1st July 2013

Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 1816

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Monday, July 1, 2013

Fly Jamaica to launch first flight in October See story on page 7

Glory days for sugar not over – Dr Ramsammy

See story on page 3

PRICE

$60 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Several injured P7 after minibus plunges into trench Illegal P9 shotgun found on man in cemetery Contractors exposed to training in quality housing P9 standards GGMC director P14 laments undeveloped mining districts

Amerindian Affairs Minister Pauline Sukhai is greeted by residents of St Ignatius, Region Nine on Sunday before launching the Youth Apprenticeship and Entrepreneurship Project there (Samuel Sukhnandan photo)

Rose Hall woman dies after being struck by speeding car See story on page 10

IDB tells Caribbean: Clean up the fiscal mess See story on page 12

Guyana could tap climate action P13 line of credit Suspect in Bath P19 murder confesses

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MONday, july 1, 2013 | guyanatimeSGY.com

3 Glory days for sugar not over – Dr Ramsammy F News

monday, july 1, 2013 | guyanatimesGY.com

bridge openings

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on Monday, July 1, from 12:00h to 13:30h.

The Berbice River Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on Monday, July 1, from 11:00h to 12:30h.

Weather

Countrywide: Light rain showers are expected during the day, with cloudy skies in the evening. Temperatures are expected to range between 28 and 25 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Easterly north-easterly at 4.92 to 4.47 metres per second.

High Tide: 10:55h and 23:23h reaching maximum heights of 2.23 metres and 2.28 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 04:50h reaching a minimum height of 0.98 metre respectively.

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aced with the recurring low production and dire financial problems of the sugar industry, Agriculture Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy on Saturday declared that “the glory days” of GuySuCo are not over, vowing that the corporation will have even more glorious days.

Ramsammy was speaking at a ceremony to honour outstanding workers across the various estates. He said the industry had to be brought out of its death bed in the 1980s, and government succeeded in bringing it back. GuySuCo will continue to be a pillar in the development of the economy as it is more that an industry, it is essential to the country and too important to fail, he stressed.“We all have one goal and that goal is a better Guyana… we were once a poor, highly rejected bankrupt country, and today we are a middle-income country,” he said, proving that difficulties are not insurmountable.

Some 28 workers were honoured from Albion, Blairmont, Enmore, La Bonne Intention (LBI), Rose Hall, Skeldon, Uitvlugt and Wales sugar estates, as well as the Demerara Sugar Terminal. The ceremony was held at the Blairmont Community Centre.

Production

Last year, GuySuCo’s production was relatively low when compared to previous years; however, the company saw it necessary to honour the persons who contributed to the company’s output. Minister Ramsammy in his address

them is necessary, he noted.

“You have been our success and you remain the promise of success in the future,” he told the workers.

GuySuCo Chief Human Resources Manager Stacy London commended the workers who have gone the extra mile to achieve outputs over the past year.

London urged other workers to continue to work to the best of their ability and to take example from their colleagues, so that the estate can surpass its target.

Interventions

Blairmont champion worker Avril Patricia Spencer receives her certificate from a GuySuCo official

to the workers said that even as the company celebrates the history and success of the industry in this difficult time, there are some persons who seem to be happy with the company’s situation. Total production for 2012 was 218,070 tonnes, a contraction of 7.8 per cent.

This was attributed to industrial relations disruptions and inclement weather, during the first half of the year.

A dry weather spell aided the industry during the second crop; however, the first crop contraction of 33.4 per cent could not be compensated for by the second crop increase of 13.3 per cent.

The agriculture minister urged that although workers may have differences, these should be resolved with the management to bring success to the company.

“These are difficult times, but it doesn’t mean that we

shouldn’t continue to try and we will work to overcome those difficulties,” he said. Minister Ramsammy is optimistic that GuySuCo will not only recover, but attain heights as never before.

“We will make sure that we put this industry on the road of success… we have the capacity and the will to work closer together to have a greater understanding,” he said.

Economic development

Even in difficult times, the company continues to contribute not only to the economic development but also social development of workers, whether by providing scholarships for children, recreational facilities, supporting sport development, or contributing to community needs. Workers have put their lives into the industry, thus, honouring

“If each of us do our part we can increase our production level… we have to reintroduce elements of regular monitoring so that early interventions can be made to ensure targets are achieved at the end of each crop,” she said.

London stressed that the workers need to work beyond the call of duty in order to improve the company’s image.

GuySuCo Chairman Rajendra Singh congratulated the champion workers as well. He said that even as the company celebrates its workers, they should use the event to reflect on what was done wrong and how they can improve on production. Singh urged workers to work together in order to effectively correct the situation that caused the decrease in production.

He said the board, management, unions, workers and stakeholders should bond with the same objectives and take the industry to recovery. The workers were also presented with certificates and other prizes.

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monday, july 1, 2013

Views Editor: Nigel Williams Tel: 225-5128, 231-0397, 226-9921, 226-2102, 223-7230 or 223-7231. Fax: 225-5134 Mailing address: 238 Camp & Quamina Streets, Georgetown Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, sales@guyanatimesgy.com

Editorial

CPL T20 and its ramifications

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very cricket fans knows that West Indian cricket has passed through a lean patch. But the announcement that the Caribbean Premier League Twenty20 (CPL T20) will come under the umbrella sponsorship of NEW GPC/Limacol has given a shot in the arm to fans across the world. While the West Indies produced some of the greatest and most exciting players in the world, because of a concatenation of factors, the money necessary to run the newly professionalised sport just was not there.

The courageous move by NEW GPC to make such a magnanimous gesture to Caribbean cricket should therefore be met with unanimous acclamation by the local business community, cricket fans and cricket administrators, and indeed all Guyanese, including in the diaspora. This is, after all, a unique investment by a local and regional business in what will now be called Limacol CPL T20.

Earlier, NEW GPC/Limacol had become the first purchaser of a CPL franchise when they acquired the Guyana Amazon Warriors. The company noted how excited it was of the tournament, which is scheduled to start on July 29 and end on August 24. The statement pointed out that T20 cricket has demonstrated it can “open up” completely new audiences and demographics for the “venerable game” that found a home in the Caribbean among other former British colonies.

Now with the tournament sponsorship announced, the CPL T20 secretariat declared that “the coolest sporting league in the Caribbean just got cooler”. Limacol, it explained, as the flagship product of NEW GPC, has made a significant long term commitment to ensure the sustainable future of the largest and most exciting event ever to hit the Caribbean. Limacol is of course recognised and used by thousands of consumers, both regionally and internationally, and has become a popular household name. “We believe that this partnership will indeed enhance Limacol’s already solid profile, and prove valuable and mutually beneficial for both the CPL and NEW GPC,” the statement said.

No doubt, this relatively new format has proven that it can also deliver great economic benefits to the host venues, local businesses such as hotels, as well as to the players. Moreover, and perhaps most importantly for the resurgence of West Indies cricket, the exposure this shortest form of the sport has gained in international recognition provides great rewards, financial and developmental to all the players involved.

On the business side, NEW GPC should view the tournament and the entire venture as a unique opportunity to promote its world famous Limacol brand. Limacol is a genuine Guyanese and West Indian product. To combine its promotion with cricket – which is a West Indian passion – is nothing short of genius. The company earlier this year also added its stamp of approval by sponsoring the local intercounty under-15 tournament and has indicated its willingness to continue its association with the competition, hence its CPL T20 involvement is not an act in isolation.

Beyond Guyana and the region, the company ought to also grab the opportunity to push sales in new markets such as India, Australia, Pakistan, Bangladesh and South Africa, wherever CPL T20 will be broadcast. From a holistic point of view, the players who will be on show, both from the Caribbean and beyond, are among the most popular in T20 globally and, as NEW GPC/Limacol highlighted, it is somewhat unfortunate that the Caribbean until now has been unable to capitalise on the synergies opened up by the exciting, powerpacked style of cricket which the format provides.

According to the organisers, NEW GPC/Limacol was specifically targeted and approached as a company and product that added immense strategic value to the tournament. It is a fitting description of a company that has set out to make Guyana proud and, by extension, West Indies cricket and indeed the region.

Promoting local art: A display at the Kiss My Art show at the Everest Cricket Club ground on Saturday (Carl Croker photo)

GPL can and should play it safe Dear Editor, It is a very sad story regarding the amputation of the left hand of a Guyana Power and Light (GPL) technician. He suffered severe burns when he came into contact with live wires, as he was installing pre-paid meters.

Initially, I thought of some kind of lapse in terms of how this technician was performing his duties at the time. However, it seems as though he was doing everything accord-

ing to rule, but his gear and tools, particularly his gloves, were not enough.

In fact, according to GPL, the employee was equipped with all his safety gear, including gloves, helmet, and tool belt. However, the technician came into contact with very high-voltage wires and it was the ensuing sparks that burned through his glove. So I am glad that I can rule out electrocution. Even though the electrocution

factor is not at play here, I think that GPL should consider switching off the power when such exercises are ongoing.

To me, it pays to be safe by taking all the necessary precautions. This man I am sure will be compensated, and I think that he may be given alternative and suitable employment with GPL. However, he will live with a lot of setbacks and regret. He just has to be strong and ever thankful that his life

was spared.

The issue about him being left to hang until residents provided a rope to lower him is kind of sad.

This is like a first time for such an incident. It would not hurt for GPL crews to make some plans to have extra long, foldable ladders and ropes on hand, when they are working.

This kind of improvisation could end up saving lives.

Yours faithfully, Ingrid Lowe

Current bans on some music will not be enough Dear Editor, I write this letter in response to the calls for certain songs to be banned as a result of the vulgar content which promotes violence, substance abuse, and so on.

At least one artist was aware of what he was singing and has apologised to fans, as he indicated that his music is intended for entertainment purposes.

I have a few points on

this. Movies are rated and this prevents underaged children from being privy to its content and not to be influenced by it.

On the other hand, music is very different, as we simply cannot close their ears from the music they are hearing around them.

As parents, we are not always with our children so this ban the gender equality commission is calling for will not prevent the incidence of vio-

lence. Children’s ears are like sponges. They soak up everything and some say the “darnest” things.

The current bans on two songs will not be enough to curb the violence in our society.

This is something that has to be dealt with at the grassroots level – in our homes, taught by parents. It is hoped that we instil into our children respect for women and ourselves.

Another point to note is that there also exists other genres of music which promote violence.

So in essence, are we going to ban all music which promotes violence and misbehaviour? Or are we going to be the example we want our kids to see?

Remember, charity begins at home.

Yours sincerely, Annalisa Ally

guyanatimesgy.com

monday, july 1, 2013

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You can send your letters with pictures to: Guyana Times, 238 Camp & Quamina Streets, Georgetown, Guyana or letters@guyanatimesgy.com

must be UG is lagging Citizens more responsible Dear Editor, One step forward but many steps backward seems to be the story of the University of Guyana (UG). I am thinking here along the lines of its law programme. The university offers the degree, but not the opportunity to sit the bar examinations, a requisite to practising as a full-fledged qualified lawyer.

This shortcoming has been with us here in Guyana for too long. If we need help, we should seek help. Currently, the University of Lancashire is partnering with us, and maybe where legal studies are concerned, we should seek out the University of the West Indies (UWI) to help us in the areas that we are falling short. The financing to go outside of Guyana and do the bar is just too onerous.

Where UG is lacking, other institutions are taking up the slack. UG does not offer the master’s programme for lawyers. So, filling this void is the Nations University, the local me-

dium for the University of London. Nations director disclosed that the local agent is currently looking at the possibility of bringing the Master’s in Law (LLM) programme to Guyana. He explained that talks with the head of the LLM programme at the University of London are slated to take place soon.

This was why consultations were held locally, so as to get responses from persons who would be interested in the LLM pro-

gramme. The level of interest was quite high too, as over 20 of the country’s leading lawyers manifested interest in the programme.

Already many Guyanese have shunned UG and are pursuing their legal studies and career at the University of London, via Nations. This is costly, but the university has an ongoing partnership with Republic Bank, where it offers a loan scheme to persons who wish to do the programme, but are not in

a financial position to do so.

I call on the people who are involved in making decisions at UG to really up the ante. There are many little things that need fixing. If these cannot be attended to, more and more programmes will be kept in waiting, while other institutions will fill the breach and eventually replace UG. UG has to wake up or die.

Yours respectfully, Gary Sinclair

City clean-up exercises will never work Dear Editor, Truth is finally dawning on some people, and now after some clean-up exercises, many are realising that vagrants form a major undermining group in terms of the nature and amount of garbage in the city and elsewhere. I remember reading many letters to this effect, but first things first.

If we are acknowledging that vagrants are messing up the place, then implicit in this acknowledgement is the fact that we

have a vagrancy problem.

Why are we stalling in this regard? Street wanderers are impeding traffic, going into people’s vehicles, and sleeping all over the place.

If we are going to make any progress in the area of keeping the place clean, then we cannot have vagrants in the streets. It is that simple.

I have to point out too that when a place is filled with sleeping men, drug abusers, the mumbling, and mentally ill, then it is bad for business and af-

fects negatively the safety of a neighbourhood. So, is there anything that we can do, since this is like a foundational issue? It affects too many aspects of our lives.

Now that most of us are getting firsthand experience where vagrants are concerned, I am hoping that it will move many to get together and start to deal with the problem. It may mean more patrols on the road, and then eventually the setting up of shelters even if they only offer

a meal and sleeping quarters.

Yours truly, Priya Devi Ramkissoon

Dear Editor, The rainy season is in full swing and we are already seeing the huge impact it is having on our coastal areas. While the authorities will need to be more diligent in terms of ensuring that the kokers and drainage systems are in full operation, I am also appealing to all residents, especially those living in Georgetown, not to dump their garbage recklessly.

This is causing much trouble as it is clogging up the drains and canals and preventing the water accumulated on land from draining freely.

A walk through the streets will show what I have been talking about all along, that is, persons still do not care about their environment. Plastics and food boxes are strewn all

over and are creating havoc. Is it that citizens are just careless or uneducated about the negative impact such behaviour will have on the environment?

Already some sections of the city are flooded out and everyone goes about their business as if this is normal. Perhaps the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment will want to look at coming up with a public relations and education programme that will shed light on such issues, since it is clear that City Hall is not doing enough.

In the meantime, let us change our attitude in terms of the way we treat our environment. It doesn’t take much for all us to do the right thing.

