Late flash:
Gunmen execute six
-- in attack on Kaieteur News printery, two villages
A GANG of about 10 gunmen last night executed at least six persons in cold-blooded attacks on the Kaieteur News printery at Eccles and at Bagotstown, East Bank Demerara.

The gang stormed into the newspaper printery at about 22:00 h after a rampage at Bagotstown and Agricola where one person was shot dead and about three others wounded, witnesses said.

Employees at the Kaieteur News printery said they heard one of the gunmen shout “If is trouble they want, they will get f…..g trouble!” as they swept into the building where they ordered printing staff to lie face down on the floor.

They then shot five of the employees in the head, killing four on the spot and the other died on the way to hospital, witnesses said.

Employees said among those killed at the newspaper printery were Chetram Persaud (also called Bayo); Mark Mikoo; Shazim and Richard.

Sources said the slaughter came after a skirmish between gunmen and a Police/Army patrol at Brusche Dam, Buxton, East Coast Demerara.

President Bharrat Jagdeo visited the newspaper printery at about 01:30 h today.

Elections 2006:
'Best ever' elections
-- GECOM head promises
By Mark Ramotar
CHAIRMAN of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Dr. Steve Surujbally yesterday reassured that everything is on track in the committed efforts by the commission to not only meet the August 28 poll date but also ensure the 2006 elections would be the “best ever” in Guyana’s history.

Surujbally, at a news conference at GECOM headquarters in Georgetown, gave a comprehensive outline of the safeguard mechanisms that would be in place to, among other things, prevent multiple voting, other forms of skulduggery and any potential for dissatisfaction on elections day.

He also warned that anyone or any political party that tries to cheat or indulge in any form of skullduggery during the elections “will be caught”. Persons caught will be prosecuted in court and if found guilty, jailed or fined, or both, and possibly even banned from voting at future elections, he said.

The GECOM Chairman reported that the Official List of Electors (OLE) is in the process of being printed while the first batch of the special ballot papers being printed in Canada should be arriving in Guyana by this weekend.

Surujbally also lashed out at misleading reports in certain sections of the media which he said serve to bismirch the reputation of GECOM and discredit the unwavering commitment, dedication and hardwork by the staff of the commission in working towards ensuring that free and fair elections of internationally accepted standards are held on August 28.

“At this stage of our preparations we are in the homestretch, we are heading for the tape (and as such) we cannot afford this drivel that is being published…,” he declared.

Referring to his team at GECOM, he posited: “This is a team of people - the best that you have in Guyana running the electoral process with great sleepless nights, making the effort but then we see publications which are in fact the quintessence of wretchedness and wickedness epitomising and misrepresenting matters – the zenith or, perhaps, I should say the nadir of reprehensibility.”

Alluding to a grossly misleading story which appeared in another newspaper yesterday, Surujbally said he would blame the editor for passing such irresponsible reporting and again appealed to media houses to be responsible in their reports.

Despite this, the GECOM Chairman said everything else is on track and told reporters to “damn me afterwards” if the elections are not the “best ever” to be held in Guyana.

Among the safeguards outlined by the GECOM Chairman aimed at preventing multiple voting, other forms of skulduggery and any potential for dissatisfaction on elections day were:

**     Identification of the Voter: Surujbally noted that before an elector is allowed to vote, he/she will be properly identified as the person he/she claims to be.

To facilitate this, he said GECOM has placed electors’ photographs alongside their names on the folio at the polling stations. When an elector goes to the polling station to vote, an election official will first look at his/her face and compare it with the photograph on his/her ID card.

The election official will then compare the photograph on the ID card with the one alongside the elector’s name on the voters’ list to confirm that he/she is the same person.

If the official is satisfied that the elector is who he/she is claiming to be, he/she will then be processed for voting. Surujbally said on the other hand, if any divergence is noted, the elector will be subjected to questioning, and possibly, be arrested immediately.

** The use of indelible ink: The GECOM Chairman spoke at length on this safeguard mechanism and noted that in the voting process, electors will be required to dip the first joint of their right index fingers in indelible ink.

In the past, some persons had claimed to be able to completely wash off the indelible ink from their fingers but Surujbally said this will not be possible at the 2006 elections because the indelible ink to be used is of such improved strength that, no matter how hard one tries, one cannot completely wash it off.

Further, the wet ink on their finger tips will not be wiped off as has been the practice in past elections, he said, adding that before electors are allowed to vote, their fingers will be examined for traces of indelible ink. If traces of indelible ink are found on an elector’s fingers, it will be presumed that he/she had already voted and will not be allowed to vote again. Subsequently, he/she will be subjected to questioning, and possibly, be arrested immediately.

** Party agents: Surujbally said political party agents will be at the polling stations throughout the elections process on elections day to witness the physical identification of voters and the examination of their hands for traces of indelible ink. He further explained that if a party agent has good reason to believe that the potential elector is not the person he/she claims to be, or that he/she has already voted, the party agent can bring this to the notice of the Presiding Officer. This will result in the potential elector being questioned, and possibly, being arrested immediately.

** The presence of security personnel from the Guyana Police Force: The GECOM Chairman yesterday reiterated the assurances given by President Bharrat Jagdeo that ranks from the Guyana Police Force will be present at all polling stations throughout elections day to assist the Presiding Officers in ensuring that the elections process is executed in a lawful and orderly manner.

In addition, he said personnel from the Disciplined Services (Army and Police) will be stationed at GECOM headquarters and at all GECOM annexes.

Surujbally also alluded to the ‘feeling’ - real or imagined - that political party agents can be terrorised into leaving the polling stations prematurely. 𠇊t those polling stations where there is the possibility (real or perceived) of the bullying/terrorising of party agents, Police ranks will be present in such numbers as to negate this possibility,” the GECOM Chairman asserted.

He urged political parties to assist GECOM in identifying such vulnerable polling stations and to place agents of such calibre that they would resist any intimidation.

** Voter education: Holding up a specimen brochure at the news conference, Surujbally told reporters the commission has embarked on a highly publicised voter education campaign aimed at informing electors about their rights and responsibilities as voters, and to dissuade them from becoming involved in skulduggery.

Emphasis, he said, has been placed on the reasons why electors should not become involved in the conduct of any of the listed electoral offences and the penalties associated with those offences.

“GECOM is making it known clearly that it is committed to having persons, if they are found to be engaging themselves in any of the electoral offences, promptly arrested,” the Chairman warned. According to him, it is expected that this campaign will discourage persons from attempting to engage in multiple voting or other forms of skulduggery.

** Efficient conduct of the polls: During the training of Returning Officers, Presiding Officers and all other levels of polling day staff, Surujbally said emphasis was placed on the need for them to always carry out their respective responsibilities in a manner that will not cast any shadow of doubt on the elections process and the emerging results.

GECOM has emphasised that polling day staff would be held accountable, even prosecuted, for any irregularity which could result in the outcome of the elections being besmirched, he told reporters.

** Absent electors/deceased electors: Surujbally stressed that deceased electors whose names are possibly still on the voters’ list cannot and will not present themselves to vote. According to him, the photographs on the folios at each polling station will preclude anyone from trying to vote in the place of deceased electors.

So too will be the case of registered electors who are out of Guyana on elections day. Other persons will be unable to vote on their behalf simply because of the photographs against the electors’ names in the folio.

** Counting of ballots at place of poll: As provided for by law, Surujbally said ballots cast will be counted at the respective places of poll and each Presiding Officer will sign the Statement of Poll.

Surujbally said each party agent present will also sign as an attestation that he/she is satisfied with the counting and recording of the votes. Thereafter, the Presiding Officer will publicly declare the results of the elections at his/her polling station; give a signed copy of the results to each party agent; and post the results at a noticeable place at the polling station.

**    Domestic and international observers: Surujbally also alluded to the many domestic and international observers who have been accredited by GECOM and who will be monitoring the elections process countrywide with a view to contributing to it being conducted in accordance with international best practice.

Domestic observers include the Electoral Assistance Bureau (EAB), the Guyana Bar Association (GBA), the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) and the Private Sector Commission (PSC).

The international observers will include the Commonwealth Long/Short Term Observer Missions, the Organisation of American States (OAS) Long/Short Term Observer Missions, the European Union Assessors, the two Joint International Technical Assessors (JITAs), members of the Diplomatic Community in Guyana, CARICOM and possibly, a European Union Parliamentary Mission and one from the Carter Center.

