GNN Online Newspaper - Dec 14, 2015

Monday December 14, 2015

AT THE WEEKEND...

President Granger presenting a gift to a little one during his visit to Sandvoort where he dilivered gifts to many children

POLICE RECORD 9% IN SERIOUS CRIMES GIVE SUGAR WORKERS THE BONUS TOO - GAWU -PAGE 11

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JAGDEO WELCOMES BONUS FOR PUBLIC SERVANTS; DISAPPOINTED AT LACK OF WAGE INCREASE TO SUGAR WORKERS STATEMENT FROM THE OFFICE OF THE LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION The $50,000 one-off, tax-free, bonus that will be paid to public servants earning below $500,000 monthly is a welcomed disclosure by the Government.

I am extremely happy that public servants will be benefiting from this bonus, particularly since they deserve it.

P u b l i c servants in 2015 did not benefit from salary increases that were retroactive from January 1st of the year. Instead the salary increases were retroactive from July 1st. As such, public servants, while

receiving a $50,000 bonus, did not receive the full year’s benefit of the salary increase, as was done in previous years – leaving them worse off in a net sense.

Additionally, the announcement from the A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Government follows claims that the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Administration had left a bankrupt country, yet $1.54B was found to pay public servants.

I am

disappointed at the fact that the year is almost to an end and sugar workers have not been paid any wage increases, nor an Annual Production Incentive (API) – despite the fact that Government has announced that the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) has surpassed its production target.

This is the first time in several years that sugar workers have been treated in this manner.

I am also disappointed in the fact that Government has demonstrated

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

an unwillingness to assist rice farmers and gold miners, despite calls and recommendations of measures that can be taken to support these industries.

Of note, is that the measures of support announced by the Administration,

when matched against other actions taken, leaves Guyanese worse off in a net sense. While some public servants will benefit from the $50,000 bonus, Guyanese have seen the removal of the $1.67B cash grant for all public school children, the

removal of electricity and water subsidies for pensioners and the removal of other support measures – all aimed at improving the livelihoods of our people.

Government support should not leave Guyanese worse of, in a net sense.

Two missing following Mazaruni Boat crash Following a boast collision on the Mazaruni River on Saturday evening, two men are still reported to be missing even as search continues.

The missing men are reported to be Roy Roopnaraine and Trevor Persaud, Itaballi, C u y u n i / Ma z a r u n i .

According

to information, the speedboat the men were travelling in, collided with another at about 21:00 hrs.

It is believed that neither of the boats had lights. Regulations prohibits boast from travelling after dark.

The accident also resulted in injuries to two other

men who had to rushed to the Bartica Hospital for treatment.

It remains unclear how many person may have been involved in the accident.

Bandit shot in shootout with Police at Grove A fifty year-old resident of Grove is thankful that she is alive after being robbed early yesterday morning.

Cheryl Embrack, who is reported to be an employee of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), was attacked as she was about to enter her home at about 03:00 hrs yesterday.

The Police say that two men, one of whom was armed with

a handgun, forced the woman into her home and then took away a stereo set and a cell phone.

Neighbours called the police while the robbery was in progress and on arrival, were fired upon by the men who were leaving the scene at the time.

The Police returned fire and during the exchange one of the men was shot and injured.

An unlicensed .32

pistol with 10 matching rounds was recovered.

The injured was identified as Devon Forde, 21 years, of Stevedore Housing Scheme, Georgetown.

He has been admitted to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation where he is under guard.

His accomplice managed to escape.

Investigations are in progress.

Man dead after vehicle slammed into tree A Zeskendren, Ma h ai c ony, resident was killed in an accident on Saturday night after the vehicle he was driving slammed into a tree.

According to the police, their investigation

reveal that at around 20:30 hrs, thirty-seven year-old Derwin Gordon, was driving allegedly at a rate along the Letter T, Mahaicony, public road causing him to lose control.

The vehicle

collided with a tree resulting in injuries to Gordon who was pronounced dead on arrival at the Mahaicony H o s p i t a l .

Investigations are ongoing.

3-year-old killed in accident Three year-old Michael Blackman, was yesterday killed after he struck by a vehicle on the La Grange Public Road, West Bank Demerara (WBD).

According to the police, at about

14:40 hrs yesterday, Blackman, Parafait Harmonie, WBD, was standing on the roadway in the company of an older cousin, when he ran across the road and was struck down by a motor vehicle.

He was rushed to the West Demerara Regional Hospital where he died while receiving medical treatment.

The driver of the vehicle is in police custody assisting with the investigations.

Granger not optimistic Venezuela will agree to judicial settlement

President David Granger

President David Granger is not optimistic that Venezuela will agree to judicial settlement as the mode of resolution for the ongoing border controversy between the two neighbouring South American states.

Earlier in the year, ExxonMobil – the company drilling for oil in Guyana, announced the discovery of significant oil reserves just offshore

Guyana where the company was drilling.

And while Venezuela’s claim to two-thirds of Guyana’s territory including maritime space had been dormant, this announcement by ExxonMobil sparked renewed claims to the Englishspeaking territory.

The controversy further escalated when Venezuelan President

Nicolas Maduro then issued a decree on May 27, officially claiming the territory.

But while the good offices process which has been utilized over the last few decades to resolve the issue has seemingly failed, President Granger made known that Guyana favours a juridical settlement through recourse to the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

In his address to the Parliament on October 22 of this year, Granger said that, “Guyana’s decision to select another one of the options available under the Geneva Agreement, therefore, was wholly consistent with its object and spirit. The recourse to a juridical process as a final and binding

means of resolving the controversy is provided for by the provisions of the Geneva Agreement.

Guyana has done nothing which can be regarded as being in breach of the Geneva Agreement.”

Questioned however, on when Guyana can expect a final word from the Secretary General of the United Nations (UN) on Guyana’s request for judicial settlement, the Head of State said not in the short-term.

He revealed that he was very impressed with the attitude of the Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon, who is fully engaged in relation to the controversy. “I am confident that he will be able, within maybe half of year or so to identify the process; he is not going to resolve the

President Nicolas Maduro

process, but he is going to identify the process which presumably would lead to a solution.”

However, while the Charter of the United Nations (UN) dictates that compliance must be given to the Secretary General by the disputing countries, the Head of State noted that he wouldn’t hold my breath on Venezuela agreeing to that mode of resolution. This is largely due to the fact that the legally binding judicial

process is not likely to grant the territory in favour of the Spanishspeaking country.

However, noting that Ban Ki-moon demits office in about a year’s time, Granger said that he expects that towards the next General Assembly, or towards the last quarter next year, Guyana would be in a better position to know where the country is heading. “He is doing his best, but the process is not swift” he added.

Multi-million dollar resort commissioned in Bartica resort The newly opened Aruwai Resort located in Region Seven, minutes away from Bartica

The multi-milliondollar Aruwai Whitewater Resort in the Cuyuni/Mazaruni was commissioned on Saturday last.

Owned by mining magnate, Chunilall Baboolal, the resort has thirty-five rooms and many facilities.

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, who delivered the keynote address at the commissioning, says a new dawn is breaking for Guyana and especially the people of Bartica.

He pointed that the opening could not have come at a more opportune time, since Bartica will soon become Guyana’s first ‘green’ town, mere months away from the country’s 50th Independence A n n i v e r s a r y.

“This resort in

a very short time has transformed a small, insignificant island into a magnificent edifice.

It truly comes at a time when Guyana has so many new beginnings politically and otherwise,” Harmon said.

He noted that Baboolal should be regarded as a true pioneer and his investment should be lauded and emulated.

The investment is expected to be a significant boon to the economy and morale of Bartica.

Baboolall said he got the idea to build the resort after the price of gold started to decline, and works started on the structure four years ago.

He heaped praise on his family for their support and at the same time, called for government support which he says

plays a major role in the success of the venture.

Also addressing the gathering was, Minister of Tourism, Catherine Hughes.

She said that the Government was proud of such an achievement and was excited to see the benefits which would accrue from having such a facility here in Guyana.

“It is absolutely fantastic to be here.

This deserves a round of applause. In these times, you have to be committed to make such a huge investment and we in the tourism industry, in Guyana, recognise the import of the decision you have made and we thank you for adding quality and value to our tourism products,” Minister Hughes said.

She further noted that the Government stands

Minister Harmon and owner of the Resort, Chunilall Baboolall unveils the plaque to officially Commission the recreational facility while the other Ministers of Government, officials and family members look on

willing and ready to assist various forms of and those that come from in whatever way it can to governmental support. the other countries…. ensure that the tourism “We will unfold We have been working and hospitality sectors in a massive marketing plan to ensure that they know Guyana become thriving that will target Guyanese about Guyana,” she said. and budding ones. and those in the diaspora S h e added that from January 2016 the Government will be implementing a plan of action which will see Guyanese businesses especially those in the tourism sector, being able to Minister Harmon greets former Prime Minister, Samuel Hinds, benefit from who was also present at the Opening of the resort today

Christmas bonus for all public servants The holiday spirit is expected to be lifted across the country, following President David Granger’s assurance to the media that all public servants will receive some benefit from the Government for the Christmas season.

