GNN Online Newspaper- Oct 17, 2015

Saturday, October 17, 2015

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GUYANA

: gnn@gnngy.com | Website: www.gnngy.com

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VENEZUELA AND SURINAME STRIKE NEW RICE DEAL -PAGE 2

VENEZUELA AND SURINAME STRIKE RICE DEAL Venezuela's President, Nicolas Maduro and Suriname's President Desi B o u t e r s e , o n F r i d a y, October 16, reached an agreement under the Petro Caribe deal for the Dutch speaking country to supply Venezuela with rice in exchange for oil. The deal is to be finalized very soon by a Surinamese team that is expected to travel to Caracas.

Maduro was quoted in the state-run Telesur-TV as saying that “Petrocaribe would be the foundation of cooperation between the two South American nations.”

According to Telesur, Maduro and Bouterse agreed Friday that Petrocaribe will be the base of their bilateral relations going forward.

Petrocaribe is an alliance established by Venezuela in 2005 to sell oil at discounted rates to its Caribbean allies.

“Petrocaribe is the starting point for advancing economic relations between the governments of Latin America and the

Caribbean,” Maduro stated. "We provide our human capital to continue helping the Venezuelan people in food production”, the President of Suriname, Desi Bouterse said.

Ve n e z u e l a ' s move to take rice from Suriname came after the Spanish speaking country decided to stop buying from Guyana under the Petro Caribe deal.

Guyana a few weeks ago stopped buying a large percentage of its oil from Venezuela and opted to buy all from Trinidad and Tobago.

Venezuela renewed its claim over Guyana's mineral and forest-rich Essequibo Region and the Atlantic Ocean off that region after Exxon-Mobil announced a significant oil find offshore Essequibo earlier this year.

B o u t e r s e recently told Suriname's National Assembly that he would be reviving his country's claim to the New River Triangle. He

Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro and Suriname President Desi Bouterse

said that he had 'no choice' but to do so.

However, Guyana's President, David Granger has maintained that the claim to the New River Triangle is “spurious”.

“As you know

Suriname has laid claim to part of our sea space and that had to be determined by international tribunal and it was determined in Guyana's favour…

Suriname also claims the New River Triangle; it encompasses an area of

land which is larger than Jamaica. Suriname claims the Corentyne River that is still a matter of controversy,” Guyana's President said.

He explained that while this position taken by President Bouterse was

“nothing new”, the Government was of the view that the claim in relation to the New River Triangle area was spurious and measures had been taken in the past to protect Guyana's territorial sovereignty.

Mahaicony man GUYANA TOPS dies in accident CARIBBEAN AT CAPE A Mahaicony East Coast Demerara resident is now dead following an accident on Friday night.

A police report identified the man as

thirty year old Richard Watson. According to the police, he was attempting to cross the road at Huntley Mahaicony when he was struck down by a

motor vehicle. Watson was pronounced dead on arrival.

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

Cecil Cox

Guyana topped the Region in the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) for the first time.

This was first mentioned by former Education Minister, Priya Manickchand, who noted the achievement on her Facebook page and used the same medium to extended congratulations to this year's top performer, Cecil Cox. Minister of Education, Dr. Rupert Roopnarine, subsequently confirmed this to GNN. Cox, topped the Caribbean in Sciences just a few years ago, and like others before him, brought much pride to

Guyana through academic excellence.

G N N a l s o understands through Manickchand's post that at the CSEC level, Guyanese students reportedly have won the awards for best student in Humanities, Business, Science and Technical Vocational Education.

GNN is still trying to confirm these achievements and understands that an official announcement is expected to be made tomorrow.

TWO DEEPAWALI CELEBRATIONS; ONE HOLIDAY -Viraat Sabhaa on Nov. 10; Dharmic Sabhaa on Nov. 11 providing such dates for forty years and this is the first time that a decision has been taken by a Minister to make such a change. However, the Viraat Sabhaa says that after discovering earlier in the year that the November 11 date as reflected on calendars (including its own) was wrong, it began to inform Hindus that its almanac was a misprint and that November 10 is the date for Deepawali 2015.

The GDHS statement also alluded that it collaborated with the Pandits' Council on its dates. However, the Viraat Sabhaa statement noted that Pandit Rudranauth Sharma of the Guyana Pandits' Council, having realized that 2015 dates for Phagwah, Janamashtmi and Deepawali were Minister Khemraj Ramjattan

With Tuesday, November 10, to be gazatted as a National holiday in observance of Deepawali 2015, one leading Hindu organization, the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha (GDHS), is calling on its affiliates to celebrate the festival on Wednesday, November 11. Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, told GNN earlier in the week that November 10, would be the official holiday. This differs from the date of November 11 as reflected on the GDHS calendar and its public position.

From all indication, this would be the first time that the opinions of Hindus differ publically on the actual date for celebrating one of their most sacred festivals. The difference of opinion regarding the date has its origin in the related calculations used. The GDHS in a press statement is claiming its calculations derived November 11, while a statement from the newly formed, Viraat Sabhaa, is claiming November 10. Both organisations have since placed supporting

arguments in the public domain. It appears that the contention is rooted in the actuality of the celebrations with regard to the new moon.

Both agreed that its birth would be around 13:47 h r s . o n We d n e s d a y, November 11. However, the GDHS is contending that to celebrate before the new moon occurs would be inappropriate. The Viraat Sabhaa's position is that the festival cannot be observed in the new moon but must be on the darkest night of the year which happens to be November 10, preceding the moon.

While both have sourced their calculations to Astrological texts, the Viraat Sabhaa pointed out that the Panchangs/Patras (Astrological texts) it is guided by, allude to world zones for these dates.

According to its statement, the zone for Trinidad & To b a g o , G u y a n a a n d Suriname shows November 10 as the date f o r D e e p a w a l i observances. The Trinidad Swaha calendar confirms this. The GDHS is contending that is has been

inaccurate, he brought it to the attention of the President of the GDHS but his concerns were ignored. The statement added that it would be inaccurate for the GDHS t o c l a i m s u c h collaboration.

The Viraat Sabhaa also pointed out that its position on the November 10 date for Deepawali is guided by religious sentiments and not by commercial motives. It reiterated that its petition to the government seeking a consideration for an intervention to declare November 10 as Deepawali was signed by some seventy Hindu leaders and Pandits which is representative of a vast majority of the religion's leadership in Guyana.

