GNN Newspaper

Friday, September, 2015

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VENEZUELA’S THREAT RAISED

AT THE UN -Page 2

PRESIDENT RAISES VENEZUELA’S THREAT AT THE UN As President David Granger makes his first …to the United Nations general assembly, the head of state is looking to lobby bigger countries to ensure that peace reigned between his home country and neighboring Venezuela. This comes as the Spanish speaking country has recently deployed military troops to its borders with Guyana earlier this week.

The President told this to Guyanese media at the Yale Club in New York. He says “We want the Caribbean to be a zone of peace and that's what we would like the UN to help us guarantee; that the Caribbean will be a zone of peace and Guyana, a small State, the population of fewer than a million people, be allowed to develop its resources in peace–that's my

message.”

One of the countries that Guyana is strongly looking to is India. The President's first bilateral meeting on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly was with Indian Prime Minister Narendra M o d i .

Once Venezuela agrees, the President said he looks forward to meeting with the

Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro as arranged by the United Nations Secretary General Bank Ki Moon.

He is pushing for the Secretary Genral to recommend that the matter go to the International Court of Justice.

Apart from the military buildup on the western f r o n t i e r, M a d u r o h a s suspended the process towards the accreditation if the new Guyanese Ambassador to Caracas, Cheryl Miles. Mr Granger said that while the decision to approve is at the

discretion of Venezuela, “there are no grounds for the withholding of agreement. It is up to the

State, accept or not to accept; right now they seem to have declined”.

VENEZUELA TROOPS REMAIN ON ITS BORDER WITH GUYANA

Neighboring Venezuela a few day ago deployed military personnel in its border with Guyana including marine and group troops.

President David Granger noted that “The situation is getting worse not better.

Although Venezuela is embroiled in a major controversy with Colombia, we have

recently received reports that Venezuela is making extraordinary military deployments in Eastern Venezuela; that is western Guyana; that seems to be impacting on Guyana's territorial defence.” “We feel that Venezuela is threading a very dangerous course at this point in time. Rather than seeking a peaceful

resolution of the matter, Venezuela seems to be pursuing a very offensive and aggressive course,” Granger stated.

The President and his security chiefs met to decide on an appropriate response. He said there is every reason to believe that the military presence is a threat to Guyana's territorial

integrity and as such the government is preparing to take whatever actions are appropriate to protect its border.

Relations between Guyana and Venezuela have been suffering a continuous downward spiral since President Maduro issued a decree claiming Guyana's Essequibo region on May

26, 2015. The decree was made shortly after one of the world's largest oil and gas companies; Exxon Mobil made a $40B discovery in the Stabroek block, about 120 miles offshore Guyana.

The situation deteriorated thereafter with Venezuela recalling its Ambassador for consultations and

subsequently suspending the process to appoint a new envoy.

Throughout this period, Guyana has maintained that it needs a judicial settlement to the matter, requesting that it should be taken to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for a settlement of the 1899 Arbitral award once and for all.

OPPOSITION LEADER URGES DIALOGUE Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo

O p p o s i t i o n L e a d e r, Bharrat Jagdeo is encouraging President David Granger to meet with Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro during his visit to New York for the 70th session of the United Nations general assembly.

During a press conference hosted at the People's Progressive Party's Office at Robb Street, Jagdeo told the media that while pursuing the integrity of its borders and its s o v e r e i g n t y, G u y a n a should also maintain a channel open for dialogue, trade flows and functional cooperation between its neigbours.

He believes dialogue is the only way forward for Guyana to resolve the border controversy with Venezuela. The former President is of the view that rice farmers are

MADURO REFUSES TO ACCREDIT GUYANA’S AMBASSADOR Venezuela's President, Nicolás Maduro ordered the suspension of the steps taken to approve the new ambassador appointed by Guyana to Venezuela.

According to the Ve n e z u e l a ' s F o r e i g n Ministry, “The Venezuelan president said on his weekly television program that due to the a t t a c k s b y G u y a n a ’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Carl Greenidge, he ordered his Minister of Foreign Affairs, Delcy Rodríguez, to stop the process of accreditation requested by the Guyanese Government.

“It is nonsense to initiate the diplomatic way of regularization, the appointment and admission of ambassadors

suffering since Guyana lost Venezuela as a rice market Recently, there was a buildup of military troops at the border separating Guyana and Venezuela which send guyana's government into defense mode and increasing tensions between the two countries.

In defense Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez said on Tuesday t h a t Ve n e z u e l a w a s conducting military exercises in the eastern part of the country “because we are really preparing ourselves”, according to news agencies reporting on the issue. Padrino Lopez did not specify exactly what the country was preparing for.

However, the Guyana Defence Force has affirmed that the military

strength at the Cuyuni Border shared with Venezuela is enough to carry out its mandate of defining acts of aggression against Guyana's sovereignty.

The Chief of Staff also reported that there has not been an increase of Venezuela's military presence.

Jagdeo urged that the current government should not allow Venezuela to argue that Guyana is a belligerent nation; pointing out that if this country sends images across the world of its troops holding guns, then it undermines our diplomacy.

A d d i t i o n a l l y, t h e Opposition Leader reiterated that he is willing to participate in a Border Protection Committee, which is slated to established by the administration.

President Nicolas Maduro

Miramar, Florida; Mr. We s l e y K i r t o n s a y s Maduro never intended to grant approval to a top envoy from Guyana.

Kirton stated that “… He (Maduro) never intended to grant agreement at this time based on information provided me by usually reliable sources. This notwithstanding there is no doubt that President Maduro must have taken note of the overwhelming success of Guyana, through the presentations of Minister Greenidge, in positively articulating its position that the Arbitral Award of 1899 is legally binding and NOT null and void and to win the support Ambassador Cheryl Miles of various key audiences and and suddenly go to the individuals.”

