GNN Online Newspaper Oct 06 2015

Tuesday, October 06, 2015

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ORDER OF RORAIMA

ADDRESS BY HIS EXCELLENCY BRIGADIER DAVID GRANGER, PRESIDENT OF THE COOPERATIVE REPUBLIC OF GUYANA, AT THE NATIONAL AWARDS INVESTITURE CEREMONY HELD AT THE NATIONAL TH CULTURAL CENTRE ON 6 OCTOBER 2015 The Cooperative Republic of Guyana, our motherland to which we pledge our love and our loyalty, has endowed you ― her most deserving citizens ― with her highest honours.

National Awards – established 45 years ago, when Guyana became a Republic – are a symbol of our nationhood. They are the greatest gift that a grateful nation can offer to its best citizens. They express the esteem of our people.

N a t i o n a l Awards, like our National Anthem, like our National Flag, like our National Monuments are ordained by our Constitution – our s u p r e m e l a w. T h i s parchment must not be devalued. This congregation must not be disparaged. This ceremony must not be disregarded or belittled.

These awards must not be

conferred capriciously or irregularly.

National Awards constitute an important institution of the state. It is our Constitutional obligation, unfailingly, to discharge this duty to our deserving citizens. We vow to come here to this national centre every year to pay respect to those to whom respect is due. We are the trustees of the traditions, which sustain society. That is the culture of good government. That is the culture of a good society. That is the culture of a good life.

N a t i o n a l Awards, however, can be no more than tokens. They cannot calculate the value of your contributions; they cannot measure the magnitude of the selflessness or your service for which you have been recognised.

They are a reflection of the

respect and reverence of a grateful nation. We know that you have toiled in obscurity, sometimes with great exertion and at personal expense, usually without reward and, in most cases, over a long period of time.

N a t i o n a l Aw a r d s , i n d e e d , a r e reserved for those who have distinguished themselves in the service of the nation. We applaud your accomplishments in your diverse fields – academia, business, charitable and community work, engineering, the e c o n o m y, m e d i c i n e , public service, religion, sports, teaching, the defence and security services and other fields of enterprise and endeavour.

Guyana commends you for the outstanding service that you have rendered and which has been recognised. Your

President David Granger

commitment to the public good deserves requital.

Your dedication to the improvement of your professional calling, your community and your country is appreciated and has been acknowledged.

G u y a n a congratulates you on your achievement. Let this ceremony be an occasion for national celebration, commendation and

congratulation. Let this not be an opportunity for boorishness, smallmindedness and illtempered peevishness.

G u y a n a encourages you to continue, through precept and example, to serve your country. You have been inducted today into an élite corps of eminent citizens. You are the cynosure of admiration,

emulation and inspiration to the nation, particularly to young Guyanese. It is written, “…let your light so shine before others that they may see your good works…” The Republic is proud of you.

May God bless you all! May God bless Guyana!

BELOW IS THE LIST OF AWARDEES ORDER OF RORAIMA Hamilton GREEN Sister Mary Noel MENEZES, AA Brynmor Thorton Inniss POLLARD,CCH CACIQUE'S CROWN OF HONOUR Edith Myrtle BYNOE Oscar CLARKE Yvonne Veronica HAREWOOD-BENN Clifton Mortimer Llewellyn JOHN Apostle Winston Franklin Mc GOWAN, AA Eshwar Vevakanand PERSAUD, AA Supriya SINGH-BODDEN Donald Ashley Bevil TROTMAN Apostle Elsworth Quintel WILLIAMS GOLDEN ARROW OF ACHIEVEMENT Edgar Wrensford ADAMS Ivor ALLEN Jeanne Sharon Amelia ATKINSON Basil Brentnol BLACKMAN Paulette Euranie BYNOE Mitzy Gaynor CAMPBELL Malcolm Gregory CHAN-A-SUE, MS

Ivor Winston CRANDON Doreen Patricia DUNCAN Fazil Shahibdeen Ibrahim HAKH Maurice Berthwinsdel HENRY Sherlock Ewart ISAACS Leila JAGDEO Jean Benedicta Imelda La ROSE Dr. Paloma Ramona Francis MOHAMED Prince Albert POMPEY Evan Brewster Bridgewater SEMPLE Gwendolin Agatha TROSS Maurice Wilfred VEECOCK GROUP AWARD Anna Catherina Islamic Complex POSTHUMOUS Olga BONE Wordsworth McANDREW MEDAL OF SERVICE Mabel BAVEGHEMS Gordon Alphonso CHASE Roylance Patricia DAVID Jaitun HANIF-PERSAUD

Noshella LALCKECHARAN Godfrey Emerson MARSHALL Sheik Shakur NIAMATALI Dionysia NIEWENKERK Amrita THOMAS Burnell Lancelot THOMAS MILITARY SERVICE STAR Brigadier Mark Anthony PHILLIPS MILITARY SERVICE MEDAL Colonel (rtd.) Wilbert Arlington LEE Lieutenant Colonel (rtd.) Walter Leyland Francis MORRIS DISCIPLINED SERVICES MEDAL Carol Audrey LEWIS-PRIMO David Kenneth RAMNARINE Carl Vonludwig GRAHAME Welton Cuthbert TROTZ Desiree Floretta D'SANTOS-MOORE Peter WILSON

FRONT PAGE CAPTION: Brynmor Pollard receives his award from President David Granger

EFFORTS BEING MADE TO RECOVER $100M LOAN -GRDB HEAD

Mr. Nizam Hassan

Head of the Guyana rice Development Board (GRDB), Nizam Hassan says efforts are being made to recover the $100M that was loan to the Guyana Rice Producers Association (RPA).

Speaking with GNN, Hassan noted that the money was used to assist farmers and the agreement was for it to be repaid in three months. So far, that agreement has not been honored.

However, former

Agriculture Minister under the previous government Leslie Ramsammy in a statement sought to clarify the issue.

Ramsammy admitted that $100M was provided to pay farmers from Region 3 who were not paid for the paddy sold in the first crop of 2014.

The payments were made after farmers directly and through the RPA made representation for relief after Quality Rice Co-op failed to pay the farmers

Dr. Leslie Ramsammy

for paddy which they procured from the farmers.

He said Quality Co-op procured an amount of paddy totaling more than $220M. Some of the farmers were shareholders of the Co-op, but others were rice farmers from Region 3 who sold their paddy to the coop.

“We decided we will pay those farmers who were not members of the C o o p . T h e R PA w a s engaged by the GRDB and the Ministry of

Agriculture to facilitate the payment, since we wanted to ensure that Quality Co-op did not use the resources to pay the members themselves”, Ramsammy said in the statement.

He further stated that Quality Co-op had explained that they had contracted Mr. Turhane Doerga from Ruimzeight Rice Mills to process the paddy to meet standards for export to Venezuela.

Quality Rice Co-op made

representation to him that Mr. Doerga had negligently failed to process the paddy secured

by Quality Co-op for the Venezuela market.