** Assistance from political parties: Surujbally said the commission would like to call on all political parties and other social/civic organisations to appeal to their respective supporters and members not to attempt in any way to thwart the successful conduct of the elections by attempting to vote more than once, or from acting in any manner which could impede the successful conduct of the elections.

In this regard, he said all political parties and other social and civic organisations are invited to caution their supporters and members that any attempt to do so would result in them being immediately arrested and prosecuted.

** Transparent ballot boxes: He contended that the transparency of the voting process will be buttressed by the use of transparent ballot boxes that have been procured specifically with this objective in mind.

This move will guarantee that the contents of the ballot boxes are always in view of all categories of personnel and stakeholders having access to the almost 2,000 polling stations across Guyana.

Surujbally told reporters that there will be some 1,990 polling stations across Guyana for the August 28 polls, a significant increase compared to the 1,893 polling stations for the 2001 elections.

As a result of the increase in the number of polling stations for the 2006 elections, none of them will have to cater to more than 450 listed electors. Contrastingly, at the 2001 elections, more than 500 electors were registered to vote at some polling stations, the GECOM Chairman said.

Also at the news confernce yesterday were several international observers here for the upcoming elections.

Media referees write party leaders on threats
THE two-member Independent Refereeing Panel set up to oversee the Code of Conduct adopted by the Guyanese media, have expressed “urgent concern” over recent news reports about media representatives being subjected to racial slurs and other verbal and physical abuse and attempts at intimidation in the execution of their duty.

To this end, the panelists, Lennox Grant and Wyvolyn Gager, have in a letter to leaders of political parties contesting the August 28 general and regional elections, sought their cooperation “in ensuring that media representatives covering the 2006 elections campaign are able to do their work free of interference, intimidation, and verbal and physical abuse.”

Reminding that from experience, campaign meetings are capable of becoming volatile settings in which, without warning, emotions can get the better of people possessed by them, the panelists implored the party leaders “to see it as a responsibility to ensure that working media personnel are not put in harm’s way.”

They also asked the leaders “to use the opportunity of campaign meetings and other communications to emphasise to supporters and others present the indispensable part being played by the media in ensuring democratic and peaceful elections.”

The two panelists have expressed confidence that the party leaders will join them in condemning such actions and in making sure that the relatively minor incidents so far reported do not become more serious to the detriment of peaceful and democratic elections.

The Independent Refereeing Panel under their mandate of overseeing the Code of Conduct adopted by the Guyanese media, seeks to support the achievement of fair, peaceful, and well-regulated elections as free as possible of ethnic tensions and undue political discord.

Their mission involves, too, working with media owners, practitioners and other stakeholders to improve elections campaign coverage.

In face of attacks:
Parties urge civil behaviour
POLITICAL parties have begun to heat up the campaign trail and with it the tensions of supporters seem to be rising.

As a result, both the governing People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) and the main opposition People’s National Congress Reform-One Guyana (PNCR-1G), are appealing for civil behaviour.

The PNCR-1G in a release yesterday, condemned in the strongest possible terms the “vicious” attack on one of its regional candidates, Anand Persaud called `Gilbert’ of Hope West, Enmore, East Coast Demerara, following the stoning of his home sometime between 04:00h and 05:00h yesterday.

The stoning of the home was done by persons positively identified as PPP/C supporters who subsequently ambushed Persaud and severely beat him as he attempted to trail the men who had laid siege to his home, the release added.

A report on the incident was made at the Enmore Police Outpost and the Cove and John Police Station, the PNCR-1G said.

It said Persaud also informed the Police of an earlier incident Friday last, when known PPP/C activists in a vehicle announcing a PPP/C meeting, openly threatened his life saying: “Gilbert, you next; yuh done dead.”

The PNCR-1G said a complaint about Friday’s incident was lodged at the PPP/C Freedom House headquarters.

As a result of both incidents, the PNCR-1G is urging those concerned to “urgently take stock of these incidents and to take the necessary steps to prevent party activists from behaving in such a lawless and irresponsible manner.”

The PPP/C, yesterday accused the PNCR-1G and its agents of again employing threats and intimidatory tactics as part of its elections campaigning.

The latest in a string of examples, according to the PPP/C, involves Oliver Hinckson, a lead member of the elections security team attached to the main opposition.

The PPP/C said, Hinckson on a recent television interview, issued a threat to PPP/C elections campaign spokesperson Robert Persaud, saying “...I don’t know why Robert Persaud is panicking…The soldiers have no intention of doing Robert Persaud anything …The people will do him not me.”

Noting that Hinckson is on bail on charges related to the investigations into the missing army AK-47s, the release added that Persaud has since written acting Commissioner of Police Henry Greene, bringing to his attention the incident and requesting that the appropriate action be taken.

It said copies of the letter were also sent to the Leader of the Opposition and signatories to the elections support Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

Other examples, it said, included the racist abuse hurled against an Indo-Guyanese journalist working for the Kaieteur News covering the PNCR rally in Linden and physical attacks on NCN media personnel who were covering the same event; the loud playing of party jingles from a Canter truck and throwing of fliers by persons inside at persons standing outside the PPP/C, Robb Street headquarters, Monday night.

This latter incident is “clearly another act of provocation” the PPP/C said.

In strongly condemning the politics of threats and intimidation against members of the media and its leaders and activists, the PPP/C said it believes the opposition’s latest acts of threats and provocations are “deliberate attempts to challenge people’s rights to freedom, to renew fears in the society and to disturb a peaceful elections environment.”

“The PNCR-1G should cease its confrontational, divisive and backward politics immediately, and respect the Guyanese people desire for peaceful and civil conduct during the elections campaign,” it added while calling on the security forces, the Independent Media Panel, international observers and international donor missions to pay serious attention to these “unsavoury developments”.

Armed men rob MMC escort of $9M
FOUR armed men held up an MMC Security Service escort in a daring robbery Monday on North Road, Bourda, Georgetown, carting off $9M and two 12-gauge shotguns -- one with 12 live rounds and the other with 13, a police source said.

According to the police the four robbers are identifiable, but none had been held up to late yesterday.

The robbery took place about 17:00 h.

According to the police, an employee of Akbar’s Auto Sales was being escorted to make a night deposit at the Demerara Bank when the four men pulled up in a vehicle beside the MMC escort vehicle, brandishing hand guns, and surrounded it.

They then relieved the guards of the cash and the weapons and took away the keys of the escort vehicle, which resulted in the guards being unable to drive it.

The gunmen then headed away on foot to Church Street then to Merriman’s Mall and disappeared.

Meanwhile, the three MMC guards are in police custody assisting in investigations.

A senior official of MMC, who requested anonymity, told the Guyana Chronicle that the questioning of the three guards is to establish that there was no collusion with the robbers.

He further said that MMC has no reason to suspect any collusion between the guards and the robbers.

The official added that since the robbery, MMC has tightened its security system by immediately implementing additional measures, including strengthening escorts, at no additional cost to their clients, and others which he declined to divulge.

He confirmed that two shotguns were taken during the heist.

MMC is also carrying out its own investigations, the official said.

Linden incident 'unfortunate'
-- PNCR-1G
THE PNCR-One Guyana party (PNCR-1G), in acknowledging a letter by NCN’s acting Editor-in-Chief, Michael Gordon, regarding an incident involving NCN staffers during a rally the party held in Linden on Saturday, yesterday said the incident was “unfortunate and must not be repeated.”

It referred to an earlier statement by its leader Mr. Robert Corbin that the party will run a positive and disciplined elections campaign, stating it is against this background, that they “naturally denounce all incidents whether verbal or physical, wherever committed and by whomever, that serve to fracture the peace or raise tensions in our society, more so in this election season.”

However, the party said its investigations revealed that the incident was triggered by unwarranted taunting of the crowd by an NCN employee, the driver of a mini-bus in which the staff were travelling.

The party noted though that the NCN staff for whatever reason “may have ignored to mention this vital bit of information” to either Mr Gordon or the police.

“While we do not take the position that taunting was good enough reason to justify any assault, however minor, on any person, you will agree that it was not the wisest thing for your staff to have done at a time when tempers, as well as tension, can flare at even the slightest bit of provocation,” the letter to Gordon added.

