St. Winefried’s Secondary Third Former beaten by fellow students

Members of the Guyana Police Force arrive at St. Winefried’s Secondary School in response to report of the beating of a 15-year-old by school mates.

Young men standing outside a shop opposite the school who witnessed the attack sprinted across a trench in front of the school and managed to rescue the child who, by then, was bleeding from his nose. Others alerted the Kitty Police Station.

Reports are that Kesson Dey, a Third Former who was playing football with other boys in the school yard during the mid-afternoon break took his boots off and left them under the school. Witnesses said that someone apparently played a prank on him and hid the boots.

On discovering that they were missing, Dey began making enquiries, and after getting no positive response, became annoyed and began ‘punching’ two of his colleagues, demanding that they tell him where his shoes were. Others who had witnessed the incident considered it unfair and allegedly attacked him viciously.

Witnesses, on condition of anonymity, told this newspaper that the lads – about six of them, picked up objects, including a 4” piece of PVC pipe and beat Dey ‘like a snake’, driving fear into other children in the compound, some of whom scampered off the scene.

The witnesses surmised that hadn’t the men who saved the boy come quickly enough to his rescue, the angry mob might have thrown him into the trench or caused him more severe injuries.

This newspaper contacted the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, but was unable to trace the injured child, or get any information about him from the authorities.

Meanwhile, staff at the school remained mum, stating that the Head Teacher was not at school yesterday and they could not speak with the media.

But other persons around the compound complained bitterly about the behaviour of some of the older boys at the school, stating that there are frequent fights in the compound, and even gave reports of school boys smoking marijuana under the school building at times.

Foundation being laid for Family Court
EFFORTS to promote family welfare were given a significant boost yesterday with the initiation of the construction of a new building to house a Family Court. This Cabinet approved project will be monitored and supervised collaboratively by the Ministries of Human Services and Social Security, and Transport and Hydraulics.

Construction Site of new Family Court building to be completed by May 2010.

The Minister noted the awareness of instances where family units face internal challenges which result in breakdowns. This recognition is a contributing factor that has placed focus on providing an environment where persons, especially children, seeking redress, have a particular domain; a place where family law issues can be addressed in a specialized way.

Manickchand highlighted the fact that it was earlier in 2009 that Cabinet gave the two-fold approval to establish a family court and erect a structure in which the entity would be housed.

Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Priya Manickchand and Minister of Transport and Hydraulics, Robeson Benn at construction site of the new Family Court yesterday. (GINA photo)

Minister Manickchand has the responsibility of overseeing the welfare of families and children and indicated that she was pleased to see that the needed construction had begun and that it is to be completed in the stipulated timeframe.

It is with this in mind that the Minister confirmed her commitment to ensuring that the court is constructed, operational and properly resourced and staffed.

This building comes at a time when thus far in 2009, four pieces of child friendly legislation have already been passed. Currently pending in the National Assembly are three more pieces of legislation to deal with related matters.

The new facility will be tasked, primarily and in a specialized way, with family related issues such as divorce, division of property, domestic matters, adoption, applications on the status of children, guardianship, custody and related matters. The Minister, however, made it clear that domestic violence cases will remain in the realm and within the jurisdiction of the magistrate’s court.

Minister of Transport and Hydraulics, Robeson Benn shared a positive position, indicating that he was pleased to be part of a network that will contribute to the promotion of such an important social programme. He noted that it is even more significant because the construction will involve building on one of the most historic sites in the city of Georgetown.

The new building will have two floors and the same architectural style as the existing Supreme Court and adjoining library. The contract, which was awarded on October 13, was mobilized on November 5 and over the past two weeks there has been demolition of the eastern and northern fence. The foundation of the former will be incorporated into the foundation of the new building. The project is expected to be completed six months from the state of commencement, in May 2010.

Responsible for the completion is PD Contracting, a national firm familiar to such projects, having contributed to the fencing, drains and ultimate completion of the National Stadium at Providence. Design and supervisory consultants for the project will be provided by E&A Consultants.

National Insurance and Social Security Bill 2009 approved
Employers to pay stiffer penalties for late submission of contributions
by Wendella Davidson
The Guyana Government, concerned about the untimely payment by employers of the contributions of employees to the National Insurance Scheme (NIS), among other challenges which affect the smooth operation of the scheme, is resolute in addressing them.

