Guyana Times Daily - November 2, 2015

Guyana P12 raked in $47B in 2013 from tourism Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 2665

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Monday, November 2, 2015

PRICE

Guyana’s 50th Independence Anniversary

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Extravagant Govt spending outrageous – Nandlall

Unemployed Cuba-trained doctors

Officials were “dragging P9 their feet” or “negligent” – Dr Norton

Page 3

– NY law firm to oversee commemoration committee As crime spirals out of control

Battered body of Parika taxi driver found in Berbice Page 8

Drug mule busted at CJIA Page 8

President P9 announces November 1 as Defence Force Day APNU/AFC downplaying importance of Venezuelan rice market – Ramsammy

– Panama, Portugal cannot replace Venezuela P2

Rockstone P16 craves development – residents

Miss Guyana Universe contestants sashed The Miss Guyana Universe contestants were on Sunday evening sashed at the Princess Hotel, Providence, East Bank Demerara. The winner of this year’s pageant will take home over $4 million in cash and prizes. These include three weeks in a major city ahead of the pageant and a two-year scholarship in the field of Social Sciences or International Relations (for more details see Tuesday's edition)

Motion to declare MPs' assets

“Surprise me and support it” – Jagdeo to Govt Page 10

Granger, Maduro Dull Christmas likely to meet at for sugar Arab Summit workers if Page 11

Page 7

strike resumes – GuySuCo

Rice industry crisis

PPP/C offers survival recommendations to Govt P11 Diwali 2015

P13

Essequibo motorcade set for November 6

2 news

monday, november 2, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

APNU/AFC downplaying importance of Venezuelan rice market – Ramsammy – Panama, Portugal cannot replace Venezuela

BY DEVINA SAMAROO

T

he loss of the Venezuelan rice market is a huge blow to the rice industry, former Agriculture Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy stated, as he chided government for downplaying the significance of the PetroCaribe deal and more particularly, not making any move whatsoever to regain access to the lucrative market.

Amid immense tensions between Venezuela and Guyana in the midst of the ongoing border controversy, Guyana lost the PetroCaribe deal with the Spanishspeaking nation.

Since, signals emanating at the level of the government suggest the administration does not believe the loss of the Venezuelan market is tremendous.

Agriculture Minister Noel Holder had stated that

Former Agriculture Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy

too much of an issue is being created about the collapse of the “rice for oil” deal. He was at the time announcing that Venezuela’s rice market will be replaced by Panama and Portugal.

But Dr Ramsammy posited that this is all a lie.

“It (loss of Venezuelan rice market) is a blow that we will have to overcome, but it will only be overcome by genuine efforts and not

another lie,” he stated. “The Minister of Agriculture tells farmers not to worry about the loss of the Venezuelan market - he tells them that the Government has secured new markets in Portugal and Panama that will absorb the loss of the Venezuelan market. This is a baldfaced, shameless lie and the Minister of Agriculture and APNU/AFC knows that they are lying to the rice farmers and the people of Guyana.”

Venezuela v Panama and Portugal Dr Ramsammy who served as Agriculture Minister for almost four years, and has been heavily involved in the agriculture sector for an extensive period, holds the firm belief that Panama nor Portugal can absorb the quantity and pay to the extent of Venezuela.

He explained that no markets which Guyana already has can replace the

Agriculture Minister Noel Holder

Venezuela market, in relation to prices. The prices Venezuela paid for Guyana’s paddy and rice significantly exceeded the prices being offered by the other countries, and it is most likely to also exceed the prices Guyana might receive from new markets.

This stance was also taken by veteran rice stakeholder Dr Peter De Groot who is Chairman of the Guyana

Millers and Exporters Marketing Association.

De Groot had told Guyana Times during a previous interview that the international prices for rice is nowhere near as profitable as what Guyana received from Venezuela.

Moreover, Dr Ramsammy explained that the 2015 contract with Venezuela required Guyana to supply approximately 200,000 tonnes of paddy and rice at a value of some $23 billion. On the other hand, he contended that Portugal and Panama are not new markets to replace Venezuela since they already represent two of the already existing destinations that Guyana exports paddy and rice to.

Portugal, being one of the largest European importers of Guyana’s rice, has imported cargo from Guyana for a number of years but according to Dr Ramsammy, the government seems to want people to think that this is a new market for our country’s rice exports.

As a result, Dr Ramsammy highlighted that it is highly unlikely that in the existing trade ar-

ket and the former Minister is contending that it cannot absorb the loss of the Venezuelan market.

“This is a total lie to the rice farmers,” he insisted.

Mexican market

Government is also trying to tap into the Mexican rice market. According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo met with Mexican Agriculture Minister Jose Calzada at the Open Governance Global Summit in Mexico City during which a “commitment” was made in this regard.

While wishing the new government all the best in their talks with Mexico to create new markets for rice, Dr Ramsammy pointed out that Guyana’s efforts with Mexico is not a new one. He said this has been an ongoing effort by Guyana to sell rice and paddy to Mexico and in fact, Guyana indeed sold small quantities of rice to Mexico in the last several years.

“The initiative emerged several years ago. I know that there were talks with

The loss of the Venezuelan rice market is a huge blow to the rice industry

rangement of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) where rice from developing countries enter freely into Europe can take up the extra 200,000 tonnes that Venezuela will not be taking from Guyana.

“The Minister of Agriculture and the government know this and if they have any doubt about this, they would be exposing themselves as lacking the capacity to manage the rice industry of Guyana.

The truth is that the price Venezuela paid was a special Petro-Caribe arrangement,” Ramsammy asserted.

With respects to Panama, Dr Ramsammy disclosed that the small State has been buying small quantities of rice from Guyana - also for several years. In fact, through a governmentto-government agreement between the two countries, Panama had become one of the top three importers of Guyana’s rice. Therefore, Panama is not a new mar-

Mexico before I became Minister of Agriculture in December 2011. During my time since 2011 and up to May 2015, I had extensive discussions with at least two Ministers of Agriculture from Mexico and with at least two Mexican Ambassadors.

The Ministry of Agriculture also had discussions with IICA to support Guyana’s efforts in Mexico. I wish Mr Nagamootoo and APNU/ AFC well in their talks with Mexico to create a new market for our rice. But I know that it is a misrepresentation to now present the exploration with Mexico as a new initiative,” he stated.

Dr Ramsammy added that if Guyana succeeds in establishing Mexico as a new destination for Guyana’s rice, then it would be a truly meaningful development which will ultimately be good for the new administration and above all, it will benefit the rice farmers and Guyana.(devinas@ guyanatimes.com)

news

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monday, November 2, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Monday, November 2 – 10:00h-11:30h and Tuesday, November 3 – 11:00h-12:30h The Berbice River Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Monday, November 2 – 08:45h-10:15h and Tuesday, November 3 – 10:05h-11:35

FERRY SCHEDULE

Parika and Supenaam departure times – 05:00h, 11:00h and 16:00h daily.

WEATHER TODAY

Weather: Thundery rain showers can be expected in the morning, while light rain showers can be expected in the afternoon.

Partly cloudy skies are expected in the evening.

Temperatures are expected to range between 25 degrees and 30 degrees Celsius.

Wind: East South-easterly to East North-easterly between 3.12 metres and 4.47 metres per second.

High Tide: 08:26h and 20:42h reaching maximum height of 2.26 metres and 2.28 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 14:14h reaching a minimum height of 1.02 metres.

Saturday, October 31, 2015

LOTTERY NUMBERS A 14 19 22 25 27 28 01 Bonus Ball

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Daily Millions

02 16 19 20 23 LUCKY 3

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Guyana’s 50th independence anniversary

Extravagant Govt spending outrageous – Nandlall – NY law firm to oversee commemoration committee

M

illions of taxpayers’ dollars are being drained from the treasury and pumped into making Guyana’s 50th Independence Anniversary celebrations locally and abroad as extravagant and exceptional as can be.

Simultaneously, Government is denying desperate rice farmers critical financial assistance; sugar workers are striking against an impending denial of their wage increases; pensioners were denied subsidies on their utility bills and children all across Guyana were denied a $10,000 cash grant to assist in the purchase of their school uniform.

Expressing his utmost disgust over the situation, former Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall, during an interview with Guyana Times on Sunday, slammed the current Administration for focusing on spending enormous sums of taxpayers’ monies on “parties” and “fetes”, while the economic sectors of the country continue to suffer tremendously.

“It is absolutely preposterous,” he declared. Nandlall pointed out that Guyana was encountering serious economic and financial difficulties in its various sectors, but from all indications, it appears as if Government was only directing its energies towards “hosting grand galas which will in no way lessen the assault on the critical commercial industries of the country.”

He noted that the Private Sector already has reported that the economy has contracted, with hundreds of businesses across the country crying out from sales decline which have resulted in

es in salaries and every single day we are hearing about huge expenditures in areas that are not going to generate income and areas that are not going to benefit the people of this country,” Nandlall highlighted.

Magnitude of celebrations

Former Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall

retrenchment. The sugar industry, one of the pillars of Guyana’s economy, is currently experiencing some troubling times with workers striking against an impending cut in their wage increases which will only add to the expenses of the already cash-strapped Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo). The rice industry is practically on the verge of collapse, with rice farmers complaining of low paddy prices and high costs of operations. The mining industry is also contracting due to the drastic decline in world gold prices. The construction industry has virtually closed down because there is presently no movement in the Government housing programme.

Nandlall contended that even amid this economic crisis, Government is sucking the treasury dry to facilitate overgenerous activities that will only thrust the country into more financial difficulties.

“When they took office, they reported that the treasury was empty, but every single day they pay themselves 50 per cent increas-

Guyana will be observing its 50th anniversary celebrations on May 26, 2016 and Government intends to make the year-long celebrations big and grand. Celebratory activities will also be held in the United States where Government has hired New York law firm ‘Rozario and Associates’ to represent Guyanese-Americans on a commemoration committee which was established for the purpose of planning the events.

The celebration is scheduled to take place in New York City from June 4th through June 12th, 2016, subsequent to the festivities in Guyana.

According to reports, the law firm will be tasked with overseeing specific legal, organisational and business issues surrounding the work to be performed by the committee.

“They are finding money to spend on a grand inauguration ceremony and now they are spending millions locally on this indepen-

dence commemoration activity. And coupled with that, we now learn that they retained the services of a law firm to plan commemoration services in North America,” he stated.

Nandlall made it clear that he was not against hosting commemoration services for Guyana’s 50th independence anniversary; however, he simply could not comprehend the need for such magnitude of celebrations, particularly in North America.

“Why do we need a law firm to plan the celebrations when we know that law firms charge high rates by the hour? Won’t this money be better spent on giving subsidies to the rice farmers or increasing wages for sugar workers and public servants?

Would it not be better spent in coming up with a stimulus package to move the economy forward? Would it not be better spent to retain the services of a firm to look for investments for Guyana? Would it not be better spent to retain the services of the firm to advise Guyana on the border controversies with Venezuela and Suriname? How will the people of Guyana benefit from fetes and parties in North America?”

These are all questions that Nandlall is demanding be answered.

Turn to page 12

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monday, november 2, 2015

Views Editor(ag): Michael Younge 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

Tourism’s crime challenge

N

ovember is Tourism Month, and as is traditional, the Ministry of Tourism has announced the theme for the following year: “Growing the business of tourism through product innovation”. We thought the label was rather prosaic, given that the new Minister of Tourism is recognized for her innovative marketing savvy. But we get the message: tourism is a business and like all businesses must constantly innovate to rise above the competition or at least keep abreast of them.

We believe that in any endeavour, leadership is crucial – especially one so competitive as tourism. In the past administration, Guyana was fortunate in having a Minister — Irfaan Ali — who fulfilled his mandate with enthusiasm and vigour. By the end of his tenure, tourism was contributing over $50M overall to GDP, while providing employment for some 8000 persons. The World Tourism and Travel Council projected a growth rate in total contribution by tourism of 3.5 per cent by 2024.

Like Minister Ali, Minister Hughes appears to have great confidence reposed in her person to move the industry to a new quantum level. As in atomic physics, a great deal of energy will have to be expended in a directed fashion to accomplish that goal. It is clear that Cathy Hughes certainly possesses that energy; the only concern is whether she will be allowed to transmute that energy to fulfil her mandate.

Very early in her tenure, Hughes referred to the negative “image” of Guyana in the eyes of the overseas visitor – especially those from the “First World” she is targeting — as a crime ridden destination. It is our hope she does not see crime just as an “image” problem that can be solved through clever PR. The US State Department, for instance, issued the following earlier this year: “Criminal activity continues to be a major threat, particularly violent aggravated robberies.

Serious crimes, including murder and armed robbery, are common, especially in the suburban areas and the interior regions. The most recent information from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime lists Guyana’s 2012 homicide rate as 17 per 100,000 people — the fourth highest murder rate in South America (behind Venezuela, Colombia, and Brazil).

Guyana’s murder rate is three times higher than that of the United States.

Criminals are increasingly willing to resort to violence while committing all types of crimes. Criminals generally will not hesitate to show multiple weapons as an intimidation tactic during a robbery. Criminals appear to be able to obtain weapons with ease, despite the arduous licensing requirements for the average person to own firearms.

Handguns, knives, machetes, or “cutlasses” tend to be the weapons of choice. Criminals may act brazenly, and police officers have been both victims and perpetrators of assaults and shootings.

Armed robberies occur regularly, especially in businesses and shopping districts. Armed robberies of business/patron establishments are becoming increasingly common. Criminals are often organized, travel in groups of two or more, and conduct surveillance on their victims. Foreigners, in general, are viewed as targets of opportunity but are not specifically targeted. Periodically, there are reports of robberies/attacks on American citizens and in areas frequented by expatriates.

The press reported a total of 141 armed robbery incidents in 2014. This total represents a 30 percent increase in reported incidents from 2013. It is likely that many more incidents go unreported.”

Most other First World countries do not issue such specific advisories to their citizens and the above US Report is widely consulted. PR will not make it go away.

We would respectfully suggest that Minister Hughes urge her colleague Minister of National Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, to craft an anti-crime plan that can be implemented sooner rather than later. His early blaming of crime on “greed” did not suggest a strategic option to solve the problem.

Failing that, we fear that Minister Hughes, with all her obvious talent in the area under her remit, would have embarked on a Sisyphean task.

Some of the performers at the first ever Guyana Night concert held at the Better Hope Community Centre Ground. The event featured a number of local artistes

AFC: No rift but the Cummingsburg Accord is disbanded Dear Editor, There is no rift within the APNU/AFC in Guyana, so said Guyana Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo on his visit to Canada with Kemraj Ramjattan and others but failed to mention that the Cummingsburg Accord is disbanded. To shamefully tell the people in Canada that there is no rift within the coalition, is a blatant lie, it is “bullying” by the APNU. It is a clear separation/rift by the APNU. Prime Minister Nagamootoo in addressing the Diasporas of GuyanaCanadian Professional and Business Corporation Professional Business Forum in Canada on October 10, 2015, shamelessly assured the audience that there is no rift between the APNU/AFC coalition government by saying: “The rumours are all untrue”.

Obviously, disbanding cannot be seen by Nagamootoo, Ramjatan, and Dr Rupert Roopnaraine because they were given what they wanted and that is positions, they do not care for anything else.

This is all that matters for them to the detriment of their followers. This is the reason Nagamootoo and Ramjatan skipped the PPP, they wanted the Prime Ministership and higher ranking positions.

Roopnaraine wanted to be a

leader but is still far from it.

Roopnaraine is now in power but has dishonoured/ abandoned his best friend in politics Dr Walter Rodney by disbanding the Rodney Commission of Inquiry. What they are afraid of is the truth, which Granger, Harmon and others to be given evidence to learn what happened.

They were all connected to Burnham’s Commander-inChief operations.

Based on evidence from the Rodney COI, the GDF and GPF were all aware of what happened in Rodney’s assassination. The truth will never come out. It has been stopped

by APNU/AFC. For high ranking positions they, Nagamootoo and the AFC went so far as to go into a ‘special agreement’ to sell their souls, which is called the “Cummingsburg Accord” and offer themselves to partnership with PNC with little being told to their IndoGuyanese followers .

Upon signing the Cummingsburg agreement which is understood by the AFC voters and which states clearly that the Prime Minister who is now Nagamootoo, will be chairing the Cabinet and expected to look after the domestic affairs of the country and to make recommendations for

“Ministerial Appointments” and is expected to administer the structural organization of all Ministries for the President’s approval.