And, alluding to NCN’s stated commitment “to being objective in [y]our service to the country at large”, the PNCR-G said it “still await to see hard and sustained evidence of this in the state-owned media.”

The party also reminded the station that coverage by the state-owned media of the events and statements of opposition parties “is not a favour to them but a duty of this state institution.”

NCN (National Communications Network) Channel-11 expressed shock and concern at the harassment of its news team during a march by the PNCR-1G which was part of a rally held by the party last Saturday in Linden.

“It is with great shock and concern that our news team visiting the mining town of Linden, especially one reporter and one cameraman, was made subject to both verbal and physical abuse by revellers/supporters in a PNCR-1G march in the area of Washer Pond Road, Industrial Site Linden on Saturday August 5, 2006,” a release from NCN said.

It added: “Several women surrounded our cameraman and hurled abuses at him and the company, while the reporter, designated to cover all PNCR campaign engagements, was struck by a bottle which was hurled out of the marching bunch.”

The television station said it had written Corbin, lamenting the behaviour of those who appeared to be supporters of his party, and seeking an assurance that there will be no such recurrence.

“We wish to also alert the independent refereeing panel and the international observers about this occurrence,” the station said.

A protective rank who witnessed the incident had cause to warn a particular section of the PNCR-1G contingent, the release said, adding that subsequent to the incident, a decision was taken to withdraw from coverage of the PNCR-1G rally.

However, NCN said it remains committed to being objective in its service to the community at large, and has also implanted cost recovery principles in a profit-oriented environment, ensuring that all parties get their fair share of coverage.

Police arrest suspect in Grove multiple murder
POLICE have arrested a suspect in the gruesome murder of four, including two children, in a house at Grove, East Bank Demerara.

The man was picked up where he washes cars at the East Bank Demerara bus park in the city, investigators said yesterday.

The suspect claims he never knew any of the victims, though he once had an affair with a woman the police are looking for as they investigate the multiple murders.

The suspect told investigators that at about 21:00 h Saturday, he was at the bus park when the woman went to see him and shortly after her lover arrived and took her away.

Meanwhile, the reputed husband of Danmattie Kayman, one of the victims, who was held by the police following the murders, was released Monday night.

The decomposing bodies of Kayman, 43, and her children, Alicia Kirkpatrick, 7, and Melville Jr., 3, along with caretaker Fred Looknauth, 69, were discovered by relatives at their home at 102 Grove Public Road.

Kayman’s naked body was found in the bedroom, with a sheet covering her face; the caretaker, Looknauth was discovered in the passageway leading to the bathroom in the upper flat of the building, and the bodies of Kayman’s children were found in the incomplete bottom flat of the house.

A post mortem report Friday said Kayman died of strangulation while her children and Looknauth died of cerebral haemorrhage.

PPP hosts ‘New Global Human Order’ symposium
THE People’s Progressive Party (PPP) will host a symposium today at the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre, High Street, Georgetown, on the New Global Human Order adumbrated by the late President Cheddi Jagan.

A resolution on this order was subsequently approved and adopted by the United Nations General Assembly and booklet entitled “A New Global Human Order” was launched in February 1995.

The idea of a new global human order dates back to 1992 when the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution entitled the “New International Humanitarian Order.”

The concept of the “New Global Human Order” as adumbrated by Dr. Jagan encompasses developmental and economic issues such as poverty and hunger, as opposed to relief from disasters which looked upon as “humanitarian.”

The concept also addresses the issue of the wide development gap between the rich north and the poor south.

Cargo shipments to Suriname resume
OFFICIALS at the Guyana/Suriname Ferry Service, Moleson Creek, Corentyne, terminal have resumed processing vehicles with cargo for entry into Suriname.

The green light was given last weekend following the signing Friday of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between representatives of the Customs Officers Union and acting Minister of Finance in Suriname, Ms. Lygia Kraag-Keteldijk, bringing an immediate end to a strike by customs officers.

Following the placing of a notice in the Guyana Chronicle on Friday, advising about the temporary block placed on cargo to Suriname from Guyana, Local Director/Secretary, Mr. Ronald Charles of the Canawaima Management Co. J.V. (Joint Venture), in an invited comment said the manager at South Drain terminal in Suriname had informed him that as a result of the strike by the custom officers, there was insufficient personnel to process cargo.

The industrial action saw Customs Officers at Nieuwe Haven, Suriname’s main port, and those at the international airport and the country’s second state-owned port in Nickerie staying off the job.

Loading and unloading ships at the two harbours had come to a complete stop.

The de Ware Tijd newspaper in Suriname had said too, that a decision by the Customs Officers Union to scale back activities at the entry points at the Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport and the Nickerie Port was likely to see a decline in the influx of goods.

Governor of the Central Bank of Suriname, André Telting, had warned about an artificial inflation if the strike had gone on for an extended period, noting that vital foodstuff, medical supplies and other consumer products were staying too long in the harbour, with importers experiencing difficulty in clearing them.

Meanwhile, long-awaited tenders are out for the construction of a fair-weather access road from the South Drain terminal.

The project is being funded by the European Union and according to a source, the tenders will close on August 21 and an evaluation is expected late September or early October.

The access roadway, which passes through a farming area, facilitates traffic from the South Drain terminal, the berthing port on the Suriname end of the `MV Canawaima’, a $233.4M state-of-the-art ferry vessel which can transport 20 passenger cars, along with cargo and people, between South Drain and Moleson Creek on the Guyana side, in less than 30 minutes.

However, during the rainy season the roadway, with a weakened base because of constant grading, becomes soggy and virtually impassable to vehicular traffic.

The EU had made funding available for the stretch of roadway to be repaired since 2002, but no substantial work had been done. (WENDELLA DAVIDSON)


Ogle airport new runway almost complete
THE new runway at the Ogle Aerodrome is likely to be completed next month under phase one of the Ogle Aerodrome Development Programme which is being executed at a cost of US$1.5M, the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported yesterday.

Communications Consultant to Ogle Airport Incorporated, Mr. Kit Nascimento told the agency construction of a new terminal facility included in phase one will be completed by October after which there will an official opening.

Under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed in August 2002, the Government of Guyana and Ogle Airport Incorporated agreed on a plan to develop the Ogle Aerodrome in two phases over the next five years, the agency noted.

The first phase sought to address mandatory safety improvements required by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Improved drainage and facilities for customs, immigration, air traffic control and health and fire services are also catered for in the initial phase.

The second phase will convert the first phase terminal to domestic operations only, and will extend the runway to 100 ft and increase the length to 4,000 ft of a 10-inch thickness at a cost of US$3M. Another feature of phase II is construction of a terminal at US$500,000, GINA said.

The financing of these works by the European Union, it said, is being confirmed while processing of the funds through the Ministry of Finance is progressing rapidly for phase two.

According to the agency, Nascimento said if all goes well with this process, phase two could start by mid next year.

During a visit to the runway construction site last year, President Bharrat Jagdeo had explained that the Government is trying to get phase two funded as a regional project through the European Union regional programme.

On completion of the entire project, the airport will accommodate landing of 50-passenger aircraft while the terminal will be able to process 200 passengers per day. The terminals will be located at the eastern end of the airport with the entrance to the northern end.

The airport will accommodate international flights to locations such as Boa Vista in Brazil, Puerto Ordaz in Venezuela, Paramaribo in Suriname, Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago, GINA said.

Multi-purpose complex for Takutu River crossing
WORK on a multi-purpose complex at the Takutu River crossing at Lethem in Region Nine (Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo) will commence shortly, according to Transport and Hydraulics Minister, Mr. Harry Narine Nawbatt.

He told the Government Information Agency (GINA) the complex will cater for the movement of persons between Guyana and Brazil.

The government, he said, recently released $19M for the project and the contract would be signed soon.

The complex will be located near the Takutu River Bridge and will include security, immigration and check-point for those crossing the border.

This development is part of the infrastructure to support the road link with the state of Roraima in Brazil and Georgetown.

A 14-metre wide bridge across the Takutu River will be built of reinforced concrete, supported on four piers. It will cater for pedestrian walkways on both sides.

GINA said the port facility will comprise the multi-purpose building, a Guyana Defence Force outpost, truck scales, drive-through baths for personnel to control foot and mouth disease, truck parking, and housing for personnel who will manage the facility.

