IF YOU happen to be in Linden and want to look your best on a limited budget Leota’s Fashion World is the place to go.
Nine years ago, Leota McDonald decided to take $250, all the money she had at the time, and invest it in stock for a small dry goods stand. The only motive she now admits to for making that decision was the urge to make money. Today, she is the owner of two large boutiques in the shopping mall 
parallel to the Linden market and has turned her business into a success story.
Leota’s Fashion World offers the customers a wide range of shoes, fabric, accessories, garments for men, women and children, and cosmetics at competitive prices.
Most of the stock is bought from traders, private individuals who receive barrels from abroad and more recently Curacao. Transportation to take these wares to Linden is not a problem for Leota. “Years ago the police had a habit of harassing vendors on the Linden Highway and seizing stuff. This is not the case now and many people are relieved,” she said.
Another problem had been thefts but this has ceased since she retained a guard service for the boutique.
Leota plans to someday own a large store and a garment factory where she can sew her own clothes. Presently she is content at the way her business is running, but is concerned about the recent slump in business because of the strike by Guymine workers.
Leota’s boutiques are a source of pride to their owner. “I have no regrets about my decision to start my own business. It has given me a chance to be independent and I am not committed to anyone but my customers and I enjoy the freedom it offers.”
For persons who want to venture out on their own by starting their own businesses she advises: “Do not waste your money. Many people get excited by the profits and spend foolishly.
Always let your business be the priority and give it great thought. Be willing to make sacrifices and remember to always sell cheaper than your competitor.”
GCUC To Meet GCBC But…
Truce Is Declared
THE raging storm over the omission of Guyanese umpires from the Test panel for last year’s Test series between Pakistan and the West Indies as well as the current one between India and the West Indies seems to be over, at least for the moment.
Truce has been declared, at least temporarily, but if the peace is to be maintained in the interest of Guyana and West Indies cricket the Guyana Cricket Umpires’ Council (GCUC) and the Guyana Cricket Board of Control (GCBC) will have to resolve the several undeclared but existing thorny issues.
President of the West Indies Cricket Board of Control (WICBC) Clyde Walcott told a press conference at the GCC on Sunday that he and Board Secretary Stephen Camacho held a meeting with the GCUC on the same day to deal with concerns which related to the omission of a Guyanese umpire from the Test panel.
Walcott described the meeting as amicable, pointing out that the umpires were reminded of the WICBC policy on selection of teams and umpires which was essentially based on the quality of performance.
He declared: “The policy of the WICBC is to select the best possible umpires regardless from where they come, I would hope that that would be the policy of the Board with regard to anything West Indian.’’
The WICBC President disclosed that he has advised the GCUC to seek meetings with the GCBC in order to resolve whatever differences exist in the interest of West Indies cricket which is advanced and is being played professionally by the players.
He emphasised:- “I hope that umpiring problems do not affect the professionalism of West Indies players.”
Walcott told the press conference that some reports on local umpiring are promising and it may not be long before some local umpires are selected to the Test panel.
In explaining the system of selection, he stated that the mechanism employed comprises the present and past reports of captains on the performance of umpires standing in the Red Stripe Cup and Geddes Grant matches.
WICBC President Walcott pointed out that the three-man Committee (Lance Murray, Keith Walcott and Stephen Camacho) which selects the panel also seeks the view of selectors and other knowledgeable persons who watch the matches for endorsement or rejection of the captains’ reports.
He added that when the WICBC appoints umpires to stand in the Red Stripe Cup and Geddes Grant competitions it is an indication that they are under consideration for Test selection.
On the question of communicating with WICBC affiliates and umpires, Walcott stressed that decisions, appointments and other such releases are published on CANA with copies posted to its affiliates later.
He emphasised that such CANA reports could be considered authentic and may be acted on.
However, coming out from the press conference are indications that there are serious communication problems between the local Board and the GCUC.
Meanwhile, the eagerness of umpires Rudolph Haynes and Clyde Duncan to tell their side of the story following hints from President of the GCUC Compton Vyphius that they would be penalised suddenly disappeared after they held a meeting on Saturday afternoon.
When contacted on Sunday for his side of the story, one umpire declared: “No comment.”
CLYDE WALCOTT
Back G$ With Gold Says WPA
THE opposition Working People’s Alliance yesterday called on government to back the local currency with the country’s gold resources, saying it is a shame this has not been done before.
“It is the considered view of the WPA that Guyana should hold gold as part of its reserves as many countries are secretly doing. It is a shame that Guyana, a country which has been producing gold as part of the money economy for over a century, does not back its currency with gold,” the party said in a statement.
The party said Guyana should use gold as a monetary resource without apology, claiming that Guyana’s finance officials are guilty of following ultra-modern theories of non-gold producers and ignoring the psychological factors in the global monetary system.
The party called for Trinidad and Tobago to be offered gold deposits in Guyana or equities in for foreign gold companies establishing themselves in Guyana’s gilt-edged mineral industry.