Under an amended National Insurance and Social Security Bill 2009, which was yesterday successfully piloted through its final stages by Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh, and passed unanimously, greater emphasis will now be placed on enforcement.

To this end, those employers who are delinquent in paying over the contributions of their employees on a timely basis to the NIS will now find themselves paying increased penalties.

The penalty, which previously was the payment of a meagre $3,000, has now been increased to the payment of the amount not submitted along with interest.

Noting that the NIS, this year, is expected to payout out in excess of $9 billion in benefits, and rake in more than nine and a half billion from contributions, the Finance Minister explained, resulting from the amended Bill, the General Manager of the compulsory contributory funded social security scheme, which offers financial protection to the worker and his family against loss of income arising from injury on job, incapacity, retirement, and death of the insured, is now required to submit annual contribution statements and annual compliance reports to employees and employers.

Consequently, and in accordance with the law, any contributor to the scheme can request from the NIS a copy of the statement of his or her contributions.

The General Manager “shall submit records of contributions to employees promptly and the records are to be known as annual contribution statements”; and in addition “shall provide to employers annual compliance reports of their payments of contributions on behalf of their employees,” the amended legislation states.

And as a result of another new insertion, it is now a requirement by law for every employer or self-employed person, when applying for a government contract, to submit a compliance certificate issued by the General Manager of the NIS.

Forms for the certificate of compliance are provided in a new schedule, the Minister said.

“Every employer or self-employed person who tenders for a government contract shall in pursuance of section 5 (1) (iv) of the Procurement Act 2003, when submitting his tender , submit a certificate of compliance Form 1 in Schedule A in respect of employers and in Form 2 in the said Schedule in respect of self-employed persons, issued by the General Manager to the effect that he has complied with this Act in relation to the collection and payment of contribution,” the section reads.

The Finance Minister emphasised that the new measure is designed to protect the employees of any entity.

The main opposition parliamentarians were absent from yesterday’s sitting. And when no member from among the benches of the Alliance for Change (AFC) nor the Guyana Action Party/Rise Organise and Rebuild (GAP/ROAR) rose to speak on the Bill, Minister Singh said he interpreted the silence as a sign of support.

Minister of Labour, Manzoor Nadir, in remarks lending his support for the Bill, made specific mention of Clause 2 which provides for the submission of records and compliance statements, noting that this would be of immense benefit to contributors, some of whom have had cause to visit the NIS offices to have issues relating to their contributions looked at.

Digicel launches Merry Mansion Christmas promotion
By Michel Outridge
Digicel on Wednesday night launched its Christmas promotion dubbed “Merry Mansion”, an exciting reality television game show which gives lucky customers a chance to win millions of dollars in cash and other great prizes.

A participant in the launch hunts for cash in the Digicel Merry Mansion.

They money they recovered went to a charity of their choice.

Meanwhile, Digicel Chief Executive Officer, Gregory Dean, said, “Christmas is one of our most exciting promotions of the year and we wanted to add more to the festive season with this exciting show. Merry Mansion will not only be exciting for the winners but for the viewers at home: a top quality television production that will entertain and in the process spread the Christmas spirit.”

Half a million dollars will be placed in the Merry Mansion and customers will have to hunt for the loot which will be hidden in various amounts around the home. This thrilling hunt will be shown on eight television channels across Guyana including: NCN Georgetown, NCN Berbice, NCN Linden, HJTV 72, RCA Essequibo, CCB Berbice, Tarzi Bartica and Mahdia Television Station.

The shows will be aired on Sundays at 19:00 – 19:30 hours and rebroadcast on Wednesdays at the same time.

Digicel marketing Director, Donovan White, explaining how the promotion works, said, “For customers to qualify for the Merry Mansion game show weekly, they have to top up their Digicel phone $500 or more, while post paid customers are required to pay their bills in full. Fifteen lucky winners will be selected from the pool of qualifiers every Thursday on NCN; the 15 will be narrowed down to five on the Merry Mansion show. Whether they get on the show or not, everyone walks away a winner.

The 10 customers that don’t make it on to the show will not walk away empty handed; they will each receive $5,000 free credit. Each of the lucky five contestants will receive the stylish new Nokia E63 handsets plus all the cash they find in the Mansion.”