Meanwhile, Nawbatt said the process for contractors to submit bids to repair bridges along the Linden to Lethem roadway has not yet been closed. Several bids have been submitted and there have been site visits by the contractors who have expressed interest in the project, he told the agency.

The Government recently allocated $200M to repair the road and bridges along the route.

Earlier this year, the Government spent $12M to construct a bridge at Kurupukari, located in the Iwokrama reserve which collapsed under the weight of an overloaded truck traversing the route. At the time of the incident, the truck was carrying more than 17 tonnes as against the normal capacity of the truck, which is eight tonnes.

Over the years, GINA said, the government has been involved in the maintenance and upgrading of the Lethem roadway and in 2002, granted a sub-contract to the MMC firm for construction and maintenance of the road.

Last year, the government spent an additional $1.5M on road repairs to a section of the route at Hunt Oil, which was damaged by rainfall and flood.

Look at English teachers
A NEW policy of assessing prospective English Language and Literature teachers has been implemented in the twin-island republic of Trinidad and Tobago.

The Education Ministry there began using the new policy last May for hiring level 111 English Language and Literature teachers. Level 111 teachers are qualified to teach at secondary level.

The new policy was proposed four years ago by a UWI professor who contended that students faced the challenge of speaking Creole and being required to write standard English.

The UWI professor had contended that teachers of English Language and Literature must have experience in linguistic studies to enable a greater understanding of not only the English Language, but the aesthetic created through Literature.

Guyana is in dire need of a similar policy to adequately equip its English teachers to be effective in imparting to their students a literacy that would serve them well in the world of work.

In the local context, students are often blamed for poor performances in English Language and Literature, and many hardly ever stop to consider the quality of the English teachers in the schools.

All are aware that young people here are leaving school with a far from good enough grasp of the language.

A few days ago, on Voice of Guyana’s Viewpoint, one contributor said that when she asked a student about his grades in English, his reply was that he was studying ‘computering’ and so he did not have to bother too much about English.

The Viewpoint contributor, quite rightly, described this as cause for much concern.

And of course it is.

Many employers complain about the quality of graduates from the University of Guyana and other institutions of learning, about their inability to write reports and memos and other business documents with reasonable proficiency.

We are aware of secondary school teachers who have trouble with basic grammar and there should be no surprise at this.

When some years ago Guyana abandoned the teaching of formal grammar in schools, it did not at the time realize what the UWI professor articulated when she proffered the idea of the new policy for assessing teachers, that while people are required to write standard English, they actually speak Creolese.

Had this been realised then, and had the formal teaching of grammar not been abandoned, Guyana would not have had the problem it has today, with teachers themselves having problems with grammar.

And with so many young people turning to IT studies, it might be useful for those offering these courses to include an English course to go hand in hand with the ‘computering’.

Man charged with carnal knowledge of five-year-old girl
A 30-YEAR-OLD man charged with having carnal knowledge of a five-year-old girl yesterday appeared before acting Chief Magistrate Cecil Sullivan.

Police claim that Winston Phillips, of 28 Guyhoc Park, Georgetown, on July 13 last, unlawfully had carnal knowledge of a girl under 15 years old.

Phillips was not required to plead to the indictable charge and was remanded to prison until September 7.

Handicapped narcotics accused refused bail
A WOMAN, whose lawyer said she should be granted bail because she is physically handicapped, pleaded not guilty to trafficking in narcotics when she appeared yesterday before acting Chief Magistrate Cecil Sullivan.

Rose Bryan, whose lawyer said she lives at Linden, is accused of having 360 grams of cannabis (marijuana) for trafficking on August 5 last.

Attorney-at-law Leslie Sobers urged the court to grant his client bail as she is physically handicapped and needs help in carrying out normal activities. He said she lost the use of her fingers and is aided by her daughter.

Sobers claimed that Bryan found a bag containing the drug and had no knowledge of what was inside.

But Police Inspector, Maxine Graham, prosecuting, said the woman was sitting on a bench with the bag containing marijuana and when she saw the police, hid the bag under the bench.

Mr. Sullivan refused Bryan bail and she is to appear at the Providence Court, East Bank Demerara on September 19.

Driver accused of stealing car
LINDEN Wills, 28, of Lot 226 Laing Avenue, Georgetown, appeared in court yesterday accused of robbing Hubert Emanuel of motor car PJJ 1661, a mobile radio set and a compact disc player.

Police said he was armed with a gun and on July 14 last, also robbed Emanuel of US$300 and G$18,000.

Wills, a driver employed at BM Soat Auto Sales in Georgetown, was remanded to prison and is to return to court on August 17.

Carpenter accused of shoplifting
A CARPENTER appeared yesterday before acting Chief Magistrate Cecil Sullivan charged with shoplifting and was allowed bail after he denied the accusation.

Roy Jones, 45, of Lot 4 Lamaha Park, Georgetown, is accused of last Saturday stealing a bottle of evaporated milk, a pack of Kerigold milk, two packets of Crix Crackers, a packet of Maggie noodle soup, onions, a pack of chicken back and a pack of chicken wings from MFK Trading on Hadfield Street, Georgetown.

Police said the accused went to the supermarket and left without paying for the items.

Jones was granted $25,000 bail and is return to court on August 31.

Maid charged with stealing from employer
SHOBNA Dyal, 37, of Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara, yesterday pleaded not guilty to stealing a diamond ring and a phone from her employer.

The maid appeared before acting Chief Magistrate Cecil Sullivan and pleaded not guilty.

Police said she, between July 3 and 5 last, stole a diamond ring and a cellular phone making a total loss to Waheeda Enauth of $440,000.

Police Inspector Maxine Graham, prosecuting, said the accused was a maid at Enauth’s house and the ring and phone were found missing from the vanity in the employer’s bedroom.

The court was told police have recovered the cell phone.

Mr. Sullivan granted Dyal $100,000 bail and she is to return to court on August 31.

Grossly misleading
IT WAS brought to my attention that in the Monday, August 7 and Tuesday, August 8 publications of the Kaieteur News, it was attributed to me the declaration “that he would no longer be sending any of his staff to cover rallies of the PNCR” in both articles.

I find this to be grossly misleading and untrue.

The following is a copy of a statement issued by NCN on the Washer Pond Road throwing incident:

“It is with great shock and concern that our news team visiting the mining town of Linden, especially one reporter and one cameraman was made subject to both verbal and physical abuse by revelers/supporters in a PNCR/OG March in the area of Washer Pond Road, Industrial Site, Linden on Saturday, August 5, 2006.

Several women surrounded our cameraman and hurled abuses at him venting anger at this company, while the reporter designated to cover all PNCR campaign engagements was struck by a bottle which was hurled out of the marching bunch.

A Detective rank on hand who witnessed the incident had cause to warn a particular section of the PNCR-1G Contingent. Subsequent to this, an editorial decision was taken that the NCN team which traveled from Georgetown to cover the PNCR-1G Rally at the McKenzie Bus Park be withdrawn from this particular assignment. As such there was no coverage of the above-mentioned rally by NCN for want of safety of our team and the protection of life and limb.

The National Communications Network has since written to the Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the PNCR, The Honourable Robert. O. Corbin, lamenting the behaviour of those who appeared to be supporters of his party, while seeking an assurance that there would be no recurrence.

In the mean time, this State Media remains committed to being objective in their service to the country at large. We have also implemented cost recovery principles and operate in a profit-oriented environment, ensuring the opposition gets its fair share of coverage.”

It therefore leaves me to wonder how could the above be misconstrued as what was actually published.

Further to say, at no time at all was I interviewed by this daily on the matter, therefore anything outside of this statement is both loose and misleading.

It would be clearly unprofessional and discriminatory on my part to make such a decision, much more, this declaration.

I urge the editor of Kaieteur News to make amends.
MICHAEL GORDON
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF A.G.
NATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK

Good to know
“A NEW dawn for our private sector” is being promised by Mr F. Hamley Case, under the PNCR–1G, of course, in his letter in Kaieteur News.

There were tremendous strides and efforts made to revive and expand the private sector, after it severely hobbled and almost obliterated under the PNC’s rule.

The strange thing was that the PNC, even in the opposition, continued their efforts to obstruct the development of the private sector.

Guyana is now one of the freest economies in the world, for people to set up business in and repatriate their profits, not possible under the PNC.

