Challenges lie in “bureaucratic movement” between Ministries – Holder
US-imposed catfish ban …says food safety authority would have accelerated resolution Agriculture Minister, Noel Holder has pointed towards the bureaucratic movement between the Fisheries Department of his Ministry and the Government Analyst Food and Drug Department of the Public Health Ministry as one of the main challenges against compliance with the US-imposed catfish ban which was enforced to achieve standard seafood entering that country.In a recent interview with Guyana Times Holder stated that while work has been done to lift the ban, it is an international issue which has to be dealt with in a holistic manner. For now, “nothing new” has emerged from discussions and they are working towards an arrangement to adhere to the standards set out by the United States of America.“There is nothing new on it. It’s the question of coming to an arrangement with the US concerning our adherence to their rule or how we can best adhere to it. We just can’t lift the ban because it is worldwide and not just against Guyana,” said the Minister.He mentioned that if the food safety authority – which would have been created under the Food Safety Bill – was established, the process would have been faster than having two Ministries involved.“We are working with the US. If we had the food safety authority in place, it would have been way much faster but what is happening here is that you have two different Ministries involved which is the Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries Department and the Ministry of Health Food and Drug Department so the bureaucratic movement between Ministries have some challenges.”Holder added, “The other is the negotiation with the US, with regards to how best we can comply with their standards. The thing is, when the US is dealing with us, we got to deal with the Ministry of Health and then the Ministry of Health got to get on with Fisheries [Department], then they got to get back on with the Ministry of Health”.The Food Safety Bill was presented to the National Assembly in 2016, providing for a food safety authority, which would spearhead all aspects of food production including preparation and transportation for exportation.Meanwhile, on the part of the Public Health Ministry, Junior Minister Karen Cummings told this publication that “progress” has been made on their end but did not elaborate on the matter.Last December, Holder was questioned by Opposition officials as to what Government has been initiating to lift the ban after some US$14.7 million was set aside for the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism as part of Guyana’s contribution to international organisations.Opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira questioned whether Guyana could get help from this very organisation, to which Holder replied in the affirmative. She also inquired whether legislation was being drafted to assist Guyana with gaining compliance.According to the regulations, Guyana must be able to catch catfish and transport it to a processing plant while it is alive. This is in contradiction to what is being practised here, whereby the fish is caught, disembowelled and the carcass is iced until it reaches the shore.Holder noted that the fishing industry represents approximately US$70 to $80 million annually to Guyana, with the ban on catfish costing the country US$1.2 million.The ban by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) was instituted against Guyana in 2018.Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo had called out the incumbent Administration for not doing enough to address the concerns of the fishing industry with the ban.Jagdeo had said that he is “of the firm view that the coalition Government is fully responsible for the plight of local fishermen, given that they were notified of the USA’s pending changes to export regulations since November 2015. The coalition Government, despite having received notice of these changes, failed to communicate effectively with the stakeholders of the fisheries sector, many of whom have invested heavily in this area”.“To make matters worse, the coalition Government received an extension until February 3, 2018, to bring Guyana into compliance with the new export regulations and failed again” the Opposition Leader had said.
…as threats of split from Govt gather steamBy Jarryl BryanCiting instances of decisions being made at Cabinet without consulting the smaller coalition partners among other exhibitions of strong-arm politics, a Working People’s Alliance (WPA) executive member is of the view that coalition politics in Guyana has failed to live up to expectations.According to WPA heavyweight Tacuma Ogunseye, leaders of the party owe it to their members to put their continued involvement in A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) on the agenda for serious discussion. He noted that there are concerns that the party’s time in the coalition has not done the party, and the country as a whole, any good.“Relations with the WPA and the PNC/R in the APNU, on a number of issues, have been a serious problem. It has created a lot of internal tensions within the party, both at home and overseas. And I believe that during the last almost three years in Government, many people in the party, both abroad and home, have varying views as to whether the WPA’s presence in Government has been beneficial to the country and the party,” Ogunseye disclosed.He made it clear that after observing coalition politics and the way it has played out in Guyana since 2015, he is convinced it has failed to live up to his expectations.According to Ogunseye, coalition politics has involved the cabinet making and executing policies with the WPA party leaders ultimately being informed through the press.“I am disappointed that in the APNU, the way in which the coalition has developed over the last three years leaves much to be desired. There is little consultation. Little forum for articulating concerns and views; and in any coalition, the groups form policies and the cabinet executes the policies that are designed by the parties.