Yours truly, Megan Donovan

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Foundation Parenting For Success

Dealing with aggressive behaviour – ChildLink’s vision is a Guyanese society where every child enjoys the right to a childhood in a safe and caring family, free from poverty, violence and exploitation Case Study – Names and places have been changed to protect the persons’ privacy. arlyn, a mother of three children, was living in the urban area with her husband and three children.

Marlyn and her husband are known for their beating and loud shouting when the children’s behaviours were not in accordance with the rules of the house. For years, both Marlyn and her husband thought that they had the children’s behaviour under control. This was because none of the children dared to defy the rules that were set by their parents. The eldest of the three children is Latoya who is 14 years old, the second is Joshua who is 11 years and the youngest of the siblings is Melissa who is eight years old.

Marlyn began to notice the frequency in complaints from her two daughters about her son. However these complaints were more from Melissa, the youngest child. As is the norm within the house, Marlyn or her husband would usually deal Joshua lashes for hitting and bullying his sisters. Marlyn and her husband thought like any normal sibling fighting the situations would resolve it-

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self over time.

Marlyn became ever more concerned when she noticed within the space of one week Melissa had a swollen arm as a result of a lash from Joshua with a piece of wood. Marlyn then observed Melissa with bruises about her leg when she enquired she was told they were as a result of a push from Joshua. This was very frightening for Marlyn, since the situation was not improving, it was only getting progressively worse. When the father of the children came home, Marlyn told him what was happening, and he did what he knew best, he got the belt and beat Joshua.

Assess the situation

Marlyn was not satisfied and she began to explore possible solutions from others in how to deal with her 11-year-old child developing aggressive behaviour.

While relating her fears and frustrations to the teacher at Joshua’s school,

Marlyn was able to receive information on the work of ChildLinK where she could get some support. Without hesitation, Marlyn went home and began the discussion with her husband about seeking outside support to deal with Joshua’s aggressive behaviour. Her husband was not too keen about the suggestion of getting outside help. However, after many discussions he finally agreed to get the support from the counsellor at ChildLinK. Marlyn and her husband attended the first session with the counsellor. At this session, they explored the home situation and the methods that are being used to correct the misbehaviour of their children. They shared on their belief on the need to beat

children to ensure they grow up in the right way.

When the questions were asked about Joshua’s daily activities, it was very clear there was hardly any time for him to have recreational time between school, lessons and home work. This was alarming to the counsellor since play was a very important part of a child’s life and development. After the session with the parents, a session was conducted with Joshua to assess his readiness for a structured counselling session.

During the sessions with Joshua, he spoke about being sad whenever he sees his friends playing and he is not able to play with them. The sessions with Joshua focused on helping him to manage his anger, at this

point a tool called the anger management book was used to help him assess and find ways to express his anger when he becomes angry. One of the important aspects in the sessions with Joshua was to always validate his feelings of anger, letting him know that it was okay for him to feel angry about things, without failing to remind him of his needs to express his anger in ways that are appropriate and did not hurt others.

It was obvious that Joshua’s aggressive behaviour was learnt and despite the work with him, if his parents’ aggressiveness towards their children was not transformed, then more than likely his behaviour would continue.

Ensuring lasting changes

A session was planned with Marlyn and her husband to update them on the process with Joshua and to discuss the way forward to ensure lasting changes in the child’s life. Joshua’s behaviour was learnt so it was time to unlearn the aggressive behaviour and learn a new way of resolving difficult behaviours. The nonphysical method of correcting a child’s behaviour was

explained to the parents. At first, they were not willing to try the new method of correcting their children’s behaviour because of their belief in whipping. The need for physical activities was also discussed and the parents agreed to get Joshua involved in sport for the weekends instead of having him home with his books.

The parents were also asked to include the children in discussions about their experiences at school and to find out what are some of the things that bother them. After the twoand-half-hour session, the parents left with an open mind to try the new method. Like with any old habit, the use of physical methods to correct the children’s behaviour died hard.

Over a period of several months Joshua continued to attend individual sessions while his parents attended parent support sessions.

After a period of trial and error, the family has made enormous improvement.

Today as parents, they are talking more to their children and disciplining in non-violent ways such as taking away privileges and instituting time-outs when they misbehave. Of course, the parents have their occasional relapse when they would hit or shout at the children, but they are committed to making the new method work for their family. Joshua has been talking more to his parents when he is feeling pressured by school and lessons and there have been fewer fights with his sisters.

Another of the outcomes is Joshua’s father has committed to spending more one-on-one time with his son and this is what Joshua looks forwards to weekly.

Hitting children or beatings as a form of discipline often teaches them that violence/physical methods is the way to solve a situation, reiterating that talking things through or using some other non-violent approach is not enough to resolve difficulties. Children who are often hit or beaten learn that it is okay to hit others and they are more likely to hit and bully other children. Role modelling is the most basic responsibility of parents.

Please contact us on telephone number 231-7174 or email us @programms.childlink@networksgy.com for any support you may need on parenting and other challenges you are experiencing with your children.

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News

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monday, july 1, 2013 | guyanatimesGY.com

Fly Jamaica to launch Several injured after minibus first flight out of plunges into trench Guyana in October S

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Airline representative Harry Chowbey makes the announcement about Fly Jamaica

ly Jamaica has announced that it will launch its flights out of Guyana in October, according to a representative of the new airline, Harry Chowbey.

“We spoke to the government of Guyana which was very supportive of this, and in the near future, Guyana will have back their airline,” he revealed. Chowbey said the other airlines have all been doing a great job and expressed the hope that all agents will support the venture.

Alluding to the scope of the operations, he explained that the new airline will fly the Georgetown-New York route seven days a week and that the management will direct all of its energies towards managing this route before expanding. “Our message will be simple, come home to Guyana,” Chowbey stated.

Over the past few months, the government has committed to exploring new avenues to remedy the current shortfall in airlift to Guyana, particularly since the exit of EZjet and Delta Airlines.

Acting Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister Irfaan Ali reiterated the dedication to this goal and reassured that the challenge to provide adequate and reliable airlift to and from Guyana was being met head on as the government has been engaging other airlines, including COPA

Airlines and JetBlue, to begin operations in Guyana.

Added to this, Fly Jamaica is expected to start operations in Guyana by the end of July, and will be transporting passengers to New York, Canada, and Caribbean countries.

According to Roxanne Reece, one of the carrier’s executives, the airline hopes to have all arrangements settled by this time to place Guyana on the first leg before beginning Toronto fights.

Even with the possibility that these new airlines will increase capacity, Minister Ali has noted that given the aggressive marketing campaign currently underway, there will still be need for additional airlift to adequately service the market. Word about the Guyana tourism product is spreading like wildfire across North America as the Tourism Ministry and Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) continue their marketing and sensitisation campaign.

Government in early June announced that it had granted its approval for Fly Jamaica to operate the Georgetown/New York and the Georgetown/ Toronto routes from Guyana.

Head of the Presidential Secretariat (HPS) and Cabinet Secretary, Dr Roger Luncheon said then, the airline has welcomed the decision by Guyana.

Dr Luncheon stated that the

Teen stabbed during row at wedding house

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teenager is now a patient at the New Amsterdam Hospital suffering from a stab wound to the right side of his abdomen. The stabbing occurred at Plantation Ross Village, West Coast Berbice (WCB).

The 14-year-old’s condition is regarded as stable.

Information reaching this newspaper revealed that the secondary school student who resides at Lot 150 Britannia Village, WCB, was at a wedding house at Ross Village when an argument broke out between him and the suspect which led to a scuffle, during which he was stabbed.

The victim went home and informed his parents about the confrontation and that he was stabbed to his abdomen. Upon realising that the wound was bleeding, his parents rushed him to the Fort Wellington Hospital where he was seen by a doctor on duty. Due to the severity of the wound, the teen was transferred to the New Amsterdam Hospital where he received further treatment and was admitted.

A police source said the efforts to make contact with the suspect proved futile.

Police are continuing their investigations.

approval came after the standard evaluative procedures were carried out by the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), and the recommendation was made to Cabinet by Public Works Minister Robeson Benn.

The HPS said the approval would have come earlier, but the submission made to Cabinet was too late to be incorporated into the agenda for the statutory meeting. Dr Luncheon explained that Fly Jamaica would have completed those requirements and deposited the required bond of $40 million before the recommendation could have been made to Cabinet

by Minister Benn.

everal persons sustained minor scratches and bruises after the driver of the minibus in which they were travelling lost control and the vehicle ended up in a trench in near the traffic lights at Homestretch and Mandela avenues about 13:30h.

According to reports, the route 48 (Stabroek-Sophia) minibus bearing registration number BNN 8352 was reportedly speeding when it suffered brake failure, leaving the driver no alternative but to maintain his course.

An eyewitness told this newspaper that he was at the traffic lights at the junction when he saw the blue ‘pitbull’ speed across the major intersection and topple onto its side before coming to a halt in the nearby trench.

He added that within seconds, public-spirited citizens and adult passengers broke the windows in order to extricate the children in the bus.

One young man who claims that he was in the front seat of the minibus explained that the bus driver attempted to make the turn at the traffic lights, but the bus started to topple and landed in the trench. He suffered some lacerations to his face and was bleeding but was on his feet. The driver,

The wrecked minibus at Mandela and Homestretch avenues on Sunday

he added, was taken into police custody.

A security guard at a nearby house explained that he heard a sudden noise and when he looked out, he saw the bus toppling. He said there were at least 15 passengers in the bus, with children being the majority.

He added that no one was seriously injured, but the children might have ingested some dirty water from the canal. They were all taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital where they were treated and sent away.

The owner of the minibus who was present at the

scene claimed that he was not at home when the driver, who was not scheduled to work today, reportedly collected the bus.

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monday, july 1, 2013| guyanatimesGY.com

Tourism Ministry continues aggressive awareness and marketing campaign

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ver the past two weeks, teams from the Tourism Ministry and the private sector have been deployed to Canada and New York to organise and participate in two separate trade shows, aimed at highlighting the tourism and investment potential of “Destination Guyana”.

Complementing the exposure the two trade shows provided, a series of radio and television programmes were scheduled, and acting Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister Irfaan Ali took advantage of every opportunity to announce to the world that Guyana is emerging as a shining star, as part of both the Caribbean and South America.

According to a Tourism Ministry release, the country’s presence in the North American market is evidence of the government’s commitment to continue the aggressive marketing campaign and to heighten awareness across the globe. Also travelling with the Guyana team are several members of the private sector and tourism brand ambassadors, lending

Acting Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister Irfaan Ali

their energies and voices to the national effort.

“We want to tell the story of the beautiful country that awaits you, of the many investment opportunities in every sector, of the transformation of the infrastructure and the healthy state of the Guyana economy; the fastest growing economy in Latin America and the Caribbean. This is truly the bosom of the garden of Eden and we are inviting all to rediscover home, visit Guyana and experience a destination like no other,” Minister Ali

announced to thousands as he appeared on the Audrey Johnson show, in New York.

The Audrey Johnson Show specialises in online videos showcasing people and exciting events, with interviews that showcased mega stars like Janet Jackson and Regis Philbin among many others. In addition to this, officials from the Tourism Ministry, the private sector and the acting tourism minister were also guests on several radio programmes in Canada and New York; interviews with several newspapers were also conducted, adding to the overall reach of the message: “Come to Guyana to live, retire and invest”.

Guyana Tourism Authority Director Indranauth Haralsingh also participated in several interviews with Caribbean Spotlight TV and its hostess, Tanuja Raghoo; and two interviews on WWPAT radio out of NY. He also made presentations at the Richmond Hill Economic Development Council meeting at an engagement on Liberty Avenue.

Eyew tness Foreign...

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...visit

.S. President Barack Obama’s second visit to Africa is proving to be quite different from the euphoria generated when he visited Ghana and Egypt back in 2009. Then, as the first “African American” U.S. President, there was a tremendous outpouring of joy, hope and pride. While in the U.S. he might be seen as a “black” American, in Africa, they took note that his father was a student from Kenya.

His speeches also were uplifting and full of promise. And therein lies the problem with his return. Very bluntly, from an African perspective, very few of those promises were kept and most believe that he’s simply trying to counteract the wave of influence China has generated in its vast infrastructural funding across the continent. For his part, Obama has emphasised China’s emphasis on securing raw materials and not the spending on infrastructure.

But Africa’s concern is America’s massive boosting of its military presence on its soil through the Africa Command (Africom).

The previous militarisation of Africa during the Cold War has left very raw scars. Some might’ve been surprised that Obama didn’t visit the land of his father – Kenya. On the first trip, the country was just recovering from bloody ethnic fighting over the results of the elections, which had left several thousands dead and hundreds of thousands displaced. Obama might not have wanted to be seen as “taking sides”.

On this go-around, while the election in March was remarkably peaceful – occasioned by the leaders of the two major warring factions coming into a coalition – the new president, Uhuru Kenyatta has been charged by the International Criminal Court (ICC). Here again, Obama doesn’t want to “take sides”. So no Kenya. He did, however, visit Senegal, which is on good terms with both Republicans and the Democratic administration.

But it was in South Africa that the new wind blowing across Africa was most evident.

Protesters against the U.S. position on the Palestine-Israel issue and its re-militarisation of the Africa had to be dispersed by police

firing rubber bullets. Even South Africa’s biggest trade union, the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) had said it will be protesting. Interviews revealed that South Africa was very cynical about the motives behind Obama’s visit.

Oh, what a difference a second term makes.

...encroachment

We’re not sure about the government’s take on members of the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) meeting with the opposition members of parliament. We know the government’s concerned about the repercussions of Guyana being blacklisted by the parent body. And that the Alliance For Change (AFC) has been holding it to ransom over its signing off on it.

The government might feel that the task force will be able to convince a recalcitrant opposition to reverse its position and so get Guyana off the hook. But this is a nettlesome development for several reasons. First and foremost, on an issue that affects the rating of Guyana’s transparency in financial flows, it is reprehensible that the opposition is making it a partisan matter. Guyana’s standing should’ve come first. To both opposition and government.

But more nettlesome is the intrusion of a foreign body that represents the position of an external body to deal directly with local politicians and not the government, which was elected to run the affairs of state.

To emphasise the fact that the opposition controls the legislature is to create the impression that the control of the state is being shared. This is absolutely not the case.

By the rules of our Constitution, the supreme law of the land, the government was elected by the people to assume that control.

The sovereignty of the state cannot be split like this.

...to the courts?

Adam Harris, who’s probably the oldest editor in the business around, doesn’t know that the contents of a voir dire can’t be published? Ha!! The things they do for sensationalism.