To “shamefully” tell the people in Canada that there is no rift within the collation, is a blatant lie; it is more than a rift. Nagamootoo, Ramjattan and Roopnaraine fully know that an agreement between parties cannot supersede Parliamentary Laws. What they did was to give APNU power to take us back to the PNC racially ruled regime under Burnham.

Today we have a Chief Minister in the Office of the President who is called Minister of Governance, Rapheal Trotman, also we have another new position: Granger decided to create a new Government Ministry to reward his former squaddie, retired colonel Joe Harman to be head of his office.

Harmon would be the Minister-in-Charge of Affairs of the Office of the Ministry of the Presidency, and will be responsible for various ministerial postings and not Nagamootoo. We now have two Army Chief running the country back to the PNC regime.

PPP always speaks for the people of Guyana, regardless of race. Today Nagamootoo,

Ramjattan and Roopnaraine are doing their best to divide these people. Indians are not racial nor hostile people but look around and observe, race is being preached by bullies and people who do not want to work.

It is rampant around the world from USA to Zimbabwie.

The Cummingsburg Accord is disbanded which separates the APNU from AFC. Nagamootoo and Ramjattan told the people in Canada there is no problem with the APNU/AFC. He is right about that.

The APNU have no problem but the AFC have.

What is the use of a Prime Minister, when you have a Chief Minister and Ministerin-Charge to oversee Prime Minister Nagamootoo?

They have got what they wanted; it does not matter anymore, Nagamootoo is Prime Minister, Vice President responsible for the Ministry of Information only.

Ramjattan, Vice President responsible for the Ministry of Security, Roopnaraine is responsible for Ministry of Education.

They are limited to help even what they promised their supporters.

Yours sincerely, SN Singh

Respect Chinese companies Dear Editor, I read with interest an article in Guyana Times (Oct 30) where the Public Health Ministry received US$400, 000 worth of equipment for orthopaedic and trauma from the Chinese Government. Both the Linden Hospital Complex and Georgetown Public Hospital will benefit from this donation.

Many thanks to the Chinese government.

According to the article, China’s Ambassador to

Guyana Zhang Limen expressed pleasure at the fruitful bilateral relations between China and Guyana.

The Ambassador emphasized that our two countries have shared a very beneficial relationship which has seen improvement in the areas of health, economics and business for Guyana.

The Ambassador said: “Every year the Chinese Government, along with the Jaiangsu Province, will con-

tinue to donate medical equipment to Guyana”. This is good news for the Guyanese People.

It is a fact that China has grown into a powerfully rich country and Guyana can certainly continue to benefit in the areas of health, economics and business. This is why we need to love and respect the Chinese People residing in Guyana and not to harass them.

This is what the government is doing to the Baishanlin Logging Company

(BSL) operations in Guyana and they need to bring an end to this harassment as from now. Not doing this is simply frustrating Chinese investment in Guyana’s forestry sector which the Chinese Embassy in Georgetown needs to seriously investigate.

After all I do not think this is healthy for sound bilateral relations.

Yours sincerely, Michael King

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

Fake seed paddy Dear Editor, If the letter and contents is true which was published in November 1, 2015 edition of the Stabroek News under the caption “Problems at Burma Rice Research Station”(BRRS), then the Board of Directors need to launch an investigation immediately to determine the cause why poor quality seeds is being produced and sold to rice farmers throughout the rice regions of Guyana.

The unknown writer of the letter has highlighted a number of serious weeds which was found in the basic and C-1 seed paddy which were produced at BRRS. As a former extension rice officer I know that the plant pathology and plant breeding department has responsibility for breeding lines of the various varieties, and will observe for desirable traits –typically blast resistance and free from all kinds of weeds.

More than 1000 lines some times are being bred with 4 acres of pre-basic seeds among them and are carefully monitored for blast which is naturally infected by fungus depending on the weather conditions.

These promising lines of seeds are constantly being evaluated whilst there is continuous monitoring of the varieties while in the field by extension officers and plant breeders.

In any agricultural industry, the production of good seed material is of paramount importance to the farmer.

Quality seed is quite literally the starting point for rice crop cultivation. As such its importance cannot be over-stated.

Poor-quality seed affects productivity and encourage the spread of disease.

When these seeds are contaminated and sold to farmers with schoonord grass (Echinochloa), murina grass (Ischaemumrugosum), bird seed grass (Echinchloacolonum),

monkey tail (Echinochloa crusgalli) and red rice it can affect and destroy the rice industry.

These seed from Burma Rice Research Station are also being distributed to all RPA installations and GRDB branches throughout the rice regions. The BRRS will produce on a crop to crop basis 20 thousand bags of seeds. RPA would buy these pre-basic and basic seeds and distribute to identified and registered seed growers in the various regions.

These seed growers are farmers who generally have small plots of land ranging from 5 – 10 acres. Routinely, these seed growers will be given basic seeds from RPA bonds to grow, at harvest time if these plots meet the seed requirements RPA would purchase the paddy and sell it back to farmers as C-1. Farmers need seeds adapted to their production requirements and conditions. However, farmers at times find themselves at a disadvantage from the outset when they are sold poor quality seed at GRBD branches.

Burma seed systems need to be strengthened to make it more resilient so farmers will have access to adapted varieties that meet their varying needs.

The benefits of farmers using good seeds are (1) control of red rice (2) seeds of uniform grain, length and width, thereby reducing breakage during milling, (3) better and even plant stand in the field, (4) uniform ripening of the field and (5) partially unfilled seeds are removed by the cleaning process, leaving the viable healthy seeds, (6) high milling recovery and excellent cooking quality.

Once the necessary steps are taken at the Guyana Rice Development Board, Rice Research Station that are free of red rice and weed seeds, the above seed sources can meet the seed requirements of farmers.

Because of the unusual na-

ture of the weather pattern at this time, experiments and multiplication plots might be planted at off-station locations. The board should ensure the quality control department and the head of the extension department monitor and certify these seeds to ensure quality before it is sold to farmers.

Very often farmers suffer from inadequate access to quality seed at a price they cannot afford.

Obstacles to small-scale famers’ ability to obtain good seed include weak production.

Fake seeds are a major problem in many rice growing regions with unscrupulous seed growers selling poor quality substitutes to farmers, many of whom only discover their costly mistakes when their harvest fails. Other major problems are lack of information and inadequate national seed policies.

Yours faithfully, Mohamed Khan

Freddie Kissoon misleads on doctorate Dear Editor, My good friend Freddie Kissoon wrote in a recent column that he “completed certification for the doctorate at the University of Toronto”. There is no such “certification” issued by University of Toronto or any doctoral degree granting institution in any part of the globe. If you complete the doctorate, you are granted a degree or diploma (PhD, DPhil, EdD etc). Some doctoral programmes (depending on the country and institution) require course work plus a Comprehensive Level I and Level II exam (oral and written exams as was the case with myself, David Hinds, Baytoram Ramharack and others), a dissertation (thesis used by Freddie) that must be defended before a doctoral committee that includes your supervisor or mentor. The dissertation can only be defended at the request and advice of the mentor or supervisor (to the department faculty) if he or she feels it can pass muster and if the student is ready. The dissertation can

be rejected by the entire committee (minimum of three Professors) or delayed until suggestions or advices offered for revision are acted upon.

Freddie claims he did not submit his dissertation for the PhD; that often happens to several candidates for the doctorate for varied reasons. For example, people like Ramharack and myself were tied up with Guyana’s freedom struggle, and as such it took us longer than others to research, write and defend the dissertation.

Several people (Guyanese and non-Guyanese) who were among the student batch for the doctorate programme with Freddie at the Univ of Toronto (and obtained doctorates) stated otherwise.

They claimed Freddie did submit his dissertation and it was rejected. Others said Freddie’s studies was terminated suddenly for violations of University rules and he had to forcibly return to Guyana dejected.

In Guyana, it is asserted by UG lecturers Freddie misled

people into believing he was “Dr” until he was “outed” by supporters of the PNC working at UG. As revealed to me by a lecturer, it was not Indians or PPP supporters who betrayed him, and that led to his salary title demotion at UG. After he was outed, SN publisher David DeCaires terminated his column; off course, David recognized Freddie wrote a whole lot of non-sense.

Whatever the case of his degree, the University of Toronto did not issue a certification to anyone who did (unfinished) doctoral studies. It was either you got the doctorate or not. Those who completed their work got doctorate.

Those who did not complete the studies were not issued “certification” as being in the doctoral programme.

That is misleading people.

It would seem odd that a person would be given a certification for the PhD up to the thesis level if the degree requires a thesis.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

Breach of Sea Defence Ordinance

Dear Editor, It was reported in the media on October 30 that Celina Atlantic Resort (CAR) has been cutting down Courida and other trees growing on the Kitty foreshore to expand its facilities.

The Sea Defence Ordinance, a Chapter in the Laws of Guyana clearly states it is an offence to build any structure and/or cut down trees on the sea defence and its reserve, which is where CAR facilities are located, without prior written authority from the Sea Defence Board (SDB). It is evident therefore that CAR has been beaching the Laws of Guyana with impunity unless it had received permission from the SDB to do so but to date no such permission has been recorded in

the Minutes of the Meetings of the SDB. In the interest of good governance, the APNU/AFC government through its Ministry of Public Infrastructure should take immediate steps to curb these Lawless acts by CAR since their action can have adverse consequences on the welfare of people living in Kitty and adjoining areas.

After all, people with political affinity and get-richschemes should not be allowed to take the law into their hands to pursue their agendas as they see fit and in the process endanger the lives and welfare of others.

It is worth noting that the previous government had received a grant from the European Union to plant mangroves on a stretch of

foreshore on East Coast Demerara to stabilize its mud bank and to provide a first line of protection by damping incoming waves thus enhancing the integrity of the sea defence behind it. The action of CAR cutting down the trees in a critical area of the Kitty foreshore to expand its facilities can only weaken the sea defence system there since during cycles of erosion of the foreshore, there will be no trees to stabilize it.

Therefore any exposure of the toe of the concrete seawall structure due to erosion of the foreshore could imperil its stability and hence its ability to protect Kitty and adjoining areas from flooding due to high tide levels with severe wave action.

Guyanese will recall not

so long ago overtopping of the sea defence which caused severe flooding in the Kitty/ Subryanville/Bel Air Spring areas. There were no trees on the foreshore at this location as a first line of defence to dampen wave action and therefore the concrete seawall was overwhelmed and failed to provide the necessary protection from overtopping of incoming waves with large amplitudes.

However, trees and a built-up foreshore in the CAR area at the time had prevented the Ocean from overtopping the sea defence at this location thus saving this section of Kitty from flooding.

Yours faithfully, Charles Sohan

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By Paula Spencer

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was trying to do two things at once – cook (in the kitchen) while deciphering some paperwork (in the next room). I’d been interrupted a thousand times with requests for snacks, shrieks over spilled paint and water, questions about what squirrels like to eat, and arguments over whether clouds could be blue and flowers could be green. And did I mention that a ruptured disk in my back was throbbing even worse than my head?

Still, nothing can excuse my behaviour that afternoon.

I erupted like Mount Momsuvius: “Enough! Get out! Stop bothering me!”

The look on my daughters’ faces said it all. The two-year-old’s eyes widened.

The four-year-old furrowed her brow and jabbed her thumb between her lips. Immediately I wished I could stuff the hot-lava words back into my mouth. They certainly hadn’t come from my heart, or my brain.

We all say the wrong thing sometimes, leaving our children feeling hurt, angry or confused. Read on for some of the most common verbal missteps moms and dads make, and kinder, gentler alternatives.

“Leave me alone!”

A parent who doesn’t crave an occasional break is a saint, a martyr or someone who’s so overdue for some time alone she’s forgotten the benefits of recharging. Trouble is, when you routinely tell your children, “Don’t bother me” or “I’m busy,” they internalise that message, says Suzette Haden Elgin, PhD, founder of the Ozark Centre for Language Studies, in Huntsville, Arkansas. “They begin to think there’s no point in talking to you because you’re always brushing them off.” If you set up that pattern when

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Foundation

your children are small, then they may be less likely to tell you things as they get older.

From infancy, children should get in the habit of seeing their parents take time for themselves. Use pressurerelease valves – whether signing up with a babysitting co-op, trading off childcare with your partner or a friend or even parking your child in front of a video so that you can have half an hour to relax and regroup.

At those times when you’re preoccupied (or overstressed, as I was when I exploded at my girls), set up some parameters in advance. I might have said, “Mom has to finish this one thing, so I need you to paint quietly for a few minutes. When I’m done, we’ll go outside.”

Just be realistic. A toddler and a preschooler aren’t likely to amuse themselves for a whole hour.

“You’re so...”

Labels are shortcuts that shortchange children: “Why are you so mean to Katie?” Or “How could you be such a klutz?” Sometimes children overhear us talking to others: “She’s my shy one.”

Young children believe what they hear without question, even when it’s about themselves. So negative labels can become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Thomas gets the message that meanness is his nature. “Klutzy” Sarah begins to think of herself that way, undermining her confidence. Even labels that seem neutral or positive –”shy” or “smart” –pigeonhole

a child and place unnecessary or inappropriate expectations on her.

The worst ones cut dangerously deep. Many a parent can still vividly, and bitterly, remember when her own parent said something like “You’re so hopeless” (or “lazy” or “stupid”).

A far better approach is to address the specific behaviour and leave the adjectives about your child’s personality out of it. For example, “Katie’s feelings were hurt when you told everyone not to play with her.

How can we make her feel better?”

“Don’t Cry.” Variations: “Don’t be sad.” “Don’t be a baby.” “Now, now – there’s no reason to be afraid.” But children do get upset enough to cry, especially toddlers, who can’t always articulate their feelings with words. They do get sad. They do get frightened. “It’s natural to want to protect a child from such feelings,” says Debbie Glasser, PhD, Director of Family Support

Services at the Mailman Segal Institute for Early Childhood Studies at Nova Southeastern University, in Fort Lauderdale. “But saying ‘Don’t be’ doesn’t make a child feel better, and it also can send the message that his emotions aren’t valid – that it’s not okay to be sad or scared.”

Rather than deny that your child feels a particular way –when he obviously does – acknowledge the emotion up front. “It must make you really sad when Jason says he doesn’t want to be your friend anymore.” “Yes, the waves sure can be scary when you’re not used to them.

But we’ll just stand here together and let them tickle our feet. I promise I won’t let go of your hand.”

By naming the real feelings that your child has, you’ll give him the words to express himself – and you’ll show him what it means to be empathetic. Ultimately, he’ll cry less and describe his emotions instead.

“Why can’t you be more like your sister?”

It might seem helpful to hold out a sibling or friend as a shining example.

“Look how well Sam zips his coat,” you might say. Or “Jenna’s using the potty already, so why can’t you do that too?” But comparisons almost always

backfire. Your child is herself, not Sam or Jenna.

It’s natural for parents to compare their children, to look for a frame of reference about their milestones or their behaviour, say experts.

But don’t let your child hear you doing it. Children develop at their own pace and have their own temperament and personality. Comparing your child to someone else implies that you wish yours were different.

Nor does making comparisons help change behaviour. Being pressured to do something she’s not ready for (or doesn’t like to do) can be confusing to a little child and can undermine her self-confidence. She’s also likely to resent you and resolve not to do what you want, in a test of wills.

Instead, encourage her current achievements: “Wow, you put both arms in your coat all by yourself!” Or “Thanks for telling me your diaper needs changing.”

“You know better than that!”

Like comparisons, quick gibes can sting in ways parents never imagine.

For one thing, a child actually may not have known better. Learning is a process of trial and error. Did your child really understand that a heavy pitcher would be hard to pour from? Maybe it didn’t seem that full, or it was different from the one he’s successfully poured from by himself at preschool.

And even if he made the same mistake just yesterday, your comment is neither productive nor supportive.

Give your child the benefit of the doubt, and be specific. Say “I like it better if you do it this way, thank you.”

Similar jabs include “I can’t believe you did that!” and “It’s about time!”

They may not seem awful, but you don’t want to say them too much. They add up, and the underlying message children hear is: “You’re a pain in the neck, and you never do anything right.”

“Stop or I’ll give you something to cry about!”

