Caribbean Times 86th issue - Monday April 11th 2016

Informative, reliable, enriching! 

Monday 11th April 2016 A n t i g u a a n d B a r b u d a 

Vol.6 No.86 $2.00 

MILLION-DOLLAR 

DRUG SEIZURE 

533lbs of compressed 

cannabis and 5.6kilos of cocaine 

were seized on Thursday 

7 th April, 2016 by the 

Office of National Drug and 

Money Laundering Control 

Policy (ONDCP) during an 

operation in the Shell Beach 

area. 

During the operation 

70 year old Marcus RICH- 

ARDS, a Vincentian national 

residing in Antigua and 37 

year old Erskine TODD of 

St. Vincent were arrested. 

The cannabis has an estimated 

wholesale value of 

One Million Sixty six Thousand 

Dollars ($1,066,000.00 

ECD) whilst the cocaine 

estimated wholesale value 

is One Hundred and Ninety 

Seven Thousand Two Hundred 

and Eighty Eight Dollars 

($197,288.00ECD). 

Both men were charged 

with Possession of Cannabis, 

Possession of Cannabis 

with Intent to Supply, Being 

concerned in the supply 

of Cannabis and Drug 

Trafficking, while they also 

received additional charges 

of Possession of Cocaine, 

and Being concerned in the 

supply of Cocaine and Drug 

Trafficking. 

They are expected to appear 

before a Magistrate today. 

Investigations are still 

ongoing.

2 c a r i b b e a n t i m e s . a g 

Monday 11th April 2016 

New policy at odds with lawmen 

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Attorney General, Steadroy 

Benjamin, has announced 

a policy change in 

relations to the operations of 

the Fire Department and the 

Royal Police Force of Antigua 

and Barbuda. 

Speaking at the 3 rd annual 

Antigua and Barbuda 

Fire Department dinner and 

award ceremony at the Sir 

Vivian Richards Stadium 

Saturday night, Benjamin 

said there will be no separation 

between the two departments, 

at least not under his 

watch. 

He said the current operations 

are working to his satisfaction 

and that he is content 

to have things remain 

as they are. He also credited 

to Commissioner of Police, 

Wendel Robinson, for his efforts 

in reducing crime in the 

country. 

He noted that there has 

been a marked reduction in 

crime and that this has been 

expressed by both citizens 

and business owners who 

say they now feel safer. 

But the Attorney General’s 

announcement has not 

found favour with Robinson 

or Fire Chief Elvis Weaver. 

Robinson said he favours a 

separation of the fire department 

from the police with a 

transition period of between 

eighteen to twenty-four 

months before such a separation 

takes place. 

“They are two different 

types of operation and we 

need to separate the fire department 

from the police as 

has happened in countries 

across the world and even 

right here in the Caribbean,” 

Robinson remarked. 

Weaver said he too favours 

a separation between 

the fire and the police and 

that there have been ongoing 

discussions on this matter 

now for several years. Benjamin’s 

announcement rep- 

Commissioner of Police Wendell Robinson 

resents a policy change from 

what the senior officers of 

both departments have been 

anticipating for some time 

now. 

Benjamin said he is taking 

the matter to the Cabinet 

on Wednesday for a more 

formalized decision. 

Meanwhile, several fire 

department officers received 

awards for outstanding work 

over the past year. Awards 

were presented for the Most 

were presented by permanent 

secretary, Sharon Peters, 

who said she suggested 

the awards at last year’s 

ceremony to single out the 

women who have made 

fire-fighting a career. 

A special award went to 

the members of the Antigua 

and Barbuda Search and rescue 

Team for their bravery 

and humanitarian work in 

Dominica following the passage 

of Tropical Storm Erika 

Outstanding Female Fire last August. 

Fighter which went to #166 

Cpl. Evette Henry…with 

special mention #648 Cpl. 

Renee Roberts and #73 Cpl. 

Marlene Carr-Henry. 

The award for Most Improved 

Female Fire Fighter 

went to #310 Constable Tesha 

Fire Fighter of the Year 

was #658 Constable Jernelle 

Williams with special mention 

#126 Constable Shivorn 

Browne and #413 Constable 

Emrol Samuel. 

Subordinate Fire Fighter 

of the Year was #530 Cpl. 

Roberts. Both awards cont’d on pg 

3 

Caribbean Times is printed and published at Woods Estate / Friars Hill Road. Contact: Caribbean 

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Monday 11th April 2016 c a r i b b e a n t i m e s . a g 3 

cont’d from pg 2 

Melvin King with special 

mention #576 Cpl. Quincy 

George, #649 Okano Bartley 

and #441 Cpl. Nigel Carty. 

Officer of the Year 

award went to ASP Rupert 

Markham. Corporate Citizens 

Award went to Joe 

Mike’s Plaza, Harney Motors 

Ltd. and Goddard catering 

Group (Antigua) Ltd. 

Twenty Year Service award 

was presented to Cpl Randolph 

Moses and Cpl. Nigel 

Carty. Several past Fire 

Chiefs were also awarded 

during the ceremony. 

Former Governor General, 

Sir James Carlisle and 

Lady Carlisle were among 

presenters at the ceremony 

along with the Attorney 

General and Trade and Commerce 

Minister, EP Chet 

Greene. 

Sir James was deputizing 

as Governor General in 

the absence from the state of 

both Sir Rodney Williams 

and Sir Clare Roberts.



Ottos Comprehensive takes home the 

top prize in schools’ music competition 

Joanna Paris 

Antigua and Barbuda certainly 

has talent and on Saturday 

night, the Haliborange 

Rotary, Rotaract, Interact, 

Schools Music Competition, 

which took place at “The 

Yard” definitely demonstrated 

that fact. 

Eleven talented young 

people from government and 

private institutions across 

the island tried their best to 

sing or play their way into 

the hearts of those in the audience 

and more importantly 

the judges, in the first of its 

kind talent extravaganza. 

In the end, it was Tanicia 

Pennant from the Ottos 

Comprehensive School who 

emerged on top with an impressive 

vocal piece. 

The 2 nd place sport was 

awarded to Tyreke Lewis 

of the Antigua Grammar 

School, while the third place 

spot went to Nia Henry of Island 

Academy. 

Alfranique Joseph, who 

represented the Antigua 

Girls High School and Annia 

Matthews from the Clarehall 

Secondary School, received 

special mention for their respective 

performances. 

The competition was 

judged by Hubert “Burga” 

Joseph, Norris Morris Harris 

and Kemar “The Chemist” 

Whittingham. 

The winner will benefit 

from over EC$10,000 worth 

of music production, including 

an original single, a music 

video and image consultancy. 

The second prize winner 

will receive a similar package, 

excluding the music 

video, while the third prize 

winner will get to record a 

cover track. 

Speaking to Caribbean 

Times, Rotary Club of Antigua’s 

New Generations Director, 

Omari Harrigan, expressed 

thanks to the persons 

who came out to support the 

efforts of the contestants. 

He said that the response 

cont’d on pg 5


Youth Media Workshop 2016 closes 

Justin Peters 

The Youth Media Workshop 2016, 

a 2-week training workshop hosted by 

the Department of Youth Affairs, designed 

to give young Antiguans and 

Barbudans an introduction into the 

world of videography, photography 

and journalism came to a close this past 

Friday. 

