Guyana Inc Magazine Issue 14

YOUR FREE COPY TO KEEP! - ISSUE 14

‘Bulkan Timber Works’ takes value adding to another level A LOOK AT GUYANA’S SCRAP METAL INDUSTRY

The Importance of Water in the Mining Industry

- shingles, kiln-drying, coals… nothing is wasted

Guyana’s Entertainment Industry proving to be viable, promising and profitable

Taking Private Security to another level...

Roshan Khan…

Reesa Sooklall

Miss Guyana Talented Teen 2014 Model Agency: Traits Model Management

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CONTENTS Founder and Publisher Teshawna Lall, BA, MBA Managing Director Frank Sanichara Marketing Innovative Marketing & Publishing Inc. Design Innovative Marketing & Publishing Inc. Editorial Contributions Adam Harris Ministry of Culture Ministry of Natural Resources & the Environment Teni Housty, LLM, MBA Marissa Lowden Leonard Gildarie Franklin Wilson Brian Ramsey Sabatini Daniels Dr. Zulfikar Bux Abena Rockliffe Erica Singh Saarah Gajraj Kiana Wilburg Leana Bradshaw Tammy Quail Models: Shalisa Harripersaud, Tekesa Gittens, Alicia Best

70 Industrial Site, Eccles, East Bank Demerara, Guyana, South America.

Tel: (592) 665-2206 or (592) 233-2069 For Subscription in Guyana and the Caribbean Contact: (592) 233-2069 North America: 347-599-6426 Email: guyanainc@gmail.com Website: www.guyanainc.biz

While every effort has been made to ensure that information is correct at the time of going to print, Innovative Marketing & Publishing Inc. DBA Guyana Inc. cannot be held responsible for the outcome of any action or decision based on the information contained in this publication. The publishers or authors do not give any warranty for the content, explanation or opinion. It is advisable that prospective investors consult their attorney/s and/ or financial investor/s prior to following/ pursing any business opportunity or entering into any investments.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form without prior written permission of the Publisher.

8 FEATURE

18 INDUSTRY

Business & Advertising........................6 Taking Private Security to Another Level - Mr. Roshan Khan.....................8 Bulkan’s Shingle Manufacturing Taking Value Adding to Another Level.......14 Insurance industry soars to new levels.............................................16 Guyana’s Scrap Metal Industry.........18 Vomitting & Diarrhea The Do’s & Dont’s...............................20 Guyana’s Entertainment Industry Proving to be Profitable..........................22 Security Lights....................................24 Copyright Laws...........................................26

Competitivesness, Services & Opportunities in CSME Pt. 2............28 Employees Who Feel Loved Perform Better....................................................30 The Importance of Water in the Mining Industry.................................32 Suicide & Domestic Violence Prevention - the key to Intervention...........36 Easter Takes on New Look in Guyana............................................38 Rugby Grabs the Most Awards...........40 Christopher Barnwell.........................41 Local basketball has evolved

-Guyana Panthers create history with 3-0 sweep of Bermuda......................42

22 ENTERTAINMENT Guyana’s Entertainment Industry proving to be viable, promising and profitable

110 West Regent Street, Lacytown, Georgetown.

Tel: (592) 227-4754, Fax: (592) 227-0827 120-11 Liberty Avenue, South Richmond Hill, NY 11419.

Tel: 718-835 1335

Modeled by Alicia Best

Business & advertising

O

ne of the keys to a successful business is advertising. Whoever came up with the idea had to be a genius. But then again, from the first time man realized that he should trade, in the face of competition, he had to come up with a strategy to make people gravitate to what he had, as opposed to what his competition offered.

Then someone found that packaging could enhance the goods, and so we began to see articles being attractively wrapped and sold. A survey found that the object with the most attractive packaging was the one that was purchased more rapidly.

Since then, the electronic media have appeared and merchants have gravitated to this medium. They had already begun using the newspapers and magazines, something they still do with great success. In fact, advertising production is something that is taught at the university level as part of the communications programme.

Some of the techniques are to use bright colours if the product is intended to liven up a situation. We have all seen advertisements for parties or energy drinks featuring enticing colours.

Another aspect is the use of pace. Fast moving advertisements effectively send the intended message. If it is about a party one would see that the music is up tempo.

There is the adage that sex sells so there is no shortage of sex to promote certain products. There are the women in various forms of dress and these are eye catching. For sure, such an advertisement is aimed at men.

Women are also used to feature beauty products or certain clothing and, because of the target audience, the mood changes. The music is soothing and the focus is on close up shots. These things are not left to chance; photographers are trained at the highest level. In our part of the world, where much emphasis is

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not on training, we see attempts at the very things that the trained producers of advertisement would do.

Regent Street must be the shopping centre of Guyana. A walk along this street would reveal the various methods used by the stores. But there are other locations like Starr Computers which has a large mural on the front advertising the products. In fact, this is the trend at many other locations. The Ministry of Trade and Tourism has similar advertising, as do some of the smaller businesses on sections of Church Street, Cummingsburg.

A whole new business has sprung up to cater for places that wish to use photography as the base for advertising.

Neil Sukhlall’s screen printing is certainly the leader in this area.

There are advertisements for foods, vehicles, accessories and just about everything that needs to be marketed.

But there are other things that do promote goods. For example, there is the building in which the goods are housed.

These are well constructed and the architects make maximum use of lights.

These days, such is the impact of architecture that the skyline of Georgetown, the Guyana capital, is changing. We see tall buildings that are constructed of concrete and glass. Gone are the days when the buildings had a mere glass show window. But even then, emphasis was placed on decoration.

There is the building that houses the City Mall and the other across the road that has the Gravity Night Club at the top and Footsteps Megastore below. Bhena’s

Footwear uses the show window to great effect. These are just two of the facilities that make use of lighting and colour.

Low level items are vended in arcades that adorn a section of Georgetown so one would actually see that the vendors do have an eye on arrangement, another form of advertising. These days we see just about everything being advertised and there are buyers.

What is at play is the drive to capture the buyers who seek bargains so that their disposable income would earn for them the most they can get. In a small country like Guyana, where disposable income is not at a premium and where people really search for bargains, the need for advertising cannot be overemphasised.

Bargains seem to be the order of the day and buyers are often besieged with ‘For sale’ signs. Almost every store is offering something for sale. This is another advertising ploy. The goods are always priced at a number that ends with ‘99’. A television set may be priced at $39,999. Shoes are priced at $5,999’ and those pricing policies continue.

In some countries there are 99 cents stores where at one time no item was more expensive than 99 cents. It is a mind game because the buyer sees the first figure. For example $3,999 is indeed cheaper than $4,000. The buyer says that $3,000 is less than $4,000.

One would feel that this is a cheap ploy but it works, and regardless of how smart the person thinks he or she is, there is always the gravitation to the cheaper article, even if the difference is one dollar.

Taking Private Security to another level...

Roshan Khan

W

hen people think of security firms in Guyana, the first name that comes to mind is R.K’s Guyana Security Services. However, despite its household name, not many know the story of the man behind the multimillion dollar security firm and his climb to success.

The story of Mr. Roshan Khan, one of Guyana’s well known and respected businessmen, is filled with perseverance, coupled with hard work and dedication.

The business mogul who has always been an outstanding, motivated and disciplined individual, stood out from his peers since childhood. Hence, it hardly comes as surprise that he was able to take a $7.50 capital investment and an old motorcycle and turn it into a national security network serving all ten regions in the country and creating over 1,000 jobs today.

The businessman was born Kamal Krishna Lall on April 1, 1955 to the parents Awad Chandra Lall and Mother Laifan Haniff in Nigg Settlement, Corentyne, Berbice. At the age of two, his parents separated, so he didn’t know his father as a child, until later in his life.

His mother, a housewife, later remarried to Mr. Issahar Khan, a businessman/trucker with whom he grew up.

Roshan’s stepfather was his greatest motivator. “The eyes and words of my stepfather propelled me to be great and to reach for the stars.” When he turned 18 and was about to migrate to study in Canada, he decided to change his name to Roshan Khan.

His mother named him Roshan which means light of wisdom, while Khan means prince or ruler.

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Growing up he spent his childhood in Corriverton/ Skeldon, Berbice where he described having a very adventurous boyhood as any typical country boy would. Mr. Khan grew up with eight siblings, something he described as an amazing experience. He witnessed the birth of all his siblings, except one. Like many, he was never subjected to sibling rivalry, but was sometimes irritated since he was the eldest and the little ones always looked up to him and followed him wherever he went.

Together they would go to steal Booker’s (Sugar Company) cane which they would sit in front of their house to eat. They would even shoot doves and roast them in the bush.

In the mornings after prayer, they would go to collect “cow dung” so their mother could shine the bottom house, using a mixture of the dung and mud. They would catch fish with hooks, light a little fire and roast the catch and ride their bicycles in the evenings.

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Mr. Khan in his younger years

National Museum of Guyana or an International Museum. In this collection, there is a very rare coin of Guyana, when Guyana had only two colonies, Essequibo and Demerara dated 1816.

As a child, the businessman was also always attracted to the police and military, particularly as it relates to crime detection and prevention. He said, “I was always caught with security guards – chit-chatting, discoursing, and learning.

“In retrospect, I can see that I was being groomed – by my imagination and fascination, even destiny - for what was to be.”

Mr. Khan attended the Skeldon Anglican School (now Corriverton Primary) and later moved on to the Tagore Memorial High School. He was always a dedicated and outstanding student. In early high school he won the Skeldon Estate Essay Competition. He still has the photographs and newspaper articles, of which he is highly proud.

He was also the only boy in his area who attended typing school where he was successful in passing Pitman’s Examinations in Typing and English. This, he said, aided him in his studies in Canada years later and even to this day. After high school he migrated to attend the MacDonald Campus of McGill University in Canada where he qualified in Police Technology.

Upon leaving to go abroad, he faced his mother, who was his guide, teacher and

Mr. Khan and his initial team of RK Security Services

During the Easter season, they would go in the backdam to get paste to make their kites.

The businessman was extremely different from other boys his age. Unlike his peers, he never swam in the Corentyne River or in the Bookers canal where cane punts were pulled. He never smoked cigarettes or consumed alcohol, even though he was encouraged by his peers and even some adults. To this day, Mr. Khan has not tasted alcohol except to dip his finger into it and placing it against his tongue.

“Alcohol is not made for drinking but for lighting lamps.”

Since he did not give into peer pressure, he was called many names and taunted frequently. For example, the two that he recalls vividly are, “You’re such a girl”, and, “You’re not a real man.” However, he never allowed these pressures of “bullyism” to affect him in any way. He remained steadfast in what he thought was right and best.

Instead, he found his interest was elsewhere, for instance in assisting the elders or the mentally challenged. At the age of eight, he started a stamp collection. No one in the community he knew ever spoke of collecting stamps but yet, it fascinated him and to this day, he has a fantastic collection of stamps from the British Commonwealth, which he hopes to pass on to one of his deserving children.

At the age of nine, he started a coin collection which he still has and hopes to donate to the Guyana Inc. - Issue 14 P.10

“Live by the law – die by the law, keep away from negative energy and those who are envious or jealous, do not fall prey to temptation, do not steal; listen to the instrument of God within you – your conscience and you can achieve anything you want.” friend. She made him promise her that he would never indulge in drinking alcohol or puffing cigarettes. Being the good son, Mr. Khan kept his promise.

For the first two years of college, he was supported by his step-father and his mother. However, he also had to work part time in a library, at restaurants, as a bus boy and waiter. He did other odd jobs too, to raise funds. He cut lawns, weeded grass and painted fences. All of this, he said, “added to my wealth of knowledge, and helped to define my personality and humanity.”

It was several years after he returned to Guyana that he met the love of life and wife of 29 years, Ms. Latchmin Khan. Through their union they borne four children: Roshan Khan II, Katherina Roshana Khan, Latifan Rosheena Khan-Jagarnauth and Roshaad Awad Chandra Lall, named after his father.

Mr. Khan also has an older daughter from his first marriage: Rosh-Anne Natasha Khan.

His children, who he and his wife raised to be humble and kind individuals, have always been imparted with several pieces of advice from their father: “Live by the law – die by the law, keep away from negative energy and those who are envious or jealous, do not fall prey to temptation, do not steal; listen to the instrument of God within you – your conscience and you can achieve anything you want.”

His favourite quote which he often chants to others is, “For the Sins we commit two by two, we have to pay for them one by one.” It was also after his return to Guyana that Mr. Khan started his business in 1979. Upon his return to Guyana in 1977 at the age of 22, when his studies were completed, he opted to join the Guyana National Service where he served as a Trainee Instructor and Careers Guidance Counsellor.

After he left the National Service, he worked with a local security agency, GEB, of which Mr. Maurice Amres was the Managing Director. It was at GEB that he found his calling for the security business.

While working with that company, in the Inspectorate Division, he was identified as a “thinking person” with leadership ability.

In the process of developing his security talents and abilities while enjoying favorable opportunities for growth from management, he made some enemies. Envy caused that.

Hence, when the Managing Director was

“I make myself available 24/7 for my customers – even to this day. Regardless of where I am in the world, I am available 24/7. I can be disturbed at any time – sleep never comes first.” out of the country, a false allegation was levelled against him and so the company disposed of his services.

This was a low point and “truly depressing” time in his life. However, little did he know that this misfortune would change the course of his life forever in the best possible way. On the day he was dismissed wrongfully in 1979 from GEB, he decided to take a ride across the Demerara Harbour Bridge to calm his mind, but as fate would have it, while riding across the bridge, he had a vision.

