…Predicts record spending for Golden Jubilee Some critics have been lashing out at the coalition Government for allocating $300M for Guyana’s 50thFinance Minister, Winston JordanIndependence anniversary celebrations. But Finance Minister, Winston Jordan, has said that such comments only reflect a “petty” mentality. He emphasized that for such a “historic” occasion, $300M is “peanuts”.Jordan,Cheap Jerseys For Sale, during his press conference on Wednesday,? said that the money being spent will have a “tremendous” multiplying effect.He predicted that the $300M being spent may even bring in another $300M or more from overseas visitors.“I even heard of the new flights being put on for this 50th anniversary…But have you asked how much Barbados is spending on their celebrations? It is much more and they are experiencing financial problems. I don’t know why we are so small-minded and petty. How many of us will see the next 50? This is a grand occasion and we are crying over this money that will bring record spending and increase in tourists,” expressed the Finance Minister.He added,Wholesale China Jerseys, “But let us assume that each tourist brings US$500— we can blow that out in one night at Palm Court and they would walk with their ATM Card too…so trust me there will be record spending during this time. Lots of people are mobilized to be part of this celebration.”“We call on all Guyanese to reflect on the journey of the past 50 years, taking into account the people and experiences that have shaped our history and the lessons learnt,Cheap NFL Jerseys, while mindful of the opportunities we have missed,” the Minister said.In addition,Wholesale NFL Jerseys, Minister Jordan noted that during the reflections,Wholesale NFL Jerseys, the tools must be in place for young people to continue growing.“This is a time of reflection and celebration, even as we provide inspiration and tools for our young people to dream bigger and reach higher over the next 50 years,” Minister Jordan explained.During May,Wholesale NBA Jerseys China, a number of activities are slated to take place in observance of the 50th Independence Anniversary. Guyana gained Independence from Great Britain on May 26, 1966. (Kiana Wilburg)

The manager of the Links Store opened up his business yesterday morning and almost collapsed when he discovered that five computers and monitors had vanished,Cheap Jerseys Wholesale, apparently the night before.He estimated his losses at some $1.5M.Yesterday,Cheap Stitched Jerseys, the manager,Cheap NFL Jerseys China, Mikhail Rodrigues, was in shock and disbelief at his discovery.The Links Store,Cheap Jerseys Wholesale, situated at 179 Mandela Avenue, Alexander Village,Wholesale China Jerseys, Georgetown,NBA Jerseys China, offers internet and other related services to the public.Rodrigues said that when he arrived at the store at around 08:30 hrs yesterday, he noticed that the metal frame of the glass door had been pried apart and the locks missing.He said he could not believe his eyes when he realized that all the flat screen computers and monitors were also missing.Luckily, he retrieved his digital camera which, because it was beneath a counter in the store, had apparently missed the eyes of the intruders.Yesterday, the manager lamented the fact that his business has been in existence for only six months now and that he is by no means in a financial position to ‘get back on his feet again’.He added that several months ago a similar business he managed on Regent Street was hit by bandits, causing him to suffer some $3M in losses.(Alex Wayne)

– human trafficking raid nets 29 ?By Sunita SamarooBy day, eleven of them slept on small bunk-beds in rooms that hardly left space for walking around; their clothes still kept in suitcases, and their lines of six-inch stilettos each hung neatly on their bed frames.As many as six women would be cramped together, sharing a single bedroom in the three-bedroom upper flat of a nondescript two-storey house located on one of the quieter, more remote avenues of the small Region Seven community.The house, bare of furnishings, had no television and the halls hung bare except for a moth-eaten mattress lying on the floor. The only seeming luxury in the living quarters was an air-conditioning set.Their ‘boss,’ a Brazilian national lived just beneath them in an equally small apartment but he was afforded more luxuries: a flat screen television set, a wardrobe,China Jerseys Cheap, air-conditioning set and other amenities.But as night came, they would get ready for ‘work’ together and by 22:00 hours they would be decked out in the most revealing of outfits.The women as they were about to board the boat for GeorgetownWith long flowing black hair down their backs and clothes showing their skin, vehicles would pull up and without much ado the Latino women would come out of their home and pile in, heading to ‘work’.This ‘work’ wasn’t far away as Bartica is a relatively small community located in Region Seven. In the bars, they stood all night taking orders from patrons and suspicion is that they were also engaged in other activities.A short distance away, a similar operation was in its start up stages but that came to a halt early yesterday morning as the Counter Trafficking in Person Unit of the Ministry of Social Protection and the Guyana Women Miners’ Organisation (GWMO) raided their homes and the two business entities, as part of an investigation into human trafficking.Heading the operation was internationally recognised Trafficking In Persons (TIP) Hero and recently appointed Minister within the Ministry of Social Protection, Simona Broomes.The room where some of the women stayedAs the team scoured Bartica, two bars/hotels on First Avenue,Wholesale Cheap Jerseys China, Bartica and the homes of the girls were raided. A number of women – Brazilians, Columbians,Cheap NFL Jerseys, Venezuelans and Dominica Republicans and about three men were taken into custody.In all, authorities found 29 foreign nationals living under suspicious circumstances from the various locations. Investigators are looking at the possibility that some of the women were being trafficked to Guyana and exploited, and being controlled by some Brazilian business people, including one who was previously charged with five counts of human trafficking.The early morning raids were done on the Platinum Inn International Hotel and Bar and Top Notch Bar, located on separate ends of First Avenue, Bartica, Essequibo River.The alleged victims are between the ages of 20 and 30. This is even as investigators found that four of the total had entered Guyana illegally and four had overstayed their time. After enduring a night of interrogation at the Bartica Police Station, they were taken to Georgetown for further investigations.Broomes remarked that there has been a trend of women being recruited from the Dominican Republic, but it had gone unnoticed by officials in the past.Of the six from the Dominican Republic that were ‘rescued’, three were sisters, she said.The proprietor of one hotel was flagged by the GWMO as he was being observed for years. Also, women who had worked in one of Georgetown’s most popular strip clubs were among those netted in Bartica.“There are also persons from (name of entity provided) here now and we have noticed a shift in how it is being run. We got that information of his connection internationally and that also is proving right because for example,NFL Jerseys China, one of the young ladies arrived from the Dominican Republic yesterday,” Broomes said.According to the Junior Minister, one of the women arrived on these shores on Friday and was already in Bartica and working by Saturday night.“She was sent directly to him (the proprietor). We were also informed that he would normally train them.” The operation, she said, was based on information received.“We’ve been dealing with human trafficking for all these years and I’ve never felt this way. I was never on a raid where I was protected by the police,” she said as she showered the ranks with praise.She revealed that collaboration was being done with the Ministry of Public Security as well.Broomes made clear that she is on a mission, as Junior Minister, to bring Guyana to a decent state internationally where human trafficking is concerned and reduce the