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monday, july 1, 2013 | guyanatimesGY.com

BNTF beneficiaries Contractors exposed to training in quality housing standards laud initiative

Some of the participants at the Habitat for Humanity training for contractors CDB President Dr William Warren Smith and Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh during the launching of the seventh cycle of the Basic Needs Trust Fund

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eneficiaries of the Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF) have lauded the initiative even as the country positions itself to benefit from some US$7.1 million through the seventh cycle of the programme.

The BNTF is aimed at providing resources to poor communities with the intent of improving access to basic public services while also enhancing employability.

During the launching of the seventh cycle of the BNTF, beneficiaries, Albert James from Leguan and Soonita Ranjit, principal of the Bath Nursery School, West Coast Berbice, shared their success stories.

James, who owns an Internet café and tutors on basics of the computer, said that at one point in his life he was distant from the technological world. This

ashamed,” he said.

Meanwhile, headteacher of Bath Nursery School Soonita Ranjit said previously the students had to share space with their colleagues from Bath Primary; however, the BNTF provided funding for the establishment of a new school.

She said since the nursery school was built, pupils’ performance have improved. Government believes the seventh cycle will make a phenomenal contribution to the quality of transport infrastructure and social and economic livelihood of the people.

To this end, Guyana’s Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh said the progress towards the achievement of the social and economic goals in Guyana can only be achieved with the continued support of development partners, such as the CDB. Dr Singh noted that the

BNTF beneficiary Albert James

changed after he joined a computer training programme which was done under the BNTF initiative in his region.

“I passed through different institutions and gained knowledge in different areas, but I was still not computer literate, when people would talk about the computer, I couldn’t join in the conversation and I was

CDB has over the years been led by distinguished and outstanding regionalists, each of whom in their own unique way, has left their distinguishable mark and contribution in the Caribbean.

The minister pointed out that there are various projects which have been supported by the CDB that have literally changed

lives in Guyana, such as the Community Road Improvement Project.

He affirmed that the CDB has occupied an extremely special place in the region’s landscape, since it has certainly made its mark in delivering an extremely valuable contribution.

Dr Singh explained that the CDB has done excellent work and proven its worth as a reliable and responsive development partner through several programmes, including the BNTF. On Thursday last, the seventh cycle of the BNTF was launched under the theme “Adding Value and Strength to Our Communities”.

During this cycle, Guyana is expected to receive a US$7 million grant from the CDB.

Soft loans

So far, Guyana has benefited from some US$35.9 million under the trust fund and president of the bank, Dr William Warren Smith said Guyana has been one of the largest beneficiaries, receiving some 15 per cent of the bank’s soft loans and grant.

According to Smith, the BNTF offers local solutions to people, including finding alternatives to problems of getting from one place to another, moving produce to market and in sourcing safe drinking water – very basic but very important things.

The president said the fund assists persons a lot when it comes to facing challenges that speak to their basic and daily needs.

The launch of the seventh cycle marks yet another assault on the scourge of poverty as the CDB and the government of Guyana and its people join forces to reverse economic and social conditions which have too long been the cause of poverty and illiteracy in the region. The BNTF started in 1979 with the aim of providing recourses to poor communities in order to improve access to basic public services and enhance employability.

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everal local contractors are to place special emphasis on improving quality housing and standards after gaining additional knowledge through the annual contractor training organised by Habitat for Humanity Guyana Inc. The training began last Monday at the National Library and focuses on housing standards. The contractors were informed about Habitat’s building process as outlined by the organisation’s international body – Habitat for Humanity International.

Among some of the issues discussed relating to housing and quality standards were location, material, land ownership and the environment.

The contractors were told to avoid building in hazardous, disease-prone or vector infested areas and to choose materials that are as far as possible locally sourced.

They were cautioned against building homes where there is no secure tenure or a threat of future eviction. The contractors also heard that the drainage and the environment must be one where there is little or no threat to health or other risks posed by water erosion and standing water.

Discussion also surrounded durability, water quality and quantity, washroom access, and space.

Additionally, information was shared about Habitat Guyana’s housing intervention engagements as well as the organisation’s new programme model, which focuses on community development, disaster risk reduction, and social action and awareness.

The training saw participation from contractors, material suppliers, representatives from technical institutes, and the Housing Ministry.

On June 21, Habitat for Humanity and the Edward B Beharry and Company Limited teamed up to launch a national housing drive, targeting Guyanese, who would not otherwise be able to afford a home.

Edward B Beharry and Company Limited Chairman Anand Beharry disclosed that his company will provide in excess of $14 million to the housing pilot, which is expected to last an initial 12 months.

Habitat Country Director Rawle Small said the support of the public would also provide financial literacy, training and a maintenance plan to the beneficiaries.

Although qualifying families have not yet been selected, persons living under extremely vulnerable circumstances will be given preference for this particular project.

According to Small, several homes will be constructed simultaneously and is expected to be completed in 52 days.

He disclosed that the hope is to continue the project with the intention of having it as a model for emulation by other entities.

Habitat for Humanity began its work since 1994 following an invitation from then President Cheddi Jagan. The organisation was officially registered in Guyana in 1995.

Since then, the organisation has supported over 3000 families within the country’s 10 administrative regions, through partnership with affiliates, home partners, volunteers, and sponsors to build simple, decent and affordable housing for low income earners.

The organisation has also undertaken home repairs, rehabilitation works, and assisted in accessing secure tenure.

With a new programme direction, added focus will be placed on community development, disaster risk reduction, and social action and awareness.

Through resource centres, the organisation seeks to make a stronger impact on communities through training, mobilisation, and planning of various community driven projects.

Illegal shotgun found on man in cemetery

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ne man is in police custody and is expected to be charged with the illegal possession of firearm and ammunition after they were found on him on Saturday evening at Sister Village, East Bank Berbice.

The 12 gauge shotgun and two cartridges were found in the possession of Joseph De Cunha, 22, of Sisters Village after the police received a tip-off.

According to reports reaching Guyana Times, at about 18:00h on Saturday, acting on information received, police went to Sisters Cemetery, Sisters Village, East Bank Berbice where

they saw two men.

Upon looking closer, they observed that De Cunha had a 12-gauge shotgun in his right hand, which prompted one of the constables to hide behind a tomb and then gradually crawl up behind the men. He then held on to De Cunha and took way the shotgun. The other man made good his escape.

When questioned, De Cunha told the police ranks that he was not the holder of a licence, thus, he was told of the offence committed. In response, De Cunha reportedly told the officer that he had bought the firearm from a man at Crabwood Creek, about

four months ago.

The offender was arrested and taken to the Sisters Police Station where a search was carried out on his person, and two live 12 gauge cartridges were found.

He was the transferred to the New Amsterdam Police Station along with the arm and ammo which were sealed and lodged.

When inspected, it was proven that the shotgun had no serial number. De Cunha was placed in custody pending charges as soon as Tuesday morning. The police are on the lookout for the second person as they continue their investigations.

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guyanatimesgy.com

monday, july 1, 2013

News

NDIB installs $35M pump at Rose Hall

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he National Drainage and Irrigation Board (NDIB) in its efforts to reduce flooding along the lower Corentyne has installed a pump at Rose Hall Town to help drain that community when it rains.

The $35 million pump has the capacity to push 120 cubic metres of water per second. For decades, the town has been prone to flooding, as it is situated in a basin. The project to eliminate flooding in the town which includes reactivating the old pump house, fencing it and desilting a reservoir will cost $3 million.

Region Six Vice Chairman Bopaul Jhagroo said the regional administration will be responsible for operating the facility. According to the vice chairman, the pump should become operable next month.

Rose Hall Town Interim Management Committee (IMC) Chairman Bevon

Big mouth does get small sometimes

I The pump just before it was installed

Sinclair said when the pump becomes operational, it will be able to drain all the water from Rose Hall and residents of Rose Hall will no longer cry out about flooding.

Sinclair said the IMC had only one concern as it relates to the project. “One of our concerns is that when the pump is put in place, we will have to be careful that some water is kept in the

town as a reserve in order to fight fires because we do not have any fire hydrants in the town.”

According to Sinclair, since the IMC came into office in 2005, efforts had been made to have the pump reactivated. He said it was a proud moment for him to have fulfilled most of the promises made when they took office in 2005.

“We have this final bit

now coming to be a reality and we know that our drainage system will have to be upgraded in an effort to make maximum use of the pump.”

Sinclair said the pump will also assist the Albion Sugar Estate, “because this pump will pull water from as far as Albion. This is through the main connection and Nigg, Belvadire, Hampshire and Williamsburg, all those villages will benefit from it.”

t got some people in life who just always got a big mouth. People does call dem loud mouth. Plenty of de loud mouths does also be lewd mouths. Well, it got plenty loud and lewd mouths in de media… especially de newspapers.

This week alone, one of de loud mouths write a set of tings bout a girl who had a cruel attack pun de road. The girl still deh in hospital and de loud mouths start gossipin. What de loud mouths didn’t know was that de girl had people who coulda stand up fuh she. But de loud mouths play big bully and didn’t even wanna say sorry.

De same loud mouths also turn up in Parliament and hear one story bout a government official, then go back and write sum ting else. Is like dem mouth so loud that dem ears does can’t hear what people sayin. Well, dis was Parliament, so de loud mouths had to kneel down and beg… plus put it in writin.

Finally, de loud mouths turn up in court. Dis time, every ting dem hear dem write…word fuh word. Not a word ain’t leff out. Dem even write what dem not supposed to write.

But dem judges and magistrates does don’t mek joke when any body try to mess wid dem wuk. It turn out to be de same loud mouths who does want fuh cuss out one Brazzy, who don’t bother to cuss back. Well, dis other Brazzy in de court don’t tek bullyin. Was pay up time or jail time.

A reporter seh one of de loud mouths woulda prefer to tek de jail time, because he woulda enjoy life fuh 14 days straight! But another loud mouth pay de fine and tek it out he salary!

Ting-a-ling-a-ling…friend tell friend…mattie tell mattie!

And look out fuh all de loud mouth people dis week!

West Berbice Lions elect new executive

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ion Eric Leo was reelected president of the West Berbice Lions Club.

Leo, a quantity surveyor, will have a number of experienced members to assist him in his work for the 20132014 fiscal year. The others elected to serve are: First Vice President Avinash Ramsaran, Second Vice President Kate Robinson, Third Vice President Laureen Leo, Secretary Arjune Singh, and Treasurer Harrynarine Baldeo.

The club undertook a number of community projects in the West Berbice area, including eye clinics

and community outreach programmes to children and elderly folks, during the last fiscal year.

According to Leo, at the club’s 39th installation ceremony, the club plans to continue in the same vein with more visits to schools, old folks, and community outreach programmes. He said they will work hand in hand with other social services organisations. He also thanked the club’s members and the wider community for their support during the past year and said he looked forward to even greater support and collaboration during the coming year.

Rose Hall woman dies after being struck by speeding car

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woman died at the Georgetown Public Hospital after she was reportedly struck by a speeding car while attempting to cross the Port Mourant Public Road in Berbice on Saturday evening. The dead woman was identified as 23-year-old Sunita Persaud of Rose Hall Town, Corentyne, Berbice.

The driver of the car, Sarwan Outar, a Surinamese, reportedly sped away from the scene but was subsequently taken into police custody.

Outar, 31, of Koningfpt, Paramaribo, was driving motor car 38-29-ZC, east along the northern carriage-

way on the Port Mourant Public Road at a fast pace when Persaud allegedly suddenly ran out into the road and into the car.

As a result of the impact, Persaud sustained head and other injuries. An unconscious Persaud was picked up by public-spirited citizens and rushed to the Port Mourant Hospital and was later transferred to Georgetown Public Hospital where she succumbed. The driver was subjected to a breathalyser test, upon arrest. His motorcar is impounded at the police station and he is in custody, assisting with the investigation.

FEATURE

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monday, july 1, 2013 | guyanatimesGY.com

Times Notebook Another blow to big pharmaceutical companies – the U.S. Supreme Court jolts Big Pharma

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core another victory for affordable generic medicines. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favour of generic medicines in a decision on June 17. This follows closely on a decision by the Indian Appeals Court disallowing the Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis from continuing its patent on a cancer medicine. Times Notebook has featured the Indian Supreme Court decision in a recent article.

The American Supreme Court’s decision was in response to a practice in the U.S. where big brand name pharmaceutical companies, like Abbot Laboratories, Novartis, and Pfizer, usually pay small companies that manufacture generic medicines to delay making those medicines for several years by paying them an annual sum of about US$30-50 million.

The practice is that when a small generic medicine manufacturer sees that a brand is coming off patent and the brand name manufacturer tries to extend the patent, the generic company will announce their intention to make a generic version. They will then sue the brand name company to pre-

vent them from extending their patent. Immediately, the brand name company and the generic company will negotiate an out-of-court settlement. Usually, the settlement is that the generic company will not continue its objection to the continuation of the patent and in return, the company will be paid a sum which is usually between US$30 million and US$50 million annually. It’s often referred to as a “pay-for-delay” deal. It’s a scam at the expense of people around the world, particularly poor people.

Unholy practice

Times Notebook has described the practice as an unholy albatross around people’s neck and as a practice that results in millions of people around the world living in pain and agony and dying prematurely, because they cannot afford brand name medicines. This practice gives poor and middle-class people an option -- die or live with pain and agony or die or live in misery as a result of poverty.

The U.S. government’s Federal Trade Commission (FTC) agrees with this position of Times Notebook and sees the practice as un-

healthy and conspiratorial.

They are correct in our opinion. The FTC approached the U.S. Supreme Court, and the court agreed that this is a wholly unholy practice.

Indeed, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the practice is illegal on the basis of anti-trust laws. The decision came in response to the FTC approaching the court on a particular deal involving the medicine called AndroGel, a testosterone medicine used to treat men whose testosterone levels are low, affecting their sexual activity and their health in general. The deal was made between Solvay SA, a brand name pharmaceutical company now owned

by Abbot Laboratories, and Actavis, which was previously known as Watson Pharmaceutical Company, a generic manufacturer.

The deal paid Actavis millions of dollars to wait un-

til 2015 to introduce the generic version of AndroGel. Solvay is hoping that by 2015 when Actavis introduces its generic version, Solavy would be ready to introduce a new medicine to replace AndroGel, thus keeping costs high for patients who would have to settle for the lowercost AndroGel at that time, when there might be an even better medicine, but which most people cannot afford.

