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ARCHIVES FOR SEPTEMBER 18, 2009

As we celebrate the ‘Festival of Lights’….
President urges nation to look beyond symbolism
By Priya Nauth
PRESIDENT Bharrat Jagdeo is urging the nation to look “beyond the symbolism” of the festival of Deepavali and use the lessons of this very special occasion to “change our lives.”

This was his message to the scores of Guyanese from all walks of life who gathered at the La Bonne Intention (LBI) Community Centre ground on the East Coast Demerara for a grand cultural show on Friday night as part of the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha’s annual Deepavali Motorcade.

As has been the custom over the years, hundreds of people of all races and creed flocked the streets to catch a glimpse of the motorcade made its languorous way to LBI, the spectacular display of the brilliantly illuminated vehicles showing creativity with devotees chanting and glorifying the name of Maha Lakshmi to usher in the spirit of joy and cheerfulness.

The floats moved off from the Shri Krishna Mandir in suburban Campbelville then headed first into Sandy Babb Street, then the Seawall Road and onto the East Coast Public Road and the LBI Community Centre Ground where everything came to a head.

At the Ground, patrons were treated to a rich and packed cultural show, which featured performances by members of the Dharmic Nritya Sangh and mandirs all across the country and devotional and filmi songs by devotees, veterans and young artistes across the country.

Pledge
Noting the importance of Diwali to the Hindu community, President Jagdeo said: ?They will light diyas in their homes, and that symbolic act means that they are making a pledge.”

The significance of that pledge, he said, is to dispel darkness from theirs and their families lives; to remain positive in their outlook; and to ensure the knowledge flows through their hearts and minds.

?nd I hope that the symbolic act that we will perform tomorrow night would not die with the flames of the diya, because if that were to happen, then this special festival for all of us will mean nothing,” he said.

Guyanese need to remain positive in their outlook, he said, and to ensure that ignorance does not rule our lives. “The only way we can do that is if we commit ourselves to a course; a course of action that encourages broadmindedness; that recognises where we live; and how special we are as a people and a country. A broadmindedness to understand our difficulties, and the difficulties of the world, yet at the same time recognise that only through positive action are we going to change our circumstances.”

Speaking of circumstances and the tens of millions of people in various parts of the world today who are enduring one tragedy or the other, President Jagdeo said we too have our difficulties, from poverty and despair, to relationships built solely on money, and a morbid focus on only the negative. He also touched on the plight of our children, saying that enough is not being done for them. “Too many of our children don’t have the right environment to be nurtured in; there is too little compassion in many parts of our society, and these are the things that we talk about … the dark forces.”

Noting that the dispelling of dark forces is what Diwali is all about, the proverbial “triumph of good over evil,” President Jagdeo cautioned that this is not something to be taken lightly. “…it is not some nebulous concept; it is not something only for the scriptures. The dark forces are real things; things that affect us in our daily lives, and so, if we want to triumph over these things, we have to change our attitude as a country and as a people.”

While on the subject of change, the President said there is no such thing as happenstance in Hinduism; that Hindus firmly believe in the ‘law of karma’ and that actions have consequences. “So if you translate that into real life, it means that we have to change things here. And so I urge all of you, even in the difficult times, to stay positive and focus on this future,” the President said, adding:

… if we do this together -- not only on Diwali night when we wear our best clothing and we are all pure in our hearts for that night and then everything else goes to pieces afterwards -- we are going to have a better country, and ultimately, that is what we want.”

General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Mr. Donald Ramotar noted that Diwali is one of the beautiful festivals in this multicultural country that helps to “enrich our lives and help to enrich us in many other ways.”

Great messages
He however pointed out that Deepavali in itself has some great messages, and that these messages are not only applicable to the past, but to the present and always.

It is a message of the triumph of good over evil; a message of the triumph of light over darkness; and knowledge over ignorance; and indeed messages we can apply them to almost every aspects of our lives,” he said, adding: ȁIt warns those who are contemplating wickedness to be careful to know that anything they try to do in the dark eventually comes to light.”

Like the President, he congratulated Pandit Reepu Daman Persaud for the tremendous services rendered to the country, recalling that in a very difficult period of time in this country, it was Pandit Persaud and the Dharmic Sabha that stood up to defend these principles and Hinduism as a whole in promoting a multicultural society.

Pandit Persaud, during his brief address, lauded the President for his commendable achievements, and also joined others in expressing hope that His Excellency would be given a third term in office.

He also gave the assurance that the Dharmic Sabha “is here to stay,” and will grow stronger to represent the Hindus of this country, and took the opportunity to thank all those involved in the programme, including their sponsors, Digicel.

In the illuminated vehicles competition, again the 1st prize in the large group category went to the Dharmic Naujawaan, which walked away with the coveted $200,000 prize and a trophy. In the small group category, the Balesar Family copped the 1st prize with its $200,000 purse along with the trophy.

Diwali night siege lifts in Alexander Village
-Police presence deters thugs
By Parvati Persaud-Edwards

Children enjoy puja being performed for the first time in the young lives on a Diwali night

“SO FAR so good,” said Rohini Bonar, who lives obliquely opposite the Alexander Village Mandir. ȁThe Mandir looks beautiful after a long, long time.”
Sharvitree Alfred, whose picket fence had been broken down by the hordes so they could climb on to the Mandir’s roof and her verandah last year, had built a solid concrete fence this year in anticipation of the invasion.

However, except for the purposes of beautification, she need not have bothered. Police were swarming the village so that the residents could be protected from the massive crowds who have made Diwali night a horror-filled evening for over a decade.

Police checks vehicles entering Alexander Village to ensure no illegal substances are smuggled in.

Alexander Village once boasted one of the most beautifully-decorated Mandirs, with their immediate neighbours in Ruimveldt welcome visitors to the community as entire families strolled around enjoying the spectacular illuminations and beautiful ambience, with sweetmeats being shared by members of the Mandir and villagers to everyone.

However, eleven years ago, strangers from as far as the East Coast corridor have been making Diwali night a horror-fest for the villagers, until they finally gave up celebrating their most beautiful festival altogether.

Even the members of the Mandir stopped performing puja and decorating their temple, because this auspicious day was being defiled, and the diyas trampled upon by persons who did not care how much pain and destruction they were causing to an entire community.

The breathtakingly beautiful Lakshmi Mandir at the Cove and John Ashram before evening puja.

Last year, the outrage escalated to levels where homes were invaded, and even the police came under attack. The besieged villagers implored President Jagdeo for help.

This year, following meetings with Minister Rohee and senior police officers, including the Deputy Commander of ‘A’ Division, Mr D Ramnarine, and the Commisioner of Police, Mr Henry Greene, who made initial reconnaissance to strategise for the most effective mechanism for protecting the village, police ranks were deployed in overwhelming numbers around the perimeters of the Mandir and throughout the village from as early as noon yesterday.

Vehicles were disallowed into the village after 5pm, and visitors were thoroughly scrutinised by ranks stationed at strategic locations, with explosive devices being confiscated. One villager who began playing loud music was politely asked to turn it down so as not to encourage lawless elements to see it as an invitation to party.

Villagers and visitors could walk for the first time in over a decade in peace during Diwali night.

After eleven years Marlon Alfred could finally invite his friends over on a Diwali night. Marlon’s friend Germaine, is at left; cousin, Ryan, is at centre, with Marlon at right. Subsequent to this picture being taken, they were joined by Henry, Roderick, Fabian, and Raul and they went for a stroll to enjoy a peaceful Diwali night in Alexander Village.

Sharvitree Alfred said that her teenage son, who could not invite his friends before on a Diwali holiday, could finally do so, even taking them for a stroll around the village. Her little daughter, who’d spent years hiding between her parents and older brother while strangers broke the fence around her yard, invaded her home and set off huge explosions on her verandah and the roof of her home, is in hiding no more.

One old lady broke down in tears of joy as she placed diyas around her Shiv Mandir.

The villagers are overwhelmingly grateful for the response from the government and the Police Force, the members of the latter agency did their job professionally, stoically ignoring the taunts and provocative language of some thwarted revelers who loudly complained that the police were “humbugging” their fun.

Both Mrs. Alfred and Bonar said they were are enjoying the peace and tranquility, safe in the knowledge that their Police Force was there for them. They expressed their overwhelming gratitude, as did every villager that the Chronicle spoke with, to the President, the Minister, Police Commissioner Greene, Asst. Commander Ramnarine, and all the police ranks for the overwhelming response, which has given them security at last.

Eight-year-old Ashley Alfred (encircled) peers out from the top of her mother’s newly-erected concrete fence at the police surrounding the Mandir. This child is no longer terrified this Diwali night.

The goodwill for the Police Force for the once-beseiged villagers was palpable last evening. Many villagers were seen strolling leisurely in the streets, even with their young children and babies. The strangers were in minimal amounts, and the police did not allow them to congregate at any one point.

The cadences of the puja being conducted in the brilliantly-lit Vishnu Mandir resonated in the air, and families could once more sit in peace on their verandahs without fearing that a ‘thunder-king’ may be flung at their children.

Even as this article was being written around 10pm, one villager called to report that Mr. Ramnarine was monitoring the situation, and that the potential troublemakers had gotten the message and dispersed.

It is 10pm in Alexander Village on a Diwali night, and all is well; normality has been restored. The police have delivered on their promise, and the village is safe. May Mother Lakshmi make this peace a lasting one in the entire country.