United States to launch He added that “at a t t a c k s a g a i n s t no time did the Honorable Venezuela,” said Maduro. M i n i s t e r “ a t t a c k ” Maduro is also Ve n e z u e l a . F u r t h e r, I demanding that Guyana's accompanied the Minister President, David Granger, to all the meetings held in adopt a position regarding south Florida, including Venezuela and requested media interviews, and at no t h e s u p p o r t o f t h e time, in my view, did Caribbean countries to a n y t h i n g s a i d b y t h e m a k e C a r a c a s a n d Minister constitute an Georgetown reestablish attack on Venezuela.” relations of respect.

In responding to H o w e v e r , a questions at several fora s t a t e m e n t f r o m t h e during his visit Minister Convenor Of The Florida Greenidge did posit that the Conference On Current d i s c o v e r y o f o i l i n Caribbean Issues, Held Guyana's waters off its On September 10 In Essequibo Coast is perhaps

among the reasons for Ve n e z u e l a ' s r e s o l u t e pursuit of its claims at this time.

The letter further stated that “If President Maduro is really committed to de-escalating tensions and ensuring the maintenance of a secure peace in our hemisphere the least he could do at this point is to allow for the diplomatic engagement of the two countries by sending his ambassador back to Georgetown and granting agreement for the posting of Guyana's new top envoy to Caracas. By this action he would be clearly demonstrating his expressed commitment to a peaceful resolution of the controversy.”

Career diplomat, Ambassador Marilyn Cheryl Miles has been submitted to Venezuela for its approval.

She previously served as Guyana's Ambassador to Venezuela from 1985 to 1992. She then returned to G e o rg e t o w n a n d w a s appointed Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a post she held from 1993 to 1999.

Ambassador Miles then served as Guyana's Ambassador to Brazil from 1999 to 2009 when she formally ended ties with Guyana's Foreign S e r v i c e .

Ambassador Miles currently resides in the United States. She also speaks Spanish, Portuguese and French.

DEATH BY DRAG RACING Twenty – three – year old Mahindra Sugrim succumbed to his injuries following an accident on Wednesday evening.

Sugrim died at the West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH) a few days ago after a speeding To y o t a Ta c o m a t r u c k slammed into his car on the West Bank of Demerara.

According to reports the driver of the

Tacoma was allegedly racing with another truck to Vreed-en-hoop when he crashed into a white car, before colliding head on with Sugrim, who was driving the Blue Toyota Av e n s i s w h i c h w a s heading in the opposite direction to La Grange.

Persons in the area rushed to the scene and tried to assist the driver of the blue Toyota Avensis,

who was pinned in the vehicle in the trench. He was rushed to the West Demerara Regional Hospital. A child who was in the first car that was hit, was also treated for minor injuries.

Eyewitnesses are reported as saying “the driver of the Tacoma was driving under the influence of alcohol as they “smelled” it on him.”

The now dead F o r t u i n , We s t B a n k young man lived in Goed Demerara

Three other persons were injured following the accident.

BABY KILLED WOMAN WITH IN HIGHWAY MATERNAL ACCIDENT CONDITION SUCCUMBS Dead: Aiden Anderson

10-month-old Aiden Anderson was killed in an afternoon accident after the Toyota Tundra he was travelling in suffered a blow out along the Linden/Soesdyke Highway on Sunday.

According to reports, the baby sustained severe head injuries after the vehicle toppled several times. He was rushed to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, where he succumbed.

Driver of the

vehicle, 26 year old Mohamed Ali is in a stable condition at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

Anderson's mother, Alana Hackett, of Diamond, East Bank Demerara and her nephew, Ameer Mohamed of 172 Grove East Bank Demerara were also occupants of the vehicle.

Miraculously they escaped with minor injuries and are at home

grieving their lost.

Reports stated that the family was at the time heading along the Linden/Soesdyke Highway to visit a relative at Long Creek, when tragedy struck around 15:00hrs. The badly damaged navy blue Tundra bearing number GTT 5756, ended up along the road side. Its windscreen was completely shattered and the roof had caved in.

A young mother who has been battling for her life at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC)'s Intensive Care Unit has succumbed on Saturday. The woman, Alexis Syfox was suffering from placenta accrete; a condition that most likely occurs if the patient has had previous caesarean section procedures.

The woman delivered a baby girl two weeks ago, during which time, she bled profusely. she was placed on a life support machine after she suffered from two cardiac arrests and renal failure during the course of her delivery.

Placenta accreta is a serious pregnancy condition that occurs when blood vessels and

other parts of the placenta grow too deeply into the uterine wall. This causes the placenta to stay attached to the uterine wall after childbirth and causes severe blood loss after delivery.

It's also possible for the placenta to invade the muscles of the uterus (placenta increta) or grow through the uterine wall (placenta percreta).

Placenta accreta is considered a high-risk pregnancy complication.

If placenta accreta is suspected during pregnancy, you'll likely need an early C-section delivery followed by the surgical removal of your uterus (hysterectomy) which was performed on the woman.

Despite science advising, up to three

Dead: Alexis Syfox

cesarean sections procedures, minister of public health, Dr. George Norton advised that mothers should not have more than two such procedures.

Meanwhile, the woman's partner, Shawn Syfox was reported as saying his spouse walked into the hospital to deliver her child but it was during the surgery that he learnt about her condition.

Tropical INVESTIGATIONS depression expected to CONTINUE INTO weaken even $6M COCAINE BRIBE further Following his involvement in a $6M bribe scandal, an assistant superintendent of the Guyana Police Force has been transferred from Berbice to the Police Headquarters in Georgetown while a Subordinate Officer and three Constables are under close arrest as the investigations progress.