The annual training program was 

facilitated by media professionals, 

Zahra Airall who taught photography 

and journalism and Howard and Mitzi 

Allen, owners of Hama Productions 

who taught videography. 

As a result of the interaction, Students 

produced an exciting newspaper 

and an amazing 30-minute television 

cont’d from pg 4 

“was overwhelming” and it is a 

clear indication, that the youths of 

Antigua and Barbuda have a lot to 

offer. 

Harrigan added that the competition 

was keenly contested 

with exceptional performances 

from the vocalists as well as those 

who played instruments, which 

also made it challenging for the 

judges to choose the top winners. 

He noted that the experience 

that the students have received 

can definitely assist in boosting 

their musical careers. 

show from start to finish with guidance 

from the facilitators. All material was 

written, directed and produced exclusively 

by the students. 

The students expressed how grateful 

they were for the opportunity to learn 

from professional. They elaborated on 

some of the skills that were transferred 

to them during the workshop such 

as time management, script reading, 

teamwork and issue resolution. 

Special thanks was extended to the 

Department of Youth Affairs, the facilitators 

and UNICEF who contributed to 

the success of the program. The journalism 

students went on tour around 

the island to collect material for the 

newspaper, which included conducting 

interviews. 

Production equipment was donated 

to the program by HAMA Productions 

which will allow for the expansion of 

the program into an ongoing initiative 

throughout the year. 

Present for the closing ceremony 

was Parliamentary Secretary in the 

Ministry of Social Transformation, 

Londell Benjamin.



Pretrial hearing postponed in criminal case 

against former Antigua-Barbuda UN official 

NEW YORK, USA – A 

continuance has been granted 

in the ongoing bribery 

case against the former permanent 

representative of 

Antigua and Barbuda to the 

United Nations, John Ashe. 

A previously scheduled pretrial 

conference for April 8 

was adjourned to May 5 at 

the request of US Attorney 

Preet Bharara. 

Ashe, a former president 

of the UN General Assembly, 

was arrested in New York in 

October on charges of engaging 

in a widespread corruption 

scheme. 

In his letter to presiding 

judge Vernon Broderick, 

Bharara indicated that the 

continuance was necessary 

because there are “ongoing 

discussions between John 

Ashe’s counsel and the government 

concerning the appropriateness 

of a superseding 

indictment containing 

additional charges against 

Mr Ashe”, Mas in the Cemetery 

reported. 

In an apparent indication 

that the US government is 

preparing to charge Ashe 

with additional crimes, the 

letter goes on to state, “An 

adjournment will allow the 

government to finalize its 

John Ashe 

decision whether to seek a 

superseding indictment at 

this time, and will allow the 

parties to be better prepared 

to address potential motions 

at the next appearance before 

the court.” 

New appeal for missing woman 

The Police have 

issued a fresh appeal 

to the general public 

for their assistance in 

knowing the whereabouts 

of 40yrs-old Doris 

Leonhartsberger of 

Austria. 

The Austrian visitor 

was reported missing 

by her male partner just 

little over a week ago. 

She arrived in the 

country on March 14 th , 

2016, and was residing at 

Abbott’s Lane, in McKinnons, 

where she was last 

seen. 

She is Caucasian with 

blonde hair and blue eyes, 

and is approximately 5ft- 

8ins in height. She is described 

as medium built, 

and weighs approximately 

170 lbs. 

Anyone with information 

regarding her whereabouts 

is asked to contact 

the nearest police station 

or the Criminal Investigations 

Department at 462- 

3913/14. 

In related charges brought 

against Heidi Hong Piao, aka 

Heidi Park, the US government 

has secured a plea bargain 

in which Piao named 

the then prime minister of 

Antigua and Barbuda, Baldwin 

Spencer, as a recipient of 

bribe money. 

According to the US Attorney, 

in that case Piao transmitted 

payments from China 

to the United States to effect 

the bribery of, among others, 

Ashe, Spencer and other officials 

of the government of 

Antigua and Barbuda. 

Spencer has repeatedly 

denied having received any 

bribes from Ashe. He has 

stated in the past that Ashe 

was asked to solicit donations 

from friendly persons 

for the benefit of the United 

Progressive Party (UPP) in 

Antigua and Barbuda. The 

indictment and plea deal in 

Piao’s case does not, however, 

make reference to the 

UPP, but rather Antiguan 

government officials. (Caribbean 

News Now)


This year’s joint meeting welcomed over eighty faculty members within the department of Basic Sciences & Clinical Sciences 

AUA College of Medicine hosts Basic 

Sciences and Clinical Sciences joint meeting 

Faculty leaders within the 

departments of Basic Sciences 

and Clinical Sciences 

convened at Curtain Bluff 

Hotel, Antigua, for American 

University of Antigua (AUA) 

College of Medicine, 2016 

joint meeting. 

The annual event allows 

for members of both faculties 

to sit and discuss current 

research, trends, and developments 

that are occurring 

within their departments. It 

is also an opportunity for 

both faculties to devise ways 

in which they can strengthen 

their collaborative efforts with 

each other for the benefit of 

the students. 

Dr. Peter Bell, Vice President 

of Global Medical Education 

and Executive Dean of 

Clinical Sciences adds, “It’s 

not a medical meeting, it’s a 

medical education meeting. 

When the Basic Sciences faculty 

has a better understanding 

of the Clinical Faculty they 

can better prepare students for 

the clinical programme. Then, 

for the clinical faculty, if they 

better understand how the students 

are being educated here, 

they can build on that thereby 

enhancing the curriculum and 

student education.” 

Since its inception, this 

year will be the first time a 

guest speaker has been invited 

to present to both faculties; 

the featured address will be 

presented by Dr. Kim LeBlanc, 

Executive Director, and 

Clinical Skills Evaluation 

Collaboration of the National 

Board of Medical Examiners. 

Dr. LeBlanc will be speaking 

in detail on the high skills 

clinical exam all students 

must take before beginning 

their residency. 

The four-day event was 

held on Thursday, April 6th 

and ended on Sunday, April 

10th.



All Saints Block-a-ton successful 

Joanna Paris 

Efforts to rebuild the administrative 

block at the All 

Saints Secondary School 

have been made more easier 

with the kind donations 

from members of the public 

and visitors, during a Blocka-ton, 

which took place on 

Saturday. 

According to the Communications 

Officer for the 

ABLP’s All Saints West 

Constituency Branch, Laurisa 

Francis, the event was 

able to generate a total of 

$5,388.13, which will go towards 

purchasing blocks for 

the facility. 

Francis said that the 

amount surpassed the organizer’s 

initial expectations 

of approximately $4000 and 

she is very grateful to those 

individuals and organizations 

that came out to support 

the worthy cause. 

“I just want to say a 

heartfelt thank you to everyone 

who took the time out to 

come and support the effort. 

We are extremely grateful 

for the level of response that 

we had. I mean persons from 

all walks of life came to 

show us their commitment 

and we are very happy with 

the results”, a smiling Francis 

told Caribbean Times. 

Francis added that the 

monies in the form of a 

cheque have already been 

handed over to the contractor 

who has given a receipt 

of the funds. 

Construction work on the 

new building is expected to 

begin shortly. 

On February 27 th , the 

administrative block of the 

secondary institution was 

destroyed by a fire. 