President helps spread cheer at annual CIOG children’s fete
By Telesha Persaud

President Jagdeo has his hands full as he tries to entertain this young lady and still find time to give his little friend a fatherly hug. (Photo by Carl Croker)

PRESIDENT Bharrat Jagdeo looked very much at ease yesterday as he mingled freely and interacted with the kids at the annual Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) fun day hosted by the Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana (CIOG) and the Zaakaat House of Kuwait.

The event took place on the lawns of the Muslim Youth Organisation (MYO), on Woolford Avenue in the northern extremities of the city, and saw close to 350 children from all across the country in attendance.

They came from as far afield as East and West Berbice; East and West Demerara; the East Bank; West Bank; the Essequibo Islands and Coast, and of course, the capital, Georgetown.

Lunch and take-home packages offered the children comprised of sweets, corn curls, sweet biscuits, frosted corn flakes, apples, chocolate and cup cakes.

In terms of activities, there were the usual pony rides, air castles, go-carts, trampolines, merry-go-round among scores of other games and amusements.

Vitamins, clothing, shoes, back-to-school packages, housing assistance, spectacles, medical check-ups, circumcision, Eid gifts and iftaar were some of the other items on offer at the event.

Most of the children at the fair were drawn from the four schools operated by the CIOG, with the help of Zakaat House and local and other overseas sponsors.

According to CIOG President, Al Hajj Fazeel M Ferouz, the intention of the programme is to bring joy to the lives of those children “who are undergoing so many hardships and trials already in their young lives, particularly at this time of increasing food prices and global challenges.”

He lists among changes the organization has seen in children that have benefitted from the programme ȁthe confidence they gain from feeling cared for; the stigma that is lifted from their minds; the boundless joy… and the great interest they show in their religious and secular studies.”

In terms of monetary benefits, Ferouz said that over $900,000 is distributed to these orphans and destitute children on a monthly basis by the CIOG.

The organisation has also been working to expand its programme, and is calling on all organisations that have an interest in children to touch base with them so that together they can exchange ideas on how they can enhance the programme.

Bursary awards were also presented yesterday to some of the children who were successful at the SSEE examinations this year, and the lone student who did quite well at the June sitting of the CXC.

President Jagdeo went around greeting some of the children while taking photos with some of them.

Minister Benn assures Corbin….
Stanleytown to Mara road routinely maintained
- depending on the availability of funds
By Tajeram Mohabir
TRANSPORT and Hydraulics Minister, Mr. Robeson Benn, said Thursday that maintenance work on the Stanleytown to Mara road has been routine and periodic and to the tune of $245.049M over the past 10 years.

Responding to queries earlier raised in the National Assembly by Leader of the Main Opposition People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), Mr. Robert Corbin as to the maintenance of the 25-mile stretch of road, which runs through primarily farming communities, Minister Benn said at Thursday’s sitting that the works at reference are usually undertaken by the Ministry of Public Works and Communications in conjunction with the Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne) Administration.

Complying with Corbin’s request that he respond in writing, Benn said that of the sum mentioned earlier, $220.530M came from the Ministry of Public Works and Communication while the remainder was from the coffers of the Region Six administration.

Giving a breakdown of sorts of how the money was spent over the years, Benn said that in 1998 for instance, KP Jagdeo General Contractors Limited was contracted to do “routine maintenance” from Everton to Mara, and this cost the Department $5.628M.

In 2000 and 2001, another company, this time around L & R Construction and Contracting was hired to do “routine maintenance” from Stanleytown to Bermine, and this set the government back by $3.163M in the first instance and $14.519M latterly.

KP Jagdeo was again hired in 2002, but to clear the roadside drains and shoulders from Sisters Village to California. This project, Benn said, cost $12.220M.

The same company in 2004, he said carried out maintenance work from Bermine to Highbury valued $35M and in 2005 to 2007 rehabilitated five miles of roads in Mara Village, improved critical sections between Everton and Highbury and patched-up pot holes between Enfield and Glasgow to the tune of $150M.

Corbin had queried why it was that though the government was spending millions of dollars annually on the maintenance of the East Bank Berbice road, it was still in such a deplorable state, which situation residents and road-users alike have regularly protested against.

Besides wanting to know exactly how much money was spent on the road in question over the last ten years, Corbin had asked for a breakdown on how much was spent each year on maintenance, and to be brought up to speed on what sections of road were maintained with the approved expenditure, the names of the firms to which each project was contracted, and whether satisfactory completion certificates were issued at the end of each job.

He’d also asked whether it wouldn’t make better economic sense and reflect a more prudent use of financial resources if instead of the piecemeal approach to the maintenance of the road, a comprehensive road building project were implemented, even if such an initiative were to be phased over a few years.

Further, he wanted to know how soon the government planned to address the immediate problems the road was having.

To answer his question in relation to how contracts were awarded, Minister Benn said works done by the Region included the filling of potholes at Highbury in 2006, which went to Kumar Singh at a cost of $.078M; maintenance work in the sum of $1.741M in the Islington/ Overwinning area in 2007 by the Associate Construction Services; similar works from Everton to Plegt-Anker in 2008 by the same company and costing $6M; and maintenance work in the Glasgow area in 2007 and a similar undertaking the following year from Islington to Everton by KP Jagdeo and costing $8.9M and $7.8M respectively.

And in response to Corbin’s proposal of a comprehensive approach to the maintenance of the road, Benn said while what he said was practical, limited financing has been a setback over the years, which is why they have had to do it piecemeal, according to how funds were allocated.

Noting that efforts are being made to straighten out the immediate problems of certain deplorable sections of the road, Minister Benn said: “In this regard, the Ministry’s Force Account Unit has commenced routine maintenance in the Stanleytown to Glasgow area. The estimated cost is $18M.”

The annual Rockstone fish festival…
In pursuit of the elusive
By Clifford Stanley

The road to Rockstone.

JOHN BUCHAN, the great adventure novelist (The Thirty-Nine Steps) who once peered beneath the surface of the water and caught the essence of the sport of fishing, was quoted as saying: "The charm of fishing is that it is the pursuit of what is elusive but attainable, a perpetual series of occasions for hope."

There are many recreational fishermen who will be lured to Rockstone this weekend with that bait: The pursuit of what is elusive but attainable; a perpetual series of occasions for hope.

These will be the ones who may be thought of as a bit weird, a description which may be apt for someone who throws a small hook in as big a river as the Essequibo, and stands up or sits down for hours on end just praying and hoping that a fish would pass by and be gullible enough to take a bite.

There will be others, though, who will be there for more saner pastimes such as boating, camping, hiking and picnicking; those who will enjoy the wide variety of fish dishes that will be available: Fish cooked in all forms … baked, barbecued, fried, grilled, steamed and so on.

There will also be the lure of boating along the Essequibo River; picnicking on the rocks or hiking along trails; visiting the creeks and lakes and/or camping outdoors.

And the people of this fishing community on the right bank of the majestic Essequibo River are gearing and preparing for them.

This year, as before, the activity is a collaborative effort involving the Region Ten (Upper Demerara/Berbice) Tourism Development Association, the Rockstone Tourism Association (RTA) and the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce.

‘OPERATION STREAMLINE’: Standing here from left at Rockstone last week are: Director of the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA), Mr. Indranauth Haralsingh, Avalon Jagnandan, coordinator of national and other events at the Ministry of Tourism Industry and Commerce; GTA Admin Manager, Mr. Ohene Koama; Ms Marlyn Marcano, Vice-President of the Rockstone Tourism Authority (RTA); and Mr. Donald Williams, RTA President.

When the Chronicle visited Rockstone last week, the village was a hive of activity in preparation for the Festival.

Benabs which remained from last year were being spruced up, and some new ones had been obviously recently erected.

On location, too, were the Director of the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA), Mr. Indranauth Haralsingh, Admin Manager, Mr. Ohene Koama, and Mr. Avalon Jagnandan, coordinator of national and other events at the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce.

They were on hand to assist the RTA in streamlining preparations for the two-day event and managing it.

Toshao, Mr. Rance Allicock said that recreational fishing at Rockstone is a year-round activity, with fishermen visiting mainly at weekends.

These visitors hire boats and engines from fishermen in the community and fish either on the river itself, or on the shoreline.

Rockstone resident, Frederick Charles (aka ‘Speedy’) with a big hook for the one that wouldn’t get away.

The village provides accommodation for those wanting to overnight at its guest house, which was named after one of the many fishes living in the Essequibo region … the Arawana.

But the annual fish festival is the big event of the year. According to members of the Rockstone Tourism Authority, there were about 3,000 visitors last year. The community is expecting close to 5,000 this year.

The fishing competition is expected to be fierce.

The fishermen are hooked.

Will the fish cooperate?

Rockstone is accessible by road from Linden.

The RTA said last week that it is organising transportation from Georgetown and Linden for those who do not have their own vehicles.

More details on this are to be released later in the week.

These welcomed village actions
TWO ENCOURAGING developments this past week could well be emulated across Guyana in communities being plagued by criminality.

The developments involved separate commendable initiatives by residents of Agricola and Alexander Village who have decided to mobilise support against the fears and ugly images being inflicted by criminals.

In the case of Alexander Village, a group of residents, tired of the lack of action by the Guyana Police Force or practical responses from the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC), have bonded together to ensure that they can celebrate the sacred Deepavali festival without having to suffer molestation and disturbances from criminal elements.

