ARCHIVES FOR OCTOBER 30, 2009
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Security sector reform will go on despite British pullout
- Dr. Luncheon
PLANNED reform of Guyana’s security sector will continue in spite of the withdrawal of projected British Government support for the programme, Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon, emphasised yesterday.

At his weekly post-Cabinet briefing, he said the disengagement by the United Kingdom Government has had a material impact mostly related to the loss of the opportunity but it was not fatal to the Guyana plan.

He again indicated that differences between the British and the Guyana Government over who would have managed and overseen the plan, among other aspects, ended the engagement.

“Guyana owes no apology when it comes to its entrenched position on the inviolability of our national sovereignty”, Luncheon declared, repeating the government’s previous stand on the issue earlier this year when the negotiations faltered.

Referring to the 4.9 million pounds sterling envisaged from the British for the plan, he said “some obviously feel that Guyana cannot manage a grant of that magnitude even though our history over the years, since 1992, is replete with successful management of external funding of much, much greater size and complexity.”

The pullout by the UK from security reform in Guyana was not fatal, he said.

Promising to release a document to the media on the talks, Luncheon said the two sides reached agreement in December on a basic architecture of management of the plan, covering basic aspects like involvement, feedback and oversight.

He said Guyana acted on that and there is already a constitutional amendment that introduced parliamentary oversight of the sector.

But according to the Cabinet Secretary, the British reworked proposal for management presented in April sought to introduce full control by them.

“It was inconsistent with the tenor of our agreement in December. If they had said to me `these were our intentions’, we wouldn’t have had an agreement in December. But like a card game, they went into the back pocket and pull out the trump and throw it out…and this was the beginning of the end”, he said.

The British High Commission in a statement on Wednesday said the UK Government fully respects the right of the Government of Guyana to determine the direction of Guyana's security sector, and any programme for that sector.

It said the latest proposal from the Government of Guyana for UK Government funding for the security sector “suggests a fundamentally different programme from the one we understood the Government of Guyana wanted. This understanding was based on President Jagdeo's letters of 4 May and 14 August 2006 which called for comprehensive, broad based, non-partisan and compelling reform of the security sector.”

The High Commission said the latest proposal from the Government of Guyana suggests a focus on police modernisation, rather than on holistic security sector reform and after careful consideration, the UK Government therefore decided to withdraw its offer of assistance in this area.

It said the funding has been re-allocated to other pressing needs within the Caribbean.

“We remain committed to supporting the development of Guyana and the Caribbean and will continue to work closely with the Government of Guyana on economic growth, private sector development, and to support the country's efforts to implement the Low Carbon Development Strategy”, it said.

Luncheon, who had been spearheading the implementation of the plan with the British, said he had pulled out of the process because he was outraged at the reworked document the British put to the Guyana Government.

He had previously said that Guyana was holding firm to its position that the promised aid cannot compromise national sovereignty.

He explained that the two sides concluded a policy position last December which he and British High Commissioner Fraser Wheeler signed and Guyana was told it had to be adopted by the principals in the British Government.

Luncheon said nothing was heard from the British until April when documents which in effect compromised Guyana’s national sovereignty were presented to the government here.

The Guyana Government has a plan for security sector reform with three main instruments, particularly from the funding perspective, he said yesterday.

Public funding will be provided by the budget; loan financing will come from multilateral agencies and a part was to have been provided by the British grant, he explained.

He said the UK and Guyana funding component had specific aspects and was not reproduced in the other two, so the British withdrawal has reduced these from three to two and the design of the strategic plan will now have to be redone to reintegrate those aspects that would have been met by the Guyana Government-UK engagement back into the other two.

“The design of the loan financing component is pretty much fixed in the context of the existing loan and that is why we would say it is public funding that will pick up the slack. It’s not an enormous sum of money and does not in any way approximate the citizens security or justice sector modernization (programmes) with the (IDB) Inter-American Development Bank but it has to be taken over by the budget”, he explained.

FRAUD AT GPOC
19 Postmasters being investigated
NINETEEN Postmasters and staff members of the finance department at the Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC) are under investigation for Money Order fraud in excess of $1M, according to Ms. Yolaskee Jervis, Public Relations Officer and Special Assistant to the Postmaster General.

Jervis, in a statement yesterday, said initial meetings with members of the finance department and members of the reconciliation team were convened on October 13.

According to the statement, the Corporation invited the Postmasters in question to a meeting with the presence of the President and General Secretary of the Guyana Postal and Telecommunication Workers Union as well as a representative from the Public Service Union, on October 22 at its head office location.

The offices under investigation are Anna Regina, Bartica, Mahaica, Wales, Vreed-en-Hoop, Fort Wellington, Kitty, Campbellville, Bagotville, Queenstown, East La Penitence, Soesdyke, Rosignol, Charlestown, Bourda, Charity, Grove and Parika. The office at Port Kaituma is currently under police investigation.

Jervis said “the Board of Directors has expressed its disgust at the level of dishonesty that has become evident within the ranks of the organisation over a period and continues to work assiduously with the Corporation to provide a service based on high levels of integrity, professionalism and excellence.”

IN this regard, the Corporation is asking for the support of the general public in stamping out corruption of all sorts within its organisation and is appealing to persons with information that could assist with the investigation to contact the Postmaster General or the Director of Corporate Affairs on telephone numbers 227-7494 or 225-5070 respectively.

Jervis assured that information received will be treated with the strictest confidentiality.

Dr. Luncheon accuses GAWU of failing to take
COMPREHENSIVE VIEW ON SUGAR
- says union’s views on sugar industry ‘woefully one-sided’
‘Sugar is bigger than the sugar workers; sugar is bigger than the union; sugar is about Guyana.” – Dr. Luncheon
By Priya Nauth
THE Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’ Union (GAWU) has failed to “take a comprehensive view” of sugar, according to Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr. Roger Luncheon.

The Cabinet Secretary was speaking at his weekly post-Cabinet press briefing yesterday at the Office of the President, Shiv Chanderpaul Drive, Georgetown.

“The response by the main sugar union, GAWU, must be seen as an effort by the union to respond to the troubles in the sugar sector and perceptions about its cause and how to deal with it,” he said.

“But the administration takes issue with the presentation by the union. The union in its presentation in the public has failed utterly to take a comprehensive view of sugar,” Luncheon declared.

“Sugar is more than a matter with sugar workers. Sugar is about local industry, it’s about conditions in the rural communities. Equally important, it is about the economy of Guyana and economic performances,” he posited.

“And for a submission by the union that does not take into consideration such important factors - they run the risk of appearing ‘utterly partisan and single-minded’ in responding to a situation that exists on the ground,” Luncheon said.

He reminded that the union was offered a role in management of the Corporation, recalling that at the last congress, President Bharrat Jagdeo “threw out to the union the offer to take over management”.

“Since in 1992 and a little bit on, the then President offered GAWU membership on the Board,” the Cabinet Secretary further recalled.

“A lot of the accounts that the union has seen it fit to resort to and to justify their contentions, their views relate to weaknesses in management (but) the union continues to decline effective participation in management. They have been invited and we continue to invite the union to be involved in management,” Luncheon charged.

He repeated, “The union has to be involved and the place is reserve for them on the Board, and it is up to the union to decide how and when they would be involved.”

The HPS stated that the union’s financing and analysis of finances in the industry is ‘woefully one-sided’.

“How the union could ignore cost factors; the implication of the debt to put the factory in place – how they could ignore the deficit occurring regularly and how they seem to suggest that currency fluctuation is going to be the saviour of this sector is mind boggling.”

“The long and short of it - the union is defending the sugar workers but as I started out saying, sugar is bigger than the sugar workers, sugar is bigger than the union - sugar is about Guyana,” Dr. Luncheon stressed.

“Our thrust is the union is a repository of enormous influence in this sector. They know a lot; we got problems with their solutions, we have problem with their avoidance of what we consider necessary interventions for a comprehensive solution – they have been avoiding that,” Luncheon asserted.

“And we feel that there seems to be a decision not to be a part of management, not to go on the board, not to take seriously the administration’s offers about having a role bigger than just being a union and being critical, accounting and analyse it from a union perspective what is happening in this sector. We take an issue with that position and that attitude,” the HPS said.

“We are calling them and we continue to say to the players, we need to meet and plan. It is not enough to react from an isolated perspective,” he added.

THE Parrot
Night cricket and a “blow-blow”
The Parrot witnessed the finals of the Guyana Cricket Board cricket festival held last week at the Stadium. Guyana lost to Jamaica. Not that the result matter; being able to experience night cricket did. Despite the “blackouts”, the Stadium was well lit. The atmosphere was electrifying (no pun intended) with many screaming fans; the females bellowed vociferously to hoarseness, “Tiger”, “Ronnie”, and “Up-here”. There were many flashes from them; some not emanating from cameras.



Digicel girls, decked in red bikini-like shorts, strutted around the Guyana National Stadium at Providence during last weekend’s cricket. (Adrian Narine photos)
The males “outvoiced” them when the DGsell girls, decked in red bikini-like shorts strutted around to distribute paraphernalia. Male heads turned with jaws dropped and drool oozing. Other heads turned too. Female companions of the males who turned theirs, turned to see and slap. Who dare look at the girls in red whilst in the company of their lady? Ironically, the said females who slapped their male partners were the ones screaming for “Tiger” and “Ronnie”. Women! Can’t live with them, can’t live without them! Not too certain about the first part of this saying.

The cricket itself wasn’t very exciting. The fans were, some still in awe of the stadium.

Night cricket to international standards was beyond the embryonic stage of envisagement years ago. Today it’s a norm. The Stadium has indeed not only transformed the already transformed East Bank landscape; it has ensured that Guyana can host any related international event. Currently the Regional One-day tournament is being held here for the third consecutive year. This speaks volumes for Guyana’s ability to host these events.

Without the Stadium, not only was the hosting of Cricket World Cup 2007 impossible, but all subsequent events. Yet, one particular person feels that the Stadium should not have been built. He similarly feels that books must not be paid for. His kleptomaniac tendencies and his disdain for the Stadium are well documented. With thousands of Guyanese and foreigners flocking the Stadium, night or day, the Parrot would never rule out the attendance of the kleptomaniac Stadium-hater.

Many try to disguise themselves when attending a cricket match; some for competition purposes and some to hide their spouses’ competition from roving television cameras. Clive was caught when his wife saw him and her “competition” on TV during a match in England. Was big story. Since then the boys involved “hiding” from the cameras even though they are present. Paint facing, face covering and big straw hats are just a few items for “incognitoness”. Some even paint their whole body. Red and blue paint dominate despite no monetary reason to do so from DGsell and the Blue Power people.

With knowledge of this kind of disguising, some felt strongly that the kleptomaniac was present in disguise.

Those who were dressed as Freddie, Kruger that is since Halloween is now a big thing here, were natural suspects. Freddie disguising as Freddie! LOL! And loud it was. Not only from the natural voices of fans and the shrieks from those in Halloween costume or paint and whose privacy was “invaded” during the search for Freddie, but from noisy instruments. Air horns, drums and “blow-blows” were in abundance.

“Blow-blows” were selling cheap’ $100. It was indeed a sight to see big people, men and women, “blowing” hard. Just like how night cricket was unimaginable here years ago, just so was seeing men and women “blowing” in public. Guyana has indeed been transformed; with Stadium and all. Apparently, those who were “blowing” were visiting the Stadium for the first time. They thought that they could have freely “blow” since, being “night” cricket, nobody would have seen. Night cricket has been a revelation. Squawk! Squawk!

Labour Minister imposes Arbitration on GAWU and GuySuCo to resolve wages dispute
MINISTER of Labour Mr. Manzoor Nadir last night issued a statement, indicating that he has imposed compulsory arbitration on the parties after conciliation proceedings between the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) and the Guyana Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU) was declared deadlock yesterday by the Chief Labour Officer.

