Recent survey by the Latin American Public Opinion Project (LAPOP) revealed that the Guyana Police Force (GPF) is the least trusted law enforcement body in this country. The survey indicated that Guyanese also lack confidence in the Police and its ability to fight crime. But what is even more disturbing is the fact that the US Embassy-initiated survey also indicated that citizens do not believe that the Police Force here conducts itself professionally or appropriately. The truth is, the findings of the survey are not remarkable or surprising in any way, as it is a known fact that the level of confidence reposed by citizens in the law enforcement entities here is relatively low if not non-existent.This is particularly true when one considers the level of crime and criminality prevailing in our society as each day citizens are murdered, victims of other heinous crimes, burglaries, rapes and domestic violence. The Police’s response is most times slothful, uncaring, unprofessional and unhelpful. Recently, patrons at an East Coast hangout spot witnessed gun-toting ranks of the Police Force swoop down on the location. Persons were ordered out of the establishment as it was past the two o’clock curfew despite the fact that the doors to the business were closed and staff was in the process of cleaning up. Patrons were shoved and one CID rank dressed in plainclothes who identified himself as “Saul” began harassing those in control of the business before pulling a chair from under someone who was still seated. The other ranks dressed in brown clothes continued to threaten those present, as if they were demanding a bribe or some sort of inducement before departure. When they left, emotions ran high as patrons voiced their concerns over the manner in which the Police executed their ‘duties’. Stories were spoken of how other ranks have collected bribes and other inducements at other places when dealing with issues linked to robberies, murders, traffic offences. In general, there was a general distaste for rouge, unprofessional and corrupt ranks.It is simple incidents like these that impact public opinion and perception of the entire Police Force as they are not isolated or specific to one policing division. It is therefore laudable that Government through the Public Security Ministry has exhibited no tolerance for ranks who are engaged in unprofessional conduct in any area of their work as they are responsible for the ‘bad name’ the other ranks receive because of their deeds. But the Government has to do much more to create a paradigm shift and culture transformation within the force. The Police Commissioner must ensure that his commanders read the riot act and understand fully that it is their responsibility to ensure that these ranks are disciplined whenever there are reports of such unprofessionalism and thuggery.Surely, the ranks must understand too that they are not a law unto themselves and therefore whenever there are breaches of the law on their part that they will be offered no protection – not from their colleagues nor superiors. While it can be argued that the ranks are within their right to enforce the curfew laws, it can also be argued that they could spend their time patrolling the streets in pursuit of criminal elements who are usually wreaking havoc on innocent citizens. They could spend their time solving the many unsolved murders that are staining the pages of the press while at the same time working very hard to rebuild public trust and confidence. It is necessary for the Force’s administration to conduct periodic sessions with junior and middle management ranks on professionalism, ethics, effective communication and integrity. This will go a far way in addressing the basic shortcomings that result in the Force suffering immensely whenever an evaluation is done of its performance and the level of public trust. In addition, urgent efforts at reforming the Force must be undertaken. Those proposals made by former Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee must be implemented immediately and should not be cast aside unless the new Government has new ones. read more