“But the way in which matters have developed in this coalition is that the cabinet usurps both positions,” Ogunseye explained.Ogunseye stressed that this is not how a coalition is supposed to work. According to him, a comparison with the PNC’s dealings with the WPA and with the Alliance for Change (AFC) shows that the latter party is shown more consideration than his party, and for obvious reason.“The AFC will have to speak to what extent they are satisfied…(but) the AFC is in a position to make the Government collapse. It’s a strategic position, (and) they have to deal with them differently,” he explained.Additionally, he noted that the AFC negotiated an arrangement, the Cummingsburg Accord, with APNU. He pointed out that the WPA was not afforded the opportunity to negotiate a formal arrangement for the 2015 elections. As such, only the PNC’s “moral decency” could hold it to the principles of coalition politics when dealing with the WPA.In the meantime, Ogunseye noted that the WPA has been forced to accept collective responsibility as a party on issues it played little to no part in. Far from improving, he expressed concerns that things were getting worse.“We don’t believe it is helping the coalition. The coalition is not getting better. We don’t believe it is helping the country, because the country is not getting the best demonstration of coalition politics. Coalition politics is gradually becoming the politics of the past.”No concernMeanwhile, PNC/R General Secretary Amna Ally has expressed unconcern to talk of the WPA breaking away. According to Ally, things were being blown out of proportion.When contacted, WPA Executive Dr David Hinds dispelled any ambiguity about the party’s intention. He noted that contrary to Ally’s assertion, the party leaving has always been on the agenda, and its members have always been aware that the day may come when hard decisions would have to be made. Early talks of leaving, however, were suppressed in the interest of “the collective and country.”“The strength of the Coalition is its (unity). Yet the Minister is saying that she is not worried that one partner is so dissatisfied that some of its leaders are raising the possibility of leaving. How can a spokesperson of a Government and Coalition with a tiny majority in the National Assembly not be worried that there is grave dissatisfaction within the coalition?”But Hinds made it clear that the idea of a coalition party was much more popular with voters than the idea of the individual parties: the PNC, AFC and WPA. He made it clear that none of the parties could have achieved victory at the polls in 2015 on their own.“The Coalition won the election in 2015 because a small majority of the electorate perceived that a coalition of parties stood a better chance of defeating the incumbent PPP,” Hinds explained. “And my knowledge of Guyanese politics tells me that any rupturing of that coalition would work to the disadvantage of the Coalition at the next election.”
…AG says “crisis” looms…no need for Opposition to return – JagdeoThe parliamentary Opposition has firmly stated that they will not return to the National Assembly for the extension of Government’s life, but Attorney General, Basil Williams is still hoping that this will be done, stating that he foresees a “crisis” situation in Guyana.Opposition Leader Bharrat JagdeoDuring a People’s National Congress (PNC) press conference on Friday, Williams said that the Government will make a decision on returning to Parliament after discussions in ‘Cabinet’ (which, according to the Caribbean Court of Justice, stands resigned).He added that if the Opposition does not return to Parliament, then caretaker President, David Granger would have no other choice than to “dissolve Parliament”.Attorney General Basil WilliamsHowever, even as Williams is hoping for the Opposition to return to Parliament, there are already calls for Granger to dissolve Parliament. These calls started when the proclamation was issued for General and Regional Elections, which were constitutionally due since September 18. The elections are to be held on March 2, 2020.No need to returnOpposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo had debunked claims made by the Government that the Opposition needs to return to Parliament before it can be dissolved.It is a requirement of the President to issue a proclamation to dissolve Parliament when an election is impending. However, Government is seeking to extend its life by ordering the parliamentary Opposition to return to Parliament. The former Head of State clarified that an extension of Government’s life is unnecessary since it is not linked to any decisions that should be taken to facilitate the polls. Moreover, the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) would have bestowed the coalition Administration with a caretaker status, indicating that its main function is to host elections.“He sought to link the date with the return of the parliamentary Opposition to Parliament to extend the life of his Government…Therein are several fallacies. One, there is no link to the extension of his Government, which has been illegal since March 21. He never sought that extension before,” Jagdeo had related.He added, “Secondly, the extension is wholly unnecessary for him to discharge the caretaker responsibility that had been accorded to him by the CCJ. Because a caretaker Government is only vested with one responsibility, that is, holding elections and having the authority to do all the things necessary with the holding of elections. By virtue of being caretaker, he can proclaim the date and he can dissolve the Parliament.”According to Jagdeo, Government is looking at the extension as a legal footing for activities which are not authorised under a caretaker Administration.“We believe the real reason for all of this [is] they want legal coverage for all the criminal acts of theft and transfer of resources that they have committed because they believe if we extend the life of the Government, there will be no prosecution. There can’t be prosecution,” he signalled.In this regard, he reaffirmed that there is a zero per cent chance of them returning to the National Assembly.“We have no intention of going to Parliament to extend the life of his Government. Absolutely none. No intention whatsoever,” Jagdeo positioned.In order for Government’s legitimacy to be restored, they would require a two-thirds majority in Parliament.