“That moment, that vision, that idea ended up being the one defining moment of my life.

I felt as if I was lost in the clouds and I heard a voice in my head. The voice gave me the formula on how to go into my own security business and I had a vision of the logo,” Mr. Khan said.

He explained that the voice in his head told him, “Go now. Start your own business.” With that state of mind, he turned his motorcycle around and went on a journey to see what clients he could obtain. To his surprise the first few places he approached and explained the services he could offer gave him contracts and from there he never looked back.

Shockingly, prior to this, he never had a desire to be a businessman or own a security service.

RK’s Security Services now has 14 locations in Georgetown, Linden, Fort Wellington, New Amsterdam, Corriverton, Bartica, Lethem, Anna Regina, Land of Plenty, Mahdia,

Moruca, Mabaruma, Matthew’s Ridge and Port Kaituma. The entrepreneur has put out several new initiatives and created numerous job opportunities of which he is proud.

While at present his business employs over 1,000 people, it sometimes hires up to 2,500, but this depends on contracts.

Mr. Khan has also diversified into a number of other areas over the years. He launched the RK’s Institute of Motoring, the only organized driving school in Guyana with a syllabus.

He also opened RK’s Battery Works – which repaired and made new batteries using old casings. He even went into partnership with a businessman from Trinidad & Tobago to operate “Best Shipping” which would bring in used tires from the USA. He later ventured into the auto windshield repair business and property management.

Most recently, he introduced three-wheeler (trikes) in Guyana under company name, RKs EcoStar Motos.

His business is about to embark on being the first company in Guyana to officially launch electric vehicles. Despite the fact that the businessman started off with little money or partners, he managed to maintain his business through initiative and creativity and by putting his customers first.

Mr. Khan said, “I make myself available 24/7 for my customers – even to this day.

Regardless of where I am in the world, I am available 24/7. I can be disturbed at any time – sleep never comes first.”

Mr. Khan, his wife and four of his five children

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In spite of his busy work load, he has always found time to be an active member of organisations and causes which he has keen interests in. For instance he is an Ambassador of Peace for the Universal Peace Federation and was even awarded the Gold Peace Medal by the organisation.

As such he has traveled to many countries on behalf of the Universal Peace Federation to deliver peace talks, help in conflict transformation, and read peace messages. In the year 2000, he was invited by the Indian Council for International Cooperation to prepare and deliver a paper to an audience of over 5000 people, attended by then Prime Minister Atal BehariVajpayee, on the topic: Contributions of Indians in the Politics and Economy of Guyana.

He received a special tea appointment with the Hon. Prime Minister as a result.

He is the Commissioner of the National Commission Law & Order and a member of the Boards of Directors of the Prison Sentence Management Board. He even founded the International Islamic Peace Ambassador Network and serves as chairman for the organisation.

Mr. Khan is a current Board member of the Anna Catherina Islamic Complex, and cofounder and President of the Guyana Islamic Forum for Education, Peace and Religious solidarity.

He is also a stage actor; his most recent role was a principal/headmaster of Dosti which was shown at the National Cultural Centre. He acted as Chief of Police in the movie Rainbow Raani, which was made in Guyana. He also co/produced the Convert with Charmaine Blackman, featuring Katherina Roshana, his

Mr. Khan posing proudly the medal he received from the Universal Peace Federation

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“Never be envious of another man’s talent, blessing, or success – Be INSPIRED, do not hate him or her or feel hurt over his achievement.

Instead, honour that individual, bless that individual, and tell the universe that you would like to become someone like that one day.”

Certificate- Mr. Roshan Khan receiving a certificate from USAID as a “Court Mediator”

daughter Miss universe Guyana 2013.

While he said that he has achieved it all in the realm of business, he wishes to someday author books since he enjoys writing, especially poetry that focuses on womanhood and motherhood. In the future, he hopes to publish a book that will unite all religions of the world, showing the similarities of religion, others that focus on the laws of attraction and the power of positive thinking and his auto biography.

Mr. Khan jokingly said, “If I die before I write my autobiography, my wife will definitely kill me!” At one point in time, he wrote a weekly column for Kaieteur News called “The Religion of Islam.”

However, despite the fast pace his business is still moving in, Mr. Khan looks forward to “semi retirement” in the next 10 years, since he is cognizant that as the founder and sole owner, it will be difficult for him to retire entirely from the business. Hence, he will more than likely hand the business over to his children, and dedicated staff to run. He will be a consultant.

After moving into semi retirement, he

hopes to serve mankind in various forms, such as mentoring youths or traveling both locally and internationally to preach the Unity of God and the Brotherhood of Man since he believes that there must be no disrespect for religions, ethnicity, and cultures. The businessman attends Churches, Mosques and Mandirs.

His advice to young aspiring entrepreneurs is to “never lose heart at the moment of a depressing experience. Stay steadfast!

Believe you can do what you want to do. You can achieve the best, especially if you can see it in your “mind’s eye”. Keep away from negative persons and their vibrations.

He also encourages young aspiring entrepreneurs to stay away from bad company since he said bad company creates bad energy and bad energy can cause a distraction from the mission at hand. “Never be envious of another man’s talent, blessing, or success – Be INSPIRED, do not hate him or her or feel hurt over his achievement. Instead, honour that individual, bless that individual, and tell the universe that you would like to become someone like that one day,” he said.

‘Bulkan Timber Works’ takes value adding to another level - shingles, kiln-drying, coals… nothing is wasted

A

s Government continues to encourage companies to create more jobs by establishing more processing facilities, at least one entity is heeding the call in a big way.

Bulkan Timber Works at Yarrowkabra, Soesdyke/Linden Highway, has been involved in wood processing for so long that it has mastered the art of wasting nothing.

From kiln drying, molding, doors and prefabricated wooden homes, the facilities at the former glass factory compound is an interesting model of what can happen in Guyana.

Directors George Bulkan and Justin Bulkan are cousins and the second generation in a family that has honed their skills in the wood business for a number of decades.

The business, which has a sister company involved in making shingle roofing from Wallaba wood, has been buying wood from small loggers for years now. The wood arrives at the Yarrowkabra location on trucks that belong to private operators. Because of its beauty in construction finishes, wooden shingles, ideal for walls and roofs, have been growing in demand in especially Europe and Asia.

The regional market has also been growing for Bulkan’s kiln-dried lumber.

The company has invested in several drying facilities called kilns. These ovens are being powered by wood waste which is fed into a boiler. Literally nothing is thrown away in the factory.

During a recent tour of the factory, the Bulkans made it clear that it is a fact that the majority of Guyanese are purchasing woods that have not been processed or dried properly.

It was explained that the majority of wood being sold at lumber yards and sawmills are raw and not treated for termites or dried to ensure that movements after installation are limited. Of course, they agreed, there is need for more consumers to be aware or educated about the importance of using lumber that is properly stored and treated.

While it costs a little more for kiln-dried woods, the long term benefits are tremendous.

“So you have a wall that has been made of woods that are not treated. No homeowner wants to see a wood wall that has creases.

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Instead of the wall lasting 10 years, it should be around for at least 30 to 40 years. That is what proper processing and proper handling does to woods. It makes them last longer,” says George Bulkan.

The company has been able to take the Wallaba wood, manipulate its moisture content by baking them in the kilns and offer them as wall-boards and flooring. It is by no means an easy task as Wallaba has long been used for power poles and are ideal in fence building. However, it has never really been used internally on walls or on floors because of a sap that is always present.

The Bulkans have found a way to extract the sap using its kilns.

The factory has also been able to introduce technology that makes what is called endmatching lumber. This simply means all sides of a piece of wood come with the “groove and tongue” feature which allows it to be fitted together.

“What this means is that you can literally fit an entire flooring without the use of nails on top, allowing for a beautiful finish,” Justin explained. The end-match wood is becoming increasingly popular.

The company is now preparing for a major overseas wood show in which it is showcasing its shingles, Wallaba decking and wall board.

Bulkan’s processed lumber, including its Purpleheart, has remained a big seller on the overseas market.

The Yarrowkabra factory has established a number of showrooms built with not only Guyana’s exotic woods, but with what is called the lesser used species. Everything that the Bulkans are offering, from doors to mouldings to windows, are on display.

But perhaps the biggest attraction that the factory is banking on is its pre-fab homes which have quietly been growing at a rapid pace. The wooden homes are way cooler for Guyana’s tropical climate compared to concrete homes.

Instead of ordering a 12-foot by 15-foot wall, the Bulkans, because of the end-matching service, says that customers can order by the square foot.

“What you would not see is excess wood being left back because we will be supplying you with an entire wall…all pieces being fitted neatly together. This ultimately saves the customers money too,” George explained.

There were crates upon crates of the valueadded wood products stacked and ready to be packed for export.

But if that section of the factory was anything to talk about, it was a visit to the shingle-making section that would attract the most interest, as far as value-added activities are concerned.

Wood shingles for roofing has always been

“Very soon, we will be introducing services in which our experts will sit with customers, and based of the measurements given, we will be able to advise them and offer tips that will save them money.” around, but Wallaba shingles are relatively new. The operation involved sawing the logs into pieces before a piece of equipment splits it in half. This is then moved to another section which slices the wood into shingles. This is then checked to ensure uniformity in quality before the shingles are packed into crates.

The ends travel on a long conveyor belt to the outside of the compound where scores of residents from nearby communities have been benefitting…for free. Several men using makeshift rakes separate the pieces of wood from the waste. These are then picked up by both men and women who have coal pits in the area.

Yes, the waste woods are a big business for the Yarrowkabra residents, many of them single parents. They would burn the woods into coals. Some are exported while buyers are even trekking to the area to pick up the bags.

The wood waste is also given free to chicken farms in the area.

The company is getting ready to move, in a big way, to produce doors, increase interest in the lesser used species of wood and a host of other services.

“Very soon, we will be introducing services in which our experts will sit with customers, and based of the measurements given, we will be able to advise them and offer tips that will save them money.”

Directly and indirectly, almost 500 persons depend on the Yarrowkabra operations for a living.

The Bulkan facilities and the family’s approach to ensuring consumers are protected in accessing the highest possibility service and products are in keeping with the worldwide movement by companies to meet international standards.

With almost nothing being wasted, it serves as a classic example of how companies can coexist with communities to the mutual benefits of all.

Insurance industry soars to new levels with GTM’s comprehensive packages

G

uyana’s insurance industry has experienced numerous harsh blows due to various external and internal economic shocks.

However, it is about to soar to new and exciting levels with the introduction of three unique comprehensive packages crafted

by GTM Group of Insurance Companies, the benefits of which are being offered for the first time on the local market. These policy programmes are the Medical and Professionals Club, the Special Private Motor Comprehensive Insurance Package and the Homeowners Comprehensive Package. Since their January launch, these packages have attracted overwhelming support.

The Medical and Professionals Club This package provides coverage for private motor vehicles owned by medical practitioners and other professionals. It caters for whether the vehicle is new, reconditioned or second hand. Every new member enjoys an introductory discount of 20 %. It also offers its members the highest No Claim Discount (NCD). (This means that you are rewarded with an attractive discount for not making any claims on your motor car insurance during a specified period.)

But what’s particularly interesting, is seven new benefits which are not being offered by any other insurance company in Guyana.

Usually, when an insured driver is involved in an accident in his first year of being with an insurance company, he or she loses several discounts. GTM on the other hand believes in “Accident Forgiveness” whereby your NCD will not be affected. GTM is also the first to offer settlement via the “Authorization of repairs.” In this case, GTM is prepared to authorize an approved repairer to refurbish the motor vehicle, after which, the approved repairer will submit the bill and GTM will stand the cost. While your vehicle is being repaired, GTM provides, “Free Alternative Transportation” up to a maximum of 14 days.

The Medical Professionals Club also grants the option to insure “Full Value” following an accident. In this instance, if your vehicle is insured duty free, in the event of an accident, you will have the choice of paying the additional premium from the inception of the policy year. The Insurance Company will also pay in the event of an accident, even if the errant party is not insured.

Other new benefits to the market under this package include a Special 10% Discount from Automotive Art on all new tyres and other care products purchased there, and a 5% Safety discount if Automotive Art installs and supplies the new tyres.

Also available is the Optional Emergency Air Ambulance Coverage anywhere in the Caribbean or in Miami. The Air Ambulance Coverage is in the event of a medical emergency, the air ambulance service can be used for the individual or the family.

Special Private Motor Comprehensive Insurance Package This package caters for all new vehicles purchased from Rudisa Motor Company and Beharry Automotive Limited. New car owners for this category are also provided with the opportunity to enjoy some of the benefits offered in the Medical and Professionals Club.

GTM’s Comprehensive Homeowners Policy Package The most talked about package, however, is GTM’s Comprehensive Homeowners Policy Package. In fact, Fire Manager of the GTM Group of Companies, Ramona Singh, insists that this policy caters for a wide scope of eventualities and offers more than the ordinary benefits. The Homeowners package, Singh said, offers coverage of losses as a result of several events which include overflow of the sea, hurricane, earthquake, falling trees, malicious damage, riot and strike. This is also extended to buildings which include the main building, outbuildings, fences, gates, swimming pools, satellite dishes, terraces, patios, the contents of each which include, but is not limited to, household furnishings, valuables, jewellery, sporting equipment, personal effects and electronic equipment. The GTM manager asserted, too, that in the event that a homeowner loses his home, he has nothing to fear, for the package offers reasonable additional cost of alternative accommodation. The comprehensive policy also provides reimbursement, for rented property that is in a state of disrepair due to the effects of certain elements.