The GPF sent out a statement which says the Police Office of Professional Responsibility is investigating the alleged corrupt transaction involving police ranks, following the seizure of a quantity of cocaine from a motor vehicle along the Corentyne, Berbice, on September 10, 2015.

It was reported that the ranks accepted $6M from drug dealers to allow a minibus laden with cocaine and cash to pass freely after searching the vehicle and becoming aware of its contents at Corentyne, Berbice.

Meanwhile, Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan declared that the unruly cops will b dealt with as he noted that “You cannot be fighting criminal and being a criminal at the same time.”

The minister told sections of the media that while this issue reflects very badly on the Force, it brings to light the reality of corruption and exposes the fact that very senior officers are also part and parcel of corrupt practices.

“When they get catch like this, the junior ranks are motivated, they know the senior ranks who are creating mischief and they are bringing it to the Force and I want that comfort level to remain there so that they can come forward with confidence and speak out when they see senior ranks doing crap and I see it as something that will motivate them to speak,” Minister Ramjattan said.

The tropical depression formerly known as Tropical Storm Ida is expected to weaken even further over the next 24 hours, becoming a remnant low this weekend.

Ida is currently about 1,205 miles east northeast of the Northern Leeward Islands, carrying maximum sustained winds of 30 miles per hour and drifting north at five miles per hour.

Despite warm sea surface temperatures, wind shear and dry air have taken their toll on Ida, causing it to weaken over the open central Atlantic Ocean.

“A turn toward the northwest with a slight increase in forward speed is expected tonight . . . Ida is expected to become a remnant low over the weekend,” the National Hurricane Centre in Miami said.

Ida became the ninth named storm of the 2015 Atlantic hurricane season exactly a week ago, and was downgraded to a depression yesterday morning.

Taken from Caribbean360 news.

MINIBUS DRIVERS PROTEST WATER TAXI SERVICE The promised river-taxis commenced operation across the Berbice River last Monday transporting a total of three hundred and eighty two passengers plying the New Amsterdam/Rosginol stellings' route.

The two boats; MV Nicholas and MV Shanit worked from 6 am

to 6 pm transporting persons across the Berbice River for $120 each way, with teachers, nurses, pensioners and schoolchildren crossing free of charge. The two vessels previously plied the Georgetown/Vreeden-Hoop route.

There were 11return trips which saw

269 adults and 66 school children and pensioners.

In addition, 47 students used the school contract scheme- an arrangement w ith Trans port and Harbours Department (T&HD) that allowed students in the past to purchase a card for $200, valid for a month, to travel on a barge.

Passengers were told it was imperative to have life jackets on at all times.

according to the ministry of public infrastructure, “ Tw o t a x i s , w h i c h accommodate 33 passengers each, will be operating the route on a one month trial basis. As the demand increases, additional water taxis will be introduced.”

The river taxis were introduced after the government was unsuccessful in its quest to

get the Berbice Bridge Company Inc (BBCI) to reduce the toll to cross the Berbice River Bridge by $300.

The initiative have proven to be a good to commuters who use the service, allowing them to have more cash for other purposes. It has also allowed hire car operators to re-established their route from the New

Amsterdam Ferry Stelling to other parts of region six. However minibus drivers plying the Number 56 route (New Amsterdam-Rosignol), says they are facing the pressure.

P u b l i c Infrastructure Minister David Patterson said the service would be withdrawn once the Private Sector takes hold of the business opportunity.

MUSIC, ARTS AND A CAPTIVATING LANDSCAPE; OREALLA RESIDENTS WANT GUYANA HEALTH CENTER ISSUES TO BE ADDRESSED Blending the arts that formed Guyanese culture with the vast captivating landscapes in the Rupununi savannahs, the annual Rupununi Music and Arts Festival kicked off on September, 18.

The three-day festival which is being held at the Rock View Lodge, Annai, North Rupununi, saw hundreds of Guyanese and foreigners, enjoying the colourful variety of exotic sights and sounds of the Guyanese Indigenous culture, in the form of music, dance, poetry and storytelling, amidst the splendor of the Rupunini savannahas.

There were performances from; JJ Kent, a Native Indian, from the United

States, the Samba Group from Brazil, Maya of Suriname, a rock band from Georgetown, as well as other groups, portraying beautiful Indian customs, reggae and jazz music.

There were also booths displaying local craft, paintings and food.

The festival also provided workshops on craft and paintings. These workshops were c o n d u c t e d b y representatives from the EU Delegation in Guyana and other groups from Georgetown.

Minister of the indigenous people's affairs Sydney Allicock said that that festival was well supported. He pointed out that such an event allows

for Guyanese, especially the Indigenous population, to showcase their way of life, and at the same time provide the opportunity for the exchange of cultures, both local and overseas.

Tourism minister is of the view that the diversity of the Guyanese culture provides the blueprint for music as a driver for tourism. She says “When visitors hear our music, they would want to see who created it, where it was created and what was the spectacular forces that contributed to such creation. Music sells our image and make people want to see more of our products.”

Though serving just over three hundred (300) residents, there are several issues surrounding the Health Center at Orealla.

Despite having committed and courteous staff, there are issues relating to the dilapidated structures in parts of the buildings, the lack of adequate facilities for the doctor stationed at the Health Center, leaking pipelines, and broken septic tanks among others.

community by the Berbice Health Services (BHS) recently. The team of three doctors and other administrative staff was headed by Director of Regional Health Services (RHS) Jevon Stephens who used the opportunity to engage with the staff and inspect the facility.

Speaking with the Government Information Agency (GINA), Stephens pointed out that he will T h e s e i s s u e s w e r e take immediate actions to h i g h l i g h t e d d u r i n g a rectify the situation. He medical outreach to the s a i d h e w i l l s o o n b e

engaging the Regional Executive Officer (REO) o f R e g i o n S i x , D r.