The consequence was that Quality Rice Coop could not export to Venezuela and the paddy and rice from Quality Coop could not be exported.

This resulted in Quality Co-op not being in a position to pay the farmers for paddy procured.

“Quality Rice Co-op subsequently approached the court to adjudicate against Mr. Doerga. This matter is still in court. We knew at the time that the legal matter would occupy the court's attention for a lengthy p e r i o d o f t i m e . We considered it unfair for the non-members of the Coop to wait until such time as the court matter is dispensed with. We felt that the members had to face some of the hardships created by the situation. It is for this reason that we did not cover the total cost of paddy procured by Quality Rice Co-op. The

paddy secured from the members themselves was not covered through the relief provided by the Government.

The arrangement was that when Quality Rice Co-op concluded the legal matter and resolved t h e d i s p u t e w i t h M r.

Doerga, they will repay the $100M, Ramsammy explained.

He is claiming that there was no need for an audit, forensic or any other kind, to discover the truth.

“As Minister of Agriculture I was sympathetic to the rice farmers. I made every effort to help farmers and the industry. It is true that I encouraged the GRDB to provide the relief for those farmers. I did make a case for government intervention. The matter was reported to the board and this was never done in secret. It was a public matter that was articulated publicly and the relief provided was one that was publicly discussed and implemented, Ramsammy added.

THREE HOSPITALS TO BE UPGRADED The Ministry of Public Health is currently tendering for projects to upgrade facilities at the Suddie Hospital, Region Two, Bartica Hospital in Region Seven and West Demerara Regional Hospital, Region Three.

Interested contractors are a s k e d t o c o n t a c t M r.

Prakash Sookdeo at the Ministry of Public Health, Brickdam, Georgetown; or they can call telephone numbers 225-7767 and 225 4429. Submissions close on November 10, 2015.

The projects are f u n d e d v i a t h e Modernisation of Primary Health Care System project under which allocations were made in the 2015 budget for hospital upgrades.

The needs of the

hospitals were disclosed after Minister of Health, Dr. George Norton, along with Minister within the M i n i s t r y D r. K a r e n Cummings visited several health institutions across the country, since they took office.

The Suddie Hospital was visited approximately two months ago where it was observed that the institution lack key medical equipment. The operating theatre, which was constructed over five years ago, is still not functioning due to the shabby work that was done by the contractor, resulting in tiled but hollow walls and defective electrical works.

After that visit, Minister Norton said. “…it is a disgrace to see what persons have approved and written off as work they

were paid so much to do…the walls are literally hollow, even though it is tiled, and my impression is that you've got to break everything down. I am one of the persons who said we are not here to break and build over, but I think in this case, if we want the best for the citizens of the Region, then we have got to do better, we have to break down this theatre, and build a new one.”

A t t h e We s t Demerara Regional Hospital, the Minister said, “Like so many other areas that affect the health sector in general, like the on and off availability of drugs, medical equipment or materials, it is plaguing this hospital, the issue of catheters, or proper sutures and some essential medications. It's happening

Minister of Health, Dr. George Norton

all around. I get that while the authorities (the staff) are conscious of this, they are always willing to do the necessary things to correct the situation.”

Following a post cabinet media briefing on Wednesday, June 17, at the Ministry of Presidency, it was reported that Minister of State Joseph Harmon said that government was

looking to use the US$14M balance of the US$18M loan from Exim Bank, which was designated for the Specialty Hospital, to improve health care at other hospitals in Guyana.

“The current thinking of the administration is that once those sums are available,

that it will prefer that the monies be spent in other areas that has to do with primary health care…We believe that the delivery of health care services to the people is much more important in this stage of our development than what we call medical tourism,” Harmon told the news conference.

GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS GET MASSIVE PAY HIKE

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo

Despite the assurance given by the A Partnership f o r N a t i o n a l Unity+Alliance for

Change (APNU+AFC) government that it will not immediately increase the salaries of its officials, it

has gone ahead with same.

After the news broke that the new government, after 12 weeks in office, was looking to increase the salaries of Ministers, Parliamentarians and Presidential Advisors, Minister of Governance Raphael Trotman at a press conference then told the media that while the salaries are currently being reviewed, “it will not be implemented any time soon.”

However, Trotman said despite this position, the government is moving ahead with its review of salaries for the public service, which is being conducted by Professor Harold Lutchman.

Trotman said the review will also encapsulate the salaries of Government Officials emphasizing the need for

differentiation. This is given the fact that there are now Senior Government Officials such as Vice Presidents and Presidential Advisors added with Ministers and Junior Ministers.

“Government is of the view that there has to be differentiation, yes, between Vice Presidents, Ministers or what we would term as Senior Ministers and Junior Ministers. None of these were catered for over the last twenty years and so as a matter of law there will have to be adjustments,” Trotman said to the media.

Finance Minister Winston Jordan had back then has concurred that salaries of officials were under review but a figure was not being set.

The opposition Peoples Progressive Party (PPP) condemned the APNU+AFC government over such move, saying

that the Ministers under the PPP/C worked for the same salaries that those u n d e r t h e n e w government are refusing to work for.

It should be noted that the APNU+AFC while in opposition lashed out at the PPP/C government claiming that officials were receiving “super salaries.”

It was Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo while in opposition who was very vocal in the National Assembly and chided the PPP/C government for overpaying its officials, deeming them “Fat cats.”

APNU and the AFC, prior to taking office in May 2015, had vigorously spoken out against the “abuse” of taxpayers' money to fill the pockets of “greedy” Government officials.

In an Official Gazette

published on September 25, it was noted that the order for the increases was made on September 23, by Finance Minister Winston Jordan.

According to the order, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo will now be paid $20,580,000 per annum which works out to just over $1.7M per month.

It states that Vice Presidents will receive $11,135,064 per annum or $927,000 per month.

Senior government Ministers are slated for a $10M annual salary at 869,000 per month while Junior Ministers will receive close to $700,000 per month.

Parliamentarians will also be paid $2, 4 0 2 , 5 3 2 e a c h y e a r.

Increases were also given to the Chief Whips and the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly.

GRO TO BE FULLY COMPUTERISED Approximately 2,000,000 birth, 1,000,000 marriage and 500,000 death registration records are expected to be entered in their entirety within a three-year time frame into the computerised system.

This means that a minimum of 4000 birth/death/marriage registration records (correct entries) must be entered daily.

This is according to the Terms of Reference (tors) for the consultancy firm which will undertake the computerisation of the General Register Office

(GRO) records. An advertisement is currently out recruiting consultancy services for this project.

The objective of this project is to ensure that all the records for the period 1869 to 2015 are correctly entered in the Civil Events Registration System (CERS), to allow for the complete automation of the process for the generation of certificates, verification, easy retrieval and storage.

The GRO is the government agency responsible for the

registration of civil events (births, deaths, marriages and adoptions) and the issuance of the relevant documents to support this function.

It is envisaged that upon completion of this project, the process for distributing new birth, death and marriage certificates will be significantly reduced, and will allow for easy retrieval of information.

