GNN Online Newspaper - Oct 20, 2015

Tuesday, October 20, 2015

paper e-Mail

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

BABY KILLING...

MAN SURRENDERS; DENIES SHOOTING -PAGE 3

ATTEMPTED MURDER SUSPECT NABBED -PAGE 7

PRESIDENT TO ADDRESS PARLIAMENT ON THURSDAY -Financial Institutions (Amendment) Bill to be tabled The Financial I n s t i t u t i o n s (Amendment) Bill will be tabled in parliament on Thursday. The Bill, No. 10 of 2015, will be presented and read for the first time by Minister of Finance Winston Jordan.

T h e 1 7 t h Sitting of the First

Session (2015) of the Eleventh Parliament is to be held on Thursday will see an Address by President David A. Granger. He is expected to address the Parliamentarians on the c u r r e n t G u y a n a / Ve n e z u e l a border controversy.

The sitting,

which will be the first after the annual recess, will also see a motion from the Opposition challenging the recent decision to increase salaries of government officials and Members of parliament.

President David Granger

GRA TO BEEF UP ENFORCEMENT AND ANTI-SMUGGLING ACTIVITIES

Finance Minister Winston Jordon

The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) is working to seriously tackle the issue of smuggling.

F i n a n c e Minister Winston Jordan says GRA is currently in the process of strengthening its Law Enforcement and Investigative Division (LEID) and focusing on law enforcement, to ensure compliance with the laws.

He noted that he has been engaging the Commissioner and staff of the agency.

Jordan said “I particularly asked him to beef up enforcement and anti-smuggling

activities, because smuggling is still big business in this country.”

The Minister explained that an assessment of the Berbice Anti-Smuggling Squad (BASS) was done, and it was discovered that it was a duplication of the LEID, “so we have now moved to strengthen that LEID, both in terms of training and staff, and to have a major presence in that area.”

Speaking on gold smuggling, Minister Jordan related that over time, if one were to do an assessment or take a careful observation of this s e c t o r, t h e fi n d i n g s

GRA Commissioner General Kurshid Sattaur

would state the obvious.

“You don't have to be a wizard to know that if certain amounts of fuel are being used, somebody has to be a really rich person, to be continuously in gold, using all that fuel, and you still not be coming up with anything, you don't have to be genius to know, there are different ways in determining whether something is being smuggled or not.”

The Finance Minister is of the view that the GRA, together with the police force, the Guyana Gold Board and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) have to have an

inter ministry committee, that will deal definitely with the issue of smuggling.

The Minister is of the view significant emphasis needs to be placed on enforcing the relevant laws, as this is critical to the tax collection process, specifically in the area of self-employment.

“There are a number of selfemployed, particularly high profile selfemployed, who are paying some taxes to avoid the prying eyes of the Commissioner, or paying no taxes at all, we know two of those high

profile categories, and I have asked him to pay far more attention than he has done in the past.”

The minister said Meanwhile on the issue of forestry, the Minister explained that there is a significant loss of revenue, “because it seems as if we do not have the kind of inspectorate to determine whether operators in those sectors are actually

felling trees, in accordance with the agreement, and that they are paying their royalties.”

The Minister stated that the systems are porous, when it comes to getting fair rewards for the country for the diminution of its natural resource base, specifically in the gold and forestry areas.

(GINA)

SUSPECT IN BABY'S KILLING DENIES SHOOTING

Mark Angoy

Forty Five year old Marc Angoy of Buzz Bee Dam Craig East Bank Demerara, who was sought by Police in relation to the shooting to death 13 month-old Ariane Gill, turned himself over to the police early this morning.

A n g o y , accompanied by his Lawyer, walked into the Grove East Bank Demerara Police Station where he was immediately taken into custody. He was escorted to the Police 'C' Division where he was q u e s t i o n e d b y

investigators.

The man's surrender came less than one day after the police issued a wanted bulletin for him following the shooting of the baby at her grandmother's Eastville East Coast Demerara home.

The Guyana News Network learnt that the man who is accused of pointing a gun through a window and shooting indiscriminately, denied being at the house and shooting at the occupants including his former lover who had taken out a

restraining order against him.

Up to late this afternoon the police who were questioning the man and reportedly were unable to get any useful information from him even as the grandmother of the child confirmed to the police that he was the person who shot at them on Sunday where she was reportedly the intended target.

The woman had indicated to reporters and the police that the man and her shared a relationship but separated after he

b e g a n a b u s i n g h e r.

Following the shooting, information then surfaced that the man had reportedly threatened to kill the woman after she took out the restraining order against him.

It was also reported that Angoy had spent time in jail after being charged with the murder of a man in an interior location. He was however acquitted of that charge. He was a serving member of the Guyana Defence Force.

GOVT. WORKING TO HAVE OLD AGE PENSION INCREASED

Minister Volda Lawrence shares a moment with a senior citizen

The Social Protection Ministry, according to Minister Volda Lawrence, is working assiduously to have old age pension increased in an effort to provide a better life for senior citizens of Guyana.

The Minister made this disclosure on Sunday, while was addressing members of the Toucan Senior Citizens Club during the celebration of its 20th anniversary at Den Amstel, West Coast Demerara.

According to the M i n i s t e r, “ w e [Government] cherish and

value your contribution and wish to reassure you that we will not renege on our promise of a better life. I wish to reiterate that this Ministry will continue to work in close collaboration with you our senior citizens and the young population so that you can enjoy improved living conditions.”

Acknowledging that “things may seem to move slower that we intended,” she suggested that this was as a result of the present resources not being sufficient to provide

greater increases in pensions and other benefits.

