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GUYANA DAILY NEWS Agriculture Minister Wraps Up Sustainable Food Systems Healthy Diets, Improved Nutrition Symposium In Rome Minister of Agriculture Noel Holder called for world leaders to PAGE 2
better adapt to climate change, by understanding the impacts it has on food security. “To achieve the goal of the United Nations on Nutrition, stakeholders need to urgently take concrete evidence based actions to situations….policy, investment and behavior shifts are much needed along the food chain,” the Minister said The Minister was at the time addressing a gathering in Rome at the United Nation’s Symposium, a release from the Government Information Agency (GINA). According to Minister Holder, nutrition continues to be a central health, economic and sustainable development challenge for every region and if executed thoughtfully, the potential to propagate a society-wide movement, leading to national policy change and ultimately to the end of all forms of malnutrition, can be realized, the report further noted. The role of women in the food system remains a critical aspect, and according to the Agriculture Minister, if there is to be a national policy change equitable opportunities to earn and learn should be compatible with healthy and safe pregnancies and child feeding. “Nutrition challenges faced by Member States are complex, and their solutions require strong and sustained political leadership….consumers should also be empowered with improved nutrition information that influences their food choices, the Minister noted. The Decade calls all Member States to act across six pillars for nutrition action based on the commitments of the Rome Declaration on Nutrition which are:Sustainable food systems for healthy diets Aligned health systems providing universal coverage of essential nutrition actions
·Social protection and nutrition education
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·Trade and investment for improved nutrition · Enabling food and breastfeeding environments and Review, strengthen and promote nutrition governance and accountability As Guyana strives to consolidate national food security, the Ministry of Agriculture has also begun preparation of its submission of a proposal for Grant funding from the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP) to the tune of $US10 Million.
FAO Director-General Jose’ Graziano da SIlva meeting with T.H. Noel Holder, Minister for Agriculture of the Republic of Guyana, FAO headquarters. GINA Photo.
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS China Ready To Strengthen Economic Ties With Guyana PAGE 3
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2016
According to Yang Chenqi, Counselor and Deputy Chief of Mission of the Chinese Embassy in Georgetown, Guyana’s development potential is boasted frequently, however its economic ties with the Chinese is widely ignored. In the area of bilateral trade, the statistics of the Guyana National Bureau of Statistics (GNBS) illustrate that China is not on the list of top ten destinations of imports from these shores, the value of which is tallied among other nations. Chenqi stated that both countries should grasp the opportunity. “It’s now or never.” He is however, optimistic that once infrastructure is improved in the form of land and sea transport in Guyana, which includes the Guyana-Brazil highway and deep water project, the two countries can share a vision of large volumes of goods, people and service. He remarked that the communications and energy sector needs to be expanded to complement connectivity here. He noted that economic diversification efforts can be catapulted while control of economic growth can rest in the hands of the country. “China holds great value for its economic ties with Guyana, not necessarily because of its rich natural resources, even including the lately discovered oil, but Guyana has an advantage regarding its location for trade and investment. So geographically and culturally Guyana plays a strategic role in bridging South America with the Caribbean and further north,” he explained. Guyana and china enjoy deep political trust; they share the similar views and support each other on key international issues such as sustainable development, climate change, United Nations reform and regional integration.
FITUG Says 2017 Budget Adds Burdens To An Already Stricken Populace The Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) said that they have examined the 2017 Budget and have come to the conclusion that the Government has fallen woefully short of its promise of “Delivering the Good Life to All Guyanese”. In a press release on Tuesday the Federation said that several provisions in the Budget will only serve to engender even greater hardships on the already overburdened working-class. “The imposition of VAT on electricity and water; the reduction in the number of VAT exempted and zerorated items which will affected medical supplies and services and treatments, among others; the introduction of an environmental tax; the increases in the costs of passports; the introduction of fees for TIN certificates; the massive increases in the costs for a number of licenses, fees and penalties; the increase in the departure tax, as well as other increases are some of the new pressures that the 2017 Budget has brought on to be borne by the workers, pensioners, and other ordinary Guyanese come January, 2017,” the statement read. FITUG also noted that they found the Budget to be sorely lacking, hardly having any specific details or policies to address the current and rising
unemployment situation. The Federation was also dismayed to learn that the Budget did not address, in a positive way, the plight of the sugar workers. “For two (2) years now, thousands of workers and their families are being forced to contend with no pay increases. That aside the workers are faced with other assaults on their rights and benefits. In the face of such denials, it is damning that large sums are being found to fund supersalaried Government officials and the top echelons of the sugar industry and, possibly, soon a former high office holder,” The federation said. The Federation said that 2017 Budget with its draconian measures can be rightly seen as an anti-working class Budget which will undo many of the positive gains made in the past years and serve to push many ordinary Guyanese into an impoverished state. The FITUG is urging the APNU + AFC Administration to re-look, with a view to rescind, the many measures which will be “severe blows on and badly hurt the people, especially the poor and working-people of our country.“
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS Government Applauds Mining Sector’s Contribution To Economy PAGE 5
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2016
Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman addressed a gathering at the Gala Awards Ceremony and cocktail reception of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), on Thursday last, where he expressed delight that Guyana has surpassed the projected gold target for 2016. The Minister stated that the initial target was 550,000 ounces; the mining sector has broken its production record significantly. ‘’As of November 30, gold declarations have crested the 600,000 mark. In putting this into context, it means that even in the days of higher prices and the presence of Omai, gold never went beyond 465,000 ounces, which was the highest-ever recorded production in 2013,’’Trotman said. The figures revealed by Minister Trotman indicate that this year has been a successful one for the mining sector .The minister also pointed out that oil is expected to create a boost in the country’s economy and many citizens are anticipating economic development. However, gold mining is currently climbing. “This year, the mining and quarrying sector grew significantly, thanks to a very dominant performance by gold;which,despite a significant drop in gold prices on the world market(today US$1163) and challenges in the mining sector, has seen gold production figures continually rising in 2016,’’the minister said. Diamond production has also surpassed its expected target, being 38 per cent ahead of its 2016 goal of 61,380 carats with declarations of 99,000 carats already at the end of October. Government has set the new production target for gold at 700,000 ounces for 2017. ‘’Next year we hope to edge closer to the 700,000 ounces threshold, and hopefully surpass
it,’’Trotman said. According to the minister, Government, in recognizing that gold is an important income-earner, will provide operational concessions to miners and lend support through infrastructural works, while putting in place systems to ensure higher declarations.
Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman
Age Of Applying For House Lots Reduced To 18
Minister within the Ministry of Communities, Valerie Patterson
Minister within the Ministry of Communities, Valerie Patterson at Tuesday’s session of the Budget 2017 debate announced that that the Department of Housing has made a decision to reduce the age at which someone could apply for a house lot in Guyana. During her contribution to the debate on the Budget the Minister that said that from January 2017, a young person can now apply for a house lot at the age of 18; however that person will have to wait till they are 21 years old to be allocated that house lot. “A young person from the 3rd of January, 2017, can apply for a house lot once they’ve reached the age of 18, with allocation at 21 years”, the Minister said. The decision to reduce the age of eligibility when applying for a house lot came after the minister held consultations with citizens across Guyana and had promise to pursue the policy change. The minister said that change will likely increase the performance of the construction sector which saw a decline from 10.5% to a projected 3.2% in 2016. Minister Patterson said that the Central Planning and Housing Authority (CH&PA) only spent 19.9% of its $5.8B budgeted allocation for 2016 and achieved 30.5% of its revenue which left several projects behind but she promised that this will not occur in 2017.
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS Guyanese Man Charged With Hacking Wife In Queens, NY PAGE 6
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2016
Overseas based Guyanese, Prem Rampersaud said nothing as he was led out of the 106th Precinct in handcuffs. The 50-year-old is charged with a grisly murder. According to eyewitness news he attempted to decapitate his wife. The victim was walking in the middle of 124th Street in South Richmond Hill, and had just gotten off work. Police said Rampersaud knew that, and was waiting for her. He said something that made her turn and walk away. According to a report in ABC News surveillance then shows him walking towards her, and then grabbing her arm and pulling her back towards a fence. She fights back, but he overpowers her and drags her to the ground right by a tree. The attack happened just after midnight, and people living in the neighborhood told Eyewitness News they did not hear a thing. For roughly four minutes, the suspect repeatedly stabbed the victim in the neck and torso. Witnesses tell police when Rampersaud confronted his wife, he slapped her, choked her, and attempted to remove her head with a knife. The woman's head remained partially attached. The police were called and they apprehended Rampersaud a few blocks away. He was later charged with murder and possession of a weapon. Meanwhile, the woman, whose identity was being withheld pending family notification, the report said, was pronounced dead at Jamaica Hospital; a knife believed to be the murder weapon was recovered at the scene. “Police said Rampersaud gave his wife approximately $9,000 to move to the US from their native Guyana about a year ago and eventually followed her to Queens where they moved in together,” the report added.
Man Shot As Bandits Snatch $3M From Finance Ministry John Brian, 29, is currently nursing a gunshot wound to his right thigh, having been robbed and shot by one of two bandits in the vicinity of the Ministry of Finance about 12:55h today. According to police report, investigations revealed that Brian was walking on Urquhart Street, North Cummingsburg, heading in a westernly direction when a white premio motor car pulled up alongside him and two suspects, one armed with a handgun, exited and approached him. As a result he became afraid and ran to the Ministry of Finance’s gate and threw a haversack which was alleged to contain $3M cash, into the said compound. The police report further stated that the suspects went into the compound, collected the bag and were exiting when the victim tried retrieving same and in the process, the armed suspect discharged his firearm in his direction, hitting him to his right thigh and they made good their escape in the said vehicle. The victim was rushed to the GPHC in an ambulance, where he is undergoing surgery. Investigators have retrieved a spent shell from the scene. No arrests have so far been made. Police Investigations are ongoing.
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS Final COI Report Into Puruni Mining Death Handed Over PAGE 8
Minister of State, Mr. Joseph Harmon, yesterday, received the final Report of the Commission of Inquiry (COI), which was established to probe the circumstances surrounding the mining pit collapse and death of Mr. Keon Wilson, at Rock Creek, Puruni, Cuyuni-Mazaruni (Region Seven) on October 8, 2016. The Report was handed over by Rear Admiral (ret’d) Gary Best at the Minister’s office at Ministry of the Presidency. In a Ministry of the Presidency release (MoTP), Minister Harmon stated that the report, which was handed over today, will serve as a guideline and help to identify further steps the Government should take in to ensure that no further lives are lost in this fashion. “[The] Commission of Inquiry is intended to elevate the level of this [investigation] into these matters, so that the world would understand that we put a very high premium on the life of every single Guyanese… I trust that the recommendations that have been made in this report will act as a guide to the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), the Ministry of Natural Resources, in so far as the safety mechanisms are concerned.” Min. Harmon said. Additionally, Minister Harmon has said that though the Government has come under criticism for setting up several inquiries, it the only way facts and evidence can be gathered to ensure relevant action is taken. “These Commissions of Inquiry are not done for the sake of mounting Commissions of Inquiry. They become a call to action and, therefore, the recommendations will be carefully studied, in the first instance by the Ministry of the Presidency and the Ministry of Natural Resources. The report will be shared to the Cabinet, and the Cabinet will also have an input in the matter particularly as it relates to the executive summary and the recommendations that have been made by the Commissioner,” Minister Harmon said. Rear Admiral Best explained briefly that three levels of culpability have been identified, “I found that they are three levels of culpability; at the personal level, the operational level and the regulator level. The report asked for me to determine, blameworthiness so I had to look into that carefully,” he said.
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The Commission was established on October 18, 2016. A preliminary report was submitted to Minister of Natural Resources, Mr. Raphael Trotman on November 9, 2016 and the deadline for submission of the final report was extended from November 18, 2016 to December 5, 2016.