Veerasammy Ramaya, along with the Minister of Public Health, Dr. George Norton, to discuss possible solutions to the problems.

Approximately 75 residents of Orealla benefitted from a medical outreach programme.

Orealla is a predominantly Amerindian community in Region Six.

$23B FOR RICE INDUSTRY BUDGETED FOR PETROCARIBE FUND

Finance Minister, Winston Jordan

The $23B allocated for the rice industry was budgeted for under 'Statutory Expenditure' and therefore does not need the approval of the National Assembly. This is according to Finance Minister Winston Jordan who told sections of the media that the monies were allocated to decrease the outstanding oil debt to Venezuela.

The sum which was announced during the budget presentation was highly praised by rice farmers and millers, however it was later disclosed that the monies were not included in the budget estimates which caused much protest in the industry.

Explaining the original PetroCaribe arrangement, Jordan said that Guyana had paid up front a percentage of the cost of the fuel. The balance of the cost was placed in the PetroCaribe fund at the Bank of Guyana (BoG). The balance, he pointed out, was treated as a loan repayable over 23 years, with a two year grace period (which would have ended in 2011) at 2 percent interest.

According to this arrangement, Guyana would thus have deferred its payments, already at concessionary rates as rice was being used as a buffer to

pay Venezuela, over a longer period of time. The balance in the fund was also used to make payments to rice farmers, through millers.

However, upon their entry into the Government following the May General and Regional Elections, A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) had announced that they found an 'empty' PetroCaribe fund. It was later revealed by the Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo that the previous administration had used the money to fund Government agencies and several projects- the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) is reported to have gotten US$115M, the Ministry of Housing got US$10M and US$16M went to funding the $3.6B Hope Canal project.

According to Jordan, future payments to farmers which could not thus be met from the PetroCaribe fund had to be met through the consolidated fund. He went on to explain that it was in that context that the $23B was set aside under “statutory expenditure'.

LEGISLATION BEING DRAFTED TO STAMP ANOTHER ATTEMPT OUT CORRUPTION TO CLEAN-UP for Finance and Marketing for the company and entered into a one year agreement with Tate and Lyle in 2013 when the company could have

Legislation is currently in the chambers of the Ministry of Legal Affairs which seeks to stamp out corruption and prosecuting those who dared to steal the assets of the state. This was disclosed by Head of the State Asset Recovery Unit, Dr. Clive Thomas who noted that It is expected to be perused and strengthened by a specialist from the United Kingdom before being taken to the National Assembly for passage.

The legislation is believed necessary since there are hundreds of complaints regarding individuals who held high o ffi c e a n d a b u s e d o r allegedly stole state assets.

He said that those who held authority over state assets under the previous administration will be

subject to “rigourous” audits.

He said that the State Asset Recovery Unit's mandate to return or regain what rightfully belongs to the state will be achieved.

Already, a number of cases have been undertaken by the State Assets Recovery Unit one of which includes the misappropriation of state assets by former GuySuCo Chief Executive Officer, Dr. R a j e n d r a S i n g h . D r.

Thomas had said that a request was made for more details for some of the transactions and decisions made by Dr. Singh as they involved the misuse of State assets.

According to reports, Some of the transactions include the sale of 2.6792 acres of

land at Plantation Good Hope, East Coast Demerara, agreements with Global Casetech and Global Cane Sugar Services out of India for the management services on a number of estates at unreasonably high cost, and without approval of the Board of Directors.

Documents also show that single sourced procurements were done for the supply of bio fertilizers from Kay Bovet Engineering Ltd. of India in the sum of US$76,680 in June 2014 and Global Cane Sugar Services Pvt. Ltd of India in the sum of US$68,580 in February 2015. Dr. Singh allegedly made decisions that resulted in millions of dollars being lost by GuySuCo. The said documents reveal that Singh had responsibility

entered into one for three years while locking in at a higher sugar price for 2014 and 2015. The failure to enter into a three-year agreement resulted in a

conservatively estimated loss of US$60M in revenue for the corporation for the years 2014 and 2015.

GEORGETOWN City. In the wards of Lacytown and Bourda more than $65 million has been budgeted, for similar interventions.

As The Government of Guyana continues with the “Clean –Up My Country” campaign, the Mayor and City Council of Georgetown has embarked on the cleaning and desilting of street drains, alleyways and canals.

Areas being targeted are; Agricola, Mc Doom, Houston, Ruimveldt, Bourda, Lacytown, Le Repentir and South Cummingsburg, with in excess of 5 million dollars allocated for the cleaning of avenues and verges in the later.

W o r k s completed thus far have seen Bourda Cemetery being rehabilitated at a cost in excess of $6 million. At Agricola, Mc Doom and Houston in excess of $25 million will be spent to enhance the communities.

The government embarked on a massive clean-up campign following its election to office earlier this year. The campaign which saw the paticcipation of organisations, government agencies and civillians saw major changes around the city.

The Bourda Cemetery is being cleaned of garbage and overgrown weed and similar works are due to begin at the Le Repentir Cemetery, which is in the process of being fenced. According to City Hall officials, the cemetery will be weeded on a steady basis, once the weather permits. Also, the Additionally, the parapets and verges in Carmichael, Main and Camp former administration had Streets have been manicured and the City Council invested some 500M to rid will continue similar works in other wards in the the city of garbage.

FIRST GOLD POURED AT AURORA GOLD MINES Guyana Goldfields Inc. (GGI) is working to produce between 30,000 to 50,000 ounces of gold in 2015. The company, which poured its first gold at its Aurora mines, CuyuniMazaruni, Region seven, achieved its initial startup production with processing the lowest grade ore available and is now working to gradually feed the mill with higher grade material to achieve its target.

GGI expects to achieve 120,000 to 140,000 ounces of gold in 2016 with the employment of some 500 workers that are retained.

S c o t t A .

Caldwell, President and CEO, commented: "Our first gold pour is an extraordinary achievement in GGI's transition from an exploration and development company to a high grade, low cost gold

producer. We would like to celebrate this s i g n i fi c a n t accomplishment for all that have contributed from the Project's inception …thanks to the Government of Guyana and local communities for their continued support through the development of the Project…”

This recent development holds major promises for the local gold mining sector and by extension thee economy.

The projected corporate income tax is estimated at US$509 million.

Projected payroll taxes are estimated at US$67 million; excise taxes, US$43 million.

Further, as part of it mandate of being a good corporate citizen the company has also pledged to donate a school boat to aid in the President's drive to ensure that every school

aged child is in school.

President David Granger, who witnessed the historic gold-pouring, said “the enterprise can become a successful model for large scale mining, and for sound environmental stewardship”. He added, is now positioned to intensify production, and by so doing, contribute to its own profitability, the prosperity of the nation, stressing the need to honor all labor and occupational safety laws.

Speaking on the importance of the mining sector, President Granger said the industry has been t h e c o u n t r y ' s l a rg e s t foreign exchange earner for several years, even amidst challenges. He says the national economy will significantly be enhanced and the livelihood of hinterland residents and miners

President David Granger being given a briefing on the operations and activities that take place daily at the newly commissioned Guyana Goldfields Incorporated, Aurora Gold Mine Incorporated

would be enriched if the industry were to be placed on a surer economic foundation with better administrative controls.

G u y a n a Goldfirlds began operation here in 1996, however drilling commenced in 2003. The

aurora gold mine has a life of 17 years. As of June 30, 2015, the Company had approximately US$20 million of capital expenditures remaining to complete the Aurora Gold Mine. The Company is managing its overall development budget to

not exceed US$277 million which includes the initial development costs of US$249 million for the Project and US$28 million in financing costs, pre-operating costs and working capital investment.

75 TONS OF RICE FOR DOMINICA

Carlos Carbo of Sagrice Group Inc, Farouk Yussuf of Tecnomills Guyana Inc, Peter De Groot of Fairfield Rice Inc, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, Clinton Williams of GNIC, Colin Watson of the Guyana Rice Development Board, Chabilall Ramsaroop of the Civil Defence Commission and Nizam Hassan of the GRDB, as they all witnessed the loading of three containers of rice, at the GNIC wharf, which will be shipped to the Dominica. (MOTP photo)

Guyana shipped 75 tons of its largest producing commodity; rice to storm hit; Dominica on Tuesday. The support to the Caribbean island is a collaboration between the government and the private sector.

Commission.

The tropical storm, which struck the small Caribbean island, has not only left behind severe d damage, but also 20 people dead.

Speaking to the media at the Guyana National Industrial Company Incorporated (GNIC) Wharf earlier in the week, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, said the initiative is a clear reflection of Guyana's ability to respond in times of need.

Dominica's prime minister has pleaded for more international aid to help rebuild the tiny Caribbean country after tropical storm Erika tore across the island, devastating villages, wrecking bridges and leaving a reconstruction bill worth half the country's annual GDP.

A 40-foot container of rice bran (used in bread and breakfast cereal) was supplied by Caricom Rice Mills, while Sagrice Group Inc and Tecnomills Guyana Inc also supplied some of the rice that is being shipped out. This venture is a joint initiative, and includes assistance from GNIC, Tropical shipping, the Guyana Rice Development Board and the Civil Defence

The figure excludes the rebuilding of more than 370 private houses and the Jungle Bay holiday resort which was buried beneath a landslide after tourists were evacuated.

About 10 inches of persistent rains engulfed the capital Roseau by water, and destroyed the every

equipment at island's main airport which will cost some £10m ($15m) to repair.

Dominica's neighbours in the Caribbean were the first to deliver aid in the form of helicopters, medical assistance, telecommunication engineers, and financial aid, and were followed by essential supplies and manpower from Venezuela and doctors and nurses from Cuba.

Many islanders are still in shock and fear. It is still the North Atlantic hurricane season and any repeat of this tragedy would certainly deal the island a killer blow. Heavily reliant on a fragile eco-tourism industry, Dominica was inadequately prepared for a storm such as Erika.

Regional

Regional

KAMLA:

BLOOD continues to flow in T & T We will not destabilize the govt. - ten murders within two days

Having been booted out of government following recent elections, Trinidad a n d To b a g o ' s n e w Opposition Leader, former Prime Minister, Kamla Persaud-Bissessar, pledged not to destabilize the Keith Rowley led Administration.

While congratulating Dr. Rowley, she also fully backed the United National Congress (UNC) election petition against the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) to challenge results of the

September 7 General Election in six marginal seats.

Seizing the opportunity at President's House Persaud-Bissessar disputed recent calls for “Restorative Dialogue” uttered who she described as “past politicians, pseudopoliticians and those who should not be politicians” in this post-election period.

“Indeed, one cannot call for 'Restorative Dialogue while at the same time declaring one southern community as unfit to host a university campus because of its perceived isolation”. “Does one really expect restorative dialogue after such statements are made?” she asked.

She also promised a “strong and united group” Opposition, to vigorously

It is time to heal Former president of the People's National Party ( P N P ) , P. J . P a t t e r s o n , yesterday as he "prophesied" that the party will be moving like a tsunami in the days to come. "Is there no balm in Gilead?" continued the former prime minister as he drew for scriptures, with obvious reference to the disturbances which have hit the party in recent months. "Yes, there is a balm, and you, the delegates, will ensure that it (the PNP) is restored and those who are in the way get out of the way because the PNP is moving," he added.

represent all the people with the same commitment as when she was prime minister. “In my effort to protect our freedom and democracy I will be a most vocal Leader of the Opposition because I sincerely believe that freedom always dies when criticism ends,” she said.

“Our focus will be on constructive criticism aimed at building a better Trinidad and Tobago for all of us, not opposition for the sake of having a contrary opinion or scoring political points.” She warned, “Soon the euphoria - and the disappointment - of the election will be over and we will be getting to the very important task of governing”. She vowed to serve as a Prime-Ministerin-waiting.

– PJ Patterson

The precursor to current PNP President Portia Simpson Miller's presentation, Patterson's rallying pronouncements elicited thunderous cheers from supporters at the party's public session. Referring to Ecclesiastes chapter three, Patterson declared that it was "not a time to break down, but a time to rise up and build, a time to born but not a time to die".

In endorsing the leadership of Simpson Miller as another election draws near, Patterson cited the efforts of the Government to

stabilise the economy and place Jamaica on the right path internationally. "We cannot allow our living by our words to be undermined by any administration in years to come," asserted Patterson. He asserted that this is no time to lose.

"Let us pledge to work harder in full harmony and remember when the trumpets sound and the gates open, it will be a time for the PNP to dance, he declared."

The election chorus hit a chord at the public session of the People's National Party (PNP) as senior functionaries rallied supporters to get into work mode.

Pope celebrates mass in Cuba On a special personal anniversary, Pope Francis celebrated Mass in east Cuba on Monday on the last full day of a trip where he has been praised for aiding rapprochement between the communist government and the United States. Two predecessors have visited Cuba, but Francis was the first pope to visit Holguin, capital of the region where the Castro brothers and leaders of Cuba, Fidel and Raul, grew up.

He said a Mass for tens of thousands of people in sweltering heat before moving on to Santiago de Cuba, the city where Fidel Castro's rebellion began in 1953 and close to a shrine for the national patron saint, the Virgin of Charity.

September 21 was the day, also in 1953, when the

Argentine pope said he first felt a calling from God. The then 17-yearold Jorge Mario Bergoglio was heading to meet friends for a picnic marking the start of spring in the southern hemisphere when he felt an urge to enter a church he was passing in Buenos Aires. It was there that he felt a strange pull. “I can't say what is was but it changed my life,” he told one biographer.

That took place on the feast of St Matthew and the pope dedicated his Holguin homily to the Bible story of the conversion of the former tax collector who decided to follow Jesus Christ.

On nearly every block, posters welcoming the pontiff adorned doors

and telephone poles, while bike-taxis and horse-drawn carriages traversed below the yellow-and-white flags of the Vatican, fluttering alongside Cuba's red, white, and blue.

The government of President Raul Castro, who attended the Holguin Mass, had hoped the 78year-old Francis would explicitly condemn the still-intact U.S. economic embargo against Cuba before leaving on Tuesday for Washington.

He has not done so yet but on arrival on Saturday, he did urge the old Cold War foes to deepen their detente after this year's restoration of relations, which the Vatican mediated.

The recent ten murders over the last weekend have pushed the toll for 2015 to 315. Beginning at about 1 a.m. in Tobago on S a t u r d a y, K e n v e r n Joefield, 46, was shot dead inside his Lambeau home.

Christopher Williams, 28, was shot dead while he was hanging out with friends at “De Kourt” Bar at Railway Road in Chaguanas. An hour later, Hayden O'Brien aka “Mafia”, 38, of Santa Cruz, and who was also hanging out with friends at Jus Creole Bar was riddled with gunshots when a car pulled alongside the group of limers and opened fire on him.

Over in Railway Road, Enterprise, Chaguanas the bodies of handyman Shastri La Ve n d e , 2 7 , a n d h i s girlfriend Kim Kelly Rattansingh, 36, of Bynoe Trace, Enterprise, were found at about 10.30 pm,

inside a white Mazda 323 car. La Vende sat dead in the driver's seat while Rattansingh's body was in the front passenger seat.

They were sprayed with bullets as police reportedly found over 30 spent shells at the scene.

In La Brea, Victor Pope, 51, of Santa Cruz was shot and killed on Saturday night following a domestic dispute at a house. In the last murder on Saturday, fisherman Marcus Haniff, 23, was attacked in a boat while out at sea, robbed and then ordered to jump overboard. Haniff, who could not swim, disappeared under the water. His body is yet to be found.

The Sunday murders started at about 7 am when the body of an unidentified man was found in Champs Fleurs with gunshot wounds to his head and chest. Up to press time, police were

searching their fingerprint database to try to make a positive identification.

Then at about 8 pm, 28yearold Nigel Andall's body was discovered.

Police discovered his body lying in a pool of blood with gunshot wounds to the head and chest.

Sometime after boat owner/captain Willion Taitt, 39, of Beach Road, Erin was shot dead and his younger brother Willion Taitt, 37, and family friend Ram Ramkissoon, 59, both of Pepper Village, Erin and who both work on Willion's boat, were shot and injured. They remain warded in stable condition at the San Fernando General Hospital (SFGH). Police said Willion succumbed to his injuries at the SFGH while awaiting e m e r g e n c y s u r g e r y.

Jack Warner one step closer to be extradited to the USA Newly appointed Attorney General of Trinidad & Tobago, Faris Al-Rawi, has signed the Authority to Proceed (ATP) paving the way for the start of extradition proceedings against corruption accused, former FIFA Vice President Jack Warner, who is wanted in the United States. The announcement was made y e s t e r d a y a s Wa r n e r returned to the Port-ofSpain Magistrates' Court.

