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ARCHIVES FOR MARCH 21, 2009

Strong police intelligence apparatus vital
- President Jagdeo stresses
THE Guyana Police Force has done well with Commissioner Henry Greene and his leadership team but President Bharrat Jagdeo says it has to rebuild its intelligence apparatus and shift to a new level.

“You have to use all available tools, including intelligence-led policing – there is no if or but about it”, he told Police Officers.

He said rebuilding the intelligence apparatus of the country includes the Police Force rebuilding assets and sources on the ground and in many places.

“This is painstaking work and unfortunately we have had a loss of confidence in a period when we could not protect our assets”, he acknowledged at the annual Police Officers conference in Georgetown earlier this week.

But, he noted, that environment no longer exists and his feedback is that there is now greater confidence in law enforcement agencies from people on the ground.

“…we must use this period to make sure that we have a strong intelligence apparatus”, he said, adding that there’s no secrecy about this.

“…there’s secrecy about the people you have on the ground and who you need to protect at all costs”, he insisted, calling on officers to focus a lot on beefing up police intelligence services in their discussions during the conference.

Mr. Jagdeo said a modern police force has to be flexible in its operations, be guided by intelligence and be able to move and prevent trends from developing that could worsen.

“It requires a rethinking to shift to a new level and placing yourselves in a different mode”, he said.

Looking to continuity in the force and the infusion of new blood, the President said he expects at least 50 young cadet officers to be recruited over the next three-four years and stated that they must shift and become acquainted with the new model.

He also urged senior police officers to support the infusion of new blood in the force.

Mr. Jagdeo noted that while crime-fighting was the top priority last year for the Police Force and other sections of the Joint Services, the challenges have changed and the focus is now more on crime and violence prevention.

He congratulated the officers on successes in fighting crime, and praised the “signal” leadership role of Mr. Greene in the changed environment in the country.

“You have rebuilt the shaky collaboration we had with the Joint Services…because of the strength of that collaboration we can be much more effective in the fight against crime”, he said to Greene.

But the global financial and economic crises which have driven hundreds of millions of people around the world into desperation and extreme poverty pose new challenges, he said.

PRIME TARGET GROUP
He reiterated that while the Guyana Government can take some steps to cushion the effects of the global meltdown, it cannot totally insulate Guyanese from the impact of the crisis.

He said the top brass of the Police Force has to bear in mind that when people are unemployed and idle they are a prime target group for those who recruit for criminal activities.

He added: “…this is all linked and that’s the reason I am spending time speaking to you about these things because I expect policemen, especially the leadership of the police force, as I said to the soldiers when I addressed them -- I expect you not to just have knowledge about catching criminals and the laws of Guyana and your narrow duties which are important.

“But that you must have a broad enough vision of the world and the national challenges – world and national challenges – so you relate what you do to those challenges because you would have a better understanding of the role you play and also you would be better able to lead the people who are under you.”

He called on officers to keep track of the global financial crisis, how it’s affecting the Guyana economy, what the government is doing to insulate the population from its most serious impact and how they fit into all of this.

The President said he has spoken several times about trade matters and climate change which have “greater potential of creating disruption in our society if we are not careful about the architecture that is being actively formulated at this point in time for global trade, global environmental governance, global financial governance…”

He said Guyana has strong national positions on the financial sector and he expects the officers to also understand what these are.

And on fighting drug traffickers, he maintained that Guyana will collaborate with other countries as partners, not as recipients of lectures.

“I hope that in your discussions you will look at this – we will collaborate with any country or group of countries that want to bring global and national criminality to an end. But we are here to protect our interests first and we will collaborate as equals. We are not inferior to anyone”, he declared.

NEW SECURITY ARCHITECTURE
Mr. Jagdeo said this was why he has insisted that the design of the new national security architecture will be fashioned by people here.

He stressed that while Guyana can tap into all the studies done in the world and reports by consultants, “at the end of the day we will fashion a security architecture that is suitable to the peculiarities of this country.”

Some studies have already been done and all that’s needed now is a decision by the executive in collaboration with the Police Force.

Noting that the government negotiated a US$25 million loan to improve security, he said the government has to get value for its money.

“We are not going to hire consultants because it is a requirement of any bank if it doesn’t add value to our work because we want to make sure that the money goes a long way”, he said.

He said that when the work is done, “when we get all the best advice in the world, it’s the people who sit in this room, plus some others who are going to determine what the architecture looks like.”

“Once that’s done by the executive, we will test it with the civil society and then it goes to our parliament so that legislators will have a chance to comment on it, to be part of that process so that it’s an all-inclusive process. This is how I see the evolution of our security architecture”, the President told the conference gathering.

He said his commitment to support the security forces is reflected in the growth in this year’s national budget and pointed to the many pieces of legislation passed in just one year to increase the tools for the police to fight criminals and to maintain law and order in the society.

Judge accepts mitigation plea re 3 manslaughter accused
Two brothers jailed for 8 years, cousin on 3-year probation
TWO Brothers and their cousin who had tied up and beat 45-year old Rameshwar Persaud to death because he was found in their yard one night, with a bottle with gasoline, with which they believed he intended to commit arson, were each spared a term of life imprisonment for manslaughter, yesterday.

Some days ago, the accused Ragib Ali, 28, and his brother Asif Ali, 26, and cousin David Jacobs , 32, had appeared before Justice Winston Patterson and pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter.

Ragib Ali was sentenced to 8 years’ imprisonment while his brother Asif, who allegedly took a lesser role in the killing, was let off with a 3-year probation sentence. Cousin David Jacobs was also jailed for 8 years.

Before imposing penalty, the judge said that he had taken into account the report on the men from Probation Officer Lloyd George, the plea in mitigation by defence counsel Mr. Hukumchand and lawyers Miss Sonia Paraig and Miss Amino Paraig.

The judge, who had originally intended to impose life imprisonment, said that he had also taken into account the fact that the accused had already spent three years in prison awaiting trial.

In narrating the facts of the case, Prosecutor Mrs. Kara Duff-Yehudah said that Rameshwar met his death on the night of the 5th day of February, 2006. On that night, he went to the residence of the three accused persons and was seen in the yard by the No. 1 accused. The No. 1 accused alerted the No. 2 and No. 3 accused.

The No. 2 accused armed himself with a door bar and he and the No. 3 accused then proceeded to the yard. They approached Rameshwar Persaud. The No. 1 and No. 2 accused struck Rameshwar Persaud with the door bar. Rameshwar then tried to leave the yard by jumping over the fence into a trench.

However, the accused persons pursued Rameshwar, took him out of the trench and back into their yard, where they continued to beat him. They tied his hands and feet with hammock slings.

It was said that the deceased had been the reputed husband of the mother of two of the accused for about 7 years. They were separated but would amend their differences from time to time.

It is said that the deceased used to curse and beat the mother and ill-treat the children.

The Prosecutor went on to say that the mother of the No. 1 and No. 3 accused left the residence at 1295 Diamond Housing Scheme and went to the Providence Police Station to report the matter. The Police arrived and took Rameshwar Persaud to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead. The doctor who performed the post mortem said that death was due to multiple injuries about the body with a blunt instrument.

Among other things, Probation Officer Lloyd George had said that the three accused seem much attached to Latchmin (the reputed wife of the deceased) with whom they had sympathized, because of the habitual harassment she was encountering from the deceased, despite the intervention of the police.

This occurrence, he said, appeared to have culminated after a much ill-treatment meted out to Latchmin by the deceased who appeared bent on fulfilling his desire to burn her house. The three accused appeared to have had the notion of safeguarding the household from impending threats that were proposed for them.

This is their first court appearance and the period on remand should certainly have some effect on their outlook in the future despite their limited intelligence which may have placed them in such a predicament, the Probation Officer said.

They have expressed remorse for their involvement and the disgrace they have brought on the family who remained by their side. Nevertheless, the frequency with which matters of such a nature present themselves must be of concern to the court and the necessary action should be taken to curb future occurrences, the Probation officer declared.

Second girl dies after senna ‘clean out’
The second of two West Bank Demerara sisters who fell ill after being given senna pods by their mother as a laxative on Wednesday has died.

Dead is three-year-old Aliya Ramdeen, of G 127 Goed Intent, West Bank Demerara. Hospital officials confirmed that she died at the Intensive Care Unit of the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) around 03:00h yesterday.

The older of the two girls – Afeena Ramdeen, five, died at their home after midnight Wednesday after bouts of diarrhoea and vomiting. Her body was discovered on their bedroom floor around 04:00h Thursday morning by their mother Bibi Rafzia, who has since been taken into police custody.

Following the discovery, the surviving sister (now dead) was rushed to the West Demerara Regional Hospital, and later transferred to the GPHC. She was admitted to the Paediatric Ward, but her condition deteriorated further and she was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit where she subsequently died.

The girls’ father, Troy Ramdeen, recalled that on Wednesday their mother, as is customary, gave them each a dose of senna pods which would serve as a ‘clean out’. However, they both suffered extensive diarrhoea, causing her to give them ‘Lomatil’ in an effort to check the diarrhoea, reports say.

But instead of seeing an improvement in the girls’ condition, their father said, the problem seemed to intensify, and they both began vomiting, in addition to the diarrhoeal infection.

This newspaper understands that after their mother had tucked them away to bed Wednesday night, she, who by then was exhausted and ‘drained’, fell asleep soon after.

On awakening around 04:00 hrs, she checked on them, only to find the body of her five-year-old Afeena on the floor in her room.
Post mortem examinations are to be conducted on the children on Monday.
Meanwhile, their mother is still assisting police into their investigations.

Minister Rohee challenges Police Force to do better in 2009
- lauds successes of previous year
Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee, in his address to the police officers at their annual conference at the Officers Mess, Eve Leary, lauded them for their efforts in combating crime last year; however, he warned that they not become complacent and challenged them to do even better in 2009.

Speaking of the national security threat faced during 2008, posed by rampant criminal gangs, Minister Rohee said that the situation has drastically changed.

“I wish to commend you Mr. Commissioner, your officers and other ranks for staying the course, thus ensuring that the gangs were effectively crushed. I also recognise the support provided to the force by the other members of the Joint Services in particular the Guyana Defence Force, and wish to commend them for their efforts.”

Twenty-three persons, including three police officers and children, were killed by criminal elements during the Lusignan and Bartica massacres which occurred in January and February respectively. Eight miners also lost their lives at a mining camp at Lindo Creek. The police and the Joint Services were eventually able to weed out the leader of the “Rondell Rawlins’ gang and most of the members.