Minister of State, Mr. Joseph Harmon
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Guyana Wins Sabga Awards The Anthony N Sabga Caribbean Awards for Excellence (ANSCAFE) 2017, welcomes the region with their open doors, one more time. This year Guyana is leading the podium. The ‘Land of Many Waters’ will be awarded twice, thanks to the outstanding contributions in the development of arts and society, by two of our locals - Mr. Winslow Craig and social activist Dr. Christopher Arif Bulkan. The two gentleman will be accompanied by Ms. Shandel Nyack Compton, from Grenada and Mr. Kwame Ryan from Trinidad & Tobago, who will be also honored with the golden medal. The four awardees will be representing not only their countries, but the Caribbean itself. The Anthony N Sabga Caribbean Awards for Excellence (ANSCAFE) was initiated by Dr. Anthony N. Sabga, one of the Caribbean's most celebrated entrepreneurs, founder and Chairman Emeritus of the ANSA McAL Group of Companies in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. The ANSCAFE was launched in October 2005, and gained not only the approval of the region but also its appreciation. This noble event is meant to recognize and reward excellence in the Caribbean, creating awareness about the significant work done in the region. The Sabga Awards programme is the only institution of its kind in the Caribbean. It is now the leading English-Speaking Caribbean Recognition programme in Arts, Science, Public and Civic Work. The awards are given in four areas, this are: Arts& Letters, Science & Technology, Public& Civic Contributions and Entrepreneurship. The event is celebrated biennial, and is been the witness of 27 laureates up to date.
Laureates of the ANSCAFE 2017 (Left top)Ms. Shandel Nyack Compton, from Grenada, Mr. Kwame Ryan from Trinidad & Tobago, sculptor Mr. Winslow Craig, and social activist Dr. Christopher Arif Bulkan. (Photo credit: ANSCAFE)
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS GWI Helps Restore Water Supply To Arakaka PAGE 11
The Guyana Water Incorporated recently deployed two engineers to Arakaka, Region 1 to address the lack of water supply there caused by cloud cover over the photovoltaic system in the community. According to a press release from the Water company, the photovoltaic system, also known as a solar PV power system, is designed to supply usable solar power, which ensures the functioning of a water system. However, due to a prolonged rainy season in the region, the system, which requires a constant supply of energy from the sun, has not been functioning efficiently. According to GWI’s Hinterland Engineer, Mr. Cleon French and Solar Consultant, Mr. Aubrey Mark, visited the area to install a control box which would allow for an automatic switch from solar to electric energy when a generator is turned on. The solar power is expected to last from 9:00 – 15:00 hrs, while the electricity is estimated to last for 12 hours during the night to ensure that the pump is running throughout the night. GWI is also exploring the possibility of increasing the water storage capacity and drilling a new well for the Arakaka village in 2017. Meanwhile, GWI will soon be sending a contactor to the village of Karrau, Region 7 to install a PV system, erect a trestle and place tanks at strategic locations to connect to the pipes that were recently laid by villagers. These projects form part of GWI’s mandate of ensuring equal access to water for citizens on the coast and in riverain areas, the release added.
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Works Being Conducted By GWI In Arakaka Region 1.
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS The Crippling Dilemma Of Unemployment For UG Graduates PAGE 12
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2016
Gone are the days when a graduate would walk into a job immediately after graduation. In Guyana they are many degrees flooding the streets. The annual convocation of the University of Guyana ceremony was held on November 12, 2016 and approximately 16, 00 students graduated. Many students were elated to have finally completed the programme studied. However, many students are now faced with the reality that they will not be able to have their dream job or the salary they dreamed about. Alex Singh, a former Geology Engineer student who reside in Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara, during an interview with the Guyana Daily News, expressed his frustration and disappointment with the system. “I really can’t believe this, I spent five years at the university and now I am unemployed, I have applied to every geology and environmental agency. Some agencies are polite enough to send letters stating that they do not have vacancy, while some dispose of my letters I believe.” He further stated that President David Granger during his campaign, promised the University students jobs and it seems as if things are even worst as the job market is tougher. Devika Gurracharran, a former student of the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, residing in Cummings Lodge, Georgetown also shared her frustration. “I graduated November 2015 and I honestly thought that my qualifications would have secured me a job in Guyana but God knows I have applied to every private sector and public sector relating to my field of studies and I have not received any response from those companies. If Guyana is heading towards a green economy why Jobs isn’t available for the Forestry Graduates?” she asked. “Does the Government expect me to sell plantain chips and cassava?” The third interview was conducted with Racheal Thomas, a Business Management Major who graduated in 2015. “It has taken me one year to break my silence. I attempted to pen these lines many times, but deferred, hoping for the best, but I can longer hold my peace, I must speak. I am frustrated. Many companies are requesting six to five years experiences and I believe that is ridiculous. The Government must intervene. During his campaign he made it his duty to visit us and inform us that he will ensure that jobs is provided for every Guyanese and that will in turn assist with limiting brain drain. My parents were happy that I completed my programme successfully but now they are advising that I migrate so that I will be able to secure a future for myself. I must add I am very disappointed in the way things are going in this country at the moment. I now know why graduates usually migrate.”
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2016
US$2 Million Currency Bust Linked To Trinidad Politicians
Point Lisas in Trinidad PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad -- Local police and customs officers investigating the discovery of US$2 million in cash found in a container at the Point Lisas port in Trinidad believe that the money sent to a local businessman as payment for a shipment of illegal drugs to the British Virgin Islands and may also be linked to local politicians. The businessman in question is allegedly involved in extensive illicit operations in Trinidad including not only the export of drugs to the United States but also money
laundering, Newsday reported. Well placed sources told the Sunday Newsday the man’s operation is so large that he enjoys the support of customs officers and members of the protective service and other persons, including politicians. On Saturday, the US$2 million remained locked in a vault at the Central Bank after it was counted by a US Customs official and the serial numbers from the currency recorded. That information has been sent to the US Treasury Department to ascertain the provenance of the money. According to a senior customs and excise source, the man’s operation was able to prosper because of his local connections and the source added that the contractor also has persons working for him in the United State The suspect, who is based in North East Trinidad, is believed to have set up a local business as a front. On Monday, during the local government elections in Trinidad, he is reported to have funded the transportation for at least one of the political parties. On November 22, Trinidad police and customs officers raided a Santa Cruz business- place and seized a computer hard drive as well as other documents as part of the ongoing investigation into the US$2 million seizure. Customs and Excise officers as well as police sources indicated on Saturday that, although false documents were used for the container to arrive in the country, they believe that an arrest is imminent. (Caribbean News Now!)