The Head of State’s announcement was made last Friday on his weekly televised programme “The Public Interest” which is produced by the Ministry of the Presidency and aired on state TV National

Communications Network (NCN).

Though he did not specify directly what will be awarded to

public servants, due to the unpredictable nature of what is usually given, the President assured reporters that benefits

will be forthcoming.

The labour force in Guyana as of 2013 was approximately 320000 with more than half of

that amount comprising public servants.

Annually, expectations regarding salary increases and Christmas bonuses mount as persons anticipate these rewards for the services which they would have provided to the people of Guyana during the year.

This year, public servants whose gross basic monthly salary was greater than $50,000, received a five per cent salary increase.

However, persons with salaries that were equal to or lower than $50,000 were given an eight per cent increase. The minimum basic salary of $39,540 was also lifted to $50,000, effective July 1, 2015. This reflected a 26.4 percent increase for those still earning

the old minimum wage.

Coupled with these increases was an additional $5000 increase for all public servants.

Just last month, the President had announced while in Malta, that members of the Guyana Police Force are likely to benefit from increased salaries next year as part of the government’s plan to reform the Police Force and curtail criminal activities.

“The Police Force is badly damaged; it was under-funded, under equipped; the members were underpaid, undermotivated.

We are now trying to correct the damage that has been done and I expect things will get better in the fullness of time” the Head of State said.

President calls for young people to stay in school-says Guyana needs more entrepreneurs In a rapidly advancing technological world, where unemployment continue to affect third world countries like Guyana, President David Granger has called on children to stay in school since absenteeism has been one of the leading causes of unemployment in the country.

Q u i z z e d on the remedies to combat the slowly climbing rate of unemployment in Guyana, the President explained that for the issue to be addressed the root causes must be identified.

He noted that a lot of young people come out of school and can’t find jobs.

But attributed to this, is the fact that many of them might have dropped out of school, which translates to them underqualified.

Ad d it i on a l l y, he hinted at the possibility of

President David Granger addresses a rapt audience

the economy not generating enough jobs.

“Young people have to stay in school to be qualified” Granger said, adding that they have to be innovative.

He noted that people must not only rely on jobs such as clerks since the demand for those

jobs are diminishing.

“We want to see people going into agro-processing, manufacturing, maybe at a small level, but providing goods for the markets, we want to see people exploiting opportunities for information technology. If people come out of school

with the mentality that people owes them a wuk, we are not going to move forward” the President said, adding that “we need more entrepreneurs.”

To support this entrepreneurial push though, he referenced the recently relaunched, Linden Enterprise Network

(LEN) which is an enterprise network geared to provide micro credit to entrepreneurs and women. “The whole idea is that people must be weaned away from their addiction to wage labour and must be encouraged to undertake private projects” President Granger said.

And according to him, the Government is prepared, once those projects are viable and the credit worthiness of those applicants can be ascertained, to help persons to set up their businesses. “We need people who will set up their own businesses” he said.

“Gov’t still building evidence of corruption against PPP” –Granger

Presdient David Granger

With heightened calls for the government to expose the corruption which allegedly would have been fostered by the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Administration while they were in office for some 23 years, President David Granger on Friday said his government is still in the process of building evidence.

The President’s disclosure was made on Friday last during this weekly television show “The Public Interest” which was aired on the National Communications Network (NCN).

While in Opposition, the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) were very vocal on corruption, accusing the then

PPP Administration of nurturing and practicing it.

Just last year, Guyana’s ranking moved slightly in a positive direction though the country was still listed in the very corrupt category in the Transparency Inter nat iona l Corruption Perceptions Index. The 2014 results revealed that Guyana remains behind its Caribbean Community ( C A R I C O M ) counterparts, ranking 124th out of 175 countries. The only CARICOM nation that ranks below Guyana was Haiti which placed 161.

And while the APNU+AFC coalition campaigned heavily on this fact that Guyana had been listed as very corrupt, the coalition had committed to expose

acts of corruption, which were to some glaring.

But according to the President on Friday, once a party is in Opposition, it does not have access to the files which makes it almost impossible for that party to expose any underhand transactions.

However, after securing victory at the May 11 General and Regional elections earlier this year, the coalition is now in a position to expose these acts of corruption. One of the first moves of the new Government was to embark on forensic audits into state agencies to find out whether acts of corruption were practiced at those entities.

There have been public outcry for the government to reveal these acts of corruption, due to the fact that these revelations appear not to be forthcoming, but Granger said the process is an ongoing effort.

He explained that once there is intent to approach the courts with allegations of corruption, the accusing party must first provide hard evidence to support its claims. And

according to him, “And over the last six months we [government] have been conducting investigations and enquiries, and we’ve being working towards getting the type of evidence to demonstrate to the public and courts that crimes have actually been committed.”

Any while only one PPP member has been charged to date, the President noted that it not an easy task, but rather a “painstaking effort” which requires ongoing work. “But we are still working on accumulating evidence,” he assured reporters.

On September 23, Minister of State Joseph Harmon had revealed at a post- Cabinet press briefing that under the PPP, multimilliondollar contracts were “deliberately underbid… people were bidding low and knowing fully well that they were going to come later on for variations so that in a process like that, tenderers who could have done the work, they were actually cheated out of the contracts because some persons

Jennifer Westford

deliberately bidded low and the contracts were awarded to the lowest bidder, knowing fully well that they will come back for variations which eventually took the contract sum beyond what was the engineer’s estimate.”

Earlier in the year, after the APNU+AFC had secured office, former Public Service Minister under the PPP Jennifer Westford and her Personnel Officer (PO) Margaret Cummings appeared before the court in connection with the alleged illegal transfer of eight vehicles to themselves and friends. The vehicles were the property of the government and as such, Westford was slapped with four counts of attempting to commit felony.

She was subsequently granted $800,000 bail.

The most recent episode of these discoveries was a land deal between former President Bharrat Jagdeo and mortgage fraud convict, New York-based Guyanese businessman Ed Ahmad in 2008.

The controversial land deal for a prime piece of land situated at the intersection of Vlissengen Road and Thomas Street was reportedly completed in just seven days. However, Jagdeo is reported to have said that the said deal was scrapped in 2009.

Meanwhile, last week, in observance of International Day against Corruption, the PPP had recommitted itself to fighting the scourge of corruption and graft, which it contended, seems to be rearing its ugly head in the country.

“We can’t shut down the sugar industry” –Granger

Presdient David Granger

Recognising the need for the survival of the sugar industry which provides employment for over eighteen thousand persons, President David Granger is contending that the industry cannot be shut down, though there has to be changes within the operations.

Speaking on his weekly televised show “The Public Interest,” the

President noted that when one examines the importance of the sugar industry, in terms of providing employment opportunities; in terms of the linkages with other products such and molasses and rum; and in terms of Guyana’s economy, it can be acknowledged that the industry is an important one for Guyana.

“We can’t just shut down the sugar industry and that is not something that is going to happen” he said.

Over the years, the former People’s Progressive Party (PPP) administration were forced to routinely pump millions of dollars into the sugar industry through subventions in their annual National budget. This was due to the fact that the industry had been operating at a loss, given the fact that the mechanisms within the operation are not modernized and the operational cost forces the market price not to be as competitive as the world market price.

But according to

President Granger, while there is need for the subvention which aids in the sustainability of the industry, Government wants to ensure that they cut down on those “huge subventions” that they pay annually. “We want to keep employment, but produce sugar at an economic cost which could be sold on the world market” he said.

Underscoring the need for changes to occur in the sugar industry, the Head of State explained that it must be discussed at an executive level, whether the Government will maintain part of the industry and

privatize a part. Refusing to predict the outcome however, he suggested that maybe the field work could be privatize to farmers. However, Granger noted that once Government decides to keep the sugar industry, they will have to fix the Skeldon factory and ensure that it can fulfil the needs for the private farmers who can bring their canes to that factory.

He also revealed that mistakes were obviously made in the last administration

with regards to Skeldon factory and Government will have to determine whether those mistakes can be remedied. “As far as Skeldon [factory] is concerned, that is a matter that has to be investigated” he said, adding that the previous administration had engaged experts from around the world to examine the factory, and both the sugar industry and Skeldon factory are hinged on each other.

Women Miners Association fighting to protect girls from predators Stephanie Miguel

Stephanie Miguel of the Guyana Women Miners Association GWMA) believes that the Port Kaituma area and the Matarkai SubRegion in Region 1 has a far way to go in addressing the abuse and exploitation meted out against children there.

Miguel who operates in the area said that there is a need for Welfare, Child Protection and Probation Officers who need to be in the community at all times if the issue of exploitation especially against girls

is to be addressed and arrested effectively.

During a recent interview, she explained that help has been coming the way of the organization recently and had that help been there before the community would have been in a better position.

“All the calls come to me and I try my best, the police support me because I go there and I make complaints and they help by going into the Backdam where we find a 12 year old girl pregnant and there

A team from the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs headed by the subject minister and his adviser, flew into the North West District Amerindian community of 4 Miles Port Kaituma to meet with residents who are divided over the issuance of a communal land title which the previous administration granted the community.

On Thursday the residents claimed that they were duped into signing a document during the life of the last government that give them the impression that they were applying for individual land titles but in fact when they got the final document, it was

a communal land title that was issued to the community which makes the identified plot of land an Amerindian Reser vation.