Customers have from November 19 to January 07 to qualify for Merry Mansion. The first show premieres November 29.

Child Abuse hot line launched
By Michel Gonsalves
A Child Abuse hotline has been launched, courtesy Ministry of Human Services and Social Security.

Minister Priya Manickchand, at the launch of the hotline yesterday at the Ministry on Water and Cornhill Streets Georgetown, said that since the launch of the Child Care and Protection Agency in July, three more related pieces of legislation have been passed. These are the Protection of Children Act, Status of Children, and the Adoption of Children Bill.

The Custody Act and the Child Care Services Legislation Act are pending in the National Assembly and are expected to be passed before the end of the year.

Manickchand said that very soon a foster care programme will be officially launched and children in unfit homes will be placed in a better environment.

She said that presently 40 children are in foster care.

And 65% of the children in institutional care in Guyana, which translates to 400, could and should be fostered.

She thanked the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GT&T) for being responsible corporate citizens and stepping up at a time when needed.

Senior Marketing Officer of GT&T, Ms. Ronda Johnson, said that violence in any shape or form is reprehensible; but when unleashed on women and children, it leads to the moulding of a generation that will solve problems in a destructive way.

She said that GT&T has provided three handsets, launched a website and will subsidise the hotline indefinitely.

GT&T will also be using celebrities and known DJs to promote the site on television.

Representative of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to Guyana,Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago, Dr. Suleiman Braimoh, also condemned abuse of children as ‘totally despicable” and “totally unacceptable”. He pointed out that perpetrators of this heinous act tend to be those close to the victims.

Braimoh said that children in Guyana and abroad must grow and make the most of their potential without the scars of abuse. He urged various individuals to come on board.

And Ms. Ann Greene, Director of Child Protection Agency, in her vote of thanks at the launching, demanded that everyone present take out their cell phones and save the hotlines number for future reference.
The hotline can be accessed 24 hours a day at 227-0979.

Police search for companion of man found in septic tank
By Michel Gonsalves
A man is in police custody while efforts are being made to locate a former companion of Ram Kanaya, 41, of Number 78 Village, Corriverton, Berbice, as investigations into his murder continue, according to a police report.

The body of Ram Kanaya was found in a septic tank at Grant 1806 Crabwood Creek, Corentyne, on Sunday November 15, with marks of violence on his body.

Prior to the discovery Kanaya, was missing for several days from his home and was last seen in the company of a woman.

A post mortem revealed that he died as a result of a punctured lung which was due to a stab wound.

Meanwhile, the partly decomposed body of Ahmad Khan, 52, of 23 Le Ressouvenir, Railway Embankment, East Coast Demerara, was fished out of an abandoned reservoir in his yard on Tuesday.

The discovery was made by several children from the neighbourhood who were playing in the yard.
Police are investigating.

Police promise action against ranks who ignored robbery report
By Michel Outridge
The Guyana Police Force (GPF) has taken cognizance of the article in the November 18, 2009, issue of Kaieteur News concerning the armed robbery committed on businessman Shivnarine Singh of D. Singh Trading at Delph Street, Campbellville, on Tuesday November 17, 2009, in which the lack of police response was criticized.

The GPF said that an investigation into this matter has been launched by the Police Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) and it has already been found that indeed the police ranks concerned took the report from the victim, but neglected their duty to get police patrols to respond.

Swift and condign action will be taken against the ranks responsible, the police said.

The businessman’s home was invaded by three gunmen at about 07hr. Tuesday. They carted off cash and jewels and even attempted to take the man’s son.

After the robbery Singh summoned the police. After they did not show up he visited the Kitty Police Station and made another report, but still the police failed to visit the scene.

GRA boss says…
Labeling and food safety standards outside GRA’s mandate
- but working relationship exists with relevant agencies
COMMISSIONER-General of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) Mr. Khurshid Sattaur said the monitoring of packages and labels of imported goods to ensure that they meet the required standard is outside the scope of the GRA, and is urging consumers who are suspicious of the safe nature of imported goods to report their suspicion to the relevant agencies.

He made the statement in light of an appeal by the National Milling Company for the GRA to monitor the import of flour to ensure that it complies with safety standards.