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2016
Inter-American Financial Institution Moves Headquarters To Panama To Boost Regional Infrastructure Financing PANAMA CITY -The Inter-American Corporation for Infrastructure Financing (CIFI), a leader non-bank financial institution dedicated to run projects in Latin America and the Caribbean, has decided to move its headquarters to Panama City. The objective of this measure is to leverage closer to the region to further boost its activity there. The move to Panama coincides with the 15th anniversary of the corporation. Since the beginning of its activity in 2001, CIFI has evaluated over 600 potential transactions, of which has financed over 160, representing total investments of more than US1.3 billion dollars. All these projects have played a key role in economic development in Latin America and the Caribbean. "Panama is a key financial center in Latin America and the Caribbean which concentrates 90 banks. Our presence here will help strengthen that role, given the importance of our shareholder: commercial banks, private investment funds and multilateral agencies," said César
Cañedo, CEO of CIFI. According to Cañedo, one of the key elements when stepping into Panama has been the country´s role as a "logistic and strategic hub that can be accessed quickly by the main capitals of Latin America and the Caribbean”. CIFI will maintain the link with Washington DC, a city that has been vital in the successful history of the institution, given the presence of multilateral organizations there. Among them the International Finance Corporation (part of the World Bank), which is a CIFI shareholder. The shareholders of CIFI are one of the added values of the institution, because in it there are multilateral companies such as the IFC or the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (BCIE); funds such as the Norwegian Investment Fund for Developing Countries or the Finnish Fund for Industrial Cooperation; and banks like Caixa Banco de Investimento, Banistmo, Banco Itau-Unibanco or Pichincha. In addition to its expertise in infrastructure and deep knowledge of the region, other distinctive features of CIFI are its agility in providing alternative and structured financing solutions to its clients and the socio-environmental commitment. The track record and achievements of the company have been recognized over the years with international distinctions. (Caribbean News Now!)
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2016
LIAT Welcomes Its Tenth ATR Aircraft Collins and quality manager Conrad William Lewis. After the customary fly-by and water canon salute, the aircraft was greeted by LIAT’s line minister in Antigua and Barbuda, Sir Robin Yearwood, and the management and staff of LIAT. Yearwood commented that he was pleased on the arrival of this new aircraft and urged all LIAT staff to continue working together to strengthen the airline’s essential service to the region. V2-LIN is scheduled to go into commercial service by mid-December and passengers should expect continued improvement in LIAT’s services over the coming festive season. (Caribbean News Now!)
Engineer Robert Collins, Sir Robin Yearwood, Captain Philemon Gunsam, First Officer Rawle Francis, Quality Manager Conrad William Lewis and a few of the management and staff of LIAT on hand to witness the arrival of V2-LIN S T J O H N ’ S , Antigua -- Regional carrier LIAT recently welcomed its tenth ATR72 aircraft at the V.C. Bird International Airport in Antigua. The brand new 68-seater aircraft carrying the tail number V2-LIN, was piloted from Toulouse, France, by Captain Philemon Gunsam and First Officer Rawle Francis, both of Antigua. Accompanying the crew were engineer Robert
Cemex Makes Takeover Bid For TCL $4.50 in cash per TCL share. The proposed offer price represents a 33.13 per cent premium over TCL’s price of $3.38 at the close of trading on Friday. Cemex currently owns 39.5 per cent of TCL, which announced at the end of October that its revenue had declined by 12.2 per cent for the first nine months of 2016, which it said had been caused by a “precipitous fall in construction activity in Trinidad and Tobago.” (Antigua Observer) Source: guardian.co.tt Mexico’s cement giant, Cemex, this morning announced that it will be making a takeover bid for Claxton Bay-based Trinidad Cement Ltd. Cemex, through one of its indirect subsidiaries Sierra Trading, is looking to acquire 132,616,942 shares at a price of
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2016
Leader Of Jamaican Opposition Party Steps Down After Two Losses In A Row party members at a National Executive Council
JAMAICA OBSERVER – People’s National Party Leader Portia Simpson Miller has announced that she will not be seeking re-election as party president next September. Simpson Miller, who was addressing
meeting in Cedar Grove, Portmore, St Catherine, said that “I will leave you as party leader but I will always be with you,” Simpson Miller said on Sunday. Her announcement came on the heels of two major political defeats, the first in the February 25 General Election and then again on November 28, in the Local Government Election. Many, including the youth arm of the party, Peoples National Party Youth Organisation (PNPYO), have since called on her to resign. PNPYO has called for a change in the political vision being presented to the public, beginning with her as leader, as “the premier political movement in Jamaica, finds itself at a crossroads, where the noble institution has lost the faith, trust, and confidence of the majority of Jamaica’s people”. (St Lucia News Online
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2016
The MUD Suspends Dialogue With Venezuelan Government Representatives of the Venezuelan Democratic Round Table (MUD), announced Tuesday during a press conference held in Caracas, that the dialogues between the government and the opposition have been ‘frozen’ until President Nicolas Maduro accepts that the only way to get out of the economic crisis that is ‘sinking’ Venezuela, is through presidential elections. According to the Venezuelan newspaper, El Nacional, the conversations are ‘stuck’ due to the absence of the representatives of the opposition at today’s third dialogue session. Secretary of the MUD Jesús Torrealba, stated that the conversation will no longer take place between the representatives of the opposition and the government, but only through mediators. Torrealba expressed that, due to the negative of the government in fulfilling the opposition petitions, the MUD will no longer take part of the political dialogues. Qualifying this as a strategy of the government to ‘buy time’ in office, and a maneuver to keep the Venezuelan population in a state of ‘lethargy’. The process that started on October 30th, thanks to the mediation of a Vatican representative and officials of the Union of South American Nations
(UNASUR), is threaten to stay unconcluded due to inexistent accomplishment of vital agreements, necessary to set a ‘course’ for Venezuela. S o u r c e : h t t p : / / w w w. e l nacional.com/politica/Oposicion-venezolanacongela-dialogo...
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, and member of the opposition Henrique Capriles Radonski.
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
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How Did Fake US Embassy Operate In Ghana For A Decade? News has travelled the world that an organised gang based in Ghana ran a fake embassy selling real US visas for $6,000 (£4,700) for "about a decade". How did they get away with it for so long? The US State Department says Ghanaian and Turkish organised crime rings were running the fake embassy complete with a US flag and a portrait of President Barack Obama "unhindered... for about a decade". The faded building couldn't have looked more different to the real embassy. But, as journalist Sammy Darko in Accra explained on Focus on Africa, the customers have most probably never been to an embassy before so didn't know what to expect. "They also find white people there and they assume that it is the US embassy," he added. The State Department's description of the operation gave more insight into how people were deceived. "The fake embassy did not accept walk-in visa appointments; instead, they drove to the most remote parts of West Africa to find customers. They would shuttle the customers to Accra, and rent them a room at a hotel nearby. The Ghanaian organized crime ring would shuttle the victims to and from the fake embassies." The State Department also said the criminals running the operation were able to pay off corrupt officials "to look the other way". Grey line Have there been any arrests? Several. That's as much as we know. The State Department is vague about this, simply saying "when the task force conducted raids, they arrested several suspects". They said that back on 2 November, and added that "several suspects remain at large". They added that Ghanaian police have warrants for their arrest and plan to pursue them. They also said an investigation and search for the Turkish organised crime group was "ongoing". The BBC understands, over a month later, that this investigation is still continuing. It appears to have been a big operation, as the State Department says the sham embassy advertised its services across Ghana, Ivory Coast and Togo. At the raid, officials found 150 passports from 10 countries. Grey line Why are we talking about this now? According to the time stamp, the State Department published the news of the arrests on 2 November. The BBC's Thomas Naadi in Ghana's capital, Accra, says the arrests took place a few months earlier than this, in June. The State Department said an informant tipped off investigators about both the fake US embassy and a fake Dutch embassy at the same time, although it isn't clear when this was.
It is a bit of a mystery why it was not picked up by media until 2 December. But when it was, it was widely shared on social media. Three days later, and the media is getting more creative with their headlines. The Washington Post has gone with "Mobsters ran a fake US embassy in Ghana for 10 years, flying the flag and issuing visas for $6,000". Grey line Were the visas genuine? The State Department said the embassy provided some customers "fraudulently obtained, legitimate US visas" as well as counterfeit visas, false identification documents (including bank records, education records, birth certificates, and others). It says the operation paid corrupt officials to obtain legitimate blank documents to be doctored.Did the customers care if the embassy was fake? We don't know for sure whether the customers knew if the embassy was fake. But if they did, they had strong motivations to proceed regardless. Travelling to the US is a big thing for many Ghanaians who are desperate to reach the US as they are convinced it is an opportunity for them to better their lives, explains the BBC's Adelaide Arthur. Also, being refused a visa can be very disheartening for prospective travellers and this often makes them vulnerable to scammers who promise them a visa, she adds. Grey line How many people used this service? The State Department has not commented on this. We also don't know what kind of visas people were buying. We may never know how many people are living in the US with visas issued from the fake embassy. It is not clear if the US authorities will try and take any action against them.Grey line How does it compare to the official procedure? The official application has many stages. When the BBC's Adelaide Arthur, who is Ghanaian, went through the procedure herself, the first stage was to pay a visa fee at the bank. After paying the fee, she was given a code which would allow her to submit a form which she filled in on the US embassy's website. The type of form you fill in depends on your purpose of visit. Her visit was for media, so she applied for a visa Class I. But people applying to visit the US usually choose visa B1/B2. After filling in the form, she uploaded a passport-sized photograph which had to conform to specific dimensions. She was then allowed to set her interview appointment date which was within two weeks of submitting her application form online. On the interview day, she arrived at the visa section of the embassy in the upmarket suburb of Cantonments in Accra.
Continued on next page...
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2016
How Did Fake US... Con’t...
To the left is the fake embassy and to the right is the real one, in very different neighbourhoods of Accra(US STATE DEPARTMENT)
"The imposing building that houses the US embassy is hard to miss when travelling around that area, where a number of missions are also located, including the South African, Italian and South Korean embassies," she said. She attended the interview with her application submission confirmation, appointment confirmation, passport, visa fee receipt, as well as other supporting documents, including proof of employment and financial support. Her fingerprints were taken before her interview with a consular officer. Usually, the applicant is made aware of the decision after the interview with a consular officer. In her first attempt, she was refused the visa immediately after the interview and was given back her documents. Two subsequent applications were however, successful and she was told to come back two days later for her visa. (BBC)
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GUYANA DAILY NEWS
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2016
Egypt Arrests 'Organ Trafficking Ring' they buy their human organs and sell [them] for large sums
Egyptian authorities made the arrests on Tuesday morning(REUTERS) Egyptian authorities have arrested doctors, nurses and professors suspected of being involved in an international organ trafficking ring. The arrests of at least 25 people on Tuesday also included organ buyers and middlemen, the country's Administrative Control Authority said. Authorities also found "millions of dollars and gold bullion". It is illegal to purchase organs in Egypt, but poverty drives some to sell their body parts. The Administrative Control Authority, a powerful anticorruption body, claimed the network targeted on Tuesday was "made up of Egyptians and Arabs taking advantage of some of the citizens' difficult economic conditions so that
of money". The statement on the government website added that the group was "the largest international network for trading human organs". Desperation It is said the investigation, which also involved the health ministry, focused on a group of private hospitals and health centres, both licensed and unlicensed, where transplants and organ-harvesting took place, according to the Reuters news agency. Authorities have also seized computers and documents from the 10 centres. The arrests follow years of concern over the illegal organ trade in Egypt. In 2010, the country was named as one of the top five countries for illegal organ trade by the World Health Organization's coordinator at the time, Luc Noel. Egypt passed laws to try to curb the trade, but according to the United Nations, hundreds of poor Egyptians still sell kidneys and livers each year to be able to buy food or pay off debts. There have also been concerns over the fate of migrants who come into contact with the traffickers. In 2012, then UN refugee agency chief, Antonio Guterres, said some migrants in Egypt's Sinai peninsula were being "killed for the traffic of organs", while earlier this year a people smuggler told Italian prosecutors that those who could not pay their debt were sold to the organ traffickers. The allegations have not been proven, however. (BBC)
INTERNATIONAL PAGE 26
GUYANA DAILY NEWS
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2016
French Interior Minister Cazeneuve Replaces Valls As PM
Mr Cazeneuve became prominent as France prioritised the crackdown on IS terror(REUTERS) French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve has been named as prime minister, replacing Manuel Valls, who resigned in order to make a bid for the presidency next year. Mr Valls presented his resignation to President Francois Hollande on Tuesday. Mr Cazeneuve will be in charge of the Socialist government until June's parliamentary elections. He has played a key role in managing France's security since the jihadist terror attacks in Paris last year. Mr Valls will face other contenders in the Socialist primary next month. Last week, in a move that surprised many, President Hollande announced that he would not seek a second term. He is the first president since France's Fifth Republic was created in 1958 not to seek a second mandate. But he has haemorrhaged support amid stubbornly high unemployment and anxiety about Islamist terror. If successful, Mr Valls will face Francois Fillon and Marine Le Pen in the first round of the presidential election in April. Current polling suggests that Ms Le Pen, leader of the far-right National Front (FN), could come in the top two in the first round, but would be likely to lose to the centre-right Mr Fillon in the second. Mr Valls is not guaranteed to win the Socialist primary, which will involve at least seven other candidates. They will include former economy minister Arnaud Montebourg, who is further to the left. Mr Valls is seen as a divisive figure on the left, after forcing labour reforms through parliament and endorsing controversial bans last summer on the Islamic "burkini" swimsuit. Even if he wins the primary, he could be undermined by two rivals for leftist or centrist votes: the radical socialist Jean-Luc Melenchon and centrist Emmanuel Macron, a former economy minister. France's 'R2D2' The new interior minister, replacing Mr Cazeneuve, is Bruno Le Roux. He is the Socialist parliamentary leader and another close ally of President Hollande. Mr Cazeneuve, 53, was a spokesman for Mr Hollande during the 2012 presidential campaign that brought victory for Mr Hollande over Nicolas Sarkozy. In 2012-2013, Mr Cazeneuve was junior minister for
European affairs. That post included the difficult task of getting parliamentary approval for the EU's European Stability Mechanism, despite opposition from some fellow Socialists. In 2013-2014 he was junior minister for the budget. France's Le Parisien daily says his command of tough budgetary issues earned him the nickname "R2D2" - referring to a robot in the original Star Wars film. He became interior minister in 2014 when the incumbent, Jerome Cahuzac, resigned because it was revealed that he had a secret Swiss bank account. Mr Cazeneuve faced a stormy period of national trauma for France, as attacks linked to so-called Islamic State (IS), in Paris and Nice, claimed 238 lives. The Nice attack, when a lorry ploughed into a crowd of revellers on the beachfront, put Mr Cazeneuve under fire for alleged policing failures. He has overseen the state of emergency imposed after last year's Paris attacks, including extra surveillance of suspected jihadists and extra powers for police to conduct searches. In recent months he has had to deal with discontent among police officers, who say the state has left them under-resourced, considering the scale of the terror threat. The son of a schoolteacher, Mr Cazeneuve was born in Senlis, northern France, and trained as a lawyer. Several French media outlets note that Mr Cazeneuve is regarded very much as a safe pair of hands by President Hollande, who has come to rely heavily on his loyalty, discretion and reliability. Le Monde, Liberation and Le Parisien dailies all mention Mr Cazeneuve's nickname "the Swiss army knife" - meaning he is Mr Hollande's trusty helper. Le Monde also says that over the past few years, Mr Cazeneuve "has established himself as one of the key pieces on Hollande's chessboard". Liberation notes that Mr Cazeneuve's "trademark" characteristic is his ability to remain calm in the heat of a crisis. However, several outlets - including Le Point magazine and BFMTV - predict that Mr Cazeneuve is likely to spend only a record-breaking short term of five months in his new role before the 2017 presidential election. (BBC)
INTERNATIONAL
GUYANA DAILY NEWS Angela Merkel Endorses Burka Ban 'Wherever Legally Possible' PAGE 27
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said the wearing of fullfaced veils should be prohibited in the country "wherever it is legally possible". At a meeting of her CDU party, she backed a burka ban in schools, courts and other state buildings. It is widely accepted that a total ban would violate Germany's constitution. Mrs Merkel was re-elected CDU leader but faces a tough challenge by the right-wing anti-immigration AfD party in next year's polls. She has seen her approval ratings slip since her decision to allow about a million asylum seekers into Germany during last year's Europe-wide migrant crisis. However the centre-right chancellor, who has been power since 2005, still retains wide support. She was re-elected Christian Democratic Union (CDU) leader on Tuesday with 89.5% of the votes cast by about 1,000 delegates. Mrs Merkel's comments drew thunderous applause from her party faithful but it will dismay those who have looked to her as Europe's defender of liberal values. German constitutional law would probably prevent the CDU from seeking a complete ban on burkas in
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2016
public. Nevertheless, Mrs Merkel made her distaste for full face veils clear. In practice, very few women cover their faces in Germany. But this is about symbolism. Mrs Merkel has faced significant party and public anxiety about the integration of about a million asylum seekers. She has gradually hardened her asylum policy, making it easier, for example, to deport foreignborn criminals. And this is also about timing. Tuesday's speech in effect sets out the CDU stall ahead of next year's general election. Mrs Merkel's conservatives, like other established parties, are losing votes to the AfD. Even she admits this will be the toughest election she has ever fought. Mrs Merkel told the annual CDU congress in the city of Essen that it was right to expect integration from newcomers. She expressed support for a proposal, outlined in August by Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere, to outlaw the burka or any full-face veil in public buildings. In German culture, she said, it was not appropriate for women to completely cover their faces and the full veil "should be banned wherever it is legally possible". The BBC's Jenny Hill in Berlin says it is the first time that the chancellor has made such comments in a major speech. In recent months, the Alternative fur Deutschland (AfD) has capitalised on a wave of anger over last year's migrant crisis, and made strong gains in regional elections. Polls suggest the AfD currently has 12% support nationally. Its success is mirrored by that of populist, anti-establishment parties in other European countries where elections are also due next year. In France - where the full-face veil has been banned in all public places since 2010 the far-right National Front (FN) is credited with 30% support ahead of a presidential poll. In the Netherlands, where elections are due in March, opinion polls suggest the right-wing populist Freedom Party (PVV) is neck and neck with the governing liberal VVD. (BBC)
INTERNATIONAL
GUYANA DAILY NEWS Brexit: EU Negotiator Says 'Time's Short' For Reaching Deal PAGE 29
The UK will have to reach a Brexit deal by October 2018, according to the EU's chief negotiator for Brexit. Michel Barnier told reporters that "time will be short" for negotiations because the proposed deal needed to be ratified as part of the two year process set to be triggered in March. He said the UK could not "cherry pick" on issues such as the single market. Earlier, UK Prime Minister Theresa May told the BBC she was aiming for a "red, white and blue Brexit" for the UK. Speaking at a press conference in Brussels, Mr Barnier said a taskforce of 30 people had been set up to make sure the EU would "be ready" when Article 50 was called. Time will be short," he said. "It is clear the period for actual negotiations will be shorter than two years. "At the beginning, the two years included the time for the council to set guidelines and to authorise negotiations. At the end, the agreement must of course be approved by the Council and European Parliament. Finally the UK will have to approve the agreement - all within the two year period. "All in all there will be less than 18 months to negotiate. That is short. Should the UK notify by the end of March as Prime Minister Theresa May said she would, it is safe to say negotiations could start a few weeks later and an Article 50 deal reached by October 2018." Mr Barnier, making his first public speech on the issue, was appointed to the post of chief Brexit negotiator on 1 October this year by European Commission President JeanClaude Juncker, who said he "wanted an experienced politician for this difficult