The Minister, in letters to the parties stated:
“Conscious of the threat by the union to go on full scale industrial action which can have serious consequences for the industry, the Hon. Minister wishes to advise that he is satisfy that the continuance of the difference is likely to be gravely injurious to the national interest and has decided to impose compulsory arbitration by virtue of the powers conferred upon him by Section 4 (1) (c) of the Labour Act, Cap. 98:01.”
Minister Nadir said members of the Tribunal Panel will be named shortly.

BENSCHOP ARRESTED
- for allegedly obstructing NFMU Officials to search his home
By Michel Outridge
POLICE yesterday afternoon arrested freed treason accused, Mark Benschop, when he reportedly resisted arrest and obstructed the police from conducting a search of his home.


A police vehicle blocking the entrance at Mark Benschop's home last evening
Reports said that at about 16:00 h yesterday afternoon, National Frequency Management Unit (NFMU) officials, accompanied by the police armed with a warrant, reportedly broke into Benschop’s Caneview Avenue, Roxanne Burnham Gardens, Georgetown, house while he was not at home.

This newspaper was told that the NFMU believes Benschop was operating an illegal FM transmitter that was beaming on 99.9.

Reports are that a bipolar antenna was seen above Benschop’s home. Benschop, who operates an internet radio station, had said that seven months ago he had applied for a radio license but his application was not acknowledged.


MARK Benschop minutes before he was arrested yesterday
There are reports that 99.9 FM had been on air intermittently for several hours each day for several weeks now.

The NFMU allegedly broke into Benschop’s home and executed a search and when he got wind of the happenings at his house, Benschop showed up and a heated argument erupted.

Benschop expressed his displeasure and the police took him away to the station.

By this time, a large crowd had gathered in support of Benschop and he was whisked away by the police, who was still guarding his house last night.

It is not certain if any equipment or devices were found during yesterday’s search.
NEWS

Adventist church holds free medical outreach tomorrow
THE Victoria Seventh-day Adventist Church will be holding a medical outreach programme tomorrow at the Ann’s Grove minibus park.

It’s an annual programme which is run by the Health and Temperance Department of the church in collaboration with the Davis Memorial Hospital.

The programme starts at 15:00 h, medical checks will be done free of cost and persons are asked to be early. Communities and nearby villages such as Mahaica, Clonbrook, Ann’s Grove, Bee Hive, Two Friends, Unity, Belfield, Victoria, Nootenzuil, Hope and Doch Four are advised to make use of this opportunity and make their health a priority.

The medical team will be led by Dr. Karen Cummings- Health Director of the Victoria SDA Church, and include Doctors and Nurses from the Davis Memorial Hospital and the Church.

TCL failing to meet local, regional demand for cement
– Cabinet Secretary
“Guyana and other CARICOM States contend that the ability of TCL, the regional supplier, to adequately and reliably service the needs of the region is inadequate.” – Dr. Roger Luncheon
By Priya Nauth
WITH the demand for cement in Guyana and across the Caribbean region at “an all time high”, questions have been raised about the ability of regional supplier, Trinidad Cement Limited (TCL) to meet these rising demands.

Head of the Presidential Secretariat (HPS) Dr. Roger Luncheon yesterday bluntly declared that “TCL cannot perform to the expectations of the region (as) they cannot meet the region’s demand.”

Speaking to reporters at his weekly post-Cabinet news briefing at the Office of the President, Shiv Chanderpaul Drive, Georgetown, Dr. Luncheon said these developments associated with the provision of cement by TCL to the local market are “not new and are not unique to Guyana.”

He pointed out that right across the Caribbean, the demand for cement is at an “all time high”.

“Guyana and other CARICOM States contend that the ability of TCL, the regional supplier, to adequately and reliably service the needs of the region is inadequate,” he declared.

The Cabinet Secretary recalled that since the Administration moved to reinstitute the Common External Tariff (CET) on cement from non-CARICOM states in accordance with the recent ruling of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), reports have been surfacing more and more of TCL’s inability to meet its contractual and other obligations currently on the domestic scene.

Further, he stated that questions have been raised about the technical standards of the cement produced by TCL, and by extension, its local subsidiary, TCL Guyana Incorporated (TGI).

“Since the resort to litigation and the steps taken by the Guyanese administration in accordance with rulings, reports have been surfacing more and more of TCL’s inability to meet its contractual and other obligations,” Luncheon told reporters.

“Currently, on the domestic scene, the technical standards of their supplies have, and are, being questioned and to some extent that has led to delays in meeting their contractual commitment to end users; that of course, is impacting negatively on logistics,” he pointed out.

He noted that even with its commitment now limited to bagging and distribution, this is what TCL offers Guyana in the context of the agreement that brought the Trinidadian company here.

“It is now just bagging and distribution and even with just those sole commitments, the concerns about TCL’s ability continue unabated,” he reiterated.

Replying to questions, Luncheon said: “I am advising that there are questions about the quality, the standards.”

“There are those who are involved in producing cement for commercial purposes…and we are getting reports of problems – it is not new,” Luncheon declared.

“I think if you were to go and examine the cement that was used in the construction of the stadium, you would find that quality was of prime importance for the contractor – (and) I am advised TCL cement was not used,” he asserted.

Cabinet endorses Speaker’s ruling on Motion of Privilege
By Priya Nauth
QUOTE:“Cabinet fully endorsed the ruling of the Speaker on the motion of privilege by the governing PPP/C MPs with regard to the public anti-security forces remarks by the Opposition PNCR MP and Shadow Minister of Home Affairs, Mrs. Backer.” - Dr. Luncheon

CABINET has endorsed the ruling of Speaker of the National Assembly Ralph Ramkarran on the motion of privilege by the governing People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Members of Parliament (MPs) with regards to the public anti-security forces remarks by the Opposition People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) MP Deborah Backer.

This is according to Head of the Presidential Secretariat (HPS) Dr. Roger Luncheon yesterday at his weekly post-Cabinet press briefing at the Office of the President, Shiv Chanderpaul Drive, Georgetown.

“Cabinet fully endorsed the ruling of the Speaker on the motion of privilege by the governing PPP/C MPs with regard to the public anti-security forces remarks by the Opposition PNCR MP and Shadow Minister of Home Affairs, Mrs. Backer,” Dr. Luncheon stated.

Backer has since been referred to a Committee of Privileges to be disciplined for offensive remarks she made against the army at the October 15 sitting of the National Assembly.

Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh told the House that Backer, in her presentation on the motion of the deployment of Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Personnel to Trinidad for the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting suggested that the soldiers are going there to torture people.

He said Backer’s statements cast aspersions on the hard working men and women of armed forces who serve their country as well as the region when called upon.

Singh contended that the PNCR member’s unfortunate remarks must be harshly condemned and called on Members of the House to unanimously signal their disapproval of her offensive uttering.

The minister said Prime Minister Samuel Hinds has written to the Speaker of the House on the matter.

The Speaker acknowledged receipt of the Prime Minister’s letter but said he was unable to forward the correspondence to Backer because he received it late in the morning.

Ramkarran said he has examined the issue and found that a prima facie has been made and has referred it to the Committee of Privileges which takes disciplinary action.

The PNCR last Thursday boycotted the sitting of the National Assembly and Ramkarran informed the House that the Parliamentarian in question nor her colleagues provided him a reason for their absence.

Some 90 ranks including members of the Guyana Police Force will join their CARICOM counterparts in providing security support to the Government of Trinidad and Tobago at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting scheduled for November.

Also, he stated that Cabinet approved the tabling of the private security services legislation when it met last Tuesday to be tabled by Minister of Home Affairs, Mr. Clement Rohee seeking to regulate the industry by introducing the registration of the companies, inspection and standard setting.

He said the role of the Commissioner of Police and the Minister of Home Affairs is outlined in the bill with regards to their overview of that sector.

Additionally, amendments to social security legislation which were approved by Cabinet will also be tabled.

Cabinet noted, too, the many Select Committees that continue to examine bills sent for further consideration including the Children Bill, the Sexual Offences Bill, the Allied Health Professional Bill and the Local Government Bill.

“Today, in parliament, the Maritime Zone Legislation would be debated for its second reading,” he told reporters, in reference to yesterday’s sitting.

A few weeks ago, at his weekly post-Cabinet briefing, he stated that Cabinet considered and adapted its programme of legislative enactments to be presented during the new session which began earlier this month.

The Cabinet Secretary noted that emphasis will be on furthering the reforms in the financial sector which would see the tabling of Electronic Transaction Bill intended to lay the ground work and establish the range of orthodoxies in using the internet to contact both government and private business, as it is being done with personal business and communication.

Additionally, the New Building Society (NBS) Amendment Act to bring the NBS under greater supervision by the Bank of Guyana; and the Credit Bureau Credit Reporting Bill by which credit-granting bodies and firms in the financial sector and those who receive credit, will have legal and legitimate ways of identifying and providing shared information about credit behaviour.

Others include the Business Names Registration Amendment Bill; the Companies’ Amendment Bills and Regulations; the Deeds Registry Amendment Bill; the Official Gazette Bill, which are all intended to lay the statutory framework for electronic filing, electric transactions in the registration and the incorporation of businesses in Guyana.

The Consumer Protection Bill is also expected to be laid in the National Assembly and, he pointed out that the justice sector is also highlighted in this legislative period with two important pieces of legislation - the Legal Practitioners’ Amendment Bill and the Juvenile Justice Bill.

In terms of national security and sovereignty, the Maritime Zone Bill seeks to replace the existing boundaries Act and to reflect Guyana’s gratification of United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and also those considerations that arose from the Tribunal Award concluded recently.

Also on the priority list, according to the HPS; are the Access to Information Bill; the Broadcast Bill as well as other pieces of legislation that includes the Disability Bill; the Rice Factory Assessment Bill; and the Livestock Development Authority Bill.

“These bills on the priority list would be tabled and will join other bills that have already been tabled and that are being discussed at the level of the Select Committees in parliament,” he emphasised.

Luncheon said these include the Sex Offences Bill; the two children’s bill – Custody, Maintenance and Guardianship and Contact and Childcare and Development Services; the remaining Local Government Reform Bills; the Health Professionals Bill; and the Leader of the Opposition Benefit Bill.

GuySuCo, GAWU wages talk broke down again
- as Corporation withdrew 3% increase offer
- country-wide strike expected
By Tajeram Mohabir
WORKERS at all sugar estates throughout the country are expected to go on strike today after wages/salaries negotiations between the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) and the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) yesterday broke down again.

GAWU’s General Secretary, Mr. Seepaul Narine told the Chronicle, that GuySuCo in a dramatic move at the end of yesterday’s conciliatory proceedings, withdrew its offer of three per cent increase in wages/salaries for this year.

He said the union’s representatives at the various estates have already communicated the unusual and provocative decision by GuySuCo.

Narine reported that the workers are incensed by the Company’s move and those at the Rose Hall Estate on hearing the news yesterday, downed tools, forcing the factory to cease operation.

A GAWU’s source describes GuySuCo’s action as “arrogant” and said most likely workers at the various estates will go on a stand-off today.

The Union, in a release, said its 50-odd member team was astonished by GuySuCo’s latest approach to the negotiation, pointing out that the act of provocation taken was unprecedented.

“The union sought to end the conciliatory proceedings before the Chief Labour Officer deemed the talks deadlock, to reach a settlement, but the Corporation remained obstinate.

“Members of the union’s delegation opined that the corporation’s three per cent position became unchangeable at this time since the number most likely is identifiable with the Government’s position, noting Dr. Roger Luncheon at a recent post cabinet press briefing, as reported in the October 16, 2009 edition of the Kaieteur News, reportedly alluded to the need for political intervention regarding GuySuCo’s wage dispute,” the release concluded.