Coverage also extends to cases where employees sustain injury while on the insured property. Even if an invited or uninvited guest who comes to your home suffers from any accidental injury, compensation for this is provided for in the package.

As for valuables such as jewellery, home furnishings and sporting equipment, the Homeowners policy offers an attractive reimbursement and replacement in the case of damage or loss of those items.

GTM also takes into account the fact that some homeowners are constant travelers.

As such, the company includes in the package, All Risks Insurance for valuables and personal effects on a worldwide basis in the event of accidental loss or damage by any cause. Coverage is also available for food stored in any deep freezer or refrigerator in one’s home that has been spoilt as a result of breakdown or accidental damage to the freezer or refrigerator, contamination by refrigerants or its fumes and if there is a failure of electricity supply for more than twenty four hours. The policy also caters for restoration of external sources of water and electricity and even compensation if you become permanently disabled from an accident at your property.

Singh summarized that the true intention of the specially tailored packages is to ensure customers get real value for their money as opposed to the run of the mill benefits.

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Sueria Manufacturing Inc.

70 Industrial Site, Eccles, East Bank Demerara, Guyana.

Tel: (592) 233-2473

Email: frank@surifoods.com www.surifoods.com

A LOOK AT GUYANA’S SCRAP METAL INDUSTRY

I

ron is a chemical element with symbol Fe and atomic number 26. It is a metal in the first transition series. It is by mass the most common element on Earth, forming much of Earth’s outer and inner core.

Iron is the most frequently encountered metal in daily life, always in the form of manufactured objects, and usually covered with a protective coating or buried deep within the object. Concrete structures contain essential reinforcing iron; electrical machines, including transformers, depend on iron. Automobiles are mainly iron; “tin” cans are iron covered with thin coatings of tin or lacquer; fasteners, such as the nails and screws used in wooden construction, are usually iron. This list can easily be extended with a little thought.

Iron is an excellent and versatile material of construction since it is strong, tough, easily formed and worked, and, very importantly, cheap compared to the alternatives. Plastics give it competition, especially in products that must be manufactured at the lowest cost where strength and durability are not the primary concerns, such as modern American automobiles.

Aluminium is a strong competitor where weight is a concern, as in aircraft. However, the versatility of iron-carbon alloys cannot be matched in any other material. Alloys with other metals, such as nickel, chromium and manganese, give further advantages. These steels can be tailored to nearly every demand, and are not significantly challenged as materials of construction.

IRON IN GUYANA The concentration of iron by rock weathering is a common process.

An indication of iron in Guyana is the iron-oxide rich rocks of magmatic and possibly sedimentary origin which occurs in Northern and Southern Guyana. Iron ore potential is found in mountains where they extend over several hundred square miles.

Iron ore potential in Guyana can be separated into two main types: 1. Lateritic deposits In the strict sense of the term, laterite is an earth or soft amorphous rock consisting of varying mixtures of hydroxides of aluminum and iron, usually accompanied by free silica and oxide of titanium.

By convenience its use is confined to tie occurrences in which iron preponderates over the aluminum; when the aluminum content is high, the word bauxite is used, and bauxite is the chief commercial ore of aluminum.

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These deposits are concentrated in the region of the West Pakaraima Mountains, and in association with bauxite deposits.

Processing depends on availability of cheap energy. Some laterite is quarried and used in bauxite processing, and apart from its use as a road metal, no other use is made of it. Laterites have the potential of producing both iron and aluminium, but adequate technology on an economically viable scale is as yet lacking.

Laterites are also widely distributed in Guyana. Both aluminous and iron-rich types exist. Some laterite is quarried. Other laterites are found extensively occurring in the west of the country in the Pakaraima Mountains, where they extend for several hundred square miles.

2.

Non-lateritic deposits Non lateritic iron ore can be separated in two types: 1.

Banded iron formations Banded iron formations (BIFs) are sedimentary rocks containing more than 15% iron composed predominantly of thinly bedded iron minerals and silica (as quartz). Banded iron formations occur exclusively in Precambrian rocks, and are commonly weakly to intensely metamorphosed. Banded iron formations may contain iron in carbonates (siderite or ankerite) or silicates (minnesotaite, greenalite, or grunerite), but in those mined as iron ores, oxides (magnetite or hematite) are the principal iron mineral.Banded iron formations are known as taconite within North America.

The mining involves moving tremendous amounts of ore and waste. The waste comes in two forms, non-ore bedrock in the mine (overburden or interburden locally known as mullock), and unwanted minerals which are an intrinsic part of the ore rock itself (gangue). The mullock is mined and piled in waste dumps, and the gangue is separated during the beneficiation process and is removed as tailings. Taconite tailings are mostly the mineral quartz, which is chemically inert. This material is stored in large, regulated water settling ponds.

2. Possible magmatic derived magnetite deposits containing titanium Occasionally granite and ultrapotassic igneous rocks segregate magnetite crystals and form masses of magnetite suitable for economic concentration. A few iron ore deposits,

notably in Chile, are formed from volcanic flows containing significant accumulations of magnetite phenocrysts. Chilean magnetite iron ore deposits within the Atacama Desert have also formed alluvial accumulations of magnetite in streams leading from these volcanic formations.

Some magnetite skarn and hydrothermal deposits have been worked in the past as high-grade iron ore deposits requiring little beneficiation.

Other sources of magnetite iron ore include metamorphic accumulations of massive magnetite ore such as at Savage River, Tasmania, formed by shearing of ophiolite ultramafics.

Another minor source of iron ores are magmatic accumulations in layered intrusions which contain a typically titanium-bearing magnetite often with vanadium. These ores form a niche market, with specialty smelters used to recover the iron, titanium and vanadium. These ores are beneficiated essentially similar to banded iron formation ores, but usually are more easily upgraded via crushing and screening.

In Guyana, the major applications of Iron are as follow: • Buildings and Highway construction.

• Vehicle Manufacturing • Industrial Machinery • Household and Institutional Furnishing • Pharmaceuticals • Recreational facilities THE SCRAP METAL INDUSTRY The saying that one man’s waste is another man’s treasure certainly applies to the scrap metal business. That discarded metal gate, the mangled steel from a torn down commercial building, and rejected air condition units are major components of a scrapyard.

Guyana has a booming metal recycling industry which covers a wide range of metals including scrap steel, iron, aluminium, copper zinc and others. In 2012, the scrap metal industry saw the exportation of 32,000 tons of metal.

The Guyana Metal Recyclers’ Association Inc. (G.M.R.A.) is a national Association that represents an industry dedicated to the efficient removal of recyclable material inclusive of ferrous and non-ferrous metals. “Keeping Guyana Green and Clean” represents the mission of the G.M.R.A. The scrap-metal trade exists across Guyana. Any activity that uses metal generates scrap, and scrap can be recycled for a variety of uses.

Recycling scrap metal makes good economic and environmental sense.

The phrase, “circular economy,” suggests that all things manufactured should be made in such a way that they can be later dismantled and recreated into a final end product once the original product has lost its usability to the consumer.

Scrap metal is one of those foundation materials that can be refashioned into many new uses: 1. New and Stronger Metal Products Recycled steel metal scraps can be made into higher quality tools through a process using an electric arc furnace. Stainless steel can also be made in this way. Copper scrap is made into products using some of the same processes as steel, which also include blast and reverberator furnace processes. Aluminium scrap metal can also be melted at a much lower temperature than virgin

aluminum, so the process consumes much less energy. This is generally true of all recycled metals, which not only saves on energy but CO2 emissions as well. This protects the environment while providing economic savings in the manufacturing process, which is then hopefully passed on to the consumer.

2. Industrial Uses Scrap iron and aluminium metals are being used extensively in the construction industry in projects such as roads and bridges.

In the transportation industry, it can be used in the manufacture of automobiles, aircrafts and other modes of transportation.

Scrap metal is also utilised widely in the production of containers, which are used extensively by many companies. Many appliances are also made out of scrap metal, especially aluminum. This use of scrap metal by so many industries has helped the environment by minimizing the need for mining natural resources that are becoming scarce. Scrap metal is also much cheaper to use in the manufacture of these items.

3. Artistic Uses Scrap has been used in beautiful sculptures by artists. Even people who are not professional artists have used recycled metals to form works of beauty and are proud to display them on their walls. Decorative metalwork has a distinctive art style all its own.

4. Home Furniture Metal furniture is often made of recycled metals and can be durable and beautiful. Benches, gliders, tables are just a few home furnishings that have been created from scrap metal.

5. Helping to Preserve Our Environment In addition to the previously-mentioned uses of scrap metal, it is important to note just how much of a saving there is for our environment.

Just in the use of recycled steel, there is a reduction of over 85% in air pollution. Reduction in water usage is 40%, and reduction in water pollution is over 75%. Recycling scrap metal also reduces the size of landfills.

The scrap iron industry has had its share of challenges over the years.

In addition to competing with other countries in the trade market, dealers have faced restrictions and bans put in place locally stemming from as long as five years ago. However, as recent as 2010, the Office of the Prime Minister re-opened the ferrous (iron and steel) recycling segment of the industry.

This industry still flourishes even with the decrease in iron prices.

Guyana’s restricted scrap metal industry saw the exportation of 32,000 tons of metal in 2012. That figure includes the 15,000 tons of metal packed in containers on the wharf and waiting to be exported and metals that were in scrap yards when a ban on the trade was imposed in April 2011.

IMPORTS Guyana has seen as increase in importation of iron and steel over the past few decades of which most of its steel products are imported from China.

Guyana is a country on the move. Modernization is underway in all sectors of the economy, resulting in a country quickly emerging as an attractive place for investment. The country’s investment strategy consists of continuing to diversify economic activity so as to develop value-added products and services in traditional and non-traditional industries.

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Vomiting and Diarrhea: The do’s and don’ts

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Dr Zulfikar Bux

Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine

e have all had the displeasure of having an episode of vomiting or diarrhea, or both. It’s not the best feeling in the world and can make our lives very uncomfortable. Medication, illicit drugs, pregnancy and other medical conditions are less common causes of vomiting and diarrhea, but our main focus today is on gastroenteritis caused by viruses and bacteria.

Gastroenteritis is defined as inflammation of the stomach and intestines, typically resulting from bacterial toxins or viral infection and causing vomiting and diarrhea. It can be mild or more severe, which can lead to dehydration and even death. It accounts for 1.4 million deaths worldwide yearly and therefore, should be taken seriously.

Children are more prone to the debilitating effects of gastroenteritis and most of their complications arise from dehydration. Dehydration occurs when there is too little fluid in your body causing inefficient blood circulation. When one vomits or has diarrhea, one is constantly losing fluids which, if not replaced, will lead to dehydration.

By knowing what to do and what not to do, you may be able to ride out an episode of vomiting and diarrhea.

should be made by a doctor who will determine if a bacterium is the cause, and only then would antibiotics be warranted.

REHYDRATE YOURSELF

Most cases of gastroenteritis go away on their own. Visit a doctor if the vomiting and diarrhea continues for more than a day, or if you notice any signs of dehydration like:

This is the most essential component of improving your outcome from an episode of gastroenteritis. Do not use water alone. Your body also needs essential electrolytes (potassium, sodium etc.) that you would have lost during the vomiting or diarrhea. Coconut water, pedialyte, gatorade, oral rehydration salts etc. are alternatives for rehydration that have electrolytes. Once you have vomited, rest your stomach for an hour before you try rehydrating. Once you start drinking, start with sips and gradually increase your amounts over time. Do not drink too much fluid at once as it may make you nauseated and cause you to vomit.

AVOID SWEET AND SOUR Sour foods tend to make your stomach more acidic and can irritate it and precipitate vomiting. Sweet foods tend to precipitate diarrhea since most of the causative virus and bacteria tend to thrive better in a sweet environment. Aerated drinks are both sweet and acidic, it is best to avoid them during this time.

FOODS TO EAT Keeping food down can be difficult with the stomach flu. If you can eat, stick to plain food like crackers, cereal, toast, rice, and potatoes.

Small amounts of yogurt, bananas, and fresh apples can also help with diarrhea. Don’t force yourself to eat if eating makes you feel nauseated.

DO NOT USE ANTIBIOTICS Viruses are by far the most common cause of gastroenteritis.

Antibiotics are ineffective against viruses and may even precipitate some gastroenteritis. The decision to use antibiotics during gastroenteritis

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AVOID OVER THE COUNTER ANTI-DIARRHEAL These may make you feel better for a while, but may complicate your gastroenteritis and make it worse. They tend to stop the diarrhea but prevent your body from expelling the “bug” that is causing the diarrhea in the first place. This “bug” then has a chance of remaining in your intestines and multiplying thereby re-presenting in a more severe and possibly deadlier form.

WASH YOUR HANDS OFTEN It’s important that you keep your vomiting and/diarrhea to yourself.

The best chance of preventing the spread of your illness is to wash your hands every time you vomit or use the toilet. Avoid coming in contact with others while you’re ill to decrease the likelihood of transferring the “bug” to others.

WHEN TO SEE YOUR DOCTOR

Not urinating or yellow and little urine Dry mouth Crying without tears (children) Fever over 102 F Lack of energy Irritable(children) Soft spot on the top of baby’s head is sunken.