Al-Rawi missed last Wednesday's deadline for signing the ATP, and his failure to do so on time was challenged by Warner's lead counsel Fyard Hosein, SC. Although Hosein acknowledged that Al Rawi had written to the Chief Magistrate seeking an extension, he noted there was no authority for one to be given. He

insisted that in accordance with the provisions of the E x t r a d i t i o n (Commonwealth and Foreign Territories) Act, the provisional warrant issued for Warner's arrest in May on US charges of racketeering, wire fraud and money laundering conspiracies, should be automatically discharged.

Hosein cited Section 12 (3) of the Extradition Act which provides for a person arrested on a provisional warrant to be discharged if no authority to proceed has been received by the magistrate. “It is important to us for you to make an order of discharge,” Hosein said.

“It is a requirement of the

legislation and the importance of the liberty of the subject,” he added.

However, lead counsel for the State James Lewis QC, submitted that to discharge Warner under the provisional warrant would be strictly academic as the court only now had the jurisdiction over the extradition proceedings with the signing of the ATP. He said Warner should have applied for the discharge immediately upon expiration of the deadline last week.

INTERNATIONAL

US SPEAKER TO STEP DOWN Speaker, John Boehner, the Ohio Republican who steered his party to an overwhelming House majority in 2010, said in a news conference Friday afternoon he had decided only that morning to announce his plans to resign from Congress.

"Last night I started

thinking about this and this morning I woke up and I said my prayers -- as I always do -- and I decided today's the day I'm going to do this. As simple as that," Boehner said during an emotional Capitol Hill press conference.

He will step down as Speaker and leave

Congress at the end of October.

The Ohio Republican's tenure as Speaker has been marked by clashes with conservatives -especially when it comes to fiscal policy. He's struggled to push through legislation to increase the

Pope beseeches world leaders to protect the environment humanity," he said.

Francis was greeted on his arrival at the U.N. by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, a key supporter of his ecofriendly agenda. In his opening remarks, Ban praised Francis for his moral leadership.

NEW YORK (AP) — Pope Francis declared Friday that there is a "right of the environment" and that mankind has no authority to abuse it, telling more than 100 world leaders and diplomats at the United Nations that urgent action is needed to halt the destruction of God's creation.

Hoping to spur concrete commitments at upcoming climate change negotiations in Paris, Francis accused the world's powerful countries of indulging a "selfish and boundless thirst" for money by ravaging the planet's natural resources and impoverishing the weak and disadvantaged in the

process.

"You are at home not in palaces, but among the poor; not with the famous, but with the forgotten; not in official portraits, but in 'selfies' with young people," he said.

Pope Francis addresses the 70th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Friday, Sept. 25, 20 …

He asserted that the poor have inherent rights to education and what he has termed the "three L's" — lodging, labor and land.

While his visit marked the Francis' speech, fi f t h t i m e a p o p e h a s the fifth by a pope to the a d d r e s s e d t h e U n i t e d U.N., was a distillation of Nations, the Vatican flag h i s r e c e n t t e a c h i n g was raised for the first time d o c u m e n t o n t h e just before Francis' arrival. environment, "Praise Be," The General Assembly w h i c h h a s d e l i g h t e d recently agreed to allow the liberals a n d U.N.'s two observer states, environmentalists and the Holy See and Palestine, drawn scorn from big to fly their flags alongside business interests. those of the 193 member By bringing the states.

debt ceiling and was facing another showdown next week to keep the government open. The Speaker has often relied on Democratic votes during these moments -- a strategy that has infuriated conservatives.

Boehner said Friday that he had planned to step down at the end of the year but turmoil within his caucus prompted him to resign earlier than planned.

"I got plenty of people following me but this turmoil that's been churning now for a couple of months, it's not good for the members and it's

universe is the result of a "loving decision by the creator, who permits man respectfully to use creation for the good of his fellow men and for the glory of the creator: He is not authorized to abuse it, much less destroy it."

Echoing his encyclical's key message, he said a "selfish and boundless thirst for power and material prosperity leads both to the misuse of available natural resources and to the exclusion of the weak and disadvantaged."

document to life before the Speaking in the He called for U.N., Francis made clear packed General Assembly immediate access for the his priorities. hall, Francis stated that "a world's poor to adequate right of the environment" "Any harm done food, water and housing, t o t h e e n v i r o n m e n t , exists. as well as religious therefore, is harm done to H e s a i d t h e freedom.

not good for the institution. If I was not planning on leaving here soon, I can tell you I would not have done it," Boehner said.

His decision to step down came one day after Pope Francis addressed a joint House of Congress.

Boehner was very instrumental in getting the Pope to visit the United States.

The abrupt decision comes amid heavy p r e s s u r e f r o m conservatives for Boehner to take a harder line on their causes, most recently over defunding Planned Parenthood as

H e d r e w applause when he called for a reform of the U.N. system and international financial agencies to give poor countries a greater say.

That, he said, would ensure that they aren't subjected to "oppressive lending systems, which, far from promoting progress, subject people to mechanisms which generate greater poverty, e x c l u s i o n a n d dependence."

While his speech carried a progressive social message, Francis also made clear that he firmly upholds the church's unchanging doctrine on life issues: He

part of a package that would keep the government open.

Boehner said he didn't want to put his fellow members through another vote to challenge his leadership.

Boehner, who has presided over the House since 2011, explained during a closed-door meeting with Republicans Friday morning that he had only planned to serve two terms as Speaker but decided to hold onto his post after then-House Majority Leader Eric Cantor lost his seat during a primary last year.

called for the "absolute respect for life in all its stages" — including the unborn. He cited "moral law written in nature itself" in insisting there is a n a t u r a l d i ff e r e n c e between men and women. The Catholic Church has been on a campaign to denounce "gender theory" and the idea that people can choose their sex.