Minister Rohee issued a challenge to the officers, and noted that there is still much to be done.

“These positive developments are not an indication that your work is completed. There is much more to be done. We have to ensure that the country does not return to the situation we were in… Any manifestation of such a situation has to be ‘nipped in the bud’. The Guyana Police has to be proactive in its posture and enhance its crime prevention activities,” he reminded the officers.

He also lauded the efforts that were made to reduce road fatalities during 2008 to the lowest levels in many decades, but persisted in his demands that the force could do even better.

“In relation to traffic, there has been a vast improvement of the situation in terms of the number of recorded fatalities. According to available data, this country recorded the lowest number of road deaths in 39 years during the year 2008. We should however not “sit back” and relax. On the contrary, every effort should be made to reduce the number of fatalities further. Every death that occurs on our roads as a result of an accident is one too many.”

The Traffic Department, with the support of the other branches of the Force and the general public, should endeavour to have safer roads as there are still too many acts of indiscipline being committed on the roads, not to mention the destruction of public property such as the traffic signals infrastructure, Minister Rohee noted.

PEPFAR workshop participants agree its HIV/AIDS benefits
PARTICIPANTS in a four-day workshop ending today, to pilot the HIV Basics Curriculum for medexes in the health sector, have agreed that new avenues for training would not only boost their capabilities but facilitate networking to improve the quality of care.

The seminar was conducted in the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) building on Main Street, Georgetown and attended by 20 recently trained medexes from across the country.

Nurse Gisele Moore, of St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, who has been involved, the past five months in that institution’s ‘Stemming the Tide’ programme on HIV/AIDS care and treatment, said, by being part of the piloting, she will better her skills.

She would also get an opportunity to exchange views with others and gain more insight.

Another participant, medex Maria Jeffers, of Met-en-Meerzorg Health Centre, said with the programme she would be able to support the Volunteer Counselling and Testing (VCT) site counsellor.

“The health centre is a relatively small facility and I come into contact with people living with HIV/AIDS, so I will be knowledgeable enough to get involved in the counselling,” she explained.

Medex Chris Anderson, of Bartica Hospital, said, because of his direct involvement with a team that deals with HIV/AIDS, the workshop left him more equipped to deal efficiently with persons living with the disease.

Medex Carol Orna, of North East La Penitence Health Centre, echoed Anderson’s views and added that, with the new knowledge, she can deliver enhanced follow-up treatment, particularly in the prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT).

Medex Doreen Warde, who is employed with Barama Company Limited (BCL), said, in her line of duty, she meets many individuals who are ignorant of the facts related to HIV but can, from now, advise, encourage and inform them.

Medex Paula Foster concurred and said, at Lethem Health Centre, she would share information with those who need it, especially miners.

However, Mr. Noel Holder, Director of the Health Science Education Unit (HSEU), urged the health workers to recognise the importance of their roles in ensuring the availability of quality health care.

He said people, wherever they are, must receive quality care and the pilot should afford the passing of information supportive existing programmes.

The workshop, funded through the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), was organised collaboratively by the Ministry of Health and the University of Washington International Training and Education Centre on HIV (ITECH).

The Coordinator, Ms. Wallis Best Plummer said technical assistance was provided by ITECH, Francis Xavier Bagnound Centre and the Ministry and the curriculum will focus on 16 different areas.

They include understanding HIV, communicating with clients and other providers, VCT, infection control, anti-retroviral therapy and national treatment guidelines, adherence to anti-retrovirals, opportunistic infections, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), nutrition in HIV care, PMTCT), Pediatric HIV care, Home Based Care (HBC) and Palliative Care, post-exposure prophylaxis, stigma and discrimination and stress management.

“The best trait of this curriculum is that it was developed specifically for Guyana’s health sector, which is a plus for the health workers involved,” Plummer commented.

Save the sea turtles
By Vanessa Narine
“This evening we tell our story, a story of sea turtles, sea shells and sustainability…,” said Romeo DeFreitas, coordinator of sea turtle monitoring.
This was as DeFreitas and his fellow coordinators, Ms. Annette Arjoon and Ms. Michelle Kalamandeen, of the Guyana Marine Turtle Conservation Society (GMTCS), along with other stakeholders, gathered at the Pegasus Hotel Thursday evening for an informative seminar.

The session, which focused on the works and achievements of the GMTCS, featured presentations by the coordinators who afterwards engaged the gathering in enlightening discussions.

During his presentation, DeFreitas pointed out that Guyana’s Shell Beach is home to the Leatherback, Green, Hawksbill and Olive Ridley turtles.

However, he also noted that the turtles, which are endangered, are threatened because of accidental capture in fishing nets, climate change and, the more prevalent cause, hunting.

“As of now, the Olive Ridley turtle is almost gone and the Hawksbill turtle population is struggling. The Leatherback turtle population is strong, but this is mainly because they were not being hunted in prior years,” DeFreitas said.

At the end of his presentation, he recommended that the importance of awareness be emphasised and continued; methods of fishing be developed to avoid turtles being killed when they are trapped in the nets; and involvement of community locals.

He highlighted that in this respect, the three-fold approach of the GMTCS’ programmes ensured that a comprehensive response was adopted by the 16 Amerindian communities along the Shell Beach coast.

This approach includes DeFreitas’ area which is Sea Turtle Monitoring, Education and Research in Protected areas and Community Development.

Community Development coordinator with GMTCS, Ms. Annette Arjoon, in continuing the evening’s tale, added, “…the protected area process, as it relates to protecting Shell Beach, is all about the people. There is amazing biodiversity potential but we must include the people and ensure that they are given resources to ensure the area is protected. When we leave they are the ones that will pass on the information and ensure sustained protection.”

She explained that in her area, she focused on “a community development platform to generate income and provide sustainable livelihoods for the indigenous communities within and around the proposed Shell Beach protected area.”

She stated that the establishment of Northwest Organics, which facilitates support for entrepreneurial initiatives by the communities and undertakes the marketing of these products, provided such a platform.

“Region One (Barima/ Waini) is the official organic region in Guyana and with Northwest Organics, this trait is fully utilised,” she said.

According to Arjoon, produce from the area includes peppers, papaws, pumpkins, citrus, cocoa, cassava bread, cassava cassareep and, in the making, coffee, among others.

The coordinator also highlighted that in the proposed protection and northwest organics production, the communities of Almond Beach, Hosororo, Waini, Warapoka and Santa Rosa are involved.

The third coordinator, Ms. Michelle Kalamandeen, who is responsible for, Education and Research in Protected areas, who concluded the evening’s story, pointed out that similarly in her field the locals are fully involved and educated through various innovative means.

She explained that among the undertakings in her field are sea turtle fun days, a teacher training programme, wildlife clubs, sea turtle by-catch workshops and the production of posters and flyers.

“With the fun days we target the children in the hope of educating them about sea turtle and natural resource (flora and fauna) conservation. The teacher training complements this as the teachers are trained on how to convey additional information,” Kalamandeen explained.

The coordinator added that with the establishment of the wildlife clubs, the children are allowed to organise their own activities.

“There are currently 17 clubs and GMTCS assists them by updating their information,” she said.

Kalamandeen pointed out too that educating the locals, both children and adults, is important.

She explained, “As with the children, we do workshops for the adults, primarily the fishermen, since 15% of the turtles are caught in the nets and die. These are supplemented by the posters and flyers we produce.”

Collectively, the three agreed that the three-fold approach taken by GMTCS is effective as they seek to fulfill the organisation’s mission, which is “To manage the ecosystem of the Shell Beach area by promoting the conservation and sustainable utilisation of resources of the area for the benefit of all stakeholders.”

And, at the end of the informative session, it was affirmed that the fate of sea turtles depends on the individual and it is only together that they could be saved.

The Minister underscored the need for doing this and said, “Each child is an asset, not only in Guyana, but to the world, and their needs must be looked at in a holistic way.”

He was at the time speaking at the opening of a two-day meeting hosted by UNICEF to discuss and support interventions in the hinterland and to develop regional integrated plans for Guyana.

According to a UNICEF release, Minister Lall said that as Government tries to provide more infrastructure, there are challenges that have not yet been addressed.

“How do we show care, love and protect our children. Something as easy as going to school may be challenging for a child depending on where that child lives. We need to zero in on the most fortunate, look at where the issues lie, and bring them together and concentrate efforts at reducing their impact,” he said.

One way to break the cycle of poverty is to educate the children, Minister Lall posited. He called for a collaborative effort with the Ministry of Education, parents, community and religious leaders to work for the betterment of children.

Meanwhile, UNICEF Regional Director, Latin America and the Caribbean, Nils Kastberg, reiterated the importance and timeliness in establishing a continuum of change for children and to bring out visibility for children in hinterland areas.

He encouraged participants to highlight issues and challenges specific to their Regions in order to receive necessary attention and support.

The regional heads also called for more advocacies at all levels of society with the involvement of children and religious leaders.

By the end of the working session, regional development plans were finalised for Regions 8 and 10, while the other Regions have agreed to develop their plans.

The release stated that the meeting of Regional Democratic Council was to follow up on the recommendations made in the mid-term review of the Government and UNICEF Country Programme Action Plan 2006-2010, held in November 2008, and the end of year review 2008.

Regional disparities in development were highlighted by the 2006 Multiple Cluster Survey (MICS) necessitating a refocusing of UNICEF supported interventions. The initiation of Regional Integrated Development Plans through the RDCs has come about through these recommendations alongside an identification of areas support required by the RDCs for monitoring their implementation. (GINA)

Developed countries should not waiver in their commitment to carbon cuts
Millions of jobs could be created in the setting of a ‘green economy’ since it is now thought that green technology and green economy could drive future job creations.

This is according to President Bharrat Jagdeo at a press conference Thursday at the Office of the President where he signalled his agreement with the view of United States President Barack Obama that focus should be placed on renewable energy and climate change issues in the transformation of that country’s economy so that as it recovers and emerges into a ‘green economy.’

President Jagdeo said this reflects “very clever thinking on the part of the US President and others who hopefully will not allow their domestic problems to take away their commitment from climate change.”

