The National AIDS Programme Secretariat yesterday commenced the fourth annual week of testing. NAPS has been observing “The National Day of Testing” for the past three years. Yesterday at the NAPS head office,Wholesale NFL Jerseys China, Dr. Bheri Ramsaran, Minister within the Ministry of Health, said that the event has been graced by a number of influential leaders in society.He said that event has received tremendous support from the diplomatic society.Dr Ramsaran stressed that everyone needs to know his or her HIV status. He also noted that since its conceptualisation, the National Day of Testing has seen tremendous support,Cheap NFL Jerseys China, and it is being pushed at the national level.He also said that the Ministry has expanded its service points because of the excitement that the programme has generated.He noted that last year there were 216 temporary testing sites and this year the number has increased to 358.The Minister further noted that the increase is mostly in the rural areas, for example in Region Nine.Dr. Shanti Singh, Head of the National AIDS Programme,NFL Jerseys Wholesale, said that services at the testing sites would be of the highest quality.She explained that a target of 20,000 has been set.She also appealed for persons to utilise the services which they have. Mr. Carvil Duncan, General Secretary of the Guyana Labour Union, who participated in the testing, said that the Trade Unions in Guyana are on board.He said that a number of seminars have been held in Georgetown and in rural areas.Charge D’ Affaires of the US Embassy,Jerseys NFL Cheap, Ms. Carol Horning, said that the programme is important, further noting that Guyana has the longest programme and it has done well.She also stressed the importance of people knowing their status.Other persons present were Ms. Amanda St. Aubyn – Country Manager Scotia Bank; Minister of Culture Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony; General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party,Cheap Jerseys Wholesale, Donald Ramotar; Country Representative of the United Nations,Wholesale Authentic Jerseys, Ruben Del Pardo; Pandit Haresh Tiwari – Member Guyana Faith Coalition on HIV and AIDS.Ruben Del Pardo said that the government must be commended for removing the barriers of discrimination.

The 14-year-old torture victim has given his mother the full details of the barbaric treatment he endured at the hands of police ranks at the Leonora Police Station.Besides having his privates set alight, the teen alleged that he was struck on the ears, beaten with a baton, and struck in the head with a piece of wood.Speaking to Kaieteur News on Tuesday, Shirley Thomas, the lad’s mother, stated that her son said that after he was detained last week Tuesdays at La Grange Police Station,Cheap NFL Jerseys, he was taken to the Leonora Police Station the following day.She said that the lad stated that when night fell, the policemen took him out of the cell.He was allegedly then taken into a room with two policemen, and one of the ranks ordered him to take off his clothes.“He say that when he take off his clothes,NFL Jerseys Supply, they start lashing he on he buttocks and saying ‘talk what you know,’” she said.She alleged that when her son repeatedly denied any knowledge of the circumstances surrounding Ramnauth Bisram’s death,Authentic Jerseys Cheap, the torture continued.According to Ms. Thomas, one of the policemen kicked her son in the stomach and the ranks then took turns striking him on the ears with the palms of his hands. She alleged that they also struck him in the headMs. Thomas said she was told that the policemen then tied his head “with a black cloth,” and continued to beat him.They allegedly then bound his hands with wire, threw methylated spirits on his genitals and set him alight.She said the boy claimed that despite his agony,Cheap NFL Jerseys China, the ranks then attempted to inflict more injuries on his genitals with a staple gun.However,Cheap Jerseys From China, he was spared this ordeal because there were no staples in the device.According to Ms. Thomas, the policemen then took her son to the Vreed-en-Hoop Police Station. There, their behaviour reportedly changed.“They give him tennis rolls, and a cream (to apply to his burns).”? They also reportedly gave the child a fan. When the boy’s attorney and his parents were finally allowed to see him on Saturday at the Vreed-en-Hoop Police Station, the lad was sitting on a bench wrapped in a bed sheet.Mrs. Thomas said that she is determined to ensure that the ranks who harmed her son are brought to justice.

