WEST INDIES OIL GETS NEW CEO Friday 14th November 2014 A n t i g u a a n d B a r b u d a Vol.3 LIME upgrades Governor General with iPhone 6 No.30 $2.00 Story on page 9 Digicel launches stratch & win promotion....pg 2 2014 Caricom energy week statement......pg 4 As part of LIME’s $37 M Upgrade Antigua and Barbuda initiative, General Manager Davidson Charles upgrades the Country’s Governor General His Excellency Sir Rodney Williams with the nations first iPhone 6. LIME, Antigua & Barbuda’s only authorized iPhone 6 and Iphone 6 plus carrier began offering the smart phones to its customers today. Closer ties with Constantinian order pg 12 pg 23 For Voucher 2 caribtimes.com Friday 14th November 2014 The Myths of Sexual Assault Among the myths about sexual assault, several continue to prevail without basis in fact. Two concern the victim, one the rapist. According to one myth, the victim is always young and attractive. Unfortunately, movie and television dramatizations have reflected this fallacy. The truth is there is no stereotypic victim. Another myth asserts the woman provokes the attack. The truth is the rapist selects his victim on the basis of opportunity and initiates the attack usually selecting as his victim a female who appears vulnerable and appears to be alone. The belief that rape is an act perpetrated for sexual gratification is also a myth. Rapists often have consenting sexual relationships but choose to rape both because they enjoy overpowering and degrading their victims and as a vent to their feelings of hostility, aggression and inferiority. Sex is not the motivating factor, only the chosen mode of expression. The Reality of Sexual Assault In reality, the crime of rape bears a closer resemblance to violent crimes such as robbery and aggravated assault than it does to sexual intercourse of any kind. Every person is a potential victim of sexual assault. Victims range in age from small children to elderly persons. The most vulnerable target is the woman alone, at any time of the day or night. Often the assailant is someone you know either closely or by sight alone. Usually the rapist is a man who is emotionally unstable yet deals with life on a day-to-day basis in a reasonably normal and competent manner. According to the reported cases of sexual assault, the assailant is often a friend, date, relative, co-worker or casual acquaintance. Exhibitionists and peeping toms should be considered as potentially dangerous since these acts may be a part of a fantasy which includes rape. It cannot be emphasized too strongly that sexual assault is a crime of violence; rapists are emotionally unstable persons who view their victims as objects to vent their hostility, aggression, frustration or insecurity on. Sexual gratification is not a motive for their crime. They wish to humiliate and degrade their victims, to make them lesser beings, and the fantasy which they are acting out carries with it the danger of physical harm in addition to the act of rape itself. Digicel launches �Scratch And Win’ Christmas Promotion By Terry V La Ragy At a press conference at their Royal Palms Head Office on Thursday morning Digicel launched its Christmas promotion that gives customers a chance to win cash and prizes totalling a whopping EC$150,000. Under the theme “Come Together This Christmas” customers topping up EC$15 or more at any Digicel store or vendor, postpaid bill paid on time or a new phone purchase, will win their share of scratch cards that will give them numerous chances to win exciting prizes. The prizes include, daily cash prizes of EC$1,000, Huawei and Samsung smartphones, LTE WiFi modems, call credit, LTE and 4G data plans. Furthermore, Digicel is offering ten cards that have a �grand prize’ draw section and for those ten lucky persons they will enter a final draw on 22nd December, having a chance to win EC$15,000 in cash; with first place receiving EC$10,000 and cont’d on pg 3 Friday 14th November 2014 caribtimes.com 3 cont’d from pg 2 second place receiving EC$5,000. Also, from today (Friday) every customer that purchases a brand new DL750 handset will receive one months supply of free data on activation as well as customers will have the opportunity to get a Modem for five days of 4G LTE ’free trial run’, showing that once again Digicel �continues to deliver best value to its customers’. Speaking at the conference, Digicel Antigua and Barbuda LTE Marketing Manager, Ms Patrice Simon stated, “Digicel has always made sure that its customers receive the best value and with the launch of the �scratch and win’ Christmas promotion – underpinned by our �Come together this Christmas’ campaign – we want to spread the joy to as many of our customers as possible”. “Not only do they have a chance to win cash and other prizes, but they will be able to choose from the widest selection of smartphones and LTE products at the best prices”. In addition, the Digicel team is giving back to its communities by supporting a number of charities during the Christmas season. Ms Simon continued, “Digicel is ensuring that the less fortunate in the communities will also enjoy this Christmas with Digicel as our teams will be visiting the Boys Training School, Camp Exceptional, ClareVue Psychiatric Hospital and the Victory Centre.” Digicel Group is a leading global communications provider with operations in 33 markets in the Caribbean, Central America and Asia Pacific. After 13 years of operation, total investment to date stands at over US$5 billion worldwide as the company is renowned for delivering best value, best service and best network. The Christmas campaign runs from now until the 19th December, so come together this Christmas and make the season an �extraordinary’ one with Digicel. 4 caribtimes.com Friday 14th November 2014 Statement by Asot Michael, Minister of Tourism, Economic Development, Investment and Energy to commemorate CARICOM Energy Week 2014 “Achieving Climate, a sustainable future. Environmental and EcoThe Government of nomic Resilience through Antigua and Barbuda is Sustainable Energy” pursuing a multi-pronged approach to its energy polAntigua and Barbuda icy. This policy is driven by joins this year with the other the overall aims of advancmembers of the Caribbean ing the standard of living Community (CARICOM) of our people through acto celebrate CARICOM cess to energy at reasonable Energy WEEK 2014 under prices, enhancing our ecothe theme of “Achieving nomic competitiveness, reClimate, Environmental ducing our dependence on and Economic Resilience imported fossil fuels, and through Sustainable Ener- incorporating environmengy”. tal concerns into our energy This theme is reflective programmes and policies. of the efforts being made The first element of our by the new administration energy policy is intended of Antigua and Barbuda to to bring about sustained repromote an energy policy duction in energy prices to which is reflective of the ordinary consumers. This needs of the country and initiative will involve shiftspecifically where possible ing from existing pricing to reduce the cost of energy methodologies and workto the consumer, to harness ing with our partners in the our country’s considerable petroleum industry to enrenewable energy resourc- sure that the benefits of any es, and to encourage energy downward movements in efficiency and energy con- international fuel prices are servation. passed on to residential and The world today is at a other consumers. crossroad in terms of enerThe second component gy. High energy costs com- of our government’s energy bined with the adverse im- policy involves establishpacts on the global climate ing the institutional and of fossil fuels mean that policy framework required new directions must be fol- for management of energy lowed as we strive towards in the twenty-first century. Minister of Tourism, Economic Development, Investment and Energy, the Hon., Asot Michael This includes strengthening the technical capacity of the Ministry of Energy to implement its mandate for managing energy in Antigua and Barbuda as well as establishment of a National Energy Council which will bring together private and public sector energy sector stakeholders to advise the Ministry of Energy on energy related policies and measures. This government is committed to empowering Antiguans and Barbudans to benefit directly from our wind, solar and other re- newable energy resources. New technologies are making these energy sources more and more cost effective and efficient, and our government will continue to do its part to reduce the cost of renewable energy components through removal of duties on renewable energy equipment. Equally significant, however, will be the enactment in a few weeks of renewable energy legislation which will provide a modern regulatory platform for grid scale and consumer cont’d on pg 5 Friday 14th November 2014 cont’d from pg 4 level renewable energy in Antigua and Barbuda. It is also our plan to work with friendly governments and agencies to introduce renewable energy at government buildings, thereby reducing governments own use of fossil fuel based electricity. The other area for immediate attention will be energy efficiency and energy conservation. This will be critical as it constitutes the proverbial low hanging fruit and is therefore an opportunity which we must grasp, making use of new technologies such as LED and CFL lighting as well as modern energy management approaches and concepts.