Referring to the global financial crisis resulting in the developed world waning in its commitment to carbon cuts, the Guyanese Leader said this would not be the right signal to send to other countries such as India, China and the developing world. He said this issue was raised with the UN Secretary General in Poznan, where he argued that “if Europe wanes in its commitment to its agreed 20 percent emission cuts on 1990 levels by 2020, because of the global financial crisis, this would not be the right signal for countries like India, China and the developing world who they hope to come on board.” The Head of State said that if they (Europe) did not send the right signals that they are prepared to make these emission cuts now, and if their commitment moved away from those steep targets because of the global crisis, “what signal would they be sending to places like India and China and the developing world who they want to get on board?”

He added that because these countries have significantly more poverty it is important that they send the right signal because there may be a situation where global GDP shrinks by 20 percent which is the extreme. However if there is a climate change catastrophe from neglecting to limit greenhouse gases now, “we are not talking about 20 percent, we are talking about the survival of the climate,” President Jagdeo said.

He emphasised that to avoid such an occurrence more attention should be paid to the problems of climate change.

President Jagdeo reiterated that it takes about one percent of global GDP per annum to finance all the measures that will put countries on the 450 parts for millions pathway which is considered sustainable. This amount is minimal when compared to the stimulus packages and other interventions to deal with the global financial crisis which amount to some six to eight percent of global GDP.

“So all you need is one percent of global GDP to finance all necessary changes to avoid catastrophic climate change,” the President said. (GINA)

Clem David loses JFAP seat in Region Four
BY Tajeram Mohabir
JUSTICE For All Party (JFAP) Councillor, Mr. Clem David, has been removed as a member of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) in Region Four (Demerara/Mahaica).

It happened on Tuesday because he was absent from three consecutive statutory meetings, without providing any excuse, Regional Executive Officer (REO), Mr. Shafdar Alli told the Guyana Chronicle.

Alli said the decision was not an issue that required a vote by the RDC but one made in accordance with the statute dealing with absenteeism.

He explained that a councillor who is absent from three consecutive statutory meetings can still retain his seat, but only if the RDC is informed and David failed to do so.

Alli said David’s seat has been declared vacant and the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) and JFAP will soon be informed of the need for a replacement.

The REO also said that a member who loses his place on the RDC cannot be reinstated.

Alli said, as well, that the occurrence did not elicit any adverse reaction from the other councillors and, interestingly, David made an appearance minutes after his fate was decided.

The Region Four RDC has 35 members, 16 from the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), 15 from the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), three from the Alliance For Change (AFC) and one from the JFAP.

National Stadium gets gift clock from UK Guyanese
A UNITED Kingdom (UK) based Guyanese family recently donated a clock, identical to that at Trent Bridge cricket ground, in Nottingham, England, to the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, East Bank Demerara.

The Government Information Agency (GINA) reported that Rabi Sukhul, his wife, Savita and son, Raj, who were spectators at the 2007 Cricket World Cup (CWC) matches, decided to make the donation, intending that it would be in place for the two one-day international games now being played at the venue.

GINA said their decision was prompted by a telephone conversation between Rabi Sukhul and Stadium Manager Anthony Xavier, during which the latter mentioned the need and the former responded favourably.
The gift was manufactured in the UK, GINA said.

Part of New Garden Street renamed for Chanderpaul
GEORGETOWN Mayor Hamilton Green announced Thursday that part of New Garden Street is to be renamed ‘Shiv Chanderpaul Drive’, in honour of West Indies and world rated cricketer Shivnarine Chanderpaul.

The announcement was made at City Hall when President Bharrat Jagdeo went there to sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the municipality to get $10M monthly for the execution of capital works.

Mr. Green explained that the renaming targets that section of New Garden Street, between Church Street and South Road, Bourda, West of Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) and Office of the President.

However, New Garden Street will continue from Church to Lamaha Streets, Queenstown.

President Jagdeo lauded the initiative, noting that Chanderpaul is an inspiration to all Guyanese and has a special place in their hearts.

After SSMP visit…
Vieira maintains reservation but Minister Persaud confident
By Tajeram Mohabir
PEOPLE’S National Congress Reform-One Guyana (PNCR-IG) Member of the Economic Services Committee of the National Assembly, Mr. Anthony Vieira, has acknowledged that the state of the Skeldon Sugar Modernisation Project (SSMP) has improved significantly.

But after a visit there Wednesday, he maintained his reservation about the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) being able to supply cane to the Corentyne, Berbice factory.

Vieira had been in a party visiting for an invited inspection tour of the SSMP, in company with Agriculture Minister, Mr. Robert Persaud and top GuySuCo officials.

Vieira was doubtful that private cane farmers were capable of planting the required fields before the expansion started and hinted that Persaud may very well have to look for alternative options if those targeted planters do not achieve the cultivation.

The PNCR-IG Parliamentarian said, while Guyanese should be happy to have the modern facility at Skeldon, measures now must be taken to address other pressing issues, such as heavy rainfall, labour shortage and the factory requirement of between 8,000 and 9,000 tonnes cane daily.

However, Vieira declared he is not optimistic that the target will be met.

He claimed the sugar industry has some catching up to do, because, at the end of last year, GuySuCo was producing at US22 cents per pound, compared to world market price of US12 cents.

Persaud emphasised, though, that much focus has been placed on cane production in the past several months and another challenge is working with private farmers to expand the area cultivated by GuySuCo.

Encouraging
He said the response from those farmers has been encouraging, as financing from the banking sector has been approved and, when they see the new factory up and running, they will be motivated to “get down to business.”

Persaud said, if the farmers do not come on board as fully as they should, alternatives, not to be disclosed at this time, will have to be examined.

The aim is to get the private farmers to deliver their production quota, which is between 35 to 40 per cent of the cane for the SSMP, he said.

According to Persaud, GuySuCo has been working closely with them and does not have any reason to question their commitment to the project.

“The emphasis now has to be on cane production in the field, dealing with issues like the weather and other constraints,” he stated.

Persaud said recent reports on tests conducted at the SSMP have, so far, been very encouraging, in comparison to previous ones.

He said he is confident that the Chinese contractors will overcome their difficulties and deliver a working factory to GuySuCo in the near future.

Persaud said, while the SSMP has been successful in manufacturing sugar, the testing is closely monitored and will continue for the entire crop.

The aim of the huge investment is to strengthen Guyana capability to withstand the European Union (EU) 36 per cent price cuts on sugar and position this country as a global player in the trade.

The SSMP boasts a capacity to produce 110,000 tonnes per annum from 1.1 million tonnes cane.

Persaud said the current objective is to grind 200,000 tonnes cane per hour and then work towards achieving the full capacity of 350,000 tonnes, over a two and a half to three years period.

Guyana joins UN Day Against Racial Discrimination observance
GUYANA will today also observe the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

The observance, for the 49th year, is to commemorate the brutal killings of 69 people who were peacefully protesting against apartheid laws in South Africa, where a segregated political system existed, from 1948 to the early 1990s.

For the duration, different people living there were separated and privileges were afforded whites.

Six years later, on March 21, 1966, the UN General Assembly called on the international community to redouble efforts to eliminate all forms of racial discrimination and designated the day.

In remarks ahead of the commemoration, Chairman of the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC), Bishop Juan Edghill firmly denounced the myth of racism and implored Guyanese to stand united against any form of discrimination which can have incalculable consequences for the future of humanity.

He said, even though the world has changed significantly and progress has been made in the fight against racism, racial discrimination is still a major problem in large and small societies.

“Racial discrimination only undermines global efforts for peace, justice and development,” Edghill said, pointing out that millions of men, women and children have suffered worldwide and will continue to suffer and die, because of their colour, ethnicity, religion, nationality, creed or social status

“It is our responsibility as citizens of this great land to educate our people on how to address racism and build relationships of mutual respect, tolerance and understanding among all people regardless of their cultural differences,” he asserted.

Recalling that Guyana, in 1968, signed the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, Edghill said, in doing so, this country became a party also to pursue, by all appropriate means and without delay, a policy of promoting understanding among races.”

He said the ERC, a constitutional body established to promote ethnic harmony and security, is mandated to provide for equality of opportunity between persons of different ethnicities and harmony and good relations amongst such persons, too.

Consequently, the occasion “affords us an opportunity to focus on the importance of the fight against racism and all forms of intolerance,” Edghill said.

He exhorted Guyanese to pledge to strengthen efforts to eradicate racial discrimination and recognise that it is the legitimate right of every human being to live in peace, equality and dignity.

New computerised licence system being introduced Monday
A NEW computer generated type will be issued from Monday, March 23, when annual road service licences go on sale, the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has announced.

GRA has computerised its operations at the Licence Revenue Office, in Smyth Street, Georgetown and will be adopting a phased approach to introduce the new Licence Revenue Management Information System (LRO/MIS), the announcement said.

According to GRA, the first phase will see the sale of the computerised annual revenue licence. However, it will only be sold in the County of Demerara at the Smyth Street office.

Head of the Tax Operations and Services Department, Ms. Hema Khan, said it will be compulsory for all vehicle owners in the whole of Demerara and East Bank Essequibo, up to Parika, to purchase their licences in Smyth Street.

Manager, Excise Tax, Licensing and Motor Vehicle Management, Mr. Wayne Austin said the certifying offices in Essequibo, Berbice and Linden will continue to issue licences manually and owners are required to secure them within their respective districts.

Persons renewing their motor vehicle licences must present their Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), the previous year’s licence, registration, fitness and insurance certificates.

In addition, those purchasing licences in Essequibo, Berbice and Linden must provide a photocopies of their vehicle registration to be kept by the certifying office and present their TIN certification or verification.

GRA said the renewal of licence for vehicles in ‘G’ numbers, for the purpose of transporting goods, except pick-ups, open back vehicles and lorries, will only be done at Smyth Street, where they will be inspected before the issuance.

GRA explained that this shift, from a manual to a computerised system, will allow for the provision of more efficient service in the provision of the licences.

Other benefits of the change include the smooth flow of information to other departments and less time being spent for the acquisition of the licences and the automated licence is expected to be introduced in the regions shortly.
Meanwhile, the fees for such revenue licence remain unchanged.

Forum hears why children not getting sound education
By Tajeram Mohabir
CHIEF Planning Officer in the Ministry, Mrs. Evelyn Hamilton, has said some parents with little schooling pay scant attention to ensuring their children receive a sound education.

She said so Thursday, at a forum titled ‘Keeping our Children in School: Strategies and Intervention’, convened at the National Centre for Education Research Development (NCERD), Battery Road, Kingston, Georgetown.

