of Styrofoam products, Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman revealed at a press conference on Thursday 11th August, 2016, that the administration is aware of reports coming out of Berbice about Styrofoam being smuggled into the country. According to Minister Trotman, the Guyana Revenue
Authority and the Environmental Protection Agency have been notified and are in the process of making plans to curb the incidents of smuggling. The ban on Styrofoam is part of efforts to support and promote a green economy and environment. Penalties for crimes committed against the ban include a fine of no less than GY$50,000 for importation and manufacture and if businesses are found prepackaging food in said ‘Styro’ products, they can be issued a warning or a fine of no less than GY$100,000. It was reported to this newspaper that at the recent Ministerial Visit to the Mining Town of Linden which was organized by the Ministry of the Presidency, it was evident that Styrofoam boxes were used to serve food to participants by the Ministry. It is alleged that this product is being smuggled across the border from Suriname.
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2016
CIOG Boasts Of Successful Orphan Program
The Central Islamic Organization of Guyana (CIOG) today held its annual funday at their headquarters Thomas Lands. In attendance were Prime Minister Moses Nagamotoo, First Lady Sandra Granger and US Ambassador, P e r r y H o l l a w a y, a m o n g o t h e r s . According to Sheik Moein Ul Hack, Representative of the CIOG, CIOG has an Orphan Sponsorship Program, which started some 20 years ago with approximately 15 Muslim children and now it has about 500. He said that the program has about 100 foreign sponsors, such as the US, Canada, among other countries. He said that the program now caters for Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC). Mr. Hack said that the Human Assistance Program (HAP) from the US embassy, is the biggest donor to the OVC program. He also said that the family is important in the upbringing of children in our society. He also said that the program has been extended to include a school to give the children a good future in this world. Mr. Hack is calling for more text books, and councilors for the school. He thanked the Government for their support over the years and is looking forward to their continued support.
Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo, US Ambassador, Perry Hollaway, First Lady, Sandra Granger and CIOG rep. Moeen UL Hack.
CLASSIFIEDS PAGE 161
GUYANA DAILY NEWS
SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2016
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REGIONAL
GUYANA DAILY NEWS Bolivian Minister Beaten To Death By Miners, Government Says PAGE 163
Bolivian miners kidnapped and fatally beat a government minister who was seeking talks with them following weeks of protests, authorities say. Rodolfo Illanes, the deputy minister of interior, was killed Thursday in Panduro, where he was meeting with miners who had been striking and blockading roads since August 10, according to the attorney general's office. Three miners have died since the beginning of the protests, state-run ABI reported. The miners are protesting for their right to work directly with private companies. Bolivian President Evo Morales described the deputy minister as "a hero of natural resources" and declared three days of national mourning. "It was a cowardly act -- he was kidnapped, tortured and killed," Morales said. "It's unforgivable, and I don't understand how our brothers can hurt us in such a way." Five people, including a leader representing miners, were arrested Friday in relation to the killing. An additional 40 miners are under investigation. Orlando Gutiérrez, president of the Mine Workers Federation of Bolivia, condemned the killing, ABI reported. The autopsy report indicates Illanes was tortured for six to seven hours, and suffered strikes all over his body, according to Ramiro Guerrero,
SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2016
the attorney general of Bolivia. He also had multiple broken ribs and puncturing of his skull, Guerrero said in a statement. Authorities also found "a large quantity of explosives," some buried underground in the area where Illanes' body was recovered. Panduro is about 150 km (93 miles) from La Paz. (CNN)
Riot policemen and miners clash in Panduro, Bolivia
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2016
Division Heads On Crime: We’re Trying Our Best
Adeline St Louis-Pesnell With both Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley and National Security Minister Edmund Dillon upping the pressure on the police service to bring rising crime, in particular murders, under control over the last 24 hours, the T&T Guardian yesterday posed several questions to the divisional heads on the issue. Several of them said while there appeared to be an increase in crime, they were doing their best with the resources they had and were getting good results. Following are the comments of eight of the nine division heads we managed to interview yesterday. Senior Supt, Southern Division — Adeline St Louis-Pesnell What are you doing to reduce crime in your division? “I am tackling crime using a two-fold approach. What is really on the frontburner right now is having static patrols and a visible police presence by Task Force and CID officers. We also have intelligence teams on the ground who gather additional evidence and we use this to reduce crime. I plan to regain the trust of the citizens and members of the community in the Southern Division. Police officers cannot resolve crime on our own. Without the real assistance of the members of the community we will find ourselves in a bind. We have to engage the community and I am doing so particularly in La Romaine. My predecessor was focusing on Marabella. We are relaunching the La Romaine Police Youth Club, which was dormant for a year. What is the current crime detection rate in your division? Our detection rate in this division is 34 per cent. It is not the highest but we have a good rate. The national mandate was 22 per cent but we are not limiting ourselves. What is your target for crime detection by year-end? We will be very happy for a 50 per cent solve rate but I am not going to put a time frame. I am not going to put that 50 per cent bar because we could achieve more than that. That is why we will do whatever it takes to increase the solve rate as much as I can. I am meeting all the officers on the ground and I am trying to get them to buy in with what we are doing so everyone will be in sync with our goals and objectives. How are you motivating staff? I understand the plight of officers. They have their issues but I will meet and engage them. If I can assist an officer I will do so, but if an officer is delinquent then I will deal with that differently. My thing is to reach out to the officers. I have told them that the Commissioner of Police has an incentive programme
where divisions are rewarded. For example, a reward is given to the division that retrieves the most guns off the streets. My goal is to mirror that so every station district will increase their performance and be rewarded. Are you focusing on crime hotspots? Yes but we have to also look at all regions. This division has ten stations and one post in St Mary’s. We hold regular meetings with all the community councils of the various districts and decide how we going to address the issues. We are also going around to the schools to find the children who are suspended. We don’t leave them unsupervised. What are some of the challenges you face? A challenge is to get some of the parents and the public to cooperate with us. I have asked my office staff to give me an extra four hours on Saturday and Sunday. I am there with my officers on the ground to meet with people. When 4.30 pm reaches, I don’t lock up my door and leave to go home, I remain on the ground with my team to implement our strategies. Sr Supt, South Western Division— Inraj Balram What are you doing to reduce crime in your division? In my division, which has the highest crime detection rate in the country, I am using research, data and technology to fight crime. I am also ensuring that there are adequate patrols out on the street. Based on our research we are able to say what time of the year has the most crime and what areas within the district has the highest levels of crime. We have a special team set up in the division to compile data and do intelligence gathering along with the Crime and Problem Analysis Unit. We keep in touch with known criminals and monitor their activities. Knowing a lot about these priority offenders keeps the crime rate down. We also have a database with retired police and soldiers, who we use effectively to help us with reducing crime. Our officers live in the division so they police their own communities. We also treat our informants with respect and courtesy. What is the current crime detection rate in your division? Our detection rate is over 40 per cent—the best in the country. What is your target for crime detection by year-end? I am hoping to reach 50 per cent by year-end.Right now we looking into the cold cases and solvability factors. What are some of the challenges you face? I am not focusing on challenges or manpower shortages. I focus on the resources we have and how we can use our staff and technology effectively to fight crime. We partner with the community and we get the youths on our side through successful police youth clubs. The Victim Support Unit works with the community. I don’t have a problem with staff motivation. We have excellent social networking in this division.Just yesterday we had a little lime by the river. We have sports days. I am only here for two weeks but I plan to put other things in place to motivate my staff. Are you focusing on crime hotspots? Our focus is the entire division. Ag. Sr Supt, Eastern Division —John Trim What are you doing to reduce crime in your division? We have an active community policing unit in the Eastern Division. There are police youth clubs in each of the nine station districts, where we conduct programmes to motivate young people to become productive citizens and to stay away from crime. We have introduced a programme to help young people who are suspended from school for disciplinary infractions. It is called Brooklyn House.