T h e consultant/firm will be required to ensure that for each record entered, there is 100% accuracy. Weekly

status reports on proposed targets and achievements and monthly reports on data entries completed must be submitted.

Minister of Citizenship, Winston Felix, under whose remit the GRO falls, had said during the 2015 Budget debates in August, that part of a $183M allocation to his department will go towards restoring GRO records. An additional part of the GPOC building has been rented to help in this restoration project.

Minister Winston Felix

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EDITORIAL

THE WAY WE DRIVE; WELL, SOME! Taking control of the steering wheel of a vehicle generates much excitement for youngsters who dream of doing just that. For some, such dreams probably morph into an obsession driven by the impatience to be in control. Years before, such obsession was demonstrated by sitting in an old abandoned vehicle while engaging in the action of driving. Of course, the vehicle could not move. The sounds of a vehicle in motion and with each changing gear, was produced by the vocal cavity.

Generally, those “vehicles” always produced “high-decibels sounds” reflective of h e a l t h y l u n g s . N o w, virtual driving is routine providing almost a surreal simulation of engaging in the actual process. In addition, there is a plethora of racing games that are easily accessed on fixed and mobile electronic devices.

One could not be faulted for concluding that now; this provides much more excitement rather than exercising the lungs in the shell of a vehicle as generally in the past.

Some of this might still be happening in some parts, but what's for sure, is that virtual driving dominates and the “drivers” are extremely talented with “daredevil” skills.

What but does this mean other than the

fact that childhood has changed? For one, with many young minds hooked on virtual driving and other related electronic games, there is the expectation that this would automatically produce careful courteous drivers at the times of being licensed. Not that it has to, but given the “skills” developed, the expectation is not farfetched for the eventual transition into the real world of driving.

This real world seems to be saturated with related nightmares; driving nightmares that is.

For some, the roadways are treated just as in some racing games resulting in intimidation to others.

“Not for the feint heart” seems apt and those with such tend to remain timid road users and a source of ridicule by those with “heavy feet” and who always seek a thrill. The overall result of such thrills is an overwhelming number of traffic transgressions.

While at some point this was seemingly confined to some minibus drivers, predominantly, and taxi drivers, now, that list has expanded to almost all categories of drivers. For some in question, it appears as if it is a crime to stop when the traffic light shows red; a crime to stop at a major road; a crime to observe that some lanes do not allow for turning on red; a

crime to stop at designated bus stops; a crime to drive within the speed limit; a crime to drive within the confines on the designated lane; a crime generally observe traffic rules.

T h a t i s , unfortunately but realistically, how some drive. Some minibus drivers stop in the middle of the road to allow for passengers to get on or off. In areas where there is heavy build-up of traffic in peak hours, this set and some others from the various categories, defy the rules and create additional lanes. This allows them to “cut in” in front of vehicles in the established lanes, sometimes at breathtaking speed thereby jeopardizing those, including themselves, within.

Not only does this create unnecessary and unwanted dangers, but it adds to the time spent in these traffic jams while heading to and from work or school. If only were they to follow the rules and stay within the established lanes, the build-up would be less and the intimidating factor would be absent. Of course, this sounds logical and decent in a normal world of expected e x p e c t a t i o n s .

Unfortunately, or maybe practically, one of life's lessons is to expect the unexpected.

That accepted, it b e c o m e s d i ffi c u l t t o accept, specifically with regard to minibuses, when the established lanes are ignored for expediency and routes are deviated from, sometimes through nearby villages (exacerbating dangers therein), and they are allowed to re-integrate into the normal and lawful traffic by those entrusted to curb such practices. This is evident where some who are posted to aid in the flow of t h e t r a ffi c , g i v e t h e transgressors a free pass.

Minibuses have to acquire a road service licence from the relevant authority. This licence stipulates that only

authorized routes must be used and adhered to. Any deviation would constitute a breach and can result in penalties instituted by law enforcement. Simply put, a minibus is not authorized to deviate from the prescribed route! So driving through a village to dodge the lawful lanes or to avoid a check point or a traffic light, is against the rules. That given, it begs the question why are the transgressors are allow to continue by some.

To say it could be “turning a blind eye” given the everyday build-up traffic would be unacceptable for the simple reason that that in itself contributes to the sloth in traffic. More so, by allowing it, it creates the

opportunity for this becoming the norm thereby rendering it a wrong to adhere to traffic laws. The intention of using this space to articulate this issue is not only for it to be a reminder if one was needed, but to encourage more stringent monitoring.

Without this, it may be nostalgic for some drivers who are forced to sit and wait in the lawful lanes without moving for intermittent periods while the illegal lanes move c o n t i n u o u s l y. T h e nostalgia results for those who with healthy lungs, “drove” an old abandoned car which remained stationary!

AFTERNOON FIRE GUTS EAST STREET BUILDING A fire on Tuesday afternoon gutted the upper flat of a two-story building on East Street, Cummingsburg, Georgetown.

The fire is said to have started just before 15 hours as a passerby saw smoke emanating from the upper flat of the wooden and concrete structure.

W h e n t h e firemen arrived on the scene the top flat of the building was already engulfed. They however, were forced to shift focus in trying to save the nearby buildings as the fire swept through within minutes.

According to reports, the upper flat of the building was unoccupied, while two persons occupied the lower flat.

No one was at home at the time of the blaze.

The origin of the fire is yet to be determined.

HYDROMET OFFICE PREDICTS

LOWER RAINFALL IN “NORMAL”

RAINFALL SEASON There is a 95% chance that the Northern Hemisphere will experience El Niño conditions that will continue for the remainder of the year, and a 55% chance it will last into the second quarter of 2016.

The condition is expected to gradually weaken during April to June, 2016.

This is according to the El

Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) diagnostic discussion issued by the Climate Prediction Center (NCEP) and the International Research Institute for Climate and Society on September 28, 2015.

In this regard, the Hydrometeorological Service is advising that

persons conserve water in the various sectors and households to mitigate against the forecasted shortage in rainfall quantities and increase in atmospheric temperatures in the coming months.

Readers are also advised that the forecasted conditions do not equate to a complete absence of rainfall over the period,

since Guyana's rainy season also coincides with this period. The latest data from the Caribbean Climate Outlook Forum (CARICOF), the Climate Predicting Tool (CPT) has shown, for the remainder of 2015, a great percentage probability of B e l o w N o r m a l precipitation.

In a statement

from the Agriculture Ministry, it was noted that f u r t h e r, u n d e r t h e s e conditions, it is also still highly probable to experience periods of high intensity short duration rainfall which are difficult to predict and may result in flash flooding in high risk areas.

T h e Hydrometeorological Service says it will continue to monitor these conditions and provide updates as new information becomes available.

OCTOBER IS BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

As World Breast Cancer Month is being observed, Adult women of all ages are encouraged to perform breast self-exams at least once a month.