GRA, in a statement, said it monitors the import of goods for the purpose of protecting revenue and to ensure that prohibited items do not enter the country.

The Head of GRA mentioned that the Total Revenue Integrated Processing System (TRIPS) is designed with Risk Profiling techniques so it covers certain functions of the Customs Officers to facilitate speedy and more transparent entry processing.

Risk Profiling was implemented in the interest of protecting revenue, the GRA said. “TRIPS promotes more imports due to more staff utilising the software and has led to the expeditious processing of entries so that importers spend less time clearing goods.

“Since the GRA established the Risk Management System, there is a high flow of goods through Customs, and those imports that are perceived to have a high risk of compromising the revenue are targeted for further scrutiny or inspection, but this does not include inspecting goods to determine its wholesomeness,” Mr. Sattaur was quoted as saying.

However, he noted that the GRA has a working relationship with the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) where an officer of that entity is stationed at the lodgment window at the Customs and Trade Administration Department.

Declarations with items requiring inspection by the GNBS is usually stamped by the official of that agency. Importers with declarations bearing the GNBS stamp should have their goods inspected by the official.

A similar relationship exists with the Analyst Food and Drug Department where the office is informed if the GRA is suspicious of the safe nature of imported goods.

Over recent years, the GRA has undertaken several reform measures in a bid to improve its efficiencies and its general service to taxpayers and other clients.

Demerara Bank awards faithful customers
Celebrating its fifteenth anniversary this month, fifteen special customers of the Demerara Bank at 230 Camp and South Streets, Georgetown, were rewarded for their dedication yesterday on the Bank’s premises.

Management and staff of Demerara Bank pose with their prize-winning customers.

Recipients of the hampers present were Ms. Karen Vasconcellos, Mr. Roy Persaud, Mr. Bryan Clarke, Mr. Brian Chu-A-Kong, Mr. Compton Clarke, Ms. Alexis Sullivan, Ms. Varnay Massiah, Mr. R. Latchmansingh, Ms. Edith Dewar and Mr.Khalil Ahmed. Also slated to receive prizes but not at the event were Mr. Amir Khan, Mr. Haffeez Mohamed, Mr. L.Goolchand, Dr. Balwant Singh Jnr. and Mr. Lewis Kartick.

The Demerara Bank was officially commissioned by the late President Cheddi Jagan on November 12, 1994.

Police hunt four in magistrate robbery
Police are hunting for four suspects who robbed Magistrate Geeta Chandan-Edmond on Wednesday afternoon.

At about 15.30h Magistrate Geeta Chandan-Edmond, along with her one-year-old son and baby-sitter, was traveling in her vehicle along the public road at Letter T Estate, Abary, on her way to Berbice, when a dark blue AT 212 Carina motor car suddenly passed and stopped in front of her , forcing her to stop.

Four masked men armed with handguns exited the vehicle and held up the Magistrate and the baby-sitter at gunpoint, and took away their personal jewellery, a lap top computer, a camcorder, a cell phone and $15,000 in cash, Police reported.

During the robbery, Magistrate Geeta Chandan-Edmond was dealt several blows with gun butts about her face, after which the armed men escaped in their motor vehicle.
The Magistrate was treated at the Fort Wellington Hospital.

Two held by police in Hampshire Village robbery
Following an armed robbery on a residence in Berbice on Wednesday, two male suspects are in police custody and a motor car suspected to have been used by the armed men is lodged with the police.

Police said four empty cartridges have been recovered at the scene.

At about 19.30 h Wednesday, at Hampshire Village, Corentyne, Berbice, four overseas-based Guyanese nationals were attacked and robbed by five masked men armed with shotguns and handguns.

Police reported that Ramsammy Moonsammy, 53, along with his wife and two daughters were with some friends and relatives when the armed men entered the premises and held them at gunpoint and forced them to lie on the ground.

They then took the wife and one of the daughters into the home where they ransacked the place and took away a quantity of jewellery, US$7,000 and G$600,000 in cash from a wardrobe. The armed men also took away personal jewellery from the four victims along with two digital cameras, and escaped.

During the robbery, Ramsammy Moonsammy and one of his daughters were beaten about the face with the firearms by the men.

A mobile police patrol responded promptly to a report and came under fire from the escaping robbers, resulting in Constable 20387 Sadram Singh being struck in the face by pellets.

