GNN Online Newspaper - JAN 06, 2016

Wednesday January 06, 2016

President David Granger (centre) is flanked by (from left) PSC Chairman, retired Major General, Mr. Norman McLean; Minister of Business, Mr. Dominic Gaskin, Vice President and General Manager of Qualfon Guyana Incorporated, Mr. Scott Warner and Senior Mission Manager, Ms. Luanna Persaud, during a courtesy call this morning, at the Ministry of the Presidency

Family members should not be targeted in investigations

Two found dead in Berbice; Suicide suspected

Motorcyclist struck down 21 year old Tyron (only name given) was struck down last evening from his motorcycle in the vicinity of Vlissengen Road and Homestretch Avenue.

According to reports, a speeding car reportedly breached the traffic light at the intersection as Tyron was heading north on Vlissengen Road.

The motorcyclist

was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was treated and admitted for observation while the driver of the vehicle was taken into Police custody.

The driver of the car told traffic ranks that he was proceeding cautiously when the accident occurred but according to eye witnesses, a

very long skid mark was evident on Homestretch Avenue.

It is believed that after realizing that he could no longer stop the car from getting out of control, it slammed into the motorcycle and ended up in the canal which separates South Road for Croal Street.

The body of a West Coast Demerara fisherman was on Monday found in the net of a fishing vessel that was working in the vicinity of the Berbice River.

The Police say that

they are investigating how the body of forty-nine year-old Shahabudeen Haniff, of Meten-Meer-Zorg, ended up in the net.

A Police statement noted that Haniff was a member of

the crew of a fishing boat that had sailed on December 30, 2015, from a wharf at New Hope, East Bank Demerara, for the Berbice area.

Fisherman’s body found in net

GDF supports Kaikan development was gifted with a radio transmission set so that it can communicate with other health facilities across the interior as well as arrange medevac when necessary.

The GDF also installed a solar power system identical to what was done at the hospital at the school which was outfitted with a computer, printer, and other equipment.

Phillips give the assurance that the army would continue to partner with the community as it sees the need to do so. The army

Even as the primary objective of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) in the Region 7 Community of Kaikan is to ensure that it identifies and define aggression at the border in that area with Venezuela, it has been doing much more.

During a recent visit to

the area it was observed that the Defence Force has been partnering with the village council to ensure that the health and education sectors in that region and especially at Kaikan are enhance for the benefit of residents.

Vice Presidents Carl Greenidge and

Sydney Allicock were also part of the visit.

Chief of Staff of the GDF, Brigadier Mark Phillips, recently spoke of the investment by the army to ensure that the hospital is fully powered as well as the school in the community.

Additionally the hospital

has also indicated that it stands ready to assist the community in ensuring that beds which the hospital are trying to get to the area from the coast arrive there without any cost being brought to bear on the community.

Over the years the GDF has been assisting that and other indigenous communities especially where the army has a presence as it seeks to foster greater ties with residents and their executives.

GDF confirms late Sergeant was on a legitimate operation The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) has confirmed that the late Sergeant Robert Pyle was deployed on a legitimate operation in support of Special Organized Crime Unit (SOCU) when he and his wife met their demise in an accident on Carifesta Avenue on December 30, 2015.

The GDF in a statement noted that “It is normal for the Guyana Defence Force to support the law enforcement and regulatory agencies of Guyana in operational

activities, especially at this time, as part of OPERATION D R A G N E T . ” “Defence Headquarters once again takes this opportunity to offer condolences to the families of Sergeant Robert Pyle, Mrs Stacy Pyle and Mr Linden Eastman, who all lost their lives in the vehicular accident of last Wednesday evening,” the statement added.

The Private Sector Commission (PSC) had called for clarity

Sergeant Robert Pyle

following media reports on the circumstances leading up to the accident.

“These media reports have alleged that the soldier had been engaged in a surveillance operation targeted at civilians; and further,

that he had been engaged in a high-speed deadly car chase through the streets of Georgetown, chasing a vehicle which he believed contained the teenage daughter of Winston Brassington, the PSC has said.

The Commission had called upon the Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force and the Commissioner of Police to bring clarity on whether the allegations in the media are true, and whether this was an authorised assignment carried out on behalf of either of these agencies.

“This matter has caused immense apprehension in the business community, and we believe that answers are needed, not only by us, but by the larger

society,” the PSC stated.

Meanwhile, the opposition Peoples Progressive Party has since questioned the reason for the Sergeant’s spouse to be in the vehicle while he was on duty. This question remains unanswered.

The Chief of Staff was quoted in the media as saying that it is not part of military protocol for members of one’s family to accompany a soldier on a mission.

particularly in schools.

In addition, the United States Coast Guard, in collaboration with MARAD, held a capacity building training for security officers.

The report also showed that of the $223.690M budgeted for the department in 2015, the sum of $217.690 was utilised by the end of the year.

For 2016, Rogers is hopeful of accomplishing a number of goals in building the capacity of the administration.

These include the placement of buoys at the Berbice, Essequibo and Demerara Rivers.

Further, all efforts will

be made to revive the National Maritime Security Committee.

MARAD is working to establish safety centres in various regions around Guyana. Marine Cadets will also receive training on vessels ranging from 50-80 metres in length.

They are expected to be qualified mates by the second half of 2016.

MARAD’s 2015 report also showed that Guyana signed an agreement with Barbados to provide training of pilots and engineers in 2016.

(Adapted from GINA)

the allocation of 400 regularised squatter lots, the identification of 37 community projects for implementation and the commencement of a comprehensive squatter regularisation and relocation plan.

This, according to GINA, is part of the government’s commitment to improving the quality of life of Guyanese by establishing new, cohesive communities and consolidating existing settlements which will be done through the promotion of integrated planning, land divestment and

affordable housing.

GINA noted that the resulting impact of these approaches would see not only the living conditions and quality of life improved for the beneficiary and household, but ultimately the formation of cohesive and sustainable communities in which Guyanese can secure the ‘Good Life.’

For 2015, during the seven months of the administration, a total of 180 houselots and 290 titles were handed out.

No act of piracy recorded for 2015 The Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) says that no act of piracy was recorded for 2015.