 There is now global recognition of the adverse effects of climate change, particularly so on small -island States like Antigua and Barbuda. Most of the adverse changes in our climate are a result of the emission into the atmosphere of greenhouse gases from fossil fuels. The initiatives being planned by the Ministry of Energy will all contribute to the international goal to combat the very real threat of global climate change by reducing Antigua and Barbuda’s emissions of greenhouse gases. In summary, the Government of Antigua and Barbuda, acting though the Ministry responsible for Energy, is embarking on a bold path to advance the concepts of sustainable energy. This will have a number of interrelated components and will involve working alongside partners in private and public sectors to ensure visionary and balanced energy management for Antigua and Barbuda. We also look forward to working with our regional and international partners caribtimes.com for support and assistance as our nation strives towards the goal of this year’s CARICOM Energy Week of “Achieving Climate, Environmental and Economic Resilience through Sustainable Energy”.  Tuesday, November 18, 2014 8:30 AM Limited space available – RSVP by November 14th – [email protected] Ministry of Education, Science and Technology 5 6 caribtimes.com Friday 14th November 2014 Crime prevention initiatives needed We are approaching the end of 2015 and in quick succession our figures for murders for the year jumped to thirteen. With two killings in the same amount of days we are into the teens with the most serious incidents of crime that a country has to deal with. The figure cannot be ignored and any serious minded society would begin to ask questions as to why our crime situa- tion has not been brought under any control. If we take into account the individual circumstances of the last two incidents, we might very well conclude that there is no need for worry.  They certainly do not represent a trend since they are certainly not related. But a murder is a murder and the expected derivatives of concern and worry from the innocent members of our community cannot be ignored. All avenues need to be explored in determining the causes for the increase in crime, especially those that are gun related, with a committed resolve to reversing what appears to be a worrying trend. The task, in our estimation, is not an impossible one. There are countries around the world that have been able to in- troduce crime prevention initiatives with a reasonable amount of success. We in Antigua and Barbuda and the Caribbean can do the same. Once again however we have to question the levels of commitment by the authorities and the various agencies of influence that are responsible and empowered to effect change. Crime solving is one cont’d on pg 7 Friday 14th November 2014 cont’d from pg 6 thing. While the crime to arrest ratio may be a proud boast, prevention of the various incidents remains the real source of bother. What is it that pushes an individual to the edge where he sees no other resolve but through violence to gain an advantage. We are of the view that the various influences that are acting on the minds of our people, especially at a very young age, are contributing to a negative and dangerous mindset. Once again, how committed are our authority figures to pursue a thorough examination of the facts and devise the methods and means through which all members of society can contribute to ridding our communities of crime and the criminal elements. We are yet to see any serious movement by those in authority to bring minds and views together to create solutions. That is why we are questioning their commitment. Crime affects all of us and society in general seems excluded from the effort to make a positive difference. We are very worried that dangerous weapons are easily accessed and are not only being used in murders but to carry out robberies on businesses and innocent citizens. We cannot continue like this and we certainly should not wait until the situation gets any worse before moving to act in desperate fashion when caribtimes.com 7 we could have been finding rationale solutions to the contributing issues all along. There is no way that we should be looking to only the Police for the help that we need. But the police has a leadership responsibility to act in a way that would kick start the process of bringing our communities together in the search for solutions. We are looking to them for much better leadership than this so that together we can all help in making our country  safer. 8 caribtimes.com Friday 14th November 2014 Blue Bex Wid Barack I’ve got to get this one off my chest: Me blue bex wid Barack Obama; and is not me alone bex wid�e. Plenty, plenty people in the US and aroun’ de wide Worl’ bex wid-�e, too. Even registered Democrats and other ethnic minorities bex wid Barack: If you want proof of that, just check the results of the US Mid-Term Congressional Elections held last Tuesday. If the truth is to be told, just about everybody everywhere has good reason to be teed off at the US President. Only Vladimir Putin has good reason to be pleased – after all, the Leader of the Free world has let him have things pretty much his own way, and Putin’s spirit of Russian adventurism is getting stronger by the hour. My rant has nothing to do with my own personal satisfaction – and that of so many countless others – at having lived to see an individual of African descent ascend democratically to the most powerful office on Spaceship Earth. Barack Obama’s election to the US Presidency is a supreme, landmark achievement in and of itself, and nothing will ever take away his unique status as the “First Black”. President Obama’s footnote in the history books is quite se- cure, whether he turns out to have been a great president (Highly unlikely, Susan!) or another version of that hapless “Goody TwoShoes” Jimmy Carter. Let me put it this way: The leader of the most powerful nation on Earth absolutely cannot be a “nice guy”. The World is not a “nice” place, and as freshly anointed “lame duck” President Barack Obama has demonstrated with panache, “nice guys finish last.” Thank goodness Michele is still so sexy and vibrant: the next two years of White House news would be so boring otherwise! President Barack Obama came to the White House determined to heal America, and to be a peacemaker. That was a worthy goal, especially for a President elected to lead a racially divided nation in a bitterly divided World. The goodness of his heart is amply illustrated in the Affordable Health Care Act, an initiative intended to arrest spiraling health care costs that threatened the welfare of the poorest and most unfortunate. Who would ever have imagined that so admirable an effort could have caused such division among loving, caring, patriotic, good-hearted Americans? Well, it did: and we all know the real reason, don’t we? Ironically, the Republican Party, today the great beneficiary of the anti-Barack protest vote, gained at the polls because the National Committee chose to run hard away from far-right extremism, as represented by the Tea Party and lunatics like Sarah Palin and Ted Cruz. On the other hand, the Democrats ran hard away from Barack Obama, which only made things worse for them. Al Gore made the same mistake, running away from Bill Clinton; and look what happened: don’t these people ever learn? Hopefully, this latest shock to the system will wake the Democratic National Committee from its slumber so they can get cracking on energizing their base – especially ethnic minorities – to elect a Democrat in 2016. Minorities (especially Blacks) are angry with Barack Obama for his failure to address the issues confronting Americans at the bottom of the economic heap. Blacks in particular are disappointed that Barack opted not to confront America over the sick, virulent White racism that drove the relentless Republican rejection of any and all Obama initiatives. Barack Obama may have wished to play the role of the healer: unfortunately he overlooked an important truth. To heal an infected, festering wound, the physician must first lance the offending object so the stinking pus can spurt out. Only then can the wound be cleaned and bound up. As the “first Black” President, Obama subscribed to the fantasy that his election marked the end of racial divisions in the Land of the Free. He was sadly mistaken: trying to be nice about it only egged the White racists on to more extremes of political obstructionism. I really got teed off with President Obama