He has been admitted to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) and is in a stable condition.

Meanwhile, a GPH release said at 00:03 h, Sharam Singh, 20, of 72 Maria's Lodge, Essequibo, c/o Albion Police Station, arrived at the Accident and Emergency Unit after he was shot in the face by bandits when he responded to a robbery report.
He was treated and admitted to the Male Surgical Ward.

Police investigating armed robbery at No. 47 Village
The police are investigating an armed robbery that occurred at about 18.30 h on Wednesday at No. 47 Village, Corentyne, Berbice, during which Bhoopram Budhram, 51, and three other members of his household were attacked and robbed by three men armed with firearms.

Police said Balram Nandalall, 29, was under their house when he was confronted by the three armed men who struck him across his face with a firearm and placed him to lie on the ground. The other two men then entered the home through an open doorway and held up Bhoopram Budhram, his wife Nandranie, and Dewatie Ramnaran.

The bandits demanded cash and jewellery and Bhoopram Budhram handed over $20,500 and US$40 in cash.

The bandits then took away their personal jewellery and a cell phone and escaped.

No lack of confidence in GECOM’s capacity to honour mandates
THERE is no lack of confidence” within the Private Sector Commission (PSC) relative to the capacity and ability of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM ) to honour its mandates. This was made pellucidly clear by Mr. Gerry Gouveia – Chairman of the PSC, during a meeting between senior representatives of both entities on Wednesday, November 18, 2009 at the GECOM Boardroom.

The meeting was held in order that the PSC could be apprised of the current status of (i) the National Identification Card production and distribution exercise, (ii) preparations for the conduct of Claims and Objections exercise as a prerequisite for the holding of Local Government Elections, and (iii) the preparations for the conduct of these elections.

Dr. Steve Surujbally, Chairman of GECOM gave detailed accounts of the status of the above referred activities, which are outlined in a GECOM Work Plan for the conduct of Local Government Elections. This Plan, which is prepared in Microsoft Project format, allows GECOM to monitor the implementation of the tasks delineated therein via critical path analyses. Dr. Surujbally assured the PSC team, which was headed by Mr. Gouveia, that GECOM is satisfied at the pace of implementation of the listed tasks. It was at this stage that Mr. Gouveia stated that the PSC does not need to be convinced about GECOM’s commitment to the highest standards in fulfilling its functions.

Among other issues of interest to the PSC, Mr. Gouveia was particularly concerned that approximately 30,000 persons were unable to register during the 2008 House-to-House Registration exercise because they were not in possession of the required source documents, especially Birth Certificates.

The Chairman answered that GECOM had, via media releases, published notices, and several meetings with the relevant agencies – inter alia the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs – emphasized the need for Birth Certificates to be applied for, and produced and distributed to the applicants. He noted that the issuance of source documents was legally and administratively out of GECOM’s ambit.

Expressing appreciation for having been afforded the opportunity to meet with GECOM, Mr. Gouveia undertook to raise the Birth Certificate issue with the government and the relevant political parties. Both entities undertook to continue to communicate with each other towards the national good insofar as GECOM’s work is concerned.

Dr. Surujbally was accompanied at the meeting by, Mr. R. Williams - Commissioner, Mr. G. Boodoo - Chief Election Officer, Mr. C. Benn - Deputy Chief Election Officer, Mr. K. Lowenfield Assistant Chief Election Officer, Mr. Andrew Chung - IT Administrator/Systems Analyst, and Mr. V. Persaud – Public Relations Officer.

Apart from Mr. Gouveia the PSC team comprised Mr. R. Ramsarran – Executive Director, Mr. Komal Ramnauth and Mr. Eon Caesar – Senior Vice President and Junior Vice President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry respectively, Mr. D. Gouveia of Roraima Airways, Ms. Elizabeth Alleyne of the PSC. (GECOM release)

World Day for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse observed
By Vanessa Narine
Yesterday’s observance of World Day for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse was dubbed by Director of the Child Care and Protection Agency, Ms. Ann Green, as a day to not only raise awareness, but also to instill a sense of responsibility in the Guyanese people.

“Child abuse is avoidable, it is preventable,” she asserted.