S o m e residents expressed concerns over what they called a “breach of the Amerindian Act” by the previous PPP government in recognising the 4 Miles area as an Amerindian Reservation although the area did not meet all the requirements.

They are of the view that President David Granger should reverse the decision and the issuance of a document that was signed by former President Donald Ramotar since they are claiming they were duped

is a lot of advantage taking place there but no representation for those children” she said.

The woman explained that that the biggest issues in the area are trafficking in person and teenage pregnancy and additional help is always welcome since she is often overwhelmed.

Miguel minced no words regarding the attention that has been given over the years to the community in the area of eliminating and or reducing the instances of child exploitation and abuse of all sort.

She said that in an area called “Golden City” there are lots of children who are away from their parents and living the road life and there is no immediate mechanism to bring the parents to answer to any authority in the district. She said that it is the intention and wish of the GWMA to see some parents especially mother charged for

knowingly allowing their children to have a street and club presence.

“A seven year old with a hickey on her neck is bad and disturbing for me and this organization, this area has been condemned during the life of the previous government.

I see nothing that they did in here, there is a place called Canal Bank and that is another area where which has more than 900 people living and the concerns there and many also” the woman explained Example was also given of a 7 year old girl with a hickey on her neck and according to Miguel that hurts the Guyana Women Miners Association and its members to the core and pushes them to advocate even harder for better attention to be paid to the hinterland regions and the children there especially girls.

She said that when she takes the 9 and 11 years old out of

Port Kaituma police station

the discos there is police support but they are only able to hold those children for 72 hours and sometimes their parents do not show up so those parents cannot be charged. She added also that when the 72 hours expired the biggest problem is where the children will go since there is no facility in the region for the girls and or boys to be placed in what can referred to as a safe home so they eventually end up right back in the situations and environments from where they were rescued.

Asked, based on her experience from working in the community, what might

be responsible for the children being victims of exploitation and teenage pregnancy Miguel was clear in her explanation to this publication.

“They get involved because they are not properly educated, at the school there is a high rate of school dropout and parents are the ones who ought to be blamed too. Because of the poverty in Port Kaituma the children who use to work the mines every now and then to earn a small piece are now looking to get involved with the big businessmen for money, especially the girl” it was explained.

Division over land title surfaces at 4 Miles, Port Kaituma

Minister Allicock addressing residents at Four Miles

into signing a paper that gave communal title to the land.

They however, were told that the decision by the previous government was binding on the new administration.

In the meantime, some residents are of the view that the issue can be resolved through a petition to the

executive while others point to an option of moving to the courts.

Minister of Indigenous People’s Affairs, Sydney Allicock, pleaded with the residents to work together and to also to refrain from allow a land issue to come between them and the development of their community

which they now have an opportunity to develop to its fullest.

M o v i n g forward, Allicock urged residents to engage their regional officials in preparing for village elections to elect the best group of persons to manage their affairs. He also called on them to come together as

a community and identify a project that they would like to see take off and be commissioned in the new year as part of the 50th anniversary as the government is setting aside $5M for such a project.

He also advised the young people to take steps to become employable and to be willing to be engaged in the skills training initiative which will soon be available to the community of Port Kaituma.

The visit to the area on Thursday was also attended by members of the regional executive body of Region 1.

First Lady joins Bernice Mansell Foundation to fete senior citizens

First Lady Mrs. Sandra Granger shares a warm moment with a guest as her table mates look on

First Lady, Mrs. Sandra Granger, over the weekend, joined with

the Bernice Mansell Foundation to treat over 200 senior citizens

from in and around Georgetown to a grand Christmas luncheon at

Parc Rayne, Rahaman’s Park, Houston.

According to

the Ministry of the Presidency, the guests were drawn from the

As of this morning, the Guyana Sugar Corporation ( Gu y Su C o ) exceeded its production target for 2015 by over 284 tonnes.

The stateowned industry’s target for this year was set at 227,443 tonnes and to date 227, 727 tonnes has been achieved while Albion and Rosehall, and Enmore Estates are still grinding until December 21 According to the Government Information Agency (GINA), “this would be the first time in 11 years that GuySuCo

has achieved a second crop target.”

T h e corporation’s Chief Executive Officer, Errol Hanoman said he is extremely pleased as he attributed this feat to the workers and management.

Hanoman said he hopes that at least the company can meet the 230,000tonne mark by the end of this year and 150,000 tonnes for the second crop, before the estates complete grinding operations.

The CEO is hopeful that this is the beginning of the ‘improving trend of the corporation,

but it can only be maintained if the union, the workers and management work together.”

T h e company’s total liabilities as at July, 2015 were pegged at $82 billion with$30 billion accounted for unpaid loans for the Skeldon sugar factory that was

opened in 2008.

This debt is largely due to decreasing production, rise in production costs and the recent weakening in the European Union (EU) sugar prices.

Asked about the corporation’s future, the CEO said that going forward, “we need a new

industrial climate, and any success in the future will be the management and union working together.

We need to find some enlightened strategy going forward,” he said.

The new crop is expected to begin by the end of January, 2016,

Diamond Group Senior Citizens Home, the Golden Age Senior Citizens Home, the Society of St. Vincent De Paul, the Coalition for the Blind Group and other groups. They were treated to a hearty lunch, accompanied by music and carolling.

The First Lady commended Mrs. Bernice Mansell for keeping this tradition alive, noting that events like these add to the festive season as they highlight the virtues of caring and sharing.

This year’s event is the continuation of a 16-year-old tradition which Mrs. Mansell started through her Foundation in 1999. Each year the Foundation treats senior citizens to lunch and hosts Christmas parties for underprivileged p e r s o n s .

Sugar production exceeds target

and during the out-of-crop period, maintenance will be done on all the estates.

Ho w e v e r, the corporation is still producing about 100,000 tonnes less sugar than it was making 13 years ago.

Bodies of Mazaruni Boat crash victims found The Police have reported that the bodies of the two men who were missing following a boat accident on the Mazaruni River on Saturday, have been found.

The bodies of Roy Roopnarine, 46 years, and Trevor Persaud, 27 years,

both of Itabali, were recovered at about 07:00 hrs today in the vicinity of Bradford Point, Mazaruni River.

The two men were missing following the collision of two boats in which they were travelling at Bradford Point on Saturday

December 12, 2015.

According to information, the speedboat the men were travelling in, collided with another at about 21:00 hrs.

It is believed that neither of the boats had lights. Regulations prohibits boast from travelling after dark.

The accident also resulted in injuries to two other men who had to rushed to the Bartica Hospital for treatment.

It remains unclear how many person may have been involved in the accident.

Police search unearthED illegal guns The Police say they found an unlicensed .357 Magnum pistol with 6 rounds following the search of two men earlier today.

At about 00:25 hrs Ranks of a mobile patrol under “Operation Dragnet” searched two men at “Warlock”, East Ruimveldt,

G e orge t ow n , du r i ng which the illegal gun and ammunition were found.

Both men are in police custody assisting with the investigations.

Also on Saturday, Ranks from CID Headquarters, Eve Leary, conducted a search on a house at

Westminster, Parafait Harmonie, WBD, during which an unlicensed .380 semiautomatic Colt pistol with 2 rounds was found.

Five men were arrested and are in police custody assisting with the investigations.

Man arrested for murder of Brazilian The Police have arrested a prime suspect for the murder of Brazilian national Jose Oliveira Silva.

The body of the sixty-two year-old was found at Arau, Wenamu River, with

marks of violence on December 05, 2015.

According to the Police, the arrest of the suspect at Kaikan on Friday last, resulted from information they received during their investigation.

Over 50000 cases of breaches to traffic laws in 2015 so far The Guyana Police Force is reporting that some 50715 cases were brought against motorists between January 01 to November 30, so far for 2015. Speeding accounted for a big chunk of the offence with 21576 cases.

The traffic statistics released by the Force today

revealed that speeding was the leading cause for fatalities resulting from accidents. For the same period, 43 persons were killed as a result of speeding from a total of 112.

However, despite the recent spate of accidents, fatalities were down by 14% this year when compared to same period last year.

130 deaths resulting from accidents were reported last year for the same period compared to 112 this year while the number of fatal accidents reduced by 21%.

The figures also show that pedestrians led the category of road users to have lost their lives; 40 out of 112. In addition,

private cars were found to be the category of vehicle responsible for the most fatalities with 48 out of 120.

Police “A” Division recorded the highest number of road fatalities; 35 out of 112. “B” and “C” Divisions were second with 28 each.

Gov’t sticking to its position on Specialty Hospital

President David Granger

Despite the controversy surrounding the recentlysigned Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Fedders Lloyd for the construction of the Specialty Hospital President David Granger has made it clear that his government will not be rescinding the deal.

Speaking on his weekly programme The Public Interest, President Granger said “I do not see that there is justification or need for that at the present time”

He said the Minister of Finance has examined it and made a presentation to the board and we so far are prepared to follow the advice of the Minister of Finance on that matter.

The opposition Peoples Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has accused the government of massive corruption with the recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Indian company, Fedders Lloyd that will see works restarting

on the construction of the Specialty Hospital.