Gus Sansone has not had to pay an electricity bill in five years, thanks to the 35 mph wind gusts that whip past his house in the high desert of San Bernardino County. Sansone owns the 80-foot wind turbine outside his home. And it generates enough energy not only for his swimming pool motor and hot tub, but also for the air conditioning and other electricity in his 1,600-square-foot home. Since he bought the system, which cost $32,000, from the Bergey Windpower Co. in Norman, Okla., he has watched 20 people in his Oak Hills community, near Hesperia, put up their own turbines. “We’re saving barrels of oil and pollution,” said Sansone, 58, a retired engineer. As energy costs rise, more consumers like Sansone are investing in wind turbines, aiming to take control of their household utilities and to cut their energy bills sharply. Going mainstream In the past, small wind turbines provided electricity for farmers, boaters and homes that were off the traditional electrical grid. Today, more of the buyers are mainstream consumers who want to supplement, if not entirely replace, traditional energy from power companies, said Ron Stimmel, spokesman for the American Wind Energy Association. He says the market is growing 30 percent to 40 percent a year. “People are beginning to look for and find ways to generate their own electricity,” he said. Concerns about global warming, reliance on foreign oil and rising energy costs, he said, are contributing to the growth. The latest turbines convert wind into household energy by using wind speeds as low as 9 mph, and they are smaller, quieter and less expensive than older types. But an investment still requires deep pockets and plenty of land. Most systems require at least a half-acre, and costs can range from $12,000 to $50,000. The good news is that prices have dropped by half in the past five years. Propellers on poles The wind turbines — some of which measure about 12 feet in diameter — look like propellers mounted on poles 33 feet to 100 feet high. The turbine is connected to a home’s main circuit breaker panel. When the wind is blowing, the spinning propeller creates power for the home; when the wind is not blowing, the house relies on energy from the power company. During times of strong winds, a turbine can produce excess energy and, depending on the utility company, can result in energy credits for the owner to use later. The cost of putting up a wind system can take years, even decades, to recoup, depending on state incentives, available tax credits and the consumer’s utility company and location. Parts of California, Texas and the Midwest typically get some of the strongest winds. More state incentives and rebates for alternative energy are helping to spur demand. Sansone’s $32,000 system qualified for a $16,000 rebate from the California Energy Commission as well as credits on his state income tax. Several other states, including Colorado, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, offer similar incentives for wind-power purchases. A state-by-state guide with rules and incentives for alternative energy is at dsireusa.org. Some power companies, such as Xcel Energy, offer “net metering,” which gives consumers credit or pay for excess wind power generated by their systems. Momentum building Some utilities install meters that literally run backward when renewable energy is being pushed into the electrical grid. Taxpayers could soon get credit on their federal returns, too, under legislation introduced in February that would give consumers a one-time $3,000 credit for every kilowatt of their turbine’s capacity; the average size is 2 kilowatts to 10 kilowatts. Another piece of federal legislation would establish rules for consumers to receive compensation for any excess power produced by wind for their power company. “Energy is on everyone’s minds right now,” said Robert W. Preus, chief executive of Abundant Renewable Energy, a manufacturer in Newberg, Ore., that shipped its first wind turbines last year. “It’s a small market, but I expect enormous growth over the next five years domestically and internationally.” The concept of small wind turbines is blossoming in Canada, Germany and Spain as well as in Britain, where rooftop versions are popping up in urban areas despite debate about their efficacy. Momentum may be building, but not everyone welcomes wind power. Some communities restrict the height of the windmills or ban them. In San Bernardino, where Sansone lives, some county residents compared the noise from turbines to the sound of jets revving up on a runway. Their complaints ultimately forced county officials to increase permit fees for turbine owners and to require them to notify neighbors before installing one. Technology improves Americans can also buy smaller, quieter roof-mounted wind turbines for as little as $1,000, but because these smaller turbines sit closer to the ground, they endure more turbulence and produce less power. Some of these turbines can power just a few light bulbs or perhaps a single microwave. Technology for more-powerful systems is also improving. Southwest Windpower in Flagstaff, Ariz., teamed with scientists at the National Renewable Energy Lab Department to develop the Skystream 3.7, a sleek 1.8-kilowatt wind turbine that is no louder than an air conditioner and works with wind speeds as low as 9 mph when mounted on poles as short as 33 feet. It can power 40 percent to 80 percent of a typical 2,000-square-foot house, depending on wind speeds, according to Southwest Windpower. Customers can also check wind speeds and energy production online with software provided by the company. Since it began production in October, Southwest has shipped 450 of the units, which are priced at $12,000. Andy Kruse, the company’s chief executive, said he expected to double sales, to $24 million this year. Money in my pocket’ Carl Baldino, a textile plant manager from Mullica Hill, N.J., bought a Skystream unit from Southwest Windpower last summer. Baldino already uses solar panels to provide electricity to his house, and he earns about $3,500 a year in extra income by selling “alternative energy credits” to power companies via the Web site of the New Jersey Clean Energy Program. He also earns an extra $80 a year selling excess solar energy to his power company, Atlantic City Electric. Baldino hopes to make even more money with his new wind turbine, which provides about 20 percent of his household energy. “With rising energy costs, every day and every week that goes by, it’s net money in my pocket,” he said. 160Want local news?Sign up for the Localist and stay informed Something went wrong. Please try again.subscribeCongratulations! You’re all set!
