GNN Online Newspaper Oct 09 2015

Friday, October 09, 2015

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50TH INDEPENDENCE LOGO LAUNCHED -PAGE 5

SANJAY’S JEWELLERY OWNER JAILED -PAGE 2

Sanjay's Jewellery HITS owner sentenced

AND to 6 years JAMS DJ STILL ON THE RUN Bishnarine “Sanjay” Persaud

The proprietor of Sanjay's Jewellery was on Friday sent to jail for 58 months for causing death by dangerous driving.

Bishnarine 'Sanjay' Persaud of 26 Sheriff Street, Campbelville, Georgetown was found guilty for causing the death of fifty-five year old Leon Hunte of Stone Avenue Blygezigt.

The accident occurred at Lamaha Street, Newtown where the Georgetown Municipality worker was struck down.

The sentence was imposed

by City Magistrate, Judy

Latchman who found that there was compelling evidence that Persaud committed the offence around 23 hours on September 10, 2014.

His Attorney-atlaw Glenn Hanoman told the court that he would appeal the custodial sentence. However, he was unsuccessful in securing bail for his client pending the hearing and determination of the appeal.

Prior to the sentence, in a plea of mitigation Hanoman had told the court that Persaud

paid for the funeral and the wake and that he is the sole breadwinner for his children who are still attending school.

T h e prosecution's case was that Persaud did not exercise the five C's for road safety (care, courtesy, caution, consideration and commonsense) or the accident could have been avoided.

Persaud made his first appearance in Court on September 12, where he was granted bail in the sum of $1.5M.

Up to late this afternoon ranks from the Customs Anti-narcotics Unit of Guyana were putting systems in place to see what information they can gather on the activities of Dwidth Ferguson's in the drugs underworld in this country. This was after Guyana was formally informed of the involvement of Ferguson's role in trafficking cocaine and guns into Canada as part of a massive ring which law enforcement officers in that country

is known for the promotion and holding of major entertainment activities including international and regional shows where they hire “high-priced” musical artists.

The company also hosts a yearly pageant which attracts delegates from other Caribbean countries and has investments of millions of Guyana dollars pumped into it. Hits and Jams Entertainment recently acquired a plot of lot in

some of the biggest International and regional musical artistes who would have visited Guyana for the first time.

Canada and the United States are presently on the lookout for Ferguson who is believed to be in Canada at the moment after reportedly traveling there just days before the cocaine and guns ring were broken up.

There is a wanted bulletin issued for him in that country and information has been passed onto the Dwidth Ferguson

have been able to crack wide open.

According to a senior drug enforcement officer in Guyana, CANU was contacted by Canada and an investigation has been launched locally.

The investigation will seek to identify who the other local players, if any, are that has been facilitating the shipment of the cocaine out of Guyana.

Ferguson is the brother of one of the part owner of the Hits and Jams Entertainment Company. The company

prime location just outside of Georgetown where again millions of dollars were spent to develop the site. In addition, the company has a television and radio station as well as a leading sound system.

Several years ago it was reported that the very Ferguson was arrested by the police along with two other persons for cocaine that was found. In the end, only the two persons were charged. It is believed that Hits and Jams is well connected. The company has been responsible for

United States. It is not clear if Interpol was also informed.

The dismantling of the cocaine and guns ring saw the arrest of several persons from the USA, Canada, the Caribbean and Guyana.

Among were two women.

While twelve persons have been charged with office of guns and cocaine trafficking. Ferguson is yet to be brought to justice.

GRANGER VOWS TO RELEASE MORE PRISONERS NEXT YEAR Despite mounting criticisms from the political opposition and other sections of society, following his decision on May 26, 2015, to pardon several minor offenders from the Camp Street Jail, President of Guyana David Granger has vowed to repeat the act again.

Speaking at an educational rally at the National Park in Georgetown earlier today, the Head of State admitted that he was receiving criticism for the move he took in May, to release the prisoners during Guyana's 49th Independence Anniversary celebrations.

“We do not want to see our young people in the New Opportunity Corps, we do not want to see our young people in Camp Street, we do not want to see our young people in Mazaruni” President Granger passionately said, as he highlighted that too many young people are leaving

school without being able to secure employment.

He further expressed the view that society will be better off with young people who are able to graduate from Universities and secondary schools as opposed to these detention centers and jails.

S p e a k i n g directly to the issue of the releasing of petty offenders in May of this year, Granger said, “Some people are quarrelling because a few people who steal cell phone I allow to get out of jail free on the 26th May. I said go your way and sin no more get out of jail, go to college go to University instead and some people are quarreling about that. I will do it again next year!”

He also stressed that young people do not have a right in jail, but rather in educational institutions. “I will keep on doing it and my critics will keep on complaining

but I want to see young people graduating from University not going into Mazaruni, not into Camp Street” he added.

Initially the president had asked for sixty persons to be released from prisons but that number was reduced after prison authorities in checking records and preparing the young people for their pardon realized that several of them were not only in prison for minor offences but had other matters.

The intention of President Granger was to release those who were remanded for petty crimes such as simple larceny and cellphone theft among other offences. It was however found that some who were shortlisted to be released were actually in prison for dual offences and as such their pardon was rescinded causing the total number of persons who were released to be less than sixty.

President David Granger addressing the Youth Rally at the National Park

SASOD WANTS INCLUSIVE SEXUAL EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS Officer at Department of G o v e r n a n c e ; Te r e s a Gaime, and First Secretary, Embassy of

THE Georgetown-based Society Against Sexual O r i e n t a t i o n Discrimination (SASOD) is advocating for the introduction of policies that prevents bullying and harassment of Lesbians, Gays, Bisexual and Transgenders in schools.

The society is also calling for sexual education that is inclusive of different sexualities and gender identities to be provided in schools.

S A S O D ' s Communications Director,

Schemel Patrick stated that stigma against homosexuality is very strong, making it difficult for persons to even seek the help of the law. The society argues that the state violates human rights when it has laws that discriminates against minority groups or offer no protection for those persons. It believes that urgent actions should be made to address these issues.

In this regard, the body is calling on the

government to comprehensively address the concerns of the minority groups.

The group expressed its concerns when it appeared before the Review Committee under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), held at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland from September 28 – 29, 2015.

Patrick said the group's Stakeholder Reports addressed basic socio-

economic rights' violations. While noting that significant strides were made in the past to address the rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) citizens, but there are still policies that needs work.

G u y a n a ' s delegation to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) included Minister of Governance; Raphael T r o t m a n , Te c h n i c a l

Guyana in Brussels, Belgium; Bevon Mcdonald and SASOD's communication officer.

FIRE PREVENTION WEEK BEGINS

HOUSE GUTTED IN CRANE

Fire women doing the Marching on of the Colour Party (GINA Photo)

Fire Prevention Week 2015 was launched today with a church service held at the Guyana Fire Service's (GFS) Water Street Headquarters.

Commissioner Clifton Hicken, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Security Angela Johnson, and members of the religious community.

It marks the 41st Fire Prevention Week and activities are slated for the period October 09 to 15 under the theme, “Building a Safer Nation through Citizens' Participation in Fire Prevention.”