F o r m e r President Bharrat Jagdeo has said that there is no transparency, particularly with Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan’s role with the company.

The coalition government has also come in for criticism from the Transparency group for not retendering the project.

The transparency and accountability cited in

the Procurement Act mandates the project be retendered, the PPP/C is contending.

The party has signaled its intention to challenge the Government’s selection of Fedders Lloyd to complete the specialty hospital project, in the High Court, on the grounds of a breach of the Procurement Act.

Vice President of Transparency Institute of Guyana Inc. Christopher Ram recently urged that the government scrap the MoU and retender for the project after it deceived the public on the facts surrounding the deal. He called on the government to revisit the entire transaction.

This is after sections of the media published the Tender Evaluation Report done in 2012 in relation to the construction of the Hospital which showed that Fedders Lloyd was administratively disqualified, while Surendra Engineering

Corporation Limited and Shapoorji Pallonji and Company Ltd were the only two companies which were considered, having met the requirements.

Ram was quoted as saying “In view of the public disquiet on this matter, the Government should revisit the entire transaction, including the retendering,” he said, adding that the Government should satisfy itself that the award of the contract for the project was in conformity with the Public Procurement Act.” In addition, Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) General Secretary Kenneth Joseph had also urged that the government retender the project, given the emerging facts which clearly show that the Public Procurement Act was breached.

There have also been calls from other stakeholders

for government to abandon the deal and retender the project.

The Ministry of Finance has stated that procedurally, there is no impropriety in the method used by government in entering the Memorandum OfUnderstanding (MOU) with Fedders Lloyd. It was previously pointed out by the government that it was MOU that was signed and not the awarding of a contract.

According to the government “the advantages of proceeding in this manner, rather than going out for a new tender are many, including the fact that Fedders Lloyd expressed in the MOU its intention to hold its prices expressed in its original bid made some four years ago. In addition to being time consuming, a new tender will result, obviously, in price escalation due to inflation.”

Indigenous People’s Ministry to provide 20 computers, internet for Moruca The small community of Moruca which sits peacefully in Region 1 is expected to be provided with internet by the end of this year by the Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Ministry, to support the 12 computers currently housed in their information and communications technology (ICT) hub.

This was confirmed by Advisor to the Minister, Mervyn Williams, who revealed that an additional 20 computers is also expected to be provided to the community next year by the Ministry.

The 12 Dell computers which are currently housed in the ICT hub is being utilised

to train 12 persons, and were donated by the Basic Needs Trust Fund to the community last year, after the ICT hub was built with an $800,000 grant.

The targeted persons who are currently receiving training, includes underprivileged persons, single parents and persons who were not fortunate enough to complete their schooling. The training sessions are being conducted by Graham Atkinson, a village councilor. He explained that there are limitations with which he works, given the lack of internet.

This complementary tool, he noted, will

not only be used for training, but to upgrade outdated software on the computers And according to Williams, the Minister of Indigenous People’s Affairs, Sydney Allicock, has committed to providing Internet services by year-end for the hub. In addition to the Internet, the ministry also promised to provide 20 additional computers for the training facility. This is likely to be presented to the community next year.

Atkinson had disclosed that the training is facilitated three days per week and had proved fruitful from the inception since persons had responded positively and were willing to become computer literate.

Initially, he had started the second phase of

[FILE PHOTO]

training with 15 persons, but three of them had left to pursue training in other disciplines.

Howe ve r, the other 12 have committed themselves and are at a point where they know the basics about a computer.

Additionally, Atkinson revealed that he is in the process of setting up email addresses for his students, since he sees this as a necessary

tool for them to network in an evolving world.

“I have committed to setting up emails for all of them, if we get the Internet by year-end or not. If we don’t, then I will use my phone and set it up for them,” he said.

In the meantime, his training sessions are supported by an ongoing Information Technology (IT)

programme, which is being done by the Board of Industrial Training (BIT) in Moruca. This programme is one which allows students to access resources provided by BIT to help with academic or other endeavours.

The ICT hub is one of nine currently existing in Santa Rosa, which was constructed to the tune of $800,000 each.

GTT to continue pushing for increase in landline charges

During a recent interview,

Chief Executive Officer

of the Guyana Telephone

and Telegraph Company (GT&T); Justin Nedd disclosed that once again, GTT will be pushing to increase the service charge for landline as the company still suffer major losses from the service.

Nedd said “We went to the PUC (Public Utilities Commission) to increase the rates but was unsuccessful, so we’re taking it to the next step, it’s just a matter of time so see if we can get an increase in rates, because as any of you

would know, it’s tough to run a business that really doesn’t make money. It is actually subsidized by our other lines of Business”.

The company approached the PUC to have the tariff increased last year by 15% as it is suffering significant losses from the current rates. The hearings ran in to early this year, however this was turned down.

Speaking about the liberalization of the Tele communic at ions Sector, he noted that the losses incurred is one of

the main reasons for no other service providers opting to offer landline services while the others are basically liberalized.

“We have competition with mobile, we’ve got competition with internet and every other service that we offer except landline. Nobody wants to offer landline because it’s a loss making business” the CEO said.

Ho w e v e r, he welcomes the Tele communic at ions Bill which will make the liberalization formal.

Give Sugar workers the bonus too - GAWU The Guyana Agriculture and General Workers Union (GAWU) is calling for the bonus that was announced for Public Servants to be extended to Public Employees as well so that sugar workers can benefit.

During a telephone interview with GNN, Head of GAWU; Komal Chand

stated that Sugar workers deserve more.

Chand noted “the sugar workers are government employees and the fact that they were given just a token that will be paid in March, we are hoping… that what they are getting should be complimented by the President so that overall, they will

be getting something that is in-keeping with what they get in the past and reasonable”.

Government announced that Public Servants earning less than $500,000 per month will be given a “one off tax free payment of fifty thousand ($50,000.)”

The Ministry of Finance stated that

the payment will be effected in December.

Some 30,700 public sector workers including nurses, teachers, members of the Disciplined Services and semi-autonomous agencies will benefit.

In the seven months since the new Administration took Office, public servants

Komal Chand

earning over $50,000 received between a 15 and 6 percent salary increase, with those on the lower end of the scale receiving the higher percentage increase. Additionally, the minimum basic salary was increased to $50,000 from $42,703

and those who had still been receiving the older minimum wage of $39,540 were also brought in line.

These increases were all catered for in the 2015 National Budget.

Harmon challenges Jagdeo to show evidence land deal was scrapped Ed Ahamad

Minister of State Joseph Harmon

The A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance for Change government is moving to recover some GYD$3.7M in arrears from Ed Ahamad for a piece of land, located at Thomas land and Vlissengen Road

leased to him by the former administration.

Minister of State Joseph Harmon told reporters this morning that “I have asked lands and surveys to demand arrears payment from the company from 2009 to 2015 and the lease is

now terminated from December 1st 2015.”

The land was leased to Ahmad for a total of GYD$500,000 yearly for the construction of a 150room hotel, bars, casino and other amenities.

H a r m o n disclosed to the media on Thursday last that the government will be moving to repossess the land in what he termed a “backdoor

arrangement” between former President Bharrat Jagdeo and Ahamad.

Following Harmon’s disclosure last week it was subsequently discovered that the former administration had repossessed the land since 2009, hence Ahamad was not required to continue paying the GYD$500,000 yearly.

The Guyana Chronicle

Former President Bharrat Jagdeo

had reported then: “the land was leased for a brief period of time on May 30.” This lease was subsequently relinquished in 2009,” according to the state newspaper.

In addition, the Kaieteur Newspaper also reported: “This lease was subsequently relinquished to Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission in 2009.”

The Minister is

challenging the former President to bring the evidence that the land deal was cancelled in 2009, as claimed. The Minister is insisting that he has evidence that the deal was not cancelled.

M i n i s t e r Harmon’s revelation last week was an attempt to prove that former President Jagdeo and his party were involved in corruption while in office.

Police record 9% in serious crimes

The Guyana Police Force revealed that serious crimes have increased by 9% at the end of November compared to the similar period last year. Today, the Force released statistics in relation to the offences of murder and robbery under arms

Ho w e v e r, the Police noted that following the launch of ‘Operation Dragnet’ on December 01, 2015, along with intelligenceled policing and improved cooperation from the public, this has been decreased to 7% up to December 11, 2015.

The statistics also revealed that 300 reports of rape were recorded at the end of November.

This represents an increase of 26% when compared to 238 reported cases for the same period last year. Break and Enter and Larceny and Burglary have shown an overall increase of 11%.

Among the serious crimes policed by the Force are murder, robbery under arms, robbery with violence, robbery with aggravation, larceny from the person, break and enter and larceny, burglary, rape, and kidnapping.

A total of 133

Director of Public Information, Imran Khan has sought to clear the air with regard to the issue involving Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Inc. Colin Welch, who is the centre of a reported prepaid meter racket at the power company.

It was reported in the Sunday December 13, edition of the Kaieteur News that there is emerging evidence that Welch, intervened in a multi-million contract for pre-paid meters and asked the supplier to lie to authorities in Guyana about the specifications.