According to studies conducted by various cancer bodies, “Forty percent of diagnosed breast cancers are detected by women who feel a lump, so establishing a regular breast self-exam is very important.”

W h i l e mammograms can help you to detect cancer before you can feel a lump, breast selfexams help you to be familiar with how your breasts look and feel so you can alert your healthcare professional if there are any changes.

A mammogram is an X-ray image of your breast used to screen for breast cancer.

According to a non-profit organization; breastcancer.org offering a complete resource for breast cancer, including up-to-date information on the latest treatments online, a mammogram is said to lower the risk of dying from

breast cancer by 35% in women over the age of 50.

Finding breast cancers early with mammography has also meant that many more women being treated for breast cancer are able to keep their breasts. When caught early, localized cancers can be removed without resorting to breast removal (mastectomy).

Wo m e n s h o u l d b e g i n having mammograms yearly at age 40, or earlier if they're at high risk.

Causes of Breast Cancer; A familial history of breast cancer increases the risk by a factor of two or three.

Reproductive factors associated with prolonged exposure to endogenous estrogens, such as early menarche, late menopause, late age at first childbirth are among the most important risk factors for breast cancer. Exogenous hormones also exert a higher risk for breast cancer. Oral contraceptive and hormone replacement therapy users are at higher risk than non-users.

Some women wonder about the risks of

radiation exposure due to mammography. Modernday mammography only involves a tiny amount of radiation — even less than a standard chest X-ray.

Tips when going to do mammogram; On the day of the exam, wear a skirt or pants, rather than a dress, since you'll need to remove your top for the test. Don't wear deodorant or antiperspirant, since these can show up on the film and interfere with the test results.

Avoid scheduling your mammogram at a time when your breasts are swollen or tender, such as right before your period.

Discuss your family history of breast and other cancers — from both your mother's and father's side — with your doctor.

AT the launching of the '10-Year Cancer Surveillance Report 2015' on July, 16, it was reported that Guyana has recorded 6,518 new cases of cancer for the period 2003-2012, for an overall cumulative incidence rate of 867.7 per 100,000 populations. The

report concluded that Breast cancer is the leading type of this disease that is affecting the G u y a n e s e population.

Breast Cancer awareness month is observed throughout October. It aims to bring awareness to the early symptoms, causes and treatment for the disease through several events

across the world.

One such event will be hosted by Nestlé Svelty milks in association with the Cancer Institute of Guyana on Sunday October 18 t h dubbed the “pink ribbon walk”. According to public relations officer at the Cancer Institute; Dr. Mujahid Ghazi, participants will be walking from the Demerara cricket

club, along Vlissengen road towards Lamaha Street.

The walk commences at 3:30 pm. Dr. Ghazi noted that persons can register at the Institute located in the compound of the Georgetown Public Hospital.

PPP TO SEEK CLARITY ON FOREIGN

ASSISTANCE FOR LGE PPP General Secretary Clement Rohee

The People's Progressive Party (PPP) says it will be seeking clarity on proposals made by the Canadian and United States government to assist government in the hosting of the long o v e r d u e L o c a l Government Elections (LGE).

L a s t Tu e s d a y Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana, Pierre Giroux during a meeting with Minister of State, Joseph Harmon at the Ministry of the Presidency expressed willingness to support the Government of Guyana with the holding of LGE. Assistance for LGE, he said, will be provided through the delivery of machines for the electronic counting of votes to ensure an efficient delivery of the results.

Meanwhile, on

Friday last, newly accredited US Ambassador Perry Holloway indicted the need for Guyana to speed up the delivery of election results as he extends his Government's support for the hosting of upcoming LGE. The Ambassador said he intends to work with the Government of Guyana on building its democracy. He stated that with the hosting of the LGE imminent, he is hoping that the votes will be counted electronically in order to speed up the delivery of the results.

He pledged his Government's continued support to the holding of LGE before the end of 2015 – hopefully with the use of electronic tabulation.

However, the PPP says it notes the offers and will seek clarification to

US Ambassador Perry Halloway

determine whether the US and Canada are making similar offers.

The Party in a statement issued on Tu e s d a y O c t o b e r 6 , reminded that it has already called for electoral reforms including enhanced biometrics and e-voting among others.

Further, the Party has indicated that legal steps would have to be instituted to facilitate the introduction of machines for electronic counting and for tabulation of votes at any elections in Guyana.

It says the Guyana Elections Commission (Gecom) must be integrally involved at all stages in respect of these offers and must, in the final analysis, be a key decision-maker on t h e m a t t e r, n o t t h e government alone.

The Party is of the

view that introduction of machines for E-counting must be discussed with all the stakeholders in a timely and transparent manner.

F u r t h e r, s u c h offers must not remain exclusive to the Grangerled APNU+AFC Coalition Administration, the statement added.

The PPP is of the view that after twentythree years with absolutely no reforms at Gecom to cater for institutional strengthening through more transparent and impartial practices with a view to enhancing its capacity to produce free and fair elections the time has come for reforms at Gecom to be placed on the front burner.

Prior to 1992 elections the following reforms were instituted; Counting of the votes at the place of poll;

Minister of State Joseph Harmon and Canadian Ambassador Pierre Giroux

A new voters' list compiled on the basis of house to house enumeration; Expansion of the Elections Commission and the selection of a new Chairman; International and local Observers to be present at polling stations.

The PPP says it is convinced that with the following reforms enjoying the support of APNU+AFC the Donor Community and other stakeholders, Guyana's electoral system supervised by Gecom will see the cleansing of the Augean stables thus enabling Gecom to make a “fresh start”.

These reforms include; Enhanced bio-metrics Electronic voting Bringing the Gecom Secretariat under the purview of the

Commission to enable the Commission to give the Secretariat general orders and directions.

Recruitment of Gecom's key election officials such as Returning Officers and Presiding Officers and Poll Clerks through improved transparent and impartial practices.

A new voters' list to be compiled on the basis of a fresh house to house enumeration.

Review the process that allows for voting by the Disciplined Services.

Amend the relevant sections of the Representation of the People's Act to allow for the enactment of appropriate legislation to facilitate implementation of agreed reforms.

Selection of a new Chairman of Gecom

GECOM BEGINS TRAINING

POLL WORKERS In order to conduct Local Government Elections in early 2016, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has begun training staff across the country.

GECOM, in a statement said training exercises were hosted in Regions 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 last weekend where scores of persons participated. The exercise is geared at training persons to work as Returning Officers and other field staff, to effectively and

carefully manage the conduct of Local Government Elections.

Over the two days, participants were given guidelines on how to develop proper strategies to effectively make the necessary preparations for the conduct of Local Government Elections and to better understand and a p p r e c i a t e t h e organizational structure that will be used to facilitate the conduct of the Local Government Elections

processes.

GECOM said participants were also expected to acquaint themselves with the necessary steps involved in individuals casting a ballot, and in properly dealing with t h e d i ff e r e n t t y p e s o f electors. They were also exposed to the various forms and envelopes used during Local Government Elections, and were taught thoroughly and correctly the accurate methods of completing these forms and envelopes.