Threats, usually the result of parental frustration, are rarely effective. We sputter warnings like “Do this or else!” or “If you do that one more time, I’ll spank you!” The problem is that sooner or later you have to make good on the threat or else it loses its power. Threats of hitting have been found to lead to more spanking – which itself has been proven to be an ineffective way to change behaviour.

The younger a child is, the longer it takes for a lesson to sink in. “Studies have shown that the odds of a twoyear-old’s repeating a misdeed later in the same day are 80 per cent no matter what sort of discipline you use,” says Murray Straus, PhD, a sociologist at the University of New Hampshire’s Family Research Lab. Even with older children, no discipline strategy yields surefire results right off the bat every time.

So it’s more effective to develop a repertoire of constructive tactics, such as redirection, removing the child from the situation, or time-outs, than it is to rely on those with proven negative consequences, including verbal threats and spanking. (Excerpt from Parenting.com) To be continue

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monday, november 2, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

Dull Christmas for Wismar Market vendors want sugar workers if issues addressed strike resumes V – GuySuCo

The three-day strike has resulted in the loss of millions of dollars in basic wages and incentives

By Kristen Macklingam

I

f workers across the sugar belt pursue another strike action for the rest of the year, such a decision could result in a grim Christmas season for those sugar workers and their families.

This is according to the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), which in a statement on Sunday stated that as a result of the latest threeday strike orchestrated by the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), workers throughout the country have lost millions of dollars in basic wages and incentives.

Guyana Times understands that at the recent meeting between representatives of GAWU and GuySuCo on Friday last, the sugar company’s Chief Executive Officer, Errol Hanoman explained to the Union that it was never the Corporation’s intention not to commence negotiations on the 2015 wage proposals.

Hanoman reportedly reiterated at the meeting that the Corporation was awaiting advice on the way forward for the industry after Government considered the report and recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry (CoI).

This newspaper was told that he informed the Union that having received a bailout from the Government, a road map for the future of the industry was crucial and the CoI was expected to recommend a basis for such a plan.

Guyana Times was further told that Hanoman was of the view that both GAWU and all sugar workers have a critical role to play in the question of the sugar industry’s survival and sustainability in Guyana. GuySuCo lost more than $222.6 million during the three-day strike action which saw the entire operations coming to a halt According to GuySuCo, its CEO emphasised that

there will be negotiations, but that presently there is a “chicken and egg” situation where the issue is whether to address wage negotiations before the road map or the road map before negotiations.

However, this publication was told that Hanoman promised the workers Union that both the creation of this road map and the wage negotiations would occur.

GuySuCo is urging both GAWU and all its sugar workers not to be hasty, since there would be negotiations, “just not today”.

Hanoman also advised that negotiations would commence “as soon as GuySuCo is in a position to do so”.

Early last week, in a sneak preview of the CoI report, this newspaper broke the news that Inquiry has recommended chief among other things that the sugar company withhold salary increases for the hundreds of sugar workers employed at the various estates across the country.

Although Government is yet to officially release the contents of the report, the leakage of this information sparked much anger among sugar workers and reportedly led to them downing tools for the three consecutive days.

Guyana Times understands that the CoI report recommended that the industry be privatised in order to facilitate better outputs from the factories located at Blairmont, Skeldon, Albion, Rose Hall, Enmore/ La Bonne Intention (LBI), Wales and Uitvulgt.

In light of this, the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) is adamant that privatisation is not the best way to bring the industry back to thriving.

As a matter of fact, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has already announced that the PPP/C was prepared to fight any privatisation of the sugar industry. (kristenm@guyanatimesgy.com)

endors of the Wismar Market in Linden are again appealing to the relevant authorities to pay attention to a number of issues they have been facing for years.

Some stallholders noted their cries seem to be falling on deaf ears, and are voicing concerns mainly over the stagnated state of economic activities there. According to them, several infrastructure works which they have been promised for some time are yet to be put in place.

Stalls in the municipal market are rented under the Linden Mayor and Town Council (LMTC), however vendors state that little attention is paid by the municipality to addressing their woes.

In fact stallholders said, they are peeved since a minibus park, promised by the municipality for years, remains nonoperable. The vendors are claiming that since the main minibus park is situated outside the Mackenzie market, people prefer to shop there since it is easily accessible, leaving the Wismar market at a standstill.

According to the vendors, the LMTC had promised to house the Mahdia bus park outside the Wismar Market in an effort to create economic buzz, however the spot was cleared years ago but nothing further was done.

“When the buses come from up the hill, they go across the river for $100.

If some of the transportation are zoned for both Wismar and Mackenzie, it would enhance the economic activities a lot,” a stallholder related.

Glory, a vendor who has been vending at the market for 24 years said vendors have been complaining for years, however, it appears as though nobody cares since nothing is being done.

“We don’t really get anything here; business is very slow; then we got to pay stall rent, light bill and they are not doing anything. We are really suffering in here. Some people don’t even know this market exists. My suggestion is if they do the park then we might do a little business. We also need an ATM machine over here because everybody goes over to Mackenzie and draw money and they shop right there”, she said.

Yet another complained over being removed from selling along

the roadway and placed in the market, but claimed that presently vendors have returned to the road and are not being told to remove.

“It’s not fair for persons in this market who are paying a monthly rent. Some of the people selling on the road are not paying rent and it’s not fair”, the woman said.

Improper lighting A few stallholders also voiced concerns over the availability of electricity and proper lighting. One concerned stallholder said she was forced to do a few connections herself to ensure she received electricity.

When Guyana Times visited the market, some stalls were observed to be without electricity.

No proper access to water According to vendors they also have issues with broken pipes. “We don’t have any proper access to water, it’s ridiculous… if you go to the back, there’s no water, when you go to the front it’s the same thing. It’s an issue”, Miss Fields who has been at

the market for a number of years noted.

Other issues “If things are damaged at no fault of the vendors, they are not replaced. If water falls from the roof, when we experience leakages, nothing is done”, Miss Fields added.

She said several Committees have been formed in an effort to address the issues, however to no avail.

“We had several committees but after nothing is being done, we got frustrated and that’s how everything went down.

Another stallholder said things came to a standstill since the Linden unrest in 2012.

Vendors said they tried in vain to host sev-

eral ‘market days’ in an effort to create revenue, however after some time the idea was abandoned.

According to them, since it was held in the open air, proper outdoor facilities were necessary.

Meanwhile, some opined that if certain facilities such as a bank and an Automated Teller Machine are placed on the Wismar shore, it will attract more economic activities at the market place.

The Wismar Market was rehabilitated in 2004 at the cost of $130 million, however, since easier access to transportation remains at Mackenzie which houses the Central Business District of Linden, major economic activities remain on the Mackenzie shore.

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monday, november 2, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

Battered body of Parika taxi driver found in Berbice T

he body of Parika taxi driver Sherland Dalloo, 33, who went missing for just over a week, was on Sunday morning discovered at Onverwagt Backdam, West Coast Berbice.

According to reports Dalloo’s battered body was discovered by residents in the area.

According to reports Dalloo of Lot 55 Parika, East Bank Essequibo, disappeared since last Monday without a trace. At the time of his disappearance he was driving a silver grey Toyota 212, with registration plate, HB 8729.

Along with search teams

Dead: Sherland Dalloo

deployed to coastal areas, the search has tak-

en relatives and friends to various remote locations across Linden, Region 10; Mabaruma, Region One; Lethem, Region 9 and Berbice, Region 6.

According to Bhanmatty Dalloo, mother of the taxi driver, her son left home around 07:30h on Monday last for the Parika Stelling from where he works.

The woman recalled that around lunchtime she called her son on his cellular phone to inform him that lunch was ready. She said when she contacted him he informed her that he had to transport a passenger to Georgetown.

The mother said she

again phoned her son at about 14:30h and he said he was still in the city. She told this newspaper that at about 17:30h she began to worry and called him again but her calls went unanswered.

A missing person’s report was subsequently made at the Parika Police Station.

Guyana Times understands that following the discovery, Dalloo’s family was contacted and his brother travelled to Berbice. His worst fear was confirmed as he positively identified the battered body as that of his brother.

A post-mortem examination will be conducted today.

Drug mule busted at CJIA C

ustoms AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU) ranks at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) busted a 46-year-old drug mule who was attempting to smuggle cocaine in the false sides of

his suitcases.

The Guyanese man, who was an outgoing passenger on a Caribbean Airlines flight destined for New York, was busted on Saturday with about 4.5 kilograms (nine pounds) of co-

caine.

According to reports, the man was acting in a suspicious manner causing ranks to inspect his luggage. The cocaine was subsequently discovered and he was arrested.

He is expected to appear in court today.

This newspaper was told that a close relative of the drug mule was arrested a few years ago attempting to smuggle cocaine through the CJIA.

Media barred from Wheelers’ funeral

R

eporters and photographers were barred from attending the funeral service of 73-year-old England-born lawyer Richard Wheeler and his 67-year-old real estate agent wife Grace Wheeler in Tobago.

The bodies of the two were discovered chopped and bludgeoned to death on Tuesday, October 20, at their Riseland Gardens, Carnbee home.

Richard was a partner in the law firm LEX Caribbean and headed the firm’s Tobago office.

73-year-old England-born lawyer Richard Wheeler and his wife, Grace

He was also a member of the Tobago Chamber of Commerce and his wife Grace worked as a real estate agent with Island

Investments.

Their murders are the sixth and seventh committed in Tobago for 2015.

Police Officers lined

the St Patrick’s Anglican Church yard and environs in Mt Pleasant, Tobago as the service was in progress explaining to media representatives that instructions came from family members, who said they did not want any photographs or stories published in the newspapers or any coverage on television.

“They have asked that we do not allow any media persons to enter; their privacy at this time is all they are requesting,” one officer said. (Newsday)

Eyew tness The Totalitarian Imperative… ...in governance he totalitarian mindset arises, ironically, out of a desire to “improve” the lot of mankind. Some folks believe to their bones they know “what’s good for you”… and will do whatever it takes to “do it”. Even if they have to enslave or kill you to do so. It's for your own good, ain’t it?

This Eyewitness remembers viewing a documentary years ago about Guyana when he was a student in “foreign”. Two things stood out: how suave Burnham sounded compared to Jagan, and at the same time how frightening. Asked what he’d do if his socialist experiment failed, Burnham replied it would continue to the last Guyanese standing.

And this was not just an idiosyncrasy of Burnham, it’s a point of view that came out of the revolutionary era at the end of the 19th Century. Not only could folks lop off the heads of nasty rulers to create a new dawn, if they didn't fall into line, so could the heads of ordinary slobs be rolling into the ditches. If they didn't see “what's good for them”.

So while the present rise of the totalitarian mindset might be catalysed by the presence in the new government of so many survivors of the Burnhamite “new order,” it goes deeper into some local wellspring of the impulse - to save us Guyanese from ourselves. The latest bit of evidence of the totalitarian mind at work is the announcement that government will now pass a law so that GRA will be able to look into what's in your bank books.

Can you imagine those gestapos at the GRA with that sort of power? Here we were, tying desperately to convince folks to put their money in banks so that bandits wouldn’t routinely cart off millions in cash. This new law will certainly put a crimp on that initiative! Given a choice between their money ending up in the pockets of the GRA or of bandits, people will always pick “bandits”. Unlike the GRA, their depredations will be random!

The totalitarian mindset was exposed right from the very beginning with the enormous pomp and ceremony arranged for the inauguration – and hasn't stopped since.

It doesn't matter what the event – opening a nursery? – out comes the marching bands and parachutist dropping from the sky! The model of course, is North Korea – from where Burnham had cogged his “mass games”: that facilitated the “masses” to shower their praises (“Founder leader”…

“Father of the nation” …) on him.

Then the Venezuelan sable rattling precipitated relaunching the Cadet Corps, the People's Militia, and doubling the size of the GDF. The noble totalitarian experiment in “Discipling” Guyanese society continues.

T

…in taxes Listen, this Eyewitness understands and agrees that people must pay their taxes. But it’s a little difficult to make them do so when they see how the very persons they put into government to look after their interests - and who criticized the previous government Ministers for not paying taxes – end up doing what they just did on salaries – and taxes. How can the president, who criticized the PPP incumbents, now not only grab the $2M TAX FREE monthly salary, but take a 5% hike in it!!

And since every Minister and functionary – down to the REOs like Ramaya – got their DUTY FREE vehicle that denied the state millions (in the case of PM Nagamootoo’s LANDCRUISER - $63M!!) how do they expect to motivate the small man to permit 33% of his HARD EARNED cash to be siphoned off from his bank accounts – into the pockets of the new overlords?

But that's how the totalitarian mindset works – being “quality people”, (remember that?) soaring above the masses, the rules don’t hold for them.

It’s all for their good, they’re told. …in schools So indiscipline’s breaking out in schools? So when are the totalitarians going to outlaw beating of children in schools?

What example about violence are they showing to the kids?

Readers are invited to send their comments by email to eye@guyanatimesgy.com

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monday, november 2, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

Unemployed Cuba-trained doctors

Officials were “dragging their feet” or “negligent” – Dr Norton T

he situation which led to some 92 Cubatrained Guyanese doctors being jobless over the past two months was either one where the officials responsible have been “dragging their feet”, or one of sheer “negligence”.

This is according to Minister of Public Health Dr George Norton who told Guyana Times on Sunday he was prepared to do everything in his power to have the 92 Cuba-trained Guyanese doctors on the job.

Even though some of the doctors have begun signing their contracts, the Minister said something must be done to correct such instances from recur-

ring.

“We have to do something... even if we have to change things to make the system work”, Norton told this publication during a telephone interview.

Late last month, some of the new doctors, who graduated some two months ago, told this publication they were unsure of their future and had to be seeking other forms of income as they were being given the “royal run-around” by the Ministry of Health and the Public Service Ministry (PSM) when they sought to enquire about their employment.

Norton said this should not have been happening, especially with the new gov-

Some of the Doctors during the graduation ceremony in August of this year

President announces November 1 as Defence Force Day

President David Granger and First Lady Sandra Granger among the gathering at the National Cultural Centre on Sunday

By Kristen Macklingam

H

undreds of ranks from the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) turned up at the National Cultural Centre on Sunday where a church service was held as part of the Army’s 50th anniversary celebrations.

Head of State, Brigadier (Ret’d) David Granger, during his address to the gathering, posited that for the past five decades, the GDF has admirably fulfilled its constitutional obligation to the nation which is to defend the country’s independence while preserving its sovereignty and integrity.

He explained that the ranks of the GDF during these 50 years have valiantly and vigilantly executed their duties to the nation and protected the country and its borders.

“The nation is eternally grateful to the men and

women who continue to serve with commitment, with constancy and courage, in the GDF… We are inspired by the Force’s values – discipline, duty, integrity and others… We owe better gratitude to our soldiers and our veterans,” the President stated.

According to the Head of State, the 50th anniversary of the GDF finds Guyana further down the road consolidating its defence, reaffirming its democracy, protecting Guyana’s territory while making the country a safe place for all.

He explained that over the years the Air Corps has undertaken missions of mercy, relief and surveillance and the Infantry has dutifully and diligently supported the civil role of maintaining order.

It was further stated that the GDF’s national defence doctrines involve ‘peaceful diplomacies”

which combine all the elements of national power to preserve the country’s sovereignty and to protect Guyana’s territory.

President Granger emphasised that all could be confident that the Defence Force in the future, as in the past, would always honour and uphold the Constitution, and that citizens were encouraged by the extraordinary example of the Force.

“For 50 years of services, 50 years of sacrifice, we salute the GDF on this happy occasion … I give notice that the token of the gratitude of the nation to men and women, I then declare that today November 1 and that this day every year hereafter shall be observed throughout the nation as Defence Force Day… May God bless the GDF,” President Granger stated. (kristenm@guyanatimesgy.com)

ernment in office. “We cannot allow our well trained doctors to be at home, never!” he told this publication.

He reminded that he had assured the new doctors at their graduation back in August that Government was prepared to assist them through this phase, and was also opening avenues to have them further their studies in any particular field they may want to specialise in.

Meanwhile, the minister said that as far as he was aware, the doctors have begun signing their contracts, and would soon be turning out to work. He said the information communicated to him by the PSM was that process has already begun; maintaining that the welfare of the doctors has always been under the ambit of the PSM, and could

not understand what could have led to the “unfortunate situation”.