The appointment of part-time judges will reduce the backlog of cases in the High Court, Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Carl Singh, said yesterday.Justices Diana Fazeela Insanally (right) and Franklyn Delano HolderDuring the swearing-in of two new puisne judges at the Office of the President yesterday, Justice Singh said that the additional judges will complement those already on board.According to the Chancellor,China Jerseys NFL, backlog has always been a problem for the High Court.The two new judges appointed by President Bharrat Jagdeo yesterday were Diana Fazeela Insanally and Franklyn Delano Holder.Justice Insanally has been practising law for about19 years now, while Justice Holder has been in the legal profession just over 15 years.The two newly appointed judges will join High Court judges, Justices William Ramlal, Claudette La Bennett, Roxanne George-Wiltshire,Nike Vapormax Plus Sunset, Dawn Gregory-Barnes, Winston Patterson,Wholesale China Jerseys, James Bovell-Drakes, Rishi Persaud, Brassington Reynolds and Chief Justice Ian Chang.Justice Jainarayan Singh has retired and his position is to be filled. The Judicial Service Commission had recommended the judges since last year April and, despite the shortage of judges and the unprecedented backlog that exists in the court system,Authentic NFL Jerseys Wholesale, more than nine months passed before they were sworn in.There are currently more than 500 cases pending in the High Court. Statistics acquired from the court late last year showed that,Wholesale China Jerseys, at the end of 2007, there were 512 criminal cases pending.Up to end of November last year 35 cases had been filed for the year,NFL Jerseys Supply, and 24 cases were completed.

It has been clear for some time now,Cheap Jerseys Authentic, that the Jagdeo Regime is a stranger to good governance, aspiring leader of the main opposition, People’s National Congress Reform, Dr. Richard Van West Charles, said yesterday.In a statement issued yesterday, Van West Charles said that good governance must imply a scrupulous regard for the resources of the state, good management, probity, efficiency, a lack of corruption, and the timely conduct of the affairs of the state, among others.He said that it is distressing that none of these qualities characterize the Jagdeo regime.The negative feature,Wholesale Basketball Jerseys, which unfortunately seems to be the hallmark of the Jagdeo Regime,Cheap NFL Jerseys, he said,jerseys from china, is its inability to carry out the functions of the state in a timely manner.As a consequence, the state functions in a less than systematic manner and more often than not the Guyanese people are the victims,Wholesale Jerseys, Van West-Charles said yesterday.This, he noted,Cheap Jerseys Supply, was clearly the case with the loss of over more that G$6B for the sugar sector and the diversification of the economy.The inability to submit a finalized Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) might mean the loss of another 12M euros, he added.“It gives no pleasure as someone who has just returned home and who wants to see this country move forward, I take no pleasure to dwell on the negative aspects of our political life.”But as the loss of funds represents arguably the worst failure of government since gaining independence, Dr. Van West-Charles said, it is necessary that it be dissected, so that the Guyanese people understand the cost of ‘misrule’ by the Jagdeo regime.“All Guyanese must realize the importance of what is at stake here. The EU is committed to helping to effect improvement in the production of sugar and improve the economy as a whole. All the Jagdeo regime had to do was to submit a Sugar Action Plan on time, by January 2008, which it failed to do.” At no time during the PNC’s Administration in Guyana, he said, did Guyanese ever experience such ineptitude, incompetence and downright failure.