Fire women were given the opportunity to showcase their talents in the form of dances, songs and scripture reading, and to lead the Marching of the Colour Party. There were also prayers by members of the religious communities, and a sermon by Pastor Raphael Messiah.

Among those in attendance were Fire Chief Marlon Gentle, Director of Prisons We l t o n Tr o t z , Commander of Police 'A' Division, Assistant

Citizens were encouraged to collaborate with the GFS and take preventative measures to

protect themselves, their families, and their communities from the hazards of fire, all in keeping with the theme.

The GFS is also celebrating its 58th Anniversary. A series of events including, school lectures and exhibitions will be held as part of raising awareness on the dangers of fires and the importance of fire prevention.

Earlier today, a house was gutted by fire in C r a n e , We s t C o a s t Demerara.

(Adapted from GINA)

Keyola Browser performing a dance at the church service to usher in the Guyana Fire Service’s 41st Fire Prevention Week (GINA Photo)

Four persons have been rendered homeless after a fire of unknown origin ravaged their 75 second street Crane Housing Scheme, West Coast Demerara home in the wee hours of Friday morning.

Those homeless are; Partick Whyte, his girlfriend Camielle Daniels, Tricia Fredricks and her boyfriend Devon.

Reports are that Tricia and Camielle had left to go out while

Whyte went to bed.

The man said he was awoken by a loud noise shortly after 1 hour, after which he saw fire coming from the kitchen.

He was unable to salvage anything from the house.

TH

50 INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY LAUNCHED G u y a n a ' s 5 0 t h Independence Anniversary logo was today (Friday) launched at the National Cultural Center dubbed 'Land of the Jaguar'.

The logo is a roaring Jaguar superimposed almost on top of the figure 50.

Designed by Chris Taylor and Compton Babb, represents Guyana as a golden nation moving forward towards establishing itself in the countries of the world, in its next 50 years Taylor and

The 50th Anniversary logo

Minister Nicolette Henry addressing the gathering

Babb's design was selected out of field of 64 entries from a wide cross section of Guyanese, from almost every region of the country, as well as the Diaspora, following a competition launched two months ago by the Commemorative Commission .

Delivering the feature address at the event, Minister within the Ministry of Education, Department of Culture, Youth and Sport Dr. Nicolette Henry noted that “G uyana' s 50th

belongs to all Guyanese.”

She encouraged persons to come onboard and to share their ideas for the celebration of the anniversary.

Suggestions can be sent to the 50th I n d e p e n d e n c e Anniversary's Secretariat located at Lamaha Street or at any of the Ministry of Education's location.

“Just as we have built this nation through the collective effort of everyone, we want to create a celebration that is truly inclusive and

meaningful. As we share our collective memory of the last 50 years let our celebration be a first step towards a common future for all Guyanese,” the Minister stated.

In addition to unveiling the winning logo, the winners and the runners-up, Dominic Hunter, Sudesh Krishnaram and Wuayne Cheong Kee-you were presented with cheques.

Others who participated in the contest were given certificates of participation.

British funds available to Guyana B r i t i s h H i g h Commissioner in Guyana, Greg Quinn says Guyana stands to benefit from a 300 million pounds grant that is being made available by the United Kingdom to Caribbean states.

This was stated during a press conference on Friday October 9.

Monies under the Funding-programme to aid in infrastructure development will be made available through the Caribbean Development Bank and projects are expected to be identified between 6-12 months for commencement.

The grant will be used to strengthen Hospital infrastructure, build roads, bridges and ports to help drive economic growth and to improve government's management of its public finances among other important issues.

British High Commissioner Greg Quinn

Through the project, Quinn disclosed that contractors can bid for projects in the Region as well.

Security reform is also set to be updated by

the British. This will see the deployment of a team to Guyana to conduct a needs assessment for the sector.

Ramsammy knocks Cummings on Pesticides Act Dr. Leslie Ramsammy

Former Health Minister under the Peoples Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) government Leslie Ramsammy has accused Junior Health Minister Karen Cummings of being oblivious to the laws of G u y a n a . R e c e n t l y, Minister Cummings told the media that the

government is working on completing a pesticide control bill for parliament.

However, Ramsammy is contending that there is already an act which speaks specifically to what the Minister was referring to. He pointed to the P e s t i c i d e s a n d To x i c Chemicals Control Act 2000 (Act#8 of 2000)

Junior Health Minister Dr.Karen Cummings

which has been implemented for almost 15 years in Guyana. He said it is under this Act that the Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals Control Board chaired by Dr. Leslie Monroe has been effectively bringing better control in the use of toxic substances, including pesticides, in Guyana for

more than a decade.

H o w e v e r, Minister Cummings told GNN that she was speaking specifically to the issue of enforcement.

She said while she is aware that there are laws in place to deal with the sale of pesticides the issue of enforcement remains one of concern.

Ramsammy said he was flabbergasted when he learnt of the Minister's call to introduce a bill to control pesticides as a counter measure against suicide.

“I seriously question the efficiency and e ff e c t i v e n e s s o f t h e A P N U + A F C Government if it is true that we will soon promulgate legislation to control pesticides in Guyana. The Attorney General surely ought to have advised them that a pesticide control legislation has been implemented in Guyana since 2000. The present senior Minister of Health served on the Select Committee when the bill went through parliament in 1999/2000,” Ramsammy noted.

During her address to participants of

a workshop on mental illness and suicide on Monday, October, 05, the Junior Minister said one of the measures that would be implemented by the Government to combat suicide would be some restraints on the sale of pesticides. She hinted at a bill to be tabled in the National Assembly to enable such measures to be taken. She highlighted that mental health and suicide will be tackled from all angles since the issues have many contributing factors.

The workshop was aimed at sensitizing social workers and other stakeholders of the signs leading to mental health problems and the importance of looking for those symptoms.

Public service fraud case adjourned to November 12 The court case involving former Minister of P u b l i c S e r v i c e , D r.

Jennifer Westford and Chief Personnel Officer, Margaret Cummings, has been adjourned to November 12. The two made their fourth court

appearance on Thursday October 8 in the multimillion dollar fraud discovered at the Public Service Ministry over two months ago.

The former Minister and Personnel Officer are currently Margaret-Cummings

facing four charges at the Georgetown Magistrate court.

The charge against Westford of Lot 55 AA Victoria Avenue, Eccles, East Bank Demerara stated that between July 17, 2014 and June 23, 2015, she attempted to transfer eight state vehicles to her husband Gary Beaton, Osbert Mcpherson, Wayne Walker and Delroy Lewis. She was placed on $800,000 bail after she pleaded not guilty to the charge which was first called on July, this year.

Cummings, of Lot 709 Section 'A' Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara was also slapped with four c o u n t s o f f o rg e r y.

Cummings also pleaded not guilty to t h e c h a rg e s w h i c h

Former Minister of Public Service, Jennifer Westford

alleged that she forged documents for the purchase of the eight motor vehicles. She has been released on a total of $1.2M bail.

Dr. Westford and Ms Cummings were both represented

by Attorneys-at-Law

Bibi Shadick, Keisha Chase, Dexter Todd, Husi Anderson and Neil Boston.