This article appears in the current edition of our sister publication, Sport magazine. Download the free Sport iPad app from the Apple Newsstand, and follow on Twitter @SportmagukIt started as a trickle. A Europa League winner away in Cyprus. The third goal in a comfortable Capital One Cup victory at home to Nottingham Forest. The trickle became a torrent, and then a flood. A Thursday night hat-trick. Two against the league leaders, including a commanding run and drive. A towering header to win the north London derby – his second of the game.Kane nets a North London derby winnerTottenham’s Harry Kane is a phenomenon. He has emerged this season as one of England’s brightest attacking prospects. For our interview he’s back where it all began: at Ridgeway Rovers, the youth football club that helped launch the careers of David Beckham, Andros Townsend and Kane himself.“It’s great to come back and see some of the younger kids who will hopefully one day be playing for a big club like Spurs,” says Kane after watching the current members of the club working with trainee coaches from the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation. “Obviously David Beckham used to play here, and he was a big idol of mine growing up. So the fact that he played for Ridgeway made it even more special that I was playing for them as well.”Main portrait photo and photo above by Jon EnochBeckham never popped his head in while Kane was on the books at Ridgeway, but he did have a brilliant childhood encounter with another footballer. “I was in the street with my mates just playing football,” Kane remembers. “Just having a little muck around. This Range Rover pulled up, and Jermain Defoe got out and said: ‘Do you mind if I have a little kickabout?’ He was probably there about half an hour, just messing about with us. I was quite in awe, quite starstruck. But it was great for him to do that and something I’ll definitely never forget.”Old-fashioned qualitiesWith his hair slicked back and wearing a classic football shirt for our photoshoot, Kane looks like a figure from English football folklore: a classic number nine straight from a pre-war cigarette card. But he is not just an old-fashioned goalscorer. There’s much more to his game.He’s been compared to Alan Shearer, but Kane grew up admiring a more artful breed of forward – Tottenham’s own Teddy Sheringham. “I can see a bit of both in me, which isn’t bad, to be honest,” he says. “To be compared to someone like Alan Shearer is very special. He’s the all-time Premier League top goalscorer. If I score anywhere near as many as he did, it wouldn’t be a bad career.Teddy Sheringham watches Alan Shearer score for England at Euro 96“I feel sometimes I play in both of those roles for Spurs, and I see little bits that they had in my game. Shearer was a great finisher, and I like to think I’m a good finisher. Sheringham brought others into play, so you can definitely say I have some similar attributes. Hopefully I can do well and continue to score goals, and one day people will say that this player is like Harry Kane.”Kane is a thoroughly modern breed of striker, and he’s much more comfortable in modern surroundings. After the shoot, he swaps Tottenham’s 1961 FA Cup final shirt for a hoody bearing the logo of another winning team: the New England Patriots.Portrait by Jon EnochKane is a huge American football fan. One of his dogs is named Brady, after the Patriots’ quarterback, while the other is (coincidentally) called Wilson – sharing a name with the opposing quarterback (Russell) in this year’s Super Bowl. It’s a few days after the Super Bowl when we meet him, and Kane is buzzing from the result. He stayed up with Brady and Wilson to watch the Seahawks blow their last-minute chance to win the game. The 21-year-old has his own experience of painful late reversals, as he recalls when we ask him for his worst moment in football. “When I was on loan at Leicester, we were playing against Watford in the playoff game,” he recalls. “Anthony Knockaert had a penalty to take us to Wembley. He missed it, and they went up the other end and scored from the rebound. It was crazy, because it had happened in a Brentford game the week before. So for it to happen twice in a week…”Kane might have been robbed of the opportunity to appear at Wembley by that last-gasp goal, but he’ll get his chance this weekend in the Capital One Cup final against Chelsea. It’s a repeat of “a very special day out” – Kane was in the Wembley stands in 2008 when Spurs beat Chelsea after extra-time to win their most recent trophy.Tottenham celebrate winning the League Cup in 2008“I was there watching Spurs beat Chelsea on the big stage, and winning trophies,” he says. “It was something I grew up dreaming of doing, and now I have the opportunity.”Kane scored twice and won a penalty against Chelsea on New Year’s Day; a powerful performance, but was it his best in a Tottenham shirt? “I think so,” he says. “So far. It was a game I’ll always remember. Against a top team like Chelsea, to be able to score two goals myself and five as a team, it showed how well we played that night. It was a very special night for me, the players, the fans, everyone.” One of their ownKane is a local lad, and a Tottenham fan – something that has greatly endeared him to the White Hart Lane faithful, who loudly proclaim the forward as ‘one of their own’.