US INTENSFIES DRUG

FIGHT LOCALLY The collaborative effort between the United States of America and Guyana in combating the drug trade has moved one step forward. This is with the announcement of the establishment of a permanently-staffed United States Drug E n f o r c e m e n t Administration (DEA) office here.

T h i s announcement was made by newly accredited US Ambassador Perry Halloway, during a media conference on Monday, at the US Embassy in Kingston, Georgetown.

Efforts are afoot to have the office set up by midJanuary 2016. The Ambassador said the person to head the office has already been identified but could not state the name of that person.

“I believe there has already been someone selected to be the head of the office. I can't share that name right

now but he has already been selected and I hope to see him by January 15 and the rest of his team around the same time,” he revealed.

According to the ambassador, there are assessment teams already here working out the final arrangements for the permanent staffing.

“We have had a number of DEA temporary duty personnel stationed here for weeks or months at a time… and they have been working closely with the appropriate Guyanese authorities on cases, on training, technical assistance,” Holloway stated.

The DEA office has been sought in Guyana for many years given the country's high rate of drug trafficking.

Last June, the US Congress approved the move to have equipped DEA personnel based in Georgetown at the US

Embassy. The office has since been staffed by temporary workers.

T h e announcement was made of a local DEA office at a press conference in June 2014, between Former President Donald Ramotar and Former US Ambassador to Guyana Brent Hardt, at the Office of the President.

The President had noted that the US DEA has also been working very closely with Guyana's Police Force and Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) from its base out of its office in Trinidad.

Meanwhile, Guyana has not been included on a list of several countries that have been named by the US as major drug transiting and/or major illicit drug producing countries for this year.

According to a P r e s i d e n t i a l Determination “Major

US AMBASSADOR Perry Halloway speaking to the media

Drug Transit or Major Illicit Drug Producing Countries for Fiscal Year 2015”, signed by US President Barack Obama, a country's presence on this list does not reflect its Government's counternarcotics efforts or level of cooperation with the US. The countries

which were categorised as major drug transit and/or major illicit drug producing countries are: Afghanistan, The Bahamas, Belize, Bolivia, Burma, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Laos, Mexico,

Nicaragua, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela.

Obama divulged that international cooperation remained the foundation for reducing the threats posed by the illegal narcotics trade and the related crimes carried out by criminal organisations.

EDUCATION MINISTRY AND YOUTH ORGANSIATIONS TO COLLABORATE MORE Minister Nicolette Henry

The Education Ministry's department of Culture and Youth is looking to foster more collaboration with local organizations to further develop local talent.

In a recent interview with the Government Information Agency (GINA) Minister within the Ministry of Education, Nicolette Henry highlighted the importance of having a contingent that will be

able to go and showcase its talents at local, regional and international events.

W i t h responsibility for Culture, Youth and Sport in the Ministry of Education, Henry said “Only recently I spoke with the Director of Youth and I asked her to send out a call, asking for all the youth organisations that are registered with this Department, to submit their plan of activities, for the next calendar year, so

that we can identify w h e r e w e c a n collaborate,” she stated.

In relation to that, there is an advertisement in the daily newspapers to that effect.

“Once there is a scale, once we have people who are in the art, who are 'up to speed' and who can compete or be it just perform at the local, regional or international level, we will certainly not miss the opportunity

to showcase our talent,” Minister Henry affirmed.

She lauded the performance of Guyana's contingent at the recently concluded Carifesta celebrations in Haiti.

According to the Minister, all reviews and feedbacks were good, as people were impressed with the Guyanese delegation.

AMAZING WORLD

PLANT USES RAINDROPS TO EAT ANTS A carnivorous pitcher plant uses power from falling raindrops to fling ants to their doom, biologists have discovered. The team, from the University of Bristol, found that raindrops kick off very fast vibrations in the lid of the plant's jug-shaped leaves.

This propels ants from the lid into the pitcher trap below, where they drown and are consumed by digestive juices. The findings, published in the journal PNAS, are based on high-speed cameras

and laser vibration measurements.

Using these instruments, Dr Ulrike Bauer and her colleagues recorded extremely fast movement in the lid of the pitcher leaf, after it was hit by a raindrop. It wobbles like a stiff spring, she said.

"You have a raindrop hitting the surface and that causes it to move down, fast. Then because of this spring property, it moves to a certain point and " Yo u g e t a n oscillation, very similar to when you put a ruler on the

edge of your desk and flick the end down with your finger."

This movement is unique in the plant kingdom, Dr Bauer said partly because of its speed, which easily outstrips the insecttrapping manoeuvres of other carnivorous plants, and partly because of the way it exploits an external energy source.

The findings place the species in the study, Nepenthes gracilis, into its own carnivorous category; it belongs

neither with "active" carnivorous plants, like flytraps, nor motionless "passive" insect eaters like most other pitcher

plants.

Key to the pitcher's rain-powered trap is the stiffness of its lid. When the team studied

another species, which catches ants using only the slippery rim of its pitcher, they found it had a more bendy lid. (BBC)

SNEEZING MONKEY, 'WALKING' FISH FOUND IN HIMALAYAS: WWF rains.

On rainy days they often sit with their heads tucked between their knees to avoid getting water in their snub noses.

T h e 2 11 n e w s p e c i e s discovered between 2009 and 2014 include 133 plants including orchids, 26 kinds of fish, 10 amphibians, 39 invertebrates, one reptile, one bird and a mammal.

A monkey that sneezes when it rains and a "walking" fish are among more than 200 species discovered in the ecologically fragile eastern Himalayas in recent years, according to conservation group WWF. WWF has compiled a survey of wildlife discovered by scientists across Bhutan, northeast India, Nepal, northern

Myanmar and southern Tibet, in an attempt to raise awareness of the threats facing the sensitive region.

The species include what the WWF described as a bluecoloured "walking snakehead fish" which can breathe air, survive on land for four days and slither up to 400 metres (a quarter of a mile) on wet

ground.

Others include an ornate red, yellow and orange pit viper that could pass for a piece of jewellery, a fresh-water "dracula" fish with fangs and three new types of bananas. In the forests of n o r t h e r n M y a n m a r, scientists learnt in 2010 of a black and white monkey with an upturned nose that causes it to sneeze when it

Dipankar Ghose, WWF director of species and landscapes in India, described the region as a "unique treasure house" that has not yet been fully explored by scientists.

"Some (species) are so unique and charismatic that scientists are often at a loss as to how to classify them," said the report released this week.

B u t W W F

warned of a series of threats to the region including population growth, deforestation, overgrazing, poaching, mining and hydropower development. Just 25 percent of its original habitats remain intact and hundreds of species are considered to be globally threatened, the report said.