…is whose land?Funding for a Linden-Lethem Highway was sought by Burnham from the Brazilians way back in 1977. In the intervening 41 years, there were more proposals than you can shake a stick at! One even landed on the desks of Presidents Ramotar and Rousseff for a final signing off — following extensive studies. But for one reason or another, there was always a slip between the cup and the lip. Folks became quite jaded at the prospects of us ever opening up our interior.But now there’s been a sudden volte face…due to – what else? – Chinese deep (and dark?) pockets! With Greenidge already signing off on China’s Belt and Road Initiative (B&RI), some folks are so sure about the completion of the Highway there’s already a land rush in progress. If Region 10 Chairman Renis Morian is to be believed, the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission has received so many applications for land – up to 30 acres — there mightn’t be any left for people from Region 10!!Now, we’re talking about over 350 kilometres of highway, so that’s a whole lotta land being grabbed. According to Morian, most of the applicants are “rushing to secure plots of land to establish business ventures”, but that notwithstanding, he feels Lindeners must get first dibs, whether or not they can use the land!! “Outside of religion, race, party or whatever, we are saying once you are living in Region 10, while any Guyanese in any other region can apply, we think residents in Region 10 should first benefit.”Now there’s definitely something wrong here. So, in addition to the flag for each Region, which the PNC had unilaterally decreed and distributed, Guyanese don’t have equal rights to their national patrimony? Should Berbicans have protested the award of that first contract for the Indian Arrival Monument at Palmyra because the contractor was from Linden? What next? Tolls on the Wismar Bridge on the road to Region 9 without any consultation with residents there??Hold it!! That’s exactly what’s ALREADY taken place, with no heed given to Region ‘Niners’ when they pointed out goods from the coast – practically ALL their consumption – will become more expensive!! When you add the special LEN Fund to promote entrepreneurship in Linden after the billions that just disappeared from the LEAP Fund that was supposed to do just that…are we detecting different strokes for PNC folks? And we won’t even mention the electricity subsidy — which wasn’t even being considered for the 5700 fired sugar workers.Your Eyewitness believes there must be a bipartisan committee set up to draft a development plan for the Linden-Lethem corridor.Which should benefit ALL Guyanese.…conjures doctorates?UG’s been in existence since 1963, and hasn’t been able to produce a single PhD during that time. Not that there weren’t bright students around — a ton of them went on to shine in foreign universities like supernovas — but for the simple reason that it wasn’t able to put together a doctoral programme in a single subject. Now, that can be excused, since we’re a dirt poor country and were stretched to even fund the Baccalaureate programmes.But how in the world can UG now summon up the brazenness to start awarding “honorary” PhDs?? Your Eyewitness has read the VC’s riposte – to others who’ve already expressed their incredulity – and found it wanting. Two fly-by-night Jamaican outfits did it, and that makes it right? Does this mean that our nursery schools can award “Honorary BSCs” to some of those once cute munchkins who graduated some years back? Isn’t this like…umm…DILUTING the value of advanced degrees? Did the Academic Council of UG approve this ridiculous move?Why hang UG’s hat where its hand can’t reach?…is Comedy CentralJunior Minister of Natural Resources, Simona “I is” Broomes, upbraided the mining syndicates on their behaviour, and insisted they “should play by the rules”. Just like she did when busing out those guards?What’s with that inquiry, by the way? read more

MEN’S RESULTS: Ben Musci led the Blues with a gold-medal finish in the senior men’s epee, while Johnathan Zimmerman earned the bronze. Colin McCurdy and Zimmerman also earned silver and bronze, respectively in the junior men’s epee event.   Sophomore standout Seth Logan earned bronze in a field of 70 in the senior men’s sabre. WOMEN’S RESULTS: Third-year veteran Leanna Lui placed third in the senior women’s epee, while Esther Falkson and Astrid Chandler also tied for bronze in the senior women’s sabre. Falkson also earned silver in the junior women’s sabre competition. Story Links The University of Toronto Varsity Blues fencing team competed at the Brock Open this past weekend (Nov. 16-17) in St. Catharines, Ont. For more information, scores and highlights on your favourite U of T athletes and teams, please visit www.varsityblues.ca. Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for the latest and greatest in Varsity Blues intercollegiate athletics. Print Friendly Version read more