“My family are big football fans, and they used to take me over there,” he explains. “I’m sure they’re as proud as I am that I’m playing for Spurs.”Kane wears the number 18 shirt previously occupied by Jurgen Klinsmann and Jermain Defoe, and has inherited their clinical touch. The latter even bequeathed his shirt to Kane: “When Defoe was leaving, he said: ‘You’ve got to have that number 18 shirt, because it’s a goalscoring shirt.’”Kane’s first senior game for Spurs was “a very emotional night”, he says: “It was obviously a great feeling to be walking out that tunnel at White Hart Lane, and I’ve been able to do it more often now, and hopefully I’ll continue to do it for a long time.” His favourite terrace chant, says Kane, is ‘He’s one of our own’:Kane on his Spurs debut against Hearts in the Europa League“Especially after that Chelsea game – it was the loudest I’ve heard it, which was very special to me.” The chants have only got louder since we spoke to Kane. We suspect his answer to his best moment for Spurs may have changed too, after a match-winning performance against local rivals Arsenal. Kane has certainly vindicated his manager Mauricio Pochettino’s decision to give him a regular starting place – but did he have to keep knocking on the manager’s door to get the chance? “I just had to keep doing what I was doing,” he says. “Whenever I was playing in Europe or in the cups, I was scoring. So I knew I just had to keep my head down and I’d get the chance in the Premier League.”Rush goalieKane’s rise to prominence has not been straightforward. He worked hard to make his mark on loan in the lower leagues, with varying degrees of success.“I went to Leyton Orient when I was 17 and scored five goals in nine games,” he says. “Then Millwall when I was 18, scored nine goals in 27 games. They were very good loans for me. Norwich and Leicester were maybe not as good as I wanted them to be [a combined two goals in 18 appearances]. But it’s still an experience on how to deal with not playing as well and being on the bench, and I think it helped me.”Kane could well be out on loan again this season were it not for Tim Sherwood. “I think sometimes there are a lot of good players who just don’t get the chance to showcase themselves on the big stage, which is unfortunate,” says Kane when we ask whether it’s difficult for young English players to break through.“I was quite lucky. Tim Sherwood first of all played me [regularly] in the Premier League. I knew Tim from the development squad, and we had a great relationship. He threw me in when maybe other managers wouldn’t have. Maybe that’s what a few more young strikers coming through need.”His breakthrough moment this season was arguably the hat-trick he scored in a Europa League game at White Hart Lane. Two weeks later he had his starting place. It was a performance given extra excitement by a brief stint in goal after Hugo Lloris was dismissed. “When I was really young, I had a trial for Ridgeway as a goalkeeper, and they wanted to take me as a goalkeeper,” he says. “But I got a bit bored and wanted to go out on the pitch. It was a good decision in the end, especially after what happened this season!” Keeping goal after scoring a hat-trick in the Europa LeagueKane let a low free-kick slip through his fingers at the near post. “I was quite looking forward to it,” he says when we ask what was going through his head as he donned the goalkeeper’s jersey and gloves against Asteras. “I’d scored a hat-trick anyway, so I was buzzing from that, and I actually go in goal in training sometimes. I’m quite good. We won the game 5-1 in the end, so it didn’t really matter. But yeah, I probably won’t be putting the gloves on again for a while!”Striking statsThere’s no doubt about the position Kane will be playing in on Sunday – he’ll lead the line against the defence he terrorised on New Year’s Day. But if he had to choose between lifting the Capital One Cup or a Champions League spot, which would he go for? “To win a trophy for a club like Spurs would be something very special, but we want to try and get into the Champions League too, so we’re focused on doing the best we can in every competition.”Celebrating semi-final success in the Capital One CupHe has sensed the anticipation in the area building as the Wembley date with Chelsea draws closer. “There are a lot of Spurs fans around this sort of area, and – especially this season now we’ve got to Wembley – you feel that little buzz in the air around the place.”Kane still lives locally with his girlfriend, 10 minutes from his family, who he says have been the biggest influence on his career. Apart from watching American football, he spends his time playing golf and, inevitably for a 21-year-old footballer, on the PlayStation. “I play FIFA and Madden a lot,” he says, referring to the NFL video game franchise. “I play as Tottenham quite a bit on FIFA and I always put myself on. Hopefully my stats might have gone up a bit!”In a triumph for investigative journalism, we fired up the PS4 to have a look. His form has seen Kane’s virtual rating increase from a 68 to a 77, but what stats does he think have changed in real life?