Blood in stool, or dark tarry stool

EXPECTATIONS ON VISITING A DOCTOR Once you visit a doctor he/ she will determine the severity of your illness by talking to you and doing a basic examination. If there are signs of dehydration, the doctor will most likely prescribe fluids either through your veins or orally, if you can tolerate. The more severe your dehydration is, the more fluid rehydration you will require.

Stool and blood testing may be done if the doctor thinks your illness is more severe. Once you can tolerate orally and there is improvement in your condition, you will likely be discharged home with oral rehydration salts. Admission for gastroenteritis is infrequent but can occur if your hydration is severe or your condition hasn’t improved with initial treatment.

Having a bout of gastroenteritis is definitely not one of the most fun times in one’s life. Knowing what to do and what not to do may be the difference between you overcoming the bout before it overcomes you.

1 & 2 MUDLOT WATER STREET, KINGSTON, GEORGETOWN, GUYANA, SOUTH AMERICA.

LARGEST

Guyana’s privately owned indigenous construction company

BK Quarries Inc. is one of the largest quarry facilities in the Caribbean and a major supplier of aggregates required by the construction sector in Guyana.

Producing aggregates: 1/2, 3/4, 7/8 sifting, first and second grade crusher run. And have expanded to include a super mix concrete division along with a block making plant that produces the highest quality of hollow blocks in Guyana.

BK GROUP OF COMPANIES INC.

TEL: (592) 226-5513-4 FAX: (592) 226-5517 EMAIL: bkinc@bkinc.biz WEBSITE: www.bkinc.gy

Guyana’s Entertainment Industry proving to be viable, promising and profitable

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or the untamed soul, Guyana’s entertainment industry teems with adrenaline-charged activities that are sure to engrave an unforgettable experience upon your psyche.

But for the composed lover of life, it offers enchanting opportunities, to unwind and to revel in the nation’s rich, yet turbulent moods.

The traditional and modern nuances of the entertainment industry, some of which still remain untapped, continue to be captivating factors along with the discovered successes of some entities that paint the sector as being viable and promising of great returns.

The industry is one that incorporates elements such as its developing music arena, the diverse culinary arts, the beverage and fine alcohol division, the crazy-fun parties, opulent hotel complexes for entertainers alone, performance arts and stand up comedies at theatres, cinemas, night clubs, poetry groups and party promotions.

Over the last five years alone, almost each element in the local entertainment industry has seen a prospering newcomer.

No longer does Sheriff Street hold the title of being Guyana’s ‘entertainment centre’. The playing field has now been transformed into a competitive one where many involved vie for the support of the nocturnal revelers, both sedate and adventurous.

It has, without a doubt, led to the standards in the entertainment business being raised.

Sizzling with life after dark is Lamaha Street which saw the establishment of the 704 Sports Bar and Club. There is Camp Street which saw the emergence of Gravity Longue and Bar. Then, there is South View Tavern on Aubrey Barker Road.

The recently established Aura Lounge and Bar at the Pegasus Hotel is also causing quite a stir with its elegant and sophisticated appeal to the masses.

Even though these relatively new spots have caused quite a stir, oldies like Palm Court and the Hibiscus Restaurant continue to hold firm to their established positions on the market.

The cinema industry which was thought to have been driven to a state of obsolescence with the advent of DVDS and DVD Players on the market saw one of Guyana’s Premier Hotels, Princess Hotel, opening two 3D Digital Movie theatres last year.

The high quality service provided and state-of-the-art setting earns it an overwhelming audience which sees it being almost full to capacity on most nights.

The hotel Industry also saw the construction of a new member, La Vista Hotel, perfectly perched on a hill in the beautiful developing town of Bartica. It serves as the perfect haven for local and regional entertainers to enjoy tranquility and privacy at its best.

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Once there is entertainment, there must be food, and the sector has been complemented by a new food and bar corner owned by Sean Major Entertainment.

This lounge boasts the best burgers and sandwiches in town, and while it is already off to an amazing start, it aims to serve the appetites of the entertainment division with a cultural finesse and in a comfortable ambience.

Project Manager of the 704 Sports Bar and Club, Dustanni Barrow, asserts that the establishment of the company in 2013 served as a testimony to the confidence the business community has in the economy and the sector.

Since the entity got started, Barrow said, “We have enjoyed much success and it continues to grow. Guyana’s entertainment industry is a lucrative field and it has been an amazing journey thus far in catering to the demands of the ever-evolving night life.”

Another huge feature of the entertainment industry are party promotions and three have proven that they have earned their spot in this field. They include HJTV, Sean Major Entertainment and Pulse Entertainment. There are, of course, others who are out to demonstrate that they can provide stiff competition.

DJs have also been in high demand as promoters now seem willing to pay big bucks for these musical doctors who truly understand to increase the heartbeat of the crowd and to maintain it. There is an art to this field and there has been a craze over it.

While these are traditional areas which have garnered much attention, one aspect of the arena has certainly seen an increase in its demand.

The entertainment industry has not skimmed over nights that one simply craves “a drink.” Whether it has an exotic name, virgin taste or a blend of frozen alcoholic spirits, cocktails have transformed into the new craze, with entities investing thousands of dollars and even try to steal the best mixologists around simply to produce the best signature cocktails to offer the public.

And all night spots are involved: Palm Court, Gravity Longue, 704 Sports Bar and Longue, the Hibiscus Restaurant and Bar, and even South View Tavern.

There are currently more than 700 signature cocktails among these entities, all of which continue to be extreme sellers on the market, even before dawn.

Consumers seem to be no longer interested in the ordinary Strawberry Daiquiri or the Rum and Coke.

And why settle? Drinks like The June Bug, Wing Man and Walk the Plank from Gravity Lounge, The Mariachi, The Pink Panther, First Crush from 704 and the SVT Escape from South View Tavern are what’s causing the oral controversy.

It is such a competitive field that some businesses have been engaged in luring each other’s bartenders to get the secret of theirs.

Of course that is not a peculiar move, but what is also interesting is that some businesses have hired some of the best mixologists from around the Caribbean to Guyana’s shores to share ideas and create the most astounding blends to satisfy the palates of the Guyanese public.

Taking into consideration the commitment of Guyana’s diverse private sector, it would be foolhardy for one to not draw the obvious conclusion that Guyana’s entertainment industry is proving to be viable, promising and profitable.

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Security Lights

By Brian Ramsey – Alternative Security Services

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he use of lighting for security is one of the least expensive and most effective ways to reduce burglaries, and yet, many persons do not use lighting as part of their protection against crime. Very often, it is found that the individual says that the cost of electricity is too high, but that same individual rarely looks at the cost that they would incur if they had to replace stolen items, nor does that person look at the cost of the additional insurance premium that the insurance company will charge after they have been burgled.

Security lighting is a deterrent to crime simply because burglars do not want to be seen committing their acts, and so will avoid premises that are well lit. In addition to being a deterrent, appropriate lighting aids in reducing crime because it allows neighbours and passersby to see what is happening around a property and can quickly contact the police if actions have the appearance of a crime.

Security lights also provide an added safety benefit to the homeowner who gets home late after dark. Your security lights will avoid you having to peer into the dark and so, you get to your front door safely.

The term security lighting causes many individuals to think that these are special lights that have to be installed by a specialist; however, in most instances, that is not the case. Instead, security lighting has more to do with the placement of lights, although there are some types of lighting arrangements that have a definite security purpose.

Lights should be placed in spots around the building, locations that could provide a hiding place for burglars or prowlers. Lights mounted on either the corner or end of the building should be set in such a way that they illuminate dark areas behind shrubbery, screens, walls, trees, etc.

Lights should always be mounted high enough so they cannot be unscrewed easily by a burglar. In addition, lights mounted high on

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the end of a building provide a great amount of light for a wide area, thus reducing the amount of physical bulbs needed to illuminate an area.

Here is a special tip; when lights are mounted high, one does not need to use high wattage bulbs because the light is cast over a large area.

For most homeowners the purpose of the light is simply to see that there is someone in the area who is not authorized to be there. Usually one is not interested in identifying the person or taking photos of the person, rather, simply being able to tell that someone is there.

Thus, a homeowner can use 60-watt bulbs to illuminate a backyard. As a result of using lower wattage bulbs, but placed high, the homeowner consumes less electricity.

Installing lights and not using them does not make sense. This type of situation however, can easily happen to a homeowner because they are not home to turn on the lights, either because they worked late or have gone away on vacation. One way of dealing with this type of situation is through the use of photocells, which automatically turn on the lights whenever it is dark.

Most persons in the Caribbean are familiar with photocells for lights however, most people associate them with large spotlights.

Many individuals do not realize that there are also photocells for regular small household lights. Thus, you can use a photocell even when you are using an ordinary light to shine on your backyard. One of the key points about using photocells is that they have to be in the open.

If the photocell is up under an eave then the immediate area around the cell remains dark even after the sun has risen and so the light stays on longer than intended. The individual therefore who is using ordinary lights with photocells for protection, needs to ensure that the light is on the edge of the eave.

An added advantage of using photocells is that they cause the light to switch off when it is daylight, thus avoiding the telltale sign that no one is at home.

Another method of turning lights on and off when no one is in the premises is to use timers attached to the lights. The timers can be set to turn the external lights on and off at any time period(s) that you desire, so that the lights come on without someone having to be in the building.

Timers also have the advantage that they can be used for activating and turning off lights in any room in the premises. Very experienced burglars can discern houses that are not occupied even though external lights are on.

Timers can therefore be used to simulate the natural light activity in a house even though the house is empty.

By setting the timer(s) to have lights in one room inside the house come on at set times and then go off after a specific interval and then have lights in another room inside the house come on at another time and then go off after a specific interval, it gives the impression that people are at home and then going to sleep.

Yet another method of providing security lighting to a building is through the use of passive Infra-red (PIR) Beams. These beams detect the heat of moving objects, such as a person walking in the yard or a vehicle entering a driveway, and then cause the light to come on. Use of lights with PIR detectors is especially useful for the individual who is very concerned about the cost of electricity because the PIR causes the light to only come on when there is movement in the area of the light.

Lights with built-in PIR detectors can be purchased as a complete unit or a standalone detector, can be fitted to a number of lights surrounding the property. If one seeks to install a PIR to control several lights the detector should be mounted at least 7 feet above the ground to avoid it being tampered with.

When purchasing lights with PIR detectors you should look for lights with a manual override facility which would allow you to switch on the light when you want a constant light source.

A variation of the beam-controlled lighting is known as Hi-Lo Lighting which combines the advantages of both PIR and Dusk to Dawn lighting. It switches on automatically to a low level of brightness when natural light dims at dusk and remains on until dawn. When it senses movement or body heat within its detection range, it switches to full brightness for a period of time that the owner can pre-determine.

It can, therefore, be seen that security lights can be effectively used as part of the deterrents against crime and, with foresight and planning, are actually one of the inexpensive deterrents.

About the Author Brian Ramsey has a B.A. in Accounting & Management, along with an M.B.A. in Finance and over 25 years in the Caribbean security field. He is the Regional Development Director for Amalgamated Security Services Limited which is the parent company of Alternative Security Services St. Lucia Limited. Amalgamated Security operates in Grenada, Barbados, St Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago. He can be contacted at bramsey@assl.com

Even in the face of old Copyright laws Artists and authors are still protected

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t is no secret that Guyanese writers often cringe at the thought of producing and distributing their work in the local market in absence of up-to-date Copyright laws.

However, officials from the University of Guyana and the Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sport strongly advocate that authors and artists alike need not be consumed by fear as there are mechanisms in place which provide protection.

Copyright laws provide protection to authors of literary and artistic works (books and other writings), musical compositions, paintings, sculpture, computer programmes and films, etc.

The security is offered up to 50 years following the passing of the author.

Officials say that while efforts are being taken to reform the laws, it is believed that the current legislation provides adequate coverage for artists.

Outlined in the 1956 Copyright Act, Under “Remedies for Infringement of Copyright” Section, it stipulates that infringements Action shall be actionable at the suit of the owner of the copyright.

It says that in any action for such

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an infringement, all such relief, by way of damages, injunction, accounts or otherwise, shall be available to the plaintiff as is available in any corresponding proceedings in respect of infringements of other proprietary rights.

The Act states that “wherein an action an infringement of copyright is proved or admitted, and the court, having regard (in addition to all other material considerations) to the flagrancy of the infringement, and any benefit shown to have accrued to the defendant by reason of the infringement, is satisfied that effective relief would not otherwise be available to the plaintiff, the court, in assessing damages for the infringement, shall have power to award such additional damages by virtue of this subsection as the court may consider appropriate in the circumstances.”

Officials therefore urge that artists who find that their work has been reproduced without permission, hesitate not for a single second to file legal action.

On the other hand, one cannot escape as well, the fact that there is a plethora of intellectual piracy taking place. This is as a result of the lack of enforcement

of those laws and also the failure of aggrieved artists to exercise the power of the legislation.

Even as some continue to press for the enactment of the Draft Copyright Bill 1999, the continuous developments of the technological age continue to pose challenges in the face of reform measures.

The technological advancements have made possible the ability to have literary works published and sold online. As a result, the internet has become an avenue for rampant Copyright infringement.

Educators and legal minds have joined the conversation on how to integrate the required protection against this into the Copyright laws, to provide artists of the 21st Century with modern ways of defence.