She assured them however, that they remain “top priority” and Government remains committed to ensuring that “substantial increases are provided.”

Noting that Government recognises that the needs of senior citizens must be urgently addressed, she explained that provisions are being made for better housing, pension and health care to this vulnerable group. “I assure you, we will pay greater attention to curbing abuse of the elderly and violation of your rights, including squandering of your assets,” she said.

Underscoring the unstinting efforts of the members to mould and maintain the moral fabric of society and create strong families, Minister Lawrence congratulated the club on its achievement.

“Our families are severely challenged these days, and need to be given as much support and guidance as various influences seek to condition our minds, to value material things and place less emphasis on love and family values” she told the gathering.

In that regard, she commended the elderly for their efforts in strengthening family structures and for instilling values which are crucial to Guyana's sustainability as a nation. “I am sure there have been many hiccups over the years, but the fact that you are here today, 20 years strong, is a testimony of your fortitude and resilience” she added.

Additionally, the Minister urged the club members to continue engaging the younger generation on various issues, including the rich

culture and history of their Village, Den Amstel.

She stated that, “as senior citizens of this beloved land, you possess qualities that are capable of transforming lives; you are enriched in spirit, culture, love, experience and a wealth of lessons from which the youths of today can learn and so enhance their lives…my charge to you today is continue to share your expertise and experience with the young and old.”

T h e To u c a n Senior Citizens Club was introduced on 17th August

1 9 9 5 b y M r. F i t z r o y Marcus, who was then Chairman of the Blankenburg/Hague Neighbourhood Democratic Council.

Since then, its leadership has evolved to include numerous persons and over the years they have hosted several activities to keep seniors involved. Among the activities are regular cultural presentations, games, feeding programmes, fashion shows, dinners, outings and church services.

Minister Volda Lawrence speaking to the gathering

OVER 120 LINDENERS REGISTERED TO VOLUNTEER FOR 50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS

Volunteers registering

A resounding 120 persons from the mining town of Linden yesterday registered to volunteer their much needed services during Guyana's 50th 'Golden Jubilee' Anniversary celebrations

which will be held next year. This was revealed by the GUY50 - National Commemorative Commission (NCC), who were supported by the Vo l u n t e e r S u p p o r t Platform (VSP) for the

Volunteer Drive in Region 10.

T h i s a c t i v i t y, according to the body, is a build-up from the first drive which was held on October 10 at the Carifesta Sports Club. The drive saw

Guyanese registering to serve in a number of areas for next year's events.

Those categories include academia, ceremonial, commemorative, entertainment, infrastructure, youth, diaspora, and heritage and indigenous culture.

Since this drive, the Commemorative Commission said, there has been an influx of persons expressing their interest in volunteering for Guyana's Golden Jubilee celebrations in 2016. The leg in linden precedes another drive, which will be held on Thursday, October 22 in Region 6 at t h e Vr y m a n E r v e n Training Centre.

Registrations for this session are expected to commence at 10:00am.

P e r s o n s interested in volunteering can register for the

following categories academia, ceremonial, commemorative, entertainment, infrastructure, youth, diaspora, and heritage and indigenous culture.

The volunteer drive is a continuous one, as such citizens can uplift and submit forms at the Ministry of Education, Department of Culture, youth and Sport on Main Street. Forms can also be downloaded from the Ministry's website – w w w. m c y s . g o v. g y .

A d d i t i o n a l l y, t h e Vo l u n t e e r S u p p o r t Platform (VSP) can be contacted on 227-7575 for more information on the registration process.

Recently it was announced that Cabinet has afforded the National Task Force some $36M for the rehabilitation, restoration and renewal of

Guyana in preparation for the 50th anniversary celebrations in May 2016.

This approval was sought through a memorandum that was submitted to Cabinet by Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson.

Under the aegis of the Ministry of Education, a National Commemoration Commission has been established for the planning of national events, primarily the 50th anniversary celebrations.

The Commission was slated to publicise its full mandate and the activities planned for the country's 50th anniversary, come mid-August. However, this is yet to be revealed.

GUYANA AND SURINAME TO IMPROVE COLLABORATIONS The improvement of the National Assemblies of Guyana and Suriname was discussed during meetings hosted between the Speakers of the two countries.

S p e a k e r, D r.

Bartlond Scotland, along with a delegation of Members of Parliament and the Clerk and staff of the National Assembly, paid a four-day visit to the Speaker and the National Assembly of the Republic of Suriname aimed at consolidating and cementing relations between the two Assemblies.

During this visit where a number of meetings were held, views were exchanged for the improvement of the workings of the National Assemblies of the two countries. Visits were also made to several areas of interest,

including the coastal preservation initiative at Weg naar Zee (a resort in Suriname, located in the Paramaribo District) and the refinery operations of the State Oil Company, Staatsolie at Tout Lie Fout.

Guyana and Suriname have also discussed the issue of piracy at sea with avenues being discussed among Members of Parliament. It was noted that the issue of piracy was common to both countries with reference made to the prevalence of piracy in the Corentyne River. The meeting saw the suggestion that the two countries' law enforcement agencies collaborate on patrolling targeted areas and engage in dialogue at the national level.

PPP/C motion on salary increases represents Society views - Teixeira

Unlikely to succeed –

Gail Teixeira

The People's Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) is expected to table a motion in Parliament on Thursday to annul the recent salary increases granted by Government.

D u r i n g a telephone interview with

GNN, Former speaker of the National Assembly Ralph Ramkarran noted that the motion is unlikely to succeed given that the Opposition is a minority in Parliament.