It is good to know from Mr. Case that they have now changed their outlook and philosophy and are willing, like to PPP, to welcome foreign investments and build the private sector.
JESSICA FERGUSON

Hope there is no repetition
IT SEEMS that some elements of the PNCR are at it again to try to promote violence and acrimony among Guyanese by their behaviour in Linden, during their march which was being covered by the NCN state media, when they were assaulted.

First they complain of not getting sufficient coverage of their political events; then they assault the crew from the state media designated to cover their campaign at Linden.

The NCN state media has written to the PNCR-1G leader Mr. Robert Corbin about this behaviour, as well as alerting the independent refereeing panel and international observers about this occurrence.

NCN has reiterated its determination that all parties continue to get their fair share of coverage in spite of the incident.

Let us hope that there will not be a repetition of the behaviour of a section of the PNCR-1G gathering at Linden.
LEROY GRIFFITH

They cannot become complacent
ALTHOUGH, on the whole, the level of crime is being reduced, by the joint police/army efforts, it is still evident that criminals remain organized and capable of striking out sporadically.

The police/army patrols have arrested several criminals and recovered many illegal arms and ammunition, and their activities are hindering the commission of many more crimes, but it seems that the criminal intelligence network may have tapped into the law enforcement communications and thus able to plot where the patrols will be and when, so that they can carry out criminal activities.

The law enforcement agencies, including the Community Policing Groups and the newly set up Neighbourhood Policing Groups cannot, at the present time become complacent but must be continually improving their operations and tactics to always stay ahead of the criminal networks.

Considerable support – financial, logistical and training – has and is being supplied to provide the law enforcement agencies with growing capacity to fight the criminals.
PATRICIA PATTERSON

Not then
PEOPLE, who can really find little or nothing to attack the PPP/C with over the last 14 years, resort to the tactic of attacking both the PNCR and PPP/C for the lack of adequate progress over the last 40 years from Independence.

Joseph Torres in a letter headed “What have the two governments delivered since Independence” in the Stabroek News of 8/8/06 seeks to use this device to get at the PPP/C.

He claims that over the 40 years we have things such as “unstable economy, a devalued dollar, job scarcity, a high cost of living, insecurity, narco trade, corruption the brain drain” among other things.

But Mr. Torres must be reminded that all these negative things happened not during the 40 years since independence but during the 28 years of PNC dictatorial, undemocratic and authoritarian rule.

Many of these problems were dealt with and reversed during the democratic rule of the PPP/C since 1992.

All the problems could not have been corrected in such a comparatively short time.
MELISSA SMALL

Own agenda
I REFER to the letter by Dennis Wiggins in the Stabroek News of Tuesday, 8th August, 2006 headed “ Is the PPP/C seeking to intimidate the Stabroek News so it reports favourably ?“

I am sure that the PPP/Civic has no problem with fair reporting and coverage of news and events including the present electoral campaign, and respects the rights of all media to do so.

The problem with the Stabroek News, however, is the duplicitous role which it has allocated to itself.

On the one hand it claims to be reporting fairly and impartially, but on the other hand, it is obvious to most people that this newspaper has its own political agenda, which is anti-government and which it tries to conceal, under the guise claiming to be reporting without bias.

Neither the government nor the people are fooled by this duplicity, and it is understandable that some people like Wiggins and others will become upset at their exposure.
JENNY WALTERS

Very disturbed
I AM very disturbed at the trend of disruptive behaviour of supporters of the PNC.

On Nomination Day, they were the only ones to cause a disturbance at City Hall; in Linden they are reported to have attacked, physically and verbally, members of a media group; and according to the Kaieteur News, another reporter was subjected to racial slurs and insultive physical touching at the said PNC rally in Linden.

Why is it that only supporters of this party are continuously being accused of hooliganism?

When the going gets out of hand, the leaders will say that criminal elements invaded the party's programme. Why is it that criminal elements only invade this party?

I think that the answer is very simple: the environment is conducive.

I am sure that the leadership of that party can arrest this kind of indecency, but do they want to? Is this the kind of government that they will be offering as an alternative to the present?

Why is it that people all over the world have to say that my kind of people have no decency?

I am truly ashamed.

Come on Mr. Corbin, do something to save the name of the PNC, if you can.

Don't let them say that "dog what suck eggs can't stop".
DAVID SAMUELS

Openers put Guyana in control after Gonsalves’ 5-30
By Ravendra Madholall
WEST Indies Under-19 batsman Richard Ramdeen and Shemroy Barrington hit half- centuries to propel Guyana to 148 for three, while a superb five-wicket haul from leg-spinner Troy Gonsalves enabled Guyana to dismiss the Leewards for a meagre 107, at the end of the first day’s play in the opening round of the 2006 TCL Group West Indies Youth three-day cricket challenge at the Everest ground.

The diminutive right-handed Ramdeen was unbeaten on an elegant 59 while the compact right-handed Barrington hit a fluent 55 and Gonsalves, who spun webs around the Leewards batsmen, finished with impressive figures of five for 30 from 9.4 overs.

Guyana won the toss and with no hesitation inserted the opposition to take first strike on a very placid track in absolutely brilliant sunshine.

Only 15-year-old and left-hander Chesney Hughes who made a resolute 55 showed any sign of fight at the crease as the Leewards could only muster a meagre 107 from 44. 2 overs while the Guyanese boys responded splendidly with 148 for three already taking a vital first innings lead of 41.

Ramdeen, who struck three fours and two sixes in 171 minutes from 124 balls, was also engaged in a solid opening stand of 114 with the confident Barrington, who in his debut appearance, hit two classical fours while he cleared the boundary on a solitary occasion.

He batted for 121 balls and stayed at the wicket for 131 minutes before being dismissed.

Rajendra Chandrika was on one not out with Ramdeen unbeaten on 59 at the close. Chandrika came in after skipper Steven Jacobs was bowled by the energetic pacer Chad Hampson for seven and shortly after, the small gathering witnessed the demise of vice-captain Gajanand Singh via a leg-before decision to Hampson for two.

The right-handed gentle medium pacer Hampson who extracted useful bounce from the pitch closed the day with two for 21 while left-arm orthodox spinner Hughes has taken one for 41 for the Leeward Islands.

Earlier the Leewards’ only promising partnership was a sixth-wicket stand of 37 from the resolute Hughes and Justin Athanaze, who made 14.

Only these two batsmen hit the double digits as Devon Thomas (5), Manson Hodge (4), skipper Allan Powell (0), Orlando Peters (9), John Luke Lambourdiere (1), Jace Taylor (0) and Trevier Smithen (9) went very cheaply.

Leewards went in to lunch precariously placed at 74 for four and after the interval there was a swift collapse of the remaining six wickets.

Pacer Ryan Hercules who was responsible for the initial breakthrough had one for nine, supporting the unplayable Gonsalves and Krishna Deosaran who claimed two for 12 from six overs.

Meanwhile, Guyana’s left-arm orthodox spinner Veerasammy Permaul was off the field for most of the Leeward Islands’ innings after he was struck by a throw from Brandon Bess.

Guyana omitted Mohindra Boodram, David Wallace and Danney Narayan from their starting line-up while the Leewards excluded Keston Dornick and Terrance from their squad.

LEEWARD ISLANDS first innings

D. Thomas c Singh b Hercules 5

C. Hughes c Jacobs b Gonsalves 55

M. Hodge c Barrington b Deosaran 4

A. Powell lbw Deosaran 0

O. Peters stp. Georgeson b Permaul 9

J. Athanaze c Ramdeen b Gonsalves 14

J.L. Lumbourdiere c Deosaran b Jacobs 1

J. Taylor c Bess b Gonsalves 9

T. Smithen b Gonsalves 9

C. Hampson b Gonsalves 0

K. Walters not out 0

Extra: (b-4, lb-5, nb-1) 10

Total: (all out, 44.2 overs) 107

Fall of wickets: 1-7, 2- 32, 3-34, 4-60, 5-97, 6-97, 7-97, 8-107, 9-107.

Bowling: B. Bess 5-1-12-0, Hercules 6-3-9-1, K. Deosaran 6-2-12-2, S. Jacobs 15-4-28-1, V. Permaul 2.2-1-7-1, Gonsalves 9.4-1-30-5.