In going public with their repeated complaints of the problems with which they have had to cope, for far too long, from criminals during Deepavali, the Hindu festival of lights, residents of Alexander Village have mobilised for greater vigilance against those who desecrate their festival and spread fear.

They have also put the police on alert that their responses to calls for help against criminal activities will be more closely monitored and reported.

By comparison, however, there has been the even more significant initiative taken by a group of residents of Agricola Village with the formation of an action-oriented body committed to helping restore the healthy image that community once enjoyed before the criminals, armed with guns and illegal drugs, started disrupting their peaceful and friendly way of life.

As reported in another section of the media, their collective effort to arrest the decline of their community as a consequence of the mix of criminality, unemployment, lack of opportunities for youth to market skills and other social challenges, the action-oriented group of villagers have formed the Agricola Restoration Association (ARA).

Through the ARA, which has been registered to function as a non-government community-based body, the plan is to mobilise as many interested persons as possible to help in promoting a new image of Agricola Village as a place of welcome and not fear and social decadence.

This fine spirit in Agricola, as well as the mood of militancy in Alexander Village to keep criminals away from disturbing their social and religious activities, deserve the support of corporate entities, other community-based organisations and agencies, as well as the encouragement from all legitimate sources.

Swimming 'together' to reach CSME?
A post- Barbados convocation analysis by Rickey Singh
A SPECIAL meeting of top regional officials is to take place to consider and offer recommendations on the outcome of the stakeholders’ convocation on CARICOM's Single Market and Economy (CSME) in Barbados earlier this month.

The intention is for the range of complex issues affecting implementation of decisions on the CSME to be seriously analysed and forwarded, with recommendations, to the Prime Ministerial Sub-committee on the CSME, which is chaired by Barbados' Prime Minister David Thompson, who hosted the two-day convocation.

The Prime Ministerial Sub-committee, which includes the Prime Minister of Jamaica (Bruce Golding) and Guyana's President (Bharrat Jagdeo), is expected to meet ahead of the first Heads of Government Inter-Sessional Meeting for 2010, scheduled for March in Dominica.

The October 9-10 convocation had as its primary focus consideration of a voluminous audit report on the state of implementation of the CSME.

But a useful summary of that appraisal on implementation does not offer much encouragement of even the first phase of the CSME, namely its Single Market component.

In fact, the status quo on implementation processes could well justify some of the strident criticisms that flowed from official representatives of the Caribbean Association of Industry and Commerce (CAIC) and the Caribbean Congress of Labour (CCL) at the opening ceremony of the two-day convocation.

The hurdles
With many hurdles yet to be scaled, by way of legislative and other initiatives, for effective realisation of the CSM, it would require much faith to accept that the vital ‘E’ component for the CSME could be a reality by target date 2015.

That would necessitate discontinuance of the litany of defaults by a majority of participating governments to honour their obligations on implementation of ‘core regimes’ for effective functioning of first, the single market.

For example, on legislative compliance on vital components in relation to inter-governmental agreements on free movement of skilled nationals; free movement of capital, goods and services; establishment of businesses; and the free movement of capital.

Not only was it discouraging to realise that except for merely three Heads of Government (the Prime Ministers of Trinidad and Tobago, Antigua and Barbuda and Trinidad and Tobago), ALL others had failed to show up for even one day of the convocation to keep company with host Prime Minister Thompson in dealing with the issues at stake.

Further, there was a virtual absence of representatives of the Community's parliamentary opposition. There remains unanswered questions as to why, except for the parliamentary Opposition Leader of Barbados, Mia Mottley -- an apparent one-person delegation (not including even her colleague, former Prime Minister Owen Arthur) -- there was, by chance, the parliamentary Opposition Leader of St, Lucia, Dr Kenny Anthony.

The presence of Anthony, a former Prime Minister, has to be viewed in a separate category, since he had arrived in Barbados earlier to provide legal briefing for officials of the Community Secretariat pertaining to rulings of the Caribbean Court of Justice in the application of CARICOM's Common External Tariff (CET).

Absentees
Now is not the time to deal with the absence of so many Heads of Government, and even many more leaders of opposition parliamentary parties.

It has also not escaped notice that apart from the presence and bold interventions by the President of the CCL (Jacqueline Jack) and the CAIC President (Carol Evelyn), there was a paucity of representatives from the private sector and civil society, compared with other regional stakeholder events organised around the CSME.

The stakeholders involved, in various ways, to help make the CSME a reality, need to remind themselves that not just governments, but all must either go forward, together, with the seamless regional economy project or be consumed by separateness, lack of vision and commitment.

It is to be hoped that both the CAIC and CCL representatives themselves would have left the convocation aware that while it is true that ‘many deadlines’ have been missed on CSME implementation, they cannot be excluded from blame-sharing.

That is, when it comes to their own failures, as other stakeholders see them, in fulfilling their respective 'watchdog' roles on defaults by governments, and specifically, what they have DONE, by way of their consultative initiatives, to move the process forward -- with a 2015 target date in mind.

Perspectives
Trade policy & development woes
‘The trade policy of rich countries, trade barriers of the poorest countries, and increased aid, all function to stagnate the development of the poorest countries, according to Collier’
By Prem Misir
LAST WEEK, I reviewed the book, ‘The Bottom Billion’, which tried to answer the question as to why the poorest countries are unable to develop.

The main thesis of the book is that a large number of developing countries are at the bottom of the global economic system, not because they hold the distinction of being the poorest, but because they fail to grow. As Collier puts it, these countries are not merely falling behind, they are falling apart.

Collier’s book shows that these countries are dirt poor because they are caught in one or a combination of these traps: The conflict trap, the natural resources trap, the trap of being landlocked with bad neighbours, and the bad governance trap.

This book demonstrates quite candidly how to break away from these traps and so fortify the hand of the reformers via these instruments: Aid, military intervention, international laws and charters, and trade policy to reverse marginalisation.

However, each of these is being used for purposes inimical to the bottom billion; and, indeed, the people who control these instruments are those with no knowledge or any interest in alleviating the plight of the bottom billion.

Collier advocates for the removal of trade barriers, a greater focus on trade liberalisation; for he believes that more aid and more trade barriers will only compound the poverty and the development woes of the poorest nations’

Today, using Collier’s work, I merely want to descriptively focus on one instrument: Trade policy to reverse marginalisation, and so remove the shackles from these traps; the endpoint of this exercise also will further elucidate Collier’s ideas on the bottom billion.

The trade policy of rich countries, trade barriers of the poorest countries, and increased aid, all function to stagnate the development of the poorest countries, according to Collier.

Protection of agriculture is a fundamental pillar of the trade policy of rich countries; and not too long ago, the European Union and the U.S. trade negotiators resisted any reduction of their subsidies and advised that poor countries, as an alternative to agricultural products, should switch to other production lines. But this advice is more appropriate for the developed world, with greater capacity to switch to other products.

The developed world also has an additional dysfunctional trade policy: Tariff escalation. Tariffs generally are higher for processed products than for the unprocessed. And so, to dampen the impact of higher tariffs, poor countries, as if they do not already have sufficient financial inadequacies, will need to expend a lot more to expand their export base via processing their raw materials, prior to exportation.

Paradoxically, the bottom billion also contributes to their own developmental demise through trade protection. Collier argues that poor countries’ markets are moribund, and so, merely concentrating on the domestic market will achieve little. Competition is largely responsible for productivity growth; but the poorest countries’ firms engage in limited competition, as trade barriers protect the local firms from external competition, and even from internal competition, due to the small market size. This scenario may be a contributory factor to inadequate productivity growth in the bottom billion.

Finally, the poorest nations face a formidable clash between their trade barriers and increased aid. Ruane argues that notwithstanding the increase in aid to Africa, Africa is still poor; even President Obama in Ghana this year asked why it is that South Korea today enjoys greater prosperity than Kenya, when the opposite situation held 50 years ago. And so, what is aid providing to poor nations?

Collier advocates for the removal of trade barriers, a greater focus on trade liberalisation; for he believes that more aid and more trade barriers will only compound the poverty and the development woes of the poorest nations. But is this an accurate scenario?

No Peace, Just Prizes
By Gwynne Dyer
“ANYONE WHO says that within the next few years an agreement can be reached, ending the conflict (between Israel and the Palestinians), simply doesn’t understand the situation and spreads delusions,” said Israeli Foreign Minister, Avigdor Lieberman last week. But Barack Obama does say that. In fact, they gave him the Nobel Prize for saying it, didn’t they?

Speaking in a radio interview, Lieberman added: “There are conflicts that have not been completely solved and people have learned to live with it, like Cyprus....We have to be realistic. We will not be able to reach agreement on core and emotional subjects like Jerusalem and the right of return of Palestinian refugees.” And he said all this just as Obama’s point-man for what we used to call the ‘peace process’, George Mitchell, arrived in Israel.

Undaunted by Lieberman’s comments, Mitchell gabbled the usual nonsense about how “we’re going to continue our efforts to achieve an early re-launch of negotiations...because we believe that is an essential step toward achieving a comprehensive peace.” Doesn’t he understand that the ‘peace process’ has been dead for years? It is no more; it has expired; it is an ex-peace process.

Yes, of course he knows, but it was Lieberman who went off-script, not Mitchell. Every Israeli government since 2000 has believed what Lieberman said and acted accordingly, but has colluded with the United States and various well-meaning Europeans in pretending otherwise.