(Yahoo)

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AN ANTI-PEOPLE BUDGET -KAMLA

Opposition Leader Kamla Persad - Bissessar speaking to the media OP P O S I T ION Leader Kamla Persad- Bissessar hit Finance Minister Colm Imbert's Budget, describing the fiscal package as an “antipeople” exercise with a “sting in the tail” which would be felt by the population next March. Persad-Bissessar was scathing of Imbert's immediate hike in the cost of diesel fuel (along with super gasoline) which she bemoaned will automatically send up the price of all goods and services which rely on transportation.

She said it was a moot point for Imbert to promise to consult over the fuel subsidy if he was meanwhile raising diesel and gasoline by 15 percent. “It is very anti-people. It is half a Budget,” she hit, alluding to a likely mid-year Budget review in March after Imbert has conducted various public

consultations.

Persad-Bissessar complained that Imbert at his own behest had invited the International Monetary Fund ( I M F ) t o T T f o r consultations, lamenting that this will lead to “an IMF Budget” in March. She feared the output of these talks will be measures based on macroeconomics, rather than being people- centred.

Greater hardships will be visited on the population in March, she predicted.

“The Budget is tax, tax, tax, tax and promise, promise, promise, and p r o m i s e s o f v e r y l a rg e projects - megaprojects - but no indication of how it will be financed.” Colleagues clapped her assertion of the People's Partnership (PP's) track-record, that, “For five years not a single tax was raised or levied”.

Persad-Bissessar hit the Government's plan to levy VAT on “luxury items”, saying they had never before indicated such an intent. She said Imbert had not said which items will incur VAT, at a new rate of 12.5 percent.

She hit plans for a property tax, TT Revenue Authority and Mass Transit System/ Rapid Rail, as going “back to the future”.

Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley said the 2016 Budget provides the Government with an appropriate roadmap to guide the country through the challenging economic times ahead. Rowley, who is also chairman of the National Security Council, welcomed the fact that national security

got the largest allocation of $10.8 billion in the Budget.

He observed that, “up until recently, in every single budget since 1956, the largest allocation in the budget has always been education.” He explained, “This budget has as its largest allocation, national security. That is driven by the chronic and rampant criminal conduct in Tr i n i d a d a n d To b a g o . ” Reiterating Government's commitment to “make every effort to eliminate waste and corruption,” which existed under its People's Partnership (PP) predecessor,” Rowley said this justifies the decision

to conduct a thorough audit of the Children's Life Fund, which was the brainchild of his predecessor, Kamla Persad- Bissessar. Imbert indicated that controls will be put in place on that programme, “to stop fraud and then we are going to go after the people who stole the children's money.” Imbert, who is also Diego Martin North/ East MP, said he knew of a constituent who was recorded as having received US$25,000 under the Fund to treat her sick child but she never received the money.

T h e P r i m e Minister added, “A number of those situations are before

the Fraud Squad and that indicates to us, there was something wrong in there.”

Rowley was confident that properly audited and managed Life Fund would serve its true purpose better.

Describing Imbert' budget presentation as very comprehensive and lucid, the Prime Minister said, Imbert “has given the population, a clear picture of what I can conclude to be a very, very serious situation.

(Adapted from the Trinidad Newsday)

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T & T CHIEF JUSTICE WELCOMES JUDICIARY AUTONOMY Chief Justice Ivor Archie has welcomed the announcement by Finance Minister Colm Imbert of full financial autonomy for the Judiciary. In his 2016 National Budget presentation in the House of Representatives yesterday, Imbert said that in keeping with the ruling People's National Movement's election manifesto promise to improve the efficiency of the administration of justice, Government intends to give the Judiciary “the financial autonomy it has asked for” and the ability to manage its own resources, projects and programmes .

Imbert said detailed consultations are expected to take place in early 2016 to work out

practical and workable mechanisms to facilitate the shift towards full autonomy by the end of 2016. Speaking with Newsday immediately after the Budget presentation, Archie said full financial autonomy for the Judiciary was something for which he has been advocating for a long time. He also said he looked forward to working out the mechanics for the implementation of the measures announced .

In his budget presentation, Imbert also announced short-term plans for the Judiciary, which included

introduction of a video conferencing system at the R e m a n d Ya r d o f t h e prisons by next year, as well as having lay magistrates preside over minor offences, in particular traffic offences, so as to reduce the burden on the Magistrates' Court .

Also allocated to the Judiciary, as contained in the Government's Public Sector Investment Programme, will be a total of $49 million for the upgrading of court facilities. An estimated $1.8 million will be utilised for the rehabilitation of the Hall of Justice in Portof- Spain for work to be done on the

T&T Finance Minister Colm Imbert

supply and installation of new outrigger panels, general upgrade works to the interior of the building

and restorative works to prevent basement leaks. It is expected that these works will be carried out

in 2016 . (Adapted from the Trinidad Newsday)

SKERRIT THANKS BAJAN FORCES

Dominican Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit

Barbadian armed forces and emergency response personnel are still being lauded for their rescue and relief efforts in storm-ravaged Dominica.

The latest praise came from that island's Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit, who recently made a brief stop at the Barbados Coast Guard's headquarters off Spring Garden to offer

his personnel thanks for the assistance given to Dominica in wake of the devastation caused by Tropical Storm Erika on August 27.

He arrived in Barbados over the weekend to attend Sunday's benefit concert for Dominica held at Kensington Oval, featuring a number of local and regional artistes.

“The Coast Guard and the forces of Barbados played an integral role in the evacuation efforts in Dominica and also the transportation of supplies to many of the affected areas, and also provided security support to our police officers in Dominica,” Skerrit said. (Nation News)

INTERNATIONAL

SNOWDEN'S READY TO GO TO PRISON Edward Snowden, the former National Security Agency contractor who leaked documents about top secret mass surveillance programs, told the BBC in an interview he would be willing to reach a plea bargain with U.S. authorities. He he's offered "many times" to go to prison in the United States as part of a deal to return from exile in Russia but is still waiting for an answer from the American government.

"I've volunteered to go to prison with the government many times.

What I won't do is I won't serve as a deterrent to people trying to do the right thing in difficult situations," Snowden said in the interview in

Moscow, where he took refuge two years ago after his revelations about the scale of the NSA's snooping activities sent shock waves around the globe.

"So far, they've said they won't torture me, which is a start, I think, but we haven't gotten much further than that," he said.

Asked whether he and his lawyers were actively discussing a deal with the government, Snowden r e p l i e d , " We ' r e s t i l l waiting for them to call us back."

U.S. authorities have long said they would be open to a plea deal with him, but finding common ground between the two sides appears challenging.

Snowden didn't say how long he had proposed to

spend in prison. Former Attorney General Eric Holder generated headlines in July when he told Yahoo News that the "possibility exists" for the Justice Department to cut a deal that would allow Snowden to return to the United States.

But following Holder's comments, the Justice Department said that its stance on the matter hadn't changed and that Snowden would face criminal prosecution were he to return to the United States. Later in July, the White House rejected a petition that had gathered more than 167,000 signatures calling for President Obama to pardon Snowden, who has been charged with three felony counts, including

Edward Snowden

violations of the U.S. Espionage Act. Snowden told the BBC he didn't think the charges were fair. "The Espionage Act finds anyone guilty who provides any information to the public, regardless of

whether it is right or wrong," he said. "You aren't even allowed to explain to a jury what your motivations were for revealing this information.