According to the Viraat Sabhaa's statement, its

position is also supported by renowned Pandit Budhindranath Doobay of the Canadian Hindu Federation and Priest incharge of the Vishnu Mandir in Toronto and Pandit Rattan (Rajin) Balgobind who is one of the most sought Hindu Priest in the United States of America and is the President, of the Hindu Society of Berbice. In addition, the statement noted that Swami Aksharananda, was firm that if Deepawali is to be celebrated after the birth of the new moon, it would be inappropriate.

annual motorcade would be held on Tuesday, November 10. The Viraat Sabhaa urged devotees to be guided by the truth and hopes that this will result in the desired unity that seems to be elusive at this time.

Both organizations urged for the celebration to be observed on their respective dates. The GDHS noted that its Dr. Vindhya Persaud

GOVERNMENT, STAKEHOLDERS TO ADDRESS POCKETS OF FOOD INSECURITY The government is aiming to strengthen the availability and access to food by 2016 as it is important to sustain food s e c u r i t y. T h i s w a s highlighted by President David Granger during his address to persons at the Wo r l d F o o d D a y exhibition at Uitvlugt, West Cost Demerara on Friday.

The Head of State says food security along the coastland in Guyana is tremendous but the same cannot be said for the interior locations of the country since the population is scattered. He says, food security is critical to eradicate extreme poverty.

“Food security is the condition which exists when all Guyanese everywhere have access to efficient, safe and nutritious food to maintain a healthy active life,” He

explained. The hinterland regions are also faced with the lack of irrigation water, which is being made more difficult with the current El Nino conditions.

World Food Day was observed under the theme; “Social Protection and Agriculture: Breaking the Cycle of Rural Poverty.”

In his message to mark the ocassion, Agriculture Minister Noel Holder spoke of the many challenges facing the agriculture sector including Climate Change as he called on farmers to use water efficiently.

"On World Food Day, I urge all to join Guyana in the fight to end world hunger and boost production and export of non-traditional commodities by catapulting on new and

President David Granger and Permanent Secretary of the Agriculture Ministry, George Jarvis at one of the food booths on exhibition at the World Food Day event at the Uitvulgt Community Centre

emerging markets.

Collectively, we can end hunger in our lifetime."

He added that given the Region's food

import bill, the time is right to showcse Guyana's strides in ensuring food security and using agriculture to address otehr

needs.In this regard, he urged regional governments to go beyond the usual rhetoric and take action to see high levels of

investment in the sector.

The exhibition saw participation from various agriculture agencies and groups.

Training of Journalists discussed during US Ambassador -PM meeting here. I am new and I don't want to get involved with the Parliament but I am curious as to how it works and there is no better expert here than the Prime Minister.”

Ambassador Holloway holds Master's degrees in both International Business

Ambassador Perry Holloway greets Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo raised the need for training local journalists in the United States to improve the local media fraternity when he met with US ambassador to Guyana; Perry Holloway.

“For me it is important that we help to train and expose our journalists, so that we can

improve the quality of journalism in Guyana,” Prime Minister Nagamootoo outlined.

He noted that he has read of the Ambassador's impressive career in diplomacy and also of his previous posting which took him to Afghanistan.

Ambassador Holloway stated that “this

is my first meeting with the Prime Minister and I took advantage of his vast experience and wisdom.”

He highlighted that a wide range of issues were discussed.

“We discussed Local Government Elections, training for journalist, judicial assistance and briefly how the Parliament works

Sciences and National Resources Strategy along with a Bachelor of Arts in Foreign Languages. He is also the recipient of 3 Senior Foreign Service Performance Awards, 8 Superior Honour Awards and 2 Meritorious Awards from the US Department of State.

Previously, he served in the Department of State as Deputy Chief of Mission, United States Embassy Bogota in Colombia. Most recently, the Ambassador served as a Political Military Counselor at the United States Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan.

GRANGER BREAKS SILENCE ON MINISTERS' PAY HIKE -URP condemns increases

President David Granger

President David Granger broke his silence on the pay increases in a television program aired on the state owned National Communications Network (NCN) on Friday. He noted that the increases are “an investment in efficiency, quality and good governance.” and is of the view that in order to attract qualified personnel to serve at this level, sacrifices have

to be made.

The President said he is aware of the many criticisms but a decision was made in the best interest of the country. “As far as the salary increases are concerned, we had to make some choices, and choices were made in order to assure the public of the efficiency and commitment of the Ministers … It was a difficult choice in the first

place. It was not something that we did recklessly. We had to consider all of the options and in the final analysis we felt that this was the best means of ensuring that the work of the Cabinet would continue,” he said.

He added that in order to attract the best qualified people to serve at this level, certain sacrifices have to be made. However, another political Party has added its voice in condemnation of the recently gazetted pay increases given to Minister o f g o v e r n m e n t , Vi c e Presidents, Advisors and Members of Parliament.

The United Republican Party (URP) in a statement to the media noted that it “remained silent over the last five months as it gives the new AFC coalition government a chance to rule during its honey moon period. But the coalition seems hell bent on abusing ours and public silence to its policies and actions leading to this public rebuke of several policies.”

The URP said the government disappoints on several fronts: large cabinet,

Bath family robbed,

son shot Tw e n t y - s i x y e a r o l d Latchman Parmanand of Bath, West Coast Berbice was on Saturday morning shot to his left foot by bandits.

A p o l i c e statement said around 0 1 : 3 0 h o u r, U m g r i e Parmanand, 55 was aroused by the sound of persons in her home. Upon checking it was discovered that two men, one of whom was armed with a firearm, had entered the home through an open window.

The bandits held up the man's wife Chandroutie Parmanand, 52 years, and son Latchman, who was subsequently shot.

Police say the Latchman has perpetrators took away an been admitted to hospital undisclosed sum of cash a s t h e i n v e s t i g a t i o n s and a quantity of jewellery continue. and escaped.

Vishnu Bandhu

square pegs in round holes appointments of Ministers and other personnel, the budget, handling of rice prices and farmers, firing of thousands of workers on account of ethnic and political affiliation, racial discrimination in appointments, arrogance on the part of several ministers, and the latest salary increase of Ministers.

The Party said the Ministerial pay hike came “after the government called for wage sacrifices and the public was told the treasury is almost empty with Public Servants and pensioners being given only a 5%

increase. It added that people are surviving under very harsh social and economic conditions with this government cancelling $10K voucher for children for uniform and books that has been a rite of passage over the last several years.”

The APNU-AFC government “has done the same things that it criticized the PPP breaking its promise never to do them,” the statement added.

The Party is calling on the government to pursue policies that will benefit everyone and not hurt anyone. In addition, it urges the government to

Mark Benschop

reverse course on the salary and on its discriminatory policies and put the nation's interest above self and party interests.