Police investigations into 

the matter are still ongoing 

and there have been initial 

evidence to suggest arson. 

According to officials 

at the school, hundreds of 

critical documents were destroyed 

in the blaze.


Popular DJ group shares some 

love with the Care Project 

The Care Project at the old 

Holberton Hospital has received 

a gift of some supplies. 

This presentation was made 

to Matron Juliet De La Bastide 

by Shaka “Dangerous” Goodwin 

and Gamal “G” Goodwin, 

both brothers and founders of 

WarDadli SoulJahs Inc. to assist 

the Institution in various 

ways. 

The DJ Group says it was 

their small way to give back to 

a worthy cause. 

At the Care Project, there 

are 19 residents, ranging between 

9 to 38 years, with 8 

males and 11 females.



CCJ judge highlights risk of Privy Council proposal 

One of the sitting justices 

on the Caribbean Court of 

Justice (CCJ) David Hayton 

said it might be a dangerous 

thing for the people to accept 

the Privy Council proposal 

to operate as an itinerant 

(travelling) court to deliver 

justice in other countries at 

the expense of the state from 

which the case emanates. 

He said this could result 

in what can be considered 

political interference, as he 

noted how ironic it is that 

many residents fear going 

to the more independently 

managed and financed CCJ 

which is already an itinerant 

court. 

Speaking to the National 

Coordinating Committee responsible 

for the CCJ/Privy 

Council referendum education 

campaign, Hayton said 

this awkward situation of 

depending on the government 

to finance the proceedings 

would not arise with the 

CCJ. 

The judge was asked to 

comment on the scenario 

where an aggrieved person 

would have sued the government 

and won in the High 

Court, then the government 

appealed and won before 

the Supreme Court. The aggrieved 

person now wishes 

to appeal but does not have 

the resources to take the 

matter to the Privy Council, 

hence he has to ask the very 

government he’s suing, to 

bring the Privy Council from 

the UK to the Eastern Caribbean, 

to hear the case. 

Justice Hayton replied, 

“There, that’s the problem 

you have when you cannot 

afford to go to the Privy 

Council because the government 

has won, so it is 

not going to go to the Privy 

Council and therefore you’re 

stuck without a remedy.” 

The judge said it wouldn’t 

be right for the government 

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Justice David Hayton 

to refuse to bring the Privy 

Council to conduct the case. 

He also noted that even 

if the government agrees 

to bring the Council to the 

country to hear the case, 

the aggrieved person runs 

a great risk of incurring extremely 

high cost it he loses 

because the loser usually has 

to pay costs for both sides. 

“When the Privy Council 

goes to a country like it 

did the Bahamas, it’s where 

they’ve got about three cases 

on the books because they’re 

not going to the Bahamas for 

one or two days…then we’d 

be happy to go if the government 

agrees to pay,” he said. 

Last month Lord David 

Neuberger of the Council 

said the court is willing to 

offer services to the region 

via video links and further, 

to travel to hear cases from 

Commonwealth countries 

which still subscribe to that 

court. 

The privy council has 

done cases in the Bahamas, 

three times within the last 

decade, but the island’s government 

decided not to sustain 

the practice as it proved 

to be very burdensome to the 

state’s purse. 

Justice Hayton stressed 

that not only is the CCJ an 

itinerant court, but it also 

has other systems in place to 

ensure cases are dealt with 

speedily and at affordable 

rates for the indigent/poor. 

Meanwhile, Justice Hayton 

also weighed in on the 

suggestion for a collaborative 

approach between the 

Council and the CCJ as it relates 

to delivering justice to 

the region. 

He said that there’s no 

option for the region to keep 

the Privy Council as the final 

appellate court and also 

simultaneously sign on to 

the CCJ in its final appellate 

jurisdiction. He added that 

the suggestion by Baroness 

Patricia Scotland for such a 

collaborative effort wouldn’t 

be feasible or wise.


Statement by Sir Lester Bryant 

Bird on Antigua/Cuba Day 2016 

Today, I reflect with pride 

on an historic occurrence on 

this date, twenty two (22) 

years ago, April 6 th ,1994. 

As soon as I was elected as 

Prime Minister of Antigua 

and Barbuda, high on my 

agenda, was my intention 

to establish diplomatic relations 

with the Republic of 

Cuba, because I was of the 

view that the time had come, 

for the entire Caribbean to 

embrace Cuba, amidst the 

severe negative consequences 

that might have ensued. 

Four of the larger Caribbean 

countries, namely, Jamaica, 

Trinidad and Tobago, 

Guyana and Barbados had 

already initiated such ties, 

and, in my opinion, it was 

crucial for Antigua and Barbuda 

to lead the charge for 

the North-Eastern Caribbean, 

to follow suit and develop 

similar ties. 

To further cement this 

bond, I canvassed the idea 

for a day of observance of 

the relations between CAR- 

ICOM Member States and 

Cuba to my then colleague 

Heads of Government of the 

Region. 

As a result, in December, 

2002, at a joint summit with 

Cuba, the Havana Declaration 

made mention of the 

decision to observe CAR- 

ICOM Cuba Day, on the 8 th 

of December, every year. 

I am extremely proud, to 

have been instrumental in 

the process then, and I am 

equally elated to witness 

the benefits being derived by 

Antigua and Barbuda, and 

the Region as a whole, from 

this act. 

Today, cooperation between 

Cuba and Antigua 

extends way beyond the normal 

processes of diplomacy 

into areas of mutual support, 

health, education, sports and 

the development and management 

of local infrastructure. 

Hundreds of Antiguan 

and Barbudan graduates 

have returned home to use 

the skills and knowledge 

gained in Cuba, to further develop 

our twin-island state, 

and many of our nationals 

and residents are currently 

pursuing studies in various 

fields, at universities there, 

under the scholarship program 

that has been offered 

by the Republic of Cuba. 

Additionally, in the area 

of medical cooperation, 

many Cuban nationals serving 

as medical doctors, dentists, 

nurses, pharmacists and 

lab technicians have ably 

assisted our medical staff 

over the years, at our main 

hospital and district clinics. 

Moreover, many Antiguans 

and Barbudans through the 

Milagro Eye Care Program 

have journeyed to Cuba for 

eye care assistance and surgical 

procedures that were 

offered by the Cuban government. 

And thus, in addition to 

our annual April 6 th celebration, 

our joint diplomatic 

activities and our disciplined 

observance of the CAR- 

ICOM-Cuba Day on December 

8 th , every year, are 

all testament to our strong 

fraternal ties. 

More importantly, they 

are a clear indication that we 

made the right decision to 

formalize our relations with 

Cuba, and can now boast 

from a global perspective 

that twenty two years ago, 

we were on the right side of 

history. 

May the close ties of 

friendship, and the strong 

level of our bilateral relations 

continue to advance 

Former Prime Minister, the Hon., 

Sir Lester Bird. 

the national development 

agenda and other mutually 

rewarding benefits. Long 

live the relation between 

Antigua and Barbuda and 

Cuba! Viva la relación entre 

Antigua y Barbuda y la Republica 

de Cuba!!



Aloha first fete 

for 2016 season 

By Justin Peters 

This past weekend The Nest at Valley 

Church Beach was transformed 

once again into “Aloha Cove” and 

thousands of Feters dressed in Hawaiian 

themed clothing littered the beach 

for a phenomenal all-inclusive experience. 