Norton however lamented he could not see why the

doctors, whom he had already begun building a relationship with, could not have gone to him with the issue.

He said too that although they did not sign their contracts, they were free to begin working at their specified places of employment until their contracts were ready.

But the doctors who spoke with this publication earlier had explained that their only concern was the signing of a contract, which they said would seal their commitment to the Government and people of Guyana.

The doctors explained that if they did not sign a contract, they could not just simply show up at any medical institution to work. “It would be illegal,” they had told Guyana Times.

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guyanatimesgy.com

monday, november 2, 2015

News

Shot Boutique “Surprise me and support owner recovering it” – Jagdeo to Govt O Motion to declare MPs' assets

W

ith the motion for all Members of Parliament (MPs) to make public declarations of taxable incomes and all overseas assets likely to be debated on when Parliament resumes on November 12, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo is calling on the government to “surprise me and support it”.

During an exclusive interview, Jagdeo said it is highly likely the government parliamentarians will reject the motion since its passage could eventually put them in a compromising situation.

Nevertheless, in keeping with the interest of transparency and accountability, Jagdeo is urging government to do the honourable thing and support the motion.

On more than one occasion Jagdeo had advocated for all Parliamentarians to declare their overseas asset and to make public their annual income tax returns to the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA).

This proposal came in light of the many accusa-

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

tions against him and other People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) officials about having large sums of monies hidden in private accounts.

“I said to the President (David Granger) that since there have been lots of charges about people stashing money abroad… and since we are in this transparency mode, some of the things

we can work on are, first of all, why don’t we get all of our Members of Parliament to make public, not just to the Integrity Commission, but to make public, their assets...” Jagdeo had stated.

The Opposition Leader asserted that if government is truly in favour of transparency, then it should not be opposed to these mea-

sures since they enhance transparency.

However, Vice President and Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan had previously declared that government MPs need not publicly disclose their assets.

According to Ramjattan, Guyanese should not be interested in the wealth of the governing APNU/AFC parliamentarians but should rather focus on the PPP/C members.

Ramjattan argued that the idea of having an acrossthe-board public declaration of assets is “wholly outrageous”. He contended that APNU/AFC parliamentarians are not wealthy and the public should not focus on their assets.

“So it is not about us, the public has no reason to be interested in our wealth …,” Ramjattan insisted.

Nonetheless, the former President is of the view that such a move would augur well for Guyana’s development and the PPP/C was prepared to work with anyone on transparency related matters.

wner of Street Style Boutique who was shot to his right knee following a robbery on Saturday evening is recovering well at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH).

Speaking with Guyana Times from his hospital bed, Carl Innis said four men pounced on him as he was entering his car, having closed his Bar Street, Kitty, business at about 19:00h.

“We had just lock up and I just going in the car, soon after these men pulled me out the car, throw me on the ground, started beating me,” Innis said.

The traumatized businessman added that during the ordeal one of the men kept shouting “shoot he, shoot he”.

He said the men took away his jewellery and an undisclosed amount of cash, after which they shot him with a handgun.

According to the businessman, the bandits escaped in a slivergrey car.

He told this publication he believes the bandits were staking him out since they attacked him as soon as he closed the business.

Carl Innis

Innis said he usually closes his store at 18:00h but because there were customers in the premises at closing time he was delayed.

The businessman, who underwent surgery to remove the bullet from his foot, explained that this is the second time in two years he has been robbed.

This newspaper observed several cuts and bruises about the man’s body, which he suffered during the ordeal.

Police are investigating the incident.

monday, november 2, 2015

guyanatimesgy.com

11

News

Rice industry crisis

PPP/C offers survival recommendations to Govt

BY KRISTEN MACKLINGAM

T

he People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) has formally submitted to the APNU/AFC government its suggestions and recommendations on the way forward to save Guyana’s crippling rice industry.

Thousands of rice farmers throughout the country continue to face major difficulties due to low paddy prices and in addition are heavily indebted to local banking institutions.

Hence, the Opposition, in an effort to bring relief to those affected, has unveiled its plans on what the administration can do to help these farmers.

General Secretary of the Rice Producers Association (RPA) Dharamkumar

Seeraj in a statement said the party has communicated officially to government its concerns over the current situation of the rice industry.

According to Seeraj, in a letter sent on Saturday to Agriculture Minister Noel Holder, it was stated that rice farmers were promised much higher prices for their paddy prior to the May 11 elections.

In the letter to Minister Holder, and seen by this publication, Seeraj stated that rice farmers were promised double the price obtaining in 2015 by agents of APNU/AFC in the May 2015 election campaign but currently they are receiving between 35 and 60 per cent of that promised price.

This is leading to bankruptcy and despair in the sector.

“There were recent protests by rice farmers across the rice growing regions and twice in Georgetown over this situation; and in meetings with the public the Leader of the Opposition was asked on numerous occasions to help resolve the problems of the farmers in particular and the industry in general,” the letter explained.

During an exclusive interview with Guyana Times on Thursday last, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo had announced that some of the measures proposed to lessen the devastating impact of low prices to rice include the administration’s resumption of negotiations with the Venezuelan Government with the intention of selling rice and paddy to the

Granger, Maduro likely to meet at Arab Summit

President David Granger

P

resident David Granger and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro are likely to meet at the Fourth Summit of the South American and Arab Countries (ASPA), in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, November 10-11.

This could make way for another opportunity for the two Heads of Government to engage in bilateral discussions aimed at resolving the decades old dispute surrounding Venezuela’s claim on two-thirds of Guyana’s landmass, and rebuilding a functional diplomatic relationship.

Following their initial meet with the United Nations (UN) General Secretary Ban Ki-Moon in New York in September, Granger and Maduro agreed to continue to engage in bilateral communication.

President Granger is yet to confirm his participa-

tion in the Summit whereas President Maduro has confirmed. According to media reports, Maduro said his visit to Saudi Arabia would be the ideal opportunity for him to “insist on the formula to set a strategy to defend the oil market.”

Maduro has claimed the United States of America is using the Guyana Government to destabilise his country through the operations of ExxonMobil in the disputed waters. The border controversy was only revived following the USoil giant’s find of oil in the Stabroek offshore waters.

Subsequent to their announcement of the lucrative find, Maduro issued a decree laying claims on Guyana’s land thus reviving the decades-old issue.

Meanwhile, the Fourth ASPA will bring together world leaders of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) and the Arab League. The aim of the forum is to ensure greater coordination between political leaders and civil society organisations in the Middle East and North Africa Region and South American countries. ASPA’s cooperation involves actions organised through five sectoral committees for economics, science and technology, environment, social, and cultural affairs.

Rescue rice market

A Granger/Maduro meet at the upcoming Summit would be the ideal opportu-

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro

nity for Guyana to rescue the Venezuelan rice market.

Opposition Leader and former President Bharrat Jagdeo had urged President Granger to engage in talks with Maduro when they met in New York concerning the recent loss of the PetroCaribe deal. However, Granger insisted that his purpose was solely to address the Guyana/Venezuela issue.

Nevertheless, the possible meet in Saudi Arabia can provide another opportunity for the two leaders to reopen negotiations.

Amid the border controversy, Jagdeo had noted that Guyana can aggressively pursue the integrity and sovereignty of its borders, whilst at the same time, maintain an open channel for dialogue, trade flows and functional cooperation between its neighbours.

RPA General Secretary Dharamkumar Seeraj

Spanish-speaking country.

The PPP/C is recommending: “the immediate removal of all forms of taxes and duties on fuel for the industry, including machinery, equipment, and spares.

There should be commencement of discussions with all banks lending to the industry, to review terms and conditions of loans in view of the low prices farmer are getting in order to ‘soften’ repayment conditions .Government should also suspend payments of land leases and drainage and irrigation charges.”

Guyana Times was further told the Opposition is of the view that if the APNU/ AFC government were to is-

sue a supplementary provision to Parliament to provide financial support to farmers to aid in the purchase of seed paddy and fertilisers that this would be a major relief to those affected as well.

In addition, Seeraj in his letter to Holder advised that Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) should immediately implement minimum export prices for rice and paddy. He also suggested that there should be the implementation of an “aggressive marketing strategy” in order to enhance current prices and secure new lucrative markets.

“Government should also withdraw its pronouncement that ‘it’s a private matter’ and give support to the industry, especially the farmers,” Seeraj’s letter further stated.

The PPP/C is confident Seeraj added in his letter, that the implementation of these measures will bring about some relief to the more than 120,000 Guyanese who depend on the rice industry, directly and indirectly for their livelihood.

Early last week, the Opposition Leader met with hundreds of rice farmers across the Essequibo

Coast, Region Two, where he heard them complain bitterly about the hardships they are facing as a result of the deteriorating rice industry.

The farmers also explained to the Opposition Leader that they were fearful for their future, as rice was the ‘backbone’ of the Region Two economy. The farmers further explained that now that the rice crop was over, they were very disappointed and dissatisfied with the prices they received, pointing out that some have not even cleared their expenses.

The frustrated rice farmers lamented their lack of financing to restart the next crop, adding that they were heavily indebted to local banking institutions. The farmers explained that they were so indebted that a large number of them have decided to abandon their rice lands until...

They admitted that they believed the promises that were highlighted to them by the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change during the elections campaign but were now realising that they were “lied to”. (kristenm@ guyanatimesgy.com)

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Guyana raked in $47B in 2013 from tourism G

uyana earned a whopping $47 billion in revenue through its travel and tourism sector in 2013, a total contribution of 7.6 per cent to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and revenues are expected to drastically rise to $69.2 billion in 2024.

The 2014 World Travel and Tourism Council report on the performance of Guyana’s tourism sector in 2013 reveals that the industry has been performing exceptionally well by contributing significantly to the economy through the attraction of foreign investments, creation of thousands of jobs and generating visitor exports. The report also projected remarkable growth in the local tourism sector within the coming years.

The total contribution to travel and tourism includes the indirect impacts and induced impacts on the economy. The indirect contribution includes the GDP and jobs supported by tourism investment spending (construction of new hotels), government collective spending (tourism marketing and promotion), and domestic purchases of goods and services (food at restaurants, services by airlines).

Induced contribution on the other hand measures the GDP and jobs supported by the spending of those who are directly or indirect-

Former Tourism Minister Irfaan Ali

ly employed by the travel and tourism industry.

According to the report, the direct contribution of travel and tourism to GDP was $18.8 billion (3 per cent of total GDP) in 2013. This forecast is to rise to $26.8 in 2024.

Direct contribution differs from total contribution.

The direct contribution of travel and tourism to GDP reflects the internal spending on travel and tourism (total spending within a particular country on Travel & Tourism by residents and non-residents for business and leisure purposes) as well as government ‘individual’ spending - spending by government on Travel & Tourism services directly linked to visitors, such as

cultural (museums) or recreational (national parks).

Additionally, travel and tourism generated 8000 jobs directly in 2013 (3.3 per cent of total employment). These employments include employment by hotels, travel agents, airlines and other passenger transportation services (excluding commuter services). It also includes, for example, the activities of the restaurant and leisure industries directly supported by tourists. By 2024, Travel & Tourism will account for 7000 jobs directly, a decrease of 0.6 per cent over the next ten years.

The total contribution of Travel & Tourism to employment (including wider effects from investment, the supply chain and induced income impacts) was 19,000 jobs in 2013 (8 per cent of total employment). By 2024, Travel & Tourism is forecast to support 19,000 jobs (but by a drop of 0.5 per cent of total employment).

In addition, the tourism industry saw visitor exports generating $14.5 billion. Visitor exports are a key component of the direct contribution of Travel & Tourism.

By 2024, international tourist arrivals are forecast to total 248,000, generating expenditure of $18.8 billion, an increase of 2.5 per cent.

The report also noted that travel and tourism invest-

ment in 2013 was $3.5 billion (2.6 per cent of total investment. It is expected to rise to $4.4 billion in 2024. (All values are in constant 2013 prices & exchange rates).

Tourism Awareness Month

Tourism Minister Cathy Hughes

Meanwhile, November 1 marked the beginning of Tourism Awareness Month (TAM) where government will embark on a series of activities aimed at promoting the country’s best tourists attractions and destinations.

TAM 2015 is being celebrated under the theme “Growing the business of

tourism through product innovation.”

Tourism Minister Cathy Hughes in her message to the nation, noted that the theme perfectly reflects what her Ministry embodies as its priority in transforming Guyana’s variety of tourism products such as ecotourism, adventure tourism, community-based tourism, heritage sports, bird watching, entertainment, agriculture, and arts tourism into innovative, marketable and revenue earning businesses that can be self sustained and grow branch by branch.

NA paediatric ward receives boost

Carol Bagot-Trim of OSHAD making the presentation to Medical Superintendent of NA Hospital Dr Vishayla Sharma while other hospital staff observe the moment

E

fforts are being made to make the Paediatric Ward of the New Amsterdam Hospital, Berbice more childfriendly. With this in mind the Organisation for Social and Health Advancement in Guyana (OSHAD) donated a number of children’s books, puzzles, games, and toys to the ward’s new library.

OSHAD representative Carol Bagot-Trim made the presentation to Chief Executive Officer of the NA hospital Colin Bynoe.

The small donation, which Bynoe said the hospital was grateful for, is another step towards developing the library at the paediatric ward.

“We believe that while children are hospitalised they can still be active in terms of the work that they

do at school,” Bynoe said at the simple presentation ceremony.

A 42-inch television was also presented to the ward.

“We are trying to ensure that we keep children’s brains active while they are here and more so make them comfortable. We know that many parents are worried when their children are in the hospital but we are seeking to alleviate that fear,” Bynoe added.

The CEO is also calling on corporate Guyana to join the hospital in its quest to make it a more child-friendly zone.

“A new level of healthcare is being sought for the New Amsterdam Hospital.

This will however only become a reality if the community gets involved.”

In brief remarks Bagot-

Trim noted that she wants to continue the good relationship with the Hospital.

“I had a pledge in 2005 when the team made its first visit to the New Amsterdam Hospital to adopt the New Amsterdam Hospital. It seems that we are moving forward with the wonderful relationship that had been forged with this hospital.

The books will be very useful for the children when they are in hospital, when they are here their brains are not sleeping, there might be an injury but at the same time they can participate in learning numbers and colours or reading a book,” she said.

OSHAD had been making regular visit to the Hospital. Plans are under way for another visit in December to the paediatric ward.

Extravagant Govt spending...

Misleading answers

Nandlall reminded Government that it had an obligation to the Guyanese populace. He also reminded that it was the Government who campaigned vigorously on the issue of transparency and accountability. Yet, when questions are thrown in their direction seeking clarity on various Government spending, the Administration opts to give “misleading and ambiguous answers”. He was making reference to the issue surrounding the expenses incurred for the presidential inauguration events.

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) had sub-

mitted several questions to the Government, seeking clarification on several concerns about the costs for the inauguration spending, but the Finance Ministry, in its response to those questions, vaguely revealed that no money was spent from state coffers for this purpose. However, this varies considerably from what two Government Ministers, State Minister Joseph Harmon and Junior Education Minister Nicolette Henry had announced.

Nevertheless, Nandlall insisted that Government provide clarity on this matter. In addition, he is requesting that Government

From page 3

reveal how much money was to be paid to retain the law firm and by what process of public procurement was this law firm selected.

“Is it their friend, somebody’s family and why a law firm?” Nandlall said, expressing his bewilderment over the need for the services of a law firm for party planning.

In quoting Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, the former Attorney General reminded the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Administration that “you cannot live in a donkey cart economy and party in a Cadillac lifestyle.”

news

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monday, november 2, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

Scores participate in IAC Cancer Awareness and Health Fair the public in various ways; however, this is the first time the Committee has embarked on hosting a health programme. Based on the huge turnout and support for this pilot proj-

The medical team at the IAC Cancer Awareness and Health Fair

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cores of Guyanese turned out to participate in the Indian Action Committee (IAC) Cancer Awareness and Health Fair on Saturday.

Persons of all age groups came out for free medical checkups at the event which was hosted at the IAC’s office in Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara. Tests such as blood pressure, blood glucose, body mass index were conducted on site. Flyers and brochures on numerous health issues were also distributed to the public in an effect to raise awareness and to encourage persons to get into the habit of getting regular

checkups.

Among the medical doctors on site to educate the public about health issues were Dr Raveendranath Ichlangod from the Cancer Institute of Guyana and Dr Sayan Chakraborty, who engaged the public in mini seminars by providing vital information on various health issues and by addressing some of the concerns of those in attendance.