when I realized that the US, paralyzed by its own internal racism, would not play a vigorous leadership role in ending the Syrian conflict. That, combined with Obama’s too-early abandonment of Iraq (a campaign promise) left the way clear for Vladimir Putin to move into the resulting power vacuum with a vengeance – and the World is paying a price today, as Ukraine is dismembered and ISIL destabilizes the entire Mid-East region. Nice guys really do finish last. Friday 14th November 2014 Mr. Gregory Georges caribtimes.com 9 10 c a r i b t i m e s . c o m Friday 14th November 2014 Anti-Obama forces cloud global stability With just 2 years effectively left in Barack Obama’s Presidency of the United States, the world suddenly looks set to face even more danger than it does currently. Control of the US House of Representatives by the Republican Party, following the November 4 mid-term elections, has emboldened the “neocons” who formed part of the George W Bush regime that launched the US into wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. The extreme right-wing views of figures, such as Dick Cheney, Bush’s belligerent Vice President, and Paul Wolfowitz, his Deputy Secretary for Defence, are emerging in the thinking and statements of those who now occupy the Republican-dominated Congress. A significant part of their thinking is that the US should take unilateral action and make pre-emptive military strikes anywhere and at any time that America’s national security is imperilled. Of course, the “neo-cons” definition of America’s national security is very broad and ranges from resisting any effort to ad- dress the effects of climate change to blasting the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) into oblivion.  In between those two extremes are stepping up support for Israel against Palestine, sending weapons to the Ukraine to resist Russia, and curbing China’s growing influence in Asia and the Pacific. As President, Obama did not satisfy fully any of the many groups and individuals who had so eagerly and expectantly supported his first campaign for the job. But despite the drone strikes, which he continued in Afghanistan and Pakistan and his failure to fulfil his promise to close the US military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Obama has tried to pursue a multilateral approach to America’s involvement in the problems of the world. He has sought to give the UN Security Council the respect it deserves as well as to involve other nations in the theatres of conflict into which the US has been drawn. Had he not done so, the world would have been confronted much earlier with the huge clashes that now loom large over it. What is more, the lives By Sir Ronald Sanders of thousands of American tial for developing a nusoldiers would have been clear-weapon capability lost in battlegrounds in the won him no plaudits with Middle-East, Eastern Eu- a Republican Party that is rope and elsewhere. And, so jaundiced in its attitude antagonism and hostili- that its representatives acty to the US would have cord him not the slightest grown exponentially, wid- commendation. Within days of seening even more the readiness of aggrieved parties curing a majority in the to use terror for revenge House of Representatives, the rampant Republican against America. He gets no credit for Party showed its deterhis measured foreign poli- mination to overturn procies from the Republicans gressive international polwho blame him for allow- icies that Obama is trying ing ISIL to be formed and to put in place. Few hours for the existence of the had passed after Obama murderous ISIS group. signed a historic and globEven his judicious han- ally important agreement dling of Iran and its poten- cont’d on pg 11 Friday 14th November 2014 the President nor the Conon November 12 with gress enjoy unrestricted Chinese President Xi Jin- power. Even when the ping to curb the green- President and the majority house gas emissions of in the Congress are from their countries, when the the same political parRepublicans attacked it. ty, the two often have to The Republican Party’s at- negotiate agreements on titude to Climate Change laws and budgets. Such portends greater grief for negotiations sometimes small states that are the assume an acrimonious victims of global warming and bitter character when and sea-level rise. It also the President and the Conendangers the future of gressional majority are the planet, including the from opposing parties. In US, which is not immune the course of American from the damaging conse- history, Presidents and quences of intense chang- Congresses have learned the manners and princies in climate patterns. The worrying pros- ples of negotiation and pect for the world is that bargaining to achieve the “neo con” thinking in- some level of agreement side the Republican Party in the management of the could become so all per- nation’s affairs.  That is as vasive that it dictates their it should be in a democratstance in the US Congress ic system. Both President over the last two years and Congress are electof Obama’s Presidency. ed representatives of the Such a stance has destruc- people and, in managing tive implications within the people’s affairs, neiAmerica for Obama’s vi- ther side should have unsionary health-care pro- hindered power to act as gramme, which the Re- they please. What comes publicans would like to out in the wash of negotidiscard, and for a more ations between them may balanced immigration not be perfect, but at least framework. But, it will it reflects consensus. But, there has been a also contribute to an unsettled world from which conspicuous difference in only war-mongers will the way that the Republican Party representatives benefit. It is in the nature of have treated with Barack the American system of Obama as President.  government that neither Their hostility has often cont’d from pg 10 been palpable and outrageous, even to the point of the Representative of South Carolina, Joe Wilson, shouting the word “liar” at Obama as he delivered a Health Care Address to a joint session of Congress in 2009. There is little doubt that the last two years of Obama’s Presidency will be beset with obstacles on both the domestic and foreign policy fronts. There is almost a primitive urge within the Republican Party not only to ensure that he enjoys no successes during the rest of his caribtimes.com 11 term, but also to overturn the things he has accomplished so far. The present Congress has already shown that it has no intention of co-operating with him. Therefore, he has only a slim chance of implementing his instinctive policies for a better America and a more just world However, as President, he can at least stop the renewed efforts of the �neo cons’ to advance practices that would alienate America and push the world into increased tension and instability.  And, that he must do. 12 c a r i b t i m e s . c o m Friday 14th November 2014 Antigua and Barbuda and Constantinian Order of St. George Forge Closer Relations Prime Minister the Hon. Gaston A. Browne and His Royal Highness Prince Charles of Bourbon Two Sicilies, Duke of Castro were among high officials who received honours and awards as the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George and Antigua and Barbuda forged closer relations.  To mark the first official visit and in line with standard and regular international customs and traditions, an Exchange of Honours ceremony took place at Government House in St. John’s between the Grand Magistry of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George and Government Officials of Antigua & Barbuda during which high institutional awards were granted in reciprocity to each other’s delegation.  