T h e U P R contested the 2015 elections. It was established in the USA in March 1985 and was launched in Guyana in May 1986 and formally registered in April 26, 1988.

Also adding his voice is Political activist Mark Benschop who took to his facebook page to condemn the pay hike. A post noted, “Mr. President, this move is totally UNACCEPTABLE, and UNDEMOCRATIC. Please, do the right thing ASAP,”

DRAFT AUDIT REPORTS REVEAL CORRUPTION -SHARMA -Claims exaggerated - Ramotar

Finance Minister Jaipaul Sharma

Junior Finance Minister Jaipaul Sharma said based on the draft report of forensic audits being currently undertaken by the government at state agencies, corrupt practices have being discovered.

Speaking with GNN, the Minister revealed that so far, he has received most of the draft reports for the audits, with the exception of three.

Sharma said in most of the agencies, there was a lack of compliance with the rules and regulations.

This, he says is equal to corruption.

The junior Minister told this newspaper two weeks ago that the audits have so far revealed that there are non-compliance related issues and that “The large

Bharrat Jagdeo

entities will reveal some degree of discrepancies.”

Meanwhile, in an invited comment, former President Donald Ramotar said he is awaiting an official report on the audits conducted before he can make an official pronouncement. He however, stated that the level of corruption as claimed by the A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) g o v e r n m e n t i s exaggerated.

“The level of corruption is nothing that the PNC talked about, I still hold that view,” Ramotar noted.

The government has long accused the PPP/C administration of practicing corruption at all

levels while in office, however, the PPP/C has denied same. Since the coalition government assumed office in May 2015 it has come up with a number of initiatives and programmes that it claims “will root out corruption,” that was allegedly encouraged by the previous administration.

This is seen by the PPP/C as “Witch hunting,” since many of the claims cannot be justified.

Former junior Finance Minister, Juan Edghill had told this newspaper that he is not denying that corruption did not exist under the PPP/C administration; however, he made it clear that it was not condoned by the then government.

“Because like we would

Donald Ramotar

have said time and time again we will not deny that corruption exists, but it is not state sanctioned, state sponsored or it is not the modus operandi of the PPP/C, those audits that have come in would have proven that.”

Edghill said that the continuous corruption accusation against the PPP/C by the APNU+AFC government has proven to be a “mere illusion.” “It has been five months almost and this mad search for the corruption has not yet been discovered, there have been a few incidences of misbehavior on the part of individuals but there is no evidence to support that the former government has a policy practice corruption,” Edghill declared.

Bishop Juan Edghill

The APNU+AFC government shortly after it assumed office commenced a number of forensic audits at state agencies it believes are tainted by some form of corruption.

Finance Minister Wi n s t o n J o r d a n h a d submitted a list of about 30 state entities; funds and national projects to the Ministry of the Presidency which he believes warrant an immediate forensic audit, for which he got approval.

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo had said his party was not opposed to the audits, but had concerns with the two pro-APNU+AFC auditors who he said were “handpicked to conduct the audit.

Jagdeo said his party did not move to block the two individual from conducting the audits which he described as “illegal”, is because it does not want the Guyanese people to think it is attempting to prevent “evidence of corruption” from coming to light.

“We don't want people to think we have something to hide and that we are afraid of these audits and that is one of the reasons why we haven't moved to the Courts to stop this audit because we don't want people to think we are opposed to the audit,” he insisted.

Businesses urged to join M&CC Green Expo The Mayor and City Council is inviting more businesses to come onboard its “Green Conference and Expo” scheduled for October, 30 to November 01 at the Promenade Gardens and parade ground, Georgetown. The event is being hosted to promote the use of recyclable containers, the importance of trees to the environment and also to improve the image of the M&CC. Public Relations Officer at the M&CC; Debra Lewis says that the aim of the event is to

have the public understand and buy-in to the promotion of a “green economy”.

T h e P R O explained that “the whole thrust of this exercise is to change the mindset of people as it relates to becoming Green conscious, depositing your waste in the correct way, the importance of energy conservation, recycle waste materials, preserving the environment, planting trees and the whole works”.

She highlighted that protecting the

environment will be beneficial to all while noting that the City Council's project is expected to be a role model to other towns and regional bodies.

“Making the environment green is beneficial to everyone.

We all will stand to benefit if we have cleaner air, if we have less pollution, if we have minimal noise nuisance, and so its for all to benefit” Lewis said.

The conference will see professional speakers that will give lectures on Energy

conservation, the Green E n v i r o n m e n t , maintaining an ecof r i e n d l y s o c i e t y, biodegradable materials among other topics.

The Exposition will include small, medium and large businesses displaying environmentally friendly alternatives to Styrofoam and other materials along with agriculture groups displaying methods of organic farming, etc.

There will also be an entertainment zone where songs, dances and dramatic pieces will be done.

GOVERNMENT VIOLATED -RAMOTAR OATH OF OFFICE -System didn't cater for coalition govt-Jordon

Finance Minister Winston Jordon

Former President Donald Ramotar says the A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance for Change ( A P N U + A F C ) government has violated the sacred oath they took pledging to govern without fear or favour, affection or ill will.' Ramotar, in a statement noted that the regime arrogantly gave itself huge increases in pay which are higher than what is paid to persons in similar positions in countries far richer than Guyana.

“They took the increase even after telling the Parliament during the recent budget debate that the treasury could not afford the $10,000 grant that was previously given to each child in school, that

it could not afford the subsidies paid to pensioners for water and e l e c t r i c i t y, ” R a m o t a r pointed out. The statement added that they even reneged on their own promise made in their own manifesto to set up a committee to look at salaries of ministers and constitutional office holders.

He said the criticism of the regime has been almost universal.

Some commentators who have been noted as their supporters have stated that the timing was bad. Even they found the move hard to defend/justify. He noted in light of this universal criticism, the regime decided to strike back.

Former President Donald Ramotar

In addition, Ramotar noted that one of the slogans of the APNU/AFC is 'the good life.' This slogan he said is being regularly used by the President himself. As expected, this is also followed up by his Ministers. “It is not a bad slogan and most likely many people believed in it.

Indeed, in a way, they were not lying about it. Many people thought they were talking about a good life for the Guyanese people.

This is not the case, the former President said.”

All the actions of the regime Ramotar said point in one direction - a good life for the regime and the APNU/AFC ranks who now occupy the

corridors of power in Guyana.

“They have even violated their own party's manifesto, which stated explicitly that they would set up a committee to review salaries for government ministers and constitutional post holders,” Ramotar added.