Thursday's court appearance was scheduled for the defendants' attorney, Neil Boston, to make requested another

adjournment date to address the court which was met with no objection and therefore granted by the magistrate.

HINDS ROASTS HARMON

OVER COMMENTS Former Prime Minister, Samuel Hinds, in a letter to the media today, hit back at the Minister

of State, Joseph Harmon for comments he Harmon made about “thiefing

money all over the place”. GNN carries below the letter in its entirety.

Dear Editor, We ain't been 'thiefing money all over the place' – we been growing and developing our People and Country I want to express how deeply hurt we were, I and my many, many colleague Ministers, of the twenty three years of PPP/C in office, by those words of the Honourable Joseph Harmon – ' you cannot have a situation like the PPP where they ( the Ministers) were accepting low salaries because they were thiefing money all over the place'.

Perhaps we could and should take this outburst as just another instance of the 'fish-market busing down' that is being dished out at us. What is of greater concern however, is what this whole affair might reveal about the beliefs and attitudes of the Honourable Minister and o u r c u r r e n t Administration, and the signals it is giving: that there are set levels of salaries which sensible, bright persons will insist on.

Only dull, 'thiefing' people will accept less. What else can we think, since they would have known the salary levels before they took office and appear to have assumed office with the clear intention of raising their salaries, even before any work was done. When I became Prime Minister in October 1992, the PM's gross pay was about 70% of what I was being paid in Guymine/ Linmine, about thirty- something thousand dollars per month as far as I could remember.

Then I learnt that PAY E , N I S a n d a contribution to a Parliamentary pension had to be deducted: not much to take home. But that was where we and our country were in 1992. It was from such an understanding that we, PPP/C Ministers, accepted the job to be leaders in the growth and

development of our people and country: growing our economy and improving our people's wellbeing. Even with the very low Ministerial salaries then, much below the salaries of many Permanent Secretaries, we did not make raising Ministers salaries the first order of business.

That the Prime Minister's gross salary about US $ 300 per month in 1992, can now be set at over US$ 8,000 per month in 2015, must speak loudly about some degree of s u c c e s s , s o m e achievements of the PPP/C Administration.

Ve r y m u c h s o ! A s I observed in a note to the recent twentieth biennial Congress of the GPSU that in spite of all the mistrust and contentions, the minimum wage of public servants has at the same time been increased from under US $ 30 to above US$ 175 / month, and housing and vehicle ownership amongst public servants have greatly improved.

It was not easy, not all smooth sailing, calling for much sacrifice of Ministers and their families (as it was for all of our citizens), much doing without, much cutting and contriving. It was not about 'thiefing money all over the place' but about contributing to the development of our people and country. Some appreciation would be expected for the much better wicket on which the new Administration finds itself.

Mr. Editor, my fellow Guyanese, hurt as I am, I am even more concerned when I read that the Honourable Minister went on to say further, ' and so we must pay people well if we want them to perform'. How is this 'paid well' to be

assessed and set, and from where does the money come? Is it that people who are not performing, are not being paid well?

And is it that people who are not being paid well would not be performing?

I s t h e r e n o t to be any sense of service, duty or patriotism?

I have heard the Hon. Minister claiming at an earlier time that 'if you pay peanuts, you will get monkeys.' But what if all the harvest we have, are peanuts? Let me say clearly before I am misunderstood. We of the PPP/C want much better salaries. We want all our people working well and being paid well – that is what we have been always working for. But the good pay which we all want and need is the outcome of our work and many things within and outside our control. That good pay we need cannot be set by any fiat: rather it is the need for that good pay which drives us to apply ourselves, hopefully better each day, and to put up with and work with many persons whom otherwise we would not want to be near.

Mr. Editor, the salaries of Cabinet members as we left them in May 2015 were reasonable and livable for where Guyana is now.

What is of great concern is that in the presence of difficulties in gold, rice, bauxite and sugar, salary increases for the Cabinet has been the top priority.

Recall that we had our difficulties too in 1992, with bauxite ( the inherited agreement which eventually called for closure; Alcoa buying out Reynolds then notifying us of plans to withdraw); gold ( prices falling from about US$ 500 /oz to US$ 255/oz); rice with its ups and downs in the European and other markets and

sugar perennially challenging.

We h e l d o f f f r o m increasing the salaries of Cabinet members relative to others for ten years, not because we were ' thiefing' but because we felt we needed to hold the strain that we were asking of others. Mr. Editor, my fellow Guyanese, the problem we of the PPP/C fear about this affair is that the stage is being set for another inflationary spiral, heaven forbid, such as our people and country had to endure from shortly after independence unto 1992.

When I joined the bauxite company (DEMBA) in McKenzie as a fresh, young engineer in 1967, I received a handsome pay (for Guyana at that time) of G$750 per month.

A brand new

motor car then, was priced at G$ 4,000 with tax included. As I tried to accumulate the down payment, prices were rocketing and I closed my eyes and bought a brand new car in 1973 for G$ 16,000, a fourfold increase in six years! As inflation continued at faster rates than pay increases, I could not overhaul the engine in 1990 and sold that car after coming to office in 1992, for G$ 300,000 at which time the price for a brand new car with all taxes paid was approaching four million Guyana dollars! That is a vivid presentation of the inflation we had experienced and which we, the PPP/C, had to take account of in 1992.

It is our tight

financial discipline which might have seemed mean but which was very necessary against that background of two and a half decades of rampant inflation, which is to be thanked for our progress since 1992. That discipline should not be compromised – we are not yet out of the woods. The belittling and making trite of, rather than acknowledging and recognizing the challenge in the great improvement which there has been during our PPP/C years, does nothing for national cohesion or for our prospect for continued growth and development.

Regards, Samuel A. Hinds Former Prime Minister

Canadian busted with cocaine at CJIA FIFTY-three year old Canadian National Miguel Andres Sardinha was at around midnight on October 8 busted with 13 kilos of cocaine while getting ready to board a Fly Jamaica Plane out of Guyana.

According to information received, the man who was at the time traveling alone was observed acting in a suspicious manner when he was selected for a search by ranks from the

Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU).

A search carried out on his luggage discovered the cocaine that was concealed in milk and frozen food.

The bust comes even as Sardinha's home country earlier this week broke up a drugs and gun trafficking ring which saw cocaine being trafficked into that country from Guyana among other countries.

The CANU

ranks are continuing their investigations into the early morning bust. They are trying to ascertain who the local players are that the man was in contact with while he stayed in Guyana.

G N N w a s unable to determine where in Guyana the man stayed after he arrived in the country and what some of his activities included.

REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT TAKES CENTRE STAGE AT COTED MEETING

COTED meeting in session

Addressing the 59th Special Meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) on Agriculture held on Thursday October8, 2015 at Caribbean Community (Caricom) Secretariat, Lilendaal, Greater Georgetown, Agriculture Minister Noel Holder has given the assurance that Government will ensure the vibrancy of the country's agricultural sector is restored. “ O u r Government, of course, intends to restore agriculture to its former vibrant self and reenergise the integration process of the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME),” he noted.

The meeting saw

the coming together of Agriculture Ministers from across the Caribbean who were engaged in discussions on the development of the Region's agricultural sector at the meeting.