Such awards were granted by virtue of the holder’s office and not specifically for individual merit. Awards of Knighthoods were bestowed in recognition of the Order’s longstanding contribution to charitable, humanitarian and inter-religious endeavour in Antigua and Barbuda, the Commonwealth and wider world. Governor General Sir Rodney Williams with the Honorees from the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George and the Government of Antigua and Barbuda with Church Officials  Pursuant to the National Honours Act of Antigua and Barbuda,  His Excellency Sir Rodney Williams, Governor General and Grand Master and on the advice of Her Majesty’s Antigua and Barbuda Ministers, gave orders for the following appointments to the Most Governor General Sir Rodney Williams with Secretary GenDistinguished Order of the eral of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George Sir Anthony Bailey and Lady Bailey and Lady Sandra WilNation: Knight Grand Cross (KGCN) His Royal Highness Prince Charles of Bourbon Two Sicilies, Duke of Castro His Eminence Renato Raffaele Cardinal Martino His Excellency Sir Anthony Bailey, OBE Dame Grand Cross (DGCN) Her Royal Highness Prin- liams cess Camilla of Bourbon Sacred Military ConstanTwo Sicilies, Duchess of tinian Order of St. George Castro, conferred the following appointments on officials Knight Commander in Antigua and Barbuda: (KCN) Gold Benemerenti  Sir Cyril Woods Medal of the Sacred MilSir Nadhmi Auchi itary Order of St George Sir William Jeffcock and Knight Grand Cross of Sir Spas Roussev the Royal Order of Francis  I Reciprocating, the His Excellency Sir Grand Magistry of the cont’d on pg 13 Friday 14th November 2014 caribtimes.com 13 cont’d from pg 12 Rodney Williams, Governor-General of Antigua and Barbuda Silver Benemerenti Medal of the Sacred Military Order of St George and Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Order of Francis I The Honourable Gaston A. Browne, Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Corporate Governance of Antigua and Barbuda Knight Grand Cross of Merit of the Sacred Military Order of St George The Honourable Governor General Sir Rodney Williams with High Officials of the Catholic Church in Antigua and Barbuda, the Caribbean and the Vatican Charles Henry Fernandez, Antigua and Barbuda cred Military Order of St Minister of Foreign Affairs Knight Commander of George and International Trade of Merit with Star of the Sa- cont’d on pg 14 14 c a r i b t i m e s . c o m cont’d from pg 13 His Excellency Sir David Shoul, Ambassador of Antigua and Barbuda to the Holy See Knight Commander of the Royal Order of Francis I His Excellency Ambassador Colin Murdoch, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade The investiture ceremony took place at Government House, St John’s, in the presence of the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister together with senior state, diplomatic and ecclesiastical representatives. Since 2012 and as part of official visits by or to the Grand Master or Cardinal Grand Prior of the Sacred Friday 14th November 2014 Military Constantinian Order of St. George, Exchanges of Honours have taken place between the Order and nations newly approved for charitable support such as Italy, Portugal, Ireland, Sovereign Military Order of Malta, Kosovo, Albania, Lesotho, Tonga, Colombia, Dominica, Montenegro, Gibraltar and Panama. Charitable work to be carried out in Antigua and Barbuda include completion of the Good Samaritan Catholic Church and Community Centre in Hatton, the renovation of the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, construction of classroom and office complexes at the St. Joseph’s Academy, Christ the King High School and St. John’s Catholic Primary and construction assistance towards the ANTIGUABARBUDA BANKERS’ASSOCIATION IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT ECACH The introduction of the Eastern Caribbean Automated Clearing House (ECACH) will affect the way cheques are handled. Here’s what you need to know: • • • • • Physicalchequeswillnolongerbeforwardedinmonthly statements. Sign up for Internet Banking with your local Banktoday. Only the use of Canadian Payment Association (CPA) Standard 006 compliant cheques will be accepted by all Commercial Banks in Antigua and Barbuda as well as acrosstheECCU. Onlyblackorblueinkpensshouldbeusedforchequeand draftwriting/signing. No writing or marks should be placed on the MICR line (theseriesofnumbersatthebottomofcheques). Ensurethatsufficientfundsareplacedinaccountstocover cheques,aschequeswillbeclearedquickly,insomecases theverysameday. For more information about ECACH, please contact your local bank. Governor General Sir Rodney Williams with Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda the Hon. Gaston Browne and His Royal Highness Prince Charles of Bourbon Two Sicilies, Duke of Castro completion of renovation work at Government House and the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine. Friends of MSJMC says thank you Friends of MSJMC would like to thank everyone who came out and supported our event “An Evening Under the Stars”.  The event was a great success. We are truly appreciative of all the support we get whenever we have functions. We are especially pleased with the positive response to this event and the wonderful turn out of persons who came to party with us under the stars. Due to your support we were able to meet our projected revenue and will be purchasing the additional Patient Safety Equipment for MSJMC.  This event “An Evening Under the Stars” will likely become an annual function so look out for us again this time next year!!  On behalf of the Executive Committee and members of Friends of MSJMC, we would like to thank the following for their donations, contributions and personal time. The Sandals Grande Resort and Spa, Goddard Catering, Subway, The Athletic Club, Carlisle Bay Resort, Nonsuch Bay Resort, ABS TV, The Daily Observer, Caribbean Times, MSJMC, Antigua Home and Office Depot, Townhouse Furnishings, Shoul’s Toys and Gifts, Tian Winter, Chiki Hifi, Selecta J & Stonewall Sound Systems. Friday 14th November 2014 caribtimes.com 15 16 c a r i b t i m e s . c o m Friday 14th November 2014 Importance of visiting your dentist regularly Whether you are 80 or 8, your oral health is important. Did you know that a lot of people fail to see a dentist each year? Regular dental examinations and good oral hygiene can prevent most dental disease? Here are some frequently asked questions about going to the dentist. Question: Why do regular dental visits matter? Answer: Regular dental visits are important because they can help spot oral health problems early and treatment is likely to be simpler and more affordable. They also help prevent many oral problems from developing in the first place. Visiting your dentist regularly is also important because some diseases or medical conditions have symptoms that can appear in the mouth. Here are 15 signs you should see a dentist: Your teeth are sensitive to hot or cold Your gums are puffy and/or they bleed when you brush or floss You have fillings, crowns, dental implants, dentures, etc. You don’t like the way your smile or teeth look You have persistent bad breath or bad taste in your mouth You are pregnant You have pain or swelling in your mouth, face or neck You have difficulty chewing or swallowing You have a family history of gum disease or tooth decay You have a medical condition such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, eating disorders, or are HIV positive Your mouth is often dry You smoke or use other tobacco products You are undergoing medical treatment such as radiation, chemotherapy or hormone replacement therapy Your jaw sometimes pops or is painful when opening and closing, chewing or when you first wake up; you have an uneven bite You have a spot or sore that doesn’t look or feel right in your mouth and it isn’t going away. Q: What if I don’t have any of these symptoms—do I still need to go to the dentist? A: Yes. Even if you don’t have any symptoms, you can still have oral health problems that only a dentist can diagnose. Regular dental visits will also help prevent problems from developing. Continuity of care is an important part of any health plan and dental health is no exception. Keeping your mouth healthy is an essential piece of your overall health. It’s also important to keep your dentist informed of any changes in your overall health since many medical conditions can affect your oral health too. Q: How often do I have to go to the dentist? A: There is no one-sizefits-all dental treatment. Some people need to visit the dentist once or twice a year; others may need more visits. You are a unique incont’d on pg 17 Friday 14th November 2014 cont’d from pg 16 dividual, with a unique smile and unique needs when it comes to keeping your smile healthy. Q: What should I look for when choosing a dentist? A: You may want to call or visit more than one dentist before making your decision. Dental care is a very personalized service that requires a good relationship between the dentist and the patient. During your first visit, you should be able to determine if this is the right dentist for you. Consider the following: Is the appointment schedule convenient for you and your dentist? Does the office appear to be clean, neat and orderly? Was your medical and dental history recorded and placed in a permanent file? Does the dentist explain techniques that will help you prevent dental health problems? Is dental health instruction provided? Are special arrangements made for handling emergencies outside of office hours? Is information provided about fees and payment plans if any before treatment is scheduled? Here are some tips to help you take care of your smile: Healthy habits. Brushing twice a day for two minutes and flossing daily are essential for everyone, no matter how unique your mouth is. It’s the best way to fight tooth decay and gum disease. Build a relationship. Continuity of care is an important part of any health plan and dental health is no exception. When your dentist sees you regularly, he or she is in a good position to catch oral problems early. For instance, catching gum disease when it’s still caribtimes.com 17 reversible, or cavities when they are small and are more easily treated. Maintain. Keeping your mouth healthy is an essential piece of your overall health. It’s important to keep your dentist informed of any changes in your overall health as well. Talk about it! Only your dentist can determine what the best treatment plan is for you. Have questions about your oral health or certain dental procedures? Start a conversation. Ask your dentist to explain step-by-step. Dentists love having satisfied, healthy patients. 