…now under close arrest In the midst of the numerous reported discrepancies about the sloppy and discredited work of the local police,Wholesale China Jerseys, come allegations that members of the Guyana Police Force have been repeatedly collecting sums of cash from residents for fabricated offences.It was reported that on 21:30 hours on Wednesday, four ranks clothedThe house the police raided.in navy blue uniforms forced their way into a Herstelling, East Bank Demerara home and relieved the occupants of a sum of money on claims that they caught the occupants “smoking drugs”.Satesh Lall, who occupies the house with his brothers, said that shortly after the armed policemen arrived at their residence, they barged into the house and pretended to be looking for something. Lall was then ordered out of the house with eight other young men,NFL Jerseys China, his brothers included, who had been “liming on the verandah”.Janet,Wholesale NHL Jerseys, an eyewitness,Jerseys From China, living in an adjacent building said that after her husband approached the police requesting answers as to why the young men were held, he was told that in order for them to be released they would have to pay a stated sum of money, or else they would be seen on Court Round-up the following day.Janet said that the police had initially requested $50,Wholesale Jerseys USA,000 but eventually settled for $20,000 which was then accumulated by the men and other residents. Shortly after, they were freed.Other concerned residents, after witnessing the entire event, alerted the relevant authorities by submitting compelling physical evidence of the incident. The superiors were reportedly convinced of the allegations and apparently took immediate action.Janet reported that shortly after the police left, they returned to give back the money which they confiscated.“After they could not find the boys, they come to us to give back the money and tell us not to tell anyone that they took money”. Reports are that the ranks frantically circled the area several times that night and once on Thursday morning in search of the young men but were unable to find them.One concerned resident described the matter as “a police culture in Herstelling”. The man said the incident had occurred in the community several times in the past but was never reported. He said that it is the norm of police, regardless of their post, to show up at unsuspecting residents’ homes and demand that they report to the police station on fabricated charges.In order to escape the charge,Cheap Jerseys Free Shipping, the man explained that the people would have to fork out “bail money”, otherwise they are summoned to appear before the courts.“These are not policemen, these are bandits in uniform!” the man emphatically stated. He said that the responsible ranks need to go to jail for what they did because “they themselves jail people innocently”.It was reported that the ranks were arrested on Thursday while police gathered statements from the victims and eyewitnesses.According to a well informed source, subsequent to a successful ID parade yesterday, the ranks were placed under close arrest at the Eve Leary headquarters pending further investigations.

The Guyana Autistic Society (GAS) has started a programme at the Ptolemy Reid Centre yesterday, where parents and guardians of children with Autism can visit and learn ways in which to care for children who are autistic.According to a representative of GAS, Marcia Smith, the programme was officially the brainchild of the Deputy British High Commissioner’s wife, Kalawatie Ramnauth, since she also cares for her son who is autistic.She added that lots of parents are unaware of what autism truly is and how to care for an autistic child.According to Psychologist and Special Educator on Autism, Revatht Narayanan,China Jerseys, who resides in Trinidad and will be in the country until Thursday,Cheap Jerseys From China,“Most people with autism have sensory issues usually, these sensory difficulties aren’t due to any physical problems with the eyes, ears, mouth, or nose; they occur at the level where the brain processes input…so the body may collect sensory information properly, but the brain doesn’t interpret the information correctly. For instance,Cheap Jerseys Wholesale, an autistic person may have trouble hearing and seeing at the same time”.Autistic people also can have hypersensitive nervous systems, with senses that are so highly acute that fire sirens or scratchy clothes are physically painful.An autistic person may seem to withstand pain or fear better than the norm and do risky things such as walk on high ledges because he has no fear of falling.She said that children absorb through their five senses and sensory processing is a neurological process where the brain takes information from the senses that are Touch, Vision, Auditory, Taste and Smell.“Two more hidden sensors are propioception (pressure) and Vestibular (balance)” she said.She explained that the programmes teach autistic children how to communicate on a higher level by Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) since most children cannot communicate their needs, and do so by screaming and pointing.It was noted that people with autism have said that the world,Wholesale Jerseys Free Shipping, to them, is a mass of people,China Jerseys Cheap, places and events which they struggle to make sense of, and which can cause them considerable anxiety.In particular, understanding and relating to other people,Wholesale Jerseys Free Shipping, and taking part in everyday family and social life may be harder for them. Other people appear to know, intuitively, how to communicate and interact with each other, and some people with autism may wonder why they are ‘different’.Specialist individual education, therapies and structured support can make a difference to a person with autism. That person can learn to maximise skills and achieve his full potential.It is known that there are biological or neurological differences in the brain but the nervous system has remarkable plasticity and one part can take over and compensate for another part.Early diagnosis and treatment programmes are therefore crucial for the improvement and progress of a child with autism.(Rabindra Rooplall)