“I think I’ve got more physical,” he says. “I’ve got fitter, stronger, faster, which has helped me. And I’m always working on my finishing as well. I think it’s something natural as I’ve got older, but we’ve been working a lot on it in pre-season with the new manager – a lot of time spent in the gym, so that has definitely been part of it.”His performances have caught the eye of England manager Roy Hodgson, who has all but confirmed that Kane will get his first senior call-up when the squad is named for the games against Lithuania and Italy. The striker has been an integral part of the youth set-up for England at all age levels, and will probably be going to the European Under 21 Championship in the Czech Republic in the summer. “I’m really looking forward to it,” he says. “It’s going be a great tournament, we’ve got a great side and we’ve got a good chance.”Kane recently signed a new contract with Spurs that lasts until 2020, and the goals keep going in. He’s at 24 so far for the season, in all competitions: “I’ve set myself a new target in my head. I won’t tell you what it is, but I’ll tell you if I get there.” Right now, no matter what that target is, you get the feeling that Kane is able.For your chance to win a signed Harry Kane Tottenham shirt, follow Sport magazine on Twitter Harry Kane portrait by Jon Enoch for Sport magazine 9
Lyon manager Bruno Genesio has admitted the club may have sell to Arsenal target Alexandre Lacazette, because ‘there are some offers that you cannot refuse’.The Gunners have already failed with a £29.3million bid for the striker after Lyon rejected the approach and claimed the player was irreplaceable.?Arsenal are, however, thought to be readying a new bid and they have now been given fresh hope after Genesio revealed Lacazette could be sold this summer.“He can leave if Lyon want him to. There are some offers that you cannot refuse,” Genesio told RTL.“My desire as manager is that the best players stay and Lacazette is very important for the team. I have been assured by my president that we will keep the player.“You never know what could happen right up until the 31st August.” 1 Arsenal are reportedly preparing a fresh bed for French striker Alexandre Lacazette 
SHEEPHAVEN SUB AQUA CLUB NOTESSheephaven SAC had another full week of diving activities last week starting on Wednesday evening with the Class of 2016 Sheephaven Trainees attending their first set of lectures. This was followed on Saturday with a club dive to Campbell’s Bed and finished off on Sunday with a snorkel at PortnaBlagh Harbour. Anne Boyle, Sheephaven SAC Training Officer, led the new Sheephaven Trainees in their first round of dive lectures, which will be followed over the coming weeks by further lectures in the clubhouse and pool work at the nearby Mevagh Dive Centre 3m dive pool.This process of lectures and practical pool work will prepare the new trainees for their first open water dive in the coming weeks and from there into what will undoubtedly be a wonderful adventure below the waves.The Saturday morning dive was on the Campbell’s Bed reef that extends in a generally north south direction for a couple of hundred metres near to Kerrykeel in Mulroy Bay.At its deepest on the south side the reef comes up from a depth of 27 metres to just 2 metres from the surface, which allows a diversity of light conditions and marine life accordingly. On-site water temperature was as low as 6 degrees Celsius, while visibility in the upper column was good at over 5 metres; at 25 metres it was very poor at less than a metre.Nonetheless for the one stick dive party on board dive boat Áine the thankfully calm conditions allowed them to conduct dive times of greater than 50 minutesOn what has been recorded as one the warmest January days at 15 degrees Celsius at Malin Head, the Sunday morning Sheephaven snorkel from PortnaBlagh was once again very well attended and allowed some club members the opportunity to successfully conduct their water fitness test.Even though water temperature was not much above 8 degrees Celsius there was a balmy southerly breeze blowing across the harbour which encouraged the snorkelers to cross over to the golf course point and into a lovely Sunday morning snorkel.All in all a busy week for Sheephaven members and no doubt an indicator of what will hopefully be a great year ahead.This week marks the 99th anniversary of the sinking of what must be most iconic wreck around Donegal if not Irish waters, that of HMS Laurentic on the 25th