GAWU during the negotiation has adjusted its initial demand for a 15 per cent wages/salaries increase for 2009 to 10 per cent after considering the grim financial state of the Corporation.

But GuySuCo, from the start of the negotiation made it clear they cannot afford to pay more than a three per cent wages and salaries increase to workers and maintained that position throughout the discussion.

Minister Rohee tables Private Security Services (Regulation) Bill
MINISTER of Home Affairs Clement Rohee yesterday tabled the Private Security Services (Regulation) Bill which seeks to regulate and control private security services.

The Bill comes in light of the fact that there is at present no law in Guyana regulating the business of providing private security services to any person or establishment and the growing demand for streamlining and regulating the business of private security agencies for a better organized and disciplined quality of these services.

This Bill consists of 24 clauses, some of which focus on the appointment of a controlling authority who shall be the Commissioner of Police, whose specific function will be the issuance of license to the private security agencies.

The bill addresses the requirement of obtaining a license for carrying out or continuing private security services, the conditions for commencement of private security service operations, the provision of firearms, ammunition and other weapons by the security guard employed by the private security agency.

Other clauses in the Bill also address the power of the controlling authority to inspect the license and premises of the private security agency, the procedures for filing for appeals to the Minister against the various orders of the controlling authority, and the eligible conditions to become a private security guard.

Health Ministry receives US$50,000 in medical supplies
THE Ministry of Health was yesterday presented with a quantity of medical supplies such as beds, thermometers, and vacuum tubing at a cost of approximately US$50,000 from the Charge d’ Affaires of the U.S. Embassy, Ms. Karen Williams. The supplies were remainder of the U.S. military’s New Horizon mission that recently visited Guyana on a humanitarian mission.

Minister within the Ministry of Health, Dr. Bheri Ramsaran said the medical supplies received will be distributed to various health facilities across the country. He expressed gratitude for the much needed equipment.

The donation was co-ordinated through Mission Outreach, a humanitarian organisation in the U.S. and Food for Poor Guyana Inc.

According to Ms. Williams, the donation is a continuing part of the promise to the people of Guyana to provide humanitarian assistance through the support of the Ministry of Health.

Maritime Zones Bill 2009 sent to Special Select Committee
- AFC leader lauds Gov’t for considering his party’s request to have the Bill sent to Select Committee.
By Tajeram Mohabir
THE modern and comprehensive Maritime Zones Bill of 2009 which seeks to incorporate certain provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the UNESCO Convention on the Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage was read for the second time in the National Assembly yesterday and sent to a Special Select Committee.

The legislation provides for marine scientific research, maritime cultural area, eco-tourism, marine parks and reserves and mariculture, the protection and preservation of the marine environment and related matters.

It seeks to replace the outdated Marine Boundaries Act of 1977 which predates UNCLOS of 1982.

Foreign Affairs Minister, Mrs. Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett in whose name the bill was raised, told the House - which was again devoid of the presence of members from the main opposition People’s National Congress Reform -One Guyana (PNCR-1G), that the PNCR, the Alliance for Change (AFC) and People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Parliamentarian, Mrs. Gail Teixeira, had requested that the legislation be referred to a Select Committee because it addresses matters of sovereignty and imperative national interest.

Rodrigues-Birkett said the Government acknowledged the calls from the opposition parties and in keeping with its view to have a wide and inclusive debate on the Bill, given the important matters of national interest it addresses; it has yielded to their request.

She said several years ago when Guyana attempted to safeguard her rights in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), it became increasingly apparent that the existent legislation on issues relating to rights and obligations pursuant to the provisions of the UNCLOS were inadequate.

The Foreign Affairs Minister reported that in 2003, the Government commenced work on updating the legislation with the assistance of the Commonwealth Secretariat Legal and Advisory Services Division.

Rodrigues-Birkett said after intense consultations in Georgetown involving several ministries and agencies, several drafts of the Bill were prepared with the full involvement of the Attorney General’s chambers, ending with the legislation before the House.

“Since the enactment of the Maritime Boundaries Act, there have been many new developments in maritime law not only with respect to the rights and obligations of coastal state parties to UNCLOS and other international treaties, conventions and agreements but also in the jurisprudence of customary international law.

“In light of these developments and the realisation that if Guyana is to properly safeguard her rights and meet her international obligations on the current international law, the Government believes the time is right for us to enact modern legislation.

“This is exactly what the Maritime Zone Bill aims to do and in addition to enabling the implementation of UNCLOS, the new act will also enable Guyana to meet her international obligations and secure her rights under any other related agreement of the wider aspects of UNCLOS to which Guyana is or might become a party,” the Minister underscored.

Rodrigues-Birkett stressed that the Bill is wider in score compared to the current Act as it attempts to address all issues related to the maritime zones with which Guyana’s jurisdiction is to be respected and the conditions for the creation of these zones.

As such, she emphasised it is more than simply boundaries and it for this very reason the name of the Bill has been changed from the Maritime Boundaries Act to the Maritime Zones Bill, of course after it has been approved by the National Assembly.

The minister noted too that the Bill excludes the fisheries zone, since that is co-terminus with the exclusive economic zone and fisheries is governed under the Fisheries Act of 2002.

AFC Leader Raphael Trotman lauded the Government for considering his party’s request to have the Bill sent to a Special Select Committee.

Culture Youth and Sports Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony said the legislation represents Guyana’s best interest and ensures the protection of its underwater cultural heritage from various threats and exploitations.

He underlined that the goal is to preserve the underwater cultural heritage of the past and the Government is compelled to take pre-emptive action in this regard.

Transport and Hydraulics Minister, Robeson Benn underscored the need for the Government to protect its national patrimony not only on land but in the sea as well.

The Bill will ensure proper management of traffic in the local maritime space and secure the country’s borders in the East and West as it relates to exploitation of its maritime resources

Prime Minister Samuel Hinds also spoke in support of the Bill.

Meanwhile, the Credit Reporting Bill and the Private Security Services (Regulation) Bill were tabled before the House.

For the eighteenth consecutive year…
UN General Assembly overwhelmingly calls for end to US Economic, Trade embargo against Cuba
EVEN though many delegates expressed a newfound optimism that United States-Cuba relations could improve with the change of Administration in Washington, the United Nations General Assembly yesterday once again adopted a stern resolution calling on the United States to end a trade embargo, which had created human suffering and wreaked havoc with the economy of the island nation.

With a recorded vote of 187 in favour to 3 against (Israel, United States and Palau), and 2 abstentions (Federated States of Micronesia, Marshall Islands), the 192-Member Assembly in its resolution urged the lifting of stiff commercial, financial and economic sanctions that were slapped on Cuba in the aftermath of the cold war.

This marked the eighteenth year the world body had adopted a similar resolution on the issue, according to a statement from the UN.

As happened last year, a burst of applause greeted the Assembly’s passage of text that reaffirmed the sovereign equality of States, the non-intervention and non-interference in their affairs, and the freedom of international trade and navigation. The two-page document again called upon all States to refrain from promulgating and applying laws and measures such as that promulgated in the 1996 “Helms-Burton Act” which carried extra-territorial effects that impacted the sovereignty of other States.

Introducing the resolution on the Cuban trade embargo, Bruno Rodriguez Parrila, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Cuba, called the blockade an “uncultured act of arrogance” that had hampered the development of Cuba’s economy and was also applied to other countries that wanted to carry out business with the Caribbean nation.

He said it was an “absurd policy” that caused suffering and led to shortages of basic necessities. The embargo was a massive, flagrant and systematic violation of human rights. In the Geneva Convention of 1948, it was classified as an act of genocide, he added.

With executive powers, President Obama had an historical opportunity to lead a policy change and lift the blockade. He was vested with the executive powers to substantially modify the implementation of the measures by granting “special license” or waivers, making humanitarian exceptions, or acting for the sake of the United States national interests.

Speaking ahead of the vote, the United States’ representative said “here we go again”. The Cuban Government’s hostile language seemed straight out of the cold war and the United States would not respond in kind to such familiar rhetoric. She would, however, acknowledge “a new chapter to this old story”.

In recent months, the United States had taken several steps to reach out to Cubans to help ensure they could freely determine their country’s future. Like all countries, the United States had the sovereign right to conduct economic relations with another country as it saw fit, and the embargo was part of a broader set of relations.

She drew attention to distortions in the Cuban position and said she regretted that Cuba continued to incorrectly label trade restrictions as an act of “genocide.” It was equally erroneous to charge that sanctions were the cause of Cuba’s deprivation. The United States maintained no restrictions on humanitarian aid -- it was the largest provider of food to Cuba and exported other items like wood and medicine. Given that scenario, she called on Cuba to take steps to respond to the desire of its citizens to enjoy social, political and economic freedoms.

The representative of St. Kitts and Nevis, speaking on behalf of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), opposed the embargo and said the unilateral imposition of extra-territorial laws on third States was contrary to both the letter and spirit of the United Nations.

The Caribbean Community was especially concerned by the punitive embargo as it impeded the region’s overall development. CARICOM maintained close relations with Cuba through a wide range of programmes in areas from trade to health care to infrastructure. Yet the delegation believed that a new beginning was possible in United States- Cuba relations even with the long history of dashed hopes.

The representative of Indonesia also expressed hope that the once icy relations between the two countries would end and a new era of cooperation would blossom in coming years. “This year, we have reason to be optimistic”, he said, citing recent steps taken. He said relations between States would constantly be tested as countries faced the challenge of balancing cooperation and competition.

Providing a view from another hemisphere, the representative of South Africa said the embargo’s relentless consequences had created untold suffering and the time to end it was long overdue. He lauded Cuba’s support to other nations around the world, notably in the areas of health, education and biotechnology, and said the island nation’s role in South Africa’s liberation history was celebrated last year. He welcomed the rapprochement initiated by the current United States administration and called on Washington to end the embargo and engage in meaningful dialogue.
EDITORIAL

Investment, growth and economic development
In the current economic dispensation of liberalism and free market policies the role of investment in economic development is undoubtedly becoming more pronounced and pivotal. But one of the current debates is whether simply increasing levels of investment would bring the desired economic results.

An example which immediately brings this debate into focus is the economic collapse in South East Asia which enjoyed huge levels of investments and temporarily experienced very high economic growth rates and then the bubble burst.

Tim Kane, Ph.D in a 2007 lecture to the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), entitled ‘Foreign Investment, Growth, and Economic Freedom: What Is OPIC’s Role?’ put forward some pertinent and extremely thought provoking arguments on the whole issue of investment.

“The instinctive understanding of economic growth leads us to believe that investment is a vital input because societies without investment are obviously stagnant. We tend to see a link between heavy levels of investment and economic growth. The appearance of cranes and tractors in a bustling city is evidence. And yet, this instinct is misguided. The question to ask is: Why are the cranes and tractors here? Why in this city, not that city? Why this country, not that country?” he asserted

He added that rather than ask this question, our humanitarian urge is to create new incentives to push investment into poor areas. But pushing inputs is almost always ineffective, which reminds us of the famous maxim "You cannot push a rope."

He also noted: “Growth economists have confirmed a strong correlation between investment and economic growth. However, the use of sophisticated time series econometrics has confirmed the causality of the relationship. We know now that investment does not cause growth, but vice versa. Countries that grow tend to attract investment. This was a view first proposed, one might say, by Adam Smith in the 18th century. It was articulated clearly in the modern era by Albert Hirschman (a professor at Yale, Columbia, Harvard, and the Institute for Advanced Study) in 1958. But current data have been able to confirm Hirschman's point that growth causes investment, and the consensus of professional economists is now resolved.”

The latter point is very relevant to Guyana where some in our society are arguing that nothing is happening with our economy in terms of investments and economic growth.

However, if a close and objective assessment of the situation is done it will be seen that in almost every sector there has been significant investments and this has been continuously taking place despite the global financial crisis, albeit maybe not the rate one would have desired but under the present circumstances this is understandable.