Meanwhile, Government has since come out in justification of the salary increases.

Finance Minister Winston Jordan told the media that the salary system inherited from the People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government did not cater for the composition of the new APNU+AFC coalition Government. He said the

system needed to be upgraded to cater for new port folios such as the four Vice Presidents.

He explained that the coalition government inherited a system where the President was receiving a salary of about $2 million non-taxable, the Prime Minister a salary of about $1.5 million, the Attorney General (AG), Chancellor and the Chief Justice a salary of some $1.6 million monthly. It is clear that there are huge anomalies there. The President, Prime Minister and AG are receiving massive salaries and seniors and juniors are at the same level.

He explained that for junior Ministers, the $579,000 was increased by 12 ½ per cent, while for senior Ministers it was increased by 50 per cent.

As for the Vice Presidents, he said, they received a 60 per cent increase on the $579,000.

Jordan said the $1.6 million salary for the Attorney General was increased by five per cent, while the Prime Minister's salary was increased by 10.7 per cent. President David Granger will also

benefit from the increase, as his salary will be increased by five per cent.

The coalition government has since come in for harsh criticisms in some quarters over the pay hike. Several o r g a n i s a t i o n s , Tr a d e Unions, political parties and civil society groups have all added their voices against the move taken by the government. Some Public servants believe that it is an “insult” to them by the government given the fact that they only received $5,000 increase in this year's Budget, when the coalition had promised a 20% increase.

To t h i s , t h e Finance Minister reminded that the minimum basic salary of each public servant was bumped up to $50,000, which translates to a 26.4 per cent increase for those who earned the old minimum wage of $39,540 and 17.1 per cent for more than 4000 public servants earning the current minimum wage of $42,703.

He said that this was complemented by the fact that all other public servants receive an additional $5000 monthly.

North Sophia gets water after three decades Residents of North Sophia will now have access to potable water via stand pipes recently installed by the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI).

A press release from GWI stated that in excess of 10 stand-pipes will be installed in North Sophia, an area of the community in which residents were forced to traverse long distances to obtain water for domestic purposes.

Chief Executive, D r. Va n We s t - C h a r l e s inspected the works being executed by GWI's O p e r a t i o n s Te a m , Georgetown on Thursday

and spoke with residents.

“This is the medium term plan; to at least provide the Sophia community with easily accessible standpipes…we envision that every resident of Sophia will have access to their own water service connection in the future.

Our priority is to provide service immediately and bring relief to residents who have been without water for more than 30 years, which is entirely unacceptable,” Van West-Charles said.

The residents commended GWI for providing relief via the

recently installed standpipes.

T h e y a l s o expressed their relief that the standpipes were installed directly in front of their homes for easy access.

The residents also indicated that the new service would alleviate the physical and financial burden of buying water or travelling long distances to obtain a few buckets of water.

He assured that the project is temporary and that GWI will be exploring the installation of individual water service connections to homes within Sophia.

UMANA YANA TO BE COMPLETED

BY APRIL 2016

Mervyn Williams

Wi t h s c h e d u l e d w o r k presently on target, the historical Umana Yana which was completely destroyed by fire late last year is expected to be fully rebuilt by April 2016, coinciding with Guyana's 50th Anniversary celebrations. In an interview with GNN yesterday, Ministerial advisor on Indigenous Peoples' Affairs, Mervyn Williams, explained that

the foundation for the building will be an operation which will be executed by the Public Infrastructure Ministry.

This aspect of the project also caters for the floor design.

Wo r k i n t h i s regard is expected to commence soon, with a given deadline of December, which the Infrastructure Ministry has committed to. As it

relates to the actual rebuilding of the structure, he disclosed that the Wai Wai brothers and sisters from Maschineries will be responsible for this task.

The team will be led by l o c a l To s h a o , P a u l Chikema.

The design will follow a similar fashion of that which stood before it, but with an increase in space between the floor and roof. This, according to Williams, is to allow the freer passage of Atlantic air which sweeps in from the seawall sitting just nearby. The floor too, will be elevated higher than the previous one. The materials needed for the building will be sourced from Maschinerie – a village in Deep South Rupununi – since it is the only place those materials are known to be available.

Additional materials will be obtained from St Cuthbert's in Region four Mission and Moraikobai in Region five.

In addition to the structure being larger than the previous one, the Indigenous Affairs Ministry is also attempting to source expertise from the Public Infrastructure Ministry to explore the option of

using only renewable energy for all electrical requirements. “In the pipeline is the option of using renewable energy, exclusively. This is in keeping with the energy agenda of the Indigenous Peoples' Affairs Ministry which we committed to by utilizing the sun and water for our sources of energy.

If this is successful, the Umana Yana will be a city example of our intention across Guyana to source renewable energy” the Ministerial advisor said.

According to him, this project is a major undertaking, given that the building represents the historical, current, and projected cultural

contributions of the Indigenous people of this country.

“It is the wish of the President, the Minister of Indigenous Peoples' Affairs and his team that we have this Benab reconstructed, and that is what we are working towards” he added. Presently, he noted that all works have operationalized as was scheduled, and given that the weather pattern remains constant, the structure will be completed erected by April.

The expertise too, required for the actual construction, the supplies and the financial

arrangements, are available to the Ministry which puts them at an advantage of having the Umana Yana built within its given timeframe.

The Umana Yana was a conical palm thatched hut (benab) erected for the NonAligned Foreign Ministers Conference in Guyana in August 1972, as a VIP Lounge and recreation centre.

On September 9, 2014, the historical structure was completely gutted by a fire which was described as having been electrical in nature. The rebuilding of the new structure is pegged at over $60M.

The Umana Yana before it was destroyed by fire

Safe mining must be condition for Duty Free Concessions The granting of duty free concessions must now come with an attached condition, which is that miners must practice safe and sustainable mining.

This was told to the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission's (GGMC) Board of Directors on Thursday by Minister of Governance, with responsibility for the Natural Resources and the Environment, Raphael Trotman.

“You've got to show that you are paying your taxes; that you haven't left lands with gaping holes and you're practicing

safe mining. At the end of the day to qualify, you've got to show you are mining in a sustainable and environmentally friendly way,” Minister Trotman outlined.

He added that the Government was examining the possibility of the re-establishment of a Mining Court, which will deal strictly with mining related matters so as to minimise the time spent on such matters in the Civil Court.