As patrons entered, they were met 

by lovely hostesses who greeted them 

with smiles and provided “Tiki cups” 

and Hawaiian floral necklaces. 

Premium food such as Chicken and 

Pork Pasta, Ital, Roasted Pig, Seafood 

Pasta, Pastries and delectable cakes and 

sweets provided by some of the best 

chefs in Antigua and Barbuda were accompanied 

by the best drinks money 

can buy. 

To top it off the event hosted by 

Supa Dymond and Ibis featured local 

talent such Ricardo Drue, Claudette 

Peters, Tian Winter and MNM Music 

who brought their A game and kept the 

crowd rocking into the wee hours of the 

morning. 

As the first official fete of the 2016 

Carnival season, Aloha has set a quality 

trend and it will be exciting to see what 

comes after.

Monday 11th April 2016 c a r i b b e a n t i m e s . a g 13



Dominica prepares for 

mass banana exports 

ROSEAU - Dominica’s banana sector 

is getting back on its feet says the 

Hon Minister for Agriculture, Johnson 

Drigo. In an interview last Tuesday, 

Hon Drigo stated that Government’s 

rapid response at a time of impeding 

factors, especially Black Sigatoka, has 

paid off. 

He listed Government’s Black Sigatoka 

Management Programme which 

tackled the disease from several angles. 

“We are very satisfied with the 

farmers’ response to these efforts and 

TORTOLA - The Government 

of the British Virgin 

Islands, in defending a 

recent decision to bar a Canadian 

journalist, says journalists 

employed to overseas 

news agencies will not be 

allowed entry to work here 

unless they have the necessary 

permission. 

“Anybody that’s working 

in the BVI needs a work permit 

to work in the BVI. It’s 

just like any other place in 

HAVANA - The local handmade and 

manufactured charcoal in Ciego de Ávila 

province has a high demand in European 

markets due to its excellent qualities. The 

local Radio Reloj station pointed out that 

the 90 % of the charcoal, which is obtained 

from the Marabu wood, has a higher calorie 

level and a blue flame without smoke or 

ash, among its characteristics. 

In addition, it was pointed out that 

Ciego de Ávila will export some 28000 

tons which is a volume that surpasses what 

the world. Any place in the 

world that you go, you have 

to have the right permission 

to be in that place,” said Permanent 

Secretary in the Premier’s 

Office Brodrick Penn. 

In recent weeks, journalists 

employed to overseas 

news agencies have tried to 

enter this British territory to 

probe issues regarding the 

financial services industry. 

Some have written stories 

about being barred from entering 

the territory, or about 

being poorly treated upon 

entry. 

Earlier this month, Toronto 

Star journalist Marco 

Chown Oved, reported that 

he was turned back at the 

Terrence B Lettsome International 

Airport despite having 

prior discussion with the 

Governor’s Office regarding 

an interview. 

“We’ve seen the story 

[written by the Toronto Star 

was sent last year and it highlighted that Italy, 

Spain and France are the main nations 

that use that fuel material elaborated in that 

province from the center of Cuba. (Cuba- 

Si). 

we are seeing improvements across the 

board.” He revealed that the production 

forecast for November 2015 - June 

2016 is encouraging. “We anticipate 

962 tonnes of bananas and this is very 

encouraging for the banana sector,” he 

stated. 

The Agriculture Minister says that 

with Government’s assistance, harvesting 

will soon begin. “We had virtually 

stopped exporting bananas after Black 

Sigatoka took its toll on the industry. 

With the Banana Accompanying Measures 

Programme and Government 

bringing in well over 5,000 fresh plantlets, 

the banana sector is on the rise and 

we are ready to export bananas. We 

are excited about that,” he remarked. 

(Dominica News Online). 

BVI implements policy regarding overseas journalists 

Europe’s demand for Cuban Charcoal increases 

journalist], and it’s really a 

simple matter. He was aware 

that he needed to have the 

requisite permission to work 

in the BVI, and he came to 

the BVI without permissions, 

and so he was denied 

entry. It’s a very simple 

issue; he did not have the 

right permissions to be in the 

BVI,” Penn said. 

“There have been other 

international journalists that 

have inquired about coming 

into the BVI. They were told 

that they need work permits 

to enter the BVI, and in some 

cases where they are filming 

they need some permission 

also. 

“I am aware that there 

are other international journalists 

that have come to the 

BVI and they have sought 

the requisite permission 

to enter the BVI, and they 

came in and they did what 

they had to do,” Penn added. 

(Jamaica Observer).


Jamaica and Mexico to deepen relations with cooperation agreement 

PORT AU PRINCE - According 

to NOAH/Haiti Democracy’s 

eighth mission, 

the October 25, 2015 presidential 

elections were found 

to be generally fair and fraud 

free. The report released on 

Friday morning found that 

the process was generally 

free of major irregularities 

in the three most important 

stages of the electoral process 

namely: opening voting 

locations, the actual voting 

process, and post election 

vote counting. 

“The constant and continuing 

accusations of fraud 

are surprising to us as our 

mission did not find enough 

Boaters rescued off coast of Bahamas 

NASSAU - A group of boaters is lucky to be alive after 

being rescued by the United States Coast Guard. The group 

of ten was on a boat off the coast of the Bahamas when they 

started taking on water around 4 a.m., Saturday. 

The Coast Guard received the call around 7:30 a.m., and 

the overturned vessel was found around noon with the boaters 

clinging to the hull. The Coast Guard managed to pull 

them from the water and took them to the Bahamas. The 

10 survivors are believed to be migrants trying to get to the 

United States from the Bahamas. (WSVN). 

KINGSTON - Relations between 

Jamaica and Mexico will be further 

strengthened next month with the two 

signing a comprehensive cooperation 

programme. Mexico’s Ambassador to 

Jamaica, Martha Cecilia Jaber, said the 

programme, which will involve several 

projects, will be signed at the 8th Meeting 

of the Mexico-Jamaica Binational 

Commission in Mexico City. Sport is 

one of the areas under consideration. 

“We would be very happy to have any 

kind of agreement in the field of sport. 

For Mexico, it would be a very positive 

development to have an agreement 

with Jamaica, to share best experiences. 

We all know that sport in Jamaica 

is at an excellent level and we would 

like to have an exchange in that area,” 

Ambassador Jabber said. She further 

disclosed that the programme would 

include partnerships between the National 

Autonomous University of Mexico 

(UNAM) and the University of the 

West Indies’ (UWI) Mona Campus, 

focusing on research and development, 

the social sciences, bio technology and 

gender studies. 

Plans are also underway to start a 

Spanish Language training programme 

in Jamaica. “We are working at different 

levels to see how we can bring to 

irregularities to warrant 

the charge of generalized 

fraud,” says James Morrell, 

director of the Haiti Democracy 

Project. The report 

notes that opening of polling 

stations occurred without error 

in 72 percent of all cases 

observed. 

The most common errors 

included: voters who could 

not find their names on the 

list; poll watchers who attempted 

to enter without appropriate 

party credentials; 

and a slow process of counting 

blank ballots during 

preparation. It also states 

that the actual voting process 

was generally irregularity 

free, with no problems 

reported at 150 observed 

voting stations, minor problems 

at 82, and major problems 

at nine. 