According to reports, the award of

the contract to Tesco PLC in April ran into early trouble when one of the bidders who was unsuccessful complained that the assessment of the bids was flawed and that Tesco’s manufacturer of the meters, Shenzhen Clou Electronics Company Limited, was not making those types of meters that were being requested by the power company.

The purported text messages sent

by Welch to the two foreign companies were leaked to Minister of Public infrastructure David Patterson, GPL Directors and Managers, and Government officials weeks ago.

It was also stated that GPL had gone to tender for 28,000 pre-paid meters worth over US$4 million which started the entire squabble.

Ho w e v e r, a statement from Government yesterday confirmed that the text messages were engaging the attention of the Minister.

The statement said after Patterson received complaints, he aborted this tender process for the prepaid meters and instructed, more than a month ago, that the process which started under the PPP be set aside and for it to be retendered.

murders were recorded at the end of November 2015 in comparison to 130 murders at the end of November 2014, an increase of 2%.

At the end of November 2015 robbery under arms overall has increased by 4% in comparison to the same period in 2014.

The statistics indicate an increase of 6% in the number of armed robberies involving the use of firearms; while the figures are almost similar in relation to the number of armed robberies where instruments other than firearms were used by the perpetrators.

Also at the end of November, 103

illegal firearms have been recovered by the police comprising 1 submachine gun, 56 pistols, 28 revolvers, 11 shotguns, 6 rifles and 1 pen-gun.

This compares to a total of 81 illegal firearms that were recovered unto this time last year.

The Police said that it is continuing in efforts aimed at crime prevention through its police-community partnership programme along with social crime prevention interventions in the Policing Divisions, with special emphasis on empowering youths, such as the Impact Albouystown Project and Youth Clubs.

It alluded

to the meaningful support in this regard that is being given by members of the religious community attached to the Cops and Faith Community Network.

Since the launch of the Cops and Faith Community Network in September 2013 and unto November 30, 2015, there has been a total of 245 such interventions.

In all cases the youths were counseled by the religious leaders and following the involvement of parents/ guardians, and the victims where necessary, the majority of them were warned and sent away.

Minister Patterson investigating corruption allegation against GPL CEO Colin Welch

Khan said “Minister Patterson then instructed an independent review of the complaints.

All of the main complaints were found to be invalid. The new tendering procedures under a new team has been set in motion.”

He added that

it was after this had occurred, the alleged new emails which the Kaieteur News report is mainly based on, had surfaced. He assured that Minister Patterson is committed to looking into the issue.

However, the future of Welch with the power company

Grade 6 2016 Exams postponed

will be determined by the new board which is to be installed shortly.

This is not the first time Welch has been fingered in alleged corruption. He was also accused of falsifying his credentials.

Welch was appointed to his current position in August of this year following the dismissal of former CEO Bharrat Dindyal on August 14. Welch and Dindyal were involved in a feud after he (Welch) sought to have two staff fired and Dindyal overturned the decision which resulted in a rowdy confrontation between that was subsequently circulated on social media.

-Manickchand condemns not they will be expected process to write an end of Easter

The 2016 National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) has been postponed from its original expected date of March 21 and 22 to April 27 and April 28 as confirmed by the examinations division of the Ministry of Education. Traditionally, the examinations are written on the Monday and Tuesday after school closes for the Easter holidays. Schools are

expected to be closed on March 18, 2016.

The change in decision was communicated to some schools via a circular sent to Regional Education Officers and according to information, no reason for the change was made public. However, Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan recently announced that Local Government

Elections will be hosted on March, 18.

According to reports, some parents complained that the change of date will affect the students from enjoying their Easter Holidays as they will now be studying. It was also stated that this change left some teachers who have not received the circular in limbo as they are unsure about whether or

Term examination and what, in particular, this postponement will mean for teacher’s administration of the curriculum.

Meanwhile, former Minister of Education and People’s Progressive Party’s Member of Parliament; Priya Manickchand, has condemned the manner in which the Ministry of Education communicates

Priya Manickchand

its changes in decisions to stakeholders.

She said “the manner in which the Ministry of Education is treating its most important stakeholders is nothing short of disgraceful. Parents and children are forced to beg and plead and even after

begging and pleading, wait on information that will severely affect their lives…No reason as to the date for a postponement of the NGSA, something children were preparing for many years now.”

Concerns over condition of the Kaituma School raised

Teachers of the Port Kaituma Secondary School, many of whom are from the coastland, are reportedly calling for additional attention to be paid to their welfare.

According to reports, contract teachers at the school are reportedly made to wait months before they are paid. The absence of a dorm father for the school was also ventilated.

It was reported that a male teacher has to be

teaching, supervising the boys and also sometimes assist them in cooking, but reportedly receives no additional monies for that service.

Information reaching this outfit suggest there is a retiree who is performing the duties of a cook and cleaner for the dorm and which apparently that does not go down well with person in the area. The Port Kaituma Secondary School has

a population of close to seven hundred.

There is a general view that the regional administration has been very reluctant to address the issues of the school when it comes to welfare, dorm issues and the general physical condition under which the teachers work and the children live.

G N N understands that the school’s administrative building has no

electricity even though there are some thirty new dell computer systems reportedly locked in the school’s Information Technology laboratory.

A Community Teacher Association Member (formerly known as PTA- Parent Teachers Association) explained that the last time the school saw electricity was a few weeks before elections when the region refueled the generator at the

school and put in the computers allegedly for a photo opportunity with the children.

Since then, it is reported that the school has remained without electricity. Also there are concerns regarding the condition of some of the class rooms and the science lab.

On Friday last, Vice President and Minister of Indigenous People’s Affairs, Sydney Allicock, and a team from the

Ministry including advisor Mervyn Williams, visited the school where they interacted with the teachers and students.

The teachers took the opportunity to relate their dissatisfaction to the Vice President and team. They were informed that the government disburses funds to the regional administration to assist with the maintenance of the schools and other buildings in the region.

Rohee maintains grade

‘F’ for government Clement Rohee

The A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) has scored another grade ‘F’ from the opposition Peoples Progressive Party (PPP).

The party’s General Secretary, Clement Rohee when asked by the media to grade the seven month old coalition government stated “F.”

He said he did

not downgrade the coalition for the sake of it but it is based on their performance.

According to Rohee, there seems to be an obsession with power by the David Grangerled administration.

In supporting his statement he made reference to recent editorials which highlighted that the government is grasping power.

This is not the first time Rohee has given the government ‘F.’ Back in August Rohee had said that of 21-point promises, only a mere seven were completely delivered via the budget, while eight are in progress, another four in advanced progress and two partially completed. He gave the Government an ‘F’ Grade on the fulfilment of the 100-day plan.

In August, Minister of State Joseph Harmon lauded the government for its performance thus far. He gave the coalition a grade ‘A.’

Most recently, Minister of State Joseph Harmon last month at one of his weekly post-cabinet media briefing lauded the government’s

performance.

H a r m o n said he believes the government has been doing well based on the challenges it is facing. “I think we’re doing very well based on the circumstances we’re facing,” he said.

He lamented the fact that the government is spending large

sums of monies on infrastructure in the first six months in its administration. This he says is part of its “clean up” exercise, taking over from the previous administration.

“A lot of what we’re doing is basically ground work, we are preparing the nation,” the Minister said.

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Fans camp out for first ‘Star Wars’ movie in a decade Hollywood is rolling out the red carpet for the premiere of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, the first film in the epic space saga for a decade - and fans are frantic. The starstudded screening of the most anticipated film of the year on Monday will be followed by a global release on Wednesday.

It will officially hit US cinemas on Friday.

“When we finished shooting, it felt like ‘Oh, it’s so long until it comes out - and now we’re here,’” Daisy Ridley, who plays

the scavenger Rey, told the AFP news agency as the clock ticked down.

The 23-year-old British actress, in her first bigscreen role, is among several fresh faces joining the latest instalment of the sci-fi film series that has a mammoth worldwide following.

Others include fellow Brit John Boyega who plays Finn, portrayed as a renegade stormtrooper in the trailer, as well as Oscar Isaac who slips into the skin of pilot Poe Dameron. Much to the

delight of die-hard fans, veterans of the original blockbusters - Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher will once again play Han Solo and Princess Leia.

Star Wars has attracted generations of loyal fans since the first film was released in 1977. It turned Ford, Fisher and Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker) into overnight stars.

“You could say it’s the themes, it’s the Force, it’s the lightsaber there’s just something in this that touches people, and I don’t think

you can summarise that,” Ridley said.

The film is due to be shown in Los Angeles at

the Dolby Theatre, the TCL Chinese Theatre and the El Capitan Theatre, where fans

Shabana Azmi in BBC One series Capital

At a time when Islamophobia is at a peak, what with several

barbaric terror attacks in various parts of the world being claimed

Jennifer Lawrence might be one of the most beloved stars in Hollywood, but she’s pretty sure her directors don’t like her. Where does this concern come from? Well, according to Lawrence, it’s because they keep making her sing in movies.

“You know I have this theory that directors hate me,” the 25-yearold Oscar winner shared when asked why she keeps playing characters who end up crooning. “I don’t know why. I hate it that have to keep doing it.

It’s the weirdest thing.”