18 c a r i b t i m e s . c o m Friday 14th November 2014 THERE IS ONLY ONE SALE THERE IS ONLY ONE REAL SALE THIS IS ONLY ONE UNBELIEVABLE REDUCTIONTS SHOULS TOYS GIFTS AND HOUSEWARES STORE WIDE SALE ANNIVERSARY SALE EXTENDED UNTIL MONDAY 17TH NOVEMBER ALL DAY SHOPPING This Friday, Saturday and MONDAY From 9:00 am to 9:00 pm Shouls Toys Gifts and Housewares LOCATED ONLY AT: Newgate Street | Tel: (268) 462-4357 caribtimes.com Friday 14th November 2014 19 Bermuda Premier �shocked’ following shooting of four on Rememberance Day HAMILTON, Bermuda, CMC - Premier Michael Dunkley has expressed “shock and concern” after four men were shot outside Somerset Cricket Club on Tuesday, the Remembrance Day holiday, when Bermudians honoured its veterans and dead from two world wars. Bermuda has long been plagued by gang violence. The four men sustained gunshot wounds after a lone man opened fire at a group of men outside the club at the island’s west end. “While most Bermudians were observing this Remembrance Day, the holiday was denigrated by the reckless and callous actions of a few,” said Dunkley, who is also National Security Minister. “These latest shootings remind us that this issue of gang violence continues to demand our undivided attention as leaders, citizens and as a community who want the best for our young people. “As the police devote all necessary resources to the investigation of these crimes, I renew the call for anyone with information to make contact with the police directly or via the anonymous CrimeStoppers hotline. If you know something, say something.” Police are investigating a possible link between the shooting outside the cricket club and an earlier incident outside the National Sports Centre on the outskirts of Hamilton. No one was injured in that incident. Sandys North Central parliamentarian Dennis Lister described the evening’s events as “tragic”. “I was up at the Na- Bermuda Premier Michael Dunkley. tional Sports Centre when the first incident occurred, but no one expected this kind of follow-up. “I would call on everyone to remain calm at this moment. This could be the start of an escalation, but we do not want to see that.” Alfred Maybury, president of Somerset Cricket Club, said upcoming events at the club as well as its Friday night football fixture had been postponed in the wake of the shootings. Jamaican student killed, two others injured, during armed robbery rampage KINGSTON, Jamaica – A stuThe student has been identified dent was killed and two others in- as Shamar Blackwood, 16, of the jured following an attack by armed Maggotty High School in the parish. men in the southern parish of St. According to the Jamaica ObElizabeth late Tuesday. server, “The boy was shot in the head during a rampage, by gunmen in the mountainous Pisgah/Huntley Castle area of north-west St Elizabeth.” Jamaica police report that shortcont’d on pg 20 20 c a r i b t i m e s . c o m Friday 14th November 2014 cont’d from pg 19 ly before 10pm, six armed men entered a house in the community of Pisgah in the parish. Shortly after the armed assailants entered a restaurant, robbing patrons of cash, jewellery and cellular phones, reportedly firing several shots before leaving, however no one was injured in that incident. The gunmen then went to the nearby community of Huntley Castle where they entered a shop and ordered patrons to lie face down on the floor. According to police, the men took liquor, cash and cellular phones and left. Shortly after, one of the gunmen returned and opened fire on the group injuring Shamar and two others. The three were rushed to hospital where the teenager was pronounced dead. Police report that one person remains in hospital in serious condition while the other person was treated and released. caribtimes.com Friday 14th November 2014 21 Utah trucker accused of keeping more sex slaves SALT LAKE CITY (AP) – A Utah truck driver accused of keeping two women as sex slaves in his semitrailer as he traveled the country had four more victims, federal prosecutors said in court documents. Some of the new accusations against defendant Timothy Jay Vafeades date back 20 years. In two of the new incidents detailed in the documents filed Monday, prosecutors say Vafeades, now 54, lured the women to his truck, then forcibly altered their appearances and ground down their teeth while holding them prisoner for months. Vafeades met one of the women when he was a hospice patient and married her. He began assaulting her after she agreed to go to Utah with him and continued until she escaped about six months later, the documents state. Vafeades is accused of meeting another woman while she worked at a retail store and inviting her to join him in his truck for more than a week in 2005, then keeping her on board for about three months before she got away. In the other two new cases, Vafeades assaulted women he met at a college and online, authorities said. No charges have been filed involving the newly disclosed incidents because the statute of limitations has expired, but prosecutors want to introduce the details as evidence in the case filed in March, said Melodie Rydalch, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Utah. In that case, prosecutors said the trucker kidnapped and repeatedly sexually assaulted two women who were 18 and 19. Vafeades has pleaded not guilty to multiple counts of kidnapping, transporting for illegal sexual activity and possession of child pornography. His attorney Vanessa Ramos declined to comment Thursday. Prosecutors say the circumstances were similar Timothy Jay Vafeades. to the recently disclosed incidents and show preparation, planning and intent. Ramos has filed a motion to suppress evidence gathered by police during a search of Vafeades’s truck after he was arrested in Minnesota. He was taken into custody after police noticed the 19-year-old woman with bruises on her face at a weigh station. Ramos argued in court documents that the stop and the search were illegal. A hearing scheduled for Dec. 17 on her motion. Sources: IS, al-Qaida reach accord in Syria ISTANBUL (AP) -- Militant leaders from the Islamic State group and al-Qaida gathered at a farm house in northern Syria last week and agreed on a plan to stop fighting each other and work together against their opponents, a high-level Syrian opposition official and a rebel commander have told The Associated Press. Such an accord could present new difficulties for Washington’s strategy against the IS group. While warplanes from a U.S.-led coalition strike militants from the air, the Obama administration has counted on arming “moderate” rebel factions to push them back on the ground. Those rebels, already considered relatively weak and disorganized, would face far stronger opposition if the two heavy-hitting militant groups now are working together. IS - the group that has seized nearly a third of Syria and Iraq with a campaign of brutality and beheadings this year - and al-Qaida’s affiliate in Syria, known as the Nusra Front, have fought each other bitterly for more than a year to dominate the rebellion against Syrian President Bashar Assad. The Associated Press reported late last month on signs that the two groups appear to have curtailed their feud with informal local truces. Their new agreement, according to the sources in rebel groups opposed to both IS and Nusra Front, would involve a promise to stop fighting and team up in attacks in some areas of northern Syria. Cooperation, however, would fall cont’d on pg 22 22 c a r i b t i m e s . c o m Friday 14th November 2014 cont’d from pg 21 short of unifying the rival groups, and experts believe any pact between the two sides could easily unravel. U.S. intelligence officials have been watching the groups closely and say a full merger is not expected soon - if ever. A U.S. official with access to intelligence about Syria said the American intelligence community has not seen any indications of a shift in the two groups’ strategy, but added that he could not rule out tactical deals on the ground. The official insisted on anonymity because he said he was not authorized to speak publicly about the subject. According to a Syrian opposition official speaking in Turkey, the meeting took place Nov. 2 in the town of Atareb, west of Aleppo, starting at around midnight and lasting until 4 a.m. The official said the meeting was closely followed by members of his movement, and he is certain that an agreement was reached. The official said about seven top militant leaders attended. Friday 14th November 2014 caribtimes.com 23 Former CEO of West Virginia mine that blew up, killing 29, indicted CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) – The former CEO who oversaw the West Virginia mine that exploded, killing 29 people, was indicted Thursday on federal charges related to a safety investigation that followed the worst U.S. coal mining disaster in 40 years. Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship is accused of conspiring to violate safety and health standards at Upper Big Branch Mine and became the highest-ranking executive to face charges in the blast. The explosion and investigation led to the overhaul of the way the federal government oversees mine safety. U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin said a federal grand jury indicted Blankenship on several charges. The indictment said: “Blankenship knew that UBB was committing hundreds of safety-law violations every year and that he had the ability to prevent most of the violations that UBB was committing. Yet he fostered and participated in an understanding that perpetuated UBB’s practice of routine safety vio- lations, in order to produce more coal, avoid the costs of following safety laws, and make more money.” Blankenship could face up to 31 years in prison if convicted. His attorney, William W. Taylor III, said in a statement that Blankenship “is entirely innocent of these charges. He will fight them and he will be acquitted.” News about the indictment spread fast in the mining community. Pam Napper, whose son, Josh Napper, was among the miners killed at Upper Big Branch, said she was elated. “I think it’s about time,” Napper said. “He was a big part of this. He knew what was going on in that mine and continued to let it go. I hope he gets what he deserves. I am so excited. They aren’t sad tears today. They’re happy tears.” In February 2013, a former longtime subordinate, David Hughart, testified that Blankenship ordered the widespread corporate practice of warning coal miners about surprise federal inspections. Massey Energy Company Chief Executive Officer Don Blankenship. The federal Mine Safety and Health Administration said the root cause of the blast was Massey’s “systematic, intentional and aggressive efforts” to conceal life-threatening problems. MSHA said managers even maintained two sets of pre-shift inspection books - an accurate one for themselves, and a sanitized one for regulators. The indictment says Blankenship conspired to violate standards at the mine from January 2008 until April 2010, when the explosion tore through the tunnels. The explosion prompted federal officials to begin to take a harder look at problem Appalachian mines with lingering compliance issues. The result was monthly “impact” inspections at problem mines in addition to routine visits. The U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration said last month that it has conducted 823 “impact” inspections sites and issued more than 13,000 citations since April 2010. Blankenship made false statements to the Securities and Exchange Commission concerning Massey Energy’s safety practices before the explosion, the indictment said. He made similar statements in connection with the purchase and sale of Massey Energy stock, it said. Alpha Natural Resources bought Massey for $7.1 billion in June 2012. Blankenship retired ahead of the merger. 24 c a r i b t i m e s . c o m Friday 14th November 2014 In Conjunction with Will be hosting a constituency CLEAN UP DATES: 5:30am - Starting Point @ George Chiai (Coolidge) November 8th & 9th — Coolidge, Hodges Bay, Royal Gardens , Cedar Grove , Crosbies 5:30am - Starting @ North Shore Supermarket November 15th & 16th — Longfords, Flag staff, Mount Pleasant, Blue Waters, Marble Hill, Mc Kinnons 5:30am - Starting @ 1st Choice Supermarket November 22nd & 23rd — Anchorage Road (West), Yorks, Dry Hill, Fort Road West, Old Runaway Lets ALL Help to Keep OUR community CLEAN caribtimes.com Friday 14th November 2014 Thursday’s Sudoku Solution 25 SUDOKU C R O S S WO R D Across 1. Fortune-teller’s deck 6. Rabbit tail 10. Kind of shaft 14. Happy place to walk? 15. House for El Cid 16. First place? 17. Pirate ship indicator 19. Use tea leaves, in a way 20. Binary system element 21. ___ space 22. Chatter 23. Like the wash, before the rinse cycle 24. Robert or Elizabeth 25. Set afire 28. Room for El Cid 29. Urban blight 30. Thousands of years 35. Sugar unit 36. Word with Erie or root 37. Mafia bigwigs 38. On fire 40. Soph preceder 41. It may be final 42. Good partner? 43. Tennis champion Neale, 1960 46. Nonreturnable wedding present? 48. Clark’s associate 49. Crease 50. Equal a bet 53. He has an apple named after him 54. Bakery offering 56. Sandwich with sliced roast lamb 57. Charged particles 58. Make euphoric 59. “Mine eyes have ___ ...” 60. Memorable date 61. Had a spread Down 1. General during World War II 2. Popular author’s ID 3. Respiratory sound 4. Cruet filler 5. Auditions 6. “Rob Roy” portrayals 7. Shrewd 8. Tech support caller 9. Gob 10. Buffoon 11. Best of all worlds 12. “Rad!” 13. Rear-___ (certain accident) 18. Hardly genteel 22. Wan 23. Nursery rhyme character 24. Fanciful 25. Anagram of lies 26. Moody 27. Without feeling 28. Refinery dross 30. Disfigure 31. Travelers’ stopover 32. Twelve 33. “Meet Me ___ Louis” 34. Begrimed with soot 36. Bygone despot 39. Fellers 40. Type of truck 42. Word with master or floor 43. Droops 44. Color once more 45. On top of it 46. Massey of old films 47. Informative 49. Stir to action 50. Ending for many places in Asia 51. Novel conclusion 52. “One-___ Jacks” (1961) 54. Beseech 55. First name in gins 26 c a r i b t i m e s . c o m Friday 14th November 2014 The Antigua and Barbuda Association for Senior Citizens will be holding a Tea Party on 13th November 2014 from 2:30- 5:30 PM at the Senior Citizens Center on Emm’s Drive Fort Road. All are invited as we welcome your support to this Fundraising activity. The Antigua and Barbuda National Secondary Schools' Drama Festival will take place from Saturday 15th to Saturday, 22nd November, 2014. The public is invited to attend the nightly performances of the various schools from Tuesday 18th to Friday, 21st November at the Dean William Lake Cultural Centre at 7pm. Admission is $10 (children/students) and $15 (adults) each night; season tickets are available for $30 and $50. Tickets are on sale at the Nevis St and Redcliffe St branches of the Culture Department, as well as the Dean Lake box office from 4:30 pm each day. The participating schools are: Jennings Secondary and Clare Hall Secondary (Tuesday, 18th November); Ottos Comprehensive and Princess Margaret Secondary (Wednesday, 19th November); St. Anthony’s Secondary and Antigua Girls’ High (Thursday, 20th November); and Sir McChesney George Secondary (Friday 21st November). For further information call 7796634 or email [email protected]. "The National Youth Choir of Antigua and Barbuda is recruiting a guitarist, and new members for the upcoming season 2014/2015. All interested persons are asked to contact Ms. Lola Kirby-Peterson, at 562-3586 between 10am - 2pm Monday to Friday to set an audition." The Antigua and Barbuda Tade Union Congress will convene its 12th Annual Delegates Conference. The opening ceremony will be at the Multipurpose Centre, Perry Bay on Thursday, November 20th at 9 a.m. The theme of this year’s conference is Workers’ rights are Human rights. The featured speaker will be Dr. Collin Greene. The business session follows the opening and continues on Friday November 21st at 9 a.m. Registration has commenced for the Sir Lester Bird, Home and Business and Community Lighting Competition. The event returns after a 10 year hiatus and will form an integral part of the 2014 Christmas Season in Antigua and Barbuda. This year a Community category had been added to the usual Home and Business categories. The competition is divided into (5) five zones for the Home categories: east, west, north, south and Barbuda, while the Business and Community would be judged as overall categories. Registration forms can be had at the National Festivals Commission Office, ABS Television, Baileys Supermarket, Epicurean Fine Foods, Asot’s Arcde, Cecil George-John, All Saints and Parham Police Stations, Johnsons Point Clinic and Barbuda Council Office. Closing date for registration is 5th December, prejudging will commence on 12th December and final judging will begin on the 18th December. Service I Love ABI Insurance for my AUTO. HOME. LIFE. PLUS MORE. World Class Service- Free Quotes: Best Affordable Rates in Antigua and Barbuda. Call now 484 6400 or visit us at 156 Redcliffe St. in the ABI Financial Building. Barbuda Express is sailing everyday except Mondays & Wednesdays. Tours available 4 days a week, For more info and reservation, please call 764-2291. You may also visit our website http://www.barbudaexpress.com. Sale THE FURNITURE GALLERY: Carrying GE Appliances. Special Introductory Prices: 18 CU FT Energy Star Fridge Stainless $3495/White $2995, GE