He urged that GGMC to take stricter measures to ensure that the

- Minister Trotman laws are enforced and upheld to make the mining sector stable, safe and secure by holding miners accountable for their 'lawless' practices. “ T h e responsibility for the environment is not solely that of the State. It is the responsibility of those who own and operate mining concessions to ensure that after they would have ceased operations they do not leave these huge abscesses on our landscape, but that the land is reclaimed by

nature,” he said.

The minister acknowledged the need for improved infrastructure and the Government's role in providing these.

Chairman of the GGMC Board of Directors, Clinton Williams assured Minister Trotman that the mandate given by President David Granger will be fulfilled, even as he pledged the Agency's commitment to ensuring that it operates in a fair, balanced and unbiased manner.

Minister Trotman

ENTERTAINMENT

MILEY CYRUS & FLAMING LIPS PLANNING NAKED CONCERT Miley Cyrus and the Flaming Lips are hitting the road next month and -- according to an Instagram post by Lips' frontman Wayne Coyne -- they're planning one show with the performers and audience appearing completely in the nude.

T h e t o u r supports the two parties'

recent collaboration, Miley Cyrus and Her Dead Petz, starting in Chicago on November 19 and ending December 6 in Boston.

Clyne didn't mention with show, if any of these, would be the naked one but he did give a few other details.

According to his post on Thursday,

Cyrus is planning a show where the she, the Flaming Lips and the audience are all completely naked and where "white stuff that looks like milk" will be "spewed" everywhere.

The concept is for a video, he continued, for the song "Milky Milky Milk." (CNN)

WHY SPECTRE WILL LIKELY BE A HUGE HIT Easily one of the most anticipated films of the last quarter of 2015, many already expected James Bond's latest adventure, Spectre, to be a rather sizeable hit. Less than a month from release, that's still the case, but new estimates are predicting that it could become huge, starting with a potentially massive opening weekend.

According to The Wrap, industry folks who are well versed in this sort of prophecy are saying that Spectre could rule the box office with an $80 millionplus debut in just a few weeks. As the trade points out, this early tracking number, "intended more as a marketing guage than a

box office forecast," is worth taking notice of because the final advertising deluge hasn't really started yet. We''re definitely on the downhill slope, and though we saw the final trailer, and a few TV spots have shown up, it's not everywhere just yet, but that will likely come in rather short order.

If this prediction does indeed pan out, this would put the 24th Bond film in the same general area as the last one, 2012's Skyfall, which earned $88 million its first weekend.

That's not bad company to be in, as Skyfall eventually went on to earn north of $1.1 billion at the worldwide box office. It

also earned a total of five A c a d e m y Aw a r d nominations, walking away with two statues at the end of the night—one for best original song, and the other for best sound editing. Part of the projected big opening for Spectre will be based on fans who loved the last film, but it will be interesting to see if is has the same legs and staying power.

Starring Daniel Craig as the iconic international man of mystery, and with Skyfall director S am M endes behind the camera once again, Spectre opens in the U.K. on October 26 and hit U.S. shores on November 6. (Yahoo)

AMITABH BACHCHAN AND HRITHIK ROSHAN IN DHOOM 4?

Vijay Krishna Acharya a.k.a. Victor is all set to strike back with the fourth installment of the Dhoom franchise. This time, the cast gets even spicier.

A p p a r e n t l y, H r i t h i k Roshan will play the main antagonist again, as he had done in Dhoom 2, while Amitabh Bachchan joins the franchise for the first time.

I n t e r e s t i n g l y, Junior Bachchan

Abhishek, is already an integral part of the Dhoom franchise.

Whether Big B will have occasions for face-offs in the plot with his son, is not known at the moment.

Says a reliable source, "At the moment, it is not very clear where Victor is going with this.

All that is confirmed is that Aditya Chopra and Victor have approached and signed Bachchan Saab and Hrithik

Roshan.”

A m i t a b h Bachchan and Hrithik Roshan have earlier been together in Farhan Akhtar's Lakshya, though they did not have many scenes together. It is being said that this time around, much of the dramatic conflict in Dhoom 4 will centre on the two actors.

(Bollywood Hungama)

AMAZING WORLD

New hope for Alzheimer's cure?

Paris (AFP) - Traces of fungus have been discovered in the brains of Alzheimer's sufferers, researchers said Thursday, relaunching the question: might the disease be

caused by an infectious microbe? There is no conclusive evidence, but if the answer turns out to be "yes", it means Alzheimer's Disease (AD) may be targeted

with antifungal treatment, a Spanish team reported in the journal Scientific Reports.

"The possibility that AD is a fungal disease, or that fungal infection is a risk factor for the disease, opens new perspectives for effective therapy for these patients," they wrote. The five-member team had found cells and other material from "several fungal species" in the brain tissue and blood vessels of all 11 deceased Alzheimer's patients analysed, but not in ten Alzheimer's-free controls.

The findings are published just a month after scientists warned in the sister journal

Nature of a risk of accidental surgical transmission of Alzheimer's "seeds" from one person to another.

Alzheimer's Disease is the most common form of dementia, which the World Health Organisation (WHO) says affects nearly 50 million people worldwide -- some 7.7 million new cases per year.

Old age is the major risk factor, and there is no therapy to stop or reverse Alzheimer's symptoms, which include memory loss and disorientation, as well as anxiety and aggressive behaviour. Some researchers have suggested AD may be an infectious disease or, at least,

that infection with certain microbes may boost Alzheimer's risk.

The main suspect in AD to date has been brain "plaques" caused by a buildup of sticky proteins, but trials with drugs targeting these have yielded disappointing results. The new study adds another possible cause to the list of hypotheses. Traces of several fungal species were found, said the team, which "might explain the diversity observed in the evolution and severity of clinical symptoms in each AD patient."

A fungal cause would fit well with the

characteristics of AD, the researchers added, including the slow progression of the disease and inflammation, which is an immune response to infectious agents such as fungi. The researchers did point out, however, that fungal infection may be the result, not the cause, of AD. Alzheimer's sufferers may have a weaker immune response, or changes in diet or hygiene, that could leave them more exposed. "It is evident that clinical trials will be necessary to establish a causal effect of fungal infection of AD," wrote the team.(Adapted from Yahoo)

Man Breaks Into Church, Puts on Priest's Robes and Commits Lewd Act at Altar Police are searching for a man who broke into a Massachusetts church, donned the priest's robes and committed a lewd act at the altar. Surveillance footage released by Cambridge police shows the identified man inside St. Sava Serbian Church after he entered through an

unlocked door around 3:15 a.m. on September 29.