Lawrence, who famously sang “The Hanging Tree” in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1 which was later released as a single, also sings in her new film Joy, from American Hustle and Silver Linings Playbook director David O. Russell.

“I’ve never once put it out there that I think I can sing or that I even enjoy singing,” Lawrence said. “Now it seems like I keep having to do it in every damn film!” That being said, the Hunger Games star has a few idea about her

responsibility by Islamic extremist groups, Shabana Azmi has dared to play the distraught mother of a young Pakistani man accused of and incarcerated for terrorism in Britain in the BBC One series Capital.

It’s a feisty role. And Shabana has a terrific time sinking her teeth into the meaty part of

a Pakistani matriarch trying to hold her family together in London in a climate of rapidly growing distrust hostility and violence.

Says Shabana, “Capital is based on journalistauthor John Lanchester’s book of the same title.

London is chronicled through the residents’ of a single street named Pepys Road.”

Set on a single street in South London, Capital, Peter Bowker’s adaptation

of John Lanchester’s critically acclaimed and bestselling novel Capital, and produced

by Kudos for BBC One. Says Shabana, “I had no idea that Kudos is one of the biggest production houses in UK or that the star lineup is so spectacular! I don’t think any of them except the producer Matt and director Euros Lynn know anything about me either!”

About her role Shabana

the wildly talented “Hello” singer after they “met through a mutual friend and just became friends.”

Sometimes the simplest

introductions lead to the best relationships!

Maybe Lawrence could get her famous friends to appear in the hotly anticipated

have been camping out for days to buy tickets.

(AFP/Al Jazeera) enthuses, “The Asian family is central to the plot. I play a feisty Pakistani mother whose son is locked up for terrorist activities. She fights back gets a human rights lawyer and is totally unafraid. She’s funny, domineering, but with a warm heart. Nice part and I enjoyed the work.”

Shabana comes away with fond memories of young actress Mona Goodwin who plays her daughterin-law. “We bonded well and have kept in touch after the shooting,” says Shabana warmly.

(Bollywoodhungama)

Jennifer Lawrence says Directors hate her dream Karaoke partner.

“The first person that is coming into my mind is Emma Stone,” Lawrence explained.

“Or I would chose Adele and I would just mouth along with her.

As it turns out, the possibility that a karaoke team-up of that epic magnitude is actually possible.

Lawrence and Stone are friends after getting introduced by Woody Harrelson and having “a full courtship for, like, a year.”

As for her friendship with Adele, Lawrence became pals with

comedy she’s writing with her bestie Amy Schumer. One can always dream. (Yahoo)

Don’t Have a Holiday Heart Attack It’s not so easy to just say no when you keep getting invited, and it’s all out there in front of you. How bad can it be to overindulge on the holidays?

Fortunately, most people get away without serious consequences. But for those with risk factors such as heart disease or high cholesterol, overeating can set off more serious medical problems. As for that weight gain, it might not be so easy to take off.

What happens when you’ve stuffed yourself?

Heartburn caused by acidic gastric juices refluxing into the delicate tissues of the esophagus can last for hours. Try an over-the-counter antacid such as Tums for relief. For gas and diarrhea, try some bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol and generic)— or just wait for it to work its way out, as it were.

The fat in your feast can precipitate gall-bladder attacks. And if you’re susceptible to gout, which is the painful buildup of uric-acid crystals in your joints, go easy on alcohol and red meat. An overload of salty appetizers can result in swollen ankles for a few days.

If you have coronary heart disease or are at risk for it, overeating can have serious consequences. A study of almost 2,000 heart-attack patients suggested

that a single act of overeating could quadruple one’s chance of having a heart attack on the same day.

Triglycerides¬—a type of fat in the blood after a large meal—can cause coronary artery inflammation, commonly a prelude to a heart attack. Large amounts of food and alcohol can cause the release of adrenaline-like substances that can cause a fatal abnormal heart rhythm.

Most of us can’t make it through a whole season of holiday parties without splurging a little. Here are a few ways to control your holiday food intake.

•Don’t go to a festive meal feeling famished. Eat a high-protein snack beforehand, such as a slice of cheese, to take the edge off your hunger.

•Be choosy about your hors d’oeuvres. Avoid anything fried. Eat a good helping of salad first.

•Eat slowly. Swallow each mouthful before taking the next and chat with a table mate between bites.

Slow eaters tend to eat less food.

•Party buffet? Position yourself as far away from that table as you can get.

•Increase your regular exercise schedule to burn off

some of those excess calories.

•If you end up overdoing it one night, don’t use it as an excuse to blow the rest of the season, as my stockbroker patient did. Simply get back to your usual (and better) habits the next morning. (Adapted from Yahoo Health)

The tone of your voice could determine if your relationship will last

Want to know if your relationship is destined for happily ever after?

Check your tone. That’s the message from new

research published in the journal Proceedings of Interspeech that found the tone of voice couples use to talk to each other

can predict whether their relationship will last.

For the study, researchers from the University of Southern California and University of Utah recorded conversations during marriage therapy sessions for more than 100 couple over two years, and then tracked their marital status for five years. They also developed a computer algorithm that broke the recordings into acoustic features like

pitch and intensity, as well as how often a person’s voice warbled.

What they discovered: • There was a correlation between people’s voices and the quality of their relationship.

• Researchers could accurately predict whether couples would be together after five years nearly 80 percent of the time.

• The algorithm did a better job than

relationship experts of predicting whether couples with serious issues would still be together in five years.

Is your tone of voice that important? Experts say yes. “It’s like the old adage: It’s not what you say, it’s how you say it,” Erika Martinez, PsyD, a licensed psychologist in Miami, tells Yahoo Health.

Our tone can convey feelings, including negative ones like

The scary thing stress does to your brain People who are highly stressed are more than twice as likely to develop a form of mild cognitive impairment, according to a recent study. Overanalyzing situations and losing sleep over things you can’t control could put you at a great risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease later in life, a new study published in Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders has found.

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form

of dementia marked by problems with memory, thinking, and language. It can also disrupt a person’s daily routine — the same goes for stress. In addition to being the root of health concerns like insomnia, depression and high blood pressure, stress has now been linked to mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in older adults, which is often a prelude to Alzheimer’s. In the new study, researchers

found people who are highly stressed are more than twice as likely to develop the n e u ro d e g e n e r at i v e d i s e a Researchers used data from more than 500 adults aged 70 and older to examine the connection between chronic stress and amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI), the most common type of mild cognitive impairment affecting memory. At the beginning of the

study, all participants were free of aMCI or dementia; they were followed for nearly four years.

The results showed higher stress levels were linked to a greater risk of developing aMCI. Additionally, researchers found that for every five point increase in PSS score, the risk

of developing aMCI jumped by 30 percent.

About 5 million people in the United States aged 65 and older had Alzheimer’s disease in 2013, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

This number is expected to triple by 2050.

Researchers say the onset of Alzheimer’s

contempt, criticism, and defensiveness, which reveal important information about our emotional state. “Over long periods of time, that can take a toll on the relationship,” she says.

Experts say the latest research emphasizes how important it is to watch how you speak when you’re arguing with your partner. “If you’re upset, try to speak in a conversational tone,” advises Coleman.

It may go farther than you think. (Adapted from Yahoo Health)

can be delayed or prevented if stress is detected and treated early in older adults.

“Perceived stress reflects the daily hassles we all experience, as well as the way we appraise and cope with these events,” said first study author Mindy Katz. “Perceived stress can be altered by mindf u lness-b as e d stress reduction, cognitive-behavioral therapies and stressreducing drugs.

These interventions may postpone or even prevent an individual’s cognitive decline.”

(Adapted from MSN Health)

Artist and lawyer killed; bodies found in boxes Police in Mumbai are investigating the suspected murder of an artist and her lawyer, whose bodies were found bound and dumped in cardboard cartons over the weekend, officers said Monday.

The boxes carrying the bodies of artist Hema Upadhyay and her legal counsel Harish Bhambhani

were recovered from a drain on Saturday, said Mumbai’s police spokesman Dhananjay Kulkarni. The victims’ hands and legs had been bound, and their bodies wrapped in plastic sheets, according to area police inspector N.G. Rathore.

Upadhyay, 43, specialized in the depiction of life in the metropolis of Mumbai,

according to New Delhi’s Vadhera Art Gallery. Her artwork centered around migration, dislocation and multi-cultural aspects of India’s financial capital, it said in a profile.

Art critic and curator Uma Nair said in a blog post in the Times of India that Upadhyay’s work tackled urbanization, migration and landscapes.

“The news of her death and her body wrapped in plastic had a strange macabre surrealism because the murderer knew her language -- he/ she placed her remains like a dead fish in a dreary landscape of viciousness and hatred. RIP beautiful person,” Nair wrote in the blog headlined “Indian contemporary art’s genius: Hema Upadhyay.”

Mumbai’s police are treating her death and that of her lawyer as suspected murder.

Several people have been questioned, including the artist’s former husband, Kulkarni said. However, no one has been formally taken into custody.

“No arrests or detentions in the case (so far),” wrote Mumbai’s deputy police commissioner Vikram Deshmane in a text message. “(Our) inquiry is on.” (CNN)

would shave without looking in the mirror.