The mission observers 

reported that in all monitored 

polling stations, voters’ 

names were checked 

Jamaica, a regular and standard programme 

for Spanish training. We will 

be working with UNAM because they 

have a lot of experience, they have officers 

in different countries where they 

have Spanish learning programmes,” 

the diplomat said. Modalities of the 

training programme are expected to 

be finalized at the session in May. This 

year, Jamaica and Mexico commemorated 

the 50th anniversary of the establishment 

of diplomatic relations in 

March 1965. Ambassador Jabber said 

the relationship between the countries 

has been “very friendly and very fruitful,” 

over the decades. (Caribbean360). 

General elections in Haiti declared fair and fraud free 

against the voter registry list 

and voters signed the registry 

before casting their vote. 

Observers identified party 

poll watchers who succeeded 

in voting more than once 

in only three percent of the 

polling locations. 

Only minor errors were 

detected in the vote counting 

process, which did not affect 

the count or the integrity 

of the results. The observers 

kept manual counts of 

the votes from the polling 

stations which were later 

compared to the published 

results. 

The report showed an 

almost perfect correlation 

between data gathered at the 

polling stations and the posted 

results. According to the 

report there were no differences 

in how the polling stations 

or the tabulation centre 

handled the presidential, 

legislative and local vote. 

(Caribbean News Now).



Asian cities jolted by 7.1 magnitude earthquake 

NEW DHELI - The Hindu 

temple in southern India was 

packed with thousands for a 

religious festival early Sunday 

when the fireworks began an 

unauthorised pyrotechnic display 

that went horribly wrong. 

Explosions and a massive fire 

swept rapidly through the Puttingal 

temple complex about 

3 a.m. in the village of Paravoor, 

killing 102 people and 

injuring 380 others, officials 

said. 

Scores of devotees ran in 

panic as the massive initial 

blast cut off power in the complex, 

while other explosions 

sent flames and debris raining 

down, a witness said. Many 

people were trapped inside. 

“It was complete chaos,” 

said Krishna Das of Paravoor. 

“People were screaming in 

ISLAMABAD - At least one person 

has been killed and several others injured 

after a powerful earthquake tore across 

south-west Asia. The 7.1 magnitude 

quake began in Afghanistan, close to the 

border of Tajikistan, and also jolted parts 

of Punjab, northern Pakistan and Azad 

Kashmir, sending people scurrying into 

streets. 

“The 7.1 magnitude earthquake 

struck at around 3:30pm at a depth of 236 

kilometres with its epicentre in Afghanistan’s 

Hindu Kush region”, Pakistan’s 

Meteorological Department said. According 

to the government sources, “the 

tremors caused a landslide on the Karakurm 

mountain range connecting Swat 

and Buner”. 

“One man was killed and another 

injured when a landslide hit a car in the 

Buner district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” 

a local official told the Telegraph. Buildings 

were seen swaying for more than a 

minute after the earthquake struck in Kabul 

and Islamabad. 

In India, the quake was so severe it 

prompted city officials in Delhi to shut 

down the metro system, while there were 

fears of post-quake landslides in the 

worst affected areas. 

A spokesman for the Pakistan Meteorological 

Department (PMD) said: “Over 

100 seismic events have been recorded in 

the dark. Ambulance sirens 

went off, and in the darkness 

no one knew how to find their 

way out of the complex.” 

The fire started when a 

spark from the fireworks 

show ignited a separate batch 

of fireworks that were being 

stored in the temple complex, 

said Chief Minister Oommen 

Chandy, the top elected official 

in Kerala state. Most of 

the 102 deaths occurred when 

the building where the fireworks 

were stored collapsed, 

Chandy told reporters. 

About 60 bodies have 

been identified so far, he added. 

Firefighters brought the 

blaze under control by about 7 

a.m., officials said. 

Rescuers searched the 

wreckage for survivors, while 

backhoes cleared debris and 

ambulances drove away the 

injured. 

The temple holds a competitive 

fireworks show every 

the region over the past six months alone; 

some rocked the earth like a boat, while 

most of them passed unnoticed. 

“The vast majority of these events 

originated in parts of the Hindu Kush 

range located in Afghanistan and Tajikistan 

and were felt as far afield as Islamabad 

and Lahore. 

“The region is roughly located on top 

of the meeting point for the Indian and 

Eurasian tectonic plates”. (The Telegraph). 

Fireworks blamed for over 100 deaths in India 

year, with different groups 

putting on displays for thousands 

gathered for the end of 

a seven day festival honoring 

the goddess Bhadrakali, a 

southern Indian incarnation of 

the Hindu goddess Kali. 

This year, however, authorities 

in Kollam district 

had denied temple officials 

permission to hold the fireworks 

display, said A. Shainamol, 

the district’s top official. 

Permission was denied 

over fears the competing sides 

would try to outdo each other 

with more and more fireworks 

and because the temple gets 

overcrowded during the festival, 

she said. Public displays 

of fireworks can be conducted 

only with permission from 

district officials, Shainamol 

said. (CBS News).


Hundreds hurt as migrants 

confront Border Police 

PELLA - A group of migrant 

men run away from 

tear gas used by Macedonian 

police after migrants broke a 

fence at the northern Greek 

border point of Idomeni, 

Greece,on Sunday. Thousands 

of migrants protested 

at the border and clashed with 

Macedonian police. 

Migrants waged running 

battles with Macedonian police 

Sunday after they were 

stopped from scaling the border 

fence with Greece near 

the border town of Idomeni, 

and aid agencies reported that 

hundreds of stranded travelers 

were injured. 

Macedonian police used 

tear gas, stun grenades, plastic 

bullets and a water cannon 

to repel the migrants, many of 

whom responded by throwing 

rocks over the fence at police. 

Greek police observed from 

their side of the frontier but 

did not intervene. 

Clashes continued in the 

afternoon as migrant groups 

twice tried to overwhelm 

Macedonian border security. 

The increasing use of tear 

gas reached families in their 

nearby tents in Idomeni’s 

makeshift camp. Many camp 

dwellers, chiefly women and 

children, fled into farm fields 

to escape the painful gas. 

Observers held out hope that 

evening rainfall, which began 

about seven hours into the 

clashes, would dampen hostilities. 

The aid agency Doctors 

without Borders estimated 

that their medical volunteers 

on site treated about 300 people 

for various injuries. Achilleas 

Tzemos, deputy field coordinator 

of Doctors without 

Borders, told the AP that the 

injured included about 200 

experiencing breathing problems 

from the gas, 100 others 

with cuts, bruises and impact 

injuries from nonlethal plastic 

bullets. 

He said six of the most 

seriously injured were hospitalised. 

Greece criticised the 

Macedonian police response 

as excessive. Giorgos Kyritsis, 

a spokesman for the government’s 

special commission 

on refugees, said Macedonian 

forces had deployed an “indiscriminate 

use of chemicals, 

plastic bullets and stun 

grenades against vulnerable 

people.” 

But he said blame for Sunday’s 

trouble had to be shared 

with those in the camp spreading 

rumors of border openings. 

(ABC News). 

Yemen clashes rage hours 

before scheduled cease fire 

SANAA - Yemeni security 

officials say clashes were underway 

hours before a scheduled 

cease-fire between Shiite 

Houthi rebels and forces allied 

with the internationally 

recognised government. The 

officials say Sunday’s clashes 

took place in several areas, including 

the provinces of Jawf, 

Sanaa, and Taiz, where the 

Houthis have gained ground 

despite Saudi-led airstrikes. 