job". The chief negotiator said he had spent time speaking to European member governments and said the Brexit negotiations had been informed by four main principles. These included the "determination for unity" and a pledge to not start negotiations before being officially notified by the UK of its desire to leave, via the triggering of Article 50. He also said: "Being a member of EU comes with rights and benefits. Third countries (non members as the UK will be after Brexit) can never have the same rights and benefits since they are not subject to the same obligations. "The single market and its four freedoms (which includes freedom of movement) are indivisible. Cherry picking is not an option." The BBC's Europe correspondent Damian Grammaticas asked Mr Barnier if the UK "paying in" to stay in the single market was a possibility after Brexit Secretary David Davis said last week the government "would consider it". "There is access to the single market, but this is accompanied by predetermined, very specific contribution to the EU budget," said the chief negotiator. "That is one of the models that already exists and that is one of the closest models there is to the EU without being a member." But Mr Barnier added there were various options and until Article 50 had been called, there was little more he could say. "It is up to the UK to tell us what they have in mind, then it is up to us at the 27 [member states] to say what we are prepared to conceive of." Mr Barnier said he "didn't like to speculate very much" on what the future relationship between
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the EU and the UK would be, but it was time to "keep calm and negotiate". The sooner, the better," he added. "We all have a common interest in not prolonging the lack of certainty and we for our part need to concentrate on the European agenda on this new page that we will be writing in the history in the construction of the EU. "There will be rebalancing but my conviction remains the same. Europe has to be the bedrock on which European citizens can lean in order to push ahead and construct the EU further for their safety, security, defence and prosperity." "It is much better to show solidarity than to stand alone." The EU appears to be signalling loud and clear what is on offer to the UK - and what isn't. This isn't the EU playing hardball. That's to misread the EU's cues. And it isn't new. EU leaders have reiterated the same principles ever since the UK referendum. From their point of view, their position is logical and consistent. EU leaders believe they have built the world's most integrated single market. They don't want to unpick parts of it for one nation that is leaving. Preserving their union is their priority. So, Michel Barnier made clear that the UK cannot expect better terms outside the EU than inside. UK talk of getting a special deal that privileges the car industry or the City of London may not to be acceptable to the EU. As for paying to get access to the Single Market, that's possible Mr Barnier hinted - if, like Norway, you accept the EU's rules. But 'cherrypicking' won't happen, he said. Importantly too, he indicated, a Brexit deal will cover the exit terms. The UK's future relationship with the EU will, in all likelihood, have to be settled later, once the UK is out of the EU and has the status of a third country.It's not about driving a hard bargain. The EU is signalling it has its rules and principles, and isn't offering to change them. line break Downing Street said it was sticking to its timetable despite the speech from Mr Barnier. The prime minister's official spokesman said: "In terms of how long the negotiations actually take place, clearly that is a matter that will resolve itself as a result of the negotiations."
Continued to next page...
INTERNATIONAL
GUYANA DAILY NEWS Brexit: EU Negotiator Says...Con’t... PAGE 30
Michel Barnier warns the UK it cannot "cherry pick” He said that the position of the rest of the EU on the timetable was a "matter for them". But on the 18-month timetable, he said: "It is the first I have heard of it." Mrs May said getting the right deal for British people would benefit the EU. Speaking to the BBC's deputy political editor John Pienaar - before Mr Barnier's comments - on her two-day trip to Bahrain, Theresa May said: "People talk about the sort of Brexit that there is going to be. Is it hard or soft? Is it grey or white? "Actually we want a red, white and blue Brexit; that is the right Brexit for the UK, the right deal for the UK. I believe that a deal that is right for the UK will also be a deal that is right for the EU." Case for transitional arrangements? On the issue of revealing more of those plans to Parliament, the prime minister said she still wanted "to keep some cards close to my chest". But Mrs May said regardless of the outcome of this week's Supreme Court case - on whether the government can trigger Article 50 alone or need parliamentary approval - she would "deliver on the vote of
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the British people." Hilary Benn, chairman of the Brexit Select Committee and Labour MP, believes talk of an 18-month time limit will add extra pressure. He told BBC News: "It means there is going to be a very short time from the triggering of Article 50 to negotiate the divorce arrangements and crucially what our new relationship with Europe is going to be once we have left, when it comes to trade and the single market. "What I think he has said reinforces the argument that I have been making that we are going to need transitional arrangements [around the negotiations]." What about Northern Ireland? When in charge of regional policy, Mr Barnier said he worked on a programme supporting Northern Ireland and the Good Friday agreement. When asked by The Irish Times whether he would dismiss the idea of a hard border being put in place postBrexit, he would not commit either way. The UK decision to leave the EU will have consequences, in particular perhaps for what are the EU's external borders today," he said. "All I can say at this moment in time is I am personally extremely aware of this particular topic. We will throughout these negotiations with the UK and of course with Ireland, do our utmost to uphold the success of the Good Friday Agreement and of course retain the dialogue there." A former EU commissioner, Mr Barnier led the EU's banking reforms and was dubbed "the most dangerous man in Europe" by some in the financial services industry. But after he championed capping bankers' bonuses, he won respect as a tough but even-handed negotiator. Mr Barnier has refused to take part in any pre-negotiations before Article 50 is triggered, but he did meet Brexit Secretary David Davis for coffee last month. Speaking in November in Brussels, he said: "Don't ask me to tell you what will be at the end of the road, we haven't begun to walk yet." (BBC)
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Jamaican Boxers Line Up For Development Tournament In Barbados
S
ix Jamaican boxers, Daniel Hylton, Keron Thomas, Ricardo C a r t e r, J o n a t h a n Hanson, Ian Darby, and Richardo Brown, are all in Barbados for the Caribbean Boxing Development tournament. The tournament, which as its name suggests, seeks to develop Caribbean boxing talent, begins tomorrow and runs until December 10. Hylton, a lightweight, will box in the Junior class, Carter, who is in the same weightclass, fights in the Open Elite class. The middleweight in the group, Hanson, will also box in the Open Elite Class, and will be joined by light heavyweight, Darby, and super heavyweight, Brown. The lone female on
the trip, flyweight Thomas, will fight in the Novice class. Also involved in the tournament are boxers from the host country, Belize, the Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Guadeloupe, St Lucia, St Maarten, the US Virgin Islands and Trinidad and Tobago. The day after the tournament, December 11, there will be a meeting of regional representatives with Internatinoal Boxing Association president DR CK Wu and acting executive director, William Louis Marie. The two will be present for the final. The Jamaicans are being accompanied by manager-coach, Gilbert Vaz and coach Robert Napier. Referee-judge Kevin Stupart, who was in Barbados from Saturday, is participating in pre-tournament seminar for technical officials. The team is expected to be bolstered by the presence of Switzerland-based Jamaican boxer, Sara-Joy Rae. (SportsMax)
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Federer And Serena Opt Out Of ITPL been delayed after he decided to miss the International Premier Tennis League (ITPL), while Serena Williams also opted to skip the exhibition tournament. Federer was due to be back in action for the first time since Wimbledon, but will wait until 2017 to return to the court after recovering from a knee injury.