One sector where there has been heavy investment is the tourism sector which prior to 1992 was virtually non-existent. Today, that sector is playing an increasing role in the economic development of this country, as the situation has been dramatically transformed where scores of tourist resorts have been built, and a strong adventure/eco-tourist foundation is being laid.

The commercial and services sectors have also expanded significantly and most of our manufacturing enterprises have expanded their range of value-added products. In this regard, two of our largest local companies Banks DIH Ltd. and Demerara Distilleries Ltd (DDL) have been leaders. In fact, it was only on Wednesday that President Jagdeo commissioned a new US$9M state-of-the-art bottling plant at DDL.

Veteran entrepreneur and Chairman of DDL, Yesu Persaud pertinently noted that the company has come a long way, and explained that in 1992 it was recognised that it needed to move away from commodities into brands, so the idea of producing a product of distinction was then conceived and the El Dorado brand was born.

This investment and the many others that have preceded it is indeed an expression of confidence by the local private sector in the future of our national economy and certainly dispels the notion by some that this government is not doing anything to create an enabling business environment.
COURTS

At Berbice Assizes…
Husband in the dock for wife's murder
By Jeune Bailey Vankeric
THE trial of Eric Sookshine, who is accused of killing his wife, commenced with the evidence of his father-in-law, before Justice Winston Patterson at the Berbice Assizes.

Premnauth Permaul, called Boy, who was led in his evidence in chief by State Counsel Dionne Mc Cammon, recounted that on June 3, 2005, on receipt of a message from a lad, he proceeded to the house where his daughter, Jashorda Sookshine, alias Usha , lived .

On arrival there, he observed the accused, who is his son-in-law, along with his daughter lying on the floor of the kitchen with what appeared to be blood stains on their clothing.

The witness told the Judge and the mixed jury that he called both persons, but they did not respond. As a result, he made a complaint at the Whim Police station, where ranks accompanied him to the scene. However, on his return, he did not see the accused. He only saw his daughter.

The motionless body was taken to the Port Mourant Hospital, where five days later, a post mortem examination was conducted. The remains was buried on June 9, 2005.

Cross examined by Senior Counsel Marcel Crawford, the witness replied, “After the police charged the accused, I went to live in the accused home with my reputed wife, who happens to be the sister of the man in the dock.”

Replying to questions form the jury, Permaul said he took three quarters of an hour to return from the station after making the report.

Another witness, Retired Lance Corporal Paul David recalled contacting the accused at the Central Police station where he was stationed.

According to the former sleuth, he put the allegation under caution to the accused who replied. “I was at home in company with my wife, and Mark stabbed me in my belly with a knife. I had a blackout and awoke in the hospital. I did not kill my wife”.

In response to questions from Senior Counsel, the ex- policeman described himself as a good detective. However, he acknowledged that the incident took place seventeen miles from New Amsterdam, and that he had put the allegation to the suspect as a result of information received from either a sergeant of police or the Officer in charge of crime.

Nevertheless, the witness did not think it was prudent to solicit a statement from the informant prior to putting the allegation to the accused.

David agreed that he was putting information to the accused without knowing whether it was true and correct.

He agreed that he did not enquire who Mark was, nor did he ask the accused to show him his injuries.

The former sleuth confessed of knowing Mark Bangroo of Whim, who was arrested in connection with this case having being kept in police custody for five days.

However, the witness said he had no knowledge as to whether Bangroo was having an amorous relationship with the wife of the accused, who is now deceased.

In her opening address to the jury, State Counsel Dionne Mc Cammon said the State’s case is based on circumstantial evidence.

On the morning of June 3, 2005, Jashorda Sookshine, was found motionless on her kitchen floor with her clothing having what appeared to be blood stains.

The police was summoned and a cutlass, believed to be the murder weapon was found three feet away from the body. The body was examined by Government Pathologist Dr Vivikanand Brijmohan and the cause of death was recorded as shock and haemorrhage along with stab wounds to the heart.
The case is continuing

Abubakir conspiracy case adjourned to November
- to await witnesses from Libya
By George Barclay
SPECIAL Prosecutor Mr. Bernard De Santos, S.C., who is appearing for the State in the conspiracy to defraud case against Abubakir Abdel Bari, for whom a jury was to be empanelled last Wednesday, has been further adjourned to November.

The Special Prosecutor who had been granted an earlier postponement to facilitate a transportation problem that prevented him from attending Court last Wednesday morning later requested a further adjournment on the grounds that the majority of his witnesses were in Libya and not expected in Guyana before November 15, 2009.

As a consequence, Justice James Bovell-Drakes, directed the jury panel to return to Court on November 5, when the matter will be called up for report.

Defence counsel, Mr. Nigel Hughes, representing Abubakir, who was out of the country explained to the Court that his client had returned to Guyana.

The conspiracy to defraud charge, contrary to common law charge, accuses Abubakir Abdel Bari and Atta Sankar with having between the 12th day of December 1992 and August 1993 in the County of Demerara of conspiring together and with each other and with other persons to defraud the trustees and beneficiaries of immovable properties situated at Lot 250 Foreshaw and Oronoque Streets, Queenstown, Georgetown.

Triangular love affair murder near ending…
Judge to sum-up evidence to jury on Monday
By George Barclay
JUSTICE Barrington Reynolds, the presiding judge in the triangular love affair murder involving accused Roxanne Daniels who is on trial for the unlawful killing of her lover’s wife, Ayanna Hamilton, will sum–up the evidence to the jury on Monday.

Thereafter, the judge will hand over the case to the 12-member jury who will retire to consider their verdict in relation to the 23-year-old accused Roxanne Daniels, also known as ‘Cleo’ and ‘Ashanti’.

The accused, represented by Lawyer, Mr. Peter Hugh, has pleaded not guilty and told the jury from the witness box that she was in bed with her lover, Joseph Hamilton, who was separated from his wife when the wife Ayanna (now deceased) invaded her new home at Vreed-en-Hoop, and violently attacked her on the night of January 6, 2008.

The accused was wounded in the affray and retaliated with a knife, killing the wife in the process.

The accused told the court under cross-examination that she did not know what happened to the knife, but admitted that the exhibit in the court was the knife that she had used that night to scare away the deceased who “had attacked and wounded me”.

Defence Counsel Mr. Peter Hugh, urged the jury to find that the accused who was subjected to provocation was defending herself that night when she was attacked by the deceased.

Prosecutor Miss Zamilla Alli had told the jury that the evidence would reveal that when the accused Roxanne Daniels, inflicted the injuries, she intended to kill Ayanna Hamilton or cause her grievous bodily harm; and the act of inflicting the injuries was not done in self defence, nor was it an accident, nor was there any provocation.

The prosecutor also told the jury that it was important to cast aside any notion they might have of what provocation was at that point, because the legal definition of provocation differs from the everyday definition of it.

49-year-old man remanded to prison for sodomizing 14-year-old boy
By Nathalene DeFreitas
ELDON Gordon, 49, (no address given) was yesterday remanded to prison on a buggery charge.

He appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson and was not required to plead to the indictable charge, which stated that on October 26, 2009, he sodomized a 14 years-old boy.

Prosecutor Kevin London, said the virtual complainant went to the accused home and he took him in his bedroom where he committed the act. He said suspicious neighbours peered into the house and saw the act.

London said the neighbours immediately reported the matter and when the police arrived the boy was found in the house.

Gordon was refused bail and will return to court on November 30.

Meanwhile, an inmate in the Camp Street Prison was yesterday charged for the murder of another inmate.

Teddy Phillips, 29, (no address given) appeared before Magistrate Robertson and was not required to plead to the indictable charge, which stated that on August 20, 2009, he murdered Harichand Beharry.

Police Sergeant Kevin London, prosecuting, said the accused is currently serving two months imprisonment for charges of assault.

London said on the day in question, the two inmates had an argument and a scuffle ensued, resulting in the death of Beharry.
Phillips was remanded and will return to court on December 12.

Charles Small charged with stealing cell phone
CHARLES Small, 45, (no address given) yesterday appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson to answer a simple larceny charge.

He pleaded not guilty to the offence, which stated that on October 25, 2009, he stole one cellular phone valued $49,000 property of Adrian Elgin.

The defendant said he is a beverage vendor on the seawall and he was going home on the night in question when he saw a cellular phone on the ground.

The man said he picked up the phone and threw it away. He said the following day some men came at his home and told him to give up the phone.

However, the prosecution said the virtual complainant was on the seawall and was talking on his mobile when the defendant rode up with a cycle and snatched the phone away.

The prosecutor said the virtual complainant knows the defendant and later found out where he was living. He said Elgin took the police to the defendant’s home and he was arrested.

Small was placed on $20,000 bail and the case will be called again on November 20. (Nathalene DeFreitas)
FEATURES

The Failed State Myth
By Dr. Randy Persaud
CAREFUL research is a fundamental element of sound research. Even if a university faculty member or political commentator does not do original research he should at least read the available research findings related to his subject matter.

This is basic standard for all of us who are engaged in the business of knowledge production. Sadly, Guyana seems to have been left a little behind given what is regularly published in some newspapers.

Let us take the case of failed states. Despite hard empirical evidence to the contrary, propagandists in Guyana continue to peddle the argument that this country is a failed state. It is not really worthwhile refuting any specific published articles on the subject because they do not have the basic minimum of academic credibility to warrant such attention. Instead, it is more useful to take a look at the available research and simply report the findings.

Earlier this year ‘The Fund for Peace and Foreign Policy Magazine’ released their research findings on failed states. Fund for Peace used one dozen indicators in its study. These indicators are: (1) demographic pressures; (2) refugees and IDPs; (3) group grievance; (4) human flight; (5) uneven economic development; (6) economic decline; (7) delegitimization of the state; (8) public services; (9) human rights; (10) security apparatus; (11) factionalized elites; and (12) external intervention.

The study assigned scores from 1-10 in each category, with 1 being the best score and 10 being the worst. As an illustration, Somalia received a 10 for the category “Security Apparatus” and Norway received a score of 1.1 in the same category. The scores obviously reflect the implosion of the security situation in Somalia on the one hand, and the absence of any meaningful security threat in Norway.

The scores for twelve categories were then tallied and a ‘Total’ was arrived at for each country. One hundred and seventy-seven (177) countries were studied. The Fund for Peace then used the ‘Total’ scores for each country and produced a ranking of the 177 countries.

Somalia with a total score of 114.7 is ranked No. 1 – that is, it is the worst of the 177 countries based on the indicators used and the methodology employed. Norway, with a score of 18.3 is ranked 177, meaning that it is a stable and secured state and society.

In the same study Guyana is ranked 104. Its total score for 2009 is 73.0. What do the ranking and total score actually mean? The only way to get something out of these otherwise nominal expressions is to compare Guyana with other states in the world, and especially with other states in the region.

Using these same expressions Guyana is in a better position than 103 countries including – Bolivia, Nicaragua, Ecuador, Cuba, Guatemala, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, El Salvador, Honduras, Peru, Mexico, and neighboring Suriname. Some countries immediately ahead (stronger than Guyana in the rankings and total scores) are Belize (111/69.5) Paraguay (106/72.0), Brazil (113/69.1), and Jamaica (117/68.6). Trinidad came in at 123 in the rankings with a score of 66.7.

Guyana is also ahead of some much larger countries such as Russia, China, India, and Turkey. The first three are nuclear powers, and the last is a member of NATO. India and China are also among the most successful economies in the world. These countries are noted here because one would not really associate them with weak states.

It should be clear that based on the Fund for Peace/Foreign Policy study, the argument that Guyana falls in the category of failed states is without merit.

Friday Musings
Strange noises
By Sharief Khan
PEOPLE complain about all kinds of noises that annoy them.
I was astonished while visiting a friend in London several years ago when I saw their dog obviously barking but I couldn’t hear its bark.