Hamilton told the gathering, which included key stakeholders in the sector that, while no major research was done on the issues, much anecdotal evidence exists.

She said general researching shows that students are absent from school at the primary and nursery level, primarily because of socio-economic family factors and broken homes.

These include pupils not having uniforms, food to eat and young girls having to look after their younger siblings.

Hamilton said, while 79 per cent of children attend primary school, it must be noted that a quarter of the time they are not in attendance.

She disclosed that, in the rice growing Regions, particularly Three (West Demerara/Essequibo Islands) and Six (East Berbice/Corentyne), there is a drop in school attendance at the primary and lower secondary levels at key production times.

Hamilton said, unlike instances where children would usually be employed in factories, in most cases, these youths are kept away from school to serve in their family business.

Because of this, she suggested that the Ministry revise the opening and closing of schools in those two regions.

Hamilton also observed that primary school pupils are absent after their end of term examinations, mainly because there is no programme to keep them meaningfully occupied while teachers grade their scripts.

She posited that the absence may be when they find their curriculum unattractive and there are few teachers and, on occasions, though staff is adequate staff, schoolchildren are dreadfully frightful of abusive teachers.

Hamilton said, too, that bullying, the emergence of gangs in schools, flooding and crime from the 2003 wave of violence are among other factors which keep students away from school.

Today’s weather
Mostly dry conditions are expected.
Similar conditions are expected to prevail for the remainder of the forecast period which ends on Thursday, March 26th.
However, isolated showers over coastal and near inland areas in the morning and other areas in the afternoon are expected.

Taxi-driver shot dead
A TAXI-DRIVER was found shot to death Thursday evening on a West La Penitence, Georgetown, road.

Dead is 30-year-old Keith Bowen of Vigilance, East Coast Demerara.

Police are investigating the murder of the man whose body was discovered at the Sussex Street corner with a suspected gunshot wound to the head at about 20:00h.

Bowen was discovered by people in the area who heard what they suspected was a shot and investigated.

He was subsequently taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he succumbed while receiving medical attention.

Bowen’s motor vehicle was found abandoned at Princes and Lombard Streets also in the city, at about 07:30h yesterday, police said.

Much more resources are needed in the drug fight
THE illegal drug trade is wreaking havoc among societies throughout the globe and the need to stem this scourge can never be over emphasised.

Worse yet the fact that developing countries which have limited resources to fight the drug lords and their syndicates are heavily hit and this compounds the multifaceted socio-economic problems and challenges facing them.

The damage done to societies by the activities stemming from the drug trade are well known including money laundering, kidnappings, murder and other violent crimes, creation of drug addicts and the related social problems.

Guyana has expressed its commitment to step up the offensive against the drug trade but it has been hampered by the lack of resources.

In this regard President Jagdeo has repeatedly lamented the lecturing by the US to Guyana on this subject but has failed to provide resources vitally needed in the drug fight.

A case in point is the failure of the US to establish a permanent DEA office here.

Only recently at the Police Officers conference the President had cause to remind the US of this outstanding issue.

“I have asked for a DEA presence here several times”, President Jagdeo reiterated.

Mr. Jagdeo recalled that this was raised about a year ago with U.S. Assistant Secretary of State, Thomas Shannon, when he visited Guyana.

He said he had asked Shannon for an early response to the request for setting up a permanent DEA base here but there has been only silence since from Washington.

Shannon, a top State Department diplomat for Latin America, said then that Washington needed to work more closely with Guyana and other Caribbean countries to tackle drug trafficking.

"There is more we can do", he said and promised to pass on a request for a permanent presence of the DEA in the country. "We need to find a better way to work together and to share information" he said.

President Jagdeo said there has been no response from the U.S. on the DEA matter but yet annual American reports on drug trafficking fighting efforts here claim that there seems to be a lack of commitment.

He said while Guyana has excellent relations with the U.S. and has benefited from help in many areas, it’s different in the fight against drugs trafficking.

“…we will collaborate as partners – not as recipients of lectures when there is no real assistance”, he declared, adding, “every time we ask, even for assistance with prosecution, they would constantly come up with excuses.”

But apart from the DEA issue the President was spot on when he said that the “biggest law enforcement failure” against drug trafficking is in the U.S. and not in poor, developing countries and said he is looking to President Barack Obama to change the dynamic.

He pointed out that Guyana has limited resources but it is spending much on these issues because of the pernicious influence of drugs trafficking.

The trade, he said, influences law enforcement, the judiciary and the executive in many countries and “we have to fight against that”.

Emphasising the need for a serious partnership, the President said he is tired of the lectures.

“If they are serious about working with us then this will change…we will collaborate only in those circumstances…I really hope that President Obama will change this dynamic – the relationship between many institutions in the U.S. and their counterparts in the developing world and he would address the big issue of the failure of law enforcement in the U.S.”, he said.

“We will collaborate with any country or group of countries that want to break global and national criminality…but we are here to protect our interests first and we will collaborate as equals…we are not inferior to anyone”, he declared.

He reiterated that most of the drugs produced in the world go into the U.S. which is also the largest source of money laundering because the drugs have to be sold in the streets of that country.

Noam Chomsky in What Uncle Sam Really Wants notes : ȁOne substitute for the disappearing Evil Empire has been the threat of drug traffickers from Latin America. In early September 1989, a major government-media blitz was launched by the President. That month the AP wires carried more stories about drugs than about Latin America, Asia, the Middle East and Africa combined. If you looked at television, every news programme had a big section on how drugs were destroying our society, becoming the greatest threat to our existence, etc.”

He also pointed out that the effect on public opinion was immediate. When Bush won the 1988 election, people said the budget deficit was the biggest problem facing the country. Only about 3% named drugs. After the media blitz, concern over the budget was way down and drugs had soared to about 40% to 45%, which is highly unusual for an open question (where no specific answers are suggested).

The article notes that the Administration also targeted marijuana, which hadn't caused any known deaths among some 60 million users. In fact, the crackdown has exacerbated the drug problem - many marijuana users have turned from this relatively harmless drug to more dangerous drugs like cocaine, which are easier to conceal.

Just as the drug war was launched with great fanfare in September 1989, the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) panel held a hearing in Washington to consider a tobacco industry request that the U.S. impose sanctions on Thailand in retaliation for its efforts to restrict U.S. tobacco imports and advertising. Such U.S. government actions had already rammed this lethal addictive narcotic down the throats of consumers in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, with human costs of the kind already indicated.

The U.S. Surgeon General, Everett Koop, testified at the USTR panel that "when we are pleading with foreign governments to stop the flow of cocaine, it is the height of hypocrisy for the United States to export tobacco." He added, "years from now, our nation will look back on this application of free trade policy and find it scandalous."

Another aspect of the drug problem, Choamsky observed which also received little attention, is the leading role of the U.S. government in stimulating drug trafficking since World War II. This happened in part when the U.S. began its postwar task of undermining the anti-fascist resistance and the labour movement became an important target.

In France, the threat of political power and influence of the labour movement was enhanced by its steps to impede the flow of arms to French forces seeking to reconquer their former colony of Vietnam with U.S. aid. So the CIA undertook to weaken and split the French labour movement -- with the aid of top American labour leaders, who were quite proud of their role.

The task required strikebreakers and goons. There was an obvious supplier: the Mafia. Of course, they didn't take on this work just for the fun of it. They wanted a return for their efforts. And it was given to them: they were authorized to reestablish the heroin racket that had been suppressed by the fascist governments -- the famous "French connection" that dominated the drug trade until the 1960s.

So it is clear that the fight against the drug trade is not as simple and straightforward as some would like us to believe because some lecture to us on the need to step up the fight are actually linked to it and actually contribute to its expansion

Now, when some client state complains that the U.S. government isn't sending it enough money, they no longer say, "we need it to stop the Russians" -- rather, "we need it to stop drug trafficking." Like the Soviet threat, this enemy provides a good excuse for a U.S. military presence where there's rebel activity or other unrest.

So internationally, "the war on drugs" provides a cover for intervention. Domestically, it has little to do with drugs but a lot to do with distracting the population, increasing repression in the inner cities, and building support for the attack on civil liberties.

That's not to say that "substance abuse" isn't a serious problem. At the time the drug war was launched, deaths from tobacco were estimated at about 300,000 a year, with perhaps another 100,000 from alcohol. But these aren't the drugs the Bush administration targeted. It went after illegal drugs, which had caused many fewer deaths -- over 3500 a year -- according to official figures. One reason for going after these drugs was that their use had been declining for some years, so the Bush administration could safely predict that its drug war would "succeed" in lowering drug use.

Thai witnesses also protested, predicting that the consequence of U.S. sanctions would be to reverse a decline in smoking achieved by their government's campaign against tobacco use. Responding to the U.S. tobacco companies' claim that their product is the best in the world, a Thai witness said, "Certainly in the Golden Triangle we have some of the best products, but we never ask the principle of free trade to govern such products. In fact we suppressed [them]." Critics recalled the Opium War 150 years earlier, when the British government compelled China to open its doors to opium from British India, sanctimoniously pleading the virtues of free trade as they forcefully imposed large-scale drug addiction on China.

Here we have the biggest drug story of the day. Imagine the screaming headlines: "U.S. Government The World's Leading Drug Peddler." It would surely sell papers. But the story passed virtually unreported, and with not a hint of the obvious conclusions.

By then, the centre of the drug trade shifted to Indochina, particularly Laos and Thailand. The shift was again a by-product of a CIA operation -- the "secret war" fought in those countries during the Vietnam War by a CIA mercenary army. They also wanted a payoff for their contributions. Later, as the CIA shifted its activities to Pakistan and Afghanistan, the drug racket boomed there.

The clandestine war against Nicaragua also provided a shot in the arm to drug traffickers in the region, as illegal CIA arms flights to the U.S. mercenary forces offered an easy way to ship drugs back to the U.S., sometimes through U.S. Air Force bases, traffickers report.

The close correlation between the drug racket and international terrorism (sometimes called "counterinsurgency," "low intensity conflict" or some other euphemism) is not surprising. Clandestine operations need plenty of money, which should be undetectable. And they need criminal operatives as well. The rest follows.

Whispering Mabel
Whenever Cousin Hetta is in a wicked mood, she will call and this particular time she really had a juicy story about Christopher, although it was nothing to do about politics or accountants. She insists that it is a cardinal truth that Christopher will never be involved in any kind of dialogue on the topic of espoused abuse because of his own colossal embarrassment and sordid experience with his former partner for life.