Dishwasher $1895, GE 20 CU FT Stainless Fridge $5500, GE Microwave Stainless $850/White $795, GE Gas Dryer $2300. GE 4 Burner Gas Range Stainless $2995. One 7000 Sq. Ft. 3 Family Block and Concrete property including, living room sets dining room sets stoves washing machines and other household furnishings. Please call 1-268-724-6135 for inquiries. Well kept supermarket equipment including shelves, cash registers, coolers, office desks, cash counters. Please call 1-268-724-6135 for inquiries. Employment Labourer needed with Driver License. Must be hard working and honest. Send resume to PO Box 1863, St. John’s, Antigua. Sales Person wanted. Friendly personality, driven to succeed and meet sales targets. Send resume to PO Box 1863, St. John’s, Antigua. All Executive members of the Antigua and Barbuda Ex - Servicemen Association, are notified that the monthly executive meeting, will be held on Tuesday 18 November at 5 pm at the Association`s Headquarters on Prime Minister`s Drive. Please be on time or be courteous, by notifying the Secretary on 561-1062, of any apologies. Eastern Caribbean Council of nations 36th Episcopal Diocese of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the world INC 2014 Fall Conference. International Speakers Bishop Leo C.Smith Diocesan Bishop Noel Jones City of Refuge , Los Angeles. Day Session Grand Royal Antigua 10 - 13 December 2014. For more information call: 463-5050 or 462-5926. Friday 14th November 2014 caribtimes.com 27 DEAR LADY X HOROSCOPE Last February we lost my 14-year-old niece to suicide. Needless to say, it has been very hard on the family, especially her father, who is my brother. The two of them were inseparable. Her mother has been playing the “perfect mother” card since then, even though all they did was fight. Her latest move has the entire family appalled. “Mom” is planning a birthday party for my niece, with a DJ and everything, even though she never had one for her while she was alive. We are all worried about my brother’s state of emotional well being and how he will respond once he finds out. How do I approach her with my concerns and put a stop to the party? -- APPALLED AUNT IN THE EAST DEAR APPALLED: You shouldn’t and you can’t. Have a talk with your brother about this and suggest grief counseling for himself and his wife if they haven’t already had any. The poor woman may be planning to have the party out of guilt because she didn’t host one while her daughter was alive, or because her relationship with the girl wasn’t a good one. She may also be unable to accept that her child is gone and not thinking rationally. What a sad situation. Thursday’s Crossword Solution ARIES (March 21-April 19). You have good connections, but you could always use more. Get out and mingle. You’ll find that your skills and talents compliment those of an interesting someone. TAURUS (April 20-May 20). There’s a number of things you’d like to learn. You suspect that if you followed these interests, your life would head in interesting directions, and you’re absolutely right. What are you waiting for? GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Your dreams are sensible and within reach, so all you have to do is decide what you want most at the moment (pare it down to one thing) and then work for it. Voila! CANCER (June 22-July 22). Be cautious about with whom you align today. Don’t make plans with anyone you don’t feel 100 percent good about because the bond will start building immediately and you’ll later feel stuck. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Guard against impatience, your own and other people’s. Everything is happening in the time it’s supposed to. Take care not to let anyone dominate or rush you. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You may feel you’re being wrongly associated with the feelings of another. People who don’t feel fulfilled sometimes blame those close to them for the problem, but, of course, we are each responsible for our own fulfillment. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). In your imagination it’s a castle on a distant hill — the promise of things to come. In real life, you’d like something much smaller, no dungeons please, though you’d still like the future to be rather romantic and large scale. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). It’s difficult to get together with someone who is just as busy as you, but it’s important to try because this is the one you need to connect with most now. The resources you share will help more than just the two of you. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Regarding your pet project: It feels as though you are never completely finished and indeed you may never be, so resolve yourself to continual adjustments and upkeep. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). You’ll get a rush of productive energy, but it has an expiration date. Tackle the thing you can finish completely because you won’t feel like picking the same thing up again tomorrow. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Who has the energy for critical people? Avoid those who seem to have an awful lot of opinions about what others should and shouldn’t be doing. Tonight features lovely, heartwarming eye contact. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Before you accommodate anyone’s wishes, be sure you’ve tended to your own. Otherwise, you risk feeling sorry for yourself at the end of the day. Selfpity doesn’t become you. 28 c a r i b t i m e s . c o m Friday 14th November 2014 caribtimes.com Friday 14th November 2014 29 Independence meet delayed indefinitely, Turf Club Targets 9 Dec., for next meet By Vanroy Burnes The Antigua Turf Club has announced that its Independence Horse race meet that was scheduled for November 16th has been delayed indefinitely. President of the Turf Club Neil Cochrane through a release said the continuous heavy showers over the past weeks has hampered the prepara- tions of the venue, the rain has left the track very wet that hampers the exercises of the horses and added to that we still repairing some damages cause by the storm Gonzalo. The Turf Club boss also noted the meet had to be postponed on two previous occasions on November 2nd to facilitate the Drag racing and again on November 9th due continuous rain and since then more rain has fallen so we are force to postponed for a third time. Cochrane said weather permitted we are looking at December 9th V.C. Bird Day for our next meet. The Independence meet was to feature the return of the Mares and Fillies Classic and also the rematch of the 2012 & 2013 Cham- pion Horse of the Garden Nothing Personal and the new sensation Demolition Man. According to the Turf Club boss, the fans may not be happy, but there is nothing that the turf club can do as it relates to the forces of nature and the work of the most high. So we will just have to hope that the weather holds enough. All-round Perry stars in comfortable win BANGALORE, India - Ellyse Perry starred with bat and ball as Australia Women registered a comfortable win against West Indies women to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the four-match ODI series. Perry scored her fourth ODI fifty, then picked up three wickets to halt West Indies innings well short of Australia’s total. The win meant Australia remained unbeaten in the ICC Women’s ODI Championship. Australia won the toss and the top order ensured a strong opening, Nicole Bolton, who top-scored with 76, and Elyse Villani adding 65 for the first wicket and Bolton and Perry following it up with a 69-run stand for the third wicket. Perry then added another 55 for the fourth wicket Alex Blackwell to take Australia well past 200. Quick wickets towards the end of the innings restricted Australia to 256. West Indies remained in the hunt Ellyse Perry hit her fourth ODI fifty. with a 115-run opening stand but suffered a middle-order collapse. Hayley Mathews, the opener, scored 89 but couldn’t find support from the oth- er end. As the wickets fell, the West Indies scoring slowed down and the team could only manage 203. (ESPNcricinfo) 30 c a r i b t i m e s . c o m cont’d from pg 32 “We came second to them in this competition earlier this year by two points, so I think the combination of players that we should be able to put on the park should give us a good chance of beating them and going on to capture the title next March,” said the wiry all-rounder. The Windwards claimed only their fourth victory on Jamaican soil, when they thumped their hosts by three wickets earlier this year at Sabina Park, but the Jamaicans gained a measure of revenge, when they topped the Volcanoes in the drawn Final Challenge in St. Lucia to claim the Headley/Weekes Trophy. Long-standing Jamaica Franchise captain Tamar Lambert said last season was disappointing for his side following six years of unprecedented success and they will be looking to recapture the Trophy as overall champions when the season concludes next March. “We started last season