And he repeated his denunciation of the " i d e o l o g i c a l colonization" of the developing world — a reference to how Western, progressive ideas about contraception and gay rights are often.

SPORTS HAYNES SLAMS WICB CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS OPENED AGAINST BLATTER

L E G E N D A RY W E S T INDIES opener Desmond Haynes has hit out at the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), accusing the regional body of not having a system in place that will support Jason Holder's captaincy.

Only last week Holder explained that his vision for Windies cricket is “getting everybody together”, but the cricketer a ff e c t i o n a t e l y k n o w n worldwide as “Dessie” fears that Holder will be stifled by the WICB's

structural inadequacies.

“I agree with Jason's whole attitude towards bringing them together,” Haynes said during an interview w i t h t h e N AT I O N

SPORT yesterday at The Cricket Legends of Barbados. But Haynes stressed that the vision of unity was not Holder's burden alone to bear.

RICHARDSON TO JOIN ICC'S ELITE PANEL F o r m e r We s t I n d i e s captain Richie Richardson will replace retiring Roshan Mahanama on the ICC's elite panel of match r e f e r e e s . H o w e v e r, Richardson will not take up his new position until early next year, when he completes his current tenure as manager of the We s t I n d i e s t e a m .

Mahanama last week announced his intention to step down from the ICC's elite panel at the end of the year after more than a decade in the role.

The appointment means Richardson will become the first West Indian to serve as a match referee in Tests since Clive Lloyd, who retired in 2007. He also follows fellow West Indians Jackie Hendriks, Cammie Smith, Everton We e k e s a n d C l y d e Walcott, who all served as

match referees in the past.

"I am excited and honoured to have been selected for one of the most important jobs in cricket," Richardson said.

"Having been on either side of the fence, first as a player and then as an administrator, I think I have the experience and insight to help me contribute positively alongside some of the finest and most experienced match officials."

Richardson played 86 Tests from 1983 to 1995, as well as 224 one-day internationals. He was appointed team manager of West Indies in January 2011 and will continue to serve in the role until the end of the Test tour of Australia, which concludes with the Sydney Test from January 3 to 7 next year.

The ICC's elite panel of match referees is made up of seven former cricketers who officiate in Test matches, and Richardson will join Ranjan Madugalle, Chris Broad, David Boon, Andy Pycroft, Javagal Srinath and Jeff Crowe. The ICC's general manager of cricket, Geoff Allardice, said Richardson would be a valuable addition to the panel.

Messi and Neymar: Lionel Messi and Neymar may wear the No10 and 11 jerseys for Barcelona, but there was a time when they sported the same numbers for opposing sides. The man born in the same city as Che Guevara, Valeria Mazza and Angel Di Maria propelled the Catalans to a 3-1 victory over Manchester United at Wembley in the 2010/11 UEFA Champions League final. The poker-loving son of Mogi das Cruzes inspired Santos to a 2-1 defeat of Penarol – at the Pacaembu in his home state of Sao Paulo – in the Copa Libertadores decider a few weeks later.

Those results secured the European and South American champions tickets to the FIFA Club World Cup, and after successfully navigating their semi-finals, they faced off for the trophy in Yokohama. The fixture

CNN )Sepp Blatter's tenure as FIFA president suffered a new blow after the Swiss Attorney General opened criminal proceedings against him on "suspicion o f c r i m i n a l mismanagement."

A statement released by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) of Switzerland confirmed it was examining a contract signed by Blatter with the Caribbean Football Union and an alleged "disloyal payment" of $2 million to UEFA president Michel Platini.

The statement was released after Blatter, who has been in charge of soccer's world governing body since 1998, was in ter r o g ated b y O A G representatives Friday following a meeting of the FIFA Executive committee in Zurich.

Blatter's lawyer

Richard Cullen, said that "no mismanagement occurred."

In a statement sent out, Cullen said: "We're confident that when the Swiss authorities have a chance to review the documents and the evidence they will see that the contract was properly prepared and negotiated by the appropriate staff members of FIFA." T h e O A G confirmed that it had conducted a search at FIFA headquarters with the help of the police -including Blatter's office - and "data seized."

"The OAG suspects that on 12 S e p t e m b e r 2 0 0 5 M r.

Joseph Blatter has signed a contract with the Caribbean Football Union (with Jack Warner as the President at this time); this contract was

unfavorable for FIFA," said the statement.

"On the other hand, there is as suspicion that, in the implementation of this agreement, Joseph Blatter also violated his fiduciary duties and acted against the interest of F I FA a n d / o r F I FA Marketing & TV AG. "Additionally, Mr. Joseph Blatter is suspected of a disloyal payment of two million Swiss Francs to Michel Platini, President of Union of European Football Association (UEFA), at the expense of F I FA , w h i c h w a s allegedly made for work performed between January 1999 and June 2002 ; this payment was executed in February 2011," added the statement.

When they were rivals was billed as a showdown between the 24-year-old FIFA Ballon d'Or holder and the teenager many believed would eventually succeed him as the best player on the planet. Ultimately, Messi scored twice as Barça won 40.

Following a couple of memorable years in Morocco, the Club World Cup will return to Japan in December – the draw for the competition will stream live on FIFA.com on Wednesday. And Messi and Neymar will return to the tournament – this time in the same colours.

The amigos are set to be adversaries beforehand though.

Argentina will host Brazil in the first 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ qualifier Neymar will be eligible to participate in following suspension.

The Barça team-mates have encountered twice before in internationals. Messi scored a tremendous treble to snatch Argentina a come-from-behind 4-3 win in a 2012 friendly in New Jersey – his late winner was among the ten nominations for that year's FIFA Puskas Award. Neymar got revenge by leading Brazil to a 2-0 victory in Beijing last October.