The Palestinian Authority (PA) under Mahmoud Abbas also pretends that the peace process is still alive. Indeed, it did so even in the last years of Yasser Arafat’s life. It has to go on pretending, because if the PA admits that the peace process is dead, then it becomes no more than an Israeli instrument for indirect control of the Palestinians. As it often is, in practise.

We had a vivid demonstration of this recently, when Judge Richard Goldstone submitted his report on last winter’s three-week war in the Gaza Strip to the United Nations Human Rights Council. The 575-page document reported that both Israeli forces and Palestinian militants had committed war crimes and possible crimes against humanity, and a resolution was put before the Council that could ultimately have led to prosecutions at the International Criminal Court in The Hague.

Israel launched a propaganda blitz to discredit Goldstone’s report, and together with the United States it mounted a diplomatic campaign to postpone any formal consideration of the report until next March. By then, it would be old news. Standard tactics, but here’s the bizarre bit: The Palestinian Authority also supported delaying the vote by six months.

What possible reason could the PA have for doing such a thing? Well over a thousand Palestinians had been killed in the conflict, and only 13 Israelis. The only Palestinians accused of war crimes were the militants of Hamas, who rule the Gaza Strip, and they are the sworn enemies of Abbas, his Fatah movement, and the Palestinian Authority. It was a no-brainer, and yet the PA went along with the Americans and the Israelis.

Unsurprisingly, this public evidence of the PA’s subjugation to American and Israeli policy caused a great outcry among Palestinians, even in the West Bank, and Mahmoud Abbas ordered a ‘probe’ into who had made such a wicked decision. (Hint: His initials are MA.) The truth is that the Palestinian Authority is just as complicit in the charade of a continuing peace process as the Israeli or American governments, and cannot afford to abandon it.

Only the radical Islamists of Hamas, from their besieged enclave in the Gaza Strip, openly acknowledge the same reality that Avigdor Lieberman describes (although from a very different perspective). There is no peace process, and the ‘two-state solution’ on which it was built is all but dead. So what they offer Israel, at best, is a long-term truce -- but only if the Palestinians get their pre-1967 borders back now.

A long-term truce (‘like Cyprus’) is all that Lieberman is offering -- and even that is not going to happen because he has no intention of returning to Israel’s pre-1967 borders. Neither does his boss, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, although he wraps his refusal in more diplomatic language.

All of President Obama’s pleas have failed to extract from Netanyahu even a promise to freeze the expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied territories, let alone to negotiate a withdrawal from them. He has not moved from pleas to actual pressure because the Israelis effectively control the U.S. Congress on this issue, and he will not risk alienating Congress over Israel while he is trying to get legislation through on health care, climate change, and other urgent issues.

He cannot even order the Israelis not to attack Iran. They will do it if they want to, even if the bulk of the Iranian retaliation would fall on American bases and forces in the Gulf, Iraq and Afghanistan.

Still, there is no doubt that Obama’s intentions are good. So are mine. Where’s my prize?

(Gwynne Dyer is a London-based independent journalist)

NY Guyanese hold Diwali motorcade and Nagar
GUYANESE joined nationals from other countries for their 11th annual Diwali motorcade and Parade on Liberty Avenue in Richmond Hill, New York (NY) last Saturday evening. Separately, nearby there was a Diwali Nagar in Jamaica where almost 1,000 showed up.

Over 5,000 turned out for the parade many with lit deyas and candles. A Guyanese Police Captain, Jack Jaskarran, was the Grand Marshall for this festival of lights parade. Cars and trucks were beautifully lit as they paraded on the Avenue which itself was decorated with electronic lights similar to main streets in other parts of he city during Christmas. Separately, several of the Mandirs in the city held Diwali celebrations with cultural variety concerts. Yet the Diwali parade attracted some 5,000 revelers for the concert and parade. People from all walks of life participated in or viewed the magnificent motorcade, concert and illuminated stores and homes on the avenue.

Guyanese Hindus attach special importance to the Diwali festival comparable to Thanksgiving which is celebrated a month after Diwali. And so they went all out to decorate their homes and businesses.

The parade was initiated from the Arya Samaj grounds renamed the Cheddi Jagan Square in honor of the late President who spoke there several times. There was a pooja followed by the motorcade and parade and a concert. The stage was beautifully illuminated with deyas. Many mandirs participated in the motorcade and parade. The Diwali-Motorcade started back around 1999 by Diamond (East Bank) resident Dolly Singh and friends Daveena Ramgolam, Lolita Singh, Kumarie Dindiyal and Sachee Beer and several others. The motorcade was organised by DIVYA JYOTI ASSOCIATION (DJA) which means divine light. The motorcade started small and grew in size over the years. I was there from the inception and unfortunately missed this year’s because of my presence for the Trinidad Diwali Nagar.

There were 10 different Tassa Groups at the parade all performing for free. Pandit Ramllal was honored for his years of service to the community with the Gandhi Peace Prize that was initiated by Dr. Dhanpaul Naraine of the Tri Murthi Mandir. Among the other organizers for this year’s event were the Hindu Parade & Festival Committee, Holy Samelan & Festival Committees, GABPC, and Guyana Cultural Association.

Five elder grandmothers were honoured as Maha Lakshmi and presented with Sarees. Kwality Restaurant gave out hundreds of trays of samosas to revelers.

After the event, the crowd came together as one to help clean up the compound. Lakshmee Singh, a motorcade organiser and dance choreographer, said the community really came together to make the event a grand success. She said the success of this event goes to the people.

Separately, hundreds of Guyanese turned up for the first Diwali Nagar held at the American Sevashram Sangha, the sister organisation of the Cove and John Ashram. One of the event’s organisers, Srad Kublall, stressed the importance of celebrating religious festivals. He urged Guyanese to be steadfast to their religion commending them for celebrating their cultural festivals in America.

Guyanese Diwali has long been observed in NY going back to the early 1980s when

cultural pageants and melas were organised by Dr. Baytoram Ramharack, Vishnu Bisram, Nohar Singh, and others. But this is the first time that a Nagar was held in the city and credit goes to the organisers. Also, every mandir hosts Diwali celebrations or dinner in the city and there are about 50 Caribbean mandirs and a dozen more by nationals from South Asia. Kublall believes that Indo-Guyanese festivities, so much a part of their religious and cultural DNA, will continue to grow.

At the Sevashram, the packed auditorium enjoyed the invocations, music, dance, speeches, and delicious food. Singers, dancers, and musicians went through their paces for an animated audience. The tarapitti music gave the celebration a unique Guyanese touch. Deyas were lit all over the mandir to make it a special celebration.
VISHNU BISRAM

Conflicts in our country are rooted in its colonial past
Developing mechanisms to remedy the root causes of Political, Economic and Social Conflicts

In Guyana, conflicts refer to the existence of a clash of interests, values or actions

There can be no denying that the political, economic and social conflicts that have faced Guyana since our Independence on the 26th May 1966; are rooted partly in our colonial past and partly in the failure / the inability of the government of the immediate post Independence period ( May 1966 to October 1992) to effect changes to the Institutional Structures and Orientation that were an integral part of the Colonial Administration and which had given rise to division based on ethnicity between the two largest racial groups in Guyana- the East Indians and the Negroes; and which had also marginalized minority groups like the Amerindians or Indigenous people of our Country. These divisions gave rise to feelings of mistrust and conflicts in some instances and the threat of conflicts in others.

In fact, the influence of slavery and colonialism was evident in the social, political and administrative structures and processes which concentrated power in the hands of a few; were not responsive to the needs of the people and, indeed, kept the majority of the Guyanese people from making contributions to decision making on every day issues that affected their lives.

The rice and the sugar Industries on which Guyana depended heavily for its export earnings were dominated mostly by the East Indians, while the gold / diamond and the bauxite Industries along with the Public Service were dominated by Blacks. Concomitant with this scenario is the fact that Political Parties were perceived as representing a particular Ethnic Group so that whoever won the Elections would take the whole cake or most of it for their Group. This in turn gave rise to feelings of mistrust of each other.

People’s ethnicity gives them a sense of identity and belonging and threats to this identity whether real or perceived do cause conflicts or the threat of conflict.

Rigged National and Regional Elections- a root cause of Conflicts in Guyana 1966 to 1992

The several rigged national and regional elections under the Peoples National Congress from 1968 to 1985 added salt to the wounds that couldn’t heal. The majority of the population of our Country was unhappy with the fraudulent elections and the lack of transparency in the electoral process and with the way they were being governed. The Leaders could not have been said to represent a majority of the voting population and the undemocratic way in which these political “victories ‘were secured added fuel to an already volatile situation. They were riots and they were casualties on all sides; they were damages to Guyana’s societal coherence, infrastructure and economy.

If we accept that Conflict is always concerned with a distribution of power, and ultimately, the confrontation of powers; with the distribution of benefits and with the satisfying of basic human needs and interests; then one can anticipate what will follow when people are unhappy with who governs them and how they are governed; and when the Government, and in this case, one fraudulently occupying the seat of power, oppresses them and doesn’t respect them or assist them to meet their basic needs. This feeling of alienation would continue under the PNC until October 1992.

Restoration of Democracy in Guyana – a sine qua non to restoring confidence and rebuilding social structures and the economy.

October 1992 saw the first free and fair regional and national elections in Guyana since its Independence in May 1966. It was to be the dawn of a new era.