The officials, who are neutral 

in a conflict that has split the 

armed forces, spoke anonymously 

because they were not 

authorized to brief reporters. 

The cease-fire is scheduled 

to begin at 11:59 p.m. (2059 

GMT) Sunday. The Saudi-led 

coalition’s spokesman said 

Friday it is ready to commit to 

a cease-fire as long as the rebels 

abide by a U.N. Security 

Council resolution that calls 

for them to withdraw from 

cities, including the capital, 

Sanaa, and hand over their 

weapons. (Fox News). 

IS group killed 21 Syrian Christians 

DAMASCUS - Reports are emerging of the killing of Syrian 

Christians by Islamic State militants in the town of al-Qaryatain. 

The town was retaken by Russian-backed Syrian forces 

and their allies earlier in the week. Some 21 Christians were 

murdered when almost 300 Christians remained in the city after 

IS captured it last August, said the head of the Syrian Orthodox 

Church. They included three women, Patriarch Ignatius 

Aphrem II told the BBC. He said some died whilst trying to 

escape while the others were killed for breaking the terms of 

their “dhimmi contracts”, which require them to submit to the 

rule of Islam. Five more Christians are still missing, believed 

dead. Negotiations and the payment of ransoms have seen the 

remainder of the group re-join their families. 

The patriarch said warnings had come that Islamic State 

planned to sell Christian girls into slavery. But despite the murders, 

he said restoring harmony among faiths remained his goal. 

“We lived this situation for centuries, we learned how to respect 

each other, we learned how to live with each other,” said the 

patriarch. (BBC).



Friday’s Sudoku Solution 

S U D O K U 

CROSSWORD 

Across 

1. Fruit beverages 

5. Room theme 

10. Large truck 

14. Timid person 

15. Ridiculous 

16. In the center of 

17. Machu Picchu dweller 

18. ____ out (narrowly defeated) 

19. Kelly or Autry 

20. Lack 

21. Takes to court 

22. Diva ____ Callas 

23. More inexperienced 

25. Warble 

26. Voted in 

29. Dine 

32. Marry clandestinely 

36. Spanish ranch 

38. Hot, molten rock 

39. Sleeved garment 

41. Glance over 

42. Of one’s bones 

44. Appears to be 

45. Poet’s always 

46. Afternoon performance 

49. Skirt opening 

51. Pencil ends 

56. Perspire 

58. Genesis site 

60. Very many (2 wds.) 

61. Ball holders 

62. Stockholm resident 

63. Fable 

64. Proves human 

65. Pares 

66. Thing 

67. Acapulco coin 

68. Item of value 

69. Monster’s loch 

Down 

1. Astonishing 

2. Roadside eatery 

3. Host 

4. Digging tool 

5. Certain engine 

6. Withstand 

7. Pen 

8. Individuals 

9. Scarlet 

10. Astronomer Carl ____ 

11. Development 

12. Skirt length 

13. Bright thought 

22. Average skirt 

24. Once named 

25. Religious order 

27. Spicy dish 

28. Pitch 

30. Eve’s guy 

31. Sunbathes 

32. Besides that 

33. Huron, e.g. 

34. Supervisors 

35. Crony 

37. Vane letters 

39. Doctor’s “at once!” 

40. Sombrero, e.g. 

43. Send forth 

44. Watery expanse 

47. Sewing tool 

48. Author ____ Hemingway 

50. Rodeo rope 

52. Glossy fabric 

53. Make joyful 

54. Portrayals 

55. Plant stalks 

56. Stair part 

57. “Wish You ____ Here” 

58. Flock members 

59. Inferior grades 

62. Health resort


Today’s weather forecast 

Antigua and Barbuda 

Intervals of clouds and sunshine. 

High - 83ºF/28ºC 

Low - 75ºF/24ºC 

Wind: East 15 mph 

Sunrise 5.54 am; Sunset 6.22 pm 

Friday’s Crossword Solution 

HOROSCOPE 

ARIES (March 21-April 19). 

What some creatures eat on 

the regular is poisonous to 

other creatures. Make no assumptions. 

Ask and you’ll 

learn something interesting 

about the particular tolerances 

and preferences of those you 

adore. 

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). 

Your future success depends 

on being able to read the 

crowd today. When you anticipate 

what people need and 

want, you gain real power. In 

short: Know your audience. 

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). 

You’re not always in a position 

to follow your hunches, 

so seize today’s moment and 

run with it. This is a prime 

opportunity in which your life 

can be markedly improved 

when you act on your psychic 

inklings. 

CANCER (June 22-July 22). 

Love will turn you into an artist. 

The sweetness you feel for 

someone puts a song in your 

heart, poetry in your dreams 

and other kinds of creativity 

you never even considered before 

into your able hands. 

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). If you 

needed another reason to maintain 

an easygoing attitude, just 

know that any troubles you 

encounter today will pass so 

quickly that they will hardly 

qualify as true “troubles.” Call 

them “blips” instead. 

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). 

Observe the situation a while 

longer. There will be tremendous 

benefits to being perceived 

as cool, mysterious 

and wise. You will embody all 

those things in silence. 

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Casual 

conversation will be most 

enlightening. Social experience 

will teach you what you 

can’t get in a book. You’ll be 

impressed by the eloquence of 

others, and it will rub off on 

you too. 

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). 

You want more than the others 

want, and your drive is much 

stronger than theirs, too. Just 

be careful not to let your ambitions 

overshadow the small 

victories of the day that really 

deserve to be celebrated. 

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22- 

Dec. 21). It will take more 

than usual to see what’s so 

fantastic about a situation, 

but don’t stop looking. There 

is far more good than evil in 

the world. Focus on the many 

things that are going right. 

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 

19). You don’t always recognize 

“enough” right away, 

and that’s something to work 

on now. Knowing the proper 

amount of energy to bring to 

the situation will make everything 

about it better for you. 

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 

18). You may not like the hand 

you’re dealt today, but there’s 

a winning way to play it. Probably 

you’ll have to bluff a bit. 

Don’t think of this as a lie; 

rather, think of it as a hopeful 

projection. 

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). 

Of course you deserve your 

own kindness. If you’re still 

struggling with that it’s a good 

day to simply drop the fight. 

Assume that one of the main 

things you need right now is 

more compassion and then 

give it to yourself.



T&T’s Bovell III bags 50m 

breaststroke bronze medal 

Vardy double sends 

Leicester closer to title 

Jamie Vardy scored twice as leaders 

Leicester won at Sunderland to move to 

within three victories of their first top-flight 

title. The Foxes are also guaranteed a topfour 

place finish following Tottenham’s 3-0 

win over Manchester United. 

Vardy coolly slotted in the first against 

Sunderland, before outpacing the opposition 

defence and tucking home a second deep 

into injury time. 

The hosts’ best chance fell to Jack Rodwell, 

who blazed over. Sunderland remains 

18th in the Premier League table, four points 

from safety. (BBC). 

Top T&T swimmer and Olympic 

bronze medallist George Bovell III 

swam to a bronze medal in the men’s 

50m breaststroke at the 12th Eindhoven 

Swim Cup, which is also used 

as the Dutch Olympic Trials, on Saturday. 