In particular the doctors spoke extensively on cancer and its symptoms, urging individuals to get regular checkups as early detection can save lives.

On the topic of breast cancer, the doctors highlight-

ed that getting treated for breast cancer involved making many tough decisions. Aside from deciding whether or not to undergo surgery, cancer patients have to get into the habit of taking pills almost for the rest of their lives at regular intervals.

This successful initiative was a collaborative effort between the IAC, the Texila American University and Cancer Institute of Guyana. A medical team from the University was also on site and assisted with the various tests and examinations being conducted.

Over the years, the IAC has been reaching out to

Diwali 2015

Essequibo motorcade set for November 6

One of the participating floats during the 2014 motorcade

By Indrawattie Natram

T

housands of persons are expected to converge at the Anna Regina Community Centre Ground on November 6 to view the spectacular and creative designs of motorcades from various Mandirs, compliments of the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha’s Essequibo Praant.

According to a release from the Sabha, Mandirs from across the Essequibo Coast are expected to participate in the annual Dharmic Sabha motor-

cade. The release stated that illuminated and decorated vehicles will converge at the Affiance Bus Shed for commencement of the event. The initial judging will take place there. The parade will then proceed to the Anna Regina Community Centre Ground, where a cultural programme is planned by the Sabha.

Prizes will be awarded to the best float based on discipline, music, punctuality, lights, relevance, depiction and originality.

The first prize winner will receive $120,000; second,

$110,000; third, $100,000; fourth, $90,000 and fifth, $80,000. Consolation prizes will be given to each of the other participating mandirs.

The President of the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha, Dr Vindhya Persaud, along with other executive members of the Praant, will be attending the event. Several Mandirs have already started to create their design for the motorcade. Youths from the various temples are actively involved in the making of the floats for the motorcade.

ect, the IAC is considering the possibility of making this outreach an annual initiative.

“It is the belief of its members, to have this event as an annual one,

however, there is need for the continued support of the public and private organisations in the various outreaches,” the body noted.

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monday, november 2, 2015

Regional

CCJ grants historic constitutional No decriminalisation: Barbados DPP relief to Maya people strongly opposed to legalising marijuana

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he Trinidad-based Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) says the Belize Government breached the right of the Maya community to protection of the law by failing to ensure that the existing property regime, inherited from the pre-independence colonial system, recognised and protected Maya land rights.

The 25 members of the Maya Leaders Alliance had been fighting for recognition and protection of Maya land rights before international courts and the courts of Belize for more than 20 years.

Their appeal before the CCJ arose out of litigation precipitated by an incursion onto farm lands in the Golden Stream village by Francis Johnson, now deceased.

While the appeal was being heard by the CCJ in Belize, the appellants and the Belize Government entered into a Consent Order on April 22, 2015 which recognised that the Maya system of customary land tenure gives rise to property rights within the meaning of the Constitution of Belize.

The Consent Order also requires the Government to develop of a mech-

D

The Trinidad-based Caribbean Court of Justice

anism to recognise and protect Maya land rights in consultation with the Maya people. The parties are to report to the CCJ on the chosen mechanism

by April 2016.

Under the Consent Order, the CCJ was asked to decide whether the appellants should be granted damages for breach of constitutional rights.

In the ruling handed down on

Friday, the CCJ found that the Belize Government “breached the appellants’ right to protection of the law by failing to ensure that the existing property regime, inherited from the pre-independence colonial system, recognised and protected Maya land rights”.

The CCJ emphasised that the protection of the law is linked to fairness and the rule of law. (Excerpt from CMC)

Luxury Hilton Hotel for Dominica by 2018

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new Hilton luxury development is coming to Dominica.

According to Hilton Worldwide, Tranquility Beach Resort Dominica will be opened for business in Salisbury by 2018, joining Curio – A Collection by Hilton.

Curio is a collection of unique hotels, each with their own history and character in cities across the globe.

The property will be a gated community of 60 one or two bedroom villa suites in 15 new buildings and will be accessible via private

beach path.

“When considering properties for the Curio brand, we consider the interesting places travelers want to visit and how they want to experience them,” said Dianna

Vaughan, global head, Curio – A Collection by Hilton.

“In that regard, the Tranquility Beach Resort Dominica will be a perfect marriage of a remarkable location with a connection to

the identity, people, culture and energy of the area.”

Dominica is expected to benefit from the marketing of the Hilton brand as well as points and miles guests will earn for each night of their stay at the hotel.

Just recently ground was broken for a new hotel development, Kempinski Resort Dominica at Douglas Bay in Portsmouth.

Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit indicated that, like the Kempinski Resort, the project in Salisbury will also be executed through the Citizenship by Investment Programme. (Caribbean360.com)

irector of Public Prosecutions, Charles Leacock QC, has made it clear that he is against the decriminalisation of marijuana in Barbados.

Leacock was speaking at the time at a recently-held closing ceremony for a Prosecution of Drug Offences Course, conducted by the Regional Security Systems Training Institute, for 16 local and regional police officers.

Leacock pointed out that in the last 20 years or so, the war against drugs has been pervasive and ongoing, and tremendous resources have been dedicated to this fight.

However, he noted that it seemed as if some people are prepared to “put their hands in the air, to say this fight cannot be won”.

Noting that the decriminalisation of marijuana has taken place, for example, in the United States, he, however, said that it has only been at the level of some states. As such, he suggest-

ed there are mixed signals being sent by nations, as to their commitment to the war against drugs.

While Leacock has no problem with marijuana being used for legitimate medical purposes, he remains adamant that he sees no clear-cut case for the decriminalisation of marijuana in Barbados.

“So there is this movement towards decriminalisation. I think in our own Region, Jamaica has indicated that they are going to decriminalise it, and in fact, some countries within Caricom have actually called at the highest level for this matter to be discussed by regional heads. So the entire focus that our law enforcement and prosecutions have placed on the war against drugs, seems to be coming under increasing challenge from the point of view that some people seem to be saying, well it should be decriminalised to some extent,” he commented. (Excerpt from Barbados

Advocate)

Amazon fires: Brazil indigenous reserve blazes contained

Missing ship: El Faro “found by search team”

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earchers say they believe they have found the wreckage of a cargo ship which went missing off the Bahamas during Hurricane Joaquin last month.

The 790-foot (241-metre) El Faro disappeared while sailing from Florida to Puerto Rico with 33 crew on board.

A US Navy ship using sonar equipment has now located a vessel at a depth of 15,000ft.

The El Faro sent out a distress signal on October 1, saying it had lost power and

The El Faro disappeared on October

was taking on water.

Debris was spotted in the ocean in the days after it dis-

appeared, and one body was recovered.

In a statement, the US

National Transportation Safety Board said a remotely operated vehicle would be deployed “to survey and confirm the identity of the wreckage”.

It added that the wreckage was “consistent with a 790ft cargo ship, which from sonar images appears to be in an upright position and in one piece”.

The statement went on to say that if the wreckage was confirmed to be the missing cargo ship, attempts would be made to locate and recover the voyage data recorder.

(BBC News)

St Lucia to host first Latin American and Caribbean Cultural Festival

S

t Lucia is preparing to stage the first-ever Latin American and Caribbean Cultural Festival early this month with organisers hoping that it will become a major event on the tourism and cultural calen-

dar of the Eastern Caribbean.

The festival to be held from November 9 -13, is being organised by the Ministry of Tourism, Heritage and Creative Industries, the Cultural Development Foundation (CDF) and the

St Lucia Audiovisual and Film Association, in collaboration with the Argentine, Brazilian, Cuban, Mexican and Venezuelan Embassies accredited in St Lucia.

According to a Government announcement,

the main event, “Latin American Cinema”, will entail the showing of two renowned and/ or awarded films from each participating country, intended for children and general audiences. (CMC)

The fires have burned some 2,000sq km of the reserve, or the equivalent of 190,000 football pitches

B

razilian officials have managed to contain several forest fires that have destroyed half of an indigenous reserve in the Amazon region.

Some 12,000 indigenous people live in the Arariboia reserve, in the state of Maranhao.

Their leaders say the fires were started more than a month ago by hostile loggers and farmers who want exploit the area’s natural resources.

Hundreds of fire-fighters and soldiers had been trying to put out the blazes.

Their work has been helped by recent heavy rains, which extinguished 90 per cent of the fires in the state, a local official told the AFP news agency.

An additional 10 per cent of fires were under control, said Luciano Evaristo, regional director of the Brazilian

Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (Ibama).

Loggers started the fires to intimidate the tribes and undermine their projects to boost surveillance programmes in the Arariboia reserve, said environmental group Greenpeace.

Some 12,000 ethnic Guajajara indigenous people live in the area.

Among them is a small vulnerable group of about 80 members of the Awa-Guaja tribe, who have chosen to live in isolation deep in the forest.

Brazilian environmental officials say there has been a record number of fires throughout the Amazon as the result of exceptionally dry weather.

More than 13,000 forest fires have been recorded in the Brazilian Amazon since the beginning of the year.

(BBC News)

monday, november 2, 2015

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15

Around the world

Aung San Suu Kyi Turkey’s AK Party set for rally draws thousands majority win in snap election in Myanmar

T

he Justice and Development Party (AK Party) is set to lead Turkey alone once again after a five-month break, according to unofficial preliminary results of snap polls.

The party leads Sunday’s general elections with 49.4 per cent of the votes, while 95.5 per cent of the votes have been counted, results reported by the semi-official Anadolu Agency showed.

The AK Party is followed by the centre-left Republican People’s Party (CHP) with 25.3 per cent of the votes, far-right Nationalist Action Party (MHP) with 12 per cent and the proKurdish left-wing Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) with 10.4 per cent.

With these results, AK Party is predicted to claim 316 seats in the 550seat Parliament, chased by CHP with 133 seats, HDP with 59 seats and MHP with 42 seats. Parties need to secure 276 seats to govern the country alone.

More than 54 million people were registered to vote at some 175,000 stations. The participation rate stood at 86.1 per cent.

Sunday’s vote was a rerun of a June

T

The vote on Sunday is the second such election in five months amid instability from the conflict in Syria [Huseyin Narin/Al Jazeera]

election in which the AK Party surprisingly lost its one-party rule due to a strong showing by Turkey’s pro-Kurdish People’s Democracy Party, or HDP. The June 7 election had seen the social conservative AK Party lose its 13year single-party rule.

But the four political parties that

made their way to the Parliament failed to produce a coalition Government, and snap elections were called.

In the June polls, the AK Party secured 258 seats, losing many to the HDP, which achieved unprecedented success for a pro-Kurdish party by getting 80 seats. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

ens of thousands of supporters of Myanmar Opposition Leader Aung San Suu Kyi have gathered in Yangon for her party’s largest rally so far, a week before the country votes in landmark elections.

“I want to tell you again to vote for us if you want to see real changes in the country,” she told supporters at the rally in eastern Yangon on Sunday.

“I have no fear at all to face or fight anyone as long as you support me.”

Tens of thousands streamed into the outdoor parade ground next to a Buddhist temple in an eastern district of Yangon, the first major National League for Democracy (NLD) party rally in the heart of the commercial hub.

Political tensions are

running high in Myanmar, which heads to the polls next Sunday.

Late on Thursday, Naing Ngan Linn, an NLD sitting Member of Parliament, was attacked with a sword while canvassing in the Tharketa township in his constituency, sustaining head injuries.

Observers hope the vote will be the fairest election in decades as the nation slowly shakes off years of brutal and isolating junta rule.

The run-up to the polls, however, has been marred by allegations of dirty tricks, complaints over the pre-poll preparations and concerns that significant minority groups are unrepresented and disenfranchised.

Suu Kyi, 70, won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991, for her non-violent struggle for democracy. (Excerpt from

Al Jazeera)

India becomes world’s 7th most S Korea, Japan, and China agree valued ‘nation brand’; US on top to restore trade ties

I

ndia has moved up one position to become the world’s seventh most valued ‘nation brand’, with an increase of 32 per cent in its brand value to US$2.1 billion.

The US remains on the top with a valuation of US$19.7 billion, followed by China and Germany at the second and the third positions respectively, as per the annual report on world’s most valuable nation brands compiled by Brand Finance.

The UK is ranked 4th, Japan is at fifth position and France is sixth on the

list. While India and France have moved up one position each since last year, all the top-five countries have retained their respective places.

However, the surge of 32 per cent in India’s ‘nation brand value’ is the highest among all the top-20 countries on the list.

China has retained its second position despite a decline of one per cent in its brand value to US$6.3 billion.

Brand Finance said it measures the strength and value of the nation brands of

100 leading countries using a method based on the royalty relief mechanism employed to value the world’s largest companies.

The nation brand valuation is based on fiveyear forecasts of sales of all brands in each nation and follows a complex process.

The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is used as a proxy for total revenues.

The report also said that India’s ‘Incredible India’ slogan has worked well, while Germany suffered due to the Volkswagen crisis. (Excerpt from

Times of India)

Sinai plane crash: Russian airliner ‘broke up in mid-air’

Debris was found across a wide area of the Sinai Peninsula, Russia says

A

Russian airliner which crashed in Egypt’s Sinai peninsula, killing all 224 people on board, broke up in midair, a Russian official says.

Victor Sorochenko, the head of Russia’s Interstate Aviation Committee, said it was too early to conclude what caused the crash on Saturday.

He told reporters debris was found across a 20 square kilometre-wide area

of Sinai. So far 163 bodies have been found.

Russia is observing a day of mourning after its worst air disaster.

Sorochenko, spoke after visiting the site of the debris, near the village of Hasana. The head of Russia’s Air Transport Agency, Aleksandr Neradko, said that “all signs attest to the fact that the aircraft disintegrated in the air at a

high altitude”.

Jihadists allied to socalled Islamic State in Sinai, where such groups are active, had made a claim on social media that they had brought down flight KGL9268.

But Egyptian Prime Minister Sharif Ismail said experts had confirmed that a plane could not be downed at 9450m (31,000ft), the altitude the Airbus 321 was flying at, by weapons the militants are known to possess.

President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi also urged caution on Sunday, saying the investigation into the cause was a “complicated matter” that could take months.

Russian Transport Minister Maksim Sokolov said no evidence had been seen that indicated the plane was targeted, and IS has not produced pictures or video footage to substantiate its claim. (Excerpt from BBC News)

The trio agreed to advance negotiations on a common free trade agreement and expand exchange programmes [Reuters]

S

outh Korea, Japan, and China have agreed to restore trade and security ties, in addition to economic cooperation, after the countries’ leaders held their first three-way discussions in more than three years.

After meeting in Seoul on Sunday, the three regional powers reached an agreement to restart regular trilateral meetings, which have not been carried out since 2012, mainly due to territorial and historical disputes.

Relations between the three nations have been

strained by disputes over territory and resources in the East China Sea, as well as historical rows over their World War II past.

“The trilateral cooperation mechanism is back on track,” said Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on the sidelines of the summit with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and South Korean President Park Geun Hye. The trio agreed to advance negotiations on a common free trade agreement, expand exchange programmes, and advocate the resumption of multi-party talks on North Korea’s nu-

clear activities, they said in a statement after the talks.

They will move forward together “facing history squarely and advancing toward the future”, the statement added.

It made no mention of long-standing disputes, namely the China-Japan row over the control of a group of uninhabited islands in the East China Sea, as well as South Korea and China’s charge that Japan has tried to cover up wartime atrocities, including the forcing of women to serve Japanese soldiers as sex slaves. (Al Jazeera)

Thousands march in Niger to denounce vote preparations

T

housands of anti-Government protesters marched in Niger’s capital on Sunday to denounce what they say are irregularities in voter lists ahead of presidential elections in early 2016.

Marchers carried banners with slogans such as “The people stand up for clean elections” and “No to dictatorship” and demanded a full audit of the electoral register.

Niger, a poor, uranium-

producing country in the Sahel band of West Africa, is set to hold presidential elections in February with President Mahamadou Issoufou expected to seek a second five-year mandate.

Issoufou, a key Western ally against radical Islamist groups, is widely expected to triumph over a fragmented Opposition to win a second mandate. His ruling PNDS party has forecast a oneround victory.

This is despite a failure

to secure regions like Diffa, where Nigeria-based Boko Haram militants have increased cross-border attacks in recent months, prompting the authorities to declare a state of emergency.