January 1917. She was famous before WWI for her speed across the Atlantic, a product of her revolutionary triple engine design, with two outside reciprocating steam engines and a centre low pressure turbine driven from the outside engines’ exhaust steam, allowing her to efficiently maintain speeds of up to 16 knots. The Laurentic was 565 feet long, 67 feet wide and weighted nearly 15,000 tonnes and in 1910 was used to capture the notorious murderer Dr Crippen, allowing Chief Inspector Drew to get to Canada before Crippen, arrived despite leaving days after he had fled across the Atlantic.In 1917 the Laurentic was dispatched from England with 43 tonnes of gold made up with 3,211 bars, to pay for war armaments and after a brief stop in Buncrana she sank after hitting 2 mines off the mouth of Lough Swilly.On a snow filled January night the Laurentic sank taking 354 passengers and crew with her, along with the gold. Over the next 7 years divers conducted over 5,000 dives and recovered 99% of the gold, which in 1917 was valued at £5 million, in itself a record for achieving the most recoverable percentage value from a shipwreck.With the value of gold today at over $1,000 per ounce the 43 tonnes would be worth around $1.5 billion, giving the value of each missing bar of gold worth around $0.47 million. Without doubt the missing bars of gold are long since gone, but the legend that they represent still attracts 99 years later. SHEEPHAVEN SUB-AQUA TRAINEES HAVE THEIR FIRST DIVE AT PORTNABLAGH was last modified: January 26th, 2016 by Mark ForkerShare this:Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to print (Opens in new window)Tags:DivingNoticesSheephaven Sub-Aqua
View comments Brace for potentially devastating typhoon approaching PH – NDRRMC Last December in Philadelphia, Sevyn Streeter performed the anthem wearing a “We Matter” jersey before the 76ers’ game against the Los Angeles Lakers.The R&B artist had been scheduled to sing earlier before the 76ers’ home opener, but was scratched by the team two minutes before the performance because she was wearing a “We Matter” T-shirt. Following backlash from players and other members of the organization, the 76ers apologized to Streeter two days later and invited her to sing at a future game. FILE – Houston Rockets guard James Harden, center, links arms with his teammates during the playing of the National Anthem before an NBA pre-season game between the Rockets and the Oklahoma City Thunder on Oct. 3. APNEW YORK — The national anthem singer at the Brooklyn Nets’ home opener took a knee at the end of her performance.Justine Skye was nearing the completion of the song Friday night when she went to one knee for the finish. There were some cheers, but appeared to be more boos from the crowd at Barclays Center to see the Nets play the Orlando Magic.ADVERTISEMENT Raiders’ Marshawn Lynch suspended game for shoving official Skye, who is black, is a recording artist from Brooklyn for Roc Nation. Rapper Jay-Z, the agency’s founder, was a part-owner of the Nets when they moved to Brooklyn five years agoPlayers from both teams stood along the foul lines during her performance, as NBA players have continued to do. Unlike the NFL, where some players have followed Colin Kaepernick’s lead and taken a knee during the anthem, the NBA has a rule requiring players to stand.FEATURED STORIESSPORTSWATCH: Drones light up sky in final leg of SEA Games torch runSPORTSSEA Games: Philippines picks up 1st win in men’s water poloSPORTSMalditas save PH from shutout“We recognize that tonight’s national anthem singer kneeled briefly at the end of her performance and we were not aware that she was going to do so,” a Nets spokeswoman said.Skye isn’t the first anthem singer to make a statement during a performance. MOST READ Japan ex-PM Nakasone who boosted ties with US dies at 101 Trending Articles PLAY LIST 00:50Trending Articles00:50Trending Articles02:49Robredo: True leaders perform well despite having ‘uninspiring’ boss01:37Protesters burn down Iran consulate in Najaf01:47Panelo casts doubts on Robredo’s drug war ‘discoveries’01:29Police teams find crossbows, bows in HK university01:35Panelo suggests discounted SEA Games tickets for students02:42PH underwater hockey team aims to make waves in SEA Games QC cops nab robbery gang leader, cohort
Kin of Misamis Oriental hero cop to get death benefits, award — PNP LATEST STORIES Read Next Kammuri turning to super typhoon less likely but possible — Pagasa Typhoon Kammuri accelerates, gains strength en route to PH Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. CPP denies ‘Ka Diego’ arrest caused ‘mass panic’ among S. Tagalog NPA Stronger peso trims PH debt value to P7.9 trillion