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REGIONAL
GUYANA DAILY NEWS Division Heads On Crime...cont... We take in the students and assist them with their school work so that the epicentre, because 67 per cent of the crimes occur in that radius. PAGE 165
they do not remain idle at home. The programme started in 2012 and is a vital part of the efforts in the Eastern Division to reduce crime. The Commissioner of Police believes it could become a model programme for other communities. We also have another programme which goes by the acronym CITY- Caring Intervention for Troubled Youths, and we conduct town meetings every month in different areas of the region. We get feedback from the communities on what we are doing wrong or right, what they want us to improve and what areas we need to concentrate attention on. Station heads within the division also hold regular meetings with stakeholders to discuss not just crime, but social issues and we invite WASA, T&TEC and other agencies to attend to help address problems raised. What is the current crime detection rate in your division? Our crime detection rate is 42 per cent, the highest in any division. For the last two years we have won the commissioner’s award for the highest detection rate. In 2014 and 2015 our detection rate was 50 per cent and in 2016 at 42 per cent, we are still the highest. We have had 26 murders so far for the year, we have already solved four of these and charged persons; they are now before the courts. Four other persons are expected to be charged soon. We have recovered 31 illegal firearms for the year so far, that is six more than the 25 seized in the same period last year. What is your target for crime detection by year-end? While 42 is the highest I am still not satisfied, I want to surpass the last two years when we had a 50 per cent detection rate. I want to get at over 50 per cent by year’s end. How are you motivating staff? One of the basic things is praising staff for good work and continuing to encourage them to perform at a high level. We excel in the total number of arrests we make each year for all categories of crime. The officers feel motivated by the excellent work which we do. Are you focusing on crime hotspots? We have been running hotspot patrols in areas identified as hotspots. These include Mayaro, Rio Claro, Valencia and Sangre Grande. These are the four station districts which are the busiest in the Eastern Division. The five other areas which fall under the division hardly have any crime at all. These include Toco, Matelot, and Biche where we get small crimes, including robberies and house break-ins. What are the challenges you face? This division has the longest stretch of coastline. The Eastern Division comprises one third of the land mass of Trinidad, from Matelot to Guayaguayare to Rio Claro. It is a challenge because we have the widest stretch of sea coast to manage, Matelot, Toco, Matura, Manzanilla, Guayaguayare, the whole eastern sea coast. We have implemented coastal patrols, but on land, because we cannot do marine. We do daily patrols of the coastline to stop the entry of illegal arms, ammunition and drugs in the country. But to make it effective we need the assistance of other agencies to assist in managing the coast. A marine patrol is vital to seal off the borders. Ag Senior Supt, Port-ofSpain Division - Mc Donald Jacob What are you doing to reduce crime in your division? Port-of-Spain was on the radar for the high incidence of crime but there is now a 30 per cent decline in murders and a 55 per cent reduction in shootings and woundings compared to last year. We have seen a significant decrease in violent crimes in the area. When I came into the division I used the Crime and Problem Analysis branch of the Police Service to identify the crime trends and patterns within the division. We used Prince and Charlotte Streets as
SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2016
We identified the offenders, we began a clinical way of doing patrols. We implemented the plan in March after Carnival and there has been a tremendous reduction in break-ins and larceny. On the periphery the police and Defence Force are working together to patrol the area, including George and Nelson Streets. Besson Street police also play a key role. It was done on the basis of clinical analysis. We have patrols by the army and police (the IAFT) in Laventille, Beetham, Sea Lots and we revived the foot patrols. The work done by the IATF, the Portof-Spain Task Force and the Defence Force has helped a lot to reduce crime. For the year so far, six people have been charged for murder and two have been charged with the shooting of a police officer in Sea Lots. Boombay, a gang leader, is in prison. It is a combination of things that has helped with crime reduction in the city. When the commissioner appointed me, he said he was putting a criminologist in charge of the division. At one time this was the most challenging division. We work together with the mayor’s office and businesses on Ariapita Avenue as a team to deal with unlawful activity. It is a partnership. It is working well. What is the current detection rate in your division? For serious crimes it is 16 per cent. It may sound like a little bit but the trend of detection in Port-of-Spain has been between ten and 11 per cent. The last time it reached 15 per cent was ten years ago. For minor crimes, such as possession of firearms, ammunition, possession of cocaine and marijuana and malicious wounding, the detection rate is 60 per cent. Our detection is weak when it comes to night patrols.What is your target for crime detection by year-end? To reduce murders by five per cent by the end of the year. This is the mandate from the commissioner. If we had 80 murders last year it has to be reduced by five per cent of that figure by the end of the year. We are at a 25 per cent reduction so we are above the requirement. If the commissioner set a goal of five per cent, I tell my men we need to reduce by 15 per cent. We have not reached the target for recovery of firearms. Last year it was 48, by now we should be 55, I hope to improve that. How are you motivating staff? By educating them on what we are doing.We set smart goals so when they achieve the goals they feel fulfilled and comfortable. We have motivational speeches for officers to help motivate them and I meet with them regularly. Are you focusing on crime hotspots? We have identified some key areas, the epicentre Prince and Charlotte Streets, Laventille, Beetham, Sea Lots, George Street, Nelson Street. Identifying hotspots is done in a scientific way by looking at Compstat data. We look at areas where there are crimes, a place maybe a hot area now but that changes in two months. What are some of the challenges you face? The biggest challenge is the number of CCTV cameras in the heart of Port-ofSpain which are not working, some at Park and Henry Streets, Park and Frederick Streets, and Charlotte Street. About 30 per cent of the cameras in prime areas are not working. We do not have enough people to handle traffic management right now, we depend heavily on the traffic wardens. There are also challenges with vacant buildings and in some areas the lighting needs to improve.
