Mr. Mohamad Rashied, President of the Caribbean Islamic Cultural Society (CICS), a non-profit voluntary network of Muslims of Caribbean background in the United Kingdom, has been honoured in the Queen’s New Year’s Honor Roll.Guyana-born Mr. Rashied has been awarded an MBE (Member of Order of the British Empire) for his sterling contribution through the charitable work he has done in fostering good community relations in the UK.Mr. Rashied, who is the son of the late Mohamad and Zabeeda Haniff of Pouderoyen, West Demerara,Cheap Jerseys From China, said that his early experiences in Guyana have helped to nurture and shape his focus and life commitment.His maternal grandfather Mohamed Kazim, an indentured labourer from India, and the founder and Imam of the Versailles (Guyana) Mosque was a great inspiration to him. He demonstrated this by showing how helping and caring for the less fortunate could make a great difference to their lives.Mr. Rashied himself was elected president of the Versailles mosque and served in that capacity for over five years. He was also active in helping the orphans at the Shaheid Boys and Girls Orphanage and assisted in organising the first International Islamic Conference in Guyana.In commending Mr. Rashied on his award, Dr Daud Abdullah,Cheap Jerseys Free Shipping, Deputy Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain said, “I have known Mr Rashied for many years both in his native Guyana and here in the United Kingdom.Mohamad Rashied, MBE“Throughout this extended period I have always found him a highly motivated and exemplary community leader with an enormous capacity to serve others. Under his tutelage the CICS has conducted a number of important educational and welfare programmes in our London-based communities.”Rashied also has the distinction of leading the Muslims from the Caribbean,China Jerseys Free Shipping, in the celebration of the festival of Eid-Ul-Fitr in the House of Commons. He has proven to be a good ambassador in the promotion of harmonious race and interfaith relations within the community in London, and has organised a number of events to foster good relations, including a very successful interfaith event which included representatives from the Christian,China Jerseys NFL Wholesale, Hindu, Jewish, and Muslim communities.In 2007, Rashied organised a splendid event to commemorate the 170th anniversary of the arrival of East Indians in the Caribbean which attracted a wide representation of the UK community.In congratulating Mr. Rashied on his award, Dr. Clem Seecharan, Professor of Caribbean History and Head of Caribbean Studies, London Metropolitan University said, “I believe that in these difficult times Mr Rashied’s leadership is making an important contribution in fostering a culture of tolerance, reason and reasonableness between the diverse ethnic and religious groups in London.His example should be digested and disseminated. It is a template that others could do well to emulate.”Mr. Rashied, who has a B.Sc. in Sociology from the University of Guyana and an M.A. in International Relations from the University of Lancaster in the UK, began his primary education at the Malgre Tout Primary school at Pouderoyen, West Bank Guyana, then went to the Muslim Education Trust College (now Brickdam Secondary) in Georgetown, Guyana.He was a teacher at The Muslim Education Trust College in Georgetown and worked at the Department of International Economic Co-operation before migrating to the United Kingdom.The British honours system is a means of rewarding individuals’ for personal bravery,Cheap NFL Jerseys China, achievement, or service to the United Kingdom. The system consists of three types of award: honours, decorations, and medals.When Mr Rashied climbed the steps to the palace to receive his award from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, it will be his third meeting with Her Masjesty. In 2005, he was privileged to meet and shake hands with the Queen when she visited West London, where he was working,Cheap Jerseys From China Online, and in 2007 he was nominated for the Queen’s Voluntary Award and was invited to the palace to have tea with the Queen.

…reiterate calls for legislation reformAmerindians,Jerseys China Wholesale, peeved over what they say is the flawed and powerless Amerindian Act passed in their favour in 2006, picketed the office of Amerindians Affairs Minister Pauline Sukhai to strengthen calls for the legislation to be reviewed.The country’s first people insisted yesterday that they will “no longer be treated as second class citizens” and are calling on the government to make the necessary moves to return “ancestral lands to their rightful owners.”A large contingent of Amerindian villagers, shouting slogans and hoisting placards, showed support to the Isseneru Village,Wholesale NFL Jerseys, which recently lost a land battle in the High Court to a gold miner.? The various Amerindian Villages have seen the ruling which gives rights to miners owning licenses prior to the 2006 Act, as being an insult to all Amerindian people. They have charged that the ruling opens doors for other persons to arbitrarily work on Amerindian titled lands.A section of the crowd protesting the Ministry of Amerindian AffairsHigh Court Judge, Justice Diane Insanally ruled in favour of one Joan Chang that mining in the Isseneru Village would be permitted since she attained a mining licence prior to the 2006 Amerindian Act coming into effect.? The villagers who believed that they had the authority to stop any alleged illegal works in their community were told that they had no authority to do so since provisions for the miners holding licences had been made.The Amerindian communities are thus questioning the power they hold in safeguarding their titled lands and by extension their way of life, since they say that they depend wholly on the land for their survival.On Tuesday the Amerindian People’s Association (APA) held a press conference to air their dissatisfaction with the court’s ruling and to highlight the possible negative implications of the issue. They planned vigils and protest action, with yesterday’s demonstration being the first of their scheduled protest.President Donald Ramotar, in light of the developments,NBA Jerseys China, promptly called for a meeting with the heads of varying Amerindian