His unbelievable use of a pliers to intimidate and at the same time embarrass his former beloved partner was really juicy, and to be confused with the short word used in referring to a feline. To expand further can result in vulgarity.

Finance Minister Ashni Singh was refreshingly and devastatingly convincing in rebuttal of the varied attempts by members of the opposition in Parliament, including the principal leader, to continue to criticise the provisions of the 2009 budget. He cogently referred to many aspects of his budget, which all specifically answered the contrived criticisms of the opposition members. The minister really exposed their ineptitude.

If and it is a big “if” it turns out that the official response by the public commissioner to the specific question from President Jagdeo on the Roger Khan spy machine is indeed in the possession of the GPF, then something is radically wrong with the mighty USA’s much-touted Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA).

Mabel is putting her money on the DEA, but then where will that leave the Commissioner of Police? That is a serious matter with criminal implications. Not true?

The original illegal occupiers of state land at Sophia were rightly or wrongly regarded as degenerates. There would have been exceptions but despite the uncomplimentary situation, the government still expanded several millions of dollars in a complete overhaul in enhancing the living conditions – roads, water and electricity – were all put in place.

Mabel was just reflecting on the report, which was front-paged by Stabroek and headlined “Cops in massive Sophia swoop,” is suggestive of degeneration being difficult to surmount, is it not?

And what about the alleged discrimination of government? The small community enjoyed more than favourable treatment.

Clousseau
ANY president of any country in the world who conscientiously aspires to make his/her mark as a good and successful leader can only succeed if the supporting staff is equally conscientious, able and capable of high efficiency, Clousseau harbours no doubts about this truism.

The quality of the advice must be impeccable and always reliable on which the president can act on with absolute confidence. These are very heavy responsibilities and obviously crucial towards being accepted as an integral contributor in the success of the performance of the president.

But the appealing necessity of questioning the quality of advice reaching the president will always be a factor to be considered. At the moment, there is a glaring case, that of the circumstances surrounding the, to use of recent editorial word, peripatetic, eavesdropping machine. This is a startling example of what Clousseau is herein alluding. But again, this is merely one of the numerable instances that can be cited and of course all possible sectors/areas are subject to scrutiny.

Consequences of impaired advice can lead to ill-founded action on the part of the leader and Clousseau is reminded of a very sad real life case, which is still pending and indications are that full justice will prevail.

It is therefore necessary for Clousseau to emphasise that extreme certainty over facts on any matter and which is being offered as advice, should at all times be factual.

Charles Corbin’s appointment smacks of nepotism within the PNCR
THE appointment of Charles Corbin, brother of Opposition and PNCR Leader Mr. Robert Corbin, to the Guyana Elections Commission, presents a disgraceful case of nepotism in the Guyanese polity. Mr. Corbin's use or abuse of his constitutional authority to find jobs for the family is no different from the pernicious nepotism that has been practiced by the ruling PPP over the years and must be denounced.

According to pronouncements on public record, Mr. Corbin did not receive a consensus from the entire Parliamentary Opposition on the appointment of his brother to the Commission. Given the dynamics of Guyanese politics today, Mr. Corbin’s political vulnerabilities and personal idiosyncrasies, the circumstance of using his constitutional office to appoint a family member to the Election Commission, on behalf of the entire Parliamentary opposition, without consensus, is superciliously self-aggrandizing and injudicious.

Are we to accept that in all of Guyana, Mr. Robert Corbin could find no one but his brother, that he deems suitably qualified and competent to appoint to the Elections Commission? Charles Corbin has replaced Attorney-at-Law, Lloyd Joseph, who died last year. Now that the Commission has its full complement of opposition Commissioners, one cannot be oblivious of the reality that there is no member of the Elections Commission from opposition who is an Attorney at Law.

This is a typical instance of Mr. Corbin’s “wishy washy” approach to his responsibilities and lack of “Strategic political thinking.” Suffice it to say that it is another manifestation of his prowess for actions which almost always redound to, or yield, personal benefit – perks!

Yet, this is the gentlemen that wants to stick around as Leader of the PNCR and continue to run the institution into the ground, and who some unenlightened party leaders continue to blindly support.

I hope that the pieces can be put together again after he has finished wrecking the party.
RICKFORD BURKE

How come PNC achieved over 75% of votes if there was racial voting?
I would like to take this opportunity to open a discussion on whether a President (whose political party rigged elections so that he/they can get into power and remain in power) is entitled to/deserving of a Guyanese pension?

And, is his/her spouse also entitled to a First Lady pension?
Incidentally, since the national accounts were not presented for a large number of years to the Auditor General Office how can we assess the amount of monies that disappeared from Guyana coffer during the Peoples National Congress, PNC (now, the Peoples National Congress Reformed - One Guyana, PNCR-1G) "illegal" tenure of Government?

Incidentally, if the PNC were so "convinced" of their development and their economic policies, Humphrey, why did they choose to not openly present the national accounts to the Auditor General Office?

Some people would like to argue that the PNC never rigged elections but they did achieve over 75% of the votes during a period of intense racial conflict. Yet, the PNCR-1G when asked why it cannot get this high number of votes they turn around and say it is because of "racial voting". Their "argument" is that the PNC achieved over 75% of the votes when there was race-based voting in the 1970/1980s but could not achieve over 50% of the votes in 1992/1997/2001/2006 when there may have been race-based voting.

It is either the PNC rigged elections (in which case the entitlement of a President/First Lady to Presidential Pension is not really justified) in the past because they could not get the number of votes required to win legitimately.

Or the PNC did win elections in the past legitimately by over 75% and can do so regardless of race-based voting. Hence, the PNC does not need to apologise for rigging elections. But, also there is no need to change the Guyana Constitution to "get into government through the backdoor" since the PNC can "win" legitimately at the ballot box.
SEAN BRIGNANDAN

Forcing on the new word order strategy
IN 2000 President Bill Clinton said to the American Citizen (Store money, food and medicine in your home) because there would be a disaster meaning a global change.

Some religious leaders in the U.S. predicted that this would be the coming of Jesus Christ. President Bush move to enforce the change and the reality of the evidence reflect his two terns in office.

The G7 countries supported President Bush in the form of an Allied force; the world finance intuitions had enough time to shift trillions of dollars into a safe haven, in support of President Bush global strategy. This move was not supported by developing countries, so there is little or nothing for them to benefit.

President Bema words to the American Citizen were that, this crisis would not be over in one year but maybe in a couple of years.

The superpowers declare their countries are in recession and they are moving to protect their citizens by deporting all illegal immigrants.

We must understand this. It means we have to be ready and prepared to use the best options to protect our citizens and country.

Guyanese need to listen and interpret these statements as this would help them to understand that the budgets of the U.S. & France are for the development of their countries and citizen interests, leaving every other country to pull its own weight even members of the EU countries leaders presently arguing bitterly among them selves.

In 2009 NASA Mission failed in an attempt experience on a complex solar system research. Rocket failed mission on green house gases and global warming is causing the U.S. to groan.

Now the U.S. has sent out a new satellite research to look for a planet that might have water and floating in the galaxy, using strong words saying [if there is one there must be two].

A section of Brazil, Venezuela and Guyana was sited as the New Jerusalem in the garden and capable of providing oxygen and food for the survival of the rest of beans.

President Jagdeo has moved to gather support from developing & developed countries to protecting the world forest.

The world largest producers of green house gases along with the other fuel consumers continue to pollute the atmosphere.

Not forgetting many acres of ice melting and flowing into the ocean along with winds, rain, earthquakes and fires.

We need not say that we are safe and saved because such a statement would be removing the spotlight from the super powers, and small nations will rise up.

We deserve every drop of contribution what is available for us.

Guyana and its citizen need to be proud of them and accept eco tourism “Tourism can work”.

Guyana as a country is a safe place to live we must agree to protect our brooders and citizen to survive this crisis.

We must educate our citizens toward preserving and upgrading sites, manufacturing, producing, and recycling.

There will be a global natural disaster created by nature and man. The green house gases will form a layer around the earth causing the sun not to be able to penetrate down as normal after a while the carbonate layer will become heated, and burst into flames returning back to earth, in the form of fire rocks [ which some religious persons would call fire and brimstone.]

In America the north will fall and the south will rise but we should not panic and forget the history of Noah in Gen: 7 & 8.

Take note: broad is the way that leads to destruction and many go that way.

Narrow is the way that leads to everlasting life and a few enter.

Sometimes these tips and ideas come from the man in the Dingdong said the prophet Joseph listen to the voice that is coming from the wilderness.

It’s a natural mystic flowing through the air, I see Zion in a vision.
Repent or Perish!
NIGEL TROTMAN
President of the Youth Neighbourhood Development

Selfish freedom stands in the way of abolishing the AIDS virus
WHILE few would compare Pope Benedict XVI to John Lennon, their methods of saving humanity are in some sense similar.

In the 1960s John Lennon pushed for peace with his anti-war sign “WAR IS OVER!-if you want it”. His message was meant to convey the simple fact that peace is merely a matter of the people willing it. Obviously, the fact that most nations and individuals are today at war with one another -- both on the battlefields and in the court rooms -- indicates that few people really want peace. Posing as peaceniks, what they really want is their own individual “rights” regardless of the consequences this may have for others.

This same kind of selfish freedom that has historically prevented peace also stands in the way of abolishing the AIDS virus. AIDS can be eradicated tomorrow if, as the pope suggests, people were simply willing to exercise a little self constraint and practise abstinence and marital fidelity. Barring this refusal to submit oneself to the natural law no amount of money or mass influx of condoms to various nations will stop the spread of the deadly virus. On the contrary it will only aggravate the problem just as the fictitious kind of individual “rights” we have all championed since the 60s has led to a mass proliferation of war and hostility. Pope Paul VI rightly predicted back in 1968 that failure to follow the dictates of Natural Law on contraception would lead to a lowering of moral standards, a rise in infidelity and promiscuity, a lessening of respect for women and government-enforced limitations on population.