In 2005, there were five such deals between brand name pharmaceutical companies and generic manufacturers in the U.S. In 2012, there were 40 such deals. The deals involve the delay of generic versions of 31 different medicines with annual U.S. sales of more than US$8.3 billion.

Such deals allow brand name pharmaceutical companies to extend their patents without any challenge from companies which make gener-

ic medicines. Consequently, high medicine costs are sustained. The result is that people who depend on these medicines must pay higher costs than if they were procuring generic forms of the medicines. Where people have health insurance, the cost of insurance stays high because the cost of medicines is too high.

Inimical

The FTC had approached a lower court which had ruled in favour of the pharmaceutical companies and found that the practice is legal, even if it may be insensitive. The FTC took the matter to the U.S. Supreme Court and, this week, won. This is good news and coming on the heels of the Indian Appeals Court decision shows that the mood is swinging towards the manufacturing of generic medicines.

The decision comes at a time when many popular medicines that prevent misery and deaths for millions of people are about to come off patent. These medicines presently have a sale of more than US$150 billion at this time. It is a bonanza waiting for generic companies, and it is a time when many people

would look forward to obtaining their medicines cheaper.

Deals between brand name pharmaceutical companies and manufacturers of generic medicines to delay the introduction of generic forms of these medicines cannot be in the public interest.

Justice Steven Breyer of the U.S. Supreme Court wrote that the practice is inimical to competition. The truth is that the delay in bringing in generic medicines is costly not only from a financial perspective, it costs lives. And it is immoral for pharmaceutical companies to be making billions at the expense of people who must live lives of misery and often die prematurely, because they cannot afford brand name medicines.

All medicines must be in the category of public good.

Governments have a role to play to enact policies that prevent overpricing of medicines, and policies must be in place to limit the time a manufacturer can make excessive amounts of profits. It is about quality of lives and it is a lifeand-death issue. We must see the interests of people at the heart of decisions we make and not from the cold cloisters of competition and antitrust laws alone.

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monday, july 1, 2013 | guyanatimeSGY.com

IDB tells Caribbean: Clean up the fiscal mess – urges more export, investment in infrastructure

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nter-American Development Bank President Luis Alberto Moreno said the Caribbean must export and invest more and also set its fiscal house in order if it to lift its self out of the current economic woes.

Speaking at the Caribbean Growth Forum (CGF), held in Nassau, The Bahamas last week, Moreno said four decades ago Caribbean per capita incomes were about three times higher than those of small countries in other parts of the world. However, since that time, a low growth tendency has caused the Caribbean to fall behind.

“Unless things change, that declining trend is likely to persist throughout this decade. An upturn in global economic activity would, like a rising tide, lift all boats.

But given the present international conditions, it would not be enough to help this region preserve its living standards or catch up with its competitors,” the IDB head cautioned.

According to the IMF’s most recent World Economic Outlook, global growth prospects remain subdued. This is particularly true of countries that used to be the international engines of growth, and who happen to be the Caribbean’s main trading partners, Moreno said. He said the new poles of high economic growth still have limited trade relations with the Caribbean. “Weak economic growth in North America and Europe is bad news for the Caribbean tourism industry. The outlook for offshore financial services is also un-

certain. Countries that export commodities have a somewhat brighter outlook, but depending on one or two exports introduce substantial volatility to the economies. To sum this up, we cannot depend on an improvement of external conditions.”

Grand agreement

Moreno said given that scenario, the Caribbean faces a choice: sticking with the status quo or going for a grand agreement. “Doing nothing, of course, is not a viable option. It implies either spiralling debts or a fiscal compression with persistent low growth. Inevitably, it would lead to worse living standards for your citizens. The alternative is reaching a grand agreement to put your countries on a path to higher and socially inclusive economic growth.

An option that generates good jobs and resources to care for the vulnerable. A choice that offers hope.

“A grand agreement does not mean a one-size-fits-all solution. There is no single set of policies that would allow the entire Caribbean to get on the path to growth. The solutions must be home-grown in each of your countries.”

Outlining what he says are steps that can go a far way in developing the economies of the region, Moreno urged that the Caribbean export more.

According to him, for small, open economies facing chronic external imbalances and fiscal retrenchment, competitive exports are the only path to growth.

“To that end, the Caribbean needs to diversify

IDB President Luis Alberto Moreno both its trading partners and its exports.”

He said the recent launch of the Caribbean Aid for Trade Strategy takes on great importance.”At that meeting in Port-au-Prince, someone put it in stark terms: the future requires the Caribbean to export or die. To put things in perspective, in 2010, the Caribbean exported goods and services equivalent to 44 per cent of its GDP. This compares to 77 per cent in Panama and 207 per cent in Singapore.

Where would you find new trading partners? You could start with your faster growing Latin American neighbours.

For example, had Brazil been one of the Caribbean’s trading partners during the recent global recession rather than the United States or Europe, economic growth in this region would have been nearly three percentage points higher. But in order to achieve this, we must increase air and maritime connections be-

tween both regions.”

Secondly, Moreno said the Caribbean has to set its fiscal house in order. Regional leaders often prefer to talk about growth rather than about debt, but the truth is public debt levels over 60 per cent of GDP create a drag on economic growth, as do unsustainable fiscal deficits. He said several countries have surpassed that threshold and others are fast approaching it. The path to growth requires dealing with fiscal retrenchment and high debt levels today. “Many of your Latin American neighbours learnt this lesson the hard way. They’ve also learnt that fiscal adjustment can and should be pro-growth.”

Infrastructure

Thirdly, he said higher growth requires more investments in infrastructure. According to him, the Caribbean Aid for Trade Strategy highlighted that the region is significantly behind other competitors. Given their current public debt levels, most countries will have to rely on the private sector to play a leading role in mobilising the necessary financing. One proven mechanism to achieve this is to promote public-private partnerships.

But despite their benefits, they are rarely used in the Caribbean. “The region needs to remove obstacles to these investments, whether they come from domestic or foreign sponsors.”

Moreno also spoke about fiscal adjustments requiring stronger social safety nets, noting that the global cri-

sis erased many of the gains made against poverty prior to 2008 and that the downturn left the poor with fewer resources to cushion a blow, so great care should be taken to avoid having the burden of the adjustment fall on the most vulnerable.

“A fifth imperative is that productivity must increase.

Caribbean productivity levels have been flat for many years but there are many reforms that can be carried out to reduce the cost of doing business and to make the region more competitive.”

Noting that not all of these measures are economic, Moreno alluded to a meeting held last week on crime and violence in the Caribbean, where it was noted that the cost of insecurity can consume as much as 10 per cent of GDP. He urged too that renewable energy sources must be developed. “The Caribbean has some of the highest energy costs in the world, in some cases up to five times more expensive than in North America. But technological advances and competition are bringing down the costs of solar and wind power equipment, to the point where they are now competitive with many fossil fuels. The Caribbean stands to be a clear beneficiary of this trend, which would also allow most countries to reduce their oil bill. In addition, the region also has plenty of untapped hydroelectric potential. Cheap and abundant natural gas can also be part of the mix, although it would require significant investments.

We are so bullish about these

prospects that we have organised a big conference later this year to discuss how to make all of this happen,” Moreno said.

He pledged the IDB’s continued to support to the Caribbean through its traditional lending products, its analytical work on policy alternatives, and its permanent advocacy in favour of the region. The CGF is an initiative led by the IDB, World Bank, and the Caribbean Development Bank with the support of the United Kingdom Agency for International Development and the Canadian International Development Agency. The CGF initiative was initiated to face the challenge of chronic low growth in the region. This is the highest priority for the Caribbean Department of the IDB.

Competitiveness

The CGF supports the competiveness action plans of 15 participating Caribbean countries to increase competitiveness and growth. Based on an intensive consultative process, three priority areas have been validated: (one) investment climate; (two) logistics and connectivity; and (three) skills and productivity. The CGF will identify and monitor the implementation of a set of specific policy reforms to boost growth in each country and regionally. The initiative engages all critical players, including governments, the private sector, women-in-business organisations, competitiveness councils, youth, civil society and the Caribbean diaspora.

News

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monday, july 1, 2013 | guyanatimesGY.com

Guyana could tap climate School uniform voucher distribution action line of credit

Dr William Warren Smith

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aribbean Development Bank (CDB) President Dr William Warren Smith has urged the Guyana government to take full advantage of a new low-cost facility available through the newly approved US$47 million country strategy.

Speaking after his opening remarks at the recently held Investment Conference, Smith disclosed that under the new strategy, Guyana can access a relatively new US$65.3 million climate action line of credit.

Smith said the European Development Investment Funded line will provide concessionary resources for climate change related interventions such as energy efficient, renewable energy, forestry and land use, low carbon technologies and climate adaptation.

“I implore the government to make full use of this facility in pursuit of its own objectives of building climate resilient and improving environmental management.”

Smith noted that the

CDB’s partnership with Guyana is aimed at improving investment and growth and as a stepping stone to systematic poverty reduction.

The CDB president pointed out that since 1970; the bank has provided US$297 million to Guyana.

Early this year, the bank signed an agreement with government for a US$34 million loan for the West Coast Demerara Road Improvement Project.

Guyana’s third most populated area; Region Three also stands to benefit from improved road safety and farm-to-market access road projects in the coming years.

“We have done several road projects in Guyana with similar results,” Smith said.

The CDB board of directors has also recently approved a new US$47 million country strategy for Guyana.

Tackling poverty

According to Smith, this strategy places emphasis on tackling poverty by increasing access to basic social services, to the improvement of skills to take advantage of emerging job opportunities, enhancing competitiveness and responding to climate change through coastline protection.

This new strategy also includes a US$7 million grant under the Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF) seventh programme, which was launched last Thursday.

“We are extremely proud of the BNTF programme; it has been facilitating invest-

Duo remanded for Bath robbery

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olice were reward- house the Ayubes’ business, ed for their efforts through an open door, held and alertness when up them up, relieved them they nabbed two men carry- of the articles, and then esing a quantity of cellphone caped in a silver grey Allion cards and $38,000 cash on motor car, PRR 2880, which was allegedly rented from a Thursday.

The two, Tajeram car rental company at Good Persaud, 23, and Khemraj Hope, East Coast Demerara.

Some men working nearJagbeer, 31, both of Lot 125 Seventh Street, Success, by saw the suspicious activiEast Coast Demerara were ty and took down the number refused bail when they later of the getaway car. The police appeared before Magistrate were informed and descendRoby Benn on Friday at the ed on the scene immediately, Fort Wellington Magistrate’s but by then the bandits had Court on a joint charge of escaped. An all-station alert robbery under arms. was put out, which resulted According to the prosecu- in the culprits being nabbed tor, Inspector Grace Bristol on the East Coast by police at around 11:20h on Wednesday, a road block at Good Hope, as Sultan “David” Ayube, 43, they were on their way to reand his wife, Rosaline, 41, turn the car.

The two men were arof Lot 193 Plantation Hope, Bath Settlement, West Coast rested and the black haverBerbice were at home when sack containing $38,000 and they were attacked and a number of phone cards robbed by three bandits who and a gun were recovered. were armed with a hand- According to information, the gun, a cutlass, and knives. men who are married to two The couple were relieved of sisters are well-known char$253,000; a quantity of gold acters. At the time of the injewellery valued $300,000; terception, Jagbeer was drivcellphone cards valued ing the car. $690,000; and a BlackBerry The police are still looking cellphone valued at $50,000. for Satish Ramlekhan of Mon Reports are that the men Repos, East Coast Demerara had checked out the area ear- who is said to be the third lier before returning to com- man who escaped with most mit the act. The men entered of the cash. Investigations the premises, which also are continuing.

ment in community infrastructure and related services in water and sanitation, access road and drainage, education and human resource development since 1979.”

Smith added that through the BNTF, the CDB has had its biggest impact on poverty reduction, especially in rural areas and remote locations in Guyana. Guyana also stands to benefit from a US$7.1 million grant under the seventh cycle of the BNTF.

Largest

So far, Guyana has benefited from some US$35.9 million under this trust fund and has been one of the largest beneficiaries, receiving some 15 per cent of the bank’s soft loans and grant.

“We are proud of the works that the CDB is doing here, Guyana showcases in a very graphic and successful manner CDB’s franchise value and what it really is

meant to do,” the CDB president said.

According to Smith, Guyana has been a major beneficiary of the bank’s Special Development Fund also known as SDF. He stated that since its founding in 1917 right up to 2012, Guyana has been the largest beneficiary of soft loans and grants from the bank.

Over that span of time, Guyana received US$165 million on SDF loans at two per cent interest repayable for over 30 years with 10 years for repayment of principle.

“This represents 15 per cent of CDB’s SDF loans to all of the SDF eligible member countries, so Guyana has had a very large proportion of those resources,” he explained.

The country has also received US$35 million grant fund or 11 per cent of all of SDF grant resources, which had been approved for the CDB countries.

ongoing

T

he distribution of school uniform vouchers, which began on June 20, is scheduled to end when school closes for this term on July 5, and Education Minister Priya Manickchand is urging parents to uplift the vouchers at the schools their children attend.

The education minister noted that the vouchers have to be picked up now and are available for all schoolchildren, as well as those at technical and vocational institutions and orphanages.

Guyana is the only Caricom country providing this service for its schoolchildren. The distribution of school uniform vouchers commenced earlier this month in Regions Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, and Seven, 10. In Regions One, Seven, Eight and Nine, the Amerindian Affairs Ministry is facilitating the distribu-

tion of school uniform materials under its annual national programme.

Last year, $296.7 million was spent on the National School Uniform Programme which benefited more than 190,000 children in nursery, primary, and secondary schools. Government is committed to continue implementing programmes aimed at improving students’ attendance, providing them with a better opportunity to complete school and receive a sound education, thereby empowering them to make a meaningful contribution to society.

Apart from the uniform programme, the administration in an effort to increase enrolment and attendance rates, as well as reduce the drop-out rate, spent more than $1.2 billion on the School Feeding Programme, which benefited more than 64,000 students in 2012.

14

MONday, July 1, 2013

guyanatimesgy.com

News

GGMC director laments undeveloped PNCR would never lose faith mining districts

G

uyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) Director William Dalgety said mining districts continue to pump billions of dollars into the country’s economy yet many of them remain underdeveloped.

Speaking at the sixth Annual Research Conference at the National Library, Dalgety said in 2008, the GGMC made $3.6 billion and has since experienced a steady increase in revenues. By 2012, the commission had made a whopping $9.3 billion.