While the amendment of the Copyright legislation is still in the making, officers from the Ministry of Legal Affairs and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport have confirmed that there is still a fair amount of security being offered to the works of Guyana’s artists as the country is a signatory to the Berne Convention and the Universal Copyright Convention.

They stress that because of that membership, some degree of relevant protection can also be provided, even as legislators continue to debate legal changes in light of technological advancements.

According to the International Bureau of World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the Berne Convention provides for protection of authors who are nationals or residents of a country which is a member of the “Berne Union”.

Authors who are not nationals or residents of such a country are protected if they first publish their works in a member country, or simultaneously publish in a non-member and a member country.

The WIPO posits that a major practical advantage to a country in adhering to the Berne Convention is that works of its authors are automatically protected in all countries party to the Convention, with the result that these authors may derive financial benefits from the expansion of markets for their works.

It said, too, that “the competitive position of national authors in the domestic market may be improved, because, once the country is a member of the Berne Convention, the works of foreign authors can only be distributed with their permission, and no longer at prices set lower than domestic works, for which authorization would be required for distribution.”

The WIPO asserts that there are also advantages of a macroeconomic nature.

The international body said that regardless of its level of social or economic development, by joining the Berne Convention a country becomes part of the international system for protection of authors’ rights, and by extension, the international trading system for goods and services protected by copyright.

The Act states that “wherein an action an infringement of copyright is proved or admitted, and the court, having regard (in addition to all other material considerations) to the flagrancy of the infringement, and any benefit shown to have accrued to the defendant by reason of the infringement, is satisfied that effective relief would not otherwise be available to the plaintiff, the court, in assessing damages for the infringement, shall have power to award such additional damages by virtue of this subsection as the court may consider appropriate in the circumstances.”

Easter

Fashion Dealers in designers clothing for ladies, gents and children wholesale & retail

N O I H S FA 14 & 15 Section 3, Stabroek Market, Georgetown, Guyana.

Tel: (592) 227-3498 or (592) 648-2484 Models: Shalisa Harripersaud, Tekesa Gittens, Alicia Best

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Competitiveness, Services and Opportunities in the CSME. Part 2

by Teni Housty,

Attorney-at-Law, LL.M., MBA

INTRODUCTION

We left off part 1 of our contribution identifying several characteristics of services and the services sector. This Part 2 provides the promised linkages between law, strategy and service in the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) in response to the author’s question“then what”? The response is composite but not necessarily complex.

REASONS AND PURPOSE Competitiveness, opportunities and strategy can be combined from the previously identified CSME services framework. Additionally, it is from the combination of concepts that the notion of oceans becomes important. The effect of spending some time on an island can create the appeal of blue seas, or depending on the coast blue oceans.

Before embarking on the competitive journey, a process of reflection is suggested. In the process certain points should be considered. The first is an assessment of the sector: How many players are legitimately and illegitimately involved?

Where are the opportunities for revenue? Do opportunities for competitive advantage exist?

Further responses would be needed to the following: • Should the business try to dominate existing markets or look for opportunities to create new ones?

• What approach to service marketing should be adopted?

• What is the business innovation strategy?

• What is the business competitiveness strategy?

It would be interesting to determine the responses of Guyanese businesses to the questions posed. The response that “this is Guyana, dem tings nah relevant heh” is totally unacceptable.

AN ILLUSTRATION Staying close to home, if it is thought that Guyana has many lawyers, Trinidad and Tobago, and Barbados are even worse.

A recent law association election in Trinidad and Tobago indicated in excess of 1500. In Barbados, the population numbers reflect an average of one lawyer for every 880 members of the Barbados population. In Guyana, the number is one lawyer for every 1900 members of the populations. The ability to compete for the ever constricting piece of the pie becomes important.

The effect of the increase competition is the shedding of a significant amount of blood. The consequence of the blood is the red ocean. Traditional approaches to competiveness

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suggest competing on resources or through a five forces model. When applied in some sectors the observation is to “differentiate or die”. The potential for death further enhances the attractiveness of the blue oceans strategy.

THE BLUE OCEANS The proponents of the blue ocean strategy are W. Chan Kim and Renee Mauborgne (Kim and Mauborgne, 2005) who authored, Blue Ocean Strategy: How to Create Uncontested Market Space and Make the Competition Irrelevant. In 2005, the strategy was published as a culmination of over a decade of research across 30 different industries. The research suggested that the object of business is to get out of the red ocean into the blue ocean.

Red Oceans represent existing market space. In Red Oceans, industry boundaries have been established, and rules of the game are accepted at face value.

In these oceans, companies try to outperform their rivals to obtain a greater share of existing demand, generally through lowering a product’s quality or cost.

As competition increases, these companies begin to crowd the waters, and chances for profit are reduced.

The waters turn red from the blood of companies that have fallen victim to a competitor’s aggressive tactics.

The reality, I dare suggest, is that there are many red ocean sectors in Guyana and the Caribbean. (Kim and Mauborgne, 2005) continue: Blue Oceans represent unexplored market space where competition does not exist. These companies attempt to discover innovative ways to create new demand, instead of combating others for control. To frontiers of ingenuity, Blue Oceans provide plenty of opportunity for profit and growth. These companies boldly explore where no one previously has, so the rules, boundaries, and competition that dominate Red Oceans are suddenly irrelevant.

In Guyana it is interesting to observe the interaction of red and blue in several sectors. Think of telecommunications (GT&T and Digicel); banking (Bank of Nova Scotia and Republic Bank) and beverages (Pepsi and Coca-cola).

Additionally, in response to the suggestion that Guyana shores are washed by the turbidity of the Atlantic ocean, it must be remembered that Guyana is in a constant battle with hemispheric neighbours to secure the petroleum rich resources which exist in the jurisdictional blue oceans.

Blue oceans provide and appeal similar to that of the Caribbean Sea and the blue Atlantic Ocean.

“The cornerstone of Blue Ocean Strategy is ‘Value Innovation’. A blue ocean is created when a company achieves value innovation that creates value simultaneously for both the buyer and the company. The innovation (in product, service, or delivery) must raise and create value for the market, while simultaneously reducing or eliminating features or services that are less valued by the current or future market.”

Additionally, the concept of Blue Ocean is defined by untapped market space, demand creation and the opportunity for highly profitable growth without all the competitors. The Blue Ocean strategy is concerned with modifying a product or service offering, as well as establishing new market space by targeting dissatisfied customers and non-customers, the potential customers for the new venture.

Some examples of Blue Ocean strategy in other markets include: • Cirque De Soleil • Chrysler Minivan • CNN • Body Shop • Southwest / Ryanair • Apple with the I-Pod, I-Phone, and I-Pad platform • Nintendo Wii CONCLUSION In Guyana the innovators in the services sector will continue to emerge, the blue ocean strategy provides an option for business success. Navigate our muddy waters and go for the blue ocean created by the framework of the CSME. The Blue Ocean has not been sufficiently explored in CARICOM. Some of the readers are likely the navigators of the services boat in the blue oceans of the CSME. It should not go unnoticed that these very seas and oceans touch Latin American, South American and Spanish speaking Islands such as the Dominican Republic and Cuba. The trade agreements negotiated with these countries provide the port to launch the vessels.

Safe journey, Bon voyage.

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EMPLOYEES WHO

FEEL LOVED PERFORM

BETTER “Organizations with a strong emotional culture have happier, more engaged employees.”

– Sandeep Gautam <blogs.hbr.org> January 20th, 2014

T

he talk at the coffee station or in the lunchroom of offices doesn’t often center on the words or feelings called “love”, but love is the invisible hand in business operations and successes. It has a strong influence on performances and outcomes at workplaces. The more love coworkers feel at work, the more engaged they are.

The type of love being referred to in the workplace is far less intense than romantic love; that is, “companionate love”. This is based on warmth, affection and connection rather than passion. It is not surprising that those who perceive greater affection and caring from their colleagues actually perform better. However, just few managers focus on building an emotional culture. That is a mistake.

In light of today’s economic landscape, it’s more important than ever for companies to have happy and productive employees.

When employees are loyal and engaged in the company, profits are higher.

Conversely, when people feel unmotivated or undervalued, the company suffers.

Additionally, studies show that engaged employees miss less work, perform better, and are more supportive of changes and willing to make them happen.

But keeping employees happy in any economy is hard work. Why? Because happiness is, primarily, an inside job.

In other words, happiness comes from within a person. However, friends, family and employment can add to or detract from someone’s happiness level. So if the workplace is stressful and/or painful things are happening, such as “back-stabbing”

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and gossiping, employees’ production goes down.

Happy employees are also satisfied and feel a sense of accomplishment in their work.

They like themselves and what they do, and they find satisfaction from their work – a sense that what they do is important and meaningful. Such feelings reduce stress, which is a major factor of productivity.

Studies by Sigal Barsade and Olivia (Mandy) O’Neil, both professors and authors under the Harvard Business Review, have been conducted to prove the aforementioned proposed moot. “What’s Love Got to Do With It?: The Influence of a Culture of Companionate Love in the Longterm Care Setting”, (Administrative Science Quarterly) is one of such. This study involved surveying 185 employees, 108 patients, and 42 patient family members at two points in time, 16 months apart, at a large, nonprofit long-term healthcare facility and hospital.

Using a variety of raters and methods, they explored the influence that emotional culture has on employees, patients and family outcomes. The outcomes demonstrated how important emotional culture is when it comes to employee and client well-being and performance. (Harvard Business Review) Employees showed up to work more often since working in a loving, caring, cultured environment, reported higher levels of satisfaction and teamwork.

Sigal Barsade and Olivia (Mandy) O’Neil’s research demonstrated that this type of culture related directly to client outcomes, including improved patient mood, quality of life, satisfaction and fewer trips to the

emergency room.

Some may consider the study biased based on its long-term care setting but in fact these findings hold true across industries. A followup study was done by Sigal Barsade and Olivia (Mandy) O’Neil in which they surveyed 3201 employees in seven different industries from financial services to real estate and the results still hold true.

Therefore, people who work in a cultured environment, where they are free to express affection, tenderness, caring and compassion for one another are more satisfied with their jobs, committed to the organization and accountable for their performances.

What does companionate love look like?

It involves a workplace that encourages coworkers to collaborate side by side each day expressing care and affection towards one another, safeguarding each other’s feelings, showing tenderness and compassion when things don’t go well; where managers actively look for ways to create and reinforce close workplace relationships among employees.

The presence of love in a business atmosphere may seem quite strange; however, this has been found in some unlikely places according to researchers Sigal Barsade and Olivia (Mandy) O’Neil.

In conducting further investigations, they interviewed employees at a large aerospace defense contractor in which a newly acquired division shared a strong culture of love.

There, employees would routinely greet each other with a kiss on the cheek.

“Executives from parent company were alarmed at this gesture, finding it not only inappropriate but possibly an invitation to

sexual harassment lawsuits.” They initially tried to prohibit such display of affection but ultimately acknowledged and allowed the culture to flourish within the division since outcomes seemed much better.

Whether we look at entrepreneurial startups or large, established enterprises, the same holds true: People are more productive and creative when they have more positive emotions. In fact, studies found that, if happier on a given day, people were not only more likely to come up with a new idea or solve a complex problem that same day but also to do so the next day.

In “The Happy Manifesto: Making your Organization a Great Workplace”, Henry Stewart mentions Gallup’s research identifying core elements of employee engagement and improving performance that include having a manager who cares about you at work. He revisits Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, reminding us that belonging and safety, two feelings supported and improved by feeling loved and cared about, are needs that precede self-esteem and self-actualization.

As people learn more, take more calculated risks, and work harder when they feel loved and secure. Stewart says that once basic needs for salary and tools to do the job are met, the next step is a culture of love

and security so people are motivated and enabled to be more productive.

Gallup quantified the link between employee feelings and corporate outcomes, reporting that lost productivity due to employee disengagement costs more than $300 billion in the U.S. annually. A separate Gallup study by researcher James Harter and his colleagues found that business unit sales and profits at one point in time are predicted by employees’ feelings about the organization at earlier points in time.

Not always would employers and employees be comfortable with gestures of kisses; but there are many other ways to build an emotional culture of companionate love. Employers/Leaders may take such responsibilities.

One involves the broadening of the definition of “culture”. Instead of focusing on “cognitive culture”, which includes values such as teamwork, team-orientation, or innovation; one can think of cultivating and enriching “emotional culture” also. This will be based on love and other emotions such as joy or pride. Building an emotional culture is not often the focus of management, but its smart business.

Barsade and O’Neil’s studies found that employees who felt loved and able to express love and care at work are more accountable,

more committed and more satisfied with their jobs.

Also, employers should pay attention to the emotions they are expressing to employees every day since their mood would create a cultural blueprint for the group.

Furthermore, employers can consider how their company’s policies and practices can foster greater affection, caring, compassion, and tenderness among workers. For example, employees can forego vacation days or organize emergency funds to help fellow employees who are struggling and need help.

Most importantly, though, it is the small moments between co-workers – a warm smile, a kind note, a sympathetic ear – day after day, month after month, that help create and maintain a strong culture of companionate love and the employee satisfaction, productivity and client satisfaction that comes with it.

Whether you’re building a culture of recognition or just encouraging a paradigm shift from a disgruntled workforce to practicing employee appreciation, remember that your employees just want to be loved. Show, support and recognize acts of compassion and you’ll create happy, loyal and hardworking employees. Now that’s good for your business.