The disclosure was made during the Ministry of Public Infrastructure’s performance review

by Director General Ms. Claudette Rogers.

According to the report, four acts of piracy were recorded for 2014. There was a reduction of 21.7% in total marine deaths for the year 2015. According to Rogers, the decline was attributed to a number of safety precautions.

In the year 2014, the total number of boat accidents totaled eight while in 2015 the number

dipped to five. Also for 2015, the number of incidents recorded dropped from 16 to 12 when compared to 2014.

However, the accidents that occurred were as a result of unlicenced boats and operators. As a result of the accidents, 207 life

jackets were distributed to all 10 administrative regions while MARAD helped in promoting safety awareness,

New housing schemes slated for 2016

The government says in Regions 3, 4, 6, 7 turnkey houses will that it will develop ten and 10. In addition, be constructed; 200 new housing schemes a total of 100 new house lots distributed

and there will be infrastructure upgrade in 25 communities in Regions 2, 3, 4, 5 and 10.

According to the Government Information Agency (GINA), 2016 will see the intensification of the community de velopment programme.

The results should realise the building of leadership capacity in 19 communities in Regions 3, 4, 6, 7 and 10.

There will also be

GWI main damaged; service affected in South Ruimveldt The Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) has experienced another damaged transmission main a result of another agency conducting civil works.

According to the GWI, 10 Inch Transmission Main located along Aubrey Barker Road, South Ruimveldt, Georgetown was damaged as a result of another agency conducting civil works in the vicinity.

This has caused customers of Aubrey Barker Road, South Ruimveldt and nearby communities to receive reduced levels of service.

GWI Teams are currently working to restore normal service in the swiftest manner possible the company said.

Meanwhile, GWI has implemented an improved Health and Safety Programme to better cater for its workers.

In a Statement today, the company’s and Safety Officer, Christopher Cathro said , ‘safety gear will now be purchased for specific categories of employees in order to provide for their particular needs and job requirements. The new system allows for the Health and Safety Unit

to cater specifically for employees exposed to high voltage or potential electrical shocks’.

The enhancements to the programme include the purchase of stateof-the-art safety gear, equipment and protective clothing for specific employees engaged in electrical/mechanical work and sanitation.

He added that ‘we have upgraded the protective wear utilized by sanitation employees to be more effective in providing a shield against harmful bacteria associated with the sewerage system’.

In addition, GWI will offer all employees involved in the care and maintenance of the sewerage system immunization against

infectious diseases.

GWI Chief Executive, Dr. Van West-Charles, ‘we have made it possible for all sanitation employees to receive

free vaccinations against potential infections or harmful diseases.

The health of all our employees remains a priority’.

Millions paid to GAWU Labour College by GuySuCo for training - COI

The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) which has over the years been described as having been closely aligned to the then People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Government, was expanding its influence at the expense of GuySuCo which was paying for employees to undertake courses at the Union’s labour college.

This revelation was

made in the GuySuCo Commission of Inquiry (CoI) report which provides recommendation for the revamping of the industry which has suffered tremendously over the last few year, having to depend heavily on Government’s subsidies while footing a $78B debt.

The report which was compiled by the commissioners of the CoI has recommended

that GuySuCo discontinue payment for employees’ participation in courses run by GAWU’s Labour College.

According to the report, between 2011 and mid of 2015, the corporation has had to finance almost $18M in services which were rendered to employees of GuySuCo, by the Labour College.

GuySuCo pays each worker their average day’s pay for each day

of the course. And using an average of $3000 per worker, per day, the total cost to GuySuCo for the period between 2011 and August of 2015 would have been almost $18M which the corporation was required to pay to the Union. Over this four and a half year period, over 1100 employees would have benefitted from the course which recorded an annual attendance of 236 persons.

And against this backdrop, the report has suggested that while GAWU is permitted to offer courses to sugar workers who wish to pursue same, it should not be done at the expense of GuySuCo. “Nothing is wrong with the Union running these courses for their benefit. But why must GuySuCo foot the bill, especially at a time when its very survival is at stake and there is no indication of any tangible initiative or effort on the part of the Union to stop?” the CoI questioned.

But what was interesting to note, and perhaps disturbing, as was described in the report, was the fact that the increase in number of employees being paid by GuySuCo to attend the training, coincided with the closure of GuySuCo’s

Management T r a i n i n g Centre at Ogle.

Further, the report highlights the fact that most of the content in the curriculum share no direct or indirect relevance to the interest of GuySuCo. To remedy this issue which has been fleecing an already fragmented industry, the report recommended that the corporation invite capable, respectable retirees to function as on-thejob trainers, coaches and counselors.

Just recently it was reported that the CoI had suggested, in the report, that GuySuCo should be privatized, given the severity of its blows, and its high dependence on Government bailouts over the last few years. Surprisingly, the corporation managed to trim its $82B debt to $78B in the latter part of 2015.

Granger prepares to respect rights of LGBT persons The rights of persons who comprise the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community, were able to solicit the support of President David Granger who made the announcement last week.

Commenting on same sex relations and activities which are still considered criminal acts in Guyana, the Head of State said on his weekly television show “The Public Interest” that he is prepared to respect the rights of any adult to indulge in any practice which is not harmful to others.

Although Guyana is the only country in South America where homosexual acts are still illegal, the President noted that the issue has existed throughout human history and given

that this ear is considered a “modern age,” he believes that human rights should prevail.

“This problem has existed throughout human history. And I suppose the Christians and Muslims can tell you what are in the Holy books. We are now in a modern age and I would like to feel that human rights should prevail and I am prepared to respect the rights of any adult to indulge in any practice which is not harmful to others” President Granger said.

He continued that there should exist, some element, which first fosters a culture of respecting the human rights of individuals, and secondly, at the level of the Government, the promotion of freedom of choice. “Persons should

be able to express their views freely without necessarily sticking to a party line” he said.

However, while the issue has not been discussed at the level of Cabinet yet, President Granger remains hopeful that Cabinet will make a determination, taking into consideration that human rights are paramount, over party opinion.

Presently, Guyana is the only country in South America where homosexual acts are still illegal.