GUYANA first innings

R. Ramdeen not out 59

S. Barrington c Thomas b Hughes 55

S. Jacobs b Hampson 7

G. Singh lbw Hampson 2

R. Chandrika not out 1

Extra: (b-10, lb-5, nb-6) 21

Total: (for three wickets, 46 overs) 148

Fall of wicket: 1-114, 2-135, 3-140.

Bowling C. Hampson 7-2-21-2, K. Walters 3-0-10-0, J. Athanaze 10-2-19-0, J. Taylor 8-1-41-0, C. Hughes 7-1-41-1, T. Smithen, O. Peters 5-1-8-0.

Alpha, Santos clash in feature game
ALPHA United clash with Santos in the feature game of the Coca Cola Super-16 knockout football competition in West Demarara, tonight, at the Uitvlugt Community Centre ground.

In the first match of the double header, Uitvlugt come up against compatriots Crane from 18:00 h.

The competition officially kicked off on Friday, but light problems prevented any play, and the first matches were played on Sunday.

Pouderoyen whipped Meten-Meer-Zorg 3-0 and Stewartville edged past Beavers 3-2.

Zevon Atkinson netted the first goal for Pouderoyen from the penalty spot in the 25th minute for a 1-0 first half lead.

Five minutes after the resumption, Cleveland Walcott scored the second and Clement Brown sealed the victory in the 80th minute.

Later, Warren Gilkes netted first for Stewartville in the 20th minute, and Keron Grimes increased the lead, eight minutes later. But Edwin pulled one back for Beavers in the 39th minute.

In the 64th minute, Owen McGarrell effectively sealed victory from the penalty spot, although Anderson completed his double, three minutes from time.

Pele stave off Crane challenge to win 2-1
… Metro triumph over New Amsterdam
By Isaiah Chappelle
DOWN ten players, Pele staved off a strong challenge from Crane to remain in the hunt for their third consecutive title with a 2-1 victory in the Smalta/Camptown New York Under-15 knockout championships at the GFC ground, yesterday.

In the first match, Metro of Linden triumphed over New Amsterdam (NA) United, in a penalty shootout after the match was deadlocked 2-2 at regular and extra times, to join Pele in the semifinals.

Tavil December and Daniel Wilson netted the goals for Pele’s victory, while Gadi Hoyte put in a shocker for Crane.

Pele were down to ten players after 17 minutes of play, when captain Omalo Williams went in with both pegs skinned, hitting goalkeeper Peter Miggins in the stomach and on the chin.

But the West Demerara team could not capitalise on the number advantage as with each run down striker Mark Boyce was invariable caught in the offside position.

All the goals came in the second half, Pele netting the first one in the 40th minute. Substitute captain Andre Eastman carried the ball on the left wing, crossed to find Darrel Williams in front of a clear goal, but he fumbled and December got the loose ball and finished the job. Pele made a change just after that.

Then in the 59th minute, Hoyte produced the equaliser. He flew the off-side trap, broke away from 35 metres out and fired on the run from 15 metres. Goalkeeper Seon Jackman got a touch but not enough to prevent the ball ending in the net. A minute later, the match went into extra time.

Wilson redeemed himself, capitalising on a defence lapse, rushing in to shoot from ten metres as the goalkeeper advanced in desperation, sealing victory.

Earlier, Metro controlled the first half against NA United, netting both their goals, the first in the 12th minute. Leon Marks volleyed the ball coming from a right corner kick to rock the net.

Dwight McKinnon increased the lead in the 27th minute. He stole the ball as the defence fumbled, firing from ten metres, the ball zooming past a flying Shacka Rowe.

The second half belonged to NA United and ten minutes after the resumption, Garfield Eric pulled one back, heading home the ball from a right corner kick. Nine minutes later, Franklin Mercurius tucked in the equaliser, the play starting from a right corner kick. The ball floated to left, the goalkeeper blocked a first attempt, but Mercurius finished from close range.

NA United were unlucky in not sealing victory, after a nice buildup from the right wing. The play changed to the left, but the shot from just inside the box hit the right post. The match went into extra time.

Metro then messed a clear chance for a win. Joel Harry worked his way into the box at left, crossed beautifully, but Randy Jerome at right hit back the ball straight past the clear goal to the left again and the defence recovered to clear, and penalty kicks would decide the winner.

Pele scored all five shots, but after playing an outstanding mid-field game, Antonio Bhikham fired the second shot for NA United straight to the goalkeeper and Pele won 5-4.

Today, the two remaining semifinalists will be decided when Georgetown Football Club (GFC) clash with Regal of Linden in the first match from 13:00 h, and Camptown and Buxton meet at 14:30 h.

TCL Group Under-19 cricket ...
Pacer Roach, opening bats give Barbados upper hand
GEORGETOWN, Guyana, (CMC) - Pacer Kemar Roach's five-wicket haul and a solid opening partnership by Jed Yearwood and Roger Williams put Barbados in a strong position on the opening day of their first round TCL Group West Indies Under-19 match against the Windward Islands at the Police Sports Club ground yesterday.

Roach destroyed the Windward Islands' middle order in his second spell, ending with five for 44, as Windwards were dismissed for a paltry 147. At the close of play Barbados were 158 for one, a lead of 11 runs.

In addition to grabbing three wickets during the collapse, Roach took two wickets in a period that saw the Windwards slump from 102 for four to 104 for eight.

In a devastating spell, he accounted for the Windwards' top-scoring batsmen, captain Lauron Francois (45) and opener Keddy Lesporis (24).

Resuming on their lunch score of 64 for four, Windwards had staged a recovery as bowlers were made to toil on a placid pitch.

Roach, operating from the northern end, returned in his second spell to bowl Francois, which started the Windwards capitulation.

Francois' knock, which consisted of two sixes and three fours, was the lone bright spark of the innings. Medium pacer Jonathan Carter took two for nine.

Yearwood and Williams started a strong reply as their opening partnership took Barbados three runs shy of first innings lead.

Yearwood struck eight fours and one six in his 81 not out, reaching his half-century off 84 balls in 111 minutes. Williams had struck three fours and two sixes in his 58, but was run-out after occupying the crease for 132 minutes.

WINDWARD ISLANDS 1st innings

K. Lesporis c Brooks b Roach 24

T. Harper run-out 5

D. Hector lbw b Carter 11

L. Francois b Roach 45

B. Johnson c Brooks b Carter 4

K. James c Brooks b Maynard 8

D. Grant lbw b Roach 0

D. Polius b Roach 0

S. Sween b Roach 0

G. Prince lbw b McClean 4

O. Lewis not out 2

Extras: (b-15, lb-13, nb-16) 44

Total: (all out, 38.3 overs) 147

Fall of wickets: 1-39, 2-40, 3-54, 4-62, 5-102, 6-103, 7-103, 8-104, 9-126.

Bowling: Roach 11.3-1-44-5 (nb-12), McClean 8-1-31-1 (nb-2), Carter 8-5-9-2, Brathwaite 6-2-15-0, Maynard 5-1-20-1 (nb-2).

BARBADOS 1st innings

R. Williams run-out 58

J. Yearwood not out 81

C. Brathwaite not out 5

Extras; (b-6, lb-3, nb-5) 14

Total: (1 wkt, 49 overs) 158

Fall of wicket: 1-145.

Bowling: Prince 6-0-37-0, Grant 8-1-24-0, Polius 15-3-38-0, Lewis 7-1-20-0, James 5-0-17-0, Hector 8-2-13-0.

Ramroop, Narine bowl Jamaica out for 207
By Naz Yacoob
A CAREER-BEST five-wicket haul from medium-pacer Jeewan Ramroop helped defending champions T&T to stay in contention on the first day in the opening round of the TCL West Indies Under-19 Challenge against Jamaica yesterday at the GCC ground, Bourda.

Ramroop grabbed five wickets for 27 runs from 16 overs, as the Jamaicans were dismissed for a competitive 207 runs. This was the Jamaicans were asked to take first strike.

Top-scorer for Jamaica was 15-year-old middle-order batsman Andre Creary who made 59 while Shacoya Thomas contributed 54.

Lending good support to Ramroop was skipper Sunil Narine who picked up four wickets for 82 runs with his probing off-spinners.

T&T, left with six overs of batting, closed on 17 for one, with opener Adrian Barath on eight not out and the left-handed Darren Bravo unbeaten on five.

The batsman dismissed was debutant opening batsman Alden Daniel, who was trapped in front to pacer Andre Russell for nought with the first ball of the innings.