villages. The meeting was held Tuesday evening.Toshao of the Isseneru Village, Lewis Larson,Jerseys NFL China, said that they are however dissatisfied with the advice from the Head of State,Cheap Jerseys From China, since they were only told that he (President) would look into the matter. The villagers said they were further asked to negotiate with miners about issues plaguing them.Sharon Atkinson,Wholesale NFL Jerseys Online, of Santa Rosa, Moruka said that she is in support of her fellow Amerindians in light of the challenge that they face. The woman said that from colonialism to now, her people have been lied to about promises of protection and rights.With the recent ruling, the woman said, “It only proves that the court cannot protect us and they are not upholding our constitutional rights to continue our way of life.” Atkinson said legislation needs to be changed to give Amerindians power to adequately defend their lands.Colin Klautky of the Guyanese Organization of Indigenous Peoples said that the ruling against Amerindian rights is a backward move because miners are now going to take advantage of the situation. He highlighted that his people are in receipt of many solidarity messages from outside of Guyana which include indigenous groups from Australia, New Zealand, the Fiji Islands, the Apache nation of Nevada, and groups from Suriname, Venezuela and Trinidad.Younger persons from the Amerindian villages said they were present to protest for their land. They charged that if the situation continues, within time there would be no land left for them and their children since they are gradually being forced from their homes.Other villagers charged that while the government boasts of Environmental Protection and Low Carbon Strategy, they permit miners to destroy and mutilate the forest areas, destroying trees and polluting waterways.The Amerindians say that they feel offended and cheated of their rights. The people said they would make meaningful strides to have their matter looked into as more vigils and protests are scheduled.The Youth Coalition for Transformation (YCT) said it stands in strong solidarity with the citizens of Isseneru village and other Amerindian brothers and sisters in expressing its discontent on the recent High Court ruling that essentially displaced residents of the mentioned village of rights and entitlements to their ancestral lands and sustainability of village life and local economy.The group said that it is ironic that t

… as Brazil celebrates 191st anniversaryEnhanced economical commitments were made last evening as Guyana paid tribute to Brazil on the occasion of its 191st anniversary as an independent nation.President Donald Ramotar pledged enhanced economic trade and social relations between Guyana and Brazil, during a cocktail reception, hosted at the Brazilian Ambassador’s residence, Church Street,Cheap Jerseys China, Queenstown, Georgetown.“We pay tribute to all the sacrifices made by the many generations who struggled and resolved to provide a firm foundation of this great nation.”President Ramotar and the Brazilian Military attache and staff at the receptionPresident Ramotar noted that in Guyana’s efforts to secure prosperity and improved quality of life in for its people, the Government has embarked on a number of initiatives to create new job opportunities and promote development in key sectors, especially in health, education agriculture and infrastructural development.Citing the collaborative efforts between the two countries, the President “welcomed the conclusion of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on infrastructural projects” last July.This mechanism provided the framework for joint collaboration of the Hydro power resources, the upgrade of Lethem Linden and the development of the deep water port in Guyana.“We encourage greater Brazilian investment in economic and social sectors of our country…We know that the anticipated development will not happen like a change in the weather it is a process and through determined actions and firm commitment not only on the part of the Government but by the people of our country we will achieve great heights”He underscored that Government is also seeking to develop more focused cooperation programmes and other traditional partnerships with more active policies of likeminded countries.“We have already witnessed positive results in the case of Brazil we have made significant advances especially in a wide range of areas. This increased level of cooperation and contact which we have witnessed is a demonstration with which we view our relations.“It is envisaged that the enhancement of the Guyana/Brazil partnership will increase the prosperity of its people and benefit the region as a whole.”Guyana and Brazil are members of UNASUR (the Union of South American Nations) and most recently in MERCOSUR.Brazilian Ambassador to Guyana,Jerseys NFL China, Luiz Seixas DeAndrade, said that the Brazilian Government intends to pursue measures to remove the barriers that impede Guyanese exports across the border.According to the Brazilian Ambassador the joint commission between the two countries will open new avenues for Brazilian companies to invest in potential projects of Guyana with realistic perspective of taking economic and trade relations to higher levels.“Technical cooperation has been provided to look at the training of Guyanese technicians,Wholesale Hockey Jerseys China, to look at sanitary certification. This will allow for the sale of value added quality Guyanese food and drinks to Brazil.”The opening of the Takutu River Bridge has boosted communication linkages between the two countries resulting in an influx of Brazilian entrepreneurs within Guyana’s economic sector, the Ambassador said.Earlier this year, Guyana and Brazil had a third meeting of the joint commission of the group on consular cooperation,Cheap Jerseys Online, police cooperation and drugs and the fourth bilateral meeting.The two South American countries have also been implementing together cooperation in a number of technical areas of aquaculture, corn,Authentic Adidas Hockey Jerseys China, soybean and rice.Cooperation between Guyana and Brazil has also been very fruitful in the military area,Wholesale NFL Jerseys, resulting in the visit of the Brazilian Minister of Defence, Celso Amorim.