Under the laws of Guyana, homosexual acts carry a possible punishment of life imprisonment.

According to the Criminal Law (Offences) Act of Guyana: Section 352: Any male person who, in public or private, commits, or is a party

President David Granger

to the commission, or procures or attempts to procure the commission, by any male person, of any act of gross indecency with any other male person shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and liable to imprisonment for two years.

Section 353 states: Everyone who (a) attempts to commit buggery; or (b) assaults

any person with intent to commit buggery; or (c) being a male, indecently assaults any other male person, shall be guilty of felony and liable to imprisonment for 10 years. Section 354 and 355 further states that: Everyone who commits buggery… shall be guilty of felony and liable to imprisonment for life.

Everyone who (a) does

any indecent act in any place to which the public have or are permitted to have access; or (b) does any indecent act in any place, intending thereby to insult or offend any person, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and liable to imprisonment for two years. But the law does not specifically define “buggery”, “gross indecency”, or “indecent”.

Family members should not be targeted in investigations -Teixeira Robert Pyle

Gail Teixeira

The opposition Peoples Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has deemed “sinister” the operation that Guyana Defence Force Officer (GDF) Robert Pyle who was recently killed in an accident on Carifesta Avenue was involved in.

Addressing the weekly Parliamentary press conference held at Freedom House today, Ms. Teixeira called out the heads of both the army and

the police force to provide explanations surrounding the death of the three persons.

She told the media that they have to come out and say if they were tracking the daughter of Head of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) Head Winston B r a s s i n g t o n’s daughter and to say to the Guyanese public

who gave the orders for the operation to be conducted.

She questioned what the interest in Brassington’s daughter was. “If you have an interest in a particular person there are mechanisms for doing this and not chasing them down the road. Peoples family are not to be brought into these issues, you want to investigate someone, get a search warrant, go pick them up and carry them to the station, investigate, charge detain under the law of the

constitution take them to court follow the procedures,” she stated.

The GDF via a statement confirmed that Pyle was on a legitimate operation at the time that he was killed. The operation was intended to be a surveillance of the premises of Brassington.

According to Teixeira, the surveillance operation is a violation of basic human rights.

She clarified that under the previous government the

Winston Brassignton

GDF had nothing to do with the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), however, there seem to have been a change in policy.

Teixeira, who once served as the country’s Home Affairs Minister recalled that under the PPP/C government when a decision was made to bring out the army to assist in fighting crime, the then opposition had condemned the act.

She also spoke of the removal of certain critical documents

from NICIL. “The question we have to ask is this an attempt to frame people because if they seize the actual source documents and people don’t seem to know where they are then if they are charged or brought before the Court or whatever they have no access to the same documents to be able prove their case, and of course you know the documents can be tampered with once they get into all sorts of people’s hands.”

PPP insists gov’t will spend $1B on salary increases in five years Juan Edghill

The opposition is maintaining that the salary increase given to government Officers will cost the country some $1B at the end of its first term.

Peoples Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Chief Whip Gail Teixeira told the media today that the party will not change its position since renewed calculations showed that the figure is correct.

“We have gone through the figures again and the figures stated by Bishop Edghill on the floor of the House as well as his

own calculations and we stand by the calculations that he has made, more so now that they have added another Minister to the list so the figures would be adjusted accordingly,” the Chief Whip firmly stated.

At last week’s sitting House Speaker Dr. Barton Scotland informed the National Assembly that he received a letter from the government side of the House indicating that they want to challenge comments made by Peoples Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C)

Member of Parliament (MP) Juan Edghill with regard to the debates on the motion challenging the salary increases.

Last month Edghill tabled the motion challenging the salary increases given to Ministers of government, Members of Parliament and other government officers and was defeated by a majority vote by the government side of the House which secured 33 out of the 65 seats in the House.

The government is claiming that the PPP/C MP during the debate stated that by the end of the APNU+AFC’s first term in office, a total of $1B would be spent to cover for the salary increases, apart from other benefits.

In the letter dispatched to the Speaker, the government is claiming

that the sum quoted

by Edghill is incorrect and is far less by some $300M. The government also threatened to take the PPP/C MP before the Committee of Privileges.

The September 25 gazetted salary increase has been in the center of controversy between the government and opposition.

During the debate, Edghill, in whose name

the motion was tabled in took the government to task for not telling their supporters on the campaign trail that they were going to give themselves exorbitant salary increases.

The PPP/C MP chided the government for putting themselves over the Guyanese people, making reference to the meager five percent increase that

was announced for public servants in the 2015 National Budget.

He deemed this as “meat for the boys, bones for the workers.”

The PPP/C MPs have rejected the salary increases and have decided to give it to various charitable organisations at the end of the month.

so at a slow rate of climb while the Caribbean Airlines B737 was cleared from 32,000ft to 34,000ft and did so at a very high rate of climb. Within two minutes the Caribbean Airlines aircraft had reached to 600ft below the Air Canada flight.

This resulted in both aircraft receiving Traffic Advisories (TA) followed by resolution Advisories (RA) from their Traffic Collision

Advice System (TCAS). Both aircraft took the required diversionary actions.

Also On April 4, 2015 a Cessna 208B Caravan on a domestic flight from Ogle to Imbaimadai Airstrip was cleared to maintain 6,000ft until further advised.

However, the aircraft climbed through the assigned level and reported at 10,500 ft. By doing this, the aircraft created a conflict with a Caribbean Airlines B737 aircraft that was flying from Kingston, Jamaica to Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri.

Quick reaction by the Air Traffic Controller averted possible conflict.

The Guyana Aircraft Accident Investigation Unit commenced operations on January 22, 2014 and is intended

to be an independent body and is required to investigate all aircraft accidents and serious incidents that occur in Guyana and all aircraft accidents and serious incidents involving Guyana registered aircraft anywhere in the world.

2015 saw two aircraft accidents occurring in Guyana.

The first accident occurred on January 9, 2015 where a Cessna 208 caravan with one crew and twelve passengers and two infants on board crashed at Matthews Ridge Airstrip. The steep bank, along with other forces caused the aircraft’s port wing to touch the ground first followed by the port undercarriage, however there were no injuries or fatalities.

Damage to the aircraft was restricted to

the Port wing and port undercarriage.

The second accident occurred on November 12, 2015 where Cessna 206 landed fast and long at Ekereku Bottom Airstrip and collided with a Cessna 172 that was parked at the airstrip. The right wing of the active aircraft and the left wing of the stationery aircraft were damaged. This accident investigation is continuing.

There are 57 licensed Government Airstrips in Guyana – 46 are monitored by the aerodromes Department of the Ministry of Public Infrastructure while and the remainder are monitored by the villagers in the respective locations.

In 2015, $21,416,908 was spent on hinterland airstrips.

Two aircraft accidents recorded for 2015’ three avoided

The Guyana Aircraft Accident Investigation Unit was able to help in avoiding three major accidents in 2015.

On January 30, 2015, a locally registered BN2, Islander Aircraft failed to report its flight from Bartica Airstrip to Ogle Airport. It therefore arrived unexpectedly, near to a Cessna 208 Caravan aircraft that was flying on the same route from Kamarang to Ogle.

The Caravan had to take evasive action.

On February 12, 2015, the Air Traffic Controller’s failure to determine and impose a rate of climb almost saw Caribbean Airlines Flight, BW A 484 and Air Canada Flight, ACA090 almost colliding within Guyana’s airspace.

The Air Canada B777 aircraft was cleared to climb from 33,000ft to 35,000ft and was doing

Private Sector Commission warns GPL not to impose greater hardship on Guyanese The Private Sector Commission (PSC) has added its voice in condemnation of the Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL) recent decision to implement a payment of a six-month security deposit for any postpaid customer that is disconnected.

The body is calling on GPL to rethink its conditions for reconnection. “If our people have difficulty in paying their monthly electricity bills, how will they be able to pay a deposit of six months for the reconnection of the service? We have to distinguish between hardship and tampering or fraud. We must have

a social conscience and not impose a greater hardship,” the PSC said in a statement on Tuesday.

GPL last week placed advertisements in the daily newspapers warning customers about the dangers of disconnection.

This has since sparked widespread outcry by the public and other bodies like the PSC. The concern was also raised that there would be a rise in electricity theft should GPL go down the route of implementing the sixmonth security deposit.

Following the concerns raised by citizens, the power company’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Colin

Welch, in justifying the move made it clear that the system has been in existence some six years ago. He said he saw no reason for the public outcry.

According to him, the power company has not been enforcing the policy, although it had been in existence.

The Public Utilities Commission also said that GPL’s licence

which was amended in 2010 provides for this.

Late last month GPL placed an advertisement in the daily Newspapers that should any customer’s electricity be disconnected, they will be required to pay a reconnection fee of some $3200.

In addition, they will also have to pay a security deposit which

Conditions (STC) for Electric services (The Forth Schedule to GPL’s Licence) provides clear guidance to the agreement for electric services between GPL and its customers.

The STC was one of the legal instruments that was amended in October 2010.

“Even though the will be equivalent to six months of the amended STC of average monthly bill. October 2010 makes However, GPL in a provision for this our subsequent statement requirement, said it will not be company wishes to moving ahead to emphatically state that implement the policy. it has never instituted The company has this legal requirement apologised for any and will not institute misconceptions that such a requirement adequate the disconnection without notice may have caused. notice to customers,” stated.

GPL explained that the GPL Standard Terms and

metres and Tuesday January 12, 2016 at 5:53pm at a height of 3.09 metres.

In addition to the captioned locations, all persons residing along the banks of rivers and low

lying coastal areas are advised to take all the necessary precautions against possible flooding.

Precaution should also be taken by all mariners including those operating

High Tides alert issued

The Ministry of Public Infrastructure would like to advise the general public to take all necessary precautions during the spring tides period of January 8, 2016 to January 15, 2015.

The predicted tide indicates above normal levels for this impending period.

The Sea and River Defence Department considers the following areas to be particularly susceptible to possible flooding as a result of storm

surges which may induce overtopping of sea/river defence structures: • Johanna Cecelia, Cullen/Perseverance, E s s e q u i b o Coast; Charity & along Pomeroon River Banks • Zeelandia/Moor Farm, Marionville/ Bendorff, Good Success/ Sarah Wakenaam Island • Thierens/Success, Maryville, Cane Field/Amsterdam, E n d e a v o u r / Blenheim Leguan Island

• Crane to Ruimzigt, Anna Catherina to Leonora, W.C.D Parika, Look Out, Salem/Sparta, E.B.E • Water Street, Georgetown, K i n g s t o n , Georgetown to Ogle, E.C.D, Mosquito Hall/Unity– E.C.D • Bush Lot/ Maida, Corentyne and Along the East Bank of Berbice River The highest tides are expected to be on Monday January 11, 2016 at 5:09pm at a height of 3.10

fishing vessels and larger vessels. Use of beaches and foreshore areas for recreational purposes during this period is not advised.

Nagamootoo flip-flopping on national unity call-Teixeira

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo is “putting his foot in his mouth” when it comes to the call for national unity talks between the government and the opposition.

This is the Peoples Party/Civic expressed its Chief Teixeira a press

view of the Progressive (PPP/C) through Whip Gail today, at conference

at Freedom House.

She was responding to the question on whether the PPP/C will support the Prime Minister’s recent renewed call for the party to “come on

board” to hold talks.

Teixeira recalled that on the night of December 30, 2015 in the National Assembly Nagamootoo said that there were patriots and non-patriots in the house, referring to the opposition as non-patriots.

She questioned how can the same Nagamootoo a few days later call for the opposition to come on board, saying that they are all patriots together.

Nagamootoo is quoted as saying in the House that “the division, however this year 2015 has not been in vain. It allowed the Guyanese people to see who are patriots and those who would not want to see progress in Guyana, hence the

Two persons were found dead early this morning in an East Bank Berbice village. While police have confirmed the deaths to GNN, they could not say what could have been the cause.

According to information, the couple allegedly c o m m i t t e d suicide, however, foul play has not been ruled out.

GNN understands that the bodies of Deeraj Persaud,

a twenty year-old male and Sherry Ally, reportedly a fourteen year-old female, were found hanging from the roof of a house in the village of Launsdale early this morning.

The shocking

discovery has rocked the village.

Unconfirmed reports suggest that the two shared a relationship which was unapproved by their parents.

Investigations are ongoing.

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo

change that was effected in May this year.”

Meanwhile, on Monday January 4, 2016 in an interview with the Government Information Agency (GINA) the Prime Minister was quoted as saying “come on board, let us talk, let us make 2016 the year when we put aside squabbles, when we stop cussing each other and this bickering must stop. I want to say I will not spare any effort in pursuing this goal, whether they cuss me up today, and they reject me today. I believe this is unsustainable to do this forever.”

According to Teixeira, “the issue of trust and confidence is one issue

and the Prime Minister seems to have a habit of forgetting what he said.

He is the same person who accused Dr. Jagdeo of being a coolie bully in Parliament in August.”

She said there is no substance in the Prime Minister’s national unity calls.

She reiterated that the environment is not right for those talks since the government continues to witch hunt PPP supporters, conduct ethnic cleansing among others.

However, Ms. Teixeira made it clear that the PPP/C is not opposed to national unity and is on record pushing for same.

Two found dead in Berbice; Suicide suspected

Fire destroys T&T Water and Sewerage Authority after Forensic audit ordered

Almost two weeks after a forensic audit was ordered into the operations of state utility the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) by its Board, a fire broke out yesterday afternoon at its headquarters in St Joseph, destroying the second floor of its Administrate Complex which housed its

Records Management D e p a r t m e n t .

It took fire tenders several hours to extinguish the flames which according to WASA officials started at about 4.45 pm at Block B of the Administrative Complex.

WASA Corporate Communications Manager Daniel Plenty told Newsday there

were no injuries as all personnel were evacuated safely. He said the floor also housed the Corporate Communications Department and the Health and Safety Department.

there would be soft copies of all documents stored on WASA’s computer servers. On December 23, chairman of WASA’s Board of Commissioners Bromley Thomas said in a statement that the Board of Commissioners observed certain irregularities in the operations of the Authority and deemed it necessary to order a forensic audit into WASA. (Adapted from Trinidad Newsday)

Asked about the speculation that the fire was related to the

forensic audit, Plenty said, “you can’t prevent such speculation from taking place but as an organisation we will respond with the facts with what transpired here and that is what

we can do, we can’t prevent speculation from taking place in the public domain.”

He later added that there were important files kept on that floor but not all was stored there and

of fresh unrest after street violence sparked by antigovernment protests left 43 people dead in 2014. Maduro has vowed to defend the welfare programs of his socialist “revolution” launched by his late predecessor Hugo Chavez who came to power in 1999.

On Tuesday he published a presidential decree that gives him, instead of the assembly, the power to appoint the heads of Venezuela’s Central Bank. That snatches away the opposition’s power to influence monetary

policy, one of the key levers for change in the current economic crisis.

Maduro also said he would try to get the assembly to support a new economic emergency plan, setting up yet another political clash.

The broad opposition coalition MUD, which includes leading conservative parties, won a majority in the assembly in elections on December 6 -- the first such opposition majority since 1999.

Maduro has appointed new judges to the

Supreme Court, which has granted his request to order the suspension of three incoming lawmakers over alleged voting fraud.

Venezuela has the world’s biggest known oil reserves but has suffered from a fall in the price of the crude on which its government relies. It is in deep recession and citizens are suffering shortages of basic goods.

(Adapted from Yahoo)

in October to 27,000 in November and 18,000 in December.

According to INPE, the state where the greatest number of fires burned last year was Para, one of the states with the most territory in the Amazon region, followed by Mato Grosso.

INPE meteorologists have attributed to El Niño both the fierce drought in the Amazon, the worst in

years, and the extreme rainfall in the southern part of the country.

The World Meteorological Organization recently warned that the current weather phenomena, caused by El Niño and heightened by

climate change, will be felt at least until March and will be the strongest since 1998. (Foxnewslatino)

Venezuela leader maneuvers as opponents take Congress

Venezuela’s opposition takes control of the legislature Tuesday for the first time in 17 years, but President Nicolas Maduro bid to outmaneuver them by seizing control

of the central bank.

Opposition lawmakers wearing caps in the red, yellow and blue national colors crossed a line of police guards as they arrived for a tense swearing-in ceremony at

the National Assembly.

They have vowed to bring change to the oilrich but crisis-hit nation.

Facing the toughest challenge yet to his authority, Maduro has moved to chip away at their majority which they want to use to force him from office. But he ordered security forces to make sure the lawmakers were not prevented from getting into the assembly for Tuesday’s session, which got under way in the early afternoon.

The tense political struggle has raised fears

Brazil registered some 235,000 forest fires in 2015, a number 27.5 percent higher than in 2014, a blight that specialists attribute to the climate phenomenon known as El Niño.

Last year saw the second most forest fires since they began to be recorded in 1999, only outdone by the 249,000 logged in 2010, according to figures released by

the National Space Studies Institute, or INPE, which measures heat centers in vegetation with the help of satellite images.

Most of the fires in 2015 were concentrated in the last five months of the year, normally the driest period in Brazil, according to INPE statistics.

The drought in the final months of 2015 in northern Brazil, chiefly in the Amazon

region, was aggravated this year by the El Niño phenomenon, as the warming of equatorial waters of the Pacific Ocean is known.

While in January 2015 only 4,000 fires were recorded, in July there were 8,000 and in August 39,000.

September, with 72,000 forest fires, was the most critical month, from which point the number gradually declined, from 50,000

El Niño blamed for growing number of forest fires in Brazil

Active, passive smoking linked to infertility A US study has found that both active and passive smoking is linked to infertility problems and early menopause in women.

Although previous studies have already found a link between infertility and active smoking, researchers at the Roswell Park Cancer Institute also wanted to look at a link between infertility and passive smoking.

The study looked at a total

of 93,676 women across 40 different centres in the US, who were all part of the Women’s Health Initiative Observational Study (WHI OS) between 1993 and 1998.

All of the women were between 50 and 79 years old and had already gone through menopause.

The team collected information on smoking, lifetime fertility status and age at natural menopause. Those who smoked, or used to

smoke, were asked how many cigarettes they smoked or had smoked daily, the age they had started smoking, and for how many years they had smoked.

Those who had never smoked were asked if, and for how long, they had lived with a smoker or had worked where someone smoked in the workplace.

After taking into account other lifestyle factors, the results showed

that tobacco exposure through both active and passive smoking can hasten the natural menopause to occur before age 50 and can cause fertility problems.

Smokers and ex-smokers showed a 14 per cent greater risk of infertility and a 26 per cent greater risk of menopause before the age of 50 compared with those who had never smoked.

And from the women who had the highest level

of tobacco exposure, those who had started smoking before the age of 15 experienced the onset of menopause nearly 22 months earlier.

Those who smoked more than 25 cigarettes a day experienced the arrival of menopause 18 months earlier. In addition, these

women were 18 per cent more likely to have had infertility problems than women who had never been exposed to passive smoking. (ATF)

postmenopausal women or premenarche girls, and groups of more than two – multiplex parenting.

Same-sex couples must currently rely on gamete donors when using assisted reproductive technologies (ART) such as artificial insemination or IVF with a surrogate.

What distinguishes IVG from current ART is that it would allow such couples to have biologically related children without using gamete donors.

Professor Suter also discusses the implications of “perfecting reproduction” with IVG. She explains: “IVG

could play a role in efforts to have a healthy or enhanced child” by making prenatal selection “much easier and more robust”.

Perhaps most crucial to the future use of IVG, as she also points out, are the potential risks of the procedure.

Despite concerns over the risks and the fact that the technology is still a way off, Professor Suter concludes that, given that as a society art is supported, in many ways, IVG may be just another way to have a baby. (Adapted from the Jamaican Observer)

been living with a host family on Long Island, attending elementary school and learning

English in addition to his native Swahili. (Adapted from Yahoo Health)

Gay couples could have their own biological children...one day

New analysis by a George Washington University academic examines the possibility of using in vitro gametogenesis (IVG) for human reproduction and its ethical and practical implications.

The paper was published on December 18 in

the Journal of Law and the Biosciences.

IVG is the method, most advanced in mice, by which gametes are derived from pluripotent stem cells (capable of giving rise to several different cell types) or embryonic stem cells. IVG in humans

could potentially allow for never-before used methods of procreation.

Research suggests that whilst not yet advanced enough on human cells, IVG for reproduction may one day be possible in humans.

Using a relational autonomy framework,

Professor Sonia Suter analyses the potential benefits and harms of IVG, which depend on the social, scientific and legal contexts in which it is used. As enormous developments are necessary before IVG could be used in humans, Professor Suter comments that: “The ethical dilemmas about when and how such research should be done will be enormously c h a l l e n g i n g .”

Several groups of people could potentially use IVG for reproduction: those who cannot conceive for physical reasons, same-sex couples,

Dunia Sibomana was considered the lucky one two years ago when a group of chimpanzees jumped from the trees and attacked him and two other boys as they played near a preserve in their native Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Dunia, unlike the others, survived. But he was severely disfigured: His lips ripped off and one cheek torn apart, leaving

him with muscle damage that make it hard for him to eat, swallow and communicate.

Now, 8-year-old Dunia is set to undergo a rare and complicated surgery at a Long Island hospital that will use tissue and muscle from his forearm to recreate both lips. The hope is that he will once again be able to open and close his mouth, and eat and talk normally.

Monday’s planned eighthour procedure will be the first of three major operations for Dunia, who was brought from the Congo in November with the help of the nonprofit foundation Smile Rescue for Kids.

Dr. Alexander Dagum, the hospital’s chief of plastic and reconstructive surgery, said he believes there are only three other documented cases

where the same surgery has been performed.

The hospital is covering the cost of the surgery and the doctors have all donated their time.

Since the attack, which killed Dunia’s 4-yearold brother and a young cousin, Dunia has been the target of bullies and become shy and withdrawn. In his short time in the United States, he has

Boy mauled by chimps will get a new face, built from his own skin

Woman’s head encased in concrete following suspected murder-suicide Police in Austria appear to have a bizarre murder-suicide case on their hands.

Authorities believe a man killed a woman and then dismembered her before encasing her head in concrete.

His body was found submerged in a lake.

The gruesome details

began to unfold over the weekend when a suitcase with the woman’s body parts was found in Traunsee lake, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) east of Salzburg, said prosecutor Birgit Ahamer. A police dog later found a second suitcase with more

pieces of her body.

The man’s body was found by divers in the lake on Monday.

Attached to his hands with zip ties were two suitcases filled with rocks. The woman’s head was discovered nearby.

Investigators say the conditions of the bodies

Researchers are claiming they have dug up what looks like a 2,800-year-old Mesopotamian clay

tablet cell phone, reportedly found in the Austrian town of Fuschl am See. (Judging by

looking for when they came across this piece of not-soterrestrial history, but it probably wasn’t clay Sumerian tablets from the 13th century BCE. How did a cuneiform tablet make its way to modern-day Austria, reputable you ask? After all, the picture quality, very the photos were also mysteriousuniverse. Mesopotamia never taken on a 2,800-year- org, not much is expanded north or of modernold cell phone.) known about what west were day Turkey. Well, According to the archaeologists

A bandit in a wheelchair stuck up a Queens bank — and then rolled off with the loot, cops said Monday.

The crook entered the TD Bank branch on Queens Blvd. by 41st St. in Sunnyside at 1:46 p.m., cops said, and made his way to a teller.

He passed a note, threatening that he had a bomb

and a gun. When the teller handed him cash, the thief fled south on Queens Blvd.

Cops would not say how much money was stolen.

Police described the robber as black and between 25 and 35 years old.

The crime was similar to a June heist in which a man in a wheelchair robbed another

and circumstances surrounding the case lead them to believe it was a murder-suicide.

“That the woman was

strangled seems ... quite certain,” Ahamer said. “Because of the fact that we have found no traces of violence on

the male body -- and he drowned -- so it seems that it was a suicide.

Authorities believe they died sometime between December 24 and January 3. Both were 50 to 70 years old. Their identities weren’t immediately known.

(CNN)

Did Aliens leave behind this 2800-Year-Old Nokia? the theory proposes that aliens created Sumerian civilization, then left the artifact behind after a failed attempt to introduce people to the great communicative powers of cellular phones.

Sadly, like Damascus steel, the technology to make functioning clay cell phones is still not known. (Yahoo)

Bandit in wheelchair rolls away after robbing New York bank

Queens bank and made off with more than $1,000.

That bank job

happened around 2 p.m. at the Santander Bank on Broadway

in Astoria, and the robber in that case was described as

being in his 20s.

He also passed a note to a teller and did not flash a weapon.

The teller handed over $1,212, cops said. Santander customers were flabbergasted by the unlikely thief last summer.

“You really can’t trust anybody,” said Astoria resident Helen Karagiorgos, 45.

(MSN)

North Korea says it conducted a hydrogen bomb test North Korea said it has conducted a hydrogen bomb test in a surprise announcement that caused regional tension and drew swift condemnation from opponents. If confirmed, the test would be the fourth time Pyongyang has exploded a nuclear device.

South Korean intelligence officials and several analysts, however, reportedly

questioned whether Wednesday’s explosion was indeed a full-fledged test of a hydrogen device.

There was no radiation detected at Japanese monitoring posts.

Still, before the announcement was made on state television, South Korea’s meteorological agency said that a 5.1 magnitude earthquake was detected near a known test site in the secretive

and isolated state.

South Korea’s presidential office held an emergency meeting and later said that the government

would take all possible measures to respond to its neighbour and long-time foe’s actions.

The UN Security Council

of his presidency.

However, the largest gun lobby group, the National Rifle Association (NRA), said Obama’s steps would not have prevented any recent mass killings in the US. “Rather than focus on criminals and terrorists, he goes after the most law-abiding of citizens,” said Ryan, a Republican.

Donald Trump said that he would “un-sign” the measures if elected to the White House - a sentiment echoed by other Republican presidential candidates.

Senator Ted Cruz tweeted

The Cologne police say they believe several hundred men, ages 15 to 35, were involved in the violence that began in the early hours of the New Year, after the square was cleared because men had been throwing firecrackers into the crowd.

Cologne, with roughly one million inhabitants, is among Germany’s most ethnically diverse cities, and it took in more than 10,000 refugees last year, many of them young men from Afghanistan,

called an emergency meeting for Wednesday, diplomats said, as both neighbouring countries and world powers scrambled to issue stern statements.

China’s foreign ministry said that it had no advance knowledge of any test and that it firmly opposed Pyongyang’s action.

The US government said that it could not confirm a nuclear test but that it would respond appropriately to what it called North Korean “provocations” and that it would continue to protect its allies in the region.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called the announcement a threat to his nation’s safety.

Abe told reporters: “We absolutely cannot allow this, and condemn it strongly.”

It is not yet known if Pyongyang has successfully made a nuclear device small enough to be used as a warhead on a ballistic missile, but the likelihood of the isolated country successfully doing so increases with each test. (Adapted from Al Jazeera)

that the executive actions were unconstitutional, with a link to sign up for his campaign correspondence on a web page that says “Obama wants your guns”.

Former Florida governor Jeb Bush, also a Republican candidate, tweeted that he would repeal the actions and protect the Second Amendment.

Leading Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton tweeted: “@ POTUS is right: We can protect the second Amendment while protecting our families

and communities from gun violence.

And we have to.”

President Obama announced the law change at the White House, surrounded by survivors and relatives of victims of shootings. Gun violence is significantly higher in the US than in other advanced countries, killing about 30,000 people each year.

Sales of guns in the US appear to have risen recently amid speculation that the White House was going to tighten the law.

(Adapted from the BBC)

Iraq and Syria. The city authorities said they would increase security after the assaults, as they continued to search for suspects.

Chancellor Angela Merkel, whose unmitigated support for a migrant flow

that has increasingly put her country under strain and caused political rifts in her own conservative bloc, used an annual event on Tuesday to call for mutual respect.

(Adapted from MSN)

US Republicans attack Obama gun control moves Leading US Republicans have denounced President Barack Obama’s move to tighten gun controls. House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan

said the executive orders, which bypass Congress, “undermined liberty” and would be challenged in court.

Republican presidential frontrunner Donald

Trump said that, if elected, he would reverse the measures. In an emotional address on Tuesday, Obama accused the gun lobby of holding the country hostage.

Wiping away tears, he recalled the 2012 Sandy Hook primary school shooting in which 20 children and six adults were killed. He previously told the BBC that the failure to tackle gun control had been the greatest frustration

German authorities said on Tuesday that coordinated attacks in which young women were sexually harassed and robbed by hundreds of young men on New Year’s Eve in the western city of Cologne were unprecedented in scale and nature.

The assault, which went largely unreported for days, set off a national outcry after the Cologne police described the attackers as young men “who appeared to have a North African or

Arabic” background, based on testimony from victims and witnesses. More than 90 people have filed legal complaints, the police said on Tuesday.

The police in Hamburg also said that 10 women had reported being sexually assaulted and robbed in a similar fashion on the same night, and they urged witnesses to come forward.

Germany took in more than one million migrants last year, and with the country struggling to deal with

the political, social and wider consequences of the influx, the delayed public response has led to concerns that the authorities were playing down the seriousness of the assault to prevent it from becoming a point of contention in the broader debate.

Heiko Maas, Germany’s justice minister, warned on Tuesday against linking the assaults to the influx of refugees, saying that the ethnicity of the perpetrators was irrelevant.

Mass sexual attack in Germany inflames migrant debate

Gayle’s sexism storm worsens with new allegations

The storm surrounding star cricketer Chris Gayle over an attempt to flirt with an Australian presenter on live TV intensified Wednesday as new allegations about his behaviour towards women emerged.

with McLaughlin as a harmless joke.

His team, the Melbourne Renegades, played down calls for sterner action and said their star signing would play again in the Big Bash League on Saturday. But Fox

Sports reporter Neroli Meadows branded the Jamaican a “creep”.