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The Importance of Water in the Mining Industry

T

he use of water is socially equitable, environmentally sustainable and economically beneficial, achieved through a stakeholder-inclusive process that involves site and catchmentbased actions. Water is a shared and finite resource, with high social, cultural, environmental and economic value. It is a basic human right and fundamental ecosystem requirement.

Water is also an essential component of all mining and metals operations. However, global water resources are under increasing pressure and it is widely recognized that a holistic approach to water management is required to achieve resource sustainability and secure future access.

Water use, water quality, impacts on groundwater and access to water are all issues that can all have ‘bottom-line’ impacts on mining operations. In recent years concern over water issues has increased worldwide driven by ongoing severe drought conditions in many countries; increased global concern over the provision of fresh water to a growing population; and climate change related risks around water. Issues around water tend to impact most sectors of a business, and may have both direct and wide-reaching indirect impacts. Addressing water issues requires an integrated approach that recognizes both risks and opportunities inherent in any given solution.

Given the huge global investment in managing and understanding water issues, it is first important to answer the question: What is special about the minerals industry when it comes to water issues compared to other water users? There are a number of features of minerals industry water use that distinguishes it from the three main users of water, i.e., irrigation, urban and ecosystem uses.

1.

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3.

Mining operations can use water of a quality that is unacceptable for other uses but have limited capacity to deal with variable water supply.

In many cases, water needs to be brought to mining operations which means companies manage their own water supply.

Mines are generally land custodians and therefore have special water responsibilities that exist beyond the time that mining ceases.

For these reasons there is a case for the industry to consider how water issues – and solutions – relate specifically to mining; and to go beyond generic business water initiatives.

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Overall, there has been a considerable maturing of thinking and actions on water as an issue in the minerals industry over the last 5 years. However, this is still patchy and much remains to be done to develop broad societal confidence in the industry as a responsible water user; ensuring that water is not a barrier to maintaining the social license to operate.

Government policies to regulate and manage water are changing.

Not only is regional, integrated water planning becoming more common, there is evidence that regulatory conditions are becoming more stringent. In some jurisdictions, access to water access is costbased (government recovering their costs of supply) and this is sometimes being implemented through the introduction of water markets.

Water connects a minerals operation to its surrounding landscape and its communities. In many countries, water planning and regulation authorities use integrated water resources management approaches. Mines are increasingly being called upon to participate in regional/basin planning both to access and secure water and to develop meaningful relationships with communities; often including indigenous groups.

In response, it has become necessary for those with responsibility for water in mining companies to develop expertise well beyond the engineering excellence that has been traditionally required. This is a major challenge for individuals and companies. There is evidence that the industry is developing the human capital necessary to deal with this complexity. There is, however, considerably more that can be done.

One constraint to increasing both the public and governments’ confidence in the mining industry’s management of water is the lack of an agreed vocabulary (which needs to be based on a basic water balance) and the need for clear, consistent and simple reporting to the public. Better communications on water is required between minerals operators so as to increase improvement across the sector.

Better communications are also required with local communities as well as investment stakeholders who both need to gain confidence in the industry’s management of water.

On the production front, there is a growing realisation of the importance of frugal water management. In some cases this is an urgent necessity in order to deal with regional water scarcity. In other cases, the overriding driver is societal perceptions of water use.

However, frugal water use can result in changes to water quality which

can compromise efficiency of minerals recovery. This is a growing understanding of this link between responsible water management and economic efficiency.

Climate change and climate variability are also areas of significant concern. Changes in rainfall and evaporation from global warming can alter availability of water resources in many regions which can have significant impacts on mining operations.

Other related considerations include the relationship between water and energy efficiency (because energy is required in all aspects of water transport, treatment and management) and between water and related biodiversity and carbon links e.g., bio-sequestration.

PRIORITISING WATER ISSUES

Each operation, corporation and region has specific contextual conditions. Therefore, the relative priority of a specific water issues will vary across this spectrum. The approach that would appear most rational for setting priorities at the local, company or regional level is to check which issues meet a business case for action. We propose that the business case should be assessed by comprehensively considering the following four components.

1. Financial considerations; 2. Formal licence to operate; 3. Social licence to operate; and 4. Company standards and policies based on stated values and ethics.

Whilst this list provides guidance as to what should be in the business case, there is a need for a robust framework that ensures that priority water issues are adequately dealt with, and desired outcomes achieved, once the business case has been established.

Water is a fundamental resource for life. Whether from groundwater or surface water sources, availability of and access to water that meets quality and quantity requirements, is a critical need across the world. We all share responsibility for meeting this need now and in the future.

In mining, water is used within a broad range of activities including mineral processing, dust suppression, slurry transport, and employee requirements. Over the last several decades, the industry has made much progress in developing close-circuit approaches that maximize water conservation. At the same time, operations are often located in areas where there are not only significant competing municipal, agricultural and industrial demands but also very different

perspectives on the role of water culturally and spiritually.

Together, these characteristics lead to tough challenges and there is no simple recipe for water management in mining particularly because the local environments of mines range from extremely low to the highest rainfall areas in the world. Regardless, responsible management of water by mining companies is a key ingredient in ensuring that their contribution to sustainable development is positive over the long term. Not surprisingly, improvement of the industryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s water management performance is a high priority.

Laws regulating water vary around the world, but it is fair to say that the mining sector can expect to be increasingly required to demonstrate a leadership approach to water use and management. As water plays an essential role in most mining and extractive processes, responsible water use is a critical business issue that affects the ability of individual mines to establish, operate and close.

The mining industryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s use of and impacts on water can result in a range of environmental, social and economic risks. In some cases, perceptions of high water use are sufficient to cause very real tensions and even conflict. Communities close to mine sites may be concerned about availability of water, security of their access to it and, the potential for water contamination.

Now, more than ever, special measures are needed to care for and manage this critical resource and to identify options for life-of-mine strategies and initiatives for water conservation and management.

The mining sector has developed innovative ways to respond to water issues in differing circumstances and, in some cases, this has illustrated the ability to turn risk into opportunity.

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A SHARED RESOURCE Water and the services that it delivers are fundamental for many stakeholders as well as the environment. Water flows across borders and is used by people who may be remote from the immediate source of impact or demand.

Understanding and addressing these competing demands is a critical part of water stewardship. If a mine is regarded by other users as an excessive water consumer or as detrimentally affecting water quality, there can be conflict or discontent. These pressures mean that although governments and local authorities are responsible for the regulation of water, many mining companies consider it necessary to go beyond regulatory compliance, particularly where government capacity is limited.

In some instances, however, mining companies have fallen below the level of water management performance that stakeholders expect. Through sharing examples of leading practice, this publication intends to illustrate and support better water management.

Over and above managing impacts, mining companies can actually make a significant positive contribution to the provision of safe, clean and adequate supplies of water to neighbouring communities. The role that companies can play in providing water to local communities, whether by working in partnership with non-governmental organization (NGO) providers or by supplying water directly from their own facilities, has the potential to be significant. Yet making sure that such arrangements are sustainable in the long term needs special attention as mines have a finite life.

WATER SOURCING Access to a secure and stable water supply is critical to mining operations.

Without water, a mine cannot operate.

Water sources often need to be shared by multiple users, while leaving enough water for ecosystem functioning.

In most mining operations, water is obtained directly from groundwater, streams, rivers and lakes or through

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commercial water service suppliers. In many countries, water abstraction is highly regulated, and permits specify the amount of water that may be used.

Governments therefore play a key role in determining and allocating water among various users. Potable water supply and types of sensitive agriculture and receiving environments require a higher quality of water than others, which imposes a further consideration in water allocation.

Sometimes mines experience a natural and continuous inflow of water, for example in the pit or underground tunnels, and this water needs to be removed (through pumping) so that access to the mine workings stays open. This is known as dewatering. This water is often either released into a receiving water source (if meeting the regulatory and environmental requirements) or used by the mine or within the operation processes. But dewatering can reduce the levels of groundwater or deplete surface water. There may also be issues surrounding the discharge of this water in terms of how its quality and quantity affect the receiving environment.

Some of the impacts of discharged water are covered further in the publication.

The mining industry has found many innovative pathways to avoid competing with other users for water. For instance, mining companies sometimes have the capacity to invest in infrastructure to source water that can be of benefit to other users. Also, the mining industry uses some unconventional water supplies. Mining is one of the few industries that is able to use water for various processes, which is of lower quality than that desirable for human consumption. For example, seawater can be used for mineral processing. Hypersaline groundwater and wastewater from other water disposal routes are also potential sources of water for mining operations.

Desalination plants built for mines may also be used to supply clean drinking water to local communities that may have limited access to potable water.

WATERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S ROLE IN MINING PROCESSES In mining operations, the most important use of water is typically in mineral processing. Water is required in hydrometallurgical processes (for example, to recover gold and copper from a solution of chemicals). Water is also required in pyrometallurgical processes (for example, in platinum and copper production) for

cooling and other parts of the process.

Significant amounts of water may also be needed for dust control on haul roads and waste dumps. This water can be lowerquality industrial water or mine water, provided there are no contamination risks.

In contrast, high-quality potable water is required for domestic purposes in the office and administration buildings and in camps associated with remote mines.

Using pipelines to transport ore in slurry can reduce both costs and energy demands compared with more conventional transport forms such as rail and trucks. This can make remote deposits economically feasible. The use of pipelines does require significant amounts of water to keep the slurry material in liquid form.

Mines operating in regions with extreme seasonal variations in temperature or rainfall face difficult water management challenges. Where seasonal patterns provide very high rainfall for only one or two months, water must be managed to avoid flooding of operations that could lead to water contamination and potential health and safety issues. In these cases, water storage facilities are often constructed for use during extended dry periods.

In other regions, the form of precipitation and the water that a mine relies on can vary. In areas where permafrost conditions occur or where winters are harsh, water may become frozen and not be readily available for use by the mine. These extremes of temperature can also lead to difficult operating conditions. Water supply systems need to be constructed so that pipelines do not freeze, causing the failure of a critical process, such as dewatering or water supplies to heap leaches.

It is important to fully understand the quantities of water that mines use in their operations as well as discharges to the environment. Water accounting is a reporting mechanism that quantifies the mineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s water supply, consumption and discharge. Given the many activity streams within a mine site, it can be a challenge to maintain an accurate understanding of the mineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s water use. Therefore, mines rely on developing a water balance to manage water and to achieve a sustainable balance among water supply, consumption, and environmental and operational risks. Many companies integrate water management and accounting with other operating tools.

Among the challenges faced by the mining industry is the need to minimize water losses during processing while

maximizing water recycling. Today, it is unusual for a mine not to have the potential to recycle process water, which is retained within the mine’s closed cycle and stored either in a tailings facility or a dedicated water storage facility.

Concerted efforts to save water in this way can have major benefits.

Another effective way to save water is by reducing evaporative losses in hot and dry areas. In areas of water stress, a reduction in water usage across a mining operation benefits the local community and the site (through reducing costs and improving operational efficiencies). A concerted effort in this regard can achieve significant water use reductions.

DISCHARGES AND POTENTIAL IMPACTS The use of water in mining affects not just its availability for other users but also the risk of pollution from the disposal of used water. Therefore, companies invest in ensuring that water is not contaminated or where contamination does occur, they invest in treatment or containment within appropriate reservoirs, pipelines, canals or other storage facilities.

Planned water discharges from mines into the receiving environment are normally carefully monitored and controlled to ensure compliance with regulations and to minimize impact to receiving waters. Discharge of treated process water is routinely monitored and must meet certain quality standards and requirements in terms of temperature, pH and conductivity. Other discharges occur due to normal run-off, extreme storm events and discharge from surplus dewatering where water may be contained and discharged appropriately.

In addition to planned discharges, there can sometimes be undesired but anticipated discharges into the receiving environment: e.g. seepage or leakage from storage lagoons, tailings dams and waste dumps; spillage of chemicals and fuels; and other loss of containment due to natural events such as earthquakes or high rainfall events. Any of these occurrences must be controlled to avoid any significant impact on the environment. A lack of management of these events could result in unacceptable consequences.

Some of the industry’s most negative impacts have come from unplanned events that resulted in water-related incidents. Elsewhere, seepage of contaminated waters from tailings impoundments and waste facilities are a concern among neighbouring communities and farmers. Technology, regulation, voluntary industry initiatives and best practice guidance exist to reduce risks of such events through good design and management.

Every case differs, but where water contamination has been a problem, water treatment solutions have sometimes been required. These solutions may need to be implemented long after a mine has closed. In some cases, specific ore types being mined interact with oxygen and water to form acid rock drainage (ARD), a process which can persist long after mine closure and may require on-going management and treatment. ARD management practices have developed a great deal and are being championed by groups such as the International Network for Acid Prevention (INAP). Mining companies now design operations to minimize ARD impacts.

However, there are many old sites where water treatment is required.

Local communities will have concerns about the impacts from mine operations and this is exacerbated where communications and engagement processes by the operation are not adequate.

LOOKING FORWARD Population growth, continued economic development and climate change are all factors that will drive water stress to increase in some parts of the world. This means demand for water will exceed availability or may further impact on the quality of existing resources. Awareness of this trend has resulted in increased attention to this issue by national and local governments, international organizations and civil society. Leading companies in the mining sector have anticipated this trend and a large body of research is now informing their pragmatic responses. These responses include improved performance in water management through increased efficiency, technological innovation, and sharing of good practice. It is vital that the industry continues to engage effectively with others on sustainable water management and understands the value of water to all users and the environment.