They discussed a wide range of pressing matters relating to agriculture such as R e g i o n a l Tr a d e a n d Climate Change.

Discussions also centered on commodities which the Community had identified as priorities: roots and root tubers, especially cassava; small ruminants; herbs and spices, especially hot peppers; and fisheries.

Progress made by the Caribbean Agricultural Health and Food Safety Agency (CAHFSA) since it was

operationalised in October last year with the recruitment of a Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Lindley Collins was also discussed.

Agriculture and climate-change related matters, agri-business development, and the needs of small farmers with respect to the Regional market infrastructure also formed parts of the discussion.

Caricom's Assistant SecretaryG e n e r a l w i t h responsibility for Trade and Economic Integration Josepha Cox, who spoke on behalf of Ambassador Irwin Larocque explained that one of the major challenges in the Region's agricultural sector is the accomplishment of meaningful, structural

transformation and dynamic competitiveness that will enhance its ability to compete globally.

“We therefore need to ensure that our agriculture development strategies facilitate an environment that fosters increased production and access to global and regional markets,” Cox said.

Cox pointed out that the success as a Region cannot be measured in terms of the quantum of strategies developed but in terms of their efficiency. He urged that the Region say “goodbye” to the days of best endeavours and usher in, instead, “a new day” of actual achievement.

It was pointed out that for agriculture to

become dynamic and competitive, as a Region, countries need to employ strategies, at both the macro and micro levels, through partnership among the public sector, private sector and trades union movement.

Cox outlined several objectives that will achieve “a new day”.

These include: achievement of food selfsufficiency; promotion of agro-allied industries; promotion of large a g g r e g a t o r s ; establishment of a transparent and harmonised agricultural incentive mechanism, and renewed efforts at treating with issues of land titling.

These, he said can be achieved by: creating a c o n d u c i v e macroeconomic

environment to facilitate private sector investment; establishment of a mechanism for meaningful dialogue among private and public sector and trades unions; development of financing framework for agriculture; as well as rectification of import duty on agricultural products, among several others.

The COTED meeting was chaired by St Kitts and Nevis' Minister of Agriculture Eugene Hamilton. In the opening ceremony he urged the Regional representatives to address issues and make decisions that will develop the Caribbean's agriculture sector.

Almost one-third of youth in low-income countries have no educational qualifications

Latin America and the Caribbean countries have seen the largest improvements in decreasing gender gaps in the workforce says the International Labor Organisation's (ILO's) Global Employment Trends for Youth 2015 report. The report which was released on Thursday disclosed that youth unemployment rate decreased between 2012 and 2014 in Latin America and the Caribbean by 13.5 to 13.4 per cent.

“It is not overly surprising to see the largest gender gaps in youth EPRs (employment-to-population ratios) among the regions with the lowest female shares (namely, the Middle East, North Africa and South

Asia)…While the general trend is a slight lessening of gender gaps between 2000 a n d 2 0 1 4 ( w i t h l a rg e s t improvements in Latin America and the Caribbean and South Asia), the statistics imply that a long road lies ahead in the quest for equal access to work” the report stated.

The global youth unemployment rate has stabilized at 13 per cent following a period of rapid increase between 2007 and 2010 but it is still well above the pre-crisis level of 11.7 per cent. The report highlights a drop in the number of unemployed youth to 73.3 million in 2014. That is 3.3 million less than the crisis peak of 76.6 million in 2009.

The report which focuses on “Scaling up Investments in decent jobs for youths” noted that despite a mild recovery in the 20122014 period, millions worldwide face hardships in finding a decent job.

Despite more persons being given the opportunity to become educated globally, the report stated that 31 per cent of youth in low-income countries have no educational qualifications at all, compared to 6 per cent in lower middle-income countries and 2 per cent in upper middle-income countries.

Evidence it said shows that “For young people who aspire to a stable

job, the transition period (from school to work) takes an average of 19 months. A young person with university education is able to move to a stable job in one-third of the time needed for a youth with primary education.”

The Global Employment Trends for Youth 2015 report made several recommendations focusing on Investing in skills and in quality job creation. The report projects that youth unemployment rate is expected to creep up to 13.1 per cent in 2015.

In May this year, the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) released a study which says that youth unemployment in Guyana is hovering around 40%. The

highlighting several contributing factors including the state of the economy; structure of the labour market; lack of relevant skills; lack of experience; lack of knowledge of vacancies;

limited opportunities due to health status or disability, location (i.e. rural location or general lack of transport options); stigma and discrimination due to age, ethnicity, criminal record, gender, motherhood, poverty and other causes.

MADURO AND HIS FOREIGN MINISTER SINGING DIFFERENT TUNES

President Nicolas Maduro

A mere two weeks after Ve n e z u e l a ' s P r e s i d e n t Nicolas Maduro explained to the United Nations General Assembly the reason for the deployment of troops at its border with Guyana, his Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez accused Guyana's President David Granger of "falsely accusing" Venezuela of carrying out military operations.

Maduro did not deny the presence of the troops at its border with Guyana, but sought to explain their presence.

The Xinhua news agency quoted the Foreign Minister as saying "Granger has lied to the UN secretary general and accused Venezuela of intimidating Guyana's peace with the alleged presence of this military ship in his country. It's clear that he doesn't want to settle this old dispute with dialogue and respect."

The Minister said Venezuela will send proper documentation to the UN Secretary General and other delegations at the UN to deny these "misleading accusations" and will talk to

Minister Delcy Rodriguez

other Caribbean governments to "confront a media campaign" regarding the Essequibo issue.

However, while the Foreign Minister is saying this, Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro in his address to the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday September 29, 2015 sought to defend the recent troop deployment at its border with Guyana, saying that it had more to do with is country's fight against drug trafficking.

“With all due respect in this

General Assembly of the United Nations, we had to carry out an operation along our borders with Colombia and Guyana, Maduro told the UN. Venezuela a few days ahead of the UN General Assembly scaled back troops, missiles and gunboats that it had deployed near the border with Guyana.

One the boats had been in the Cuyuni River which is part of Guyana's t e r r i t o r y .

Throughout Maduro's address to the UN, he

President David Granger

stressed the importance of peace globally and especially in Latin American and the Caribbean.

He had also thanked the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon for o rg a n i z i n g t a l k s w i t h Granger at Venezuela's request.

During those talks that Maduro agreed to resume diplomatic relations by sending back his A m b a s s a d o r t o Georgetown and granting approval for Cheryl Miles

to be accredited as Guyana's Ambassador to Venezuela. The Venezuelan leader has also agreed to allow a UN fact-finding mission to visit Caracas and then report back to the UN Chief after which a decision would be made.

G u y a n a continues to push f o r a juridical settlement of the controversy. Granger in his address renewed Guyana's pledge to continue pursuing the path of peace.

Argentina unveils three year plan to support Guyana Blood Program

Minister of Health Dr. George Norton and Ambassador Luiz Alberto Martino

Through a bilateral cooperation agreement between Argentina and Guyana, a three year project which seeks to support the Guyana Blood Program (GBP) has commenced, and will aim to support the GBP in achieving their quality strategic objectives.