Alluding directly to the mining districts, the GGMC board member said $22 billion in gold was pumped out of the Potaro mining district in 2011, while $35 billion was accumulated from the Mazaruni mining district, $31.7 billion from the Cuyuni mining district, and $19 billion from the North West.

Underdeveloped

He said with the exception of Bartica, mining communities within these districts remain underdeveloped with poor sanitation. “Look at the condition of Mahdia, that community is in a terrible state, if you want to eat, there is no proper place where you can wash your hands, no washroom, nothing,” he lamented.

He said the same can be said of Port Kaituma, Puruni, and other mining communities where makeshift tents and kitchens have been erected as liv-

in Caricom

O

A section of Port Kaituma

ing quarters. “These men go there to work, but they can’t even take their wife or children there on vacation into those communities because of the poor conditions,” Dalgety described the areas as “slums”.

According to him, a percentage of the money generated from these mining districts goes into the rehabilitation of internal and external roads as well as the regional democratic councils (RDCs).

“I know monies go to the RDCs, but you don’t see any change in the sanitation and hygiene. I don’t know what they do with the money.”

The GGMC director opined that the government through the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry should implement a pro-

gramme aimed at raising the standards of mining districts.

Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) President Patrick Harding, when contacted, declined to elaborate on the matter.

“Mining is mobile,” he said.

However, he acknowledged the need for improved sanitary conditions.

Poor sanitation

It was poor sanitation in the North West District that resulted in a gastroenteritis outbreak in the area in February and March which caused three deaths and sickened 500 persons.

Port Kaituma was among the communities hard hit by the outbreak which erupted after persons consumed contami-

nated river and well water. The Health Ministry, in presenting the preliminary report, explained that the waterways were highly contaminated with a high level of the E coli bacteria.

The ministry said the high levels of E coli in the river and wells were linked to the poor sanitary conditions throughout the subdistrict. While dumping of garbage into the river and the erection of latrines close to the river were identified as major contributing factors, logging and mining operations were also culpable for poor or non-existent sanitary facilities.

According to reports, 95 per cent of the sub-region is dominated by mining, an activity which in itself contributes to water pollution in terms of turbidity.

n the 40th anniversary of the regional integration movement, the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) extends warm congratulations to the people of the Caribbean Community, the staff of the Caricom Secretariat and to the Guyanese people, for a happy and meaningful Caricom Day 2013.

Forty years ago, the Treaty of Chaguaramas established the Caribbean Community and Common Market, later known as Caricom. At the eighth heads of government conference of the Caribbean Free Trade Association (CARIFTA) held in April 1973, in Georgetown, Guyana, the decision was made to establish the Caribbean Community.

The process through which it was to be established is set out in the Georgetown Accord issued by that conference.

The founding fathers of Caricom and the signatories to the Treaty of Chaguaramas were Barbadian Prime Minister Errol Barrow, Guyanese President Forbes Burnham, Jamaican Prime Minister Michael Manley, and Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Eric Williams.

“The PNCR takes great pride in the role

of our founder leader in the regional integration movement. Our party trusts that even as we celebrate this occasion, we will all continue to commit ourselves to the strengthening and advancement of our common Caribbean home.

“The PNCR has played a pivotal role in promoting and sustaining the movement for the development of a common Caribbean identity and a strong regional economy, and is familiar with the recent challenges which have tested the resolve and commitment of the leaders of the community. The integration process has been challenged before, in various ways, but it has survived them and as a result, is today one of the oldest integration movements in the world.

“The PNCR would never lose faith in the resilience of the community, despite the trials. On this, the 40th anniversary, we affirm our commitment to the integration process and our Caribbean leaders, in the confident expectation that all obstacles and challenges will be overcome, so that the community will be enabled to play an even greater role in the lives of all of the citizens of this our Caribbean region,” the party concluded.

15 News

guyanatimesgy.com

monday, JuLY 1, 2013

Caricom nations can become richer with deeper integration – President Ramotar P

resident Donald Ramotar said Caricom countries can be richer if they take bold steps to deepen the integration progress.

Ramotar made the comments in a message to mark the 40th anniversary of the formation of Caricom.

Ramotar said it was indeed an ambitious but necessary undertaking by the four founding nations – Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago – when on July 4, 1973 they signed the Treaty of Chaguaramas which represented a tangible expression of their collective belief in the ideals of regional integration.

“This juncture in the history of the Caricom family is an occasion for celebration, as well as critical reflection.

Regionalism is a tangible expression by states that greater benefits can be accrued from promoting our commonalities. Therefore, the region has much to boast about its collaboration in the areas of foreign policy, advancement through joint partnership with third states and groupings like the European Union, the joint promotion of our culture through events like CARIFESTA and sports.

A united Caricom is indeed a very powerful voting bloc

cessing the markets of the wider region.

Hassle-free movement

President Donald Ramotar

in multilateral bodies and the region’s commitment to democratic principles is recognised and applauded the world over. I am convinced that our individual countries can be more prosperous and indeed strengthened, if bold steps are taken to deepen our integration process,” President Ramotar said.

In this regard, he said the revision of the Treaty of Chaguaramas paved the way for the implementation of the Caricom Single Market and Economy. According to him, while the economies of the region remain vulnerable to external shocks, the CSME offers businesses the opportunity to expand their operation and be profitable by ac-

“Integration implies, however, that our peoples must be vested with the right to move and do business across the region without imposed barriers. Heads of government since the conference of heads in Grand Anse, Grenada in 1989, have re-committed to hassle-free movement of people to promote a greater sense of community. Yet insularity continues to plague our union and poses a threat to what we envisage for our peoples,” the Guyanese leader said.

He said the region has indeed survived many challenges, the most recent being the economic crises which struck in 2008 and the many natural disasters as a result of climate change. “Given our vulnerabilities as a region, it is time that we heighten our preparedness to such challenges even as we remain engaged in the process of advocating for countries to reduce their emissions. Similar progress must be made in other areas in order for us to meet the demands of the international environment. Critical to this is the work of the Caricom Secretariat in per-

forming at its intended optimum. In this regard, Guyana welcomed the reform process currently taking place across the region. This process will see the restructuring of the secretariat, and other re-

nationals across the region.

To this end, it is my hope that the reform process would also allow for a mechanism of regular engagement of the secretariat with stakeholders of the community.”

“I trust that even as we celebrate such a momentous occasion, that we would pause to reflect of our journey thus far and seek new ways of ensuring that the strides we have made over the past 40 years are not lost to the insecurities that exist. Guyana’s commitment to regional integration has been steadfast over the years and will continue in the future.” gional Institutions to make these institutions more proactive to anticipate and respond to the current trends in a timely manner.”

President Ramotar said while Guyana has had the distinction to serve as the headquarters of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) Secretariat, many are unaware of the work being done on behalf of the wider community. “There is, therefore, the need for more sensitisation of the work of Caricom, thereby allowing for a greater appreciation not only by Guyanese citizens, but also

Notable successes

Additionally, Ramotar said 40 years has brought many notable successes, making reference to institutions and associate institutions such as the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC); the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), on which a notable Guyanese national sits as a judge; the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).

However the region is challenged to reorient if it is to remain effectively engaged globally.

“A strategically reposi-

tioned Caribbean Community can continue to make a significant impact at the global level through, among other things, forging new partnerships with third states and the further strengthening of its relations with other regional groupings such as the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) of which both Guyana and Suriname are members.

“I trust that even as we celebrate such a momentous occasion, that we would pause to reflect of our journey thus far and seek new ways of ensuring that the strides we have made over the past 40 years are not lost to the insecurities that exist. Guyana’s commitment to regional integration has been steadfast over the years and will continue in the future. I acknowledge the inputs made by Guyanese to the success of regional integration and we would continue to seek new ways in which the aspirations of our Caribbean Community (Caricom) can be realised.

My government’s full support to the continued efforts to deepening and widening of Caricom is assured, as other regional governments also work toward a more integrated Caribbean.”

16

monday, july 1, 2013

guyanatimesgy.com

Africa

Caribbean

TT looks at Chile’s economic model Zimbabwe: World Bank readies for re-engagement rinidad’s Finance rule based on a structural sur- model that many of the coun-

T

Minister Larry Howai Saturday said Chile’s economic model is an example for TT. In comments at the opening of a public-sector budget seminar, he said the South American country was a “shining example” in Latin America and the Caribbean of an economy that has instituted tight controls in budgeting.

“I believe that it was in 2000 that the then president of Chile introduced a fiscal

plus of one per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to reaffirm the country’s commitment to fiscal responsibility,” he said. Saturday’s seminar was hosted by the Finance Ministry, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Embassy of Chile at the Finance Ministry, Eric Williams Financial Complex, Port of Spain.

Howai said the example of Chile made for a very good

tries in Caricom could use as a “case study.” He said Chile’s “fiscal prudence” had allowed its government to implement a “powerful stimulus package” in an attempt to mitigate the effects of the recent global economic crisis. “It is their government and central bank that continue to work together to optimise the use of the resources from the country’s Social Stabilisation Fund.

(Trinidad Guardian)

North America

T

he World Bank (WB) has crafted a three-year strategy for Zimbabwe, focusing on fostering private sector-led growth, creation of an enabling environment and reducing societal vulnerabilities as it readies for eventual re-engagement with the country. The move comes at a time Harare has been building bridges with international financial institutions, to help finance the growth of the economy on the increase since the use of multiple currencies in

2009.

However, international financial institutions have not opened the taps to the much needed lines of credit, due to the country’s US$10.7 billion external debt profile.

The WB’s Interim Strategy Note (ISN) for Zimbabwe that was availed last week, comes barely a week after the International Monetary Fund (IMF) agreed a Staff Monitored Programme (SMP) on the country running up to December.

An SMP is an informal agreement between country authorities and fund staff to monitor the implementation of the authorities’ economic programme.

The ISN for Zimbabwe was done by the International Development Association (IDA), International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) – all arms of the World Bank Group – and begins this year up to 2015. (allAfrica)

U.S. energy department pledges action Asia Chinese banking system stable, says regulator in handling gas export applications

E

nergy Secretary Ernest Moniz said on Sunday he expected to have a “fair amount of action” during 2013 in evaluating applications by companies to export natural gas from the United States.

“I’m planning to go through them as rapidly as I can... I certainly expect to have a fair amount of action this year,” Moniz, who took office last month, said in an interview in the Austrian capital.

U.S. companies hoping to export natural gas are frustrated by lengthy delays and rule changes as they await Department of Energy approval of their applications.

But some U.S. manufacturers and lawmakers have warned that a rapid and unlimited push to export Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) could lead to a sharp rise in gas prices and harm consumers and energy-intensive industries. (Reuters)

Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz

Europe

Cyprus debt in default over bond swap

C

yprus’s debt ratings have been downgraded to “default” after it announced it would delay paying back one billlion euros (US$1.3 billion) of bonds.

Standard & Poor’s lowered the island’s credit ratings to “selective default” from CCC/C. Cyprus will swap government bonds maturing in 2013 through to the first quarter of 2016 with new debt that matures in five to 10 years.

The EU country has to do

the bond swap to meet the terms of its bailout.

S&P said on Friday that the “exchange materially changes the terms of the affected debt and constitutes what we consider a distressed exchange. We view the extension of maturities without what we find to be adequate offsetting compensation as the exchange of new debt on less favourable terms to the existing debt.”

Earlier this year, Cyprus

Market statistics Cambio Rates

secured a loan package worth 10 billion euros from its EU partners and the International Monetary Fund.

This included a tax on large deposits and thorough banking reform, which will raise 13 billion euros.

An early proposal to raise money through a levy on all Cypriot bank deposits – including those below 100,000 euros – caused panic in financial markets and was quickly withdrawn. (BBC News)

Gold Prices – Guyana Gold Board

Bank of Guyana

Fixed as at June 18, 2013 Calculated at 94% purity

Buying

Selling

U.S.

GBP

$310.58

$344.58

Cambio

CAN

$161.50

$181.42

Gross

$260,585

USD

$198.42

$205.58

Net

$242,344

Selling

$268,875

Cur

$1366.75 $202.83

Indicators as on June 28, 2013 Live Spot Gold

Indicators

USD Per Once

Bid/Ask

$1235.30

$1236.30

Low/High

$1186.40

$1236.50

Change

+34.50

+2.57

June 28 USD GBP EUR June 27 USD GBP EUR

London Gold Fix AM 1203.25 789.33 921.89 AM 1232.00 806.07 945.51

Crude Oil Price Silver Platinum

US$ per barrel

Change %

$102.82

+0.12

USD per Ounce

Change %

$19.66

+1.15

$1339.00

+25.00

PM 1192.00 783.03 914.39 PM 1232.75 808.94 947.32

C

hina’s banking system is stable, despite ongoing fears of a “credit crunch” spooking financial markets, according to the country’s top regulator.

“The issue with tight liquidity in the interbank market has started to ease,” said the head of the China Banking Regulatory Commission, Shang Fulin.

Fears over bad bank loans sent Chinese stocks to a four-and-a-half-year low last

week. Global markets also fell sharply.

Concern over bad loans in the economy led to a spike in interbank rates, which are the interest rates banks charge each other on a daily basis and a sign of how much faith that banks have in each other.

For example, a spike in the London-based Libor benchmark lending rate preceded the start of the 2008 financial crisis as U.S. and UK banks refused to lend each other as

Middle East Bahrain’s economic growth accelerated strongly in Q1

B

ahrain’s economic growth accelerated strongly in the first quarter of 2013, helped by a revival of oil output, official data showed on Sunday.

Gross domestic product, adjusted for inflation, expanded 2.5 per cent quarter-onquarter in January-March, compared to a downwardly revised 0.2 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2012.

On an annual basis, growth quickened to 4.2 per

cent in the first three months of 2013, the highest rate in a year, from a downwardly revised 2.5 per cent in the previous quarter, the data from the Central Informatics Organisation showed.

The country of 1.3 million people has based its economic strategy on becoming a regional financial hub as it lacks much of the petrodollar wealth of its Arab neighbours. But political unrest starting in 2011, in which the

Changes: +114.89

% Change: -0.76

Open: 15016.58

High: 15034.63

Low: 14884.800

% YTD: +13.78

52Wk Hi: 15398.48

52 Wk Lo: 12035.09

government has faced mainly Shi’ite-led pro-democracy protests, has hit the economy hard and raised pressure on the government to boost spending.