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS Division Heads On Crime...cont... We want more calls to 555 and Crime Stoppers to help us increase our looked at the areas and we implemented a strategy where we target the PAGE 166
detection rate. We get a lot of help but we need a lot more. 555 and Crime Stoppers are anonymous so people should call in. Ag. Senior Supt, North Eastern Division - Surendra Sagramsingh What are you doing to reduce crime in your division? I was appointed to the division one week ago. Before I take decisive action I need to do an audit. I will conduct a comparative analysis of 2015 and now to see if my predecessor’s initiatives were working. After I do the analysis I will make a decision on what to do next. If the initiatives did not work I will decide what changes need to be made. I don’t intend to reinvent the wheel if they were working. I will certainly tweak to see how to improve things. What is the current crime detection rate in the division? From the records the division has not been doing significantly well, but I have not yet had the opportunity to conduct the audits. There are some offences that the police cannot do anything to prevent. This is an area with rival gangs, they operate like this, either you kill me or I kill you. We can’t stop it but we can put things in place to deal with that. What is your target for crime detection by year-end? The TTPS has a mandate for a reduction in crime, improved patrols. The first agenda is to do an audit to find out where we are and I will put things in place. We will improve where it is lacking. What are the challenges you face? The murder rate is a sore point. This district has a number of gangs and that is a major source of concern. That will be a major challenge. How are you motivating staff? I intend to visit every station that falls under my command. I will have to do a manpower audit to see how much personnel there is in the division. We have to have a shared vision. People may be demotivated, we will have to deal with that. I will let people know who I am. I came from a serious background. I worked at Morvant station for 13 years. I left as a constable, now I am returning as head. I will let them know I cannot do it alone, I need input from every individual. The first message I intend to send is that I will not tolerate any senior officer embarrassing any junior officer. Are you focusing on crime hotspots? I have not yet identified the crime hotspots. There are major concerns in the Morvant and Barataria areas. San Juan also has some concerns but it is not as bad as Morvant and Barataria. Acting Sr Supt, Western Division - Basdeo Ramdhanie What are you doing to reduce crime in your division? We are targeting priority offenders/persons of interest. We are also increasing our capacity to find and seize illegal firearms, intensifying patrols in hotspot areas and targeting known drug blocks. We are generally policing the division on a zero tolerance basis. What is the current crime detection rate in your division? For serious crimes it is 20 per cent for 2016; it was 18 per cent last year. We have a 50 per cent detection rate in respect of minor crimes. What is your target for crime detection by year-end? We hope to reach 30 per cent by the end of the year, that is part of the strategic plan of the TTPS. How are you motivating staff? We are explaining to them where we are and where we want to be. Supporting and nurturing them. I listen to their views and suggestions and provide adequate training letting them know we are professionals. Are you focusing on crime hotspots? We focus on crime hotspots as well as non-hotspots alike because there has been a shift from the hotspot areas. We did an analysis in June, we realised that 65 per cent of the crimes are committed in non-hotspot areas. The criminals are smart, they soon realise we focusing on one area so they move to another. What are some of the challenges you face? Demotivated staff, and a lack of resources. We also have problems controlling the coastal areas and reaching the mountainous areas. We have to drive along the coast because we do not have the boats. The coastal area is from MovieTowne to Chaguaramas all the way to Saut Deau beach behind the Paramin Hills on the north coast. We have to trek the mountains on foot because you can only drive so far. The area includes Rich Plain, La Puerta, Belle Vue, Bourne’s Road and the North Coast Road. Ag Sr Supt, Tobago - Joanne Archie What are you doing to reduce crime in your division? We work with the strategic goals of the TTPS. Based on that we look at the statistics as it relates to crime and in Tobago the biggest challenge is break-ins and larcenies. What I did, I
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offenders, we looked at who are the offenders. We want to reduce serious crime by 25 per cent and work along with the goals of the police service. We do not have an issue with murder, but with the increase in wounding and shooting. We intend to introduce a campaign on firearm seizure. I always ensure that whatever strategy I come up with, it is aligned with the strategic goals of the Police Service. I also meet with stakeholders, hoteliers and those in the tourism industry; we have a partnership. What is the current crime detection rate in your division? We have a 27 per cent detection rate. The TTPS target is 30 per cent. What is your target for crime detection by yearend? I want to see serious crimes reduced. I have been targeting priority offenders and 30 persons have been charged for break-ins and larceny. There was one murder and someone is now before the court. I am trying to keep the violence down, that is why I want to start a firearms campaign to increase firearm seizures and to reduce violent crimes. How are you motivating staff? Since I came in 2015 I have had a commendation function, commending officers for their good work. We meet every two weeks, that is a CompStat meeting, where the station commanders are asked to account for what happened in their divisions. We discuss what has been done and what are the plans for the next two weeks, always ensuring that staff is kept informed. Are you focusing on crime hotspots? We do not have hotspots, a hotspot is where there is a proliferation of crime and we don’t have that in Tobago. But we do monitor all areas since we need to keep a balance. We also have a touristoriented unit, they walk the beaches and interact with tourists to provide advice. They are often commended for the work they do. What are the challenges you face? My biggest challenge are the shortcomings on the port. We need more security measures at the port. Police doing random searches of a ferry, intelligence tells us that there are things that come in. We need more scanners to find the contraband and firearms that come in. We do hand scans, so vehicles on the port are not properly checked. Anything can come in. We need to improve the security systems at the port. Ag Sr Supt North Eastern Division - Simboonath Rajkumar What are you doing to reduce crime in your division? I am doing plenty things, some confidential. But we have a lot of exercises going on targeting drug blocks and priority offenders and gang leaders. We are doing warrant exercises to bring people in who owe government taxes, and those who owe child maintenance. We visiting bars and casinos to ensure that people do not have firearms. We have adopted a zero-tolerance approach to crime, we are even going after loiterers to ensure that we bring crime down. We have called out officers on vacation to ensure that we have the manpower needed to fight crime. We also host regular town meetings and people come, they tell us what is happening, where we need to focus. They provid information. We have outreach programmes along with the hard policing to build partnerships with the communities to get results. What is the crime detection rate in your division? Our crime detection rate is 20 per cent and seizure in firearms is 80. What is your target for crime detection by year-end? It’s 30 per cent crime detection rate and we want to get at least 100 firearms. We are sure we can meet the target. How are you motivating staff? We have a lot of meetings. We praise people. We lead by example, we are out in the field with the men. We spend time with them, energise them, compliment them and praise them. Are you focusing on crime hotspots? There are four major hotspot communities in the division—Arouca, Arima, St Joseph and Tunapuna. While we focus on the entire division we place more emphasis on these four divisions identified because of the crime situation. What are some of the challenges you face? We have a vehicle problem and like other divisions we have manpower issues, but like any good manager I work with the resources I have because I will not let a resource issue set back the work which we have to do. We serve 350,000 people, it is a wide area to deal with and we will not let lack of resources set us back. (Trinidad Guardian)
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2016
Dog Pound Shut Down For Good Only one stray dog was seen lingering around the south city yesterday following the permanent closure of the San Fernando pound by Mayor Kazim Hosein. Some of the stray dogs housed at the pound before its closure were sent to the Animals Alive sanctuary at Ralph Narine Trace, South Oropouche, on Wednesday. Five dogs and three pups have since been adopted by new owners. In an interview yesterday, vice president of Animals Alive Jowelle De Souza said discussions were ongoing between Hosein and other stakeholders to upgrade the pound to include an adoption centre. She said strays from five pounds in South Trinidad covering the Point Fortin Borough Corporation, Princes Town, Penal/Debe and Siparia Regional Corporations are usually sent to the Animal Alive shelter. She said that officials from the dog pound in Port-of-Spain liaise with the T&T Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (TTSPCA). “I believe it is only in San Fernando that the dogs are ill-treated in this manner,” De Souza said in relation to a video circulating on social media which showed the dogs being injected and thrown in a pile. She said that senior attorneys have already drafted letters advising that criminal and civil proceedings can be brought against the San F ernando City Corporation if the stray dogs continue to be mistreated. De Souza said she was hoping that the allocation given to the corporation could be used to improve the conditions at the San Fernando dog pound. “All of the dog pounds in the country have since stopped euthanising the dogs or even picking up stray dogs. The mayor said to give him two weeks and they plan to use the extra three acres at Roodal Cemetery to house the dogs,” De Souza said. Veterinary surgeon Dr Kriyaan Singh, a former independent senator, has offered to put the dogs to sleep in a humane way. Several years ago, stray dogs were killed by electrocution at the
pound. After a campaign by animal rights activists the dogs were euthanised through lethal injections. Contacted yesterday, Hosein said within the next two weeks, a building plan utilising the three acres of land available to the corporation will be unveiled. Saying he will consult with all veterinarians and animal rights NGOs in the city to ensure that the facility meets the necessary standards, Hosein added, “We love animals in the city of San Fernando, and this project cannot move forward unless we have the input of the experts who can properly guide us on how this new facility should be outfitted.” He also said the quality of food that the dogs are receiving will be improved. “We will be promoting the importance of spaying and neutering pets to ensure that the stray population is controlled,” Hosein added. He also said proper signs will be installed at the newly refurbished pound. (Trinidad Guardian)
San Fernando Mayor Kazim Hosein (third from left) meets with stakeholders on the future of the city’s dog pound.