“They can put a motion to annul the

Ramkarran

Ralph Ramkarran

increases but they're in the Opposition, it is unlikely to succeed. It will be a valid motion though”, Ramkarran said. He added that the motion provides a platform for the Opposition to express their concerns.

“I don't think there is anything more they can do as the government is the executive authority and can increase salaries but the motion is giving them an opportunity, it is by way of the motion they

will be getting an opportunity to voice their concerns and objections in the National Assembly” the former Speaker said.

GNN also spoke to Opposition Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira, who noted that the motion will be submitted ahead of the Thursday sitting of the National Assembly and the Speaker will decide if it should go forward.

She added that the motion supports the view of many sections of society who came out over the past weeks to publicly express their dissatisfaction with the salary increases.

Teixeira said “It is a signal to the government that this is what they have done is totally unconscionable, it is unacceptable as said by the public as well.

Whether they defeat it or not, is their decision of

whether they want to politically damage themselves… As elected representatives, we are there as representatives, we are there to represent all people and not only members or supporters of the PPP.” The Chief whip says “as far as we know, the motion is in order” expressing hope that the government sees reason.

However, if the motion is defeated and the order to increase salary becomes law, each Opposition Parliamentarian will have to write to the Clerk of the National Assembly indicating that they are not accepting the salary increases.

The order to increase salaries has to undergo several stages required by the Parliament before it is made into law explained Teixeira.

Commission hands in report on GuySuCo The Ministry of Agriculture yesterday received the fi n d i n g s a n d recommendations of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) Commission of Inquiry (COI). Commission Chairman Vibert Parvatan handed over the report to Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Mr. George Jervis.

The COI members over the past three months g u i d e d b y Te r m s o f Reference deliberated on the future of the Sugar i n d u s t r y, t h r o u g h t h e development of a 15-year plan which is expected to bring the industry back to profitability.

M r. P a r v a t a n noted that in going forward, the recommendations by the eleven-member Commission will ensure long-term environmental

a n d e c o n o m i c sustainability. “ W e (Commission) are pleased to have completed the study which took into account critical issues and major constraints affecting the industry….the COI team remains thankful to the many organizations and people who assisted the work of the Commission,” Mr. Parvatan said.

Among the works carried out by the Commission over the past 3-months included, investigation of the current state of cane cultivation, factory operations, production and marketing of sugar, molasses and other by-products.

Emphasis was also placed on human resource capabilities,

research and development, diversification of the i n d u s t r y, c o m m u n i t y obligations, weather events, marketing, finance, procurement, factory performance and management.

Permanent Secretary, Mr. George Jervis lauded the effort of the Commission, describing the members as competent in pronouncing on the future of the sugar industry.

The Members of the Commission of Inquiry were: Mr. Vibert Parvatan (Chairman), Prof. Clive Thomas (Financial and Economic Analysis), Dr. Harold Davis and Mr. John Piggot (Agronomists), Mr. John Dow and Mr. Joseph Alfred (Factory Operations), Mr. George

Vibert Parvatan

James (Sugar Processing), Mr. Nowrang Persaud (Industrial Relations), Mr. C l a u d e H o u s t y (Marketing), Mr. Seepaul

N a r i n e , G AW U Representative and Mr. Omadatt Chandan who served as the Commission's Secretary.

Minister of Agriculture, Noel Holder will present the report to Cabinet for further deliberations. (Adapted from GINA)

More drunk drivers charged The Police have charged five more persons for driving under the influence of alcohol. Three of those nabbed are from Essequibo, one from Berbice and one from East Coast Demerara.

All pleaded guilty and were fined $7500.00 each.

Rofurce Spencer

Shameer Sharma

Nandkumar Gehrow

Satya Persaud

Mohamed Ghanie

Security Officer at CJIA fired -for stealing passenger's money A security officer was fired on Monday and handed over to the police for stealing US currency from a passenger at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).

The female Aviation Security agent was attached to a private company which was contracted by an airline.

“The female officer was processing the passenger at

Gate 1 around 17:21 h last Friday, October 16, 2015 when she swiped the cash out of the passenger's wallet, and placed it in one of her gloves” the statement said.

Staff in the vicinity was alerted when the victim realized the money was missing and the cash was found and returned to the passenger.

An internal

investigation was launched into the incident after it was reported to CJIA's management by a relative of the passenger on, October 18. The airport's security footage corroborates the sequence of events.

Efforts ongoing to ensure buses and river taxis co-exist The 56 minibus operators request that the Public Infrastructure Ministry put certain measure in place to allow for both the river taxi operators and minibus drivers to make a living.

This suggestion was made during a meeting with Route 56 minibus drivers and Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Annette Ferguson, who says the proposal was submitted for review and consideration.

“They (the Association) suggested that government should seek to have a schedule of the

river taxis made available, so they can go back to working between the hours of 9:00am to 2:30pm, then commence working from 5:00pm …that's the kind of arrangement they had whilst the pontoon was being operated,” Minister Ferguson explained.

When the pontoon was providing ferrying services, minibus operators worked around its schedule.

Now that the water taxis are providing services to and from Blairmont, Rosignol and New Amsterdam, the

drivers are complaining about a loss of revenue, because more passengers are opting to use the quicker and more affordable river taxis.

The association pointed out that for years, minibus operators, plying the Georgetown to Patentia or Parika routes, have coexisted with the operations of the Georgetown to Vreed-enHoop ferry services and this type of arrangement will see both types of services being able to have a fair share of what commuters.

Out of luck, alleged attacker

nabbed after 2 years A former member of the Guyana Police Force who was wanted for questioning in relation to attempted murders is now in custody after he successfully evaded the police for more than two years. On Tuesday the man, Shawn Fordyce, was arrested while walking along a city street.