I quickly found out that they had to subject the dog to surgery to remove its bark because neighbours in the apartment complex they were living in had complained about the dog’s barking.

It would be quite an event if people here decide to lodge complaints with the police about their neighbours’ barking dogs, although that has been the subject of many disputes between neighbours!

A strange noise in my apartment gave me a scare as I was preparing for work yesterday morning.

I was just out of the bathroom and I heard some funny sounds in the kitchen, including glasses banging together. Peering around, I saw nothing and was wondering whether a snake or some dangerous creature had sneaked in while I was showering.

A closer check on the source of the funny sounds revealed a chicken scratching around in a corner between glasses and some other items on the kitchen cupboard. Unbelievably, it was a neighbour’s hen looking for a place to lay!

And you think you have got troubles!

Now churches, of all places, are being cited for making too much noise.

Churches have long been known as places of peace, quiet and serenity and were not usually associated with making so much noise that people living near them would have found cause to report to the police.

You remember that old saying: as quiet as a church mouse? Well, mice in churches are no longer quiet in Guyana and the Home Affairs Ministry has had to intervene because of persistent continuing complaints about some churches.

According to the ministry, it is continuing to receive numerous complaints about loud noises from senior citizens, the sick, working parents, students and several law-abiding citizens.

Churches reported in a published list as causing noise nuisance include the Gethsemane Assemblies of God Church in Beezie, Enmore, another in Enterprise and a Hindu temple at Mon Repos on the East Coast Demerara; and a church at Ocean Gardens Housing Scheme, Meten-Meer-Zorg, West Coast Demerara.

And residences are named as places also causing loud, repetitive and continuous noise. Some of those identified are in Kitty and Campbellville, Georgetown; Eccles, Grove, Meadow Bank and Bagotostown, East Bank Demerara; Hyde Park, Timehri; Success on the East Coast Demerara; Bartica; West Coast Demerara; East Bank Essequibo; Corentyne, Berbice and Linden.

Bars listed include one on Station Street, Kitty; one on Bent Street, Wortmanville; the Soca Paradise Bar at Eccles; and Lambada Liquor Parlour and Stadium View Bar at Providence on the East Bank Demerara; Barrow’s Bar in Linden; Jameel’s Bar at Vryheid’s Lust; Playboy Hideout Bar on Seventh Street, Success on the East Coast Demerara; and Caribbean Temptation Restaurant and Bar at Anna Catherina, West Coast Demerara.

A mechanical workshop at Armadale, West Coast Berbice and another at Blankenburg, West Coast Demerara; a furniture factory at Courbane Park, East Coast Demerara and a sawmill at Dryshore on the Essequibo Coast, are also on the list.

The ministry said it checked the places complained about and has verified the “validity and justification of the complaints”.

It said the relevant Divisional Commanders of the Police Force have been provided with the details pertaining to these complaints and they have been directed to take appropriate action to stop the violations of the law.

Under the law, no person shall operate any stereo set, juke box, radio, amplifier or similar instruments of music, or by any other means whatsoever “make or cause or suffer to be made any noise which shall be so loud and so continuous or repetitive as to cause a nuisance to occupants of any premises in the neighbourhood”.

I am sure a lot of people will be happy if this crackdown stops the noise nuisance.

I’ll not lodge a complaint with the police about the neighbour’s chicken making strange noises in my apartment, but what about those morons being allowed to drive around in vehicles blaring music that sometimes rocks window panes of houses?

They are free to try to break the sound barrier any time they please, blissful in their ignorance of what they are doing to other people’s peace of mind.

Maybe, the rest of us should start a campaign by making a note of the licence plate numbers of the offenders and get the police to paint ‘DUMB ASS’ in big, bright letters on their vehicles.
I wonder who will make any noise about that?
LETTERS

GuySuCo responds to misrepresentation by GAWU
The Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc. is extremely disturbed by efforts of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union to distort the grim realities which confront the sugar industry.

GAWU today (yesterday) issued a letter to the media using information in relation to the operations of GuySuCo in a most erroneous manner and which sends a message which could not be further from the truth.  It plays upon the past in a manner which is full of inaccuracies and which could derail plans to return the industry to viability.

Today was the final conciliation meeting, where a deadlock wad declared and the Company expressed a desire to go to arbitration.  Within this context the 3% increase which was on the table was withdrawn.

GAWU in a press release (yesterday) afternoon again presented the Company’s position out of context.

Additionally, workers today (yesterday) again resorted to strike action in contravention of the collective bargaining agreement.

Such actions are frustrating GuySuCo’s turnaround plans, the implementation of which has commenced.

We seriously question the purpose of the letter.  We fail to see how the letter and today’s strike action could help the cause of our workers when the company cannot even afford the 3% increase it had on the table.

Response to GAWU letter:
** Earnings, Production - and Implications
In the letter, the revenue figures are stated in gross terms and do not take account of the freight costs which is required to get the product to the customer and which is a component of the price that is received for sugar sold under the European Union arrangement. Freight costs are very significant and generally increase or decrease in line with global economic conditions. In 2006, the Corporation’s freight costs averaged US$58 per tonne sugar shipped (8% of the selling price) while in 2008 freight costs to Europe averaged US$114 per tonne sugar shipped (18% of the selling price) which is almost a 100% increase. The total freight costs in 2006 were G$2,585M and in 2008 were G$3,563M (an increase of $1,000M) with 180,649 tonnes and 185,649 tonnes sugar shipped respectively. If one was to compare revenues it must be done by comparing net revenues year on year as this gives a much better picture of what was earned by the Corporation.
Net Revenues (after deducting freight costs)

Gross revenue Freight costs Net revenue
G$Bn G$Bn G$Bn
2004 30.7 2.6 28.2
2005 27.7 2.3 25.7
2006 32.4 2.6 29.4
2007 35.1 3.1 32.4
2008 32.1 3.6 28.9
When freight costs are taken into account, revenues have actually declined between 2006 and 2008 notwithstanding the increase in the euro rate against the US$.

A major contributor to the loss in 2008 was the enormous increase in input prices brought on events occurring in the wider economic world. Countries all over the globe saw substantial increases in the price of raw materials and Guysuco was no exception, as some of the prices of our key inputs i.e fertilizers and fuel increased threefold. The substantial price increases in fuel and fertilizer alone resulted in the Corporation expending almost $3B more than the previous year and this was for only these items.

** Employment Costs
GAWU refers to employment costs increasing by a mere 6.4% when there is a compounded wage increase of 34.4%. The sugar production numbers from 2004 to 2008 are also quoted as declining from 325,317 tonnes sugar in 2004 to 226,267 tonnes sugar in 2008.

A fundamental principle in Guysuco’s cost structure is that a substantial portion of employment costs vary with activity levels. Those activities include:

· Cane Production

· Sugar Production

· Land Preparation

· Planting.

With declining cane and sugar production, land preparation and planting activities due largely to the adverse weather conditions experienced in those years, employment costs would therefore not keep pace with the compounded increase in wages over the period. Notwithstanding that, in 2004 employment costs per tonne sugar produced was $50,412 as against 2008 when it was $77,342. This is a 54% increase in employment cost per tonne sugar in 2008 when activity levels were significantly lower. The increase in real wages therefore is far more than the 34.4% compounded wage increase and the aggregate inflation rate over the period.
** Employment cost per tonne sugar

Sugar Production (tonnes) Employment Costs G$M Employment Costs per tonne

G$000
2004 325,317 16,400 50,412
2008 226,267 17,500 77,342
If the percentage wage increase from 2005-2008 was applied to the employment cost per tonne sugar of $50,412 (in 2004), then employment cost per tonne sugar produced in 2008 should be $64,225 and the total wage bill should have been $14.5Bn and not the $17.5Bn actually paid. It means the Corporation has paid out over $3Bn more in employment costs which indicates reduced productivity.

** Cost of every 1% wage increase
A cost of $150M is quoted as the increase in employment costs for every 1% wage increase and this writer is saying this is baseless. Employment costs in the five years 2004-2008 averaged $16.5B (as set out in the table). A simple calculation of one percent of $16.5B is $165M, so it is very difficult to determine why the additional cost of $150M is baseless. One can say it is under estimated.
** Financial Realities
2009
The Corporation currently owes the banks a total of G$4,800M with $3,200M owing to a consortium of local banks and $1,600M owing to ING bank of Holland. The amount owing to ING has to be repaid by 31st December 2009. A total amount of G$1,500M is owing to creditors with the average age of creditors at 60 days.

Based on a production of 242,000 tonnes sugar in 2009, the Corporation is expected to end the year with a cash deficit of $3,400M, but any further decline in production would see an increase in the deficit. The amount owing to creditors at the year end is expected to be of a similar amount as that prevailing now.

The amount expected to be expended on employment costs for the year is $15,500M.

A loss of $2,600M is expected this year.
Summary of debts to banks and creditors:

G$M G$M
Current End of 2009
Owing to banks 4,800 3,500
Owing to creditors 1,500 1,500
Total 6,300 5,000
** Projections for 2010
The budget for 2010 anticipates a production of 280,000 tonnes sugar with a 5% increase in land preparation and planting activities from the 20% level that is normal.

The projected cash deficit at the end of 2009 is expected to be $523M if the sale of the Diamond lands of $10.6B is to be included as cash proceeds. If the proceeds are not included then the cash deficit is expected to be $11.2B. Included in the budget is capital expenditure of $8.7B which requires funding from Guysuco’s cash generated whether from land sales or normal operating cash-flows.

The plan is to continue to utilize the overdraft facility of $3,200M from the local banks and also borrow $3,400M from an international bank to fund the working capital requirement. This implies that the Corporation will require $6,400M from banks in 2010 for short term working capital which is in addition to our normal amounts of $1,500M to $2,000M owing to creditors. If the sale of the Diamond lands fails to materialise then the borrowings will be considerably greater, assuming lenders could be found.

The total employment cost for the year is expected to be $16,500M.

If land sales do not materialize, a loss $4,900M is projected.

** Conclusion
Does the sugar industry die now! Does it die painfully in three years!  Or do we confront the realities together and work to ensure the successful implementation of the turnaround plan.
Sincerely,
ERROL O. S. HANOMAN
Chief Executive Officer, GuySuCo
SPORTS

WICB President’s Cup…
Confident but cautious Guyana face Barbados today
By Calvin Roberts
HOSTS Guyana who should be brimming with confidence following their first round three-wicket victory over the Leeward Islands, but will be taking a cautious approach in their West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) President’s Cup second round match against Barbados at the Albion Sports Club ground today.

Both teams recorded hard-fought first round victories, with Barbados being forced to fight for theirs against the West Indies Under-19 at the world famous Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) ground, before they eked out a two-wicket win with eight balls to spare in their rain-reduced encounter.

Coach of the Guyana team and former first class batsman Ravindranauth Seeram told Chronicle Sport he is expecting a better batting and bowling performance from his team in this game especially in the power play scenario.

“Once again, we had a game covered and the batsmen let us down. At one time, I thought we should have only lost two wickets chasing down such a moderate target, but our batsmen, especially the senior ones, gifted their wickets away and I need to see them buckle down and put a price on their wicket.

We have the strongest batting lineup on paper, yet still we struggled to get 194 and when we did get it, we lost seven wickets in the process, which means our batsmen are not concentrating hard enough when out there and I need to see them do so in this game and throughout the tournament,” said Seeram.

He praised the bowlers for their hard work at the top of the innings, but coming down to the bottom, especially in the final batting power play, Seeram felt they did not bowl the way they wanted to, with extra short-pitched deliveries which loosened the shackles on the batsmen.

“Once the bowlers can get the balls in the right areas in the power plays, as was evident in the opening stages of the Leeward Islands’ innings, we can restrict any team to a manageable total. We cannot set a field for one thing and the bowlers do their own thing.”