In the future, it is expected that the following issues will increasingly affect the way mining companies respond to issues related to water: WATER ACCOUNTING A consistent approach to water accounting across the mining industry – including both quality and quantity – is a first step to understanding a company’s needs and its water footprint.

VALUE OF WATER The value of water will be affected by many factors, including pricing policies, water treatment costs and more broadly the social and environmental value put on water. Furthermore, the increasing interest in an “ecosystem services” approach is highlighting the relationship between industrial activity, such as mining, and the “provisioning services” of the environment, such as the water on which the productivity of ecosystems depend. Also, the monetary value of water will continue to rise and will become a growing consideration in financial planning and feasibility studies for mining operations.

TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION Technology will continue to be developed to find innovative solutions to the challenges of obtaining water, reducing demand on water for mining processes and designing more efficient and effective means of water management and treatment. This publication presents some examples of current innovative practice throughout the mining life cycle.

Many companies are committed to technological research, innovation and development to increase business efficiency and good water practice.

STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT It is through stakeholder engagement that the mining industry engages in constructive dialogue with others on responsible water management to learn from other perspectives and to contribute to the debate. Engagement with stakeholders is essential to reach consensus and agreement on the many water issues that affect the mining sector and the communities in which it operates. Such engagement provides a means for the sector to contribute to discussions on developing regulations and standards and provides mining companies with the information needed to operate in ways consistent with the human right to clean water. The industry’s engagement needs to be undertaken at global, regional and operational levels to ensure that it is a constructive voice in the emerging policy debate.

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Suicide & Domestic Violence: Prevention - the key to Intervention

D

omestic Violence is a pattern of behavior used within a marriage or relationship to establish power and control over another person through fear and intimidation, often including a threat or use of violence. It is also referred to as spousal abuse, battery or family violence. It occurs when one person in an intimate relationship or marriage tries to dominate and control the other in the relationship. The abusive party may use fear, guilt, shame and intimidation to wear the other down and keep them under his or her control.

The World Health Organization, in its World report on Violence and Health, through numerous surveys and interventions explains that, victims and children of domestic violence carry higher lifetime risk of suicide than others. Women who experience domestic violence are more likely to end their own lives by suicide than those who have not.

More victims of domestic violence die by their own hand than that of an abuser. There are also increased suicidal tendencies in children exposed to domestic violence.

EMOTIONAL ABUSE

All abusive relationships don’t involve violence, just because you’re not battered and bruised doesn’t mean you’re not being abused.

Many men and women suffer from emotional abuse, which is no less destructive. Unfortunately, emotional abuse is often minimized or overlooked, even by the person being abused.

The aim of emotional abuse is to take away your feelings of selfworth and independence. If you’re the victim of emotional abuse, you may feel that there is no way out of the relationship or that without your abusive partner you have or are nothing. The abusive partner sometimes threatens to kill themselves if the other person leaves the marriage/relationship.

Emotional abuse includes verbal abuse such as shouting, namecalling, blaming, and shaming. Isolation, intimidation, and controlling behavior also fall under emotional abuse. Additionally, abusers who use emotional or psychological abuse often include threats of physical violence or other repercussions if you don’t give in to their demands.

You may think that physical abuse is far worse than emotional abuse, since physical violence can send you to the hospital and leave you with scars. But, the scars of emotional abuse are very real, and they run deep. In fact, emotional abuse can be just as damaging as physical abuse, sometimes even more so.

IDENTIFYING ABUSIVE TENDENCIES

Domestic violence and abuse can happen to anyone, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation or income/status. Both men and women are potential victims of domestic abuse, but women are more commonly victimized.

PHYSICAL ABUSE

Even though different people experience similar types of abuse, the response to trauma may vary from person to person. These are effects of domestic violence that affect a person’s overall health. These result from trauma and can happen immediately after an incident of abuse or later after the abuse has ended.

Common physical effects of trauma include: Chronic fatigue, Shortness of breath, Muscle tension, Involuntary shaking, Changes in eating and sleeping patterns, Sexual dysfunction, Issues with menstrual cycle or fertility in women.

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Noticing and acknowledging the signs of an abusive relationship is the first step to ending it. No one should live in fear of the person one loves. Victims are never to be blamed for any occurrence of domestic abuse or violence, and while there is no direct cause or explanation why domestic violence happens, it is caused by the abuser only.

Domestic abuse often escalates from threats and verbal abuse to violence. And while physical injury may be the most obvious danger, the emotional and psychological consequences of domestic abuse are also severe. Emotionally abusive relationships can destroy your self-worth, lead to anxiety and depression, and make you feel helpless and alone and, if unchecked, can lead to suicide. No one should have to endure this. The first step in overcoming the situation that you are in is recognizing that your situation is abusive. Once you acknowledge the reality of the abusive situation, then you can get on track and leave the situation behind.

SOME EXAMPLES OF ABUSIVE TENDENCIES

Telling the victim that they can never do anything right; Accusing the victim of cheating; Keeping or discouraging the victim from seeing friends or family members; Embarrassing or shaming the victim; Taking the victim’s money or refusing to give them money for expenses; Controlling who the victim sees, where he or she goes, or what he or she does; Dictating how the victim dresses, wears their hair, etc.; Stalking the victim or monitoring his or her every move (in person or also via the internet); Preventing the victim from making their own decisions; Telling the victim that they are a bad parent or threatening to hurt, kill, or take away their children; Threatening to hurt or kill the victim’s friends, loved ones, or pets; Intimidating the victim with guns, knives, or other weapons; Pressuring the victim to have sex when he or she doesn’t’t want to.

PRESSURING OR FORCING THE VICTIM TO USE DRUGS OR ALCOHOL

Preventing the victim from working or attending school, harassing the victim at either, keeping their victim up all night so they perform badly at their job or in school; Destroying the victim’s property; Threatening to kill or harm themselves after an argument.

HOW DO VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE FEEL?

Victims of Domestic Violence often :- Feel shame, anxious, isolated, depressed & helpless; Be embarrassed of their situation; Deny or minimize the abuse or make excuses for the abuser; Still love their abuser; Withdraw emotionally; Distance themselves from family or friends; Feel financially dependent on their abuser; Have suicidal thoughts; Abuse alcohol or drugs; Have religious, cultural, or other beliefs that does not support leaving the marital home; Feel like they have nowhere to go or no ability to get away; Fear they will not be able to support themselves after they escape the abuser; Have children in common with their abuser and fear for their safety if the victim leaves; Be distrustful of local law enforcement, courts, or other systems if the abuse is revealed.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND CHILDREN

The physical, emotional and psychological consequences of domestic violence can cross generations and last a lifetime.

Children who live in homes where there is domestic violence suffer abuse also or experience varying degrees of neglect at very high rates. They are also more likely to experience more health problems, they become sick more often, have frequent headaches or stomach aches and they are more tired and lethargic than children living in a healthy environment.

Sometimes they even attempt to intervene if they witness the violence against a parent, placing them at risk of injury or even death.

This is an example of the risk that domestic violence carries for a child or children as reported right here in our local media.

“A 37 year old fisherman from Edinburgh, East Bank, Guyana, who has been abusive to his wife over the period of their marriage, suspects her of having an affair. He confronts her in the presence of their child, an argument ensues and he attacks her with a machete, maiming her badly in the process. He then ingested a poisonous substance and dies.”

The above situation is alarmingly present in our society and happens so very often. It is a shocking and life-altering thing for a young child or children to have to endure. Losing one parent, seeing the other one being harmed so violently all in an instant can cause children to become mentally unstable and either start to exhibit more violence than usual or become reclusive and introverted and may sometimes even lead to them having suicidal thoughts.

If you cannot gather the strength to leave your partner based on your emotional feelings towards him/her, think about the impact it could have on your children, and take firm steps to regain control of your life so that you may avoid a situation similar to this.

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WHAT TO DO IF YOU ARE A VICTIM OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

If you or someone you know is being abused, you can : Make a report at the nearest police station or call the police to your home if a situation threatens to escalate.

Go to a shelter - in Guyana there is Help & Shelter on Homestretch Avenue, Durban Park. (Telephone numbers 225-4731, 227-8353 & 2273454, email: hands@networksgy.com) They provide counselling and a safe house if necessary.

Contact Legal Aid Clinic, - Their office is located at First Floor, Eastern Section, Maraj Building, Lot 185 Charlotte and King Streets, Georgetown (Tel: 225 9238; email: legalaid@networksgy.com) They can assist with legal representation and filing for protection orders etc.

Child Care & Protection Agency - If you have children involved in the situation ( Telephone number 225-4362).

LIFE AFTER THE DARKNESS: SURVIVING THE ABUSE

Abuse survivors often feel a sense of loss and loneliness after the ordeal of abuse is finally over. Sometimes after coming home to an empty house or apartment, it might seem that even an abusive partner was better than no one. Perhaps your partner cut you off from friends and family, so now you feel there is no one you can talk to or go out with.

It may not be too late to re-establish contact with past friends - and in any case, you can think about making new friends and acquaintances.

You can : Take time and space for yourself each day; Do something you enjoy and are good at; Take regular exercise (for example, try swimming, dancing, or walking); Learn a new skill like yoga, meditation, self-defence; Be creative: try drawing, painting, writing or crafting; Practice relaxation exercises like breathing exercises, reading before bedtime etc. It’s also important to eat well and to get enough sleep, if you can.

GAINING CONFIDENCE

Living with someone who was always putting you down, criticising you, controlling you and being abusive or violent towards you will have taken away your self-confidence and your belief in yourself. You may find it hard to make decisions, even about small things - because your abuser did not allow you to make choices for yourself.

You may find managing money very difficult: you are probably having to manage on a very limited income; and perhaps you had to leave behind many of your personal possessions. Make a budget and stick to it, write down your goals for the future, if you have children do it together, so they develop a sense of responsibility and understand that you are in the rebuilding process together.

You have already taken a huge step in leaving your abuser. Give yourself credit for that. Then think of all the other things you have achieved in your life, and build up a mental list that you can return to when you are feeling low.

You may find it helpful to talk about your experiences with other persons who have also been in violent relationships. Feel free to attend domestic violence support sessions or activities, share your story. Knowing that you are helping others can do wonders in rebuilding your confidence.

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Easter takes on new look in Guyana GOOD FRIDAY—APRIL, 3

Good Friday is a Christian religious holiday commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Calvary. The holiday is observed during Holy Week on the Friday preceding Easter Sunday, and may coincide with the Jewish observance of Passover. It comes after the Thursday referred to in Guyana and many countries around the world as Holy Thursday— the day when cross buns are made. On Good Friday, the streets of Guyana are usually clear as many, especially Christians, usually spend this day indoors. Long ago, it was unlawful to be seen drinking alcohol before 6:00PM on Good Friday.

However, in recent years, it has become a tradition for some to converge at Malteenoes to attend the “Sinners Ball.” Even this event usually picks up in the night and many drink to the stage of drunkenness as they would have broken a 40-day fast in observance of the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert. It has been noticed that all bars are closed on Good Friday.

BARTICA EASTER REGATTA—APRIL, 5

There’s no doubt that the annual Bartica Easter Regatta is an event that is looked forward to by all and sundry, locally and in the Diaspora. It is truly a one of a kind and amazing event. The main aspect of course are the thrilling speed boat races. It is here that many skillful river athletes usually show off their talents. Apart from the racing, at this event, the Bartica Regatta Pageant is also held, showcasing Bartica beauties. There are usually lots of food, drink and fun.

Bartica Easter Regatta usually lasts for a week and the main aspect—the boat racing— held on the Bartica Beach, on Easter Sunday

RUPUNUNI RODEO—APRIL,4-5

The Rupununi Rodeo is an annual event in the Rupununi Savannahs, where cowboys from the various ranches get together and pit their skills against one another in friendly competition.

Rodeo began at Pirara Ranch in the 1960s. It was later held at St. Ignatius on the outskirts of Lethem, before moving to the east of Lethem where it continues to be held today. In recent years it has developed a significant national and international reputation, drawing increasing spectators and participants from not only the Rupununi Region, but also from Georgetown

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and Brazil. It is a historical tradition and a celebration of the cowboy lifestyle that the Rupununi Savannahs are renowned for.

In the presence of hundreds of spectators a vibrant team of vaqueros will unleash thrilling performances at the Triple R Ground, Lethem, Region Nine.

Vaqueros, or cowboys as they are popularly known, thrill the crowd with magnificent performances as they vie for the top spot in the Bull Riding Event.

Cowboys usually have the crowd in awe as they take control of the wild bulls, lasting more than 15 seconds riding them. Cowboys are usually from Guyana, Brazil, England and Germany.

Other side attractions include the sale of delicious Guyanese and Brazilian cuisines, coupled with exhibits of Guyanese and Brazilians products. The fun and frolic is usually endless.

KITE FLYING (EASTER)—APRIL, 6

Easter is the festival that celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ whom Christians believe is the son of God and who was crucified as the ultimate sacrifice to save the world from sin.

Resurrection Sunday is a holiday celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, described in the New Testament as having occurred three days after his crucifixion by Romans. It is the culmination of the Passion of Christ, preceded by Lent- a forty day period of

fasting, prayer, and penance.

Easter is a moveable feast, meaning it is not fixed in relation to the civil calendar.

Easter customs vary across the Christian world, and include sunrise services, exclaiming the Paschal greeting, clipping the church, and decorating Easter eggs, a symbol of the empty tomb.