The Director of Public Prosecution had recommended he be charged in his absence with three counts of murder which were committed on his

daughter, wife and two step daughters in 2013.

Reportedly Fordyce went berserk on in April, 2013 inflecting chop wounds about the bodies of three females. It appeared the chops were all aimed for their necks.

After the attack he fled the Lot 132 'D' Field Sophia, East Coast Demerara home after he thought that the women were injured enough and that they would have eventually succumbed.

The three during the attack raised an alarm

that resulted in persons running to their aid. After they were hospitalized and the police issued a wanted bulletin for the man, he disguised himself and attempted to make his way i n t o t h e G e o rg e t o w n Public Hospital. However, he was spotted by a security guard who raised an alarm. He was at the time attempting to make his way to be at the side of the women who he attempted to murder.

Contacted today Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum confirmed that

the former police man has been arrested and is in their custody assisting with their investigations.

Fordyce was escorted to the police C Division where up to press time he was being questioned extensively in relation to the incident in 2013 for which he was sought.

The Guyana News Network could not confirm if the man admitted the deed or if he provided any information as to what may have led to the incident.

Shawn Fordyce

Export earnings from rice and timber increased The Ministry of Finance Mid-Year Report shows that total exports increased to US$536.1 million in the first half of 2015 while merchandise import fell by 8.8 percent to US$772.8 million.

According to the report, there were significant increases in export earnings of rice.

The report stated that there was a growth of 31.4 percent which accounts for US$125.7 million more than the first half of 2014. This was “largely reflecting rice shipment to the Venezuelan market”

where most of Guyana's rice was being sold.

Timber exports expanded by 10.4 percent, reaching US$23.5 million. This was driven by an increase in the export of processed timber from jungle stock.

Other exports earned US$115.0 million, an increase of 28.2 percent, as a result of increased export values for fish and shrimps, wood products, re-exports, diamonds, pharmaceuticals, molasses and “others.”

However, on the other hand, export earnings for

sugar, bauxite and gold declined.

As a result of a fall in sugar prices, sugar exports saw a reduction of 11.8 percent compared with the same period in 2014. Export earnings for this commodity totalled US$30.4 million in the first half of 2015.

Export earnings from bauxite totalled US$53.3 million in the first half of 2015, a decline of 20.4 percent, compared with the same period in 2014. This reflected an 18.9 percent decline in export volume as well as

lower export prices.

Gold export earnings, which totaled US$183.3 million contracted by 16.9 percent. As a result, the report noted that the average price received by gold miners fell from US$1,243 per ounce in 2015. “These prices were generally lower than the world market prices,” the report revealed.

On the other hand, Merchandise imports fell by 8.8 percent, to US$772.8 million in the first half of 2015, principally

reflecting a contraction in imports of intermediate goods, by 18.7 percent to US$393.7 million.

I m p o r t a n t l y, import of fuel and lubricants declined by 34 percent, largely due to lower oil prices. Imports of capital goods increased by 8.6 percent to US$186.7 million while imports of consumer goods increased by less than 1 percent to US$188.4 million.

(GINA)

Protocol for addressing forensic

audit not being followed – Brassington

Winston Brassington

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), Winston Brassington, finds it unfortunate that the protocol for addressing the forensic audit at that entity is not being followed. In a statement released to the

media, he noted that, “sensational statements are being made without balance, much to the detriment of a fair and balanced audit and audit process.”

His statement was in response to an article that appeared recently in the Kaieteur

Anand Goolsarran

News and which was captioned “Forensic audit recommends criminal charges against Brassington” and attributed to junior Minister of Finance, Jaipaul Sharma.

According to Brassington, such an assertion is premature given that it is

based on an unreleased preliminary audit report of the appointed forensic Auditor of NICIL, Mr. Anand Goolsarran.

According to Brassington, the “facts contained in the report will ultimately show that there has been and is no evidence of illegality,

fraud, or corruption at NICIL”. He stated that the preliminary report “does not allege any personal enrichment on any of the officers or directors of NICIL including the CEO”.

He pointed out that Goolsarran's main contention has been and continues to be that NICIL is subject to Articles 216 and 217 of the Constitution and therefore by extension, the Financial Management and Accountability Act (FMAA). He noted that NICIL refutes the applicability of or violation of Articles 216 and 217.

He however pointed out in the statement that Goolsarran's only recommendation in the preliminary report in respect of alleged wrongdoings was the institution of “disciplinary action against all those who were complicit in the violation of Articles 216 and 217 of

the Constitution, including the Board of Directors of NICIL, the former Finance Minister and the previous Cabinet, as provided for under the FMAA Act”.

Brassington in the statement listed a number of reasons why NIICL is not in violation of Articles 216 and 217 and alluded to a contradiction of facts as stated by Goolsarran. He noted that “accusations without specificity as to wrong-doings lack any semblance of objectivity and is one form of prejudicing a fair and balanced audit process”.

This he contends is “more akin to witch hunt than to a f a i r, i n d e p e n d e n t , impartial, professional and objective audit process.

Efforts to contact Minister Jaipaul Sharma for a response were unsuccessful.

GPA condemns Jagdeo's call

for boycott The Guyana Press Association (GPA) is condemning former President, Bharrat Jagdeo, for a statement it claims he made calling for a boycott of newspapers which do not support the views of t h e P e o p l e ' s Progressive Party (PPP).

The GPA in a statement quoted Jagdeo as saying at an event on October 05, 2015, “Please ensure

that our people don't buy newspapers where the sole purpose of the newspaper is to destroy our Party.” This the G PA s a y s i n “dangerous and instructive”.