The 18-year-old Ramroop a student of Toco Composite High School, playing in his second regional tournament, had all the batsmen in trouble with his probing swing and pace.

His figures could have been better, had skipper Narine allowed him his full quota of 18 overs (six overs per session for fast bowlers).

Ramroop told G-Sports he was pleased with his effort and is hoping to carry on in that same vein for the remainder of the tournament.

Earlier, T&T won the toss and asked the opposition to take strike. The reigning champions left out leg-spinner Gareth Boodhai, all-rounder Franklyn Rouse and fast bowler Keegan Roy.

This allowed Daniel, wicketkeeper Somant Maraj, spinners Visham Ramroop and Vishan Jagessar, fast bowler Shannon Gabriel and all-rounder Akiel Timothy to make their debut at this level.

Ramroop (J) struck an early blow for T&T, when he uprooted the stumps of Zeniffe Fowler (0) with the total on 13.

The Jamaicans, aided at times by sloppy fielding, pushed on to 45 before Narine claimed his first of four victims when he had Martin Johnson (36) leg-before-wicket.

Jamaica went to lunch on 82 for two with skipper Jamie Trenchfield on 21 and Creary 18.

On the resumption, Ramroop (J) and T&T struck very early when Trenchfield was bowled for 22, to leave Jamaica on 83 for three. Soon it was 95 for four, when Narine had Sheldon Powell (2) caught by close-in fieldsman Timothy.

But any hopes T&T had of ending the Jamaicans’ innings very early was thwarted by an 84-run fifth-wicket partnership by Creary and Thomas.

The pair carried the score to 169 for four at tea with Creary on 49 and Thomas 47.

The duo was separated after the break, when Thomas was caught and bowled by Ramroop (J). He batted for 96 minutes and struck six fours and one six.

The remaining batsmen offered stubborn resistance.

However, Ramroop (J) ensured that T&T stay alive in the contest, when he had Rasheed Outar (4) and Cordell Simpson(0) dismissed in consecutive deliveries, the scoreboard reading 188 for seven.

After Creary’s marathon innings of 277 minutes came to end, the innings folded thereafter.

Second day’s play starts at 10:00 h.

T&T v JAMAICA

JAMAICA 1st innings

M. Johnson lbw Narine 36

Z. Fowler b J. Ramroop 0

A. Creary b Narine 59

J. Trenchfield b J. Ramroop 22

S. Powell c Timothy b Narine 2

S. Thomas c & b J. Ramroop 54

R. Outar b J. Ramroop 4

C. Simpson lbw J. Ramroop 0

A. Russell b Gabriel 10

M. Parchment b Narine 4

A. Lindsay not out 0

Extras: (b-4, w-4, nb-8) 16

Total: (all out, 85.3 overs) 207

Fall of wickets: 1-13, 2-45, 3-83, 4-95, 5-179, 6-188, 7-188, 8-197, 9-203.

Bowling: S. Gabriel 11.3-3-27-1 (w-1), J. Ramroop 16-6-27-5, S. Narine 27-7-82-4 (nb-6, w-2), V. Ramroop 21-8-33-0 (w-1), V. Jagessar 3-0-9-0, M. Barclay 2-0-9-0, A. Timothy 3-0-4-0, D. Bravo 2-0-12-0 (nb-2).

T&T 1st innings

A. Daniel lbw Russell 0

A. Barath not out 8

D. Bravo not out 5

Extras: (nb-4) 4

Total: (for 1 wkt, 6 overs) 17

Fall of wickets: 0.

Bowling: A. Russell 3-0-11-1, R. Outar 2-0-5-0,M. Parchment 1-0-1-0.

Noble House Indoor hockey…
Everest Hikers lead men’s and women’s tables
EVEREST Hikers took their recent success at the grass level, indoors, when they opened the Noble House Indoor handicap hockey tournament with a 12-8 victory over Western Dragons on Monday night at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

Dragons started with a 6-0 handicap and scored two additional goals through Trason Corbin and Dean Carew. It then took a brilliant performance from the Hikers to pull off the victory through a helmet-trick (4 goals) by captain Devin Munroe, two hat-tricks each from Marvin Dannett and Shane Samuels and a double from Alex Gouveia.

The GCC B team created the first upset of the tournament by upstaging their senior, the GCC A, by 10 goals to 8.

Beginning with a 10-0 handicap, the juniors staged a spirited defence, led by some superb saves by Michael Xavier, to contain the skilful A team attack.

Leading the goalscorers for the A team was Kevin Spencer with a hat-trick, followed by doubles from Dwayne Scott and Devin Hooper and one from Orland Semple.

The Degenerates and Everest B began on an even keel with each having a six-goal handicap. After a hard-fought 40 minutes with the scores moving back and forth, they only managed a 9-9 draw with former national, Gavin Hope, scoring the hat-trick for the Degenerates and Randy Hope, Jeranze Marques and Robert France scoring one apiece for the Hikers B.

In the ladies’ competition, the GCC Tigers had mixed fortunes, as they blasted their way back from a 0-2 handicap against the Old Fort High Flyers ladies to pull off a 4-3 victory. Captain Tricia Fiedtkou led all scorers with a double which was supported by Erica Philander and Tiffany Solomon with one each.

The Old Fort lone goal came off the stick of Carol Caine. In their second duel of the night, however, the Tigers failed to make the score sheet as Everest Shorties managed to keep them out of the nets to maintain their 2-goal handicap and claimed the victory.

The Everest Skillies stormed past the GCC Cubs in the final ladies’ fixture by 5-2. The Cubs, who began the match with a 2-0 handicap in their favour, never threatened the Skillies who racked up their goal tally through a helmet-trick from Maria Munroe and one from Amanda Boodlall.

The tournament is expected to continue this evening at the same venue.

Mahmood, Panesar blow Pakistan away
By Tony Lawrence
LEEDS, England, (Reuters) - England crushed Pakistan by 167 runs yesterday to win the third Test and the series after a moment of madness from Mohammad Yousuf and one of magic from Monty Panesar.

Pakistan, set 323 to win on the final day, were bowled out for 155 halfway through the afternoon session, giving England their first home win over the tourists since 1982.

Yousuf, the hero of the first innings after he scored 192 out of a 363-run stand with Younis Khan, ran himself out in the morning for just eight to give England the upper hand.

Panesar then produced a classic left-arm spinner's delivery, pitching on middle and clipping the top of the off stump, to get rid of Younis shortly after lunch to expose Pakistan's lower order.

Younis, with 173 to his name in his first visit and a fine player of spin, trudged back to the pavilion after making 41, knowing that the game was lost.

Panesar, who also had Inzamam-ul-Haq stumped to end the match, took three for 39 while team mate Sajid Mahmood, who used to support Pakistan as a boy, got four for 22.

Yousuf and Younis's dismissals sealed a fascinating game which had sparked into life on Monday after both sides had topped 500 in their first innings.

England had begun yesterday as "slight favourites", according to England captain Andrew Strauss. They had the runs in the bank. Pakistan, meanwhile, had to bat last on a Headingley wicket which had begun to offer signs of variable bounce the day before.

A draw seemed unlikely -- the last draw at the venue came 10 years and eight Tests ago -- and it seemed unlikelier still when Salman Butt announced Pakistan's positive intentions with four fours in two overs off Matthew Hoggard.

PANESAR STRIKES
Those, though, would be his only scoring shots before he attempted another drive which ended up in Marcus Trescothick's hands at first slip.

From 21 for one, they slumped to 80 for five as lunch approached.

Panesar first got into the act by getting rid of Umar Taufeeq for 11 in the second over of his spell from the Football Stand End. Taufeeq swept and the ball went bat-pad straight to Alastair Cook at silly mid-off.

That brought Yousuf out to join Younis. If a miracle was to occur, it would come from them.

Yousuf, though, got away with a thick nick off Panesar before setting off for a single after Younis dabbed down a delivery towards gully while facing fast bowler Mahmood.

Paul Collingwood scooped up the ball and dived towards the stumps to leave Yousuf a foot short with a direct hit. This time Yousuf and Younis had managed to put on just 16.

England knew it was a critical breakthrough as they mobbed Collingwood but Mahmood, whose parents both come from Pakistan, made sure the pre-lunch session continued with two wickets in three balls.