Opposition parties have regularly criticised vote preparations, alleging that thousands of people have been excluded from a national census, and condemning delays in amalgamating voter lists. (Excerpt from Reuters)

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monday, november 2, 2015| guyanatimesGY.com

Rockstone craves development – residents W

hile the annual Fish Festival provides a great opportunity to showcase the naturalistic side of this thriving remote farming community, residents of Rockstone, Region 10 (Upper Demerara/ Berbice), believe that much more needs to be done in order to improve their livelihood. In fact, there are not much economic activities going on in the community, which has just over 300 residents, and for years now the situation has remained the same.

Speaking with residents recently on what they think are lacking in terms of bettering their lives this newspaper learnt that issues such as potable water, electricity, improved telecommunica-

tions, roads, educational, job opportunities, and tourism are matters they wish to see addressed.

telephone booth in the area, which is presently out of order. Usually residents have to be near the booth to receive cellular phone signals which is quite limited.

Residents explained that in times of emergency it is difficult to maintain contact with relatives.

Potable water

There are just a few households in this community which have access to potable water, and for those who do not, the question of “when” remain unanswered.

One resident related that only recently was potable water made available, however since she remains a part of the residents without, she would like to see the issue addressed.

Electricity

There are only a few homes equipped with solar panels in Rockstone, and those who can afford gen-

Roads

A view of Rockstone

erators. For the majority of residents there is no access to electricity.

“You know, sometimes we does want to watch TV and so on but we can’t. Even

if you decide to rear chickens you have to get cold storage. Rockstone has been like this for the longest while and I think it’s about time we come out of this zone”, a gentleman who said he grew up in the community said.

Tourism potential

“We have a lot of tourism potential but I think we need more investment in the industry”, a resident who was part of the Rockstone Tourism Association (RTA), related to Guyana Times.

According to her, there are scores of visitors to the community all year round however, she said there is need for better marketing of tourism, apart from the Fish

Festival in October.

“We got a lot of training from GTA (Guyana Tourism Association) and a lot of trained persons who have a lot of ideas about tourism but still things are stagnated.

We have trained tour guides but they can’t work because not much is happening.” She explained that some members of the Association had left so there was a reduction in activities. She urges they reunite in unity to assist in promoting Rockstone.

Telecommunications

Presently there is very limited telecommunication in Rockstone so residents continue to voice concerns over this. There is only one

Residents are concerned over the deplorable state of the access road. According to a resident who owns a car, the experience is challenging since lots of money have to be spent on maintenance.

Yet another stated that more roads should be developed in the community.

Opportunities

The main means of livelihood in the community is either farming or forestry.

Many persons from the community leave the area to attend jobs at distant locations since there are not many opportunities for employment.

A resident explained that forestry concessions provide some opportunity, however recently there haven’t been any in that regard.

Lumbering is also done on a small scale and residents said they would like to see more industries such as mining developed.

Teachers must all be professionally trained – Granger

G

overnment is seeking to have all teachers in the public school system be professionally trained to carry out their functions, President David Granger has said.

Addressing hundreds of students on Thursday at the National Cultural Centre at the Education Ministry’s 19th annual prize-giving ceremony, the Head of State said it was necessary to have properly educated teachers in the system so as to ensure that each child have access to quality education.

“We hope that over the next 15 years, between 2015 and 2030 – during the SDGs [Sustainable Development Goals] – our teachers will have the opportunity of having a tertiary education,” he said.

The Head of State noted that during his tenure as President, Government would be working to ensure that every teacher was trained. Moreover, he stated it was necessary to have properly educated teachers if there were to be educated students. Teachers must also have the tools to do their jobs, he said Meanwhile, the President said that every secondary school must also have a wellequipped science and computer laboratory.

According to him, ensuring that every secondary school is equipped will help

President David Granger

reduce disparities in educational attainment between the coastland and the hinterland.

“Universal Secondary Education is the foundation on which Guyana can improve. If Guyana is to survive, it cannot be left behind the rest of the Caribbean and the rest of the world in education. It must at the minimum keep abreast with international standards. The performance of our students over the years in regional examinations testifies to the great value that our people have attached to education and the capacity of our students to excel,” he said.

The issue of trained teachers was raised in the

National Assembly during the 2015 Budget debates.

On Day Five, the final day of the 2015 Budget Debate presentations, former Education Minister Priya Manickchand and current Education Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine, faced off as they addressed the education sector and all its achievements.

Manickchand highlighted the many areas that have seen major success under the PPP/C regime such as the number of trained teachers in the country. She disclosed that under her party, trained teachers increased from some 30 per cent to an astonishing 72 per cent of all teachers.

17

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monday, november 2, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

TIP unit to be restructured – Minister Broomes G

overnment has signalled its commitment to tackle the issue of Trafficking In Persons (TIP), and as such the Minister in Social Protection Ministry Simona Broomes said there will be a total restructuring of the TIP unit.

During an interview with the Government Information Agency (GINA), Minister Broomes explained that the unit is not adequate to tackle the TIP scourge country-wide.

Therefore, she opined, a number of persons will be recruited and trained in this area.

“It is a huge responsibility and we need to have a structured unit, with a well laid out plan, and persons with different roles and responsibilities, so that one person will not be pressured,” she said.

In the area of training, the Minister noted such an

Minister in Social Protection Ministry Simona Broomes

initiative will commence by yearend: “If you receive a complaint and conduct a raid and there is a survivor, the unit is the first person to interact with the person and take a statement… that is why it is important to pull the unit and ensure those persons go through

the right training. They will be trained in such a way that they will be able to take statements.”

She further added that one must be able to determine when it is TIP and when there is the need for an investigation.

Additionally, Broomes said the Ministry will be heightening its awareness campaign on TIP throughout the country. She emphasised that many are of the view that this scourge only exists in the interior or hinterland areas, but this illegal activity also occurs on the coast, especially in Georgetown, the Minister said.

She explained that the first stage of this sensitisation process is to ensure persons, from a young age, become aware of this issue. As such, the Minister said she would like to see TIP become included in the school

curricula, and in a language in which the students can understand. This, she noted, can be a form of prevention.

According to Minister Broomes, it has been more than 10 years since the TIP Act was enacted. The deliverables in this regard depend very much on the implementation of the National Strategy Plan which flows from appointment of the appropriate task force, she further noted.

Section 36 of the Act mandates the Ministry of Social Protection to address this scourge, and according to the Minister: “It is our philosophy that all forms of Trafficking In Persons become something of the past.”

She said there will also be comprehensive training on the fundamentals of the legislation which speak to TIP.

Former Senator Fred Thompson dead at 73

F

red Thompson, a folksy former Republican US Senator from Tennessee who appeared in feature films and television including a role on “Law & Order,” died Sunday, his family said.

He was 73. Thompson, at 6-foot-6 with a booming voice, appeared in at least 20 motion pictures. His credits include “In the Line of Fire”, ‘’The Hunt for Red October”, ‘’Die Hard II” and “Cape Fear”. By the early 1990s, Thompson said he had become bored with his 10-year stint in Hollywood and wanted to go into public service.

That’s when he headed back to Nashville and launched his Senate campaign. A man of many roles in life and on the screen, he was a lawyer

Fred Thompson

by training and also once served as a chief minority counsel during the Senate Watergate hearings.

The family statement said Thompson died in

Nashville following a recurrence of lymphoma.

“It is with a heavy heart and a deep sense of grief that we share the passing of our brother, father and grandfather who died peacefully in Nashville,” it said.

“Fred was the same man on the floor of the Senate, the movie studio, or the town square of ... his home.”

Thompson, a lawyer, alternated between politics and acting much of his adult life. Once regarded as a rising star in the Senate, he retired from that seat when his term expired in January 2003.”I simply do not have the heart for another sixyear term,” Thompson said in a statement at the time.

“Serving in the Senate has been a tremendous honour,

but I feel that I have other priorities that I need to attend to.”

However, he returned to politics in 2007 by announcing he would seek the Republican presidential nomination. But he dropped out in January 2008 after faring poorly in the early caucuses and primaries. “I hope that my country and my party have benefited from our having made this effort,” Thompson said at the time.

After leaving the race, he campaigned extensively for his party’s presidential nominee, John McCain, then sought support to become Chairman of the Republican National Committee but quit that quest after a few months. (Yahoo! News)

Smuggled humans more profitable than drugs – criminologist

T

he smuggling of human cargo has higher profits and lower risks than smuggling drugs. That is the view of criminologist Daurius Figueira. He said human smugglers and traffickers can make as much as US$100,000 on one illegal migrant to transport him/ her to the United States.

According to an article published in the Trinidad Guardian, Figueira said, “Just as the Mexican cartels are now dominating the drug trade in the Caribbean, they have now introduced a new dimension to human smuggling in the Caribbean by ‘coyotes’ or human smugglers.

T&T is a major transshipment point.

“The majority of people entering the Caribbean are moving to enter US territory. They are more valuable than carrying drugs, you make more money per head.

It depends on what package they buy ranging from US$35,000, US$50,000 to the US$100,000 ‘premium’. If you go for anything cheaper than that, it means you will end up getting abused.”

He said if the smuggled person had the wherewithal, coupled with the complicity of immigration officials, for the US$100,000 premium package he could get a new identity, T&T passport, legitimate documents and a plane ticket to the US. Figueira said for US$35,000 to US$50,000, a ‘coyote’ would facilitate the transport of an illegal migrant who wanted to go to the US from T&T to Belize, to Mexico and over land to the US border.

He said another popular

Criminologist Daurius Figueira

destination was Canada— the ‘coyote’ would move his human cargo across the US border, into Chicago, along the Great Lakes area and across into Canada.

Figueira said Haitians were the largest group of illegal immigrants heading to the US via the Dominican Republic/ Puerto Rico route, followed

by Indian nationals.

He said Syrian refugees escaping the war in their country flew to Antigua, the US Virgin Islands, then to the US. Human smuggling involves a person voluntarily wanting to get smuggled across international borders and paying a smuggler or ‘coyote’ to facilitate this.

Human trafficking is the transportation of people with the intent of selling or exploiting them in prostitution and forced labour.

Figueira said the two forms of smuggling were intermixed as ‘coyotes’ often exploited the people they transported, reneging on their original agreement and extorting more money from them.

Bahamas loses bid to sit on UN Human Rights Council

T

he Bahamas has been unsuccessful in its attempt to become the first English-speaking Caribbean nation to sit on the United Nations Human Rights Council.

During the vote late last week, 113 out of 192 countries voted for The Bahamas, but it was not sufficient to secure the seat.

“On behalf of the Government of The Bahamas, I thanked the Ambassador and staff of the United Nations’ Mission for The Bahamas in New York for their valiant efforts in seeking to get the country elected to the UN Human Rights Council. We were not successful, but the team put in a valiant effort for which they are to be commended,

especially having joined the campaign some six weeks ago,” Foreign Affairs and Immigration Minister Fred Mitchell said.

“The campaign was run almost exclusively by the young people of the Foreign Ministry. Their work was extraordinary, backed up the direction of the mature diplomats in the service. Our country has every reason to be proud of them. This will all stand them and the country in good stead for the future. We thank the 113 out of 192 countries that voted for The Bahamas. ” Seats were secured

by Panama, Ecuador and Venezuela.

In a statement issued subsequently, the Grand Bahama Human Rights

Association (GBHRA) said the country’s failure should serve as a reminder to Government that the world was watching as the Bahamas’ human rights standards continue to deteriorate.

The GBHRA said the inability of The Bahamas to get sufficient votes was unfortunate, but reiterated its stance that the Government should turn its attention to rights abuses at home before it sought to police the rest of the world.

“The failed bid is lamentable, in that it reflects poorly on The Bahamas on the international scene. At the same time, we believe the effort to join the Council in the first place was nothing but a cynical ploy on the

part of Government desperate to deflect attention from its record on human rights at home, which sadly leaves much to be desired,” said GBHRA President Fred Smith QC. The GBHRA said instances of bad treatment of migrants – including detention and deportation without due process, steps taken to deny children of migrants access to education, Police brutality, and cases such as the recent one of Jamaican Matthew Sewell, detained for nine years in hellish prison conditions without having been convicted of a crime – are just a few examples of why The Bahamas should be considered unfit for such a post at this time.

“This is not to mention

the Government’s continued flagrant failure to enact a Freedom of Information Act which would open it up to public scrutiny like the majority of the world’s Governments and ensure that the Bahamian public’s human right – to public information – is upheld and respected,” Smith said.

The GBHRA said with Government’s campaign to win the seat over, it hopes it would turn much-needed attention to addressing these critical issues.

“We continue to hope for a day when The Bahamas will rightly be able to take a seat at this institution and make pronouncements on the human rights failings of others with integrity,” Smith said.

But in a response, Mitchell criticised the GBHRA for showing its “anti-patriotic streak”.

“Instead of congratulations to our hard -working diplomats abroad, the Association can only spew bile, misinformation and the usual negative nastiness and exaggeration that have come to define them,” he said.

“The Bahamas received the support of 113 countries, but sadly could not get the support of the Bahamian citizen from the Grand Bahama Human Rights Association who claims to be a human rights advocate. How very sad and reprehensible. ”(Caribbean360.com)

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monday, november 2, 2015

ARCHIE

A strict budget will be essential if you want to be fi(March 21- nancially stable. Revise your April 19) resume to suit the current job market and a higher-paying position will come your way.

ARIES

You will face opposition.

TAURUS What some consider stub(April 20- bornness, others will see as May 20) determination. You can make your life more comfortable if you alter your living space.

dilbert

Put your energy to work GEMINI (May 21- for you. Use your charm to June 20) present and sell your ideas, services and skills to those who can help you get ahead.

CANCER (June 21July 22)

Peanuts

Shake up a personal relationship. Surprise the ones you love with a special outing or gift. The difference your generosity makes to your personal life will be extraordinary.

Outmanoeuvring the comLEO petition will be the key to your (July 23success. Make sure you are Aug. 22) well-informed when asked for your views or concepts. An opponent will take advantage if you make a mistake.

Calvin and Hobbes

There will be an unusual VIRGO turn of events in the romance (Aug. 23department.

A puzzling probSept. 22) lem can be solved with the right information. The help you need is there for the asking.

Financial difficulties will LIBRA (Sept. 23- occur if you are indulgent. If Oct. 23) you are unhappy with your current vocation, look for a position that offers more possibilities. Nothing will change unless you take action.

SUDOKU

Love is on the rise. Think SCORPIO “outside the box” when consid(Oct. 24ering the way you would like Nov. 22) to make a living. Valuable advice will come to you through an unexpected source.

Someone may try to pin SAGITTARIUS the blame on you for his or (Nov. 23her own shortcomings. Don’t Dec. 21) give in to demanding individuals. Problems will arise if you take on additional debt.

Last Published word

solution for Last Published Puzzle

CAPRICORN Good fortune is headed (Dec. 22- your way. Patience will bring Jan. 19) you greater options regarding your career choices. A troubled friend or family member will need your advice and hands-on help.

AQUARIUS Step up your game.

Increasing your knowledge and

(Jan. 20- enhancing your resume should Feb. 19) be your priority. Raise your

profile by attending professional or academic functions in order to meet potential business partners.

The more outgoing you PISCES (Feb. 20- are, the better you will do.

March 20) Don’t expect others to go out of their way for you if you sit on the sidelines. Discuss your plans.

monday, November 2, 2015

Rosberg wins in Mexico a week after title defeat N

ico Rosberg won the Mexican Grand Prix for Mercedes on Sunday as Formula One made a lively return to the country after a 23-year absence.

The German’s fourth victory of the year, and 12th of his career, ended team mate Lewis Hamilton’s three-race winning streak with the Briton having to settle for second a week after securing his third title.

“This is really the best podium of the year, what a place to win” said Rosberg, addressing a cheering mass of more than 100,000 from a podium overlooking the stadium complex.

“Amazing day, great race,” added the German, smiling again after bouncing back from the disappointment and controversy of Austin.

Both championships had already been decided, with Hamilton celebrating his third in Texas a week ago and dominant Mercedes retaining their constructors’ crown in Russia last month.

Rosberg’s win lifted him to second in the championship, with Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel failing to score after a crash that brought out the safety car on the 52nd of the 71 laps.

The German was unhurt.

Finland’s Valtteri Bottas finished third for Williams.