The new Leaders who were democratically elected had determined what needed to be done was, inter alia, the restoration of confidence of the people in their elected leaders; the reformation of the unequal and unjust Society that had been created from 1966 to 1992 and its replacement by national reconciliation and unity. The masses had to be involved by way of the consultation process in major decisions on issues that would impact on their welfare; ways had to be found to redistribute the nation’s wealth among the people in a manner that reduced the gap between the rich and the poor and set aside ethnic, religious, political and other differences. The key question was: what ought to be done to help Guyana overcome conflict?

The new Government had taken a first step even before the Elections of October 1992. It had welcomed in its Electoral Camp many from civil Society who had shared their vision of a united Guyana where our people’s rights are respected and where the people are involved in the development of our Country’s resources and the sharing of those resources irrespective of their religion or ethnicity and where we can together build a thriving social and sustainable economy; for all of these have the potential to reduce disparities and social tensions which are often the root cause of political, social and economic conflicts.

Changing the Political Landscape after 1992: adapting to the challenges of a new Era

Following its 1992 Election Victory, the Peoples Progressive Party / Civic Government began to work to ensure the many rights / liberties of the Guyanese people that were denied them and were the raison d’etre behind the political, economic and social conflicts that pervaded the Guyanese Society from the mid- 1960s to 1992 were restored.

The constitutional reform process began in 1999 and included consultations with the masses of the population throughout Guyana including civil Society, Community Groups, the Private Sector etc. This process was led by a Parliamentary Reform Commission and resulted in a profound and progressive revision of the 1980 Constitution.

The revised Constitution provided for:

a) Inclusive Governance

b) “the strengthening of social justice and the rule of law” through the establishment of a number of Commissions to promote and to enhance human rights. These included the Human Rights Commission, the Women and Gender Equality Commission, the Indigenous Peoples’ Commission, the Ethnic Relations Commission, the Public Procurement Commission and the Rights of the Child Commission.

c) The setting up of Service Commissions such as the Judicial Service Commission, the Public Service Commission, the Teaching Service Commission and the Police Service Commission. These Commissions comprised of suitably qualified persons appointed by the President after meaningful consultation with, inter alia, the Leader of the Opposition, representatives of Civil Society and such Bodies as represent persons / public officers employed in the relevant sector; in this regard, it is the National Assembly that determines the consensual mechanism to be used by Entities nominating members to the Commissions.

d) Consultation with the Leader of the Opposition in the appointment of Persons to key and critical Constitutional Posts e.g. Chief Justice, Chancellor of the Judiciary; and in the appointment of the Chairman of the Guyana Election Commission (Gecom.)

e) Parliamentary reform providing for the oversight of the Executive through an expanded Committee System – progressive laws.

These include a Committee on Appointments
Parliamentary Sectoral Committees on Natural Resources, Economic Services, Foreign Relations and Social Services with responsibility “for the scrutiny of all areas of Government policy and administration and a Public Accounts Committee which is a Standing Committee which examines Government Accounts showing “the Appropriation of sums granted by the National Assembly to meet public expenditure”…..This latter Committee is chaired by a member of the Opposition Party.

The mechanisms devised via the Parliamentary Reform process are intended and have been providing the following results:

Tighter legislative scrutiny e.g. public accounts. “Any Organisation or Agency allocated Government Funds or Taxpayers money can be subjected to PAC scrutiny” and this is a fundamental element of Parliamentary democracy,

The Committees allow for the reviewing of existing laws and subsidiary legislation for weaknesses and inadequacies. They provide audit and legislative oversight which are a pre-requisite for good Governance.

The revised Amerindian Act of 2006 with its focus on Governance by Amerindian Elected Leaders through a Corporate body called the Amerindian Village Council; the powers vested in the Council to hold collectively and to manage all Village Assets / Resources including lands for the use and benefit of the people provide a mechanism to resolve much of the conflicts that often surface and which have to do with Villagers themselves and often also, Villager and outsider.

Promoting the involvement of women in the Parliament; in fact, our present Parliament reflects the Minorities such as women, Amerindians..

Opportunities for the Opposition Political Parties to raise oral and written Questions through their Parliamentary Representatives in the Parliament and receive responses from the relevant Government Ministers during Oral and Written Questions Sessions of the Parliament.

Indeed, a dialogue mechanism has been created in and out of Parliament that allows for political stability and consequent reduction of conflicts. The Cabinet Outreaches is one of those mechanisms that immediately come to mind.

Dealing with social and economic conflicts
The period of the 1970’s and 1980’s had seen the rapid destruction of infrastructure, the decline of the social sector and an unprecedented widening of the gap between the rich and the poor. Under the circumstances just described political instability and increased conflicts were the order of the day.

The PPP/C had developed a Restoration Plan that refocused public expenditure on education, health care, social, economic, cultural and spiritual needs of the masses of the people. This Plan also provided social safety nets such as public assistance, single parent allowance, uniform allowance and hot meals for pupils / students and other Poverty Alleviation Programmes for the very poor; where increases of Income will still leave them severely disadvantaged and where, for reasons of age, disability or illness they cannot participate in the economy.

Then President Cheddi Jagan had sought financial and technical assistance for the formulation of policies and programmes that would repair and advance socio economic development and reduce poverty. He had recognised the nexus between poverty and conflict. He had recognised that poverty is multifaceted; manifesting itself in low and uneven levels of income and consumption, physical insecurity, poor health, low levels of education, disempowerment, high levels of unemployment, and social and geographical isolation.

These policies and programmes had benefited from the contribution of civil Society and offered prescriptions for the reconstruction of the social sector including our road network and bridges; drainage and irrigation and water systems; health centres; schools; sea defences; and the enhancement of production. The National Development Strategy or NDS and the Poverty Reduction Strategy also laid down an Investment Programme and recommended legislative changes to expedite its implementation. In short, Guyanese were given the opportunity to participate in National Policy making and contribute to the future social and economic development of the Country. Thus, in spite of El Nino that adversely affects our agriculture production, we were able to make noticeable and commendable improvement in our economy and the lives of our people.

Later on, in 1999, now President Bharrat Jagdeo organised a Business Summit with the private sector “to chart a new course of rapid investment and growth in Guyana by way of finding consensus on the measures to be taken to accelerate private investment, attract external funding and reduce poverty in the medium and long term”. These investments brought improvements in the quality of and access to these essential services and in reducing social and economic conflicts in the Country. Poverty levels declined from 67% to 35%.

The Opening up of the Economy; our Focus on the Grow More Food Campaign and the Diversifying the Economy; our emphasis on the Hinterland where the Amerindians live; Presidential Grants for Amerindian Villages/Communities to develop, finance, execute and manage Projects of the people’s choice were just a few of Government Policy changes and Programmes that brought renewed vigour to our economy, reduced feelings of marginalization and created the atmosphere and condition for the wheels of progress to turn again.

The 2006 Amerindian Act and the Village Councils’ management of Village Lands (they own about 14% of Guyana’s total land mass) helped to reduce feelings of alienation and marginalization, and there were consultations-opportunities for dialogue between the Government and the people were created.

Even now, as Guyana pursues its Low Carbon Development Strategy aimed at offering the world to keep our rain forests in exchange for payment by those who pollute the world most; we are mindful of the fact that Climate Change is one of the greatest challenges to sustainable development in today’s world. The nation wide consultations with our people allowed for Guyanese to offer their views on the strategy, to seek clarifications and to leave satisfied that they were contributing to the advancement of a process, a cause that would bring tremendous benefits to Guyana and to all Guyanese.

Conclusions
Conflict situations are highly volatile; what works today may not work tomorrow, Perhaps the greatest causes of public conflict in today’s world are: feelings of alienation, displeasure with the manner in which scarce resources are allocated among the people, lack of accountability on the part of the Government for public funds and poor governance.

All societies are faced with this issue of conflict, how we recognise and deal with these conflicts will be an important determinant of our success rate in dealing with the conflicts.

We of the People’s Progressive / Civic Government view the participation of young people, women, indigenous people as one that will strengthen the Parliament and make it more representative of our cultures, and therefore, more effective in helping to convert democracy from an ideal to an economic, social and political reality.

We have focused on bringing the type of changes that would guarantee effective participation by citizens in legislative work, in order to influence the economic and social situation in our Country. We recognise that there could be no democracy in places where poverty, injustice, corruption, exclusion of a significant per cent of the Nation’s population was evident.

As a result of our efforts, our Parliament has evolved into an improved Body with greater responsibilities and Guyanese now enjoy a unique and well earned thriving democracy after almost three decades of decadence and repression.

Conflicts will always be with us. But to the extent that we have been able to develop political Institutions and Instruments that are able to remove social fragmentation, highlight and build on economic inadequacies, provide for checks and balances on public spending, improve the business environment, create opportunities for public consultation moreso involving Minorities … to that extent we would have helped to develop some mechanisms to remedy some of the root cause of conflict in our Society

In the process we have used remedies of accommodation, collaboration and comprise to help remedy some of the major conflicts of our Society. The invitation is yet there for all Guyanese to come on board and be a part of the process and, I confidently say, a part of the progress.
NORMAN WHITTAKER M.P

GCB/Neal and Massy tourney…
Advantage goes to Albion in today’s final
By Calvin Roberts
WHEN Albion Sports Club (ASC) and their nemesis Rose Hall Town Windies Sports Bar (RHTWSB) meet to culminate the 2009 Guyana Cricket Board (GCB)/Neal and Massy-sponsored nationwide first division limited overs tournament at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, from 14:00 h today, the advantage should be in the corner of the former.

The two have met three times in limited overs competition this year, with ASC winning two and RHTWSB one, but the latter’s victory was a vital one, as it enabled them to be crowned Berbice zone champions in the said competition, whose final they will be contesting today.