The National Cultural Centre was packed to capacity recently when GT&T hosted the Final Show in its 2009 Jingles and Song Competition.When the curtains came down after about three hours of exciting performances the large crowd was obviously satisfied despite the fact that the top three finalists were not announced at Thursday night’s competition. Thursday’s theme was dubbed ‘Retro Guyanese Music-Sung or Produced by Guyanese’.The Grand Finale is set for Sunday at a venue to be announced.The contestants also performed their original songs and it was evident that musical and songwriting talent abounded.The first contestant Ashley John was booed by the audience but somehow managed to finish her rendition with polished ease and finesse.Malika Boyd was very impressive as usual but many thought that her song did not do justice to her vocals. Annnece Hicks sounded hoarse and strained during her performance. She was not as dramatic as her previous performances and did not receive the expected thunderous applause.Renne Chester’s performance was good and reeked of the entertaining drama he brings to the platter every time. Ashford Ward is indeed a good singer, but definitely needed a little more onstage charisma.Kwacey Coates was the ‘Energy God’ delivering a sizzling performance that obviously moved the audience. Michael Thompson,http://www.theworldsoccersshop.com/Belgium-Mousa-Dembele-Jersey.html, Pheona Da Silva and Carlvin Burnette were the definite scene-stealers delivering scorching performances and choreography that had the audience whopping in delight.Pheona was adjudged the best vocalist, while she was given the ‘best composition’ title by the judges. The three were treated to a standing ovation at the end of their acts.Raoule Samuels did not perform badly and received good reviews from the judges.The show was further hyped with performances by the legendary Dave Martin, Brutal Track’s Hector Jory and the Queen of Pop,Cheap Jerseys Free Shipping, Charmaine Blackman, who had the audience begging for more when she left the stage.The Classique Dancers must be commended for their intriguing dance performances, which were well received by patrons.This year the winner of the competition will take home a Toyota VIOS (Blue) motor car, a one year endorsement contract with GT&T, complimentary recording of a single,Cheap China Jerseys, an Apple IPod Touch, a Samsung Bluetooth Headset and a cellular phone.The second place winner will bask in the glory of taking home $500,000, a one-year endorsement contract with GT&T, an Apple IPod Touch, a return trip to Jamaica and a cellular phone,Authentic MLB Jerseys Online, while the third place contestant takes home $250,000, a return trip to Trinidad, and an Apple IPod Touch and cellular phoneThe GT&T Cellink Jingle and Song Competition is broadcast every Thursday night on NCN,China Soccer Jerseys, and HJTV at 21:00 h and 20:00 hrs respectively.The event this year is sponsored by Ansa McAl Ltd, Beharry Automotive Ltd, NCN,Cheap Jerseys Online, Impressions, HJTV, Caribbean Airlines and Wireless Connection, under the theme ‘Caribbean Rhythm, Guyanese Vybz’.

“I have made it clear that the paddy would not be allowed to return because the contamination took place out of Guyana,China Jerseys, and I would not want to violate our systems here.”This is according to Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud, who in an invited comment, said that the rice shipped from Guyana was currently being fumigated in Colombia and that one of Guyana’s plant health specialists is observing the process.In light of the incident, Persaud requested his technical officers to discuss with foreign agencies, an expansion of the regime of pre-exportation testing.This is in order to ensure the credibility of rice leaving local shores.“There is already some testing to meet export standards…The fact still remains that the fungus claimed to be found by the Colombians does exist in our temperature.”This newspaper has learnt that the paddy was taken to the same port as the contaminated shipments from the USA. Persaud recently told this newspaper that he had called for an independent investigation.According to the Minister,http://www.theworldsoccersshop.com/Belgium-Yannick-Carrasco-Jersey.html, he has since written to the Agriculture Minister of Colombia lodging a mild protest,China NFL Jerseys, given that the information available to him suggests that the rice may have been contaminated on arrival in Colombia, hence the independent investigation.According to Persaud, it is always difficult breaking into a new market and he has informed the Colombians that Guyana was willing to explore the available avenues to resolve the issue.Saj Rice Mills (SRM) shipped the rice from Guyana.When the news first broke,Cheap NFL Jerseys China, the local Agriculture Minister had said,Cheap Jerseys Store, “I have directed the GRDB [Guyana Rice Development Board] to investigate the matter, notwithstanding the company’s pronouncement that the shipment was free of any impurities or fungi when it left Guyana. I have asked that the Colombians,Jerseys NFL Wholesale, US and the Latin American Rice Research system (FLAR) be involved.”The Reuters News Agency had reported that 1,064 tonnes of rice would be returned to Guyana following the discovery of a fungus, which corresponds to the Tilletia type.The same fungus, Reuters said, was detected in 5,493 tons of rice originating from the United States.Shipments have also been barred from Ecuador, Venezuela and Peru.Fearing a possible spread of the fungus in their territory, Colombia immediately ordered that the rice be transported back to its source.Colombia had the shipment aboard a vessel docked at Port Barranquilla in an attempt to isolate what the report described as an “identified exotic disease.”The procedures were executed to avoid possible contamination of Colombia’s cereals.“All the agricultural imports that enter Colombia are put under a process of quality control,” Reuters said.The fungus identified during this process corresponds to the Tilletia sort plague – a type of fungi which target cereals, and controlling such fungi would increase production costs, and products would not be marketable if contaminated.