Faisal Iqbal (11) flicked at a leg-side delivery and wicketkeeper Chris Read, back in the England side after a two-year exile, tumbled low to his left to take a difficult chance.

Kamran Akmal's edge, for a two-ball duck, also flew to Read as Mahmood squared the batsman.

Mahmood would have as dramatic an influence in the afternoon, with two wickets in his first over back after lunch, but only after Panesar had got rid of Younis. He lured the batsman forward with the perfect ball and left him looking back in surprise at the missing bails. That made it 112 for six and the game was up.

Inzamam, who had been forced to come in at number seven rather than his customary five after missing most of Monday with a chest injury, was left stranded with the tail.

His frustration was complete when, having made 37, he advanced down the wicket to Panesar, swung and was stumped by Read before he had time to turn around.

ENGLAND 1st innings 515 (K. Pietersen 135, I. Bell 119; U. Gul 5-123) Pakistan 1st innings 538 (M. Yousuf 192, Y. Khan 173)

England 2nd innings 345 (A. Strauss 116, M. Trescothick 58, C. Read 55)

PAKISTAN 2nd innings (o/n 0-0; Target: 323 runs)

S. Butt c Trescothick b Hoggard 16

T. Umar c Cook b Panesar 11

Y. Khan b Panesar 41

M. Yousuf run-out 8

F. Iqbal c Read b Mahmood 11

K. Akmal c Read b Mahmood 0

Inzamam-ul-Haq stp. Read b Panesar 37

M. Sami run-out 0

S. Nazir c Trescothick b Mahmood 17

U. Gul c Collingwood b Mahmood 0

D. Kaneria not out 0

Extras: (lb-6, nb-3, w-5) 14

Total: (all out, 47.5 overs) 155

Fall of wickets: 1-23, 2-52, 3-68, 4-80, 5-80, 6-112, 7-113, 8-148, 9-149.

Bowling: M. Hoggard 7-3-26-1 (nb-2), M. Panesar 17.5-4-39-3, S. Harmison 15-3-62-0 (nb-1, w-1), S. Mahmood 8-2-22-4.

Junior badminton competition under way
THE National Sports Commission (NSC)-sponsored Guyana Badminton Association (GBA) Junior Tournament commenced on Monday at the Queen’s College Courts.

Play is expected to continue this evening with the finals set for Friday afternoon at the same venue.

In the Under-11 doubles, Amika & Asharnica Persaud defeated Sachin & Armand Ramdhani 21-18, 21-17, while Narayan & Priyanna Ramdhani defeated Amika & Asharnica Persaud 21-14, 21-16.

The Under-13 Girls’ singles saw Asharnica Persaud defeated Varsha Ramdeholl 24-22, 21-9 while in the Under-19 Girls’ singles, Avashti Persaud defeated Shivannie Persaud 21-13, 21-15 and Michelle Astwood defeated Avashti Persaud: 21-16, 21-8.

Meanwhile, the Open Men’s & Ladies’ tournament is scheduled to be held on August 17 and 18 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. The GBA is calling all players to submit their entries before the first day of play.

WICB, WIPA settle match fees dispute
THE West Indies Players Association (WIPA) and the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) have reached an agreement on player match fees for the upcoming tri-series in Singapore and Malaysia. The agreement ends the dispute between the two parties, which had earlier threatened West Indies' participation in the tournament.

The WIPA has agreed on a minimum fee of US$30 000 for the junior players and US$75 000 as the upper figure for senior players. Last week, the WIPA had demanded fees ranging from US$40 000 to $US95 000 per player, representing 40% of the net revenue which the WICB was to receive and almost double the premium on normal match fees, which the board considered "unacceptable".

The WICB then selected a squad of 14 players and issued tour contracts directly to the players, without consulting the WIPA. The players association were critical of the board, calling the board's action "premature" and accusing them of trying to "divide and rule".

Brian Lara, the West Indies captain, urged both parties to settle their differences, stating that he was looking forward to leading a full-strength squad for the tri-series. The parties reached a compromise on Sunday, in the best interests of the game. (Cricinfo)

Intermediate weightlifting set for Sunday
THE Guyana Amateur Weightlifting Association (GAWA) will be holding their Intermediate competition, this Sunday, at the club Blue Note in Camp Street.

According to General Secretary of the association Deion Nurse, 12 lifters are expected to compete, from 11:00 h.

There will be five classes of competition the 56-kilo and under-kilo, the 69-and-under, the 77-and-under, the 85-and-under and the 94-and-under.

After this competition all eyes will be on the senior championship in November, while, according to Nurse, the association is also weighing the possibility of attending the World Championships in Dominican Republic in November, and before, the Criollo Cup in October in Puerto Rico.

Jayawardene’s 123 guides Lankans to dramatic one-wicket win
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (Reuters) - Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene stroked a superb 123 to help his team to a dramatic one-wicket victory over South Africa on the final day of the second Test yesterday, giving the hosts a 2-0 series win.

Sri Lanka, resuming the day on 262 for five and needing 90 for the win, added 71 in the morning for the loss of just one wicket to leave them just 19 runs shy of victory at lunch.

But left-arm spinner Nicky Boje tempted Jayawardene into a lofted extra-cover drive with Sri Lanka needing just 11 runs and Herschelle Gibbs snapped up a sharp chance at slip to trigger one final dramatic twist to a remarkable Test match.

Chaminda Vaas (four) was then brilliantly caught by a diving AB de Villiers at third slip and Muttiah Muralitharan (two) was bowled by Andrew Hall as he tried to slog the winning runs, leaving Sri Lanka still needing two runs.

However, Farveez Maharoof (29 not out), who batted for 120 deliveries, held his nerve with a drive down the ground to tie the scores and last-man Lasith Malinga drove Boje through mid-on to clinch victory.

Jayawardene's sublime innings, which spanned 245 deliveries and included 11 boundaries and two sixes, provided the foundation for the victory. His 16th Test century carried him to an aggregate of 510 runs in the series, the fifth highest in a two-match series.

RECORD CHASE
Sri Lanka's 352-run chase was the highest on home soil. It was also Sri Lanka's highest successful chase and the sixth highest in Test cricket history.

All-rounder Andrew Hall gave South Africa early hope with a reverse-swinging delivery that trapped wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene lbw for 30, ending a 78-run sixth-wicket stand.

The touring side then missed Maharoof, on two, twice in an over as Mark Boucher fumbled a stumping opportunity and Hashim Amla spilled a chance.

South Africa were handicapped by a hamstring injury to pace bowler Makhaya Ntini that failed to respond to intensive overnight treatment.

Ntini, South Africa's premier pace bowler, was woken up every two hours during the night by team physiotherapist Shane Jabaar for ice treatment.

South Africa now hope he will regain fitness in time for the second stage of a tri-series also involving India starting on August 14.

Sri Lanka won the first game of the two-match series by an innings and 153 runs.

SOUTH AFRICA 1st innings 361 (A. de Villiers 95, A. Prince 86, S. Pollock 57 n.o.; M. Muralitharan 5-128)

Sri Lanka 1st innings 321 (C. Vaas 64, C. Kapugedera 63, F. Maharoof 56; D. Steyn 5-82, M. Ntini 4-84)

South Africa 2nd innings 311 (H. Gibbs 92, M. Boucher 65; M. Muralitharan 7-97)

SRI LANKA 2nd innings (o/n 262-5; target: 352 runs)

U. Tharanga c Gibbs b Ntini 0

S. Jayasuriya c Amla b Boje 73

K. Sangakkara c Amla b Pollock 39

M. Jayawardene c Gibbs b Boje 123

T. Dilshan c Gibbs b Boje 18

C. Kapugedera c AB de Villiers b Boje 13

P. Jayawardene lbw b Hall 30

F. Maharoof not out 29

C. Vaas c AB de Villiers b Hall 4

M. Muralitharan b Hall 2

L. Malinga not out 1

Extras: (b-4, lb-8, nb-4, w-4) 20

Total: (for 9 wickets, 113.3 overs) 352

Fall of wickets: 1-12, 2-94, 3-121, 4-164, 5-201, 6-279, 7-341, 8-348, 9-350.

Bowling: M. Ntini 7.2-2-13-1, D. Steyn 22.4-2-81-0 (nb-2, w-3), N. Boje 39.3-11-111-4, S. Pollock 19-2-60-1 (nb-2), A. Hall 25-3-75-3 (w-1).