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2016
Valentine Rejected In Local Govt Screening Port-of-Spain Mayor Keron Valentine and leader of business in UNC to present candidates on Monday While the ruling PNM the Port-of-Spain City Council, Jennel Young, are among seven incumbent city councillors out of the PNM’s Local Government race following screening of nominees on Thursday. PNM general secretary Ashton Ford confirmed this yesterday following screening of nominees for areas under the PNM-controlled Port-of-Spain Corporation. The screening team led by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley met at Balisier House. Seven of the 12 incumbents in the Port-of-Spain Corporation are out. Apart from those rejected—which include Valentine and Young—Belmont North/West councillor Farai Masaisai did not offer himself for re-election. Valentine (Northern Port-of-Spain councillor) has been city mayor since February when predecessor Raymond Tim Kee resigned under pressure due to his statements after the murder of Japanese masquerader Asami Nagakiya. While Valentine is out of the running for Northern Port-of-Spain, no replacement candidate was chosen by the PNM’s screening team on Thursday, Ford said. The party will have to seek new nominees in that area, he said. The PNM will also have to look again for nominees for Southern Port-of-Spain where incumbent councillor Daaga Gabriel was rejected. Young (Belmont South councillor) was replaced by Stephen Harper, according to Ford. Successful candidates are in St James East (incumbent Jameel Bisnath), St James West (Ronald Ramkissoon replacing incumbent Wendell Stephens), Woodbrook (incumbent June Durham), St Ann’s River South (Allan Samuel replacing incumbent Ashtine Thomason ), St Ann’s River Central (incumbent Kemo Romeo), East Dry River (Clint Baptiste replacing incumbent Nedra Mclean), Belmont West (incumbent Daryl Rajpaul), St Ann’s River North (incumbent Hillan Morean). In May, PNM chairman Franklin Khan told T&T Guardian that any PNMite who runs afoul of the law in any way would not be among the PNM’s Local Government selections. In March, Valentine confirmed he was involved in an August 2015 incident in St James when he allegedly drew his licensed firearm and discharged two shots in the air when he and his driver were confronted with an attempted robbery. He’d said the matter was the subject of a police inquiry. It is now before the courts. Thursday night’s screening rejections also came hours after the Port-of-Spain Corporation statutory meeting, earlier in the day, where questions were raised about a report on expenditure for the corporation’s 2016 City Day celebrations. T&T Guardian obtained August 19 summary expense documents showing $896,000 was the budgeted amount for the event, but overall expenditure was listed at $2,005,255. PNM sources also noted another senior councillor who was rejected in screening had done management services—and was paid for City Day activities—concerning the Charlotte Street market in June. Alleged payment of $5,000 by cheque (number and voucher given) which the person received came from the Mayor’s Fund.
has to complete screening for several more areas, the Opposition UNC starts presenting its Local Government candidates on Monday. Following Thursday’s PNM screening of Port-of-Spain nominees, PNM general secretary Ashton Ford said screening for most of the East-West corridor has been completed save for four areas in Sangre Grande and Diego Martin, and a few in Tunapuna. Most southern areas are c o m p l e t e d e x c e p t f o r M a y a r o , P r i n c e s To w n , Couva/Tabaquite/Talparo and Chaguanas. Last night, PNM screened nominees for Penal and Siparia. Screening for outstanding areas continues next week. Rowley is expected to announce the Local Government election date at the PNM’s annual convention on October 30 where election of new PNM executive officers will also be done. Nominations begin September 5 to 22. Ford, correcting previous reports, said members must pay party dues by September 16 or they will not qualify to vote for a new executive. The Opposition UNC completed screening on Wednesday. The party will start presenting candidates in various areas from next Monday in Rio Claro where candidates for surrounding districts will be highlighted. (Trinidad Guardian)
Keron Valentine
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2016
Driver Seeks Police Protection PH-driver Marlon Lynch, who claims he is wrongfully accused of the murder of nine-year-old Cyon Paul, says he will not rest until Paul’s real killer is found. Lynch, who has been in hiding since Sunday after an attempt was made on his life, said he has been unable to work since the false accusations began circulating that he killed the child. Lynch said he was very upset over media reports which described him as armed and dangerous. He also said he was held for questioning by police. “I was very alarmed when I saw this because I went to the police of my own free will. I told the police everything I know and they know how to find me. They know that I did not kill that boy,” Lynch said. Saying he survived two attempts on his life, Lynch said he was praying that everything will go back to normal. “Right now I lying low but I want the police to offer some protection to me. Since they tried to run me off the road on Sunday, I have been in hiding,” he said. His mother, Wendy Lynch, went to the San Fernando Police Station yesterday to beg for police protection for her son. Contacted yesterday senior superintendent of the Southern Division Adeline St Louis-Pesnell said police officers have been trying to restore peace in the La Romaine community. She said a new police post will be opened in the area from today. A senior homicide officer said they have been in contact with Lynch and were looking to get more leads
into the murder. Anyone with information on Paul’s killing can contact Crime Stoppers at 800-TIPS. Paul, of Byron Street, La Romaine, was shot by a stray bullet shortly after 9 pm on Friday. Paul was a pupil of the La Romaine RC School and was expected to move up to Standard Two when the new term opens in September. (Trinidad Guardian)
PH-driver Marlon Lynch
Teen Dies After Tunapuna Shooting Nineteen-year-old Kadeem Griffith, who died on Thursday night, hours after he was shot near his Tunapuna home, may have been alive today had he been identified as one of the gunmen who robbed a Chinese national nine days before. Speaking with the T&T Guardian at Singh’s Bar, located along Streatham Lodge Extension, Monte Grande, Tunapuna, proprietor Mary Singh said last week Griffith and another man robbed her business partner, a Chinese national identified only as “Martin,” of cash from his Roulette machine which he once operated at her bar. She said the two men, whom she recognised from surveillance footage, were unmasked and she knew them “since them in pamper.” They entered her business covering their faces with jerseys and bandana and beat up “Martin” before taking $4,000 from him and fleeing. The incident took place on August 16, at 10.25 am, she said, and it was the fourth time the Roulette machine operator was robbed. “He (Martin) tell me don’t give it to the police because the last time they didn’t do anything” Singh said, adding that the lifespan of the footage has since passed and the robbery was not reported. Singh, who said she recognised Griffith from a photograph shown to her yesterday, said had she reported the matter, Griffith may have been arrested and not on the corner when the shooting took place. According to police, Griffith along with three others, Andre “Lizard” Mc Gregor, 27, Kamini Rodriquez, 26, and Kareem “Gargoyle” John, 29, were outside Mc Gregor’s garage when two vehicles pulled up and the occupants opened fire on the men. The shooting took place around 10.30 am police said. Griffith died around 8.30 pm at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex. The other victims are still in hospital. Told of the allegations made against her grandson, Helen Jack, 54, in a telephone interview, denied he was involved in any criminal activity saying that while she was aware of the robbery at the bar it was Griffith’s associates and not he that committed the act. Earlier, at her O’Keefe
Street home, Jack recalled her last moments with her grandson. The 54-year-old said the day before he was killed they spoke of how she was going to celebrate her birthday next week Thursday. Two shot, man chopped with Chinese chopper In an unrelated shooting two men are warded in serious condition at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital after being shot while travelling in Laventille on Thursday night. According to police reports, around 8 pm the men were travelling along Laventille Road Extension when they were fired upon. The men, yet to be identified, were taken to hospital where they are currently warded. Police are also investigating the chopping of a 48year-old taxi driver who got into an argument with a man he knows. Police reports are that around 11.30 pm on Thursday, Abraham Mohammed was at his Mancharles Street, Felicity, home when he was called outside by the man. While speaking, the two began to argue and the attacker left and went to his car where he retrieved a Chinese chopper and chopped Mohammed in the head, back and arms. The attacker then fled. (Trinidad Guardian)