The last winner in Mexico before Sunday was Britain’s Nigel Mansell, who now has the last corner named after him and conducted the podium interviews on Sunday, in 1992 when he was with Williams.

Hamilton had hoped to follow on from his fellowEnglishman but had to concede that his team mate,

tic race,” he said. “It’s just been fantastic to be here in Mexico. I’ve never seen a crowd like this. It’s like a football game. The fans are amazing.”

Neither Ferrari finished the race, ending a run of 20 in the points, with Vettel’s team mate Kimi Raikkonen breaking his suspension after colliding with Bottas for the second time in three races.

Bottas, who had been

Mercedes Formula One driver Nico Rosberg of Germany celebrates after winning the Mexican F1 Grand Prix. (Reuters photo)

who led cleanly away from pole position with none of the first corner wheel-banging of Austin, had won fair and square.

“Nico drove a fantas-

trying to pass on the inside when they tangled wheels, raced on to take a revenge podium on a sunny afternoon at Mexico City’s revamped Autodromo

Hermanos Rodriguez.

In Russia last month, Raikkonen had wrecked Bottas’s hopes of third place when he tried to pass on the last lap and sent his compatriot into the barriers.

“That is what you call payback,” commented former F1 driver David Coulthard on the BBC. The stewards investigated and decided to take no further action.

Russian Daniil Kvyat was fourth for Red Bull, ahead of Australian team mate Daniel Ricciardo with Brazilian Felipe Massa sixth for Williams.

The Force India pair of Nico Hulkenberg and Sergio Perez, the local hero and crowd favourite, finished seventh and eighth.

Perez, whose every appearance in the baseball stadium area had the crowd leaping in excitement, became the first Mexican to score a point in a home race since Pedro Rodriguez in 1970 and only the second ever.

Toro Rosso’s Dutch teenager Max Verstappen was ninth and Romain Grosjean 10th for Lotus.

McLaren’s Fernando Alonso lasted just one lap before having to retire with a loss of power. (Reuters Sport)

19

Bravo looks forward to reunion with Gayle O ut-of-favour Windies allrounder Dwayne Bravo has expressed delight at the prospect of partnering with star batsman Chris Gayle again.

Bravo and Gayle are ex-

a special element to the team, particularly for the fans.

“Chris is definitely going to bring something different to the Renegades and to the fans.

“To have Chris Gayle

Chris Gayle

pected to team up for the Melbourne Renegades in this season’s KFC Big Bash League.

“It’s a dream come true for me to play with Chris Gayle in a team overseas,” Bravo told Crocmedia.

“He’s been my teammate with the West Indies but we’ve never played together overseas for the same club so I’m really looking forward to it.”

Bravo, who won the ICC Twenty World Cup alongside Gayle, believes adding the big-hitting left hander to the squad will provide

and Aaron Finch at the top of the order, also Cameron White is back with the Renegades so the team looks very good and I’m really looking forward to the season and hopefully Chris and I as the overseas players can bring some excitement to the fans.”

Bravo played only four games for the Renegades last season before being replaced by Bangladesh allrounder Shakib-al-Hasan, averaging 12.66 with the bat and taking four wickets at 26.75. (Digicel Sportsmax)

Anderson, Broad skittle Pakistan for 234

Stuart Broad ended with 2 for 13 from his 13 overs. (Getty Images)

E

ngland’s bowlers produced an excellent all-round display to dismiss Pakistan inside the

first day in Sharjah, having been put into the field for the third time in the series.

James Anderson and Stuart

Broad were outstanding, collecting immaculate figures of 6 for 30 between them, and there was also a sur-

prise starring role for Samit Patel, playing his first Test in three years.

Misbah-ul-Haq, batting in the debonair fashion that has characterised his series, did his best to thwart England once again with a composed 71, his fourth 50plus score in a row. That was the difference between Pakistan being routed and posting a total that could yet keep them in a low-scoring game. England will be buoyed by the knowledge that the side batting second has won the last two Tests in Sharjah but they will also know that, unless they produce a significant first innings, they will have to bat last on a surface that has spun from the outset.

Pakistan’s last five wickets fell for 38, as Anderson and Broad rounded up the innings with the second new ball, Misbah steering the for-

mer to slip to be ninth man out. England were clearly in the ascendency after knocking over the top half of the innings a little beyond the halfway stage of the day but

Misbah, in his inimitable block-block-bash style, and Sarfraz Ahmed had forced them back during a stand of 80 in 26 overs. (Cricinfo)

SCOREBOARD

Pakistan 1st innings Mohammad Hafeez c Broad b Ali 27 Azhar Ali c †Bairstow b Anderson 0 Shoaib Malik c †Bairstow b Broad 38 Younis Khan lbw b Anderson 31 Misbah-ul-Haq* c Root b Anderson 71 Asad Shafiq c †Bairstow b Patel 5 Sarfraz Ahmed† c Root b Ali 39 Wahab Riaz b Patel 0 Yasir Shah c Patel b Broad 7 Zulfiqar Babar not out 6 Rahat Ali c Ali b Anderson 4 Extras (b 1, lb 5) 6 Total (all out; 85.1 overs) 234

Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-49, 3-88, 4-103, 5-116, 6-196, 7-196, 8-224, 9-224, 10-234 Bowling: JM Anderson 15.17-17-4, SCJ Broad 13-8-13-2, BA Stokes 11-4-23-0, SR Patel 23-3-85-2, MM Ali 13-3-49-2, AU Rashid 10-1-41-0.

England 1st innings AN Cook* not out 0 MM Ali not out 4 Extras 0 4 Total (0 wickets; 2 overs) To bat: IR Bell, JE Root, JWA Taylor, BA Stokes, JM Bairstow†, SR Patel, AU Rashid, SCJ Broad, JM Anderson Bowling: Rahat Ali 1-1-00, Yasir Shah 1-0-4-0

20

guyanatimesGY.com

Monday, November 2, 2015

ECDCA Premium Beer T20 Knockout

Brand Manager urges dedication and commitment as action starts T he East Coast Demerara Cricket Association (ECDCA) Premium Beer T20 cricket competition bowled off at various venues on Sunday, with the sponsor’s representative urging the teams to exercise discipline while showing “dedication and

sors will be encouraged to invest in the sport,” Shahib told the players.

He added, “Also respect the umpires’ decision. Of course, everyone wants to win, but there can only be one winner.”

He further stated that it was from competitions like

The champion team will take home a trophy and $200,000; the runners-up a trophy and $100,000 and the losing semi-finalists a trophy and $50,000 each.

The Man of the Match and the player who is deemed to have created the Playof-the-Day in the final will

the ECDCA on the partnership.

Meanwhile, Lusignan B defeated Golden Achievers by five runs to advance to the next stage of the competition. Inserted to take first strike, Lusignan B posted 93 with Chetram Jeenarine (18); Tameshwar Motiram

Taking softball cricket to another level

By Avenash Ramzan

S

Premium Beer Brand Manager Shameer Shahib (centre), addressing the Lusignan B (left) and Golden Achievers teams on Sunday morning

commitment” to the game.

Addressing the Lusignan B and Golden Achievers teams minutes before the bowl-off of the first match of a double-header at the Enmore Community Centre Ground, Premium Beer Brand Manager Shameer Shahib spoke of the importance of the tournament, and the need for players to display a high level of professionalism.

“You must show dedication and commitment, as well as discipline because only that way other spon-

these that emerging talents were spotted and groomed for the future. Further, Shahib urged the players to aim high as they stand on the cusp of representing their county, country and even the West Indies.

Eighteen teams drawn from the East Coast of Demerara are competing in the knockout competition, which will continue on weekends and culminate with a third-place playoff and final on November 22 at the Enmore Community Centre Ground.

pocket $20,000 and $5000 respectively.

At the launch of the competition a week ago, ECDCA Chairman Tejnauth Jadunauth thanked the sponsor and encouraged the teams to maintain a high level of discipline.

Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Secretary Anand Sanasie said he was happy to see cricket being played on a regular basis in the area, adding that the GCB was always willing to assist. He lauded Banks DIH Limited and congratulated

(17) and national Under-15 player Robin Williams (15) among the runs.

Keron Roberts was outstanding for Golden Achievers, claiming 5-20 from four overs, while Seon Walcott bagged 2-14 from 2.1 overs. Golden Achievers in reply folded for 88, with Winston London scoring an unbeaten 28 and Premchand Sookdeo hitting 21. B Agnadu picked up 2-12 and young Motiram impressed with 1-5 from two overs.

NBA: Steph Curry’s 53 takes Golden State past New Orleans

S

tephen Curry scored 53 points, taking over the game with a 28-point third quarter, and the unbeaten Golden State Warriors defeated the winless Pelicans 134-120 in New Orleans’ home opener Saturday night.

Curry outscored the Pelicans by two points in the third period, giving the reigning NBA MVP a career-high for scoring in a quarter. It gave the Warriors a 105-91 lead.

Curry wound up shooting 17 of 27 from the field, including 8 of 14 from 3-point range, to go with nine assists and four steals. Five of his 3s were from between 27 and 31 feet.

Draymond Green scored 21 points and Klay Thompson added 19 for defending champion Golden State, which has won its first three games this season.

Stephen Curry

Anthony Davis had 26 points, 15 rebounds and two blocks for the injury-depleted Pelicans, who have lost their first three games under new coach Alvin Gentry. Two of the

losses have come against Golden State, where Gentry was an assistant last season.

Davis’ frustration was apparent by the game’s final minutes, when he was

assessed a technical foul for arguing that he was fouled on one of his shot attempts.

Jrue Holiday, who has begun the season on minute restrictions as he works his way back from a lower right leg injury, scored 22 points in nearly 27 minutes for the Pelicans while Ryan Anderson added 19 points.

New Orleans, which got off 20 more shots than Golden State (57-37) in the opening two quarters, led 65-64 at halftime after Pelicans forward Luke Babbitt’s made 3 was waved off, having left his hand only moments after time expired.

Curry’s outburst then gave Golden State the lead for good early in the second half. The Warriors led by as many as 16 points in the second half and were not threatened in the fourth quarter. (Digicel Sportsmax)

oftball cricket is synonymous to Guyana.

In fact, it’s a national pastime.

At some point in their lives, Guyanese can boast of taking a shot at the ‘supreme’ ball, which is now the upgraded version of whatever looked like a ball back in the days, be it Avenash Ramzan a mango, coconut or even marble.

The bats, once made of the stalk of the coconut branch or even an old stave, are now carefully crafted by machine operators and are available in stores; some are even polished and most carry a rubber to allow for better grip of the handle.

Softball cricket has undergone massive changes over the years, and like all other mainstream sports, it is now a business. Just this past weekend, the Guyana Floodlight Softball Cricket Association (GFSCA) pulled off another huge and successful Guyana Softball Cup, which has been held for the past five years.

The GFSCA budgeted a whopping $9 million to make the three-day event a reality, as top teams from Guyana and North America battled for world softball supremacy in 48 highly entertaining games.

The fact that the event has attracted 11 foreign teams is indicative of its popularity in North America, and its huge sport tourism potential for Guyana.

From the onset, the GFSCA has been unwavering in its position to properly reward the teams and players for their on-field brilliance, doling out huge sums for the champion teams and even precious pieces of Guyana’s gold for the Most Valuable Players.

There was no shortage of corporate support, as major companies went deep into their coffers to support the country’s premier softball event. The fans were also out in their numbers, and the turnout at Sunday’s finals is proof that the event would soon outgrow the Demerara Cricket Club.

It was a colourful spectacle on Friday morning when all the teams gathered for the traditional photo shoot and final briefing.

It is clear from the extravagant uniforms and support staff that accompany these teams that softball cricket is no longer seen as a means of leisure, but rather a platform to showcase the country’s enormous talent at the game, one that never seems to wane.

Players have their own kit bag these days, and while its contents would include a bat, ball and maybe a hat, there is also a ‘box’ tucked away in some corner. There is an air of professionalism sweeping the sport, as many wealthy businessmen are now buying players and forming teams to compete against each other.

Organisations like the GFSCA around the country have been providing regular competitions for local players to hone their skills. Just recently, there was also the resuscitation of the once very popular inter-county softball competition, which attracted the masses in the 90s.

Players are now being paid to play the game, hence a higher level of commitment and greater degree of competitiveness have seen the populace gravitating to the sport, largely outnumbering the waning support for hardball cricket.

These mega softball events also provide an avenue for bat makers, branding companies, sport stores and vendors to cash in on a windfall. The GFSCA must be commended for leading the way in revolutionising the game, as Guyana is on the cusp of great things in softball.

Who knows, with proper planning and creative marketing strategies, the game could become a staple in other Caribbean territories, and there could be a regional softball championship, much like the hardball version, the first of which could be hosted in Guyana – the home of softball.

sports

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21

Dey, Persaud and Klautky unbeaten at IGG Tennis

D

espite minimal rain, two full days of singles tennis allowed three of Guyana’s junior girls to play unbeaten at the end of the singles rounds of the Inter-Guiana Games Tennis championship in Suriname.

Aretta Dey in the Girls’ Under-18, Shivani Persaud in the Girls’ Under-14 and Sarah Klautky in the Girls’ Under-12 handled business on the court to ensure Guyana post two wins each against both Suriname and French Guiana in the overall scoreboard of the team event.

Meanwhile, thanks to her aggression, composure and strong display of mental toughness, Afruica Gentle battled through a tough fight against Suriname’s number one player to claim a narrow win in the final girls’ singles match of the day.

Keenan Persaud in the Boys’ Under-14 and Kalyca Fraser in the Girls’ Under-14 also provided much entertainment when they overcame first-set losses and dug deep to defeat their opponents.

These much-needed wins have made the competition close with a margin of one win on the leaderboard where Suriname and French Guiana have 11 wins each with Guyana closely following with 10 wins.

Girls’ Under-12 Alana Chung, who was expected to secure two singles wins, could not play due to an unexpected case of dengue and severe cramps in both legs.

Guyana’s top players (from left) Shivani Persaud, Aretta Dey, Kalyca Fraser

Sri Lanka survive Narine...

Sri Lanka’s tail-enders had been given the leeway to play themselves in at the crease by Dilshan’s arresting 59 from 32 deliveries. He began his blitz in the third over, clipping a wayward Jason Holder delivery to the fine-leg fence before cracking a short ball towards deep square-leg next ball. That arc behind square on the leg side would be a productive zone for him; in the fifth over, off three consecutive balls, he collected a top-edge four, an over-the shoulder scoop that carried over the rope, and a cracking hook for six, all in that direction.

Kusal Perera was run out for 14 by Carter’s direct hit from point, but Dilshan did not let the dismissal dent his own pace. He struck Jerome Taylor for consecutive fours on the leg side in the ninth over, and crossed 50 off his 25th delivery with another withering hook shot - this one off Holder.

His caught-behind dismissal brought a sharp decline in the scoring rate, and led to Sri Lanka’s eventual falter.

West Indies’ seamers built pressure through a short-pitched barrage in the following overs, and Mathews was the first victim of their efforts, advancing to slice a Taylor short ball to third man in the 16th over.

With no Dinesh Chandimal in the middle order thanks to his suspension, the hosts’ nos. 5, 6 and 7 had seven ODI caps between them.

Earlier Russell shellacked 41 from 24 balls and Jason Holder crashed 36 from 13, to lift West Indies to 159 for 8 - a total that was slightly enlarged by the Duckworth-Lewis equation.

Russell slammed three sixes - all in the arc between midwicket and cover - and hit three fours, after coming to the crease with less than 11 overs remaining in the innings. Holder’s surge was briefer, but more manic. He came to the crease with 20 balls remaining, hit his first

ball for six down the ground, and continued to strike cleanly, memorably launching Mendis flat over longoff in the penultimate over.

Darren Bravo, who had resisted the Sri Lanka seamers’ advances early in the innings, finished with 38 from 58 balls.

Before the rains came, and while a full 50-over match was still being played, Suranga Lakmal had reduced West Indies to 29 for 3 with five disciplined overs, envenomed by seam and swing. He had Charles lbw third ball, straightening a delivery he had bowled from wide of the crease, to hit the batsman’s back pad in front of middle stump.

Next over, having squared up Andre Fletcher with a zippy away-seamer, he had the batsman slap a wide delivery into the hands of point. Marlon Samuels, who had won West Indies the 2012 World T20 in his last outing at Khettarama, was Lakmal’s third new-ball victim. He received a series of away-seamers, then fell prey to the ball that came in with the angle, to hit him in

front of the stumps.