Guyana opened their batting with Christopher Barnwell and Sewnarine Chattergoon, a move that may have been costly as the former’s powerful hitting can be an asset in the lower order, hence leaving the more experienced Travis Dowlin to start the innings with Chattergoon.

Sarwan’s batting at number three is not questionable, but what is would be the decision to have Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Guyana’s highest Test run-getter and a dependable batsman take the crease at number five behind the in-form Narsingh Deonarine.

With all due respect to Sarwan, Deonarine and Chanderpaul, that middle-order should be reshuffled for today’s game, with Deonarine batting at three, followed by Chanderpaul and Sarwan, seeing that the captain himself is struggling with the bat due to his inactiveness.

Barnwell’s services can be utilised alongside Royston Crandon in the lower order, especially with the batting power play and with Seeram stating he needs advantage to be taken of these power plays, wherein his bowlers can have something to work with, that should be the case today.

No doubt about it, Esaun Crandon displayed a level head and along with his younger brother Royston, steered Guyana to victory.

Debutant Delbert Hicks’ work behind and in front of the stumps vetoed the selectors decision to pick him ahead of the more experienced Derwin Christian and it was rather unfortunate for him to be given out run-out in the opening game.

He is expected to rebound from same and fight on for his team today, especially playing on a familiar surface as the ASC, the home ground to national spin twins Devendra Bishoo and Veerasammy Permaul, who came on in leaps and bounds with the ball at the death for their team on Wednesday.

The Guyanese bowling will rest on the shoulders of Esaun Crandon who had a miserly spell against the Leeward Islands where he conceded 15 runs from seven overs on the trot, Barnwell, Permaul and Bishoo with amicable support from Royston Crandon and Deonarine.

Even though Barbados made heavy work of their target against the West Indies youths, they will be looking to redeem themselves in the tournament and what better way to do it than against the host team.

Ryan Hinds will be hoping his bowlers, led by West Indies speedsters in Kemar Roach and Tino Best, with support from Dwayne Smith, Sulieman Benn, Kevin Stoute and the skipper himself, can reduce the hosts’ batting to a decent total.

Their batting weighs heavily on the shoulders of Martin Nurse and Rashidi Boucher, backed by Hinds, Smith who can be used as a pinch-hitter in the power plays, Stoute, Kirk Edwards, Austin Holder, Jonathan Carter and wicketkeeper/batsman Carlo Morris, who can also utilise the power play to good effect.

Benn has shown over and over again he is no rabbit with the bat and Wednesday was no different as he held things together for his team with an unbeaten 27, sharing an unbroken ninth-wicket partnership with Roach, while Best can also hit the ball a long way on his day.

Either way, patrons who are paying their admission fee of $500 for today’s game can expect an exciting one which will be played under the supervision of P. Nero and L. Kelly with Golan Greaves executing the duties of third umpire, especially with the victors securing a place in the final four of the tournament.

In other matches being played today, defending champions Trinidad and Tobago will oppose the Windward Islands at Uitvlugt (C. Mack , V. Johnson and D. Somwaru), CCC v Jamaica at Bourda (C. Duncan, D. Holder and K. Barrsingha) and West Indies Under-19 v Leeward Islands at Providence (L. Abraham, V. Bullen and N. Malcolm).

All matches commence at 09:15 h weather permitting.
Teams for the Guyana/Barbados clash will be selected from:

Guyana: Ramnaresh Sarwan, Sewnarine Chattergoon, Travis Dowlin, Christopher Barnwell, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Narsingh Deonarine, Assad Fudadin, Royston Crandon, Delbert Hicks, Esaun Crandon, Veerasammy Permaul, Dion Ferrier, Devendra Bishoo and Trevon Garraway.

Barbados: Ryan Hinds, Alcindo Holder, Kevin Stoute, Rashidi Boucher, Jonathan Carter, Nikolai Charles, Suleiman Benn, Kemar Roach, Kirk Edwards, Carlo Morris, Tino Best, Dwayne Smith and Martin Nurse.

T&T seek place in President’s Cup final four
… Jamaica look to rebound
DEFENDING champions Trinidad & Tobago will seek to clinch their spot in the semi-finals when the second round of the WICB President’s Cup bowls off today.

They will fancy their chances of winning their second successive match when they face the Windward Islands at Uitvlugt, on the West Coast Demerara.

T&T managed to shrug off the fatigue of arriving in Guyana less than 10 hours before the start of their opening match to score an emphatic 90-run win, as they efficiently defended the moderate 201 for nine against Jamaica.

While Jamaica were without key players skipper Chris Gayle, Shawn Findlay and Jerome Taylor due to illness, their 111 for nine was disappointing even though the conditions at the Providence stadium were tailor-made for the T&T bowling attack.

The Uitvlugt pitch should provide prodigious turn for T&T’s spin trio of Dave Mohammed, Sherwin Ganga and Samuel Badree and the Windwards will find scoring difficult against them.

Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard should also relish the sluggish Uitvlugt track.

T&T’s batsmen, who shone in the recent Twenty20 Champions League in India, will be hard to keep under wraps and Adrian Barath, Lendl Simmons, brothers Dwayne and Darren Bravo, along with Kieron Pollard will also fancy their chances to get among the runs.

The Windwards bowlers should also relish the conditions with spinners Rawl Lewis, Liam Sebastien and Shane Shillingford likely to get help from the conditions.

Windwards lost by a run to Combined Campuses and Colleges in their first match but will be hoping to rebound from their first round defeat by denying T&T.

Jamaica, who should be strengthened by the return of Gayle, Taylor and Findlay, will meet CCC at Bourda in a match they want to win handsomely in order to stay in the race for a semi-final place.

If Gayle, Brenton Parchment, Xavier Marshall, Danza Hyatt, Wavell Hinds, Carlton Baugh and David Bernard all fire, the Floyd Reifer-led CCC could be placed under severe pressure.

CCC, however, are an improving team and Reifer, who top-scored with an unbeaten 45 in the first match against the Windwards, is at home at this level and Jamaica could find a strong challenge from the youthful unit as a result. 

Having already tasted international cricket, Omar Phillips and Chadwick Walton will want to impress with the bat to boost their chances of selection for next month’s tour of Australia.

Young West Indies will clash with Leeward Islands at the Guyana National Stadium at Providence, and will hope to make up for their loss to Barbados.

They played good cricket in that game and if they decide to strengthen their batting by including opener Trevon Griffith and Andre Creary to complement Kraigg Brathwaite, Evin Lewis Yannick Ottley, Yannick Carriah and Shane Dowrich, they could give the Leewards a run.

Leg-spinner Akeem Dewar took the Man-of-the-Match in a losing cause on Wednesday and along with talented off-spinner Dalton Polius and left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican will try to restrict the Leewards batting which includes Runako Morton, Kieran Powell, Chesney Hughes, Tonito Willett, Steve Liburd and Wilden Cornwall.

Lionel Baker and Gavin Tonge give the Leewards a potent new-ball attack while Willett, Justin Athanaze and Anthony Martin will do the spinning. (CMC)

All systems in place for `Riding for Life 3’ five-stage race
--- stricter rules to be implemented
By Michael Silva
ALL systems are in place for the third edition of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport (MCY&S)/Ministry of Health (MOH)/Guyana Cycling Federation’s (GCF) Riding for Life Five-Stage Cycle Road Race.


In this Sonell Nelson photo, Minister of Health Dr Leslie Ramsammy (extreme right) addresses members of the media about the importance of the `Riding for Life 3’ five-stage cycle road race. Others in photo are from left: GCF’s representative William Howard, NAPS’ Nasimul Hussain, national cycle coach Hassan Mohamed, Director of Sport Neil Kumar and Minister of Sport Dr Frank Anthony.
This was the assurance given by Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr Frank Anthony, yesterday when he brought members of the media up to date with plans for the event which wheels off on November 4.

Dr Anthony informed that the Guyana Police Force’s Traffic Department has assured his ministry that, despite the final stage (Kara Kara to Georgetown) being held on a day when the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club will be having its Caribbean Race of Champions meet at the South Dakota Circuit, arrangements will be put in place to have a free flow of traffic along the route, as added traffic ranks would be deployed.

“We have been assured that we will have an incident-free race.”

The ever vibrant minister also stated that unlike the past two years, this year will see the organisers implement some UCI rules, in particular, when it comes to supporters of participants following the race in an ad hoc manner.

The minister said no cars or motorcycles would be allowed to follow the race close up under the competing cyclists if they are not officials.

Earlier, Minister of Health Dr Leslie Ramsammy explained that his ministry is in partnership with the MCY&S in sponsoring this year’s event which according to him is budgeted at just over $6M.

He said what sports do in Guyana is equal to what his ministry does in hospitals and noted that in any country across the world if sports and health do not work together, it would be bad for that country. “We see sports globally as an agenda for long and healthy lives.”

He expressed on his ministry’s behalf its profound gratitude to the MCY&S and the Guyana Cycling Federation for assisting to promote healthy lifestyles.

Dr Ramsammy said his ministry is committed to making the event the biggest such event not only in Guyana but in the CARICOM region.

While he could not say if his ministry would be able to fund the event forever, he is positive that it would get funding until 2015. “And with the cooperation of the Guyana Cycling Federation and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, we’ll work together to make it bigger and better.”

The minister informed that this year the New Guyana Pharmaceutical Corporation would make available 50 hampers for the top 50 finishers and the hampers would be made up of health products.

Minister Ramsammy said he is impressed with what the GCF and the MCY&S are doing about making cyclists ambassadors and they in turn are making every citizen an ambassador as well.

He said when he threw out the challenge to the MCY&S three years ago to organise an event that would make every citizen aware of the deadly AIDS virus, he never thought it would have been as successful as it is today.

Dr Anthony thanked the MOH for the partnership over the past three years, since at the inception there was a lot of skepticism and had it not been for the MOH, there would not have been a Ride for Life race.

Milerock hold Topp XX to draw in GFF Super League
UPPER Demerara’s Milerock held their Linden counterparts Topp XX to a 1-1 draw when play in the Guyana Football Federation’s (GFF) Super League continued on Wednesday evening with a double-header at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground.

The draw, which earned each team one point, means that Topp XX who have played eight of their nine games in the one round tournament are out of contention for the top three places.

They (Topp XX) have now progressed to eight points and even if they win their last fixture, they would only earn another three points taking them to 11, the same number of points that Milerock have with another game to play.

Topp XX’s final game will be against Sunburst Camptown while Milerock are still to play Buxton United.

In the other game played on Wednesday at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground also, Georgetown’s women eked out a win against their Linden counterparts by two goals to one.

Georgetown, who now lead the points standing with 12 points, will journey to Lethem to engage Rupununi on Sunday.

Also on Sunday, East Coast will journey to Berbice to tackle the hosts at the Esplanade Ground from 15:00 h in another women’s fixture.

The Super League Competition will continue on Sunday at the Uitvlugt Community Centre ground with East Demerara’s Buxton United tackling Bartica’s Liquid Gold from 15:00 h while GDF and Seawall FC are scheduled to meet on November 5 at the GFC ground from 17:00 h.

The final round of matches is fixed for November 8 at Uitvlugt, GCC and Mackenzie Sports Club grounds.

GFF gives green light to organisers for NAMILCO resumption
--- triple-header set for today
By Michael DaSilva
THE Guyana Football Federation (GFF) has given the Fruta Conquerors Football Club the green light to resume the 3rd annual NAMILCO football tournament which was temporarily suspended last weekend.

The tournament will resume today at the Tucville ground with a triple-header card beginning at 16:00 h.

In the opening game, Georgetown Football Association’s Division One champions Riddim Squad will engage Pele, while the main supporting game, which is billed to commence at 18:00 h, will see Santos tackle Topp XX and from 20:00 h, GDF will take on Buxton United.