Gor head coach, Frank Nuttall gave non regulars, captain and keeper Jerim Onyango, Ernest Wendo, Erick Ochieng, Abondo and George ‘Blackberry’ Odhiambo a start and he was elated with the win despite the fact Palos gave the titans a scare.“We deserved to score four goals because we had possession and created chances. To come out winners in a cup competition and go through to the next round was the main idea.“It’s not necessarily we will be winning games with clean sheets because today we had a new defence. I’m pleased with their performance,” the Scotsman gushed after surviving a spirited display from the massive underdogs.His opposite number, Paul Ogai, hailed his charges after giving a good account against a team that has swept all before them in clinching a third successive top flight crown.“My players did their best since we were playing against the champions. We scored two goals and we didn’t deserve to concede two. The chances we created shows the boys have taken it to the next level so we will continue on improving,” he mused.With full backs, Burundian Karim Nizigiyimana and Rwandese, Abuoba Sibomana out on international duty, Nuttall deployed midfielder Ochieng in the unfamiliar left back position as Olunga and Kagere maintained their twin striking role.Abondo gave K’ogalo the early lead in the second minute when he volleyed home Olunga’s flick-on from deep midfield to give the overwhelming favourites the best of starts.However, the flood of goals and any thoughts of steamrolling to the quarterfinals were soon dispensed with by their dogged lower division opponents.Geoffrey Ochieng saw his ferocious long range shot hit side netting before their raids in Gor territory paid-off in the18th when Omanga fashioned a neat cross goal finish off a Keneth Mugambi defence-splitting pass for the leveller.The Kisumu outfit threatened to upset the titans but Onyango produced a stunning save to deny Palos captain, Edwin Clifford’s stinging effort from the edge of the box.Gor were roused into action and Olunga restored their lead at the half hour mark on the counter after his strike partner,  Kagere, provided the assist as the leading scorer squeezed a low shot on target for a 2-1 half time lead.Abondo added his second five minutes after the breather when he picked Wendo’s pass to turn and smash past Palos keeper, Geoffrey Were, for Gor’s third.Were then denied Odhiambo who unleashed a cracker in the 58th with substitute Eddy Balaa missing a chance to make a game of the contest after he did well to beat Onyango in the K’Ogalo goal but could not reach the ball to turn it back into an empty net.Palos mounted pressure when they reduced the deficit in the 66th after Omanga picked Mugambi’s pass from the left to tap past Onyango for his double.Bernard Ochieng then denied Gor when he cleared Olunga’s shot off the line from a corner brought in by Abondo.Harun Shakava broke Palos hopes of mounting the comeback  when the Stars defender ghosted in the near post to finish off Abondo’s corner in the 73rd for the decisive strike.0Shares0000(Visited 1 times, 1 visits today) 0Shares0000Khalid Aucho (foreground) training with Gor Mahia in Nairobi on Tuesday, October 13, 2015. PHOTO/Raymond MakhayaNAIROBI, October 14 – Ali Abondo rediscovered his scoring touch to sink a brace as SportPesa Premier League champions, Gor Mahia, dismissed third tier side Palos FC 4-2 to storm to the quarter-finals of the GOtv Shield.The six-goal thriller played at Nairobi’s Kasarani Stadium on Wednesday, saw Harambee Stars forward, Michael Olunga and defender Harun Shakava, also on target to complete the rout with  Calvin Omanga also notching a double in reply for the Kisumu based minnows. read more