Output in the hydrocarbons sector, which accounts for a quarter of Bahrain’s US$30 billion economy, grew 1.3 per cent in January-March from the previous quarter, against a mere 0.4 per cent rise in the final three months of 2012. (Arabianbusiness)

(continued

Investors' guide The Fed and China churn already choppy waters

D

ata this week will add spice to speculation as to when the U.S. Federal Reserve will start scaling back its stimulus while reinforcing the realisation that China is serious about shifting to a less frantic growth rate.

Fed policymakers have sent mixed messages since Chairman Ben Bernanke’s June 19th announcement that the central bank was on course to end its bond buying, now running at US$85 billion a month, by mid-2014.

Several officials reassured markets last week that the phase-out of the central bank’s asset purchases would depend on the economic data, not the date. But Fed Governor Jeremy Stein on Friday explicitly mentioned September

as perhaps the time to decide whether to start heading for the exit. He also stressed the need to take a long view of the improvement in the economy.

That being the case, a projected increase of 166,000 U.S. non-farm payroll jobs in June and a dip in the jobless rate to 7.5 per cent could be enough to cement the case for an early tapering of the Fed’s ‘quantitative easing’ (QE) programme.

But Brian Levitt, senior economist with Oppenheimer Funds in New York, said the fact remained that U.S. growth was modest; given the pace of job creation, it could take a couple of years before unemployment approaches the 6.5 per cent rate the Fed has tentatively set as the threshold for raising interest rates.

Business concept – Nominal

Last: 14909.60

the scale of bad debts became apparent.

“Recently, some foreign institutions and industry players showed concern about risk in areas including local government debts,” Shang said on Saturday. “As long as we apply the right risk-management measures, these risks are controllable.” China has been trying to impose more discipline on its banks amid fears of bad loans impacting on its economy. (BBC News)

Like the jobs report, the U.S. Institute of Supply Management’s June manufacturing survey will not be signalling a boom either: economists expect the index based on the survey to rise modestly to 50.5 from 49.0 in May. At least the survey should point in a positive direction.

By contrast, the index derived from China’s official poll of purchasing managers is likely to have fallen to the neutral level of 50 demarcating expansion from contraction.

A slower, more sustainable rate of growth in China would be good news for the world in the long run, but it makes life harder in the interim for central banks trying to steer a course through strong crosscurrents. (Excerpt from Reuters)

a) Existing or being in name only. b) For the sake of comparison, form, or name only, and may bear little or no relation or resemblance to the actual thing. c) Of or relating to, or constituting, a name, noun, or term. d) Apparent, estimated, temporary, token.

(TO

news

17

monday, july 1, 2013 | guyanatimesGY.com

Caricom heads meeting to mull new direction for growth and development

T

he effects of the current economic climate on member states of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) and the framework within which the community can achieve growth and development will be a major agenda item at the upcoming 34th Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of Caricom.

The meeting begins in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago with an opening ceremony on the evening of July 3; working sessions begin the next day and end on July 6. According to a Caricom Secretariat report, the current economic scenario, including the slow recovery from the global financial and economic crises, heavy debt burdens and other exogenous developments such as the policy of graduation by international financial institutions have had debilitating effects on the economies of Caricom.

Dr Kenny Anthony laid out the situation starkly when he addressed the board of governors of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) a month ago.

The region’s vulnerabilities, he pointed out then, were fully exposed by a global economic climate that was “complex, uncertain and worrisome”.

“The crisis that we face was not of our making. We did not precipitate it. What it did was to expose our weaknesses and vulnerabilities. What could well be our fault is how we handle the aftermath of the crisis, how we re-position our economies in that elusive search for growth,” he said.

Optimistic prognosis

While there is an optimistic prognosis for a resurgence of economic activity in developing countries in general and there has been growth in some areas in Caricom, it has not been widespread and sustainability is a challenge.

Several Caricom member states have had to approach the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for support, and the CDB has indicated that many member states were carrying unsustainable debt.

According to the CDB in its 2012 Annual Report, growth in the region “is cautiously expected to be positive”.

“Supported by steppedup public sector investment and gains in agriculture, Guyana is forecast to lead the way with real Gross Domestic Product growth projected at around five per cent. This is followed by Belize at 3.3 per cent while the region’s average output growth had slipped to 1.0 per cent in 2012, compared with 1.2 per cent a year earlier.

“Haiti is also expected to register strong growth on account of reconstruc-

tion efforts, together with improvements from gains in the manufacturing and agricultural sectors.

Moderate growth of one to two per cent is projected for most of the member countries of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), reflecting ongoing efforts at fiscal consolidation. Marginal growth of less than one per cent is projected for Barbados on the basis of an uptick in tourism based on anticipated growth in major markets, while in Jamaica, the outcome of IMF nego-

tiations, which has the potential to release resources from other multilaterals, could boost output.”

According to the CDB, in the associate members of Caricom who are Overseas Territories of Great Britain, growth is also expected to be positive based on the projected sustained recovery in offshore business activity, together with a pickup in leisure activity in 2013.

The CDB pointed to the challenges the region faced in key sectors such as tourism – which is suffering as

a result of multiple factors, including the adverse effects of the Air Passenger Duty (APD) on flights to the Caribbean from the United Kingdom, reduced airlift, and the high cost of intraregional travel.

Assessment

An assessment of the policies of the community over the past five decades and a thrust that involved thinking “outside of the box” are necessary, according to Prime Minister Anthony, in order to inform

the decisions that had to be made going forward with respect to transforming regional economies.

Prime Minister Anthony had homed in the need for a new development thrust in February, at the opening of the Intersessional Meeting of the Heads of Government, where he called for a “big conversation” on the future of Caribbean economies, and had expressed the hope that that conversation will be held at the July summit. Such a discussion, he had said, would provide an opportunity to chart a new

paradigm for growth, and review the role and performance of regional institutions to determine how they could better assist in the restoration of growth to regional economies.

The heads of government are expected to lead that assessment and provide direction on a new approach during this upcoming meeting, which is being held as the community celebrates 40 years of integration in the country where the founding Treaty of Chaguaramas was signed in July 1973.

18

guyanatimesgy.com

Monday, july 1, 2013

thursDAY, march 11, 2010 | guyanatimesGY.com

archie

By Bernice Bede Osol

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19) When negotiating an important matter, you should be sure to have all the details down. Things could unravel quickly over even a trivial dispute.

dilbert

CANCER (June 21July 22) Diplomacy will definitely be called for when making a deal with someone who always takes an unyielding position. Try to compromise and find a way for both parties to benefit.

AQUARIUS

LEO

(Jan. 20Feb. 19)

(July 23Aug. 22)

To achieve personal gain, you’ll have to work unusually hard. This is especially so if you feel that you can’t trust a vital colleague.

Calvin and Hobbes PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) Unless you are socially aware at all times, you could unintentionally slight an old friend in favour of more recent acquaintances. Be careful, because excuses won’t be readily accepted.

As long as you don’t take on more than you can handle, this can be a very productive day for you. You wouldn’t be at your best operating under pressure, so why put yourself under the gun?

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22) Be prepared for a social arrangement to have its ups and downs. There is a strong chance that someone whom you dislike could be included in the planned activities.

Peanuts ARIES

LIBRA

(March 21-April 19)

(Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Don’t depend on others to help you achieve a personal objective. Although it might be of personal significance, it’s not on anyone else’s radar.

An old, unresolved issue could rear its ugly head and become the focal point in a family discussion. Keep your cool and put a stop to it the moment someone tries to bring it up.

SUDOKU TAURUS (April 20-May 20) If a friend or colleague adamantly opposes an issue that you feel strongly about, don’t let it upset the relationship. Turn the other cheek.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22) Know when to stop pushing something if your prospect has obvious doubts. Trying too hard to make a sale would only make matters worse.

Saturday's solution GEMINI (May 21June 20) When making a sizable purchase, you should be sure to hang on to your receipt. There’s a decent chance that something could be wrong with the merchandise.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21) It behoves you to be extremely careful in handling financial matters, especially if you’re doing so for someone else.

If things don’t work out, you’ll be held accountable.

news 19

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reaching Guyana Times, Sampuran went to a wedding house at Number 11 Village, WCB on his bicycle and about 03:30h; he made checks for the said bicycle and discovered it was missing. Sampuran received information that the suspect, Bheem Evans, a labourer of Number 11 Village, stole the bicycle.

Sampuran reportedly contacted Evans to retrieve his property and while in the process of collecting back his bicycle, a scuffle ensued, resulting in the victim hitting Evans to his head and back with a piece of wood.

Evans in turn, went into a yard at Lot 147, Number 11 Village, armed himself with a 2x4 piece of wood and dealt Sampuran several blows to

his head and back. The victim subsequently fell to the ground.

The injured man was later found motionless under a house in a pool of blood.

Closer checks revealed that the blood was coming from a wound to the right ear and eye. The piece of wood used as the murder weapon was also found close to the deceased.

Sampuran was picked up and taken to the Fort Wellington Hospital where he was seen, examined and pronounced dead. Sampuran’s body is presently at Bailey’s Funeral Home at Number Four Village, WCB, awaiting a post-mortem examination.

He is survived by his wife, four children, and seven siblings.

Abhinaya thrills Duke Lodge audience

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he Abhinaya dance troupe thrilled a sizeable audience at “Jhalak Dhiklaa Jaa” held at Duke Lodge, this weekend. The troupe performances ranged from classical, exotic mixtures of Latin and Indian classical to Bollywood style dancing.

The cultural extravaganza featured dancers aged six to 20 and included a performance from Guyana Telephone and Telephone (GT&T) 2012 Jingle and Song Competition Bollywood segment winner Gail Ann Singh. The audience was treated to over three hours of non-stop performances. They were also afforded the opportunity to savour exquisite traditional Indian cuisine.

The setting was one of simple decor with stunning dance sequences that showcased a Bollywood dream of the state of contemporary dance theatre in Guyana as it reflects the cultural movements, the deep-rooted traditions, and the foreign influences and focused on expressing the true art of dance.

According to the instruc-

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he suspect who was taken into custody following the discovery of Jaipaul Sampuran of Lot 210 New Housing Scheme, Waterloo Bath, West Coast Berbice on Saturday morning confessed to the criminal act.

Sampuran was dead found in the wee hours of Saturday in a yard at Number 11 Village, WCB, with blood oozing from his eyes and ears. Two men were taken into custody as police continue their investigations. The suspect, Bheem Evans, gave a written statement under caution, confessing to the crime. He is presently in custody and is expected to be charged with murder on Tuesday.

According to information

Abhinaya dancers performing at Duke Lodge on Saturday

tor Sharda Mohabir, the show was the launch of the group. “It is the first time the dance troupe will be performing for the general public and it will be the official launching of the troupe,” said Mohabir.

Abhinaya students range from age six to 20 years, but membership is open to all who wish to participate in the art of dancing. The group focuses on semi-classical and

Bollywood techniques.

The troupe’s current location is in Ogle, East Coast Demerara. Anyone interested in joining the group or in tickets are encouraged to contact Sharda Mohabir (Kimy) on 6468165. Abhinaya is a concept in Indian dance and drama derived from the Bharata’s Natya Shastr, but the word has come to mean “the art of expression”.

EU confronts U.S. over reports it spies on European allies

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he European Union has demanded that the United States explain a report in a German magazine that Washington is spying on the group, using strong language to confront its closest trading partner over its alleged surveillance activities.

EU High Representative Catherine Ashton said on Sunday the U.S. authorities were immediately contacted about a report in Der Spiegel magazine that the U.S. spy agency had tapped EU offices in Washington,

Brussels, and at the United Nations.

“As soon as we saw these reports, the European External Action Service made contact with the U.S. authorities in both Washington DC and Brussels to seek urgent clarification of the veracity of and facts surrounding these allegations,” Ashton said in a statement.

“The U.S. authorities have told us they are checking on the accuracy of the information released yesterday and will come back to

us as soon as possible,” she said.

France also asked for an explanation.

“These acts, if confirmed, would be completely unacceptable,” Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said.

The U.S. government said it would respond through diplomatic channels.

“We will also discuss these issues bilaterally with EU member states,” a spokesperson for the Director of National Intelligence said. (Excerpt from Reuters)

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monday, july 1, 2013

West Indies escape with thrilling win K

ingston, JAMAICA – Kemar Roach celebrated his 25th birthday in grand style, keeping his nerve with compatriot Tino Best to limp West Indies over the finish line to a one-wicket victory over India, after Johnson Charles depressingly fell for 97 in the Celkon Mobile Cup Series on Sunday.

Roach replaced batting hero Charles, as West Indies, chasing 230 for victory, needed 19 from 58 deliveries with two wickets standing in the second match of the series at Sabina Park.

Things became more intriguing, when Sunil Narine was caught at mid-on off Suresh Raina for five, leaving Roach and Best to nervously gather the final 10 runs.

Roach formalised the victory when he squeezed a delivery from Umesh Yadav through square leg for a single to carry West Indies to their target with 14 balls remaining.

The result meant West Indies soared to the top of the standings with nine points, following a six-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the opening match last Friday at the same venue.

West Indies travel to-

Darren Bravo

day to Trinidad, where they will face the Indians in their third match this coming Friday at Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain, while India meet Sri Lanka in an all-Asian duel on Tuesday at this venue.

Disciplined bowling from the West Indies kept the Indian batting juggernaut on a tight rein, restricting the world number one, reigning world Oneday champions and recently-crowned ICC Champions Trophy winners to 229 for seven from their allocation

of 50 overs.

Darren Sammy, Kemar Roach and Tino Best all collected two wickets, as Rohit Sharma hit the top score of 60 from 89 balls for India, Suresh Raina supported with 44, Mahendra Singh Dhoni made 27 and Dinesh Karthik 23.

West Indies were set back early in the chase, when Chris Gayle, a century-maker in the first match, was caught at short cover off Umesh Yadav for 11 in the second over.

Fellow left-hander Devon

Smith was trapped lbw for a duck playing across his front pad two overs later and Marlon Samuels was bowled

by Bhuvneshwar Kumar for one off the inside edge, playing a lazy, back-foot defensive shot.

Darren Bravo joined Charles and they batted sedately to bring West Indies back into the match with a fourth-wicket stand of 116.

Both batsmen looked unflappable throughout the partnership, mixing controlled aggression with sound defence.

Charles had got into stride early, when he smashed three fours – two through mid-off and the other through mid-on – off Kumar in the third over.

Bravo scorched a trademark extra cover drive off Ishant Sharma for his first boundary to get the blood flowing and continued to bat fluently throughout his innings.

Charles reached his 50 from 60 balls when he drove Ashwin through cover for two and Bravo soon followed off 72 balls when he glanced Yadav to deep fine leg for four.