Additional customs that have become associated with Easter and are observed by both Christians and some non-Christians include egg hunting, the Easter Bunny, and Easter parades.

There are also various traditional Easter foods that vary regionally.

Kite flying on the day after Easter (known as Easter Monday) has traditionally been done by many families in Guyana taking to the National Park and the Seawall to fly their kites.

Families also partake in sumptuous meals - either homemade or bought. They also now focus on outdoor activities such as cricket and football. The three Fs remain bold in the Easter celebrations- Food, Fun and Family.

LINDEN TOWN WEEK AND EXPO-- APRIL 29 - MAY 3

Vybz Entertainment, the franchise holder for the Linden Town Week 2015, announced the plans in train for the Town.

According to franchise holder, Devin Sears, new on the agenda for Town Week will be the Bikers’ Fest which would see Clubs from Linden and other parts of Guyana performing stunts and demonstrating other skills on April 28, at Wismar. There is Wismar night on May 1.

Also new are the Jazz and Poetry Night and the Regional Night. Artistes the likes of De Marco, Duane Stephenson and Skinny Fabulous will be on show. The full figured girls’ “Big, Bold and Beautiful Pageant” will be on April 30. The Linden Town Week Pageant will be on April 25.

Sears said that in addition to the regular activities there will be the VYBZ Girls who are the faces of the Town Week and are part of the PR Team.

The Queen for the Linden Town Week Pageant will walk away with a motorcar, compliments of Trans Pacific Auto Sales and other prizes. The second place finisher will have a full scholarship to the University of Guyana. The third place finisher will receive a laptop and a trip to a resort.

Rugby grabs the most 2014 Sports Awards

T

here is no doubt that Guyana has a lot of raw talent in sports, and without the necessary support and access to training, and even competitions, these talents are left to deteriorate. Over the years there has been an upsurge in participation in international competitions by Guyanese sportsmen and women.

While the sports teams are gaining international recognition, in Guyana, the National Sports Commission has been doing the same via the issuing of Sports Awards to the top sports performers. Awards are not only given to the sportsmen and women but sports associations, officials and journalists are also acknowledged for their work.

The National Sports Commission presented awards to the 2014 recipients of the Sports Awards. This year saw 18 Sports Awards being presented to 17 sports personalities who were on top of their game in 2014.

The awardees are as follows:1. Person with Disability – Calvin Thomas 2. Sports Journalist Photographer – Orlando Charles 3. Sports Journalist (Non Print) – Avenash Ramzen 4. Sports Journalist (Print) – Emmerson Campbell 5. Most Improved Association – Guyana Rugby Football Union 6. Sports Association – Guyana Rugby Football Union 7. Female Sports Official – Vidushi Persaud 8. Male Sports Official – Peter Greene 9. Sports Coach – Theodore Henry 10. Sports Team – Guyana Rugby Men’s Team 11. Runner-up Junior Sportswoman – Akila Wiltshire 12. Runner-up Junior Sportsman – Shemron Hetmyer 13. Junior Sportswoman – Cassie George 14. Junior Sportsman – Jason Yaw 15. Runner-up Sportswoman – Alisha Fortune 16. Runner-up Sportsman – Kristian Jeffery 17. Sportswoman of the Year – Cassie George 18. Sportsman of the Year – Veerasammy Persaud While addressing the gathering at the National Cultural Centre, the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony

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emphasized that “we can be justifiably proud of our top achievers for they brought personal glory to themselves and brought price and honour to the nation…for that and so much more we extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the winners.”

While acknowledging the outstanding performances of the Sportsman of the Year – Veerasammy Permaul, the Sportswoman and Junior Sportswoman of the Year – Cassie George and the Junior Sportsman of the Year – Jason Yaw; Minister Anthony emphasized that “they are the epitome of discipline, drive and passion, that is why they have accomplished so much during the year.”

At this point, the Minister recognized the sports administrators and volunteers whose valuable work has helped to move sports forward in Guyana. He then highlighted the importance of being engaged in sports activities which results in people having a healthier lifestyle.

“These secrets of sports, the panacea of life, must be shared with the inactive part of our population, so that they too can experience these joys,” he said. The Minister added that the MCYS has been urging a lifelong approach to sports that starts in early childhood, where children, through sports, are able to acquire the necessary motor and essential life skills.

While many parents dream of having smart children, “we must create the enabling conditions for them to be smarter…one simple way is their active involvement in sports,” Minister Anthony explained.

Minister Anthony highlighted that sports is one mechanism that is used in strengthening community relationships, and have also resulted in the reduction of anti-social behavior, less crime, less vandalism, and less use of illicit substances.

“Over the last three years, the Government of Guyana has made tremendous investments in community facilities…we have spent $700M

on more than 650 grounds in every region of Guyana,” Minister Anthony pointed out. This investment has seen thousands of people across the country getting involved in fixing their community grounds and encouraging people within the community to get involved in sports.

The Minister recognized that while the sports programmes exist, the next step is to ensure that Guyana is involved in competitive sports. “To do this, the government has made substantial investments in the building of world-class sports infrastructure,” he noted.

These include the Guyana National Stadium, the National Aquatic Centre, the Synthetic Track, and the Resource Centre.

“In addition to these investments, the government would like to work with every national, regional and community organization to ensure that quality physical education and sport experiences are available to every child… over the next few years we want to work with everyone so that we can make Guyana into a fit nation, a nation of sports,” Minister Anthony said.

Minister Anthony shared his dream of Guyana becoming a ‘sports powerhouse’ in this century based on commitments to continue to build new sports facilities, train more people and develop more outstanding sportsmen and women.

Christopher

Barnwell

Guyana and West Indies Cricket Player

G

rowing up as a lover of sports, specifically with a passion for football, Christopher Dion Barnwell never thought that his name would become a household name in the cricketing fraternity in Guyana, much less to flow off the lips of international cricket commentators.

Barnwell’s decision to make a transition from football to focus his attention on bettering his cricketing skills and follow his uncle’s legacy, is what set him on the path towards his professional cricket career.

His uncle was the late national opening batsman Andrew Lyght, who was a hard-hitting opening batsman for both the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) and Guyana. He averaged 32 from 38 first class matches, during which he amassed 2112 runs with six centuries and a highest score of 122. He died in 2001.

Barnwell, whose stellar performance in the recent Caribbean Premier League tournament earned him more support and respect throughout the region, took time out to have a one-on-one conversation with this magazine.

“Well, I always had cricketing abilities. I represented my primary school at a cricket competition but was not so into it. However, at the age of 15, I started playing more cricket than football and started attending the Demerara Cricket Club and it all began from there,” he pointed out.

Now, Barnwell is not only a national cricketer, but he is also an allrounder for the West Indies A team, and has played for major teams such as the Guyana Amazon Warriors and Royal Challengers Bangalore.

The Demerara Cricket Club member represented his school in the game at the age of 15 and made his debut for the Guyana team in 2005 in an under-19 competition.

However, while his eyes were set on the prize, Barnwell still had the responsibility of balancing academics and his new love-- cricket.

“It’s always a tough task balancing sports and acdemics, but I tried my best. Most of the time cricket was normally played during the week, so as a youngster you go to trials during school days. So it was always tough but I somehow managed it.”

Offering a word of advice to upcoming sport enthusiasts, the right handed batsman said, “It’s always important to do your work and whenever you have spare time, you can always push in the extra work in your game. Not many people could balance both education and their sporting ability, but you just need to know your goals and what you want, then work hard towards them.”

“You could put in the effort of three hours of studying and afterwards you have time to work on your sport.”

The 27-year-old still has a great love for football and believes that even if he had continued along that path, he would have been successful too.

Barnwell, who is also a right-arm, medium-fast bowler, revealed that the national team that puts up the greatest challenge for him to play against is Barbados.

“The team that always tends to get the best of me is Barbados, because for some reason I would try my best to get some big scores but it wouldn’t happen. I just never get the big scores that I know I’m capable of getting.”

Barnwell started playing for the West Indies in 2011, and noted that this was the year that marked his major accomplishment in fulfilling the legacy of his uncle, who never made it that far due to his passing.

“It’s every young cricketer’s dream to represent the West Indies, so it was a wonderful feeling being selected for the West Indies team in 2011 to play for a T20 match against Pakistan. I was very happy knowing that my uncle was such a great player, a lot of people spoke about him and he never got the opportunity to play for the West Indies and me doing so makes me feel very proud and also my family members.”

However, his success did not stop there; Barnwell was bought by the Royal Challengers Bangalore for the sixth edition of the Indian Premier League, officially placing his name on the international scene for the game.

“It all started during the Caribbean T20. I had a couple of match winning innings for Guyana…and I think they saw I produced some good innings and they decided to pick me up on it. It was a great feeling to share a dressing room with likes of Chris Gayle, AB de Villiers…and all those big international cricket stars.”

When asked about the effect of crowd support during a heated game, he pointed out that support is key to a great performance.

“They motivate me to go out and perform, on many occasions I went out in some tough situations and the support helped me to perform well.

I think it’s always important to know you have the backing of supporters.”

However, he added that it is also equally important to focus when on the field and not let crowd support get the best of you.

“As a cricketer you can’t hit every ball or take every catch, so if you miss an opportunity, you just have to pick yourself up and know how to go about it.”

When he is not playing or warming up for another match, the 27-yearold is still very much sport oriented. He is out either engaged in playing football, basketball or table tennis.

However, when he is prepping for a match, he has his unique routines he likes to engage in, as a form of warm up.

“Well, before every game I try to get one person to throw the ball at me and I always put on my left side pads first – it’s just something that is my liking.”

Notwithstanding the enjoyment of playing cricket, the fame, glitz and glamour attached to it, like everything else, being a cricketer has its challenges.

Barnwell stated that the vast amount of travelling can sometimes take a toll on one’s mind and as such, you have to be mentally strong.

“One day you’re in Guyana playing and couple days later you’d be in Barbados where it’s a different condition…so you have to be focused and always ready to adapt to situations and the conditions around you.”

Guyana Inc. - Issue 14 P.41

Local basketball has evolved -Guyana Panthers create history with 3-0 sweep of Bermuda

W

hile not even being ranked in the Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC), Guyana Panthers basketball team upstaged the CBC’s number six ranked team, Bermuda, by sweeping the three-game series between the two nations 3-0 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall on March 11, 12 and 14, 2015.

The Guyanese won the first game 76-73, took the second 66-55 and sealed the third and final game 59-56.

The fact that Guyana won all three games does not reflect the intense competiveness of the encounters, as the scorecards showed in games one and three Guyana trailed Bermuda all the way except for the last three minutes of those games. It was all excitement, entertainment and thrills for the fans that attended the games.

The successful outcome is a major catalyst for the promotion and development of basketball in Guyana, especially considering that the Guyanese players and coaches were all local based and won against a much higher ranked Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) team.

The developmental importance for basketball in Guyana arising from the visit by the highly ranked Bermudian National Khalil Mohamed Basketball Mr. team cannot be overemphasized. The Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) Executive self-funded the Series; recognizing the importance of having a foreign National Basketball Team

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The successful Guyana Panthers Basketball Team caught after sweeping the series against Bermuda.

visit Guyana after more than twenty years and ensured the games were well organized with logistical support from the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA).

Unlike cricket and football; basketball (the third most popular team sport in Guyana), the GABF does not enjoy

funding from the governing body of the sport, namely the International Basketball Federation (FIBA).

This, coupled with a governmental policy that does not provide annual grants to the National Sports Federations or Association in Guyana makes it financially difficult to properly

develop basketball in schools, regionally and to provide adequate support to affiliates of the GABF and basketball players.

However, in the paraphrased words of Maya Angelou the late great author, poet, actress and inspirator, “But still, like air, we will rise.” The Guyana team certainly rose to the challenge against the players from Bermuda, several of whom have played professional basketball in North America and Europe and on average were approximately four inches taller than their Guyanese counterparts.

The Guyana Panthers led by Coach Darcel Harris, Captain Akeem Kanhai, and key players the likes of Travis Burnett, Ryan Gullen, Shelroy Thomas, Dave Causeway and Jermaine Slater managed to lead Guyana to victory against the odds.

Looking Ahead for 2015 The 2015 Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) Championships, female and male are scheduled for Tortola, British Virgin Islands from June 8 to June 21, 2015. Group B comprises Antigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Bermuda, Guyana and Suriname. Both Bermuda and Guyana look forward to continuing the rivalry.

The females are also drawn in Group B which includes Jamaica, Barbados and British Virgin Islands.

Guyana Basketball Federation is in the process of preparing both male and female teams to participate in the CBC 2015 Championships. Discussions are currently underway for the Guyana Men’s Team to play an away game in either Barbados, Trinidad or Suriname before May 21, 2015.

The Guyana Women’s squad, who are currently in training, are set to play against a Suriname Women National Basketball or Club team in Georgetown, Guyana during the latter part of April 2015.

In addition, the GABF will extend its Schools Basketball Exchange Program from six schools in 2014 to twenty four schools in 2015. The successful future of all sports is embodied in providing opportunities for student and street athletes to participate in sports, thus inculcating discipline, selfesteem and self-confidence and the will to succeed in our youths.

GABF President, Mr. Nigel Hinds, commented on the Guyana Panthers performance: “Overall it was a marvelous victory for Guyana, and it shows how believing and implementing leads to achieving regardless of circumstances. The GABF is indebted to the Bermuda Basketball Association for their visit to Guyana and their graciousness and professionalism.”

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