That was almost 10 years ago. The cadet graduated, led a platoon of combat engineers who cleared roadside bombs in Afghanistan and was awarded the Bronze Star. Last week, the Army finally

granted now Captain Singh, 27, a religious accommodation that allows him to grow his beard and wrap his hair in a turban.

“It is wonderful. I had been living a double life, wearing a turban only at home,” he said. “My two worlds have finally come back together.”

It is the first time in decades that the military has granted a religious accommodation for a beard to an active-duty combat soldier — a move that observers say could open the door for Muslims and other troops seeking to display their faith. But it is

only temporary, lasting for a month while the Army decides whether to give permanent status to Captain Singh’s exception.

If it decides not to, the captain could be confronted with the decision of whether to cut his hair or leave the Army. He has said he is prepared to sue if the accommodation is not made permanent.

For years, the Army has argued that beards in the ranks — religious or not — threatened the very foundations of military order and discipline.

In recent years, almost all requests for a religious

accommodation for a beard have been dismissed. In a 2014 letter denying a beard to a Sikh student at Hofstra University who had tried to join the Army’s Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, Lt. Gen. James C. McConville, the officer in charge of all such accommodations, said beards under gas masks posed a safety hazard.

The general added that any break from uniformity could erode esprit de corps and “damage the esteem and credibility” of the entire officer corps.

For centuries, Sikh teachings have required

adherents to leave their hair and beard unshorn, and to wear a turban.

“It was a way to identify the Sikhs, who became a sort of military order that stood up against oppression,” said Kamaljeet Singh Kalsi, a doctor who is a major in the Army Reserve.

“A true Sikh is supposed to stand out, so he can defend those who cannot defend themselves,” he said. “I see that very much in line with the Army values.”

(Adapted from MSN)

Sikh Soldier Allowed to Keep Beard in USA Army

On his first day at the United States Military Academy at West Point, Simratpal Singh sat in a barber chair and watched his locks drop to the floor. “Your selfimage, what you believe in, is cut away,” he said in an interview. For a long time after, he

Parents of alleged Mosque arsonist say they won’t bail him out of jail Carl Dial, 23, has been identified as the alleged arsonist behind Friday’s attack on the Islamic Society of Coachella Valley, a mosque in Coachella, California. Dial was arrested and charged with “arson, hate crime, and burglary,” in connection with the attack, the Riverside County Sheriff ’s Department announced on Friday.

Dial’s bail was set at $150,000, NBC reports, and apparently his parents won’t be helping him pay it. “We have no plans to bail him out.

He’s an adult,” Carl Dial’s father, John Dial, said. “We both said right there, we said to

him, I hope you like reading books, because you’re in it for the long haul. He’s a man.”

The fire at the Islamic Society of Coachella Valley, which police described as “an intentional act,” broke out early Friday afternoon, while “four or five people” were inside praying, CNN reports. No one was injured in the fire, but the building reportedly suffered extensive smoke damage.

In addition to the local police, the FBI will be investigating the alleged hate crime. The incident comes only days after Republican frontrunner Donald Trump proposed a

ban on Muslims entering the U.S. and suggested that a large proportion of Muslims feel “great hatred towards Americans.”

According to a report by CNN, there have been 63 anti-Muslim incidents at mosques so far in 2015, which is triple the number of similar incidents in 2014. (Adapted from Yahoo)

Meat thieves on the loose! - Pigs, goats, fowls, cows at risk as Christmas draws near

The police in Jamaica are on high alert to protect the nation’s

farmers this Christmas in light of the seasonal increase in praedial

larceny at this time.

The Praedial Larceny Unit has reported an increase in the number of theft from the agricultural community in recent weeks and is urging Jamaicans to get involved in the fight to protect the farmers.

“It is something that we seriously want to highlight. It is not something to put on the back page. We really

Dozens of Argentine police have been killed in a bus accident on Monday in the northern part of the South American nation, news reports said. The Associated Press news agency reported at least 41 officers were dead.

Authorities say the crash happened early Monday while a convoy of three buses with

gendarmes officers was traveling near Salta, a city about 1,500km north of Buenos Aires.

Angel Marinaro, civil defense director for the province, told local station TN that for unknown reasons the driver of one of the buses lost control as the convoy was crossing a bridge.

The vehicle flipped

and fell off the bridge, landing about 20 metres below into a dry riverbed. Local television images showed an overturned bus and rescue crews working the scene.

Authorities say the bus was carrying about 60 people, and survivors were being taken to a nearby hospital. Gustavo Solis,

A stunned Tyrone Williams inside the pen where his pigs were stolen from while a child looks on

want the public to be aware and to help us fight against it,” Deputy Commissioner of Police Clifford Blake said at a media briefing last week.

Less than 24 hours before the police media briefing, farmers Tyrone Williams and Omar Smith were robbed of 12 pigs, which they valued at more than $200,000.

The men operate a pig farm on the outskirts

of Seaview Gardens in Kingston, and when they turned up at about 5 a.m. last Wednesday, they found a bloody piece of iron, a chopped-off pig leg being mauled by dogs, and footprints in one of two pens from which the animals were stolen.

“My three pigs them look like them did too heavy for them to handle, plus one of them was pregnant, and you know them going to run around and squeal when them (thieves)

come near them.

“So what they do is knock them out with the iron pipe and then drag them over the fence,” said the 31-year-old Smith, as he bemoaned his losses.

“The only thing I came back come see is one of the pig them leg. Is like it get stuck when they were lifting it over and they couldn’t bother wait so them just chop it off and drive leave it,” added Smith.

The theft has dealt both farmers a heavy blow this Christmas.

(Adapted from the Jamaican Gleaner)

Dozens of Argentine police killed in bus accident

mayor of Rosario de la Frontera, told the AFP news agency at least 20 people died.

The cause of the predawn accident was unclear, said Solis. Some people remain trapped in the

wreckage of the bus and the death toll could rise, he said. (AP/Al Jazeera)

crushing legislative election loss on Dec. 6.

Maduro also said he had ordered the military to return to barracks after troops were deployed across the country to public spaces to maintain order during the election campaign and the vote itself.

All eyes are on the country’s military after the opposition’s victory because the armed forces have traditionally been the arbiter of major political fights in Venezuela.

Maduro kept up the combative tone he

has taken with the opposition, repeating the government’s longstanding contention that Venezuela’s enemies are waging a war on its socialist system.

While Maduro spoke, some opposition members took to the capital’s streets to celebrate their election victory, which was the socialists’ first rebuff in electoral contests since Chavez was first elected president 17 years ago.

Opposition backers sang and danced in the steep, narrow streets linked with simple brick homes.

The opposition Democratic Unity coalition won a huge victory in the legislative contest, which came amid widespread discontent over Venezuela’s high crime, widespread shortages and tripledigit inflation.

The opposition ended up with 112 of the National Assembly’s 167 seats, giving it an important twothirds majority that dramatically strengthens its hand in challenging Maduro.

The socialist party and its allies hold 55 seats.

(Adapted from Yahoo)

Maduro tells military to prepare for showdown

President Nicolas Maduro on Saturday told Venezuela’s military to be prepared for a fight as the country remains tense after a landslide defeat for his socialist party in congressional

elections.

Maduro told troops at a yearend celebration in Caracas that the coming year could see a political showdown between the socialist administration and its enemies.

Soldiers listened solemnly as the late President Hugo Chavez’s voice rang out over loudspeakers, and they applauded when Maduro reminded them of his quick acceptance of the

Obama really wants to go to Cuba, but only if the conditions are right President Obama said that he “very much” hopes to visit Cuba during his last year in office, but only if he can meet with pro-democracy dissidents there.

“If I go on a visit, then part of the deal is that I get to talk to everybody,” Obama said.

“I’ve made very clear in my conversations directly with President [Raul] Castro that we would continue to reach out to those who want to

broaden the scope for, you know, free expression inside of Cuba.”

Speaking in the Cabinet Room of the White House to Yahoo News, Obama strongly hinted that he would make a decision “over the next several months.”

The president said he hopes that “sometime next year” he and his top aides will see enough progress in Cuba that they can say that “now would be a good time

to shine a light on progress that’s been made, but also maybe (go) there to nudge the Cuban government in a new direction.”

White House aides privately describe an Obama visit – under the right circumstances – as the logical culmination of the new policy direction that he announced almost exactly one year ago.

On Dec. 17, 2014, Obama and Raul Castro stunned

the world by disclosing that they had held secret negotiations and were prepared to usher in a new era of U.S.Cuba relations, starting with the resumption of full diplomatic ties.

Embassies reopened in Havana and Washington, the United States removed Cuba from its list of state sponsors of terrorism, and the two sides took steps to increase travel and business opportunities.

President Obama

Obama has undertaken many changes using his executive powers, and indicated in the interview that he would continue looking at ways to do so in 2016.

But Obama needs Congress to roll back the centerpiece of America’s Cold War-era pressure on Cuba and lift the U.S. trade embargo. (Yahoo)

are Muslim. The country gained independence from Britain in 1965.

“Gambia cannot afford to continue the colonial legacy,” Jammeh said.

In an attempt to allay the fears of religious minorities, Jammeh said the rights of Gambia’s Christian community - who make up about eight percent of the country’s population - will be protected.