Kadeem Griffith
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS Take Charge Of Your Real Estate PAGE 170
One day after Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley called on the police to do more to improve the detection rate, National Security Minister Edmund Dillon read the riot act to divisional heads, calling on them to take charge of their “real estate.” He made the call as he toured parts of the Central Division, which has been in the media spotlight of late due to a resurgence in gang violence in the Enterprise, Chaguanas, area. Speaking with the media at Railway Road before he began his walkabout, Dillon said the aim of the walkabout was to empower the divisional commanders, beginning with the Central Division, to take charge of their “real estate.” He said each divisional commander must have an idea of what is going on in their division and with a multiplying effect, if each commander took charge of their division, then the crime throughout T&T would decrease. Asked why he began with the Central Division although the Northern Division is currently the leading division in relation to murders and gun seizures, Dillon said, “There is no pecking order right now, but based on conversations I had with the Central commander, I believe that here is the place to start.” However, the head of the Central Division, Sr Supt Floris Hodge-Griffith, was not present for the tour. Dillon instead toured with Chief of Defence Staff Rodney Smart and other officers of the Central Division. Dillon said the call for the divisional commanders to “step up” is not new and was not due to the recent call of Downtown Owners and Merchants Association (DOMA) president Gregory Aboud for divisional heads to be held responsible for their regions. He added that he met with the commanders earlier this year along with the acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams, where the commanders were told to take hold of their divisions. He added that the conversation was just being repeated by Aboud and later by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley. Dillon said, “I started the conversation about having the divisional commanders held responsible and this was reinforced by the Prime Minister and DOMA. It is good management practice and I take that from my regiment background. “I am working with the divisional commanders and not taking charge of them. It is a teamwork going forward. There will be measurements in place with regards to success, such as firearm seizures and detection rate for serious crimes, including murders.” Dillon said, however, that there is always room for improvement in the Police Service and there is currently a gap between strategy and resources. “As the State pumps resources in there will always be the demand for more productivity and I believe that we are not quite satisfied
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with the results and we need to improve our efficiency,” Dillon said, adding that the police and regiment are working assiduously to reduce the crime, especially murders. He said he could not say what will happen to divisional heads who fail to meet the requirements, as that is a matter for the acting Police Commissioner. He said the use of armoured vehicles, one of the tools discussed in the past to deal with crime, had also not been shelved but the feasibility of purchasing them now, given the current economic hiccups, was also being considered. Dillon and the delegation visited parts of Enterprise and Bhagaloo Trace listening to the concerns of residents and in some cases offering advice to the lawmen. One such citizen was Marvin Alexis, brother of murdered businessman Selwyn “Robocop” Alexis, who told Dillon that the issue of solving crime was not with the police, but rather the people, who he said were at fault for the escalating crime. “The problem is not the police you know, is the people. Look, the police does come around and talk and greet the people and nobody come out, but if a man get lick down (killed) everybody wil come out,” Alexis said. “Police can’t do anything by themselves. What happened is that the people are not educated to this because they believe that they are innocent and not involved in any criminal activity, but innocent people does get killed too and the people not doing anything.” (Trinidad Guardian)
National Security Minister Edmund Dillon, left, speaks with Enterprise resident Judith Alexander, right, during his tour of the area yesterday. Also in photo is Lisa Holder, second from left, councillor for Enterprise North. Photo: ABRAHAM DIAZ
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS Increased Rainfall Expected Across Jamaica On Weekend PAGE 171
SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2016
KINGSTON, Jamaica -- A trough induced by a strong tropical expected to regain hurricane intensity on Saturday. Gaston is wave over the central Caribbean is expected to influence not a threat to Jamaica. (Jamaica Observer) weather conditions across the island tomorrow and Sunday, according to the Meteorological (Met) Service of Jamaica. The Met Service said that while the system now has a 30 per cent chance of becoming a tropical cyclone it is expected to continue moving west northwest and across the north eastern coast of Cuba tonight (Friday) through to Sunday. The forecast is for periods of showers and thunderstorms, which could be heavy at times to affect sections of most parishes. In the meantime, the centre of Tropical Storm Gaston was located 1,610 km east southeast of Bermuda, the Met Service said. Maximum sustained winds are near 100 km/h with higher gusts. Some strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours. Gaston is
Tourism Minister Expects Benefits From Rio Olympics KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) – Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett, is optimistic about the potential benefits Jamaica can derive from the just concluded Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in terms of visitor arrivals from South America. The country was the toast of the Games, where it mined 11 medals, including six gold, three silver and two bronze, and earned rave reviews for its ‘Jamaica House’ hospitality hub, which attracted over 20,000 patrons. Bartlett, who attended the Games, said he and members of the government delegation used the opportunity to meet with several travel and media stakeholders for discussions. These, he said, centred on positioning Jamaica to tap into South America, one of the potential tourism markets being targeted under the administration’s growth strategy. The minister outlined details of these undertakings during a media briefing at Spanish Court Hotel in New Kingston yesterday. Bartlett said that among the key stakeholders with whom they met were representatives of Brazilian airline Avianca, to discuss the possibility of airlift out of South America into Jamaica. “We are exploring a route arrangement originating in Ro de Janeiro or Sao Paulo, going into Lima, Peru and into Montego Bay. That is in keeping with a series of other discussions that we have been having,” he noted. Bartlett said Jamaica is also expected to benefit from extensive media publicity across South America, after consultations with a number of media representatives. Meanwhile, Director of Tourism, Paul Pennicook, who also spoke at the briefing, advised that the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) advertising campaign which commenced airing across Latin America on television sports network ESPN, will continue until the end of
September. Pennicook said this will enable the Ministry and the JTB to leverage the post-Olympic exposure that will be generated, “as viewers will continue to see the images and offerings of our tourism product”. Bartlett indicated that these and other marketing activities are designed to create the support needed to “enable the movement of visitors from South America to Jamaica”. Jamaica House in Rio, which was spearheaded by the Jamaica Tourist Board, provided a taste of local culture and cuisine. It also served as the backdrop for meetings with Jamaica’s government delegation, tour operators, travel partners and international media. It was undertaken at a cost of US$767,000, with support from private-sector partners Digicel, DownSound Records, Red Stripe, Sandals, and J Wray and Nephew. (Jamaica Observer)
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2016
Italy Earthquake: Mass Funeral For 35 Victims A mass funeral has taken place in Italy for some of the 290 people killed in Wednesday's powerful earthquake. Thirty-five victims from the town of Arquata were mourned at a sports hall in the regional capital, Ascoli Piceno. The coffins, laid out in rows on the floor, included two painted white for two children killed. The death toll from the quake, which struck a mountainous central region, has again risen as more bodies were found. Prime Minister Matteo Renzi was among those attending the funeral along with President Sergio Mattarella, who earlier visited Amatrice, the town with the most casualties.
told Ansa news agency. Most victims of the earthquake were Italian, but several foreigners were among those killed, including three Britons.
More aftershocks were registered in the early hours of Saturday, one with a magnitude of four. The ground beneath Accumoli, another severely affected village, sank 20cm (8in) as a result of the earthquake, satellite images obtained by Italy's scientific authorities show. The district which sank is shown in red on this image compiled from data from a Japanese satellite and published by Italy's National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV). Flags are flying at Bishop Giovanni d'Ercole urged those half mast across the country as Italy affected not to lose courage. "Together, remembers victims of the quake. More above all we will restore life to our than 200 people died in Amatrice alone. communities, starting from our traditions and from the rubble of death," he said. Along with Arquata and Accumoli, One of the children's coffins contained Pescara del Tronto was also hard-hit. the body of Giulia Rinaldo, whose Many bodies have also been brought to a younger sister survived the earthquake makeshift morgue in an aircraft hangar in because she was under Giulia's body. One the city of Rieti, where relatives have of the firefighters, Andrea, had left a been identifying loved ones. The first moving note on Giulia's coffin, apologising for arriving too late, and signing it with a heart symbol. Firefighter Andrea's letter to Giulia: Hello, little darling. I only managed to lend a hand to pull you out of the prison of rubble.
funeral for one of the earthquake's victims was held on Friday, for the son of a state official who died in Amatrice. At least 388 people have been treated in hospital for their injuries while more than 2,000 people were made homeless. The 6.2-magnitude quake hit in the early hours of Wednesday, 100km (65 miles) north-east of Rome.
Italy's government has been criticised for failing to prevent deaths after the 2009 earthquake in nearby L'Aquila left 300 dead. Historic towns do not have to conform to anti-quake building regulations, which are also often not applied when new buildings are put up. In addition to emergency funds, PM Renzi cancelled taxes for residents and announced a new initiative, "Italian Homes", to tackle criticism over shoddy construction. But he also said that it was "absurd" to think that Italy could build completely quake-proof buildings. (BBC)
Forgive us if we arrived too late. However, you had stopped breathing by then, but I'd like you to know that we did all we could to pull you out. When I return to my house in l'Aquila, I will know that there is an angel watching me from the sky and you will be a shining star in the night. Bye Giulia, I love you even though you never got to know me. The coffins will be taken for burial to a cemetery near Arquata, a local official Mourners have been gathering for funerals of some of the victims of Wednesday's earthquake in Italy
INTERNATIONAL PAGE 173
GUYANA DAILY NEWS
SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2016
Bangladesh 'Cafe Attack Planner Killed' In Police Raid mastermind. Three other suspected militants were killed by police during the raid. The cafe attack began on 1 July when the militants entered the Holey Artisan Bakery in Dhaka. They held hostages for 12 hours before police stormed the cafe, rescuing 13, killing six gunmen and arresting another. Tw e n t y hostages and two p o l i c e o ffi c e r s were killed in the attack, the worst in the country's Residents gathered to watch as the raid unfolded in Narayanganj(AP) history. The
Bangladeshi police say they have stormed a hideout near Dhaka and killed the suspected planner of a cafe attack last month that left 22 people dead. "Tamim Chowdhury is dead," said senior police officer Sanwar Hossain, referring to the Bangladeshi-Canadian suspected
so-called Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack, but the government dismissed the group's claim, saying it was the work of domestic militants from a banned Islamist group, Jamayetul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB). “Tamim Chowdhury is dead," Mr Hossain said. "He is the... attack mastermind and the leader of JMB". Police earlier engaged in an hour-long gun battle with extremists at Paikpara in Narayanganj, 25km (16 miles) south of Dhaka, he added. Chowdhury returned to Bangladesh from Canada in 2013. (BBC)
Donald Trump Doctor Admits Writing Health Note In Five Minutes
Donald Trump's doctor has said he spent just five minutes on a letter endorsing the Republican candidate's health, while Mr Trump's car waited outside. "In the rush I think some of those words didn't come out exactly the way they were meant," Dr Harold Bornstein told NBC News. Dr Bornstein's letter said Mr Trump, 70, would be the "healthiest individual ever elected to the presidency". He said he "picked up" the candidate's own "kind of language" when writing it. Two weeks before the note was written, Mr Trump tweeted to say he had "instructed my longtime doctor to issue, within two weeks, a full medical report", adding that it would "show perfection". M r Tr u m p l a t e r h i g h l i g h t e d t h e endorsement from Dr Bornstein, who faced questions about its exaggerated tone. The doctor, of York's Lenox Hill Hospital, says he may have overstated the case "so
that they [the Trump campaign] would be personal nature of the attacks. Neither happy". "I think I picked up his kind of candidate has divulged their full medical language and then I just interpreted it to my record. Mrs Clinton released a statement own," he said. Mr Trump would be the from her doctor, Lisa Bardack, last year. Dr oldest person to be elected US president, Bardack said: "She is excellent physical condition and fit to serve as President of the were he to win in November. Mrs Clinton is 68. The health of two United States." (BBC) candidates has become a focal point in the campaign, with Mr Trump repeatedly alleging that his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton is physically unfit. Mrs Clinton has hit back at what she says are unfounded allegations, and Mr Trump has faced criticism over the Donald Trump's doctor claimed the candidate would be "healthiest individual ever elected"(REUTERS)
INTERNATIONAL PAGE 174
GUYANA DAILY NEWS
SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2016
China School Pollution Reports 'Wrong' - Investigation
closed chemical plants. In its report in April, state broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV) said that 500 children had developed dermatitis, blood abnormalities, leukaemia and lymphoma, and nearly five out of six pupils who underwent medical checks had health problems. The report was viewed online by tens of millions of people and caused outrage across the country. Other news outlets reported that the school had been built against the advice of environmental regulators. Changzou city officials have told the official Xinhua news agency there were "some problems with the earlier soil rehabilitation process" but said that otherwise the investigation found few significant problems. They said there was no link between the school's location and thyroid problems the pupils had been having, adding that the rate of thyroid problems was rising in the The original report on China's state news broadcaster was unusually outspoken(SINA WEIBO) general population. (BBC)
Investigators in China say they have found no evidence that pollution caused hundreds of school pupils to become sick earlier this year. State TV in April said soil tests near the school showed chemical levels at 95,000 times the national limit. But a three-month study of
the air, water and soil around the school said contamination levels were within acceptable limits. It did not say what might have caused the children's sickness. The Changzou Foreign Language School in Changzhou, Jiangsu province, was built near recently-
INTERNATIONAL PAGE 175
GUYANA DAILY NEWS
SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2016
Syrian War: Barrel Bombs Kill 15 In Aleppo, Reports Say
capture the town of Jarablus from socalled Islamic State (IS), in a move that was also an attempt to halt Kurdish advances. The Jarablus Military Council, which is backed by the Kurdish-led Syria Democratic Forces, said Turkish airstrikes hit several of its positions near Jarablus on Saturday. It called the raids "a dangerous escalation", and said there had been injuries. Turkey fears Kurdish forces gaining an unbroken strip of territory along its border, which would be a huge boost to the Kurdistan Wo r k e r s Party (PKK), a Turkish Kurdish rebel g r o u p fighting for autonomy since the 1980s. Barrel b o m b s Witnesses said one barrel bomb Use of barrel bombs, which cause indiscriminate damage, has been a feature of Syria's conflict(AFP)
Fifteen people have been killed in a barrel bomb attack on a rebel-held area in the Syrian city of Aleppo, a monitoring group says. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the bomb struck a group gathered to mourn people killed in a bombing earlier this week. It comes amid a continuing diplomatic push on brokering a fresh ceasefire. In northern Syria, Turkish war planes are reported to have carried out strikes on Kurdish-allied forces. Turkey sent tanks across the border earlier this week to help Syrian rebels
in Aleppo attracted crowds and ambulances to the spot, who were then struck by a second. It comes days after another 15 people, mostly children, were killed in another reported barrel bombing in a rebel-held part of Aleppo. Meanwhile more residents have left the Damascus suburb of Darayya after a deal ended a long government siege. Hundreds of opposition fighters and their families are reported to have arrived in rebel-held areas of the north as part of the agreement. On Friday, US Secretary of State John Kerry said he and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov "have achieved clarity on the path forward" on ceasefire discussions, but there were "narrow issues" still to resolve. The two held talks in Geneva to try to find a way of reviving a cessation of hostilities that faltered months ago. Mr Lavrov said the pair had "lowered the level of mutual mistrust". Russia and the US have largely backed opposing sides in Syria's civil war. Discussions between officials from both parties are continuing. (BBC)
INTERNATIONAL PAGE 176
GUYANA DAILY NEWS
SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2016
Micronesia: Couple Rescued From Desert Island After SOS Spotted In Sand Two people have been rescued from an uninhabited Pacific island after a US Navy helicopter spotted their SOS sign. The pilots spotted the sign drawn into sand on East Fayu Island in Micronesia and alerted the US Coast Guard. It followed a week-long search for Linus and Sabina Jack, both in their 50s, who were reported missing when they failed to reach a nearby island. The couple left Weno Island with limited supplies and no emergency equipment, the Navy said. Teams looking for the couple searched 16,571 square miles, deploying 15 boats and two aircraft crews. A helicopter was sent to fly over East Fayu after a search vessel, British Mariner, reported seeing lights on the uninhabited island. "The Search and Rescue Operation for Linus and Sabina Jack has been successfully completed," said the US Embassy in Kolonia, the capital of the Federated States of Micronesia. "They are found and are waiting for a ship to take them home." It is the second such case this year in the region. In April, three men were rescued from the tiny, uninhabited Micronesian island of Fanadik, after their boat capsized two miles from shore. The men used palm fronds to make a giant 'Help' sign in the sand and used their lifejackets to signal. They were rescued by a US Navy search team after three days. Five things to do if
The couple were trying to reach another nearby island when they became stranded on East Fayu(US NAVY)
you're stranded Make a sign: Writing in the sand worked in this case, but if there are large palm fronds, tree branches or even trunks, they will be more visible and more likely to survive an incoming tide. Find a water source: Drinkable water is more important than anything else, without it you will die within days. Use any kind of container you can find or make to store rainwater, and large leaves to help catch as much as possible. Inland streams my provide a fresh water source. Find food: A desert island can be a plentiful source of food, as long as you take some basic precautions. Cook seafood and meat thoroughly, and test
food that might b e poison ous against the back of your hand or outer lip, to see if it produces a reaction. Build a shelter: Staying off the ground is important, to avoid snakes. Build your shelter in a clearing and cover it well you may be on a tropical island but being soaked by rain can lead to hypothermia. If you can salvage any kind of netting, use it to protect yourself from mosquitoes. Avoid injury: Treating yourself for a wound is usually much harder than avoiding one in the first place, especially if it turns septic. If you can salvage or make shoes, do so. Try to avoid walking around in bare feet or taking unnecessary risks. (BBC)
INTERNATIONAL PAGE 177
GUYANA DAILY NEWS
SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2016
France Burkini Ban: Mayors Urged To Heed Court's Ruling About 30 French mayors have been influenced by Islamist extremism. But suspending the ban "a victory for the urged to follow a court ruling which overturned a controversial burkini ban in a resort town. France's top administrative court suspended the ban in Villeneuve-Loubet on Friday on civil liberties grounds. However, a number of mayors have said they will continue applying the bathing suit ban. The human rights lawyer who brought Friday's case has said he will take each town to court. The ruling by the Council of State found that the ban in Villeneuve-Loubet "seriously and clearly illegally breached fundamental freedoms". Town hall authorities in Nice and Frejus, as well as in the Corsican village of Sisco, have vowed to keep the bans in place. Responding to the ruling, Villeneuve-Loubet's Mayor, Lionnel Luca, said: "We need to decide if we want a smiley, friendly version of sharia law on our beaches or if we want the rules of the [French] Republic to be implemented." French PM Manual Valls wrote on Facebook in support of the bans, saying burkinis were "the affirmation of political Islam in the public space". A lawyer for the Council of State, Francois Molinie, told Le Monde newspaper that mayors of towns still imposing the ban could continue in the short term. However, he said that they might then face legal action in administrative tribunals which would base their rulings on that of the higher court. Burkinis were not mentioned by name in the bans, with the order simply saying beachwear must be respectful of good public manners and the principle of secularism. Authorities had said that they were concerned about the public order implications of the religious clothing, especially after attacks in Nice and Paris carried out by people
while opinion polls suggested most French people backed the bans, they ignited fierce debate in France and around the world, with Muslims saying they were being unfairly targeted. The controversy deepened when images circulated showing police on a beach appearing to enforce the ban, and a woman removing an item of clothing. The council of state will make a final decision on the ban's legality at a later date. The Council of State decision is a landmark ruling which be used in future cases to overturn similar restrictions on personal liberty by municipal authorities. Essentially the court said that there has to be a verifiable threat to public order before mayors can intervene to regulate how people dress. As for the much talked about principle of secularism, that is not the issue, the court said. The state is "laic". People are not. People can be as religious as they like. There will be more hoo-haa as other seaside towns resist the precedent and continue with the burkini ban. One by one they will be told by the courts to stop. But that will not be the end. The burkini has become a political issue, and now there is pressure from the right (mainly) for a fullyfledged law to ban it. Expect it to feature heavily in the upcoming presidential race. The lawyer behind the VilleneuveLoubet case, Patrice Spinosi, represents the Human Rights League (LDH). He brought the case against the town along with the anti-Islamophobia association (CCIF). Speaking outside the court, he said the decision "is meant to set legal precedent", and that people who had been fined could claim their money back. The burkini debate is front page news in France. An editorial in Le Monde called the court ruling
state of law". The paper praised the "wisdom" of the decision, after "several weeks of a pervasive controversy that sometimes bordered on hysteria". Conservative daily Le Figaro warned that the ruling seemed "unlikely to ease the summer controversy", and said the French right would renew its calls for Islamic dress to be banned. The left-of-centre Nouvel Observateur echoed Le Figaro, predicting that "the row over the burkini is far from over". What is a burkini? A burkini is a fullbody swimsuit that covers everything except the face, hands and feet The name is a mix of the words "burka" and "bikini" Unlike burkas, burkinis leave the face free Burkinis are marketed to Muslim women as a way for them to swim in public while adhering to strict modesty edicts The French bans have referred to religious clothing and as they were loosely phrased, came to be understood to include full-length clothing and head coverings worn on the beach - not just burkini swimsuits What French law says on secularism and religious clothing In 2010, France became the first European country to ban the full-face veil in public A 2004 law forbids the wearing of religious emblems in schools and colleges The 1905 constitution aims to separate Church and state. It enshrines secularism in education but also guarantees the freedom of religion and freedom to exercise it. The original text made no reference to clothing (BBC)
A woman in a burkini in Marseille in southern France(REUTERS)
INTERNATIONAL PAGE 178
GUYANA DAILY NEWS
SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2016
'British' Boy In Islamic State Group Execution Video appear to be about 10 to 13 years Bara al-Tunisi (the Tunisian), addresses
The Islamic State group has released footage showing five boys, including one it identifies as British, carrying out the killing of prisoners in Syria. The children