“He does this constantly,” she told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. “He’s a creep, he has creepy behaviour.” nShe said Gayle came on to her during a 2011 interview saying, “Sorry, I was totally distracted by your pretty face — could you repeat the question?”

Nine News reporter Yvonne Sampson said Gayle had also asked her on a date after watching her carry out an interview. “I had a notification via Twitter

fours and 59 sixes as he led Smt KC Gandhi School to 1465-3 against Arya Gurukul School in a Bhandari Cup match.

The youngster reached four figures off just 323 balls, breaking records along the way, while also catching the attention of India’s greatest batsman.

Tendulkar – who scored 15,921 runs in 200 Tests for India during his career – took to Twitter to praise Dhanawade, and challenged him to keep on improving. “ C o n g r a t s #PranavDhanawade on being the first ever to score 1000 runs in an innings,” he posted. “Well

done and work hard. You need to scale new peaks!”

India international Harbhajan Singh was equally impressed and compared the youngster to his former colleague.

Posting about Dhanawade’s achievements, he wrote: “Well played… no matter what levels cricket it is but number are just unbelievable.

Another @sachin_rt in making?”

(Yahoo)

Anderson Sports Hall.

The tournament will feature teams from Tiger bay, Mocha, Alberttown /North Sophia, Albouystown, Grove, Central Georgetown, Yarrowkabra, Golden Grove/Diamond,

Soesdyke/Timehri and Agricola and is under the auspices of Commander ‘A’ Division, Assistant Commissioner of Police Mr. Clifton Hicken.

It will open with a ceremony followed by the first game at 10:00hrs at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall and continue on Saturdays (09:00hrs-12:00hrs) and Sundays (09:00hrs16:00hrs) for the month.

The tournament will commence with an immediate knockout phase because of the number

of teams competing.

Thirty (35) teams have registered so far from the communities in ‘A’ Division in which youth groups are operational, and the organizers are hoping to get 50 teams in keeping with the celebration of the 50th Independent anniversary.

The tournament will be kept under the theme: Revive!

Rejuvenate!

Represent! Feeding the Flames of Progress.

Chairman, Colin Haynes noted that Guyana Police Force and our group believes

More female journalists aired complaints against the West Indian after he was fined US$7,000 on Tuesday for his approach to Network Ten reporter Mel McLaughlin. Gayle apologised and tried to brush off the exchange

that Chris Gayle would like to take me out to dinner,” she said.

“I’d never met him. I think Chris Gayle is a known womaniser, and that’s a really awful word, but that’s what he is.” McLaughlin found herself being asked out for a drink after Gayle blasted 41 runs off 15 balls late Monday.

Gayle said he was happy to be interviewed “just to see your eyes for the first time”. “Don’t blush, baby,” the Jamaican added, before saying, “Sorry!” and breaking into a big laugh.

Cricket Australia chief

James Sutherland said no one should have to face such comments, which were “completely out of line” and “inappropriate”.

Renegades CEO Stuart Coventry offered a formal apology but described it as “a one-off scenario... a cultural indifference... done in jest”.

He dismissed a more lurid allegation against Gayle reported in the media on Wednesday as “opportunistic”. The opener was apologetic on Tuesday, but insisted the on-air flirt had been blown out of proportion.

(Adapted from the Jamaican Observer)

Indian teenager hailed by Tendulkar after scoring 1009 not out Retired cricket great Sachin Tendulkar has congratulated a 15-year-old schoolboy for becoming the first player to score over 1000 runs in one innings.

Pranav Dhanawade hit an unbeaten 1009 during an inter-school tournament in India on Tuesday, a knock that included 129

A’ Division / Rainforest Water futsal Tournament on for Saturday

The Central Georgetown Police youth group has organized the Commander ‘A’ Division-Rainforest Water 5-a side futsal tournament which is set to commence on Saturday at the Cliff

physical health and sport play a positive role in youth development, including improved academic achievement, higher self -esteem and fewer behavioural problems.

GFA President and Commander of A Division, Clifton Hicken has endorsed and supported the creation of such a tournament being the first at this age group (1217 yrs) hoping that the participants would strive to become the catalyst of well-rounded players while

noting it is necessary for them to take the skills associated with the game back to the communities and encourage other young persons to play the game.

Director of Sport, Christopher Jones alluded to the fact that this year 2016, the National Sports Commission is looking to focus more on youth initiatives such as this one. He expressed hope that other corporate entities would support sports in Guyana more.

As such his ministry would be sponsoring the prizes for each category of the tournament.

Wednesday January 06, 2016

Amla steps down as South Africa captain

Hashim Amla has resigned as South Africa captain following the second Test against England at Newlands. AB de Villiers will take over for the final two Tests of the series in Johannesburg

and Centurion.

Amla has come in for criticism of his leadership since the start of the series but had returned to form with the bat with 201. Amla was named as Graeme Smith’s replacement

as captain in mid2014 and this was his sixth series in charge.

After winning his first three against Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and West Indies, he oversaw a rainaffected drawn series against Bangladesh

and the 3-0 defeat in India. In a statement, Amla said: “This decision has not an easy one to make I felt I had to be true to myself. I am comfortable with my decision and I feel I need to work

on my own game.

“I was deeply honoured when the position was given to me. Throughout my time as captain, I have always had the support of my team-mates and coaching staff. I remain committed to the Proteas across all formats and I will fully support whoever is shown as my successor.”

Amla said that he had begun to think about stepping down two weeks ago, before the start of the series against England.

South Africa are currently 1-0 down, after defeat in Durban and a draw in Cape Town.

“I have chatted to some of the guys in the team so I don’t think it will come as a surprise,” he said.

“AB is very able and a brilliant captain.”

“The decision has been purely based on that I think somebody else can do a better job. It was just something that crossed my mind and was working on my mind. My leadership style, and we have a very young team, maybe somebody else would have done a better job.”

Haroon Lorgat, the CSA chief executive, said: “We respect Hashim’s decision and the manner in which he thought about it and then communicated with me. It was consistent with his well respected p e r s o n a l i t y .”

(Adapted from Espncricinfo.com)