Police say he put on priest's clothing and then walked around the empty church for about 45 minutes before stripping down and performing "a lewd, sexual act on the altar of the church." The incident was discovered

when the church's priest, Alexander Vlajkovic, reviewed surveillance video. Church members say the man also left behind a mess of soda and wine.

"There's a strong sense of violation throughout the c o m m u n i t y, " C h u r c h

Board President Alexander Pogorzelski told Fox25. "We had to perform a consecration before we could perform another liturgy because of the desecration." The church is now keeping its doors locked between services.

(Yahoo News)

Young man kidnapped as a child reunited with parents 20 years later

Sun Wei was just 4-years-old when in 1995 he was kidnapped as he walked home from kindergarten in L i a n g s h a n Yi , S i c h u a n Province. He was given sweets by a stranger and led

into a van. His father Sun Zhenghua, who was 25 at the time, reported the abduction to police.

But as he and his wife didn't have a single picture of their son to issue, it

made it almost impossible for the incident to be processed.

In the meantime, Sun Wei was taken to the city of Jieyang, in Guangdong Province, and sold to a couple who already had a seven-year-old daughter.

Sun Wei recalled: “I was taken to a family and given a new name, Xiaochuan, and my birthday was changed to November 6, 1993.”When I first arrived at my foster parents, I couldn't understand a word of the local dialect,” he added. Sun Wei said he was always acutely aware that he had been kidnapped.

“ A l l t h e neighbours knew. My foster parents never mentioned it, but they never knew that I knew the truth,” he said. Back home, his worried biological father decided to leave his wife Peng Lianhui in charge of family affairs and set off on a journey across the country.

He began working odd jobs in dozens of provinces, hoping to find Sun Wei in one of them. But he was unsuccessful.

“I stayed in one city for about one month – no more than two – before moving on to the next,” he said. “But police and rescue

shelters all refused to help me because I didn't have a picture of my boy – they thought I was lying,” he added.

Zhenghua returned home and had two more children with his wife. But the couple never gave up hope of one day seeing their boy again, and registered their DNA with Chinese missing persons authorities.

In the end, however, it took a step from Sun Wei himself to set things in motion. Having quit school at 14-years-old to work in Shenzhen, Sun Wei was finally persuaded by his friends to register his DNA in

the same missing persons database. Authorities quickly found a match to a similar claim filed by Sun Wei's parents, and the long-lost relatives were brought together once more in a tearful reunion.

Sun Wei said of his decision to finally inform authorities: “Although I always knew I was 'taken', I just did not have it in me to do it at the time.” “As for how my life will be from now on, it's very difficult to say. I haven't made any decisions yet – many things aren't as simple as they seem,” he added. (Yahoo News)

Indian ruling party official urges Muslims to give up eating beef The head of an Indian state belonging to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ruling party has urged the country's minority Muslims to stop eating beef out of respect for the sentiments of Hindus, a call that could further inflame social divisions.

The comments by Manohar Lal Khattar, Chief Minister of the northern state of Haryana, come after a Hindu mob lynched a Muslim man over rumors he ate beef,

fueling a fierce debate over rising intolerance towards religious minorities in India.

Cows are considered holy by many, but not all, Hindus, who form a majority of India's population of 1.2 billion. Beef is eaten by Muslims and Christians, as well as many lower-caste Hindus.

Although Modi's Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party and its allies have long campaigned for a

ban on cow slaughter, India has emerged as the world's largest exporter of beef. The trade is mostly run by Muslims. "In this country, they (Muslims) will have to give up eating beef," Khattar told the Indian Express newspaper in an interview.

"They can be Muslim even after they stop eating beef, can't they? It is written nowhere that Muslims have to eat beef, nor is it written anywhere in

Christianity that they have to eat beef." Khattar said the killing in Dadri, in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, just 76 km (47 miles) distant from the capital, New Delhi, was wrong, but attributed it to a "misunderstanding" caused by "loose" comments about cows.

The lynching drew widespread condemnation.

More than 20 writers have returned awards in the past two weeks, saying India's

secular fabric was under attack from Modi's hardline Hindu nationalist supporters.

Modi called the lynching "sad" and "unwelcome" in his first response this week, after weeks of silence. But critics say his decision to remain silent about several incidents deemed anti-Muslim has only emboldened his hardline supporters.

P o l i t i c a l opponents have accused Modi's party of looking to create religious tension ahead

of a crucial electoral test this month in the northern state of Bihar. Tougher measures to safeguard cows are often used as a rallying call by politicians seeking to win Hindu votes, sometimes leading to Hindu-Muslim riots. Modi's government has clamped down on the illegal trade of cattle with Muslimmajority neighbor Bangladesh, and two states ruled by his party have tightened laws to protect cows. (Yahoo/Reuters)

Regional

Regional

Exiled Venezuelan opposition leader arrested

Manuel Rosales

A Venezuelan opposition l e a d e r, F o r m e r G o v.

Manuel Rosales, who had been living in self-

imposed exile was arrested Thursday after returning to the socialist South American country. He flew

into Venezuela after six years as a fugitive from corruption charges.

Intelligence police met

him at the airport and took him into custody. He was expected to appear in a Caracas court later in the day.

Before his arrest, Rosales vowed to continue fighting the country's 16-year-old socialist administration and urged Venezuelans to vote in Dec. 6 legislative elections. Authorities warned him days earlier that he would be detained if he came back. Rosales, 63, was governor of the western state of Zulia, where he returned Thursday. He ran for president in 2006 and lost to Hugo Chavez.

He fled the country in 2009, going to Peru and then Panama

after prosecutors accused him of stealing public money. He has said the charges are false and politically motivated.

Polls say the opposition is on track to win the Dec. 6 elections, potentially dealing the first decisive ballot box defeat to the socialist party in 16 years.

Supporters and other opposition leaders rallied near the airport Thursday. Venezuela's main opposition groups immediately began denouncing Rosales' arrest as arbitrary and called it further evidence of a broken justice system.

Last month, Venezuelan opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez was sentenced to more than 10

years in prison for his role in leading antigovernment protests in 2014. Human rights groups say Lopez is just one of dozens of political prisoners the government has detained for speaking out.

Rosales' wife, Evelyn Trejo de Rosales, is mayor of Maracaibo, the largest city in Zulia.

She told a crowd of supporters that the best way they could show their solidarity would be to vote in December.

"Today Manuel sacrificed his freedom for you, and it was not in vain," she said. "We will set him free again." (Yahoo news)

Staff want security firm Call the elections! out following rape of Nurse

Staff at the St James Medical Infirmary yesterday demanded that the security company whose security guard was arrested for raping a nurse during the early morning hours on Wednesday, be removed and replaced with a new firm to guard the facility located on Western Main Road, St James.