old and the boy captioned as Abu Abdullah al-Britani is white. The video shows the children shooting dead five men identified as captured Kurdish fighters who are kneeling. The identity of the boy said to be British could not be verified and the Foreign Office has not commented. The child is pictured in full military fatigues and a black hat alongside four other boys, and the prisoners are wearing orange jump suits. One of the children, identified as Abu al-
the Kurdish fighters in Arabic, promising more violence and saying the battle against them has not yet begun. The other children are captioned as Abu Ishaq al-Masri (the Egyptian), Abu Abdullah al-Britani (the Briton), Abu Fu'ad al-Kurdi (the Kurd) and Yusuf alUzbaki (the Uzbek). Children have featured prominently in Islamic State propaganda in which the militant group boasts about preparing the next generation of fighters. (BBC)
World's Largest Marine Reserve Created Off Hawaii
Hawaiians. The expansion was welcomed by environmental campaigners. "By expanding the monument, President Obama has increased protections for one of the most biologically and culturally significant places on the planet," said Joshua Reichert, an executive vice p resident at the Pew New species of fish never before seen by divers were discovered in the monument in June(AP) Charitable Trusts. Greenpeace also hailed what it called a US President Barack Obama has expanded a national monument off Hawaii, creating "bold decision" that will ban commercial the world's largest marine reserve, the fishing and mineral extraction in the White House says. His announcement on region. But some fishing groups have Friday quadruples in size a monument voiced concerns. originally created by President George W "We are disappointed that the president has Bush in 2006. The Papahanaumokuakea made a decision to close an area nearly the Marine National Monument will now span size of the entire state of Alaska without 1.5m sq km (582,578 sq miles), more than public process," Sean Martin, the president twice the size of Texas. The designation of the Hawaii Longline Association told bans commercial fishing and any new the Associated Press news agency. "This mining. The White House says the action will forever prohibit American expansion is helping to protect more than fishermen from accessing those American 7,000 species and improves an ecosystem waters. Quite a legacy indeed," he added. affected by ocean acidification and The oceans are under multiple assault from over-fishing, waste plastics and pollution. warming. A fact sheet previewing the announcement They're also suffering from climate change also states that the expanded area is and ocean acidification - a problem caused considered a sacred place for Native by manmade carbon dioxide emissions
dissolving into the sea and changing its chemistry. Scientists say coral reefs are less vulnerable to changes in climate and chemistry if they are protected from other threats - that's what the president is doing by banning commercial fishing and any new mining. It's part of a fledgling success story in marine conservation. The UK has led the way with protected zones in the Indian ocean, round Pitcairn Island, and round Ascension Island in the Atlantic. Meanwhile, conservation on land is a continuing struggle thanks largely to population growth and the spread of farming. The area is also known for its many shipwrecks and downed aircraft from the Battle of Midway, which marked a major shift in World War Two. President Obama, who was born in Hawaii, will travel to the Midway Atoll next week. With this announcement, he will have created or expanded 26 national monuments during his time in office. In 2014, he extended the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument south-west of Hawaii, which now covers 1.2m sq km (490,343 sq miles). (BBC)
INTERNATIONAL PAGE 179
GUYANA DAILY NEWS
SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2016
Man Arrested In Fatal Stabbing Of Two Nuns In Mississippi A man has been arrested in the stabbing the attorney general's office, "this passing Thursday night at the church. deaths of two nuns whose bodies were found in their home in rural Mississippi, authorities said. Margaret Held and Paula Merrill, both nurse practitioners, failed to show up for work Thursday at a clinic in Lexington, where they served one of the state's poorest counties. Clinic workers called police when the pair didn't arrive at the clinic, said Maureen Smith, a spokeswoman for the Catholic Diocese of Jackson. When authorities arrived at their home in Durant, 13 miles away from the clinic, they saw evidence of a break-in and found their bodies, she said. As investigators searched for answers, a blue Toyota Corolla used by the victims was found Thursday on an abandoned road less than a mile from their home. Man charged Rodney Earl Sanders, 46, has been charged with two counts of capital murder in connection with the killings, the Mississippi Department of Public Safety said early Saturday. "Sanders was developed as a person of interest early on in the investigation," said Lt. Col. Jimmy Jordan, director of MBI. After an investigation that included the sheriff's department and
heinous crime has been resolved," he said. He did not provide additional information on the arrest. Shortly after their bodies were found, authorities said the motive for the killings remained unclear, adding that calling it a "robbery would be premature." ‘They didn't bother anybody' Those who knew the two nuns described them as outgoing and compassionate. "They were sweet, very loving ... easy to get along with," Patricia Wyatt Weatherly, who lived next door to the victims, told CNN affiliate WLBT-TV. "They didn't bother anybody." The Rev. Greg Plata of St. Thomas Catholic Church, where they attended Mass, said they were "just good women, women of prayer." The sisters were loved by the doctors and residents in the area, and were the primary caregivers at the clinic, he said. Plata's parishioners mourned their
“We basically cried and told our stories about them and talked about how important they were to us," he said. Merrill was a nurse practitioner in Mississippi for more than 30 years and had been at the Lexington Medical Clinic since 2010. The clinic tends to thousands of patients, many poor and uninsured. "Many people have no health insurance because they can't afford the premiums," Merrill said in an interview posted on the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth website. "They make minimum wage." Held moved to Mississippi in 1983, and had lived in Durant for 13 years, officials said. (CNN)
INTERNATIONAL PAGE 180
GUYANA DAILY NEWS
SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2016
A Day Like Today In History On this day on 1883, a set of cataclysmic volcanic explosions torn apart the Indonesian island of Krakatoa. The most powerful volcanic eruption ever recorded in history. Seismic activity on the island started previous 1883, as a preamble of what would take place on that fatidic summer morning. The fumes of the volcano, started to appear as early as May of that year, giving place to a series of explosions on August 27 that would erase 2/3 of the island surface. Accordingly to records of the epoch, the constant blasts would be heard as far as 3,000 miles away, making the inhabitants of the nearby islands and northern part of Australia, they were due to canon detonations. The huge eruptions unleash a series of events that would end up with a drastic reshape of the Indonesian geography, along with the radical change on the ocean floor.Four major explosions were recorded. This one’s threw an approximate of 50 miles of land into the air. The pyroclastic flow of fast moving hot gas and rocks that followed each and every one of the blasts caused the death of over 36,000 islanders. As this catastrophic set of events weren’t enough, the violent power released by the explosions into the ocean floor, unleashed a set of tsunamis that erased any sing of living presence. Such was the power, that the last explosion is believed to have the equivalent energy of about 200 megatons of TNT. A chain of events were felt worldwide during and after the eruptions.High tides rocked the ships in the shores of Africa. The density of the large amount of fine dust and ashes sent to the atmosphere would provide amazingly colorful sunsets, that would transform the afternoons into golden and scarlet heavenly shows. Blue, green and velvet moon were also be reported due to the clouds filled with particles, this followed by a decrease on the temperatures worldwide due to the atmospheric veil that was formed. This side effects would be experienced up to the beginnings of the 20 th century. Artist from around the world would take this phenomenon as an inspiration for their master pieces. This was the case of British artist William Ashcroft, whose work would be filled with a display of vividly red sunsets. Today art enthusiasts believe that the legendary 1893 painting ‘The scream’, from Norwegian Edvard Munch's, was born as a direct effect of this natural events. Source: http://www.history.com/this-day- in-history -By- Rocio Perez, Guyana Daily News.
An 1888 lithograph of the 1883 eruption of Krakatoa.
Red sunset by William Ashcroft 1893/4
Sketch carried out by William Ascroft in the winter of 1883/4
Painting by Expressionist artist Edvard Munch between 1893 and 1910