It pointed out that his statement is dangerous “because it highlights the fact that Mr Jagdeo is bent on stifling the growth and operations of the media, something which he brazenly

practiced as President when he withdrew state advertisements from the Stabroek News.

Instructive, because Mr Jagdeo's missive demonstrates that he understands the powerful role of the free press.”

The GPA says it is condemning the statement and that of any other politician or official who attempts to thwart the work of the free press. It posited that

the media in Guyana continues to be the watchdog of our democratic processes and the Guyana Press Association rallies around a free and independent press.

The Executive of the GPA urged all media workers to continue to seek truth and report it fearlessly. Efforts to contact Mr. Jagdeo were unsuccessful.

Former President Bharrat Jagdeo

GPA’s President Neil Marks

AMAZING WORLD FIRST CASE OF CANCER LINKED TO FUKUSHIMA CLEANUP When the Fukushima Daichi nuclear plant suffered a catastrophic meltdown, thousands of workers were called in to take the reactor offline. Now, four years later, Japan has confirmed the first case of cancer stemming from that dangerous work. The country's health ministry said Monday that a former

Fukushima worker has been diagnosed with leukemia.

The unnamed man in his 30s worked at the plant from October 2012 to November 2013. "This is a massive blow to the IAEA, which stated in September of this year that no discernible health effects due to the exposure to radiation released by the

accident are to be expected," Greenpeace said in a statement. IAEA is the International Atomic Energy Agency.

The leukemia was diagnosed after the worker filed a work hazard compensation claim, the ministry said. About 45,000 workers have been involved in cleanup work at the

Fukushima plant since August 2011. The earthquake that caused the disaster at the facility took place five months earlier, in March 2011. Ten other former Fukushima workers have filed similar cases.

Seven were dropped; three are pending, the ministry said. (CNN)

THOUSANDS WITNESS MIRAGE OF A FLOATING CITY IN THE SKY It wasn't the plot of Bioshock Infinite come to life. IFLScience says that thousands of people in China this week reported seeing a large “floating city” in the sky that actually turned out to be a Fata Morgana, which is a rare type of mirage.

But how is this possible? The San Diego State University offers a nice introduction to mirages and explains how giant mirages such as this one are formed. “[Mirages] are real phenomena of atmospheric optics,

caused by strong raybending in layers with steep thermal gradients,” it explains. “Because mirages are real physical phenomena, they can be photographed.”

Essentially these mirages occur whenever the sun heats up a layer of

the atmosphere even as the layer below it remains at a cooler temperature. This causes light travelling through the atmosphere to get refracted and creates the illusion of objects in the sky like the giant city.

(Yahoo News)

WHITE HOUSE WELCOMES MUSLIM TEEN FALSELY ACCUSED OF MAKING A BOMB

Ahmed Mohamed

The Muslim teenager who was detained when his teacher mistook his homemade clock for a bomb visited the White House Monday, after a receiving a very public invite from President Barack Obama.

Ahmed Mohamed joined a group of students, teachers, scientists, astronauts and celebrities -- including the "Myth Busters" and Bill Nye -- for White House Astronomy Night.

Mohamed had hoped to impress teachers by bringing a clock to his Texas school earlier this year, but was instead reported by suspicious staff who called the police.

A photo of Mohamed standing in handcuffs while wearing a tshirt with the US space agency NASA's logo was retweeted thousands of times in a matter of hours and " # I S t a n d Wi t h A h m e d "

became the top trending hashtag on Twitter.

Mohamed did, however, impress Obama, who congratulated the teen on his skills, in what was seen as a pointed rebuke to school and police officials amid accusations of Islamophobia. "Cool clock, Ahmed. Want to bring it to the White House? We should inspire more kids like you to like science. It's what makes America great," Obama

tweeted.

During remarks at Monday's event, Obama did not mention Mohamed by name, but spoke about the need for teachers, parents and others to inspire young people. " We h a v e t o watch for and cultivate, encourage, those glimmers of curiosity and possibility, not suppress them, not squelch them," he said.

(Yahoo News)

SHROUD OF TURIN DNA INDICATES GLOBAL ORIGINS There's a surprising new wrinkle in the story of the celebrated Shroud of Turin.

A group of Italian researchers have found that the 14-foot-long garment -believed by some to be the burial cloth of Jesus Christ, even though science has proven that's not the case -contains DNA from plants found all over Earth.

"Here we report the main findings from the analysis of genomic DNA extracted from dust particles vacuumed from parts of the body image and the lateral edge used for radiocarbon d a t i n g , " D r. G i a n n i

Barcaccia, a plant genetics and genomics professor at the University of Padova in Italy, wrote in a paper coauthored with his colleagues about the DNA results.

After sequencing the DNA of pollen and dust found on the shroud, the researchers discovered several plant groups native to the Mediterranean, RealClearScience.com reported. Other groups were linked to Asia, the Middle East, or the Americas, but must have been introduced at a time later than the Medieval period, according

to the researchers.

The findings, published in the journal Scientific Reports on Oct. 5, suggest that the cloth may have been manufactured in India and then was transported from the Near East to its current home in Turin, Italy.

The linen shroud appears to show a double image of a bearded man "who suffered physical trauma in a manner consistent with crucifixion after being beaten, scourged and crowned with thorns," the researchers wrote. But whether this

man was the historic Jesus Christ has been the subject of decades of scrutiny, speculation and controversy over its authenticity and origin.

In 1988, carbon14 testing performed on the cloth by an international team of researchers, dated shroud fibers back to between 1260 and 1390.