They both recorded convincing victories in their respective semi-final encounters, with ASC defeating Demerara zone champions Malteenoes Sports Club (MSC) by 48 runs, while RHTWSB took care of Essequibo’s zone champions North Essequibo by 75 runs in their match-up.

ASC will be going all out to prove to all and sundry that they have RHTWSB’s number and players of the calibre of Sewnarine Chattergoon who is coming off the back of an impressive century against Demerara in the GCB/El Dorado Inter-county final, Narsingh Deonarine who belted 92 against MSC and Jonathan Foo.

Added support for this trio can be expected from Chattergoon’s younger brother Harrinarine, Ranga Lachana (formerly Lachigadoo), Doodnauth Lallbeharry, skipper Orvin Mangru and national spin twins Veerasammy Permaul and Devendra Bishoo, with the former narrowly missing out on a ton against the same opponents in the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) TENELEC-sponsored first division final which was won by ASC.

But they should know by now, that RHTWSB are no pushovers, as they possess the ability to turn up on their day and turn back the challenge from any team that is thrown at them, and, with the inclusion of West Indies limited overs lower order batsman Royston Crandon in the lineup, ASC’s work is definitely cut out for them.

Crandon’s elder brother and national all-rounder Esaun will lead RHTWSB’s team which includes Renwick Batson, national wicketkeeper Delbert Hicks, Assad Fudadin, Jason Sinclair, Eon Hooper, Ravi Narine and Khemraj Mahadeo.

Fudadin should be brimming with confidence going into this match, following his patient but belligerent 88 against North Essequibo, while the same can be said for Royston Crandon who displayed his ability to hit the ball hard when he struck four maximums, three of them out of the Anna Regina ground, and Hicks.

With $100 000 and a trophy going to the winner of today’s day/night encounter which commences at 13:30 h, a keenly contested match is anticipated by cricket-loving fans of these two teams, with the winners guaranteeing their county Berbice two spots in next year’s nationwide semifinals once again.

The runners-up will have to settle for $50 000, with $15 000 and a trophy going to the man-of-the-match. Prior to the start of the game, a representative of the sponsors will meet both teams.

GFF/Super League
Points leaders Alpha to face Rosignol United today
--- Four other matches billed for today
POINTS leader Alpha United will face Rosignol United today at the Blairmont Community Centre ground when action in the Guyana Football Federation’s (GFF) Super League continues.

Four other matches are also billed for today and will be played at different venues.

A GFF Women’s league match is also scheduled for today.

To date, Alpha United with 14 points from four victories and two drawn matches will be out to keep their unbeaten record intact, but will be coming up against a team that stunned another top Georgetown team, Sunburst Camptown, so they (Alpha United) will have to be at their very best.

The Berbice team is currently second in the points standing with nine points from three wins and three losses.

According to Rosignol United’s coach Keith O'Jeer, surprises will be in store, because at the end of 90 minutes, he wants his team to be two points behind the points leader.

A large crowd is expected to support the home boys in what pundits will term an upset if they come out victorious. Kick-off time is 15:30 h.

At Bartica, Liquid Gold of Region 7 will attempt to thwart the efforts of their Region 3 counterparts Seawall Football Club at the Bartica Community Centre from 15:30 h.

After placing well early in the tournament, both teams seem to have lost their steam and a win for either of the two will rekindle their hopes of getting into the top four.

Liquid Gold are on seven points while Seawall FC, who drew three of their matches, have six points.

In the mining town of Linden, homesters Bakewell Topp XX will have to be firing on all cylinders if they are to stop the GDF, who, after losing their first two games, seem to have found the correct combination and have earned their seven points in the last three games.

Topp XX who have climbed into fourth position are also on seven points and a win for either team will propel them to 10 points.

Topp XX, made up of young players, are expecting to utilise the large Mackenzie Sports Club ground to their advantage and with the usual support that is the culture in Linden, GDF could well see themselves travel the 65 miles to Georgetown minus the three points they badly need. Kick-off time is 20:00 h.

Preceding this game will be a women’s game between Berbice and Linden. Both teams are yet to win a game and a keen and exciting game is in the making.

In Georgetown at the GCC ground, the East Coast teams who are ninth- and 10th-placed will have to dig deep if they are to change places with their counterparts.

In game one which commences at 13:30 h, Victoria Kings, who are on four points, will attempt to turn back the challenge of Milerock who are in 6th place with seven points. Both former Kashif and Shanghai champions are aware that time is running out and any slip-up will put them out of contention for Championship honours.

It is expected that a large contingent of Victorians will converge on the Bourda sward - famous for cricket - to support the flagging Kings.

Milerock, coached by former national player Brian Joseph, have other ideas and they will not leave any stone unturned, so that the trip back to Linden will be a joyous one.

In the second game, the youthful East Coast champions Buxton United will have their work cut out when they tangle with the Georgetown’s number two team Sunburst Camptown.

Camptown, who are on eight points and in third position, know a win will send them into double figures and enhance their chances of being in the top four.

Meanwhile, Buxton United, coached by Lyndon France, will have to put all his experience and knowledge into high gear if he is to survive the onslaught that the Campbellville boys are expected to throw at them.

Admission to all the grounds is $500.

Santos needle Camptown to claim Chubby Under-13 title
--- Flamingo beat Thomas 2-0 for third place
SANTOS needled Sunburst Camptown 1-0 to claim the Georgetown Football Association/Chubby Under-13 title when the final was contested yesterday at the Tucville ground.

Also in winners’ row yesterday were Flamingo who beat Thomas United 2-0 to finish third in the competition.

Travis Alexander scored Santos’ winning goal in the 11th minute after he received a pass from the right wing, wormed his way past two of the opposition’s defenders and placed the ball through Camptown custodian Lavron Baptiste’s legs.

From there on, Camptown upped their game, but found the opposition’s defence too strong to get past.

Going into the second half with a slim 1-0 lead, Santos immediately went on the attack and troubled Camptown’s defence on a number of occasions but failed in their effort to convert, while Camptown made some spirited raids on Santos’ goal but they also failed to finish.

Santos’ pint-sized Job Caesar, who scored one goal in the entire tournament, was a tower of strength in his team’s defence during the first session.

He was then sent front for the second period and like the first half, he showed maturity and determination.

In the third place playoff, the two teams were deadlocked 0-0 at the end of regulation time (60 minutes) but five minutes into extra time, Sheldon Fletcher won the ball from a goal mouth scrimmage and booted it into Thomas United’s goal with a well-executed right foot shot.

Three minutes later, Orlando Ricketts latched on to the ball down the centre in Thomas United’s defence area, drew the goalkeeper off his line and placed the ball into the open goal.

It was Rickett’s sixth goal of the competition, making him joint leaders with Camptown’s Azumah Small and Uprising’s Keyron Haynes.

One red card was issued in the third-place match and that went to Daniel La Rose who had received yellow cards in the 25th and 68th minutes.

The three goals scored yesterday took the number of goals in the competition to 102.

Santos scored 13 goals in the competition and conceded four while Camptown scored 18 and conceded four. (Michael DaSilva)

Fans can expect 110% on November 8 - Vieira
By Calvin Roberts
WHEN Guyana’s speed ace on four wheels, Mark Vieira, steps into his Digicel-sponsored Shell V powered Mazda RX* on Sunday November 8 to compete in the third and final leg of Caribbean Motor Racing Championships at the South Dakota Circuit Timehri, fans can expect nothing less than 110% from him.

“I am hungry for success and nothing will be better than giving my fans a tremendous show on Sunday November 8 at home. It’s been a while since I have competed and I am raring and ready to go and nothing will faze me on that day and from a spectators’ point of view, it will be fantastic,” said Vieira.

He continued, “Persons will be anticipating duel between the Maloney clan and me, but to me they are not a threat anymore. Sean is without a car as his car was burnt in an accident and he won’t be competing, as he will have to spend a lot of money to get it back in shape for this meet, while I can take care of Stuart easily as I have done so in the past.

“But if they want to see a duel, I can say that I am expecting a stiff challenge from present points leader in Jamaica’s David Summerbell along with Roger Mayers and our very own Andrew King.”

At the moment, Guyana is languishing at the bottom of the team championships on 31 points behind Barbados who holds the pole position with 82 points followed by Jamaica with 64 and like secretary of the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club (GMR&SC) Gavin Gayadin, Vieira is optimistic about Team Guyana’s chances of pulling off a come-from-behind victory.

“First of all, the cost of cars has gone up. When you used to drive a car that cost US$25 000, you now have cars costing anywhere between US$400 000 to US$500 000 and at the same time, the rules are definitely not balanced.

“For one, the weight factor needs revisiting by those in authority as it is not balanced for all drivers. You have a car that gives you 800 Hp and we are talking about an evolution four-wheel drive running on 2 400lb while your competitor has one that is running 350 Hp and weighs 2 000 lb,” said Vieira.

Having said that, the ace driver who has been a dominant force on the local scene believes that once Guyana’s drivers get back to the dominant days of yesteryear then turbo charging of engines is the way to go.

“We have been very dominant over the years, but with the advent of more technological intricacies in motor racing, I feel that turbo-charging of vehicles is the way to go. Actually, poor track would suit a turbo charged car, as the longer straights would serve such a vehicle better.

“Our best chance of winning was in Barbados where Andrew’s car handles well on their circuit, but some mistakes were made both by Andrew and the organisers that prevented him from starting in his rightful position, but here in Guyana, it will be a different kettle of fish.”

While Vieira, who will be competing in Group 4 alongside King, the Mayers siblings and Summerbell, just to name a few, will be out of contention for the champion driver title, he still intends to make the frontrunners work hard to achieve it.

“It’s not going to be an easy task for the leaders, as I intend to put up a stern fight and at the same time, give my fans a show for their money. Andrew will definitely be going to this meet with all his guns blazing and with such a frame of mind, Guyana may very well come from behind and take the champion team title.”

Summerbell leads all drivers with 48 points, nine more than second place Mark Maloney, whose father and defending champion Stuart lies third with 22 points - six more than King.

Man Utd back on top as Chelsea, Liverpool lose
… Liverpool beaten by bizarre goal at Sunderland
By Mitch Phillips
LONDON, England (Reuters) - Manchester United went top of the Premier League with a 2-1 home win over Bolton Wanderers yesterday as Chelsea went down 2-1 at Aston Villa and Liverpool lost at Sunderland to a goal that went in off a beach ball.

Arsenal continued to bang in the goals with a 3-1 home victory over Birmingham City while Tottenham Hotspur survived a 60th-minute red card for Jermain Defoe to secure a 2-1 win at Portsmouth.

Champions United lead the way with 22 points from nine games. Chelsea are second on 21, Spurs have 19 and Arsenal have a game in hand on 18 points.

Manchester City, who visit Wigan Athletic today, have 16 points, the same as Villa and Sunderland.

United needed a last-minute own goal to salvage a 2-2 home draw with Sunderland in their last league game and it was another own goal that put them ahead yesterday as Zat Knight’s attempted clearance flew in after five minutes.

The home team looked too good for their Lancashire rivals in the first half and the second goal came after 33 minutes when Antonio Valencia fired his first for the club since his close-season move from Wigan.

Some loose defending allowed Matt Taylor to pull one back for Bolton after 75 minutes and set up a nervous finale for the United fans.

“When Bolton scored it was backs-to-the-wall stuff and there was a bit of panic,” United manager Alex Ferguson told Sky Sports.

“They are the sort of team who can take points off anyone; they are difficult opponents so we are quite happy to get the result.”

Liverpool’s hopes of a first title in 20 years already look slim after a fourth defeat in nine league games, though they were furious Sunderland’s controversial goal stood.

The key moment came after five minutes when Darren Bent’s shot cannoned in off a loose beach ball which had ‘Liverpool’ written on it.

The visitors, without the injured Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres, complained but Bent was happy to claim his sixth goal in five games.

DROP BALL
Former FIFA referee Graham Poll told the BBC that according to the laws, play should have been stopped and a drop ball given.

“If that’s the case then we’ve got away with one,” Sunderland manager Steve Bruce told the BBC.

Bent said: “The beach ball was sitting there in their six-yard box so if they leave it there they pay the penalty.”

Portsmouth remained rooted to the bottom on three points after Spurs, who raided the south coast club for manager Harry Redknapp, his assistant coaches and several leading players last season, won with goals by Ledley King and Defoe.

Kevin-Prince Boateng pulled one back, but even after former Pompey striker Defoe was sent off Spurs held on.

Pompey also had Michael Brown sent off in added time while Redknapp, who led Portsmouth to FA Cup glory 18 months ago, remained seated in the dugout throughout the match.

Arsenal looked to be cruising after two goals in three minutes by Robin van Persie and Abou Diaby in the first half but Lee Bowyer pulled one back for Birmingham.

As the visitors poured forward looking for an equaliser Arsenal broke in typical style, Andrei Arshavin getting the third with five minutes to go to take their tally of league goals to 27.

Chelsea’s win at Villa Park last season was their first there for 10 years and they never looked comfortable yesterday despite Didier Drogba putting them ahead after 15 minutes.

Poor defending at two Ashley Young corners allowed Richard Dunne and James Collins to turn the game round for Villa.

In the day’s two other games Everton drew 1-1 with Wolverhampton Wanderers while Stoke City beat West Ham United 2-1.

Cobras win as Indian teams go out of Champions League
CAPE Cobras eased past Victoria in the Champions League yesterday - but both sides qualified for the semi-finals after Bangalore beat Delhi in the later game.

The Cobras game was reduced to 17 overs after the start was delayed when a suspicious bag was found at the ground.

When play did start, Monde Zondeki struck twice in the first over to leave Victoria reeling at 0-2, but steady progress saw them recover to 125-5.

But Henry Davids smashed 69 not out to see the Cobras home by eight wickets.

That result eliminated Bangalore from semi-final contention - but the Royal Challengers bounced back to overcome Delhi Daredevils, also by eight wickets, to knock their Indian rivals out of the competition.

It means none of the three star-studded Indian Premier League teams will be playing in the semi-finals.

The security alert - which saw an Under-22 cricketer from Jammu and Kashmir arrested, questioned by police and released without charge - delayed the start of the opening game by nearly two hours.

When the players eventually arrived from their hotel it was Victoria who were caught cold as Rob Quiney was caught at fine leg off the first ball of the match and Zondeki bowled Brad Hodge two balls later.

Andrew McDonald, who took 4-21 in Victoria's last game, further pressed his all-round credentials with 29 not out but the South Africans' target of 126 always looked well within their reach, even with Herschelle Gibbs missing from their side.

Captain Andrew Puttick pulled the first ball of the Cobras innings for four but soon fell to Peter Siddle.

However, this brought Davids to the crease - and he saw his side home, hitting seven fours and two sixes while sharing important stands with Derek Brand (29) and JP Duminy (18 not out).

Bangalore skipper Anil Kumble, celebrating his 39th birthday, asked Delhi to field first after winning the toss - and opener Virender Sehwag got the Daredevils off to a flier in his usual swashbuckling style, making 47 from 29 balls before he holed out at mid-off.

After his departure, Delhi were unable to keep up the pace, and Tillakaratne Dilshan (20) was caught-and-bowled attempting one of his signature ‘Dilscoops’ over the wicketkeeper's head, while England discard Owais Shah gave Kumble (3-20) his third wicket.

Chasing 139 to win, Bangalore's Manish Pandey retired hurt after two overs, while Dirk Nannes removed fellow opener Robin Uthappa cheaply.

But Indian veteran Rahul Dravid (32 not out) and big-hitting New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor (65) - who was dropped twice - took the game away from Delhi with a stand of 93 in just under 10 overs.

Taylor, who hit six fours and four huge sixes, was eventually bowled attempting another big hit at Nannes, but Virat Kohli smashed four fours from one Amit Mishra over to take Bangalore to the brink of victory - and former India captain Dravid brought up the win by hitting the first ball of the 16th over for six. (BBC Sport)

Players kick off World Cup anti-malaria fight
… soccer ideal way to tell people how to fight malaria
By Katie Reid
ZURICH, (Reuters) - Footballers are teaming up with governments, companies and international health campaigners to push for action against malaria ahead of next year’s World Cup finals in South Africa.

The ‘United Against Malaria’ campaign, which will start next month and run until the end of the World Cup, has won the backing of singer Bono, actress Ashley Judd and philanthropist Melinda Gates, wife of Microsoft founder Bill Gates.

Players such as U.S. captain Landon Donovan and the Ivory Coast team have already said they are behind the campaign, while other prominent footballers backing the movement will be revealed when the campaign is officially launched.

Malaria, which spreads through the bites from infected mosquitoes, kills nearly one million people a year, almost all in Africa where a child dies from the disease every 30 seconds.

The United Nations is trying to get universal access to diagnostic tests, mosquito nets and malaria medicine as part of its bid to cut the number of deaths to zero by 2015.

“Malaria is a disease that you have at household level. You use football to bring messages on prevention measures or how to treat people,” Awa Marie Coll-Seck, executive director of the Roll Back Malaria Partnership, told Reuters yesterday.

“This will reach them as they will watch everything on football and if messages are linked to that it will be a very important vehicle for information for us,” she said on the sidelines of FIFA’s medical conference in Zurich.

The Roll Back Malaria Partnership comprises UN agencies, the World Bank, leading drug makers and aid experts.

MORE SUPPORT
Coll-Seck, who was in Zurich to present the campaign to representatives of countries from across the world, said that through football it was possible to gather more support from people in developed countries who could act as donors.

Malaria affects 247 million people each year, with 86 percent of cases in Africa.

Coll-Seck said there was a slight risk players could get malaria when they are in South Africa next summer but this could be reduced by informing people about the disease.

“It’s not a part of Africa that has too many cases, but it can happen and people need to be careful,” she said.

“We will make it clear why malaria matters. If you look at malaria, at least 40 percent of the world’s population is at risk of this disease,” Coll-Seck said.

“At the same time, it’s a disease which affects particularly children and pregnant women and they are the vulnerable ones in our society. Malaria also has an impact on the economies of countries, on the education of people, on poverty,” she said.

“It is also a disease that people can defeat because it’s treatable and preventable and if you have all this why not use all means, including football, to fight this disease,” she said.

FIFA has recently introduced ‘The 11 for Health’ programme to teach the youths of Africa about the main diseases affecting the continent within the parameters of football and one of its messages includes using treated bed nets.

GHB/Banks DIH Night Hockey ..
Hikers `A’, GCC `B’ share honours
HIKERS `A’ and GCC `B’ shared the honours as the Guyana Hockey Board/Banks DIH Night Hockey tournament concluded on Friday evening at the Thirst Park ground.