T h i s w a s revealed earlier this morning at a Press

Conference, by Argentine Ambassador to Guyana, Luiz Alberto Martino who stated that this initiative is a collaborative effort between the Ministries of Public Health and Foreign Affairs of Argentina, and the Ministry of Public Health of Guyana.

As it is currently, the GBP has outlined 4 strategies in obtaining Blood Safety until 2020.

These include; to ensure that blood and blood components are safely collected, processed and appropriately preserved and distributed for transfusion; to guarantee s a f e t y, s u f fi c i e n c y, availability, efficient, and timely access for blood and blood components; provide well qualified transfusion services; and provide well qualified

blood donor attention, accessible to population, efficient and safe for the care of voluntary blood donors.

According to Ambassador this three year project seeks to build upon the already established relationship between Guyana and Argentina, while helping to boost the blood transfusion department in the health sector.

The first phase of the three-year plan which was drafted to support the GBP, includes two visits

by Argentine officials; Dr. Ana Del Pozo and Dr. Sebastian Okanaian who will provide technical training and support for Guyanese.

The first visit is scheduled for October 1117 with the second one slated for November 2228. This second visit will focus on the learning results of the first visit after, after contributions would have been made by

the Argentines.

Phase two, which will be reeled out next year, involves the training of 2-4 Guyanese (2 physicians and 2 technologists) in Argentina at the “Centro Regional de Hemoterapia Garrahan” (CRHC) – Garrahan Regional Centre for Hemotherapy, scheduled for April and May, 2016. There will also be one visit to Guyana that will focus on the learning results. The tasks to be developed during this time will be guided by a module of quality guarantee programme.

The final leg in 2017, caters for the training of 2 persons which will be succeeded by the closure of the cooperation project and the submission of the final learning results.

Speaking briefly at the press conference held this morning at his Brickdam office, Minister of Health,

George Norton expressed how pleased he is to share in such a partnership with the people of Argentina.

He further stated that it is a much welcome initiative, given that Guyanese doctors have been trained in Spanish speaking countries which will boost their chances of securing post graduate training in Argentina.

However, this is still currently being explored.

The Argentine team of experts plans to make an auditing of the blood bank with the aim of educational support using Caribbean Standards.

Visits will be made to hospitals in Georgetown and other regions including New Amsterdam Hospital and West Demerara Hospital.

B l o o d transfusion services are currently available in regions 2, 3, 4, 6 and 10.

ENTERTAINMENT John Lennon would have been 75 today

John Lennon

John Lennon has been gone for almost 35 years, but his message still resonates. And his music, well, as good today as

e v e r. T h e B e a t l e s heartthrob, singersongwriter, activist and visionary would have been 75 today and all around the

The Beatles 4

world people have been taking part in birthday celebrations in honor of the late artist.

His music, which

ranged from the LennonMcCartney hits he penned and performed in the 1960s to the timeless anthems he wrote as a solo

artist and with wife Yoko Ono, has been at the center of most tributes.

But his other legacy was his vision of a more peaceful world—a concept that could be achieved, in Lennon's mind, if people could focus on living their best life and treating other people well today.

Giving Peace Another Chance: In tribute to John, who was shot to death on Dec. 8, 1980, outside their Manhattan apartment b u i l d i n g , Yo k o O n o entreated fans to join her

in forming the world's biggest peace sign earlier this week. On Oct. 6, more than 2,000 people gathered in Central Park's East Meadow to make it happen. They didn't break the world record but there was singing, dancing and thousands of people wearing #ImaginePeace wristbands and Lennon memorabilia flashing the peace sign. The event was free but any donations were to go toward the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus, a pro audio and video recording facility for students. (E News)

Amitabh turns 73!

Amitabh Bachchan

Bollywood Superstar and International icon, Amitabh Bachchan will celebrate his 73rd birthday on Sunday, October 11.

Born in 1942, Bachchan first gained popularity in the early 1970s for movies like Deewar and Zanjeer, and was dubbed India's

first "angry young man" for his on-screen roles in Bollywood. He has since appeared in over 180 Indian films in a career spanning more than four decades. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential actors in the

history of Indian cinema.

So total was his dominance of the movie scene in the 1970s and 1980s that the French director François Truffaut called him a "one-man industry”. Bachchan has won many major awards in his career, including three National Film Awards as Best Actor, a number of awards at international film festivals and award ceremonies and fourteen Filmfare Awards. He is the most-nominated performer in any major acting category at Filmfare, with 39 nominations overall. In addition to acting, Bachchan has worked as a playback singer, film

producer and television presenter. He also had a stint in politics in the 1980s.

The Government of India honoured him with the Padma Shri in 1984, the Padma Bhushan in 2001 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2015 for his contributions to the arts.

The Government of France honoured him with its highest civilian honour, Knight of the Legion of Honour, in 2007 for his exceptional career in the world of cinema and beyond.

Bachchan made his Hollywood debut in 2013 with The Great Gatsby, in which he played a non-Indian Jewish character, Meyer Wolfsheim.

Justin Bieber Nude Pics Hit the Internet

Justin Bieber

Nude pictures of Justin Bieber are floating around the Internet after he was photographed in the buff while on vacation in Bora Bora with beauty blogger and model Jayde Pierce.

The New York Daily News published censored photos of the musician taking a dip in his private pool. The 21-year-old "What Do You Mean?" singer had previously posted a few clothed photos via Instagram. He has neither commented on the naked pictures nor the nature of

his relationship with Pierce.

Bieber and Pierce were first spotted out together in May, but the British teen told The Mirror that they were "just friends" in August.

"People think Justin must be a brat and arrogant but he's nothing like that," Pierce said of the pop star, who famously dated Selena Gomez. "He's a really tactile guy. He loves cuddles."

Bieber first contacted her via

Instagram, she said. "I saw there was a tick by his name showing it's an official account. I thought, 'S--t, Justin Bieber just messaged me.' I have no idea how he came to look at my page. I was at a family party in London at the time and I was like, 'What?' I said to my friend, 'Justin Bieber just messaged me—look.'"

After exchanging messages via social media, Bieber asked Pierce for her number and they began to text each other. "He would

just be saying normal things like, 'Hey, how was your day?' And I was asking him the same."

Though she insisted that their relationship was platonic, Pierce confessed there was an attraction between them. "Honestly, most of the time we spent chatting.

Nothing more. He'd tell m e , ' Yo u d o n ' t n e e d makeup. You look pretty naturally.' And he loved my British accent," she t o l d T h e M i r r o r. " I definitely fancied him, too." (E News)

AMAZING WORLD THE CREATURE WITH THE Son felt “good” KEY TO IMMORTALITY?

after killing mom A California man charged with murdering his mother told police that killing her and desecrating her body felt “good,” according to reports.Omar Pettigen, 31, allegedly used a tomahawk that hung on the wall of his 64-year-old mother's Monroe apartment to strike her on the head before shooting her in the back at least seven times and cutting open her chest to pick up her heart, according to court documents obtained

by The New York Daily News.

Omar Pettigen allegedly said the gruesome act felt “good” when he was arrested north of Oakland on Sunday. His arrest came after police discovered the woman's body in her blood-soaked bedroom, according to the News.

They were performing a welfare check on the behest of Nailah Pettigen's ex-husband.

The former American High School math teacher “appeared to h a v e b e e n disemboweled,” the News

which he said she had become addicted to after hip and knee problems as well as surgery, the News wrote.

He allegedly told detectives that his mother was yelling at him and during the argument, she pointed a gun at him, which prompted him to grab a hammer off the bedroom wall to knock the gun out of her hand.

He left the room and returned with the tomahawk. He allegedly told police that after the gruesome killing, he left

wrote, noting she had been cut from her neck down to her cervix. Omar Pettigen allegedly told detectives he committed the act because his mother was killing herself with prescription painkillers,

the home, had a few beers with friends and booked an airline ticket for Chicago, the News reported. Police said Omar Pettigen “did not show any signs of remorse,” the News said.

(Adapted from Yahoo)

Omar Pettigen

He put the heart back in Nailah Pettigen's body and then reportedly masturbated because “he needed to be with himself and needed a release after the event,” the documents apparently said.

Nailah Pettigen

Smoking will kill one out of three young Chinese men

Smoking deaths in China are set to triple to 3 million a year by 2050, according to a new study that examines the devastating toll of rising smoking rates on the country's male population.

The report, published in the British medical journal The Lancet, concludes that nearly two thirds of young Chinese men pick up smoking and, unless they stop, at least half of them will die from the habit.

Scientists from O x f o r d U n i v e r s i t y, t h e

Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and the Chinese Center for Disease Control tracked the health effects of smoking over time in two large, geographically diverse studies. They found cigarette consumption has grown substantially for men in both urban and rural China over the last few decades while rates fell for women.

Urban males who started smoking before they turned 20 had twice the mortality rate of nonsmokers, with substantially

increased rates of death from smoking-linked pulmonary disease, lung cancer, heart disease and stroke. "The first generation of men to experience the full hazards will probably be those born during the 1970s or 1980s," according to the report.

For comparison, smoking rates in the United States are less than half what they were 50 years ago.

Smoking causes one in five deaths in the United States each year, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

C h i n a n o w consumes a third of the

Sea anemones are a common sight on many coastlines, and despite their brightly coloured appearance it seems they may have a common ancestor with humans.

What's more, researchers are wondering whether the creatures could hold the secret to eternal life, writes Mary Colwell.

The wicked queen in the tale of Snow White is famous for her rhetorical question: "Mirror Mirror on the wall, who's the fairest of them all?" But her dream of eternal youth is an elusive one, as the years roll by the human body slowly but surely shrinks, sags and droops as cells mutate and die. Hearing, mobility, mental agility, muscle and brain mass all decline.

The queen is on a trajectory common to most living organisms, apart, that is, from a humble, often overlooked creature of the seashore; the sea anemone. Once thought to be plants, sea anemones are soft bodied animals that attach world's cigarettes.

Authorities raised cigarette taxes in May, but it's still an incredibly cheap country to light up. A pack of a popular brand like Zhongnanhai costs about $1.50. According to the Tobacco Atlas, 26% of the price of a packet of cigarettes is tax, compared with a WHO benchmark of 75%.

Income from tobacco sales and taxes are major sources of government revenue in China. In a commentary that

themselves to rocks and coral reefs in shallow waters. Their tentacles inject venom into the small fish and shrimp that brush up against them and guide the paralysed prey into the mouth - an opening that also functions as an anus.

There are more than 1,000 species of anemone, varying in size from a few centimetres to more than a metre across.

They live in every ocean, from the warmest to the coldest. Usually the anemones didn't live long but in the right conditions it could have been a very different story.

"As far as we know, these are immortal animals," says Dan Rokhsar, professor of genetics at the University of California, Berkeley.

"They live a very long time - one was documented to have lived 100 years. They don't have old age. They live forever and proliferate, just getting bigger."

If you cut off their tentacles, they grow new ones. Even if you cut

off their mouths they grow new "heads." As long as they are not poisoned or eaten, as is often the case, they seem to go on and on.

"Sea anemones share a lot with us. We found a lot of similarities we had not seen when comparing humans to fruit flies or nematodes," says Rokhsar.

There are parallels in the way the genomes are organised and the way the genes are structured, revealing a link that "goes back at least 700 million years".

But there are philosophical questions too. "To what extent is immortality for a sea anemone and immortality for a human the same kind of thing?" asks Rokhsar. A sea anemone simply lives in the moment. People, however have thoughts, m e m o r i e s a n d consciousness that they want to retain. Keeping these bright and present in our regenerating bodies may not be something the anemone can help with.

"That," says Rokhsar, "is a m u c h t a l l e r o r d e r. " (Adapted from the BBC)

accompanied the study, two public health experts argued that this arrangement "complicates" efforts to reduce public health implications from tobacco.

They also argued education e ff o r t s a r e h i n d e r e d b y common myths about smoking — including "the belief that protective biological mechanisms specific to Asian populations make smoking less hazardous, that it is easy to quit smoking, and that tobacco use is an intrinsic and

ancient part of Chinese culture."

A survey from the World Health Organization in August found that knowledge about the dangers of smoking is improving in China, but still has a long way to go. Half of adults questioned did not know that smoking can cause strokes or heart disease. More than one in ten people did not know second hand smoke can cause lung disease in children. (CNN)

Regional

Regional

Heavy winds damage Tobago homes Several homes in Tobago were badly damaged yesterday due to high winds and torrential showers. Bad weather hit the east of the island in what was described as a “freak storm” by villagers.

The heavy rainfall started on Wednesday night and continued yesterday morning causing several roofs in a number of

villages to be ripped off.

Villages such as Studley Park, Belle Garden, Argyle, Roxborough, Betsy's Hope, Delaford, Speyside, Charlotteville, Mason Hall and Moriah were affected.

The roadway at Windward Road in Argyle, near Pablo's Supermarket, was blocked with debris and fallen lines before it was

cleared by fire officers.

T&TEC, TEMA and employees at the Division of Infrastructure and Public Utilities were deployed to assist with the situation. Senior meteorologist at the Crown Point Met Office, David Ghagadar, said the rainfall was not related to any storm activity but a strong low level trough,

coupled with a down draft from thunder clouds.

MP for Tobago East Ayanna Webster-Roy and THA officials visited the affected persons and gave the assurance that relief would come.

(Adapted from the Trinidad Guardian)

PJ TRINIDAD PLEDGES SCOLDS $5M TO DOMINICA CAMERON ON SLAVERY

Former Jamaica Prime Minister PJ Patterson yesterday said that United Kingdom (UK) Prime Minister David Cameron's "mere acknowledgement of the crime of slavery" during his visit to the island last week was insufficient. Patterson accused Cameron of refusing to apologise, while his

PJ Patterson Government has already apologised to everyone else for other horrid crimes.

"Are we not worthy o f a n a p o l o g y, o r l e s s deserving. Mere acknowledgement of the crime is insufficient," Patterson said in an open letter to Cameron, which was

Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley community and international law call for formal apologies when crimes against humanity are committed.

"The UN has deemed slave trading and slavery as crimes against humanity. The refusal to apologise is a refusal to take responsibility for the crime.

In a law-abiding world, this is not acceptable," Patterson said. He noted that recently Cameron urged his own country to keep the memory of the Jewish experience alive, in memorials and education curricula.

"We urge you to do the same for the black experience, which remains before us all. It is precisely because we all want to move on that the reparatory justice distributed to the Press movement is alive and yesterday. His remarks were growing. We all want to s p e c i fi c a l l y d i r e c t e d a t move on, but with justice and Cameron's speech to a joint equality," he added. sitting of the Houses of He stated that Parliament on Wednesday, contrary to Cameron's view, September 30.

Caribbean people will never The former three- emerge completely from the term Jamaican prime minister "long, dark shadow" of noted that the international slavery until there is a "full

The Trinidad and Tobago Cabinet yesterday approved the sum of $5 million to help Dominica recover from the damage inflicted on that island by Tropical Storm Erika.

Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley and Dominica Prime Minister Roosevelt Skeritt have discussed the issue of help for Dominica.The $5 million will be used to purchase construction material here

and have it transported to Dominica.

Shortly after assuming office, Rowley sent former West Indies cricket captain Brian Lara to Dominica as a special envoy to ascertain the damage in that island caused by the storm and how this country could h e l p . ( A d a p t e d f ro m Trinidad Newsday)

confession of guilt by those who committed this evil atrocity". "The resilience and spirit of its people is no ground to impair the solemnity of a privileged parliamentary occasion, and allow the memory of our ancestors to be offended once again," Patterson said.

"The Caribbean people have long been looking to the future. This is what we do in our development visions, but these legacies are like millstones around our necks.

We look to reparatory justice as the beginning of shaping a new future. We invite Britain to engage in removing this blot on human civilisation, so that together we can create a new and secure He said that while Cameron argued that Britain abolished the slave system and the credit for it resonates in the British Parliament and shows British compassion and diplomacy, the facts speak to a different explanation.

In Jamaica, while

the enslaved, led by Sam Sharpe, tried to abolish slavery three years before the British Parliament acted, the British army destroyed those freedoms fighters, and executed their leaders.He s a i d t h a t m e r e acknowledgement of the horror would not suffice. He said that the enslaved paid more than 50 per cent of the cost of their market value in compensation to slave owners, and that the British Emancipation Act was selfserving and designed to support British national commercial interests alone.

"It was and still is a most heinous crime against humanity -- a stain which cannot be removed merely by the passage of time," Patterson said. (Adapted from the Jamaican Observer)

INTERNATIONAL

TUNISIAN GROUP WINS NOBEL PEACE PRIZE A Tunisian group dedicated to creating dialogue between disparate elements of Tunisian society, had been award the Nobel Prize for Peace. The Committee confounded expectations Friday, bypassing figures such as Pope Francis and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and handed the award to the Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet for its "decisive contribution to the building of a pluralistic democracy in the country in the wake of the Jasmine

Revolution of 2011."

"The Quartet was formed in the summer of 2013 when the democratization process was in danger of collapsing as a result of political assassinations and widespread social unrest," the Nobel Committee said in a statement. "It established an alternative, peaceful political process at a time when the country was on the brink of civil war. It was thus instrumental in enabling Tunisia, in the space of a few years, to

establish a constitutional system of government guaranteeing fundamental rights for the entire population, irrespective of gender, political conviction or religious belief."

The group includes a labor union, a trade confederation, a human rights organization and a lawyers group. In a broader sense, the prize appeared to be an effort by the Nobel Committee to bolster the Arab Spring, which, indeed, began in Tunisia in December 2010.

The Arab Spring dawned with hope and idealism, and spread across parts of the Middle East and North Africa. But it has seen those ideals mired in bitter reality in many countries -- most notably in Syria, where an uprising against the regime of Bashar al-Assad has morphed into a devastating civil war that has pushed waves of desperate people to attempt to migrate to Europe.

(Adapted from CNN)

Israeli-Palestinian India protests to Saudi after maid's violence soars hand chopped off At least four Palestinians have been shot dead and dozens more injured by Israeli forces in areas in the eastern Gaza Strip as hundreds of protesters tried to approach the border fence, sources told Al Jazeera. Friday's violence comes as clashes have increased in frequency since Israeli security forces began to crack down on Palestinian worshippers at the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem last month.

This follows recently escalated violence over the past week where at least one Palestinian has been killed, and five others along with three Israelis, were wounded in a string of tit-for-tat attacks in

Israel and the occupied P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y.

Violent clashes have increased in frequency since Israeli security forces began to crackdown on Palestinian worshippers at the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem last month. Four stabbing attacks, three allegedly by Palestinians, another by an Israeli suspect, took place across Israel and the occupied West Bank on Friday.

A Palestinian woman was critically wounded after being shot while trying to stab an Israeli security guard at a bus station in the northern Israeli city of Afula, according to the police spokesman. Two Israelis, a policeman and a teenager -

were also moderatly injured during similar stabbing attacks in Jerusalem and Kiryat Arba, a Jewish-only settlement in the occupied West Bank.

In Kiryat Arba, a Palestinian suspect was shot dead after stabbing a police officer. Earlier in the day, an Israeli man stabbed four Palestinians in the southern Israeli city of Dimona. Police described his motives as "nationalistic". The victims sustained moderate wounds.

Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said that security forces have been deployed across the country, including "3,500 police officers out [in Jerusalem] to prevent sporadic attacks by lone wolves". In addition to extending a ban for men under the age of 45 who want to pray at the mosque on Friday, Israeli police have installed metal detectors at several entrances to Jerusalem's Old City. (Adapted from Al Jazeera)

New Delhi (AFP) - India said Friday it had lodged a protest with authorities in Riyadh after a maid from Tamil Nadu allegedly had her hand chopped off by her Saudi employer for complaining about her work conditions.

India's foreign minister deplored a "brutal" attack on 55-year-old Kasthuri Munirathinam, who is being treated at a hospital in Riyadh, and which comes weeks after a Saudi diplomat based in New Delhi was accused of rape. "Chopping of (the) hand of (an) Indian lady -- we are very much disturbed over the brutal manner in which (this) Indian lady has been treated in Saudi Arabia," Sushma Swaraj said on Twitter.

Munirathinam, who comes from a village in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, had suffered a catalogue of abuse since taking up a post as a domestic worker in Saudi Arabia three months ago, according to her family. Her right hand was chopped off by her employer when she tried to escape the daily harassment, torture and abysmal work conditions," her sister S. Vijayakumari said.

Vijayakumari said that her sister had gone to

Saudi Arabia to help pay off her family's debts and she had been promised a monthly salary of around 180 dollars.

"But she was not paid, she was barely given enough to eat and not even allowed to speak to her family ... Now she only wants to come home," Vijayakumari said.

The family says that problems started for Munirathinam -who was one of five domestic workers in the same household, after she complained to the local authorities about her situation. Footage of Munirathinam lying in her Saudi hospital bed was broadcast by several Indian media outlets.

Hundreds of

thousands of Indian migrants work in households in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries but complaints about their treatment by their employers often make headlines back home. A video showing a male Indian worker being beaten by his Saudi employer went viral in S e p t e m b e r, s p a r k i n g a widespread backlash on social media.

There was also widespread anger last month when the first secretary at the Saudi embassy left India under diplomatic immunity after being accused of holding captive and raping two Nepalese maids in his home.

(Adapted from Yahoo)

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DHONI'S PLACE IN TEAM QUESTIONED

MS Dhoni

Former India fast bowler Ajit Agarkar has called for the selectors to scrutinise MS Dhoni's role in the Indian team, and not

merely as captain. Agarkar felt the selectors should lo o k a t Vir a t K o h l i' s performance as the Test captain by comparison,

and make a call on Dhoni's role in the limited-overs format after the ongoing South Africa series.

Agarkar was

especially concerned by Dhoni's declining individual form. "He has been a great player for India, but you don't want him to become a liability for the team. And he needs to perform a lot better than he has [been]. Just because he has done it over the years, doesn't mean it's okay for him to fail."

Agarkar was also highly critical of Dhoni's decision to bat at No.4 in the one-day format, insisting that such a move would be "unfair" on somebody like Ajinkya Rahane and "would not work for the team." ' I ' m n o t convinced he should bat at four," Agarkar said. "Just after a World Cup, you're now trying to develop

your team for the next World Cup. Four years is a long time, but for Dhoni, towards the end of his career, to put himself up, I'm not sure about it. You can understand if there are batsmen who can't bat 3 and 4. But there is Ajinkya Rahane, who has been one of your best players in Test cricket and I don't think he can bat lower than four in ODIs yet, unless he changes his game over his career.

Agarkar believed the selectors might have some big decisions to take at the end of the ODI series against South Africa, on the future of the Indian team in ODIs and T20Is. "Looking at the results, India have generally been good in

ODIs, but you've lost the World Cup semi-final, then you've lost in Bangladesh where Dhoni was captain twice, and you've now lost a T20 series. Yes, the T20s can go either way very quickly so you don't want to judge someone, but for Dhoni this is a big series," he said.

"The selectors maybe need to look at where the Indian team is heading because Virat Kohli has done well as captain in Test cricket so maybe the selectors need to make that call after this series.

(Adapted from Espncricinfo)

Blatter appeals ban

Having been banned By FIFA for 90 days, its President, Sepp Blatter is appealing. The 79-year-old Swiss has been suspended from all duties while Fifa's ethics committee investigates corruption claims against its leader.

He was suspended on Thursday along with secretary general Jerome Valcke and vice-president Michel Platini.

Platini will contest the ban "in the appropriate manner at the appropriate time". All three deny any wrongdoing.

Klaus Stohlker, Blatter's friend and adviser, said: "He has appealed already to Fifa's appeal committee. He is defending his position and he is sure that he will be f o u n d n o t g u i l t y. " H o w e v e r, s o m e h a v e questioned Blatter's desire to stay in charge. Former Football Association chairman David Bernstein

told the BBC: "Blatter is a fool to himself to stay on for so long."

David Gill, a Fifa vice-president and the vice-chairman of the FA, has written to Markus Kattner, Fifa's acting secretary general, to request an emergency meeting of the governing body's executive committee. African football confederation chief Issa Hayatou, Fifa's longest-serving vicepresident, is heading the organisation in Blatter's enforced absence.

Fifa's ethics committee began its investigation into Blatter after the Swiss attorney general opened criminal proceedings against him in September. He is accused of signing a contract "unfavourable" to Fifa and making a "disloyal payment" to Platini.

The ethics committee also opened an

Sepp Blatter

inquiry into Platini over the 2m euros (£1.35m) payment, which was made nine years after the 60year-old Frenchman carried out consultation

work for Blatter. Valcke was already on gardening leave from his Fifa post following newspaper allegations last month which implicated the 55-

year-old in a scheme to profit from the sale of World Cup tickets.

Valcke's lawyer said that his client was "confident" he will be fully

cleared of the "false allegations" when "all the facts come out". (Adapted from the BBC)

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NO LONGER WILL GRFU PROGRAMS SUFFER -GTT pumps 4.5m into union

GRFU president Peter Green signs the MOU while

THE Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) and Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) have brokered an agreement which will see the telecommunication company investing some 4.5 million dollars over the next three years.

Recently the mobile provider publicly announced the agreement with the GRFU to assist in the development of the sport at all levels. The company's senior Marketing Executive Anjanie Hackett said, “"Over the years we have facilitated GRFU as partners locally and

internationally and have since seen the sport develop so we believe with the signing of the MOU in three years athletes from Guyana will get better."

T h e G T T executive also indicated their pleasure at promoting the sport which she deemed demanding on the player.

After the signing, GRFU president Peter Green said that many programmes initially designed to assist the sport over the years had to be shelved due to the financial constraints of the Union, but GTT has reopened those doors.

H e a l s o indicated that the body is pleased to have secured a major sponsor in GTT, adding that, “GT&T has given us breathing space with this young executive…the time for talk is over and it is up to us to produce the goods and I must once again thank GT&T for this support,” The funds will go directly to local events, the domestic programme and hosting an annual school tournament.

GT&T's Senior Marketing Executive Anjanie Hackett looks on

Pan American Hockey Challenge Semi Finals ….

VENEZUELA 5-4 AGAINST GUYANA

ON PENALTIES..

Guyana took Venezuela down to the wire in their 4-5 loss at the semi Final Stage of the Pan American Hockey Challenge yesterday in Chiclayo, Peru. The Guyanese worked its western neighbour to the bone in normal time as they always had an answer for the Venezuelan assault.

Andy Adrian's

field goal in the 2nd minute of play put Guyana on the back foot but Robert France pulled his side right back into the game just 7 minutes later.

Venezuela assumed the lead once more though a Cristian Vargas penalty corner in the 23rd minute before France again crashed the Venezuelan party with a 31st minute field goal.

Guyana would ride the momentum and assume the lead for the first time in the game four minutes later when Aroydy Bradford slammed in his first, but the Venezuelans were not going to go lightly; they found the equalizer in the 54th which left the teams deadlocked.

In the penalties, Aroydy scored Guyana's first

while Venezuela's Vargas had his first shot blocked; Jamarj Assanah successfully converted his shot as well while Venezuela's Adrian had his shot blocked. Kareem Mckenzie had his shot saved while Venezuela's Bracamonte Wilber had his shot blocked O r l a n d o Semple's shot was blocked; Jose Oropeza

(Ven) scored, Marvin Dannett (Guy) scored and Dixon Abreu (VEN) scored to close off the first round of shots. In round 2 (sudden Death), Vargas (VEN) put his team first on the sheet while Bradford (GUY) drew things level before Oropeza scored and Assanah had his shot blocked.

Guyana will

now have a shot at the bronze prize when the Face Uruguay tomorrow (Sunday) after they were beaten 4-0 in the first semi-final yesterday (Friday). Meanwhile Brazil had an easy job in their semi-final against the Uruguayans as they won 4-0.

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Pan American Hockey Challenge Semi Finals ‌.

VENEZUELA DOWNS GUYANA ON PENALTIES -PAGE 15

A Guyanese player ba les his Venezuelan Counterpart in the Pan American Hockey Challenge Semi Finals