The two batsmen appeared to have the Indian

bowling literally at their mercy on a docile pitch, but Bravo was caught at midwicket from a mistimed pull off Ashwin for 55 off 78 balls that included five fours and one six – and this is when the problems started for West Indies.

The home team lost three wickets for 19 in 24 balls, stumbling to 161 for six, as stand-in West Indies captain Kieron Pollard was

caught behind for four off Ishant Sharma nibbling at a short ball outside the offstump and Denesh Ramdin was bowled by Ashwin for four.

Darren Sammy came to the crease and dominated a 36-run, seventh-wicket stand with compatriot Charles, striking two fours and three sixes in 29 from 25 balls to put West Indies back on track. (WICB)

SCOREBOARD India innings R Sharma c Charles b Sammy 60 S Dhawan c & b Roach 11 V Kohli c Gayle b Sammy 11 D Karthik c & b Samuels 23 S Raina c †Ramdin b Roach 44 MS Dhoni*† b Best 27 R Jadeja b Best 15 R Ashwin not out 5 B Kumar not out 11 Extras: (b5, lb6, w9, nb2) 22 Total: (7 wkts, 50 overs) 229 Fall of wickets: 1-25, 2-39, 3-98, 4-124, 5-182, 6-197, 7-212 Bowling: K Roach 10-2-41-2, T Best 10-0-52-2, D Sammy 10-341-2, K Pollard 1-0-8-0, S Narine 10-0-56-0, M Samuels 9-1-20-1 West Indies innings C Gayle c Raina b Yadav 11 J Charles c I Sharma b Yadav 97

DS Smith lbw b Yadav 0 M Samuels b Kumar 1 DM Bravo c Dhawan b Ashwin 55 K Pollard* c Karthik b I Sharma 4 D Ramdin† b Ashwin 4 D Sammy c Ashwin b I Sharma 29 K Roach not out 14 S Narine c Dhawan b Raina 5 T Best not out 3 Extras: (lb2, w5) 7 Total: (9 wkts, 47.4 overs) 230 Fall of wickets: 1-13, 2-25, 3-26, 4-142, 5-155, 6-161, 7-197, 8-211, 9-220 Bowling: B Kumar 7-1-361, U Yadav 9.4-2-43-3, R Jadeja 10-1-50-0, I Sharma 9-0-51-2, R Ashwin 10-044-2, S Raina 2-1-4-1

ProAm boxing card suffers TKO Nico Rosberg wins after

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other Nature was at its worse on Saturday night, forcing the early abandonment of the ProAm boxing card at the Uitvlugt Community Centre ground, West Coast Demerara.

After the completion of the amateur segment of the card, a heavy downpour followed by high winds had boxers, officials, and spectators scampering for cover.

Parts of the tent that was used to shade the ring were uprooted by the high winds, while the soggy state of the

outfield left the Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC) with no choice but to abort the event.

While the GBBC has offered an apology to the many fans who turned up at the venue, it is hoping to re-stage the card on Friday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH). Patrons who are still in possession of their ticket stubs from Saturday night will be admitted free to Friday’s card.

“We want to apologise to the fans who turned up in support of the card, and say

thank you to them for doing so,” GBBC match-maker Eion Jardine told this publication on Sunday.

“What occurred was way beyond our control, but we’re offering fans another opportunity to witness the ProAm card this Friday once we can get the use of the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.”

The ProAm event, which is usually hosted at the CASH, was switched to Uitvlugt since rehabilitative is ongoing at Guyana’s premier indoor facility on Homestretch Avenue.

Brazil crush Spain to win Confederations...

from back page

The Maracana crowd taunted Spain and chanted “the giant is back” as Brazil overpowered Vicente del Bosque’s team whose last competitive defeat was against Switzerland at the 2010 World Cup. “We had a bit of bad luck in the opening minutes of each half but I don’t want to make any excuses, they were better and that’s that,” Del Bosque told Telecinco.

“They possibly had a bit more energy than us.

Instead of being 1-1 we went 2-0 down in the last moments of the first half. But I don’t think that right now we can analyse details. They were superior and that’s it.”

Brazil started this competition just over two weeks ago with a third minute goal against Japan and began this final in similar fashion with an even faster opener.

Fred’s second minute hook-in while he was sitting on the ground lacked the

powerful beauty of Neymar’s strike against Japan, but its impact was even more emphatic.

The crowd, who just minutes earlier gave a rousing rendition of the Brazil national anthem, raised the decibel levels even higher in celebration to settle Brazil’s nerves, unsettle Spain and put the hosts firmly in control.

Oscar should have quickly doubled the lead but fired wide after eight minutes when Fred set him up with a clever backheel, while Paulinho went close in the 14th minute when he had Spain keeper Iker Casillas back-pedalling to keep his lobbed shot out.

Spain were clearly rattled by Brazil’s rampaging start and they survived another scare when defender Alvaro Arbeloa escaped with a yellow card when he was the last defender and sent Neymar tumbling.

Spain, who usually dominate matches with their intricate midfield passing moves, showed patches of their usual self-assured control, but they also looked tired and leggy following Thursday’s exhausting semifinal penalty shootout victory over Italy.

In contrast Brazil, with Fred, Neymar and Paulinho looking fresh and powerful, continually had Spain on the backfoot with a series of swift breaks, often initiated by David Luiz after some Spanish-style passing of their own.

David Luiz’s name boomed through the cavernous ground four minutes before halftime when he raced back to clear a goalbound shot from Pedro one metre in front of the line with Julio Cesar beaten.

Instead of finding themselves pegged back to 1-1, Brazil were 2-0 ahead within three minutes. (Reuters)

Hamilton tyre blowout

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ercedes' Nico Rosberg held off Red Bull's Mark Webber to win a dramatic British Grand Prix overshadowed by a series of tyre failures on Sunday.

In a race featuring two safety car interventions and tyre failures on five cars, Red Bull's championship leader Sebastian Vettel retired from the lead.

His rival Ferrari's Fernando Alonso fought up to third from ninth.

Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton dropped to last with tyre failure, but fought to fourth ahead of Lotus's Kimi Raikkonen.

Alonso's third-place finish, combined with Vettel's retirement with a gearbox failure caused by the loss of fifth gear, cut the German's advantage in the championship to 21 points.

Raikkonen remains third but is now 11 points adrift of the Spaniard.

The race boiled down to a seven-lap sprint at the end following a safety car intervention to recover Vettel's Red Bull, which was stranded on the pit straight.

Rosberg was in the lead from Raikkonen and Force India's Adrian Sutil, with Webber fifth, Alonso eighth and Hamilton ninth.

Rosberg, Webber, Alonso and Hamilton were all on fresh tyres, the others around them not.

Webber passed Toro Rosso's Daniel Ricciardo for fourth and then Sutil and Raikkonen on consecutive laps, and although he closed

Nico Rosberg

in on Rosberg, the German held him off to win by 0.7 seconds.

Meanwhile, Alonso and Hamilton were scything through from eighth – to which he had dropped from fifth because his tyre stop had come just before the caution period – meaning he lost more time than the drivers who stopped only after the safety car was deployed.

"Fantastic, a very special day. What makes it more special is that our factory is so close," said Rosberg.

"We're progressing all the time. We're massively quick in qualifying, and we had the fastest car in this race.

"With Lewis, I feel sorry for all the British fans.

It's always a massive disappointment but that's racing.

Sebastian stopped, I won't lie, I wasn't disappointed by that one."

But the thrill of the battle was overshadowed by a worrying sequence of tyres failures, all but one on the left-rear of the cars involved.

They affected Hamilton, Ferrari's Felipe Massa, Toro Rosso's Jean-Eric Vergne and McLaren's Sergio Perez, who had also had a similar failure in final practice.

There was a fifth failure, of the left-front tyre, on Esteban Gutierrez's Sauber.

McLaren Managing Director Jonathan Neale described the situation as "very concerning", adding: "We have to ensure racing is safe. We can't afford instantaneous failures like this."

(BBC Sport)

monday, july 1, 2013

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Phenomenal Jeffrey is new road race champion – Anthony, Singh, Jackson and Niles also in winners' row

By Avenash Ramzan

A

ny hope of a competitive showdown in the Senior category of the Guyana Cycling Federation’s (GCF) National Road Race Championship was dashed at the half-way stage when the phenomenal Raynauth Jeffrey sprinted away from the rest of the field to cop the title of Senior Road Race champion.

Competing on Sunday from Homestretch Avenue to Soweto on the Linden/ Soesdyke Highway and back to the starting point for the finish, Jeffrey was among a group of 26 starters in the senior division, but the lone cyclist in sight at the finish line outside the Help and Shelter building when the gruelling 90-mile race concluded with just nine riders standing.

The 19-year-old Team Coco (Guyana) rider pulled away from the bunch at the turn point at Camp Soweto and never relinquished the lead, crossing the finish line approximately three minutes ahead of his nearest rival, Alanzo Greaves.

Jeffrey, who only last year graduated to the senior ranks, clocked three hours, 48 minutes, 40.71 seconds (03h: 48m: 40.71s) to crown off a flawless performance at “nationals”. He was also the

champion of the Time Trials on Saturday on the Linden/ Soesdyke Highway.

The clean sweep was a repeat of his 2012 effort when he won both races in his final year as a junior competitor.

Greaves’ Roraima Bikers Club teammate, Warren McKay, finished third.

Like Jeffrey, Michael Anthony also rode unbeaten, following up his victory in the Time Trial with a close win over Shaquille Agard in a spirited sprint to the finish.

Anthony, who also competes under Team Coco (Guyana) colours, clocked two hours, 59 minutes, 36 seconds (02h: 59m: 36s), leaving Agard and Hamza Eastman to settle for second and third spots respectively.

The Veteran Over-45 race, which was not without controversy, saw Ian Jackson pipping Raymond Newton to cart off the title, with Gary Benjamin settling for a distant third.

Junior Niles won comfortably in the Veterans Under-45 category in a time of two hours, 53 minutes (02h: 53m), while Ralph Williams came in second and, Sybourne Fernandes, third.

The female division was won by Naomi Singh, who finished almost two min-

utes ahead of runner-up Hazina Barrett, and defending champion, Englandbased Claire Fraser- Green, in third. Singh was timed at two hours, 25 minutes (02h: 25m).

While the riders in the senior division had a longer distance to complete, the junior riders turned at Long Creek on the upward journey, while the veterans and females turn around at Kuru Kururu and returned to Homestretch Avenue for the finish.

Controversy

After the race, Veteran riders Newton, Kennard Lovell and Talim Shaw were critical of the race organisers and the GCF by extension for poor logistical arrangements during the event. The trio claimed that no official or signage was placed at turn point on the Highway, resulting in Newton riding beyond the stipulated point.

As a result, Newton had to cover significant distance when he realised he had passed the turn point, and though he ended in the runner-spot, the rider, with 32 years experience under his belt, said the GCF executives need to get their acts together.

Lovell also chided the GCF for not having an offi-

Limacol CPL will aid young players’ development...

from back page

similar to the IPL [Indian Premier League] to showcase the talents we have in the Caribbean and to have players from abroad who will be sharing their experiences and helping our younger players, I think is something great for West Indies cricket.”

With the Limacol CPL format allowing for two Under-23 players in each of the six franchises, Sarwan added that his role in the Guyana Amazon Warriors unit, apart from stabilising the middle-order, would be to offer guidance to the emerging players.

“Obviously [my role would be] to try and support the younger guys. On a personal note, I would want to try and gain as much experience as possible and learn from the players around me, while sharing my own experiences to help the younger players,” he posited.

Great record

Based on his record, Sarwan should be a leading candidate to the lead the Guyana Amazon Warriors franchise in the July 30 to August 24 league.

He led Guyana to victory in the inaugural Stanford 20/20 in 2006 when a magnificent slog sweep for six

by Narsingh Deonarine off leg-spinner Samuel Badree

sealed victory against Trinidad and Tobago. He was also in charge in the first Caribbean T20 in 2010 when a Jonathon Foo cameo powered Guyana past Barbados in the final.

Should he be appointed captain, Sarwan, who has a record of 19 wins, 12 losses and two no-results, will be in a prime position to continue Guyana’s tradition of winning the first installment of T20 competitions in the region.

Questioned on Guyana’s chances of creating history by winning the inaugural Limacol CPL, Sarwan said, “I think we stand a good chance like any other team.

A lot of the teams have very good players, and obviously foreign and local players, so I think it will be an exciting tournament and hopefully at the end of the day, may the best team win…and that would hopefully be Guyana.”

Sarwan apart, the Guyana Amazon Warriors franchise includes Sunil Narine, Mohammad Hafeez, Lendl Simmons, Denesh Ramdin, James Franklin, Christopher Barnwell, Krishmar Santokie, Williams Perkin, Steven Jacobs, Ronsford Beaton, Trevon Griffith, Narsingh Deonarine, Veerasammy Permaul and Martin Guptill.

Limacol’s investment

Commenting on New Guyana Pharmaceutical Corporation’s (NEW GPC INC.) acquisition of the Guyana Amazon Warriors’ franchise and subsequently becoming title sponsor of the CPL, through its Limacol brand, Sarwan said it is a step in the right direction for cricket in the Caribbean.

“I think it’s great for the whole country. Obviously for Dr [Ranjisinghi] Ramroop [NEW GPC executive chairman], I think it’s a great achievement and let’s hope that this will help in the long term development of West Indies cricket,” he said.

NEW GPC’s sponsorship is a multi-year agreement which will affect all aspects of the tournament, from branding and uniforms to advertising, marketing and promotions.

Limacol is a well-established and respected brand that is distributed throughout the Caribbean as well as the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Europe and Asia.

The Limacol CPL will be contested by the Antigua and Barbuda Hawksbills, Barbados Tridents, Guyana Amazon Warriors, Jamaica Tallawahs, St Lucia Zouks and Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel.

Ian Jackson touches the finish line just ahead of Raymond Newton in the Veterans Over-45 race

cial or signage at the turn point for Saturday’s Time Trials, as well as the unavailability of an ambulance for Sunday’s road race.

He also called on the federation to be more tolerant to Veteran riders, as they invest enormous sums of money to participate in cycling only to be rewarded with “medals and thank you” at the end of the national championship.

Responding to the concerns at the closing ceremony, president of the GCF, Cheryl Thompson said while she personally takes the blame for not having an official at the turn point on the two days, the cyclists

Raynauth Jeffrey is a comfortable winner in the Senior race

Naomi Singh raises her hands in triumph after crossing the finish line unchallenged

should have been aware of the route since it was widely publicised in the press.