Hikers `A’ men’s team dethroned their GCC counterparts by a 2-1 margin in their final pool match to cap off a solid and unbeaten performance throughout the tournament.

The GCC `B’ men’s team had earlier in the evening defeated the Hikers `B’ 3-0 to retain the second division title.

The `A’ division match had promised to be a crowd-pleaser and did not disappoint, as just six minutes into the match, a GCC defence error gave an unmarked Robert France the chance to receive a pass from Jerazeno Bell high in the scoring circle and the Hikers marksman slotted home his team’s first goal past the outmatched goalkeeper Michael Xavier for the 1-0 lead.

The match saw good midfield control by both teams and blistering attacks that brought gasps and cheers from the crowd.

Bell then made his mark on the game next as he dribbled wide to the right of the circle and found himself the room to pick his spot in the far corner of the GCC goal for a 2-0 lead.

With their backs against the ropes, GCC resorted to individual darts by their forwards and midfield, but composed defensive play by centre half Timothy McIntosh, and sweeper Robert Fernandes managed to keep them scoreless to the end of the half.

The Hikers had the early impetus in the second half as the first five minutes of resumption saw the action more on the GCC end as the Hikers pressed their defence.

GCC, however, quelled the storm and slowly turned the momentum to create several raids up-field to threaten the Hikers goal.

Despite several penalty corner efforts, the Hikers goalkeeper Azad DeAbreu was up to the challenge each time and it took until the 62nd minute for striker Philip Fernandes to take a quick free hit into the Hikers circle and smash his shot past the advancing DeAbreu to make the score 2-1.

As GCC pressed hard for the equaliser and created pressure at the Hikers’ defensive end, the Hikers capitalised with long passes in counterattack to the loafing France, who almost put his team up by an extra goal but for some outstanding goalkeeping by Xavier in the dying minutes. The final whistle saw the Hikers hang on for a well-deserved 2-1 victory and the A division trophy.

The `B’ division was less of a dogfight as the more experienced GCC men seemed always in control of the action aside from a few individual runs by the Hikers’ strikers.

Patrick Edghill led the scores with two goals in the 16th and 51st minutes while Chad Fernandes chipped in with an accurate strike in the 17th minute to give GCC the easy 3-0 victory.

The Hikers and GCC clubs both produced dominant performances in the tournament and with the two clubs featuring in both finals it signals strong depth that can sustain their success for the future.

Three mobile Ashes dates for 2010-11
BOOK your annual leave and plan your holiday, the countdown has started on the Australian Team’s mission to recapture the most famous urn in world sport with Cricket Australia today announcing the 3 mobile Ashes Series schedule for 2010-11.

Australia will do battle with England over five Tests in 2010-11, with the opening stanza locked in for the Gabba November 25–29, 2010.

Matches in Adelaide and Perth will follow, with Melbourne’s Boxing Day Test and Sydney’s New Year’s Test completing the series.

Cricket Australia Chief Executive Officer James Sutherland said he was looking forward to another thrilling contest between world cricket’s biggest rivals.

“Australian cricket fans always love an Ashes Series and demand for tickets is going to be strong, so it is important to put the dates in diaries now,” he said.

“We also expect to have a lot of UK fans here again.

“I know we have only just finished an Ashes series in England but I also know that the Aussie players – and Australian cricket in general – are already thinking about the Ashes series down under which starts in just over 12 months.

“Australia has a very good Ashes record at home and I’m hopeful that will continue next summer and we can bring the Waterford Crystal Urn back to Australia.”

Locally, fans can tune into live coverage of the series on the Nine Network, ABC Radio, cricket.com.au and 3 mobile and catch the international highlights at close of play on Fox Sports.

3 mobile Ashes Series 2010-11

25-29 November 2010 - Australia v England – Brisbane

3-7 December 2010 - Australia v England Adelaide

16-20 December 2010 - Australia v England – Perth

26-30 December 2010 - Australia v England – Melbourne

3-7 January 2011 - Australia v England – Sydney

* Note – Schedule current as at October 8, 2009. Cricket Australia reserves the right in its absolute discretion to change or amend the international programme at any time, without notice.

In total, 154 Ashes Test matches have been played, with Australia winning 77, England 53 and 24 drawn. (Cricket Australia)

Batsmen seal ODI series for Zimbabwe
ZIMBABWE won the battle of the bats in Harare to take the series after going up 3-1 against Kenya, yesterday.

The series win was their second over the same opposition this year. Zimbabwe were boosted by a collective batting display, with each of their top five batsmen making important contributions, as they chased down a challenging target with ease.

(Scores: Zimbabwe 271 for 4 (Mutizwa 79, Taylor 60, Vermeulen 56) beat Kenya 270 for 8 (Ouma 58, Obuya 49, Utseya 4-46) by six wickets).

Three of their batsmen - Mark Vermeulen, Forster Mutizwa and Brendan Taylor - struck half-centuries to see them home by six wickets with two overs to spare.

With a stiff task ahead of them, Zimbabwe were given a strong start when the in-form Hamilton Masakadza knocked 23 in an opening partnership of 30. Vermeulen and Mutizwa then seized control, adding 111 at better than a run-a-ball.

Nehemiah Odhiambo brought an end to the stand, dismissing Vermeulen for 56, but a solid foundation for a successful chase had been laid.

If Kenya sensed an opening with Vermeulen's dismissal, they were thwarted by Brendan Taylor, who supported Mutizwa in a solid partnership. Despite the fall of a wicket, the scoring rate remained healthy. Mutizwa struck six fours and a six in a stand of 79, and added 47 with Taylor before being trapped lbw by Lameck Onyango.

Taylor then took up the responsibility of anchoring the innings, and Stuart Matsikenyeri, one of the mainstays of the Zimbabwe line-up, continued the good work.

There was little aggression in his knock, but the scoring remained unhindered; he struck just two boundaries in his 39-ball 37. Taylor, too, worked it around; only 16 runs of his better-than-a-run-a-ball 60 came in fours. By the time Matsikenyeri was castled by Odhiambo, Zimbabwe's task was a mere formality and Taylor ensured the game was sealed with no fuss.

Zimababwe had been set such a tall target chiefly due to Maurice Ouma's run-a-ball half-century, which had led Kenya's batting effort.

Kenya were well placed at 190 for 3 in the 40th over, with Ouma and Rakep Patel adding 86. But leg-spinner Graeme Cremer struck twice in two overs to dismiss the two settled batsmen. Kenya slowed down a touch before Thomas Odoyo, coming at No.8, smashed 30 off 17 balls to lift the total.

Kenya were given a confident start by their openers David Obuya and Alex Obanda, who put on 64 in 12 overs before Obanda edged one off Ray Price for 33. Three overs later, Prosper Utseya took the first of his four wickets, catching Steve Tikolo off his own bowling. Obuya and Patel ticked along at under four an over till Utseya trapped Obuya one short of his fifty.

Zimbabwe would have expected to keep Kenya to 250 when they broke the Ouma-Patel stand. However, Odoyo's violent hitting - three fours and two sixes - ensured 73 runs were scored off the last eight overs, but the effort, in the end, was in vain. (Cricinfo)

FIFA calls for action to prevent sudden cardiac death
… urges more screening; Italians set best example
By Katie Reid
ZURICH, (Reuters) - National football associations should carry out more screening as part of the fight against sudden cardiac death in footballers across the world, soccer’s world governing body FIFA said yesterday.

Several footballers have died as a result of sudden heart failure in recent years and Spanish players called in August for an improvement in tests after Espanyol’s Dani Jarque collapsed and died from heart failure aged just 26.

“Our purpose is to enlarge what FIFA is doing. We give the example but now we ask all the national associations to follow,” Michel D’Hooghe, chairman of the FIFA Medical Committee, told Reuters on the sidelines of FIFA’s medical conference in Zurich.

“It is clear that in some national associations professional players are correctly examined before the season. It is not so that we have to ask everyone, but let’s try to make a general rule of it,” he said.

FIFA has so far recommended that pre-tournament medical assessment be carried out at its international events, but this has yet to be made compulsory.

FIFA first did pre-tournament medical assessments at the World Cup in 2006 and the 32 squads at next year’s World Cup in South Africa will all be screened ahead of the finals.

Although playing football can help to prevent cardiovascular disease, taking part in competitive sports can act as a trigger for sudden cardiac death.

Ninety percent of deaths have happened in front of fans either during training sessions or at matches, FIFA said in its Football for Health report.

“The international football community had to witness such tragedy when Marc Vivien Foe died on the pitch during the FIFA Confederations Cup in 2003,” FIFA said in the report.

ITALIANS BEST
In Italy, an annual clinical test is required by law before athletes can take part in competitive sports. Screening involves taking a general history, a physical examination and a resting electrocardiogram (ECG).

“The best example is what the Italians have done,” D’Hooghe said. “Thanks to good pre-competition medical assessment they found the great majority of the heart problems and they could avoid catastrophes. It went from nine deaths to one over the last 10 years.”

He added it would not be possible to put tests in place for all of the 260 million players across the world, saying: “This is materially impossible and this is financially impossible.

“But at least we could ask all our national associations that the players who are professionals, who play in tournaments with their national team, who play in competitions of their confederation, like in Europe the UEFA Cup, the Champions League, would be subjected to such examinations,” D’Hooghe said.

“This is only a first step. Of course, it will cost some money but I think it’s worth it as it will save some lives.”