well, but we fell off in the middle part, so we are looking forward to this new competition beginning on Friday to put things right,” he said. Volcanoes captain Liam Sebastien said he wants to see his side play fearlessly and continue to trend upwards, as they have Friday 14th November 2014 been able to throw overboard the Cinderella tag that they wore for a long time in the regional game as a number of players – including himself – have established themselves and brought more consistency to their play. “This is a new season and a new format, and the Jamaicans will not come out there and lie down because we beat them last season,” he said. “We have to try and come good from ball one and try our best and fight for the Windward Islands Voclanoes to start this new season on a bright note. “Our chances this season are as good as any other, but it’s a long, demanding season and we have not played 10 matches in a season for a long time, so we have to start off well and if we play the way we have been played in recent season, we have a good chance.” Leewards Franchise and the Jaguars were once powerhouses in the regional game, but they have not had consistent success in recent years and occupied the last two places respectively in the table last season. Jaguars captain Leon Johnson, the West Indies left-handed batsman, said his side was blessed to play their first four matches at home and this has given them confidence that they could fight for one of the top two places instead and they would look to begin that journey with a victory over the Leewards against whom they have lost only twice in the last 20 matches. “I think this gives us a definite advantage over the other teams, but we have to take it one match at a time,” he said. “It will be a long season and we have done a lot of work on our fitness, so I think the players are well prepared for the hard slog ahead. We have done a lot of soul-searching and we have a number of experienced players in our team and we expect them to play key roles, particularly in the first few matches, and we will be looking to put all the negatives from the last season behind us.” Leewards captain Devon Thomas said his side would draw confidence from that victory earlier this year. “It will be a bit challenging, but I think we can come away with a good performance,” he said. “We are all looking forward to this longer season, since it will give us a chance to recover if we stumble. Hopefully, the guys will make the most of every opportunity that comes to them.” TAX NOTICE The Inland Revenue Department extends its ABST Fresh Start Initiative that was launched in July 2014. Taxpayers that have arrears for Antigua and Barbuda Sales Tax (ABST), can have all of their penalties and interest waived once they make arrangement with the department by close of business on December 31st 2014 to liquidate the outstanding tax amount due to the department. Taxpayers will have the option of either making one payment to pay off their debt in full, or entering into a payment plan with the department to liquidate their debt over time. The Commissioner invites all ABST taxpayers who are in an arrears position to take advantage of this Initiative. For further information contact the Collections Unit by calling 468-9488 or 468-9473. ……..Commissioner of Inland Revenue caribtimes.com Friday 14th November 2014 31 The race for a place in Business League Football Semi-finals is scorching with teams neck and neck By Vanroy Burnes The Ministry of Sports, Cool & Smooth Business League football competition is very hot as the teams are neck & neck going into the penultimate round of preliminary matches this weekend. The two top teams in the two zones will qualify for the semi-finals and in both zones only one or two points separated each of the top teams. However in zone 1, WIOC stands out with 18 points from 7 matches, but Kennedy’s Blue Diamonds and Metro Stars are neck & neck on 13 points each both from 7 matches. Immigrations and defending champions A.S. Bryden’s are tied on 11 points each also from 7 matches, APUA Electricity follows with 10 points from 6 matches, Sandals trailed with 8 points from 7 matches, while APUA Water has 7 points and St. James’s Club 6 points from 7 and 6 matches respectively, PWD is yet to earn a point after losing all of their 6 matches played so far. In zone 2, APUA Telephone and Green Acres tied on 12 points each both from 6 matches. Antigua & Barbuda Airport Authority and C.S.R. Launchers are both on 11 points each from 7 and 6 matches respectively. Agriculture is on 10 points from 7 matches followed by Verandah Pirates on 9 points from 6 matches. 14 November 2014 National Parks who has played 5 matches is on 6 points followed by Jumby Bay on 5 points from 7 matches; Sugar Ridge is on 4 points from 7 matches and Big Banana at the bottom with 3 points from 5 matches. The Matches that was postponed from last weekend will be played this Saturday with Big Banana versus Airport Authority at Golden Grove at 4.00pm followed by PWD versus A.S. Bryden’s at 5.00pm. St. James’s Club will take on Immigrations at Radio Range at 5.00pm followed by WIOC versus Kennedy’s Blue Diamonds at 6.00pm. APUA Water will come up against San- Until 15 November 2014 dals at Sea View Farm at 4.00pm followed by C.S.R Launchers at 5.00pm. APUA Electricity versus Call Center Metro Stars at King George at 5.00pm followed by Green Acres versus Verandah Pirates at 6.00pm and APUA Telephone will travel to English Harbor to tackle National Parks at 6.00pm. The final round of preliminary matches will be played on Saturday November 22nd but the 3 last postponed preliminary matches will be played on Tuesday and Thursday next week. The Semi-finals is set for Saturday November 29th and the third place playoff an finals set for December 6th. 17 November 2014 32 c a r i b t i m e s . c o m Friday 14th November 2014 Rivalries mark start of new PCL season ST. JOHN’S, Antigua – A new season ushering in a new era of franchise play opens on Friday, when the newly-constituted WICB Professional Cricket League Regional 4-Day Tournament begins. The PCL R4Day will feature 10 rounds of matches – an increase of three matches from the previous seven seasons – between franchises drawn from the six territorial boards of the WICB. Teams representing the Barbados Pride, Guyana Jaguars, Trinidad & Tobago Red Force and Windward Islands Volcanoes, as well as yet to be christened franchises from Jamaica and Leeward Islands will embark upon a gruelling, four-month schedule to be crowned the new regional champions and claim the Headley/ Weekes Trophy, which has been restored as the symbol of supremacy. “The beginning of a new season is always an incredibly exciting time, even more so with the move to professional cricket and our first tournament of the year, the PCL R4Day,” said WICB Director of Cricket Richard Pybus. “It is being held over two rounds, 10 matches-a-side, with the specific goal of giving the teams and players the opportunity to produce consistently over the duration of the competition.” There is something extra-special about each match in the first round. The Red Force host reigning double-crown regional champions Bajan Pride in one of the oldest rivalries in Caribbean sports at Queen’s Park Oval in the T&T capital of Port of Spain. Jamaica Franchise face Windward Islands Volcanoes at Sabina Park in the Jamaica capital of Kingston in a repeat of last season’s Final Challenge and what could easily be one of the most competitive affairs of the round, judging on the results from earlier this year. And Guyana Jaguars meet Leeward Islands Franchise at the Guyana National Stadium in Providence, just outside the Guyana capital of Georgetown, in a battle that could give a boost of confidence to last season’s two bottom-placed teams. Pride and Red Force were truly last season’s top two sides – the Barbadians lifted the NAGICO Super50 title and followed up with the Regional 4-Day crown, while T&T finished in the runners-up spot in both competitions. Recent history is on the side of the Pride. They have won the last five matches on the trot between the two sides including contests at the same venue two years ago and last year. “I can see our side doing quite well this season,” said Pride captain and West Indies opener Kraigg Brathwaite. “We have a strong team, especially for this first match against the Red Force, and it is just about the �fellas’ going out there and working hard and gelling together as a team. “With the 10 matches, this season will be interesting. Around the World, this is the way it is done and it will be very helpful and allow us to play more matches and give us more opportunity to improve.” Red Force captain Rayad Emrit said beating the Pride in the first round would be a good way to start the new season. cont’d on pg 30 Caribbean Times is printed and published at Woods Estate /Friars Hill Road By Kimon Drigo who is also the Editor and resides at Sugar Factory. 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