Ours is a time of continual movement which often leads to restlessness, with the risk of "doing for the sake of doing". We must resist this temptation by trying "to be" before trying "to do".
PAUL KOKOSKI

Guyana began nurturing Middle East relations since the 1950s under Dr. Jagan
GUYANA’S President, Bharrat Jagdeo, left for Syria yesterday on a two-week tour of the Middle East. Members of his delegation include Foreign Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, CEO of the Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana, Al Haj Fazeel Ferouz, Presidential Envoy of Guyana to the Middle East, George Hallaq, Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud, and Guyanese businessman and Pakistan’s Honorary Consul in Guyana, Mr. Sattaur Gafoor. He is expected in Damascus on March 21st and will meet with Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad. President Jagdeo returns to the region after an official visit to Libya in January of 2009. According to the Guyanese President ȁthe purpose of the trip is not just to pursue national interests, since it would be a good source of investment, but it is really to pursue better relationships.” President Jagdeo is expected to attend the Arab-South American Summit on March 30 in Doha. During his two-week tour of the region he will travel to Syria, Jordan, Cyprus, Kuwait, Qatar and possibly the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Guyana, a former British colony and South America’s only English-speaking country has a vibrant Muslim community of about 12 percent. It is also a member of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) and has forged strong ties with the Middle East since its independence from Britain in 1966. Guyana’s relationship with the Middle East has been established outside of the rubric of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). Strong ties with the Arab World are motivated by Guyana’s own national interest. Many members of CARICOM look to Guyana to provide the necessary leadership in fostering its Middle East relations with an eye to obtaining benefits for the region.

Guyana began nurturing its relations with the Middle East since the 1950s under the leadership of former President, Cheddi Jagan and had strong ties to Gamal Abdul Nasser and Hafeez Al Assad. Dr. Jagan visited Syria and Egypt several times.

More recently, Guyana went solo in condemning the Israeli attack on Gaza. This is not unusual. Regardless of which poltical party is in power, Guyana has always been very critical and vocal in condemning the Israeli occupation of Palestine. Last week in Guyana, during a Youman Nabi (Day of the Prophet) gathering the President of Guyana urged U.S. President Obama to solve the Palestinian conflict and again reiterated the “injustices that the Palestinian people have endured.” He said, “We can’t turn a blind eye to their suffering.” Guyana is one of only two western hemisphere countries in the UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People. No other CARICOM members condemned the recent Israeli bombardment of Gaza.

After Guyana gained independence in 1966, Libya, Egypt and Iraq opened embassies in Georgetown. No other CARICOM state could claim the same. Guyana’s astute diplomats, Dr. Rudy Insanally and Dr. Odeen Ishmael, who were posted at the UN and the OIC, actively worked to consolidate ties with the Middle East. Guyana established diplomatic ties with all Gulf countries: Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It was also under their brilliant leadership at the UN and at the OIC that Guyana’s ties with the Arab-Islamic world blossomed. The relationship with the Middle East was further consolidated when the late President Cheddi Jagan toured several Middle Eastern capitals in 1996. His official visits took him to Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Syria and the United Arab Emirates. Due to the on going conflicts in the region, at that time, President Jagan’s planned visit to Lebanon was cancelled. President Jagan also appointed a Middle Eastern envoy, Mr. George Hallaq.

President Jagdeo will also visit Kuwait in early April after the Doha Summit. The relationship with Kuwait is very strong. Guyana is a small state like Kuwait. In 1990 Guyana swiftly condemned Saddam Hussein’s invasion of Kuwait and called on Iraq to end the occupation. The former leader of Guyana, Dr. Cheddi Jagan, visited Kuwait in 1996. Kuwait’s Zakat House funds an orphan programme and other charitable projects in Guyana. In January 2003 Under Secretary of State in the Ministry of Religious Affairs of Kuwait, Mr. Bader-Al Mutairi visited Guyana and paid a courtesy call on President Bharrat Jagdeo. During their meeting they discussed key areas of economic cooperation in which Guyana and Kuwait could be engaged and the fostering of amicable relations. More recently, President Jagdeo met with Director of Projects of Zakaat House, Mr. Adel Jaree, and members of the Central Islamic Organization of Guyana (CIOG) at his State House residence where he presented a plaque to Mr. Jaree in recognition of the Government of Kuwait and Zakaat House’s support to Guyana.

Recognizing the global economic and political power of Qatar, President Jagdeo will spend four days in Qatar for the Arab-South American Summit and hold bilateral talks with the Emir, Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani. Guyana is looking to forge strong ties with Doha. Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Clement Rohee headed Guyana’s delegation to the OIC Heads of Government summit in Doha in 2000. Ambassador Odeen Ishmael was also a member of the delegation. Meetings were held with many Arab Foreign Ministers and a lengthy meeting also took place with the former President of Palestine, Yasir Arafat. A presidential letter followed this from the Guyanese Head of State on June 27, 2007 to Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani. The letter was delivered to Doha by Guyana’s presidential envoy to the Middle East Mr. George Hallaq who met with the Crown Prince of Qatar, Sheik Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani. The meeting was attended by Sheikh Khalid al Thani and Ali Fahd Hajri and discussion centered on cooperation between the two countries and ways to develop it. A planned visit to Qatar in January 2009 by President Jagdeo had to be cancelled because of the recent invasion of the Gaza strip.
RAYMOND CHICKERIE

England win first ODI after Windies blunder
By Marlon Munroe
A BLUNDER by the West Indies management brought an enthralling game to an anti-climactic finish that resulted in West Indies losing the first one-day international game in the Digicel Series at the Guyana National Stadium yesterday.

Initially set 270 to win the Windies was approaching victory in the 47th in bad light when the Duckworth-Lewis took effect with West Indies one run behind the revised total of 245 when manager Omar Khan and coach John Dyson signalled their batsmen off the field after they seemingly miscalculated Duckworth-Lewis estimation. This meant that England won the game by one run.

West Indies in reply to England’s 270 lost captain Gayle early the innings lbw to Stuart Broad for two when the score was six. This brought WI’s most prolific batsman in the Test series Ramnaresh Sarwan, who was greeted by a vociferous home crowd. He and Lendl Simmons continued quite vigilantly up to the point Sarwan played his trademark cut shot for four off James Anderson in the eighth over.

Simmons followed suit in the ninth over with a gentle glide for four down to fine third man off Broad. There was a lull in activities for about two overs until Sarwan stroked Anderson for two glorious boundaries through the covers and midwicket off consecutive balls in the 13th over.

The two continued sensibly and raised the team’s 50 in 12.2 overs and in the 18th over Simmons chipped down the pitch to Gareth Batty and lifted him for six over long off. With the first ball of the 19th over Sarwan demonstrated his class when he gently tickled it past the wicketkeeper for four off Dimitri Mascarenhas.

He surpassed Simmons when he cut Mascarenhas through gully past Paul Collingwood in the 21st over and Simmons, not to be outdone, paddle-swept Mascarenhas from outside the off stump for four. Sarwan brought his 31st ODI in the 28th over that included five elegantly stroked boundaries from 70 balls while Simmons brought his second ODI half-century that included four fours from 90 balls.

However, Sarwan delicately chipped a delivery from Collinwood and was caught at short midwicket for 57 to end an enterprising 125-run second-wicket partnership with Simmons in the 32nd over. Shivnarine Chanderpaul joined Simmons and dispatched the first ball to the midwicket boundary for four.

Simmons continued batting aggressively as he treated Mascarenhas with little respect. Simmons however, became over-zealous and chipped down the pitch to Batty and was caught on the midwicket boundary by Anderson for 62 (5x4) when the scoreboard read 152.

The bulky figure of Kieron Pollard lifted Mascarenhas for a mighty six over long off on his arrival at the crease in the 34th over as Chanderpaul, being the senior batsman, sought to take control of the pace of the innings. He turned over the strike while Pollard played the more aggressive role.

Pollard lofted Broad for six off the last ball of the 38th over and this made the ‘Tiger’ roar in the 39th over as he struck Steve Harmison for 26 runs in the over. The first delivery went for four through backward point, the second was swept for six, the third was hit over cover and the other three went through the on-side.

His cameo came to a grinding halt however in the 42nd over when he was caught by Andrew Strauss at midwicket for 46 (6x4, 1x6) off the bowling of Broad (212-4). Dwayne Bravo went three balls later in the 43rd over when he was caught at gully by Ravi Bopara off the bowling of Anderson without scoring (213-5).

Pollard was dropped on the long on boundary by Harmison, who has had a horrid day in the field, and allowed the ball to creep over the boundary line.

He later pounded Anderson for four through extra cover but Anderson was vindicated after Pollard attempted a pull and was caught by Harmison on the square leg boundary for 42 (2x6, 3x4). Denesh Ramdin was next to go for 11 when the score was 244 and bad light stopped play at 17:41 h.

Earlier, in slightly overcast conditions England won the toss and chose to bat and was off to a decent start with seven runs coming from the first over off Darren Powell.

In the subsequent overs a series of wides by Darren Powell and Fidel Edwards aided England’s cause to score easy runs as England progressed to 24 without loss in six overs. In the third ball in the seventh over Strauss walked down the pitch to Powell and dispatched him through the covers for four. However, the next ball he was caught at gully by Dwayne Bravo for 15.

Bopara, joined by Kevin Pietersen, had already started looking confident at the crease by gliding Edwards off his pads and then executed a magnificent cover drive off Powell. Pietersen also joined the action hitting the ball confidently until he disposed of Edwards through midwicket in the final over of the first power play to push the score to 50-1.

Pietersen was then caught at mid-on by Powell for 17 - the ball after he had hoisted Bravo for six straight back over his head. Bopara and Owais Shah continued with the free scoring picking up the singles and hitting the odd boundary.

Bopara and Shah’s 53-run partnership ended when Bopara was trapped lbw by left-arm off spinner Nikita Miller for 43. His 43 minute vigil included four elegantly stroked boundaries from 61 balls. Meanwhile, Shah brought up his tenth ODI 50 off 67 balls which included four boundaries in 73 minutes.

Shortly after the rains came and stopped play at 12:01 h with 37 overs completed, England were 190; Shaw was 52 and Paul Collingwood, continuing his rich form from the Test series, was cruising on 42.

After a 43-minute delay Collingwood brought up his 20th half-century and Shah was dismissed, caught by Ramdin off the bowling of Bravo for 62, attempting a pull shot (215-4).

The drama continued two balls later when Mascarenhas was trapped in front to the bowling of Pollard for nought when the score was 216-5.

Collingwood was brilliantly caught by Bravo on the midwicket boundary for 69 off the bowling of Pollard. England’s 250 came up when Matt Prior lifted Bravo over the infield to midwicket boundaries.