Green stated that while the Agency has ongoing programmes, there is need for collaborations since no one entity can stop child abuse.

“We are challenging communities because we feel not enough action is being taken to stamp out child abuse,” the Director said. She added that persons do not recognise the role they play in protecting a child and being responsible for avoiding acting in a manner that perpetrates abuse.

To this end, Green stated that calls are being made for persons to take an oath to prevent child abuse.

The Agency’s Director said, “We want the involvement of public spirited individuals to get to the stage where they actively prevent child abuse.”

She pointed out that in so doing, they recognise their individual responsibility to be a child protector.

“The Agency or the Ministry cannot do it alone. Every Guyanese must come on board,” Green said.

She lamented the fact that if action is not taken to protect the children of today they might not be around for a tomorrow.

“The children are our future; if we don’t care for them today they might not be around tomorrow and if they are around they will be badly wounded,” Greens said.

The theme for this year’s observance is ‘Working to protect the rights of children’.

Green explained that the ultimate aim is the advancement of efforts to protect the rights of children and keep them from harm.

To highlight how each individual can make a difference in a child’s life, particularly those who are victims of abuse, World Day for the Prevention of Child Abuse is observed on November 19 each year.

The event is an opportunity to face the prevalence and significance of child abuse, and not to be reluctant to interfere in someone else’s family when it means making a difference in a child’s life.

Hundreds of thousands of children are physically abused each year by a parent or close relative.

Thousands actually die as a result of the abuse. For those who survive, the emotional trauma remains long after the external bruises have healed.

Often the severe emotional damage to abused children does not surface until adolescence or later, when many abused children become abusive parents. An adult who was abused as a child often has trouble establishing lasting and stable personal relationships.

These men and women may have a problem with physical closeness, touching, intimacy, and trusting people as adults.

Child maltreatment includes all forms of physical and emotional ill treatment, sexual abuse, neglect, and exploitation that result in actual or potential harm to the child’s health. Child abuse is much more common than one might think. It cuts across social classes and cultures with the abuse overwhelmingly at the hands of those supposed to be protecting the child. One of the most painful effects of child abuse is its tendency to repeat itself.

Those who have been dealt behavior that leaves lasting scars like child abuse are at higher risk for anxiety, depression, substance abuse, medical illness, and problems at school or work.

The abuse of children has come to be seen as a major social problem and the main cause of many people’s suffering and personal problems.

The earlier abused children get help, the greater chance they have to heal from their abuse and put an end to the cycle.

DOCUMENTS OF BEVERLY DOUGLAS CAN BE UPLIFTED AT CHRONICLE
We have in our possession an ID card and other documents belonging to Ms. Beverly Ann Douglas.

Ms. Douglas is asked to check with the Editorial Department of our newspaper at our Lama Avenue location to uplift her documents

Region's experts meet today on new ‘economic modelling’
By Rickey Singh
A GROUP of leading regional experts will meet today in Port-of-Spain to discuss and make recommendations for new "modelling strategies" for the Caribbean.

The one-day meeting will take place against the backdrop of new trade and development agreements signed, or being negotiated, with major traditional foreign partners (like the European and Canada), as well as concerns over the negative consequences of the global economic crisis.

Organised by the Sub-regional Headquarters for the Caribbean of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), the participants will include "modelling experts" from the region's central banks, universities, planning agencies and other institutions.

According to ECLAC, the expert group meeting seeks to explore avenues for 'greater collaboration among leading macro-econometric and environmental modelling strategists’ from the Caribbean sub-region with the the aim of charting a ‘new way forward’ for modelling efforts to become integral to policymaking in the Caribbean.

Today's meeting is viewed by ECLAC as a ‘timely intervention’, given the intensity of the world economic crisis and the difficulties which regional policymakers must confront.

The hope of its organisers is that this ground-breaking regional effort could serve to motivate creative initiatives on the need to embrace new techniques of analysis and help build capacities to "navigate the challenges" which confront policymaking on economic and environmental issues.

Presenters will include some of the region's more recognised ‘modelling experts’ within recent years. Among them will be:

Dr Shelton Nichols of the Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago; Professor Temsian Agbeyegbe of City University of New York, Professor Roland Craigwell and Dr Sookram of the University of the West Indies; and Dr Juan Llanes of the University of Havana, Cuba.