(That's a bit more than 1,000 years after the crucifixion, which means, of course, that the shroud can't be the relic that some Christians claim it to be.)

But a 2005 study by a retired chemist from

Los Alamos National Laboratory dismissed that finding, arguing that the material tested in 1988 came from a patch applied to the shroud in medieval times. The 2005 study put

the age of the shroud at 1,300 to 3,000 years.

(Yahoo News)

Regional

Regional

Maduro calls for prosecution of food magnate

President Nicolas Maduro

Venezuela's President, Nicolas Maduro, has called for the prosecution of the country's biggest businessman for allegedly conspiring against his

government in a phone call discussing a possible international bailout for the crisis-stricken, oildependent economy Maduro late

Sunday accused billionaire businessman Lorenzo Mendoza, president of the Empresas Polar food and beer conglomerate, of waging

an "economic war" against Venezuela with the aim of surrendering control of the country to the International Monetary Fund.

The sharp rebuke was in response to a phone conversation aired on state TV last week between Mendoza and outspoken government critic Ricardo Hausmann, a Harvard University economist who suggested Venezuela needs a $40 billion IMF bailout to stem a deep crisis marked by triple-digit inflation, widespread shortages and an estimated 10 percent shrinking of the economy this year.

"The biggest of

bigwigs thinks he has power that he doesn't have," Maduro said in the call, employing a jab frequently used to mock his opponents among Ve n e z u e l a ' s b u s i n e s s class. "It's a crime what he's done and what he's doing, speaking in the name of the fatherland," said Maduro. "He should be prosecuted. I hope the judicial bodies react."

Mendoza hasn't responded to Maduro's remarks. But in a statement last week, he accused the government of violating his privacy by illegally recording and then broadcasting a personal conversation. He said he's deeply concerned

about the march of the e c o n o m y, w h i c h h a s already led to work stoppages at several Polar-owned facilities, and regularly converses with economists across the political spectrum.

Polar is the country's largest food supplier and a favorite target of Maduro and his predecessor Hugo Chavez, who have accused businesses of trying to sabotage the economy by hoarding goods sold at statemandated prices and handing them over to criminals who smuggle them across the border, where they can fetch a huge premium. (Yahoo New)

Pre-election Naked watchman violence flaring found dead up in Haiti slum

A watchman has become Trinidad & Tobago's 347th murder victim after he was found nude and dead at his jobsite shortly after seven o'clock yesterday morning by employees who turned up for duty. The victim Vishnu Ragoonanan, 44, of, Mamoral No 2, was last seen alive on Saturday by co-worker Stevie Santokee.

According to reports, Ragoonanan spent a considerable amount of time at a site located along the Mamoral Main Road, where equipment used for building and repairing bridges in the Mamoral

area was stored.

According to police r e p o r t s w h e n Ragoonanan's body was found close to a hut within the compound where he carried out his duties, he appeared to have been beaten on the head.

Checks by the police with the owner of C AV C o n s t r u c t i o n revealed that nothing appeared to have been stolen from the compound. Scores of Mamoral residents gathered at the scene of the murder and expressed horror over the killing.

They said their village

was a quiet agricultural district and they never expected Ragoonanan to be a murder victim.

Employees of C AV C o n s t r u c t i o n described Ragoonanan as a gem and added that the murder has left them in a quandary about whether they are safe in continuing to work at the jobsite. They are calling on the police to find the killer or killers and bring closure to the murder investigation. (Adapted from the Trinidad Newsday)

Deadly pre-election violence has flared up in and around Haiti's most notorious slum and resulted in the killings of two pregnant women and at least 13 other people in the densely-populated district of shacks, community organizers and politicians said Monday.

Official numbers of the slain around the mazelike network of Cite Soleil were hard to pin down.

Spokespeople with the Haitian National Police and the U.N. mission in Haiti did not respond to Monday phone calls or said they did not immediately have specifics.

B u t t h e

government-appointed mayor in Cite Soleil, Esau Bouchard, said at least 10 people were killed within the district's boundaries over the last few days and others that he described as gangsters were gunned down in shootouts with police in an outskirts community known as Wharf Jeremie. He said the violence appeared to be politically motivated.

According to Bouchard, authorities were trying to capture gang members creating mayhem "so we can create a secure climate for elections to happen" in the deeply impoverished ghetto of a few hundred thousand people.

Some 2,000 people fled their homes out of fear starting Friday, but he said that a measure of order was gradually being restored.

The deadly violence in the long-troubled community on the edge of Port-au-Prince comes days ahead of national elections on Sunday when Haitians will vote in the first-round of presidential balloting and decide numerous legislative and local races. About a month ago, police said two officers were slain by gangsters in Cite Soleil.

(Adapted from the Jamaican Observer)

INTERNATIONAL

Former PM Son is Canada's new Prime Minister

Justin Trudeau

Canada voted in its first new leader in 10 years in a general election that handed Justin Trudeau's Liberal party an absolute majority -- and dealt a

stunning blow to incumbent Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

"This is what positive politics can do," Trudeau told supporters in Ottawa

early Tuesday morning as the last few results trickled in. "I didn't make history tonight, you did."

The victory denied a fourth term to

Harper and his C o n s e r v a t i v e p a r t y.

Because Canada does not have term limits, Harper has held the position since 2006. He conceded defeat and will resign as leader of the party, but said he'll remain in Parliament as a l a w m a k e r . " We p u t everything on the table, we gave everything we had to give and we have no regrets," Harper said "The people of Canada have elected a Liberal government, which we accept without hesitation," he added.