President of the T r i n i d a d a n d To b a g o Registered Nurses Association (TTRNA) Gwendolyn Loobie-Snaggs s a i d t h a t We d n e s d a y ' s incident has resulted in a most untenable situation at the institution. “It has left everybody working at that institution shaken and they are demanding a change in the security firm,” LoobieSnaggs said. She indicated, that as far as she was aware, it was the first time that staff of that institution had been violated on the premises but it is not new to nursing.

“We have seen this a l r e a d y. I r e m e m b e r i t

occurring at the Portof- Spain General Hospital some years ago and there have also been reported incidents of attempted sexual assault on nursing and other female personnel within the health institution.” She said apart from the removal of the security firm, staff members have also asked for CCTV cameras to be installed at the hospital.

Earlier in the week, a security guard from a wellknown local security firm was arrested in connection with the rape of a nurse who police said was attacked while on duty at her workplace during the early morning hours. According to Police sources the guard covered the woman's mouth, threatened her with violence if she raised an alarm and dragged her off to a deserted area where he raped her and left after the assault.

In a statement to the media yesterday, the Ministry of Health said Health Minister Terrence

Deyalsingh is aware of the “unfortunate” incident. The statement noted that Deyalsingh has spoken with staff to express his deep concern and offered his personal support.

Deyalsingh has spoken with President of the Public Service Association (PSA) Watson Duke, on the matter and will meet with Duke early next week.

Duke yesterday demanded that Government hire MTS guards — who are detailed to guard the nation's schools — to replace the private security firm and provide guard duties at the c e n t r e .

Meanwhile, the security guard who was arrested is expected to appear before a Port-of-Spain magistrate on M o n d a y. T h e m a n w a s yesterday placed on an identification parade and later charged for rape.

(Adapted from Trinidad Newsday)

Richard Byles

Co-chair of the Economic Programme Oversight Committee (EPOC) in Jamaica, Richard Byles, says if the Government intends to call a general election, then it should do so and take the country out of its current state of limbo.

"If it is coming, then it should just happen and be done with. The last thing Jamaica needs at this point is a stop-and-start process, first yes, and then no, prolonging the period of political uncertainty," Byles noted.

Public speculation about whether the ruling People's National Party (PNP) will call the elections this year has intensified, particularly in the days leading up to the party's 77th annual conference last month. However, despite

declaring weeks before the conference that she was ready, Portia Simpson Miller, the PNP President and Prime Minister, left salivating supporters inside the National Arena hanging.

U n d e r t h e Jamaican Constitution, only the Prime Minister can decide the date of an election. Notwithstanding the current political fervor, Simpson Miller still has another year-and-a-half during which she can call the election, which is constitutionally due between December 29, 2016 and April 16, 2017.

In the meantime, with a spate of candidate run-offs across the country on both sides of the political divide, senior officers of

both the PNP and the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party have been shoring up support and gathering the troops as the country goes deeper into election mode.

Since Tuesday, the PNP has been hunkered down at a retreat at the RIU hotel in Ocho Rios, St Ann, going over its campaign strategy. The party has already completed the selection of its 63 candidates. Director of Elections Orrette Fisher has said that by the end of September the Electoral Office of Jamaica (EOJ) would be in a position to successfully run an election, if the Prime Minister decides to call one. (Adapted from the Jamaican Observer)

INTERNATIONAL

TWO MORE YOUNG GIRLS, 5 & 2, REPORTEDLY RAPED IN DELHI

Two young children are reported to have been raped in the Indian capital of Delhi, drawing strong criticism from the city's

Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal, who accused the government and police of not doing enough to protect minors in the city.

The latest attacks come after a four-year-old girl was allegedly raped in Delhi last week.

Police say one of the victims in the two separate attacks, a twoand-a-half year old girl, was abducted in west Delhi on Friday night by two men. She was sexually assaulted before being dumped in a park near her home. According to police reports, she was bleeding profusely when she was found. Tests showed she had been raped at least once.

In a separate incident, a five-year-old girl was gang-raped by

three men in the east of the city. Police say she was lured to a neighbour's house where she was repeatedly raped. Both g i r l s a r e u n d e rg o i n g medical treatment but are believed to be out of danger, police said. The incidents come one week after a four-year-old girl was allegedly raped before being abandoned by a railway track in the capital.

The girl, who was found near her home in a poor neighbourhood in the north of the city, had been slashed with a sharp object and had severe internal injuries. Police

have arrested a 25-yearold man in connection with the attack. The gang rape and murder of a student in 2012 in Delhi led to protests and new anti-rape laws in the country. The latest attacks have caused outrage in the Indian capital, with many people taking to social media to express their disgust at the crimes.

Two years ago, India tightened its laws on sexual violence after the brutal gang-rape and murder of a student. Mr Kejriwal criticised Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and LieutenantGovernor Najeeb Jung for

failing to provide adequate safety and security in the city. The responsibility for the Delhi Police comes under the national government's Home Ministry.

"Repeated rape of minors is shameful and worrying. Delhi police has completely failed to provide safety. What are PM and his LG doing?," Kejriwal said on Twitter.

The head of the Delhi Commission for Women, Swati Maliwal, tweeted "When will Delhi wakeup? Til when will girls continue to be brutalised in Indian capital?".

(Adapted from the BBC)

HUNGARY CLOSES BORDER AUSTRALIA MOVES WITH CROATIA TO STEM TO LEGALISE MEDICAL MIGRANT FLOW

MARIJUANA

Sussan Ley

Australia is making key moves to legalise the growing of cannabis for medicinal and scientific purposes, the government announced. Health Minister Sussan Ley said on Saturday that changes to existing legislation that bans the growing of marijuana will be introduced to Parliament, with the aim of providing alternate treatment for people with debilitating illnesses. " T h i s government is incredibly sympathetic to the suffering of those

Australians with debilitating illnesses and we want to enable access to the most effective medical treatments available," Ley said. But growing cannabis for recreational purposes will still be illegal in Australia.

Smoking marijuana is widespread in Australia, and police in most states do not charge people found with small amounts for personal use.

However, possessing or growing commercial quantities of cannabis is

illegal. Ley said medicinal marijuana growers will be licensed and distribution to patients will be controlled to ensure it is safe, legal and sustainable.

"Allowing the cultivation of legal medicinal cannabis crops in Australia under strict controls strikes the right balance between patient access, community protection and our i n t e r n a t i o n a l obligations," she said.