It is simply a question of 'did you reveal information?' If yes, you

go to prison for the rest of your life." He said he doesn't regret his decision to bring the hidden surveillance programs to light. (CNN)

ISIS 'FORCED PREGNANT WOMEN TO HAVE ABORTIONS' Three young Yazidis who escaped from the Islamic militants' brutal clutches, said that ISIS militants forced pregnant women they sold into slavery to have abortions. After abducting hundreds of young women and girls from their homes in Iraq's Sinjar province last August, ISIS fighters rounded the captives up in "slave markets" where they were picked out to be used for sex.

The terror group was so intent on using rape as

a weapon of war that they brought in their own doctors -- gynaecologists -- to determine which of the women they had captured were virgins. Bushra, 21, says she witnessed two doctors invasively examine girls to find out if they were already pregnant. Those found to be expecting were forced to abort their babies.

"One of my friends was pregnant," Bushra recalls. "Her child was about three months in the womb.

They took her into another

room. There were two doctors and they did the abortion. "Afterwards, they brought her back. I asked her what happened and how they did it. She said the doctors told her not to speak."

Noor, Munira and Bushra say they were abducted when fighters stormed their villages; separated from their families and spirited away to ISIS controlled regions of Iraq, they were forced into sex slavery. The refugee camps of Dohuk are filled with

stories like theirs, of women and girls bought and sold, given as gifts, or bartered for weapons.

Bushra says she was living a "normal ... interesting ... good life," until ISIS arrived in Sinjar and tore her away from everything she knew. "They told us, 'Give up your family, give up that you are Yazidi -you are now Muslims. We are going to marry you; each fighter will have one of you.'"

Lined up for "inspection," Munira, 16, says the militants examined the "belly, teeth, breasts" of her and the other captives before choosing who they wanted as a "wife." "If the

girl said, 'I don't want to come with you,' or 'I don't want to marry you, they would take [her] by force," remembers Noor, 22. "There was no other choice.

"One man picked me. He was old, ugly and fat.

I was so scared. There were some other ISIS fighters so I begged one of them, 'Please, take me. Take me anywhere and marry me, if you want, but take me away from this one.' So he did." Noor says that while she wasn't forced to have sex with him immediately, two days later the fighter who had chosen her returned from the front line.

"He showed me a letter and said 'This shows

any captured women will become Muslim if 10 ISIS fighters rape her.'" She says he raped her, before giving her to his friends: "I was passed on to 11 others." Each one raped her, she says.

T h e Ya z i d i s , a small Iraqi minority who believe in a single god who created the Earth and left it in the care of a peacock angel, have been subjected to largescale persecution by ISIS, which accuses them of devil worship. ISIS claims the Quran justifies taking nonMuslim women and girls captive, and permits their rape -- a claim vociferously denied by Islamic scholars.(CNN)

INTERNATIONAL

FRENCH PRESIDENT CONDEMNS AIR FRANCE VIOLENCE

French President Francois Hollande

French President Francois Hollande has denounced a violent protest against Air France managers by striking workers as "unacceptable", saying it threatened France's image.

The president on Tuesday called for a "responsible dialogue" between managers and trade unions over proposed job cuts at t h e c o m p a n y. " S o c i a l dialogue matters, and when it's interrupted by violence and disputes take on an unacceptable form, it can have consequences for the image and attractiveness" o f t h e c o u n t r y, s a i d Hollande.

Air FranceKLM's human resources manager Xavier Broseta had his shirt ripped off and had to clamber over a wire fence to safety after hundreds of striking workers stormed a board meeting on Monday in protest over plans to cut 2,900 jobs.

A n o t h e r executive, Pierre P l i s s o n n i e r, w h o i s responsible for the longhaul flight division, had his shirt and jacket torn in the scrum, the AFP news agency reported. The loss-making airline, which employs 52,000

people, is struggling to compete in the face of fierce competition from global rivals.

It had tried to convince pilots, who earn up to $280,000 a year, to fly 100 more hours a year for the same salary, but talks broke down last week.

Instead, the company has now proposed the job cuts, along with a reduction in long-haul flights, selling 14 planes and possibly cancelling some of the new Boeing 787s it has on order. (Al Jazeera)

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MALIK BACK IN PAKISTAN TEAM Pakistan allrounder Shoaib Malik has been included as the 16th member of the Test squad for the upcoming series against England in the UAE. Malik, who last played a Test in August 2010, was picked on the request of the team management who were keen to have him in the side based on his current batting form in limited overs and as an extra bowling option.

A press release from the Pakistan Cricket Board stated that team manager Intikhab Alam

Shoaib Malik

SIMMONS FATE AS COACH UNDECIDED

Phil Simmons

Phil Simmons' future as West Indies coach hangs in the balance after the disciplinary hearing against him was deferred to next week. Simmons was asked to present himself on Saturday in front of a human resources

panel from the West Indies Cricket Board. On September 30, the WICB had indicated that Simmons's future would be sorted in a week.

Surprised at the lack of notice period given to him, Simmons' lawyers responded to the WICB,

saying Simmons could not make himself available without an advance alert and requested the hearing be rescheduled to next week. It is learned that the WICB agreed, but no date has been set yet.

Simmons was

had made the request to chief selector Haroon Rashid, stating that he and head coach Waqar Younis were in favour of Shoaib Malik being retained "given his present form in T20Is and the ODIs".

Rashid's recommendation was then approved by PCB chairman Shahryar Khan.

Malik made a comeback to the international side in the home series against Zimbabwe in May, after a gap of two years, and struck an ODI hundred in Lahore. In 11 ODI innings this year, Malik has scored suspended on September 28 by the WICB, two days after his outburst on external factors affecting the selection of the ODI squad for the Sri Lanka series. Subsequently, Michael Muirhead, the WICB CEO, clarified that Simmons had not been fired but he would need to face a HR panel to explain the breaches in confidentiality and for bringing the WICB into disrepute.

It is understood

500 runs with a century and three fifties at an average of 100, while his run tally in T20 internationals stands at 118 from six matches.

Malik's most recent fifty was an unbeaten knock of 96 in the second ODI against Zimbabwe in Harare, which ended in a five-run defeat for Pakistan due to bad light.

"Following Intikhab Alam's request, I spoke with my fellow selectors and there was unanimity over retaining Malik keeping in mind his current batting form and that although Simmons did issue an apology for putting the WICB in a difficult position, he never retracted or apologised for what he said. People close to Simmons have revealed he made it clear that his outbursts were not intentional and that is what he apologised for.

At the end of the preparatory camp for the Sri Lanka tour, held in Barbados, Simmons, unprompted, revealed that he was disappointed at not

the off-spin bowling option that could be handy in the all-important forthcoming Test series against England," said Haroon Rashid.