Swimming from lane three in 

the eight-man final, the 32-year-old 

Bovell III got home in 28.29 seconds 

to trail winner Hendrik Feldwehr who 

won in 28.10 and Timon Evenhuis, the 

runner-up in 28.20 at the Pieter Van 

Den Hoogenband Swimming Stadium. 

The other finishers in the final were 

Amo Kamminga (28.51), Ties Elzerman 

(28.56), Kasper Leeuw (28.75), 

Kingue Struijf (28.76) and Jordan 

Kraaijenhof (28.99). 

Earlier in the morning heats, 

Bovell, who was fourth in the men’s 

50m freestyle final in 22.49 on 

Wednesday, was the third fastest 

swimmer going into the final when he 

won the sixth of eight heats in 28.47 

seconds, ahead of Elzerman (28.57) 

and Struijf (28.91), Evenhuis was the 

top swimmer in heat in 27.92 and had 

the best time overall while the others 

to qualify from his heat was Leeuw 

(28.59) while Feldwehr won heat 

seven and was second best overall in 

St Lucia has retained 

the Winlott 

Windward Islands 

Under 15 cricket 

title with a convincing 

85 run win 

over Grenada at 

Benjamin’s Park in 

Portsmouth Dominica 

on Friday. St 

Lucia batted first 

and posted 201-5 in 

their allotted 50 overs. 

Garvin Seriuex continued with 

his good form in the tournament 

and led the way with a well played 

62. Akeem Auguiste added 30 and 

Dominique Auguiste 32 not out. 

Ravon Hitlall was the pick of the 

bowlers for Grenada taking 2-28. 

Grenada in reply was bowled out 

for 115. Anthony Dunbar scored 28, 

Kaydun Felix added 22. Zephaniah 

Edwin bagged 5-20 and Simeon 

28.26 ahead of Kamminga (28.72) and 

Kraaijenhof (28.81). 

Last month at the Sixth Trofeo Citta 

di Milan Swimming Championship, 

Bovell was fourth in the 50m breaststroke 

in 28.50 while he took bronze 

in the men’s 50m freestyle in 22.74 

seconds. (Trinidad Guardian). 

St. Lucia wins Windward Islands 

U-15 cricket tournament 

Gerson 3-18. 

St Lucia took the match by 

85 runs to win the title for a third 

straight year. Meantime Dominica 

will have to settle for last place 

as they went down to St Vincent at 

Windsor Park Sports Stadium. 

Dominica put up their best batting 

performance of the tournament 

but the bowlers lacked discipline 

conceding 46 extras to hand St Vincent 

the 4 wicket win. (Dominica 

News Online).


Cuties Ovals capture Division I title 

By Carlena Knight 

F and G Trading Cuties Ovals Ojays 

can add another trophy to their shelf as 

they were recently crowned the 2016 

division one league champions. 

Ojays, who won the double 

last year, defeated H. U. F. Baldwin 

Braves, 75-73, at JSC on Thursday in a 

nail biting match to hoist the trophy for 

the second year in a row. 

It was a buzzer beater tipped in by 

Captain Bryan ‘Hollywood’ Matthew 

that secured the Ovals men the title. 

Fans, players and management 

along with longtime sponsor the Hon. 

Steadroy ‘Cutie’ Benjamin, gathered 

center court as they were awarded 

the trophy by President of the Antigua 

Barbuda Basketball Association, Daryl 

Matthew. 

The defending champions will look 

to repeat what they did just a year ago 

By Carlena Knight 

The Antigua Barbuda Bennaboys have 

improved on the FIFA World rankings published 

last Thursday. 

Moving up five places from our previous 

position of 90 th in the world, the Bennaboys 

now sit 85 th on the world rankings and 8 th in 

By Vanroy Burnes 

The proposed Four 

Knights Cricket Academy 

plan by Minister of Sports 

Paul Chet Greene will soon 

be a reality, this is according 

to the Minister himself on a 

recent sports show program. 

Minister Greene said the 

program will start within the 

next two weeks when aspiring 

young players will be enrolled 

in the program. 

According to Minister 

Greene, some young players 

have been already identified 

amongst them are Antigua, 

Leeward Islands and West 

Indies U-19 fast bowler Alzarri 

Joseph, Rahkeen Jimbo 

Cornwall and Orlando Peters. 

Antigua & Barbuda improves FIFA ranking 

CONCACAF. 

This move was due to the team’s performance 

in the group 1 matches of the CFU Caribbean 

in which Antigua Barbuda advanced 

after finishing second behind St. Kitts and 

Nevis. We at Caribbean Times congratulate 

the Bennaboys on their accomplishment. 

as they prepare for the Playoffs which 

will begin early this week at JSC. 

In the other nail biting match 

at JSC on Thursday, Sanipro Northside 

Stingerz upset former champions, Flyers 

Basketball, 68-65. 

This win is a much needed boost 

for the newly promoted team who will 

do battle in their first division one playoffs. 

The proposed Four Knights Cricket 

Academy soon to be a reality 

The Academy which is 

in honor of Sir Vivian Richards, 

Sir Richie Richardson, 

Sir Anderson Roberts and 

Sir Curtly Ambrose for of 

the World’s greatest Cricketer 

ever expected to bring out 

the best of our young and 

talented cricketers. 

The Academy will be run 

through the newly re-organized 

Sports & Games Department 

in the Ministry of 

Sports. 

Former Antigua, Leeward 

Islands and West Indies 

former all-rounder Eldine 

Baptiste will head the Technical 

part of the programme 

along with former West Indies 

pacers, Winston Benjamin 

and Kenneth Benjamin. 

Minister Greene also added 

that in time will expanded 

to include foreign players, 

however, it is still not clear 

the format of the Academy 

as it relates to the days and 

venue. The four Knights 

Academy is the brain child 

of Minister Greene



Pacquiao retires after unanimous win over Bradley 

If it was indeed the final 

fight of an unforgettable 

career that launched him 

from unspeakable poverty 

in the rural Philippines 

to worldwide fame and 

fortune, then Manny Pacquiao 

went out with the 

crowd-pleasing brio that 

was his calling card. 

The fighting congressman 

from Sarangani province 

dropped Timothy 

Bradley in the seventh and 

ninth rounds en route to a 

unanimous-decision victory 

on Saturday night at the 

MGM Grand Garden Arena. 

All three ringside judges 

scored it 116-110, as did 

the Guardian. 

Afterward he confirmed 

the central selling point of 

the promotion: that it was 

his last fight. 

“Yes, I am retired,” 

Pacquiao said. “I want to 

go home to my family and 

serve the people.” 

Pacquiao’s first outing 

since coming up short 

against Floyd Mayweather 

more than 11 months ago 

found the fighter at a curious 

point. 

The ill will left over 

from an underwhelming 

showing in the fight of the 

century and the anti-LGBT 

rhetoric that cost him an 

endorsement deal with 

Nike had cast him, to some 

extent, in the unfamiliar 

role of heel. 

Instead it seemed the 

moment was there for 

Bradley, whose own Hall 

of Fame career was for 

so long obscured by their 

first fight, a highly disputed 

split decision that went 

to the American, to step up 

and finally claim the respect 

he deserves. It wasn’t 

to be. 