T
he financial climate in India has prevented Roger Federer and Serena Williams from playing in the ITPL this month. Roger Federer's comeback has
he Swiss great will not play in the team event in India due to the financial uncertainty in the Asian nation, with Williams another notable absentee. ITPL founder Mahesh Bhupathi said: "We have had challenges this year, and we were hoping to get past them. With the current economic climate in India and the uncertainty of spending money, I reached out to both Roger and Serena to explain the situation. "They have both been very supportive of the IPTL the first two seasons and we look forward to bringing them in future years." (SportsMax)
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Watmore's Season Ended By Injury
S
underland have started to climb the Premier League table, but manager David Moyes has been dealt an injury blow. Duncan Watmore's season looks to have been brought to a premature close after the Sunderland forward suffered a serious injury against Leicester City at the weekend. The 22-year-old collided with Christian Fuchs late on in the Black Cats' 2-1 win and underwent a scan on Monday which revealed he had sustained cruciate knee ligament damage. Manager David Moyes confirmed it would likely sideline Watmore for the remainder of the campaign. Sunderland – for whom Watmore has started 11 Premier League games this season – have climbed off the foot of the table in recent weeks following a run of three wins in four matches. (SportsMax)
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The Brady Bunch - Tom's Career In Opta Numbers yards.
W
e look at some of Tom Brady's most impressive statistics after the Patriots quarterback won a record 201st match at the weekend. Tom Brady achieved yet another notable career landmark on Sunday when he became the most successful quarterback in NFL history, winning his 201st game to move ahead of Peyton Manning. The four-time Super Bowl winner, who has spent his entire NFL career with the New England Patriots, boasts some seriously impressive statistics. With the help of Opta, we take a look at a number of his most impressive numbers. 7,957 - Brady has thrown for a NFL-record 7,957 passing yards in the postseason. Peyton Manning (7,339) is the only other quarterback with more than 5,900 postseason passing
56 - Brady has also thrown 56 touchdowns in the playoffs, 11 more than Joe Montana, who sits in second place with 45. 335 - The 39-year-old holds the NFL record for most consecutive regular-season passes without an interception. 60,498 - Brady is closing in on Brett Favre's record for the most passing yards accumulated with one team. The Patriots QB's current tally of 60,498 yards puts him just 1,157 yards short of Favre's tally with the Green Bay Packers. 97.0 - A career passer rating of 97.0 puts Brady fourth on the all-time NFL list, behind Aaron Rodgers (103.5), Russell Wilson (100.3) and Tony Romo (97.1). 9 - Brady holds the record for the most game-winning drives (nine) and fourth-quarter comebacks (six) in a postseason career. He has led 38 fourth-quarter comebacks in all, the secondmost in NFL history. 4,000 - He has thrown for at least 4,000 yards in five straight seasons, tied for the second-longest active streak in the league and the fourth-longest streak alltime. 259.6 - Brady is averaging 259.6 passing yards per game, which currently ranks as the seventh-most all-time among qualified quarterbacks. In addition, he owns a career interception percentage of 1.9 per cent, which is the fifthlowest in NFL history among qualified quarterbacks. (SportsMax)
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Atkinson Hoping For Medals And Records At Short Course Championships taking. “The focus is to go in and try and mimic what we did in the World Cup tour,” she told Sportsmax.tv, “to go in hard and somewhat hold off in the beginning of the 50 and the 100 breaststroke but to also improve in the 100m individual medley as well and to get a little bit higher placing in that.”
J
amaica’s swimming star, Alia Atkinson takes on some of the best swimmers in the world starting today at the FINA Short Course World Championships in Windsor, Canada, hoping to mimic or improve upon her performances during her successful this year’s FINA/Airweave World Cup tour. During the season that she described as her best ever, Atkinson set a new world record in the 50-metre breast stroke (28.64) and also equaled her world record in the 100metre breaststroke (1:02.36). If she can achieve or improve upon those performances, gold medals and world records are definitely there for the
The 27-year-old was fourth in the 100m IM at 2014 championships in Doha. She won gold in the 100m and silver in the 50m breaststroke, respectively. The FINA World Cup tour concluded at the end of October and since then Atkinson has been working to improve on those races. “Since then it has been a bit more fine-tuning in the areas where I was weaker. The backstroke, the finishes, some turns,” she said. Should those efforts to fine tune pay off, it could means exciting times for the Florida-based Jamaican. “We all have a certain targets,” she said, responding to questions on whether world record performances are what she is aiming for in Windsor. “What we have to focus on is doing the best and seeing what that will result in. I don’t think anyone goes into to any competition wanting to be the same. I would like to better, be faster. For me that results in me setting a new world record. So with that in mind, yes.” She celebrates her 28th birthday on the final day of the championships on December 11 and hope it ends with a bang. “The 200m breaststroke is on that day so I am hoping the universe can send me a present,” she said with a laugh. (SportsMax)