The move is supported by the opposition and is likely to pass through parliament.

Most Australian states are keen to embrace the controlled legal cultivation of medicinal cannabis and hope it might become a money-making export crop. Medicinal cannabis is mostly used as an oil rather than smoked.

(Al Jazeera)

Accused of a heavy-handed response to the thousands of migrants and refugees crossing over its borders in recent months, Hungary closed its border with Croatia at midnight Friday, saying the only legal entry into the country would now be restricted to official border crossings. No longer will waves of migrants be allowed to enter the country at any point along the border, as they have been in their quest to reach countries further in the European Union.

"The legal option, the legal possibility to come to Hungary and therefore to the European Union through the Schengen borders is open, but the green borders, the natural borders of the country, are sealed," spokesman Zoltan Kovacs said in announcing the closure. Schengen borders are the official crossings under Europe's Schengen Agreement, which eliminated border controls among many European Union countries.

Hungary's move comes as Europe struggles to fashion a coherent response to a historic wave of people fleeing conflict and destruction in the Middle East and North Africa -- primarily from Syria, where a civil war has raged for more than four years, claimed the lives of more than 200,000 people and left cities in ruins.

The closure of the Roszke border crossing between Hungary and Serbia last month caused thousands of asylum seekers to try to travel through Croatia instead.

"In order to be able to protect the Schengen borders and protect the Hungarian people, as well as Europe, we had to make that decision and (take) that step," Kovacs said. Last month, Hungarian riot police used tear gas and water cannons to turn people back at the border with Serbia. Hungary rushed to erect a razor-wire barrier to keep migrants out, and threatened anyone crossing the fence with jail time.

Hundreds of migrants had left the Croatian town of Tovarnik for the Hungarian border in September, according to the Croatian Interior Ministry.

The main border crossing station between Hungary and

Serbia later reopened.

Refugees from the Middle East made the final leg of their trip through Hungary on foot, walking the 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) to the Austrian border in the middle of the night, unsure of what was going to happen to them when they got there.

Europe is facing its largest refugee and migrant crisis since World War II. People fleeing the violence in Syria account for the largest portion of those arriving on European shores, but there are many others on the move from African nations and elsewhere.

At least 475,000 migrants have crossed by boat into Europe seeking safety and sustenance so far this year, according to the International Organization for Migration. More than 2,800 have drowned or disappeared during the perilous journey. (Adapted from Al Jazeera)

SP

RTS

Windies beaten by SL in three days A usual mesmerizing spell that yielded 10 wickets by Sri Lanka's Rangana Herath ensured that the West Indies lost the first Test with two days to spare.

Picking up his fifth 10wicket match haul in Tests as Sri Lanka wrapped up victory by an innings and six runs inside the second session of day four.

West Indies, who began the day two down for 67, lost eight wickets on the fourth day for the addition of 160 runs, and as in the first innings, a number of their batsmen failed to capitalise on starts. Their only consolation came from Jermaine Blackwood, who added a fleet-footed

92 to a string of eyecatching recent performances that have marked him out as a definite investment for the future.

Three of Herath's five ten-fors have now come in Galle. Perhaps no one has understood this surface as well as him.

E v e n M u t t i a h Muralitharan, who ended his career with a staggering 22 ten-fors, only achieved the feat four times here.

We s t I n d i e s facing a deficit of 166 with eight wickets in hand, perhaps may have given themselves hope by imagining a scenario

w h e r e t h e i r nightwatchman Devendra Bishoo hung around long enough to irritate the Sri Lankans while one or two of their specialist batsmen made hundreds. As early as the fifth over of the morning, Herath knocked those visions out of their heads.

First, he sent back Bishoo, who nicked an attempted square-cut to slip. In came Marlon Samuels, and out he went first ball, but not before calling for one of the most needless reviews in the history of the DRS. (Adapted from Espncricinfo)

Bad light saves Pakistan

With just 25 runs needed to win the first Test against Pakistan, England were forced to accept a draw despite their remarkable effort to go one up. Having declared at 598 for 8 in reply to Pakistan's first

innings total of 523 for 8 declared, a draw seemed a forgone conclusion.

However, seven wickets shared between Adil Rashid and Moeen Ali caused Pakistan to crash to 173 all out in their second

innings in just 57.5 overs.

Rashid took 5 for 64 and Ali 2 for 28.

With a lead of 75, England needed only 99 to take the first Test which is being played in Abu Dhabi. With a sure victory

in sight, bad light eventually had the final say ending the match with England 74 for 4 with Joe Root not out on 33.

Pakistan second innings could have been worse but a 66-runs partnership

between its Captain Misbah-ul-Haq (51) and Yo u n i s K h a n ( 4 5 ) , r e s t o r e d s o m e respectability.

England's reply of 598 was built on an epic 263 from its Captain,

Alistair Cook, who was named Man of the Match, and a solid 85 from Joe Root.

SP

RTS

WOLVES OUT TO DEFEND BANKS 7'S TITLE Following their epic howl last weekend when they took the Trophy stall sponsored 7's series, the University of Guyana Wolves will head into tomorrow's Banks DIH 7's series riding high on confidence.

The wolves completed a 17-12 demolition of the Guyana

Defence force team, hounding the military unit with some physical displays to cart off the top prize.

A pair of tries by winger Godfrey Broomes, coupled with a conversion by Lance Adonis and a try by Jamal Angus, were the main reasons for UG's triumph,

though much praise was heaped on the pack leader Rondell McArthur.

On the opposing end, Patrick King and Avery Corbin were the fighting force as their captain Dwayne Schroeder also chipped in with a conversion, but in the end, the military could not run with the wolves.

The wolves return to their Turkeyen home base this weekend from 11:00 to try for the double titles.

Meanwhile, at the launching of the Banks tournament on Friday, Banks Beer Brand manager Brian Choo Hen said, “We expect to see the fans of rugby there, it is free. Banks Beer remains

committed towards the development of rugby in Guyana.

He continued, “we have seen over the years that indeed rugby has developed our boys and they have gone places and brought home titles to our dear country Guyana.”

The tournament will involve the defending

champions UG Wolves, Police Sports Club (PSC), GDF, Pepsi Hornets and Yamaha Caribs.

The ladies side of the tournament will see over 35 ladies matching skills against another team made up of players from all the clubs and national rugby sides.

Saturday, October 17, 2015

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-SEE PAGE 13

Banks Beer Brand manager Brian Choo Hen (centre) hands over the Championship Trophy to GRFU president Peter Green following the tournament launch

WOLVES HUNTING FOR SECOND TITLE