L i b e r a l candidates have secured 184 seats -- or "ridings," the Canadian term for federal electoral districts - putting them over the line

for forming a majority government. A total of 170 seats are needed for a majority. Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition, as Harper's Conservatives will now officially be designated, have 99 seats.

Trudeau said the Liberals won because "we listened." "We beat fear with hope, we beat cynicism with hard work.

We beat negative, divisive politics with a positive vision that brings Canadians together," he said. "Most of all we defeated the idea that Canadians should be satisfied with less, and that better isn't possible.

My friends, this is Canada, where better is always possible."

The son of Pierre Trudeau and scion of Canada's first, nascent political dynasty, the 43year-old surged into the lead in recent weeks, largely on the back of antiConservative sentiment that saw Harper's party lagging as Canadians went to the polls. Before the grueling, 78-day electioneering cycle began, many dismissed the y o u n g e r Tr u d e a u a s trading off of his father's achievements and the famous family name. But pundits in Canada have praised his campaign and the way he has led the Liberals to what transpired to be a sweeping victory.

(Adapted from CNN)

West Bank gripped by fresh violence A Palestinian man has been killed by Israeli forces near the city of Hebron in the occupied We s t B a n k a f t e r h e allegedly tried to stab an Israeli soldier, as violence flared in several other towns across the occupied territories. In a separate incident on Tuesday, an Israeli settler was killed when he was reportedly run over by a Palestinian man near Hebron.

Witnesses said the settler was attacking cars in the area before he was hit by one of the vehicles.

Meanwhile, violent clashes broke out between Palestinian protesters and Israeli forces at a rally in Beit El near Ramallah, where Israeli forces used tear gas to disperse the crowds.

The Israeli army said the officer who was reportedly attacked in Hebron was lightly injured in the incident which took place in the West Bank village of Beit Awwa near Hebron during a demonstration by Palestinians.

Tr i g g e r e d b y Israeli incursions into the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound last month, violence and protests against Israel's occupation have increased in frequency across the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip. Since the beginning of October, 45 Palestinians have been killed in shootings and clashes with Israeli forces in the occupied Palestinian territories and

Israel, while eight Israelis have been killed in knife and gun attacks.

An Eritrean asylum seeker was killed after he was mistaken for a Palestinian attacker during a raid in southern Israel.

Tuesday's incidents came after Israeli security forces arrested Hassan Yusef, one of Hamas' top figures in the West Bank, in an overnight raid near Ramallah on Monday.

Hamas spokesman Ghazi al-Hamad told All Jazeera that Yusef's arrest was "part of Israel's oppression of Palestinians".

"It's designed to keep Palestinians from resisting its occupation.

The Israeli government is trying to pressure Hamas and other Palestinians in an effort to end the Intifada

in Palestine," Hamad said.

Yusef has been arrested by the Israeli authorities several times, starting from 1993, and became

the visible leader of the second Intifada which started in 2000.

In 2005, he was nominated to represent

Hamas during the elections as an absentee candidate as he was in jail.

(Adapted from Al Jazeera)

Freezing migrants cry foul as German cold bites

As the thermometer dips towards zero in Germany, thousands of asylum seekers spending their nights in tents are pleading for authorities to

find them alternative housing.

At the major northern port, as in other parts of the country, sleeping without heating is quickly becoming a

nightmare as the temperatures tumble close to freezing. And the German winter, infamously harsh and biting, has not even begun.

In Hamburg alone, 4,000 asylum seekers are sleeping in unheated tents, and some migrants, fed up with the cold and damp, have taken to the streets to complain about their lodgings. "We are freezing," they wrote on a cardboard sign. But the problem is not unique to the city. With between 800,000 and one million asylum seekers

expected this year, Germany is facing an unprecedented refugee relief crisis.

Some 42,000 asylum seekers were sleeping in tents across the country at the beginning of October, according to newspaper Die Welt. And the situation has become critical, "We can no longer rule out the risk that people could die" from the cold, warned Ulrika Kostka, director of aid group Caritas.

In the eastern Saxony region, the Red Cross also sounded a similar warning about tent cities. "It has become a health

problem. People are falling ill because of the cold," said spokesman Kai Kranich.

German authorities have been scrambling to find lodgings for the record number of new arrivals. In Berlin, a special hall that is used every January for an annual agriculture exhibition, has been transformed into an emergency shelter with bunk beds for 1,000 refugees.

Sports gyms have also been requisitioned, sparking complaints from some parents whose children have been unable to go to

basketball or volleyball training as both rain and temperatures fall outside.

Wooden shelters are also being built to protect migrants from the cold.

And the emergency is not limited to cold nights. In the days, too, hundreds of migrants queue outside Berlin's main refugee registration centre for hours every day, shivering and drenched under the cold rain.

(Adapted from Yahoo News)

SP

RTS

Sehwag quits

Virender Sehwag

India batsman Virender Sehwag has formally retired from international cricket. On Tuesday, his 37th birthday, Sehwag made the announcement via Twitter, with a crisp

message that said he would no longer play the IPL either.

O n M o n d a y, Sehwag had revealed he would be participating in the Masters Champions

League, a UAE-based Twenty20 tournament that requires its participants to have retired from all international formats, and said a formal retirement announcement would

follow soon. He indicated that he would continue playing for Haryana till the end of the Ranji Trophy season.

"God has been kind and I have done what I wanted to do - on the field and in my life and I had decided sometime back that I will retire on m y 3 7 t h b i r t h d a y, " Sehwag said in a statement. "So, while I spend the day with my family, I hereby announce my retirement from all forms of international cricket and the Indian Premier League.