1 of 20 FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. – The weather has been perfect for day two of the High on Ice Winter Festival.On top of the ice carving, live music, ice slides, and various activities at Centennial Park, there are other events all around Fort St. John.  There is a dodgeball tournament at the Kids Arena, Horse Drawn Sleigh Rides at Kin Park and Cross Country Skiing at Beatton Provincial Park.See a full schedule of the events here:  http://www.energeticcity.ca/2018/02/fort-st-john-high-ice-winter-festival-day-2-schedule/- Advertisement -Below are a few photos from Centennial Park and Kin Park.  Got a photo you’d like to share from High on Ice?  Email it to news@moosefm.ca Photo courtesy of Norbert Stoll Photo courtesy of Norbert Stoll Photo courtesy of Norbert Stoll Photo courtesy of Norbert Stoll read more

Juventus have ramped up their pursuit of Liverpool and Tottenham target Ezequiel Lavezzi, according to reports in Italy.Both Premier League clubs are keeping close tabs on the forward’s situation, with his contract at Paris Saint-Germain set to run out in the summer.As talkSPORT told you last month, reports in Spain have claimed that a move to Barcelona is a foregone conclusion but Juventus have not given up the chase.And now it has been suggested that Juve officials and Lavezzi’s representatives could meet as early as next week to discuss a possible switch to Turin.The Serie A club are reportedly ready to offer the 30-year-old Argentine a two-year deal worth around £2.1m-a-season.However, it is revealed Lavezzi wants closer to £3m-per-year – which could give Liverpool or Spurs the chance to make a move of their own. 1 Ezequiel Lavezzi read more

Leonardo Bonucci [left] in action Juventus 1 Barcelona are ready to challenge Chelsea and Manchester City for the signing of Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci.Chelsea and City are expected to strengthen their defences during the summer and Bonucci has been strongly linked with both.The Italy international is considered one of the best central defenders in world football having been in fine form for Juve over the past seven seasons.He even admitted that he had started to learn English, which increased speculation about a switch to the Premier League.But now, according to reports, Barcelona have entered the race to sign him and are ready to splash the cash to get their man.Bonucci is under contract until 2021 so he will not come cheap but that should not put off either City or Chelsea.However, Barca will also be confident of luring the 29-year-old to Spain this summer. read more

Wonderkid Rodrygo turned down an offer from Barcelona to join ‘dream’ club Real Madrid, the player’s agent has claimed.The 17-year-old, who will turn 18 in the New Year, is scheduled to complete his €45million switch from Santos next summer but could see it brought forward.And his representative has revealed the starlet could have joined Real’s rivals instead but opted to move to the Spanish capital. Latest Football Stories Every time Ally McCoist lost it on air in 2019, including funny XI reactions REVEALED shining no dice MONEY REVEALED Forbes list reveals how much Mayweather, Ronaldo and Messi earned this decade REPLY Santos starlet Rodrygo is heading to Real Madrid. Which teams do the best on Boxing Day in the Premier League era? ADVICE Getty Real already have one talented young Brazilian on their book in Vinicius Junior, and the representative also believes they can complement each other rather than hinder each other’s progress.“For sure I think they can play together,” Arcuri continued. “They can play for each other, both of them are young and have a special talent which can help Madrid for a very long time.” Top nine Premier League free transfers of the decade 1 Ronaldo warned Lukaku how hard scoring goals in Serie A would be before Inter move huge blow BEST OF Son ban confirmed as Tottenham fail with appeal to overturn red card RANKED Berahino hits back at b******t Johnson criticism – ‘I was in a dark place at Stoke’ Where Ancelotti ranks with every Premier League boss for trophies won Oxlade-Chamberlain suffers another setback as Klopp confirms serious injury Premier League Team of the Season so far, including Liverpool and Leicester stars “Madrid reached an agreement with Santos before any other team because Rodrygo always dreamed of playing for Madrid. Barcelona and other clubs also wanted him, but he listened to Real Madrid’s offer and he didn’t hesitate,” Nick Arcuri told AS.And while speaking about the young talent, Arcuri believes he’s got huge potential and will be able to adapt to the rigours of European football.“He’s a very young player who has big room for improvement,” he added.“Ever since he made his debut with Santos’ first team he has improved, especially as a person. He knows how to adapt to every new situation and those who know him know that he will always give his very best,” added Rodrygo’s agent. read more