Lakmal’s new-ball partner Lasith Malinga gleaned less movement off the surface, but nevertheless displayed signs of a return to form. His speeds were consistently in the high 130kph range, and his accuracy had returned. Malinga bowled a maiden to begin the innings, then applied pressure as Lakmal took wickets from the other end, skidding the ball into batsmen’s pads to raise two lbw appeals - one of which Sri Lanka reviewed unsuccessfully.

The rains came after 14.2 overs and, upon resumption, West Indies traded in their survivalist approach for all-out aggression. Russell hoicked three sixes and two fours in his first 12 balls to kickstart West Indies’ surge.

He and Bravo put on a 58run stand, but the wickets did eventually begin to flow again for Sri Lanka.

Holder’s batting explosion gave West Indies a chance of taking a lead in the series, but ultimately, the injury to Russell perhaps prevented their victory. (Cricinfo)

SCOREBOARD West Indies innings (26 overs maximum) ADS Fletcher c Dilshan b Lakmal 3 J Charles lbw b Lakmal 1 DEM Bravo b Mendis 38 MN Samuels lbw b Lakmal 2 JL Carter b Jayasuriya 8 AD Russell c Gunathilaka b Mathews 41 CR Brathwaite b Mendis 9 JO Holder* run out (†Perera) 36 9 D Ramdin† not out Extras (lb 3, w 9) 12 Total (8 wickets; 26 overs) 159 Did not bat: JE Taylor, SP Narine Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-13, 3-24, 4-42, 5-100, 6-113, 7-130, 8-159 Bowling: SL Malinga 6-120-0, RAS Lakmal 5-0-153, SMSM Senanayake 5-025-0, DSNFG Jayasuriya, 3-0-15-1, BAW Mendis 4-0-462, AD Mathews 3-0-35-1.

Sri Lanka innings (target: 163

runs from 26 overs) MDKJ Perera† run out (Carter) 14 TM Dilshan c †Ramdin b Brathwaite 59 HDRL Thirimanne c †Ramdin b Brathwaite 17 AD Mathews* c Carter b Taylor 13 MD Gunathilaka b Narine 12 TAM Siriwardana c Brathwaite b Narine 7 DSNFG Jayasuriya b Narine 0 SMSM Senanayake b Carter 7 BAW Mendis not out 21 SL Malinga lbw b Carter 0 RAS Lakmal not out 1 Extras (lb 3, w 8, nb 2) 13 Total (9 wickets; 24.5 overs) 164 Fall of wickets: 1-46, 2-89, 3-104, 4-120, 5-132, 6-132, 7-133, 8-152, 9-152 Bowling: JE Taylor 5-0-32-1, SP Narine 6-0-21-3, JO Holder 5-1-29-0, CR Brathwaite 5-0-35-2, AD Russell 0.5-018-0, JL Carter 2.1-0-14-2, J Charles 0.5-0-12-0.

22

guyanatimesGY.com

monday, November 2, 2015

South American 10k 1st leg

Digicel Guyana Open Golf Classic

Forde, Josiah- Persaud holds nerve to retain title Tanner pull off – Webster claims female honours wins for Guyana

By Rajiv Bisnauth

D

Cleveland Forde

Euleen Josiah-Tanner

uyana’s “Little Kenyan” Cleveland Forde continues to showcase his dominance by winning the first leg of the South American 10k on Saturday in Suriname.

Forde stopped the clocked at 31:54s while Rupert Green of Jamaica finished third in a time of 33:18s. Guyana’s Cleveland Thomas was third in a time of 33:42s while Winston Missenger finished sixth to stop the clock at 34:56s.

On the distaff side of the event, America based Guyanese; Euleen JoisahTanner topped the field with a time of 39:43s while World Championship representative for Guyana Andrea Foster finished second with a time of 41:48s.

The event will now shift to Guyana on November for its second leg where Forde is a nine time winner before heading to Panama for the third and final leg on November 15.

G

Kanhai lifts Jets past Ravens to capture Brusches basketball title

Akeem Kanhai

A

keem “The Dream” Kanhai delivered a show as the guest player for the Amelia’s Ward Jets to help the Lindenbased side top the Dynas Ravens 69-67 in the final of the Brusches Classic which was played on Saturday evening at the Mackenzie Sports Club (MSC) hard court.

Kanhai had one of his better performances in recent times with a triple double of 17 points, 17 rebounds and a sticky 10 steals to lead the Jets to victory.

Viewed by a good crowd which included United States-based former national captain James Brusche and Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) President Nigel Hinds, the final was one

where the visitors could not put together a game that could disrupt the talented Kanhai, who along with back court player Amaniki Archibald and centre Alistair Webster, initiated leads through the first quarter that ended 21-13 and eventually the half that ended 36-28.

Leading into the fourth and final period 49-43, the Ravens with their title on the line almost pulled off a spirited comeback led by national forward Ryan Gullen with some slick penetration and attacking play from Dominique Vincent and Tyrone Hamid who ended with 19, 11 and 10 points respectively.

However, the Ravens with Kanhai controlling the tempo of the game, along with Archibald on fire for an eventual game-high 21 points along with centre Omally Sampson with 10 points proved too much to handle.

Earlier, the Linden side Half Mile Bulls failed to capitalise on their good starts after taking leads in the first three periods and could not close out the rampaging Colts in the third-place playoff to lose 71-61.

Dave Causeway and Shelroy Thomas each had 21 points for the Colts, while for the Bulls scoring came from Dennis Niles with 14 points, and Keifer Tappin and Travin Dryden who each netted 13 apiece.

efending champion, Avinash Persaud held off a late challenge from Avinda Kishore to retain the Digicel Guyana Open Golf Classic title when the two-day tournament concluded on Sunday at the Lusignan Golf Course, East Coast Demerara.

Mohanlall Dinanauth and Rishi Sukhram shared the honours on day one, ended on Gross 76, but Persaud, who started the day with a gross 80 never, relinquished his stamina on, and made the game look easy with sizzling shot selection as well as intense concentration to post a Gross of 154 and a net 150 to lead the other 67 golfers.

Playing before a large crowd, Persaud, who is no stranger to the honours Board, having won five previous titles, led from the start to finish on the final day, relegating his sibling Kishore into second place, who finished with a Gross 160 and a net 154.

Alfred Mentore finished third with Gross 161 and a net 147.

On the distaff side, Shanella Webster played one of her best games in her career, upsetting defending champion Joann Deo to

Avinash Persaud and Shanella Webster flanked by Digicel Chief Executive Officer, Kevin Kelly and other staff members

claim her first Open title.

Webster was in tip top form registering a net of 148 to claim her title. Deo had to settle for second position with a net 150, while Christine Sukhram, who enters the final day in pole position, with a net 73, finished on 151.

Digicel Chief Executive Office, Kevin Kelly said he was impressed with the level of golf played, adding that the sport is definitely on the rise locally.

James also lauded the management of the

Lusignan Golf Club for a well organise tournament.

President of the Lusignan Golf Club, Oncar Ramroop expressed his satisfaction, adding that the two-day tournament was played at the highest level among each competitor.

He also expressed gratitude to Digicel for their continued support towards the development of the sport.

Also making brief remarks was, Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan, who congratulated all participants to take part

in this prestigious tournament.

He also congratulated the LGC for running off another successful tournament. Minister Bulkan expressed gratitude to Digicel for their support towards the sport.

Meanwhile, both winners credited the hard work leading up the tournament for their success.

The players received their trophies at the presentation ceremony held immediately after the tournament.

EBFA/Lens Craft Optical U-13 League

Agricola Red Triangle crowned champs – Moore, James cop top awards

Newly-elected EBFA President Franklin Wilson presents the winner’s trophy to the Agricola Red Triangle team

T

he boys from Agricola Red Triangle have been crowned the 2015 Lens Craft Optical/East Bank Football Association (EBFA) Under-13 champions. The Agricola lads topped the League with 15 points from their six matches, inclusive of five wins and a loss.

They were scheduled to take on Kuru Kururu Warriors in the final match of the competition on Saturday at the Grove Ground, but the latter did not show up. By virtue of the walkover, Agricola took their first junior title in many years, dethroning last year’s champions Grove Hi

Tech, who finished second this year.

Agricola also took away the Most Valuable Player award, which was presented to Leon Moore, who ended the competition with six of his Club’s 20 goals, and played a pivotal role in the championship win.

They also walked away with the Best Goalkeeper trophy, which went to Christopher Adams. Only two goals were scored against him in the six matches. The most lethal player in the League was Herstelling Raiders’ Shoran James, who took the Highest Goal Scorer

trophy for his seven goals.

Grove Hi Tech was awarded the Fair Play Trophy, along with the second-place trophy and 16 silver medals. Herstelling received the third-place trophy and medals, with the fourth-place trophy taken by Mocha.

EBFA Vice President Kevin Anthony congratulated the teams at the presentation ceremony while urging them to remain disciplined on and off the field of play.

Manager/Owner of Lens Craft Optical, Allister “Ali” Parris, expressed delight at being the sponsor of the Tournament, stating that it

was his way of giving back to the community while ensuring a positive outlet for the development of young players.

Parris thanked the EBFA for organising a successful tournament that saw seven team competing.

Meanwhile, Kevin Scott of Kuru Kururu Warriors ended the tournament with six goals; Rasheed Evans of Grove netted four, while scoring three each were Ian Mars (Mocha Champs); Darren Niles (Mocha); Akeem Williams (Grove) and Teon Forde (Diamond United).

guyanatimesGY.com

monday, November 2, 2015

23

Courts Pee Wee football

New champions guaranteed after Stella Maris fail to advance – St Angela’s impressive with 4-0 win

St Angela’s pose after their dominant win (Shantand Anude photo)

By Treiston Joseph

D

efending champions Stella Maris Primary were knocked out of the Courts Pee Wee football tournament when action continued on Saturday at the Banks DIH, Thirst Park Ground.

Stella Maris fell victim to the ever-improving Enterprise squad 1-3 as offence outplayed defence in the highly competitive encounter.

Stella Maris were able to go ahead early with a strike from Jayden Pitt in the 10th minute.

However, their efforts to hold on to the lead by shutting up shop proved futile as Seon Archibald equalised in the 13th minute to end the first half one-all.

Martin King then scored in the 32nd minute of action, while Archibald scored the sealer in the 36th minute

Leal is Tour of Guyana champion

– after Ospina refuses to take drug test

T

eam Coco’s Carlos Ospina refused to take a random drug test on Sunday by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)/Guyana Olympic Association, leading to him being disqualified and losing the top position on the overall leaderboard at the end of the Tour of Guyana FiveStage.

By virtue, Team Gillette Evolution’s Raul Leal, who was behind Ospina at the end of the five stages, became the automatic champion of the event.

This publication understands that Ospina was among 10 riders, who were identified to be tested by WADA, as mandated by the world governing body for cycling, the UCI. The Columbian refused to subject himself to the test, thereby forcing the organisers of the race not to acknowledge him as champion. Ospina’s teammates Darren Matthews, Jaime Ramirez, Raynauth Jeffrey and Hamzah Eastman were also eventually tested, after they initially expressed reservations.

The Guyanese trio Alanzo Greaves (Team Mengoni), Leal and Geron Williams (Continental),

Carlos Ospina

along with Marloe Rodman (Heatwave) and Jamal Eastmond (Heatwave) were also tested. The samples will now be analysed, before an official pronouncement is made by WADA. Meanwhile, Leal finished with an overall time of 10 hours, 03 minutes, 31 seconds (10h: 03m: 31s) to cop his maiden Tour of Guyana Five-Stage title.

Hamzah Eastman of Team Coco’s finished second in 10h, 03 minutes, 43 seconds (10h: 03m: 43s), followed by Team Gillette Evolution’s Marlon Williams (10h: 03m: 54s), Team Coco’s Jamal John (10h: 04m: 08s), Team Mengoni’s Alanzo Greaves (10h:

05m: 15s), Continental’s Geron Williams (10h: 05m: 18s), Team Alanis’ Paul DeNobrega (10h: 05m: 4s), Team Coco’s Darren Matthews (10h: 06m: 15s), Heatwave Marloe Rodman (10h: 06m: 16s) and Heatwave’s Jamal Eastmond (10h: 06m: 42s) to round off the top 10.

Andrew Hicks, who finished 11th overall with a time of 10 hours, 09 minutes, 16 seconds (10h: 09m: 16s), was the top junior rider.

Sunday’s final stage from Linden to Georgetown was won by Eastmond in a time of two hours, 39 minutes, 27 seconds (02: 39m: 27s).

He was followed by Jeffrey (Team Coco’s), Jamal John (Team Coco’s), Marlon Williams (Team Gillette Evolution), Jornal Yearwood (Linden Bauxite Flyers), Andre Simon (Cure 8/SII), Shaquille Agard (Linden Bauxite Flyers), Paul DeNobrega (Team Alanis), Christopher Griffith (Team Alanis) and Geron Williams (Continental).

With the win, Eastmond joined Ospina (1st stage), Ramirez (2nd stage), Jeffrey (3rd stage) and Greaves (4th stage) as stage winners.

Some of the action during the tournament

to ensure that new champions would be crowned when the tournament concludes on November 15.

Meanwhile, St Angela’s played a brilliant game to top Tucville Primary 4-0 in a dominant showing.

Keyon Douglas was in a no-nonsense mood, punishing the defence for silly mistakes, as he registered a hat-trick

in the sixth, 14th and 26th minutes. Nickone Dover was the other scorer in the 35th minute.

West Ruimveldt Primary also made the second semifinal with a thrilling 4-2 win over St Margaret’s Primary.

Mark Cameron was the top scorer with a hat-trick in the second, 26th and 37th minutes for West Ruimveldt,

while Michael Oie’s 18th minute goal helped seal the deal. Josiah King (21th) and Mickelle Andrews (35th) were the scorers for St Margaret’s.

In the final game of the day, St Pius topped South Ruimveldt 1-0 as Christian Jupiter dropped the winner in the 35th minute. (josepht@guyanatimesgy. com)

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

monday, November 2, 2015

Leal is Tour of Guyana champion – after Ospina refuses to take drug test

Pg 23

Overall winner Raul Leal receives his trophy, jersey and cash from Trevor Williams

Sri Lanka survive Narine scare for last-gasp win A cool hand from Ajantha Mendis clinched a sensational one-wicket victory for Sri Lanka, in a rainreduced, 26-over-a-side match that featured several sharp turns, and riveting twists of fortune.

Mendis’ high, handsome six over long-on sealed the result in the penultimate over, after Sunil Narine, in his first international match in 14 months, had brought the chase to its knees with a triplewicket over. Earlier in the chase of 163, Tillakaratne Dilshan had seemingly set his team on an inevitable course to victory, with the fastest half-century of his 320-match ODI career.

Narine led West Indies’ charge back into the match, after Sri Lanka had been 104 for 2 in the 13th over. Dilshan and Angelo Mathews’ dismissals had exposed a green middle order, and Narine dismissed nos. 5, 6 and 7 in the 19th over, to bring the tail-enders to the crease with 30 runs still to get. Milinda Siriwardana’s mis-timed hoick to the leg side finished in the hands of midon, and both debutants

Shehan Jayasuriya and Danushka Gunathilaka misread the turn of Narine’s offbreaks, and found their stumps rattled.

Mendis and Senanayake survived Narine’s next over, but only just - Mendis

over to leave Sri Lanka still needing 11 with only a wicket in hand. No. 11 Suranga Lakmal survived Carter’s two remaining balls, and Mendis hit the winning runs off Johnson Charles in the following over. West Indies captain

Ajantha Mendis and Suranga Lakmal celebrate Sri Lanka’s narrow victory over West Indies. (Associated Press photo)

was found to be millimetres inside his crease after he had set off for a non-existent run. They put on 19 together before Jonathan Carter made a doublebreakthrough in the 24th

Jason Holder had been forced to rely on his parttimers at the close, after Andre Russell earlier limped off the field having delivered only five balls. turn to page 21

Digicel Guyana Open Golf Classic…

Persaud holds nerve to retain title – Webster claims female honours

Pg 22

Prize winners posed with their hardware following the conclusion of the presentation ceremony last evening at the Lusignan Golf Course

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