Jammeh said there will

be no mandates on dress.

“We will be an Islamic state that would respect the rights of all citizens and non-citizens.” The head of the country’s Islamic body would not say if he endorsed the declaration.

“We haven’t met yet to discuss over the presidential announcement,” said Supreme Islamic Council chairman Imam Momodou Lamin Touray.

Hamat Bah, of the

opposition National Reconciliation Party, criticised the decision.

“There is a constitutional clause that says that Gambia is a secular state,” he said.

“You cannot make such a declaration without going through a referendum.”

“Gambia is not a country of laws but is rather ruled by the whims of Yahya Jammeh,” Smith said.

(Adapted from Al Jazera)

last December due to prompt evacuations.

An additional 130,000 people were evacuated in Sorsogon province south of Albay. The typhoon is expected to cut across the central heartlands in the early hours of Tuesday

before heading out to the South China Sea in the west.

Stormy weather has forced the cancellation of 40 domestic flights and halted 625 passenger and cargo ferry trips, the disaster monitoring

agency said.

The government had prepared more than 200,000 food packs and other emergency items before the storm’s landfall.

(Adapted from MSN)

Gambia’s President declares Islamic statehood

Gambia’s president has declared the West African country an Islamic republic

saying the decision was made because Islam is the religion of most citizens

and the nation must break away from its colonial past.

President Yahya Jammeh made the declaration at the end of a political rally held on Friday at the coastal village Brufut, about 15km west of the capital Banjul.

“In line with the country’s religious identity and values, I proclaim Gambia as an Islamic state,” the Gambian leader said.

About 90 percent of Gambia’s 1.8 million people

More than 700,000 people in the central Philippines fled to safer areas for fear of giant waves, floods or landslides as Typhoon Melor slammed into the archipelago nation Monday, officials said.

Melor brushed the northern tip of Samar, a farming island of 1.5 million people, early Monday with winds gusting up to 185 kilometres (115 miles) per hour, the state weather bureau said. There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage.

Samar was among areas devastated in 2013 by Typhoon Haiyan, when giant waves wiped out

entire communities and left 7,350 people dead or missing.

Authorities warned that Melor’s powerful winds might whip up four-metre-high (13-feet) waves, blow off tin roofs and uproot trees. They said heavy rain within its 300-kilometre diameter could trigger floods and landslides.

In Albay province in the southeast of Luzon island, almost 600,000 people were evacuated due to fears that heavy rain could cause mudslides on the slopes of nearby Mayon Volcano, according to the national disaster monitoring office.

Residents carrying

bags of clothes and water jugs clambered onto army trucks in Albay’s Legazpi City as authorities sounded an evacuation alarm, according to an AFP photographer at the scene. Huge waves crashed into the city’s deserted boulevard as palm trees swayed from the wind.

“The whole province is now a ghost town. We shut all establishments.

No school, no work,” Albay governor Joey Salceda said. Albay, a province of 1.2 million people, has become a model for disaster preparedness.

It recorded zero casualties from Typhoon Hagupit

President Yahya Jammeh

700,000 flee as powerful typhoon slams Philippines

Samuels banned from bowling for 12 months West Indies allrounder Marlon Samuels has been banned from bowling in international cricket for 12 months after his action was found to be illegal for a second time since December 2013. The offspinner’s action can be reassessed by the ICC only after this period is complete.

Samuels, who was prohibited from bowling quicker deliveries in 2013, was reported for a suspect action in October, during the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle.

Samuels underwent an independent assessment

in Brisbane which revealed that his elbow extension exceeded the permitted 15-degree limit.

Incidentally, the ICC had allowed Samuels to bowl in an ODI in November, after the 14-day grace period for reported bowlers had expired, on the grounds that the West Indies team was “incorrectly advised” about his eligibility.

“As this report constitutes the player’s second suspension within a two-year period, he is now automatically suspended from bowling in international cricket for a 12-month

Marlon Samuels

period,” an ICC release stated.

“Samuels is entitled to appeal any procedural aspect of the Independent Assessment that has led to this automatic suspension.

However, only after the expiry of this one-

year period will he be entitled to approach the ICC for a re-assessment of his bowling action.”

Samuels was reported for the third time in his career in October.

In 2008, he was called for a suspect faster

Warner may need to stand in as captain

David Warner may find himself as stand-in captain of Australia for the first time in some of January’s limited-overs

matches against India if Steven Smith’s current knee and hip niggles don’t clear up over the next two weeks.

Smith is not in doubt for the Boxing Day Test against West Indies in Melbourne or the following fixture

in the new year at the SCG. However, the selectors and team medical staff may elect to rest him from portions of the five-match

ball after the third Test against South Africa in Durban. He was later suspended from bowling in international cricket but after remedial work on his action, was permitted to bowl in September 2011.

ODI series against India in order to give him the best chance to be fit and limber for the February tour of New Zealand and also the Twenty20 matches to be played in the lead-up to the World T20 in India in March.

The decision to rule Smith out of the opening rounds of the Big Bash League that sit between now and Boxing Day is an admission that his knee in particular will need careful management over the coming months.

He has carried the problem since the latter part of the Ashes tour, saying the discomfort

He was reported once again at the end of the second day of the second Test against India in Mumbai in November 2013. He was subsequently allowed to bowl the offbreak delivery but not his quicker ball.

Samuels is the third bowler to be banned from bowling in international cricket by the ICC in 2015. Sunil Narine was suspended in November due to an illegal action.

Like Samuels, Pakistan’s Mohammad Hafeez was handed a 12-month ban by the ICC in July, after his action was found to be illegal for a second time since November 2014.

(Espncricinfo)

he faced while running could be “hidden” in Test matches. But it is likely to be more problematic in T20, the only format in which Australia are yet to win an ICC trophy.

The coach and selector Darren Lehmann said further breaks for Smith would be discussed.

“He keeps telling me he is 26 but [in Hobart] he was running as though he is 36.

The pressure of captaincy is quite large. We have to look at that but we get a decent break now with two weeks off. He is not playing BBL so he gets a good break.

(Adapted from Espncricinfo)

GTTA National Championships set for January The Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) has confirmed that their National Championships will be held in two legs, the first being the senior leg from January 1417 whiles the junior leg will take place from the January 21 to 24.

The 22 category tournament which was absent from the

calendar for the last three years due to various reasons, returns in early 2016 as the season opener for the sport.

According to a release, the GTTA executive felt that it was very critical for the re-introduction of the tournament so that every effort is made to ensure growth.

The championship truly

provides an environment to expose and showcase the next generation of our future champions, according to the Table tennis organization.

The association feels that the 2016 championships make for very competitive tournament filled with keen rivalries among the players in the various categories given the abundance and nucleus of young, emerging and immensely talented players with lots

of potential currently playing the sport.

The early announcement it noted, would allow players to train in preparation for the championships as well as to allow for players residing overseas to participate which would allow for better competition The tournament, the body noted, was chosen to be held outside the examination period which would lend to

greater participation and player performance and for better and for planning coordination The tournament has

produced champions like Nigel Bryan, Chelsea Edghill, Trenace Lowe and Colin France.

Monday December 14, 2015

Stag launches 2nd Super 16 instalment

WDFA president Franklin Wilson (Second from right) sits with Ansa McAl P.R.O Darshanie Yusuf, and Linden Henry Stag Brand Coordinator while various team members stand behind (Delano Williams Photo)

Ansa McAL under the stag beer brand yesterday launched the second instalment of the Super 16 knock out football competition which is set to commence on December 16th the Leonora Sports Facility.

The tournament is the collaborative effort of the East Bank Football Association (EBFA), West Demerara Football Association (WDFA) and the East Demerara Football Association (EDFA) and will see

Beavers and Herstelling from 18:00 on the first game day while Uitvlugt and BV triumph take the second game.

D u r i n g yesterday’s launch, Public Relations officer of Ansa McAl, the parent company for Stag Darshanie Yusuf contended that based on last year’s success, the tournament had to have a second instalment with the overall aim of taking it to every part of the country.

“Our whole intention is to ensure that football is played in this country, what we will do on our part is that we will support football, whether it be from the ground level where it be these associations or the Stag Elite league where the top brass get to play.

But what we will ensure is that football is played in this country and it is played at such a level that we can be proud.”

Ansa McAl, under this program

will look after the transportation to and from the venue on playing dates for all the participating teams as part of the sponsorship package as well as their usual beverage products.

EBFA President Franklin Wilson during his remarks stated that this time around, they have decided to include West Demerara teams as they look for a wider integration of players.

“Last year we went the route of

having guest players for each team but based on advice from the Technical Director of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Claude Bolton, that Is not in the rule, there will be no guest players.”

The tournament will feature a 1.5 million dollar purse to the winner while the second place team will take home 500,000, third place 300,000 and fourth place 200,000.

The 16 team

tournament will feature six West Demerara teams (Eagles, Beavers, Den Amstel, Uitvlugt, Stewartville and Pouderoyen while five each have been drawn from East Bank (Agricola, Kuru Kuru Warriors, Herstelling Raiders, Grove High Tech and Soesdyke Falcons) and East Coast (Victoria Kings, BV Triumph, Ann’s Grove, Mahaica and Golden Grove).