MOST READ PH underwater hockey team aims to make waves in SEA Games PLAY LIST 02:42PH underwater hockey team aims to make waves in SEA Games01:44Philippines marks anniversary of massacre with calls for justice01:19Fire erupts in Barangay Tatalon in Quezon City01:07Trump talks impeachment while meeting NCAA athletes02:49World-class track facilities installed at NCC for SEA Games02:11Trump awards medals to Jon Voight, Alison Krauss Is Luis Manzano planning to propose to Jessy Mendiola? Sports Related Videospowered by AdSparcRead Next “A spade’s a spade, I guess,” he added. “I just don’t have that much feeling about it now since I’m focusing on the next season already.”If the numbers are any indication, Perkins is a lock to win the Rookie of the Year (ROY) plum.He currently leads the crop with an average of 23.2 statistical points (SP). Perkins’ closest pursuer and La Salle teammate, Jeron Teng of Alaska, a teammate in college, normed 18.7 SPs in 45 games—nine more than the Filipino-American’s total outings.FEATURED STORIESSPORTSPrivate companies step in to help SEA Games hostingSPORTSUrgent reply from Philippine football chiefSPORTSSEA Games: Biñan football stadium stands out in preparedness, completion“That’s of the last season. Rookie of the Year is already in the past. I’m looking forward now,” Perkins said.But don’t get the Fuelmaster workhorse wrong. Perkins would want to take home the award when the Leo Awards gets going during the league’s 44th season opening on Jan. 13. SEA Games: Biñan football stadium stands out in preparedness, completion LOOK: Joyce Pring goes public with engagement to Juancho Triviño Phoenix forward Jason Perkins is the presumptive top rookie of Season 43 of the Philippine Basketball Association. But he prefers not to harp about it.“I don’t really have too many feelings about it right now,” Perkins told the Inquirer. “I just want to get back to practice with these guys.”ADVERTISEMENT Tough SMB just gets tougher TS Kammuri to enter PAR possibly a day after SEA Games opening
SEA Games: Biñan football stadium stands out in preparedness, completion SEA Games hosting troubles anger Duterte Hotel management clarifies SEAG footballers’ kikiam breakfast issue “I have like a notebook where I write things that I want to attract,” he said. “That was in there—being Rookie of the Year.”“But then again, there are a series of events that happened that brought this [circumstance]—like Christian [Standhardinger coming in late], Kiefer [Ravena getting suspended halfway through the season], and even Jeron [getting] stabbed.”Ravena, the second overall pick, was an overwhelming favorite to win the award.Perkins, though, explained that his perspective is from being written off.“Even before, people wouldn’t believe in me too much. But I believe in myself and the people I’m surrounded [with],” he said.ADVERTISEMENT Private companies step in to help SEA Games hosting LATEST STORIES Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. View comments
US judge bars Trump’s health insurance rule for immigrants OLYMPICS BOUND. Photo from Julian Macaraeg’s Facebook account.Speed skater Julian Macaraeg has made history as the country’s first participant in the Winter Youth Olympic Games.The 14-year-old from New York secured a spot in the 2020 Winter YOG in Lausanne, Switzerland with a performance to remember in the ISU Junior World Short Track Championships in Montreal, Canada.ADVERTISEMENT View comments The Philippine Skating Union headed by Josie Veguillas confirmed that Macaraeg met the qualifying time of 42 seconds in the 500 meters that allowed him to climb the world junior rankings at No. 42.Macaraeg also finished as the finest Southeast Asian skater in both the 500- and 1,000-meter qualifications.FEATURED STORIESSPORTSPrivate companies step in to help SEA Games hostingSPORTSUrgent reply from Philippine football chiefSPORTSWin or don’t eat: the Philippines’ poverty-driven, world-beating pool starsThe PSU is looking forward to book another qualifier to the Winter YOG when fellow speed skater Marc Gonzales aims to meet the standard in the Junior Grand Prix events together with Filipino figure skaters.Macaraeg has positioned himself in following the footsteps of two-time winter Olympian Michael Martinez, who made a name for himself by qualifying the 2014 and 2018 Winter Games. PH underwater hockey team aims to make waves in SEA Games PLAY LIST 02:42PH underwater hockey team aims to make waves in SEA Games01:44Philippines marks anniversary of massacre with calls for justice01:19Fire erupts in Barangay Tatalon in Quezon City01:07Trump talks impeachment while meeting NCAA athletes02:49World-class track facilities installed at NCC for SEA Games02:11Trump awards medals to Jon Voight, Alison Krauss UAE protests over Qatari players’ eligibility at Asian Cup Private companies step in to help SEA Games hosting ‘We are too hospitable,’ says Sotto amid SEA Games woes Grace Poe files bill to protect govt teachers from malicious accusations Sports Related Videospowered by AdSparcRead Next MOST READ SEA Games hosting troubles anger Duterte LATEST STORIES Oil plant explodes in Pampanga town PDEA chief backs Robredo in revealing ‘discoveries’ on drug war Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. ‘We are too hospitable,’ says Sotto amid SEA Games woes