The tournament was suspended by the GFF following an altercation between the president (Garfield Pyrell) of one of the clubs contesting the feature game on Friday evening at the same venue and two spectators (Ethon Cordis and Hubert Gordon) which resulted in Cordis and Gordon receiving stab wounds about their bodies.

Pyrell, who has since been charged with wounding, appeared in the Magistrate’s Court and has been remanded to prison until November 3 when he will make his next appearance in court.

Apart from that, the GFF’s disciplinary committee met on Wednesday evening and made a decision to ban Pyrell for life for entering the Tucville ground for any activity.

According to Fruta Conquerors secretary Lavern Fraser-Thomas, when the GFF’s disciplinary committee met on Wednesday evening to decide the fate of the tournament, the committee members were all in favour of giving the go-ahead for the tournament to be resumed, but under certain conditions.

According to Fraser-Thomas, the committee members requested that the organisers ensure that there is stricter security presence at the venue during matches, there are uniformed police present during matches and that spectators do not get onto the playing area during matches.

Fraser-Thomas assured that the demands of the GFF would be adhered to.

Riddim Squad and Pele who were contesting the feature game on the opening day of the tournament last Friday were tied 1-1 with nine minutes remaining in regulation time when an argument broke out between Pyrell and other spectators and Pyrell allegedly stabbed Cordis and Gordon and this caused the officiating referee to call a halt to the proceedings.

In the opening game last Friday, Sunburst Camptown beat Uprising 4-1.

Kwame LaFleur, Lance Rolston, Telson McKinnon and Nigel Codrington netted for the Campbellville-based team in the 26th, 58th, 67th and 78th minutes respectively while Rensford Coolridge responded for Uprising in the 60th minute.

Local Over-35 ruggers to clash with their Trinidadian counterparts
FORMER Guyana and Guyana Defence Force winger Christopher O’Donoghue has been appointed captain of the Guyana Over-35 team for the match against the Trinidad Enthusiasts Rugby Football Club that will be played at 16:00 h on Saturday October 31, 2009 at the National Park rugby ground.

Last year the twin-island republic boys snatched victory from the jaws of defeat with two quick tries in the dying moments of the final session to win by 24 points to 17. The locals were victorious in the two years prior.

The Guyana Over-35 team will be selected from the following players: Alton Agard, Ovid Austin, Kerwyn Barrow, Leonardo Butcher, Rawl Cole, George David, Vernon Duncan, Jose Felicien, Alair George, Walter George, Kenneth Grant- Stuart, Alex King, Wesley Licorish, Stuart May, Robin Roberts, Linden Rose, Lawrence Smith, Bertram Taylor, Aluko Venture, Raul Warren, Michael Whitehead, Henry Wilkie, Gregory Wills and Troy Yhip.

Trinidad Enthusiasts will be selected from: Jerry Legall (captain), Alvin Maraj, David Alzola, Nigel Clewett, Osbert Holder, Lawrence Alexander Parks, Willet Pantor, Timothy Kimpton, Anthony Aleong, Wayne Baptiste, Standford Celestain, Ato Cobham, Keano Frederick, Daniel Ford, Andy Williams, Shervon Neale, Dexter DeSouza, James Fuller, Paul Curzon, Daryll Warner, Newton George, Ronnie Cowie, Deryck Baptiste, Akaash Parsotan, and Daryl Woo with Kevin Edwards as manager.

Two plaques compliments of Neal and Massy (Guyana) Inc. will be awarded to the Most Valuable Player (MVP) on each team. A representative of Neal and Massy will be on hand to make the presentation.

GASA all set to host National Championships
THE Guyana Amateur Swimming Association (GASA) will commence their annual National Swimming Championships tomorrow at the Castellani Swimming Pool, Homestretch Avenue.

The event which will run until November 7 will be conducted within the parameters of the FINA Book of Rules and competitors are allowed to enter any number of events in their respective categories.

Competition gets under way tomorrow with the 200m freestyle, 50m backstroke, 100/200 individual medley, 100m breaststroke and 200m butterfly.

Sunday will see the 400m freestyle, 100m butterfly, 50m breaststroke, 100m freestyle and 200m backstroke. The events will continue on Wednesday, November 4 with the 1500m freestyle while Friday, November 6 will also see one event in the 800m freestyle.

The meet will conclude the following day, Saturday, November 7, with the 400m individual medley, the 200m breaststroke, the 50m butterfly, the 100m backstroke and the 50m freestyle and all events will start at 09:00 h on each day of competition.

Athletes will be charged a fee of $200 for each event they wish to register for, and all athletes not registered with GASA as of Monday October 5 will have to pay an additional fee of $500.

Entries for October 31 will be collected up to 08:00 h on that date; for November 1 up to 08:15 h on that date; for November 4 and 6 up to 06:15 h on both days; for November 7 up to 18.00 h on Friday, November 6.

Bangladesh hammer Zimbabwe
DHAKA - (Reuters) - Shakib Al Hasan led Bangladesh to a seven-wicket victory over Zimbabwe in the second one-day international in Mirpur with a blistering knock of 105 off 69 balls.

Shakib's unbeaten century, his fourth in ODIs, helped the hosts to level the five-match series 1-1. Left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak notched up a career-best 5-29 to restrict Zimbabwe to a modest 219 all out in 47.2 overs.

Shakib shared 165 runs in an unbroken fourth-wicket stand with Raqibul Hasan (39 not out) as the hosts stormed to victory by scoring 221-3 in 29.3 overs.

Hamilton Masakadza (34) and Justice Chibhabha (39) gave the tourists a blistering start with a 59-run stand off 10 overs before the Bangladeshi spinners put on brakes.

Off-spinners Naeem Islam and former captain Mohammad Ashraful claimed two wickets each as the Zimbabwe batsmen struggled to find their comfort zone.

Malcolm Waller top-scored for the visitors with 40 while former captain Tatenda Taibu, who was dropped twice by Nazmul Hossain, added 38.

Bangladesh raced to 44 inside four overs before Elton Chigumbura struck twice to halt their progress. After opener Tamim Iqbal fell to Chibhabha for 26, Bangladesh never looked back.

Chigumbura finished with 2-47. The third match of the series will be held at the same Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium ground on October 31.
ZIMBABWE innings
H. Masakadza lbw b Naeem Islam 34
CJ Chibhabha stp. Mushfiqur Rahim b Mohammad Ashraful 39
BRM Taylor b Abdur Razzak 21
T. Taibu c Raqibul Hasan b Naeem Islam 38
CK Coventry c Junaid Siddique b Abdur Razzak 0
S Matsikenyeri c †Mushfiqur Rahim b Mohammad Ashraful 14
MN Waller b Abdur Razzak 40
E. Chigumbura c Mahmudullah b Shakib Al Hasan 8
AG Cremer b Abdur Razzak 2
RW Price not out 4
KM Jarvis lbw b Abdur Razzak 0
Extras: (b-4, lb-2, w-5, nb-8) 19
Total: (all out; 47.2 overs) 219
Fall of wickets: 1-59, 2-96, 3-96, 4-96, 5-130, 6-184, 7-207, 8-215, 9-217.
Bowling:
Nazmul Hossain 7-0-33-0 (w-1), Dolar Mahmud 4.5-0-39-0 (nb-2), Shakib Al Hasan 9-1-24-1, Naeem Islam 8-0-43-2 (nb-1, w-1), Abdur Razzak 9.2-0-29-5, Mahmudullah 3.1-0-17-0, Mohammed Ashraful 6-1-28-2 (w-2)

BANGLADESH innings
Tamim Iqbal c Masakadza b Chibhabha 26
Junaid Siddique c & b Chigumbura 23
Mohammad Ashraful c Taylor b Chigumbura 3
Raqibul Hasan not out 39
Shakib Al Hasan not out 105
Extras: (b-4, lb-2, w-15, nb-4) 25
Total: (3 wickets; 29.3 overs) 221
Fall of wickets: 1-44, 2-56, 3-56..
Bowling: KM Jarvis 6-0-59-0 (nb-2, w-1), E. Chigumbura 9-1-47-2 (w-4), C J Chibhabha 7.3-0-48-1 (nb-1), RW Price 4-0-35-0 (w-3), AG Cremer 3-0-26-0 (w-1, nb-1).

FIFA considers biological passports to fight doping
By Brian Homewood
ZURICH, (Reuters) - Soccer's governing body FIFA will work with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to step up the pressure on drug cheats in the sport, possibly with cycling-style biological passports.

"This is a strategy which could be extremely beneficial in the next few years," WADA president John Fahey told reporters after meeting his opposite number Sepp Blatter at FIFA headquarters yesterday.

"We welcome this partnership and we are happy that such an important sport is prepared to work with us," he added, although he warned it could take time to implement.

"It will not necessarily bring results straight away."

Since January 2008, the International Cycling Union (UCI) has collected blood samples from all professional riders to create a medical profile that would be compared with data registered in anti-doping tests.

"This is a long-term project and it's worthwhile exploring," said FIFA chief medical officer Jiri Dvorak, adding that FIFA carried out 33 000 doping tests each year.

"Of these, 0.3 percent test positive and these are mostly with social drugs such as marijuana and cocaine," said Dvorak. He said 0.03 percent of the 33 000 tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs.

FIFA and WADA were until recently involved in a series of disputes, mainly over the controversial whereabouts rule which requires athletes to give three months' notice of where they will be for an hour each day.

However, the two sides have patched up their differences and Fahey said FIFA was now up to scratch with WADA regulations.

"FIFA has a robust and extensive anti-doping programme and ... is fully compliant with the World Anti-Doping committee," he said. "The FIFA programme is a very good programme."

FIFA president Blatter said the sport was doing all it could.

"I was too candid when I said there are no drugs in football," he said. "33 000 (tests) is the optimum. We can't do more than that."

Serena clinches year-end world number one spot
By Martyn Herman
DOHA (Reuters) - Serena Williams rarely backs down in a scrap but she was spared a fight for the honour of ending the year as world number one on Wednesday when her rival Dinara Safina quit the WTA Championships with injury.

The 28-year-old American was guaranteed finishing top for the first time since 2002 when Safina lasted just two games against Serbia's Jelena Jankovic in her first match at the season-ending showpiece that had been billed as the duel in the desert.

Safina, who topped the standings for more than half the year but needed to at least match Serena's performance in Doha to cling on to first place, made a tearful exit with a lower back injury before confirming that she would not attempt to play her other two round-robin matches.

Serena then went out and beat sister Venus in a family dust-up that ended past midnight, coming through 5-7, 6-4, 7-6 in a near three-hour contest that underlined the warrior instincts of the 11-time grand slam champion.

While victory virtually assured Serena of her place in the semi-finals, it left Venus's hopes of retaining her title hanging by a thread after she suffered her second defeat in two days after falling to Elena Dementieva on the first day.

"2009 has been a truly memorable season for me during which I enjoyed some of my biggest career wins," Australian Open and Wimbledon champion Serena told reporters.

"Capturing the year-end world number one ranking is a huge accomplishment for me and I am thrilled that all the hard work has paid off."

She did, however, spare a thought for Safina despite often questioning the Russian's credentials as a world number one this year on the basis that she has still to win a grand slam title.

"Dinara is such a great player that she must be really hurt because she never gives up," Serena said. "It's a shame for the tournament because it would have been great if we had both got through to the final to battle for it."

While Serena's tennis has been impressive this season, the small matter of an ITF disciplinary hearing is still hanging over her head after her foul-mouthed rant at a line judge during the semi-final at the U.S. Open which resulted in a penalty point against her on match-point down to Kim Clijsters.

Despite that unsavoury incident, WTA Tour chief executive Stacey Allaster congratulated Serena on her achievement.

"Serena is a terrific ambassador for our sport," she said.

Williams, who will be number one through the week beginning December 28 at least, is eighth in the list for total weeks spent as world number one since the WTA rankings came into force having spent 83 weeks at the top.