Instead Bradley found 

himself in with the same 

nightmare matchup he’d 

struggled with in two previous 

meetings: a puncher 

just as fast and better defensively. 

“He was a step ahead of 

me,” Bradley observed afterward. 

“I was supposed 

to be a step ahead of him.” 

(The Guardian).


Seamers, Rahane lift Supergiants to winning start 

MUMBAI - Rising Pune 

Supergiants made a sweet 

start to their life in the IPL, 

their seamers waylaying 

Mumbai Indians’ top order 

to set up a breezy nine-wicket 

win over the defending 

champions. Chasing 122, 

they got there with 32 balls 

to spare, Ajinkya Rahane 

steering them home with 

a fluent unbeaten 66 off 42 

balls. 

The pitch had lost most 

of its early bite when Supergiants 

batted, and Rahane 

quickly got into the groove 

with a pair of straight-driven 

fours off Mitchell McClenaghan, 

in the first and third 

overs of the innings. Any 

residual chasing nerves Supergiants 

may have had dissipated 

in McClenaghan’s 

third over - the fifth of the 

innings - when both Rahane 

and Faf du Plessis picked up 

sixes off mis-hits; they probably 

would not have carried 

all the way on a bigger 

ground. 

Nonetheless, Supergiants 

were well on their way, and 

the openers put on 78 before 

du Plessis played on to Harbhajan. 

It left the rest of the 

batting a mere 44 to get from 

62 balls, and Kevin Pietersen 

hastened their passage 

home with a couple of monster 

sixes off Harbhajan. 

The 15th over began with 

Supergiants needing eight to 

win, and Rahane finished the 

game with two sixes in four 

balls, clubbing Hardik Pandya 

over the long-on boundary 

and then ramping him 

A fired-up Ishant Sharma celebrates Lendl Simmons' wicket 

over the third man boundary. Marsh, getting late swing 

Mumbai made life easier 

for Supergiants, with Jos reduced them to 30 for 4 by 

away from the right-handers, 

Buttler fluffing a chance to the end of the fifth over, and 

run du Plessis out after a it became 40 for 5 when Rajat 

Bhatia trapped Kieron 

dreadful mix-up between 

the openers, and Shreyas Pollard lbw with an offcutter 

Gopal missing a caught-andbowled 

off Rahane. 

Apart from helping the 

in the eighth over. 

The season began on a quicker bowlers, the pitch 

Wankhede Stadium pitch was also offering Bhatia 

dissimilar to the easy-paced, grip, and Mumbai struggled 

for rhythm against his 

hit-through-the-line surfaces 

offered up during the World stump-to-stump mix of cutters 

and slower balls. He 

T20, and Mumbai, after 

surprisingly deciding to bat finished with figures of 1 for 

first, struggled against the 10 from four overs. Shreyas 

seam movement and bounce. Gopal, who made 2 off 16 

They only got as far as 121 balls, faced nine balls from 

because Harbhajan climbed Bhatia and failed to score off 

into Pune’s bowling towards any of them. 

the end of the innings, clubbing 

an unbeaten 45 off 30 

balls and scoring the bulk of 

the 41 runs Mumbai made in 

the last three overs. 

Till his intervention, they 

seemed to be struggling 

to even get to 100. Ishant 

Sharma, getting the ball to 

nip around and climb on 

the batsmen, and Mitchell 

Employment 

Gopal’s stay at the wicket 

came to an end when he 

holed out to long-off off the 

bowling of M Ashwin, the 

debutant legspinner. Nerves 

were evident in the number 

of short balls M Ashwin 

sent down - they gripped 

and turned too much for the 

Mumbai batsmen to do very 

much with them - but he also 

bowled a couple of ripping 

googlies that hinted at the 

potential Supergiants must 

have seen in him to shell out 

INR 4.5 crore for his services. 

His more famous namesake 

R Ashwin, meanwhile, 

only bowled the one over, 

continuing a puzzling trend 

of being under-utilised by 

MS Dhoni. 

He struck with his first 

ball - just as Ishant, Marsh 

and Bhatia had also done - 

but that first ball came after 

a 15-over wait. Dhoni declined 

to use him after that, 

entrusting the final overs to 

RP Singh and Ishant. Though 

Harbhajan took heavy toll of 

those overs, Mumbai had 

made far too little before 

that for his runs to make too 

much of a difference. (ES- 

PNcricinfo) 

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Russell and Hogg rout Daredevils 

KOLKATA - Kolkata 

Knight Riders responded 

with a ‘horses for courses’ 

approach on a greenish Eden 

Gardens surface. Shakib Al 

Hasan and Morne Morkel, 

central to their plans last 

season, were benched. 

Sunil Narine, who 

played a stellar role in their 

title-winning run in 2012 

and 2014, was unavailable 

because of his father’s demise. 

Did it hamper them? It 

didn’t look like, as Andre 

Russell and Brad Hogg took 

three wickets apiece to skittle 

Delhi Daredevils for 98. 

Robin Uthappa and Gautam 

Gambhir’s 69-run opening 

partnership then set a 

strong platform in the chase 

for a nine-wicket win with 

35 balls to spare. 

Russell and John Hastings, 

taking Morkel’s place, 

ran in hard and hit the deck 

harder to extract unusual 

bounce. 

Quinton de Kock, who 

had pulled Umesh Yadav for 

back-to-back boundaries, 

was the first to go when he 

skewed a catch to mid-off. 

Four balls later, Shreyas 

Iyer was trapped lbw for a 

duck. Mayank Agarwal and 

Karun Nair also exited in 

successive overs as Hastings 

capped the Powerplay with 

a wicket maiden. By then, 

Daredevils were in a familiar 

spot at 35 for 4. 

Gambhir multiplied the 

efficiency of his attack by 

Andre Russell celebrates. 

deploying two slips for most 

parts of the innings. He even 

placed himself at short leg 

after Russell dismantled the 

top order. 

Pawan Negi, who was 

promoted to No.6, swished 

and missed balls. He was 

finally put out of his misery 

when Hogg had him 

stumped for a 19-ball 11. 

IPL debutant Carlos 

Brathwaite, who had fired 

West Indies to their second 

World T20 title last week, 

momentarily broke the 

shackles with a biff over 

wide long-on, but was foxed 

by a skiddy googly from Piyush 

Chawla two balls later. 

Sanju Samson was the 

eighth Daredevils batsman 

to be dismissed before Hastings 

made a reappearance to 

wrap up the innings. 

Daredevils had slumped 

to their seventh sub-100 

score in IPL, which also happened 

to be the second-lowest 

score in the tournament’s 

history at Eden Gardens. 

The chase was a stroll for 

Knight Riders, and the onset 

of dew only made things 

worse for Daredevils. 

Zaheer Khan, playing his 

first competitive game since 

May 2015, floated flick-me 

balls in the lower 120kph 

range to Gambhir’s pads and 

got picked away for three 

fours in the second over. 

Uthappa moved into his 

shot-making stride with 

a brace of straight-driven 

fours as the hosts raced past 

50 in the eighth over. 

Although Uthappa holed 

out for 35 in the tenth over 

against the run of play, 

Gambhir and Manish Pandey 

ensured Knight Riders 

enjoyed a winning start. 

(ESPNcricinfo)

Caribbean Times 86th issue - Monday April 11th 2016

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