She also pointed out that letters outlining the course of the race were sent to the various clubs affiliated to the GCF.

and he just returned from the States with some good results, but I know my ability in these long races and I just stuck to my strengths.”

Singh was surprised by her performance. “It feels great to win. I didn’t expect this because I wasn’t doing much training, so I’m extremely happy with the result. This means a lot to me, I would want to think I’ve earned my respect here.”

The soft-spoken Anthony said winning the junior title is a “big accomplishment for me. It feels good, because this wasn’t an easy race, and I know I push myself to do well, so winning this race makes me feel very proud of myself.”

Gratification

Meanwhile, Jeffrey, Singh and Anthony were overjoyed with their success at the championships.

Jeffrey said, “Well I was very confident of winning this race. My strategy was to keep a close eye on the main breaks and then take it away at the turn point.

The main threat I would say was Alanzo [Greaves] because he’s fit at the moment

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guyanatimesGY.com

Digicel Schools Football Championship…

Mahdia Secondary takes first Region Eight title

The winning Mahdia team celebrate after being crowned first-time champions

By Treiston Joseph

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ahdia Secondary School topped defending champions Paramakatoi Secondary to lift the Region Eight title when the Digicel Schools Football tournament continued on Saturday at the Mahdia Community Centre ground.

Despite a wet field, both teams looked up to the task as the attacking intent from

both sides was evident.

Paramakatoi seemingly adapted to the conditions quicker as they played a lot of air balls as ground passing, due to the waterlogged field, was difficult for both sides.

Mahdia had an early stroke of luck when a ball played by a Paramakatoi defender landed in a pool of water, giving Mahdia an opportunity to score. They capitalised with a ninth minute

goal in the top right hand corner of the net from the boot of Stephen Salvador.

Regrouping, the fluidity of Paramakatoi’s offence was on point as their next five shots were on target and were either saved for a corner or held by Mahdia’s keeper.

However, the constant attack by Paramakatoi, coupled with the precision striking, opened up an opportunity when Mahdia’s keeper ventured to the right corner

Some of the action during the Region Eight final between Mahdia and Paramakatoi

of the 18-yard box to clear a ball. It was stolen by Maurice Gomes who netted in the 29th minute to even the score.

The two teams then battled the rest of the first half without scoring to leave the score line on 1-1 heading into the break.

On resumption both teams tried to impress themselves on the other.

Paramakatoi netted in the 60th minute, but there was an offside infringement.

Moments later, Paramakatoi had a shot deflected off its keeper that hit the underside of the crossbar before it was cleared by the team’s defence.

With both teams continuing to battle and Paramakatoi showing great passing skills, Mahdia sunk the hearts of the Paramakatoi players with a play beginning down the right wing and ending up in the back of the net in the 89th minute from Keon

Mackenzie’s boot. That strike turned out to be the decider to crown them the new champions of Region Eight.

Meanwhile at the presentation ceremony held immediately after, organiser of the Digicel tournament, Lavern Fraser-Thomas congratulated both teams and revealed that Mahdia Secondary will meet the winners of Region One in the playoff round.

Mahdia will travel to Region One for that matchup.

GBTI renews sponsorship for annual Open tournament

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he Guyana Tennis Association (GTA) will serve off the 2013 Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) Open tennis tournament on July 11 at the GBTI Recreational Club, Kaieteur Street, Bel Air Park.

The GBTI Open has emerged over the years as the GTA’s marquee competition on the annual calendar of activities.

The two-week tourna-

ment will feature the Men’s Open Singles and Doubles, Ladies Open Singles and Doubles, Men’s Over-35 Singles and Doubles, Mixed Doubles, Junior Boys and Girls Open Singles and the relatively new Novice Singles and Doubles categories, which were established two years ago for beginners.

The GTA is hoping to surpass the number of entries for the past two years, which has stood at approx-

imately 120, since the local tennis-playing population is increasing.

Some of the country’s top players have migrated, but there is still the expectation of a very high level of competition which will highlight the more seasoned players such as defending champion Anthony Downes, Leyland Leacock and top Berbician Carol Humphrey.

A strong challenge is expected in the open catego-

President of the GTA, Ramesh Seebarran receiving the sponsorship cheque from Marketing Assistant of GBTI, Jasmaine Payne

ries by top juniors Daniel Lopes, Gavin Lewis, and Nicola Ramdyhan.

GBTI Chief Executive

Officer, John Tracey, who is also a former tennis player, continued to express his desire to see the sport regain

its prominence in Guyana.

The company’s annual sponsorship of the tournament and the provision of tennis facilities demonstrate the bank’s unwavering support for the development of the game.

The format for the open categories is the best-ofthree, while the Men’s Over35 will play a super tiebreaker for the third set and the novice categories will play one set.

The action will get underway at 17:00h every weekday of the competition and from 08:00h on weekends.

The tournament coordinators, Andrew Sawh and Grace McCalman, have distributed application forms to all clubs. They can be reached at 691-0940 and 626-7987 respectively.

“Wheat Up” cycling on today at seawall bandstand

T

he seawall bandstand in Kingston will be a hive of activity today when the Roraima Bikers Club (RCB) stages the 10th annual “Wheat Up” cycling event in observance of Caricom Day. The RCB is looking to attract more spectators to the sport, thus the change in the format this year from the regular road race on the East Bank of Demerara and Linden/ Soesdyke Highway.

Today’s 12-race programme will pedal off at 09:00h.

The riders will compete

in various categories, including the 12-14 juveniles (three laps), Junior/Category Four (five laps), Category 1-3 (five laps), Veterans Over and Under-50 (five laps each), Win and Out Open (eight laps), Team Time Trials (three laps), Mountain Bikes Open (five laps), and BMX 6-10 (two laps) and 10-14 years (two laps). The female riders will also compete in a five-lap event.

The feature race will be the “Wheat Up” 30-lap Open, which has an increased top prize of $30,000 and a trophy. The champion will also receive one-year supply of

“Wheat Up” from Namilco.

While the top six finishers in the main race will receive cash prizes, the top three to the finish line in the other events will also be rewarded with cash and trophies.

A total of 15 prime prizes will be at stake during the main race, with the runnerup collecting $25,000, third $15,000, fourth $7000, fifth $6000 and sixth $4000. All the cash prizes are accompanied by trophies.

Over $260,000 in cash and trophies will be distributed at the end of the day’s activities.

monday, july, 1 2013

guyanatimesGY.com

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Guyanese Gafoor enters final day in the lead batsmen M dominate in Toronto Courts National Scrabble Championship…

Ryan Ramdass

Royston Crandon

From Ravendra Madholall in Toronto

Premier League division, Vincentian and former Windward Islands under-19 batsman Orlando Brown scored an entertaining 45 for Parkdale Cricket Club, defeating Ahmadiyya Sports Club by one run at King City. Brown hit three fours and two sixes as his team accumulated 133-3; he got useful support from the in-form Alphie Gould, who weighed in with 36.

Elsewhere, Caribbean Limers and Mississauga Ramblers Cricket Club were engaged in a tight tussle with the former emerging with another thrilling onerun win.

Trinidad off-spinner Vinood Persaud produced a fine performance to lead Caribbean Limers to the tense victory. He took four wickets to keep Ramblers to 160 after his side made 161 from 41.4 overs. Richard Harris topscored with 30.

And in the Brampton/ Etobicoke 50-over first-division cricket competition, Guyanese and ex-West Indies opening batsman Ryan Ramdass once again was in supreme form, hitting another century to follow up his double-century a week ago.

Representing Brampton team, the stocky right-handed Ramdass fashioned a brilliant 113 while he got admirable support from former Trinidad and Tobago first-class cricketer Avidesh Samaroo who chipped in with 56.

When Britallan Sports Club batted, they were dismissed for 155 in the 39th over with only Shameer Adul putting up any sort of resistance with 37. Pacer Migel Seiwdas grabbed 4 for 35 runs.

Notably, several other scheduled games were abandoned due to rain on Saturday and Sunday.

The action is set to resume with a number of matches across the Greater Toronto Area, weather permitting.

S

everal batsmen from Guyana dominated over the weekend in the continuation of the 2013 Toronto and District Cricket Association Elite and Premier League 50-over competition at King City ground.

Guyanese and former West Indies ODI batsman Royston Crandon stroked an impressive 76 to inspire Vikings Cricket Club to an exhilarating one-run win over Victoria Park Cricket Club. The right-handed Crandon hit five fours and a maximum to see his team reach 225-7 in the penultimate over, replying to Victoria’s challenging 224-8 from 50 overs.

Former Guyana under-19 captain and left-arm orthodox spinner Eugene LaFleur captured three wickets for 59 runs from his 10 overs but it was in a losing cause.

When Victoria Park batted after winning the toss, LaFleur proved his allround capability with a steady 39 while contributions came from his compatriots Dominic Rikhi and Anthony D’Andrade with 35 and 21 respectively.

At the same venue on Sunday, defending champion Brampton Master Tranzac Cricket Club humiliated Yorkshire Cricket Club by a handsome sixwicket margin. The losers were skittled out for a paltry 82 in 38.4 overs while Brampton galloped to 83-4 in the 18th over.

GNIC’s off-spinner Elton Baker snapped up a fivewicket haul to lead Civics to an emphatic seven-wicket win over Toronto Cricket Club. Baker, in his first season in Canada, also completed a hat-trick as he conceded 28 runs from five overs.

When his team batted, they safely reached 136-3 with Travis Blyden hitting an unbeaten 41.

Meanwhile, in the

oen Gafoor is in pole position heading into what is anticipated to be an exciting final day of the Courts National Scrabble Championship, which continued on Sunday at the Bank of Guyana rooftop.

Gafoor, who was the only player with an unblemished record after the first seven rounds on Saturday, accumulated six victories, earned a bye and endured a defeat on Sunday to maintain his spot at the top of the ladder at the end of day two.

The Guyana Association of Scrabble Players (GASP) number four ranked player at the start of the competition has so far chalked up 13 wins and a healthy spread of 3196.

His lone defeat of the day came against number two ranked Leon Belony, while his most significant

Abigail McDonald

victory would have been against James Krakowsky, the number three seed.

Gafoor, who would no doubt be harbouring thoughts of finishing in the lead this afternoon, is faced with a few tough opponents today, among them top seed and two-

time defending champion Abigail McDonald and former champion and number five ranked Fred Collins.

McDonald is in second position with 12 games and a spread of 1641, followed by Robert Williams with 11 wins and a spread of 1480 and Krakowsky with the same number of wins, but a lower spread of 1332.

Belony, Collins, and Anand Mohabir are all bunched on 10 games each, but with varying spreads.

Belony has 1672, Collins 1193, and Mohabir 998.

There were a few games which did not go as expected, among them Belony losing out to number nine seed Wayne Cave and Collins suffering a loss to 12th seed Julian Skeete.

The competition will continue today with the final eight rounds, with the first tile to be moved at 09:00 hours.

At the end of today’s play, the top two players will be identified for a best-of-five playoff shortly with the winner earning the right to represent Guyana at the World Scrabble Championship in the Czech Republic from December 3-8, 2013.

Those vying for that prestigious honour are two-time defending champion McDonald, Belony, Krakowsky, Gafoor, Collins, Colin Chichester, Orlando Michael, Ruby Cummings, Cave, Devraj Deonarine, Maurice Munro, Skeete, Mohabir, Robert Williams, Grace Hercules, Kampta Ramnarine, Michael Benjamin, Romario Gonsalves, Chetnauth Persaud, Mohanram Ramnarine, Dwain Albert, Karen Bobb Semple, Wazir Dilipchand, and Wazim Dilipchand.

(Avenash Ramzan)

monday, july 1, 2013

TOP SCORES

Sports is no longer our game, it’s our business

West Indies 230-9 (Charles 97, Bravo 55, Yadav 3-43) beat India 229-7 (Rohit 60, Raina 44, Sammy 2-41, Roach 2-41) by 1 wicket

Phenomenal Jeffrey is new road race champion

Brazil crush Spain to win Confederations Cup

– Anthony, Singh, Jackson and Niles also in winners’ row

See story on page

21

Newly crowned national road race champion, Raynauth Jeffrey (centre), is flanked by runner-up Alanzo Greaves (left) and Warren McKay (Photos: Avenash Ramzan)

INSIDE TODAY'S SPORTS Courts National Scrabble Championship…

Limacol CPL will aid young players’ development, says Sarwan

Brazil’s Fred (second left) celebrates with his teammates after scoring the team’s third goal during their Confederations Cup final soccer match against Spain at the Estadio Maracana in Rio de Janeiro (REUTERS/Jorge Silva)

R

IO DE JANEIRO – Brazil humbled world and European Champions Spain with a crushing 3-0 win in the Confederations Cup final on Sunday, ending their opponents’ three-year record run of 29 unbeaten competitive matches.

Two goals from Fred and a stunning left-foot shot from Neymar gave next year’s World Cup hosts their fifth straight win in the competition as they clinched the trophy for a third time in a row.

Spain endured a miserable night with Sergio Ramos missing a penalty early in the second half and Gerard Pique sent off for a lunge on his new Barcelona team mate Neymar after 68 minutes.

Fred put Brazil ahead after two minutes, Neymar added a majestic second just before halftime with his fourth goal of the tournament and the crowd erupted again when Fred made it 3-0 two minutes after the re-start with his fifth of the competition. continued on page 20

Gafoor … sayschances Guyana Amazon Warriors West Indies escape with thrilling win good as any enters final G day in the lead

By Avenash Ramzan

P23

Moen Gafoor

uyana Amazon Warriors senior batsman, Ramnaresh Sarwan, believes the upcoming Limacol Caribbean Premier League (CPL) will provide a solid platform for the young talents of the region to be showcased, and in turn, help the West Indies to consistently produce quality players at the international level.

He made the comment on Saturday afternoon, moments after a local Limacol CPL team hosted a media briefing at Duke Lodge in Kingston.

The 33-year-old Sarwan, a former West Indies captain and veteran of 87 Tests, 181 ODIs and 18 T20Is, reasoned that the Limacol CPL is an excellent opportunity for up and coming players

Ramnaresh Sarwan

to announce themselves to the world.

“I think it’s exciting,” he opined. “Obviously, it’s an opportunity being provided for young players in the Caribbean. Of course we know the excitement that surrounds T20, so I think to have something continued on page 21

See story on page

Johnson Charles played a brilliant innings at the top of the order

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