Broad was the last wicket to fall when he was run-out by Bravo in the last over for 8 with the score on 263. England, finally ended on 270-7 while Prior was left not out on 26 (3x4) and Greg Batty 2 not out.

Pollard (2-46) and Bravo (2-65) were the pick of the Windies bowlers while Powell and Miller picked up one apiece.

ENGLAND innings (maximum 50 overs)
A. Strauss c Bravo b Powell 15
R. Bopara lbw b Miller 43
K. Pietersen c Powell b Bravo 17
O. Shah c wkp. Ramdin b Bravo 62
P. Collingwood c Bravo b Pollard 69
A. Mascarenhas lbw b Pollard 0
M. Prior not out 26
S. Broad run-out (Bravo) 8
G. Batty not out 2
Extras: (lb-4, w-23, nb-1) 28
Total: (7 wkts, 50 overs) 270
Fall of wickets: 1-28, 2-64, 3-117, 4-215, 5-216, 6-243, 7-263.
Bowling: Powell 5-0-27-1 (w-6), Edwards 5-0-23-0 (w-3), Bravo 10-0-65-2 (w-2, nb-1), Sammy 10-0-43-0, Miller 9-0-48-1 (w-1), Pollard 8-0-46-2 (w-3), Gayle 3-0-14-0 (w-2).

WEST INDIES (Target: 271 off 50 overs)
C. Gayle lbw b Broad 2
L. Simmons c Anderson b Batty 62
R. Sarwan c Strauss b Collingwood 57
S. Chanderpaul c Strauss b Broad 46
K. Pollard c Harmison b Anderson 42
D. Bravo c Bopara b Anderson 1
D. Ramdin lbw b Broad 11
D. Sammy not out 0
Extras: (b-5, lb-4, w-14) 23
Total: (7 wkts, 46.2 overs) 244
Fall of wickets: 1-6, 2-131, 3-152, 4-212, 5-213, 6-242, 7-244.
Bowling: Broad 9.2-2-41-3 (w-3), Anderson 8-0-39-2, Harmison 7-0-51-0 (w-2), Mascarenhas 8-0-33-0, Batty 7-0-34-1, Collingwood 7-0-37-1 (w-1).

Mixed reactions from Windies and England captains
By Marlon Munroe
AFTER an unceremonious end to a gripping match between West Indies and England, captains Christopher Gayle and Andrew Strauss shared mixed reactions at a post-match press conference.

The West Indies who were initially set 270 runs to win had that total revised after bad light became a factor in the first Digicel ODI at the Guyana National Stadium yesterday.

The total, reduced to 245, saw the Windies one run behind when coach John Dyson told his batsmen to come in, thinking that he was one run ahead of the revised target.

At the post-match interview Dyson stated that he was on the wrong column and that he thought he was one ahead only to later find out that they were one run behind. Captain Chris Gayle stated that he felt disappointed about the situation but he is not going to be pointing fingers because we all err as humans.

Gayle acknowledged that this was the second time that this has happened and both times they were in winning positions.

However, he stated that while he was disappointed he commended his team for their fighting spirit - singling out Shivnarine Chanderpaul for his swashbuckling innings of 46, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Lendl Simmons who both made half-centuries.

Meanwhile, Strauss’ team have taken a 1-0 lead in the tournament. He stated at the press conference that he will take a win however it comes. Strauss acknowledged that it was sometimes hard to decipher the Duckworth-Lewis system.

He stated: “I am glad that the decision went our way especially since our showing in the Test series”.

He said that while his team have a win, after losing the Test series and Twenty20, it was quite dispiriting because they had no intentions of winning in such a fashion.

He explained that he was surprised when the WI team walked off the field because a piece of paper was sent out with the revised target and it showed that England was one run in front of the WI in the 47th over.

On the other hand, when he was asked about the performance of Steve Harmison, he stated that the momentum was stolen away from the English team with the over Chanderpaul plundered 26 runs off Harmison.

Meanwhile, the English have drawn first blood in the five-match series. The second match will be at the stadium in front of another huge crowd tomorrow.

Saturday start for 11th round matches after WIPA strike
… meeting with WICB fixed for Tuesday
By Adriel Richard
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) – All three matches in the 11th round of the West Indies Cricket Board’s regional four-day competition will begin today, officials confirmed yesterday.

This follows industrial action by the players involved in the three matches, as well as a protest in the first of five One-day International between West Indies and England in Guyana triggered by the West Indies Players’ Association (WIPA), after its President and Chief Executive Officer Dinanath Ramnarine quit on Thursday as a director of the WICB.

But the players’ body had relented and agreed to meet the WICB next Tuesday and Wednesday in Barbados by the time appointed for the scheduled close had it been a full day of action in the regional competition.

“WIPA representatives will be attending the meeting to resolve all outstanding issues,” said a news release from the players’ organisation.

“As a result, WIPA in good faith has instructed its members regional and international to proceed with their respective fixtures and obligations pending the outcome of our meeting in Barbados.”

The decision came following intense discussions between Ramnarine and WICB President Julian Hunte, following the resignation of the WIPA boss the previous day, claiming that his position had become untenable because of the governing body’s lack of movement on several key player issues.

In the regional competition, front-runners Jamaica were to face Combined Campuses & Colleges at Sabina Park in Jamaica, second-placed Windward Islands were to meet Trinidad & Tobago at the Arnos Vale Sports Complex in St Vincent, and third-placed Barbados were set to tackle Leeward Islands at the North Stars Social & Cultural Club in Barbados.

Officials in the three match venues were informed late yesterday by the WICB that the matches will start a day later than scheduled.

Also, West Indies players taking part in the first ODI at the Guyana National Stadium wore duct tape over the Digicel logo on their right sleeves to show solidarity.

But the players had switched the duct tape to their other sleeve which does not bare the logo of the team sponsor following a rain delay in the ODI.

Ramnarine was appointed as a director of the WICB two years ago under Hunte in a move that was widely acclaimed, following a number of bruising battles with the regional governing body.

But the former West Indies leg-spinner said he was forced to leave the WICB position to protest the governing body’s failure to deal with the issue of retainer contracts and first-class fees, injury payments to players, non-implementation of updated anti-doping policy and the non-payment to players for the recently concluded New Zealand series.

Hunte, who was attending the ODI in Guyana, said he first got word of the industrial action just hours before the start of play.

He also disclosed that he had spoken to Ramnarine and it was important the WICB also meet with the players – not just their representatives – next week.

“We understand that WIPA has identified a number of areas that we feel about which they feel aggrieved, and have arranged a meeting for Barbados on Tuesday to resolve all outstanding issues," he told CMC Sports Wire.

“It will be premature for us to speak about the issues that have been submitted for our consideration.

“But I believe we will also want the players to be in attendance at the meeting on Tuesday because things have reached the stage where we need to involve them so that they can hear both sides.”

This is the second time that WIPA has successfully staged a strike in the regional first-class competition.

Six years ago, they similarly staged a strike having called play off because of issues with the WICB.

Tendulkar scores ton as India take control
HAMILTON, New Zealand (Reuters) - Sachin Tendulkar scored 160 for his 42nd Test century to guide India to a dominant position at the end of the third day of the first Test against New Zealand at Seddon Park yesterday.

The hosts were 75 for three in the second innings, 166 runs behind India who were bowled out just before the tea break for 520 in reply to New Zealand's 279.

New Zealand made a disastrous start to their second innings with opener Tim McIntosh controversially caught at first slip by Tendulkar off the third ball for a duck.

Television replays suggested the ball may have bounced just in front of Tendulkar before he closed his hands around the ball. The 35-year-old Tendulkar immediately left the field to receive treatment to his hand.

New Zealand coach Andy Moles said he thought the catch should have been referred to the third umpire.

"You all saw the TV shots, it's fair to say we're surprised it wasn't referred," Moles told reporters.

Tendulkar, however, disagreed.

"I have seen the replays and I have seen my fingers under the ball," he said.

"Sometimes on camera it looks different. I was pretty much confident otherwise I would not have appealed for it."

DIRE STRAITS
Debutant Martin Guptill (48) and Daniel Flynn combined for a 68-run second-wicket stand before Guptill threw his wicket away in sight of his first Test half-century when he smashed a Harbhajan Singh half volley to Virender Sehwag.

New Zealand's crisis deepened when nightwatchman Kyle Mills, who lasted 19 balls in the fading light, was trapped in front by Munaf Patel for two on the last ball of the day.

Flynn was left on 24 not out and will be joined at the crease today by Ross Taylor with New Zealand's last three specialist batsmen in Flynn, Taylor and Jesse Ryder needing to bat the entire day to avoid a heavy loss within four days.

"We find ourselves in a very difficult position," Moles said.

"We've been outplayed for the first three days and we've got to make sure we show a bit more character over the next two.

"We've under-performed, we dropped four catches, there were balls in the outfield we should have cut off.

"It's not a very good advert for the Test team so far in this game."

Tendulkar had anchored India's powerful batting line up to an imposing total.

Resuming on 278 for four, just one run behind New Zealand's first innings, Yuvraj Singh (22) was the only wicket to fall in the morning session when he shouldered arms to a Chris Martin delivery and was bowled.

Tendulkar and captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni combined for a century stand until the afternoon session before Dhoni was caught behind by Brendon McCullum for 47 when an Iain O'Brien bouncer brushed his gloves.

Tendulkar, who had brought up his 150 shortly before Dhoni was dismissed, did not last much longer when O'Brien had him playing at a short ball outside off stump and he was caught by Taylor at first slip.

"I think we're in a strong position now, that is what really matters to us," Tendulkar said.
"We've lead from the front right from the first session of this Test match."

NEW ZEALAND first innings 279
India first innings (o/n 278-4)
G. Gambhir c McMullum b Martin 72
V. Sehwag run-out 24
R. Dravid b O'Brien 66
S. Tendulkar c Taylor b O'Brien 160
V. Laxman c Taylor b Martin 30
Y. Singh b Martin 22
M. Dhoni c McCullum b O'Brien 47
H. Singh c Vettori b Mills 16
Z. Khan not out 51
I. Sharma c McCullum b Vettori 6
M.Patel c Martin b Vettori 9
Extras: (b-6, lb-3, nb-8) 17
Total: (all out, 152.4 overs) 520
Fall of wickets: 1-37, 2-142, 3-177, 4-238, 5-314, 6-429, 7-443, 8-457, 9-492.
Bowling: Martin 30-9-98-3, Mills 22-4-98-1 (nb-5), O'Brien 33-7-103-3, Franklin 23-1-98-0, Vettori 35.4-8-90-2 (nb-3), Ryder 9-5-24-0.