Puffins, flying fish, and dolphins are naturals in both the air and sea, moving from one to the other with ease. Now, for the first time, a tiny robot is joining their routine. The bee-sized bot, which can fly by flapping its tiny wings, has been re-engineered to dive into water, swim, take off again, and land safely. Once it dries off, the “robo-bee” can repeat the whole routine—or go back to flying. But engineering for water wasn’t easy. The researchers realized early on that their 175-milligram bot needed help staying upright underwater. So they added stabilizing cross beams and slowed down how quickly it beat its wing: In air, the wings flap about 250 times per second; in water, they average about nine beats per second. Any faster than that, and the bot starts to tilt and twist and can even fall apart. The bot also needed help breaking through the water’s surface tension, so the researchers figured out how to give it a push with an electrical device that converts water into oxygen and hydrogen, plus a “sparker” that can ignite these gases. After 2 minutes, the gases build and make the bot buoyant enough to get its wings out of the water. Then the spark blows up the gases, and the bot shoots up about 35 centimeters at a speed of more than 2 meters per second, the researchers report today in Science Robotics. The bot can’t fly again until it dries out, but its design helps it glide to a safe landing. And though it’s unlikely to perform at Sea World, this versatile bot may one day help with ocean search and rescue, fish surveys, and environmental monitoring. Sign up for our daily newsletterGet more great content like this delivered right to you!Country *AfghanistanAland IslandsAlbaniaAlgeriaAndorraAngolaAnguillaAntarcticaAntigua and BarbudaArgentinaArmeniaArubaAustraliaAustriaAzerbaijanBahamasBahrainBangladeshBarbadosBelarusBelgiumBelizeBeninBermudaBhutanBolivia, Plurinational State ofBonaire, Sint Eustatius and SabaBosnia and HerzegovinaBotswanaBouvet IslandBrazilBritish Indian Ocean TerritoryBrunei DarussalamBulgariaBurkina FasoBurundiCambodiaCameroonCanadaCape VerdeCayman IslandsCentral African RepublicChadChileChinaChristmas IslandCocos (Keeling) IslandsColombiaComorosCongoCongo, The Democratic Republic of theCook IslandsCosta RicaCote D’IvoireCroatiaCubaCuraçaoCyprusCzech RepublicDenmarkDjiboutiDominicaDominican RepublicEcuadorEgyptEl SalvadorEquatorial GuineaEritreaEstoniaEthiopiaFalkland Islands (Malvinas)Faroe IslandsFijiFinlandFranceFrench GuianaFrench PolynesiaFrench Southern TerritoriesGabonGambiaGeorgiaGermanyGhanaGibraltarGreeceGreenlandGrenadaGuadeloupeGuatemalaGuernseyGuineaGuinea-BissauGuyanaHaitiHeard Island and Mcdonald IslandsHoly See (Vatican City State)HondurasHong KongHungaryIcelandIndiaIndonesiaIran, Islamic Republic ofIraqIrelandIsle of ManIsraelItalyJamaicaJapanJerseyJordanKazakhstanKenyaKiribatiKorea, Democratic People’s Republic ofKorea, Republic ofKuwaitKyrgyzstanLao People’s Democratic RepublicLatviaLebanonLesothoLiberiaLibyan Arab JamahiriyaLiechtensteinLithuaniaLuxembourgMacaoMacedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic ofMadagascarMalawiMalaysiaMaldivesMaliMaltaMartiniqueMauritaniaMauritiusMayotteMexicoMoldova, Republic ofMonacoMongoliaMontenegroMontserratMoroccoMozambiqueMyanmarNamibiaNauruNepalNetherlandsNew CaledoniaNew ZealandNicaraguaNigerNigeriaNiueNorfolk IslandNorwayOmanPakistanPalestinianPanamaPapua New GuineaParaguayPeruPhilippinesPitcairnPolandPortugalQatarReunionRomaniaRussian FederationRWANDASaint Barthélemy Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da CunhaSaint Kitts and NevisSaint LuciaSaint Martin (French part)Saint Pierre and MiquelonSaint Vincent and the GrenadinesSamoaSan MarinoSao Tome and PrincipeSaudi ArabiaSenegalSerbiaSeychellesSierra LeoneSingaporeSint Maarten (Dutch part)SlovakiaSloveniaSolomon IslandsSomaliaSouth AfricaSouth Georgia and the South Sandwich IslandsSouth SudanSpainSri LankaSudanSurinameSvalbard and Jan MayenSwazilandSwedenSwitzerlandSyrian Arab RepublicTaiwanTajikistanTanzania, United Republic ofThailandTimor-LesteTogoTokelauTongaTrinidad and TobagoTunisiaTurkeyTurkmenistanTurks and Caicos IslandsTuvaluUgandaUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesUnited KingdomUnited StatesUruguayUzbekistanVanuatuVenezuela, Bolivarian Republic ofVietnamVirgin Islands, BritishWallis and FutunaWestern SaharaYemenZambiaZimbabweI also wish to receive emails from AAAS/Science and Science advertisers, including information on products, services and special offers which may include but are not limited to news, careers information & upcoming events.Required fields are included by an asterisk(*) By Elizabeth PennisiOct. 25, 2017 , 2:00 PM These ‘robo-bees’ can dive, swim, and jump like dolphins read more

All eyes were on the Buddh International Circuit in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, as the Indian F1 Grand Prix made its debut with practice sessions on Friday. Some of the world’s top F1 drivers, such as Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel and Jenson Button, are participating in the three-day event. Top Formula 1 teams — RBR-Renault, McLaren-Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari — are competing, and so is our very own Sahara Force India. Highlights of the day3.40 pm: Ferrari’s Massa fastest in second practice. He was followed by Vettel while Massa’s teammate Fernando Alonso finished third.3 pm: Red flag (race stopped). Marshalls out. Jaime Alguersuari of Toro Rosso hurt. Schumacher of Mercedes out too. Session restarts after incident. 2.50 pm: Ferrari’s Massa catching up. Teammate Alonso 29000th of a second behind him.2.30 pm: Narain getting close to his fastest time of the first session. 2.25 pm: Williams car spins off track. Being lifted away. Vettel fastest on lap time. His Red Bull team-mate Webber close.2.20 pm: Hamilton penalised for ignoring caution flags in first practice. Sergio Perez of Sauber also gets same penalty.2 pm: Second 90-minute practice session begins. Expecting no dogs this time. Better crowd turnout than the first practice.  12.30 pm: Bharatiya Kisan Union leaders among motley crowd at BIC watching Delhi championship with MRF practice session. Session breaks for lunch.11.45 am: Second practice session starts at 2.00 pm.11.40 am: First practice session over. At this stage, Hamilton leads followed by Vettel at 2 and Webber at 3. Karun Chandhok at 19, Narain Karthikeyan at 21. advertisement11.10 am: Adrian Sutil of Sahara Force India going strong. Tricolour theme resplendent at BIC.10.54 am: Sahara Force India car spotted. Will their drivers do the Sahara pranam too, asks our man at the race, Anam Arsalan.10.45 am: Fans throng gates. Confusion at the gates. Engines generate the almighty howl.10.38 am: Mercedes followed by Red Bull Renault in lap practice. 8 cars at the moment. Red Bull’s Vettel out there.10.30 am: Practice gets underway. Fans wait patiently to spot their their favourites.10.20 am: A stray dog on track disrupts practice as the race is red flagged (stopped) for a few minutes.10.00 am: Welcome to official practice-I of Indian Grand Prix. We have stationed our man at Curve No. 3. The speciality of this part of the track is that it rises 14 metres from point 1 to 3. So expect a few exciting moments here.9.45 am: Knives, fireworks, smoke canisters, air-horns, flares, wepons, dangerous or hazardous items, laser devices, bottles, glass vessels, lighters, musical items are prohibited at the F1 venue. Children below 5 are not allowed at the Indian Grand Prix event.9:30 am: BIC is operating bus services from Noida City Centre, Nehru Place Metro Station, Pragati Maidan (Gate No. 2), India Gate and Gurgaon-Leisure Valley Park. But they need to have valid bus ticket as well to commute in these buses. Those who do not have the bus tickets but have venue tickets are advised to reach Knowledge Park 2 in Greater Noida, where the BIC is operating buses for the F1 fans.9:10 am: The 5.14 km Buddh International Circuit (BIC) track has been billed as one of the fastest on the circuit.9 am: Welcome to the inaugural Indian Grand Prix. Even as we get ready for some high-adrenaline action over the weekend, it’s worth recalling that Sebastian Vettel has already won the Drivers’ Championship and his team Red Bull has bagged the Constructors. read more