The three-Test series against England kicks off with the first match in Abu Dhabi from October 13. The second and third Tests will be played in Dubai and Sharjah from October 22 and November 1, respectively.

(Espncricinfo)

getting the best one-day squad and blamed "interference from outside" as the main reason. S i m m o n s h a s never revealed any name(s), but his concerns were received with gasps across the Caribbean with the chairman of CARICOM's subcommittee on cricket governance, Keith Mitchell, calling them "highly disturbing."

(Espncricinfo)

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OSCAR PISTORIUS 'MUST RECEIVE PSYCHOTHERAPY' Oscar Pistorius

Convicted South African athlete Oscar Pistorius has been ordered to undergo psychotherapy by a judgeled panel which upheld a decision taken in August to block his release from prison. The treatment should focus on the factors leading to the crime that he committed, an official statement said.

Pistorius shot dead his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp at his home in 2013, saying he mistook her for a burglar. He was

convicted of culpable h o m i c i d e , o r manslaughter, last year.

The 28-year-old double amputee had hoped to be released in August after a parole board ruled that he could serve the rest of his five-year prison sentence under house arrest.

However, Justice Minister Michael Masutha prevented the release, saying the decision had been taken prematurely. At the time of his intervention, Pistorius had been granted

parole only six months into his five-year sentence.

Mr Masutha argued that the law states that an offender can only be considered for parole after serving one-sixth of his sentence, in this case 10 months. On Monday, a panel, led by Judge Lucy Mailula, ruled that Mr Masutha had acted correctly.

It said the parole board should again consider Pistorius' request to be placed under house

arrest, or correctional supervision. The panel ruled that psychotherapy should be given "even if the offender is, indeed placed under correctional supervision", the prisons department said in a statement. The offender should "be subjected to psychotherapy in order to address criminogenic factors of the crime he committed," it said.

It also ruled that the parole board should consider imposing

conditions restricting the use of firearms by the athlete, the statement added. Ms Steenkamp was killed after he fired multiple shots though a locked door on Valentine's Day 2013. High Court Judge Thokozile Masipa acquitted him of murder last year, saying there was i n s u ffi c i e n t p r o o f t o convict him.

The prosecution has appealed against the acquittal and the case will be heard next month by

some of South Africa's most senior judges.

Pistorius was born without the fibulas in both of his legs, and had surgery to amputate both below the knee while still a baby.

He went on to become one of South Africa's best-known sports stars, and was the first amputee to compete against able-bodied athletes at the 2012 London Olympics.

(BBC)

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GOLDEN TOUCH “MAX” TAKES RBL SURINAME INVITATIONAL It was a golden performance from Parmanand 'Max' Persaud when he dominated a field of 90 golfers at the recently concluded Suriname Republic Bank Invitational Golf Tournament on Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th October.

The stableford format which featured some golfers from G u y a n a , Tr i n i d a d & Tobago, French Guiana and Suriname had stiff competition, but the Guyanese was able to overcome the challenges of each of them.

Max said, “I found the course a tough one, because of the dryness of the earth, but I kept focus and determined to play well. At the end of the first day with 35 points I was 4th in my group, but on the second day I

brought in a blazing 41 points to give me an aggregate of 76 points and make me the winner in my group of some thirtyseven golfers.”

It is believed that this is the first time Guyana has won in the BClass in Suriname's Invitational In the Women's

B-Class, Shanella We b s t e r p r o d u c e d a fantastic and amazing play over the two days to end 3rd overall.

After being tied

for 8th on the first Day, 9 points behind H anka Wolterstorff, 8 points behind Patty Tjin A Tsoi, and 5 points behind C a r m e l i t a v i d

Blankevoort, Shanella stormed back by 8 points on Day 2 to tie for that day's second place with Hanka, while Carmelita edged into that day's first place.

W h e n t h e aggregates were taken for the two days, winners were – 1stHanka (76); 2nd Carmelita (73) and 3rd S h a n e l l a We b s t e r o f Guyana (67).

Patty also amassed 67 but because of Shanella's better 2nd day's score Shanella received the 3rd prize.

Shanella also won the Longest Drive in her group while Kalyan Tiwari won the Longest Drive in his Men's AClass, and Lakeram Ramsundar the Nearest The Pin prize in the Men's B-Class.

FAROUK KUDRATH CUP-

ROSE HALL TOWN BAKEWELL U - 17 BEAT WEST BERBICE The Rose Hall Town (RHT) Bakewell under 17 team, led by brilliant performances by Kelvon Anderson, Junior Sinclair and Keith Simpson easily defeated West Berbice by 57 runs to clench the first edition of the RHTYSC Farouk Kudrath Memorial Cup. The match, is the first of several organised by the RHTYSC under its tribute to the heroes programme in memory of some outstanding members who died over the last 25 years.

Batting first at the Area 'H' Ground in brilliant sunshine after losing the toss the RHT 'B' were given a 21 runs opening partnership between Junior Sinclair and Surendra Budhoo before Budhoo was run out for 10.

Sinclair and highly talented Kevlon Anderson, both national under 15 cricketers then featured in a highly entertaining 2nd wicket partnership of 121.

The partnership ended when Sinclair was trapped LBW

by C.Nicholas for a well played 56 (8 boundaries) Anderson went on to top score with an elegant 70 (7 boundaries) and received support from Chanderpaul Govindra 15 not out and Quinton Crandon 13 not out as the home team reached 200 for 5 off their allotted 40 overs.

Bowling for West Berbice C.Nicholas, T. Webster, M. Macarade and Chris Ramnarine each claimed a wicket.

Needing to score 201 from

40 overs, West Berbice were given a solid start from skipper Kris Ramnarine and Winifred Fordyce, who put on 39 in 6 overs before national under 17 pacer Slyus Tyndall uprooted Fordyce mid stump for 14.

Ramnarine went on to top score with 35 (5 Boundaries) while the only other players to reach double figures were Travis Carmicheal 15, C.Grant 18 and Trevon Carmicheal 13 as West Berbice were bowled for 143 off 38.3 overs.

Left arm spinner Keith Simpson bowled well to claimed five wickets for 12 runs from 8 overs and received support from skipper Kevlon Anderson 3 for 15 from 6.3 overs Slyus Tyndall and Joshua Gobin claimed a wicket a piece.

The winning team poses with coach Collis Butts Anderson claimed the Man of the Match trophy while the RHT Bakewell Team received the beautiful Farouk Kudrath memorial Trophy.

Secretary/CEO of RHTYSC expressed

gratitude to West Berbice for accepting the Club's invitation to pay tribute to one of it's most outstanding executive.

Other late members to be honoured with cricket matched at the

under 15, under 19 and female levels in the upcoming weeks are Simon Budhoo, Joseph Arokium, Isabella Smartt and Bernadette King.

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ROSE HALL TOWN BAKEWELL U - 17 BEAT WEST BERBICE -see page 17

The winning team poses with coach Collis Butts