K&S 20th Edition ...
Eagles United and Net Rockers join Milerock and Topp XX as Linden teams
By Joe Chapman
UPPER Demerara Champions Milerock and former Kashif and Shanghai champions Bakewell Topp XX will be joined by Net Rockers and Eagles United to complete the four-team challenge Linden will have at this year’s 20th annual Kashif and Shanghai (K&S) tournament.

Following a specially arranged kick-off tournament to determine the other two after the leading clubs Milerock and Topp XX were selected from the first division pool of clubs in the mining town, the two emerged as the best.

They won their group play among the six Upper Demerara Football Association first division clubs. The Net Rockers took care of Peacemakers from Ituni with a 3-1 win last Friday and were able to get the better of Blueberry Hill United on a 4-3 tussle from the penalty spot on Monday.

The Net Rockers victory was earned through strikes by Oswin Hope in the 12th minute, Keon Bristol in the 21st and Tony ‘Spirit’ Adams in the 44th minute as they had a 3-0 cushion at the break.

But the Blueberry Hill lads were not to be outside from a half-time deficit 0-3 and shot in three goals within a ten-minute burst with the first coming in the 71st minute by Ossie Hale and another in the 73rd minute from the boot of Marley Major before Hale was again there to register his second goal in the 79th minute to stun the Ricers posse.

But as fate would have it  Net Rockers were able to prevail as Hale was one of the two players who missed from the penalty spot after giving them a ray of hope with his double strike in open play.

Eagles, who hold the record for the most appearances at these championships, played their hearts out to emerge on top of their group after trouncing Silver Shattas 4-0 and overcoming a tough Winners Connection on a 4-3 score-line.

Jayasuriya's future under scrutiny
By Sa'adi Thawfeeq
SANATH Jayasuriya's cricketing future has been put in the balance with Sri Lanka's selectors saying yesterday that his days as an opener are effectively over and that following the upcoming tour of India he will be picked on performance alone.

Jayasuriya, 40, has been picked in the one-day squad as an all-rounder who can bat down the order and bowl left-arm spin.

"What we expect from Sanath is that he should win one in three games for Sri Lanka, which he was doing in the past," Ashantha de Mel, Sri Lanka's chairman of selectors, said in Colombo.

"But now that has reduced and we are a little concerned about it. In the Champions Trophy in South Africa his performance was below par. That's the reason why we have gone in with the option of playing him as an all-rounder."

Jayasuriya scored freely during the World Twenty20 in England this summer, where Sri Lanka finished runners-up, and ended as their joint second-highest run-getter with 177 at 25.28.

However, he underperformed in the limited-overs fixtures against New Zealand and India at home and in the Champions Trophy.

Sri Lanka's selectors have Upul Tharanga and Tillakaratne Dilshan in mind as the opening pair for the future and Jayasuriya's selection will depend on the requirements of the team depending on where they will play.

"We have spoken to Sanath on the role he has to play," de Mel said. "He has the option to play as an all-rounder. We have considered him for this tour only, after that his selection will depend on his performance. He has to perform to hold his place in the team for the World Cup."

de Mel said the selectors did not have a settled position for Jayasuriya, who was impressive as an all-rounder during Sri Lanka's victorious World Cup campaign in 1996, and that his flexibility worked in his favour.

"Especially in the batting power play having a spinning all-rounder like Sanath is useful in the subcontinent because he can hit the ball. He might bat in the middle or in the top order depending on the situation," he said.

"Also, the World Cup will be held in the subcontinent where his left-arm spin can become useful. He can perform that role because in South Africa in the game against New Zealand when they scored 300 runs he was the one who bowled ten overs for three wickets and 30 runs. He has done well in the subcontinent especially with his bowling."

Jayasuriya is the second batsman after India's Sachin Tendulkar to pass 13 000 runs in ODIs and also holds the record for being the oldest batsman to score a one-day century, at 39 years and 212 days against India in Colombo. Of the 13 377 runs he has scored in 441 ODIs, 2 841 have come in 86 ODIs against India including seven hundreds at a strike-rate of 97.

Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara felt the main factor in Sri Lanka's poor ODI performances over the past two years has been an inconsistent batting lineup. "The biggest let-down we had is our batting. We suffered because we had lots of batting position changes up and down the order," he said.

"For the batting to improve you must give the players the confidence. They must know what role they are supposed to play. Role identification has been a big problem. Except for the openers no one knew what their role was in the side.

"We have never clicked in all departments; those are things the team ignored for a while. The players have now started to realise that they take a lot of pride not just representing the country but to be up to the task that is required of them by the team."

Fielding was one of the key areas where Sri Lanka suffered during the Champions Trophy and to address the poor standards and improve them Sri Lanka Cricket acquired the services of Gavin Fingleson, a former Olympic baseball player.

"He didn't come and change but showed us how to do things right. He showed us little points that will make us better and quick fielders, at the same time we also realised to be quicker on the field you've got to be fitter as a side," Sangakkara said. "We started doing a lot of work on fitness running. Gavin showed us a lot of drills and how you can gain that extra second advantage when going for a catch or trying to stop the ball.

At the same time the most important point was to make sure at practice you do everything perfectly, those are the habits we have to build on. (Cricinfo)

Aussies seek swift fightback
AUSTRALIA will have to regroup quickly if it is to wrest back the momentum from India when the teams clash in the third match of their seven-game one-day international series in Delhi tomorrow.

The tourists had drawn first blood last weekend when they prevailed by just four runs in Jaipur but that victory also came at a cost with James Hopes and Brett Lee both ruled out of Wednesday's second encounter in Nagpur by injury.

And India well and truly atoned for its opening-match defeat by smashing its way to 7-354 and then bowling Australia out for 255 in reply, with the heavy loss compounded further when wicketkeeper Tim Paine broke a finger forcing him home for treatment.

With incumbent Brad Haddin recovered from the broken finger he suffered in England during the Ashes but to remain at home and play for New South Wales in its upcoming clash with Western Australia, selectors have turned to South Australian Graham Manou.

Having deputised for Haddin in one Test during the Ashes series after he first suffered his injury, Manou headed to Delhi yesterday and is expected to be rushed straight into the line-up for the game at Feroz Shah Kotla.

Manou's addition to the 11, most likely at No.7, is likely to also result in the promotion of Shaun Marsh to the top of the order to open with Shane Watson after the Western Australian left-hander batted in the middle order when recalled in place of Hopes on Wednesday.

Queensland all-rounder Hopes will also miss again with the hamstring injury he sustained in the opening match while fast bowler Brett Lee is also no certainty to return after picking up an elbow strain in the same game.

Having recovered from what looked to be the hopeless position of 7-201 chasing 293 for victory in game one, India maintained that momentum after Australian skipper Ricky Ponting's decision to bowl first backfired.

Ponting had expected evening dew to make things tougher for the team bowling second but having posted their highest-ever score against Australia thanks to captain MS Dhoni's unbeaten 124 from 107 balls India then did what was needed with the ball as those conditions failed to materialise.

This will be the first clash between India and Australia in Delhi since April, 1998 when the visitors prevailed by four wickets, while the home side had won the previous two battles there by three wickets and 56 runs in 1986 and 1987 respectively.

Overall Australia hold a superior win-loss record having won 20 of the 40 matches the teams have contested in India, with the hosts winning 15 times and no result possible in the other five matches since their opening battle there 25 years ago.

With the world No.1 ranking that Australia regained when they successfully defended the ICC Champions Trophy in South Africa in September on the line in this series - provided India can prevail 5-2 overall - claiming the overall lead with four games remaining is important for either side.

But with the Indians backed by raucous home crowds at each of the seven venues the Australians will be keen to be the ones who put their noses in front to try and take the fans out of the equation later in the series.

To do so though they'll need to get more out of their attack, with Ponting looking for more support for lion-hearted quick Peter Siddle, while a better start from the top order will also be vital after just 45 runs had been posted by the time the third wicket fell on Wednesday. (CA)

GCB three-day first division in Berbice ...
Clements slams unbeaten double-century for Bermine
THE Guyana Cricket Board’s (GCB) national first division three-day cricket competition got started in the Ancient County of Berbice last Saturday and Sunday, with three matches being played in the West Berbice/East Berbice/New Amsterdam/Canje group.

Highlighting the weekend’s play was the batting performance of two former national Under-19 cricketers, both of them playing for Bermine, in opening batsman Devon Clements who slammed an unbeaten 201 (24x4, 4x6) and Eugene La Fleur 148 (22x4, 3x6), the two of them featuring in a third-wicket stand of 301, to help Bermine amass 406 for 8 in their first innings response to Edinburgh’s 169.

La Fleur had taken 6-45 from 18 overs in Edinburgh’s innings and at the end of the second day, Edinburgh were 160-5 in their second innings, still short by 89 runs, to make Bermine bat again. Left-arm spinner La Fleur had picked up two more wickets to take his tally to eight in the match so far.

Berbice Under-15 all-rounder Kevin Ramdeen hit 71 for Rose hall Community Centre but with former Berbice Under-19 pacer Devendra Ramoutar taking 6-38 from 13 overs for Young Warriors, as Rose Hall were restricted to 191 in their first innings.

Young Warriors’ reply of 341-7 declared was spearheaded by Guyana Under-19 middle order batsman Seon Hetmyer (82), Berbice batsman Richard Ramdeen (79) and former Berbice batsman Maxie De Jonge (55).

By the end of the second day’s play Rose Hall Community Centre were bowled out for 259 in their second innings with Vedesh Singh top-scoring with 88. Maxie De Jonge bowling medium pace took four wickets, leaving Young Warriors to score 110 runs in their second inning to complete an outright victory.

Albert Sinclair hit 77 in Police’s first innings of 221 all out against Blairmont Community Centre who by the end of the first day replied strongly with 103 without loss, with Ramesh Budhram unbeaten on 74, but due to the unavailability of the Blairmont ground, that match could not continue on Sunday.

In scores from matches played:

At Edinburgh, Bermine have so far taken first innings points from Edinburgh. Edinburgh, winning the toss and batting first, returning 169 with Denny David 42, Ganesh Yadram 36, Mark Sampson 25, Raid Ali 2; Eugene La Fleur 6 for 45, off-spinner Devon Clements 2 for 33, pacer Mark Jackman 2 for 37 and second innings 160-5 with Ganesh Yadram 46, Raid Ali 39, Shafiek Khan 35; Eugene La Fleur 2-36, Joemal La Fleur 2- 37.

Bermine first innings 406-9 declared with Devon Clements 201 not out, Eugene La Fleur 146; Mark Sampson 3-67 and Raid Ali 3- 95.

At Rose Hall in Canje, Young Warriors have so far take first innings points from Rose Hall Community Centre. Rose Hall Community Centre winning the toss and batting first, scored 191 with Kevin Ramdeen 71, Devendra Ramoutar 6-38 and second innings 259 with Vedesh Singh 88, Khemraj Sumair 33, Sanjay Khan 23, Kevin Ramdeen 23; Maxie De Jonge 4-56, Wahied Edwards 2-39, Richard Ramdeen 2-50.

Young Warriors’ first innings 341-7 declared with Seon Hetmyer 82, Richard Ramdeen 79, Maxie De Jonge 55, Ishwar Singh 44, Wahied Edwards 30, Richard Austin 25; off-spinner Ramesh Munna 2-50, Sanjay Khan 2-59, Vishal Mohabir 2-79.

At Blairmont in the match between Police and Blairmont Community Centre, Police winning the toss and batting first scored 221 with Albert Sinclair 77, Wayne Richards 22, Rocky Hutson 20; leg-spinner Leslie Amsterdam II 3-20, off-spinner Mohamed Yusuf 3-43 and off-spinner Karamdat Bissoondial 2 for 40.

Blairmont Community Centre’s first innings 104 without loss with Ramesh Budhram 74 not out. Karamdat Bissoondial 29 not out.
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