"Cricket has been my life and continues to be so.

Playing for India was a memorable journey and I tried to make it more memorable for my teammates and for the Indian cricket fans. I believe I

was reasonably successful in doing so. For that, I wish to thank all my teammates over the years some of the greatest players of the game. I would like to thank all my captains, who believed in me and backed me to the hilt. I also thank our greatest partner, the Indian cricket fan for all the love, support and the memories.

"I also want to thank everyone for all the cricketing advice given to me over the years and apologise for not accepting most of it! I had a reason for not following it: I did it my way!"

Sehwag is widely considered one of India's greatest opening batsmen, and he revolutionised the art of batting against the new ball in Test cricket with his aggressive approach,

scoring at a strike rate of over 80 in the longest format. He has been out of India's plans for over two years, having last played for the national side in the Hyderabad Test against Australia in March 2013.

Sehwag played 104 Tests, 251 ODIs and 19 T20Is, scoring over 17000 international runs and picking up 136 wickets with his offspin.

His greatest moments came in Test cricket, where he made 23 hundreds including the only two triple-centuries by any Indian batsman, w h i l e h i s O D I achievements included the format's second doublehundred. He was part of India's victorious squads in the 2007 World T20 and the 2011 World Cup. (Espncricinfo)

Pistorius released from prison Oscar Pistorius was released from prison in South Africa Monday and placed under house arrest, a spokesperson for the Correctional Services said. The former Olympic athlete had been in prison since October last year, when a judge sentenced him to five years for culpable homicide in the killing of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp.

Pistorius shot the model and law school graduate on Valentine's Day 2013. He has said he mistook her for an intruder.

Last week a South African parole board said it had approved his placement under house arrest and correctional supervision for four years.

After the parole board's decision last week, a lawyer for the Steenkamp family said they saw it coming. "Nothing has changed for June and Barry, nothing will bring Reeva back," Tania Koen said, referring to Steenkamp's parents. "They are not surprised at all by this announcement. They expected this."

South Africa's correctional services act

Oscar Pistorius

allows convicted criminals who have served at least one-sixth of their sentence to serve the remainder under house arrest. News of Steenkamp's killing stunned the nation, where

Pistorius is nicknamed the "Blade Runner" because he ran on special carbon-fiber prostheses.

Despite having both legs amputated below the knee as a toddler, he excelled in sports,

representing his country in the Paralympic Games and the 2012 London Olympics.

Steenkamp was found shot to death in his home, and he acknowledged firing the fatal shots through his bathroom door.

Last year, a judge found him "negligent" in Steenkamp's death. But the judge said he did not commit murder nor did he i n t e n d t o k i l l h e r.

Prosecutors are appealing the verdict, believing

Pistorius, who is now 28, should be convicted of murder. The state's appeal is set to take place next month.

(Adapted from CNN)

SP

RTS

GBBC/Next Generation Boxers host Tree Planting Exercise Several boxers yesterday joined the efforts to help beautify Georgetown, by participating in a tree planting exercise at the Merriman's mall. Among the fighters were Clive Atwell and were joined by with Ms. Earth Guyana 2014 Stacy Ramcharan, M i n i s t e r w i t h Responsibility for Sport Nicolette Henry and Mayor Hamilton Green.

The tree planting exercise precedes this weekend's Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC)

/ Next Generation Promotions boxing card, which will see Atwell taking on Dexter Marques for the (Central American Boxing Federation) FECABOX Super Lightweight title. Next Gen's Aleem Hussain indicated that things are on track for this weekend's mega card, that patrons will be treated to an a t m o s p h e r e o f international flavour and action at a higher level.

Minister Henry while lauding the initiative

said “It does encompass all three of my areas of coverage. Stacy represents youth and she's also involved in fashion which is culture and there is also the boxers here which represent sport. I think it's a good combination.”

Miss Earth Guyana 2014 Stacy Ramcharan, remarked, “I was asked to participate in this tree planting, of course I didn't hesitate, I think it's a wonderful initiative and I want to encourage everyone to contribute to

your environment.”

The boxing card will also feature debutant Imran Khan taking on David Thomas in a lightweight fight over four rounds. The opening bout will see debutant Terrence Adams against Keeve Allicock over four rounds in a featherweight contest while the main supporting bout has Anson Green and Quincy Gomes in a sixround junior welterweight contest.

In the amateur division, at the Youth

lightweight level Orin Bancroft of the Forgotten Youth Foundation (FYF) is matched against Harpy Eagles' Travis Hubbard while in the Elite flyweight division Tefon Green (GDF) faces Dexter Wray (Republican).

We l t e r w e i g h t action would see Glenroy Smith (Essequibo Boxing Gym against Republican's Clifton Graham while Nankumar Singh (Republican) and Kelon King (FYF) would have a lightweight contest.

Companies supporting the event are: Banks DIH Limited, COURTS Guyana Inc., Giftland OfficeMax, Ansa McAl, Guyana Oil Company, Hand-in-Hand, GTM, Digicel Guyana Inc., Guyana Beverages Inc., Guyana Tourism A u t h o r i t y, K i n g ' s Jewellery World, Massy Industries Guyana Limited, Queen's Atlantic, Fly Jamaica and Top Brand Distributors.

Tuesday, October 20, 2015

paper e-Mail

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

BOXERS JOIN TREE PLANTING EXERCISE -see page 13

Minister Nicolette Henry (center) holds the tree in place while Clive the wonder kid Atwell (left) places some dirt back into the hole.

Miss Earth Guyana 2014 Stacy Ramcharan (right) watches on as does several boxers and models in the background. (Samuel Maughn Photo)