NEW ZEALAND second innings
T. McIntosh c Tendulkar b Khan 0
M. Guptill c Sehwag b Harbhajan Singh 48
D. Flynn not out 24
K. Mills lbw b Patel 2
Extras: (b-1) 1
Total: (3 wickets, 31 overs) 75
Bowling: Khan 8-3-14-1, Sharma 9-2-34-0, Patel 5-1-14-1, Harbhajan Singh 6-1-8-1, Yuvraj Singh 3-1-4-0.

Prince and Kallis smash centuries to put Proteas on top
By Ken Borland
CAPE TOWN, South Africa (Reuters) - Ashwell Prince and Jacques Kallis scored centuries to help South Africa move into a strong position on the second day of the third Test against Australia yesterday.

The hosts ended the day on 404 for three, stretching their first innings lead to 195 runs over the frustrated Australians.

Australia, who have an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the three-match series, were bowled out for 209 on the first day.

The South Africans took advantage of a flat pitch under clear blue skies, with Prince scoring 150 and Kallis unbeaten on 102.

"South Africa have lifted their game and haven't let us play as well as we would have liked, although the boys tried very well," Australia coach Tim Nielsen told reporters.

"Not many people are bouncing around the changing room and it's the first time this young bowling attack has had to struggle through a long, hard day of Test cricket. It's been a very tough day today, but it will be character-building."

Kallis, the acting South African captain in the absence of the injured Graeme Smith, completed his hundred shortly before the close and made no effort to hide his delight having last reached three figures 13 Tests ago in April 2008 against India in Ahmedabad.

Umpire Asad Rauf originally ruled the single that took Kallis from 99 to 100 had been a leg-bye, but later changed his decision to a run after the third umpire confirmed the batsman had hit the ball with a thick inside edge.

The decision led to a brief tiff between the umpires and Australia captain Ricky Ponting.

SCORED FLUENTLY
Prince, opening the batting for the first time in his career after being a middle order batsman in his previous 47 Tests, scored fluently as he needed just 152 balls for his century.

The left-hander's mix of solid technique, sound shot selection and punchy scoring strokes meant the Australian attack struggled to contain him.

Prince blasted 19 fours and two sixes in his 249-ball knock before being controversially dismissed after tea. Third umpire Billy Bowden overturned Steve Bucknor's not-out decision as the Australians appealed for a catch down the leg side, believing the left-hander had got a glove to a delivery from Ben Hilfenhaus.

AB de Villiers maintained the flow of runs as he cruised to 39 not out, working the ball into the gaps with ease, while Kallis continued to tear into the bowling. He struck 14 fours and two sixes off 157 balls.

Imraan Khan (20), Hashim Amla (46) were the only other scalps Australia claimed on day two.

Debutant Khan offered a sharp return catch to Peter Siddle, while Mitchell Johnson removed Amla after he edged a limp-footed drive to wicketkeeper Brad Haddin.

AUSTRALIA first innings 209 (S. Katich 55)
SOUTH AFRICA first innings
I. Khan c & b Siddle 20
A. Prince c Haddin b Hilfenhaus 150
H. Amla c Haddin b Johnson 46
J. Kallis not out 102
AB. de Villiers not out 39
Extras: (b-18, lb-16, nb-10, w-3) 47
Total: (three wickets, 102 overs) 404
Fall of wickets: 1-65, 2-162, 3-322.
Bowling (to date): Johnson 24-4-92-1 (w-1, nb-6), Hilfenhaus 25-4-97-1 (w-2, nb-4), Siddle 23-12-35-1, McGain 11-2-102-0, McDonald 19-6-44-0.

FIFA plays down 2010 World Cup ticket fears
By Mark Meadows
ZURICH, (Reuters) - FIFA is confident all tickets for the 2010 World Cup will be sold despite flagging sales for June's Confederations Cup in South Africa.

Officials in South Africa proposed plans on Tuesday to sell group tickets to companies and fan clubs in a bid to boost interest in the Confederations Cup, the test event for 2010.

"We have one concern about the Confederations Cup and that is the ticketing," FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke told reporters after soccer's governing body held an executive committee meeting.

"The culture in South Africa is to buy tickets on match days but the system FIFA imposed is stricter. We are working now on different policies.

"For the World Cup it is different. There are at least 28 matches of the 64 that are sold out. Definitely the demand is huge."

Valcke said two thirds of the World Cup tickets had gone to the international market, with fans in the United States and England buying the most.

Demand will pick up further once fans know which teams have qualified and following December's draw.

SINGLE BIDDERS
The global financial crisis has yet to cause any major disruption to South Africa's plans. World Cups generate 95 percent of FIFA's revenues.

"Everything is under control. All the stadiums for the World Cup will be delivered by December 2009 except one in Cape Town which will be ready by February 2010," Valcke added.

"We have not received a single call from one of our commercial partners ... about a discussion on new payment schedules or the reduction of the contract."

FIFA's Executive Committee did not discuss bids for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups in detail but president Sepp Blatter reiterated that he prefers single bidders.

Joint bids from Belgium and Netherlands and Spain and Portugal look to be disadvantaged with Australia, England, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, Russia and the United States bidding for both tournaments.

"On double candidature, there is a principle ... that there should be a preference in associations bidding alone, and that double candidature should be eliminated as long as there is a possibility for a single bid to host the World Cup," Blatter said.

"Double candidature for the time being is not a concern for FIFA, it is always possible that these double bids could become single bids."

Blatter gave no hints on which one of the single bidders was in pole position.

United draw Porto, Liverpool face Chelsea again
NYON, Switzerland (Reuters) - Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson pronounced himself happy after yesterday’s Champions League draw paired the holders with Porto and kept them away from Barcelona in any potential semifinal.

The draw at UEFA headquarters also paired Liverpool and Chelsea, who will meet for the fifth straight season in the competition. The Premier League clubs have met three times in semifinals in the last four years and also in the group phase.

Liverpool came through in 2005 and 2007 but the Londoners finally overcame their bogey team in extra-time last season before losing to United in the final. Barcelona meet Bayern Munich while Villarreal will play Arsenal in the other last-eight ties. Arsenal beat the Spaniards in the 2006 last four before losing to Barca in the final.

Ferguson has some painful memories of Porto, who knocked United out en route to winning the trophy in 2004, while Jose Mourinho was coach of the Portuguese side.

Having gained revenge on Mourinho by knocking his current club Inter Milan out in the last round, he is ready to complete the job by ending Porto's interest.

"This is a good draw for us," Ferguson told MUTV after United were drawn to play the first leg at home.

"The only thing you hope is that you don't lose a goal in the home tie."

The first legs will be played on April 7 or 8 with the return matches the following week.

In semi-finals, United or Porto will play Villarreal or Arsenal and Barcelona or Bayern will meet Liverpool or Chelsea.

The semifinals take place on April 28/29 and May 5/6.

HEFTY WINS
Liverpool, buoyed by Rafa Benitez's contract renewal and great wins over Real Madrid and Manchester United, will play their second leg at Stamford Bridge on April 14, so avoiding having to play on April 15 -- the 20th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster.

Benitez, immensely proud of making Liverpool Europe's most successful team in the last five years despite failing to land the Premier League title, was not so happy with the draw.

"To play against an English team is not the best," he said. "To play against Chelsea is not easy."

Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink said his players took a break from training to find out who their opponents would be.

"That's nice, it means the players are looking forward to the big games as well," he told the club's web site (www.chelsea.fc.com). "I haven't seen all the games but they are always exciting, very close victories or draws."

Of more interest to the neutral would be a Manchester United v Barcelona final in Rome on May 27 and that possibility remained on the cards after the draw kept them apart.

Coach Juergen Klinsmann said Bayern would not be overawed by facing Barca but he did not underestimate the task.

"Coming face-to-face with the best team in Europe at the moment is a terrific challenge," the Bayern boss said.

Barca striker Thierry Henry, however, warned that Bayern's 12-1 aggregate trouncing of Sporting in the last 16 showed they were a dangerous side in superb form.

"They have players who can make the difference," the French international said, singling out strikers Luca Toni and Miroslav Klose and midfielders Bastian Schweinsteiger and Franck Ribery.

"The only thing I didn't want was to have to play against Arsenal," he added. "Having to play a former club is always a strange feeling and one I did not want to have to experience."

The honour of facing Arsenal goes to Villarreal, who will look to gain revenge for their painful failure in the 2006 semi-finals, when they lost 1-0 to the English side after Jens Lehmann saved Juan Roman Riquelme's late penalty.

FIFA confident of weathering recession as revenues rise
ZURICH, (Reuters) - FIFA is confident it will ride out the global economic crisis after figures released yesterday showed revenues rose in 2008.

Revenues were up to $957 million from 882 million in 2007 while expenditure also fell to 773 million from 833 million, FIFA's annual financial report said.

The rise in revenues is largely due to increased income from the marketing of rights for future World Cups.

"We hope that, thanks to our longstanding relationship with our partners, the effects of the worldwide economic downturn will have only a limited effect on FIFA's revenue," FIFA president Sepp Blatter said in the report.

"This situation will serve as an incentive for clubs to pay greater attention to youth development and thereby strengthen their regional identity."

Liverpool avoid match on Hillsborough 20th anniversary
LONDON, England (Reuters) - Liverpool will not have to play a match on April 15, the 20th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster, after UEFA yesterday scheduled their Champions League quarter-final second leg against Chelsea for April 14.

Liverpool had asked UEFA to ensure they did not play on April 15, when a memorial service will be held at Anfield in memory of the 96 fans who were crushed to death at a 1989 FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest at Sheffield Wednesday's Hillsborough ground.

Having been paired with Chelsea, whom they have met in the semi-finals in three of the past four seasons, Liverpool discovered that the Anfield first leg would be on April 8 with the London return on April 14.

"We could fulfil our promise to Liverpool and that makes us happy and we hope Liverpool fans can find the right atmosphere for honouring their loved ones," UEFA director of communications William Gaillard told Sky Sports News.

Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry said the club were "delighted" with the outcome.

"We are very appreciative of the decision to play the second leg on April 14," Parry told the club's web site (www.liverpoolfc.tv).

"It was always clear from our discussions with UEFA that they understood the issue and the sensitivities involved around the anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster."