Police deny involvement in brothers' shooting
THE GUYANA POLICE FORCE has categorically denied that a policeman was involved in the killing of Lennox and Ron Baker on Friday morning.

The mother of the two claimed again yesterday that the police were involved.

Lennox, a 45-year-old father of four, and Ron, 34, who fathered two children, were shot dead around 1.45 a.m. on Emancipation Day, after stopping briefly at Vergenoegen, West Coast Demerara, for a passenger to disembark.

Reports say that after dropping off the passenger opposite a bus shed, an unidentified man in a white car indicated that he had passengers for the bus.

It is alleged that two men came out of the car, approached the bus and fired indiscriminately, smashing the window at the conductor's side and forcing passengers to dive for cover.

The killers then fled the scene, leaving in their wake a slightly wounded passenger who was subsequently treated and discharged.

According to reports, Lennox attempted to drive after the shooting, but he succumbed a few minutes later. Ron died on the way to West Demerara Regional Hospital at Best.

News of the shooting flashed on television and in the print media. But in a follow-up Sunday Stabroek headlined its front-page lead, 'Police involved in death of two brothers, says family.'

That, the police replied, is not true.

In a statement directed to the Editor and copied to the Chronicle, the police said:

"With great consternation, the Administration of the Guyana Police Force, considers it paramount to express its shock and chagrin pertaining to your front page story.

"Mr. Editor, the message that your headline and subsequent news item seeks to churn out is very disturbing particularly emanating at a time when the Guyana Police Force is certainly just beginning to enjoy a change of circumstance, a breath of fresh air, and by extension less stress and tension in society.

"Mr. Editor, where is the evidence that the Police were involved in that tragedy?

"If the family of the unfortunate brothers have such damning evidence, as you seem to have concluded, say, is this the way to go? Is your newspaper the medium for investigating and pronouncing on the matter?

"To insinuate such dangerous thought (s) without being able to substantiate, is tantamount to the highest degree of recklessness and irresponsibility.

"Clearly your newspaper leaves no doubt that the two brothers may have been targeted by policemen and you subtly qualified 'the targeting' by the use of the words, '... which relatives allege may have been motivated by recent disputes.'

"Mr. Editor, the Force wishes to make it pellucidly clear that no policemen were involved in that shooting. If all citizens who were involved in disputes with police officers and vice versa were to adopt such courses, where would the force be headed? It is preposterous to assume that the policemen may be driven to such a state of madness as to want to seek revenge.

"Mr. Editor, the reply 'No comment' does not mean that the Police spokesman was acknowledging that Policemen might have been involved and therefore he wished to say nothing. He was just being cautious.

"The Force has noted that some media houses have developed their own trial courts without regards to the courts of competent jurisdiction in this country. The Police spokesman indicated to the reporter that the matter was under investigation and that should be accepted.

"Mr. Editor, at paragraphs 12 and 13, you stated, 'the mother said that at the scene ... she encountered the Officer who had pulled the gun on Lennox three weeks ago.'

"Now, what are we to understand here? Mr. Editor, just because a particular policeman with whom a person may have had a dispute is seen at the scene of a crime, in those circumstances, it is enough to conclude, is it reasonable to deduce that he may be involved in that crime?

"That crime occurred in his station district and therefore his presence at the scene of the crime was justified and warranted. It was his area of responsibility, station, district, and division wise. In fact, Mr. Editor, any policemen can stop and be present at a scene of a crime whether or not he is on or off duty and whether or not it is his station district.

"Mr. Editor, the relatives can say what they want; they can conjure up all the reasons and beliefs, in their moment (s) of sadness. They can look for all the possibilities as to why? But we wish to make it known, that to peddle such spurious allegations against members of the Force does not do iota of good for one's credibility. It is good to run with a thought or an idea. Many persons including relatives, quite often, are very loquacious at scenes of crime and to the media but where it matters most they are dead silent.

"Yes, the shooting is still under investigation and anyone who has information as to whether or not the police are involved, may contact the relevant authorities. You may also wish to advise them as to the course of action to take, seeing that your story gives the clear impression that it may be unwise for those wishing to assist, to approach the Police authorities.

"Finally, Mr. Editor, wrong means wrong, contrary to law and not according to the opinion of one or a number of persons.

"The Guyana Police Force is calling upon you and the family to produce the evidence of the alleged involvement of members of the Force, failing which we expect nothing but an unequivocal apology."

The grieving mother told the Guyana Chronicle yesterday that the death of her two sons brings back painful memories of Charles, another son who also died under peculiar circumstances.

Mrs. Baker said Charles Baker was shot on October 02, 1995 at Parika Police Station following a parking problem on the Parika Stelling.

He died 11 days later.

Police said investigations are continuing into Friday's tragedy.

Classroom management fails some C'bean teachers in US, UK
THIRTY PER cent of Caribbean teachers employed in British and American schools have been given low grades for classroom management, two overseas recruiting agencies have confirmed.

"They struggle in the area of classroom management," Ned Glascock, communications manager at the Visiting International Faculty (VIF) Programme in the United States, said.

Chris Jones, manager of Teach London, Canada, which recruits teachers for British schools said, "About 70 per cent do well with the other 30 (per cent) struggling to manage their classrooms."

According to Mr. Jones, the shortfall in classroom management could have been due to a culture change.

Classroom management involves teachers' abilities to control their students and enforce disciplinary measures.

Teach London and the VIF Programme have been recruiting Caribbean teachers since 2000. However, the VIF programme is an exchange programme which allows teachers to work in United States schools for up to three years.

One Jamaican teacher, employed to a United States high school, told The Gleaner Thursday that several Caribbean teachers found it challenging to adopt to foreign schools. "Our students perform better in Jamaica and they display better attitudes, but here it is difficult because most of the students really don't care," the teacher said.

INDISCIPLINED BEHAVIOURS
Relating scenarios where students displayed undisciplined behaviours, she said she was in a culture shock for several months after her appointment. "I could never imagine that a student would curse bad words in front of a teacher and don't even care," she said.

The teacher said that end of term evaluations often highlighted the need for improvement in classroom management.

Adolph Cameron, Secretary General of the Jamaica Teachers' Association (JTA), said yesterday that it was "not surprising" that the teachers encountered difficulties in managing their classrooms given the difference in culture. Notwithstanding, he said the JTA did not have reports of teachers returning home. (Jamaica Gleaner)

Mia gets Sept. 5 court date
FORMER beauty queen Mia Rahaman has been given another date with an Ontario court - September 5.

That's after a brief appearance in Brampton, Ontario, on Friday for another hearing on the illicit drug possession charge she has been slapped with.

Mia was nabbed by Customs officers at Pearson International Airport on May 21 on a flight from Guyana.

The authorities there allege that after she looked suspicious, they searched and uncovered a total of 7.5 kilograms of cocaine in her luggage and cosmetics.

Mia, who is out on bail, is being represented by Guyanese-born attorney Dhaman Kissoon.

Friday's three-minute hearing was restricted to photographers.

But Raynier Maharaj of The Caribbean Camera told the Chronicle that Mr. Kissoon asked for more time to study recent information he has received from the prosecution and that the court obliged, adjourning the case to September 5.

Mia has had to surrender her passport and other travel documents and is restricted to the province of Ontario until the determination of the case.

Contract signed for repairs to South Ruimveldt Primary
SOUTH Ruimveldt Park Primary School will soon undergo rehabilitation works at a cost of approximately $9M.

According to a release from the Ministry of Education, a Consultancy Contract for the renovation of the school building was signed by the Ministry and Mr. N. James for the period of August 2003 to July 2004.

The release added that extension works would be carried out on the Turkeyen Nursery School and President’s College. There will also be external painting of one teaching block and the completion of the Annex at the Carnegie School of Home Economics, Georgetown.

According to Mr. James of N. James Consultants, work will begin immediately on all projects. Jobs include the preparation of sketch designs, detailed designs, drawings, budget estimates, bill of quantities, supervision of projects, tender and contact documents.

The release further stated that clause Number Nine of the contract reads, “The contract is effective from the date of signing to one year after. This may be extended on the same condition as mutually agreed by both employer and the Consultant Manager.”

Signing on behalf of the Government was Mr. Ganga Persaud, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, in whose office the documents were inked.

Use certified labs for your medical tests
--Warns Standards Bureau
THE Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) has identified several certified medical laboratories, and is cautioning members of the public to utilise these facilities for their medical tests.

The quality of health care would be enhanced with the improved quality of test results issued by medical laboratories, the GNBS explained in a release.

According to the statement, the certified laboratories have developed Quality Systems Manual and Technical Procedural Manuals, which guide their operations. They are operating a Quality Management System in their operations in accordance with the detail requirements of the national standard.

“The GNBS also carries out periodic surveillance audits of the certified laboratories to ensure that they efficiently maintain the Quality Management System built into their operations, which include, inter alia, record keeping, calibration of equipment used, application of test methods by staff, environmental conditions of the laboratories, etc.

A number of uncertified laboratories are currently working to comply with the National Standard so that they can become certified, the release added.

PERSPECTIVE
THE MEDIA IN HIV/AIDS BEHAVIOR PREVENTION MESSAGES REMARKS DELIVERED AT THE GINA/UNICEF HIV/AIDS WORKSHOP ON JULY 24, 2003
BY PREM MISIR, Ph.D.
Although AIDS was spreading since the late 1970s, it was not identified until 1981 when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published a paper in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. This article outlined unusual clusters of opportunistic diseases among young homosexual men
in New York and California. Today, we know that the pandemic shows some general trends: people in their prime of life are the most affected; as the pandemicbecomes full-grown, people contract the HIV infection at younger ages; women face greater risk from heterosexual transmission than men; and with the maturing of the disease, the pandemic spreads from the initial high-risk groups into the wider society. Since people contract the HIV infection at younger ages, prevention interventions as a priority must be targeted to young people.

The HIV-infection in Guyana claims about 3 to 5% of its population. UNAIDS epidemiological data show that 800 of the young aged 0-15 were HIV-infected, and 33 (1.5%) of those aged 10-14 progressed to AIDS at the end of year 2001. Worldwide, about 15 million young women, aged 15-19, have babies every year, contributing to more than 10 % of all babies delivered globally.

A mere 17% of these use contraception. Globally, about 50% of all HIV-infection cases are prevalent among people under age 25.

UNAIDS/WHO data indicate that 75-85% of HIV infections in adults worldwide were transmitted through unprotected sexual intercourse, with 70% emanating from heterosexual intercourse. For the Caribbean, heterosexual transmission has been the most predominant transmission mode since the genesis of the pandemic, with nearly half of all HIV-infected adults being women.

The HIV infection is preventable mainly through behavior change. Change in a given behavior requires firstly an understanding of the factors that produce that behavior. If we have a better understanding of why people behave in the way they do, then we will be better able to develop more effective interventions to change behavior. Therefore, it is critical to empirically identify factors that most strongly influence a given behavior in a given population and then utilize this information to design interventions. In Guyana, we need to pay attention to three theories that have significantly impact AIDS research -the Health Belief Model, the Social Cognitive Theory, and the Theory of Reasoned Action.

The HIV pandemic is driven by behaviors, such as, having multiple sexual partners, among others, which place the individual at the risk of infection. Information on the knowledge and on the level and intensity of risky behavior associated with HIV/AIDS, is strategic in identifying populations at greater risk for contracting the HIV infection. The information also is critical in assessing and evaluating changes over time, resulting from behavioral prevention activities.

Information aimed at increasing knowledge on sexual transmission and eliminating misconceptions are a critical precondition for prevention programs designed for inducing behavior change.

Adolescence symbolizes the era of increased risk behaviors. This period produces intense levels of susceptibility to behavior problems associated with both puberty and new apprehensions about reproductive health.

Over the last 30 years, few developments have had more sway on adolescents than radio, print and television, that is, the mass media. The mass media have tremendous influence on information, values and behaviors with reference to sex and sexuality, and create a valued and effective conduit to promote prevention behavior messages to youngsters.

The mass media also provide information on sex to the young. A content analysis on American TV showed that 75% of prime-time shows exhibited sexual content, but only 10% of happenings include any reference to the risks or responsibilities of the sex act or the call for using contraception.

However, the TV can teach the young about HIV/AIDS, for it can transmit information, mould attitudes, control behaviors and cultural norms.

The mass media need to promote knowledge about sex among the young. Why?
Parents and sexuality education programs only minimally impact adolescents because, generally, only some schools provide high-quality programs, and parents may find it agonizing to discuss sex. The mass media, therefore, may be needed to address this deficiency.

An AIDS prevention video called "Vis de Rua" (Street Life) produced an 18% increase in condom use, and increased knowledge by 20%, among young people in Brazil.

Interactive media and youth participation also may be a strategic dissemination tool to induce behavior change. Latin MTV had a show for youngsters called "Smart Sex" which had a viewing audience of 3-4 million youngsters and subsequently was able to attract 2,800 calls on its telephone hotline. This show had an extensive influence. About 78% of youngsters who saw the show recommended it to their peers and 91% endorsed the show's messages.

Any mass media program design for young people must be customized in accordance with the age and cognitive development, for that age.

Effective behavior prevention messages generally are simple, consistent, clear-cut, use visual information, have multiple sources, and given frequent repetition that is sustained over the long haul.

Behavior prevention messages could begin as early as ages 8-10, as children nstart very early on to imitate behaviors. These messages must consider cultural and environmental differences, and youngsters should input the message design process.

The mass media do have a significant role and contribution to enhancing young people's healthy sexual development, especially amid the ravages of the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

Court enforces dress code
THE apparent disrespect for the court displayed by some members of the public in respect for their mode of dress when attending to matters there, has prompted the management of the Georgetown Magistrate Court to enforce a dress code.

This is according to an official of the court who was asked about a strategically- placed notice board in the courtyard, alerting visitors and others that a dress code is in effect.

The notice aims to inform citizens on the way they should be attired when entering a courtyard, added the official who pointed out that many persons, especially women, are in the habit of entering the court with short skirts, strap jackets and other tight-fitting clothing, even to appear before the magistrates.

The official recalled that in the past, people came to court decently attired but noted that there seems to be some decline, as in these days they feel that it is their right to wear what they want.

“When we caution them all they say is sorry, and dress the same way again, it has to stop, people have to stop this nonsense,” the official lamented.

The official further said that while the court management understands that people want to keep up with the new trend of fashion, respect is far more essential than looking good, especially in such a place.

“Some people just love to reveal their skin but there is a “time and place”, a court must be based on respect, respect for the magistrates and lawyers and even yourself.”

“It is the intention of the Court of Appeal, the Supreme Court and all Magistrate courts in Guyana, to bring back and maintain decent dressing in the future, no matter how much fashion comes into existence,” the official added.(RENU RAGHUBIR)

They know that government transcends the borders of human existence, look to government for almost every facet of service and vote for a party which they believe is most likely to facilitate their pursuit of happiness.

Yet, they resent the very word or term, "government."

As the law enforcement branch of government, the police more often than not suffer from that negative labeling. This is particularly true in cases where rogue cops denigrate the name of the entire force, and where the police are specifically demonized by political parties, or any organization for that matter that cannot manipulate the force to partisan advantage.

That's the dilemma the Guyana Police Force faces. Even after its successful cordon-and-search operations with the Guyana Defense Force in Buxton, the Police Force has a long way to regain public credibility from the battering it got from the Government's rivals before the Buxton operations materialized.

The latest is the shooting to death of the Ron and Lennox Baker on Emancipation morning.

Mrs. Edna Baker has concluded that the police were involved in her sons' death, and media reports generally mirrored that conclusion, even in the absence of pellucid evidence or before the determination of investigations into the incident.

Amid the crime wave that lashed into the sinews of our society, the police took the brunt of the blame for the wave, both because of the lack of fast-action results and because some sections of society decided that those who were perpetrating the crimes were "resistance-" or "freedom fighters" opposing a parody of deprivation, and not criminals.

The police sought even then to forge a genuine partnership among community groups and probable victims of violence.

Available statistics show that the police have been receiving fair public responses, receiving vital tips on drug pushing/using, robbery/hold-up, rape, and murder cases that help to apprehend suspects far more frequently than previously.

The fear in the media reports on the Baker killings could damage the credibility that that police once again have begun to enjoy.

We do not support cop roguery. But we are equally concerned for the development of relations between the force and the public.

We believe that if our law enforcement officers are to stay on top of and ultimately prevent violent crimes, the law enforcers desire and deserve the support of the media and the general public, including those grieving over the injury or demise of their loved ones or close acquaintances, to widen the scope of their cooperation with the participation of the community.

The police should also intensify its building of a partnership among parents, teachers, community, youth and nongovernmental organizations to enhance its credibility and, consequently, to prevent individuals from being victims or perpetrators of crime. This can be done through the conduct of visitations, seminars, lectures, open forum, shows or film showing in depressed areas and in schools.

That, perhaps, is the best way of the police getting what they deserve - the benefit of the doubt.

Rice exports have increased in most aspects of export output of the grain. Cargo rice exports increased by 18 per cent in 1999 over the previous year's production. Likewise with cargo Parboiled Rice there was a 58.4 per cent increase, 96.2 per cent increase in Parboiled Rice and a 5.8 per cent increase in Rice Bran exports in 1999 over that of 1998 production. In 1999 rice production was 365,000 tonnes, reportedly the largest in the history of production in Guyana. Rice on the whole contributes 14 per cent to overall output of Guyana.

Most importantly, it contributes on average 4 per cent to Gross Domestic Product (GDP). It is this income contribution that is most crucial to the perception of the sector. Critics overlook the previous mentioned output gains of recent, and lambaste normal earnings from the sector when international markets are unfavourable. The resultant financial incongruence among rice farmers, creditors and millers, is the ammunition for doomsayers' judgement of the sector as being in crisis.

The permitting of liberalised terms of repayment between banks and farmers through government intervention, is innovative and a positive development. The non-payment of rice farmers by millers when normal and abnormal profits are not made is the source of a lot of discontent. It is peculiar in that contrary to laissez-faire practice, farmers are not paid immediately for their produce by the millers. This may more have to do with an evolved feudo-paternalist relationship that factors from rural socio-economies. Had it been to the contrary, adaptability of output to unfavourable market conditions would have been spontaneous.

The safeguard mechanism implemented on the Overseas Countries and Territories (OCT) route of the EU for rice producers in Southern Europe, has made Guyana's Strategic Plan imperative for success. The CARICOM working group on the development of the rice industry, needs to address the enforcement of the 40 per cent Common External Tariff (CET) on rice emanating extra-regionally. Rice export to West Africa should be competed for as well as the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations predicts that the growth in rice consumption here will remain high at 4.5 per cent per annum. This growth rate is twice the size of population growth. Also, bearing in mind that scientists at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) predict that rice supplies the world over will have to increase by 60 per cent by 2020 to satisfy increasing demand, a niche in the Asian Market can be sought after as well.

Development and diffusion of rice technology among producers is admirable in Guyana. This is a complement to the new vigour in rice research nationally and attainment internationally, and the work of the producers association. Disease resistant varieties as the Rustic varieties are common in Guyana.

Internationally, high yielding dry land varieties are being developed in West Africa, and this should be adopted for our fledgling upland interior farmers. In another instance, new techniques in biotechnology and genetic engineering enable scientists to transfer the genes from one rice plant directly to the cells of another - reducing breeding time and allowing for the transfer of specific traits. Instead of crossbreeding plants in the field, scientists are now able to make finite genetic changes to plant embryos in test tubes, virtually ensuring the success of transfer.

Guyana must recognize the importance of road infrastructure
Thirty years ago, the fathers of CARICOM, acting in their collective wisdom, accorded Guyana and Barbados the distinction of serving as host countries for the two regional institutions - the Caribbean Community Secretariat and the Caribbean Development Bank respectively. How these two "honoured" states have performed in the interim is fundamental to the present and future of CARICOM and the wider region.

It is more than mere conjecture that Guyana was selected as the capital of CARICOM because of its vast, hospitable land space, navigable rivers; shared borders with Brazil, Venezuela and Suriname; and abundant mineral resources.

Guyana is unique and diverse. As a country that borders Brazil, the largest economy in Latin America, the oil-rich Venezuela and the Guianas, Guyana is potentially the Caribbean's gateway to South America and a very important trading post when the Free Trade Area of the Americas comes into effect. This potential will be boosted by the upgrade of the road between Georgetown and northern Brazil. It should also be noted that the North West extremity of Guyana shares a border with Venezuela and already there is significant cross-border trade between the countries.

I am of the view that Guyana needs to further enhance its strategic position by fostering greater trade, cultural and sporting ties with the other Guianas - Suriname and French Guiana. With the three countries linked by roads and ferries, it would be possible to develop the No. 63 / Benab Beach on the Corentyne coast as a tourist centre and playground for the Guianas. Additionally, inter-Guianas sporting events should be encouraged to a greater extent and Guyana should revive horseracing at Springlands where a modern racetrack could be built.

Inter-Guianas motor sports should also be encouraged. The network of primary and secondary roads and ferry connections between the three countries are natural ingredients for a trans-Guianas rally. Perhaps, Guyana's motor racing tradition should be exploited to develop ties to the motor racing industry in Brazil.

With its rich gifts of nature and its strategic location, it is tragic that Guyana languishes with Haiti and Bolivia as the poorest countries in the western hemisphere.

In contrast, Barbados, the host of the Caribbean Development Bank, has made tremendous strides since independence. It has taken advantage of its traditions as a functioning democracy, to pursue good governance and sound economic policies, which have led to relative prosperity for its 260 000 people.

Barbados can proudly boast of its imposing infrastructure, including the Bridgetown Port, which can accommodate the largest cruise ships in the world, modern tourist plant, the Grantley Adams Airport and the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, the symbol of health care in the south Caribbean. Great store is placed in human development and the island invests heavily in education at every level.

My Government will continue the national highway rehabilitation and construction programme, the principal element of which will be the expansion of the ABC Highway from two to four lanes. My Government will support a Park and Ride System, will accelerate the programme to ensure that every major community has a paved road by the end of the first decade of the century.

Prime Minister Owen Arthur announced that the highway and road project will be given priority. With completion of this project in five to seven years, Barbados' physical development will be greatly advanced to a point where it will stand out as a beacon of modernization in the Caribbean.

I hope that Guyana, a country with close links to Barbados, will follow the latter's example and recognize the importance of its road infrastructure. In this regard, the construction of the Georgetown to Northern Brazil road is key.

Because of the advent of globalization, the value of a road link to Brazil extends beyond the borders of Guyana to the entire Caribbean Community. For this reason, the Caribbean Heads of government should take much greater interest in its establishment. Perhaps, the planning, financing and construction should be entrusted to a special Caribbean commission. This would elevate this most important project to the level of importance accorded to the Panama Canal in a past century. This could be a crucial symbol of Caribbean - South American trade and Caribbean Community action.
Wilton A. Angoy
Barbados

President must investigate LEAP interest rate allegation
ABOUT TWO years ago the setting up of the Linden Economic Advancement Programme (LEAP) was heralded with great fanfare. But contrary to the expectations of Lindeners this organization, whose formation promised to bring about their economic salvation, is yet to get off the ground.

Indeed, after crawling around in circles for almost the whole of the two years, LEAP only recently established its lending agency, LEAF (Linden Economic Advancement Fund), from which monies will be advanced to approved borrowers.

It was our understanding that in the interest of helping the business people - particularly the small man - loans made from this fund would have attracted a smaller rate of interest than normal. We have been reliably informed, however, that LEAF will be charging an astonishing 18 percent interest on its loans - the same as commercial banks!

Why go to all the trouble and expense to set up a special organization supposedly to help the people of Linden to lift themselves out of their state of economic depression, only to adopt the same capitalist approach to their problems? For if, as we have heard, the European Community is advancing the money for LEAF to the Government of Guyana at a mere 6 per cent, then surely the administrators of LEAF are being highly exploitative rather than helpful!

We should hope that our information regarding the rates of interest is incorrect. But, if it is not, we call upon President Jagdeo to investigate the matter forthwith in the interest of the people of Linden.

Also, why should the maximum loan be only $1 million?

What can big businessman do with this?
Lindener

Port Mourant Hospital needs hospitable staff
WHY HAVE a hospital, which cannot provide service to the people? I think paying these staff is a waste of taxpayer money.

I write with concern because on July 21st 2003 at 21:15 hrs. I personally with some of our neighbours took my father to this hospital. To my surprise, when we called a nurse to ask her where to take my father she answered us in the most impolite manner.

I ignored this and took my father into the hospital. He complained that he could not feel his left foot or arm and he developed a fever.

The nurse then came down from upstairs and told us to wait outside of the hospital while she was looking at him. When she finished looking at him she told us to take him home, that he had a flu. I then placed my father in the car still complaining that he couldn't feel his leg or arm.

I then went upstairs to talk with the nurse to ask her what was the name of the injection she gave my father. She said "Bico". I asked if "Bico" was for flu and she began saying I could talk to the other nurse while she sat looking at television.

How could I ask another nurse when she was the one who saw my father? I was also told that the doctor was in the hospital at the time and he told the nurse that my father had a flu.

The doctor didn't see my father and the only thing my father told the nurse was that he couldn't have felt his leg or arm. Is this enough information to tell that a person has a flu? Is having cramps and numbness symptom of a flu?

I will be very happy if the Ministry of Health can look into this and eliminate the incompetent staff and teach nurses how to talk to people.
HARRIPERSAUD CHAND

Police must step up road safety campaigns
All the efforts and campaigns to increase safety on the roads must continue to reduce death and injury on our roadways.

The Traffic Police must continue and step up their campaigns to ensure that vehicles are licensed, insured and have their road-worthy fitness certificates and also that the drivers are properly licensed.

There must be constant mobile and foot patrols especially at busy junctions at the busy times of the day. Drivers and other road users must be vigilant to observe all traffic rules and directions.

There can be no speeding as according to the authorities this is the main cause of the accidents. Cyclists must have lights on their bicycles and endeavour to wear light-coloured clothing in the evenings as far as possible as well as pedestrians.

We all have to combine and work together to make the roads safer for families, others and ourselves.
Yours faithfully,
Jenny Croal

Flintoff hits 142 off 146 balls
… but 10-wicket Ntini condemns England to defeat
By Tony Lawrence
LONDON, England (Reuters) - Makhaya Ntini took 10 wickets in a match for the first time in his international career as South Africa wrapped up an innings and 92-run win against England in the second Test at Lord's yesterday.

Ntini kissed the ground after his second five-wicket haul of the game as England, needing 509 to make the touring side bat a second time, were dismissed for 417 to go 1-0 down in the five-match series.

England's only consolation, following half-centuries for Mark Butcher and Nasser Hussain, came from an extraordinary run-a-ball hundred in a losing cause from Andrew Flintoff.

With the score on 208 for six and left with nothing but tail-enders for company, the big all-rounder threw the bat in a typically theatrical display as he made 142 off 146 balls, including 18 fours and five sixes -- his second Test century and his first on home soil.

Protecting the tail as best he could, he was last man out, stumped off wrist-spinner Paul Adams.

``There's chaos in our dressing room,'' said delighted South Africa captain Graeme Smith. I can't tell you how pleased the players are; they're going mad in the dressing room.

``I would like to think we can keep England under the cosh. If we can win the third Test at Trent Bridge, there'll be no stopping us.''

New England captain Michael Vaughan said: ``We need to pick up ourselves up and produce a better display at Trent Bridge. Freddie (Flintoff) just spared a few of our blushes.

``We were hammered.''

Flintoff's brutal head-to-head with the rubber-limbed Ntini in the death throes of a one-sided contest at least roused the crowd on another sun-drenched day.

Ntini, hostile but erratic, hit Flintoff in the helmet but was also clattered for two sixes and a four off four balls, Flintoff splitting his bat in two in the process.

THREE FIGURES
Flintoff, who held out for three hours and 20 minutes, had the pleasure of reaching three figures with another pull to the boards off Ntini, then scythed all-rounder Andrew Hall over point and then into the midwicket stands.

When Pollock was brought on to end the fun, Flintoff, his weight on the back foot, blazed him over mid-on for six and then struck three consecutive boundaries as 20 came off the over.

Ntini, though, had the last laugh as he ended with five for 145 off 31 mercurial overs, to go with his five for 75 in the first innings.

It was Smith, however, who was left with the broadest smile after he and Ntini were declared man-of-the-match jointly.

The 22-year-old had made 259 -- the highest score ever made at Lord's by an overseas player and his second double century in consecutive Tests -- out of a national record score of 682 for six declared as South Africa dominated throughout.

The chasm between two supposedly evenly matched sides was underlined by the fact that South Africa effectively won with 10 men, quick bowler Dewald Pretorius missing the main action with a thigh strain.

Resuming on 129 for two after Marcus Trescothick and Vaughan had both failed on Saturday, England continued to misfire.

Having bowled badly and fielded abysmally, they fared only marginally better second time out after making 173 in the first innings.

RAISED SPIRITS
Former captain Hussain, who gave Vaughan just three days' preparation after suddenly resigning after Edgbaston, and Butcher raised spirits temporarily during their stand of 126.

But, from 186 for two with lunch looming, the top order imploded again.

First Butcher, on 70, chipped all-rounder Hall lazily to square leg. Then three wickets fell without a run being added in seven balls around lunch.

Hussain, on 61, never got into position as he skied an over-ambitious hook off Ntini behind and Alec Stewart nibbled at a good delivery and was caught behind for a second-ball duck.

Hussain, warmly applauded for reaching 5 000 Test runs moments earlier, cursed himself all the way back to the pavilion.

Pollock dismissed the statuesque Anthony McGrath three balls after lunch, leaving Flintoff to delay the inevitable during an 89-run partnership with Giles, Ntini separating them with his first delivery with the new ball, and a 47-run stand with Darren Gough.

Without Flintoff, England could have sunk to their worst Test defeat while South Africa could have recorded their best Test triumph.

Stands of 89 for the seventh wicket, however, 47 for the eighth, 27 for the ninth and 46 for the last put paid to that. While the England top six managed 208, the last four put on 209.

ENGLAND 1st innings 173 (M.Ntini 5-75, A.Hall 3-18)

South Africa 1st innings 682-6 declared (G.Smith 259, G.Kirsten 108, B.Dippenaar 92, M.Boucher 68)

England 2nd innings (o/n 129-2)

M.Trescothick c Adams b Ntini 23

M.Vaughan c Pollock b Hall 29

M.Butcher c Kirsten b Hall 70

N.Hussain c Boucher b Ntini 61

A.McGrath c Boucher b Pollock 13

A.Stewart c Hall b Ntini 0

A.Flintoff stp. Boucher b Adams 142

A.Giles c Pollock b Ntini 23

D.Gough c Adams b Pollock 14

S.Harmison c Hall b Ntini 7

J.Anderson not out 4

Extras: (b-6, lb-5, w-3, nb-17) 31

Total: (all out) 417

Fall of wickets: 1-52, 2-60, 3-186, 4-208, 5-208, 6-208, 7-297, 8-344, 9-371.

Bowling: Pollock 29-7-105-2, Ntini 31-5-145-5, Hall 24-6-66-2, Adams 20.1-1-74-1, Pretorius 3-0-16-0.

Third Test: August 14-18 - Trent Bridge, Nottingham

Fourth Test: August 21-25 - Headingley, Leeds

Fifth Test: September 4-8 - The Oval, London.

Gibbs rides away with Emancipation Criterium
DWAYNE Gibbs rode away with the Open 30-lap race of the Emancipation Criterium, staged by Continental Cycle Club 2000, in association with Guyana Telephone & Telegraph Company (GT&T) at the Seawall Bandstand, yesterday.

Gibbs completed the 44.25-kilometre race in one hour seven minutes and 10.45 seconds, followed by Vinesh Narine in second place and Samuel Barker third.

The victor also won two prime prizes, Narine and Barker one each, while Marlon Williams took away the lion’s share, riding away with five, consecutively from the second one, with Gordon Kennedy winning the first one.

Gibbs was the leader in the Open Devil event, taking the race in 30:17.15 minutes. Kennedy placed second and Junior Niles third.

The distance master, however, placed second to Marlon Morrison in the Category 1&2 race over four laps. Morrison clocked 8:25.35 minutes. Talim Shaw was third.

Williams was the master of Juniors, winning the four-lapper, ahead of Jorge Emerson and Travis Mendonca. He again won the six-lapper in a time of 13:28.63 minutes, with Emerson and Mendonca finishing in the same order.

Olonzo Greaves won both the Juvenile events staged simultaneously with the Juniors, Darren riding in second in both.

The Under-45 Veteran was Vaughn Phillips who completed the four laps in 9:19.28 minutes, followed by Virgil Jones in second and Linden Blackman third, while Walter Isaacs won the Over-45 division in a time of 9:20.28 minutes, with Patrick Santos placing second.

Jones, however, took the five-lap race and Phillips played second fiddle, with Johnatan Creavalle third, while the order did not change for Isaacs and Santos.

Linden Burrowes won the first Upright event over three laps, with Matthew Jordan placing second and Maurice Fagundes third, but in the four-lapper Jordon was first, Burrowes second and Jamel Maxwell third.

Judah Klass won the first 12-14 years race over two laps, with Royston Anderson placing second and Ron Santos third, but in the three-lapper, Anderson took the first slot, Klass second and Santos remained third.

Andrew Persaud finished first in the only Novices race over four laps, clocking 9:20 minutes, followed by Wayne Glasgow and Wayne Da Silva.

Both BMX 7-9 races went to Romario Bhagwandin, with Jason Pollydore taking both second places and Ashley Lall and Mario Providence tying for third.

Making the presentation of prizes were GT&T’s Deputy General Manager (Public Communications) Terry Holder, public relations officer (PRO) Allison Parker and former national cyclist George Cumberbatch.

Five teams battle for Under-13 supremacy
FIVE teams will battle for football supremacy at the Under-13 level in the East Demerara Sub-association championship billed for the Beterverwagting ground next weekend.

The teams are BV/Triumph United, Buxton United, Melanie Tritons, Victoria Kings and Golden Stars.

Teams are required to produce original birth certificates of their players for registration for the August 9 & 10 tournament.

At the end of the competition a squad will be selected to represent the East Coast in the National championships at that level.

Purlette back in winners’ row ...
Ruiz captures title in a wild brawl
By Jesse Kelley
GUYANESE heavyweight Andre ‘Tombstone’ Purlette (36-2, 33 KOs) got back on the winning track with an impressive first round knockout of the usually durable Ron ‘El Tejanito’ Guerrero (16-8-3, 11 KOs).

The fight was the undercard of the title bout in which Edel ‘Cuate’ (Twin) Ruiz (22-10-3, 13 KOs) won a hard-fought decision over Ricardo ‘El Rayo’ (The Lightning) Medina (27-28-5, 17 KOs) for the vacant WBC Continental Americas super-bantamweight title on Saturday at the Northern Lights Casino in Walker, Minnesota.

Purlette, now trained by the legendary Emmanuel Steward, wobbled Guerrero several times in the opening stanza with a strong body attack and combinations upstairs. Towards the end of the round, Purlette pounded a left-right to the body that forced Guerrero to the ropes. With only a few seconds left, Purlette unloaded several vicious headshots to the non-responding Guerrero. Although Guerrero looked like it he would survive the onslaught, referee Bill Turner suddenly jumped in to stop the fight at 2:58 of the first round.

The stoppage seemed premature - particularly with only two seconds left in the round - and the crowd agreed by booing loudly.

Still, Purlette looked much improved since his one-sided decision loss to Jeremy Williams back in June, especially considering that he was only the second fighter to stop Guerrero inside the distance. Guerrero was TKO’ed in his ninth fight by Ray Austin in December 1999.

Rick Lazes, promoter of Purlette, gave full credit to the training of Steward for the dramatic turnaround in his fighter.

The title bout wasn’t a pretty or clean fight but the crowd enjoyed the action and determination of each fighter to win. Referee Mark Nelson had his hands full - issuing warnings for clenches, fouling and rough tactics but only one point was deducted from Medina in the sixth round for repeated low blows. Medina of Mazatlan, Mexico, was the aggressor but Ruiz of Los Mochis, Mexico, was elusive and landed the more solid shots.

Both fighters were cautious in the first couple of rounds but all of that changed when an accidental head-butt at the end of the second round opened up a cut over the right eye of Ruiz. Medina picked up the pace in the next round and Ruiz remained defensive although the cut was not a factor. Coincidentally, another head-butt in the last minute of the tenth round evened up the score by opening a cut over the left eye of Medina.

Both fighters traded equally during the infrequent exchanges. No one was hurt and no knockdowns occurred but the brawling continued throughout the fight. The judges saw the battle at 115-112 and 116-112 twice. The 25-year-old Ruiz briefly held the WBC Continental Americas bantamweight title in 1999 of which he made one successful title defence.

The fights were promoted by Anna Beth Goodman of Kingfish Boxing and Patrick Ortiz of Ringside Ticket. Both of these fights will be televised tape-delayed on Fox Sports World, Fox Sports En Espanol and Fox Sports Latin America. A standing room-only, rowdy crowd enjoyed the exciting inaugural boxing event at the Northern Lights Casino.

The Northern Lights Casino, which opened in May of 2001, is proudly owned and operated by the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe (Chippewa). (Fightnews)

Windies planning build-up for Women’s World Cup
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - (CMC) - West Indies coach Ann Browne-John is eyeing a home series and an Asian tour next year in preparation for the 2005 International Women's Cricket Council (IWCC) World Cup tournament.

After impressively advancing from the IWCC qualifiers in the Netherlands last weekend, Browne-John is hoping to secure sponsorship to finance West Indies tours of Pakistan and India.

"We are now in the process of trying to finalise our preparation plan, which includes tours to Pakistan and India," Browne-John told CMC Sport on Saturday.

"We would also like to get a team to come to the Caribbean - England maybe - and we also need to hold some camps," Browne-John added.

The Women's World Cup will be staged in South Africa, February-March 2005.

In the Netherlands, the West Indies rebounded from a first match defeat against Ireland, to win all their remaining games and clinch second spot - behind the Irish - and an automatic spot to the World Cup.

PRAISES RESILIENCE
Browne-John praised the resilience of her team after a frustrating 72-hour delay at London's Heathrow Airport because of striking airport workers resulted in their late arrival for the tournament.

They had to face Ireland only a few hours after they arrived in the Netherlands, and lost by 28 runs, but rallied to post successive wins against the hosts, Scotland, Pakistan, and Japan.

"I was most pleased with the maturity that they showed after losing the first game, when coming to play a few hours after arrival," Browne-John said.

Nelly Williams, the Trinidad and Tobago Under-23 captain, topped the team's batting averages at 47.00, while the left-handed St Lucian Nadine George led the aggregate with 114 runs, averaging 38.

Off-spinners Indomatie Goordial of Guyana and St Lucian Verena Felicien, led the wicket-takers at eight each, with the teenager Goordial having a marginally better average of 7.38 to Felicien's 7.63

Youth programme - launch pad to seniors
(WEEKLY COLUMN OF THE WICB)
OVER the last 20 years, the annual West Indies Youth Cricket championship has become one of the most important competitions on the West Indies Cricket Board's (WICB) annual calendar.

This year, the championship, renamed the TCL Group West Indies Under-19 Cricket Challenge, opens tomorrow in Guyana. No doubt the participants will look forward to this event with much enthusiasm and great expectations.

For many young cricketers in the Caribbean, the annual West Indies youth championship is a launching pad for their dreams of some day representing not only their country at first-class level, but also wearing the ‘maroon cap’ for the senior West Indies team.

In setting goals for the TCL Group West Indies Under-19 Cricket Challenge, the players will have before them the example of Jerome Taylor.

The young fast bowler was identified as a future prospect in last year's youth championship in his native Jamaica and was soon playing in the Carib Beer 2003 Cricket Series before gaining selection to the Test team against Sri Lanka in the Cable & Wireless 2003 home series.

DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME
This is what the youth championship does for West Indies cricket, and the WICB has long accepted that if the West Indies are to again become the leading light in world cricket, then a strong development programme for our young players must be in place.

That's why the WICB has been working hard over the last few years to strengthen its junior cricket programmes, since it is from this pool of talent that we will discover the next Brian Lara and Courtney Walsh, both of whom ironically are graduates of the West Indies youth cricket system.

We also recognise that competitions like the TCL Group West Indies Under-19 Cricket Challenge are important in giving our young players a meaningful outlet to test their skills against their peers from the rest of the region.

Therefore, the Trinidad and Tobago-based TCL Group, the new title sponsor of the championships, can feel very proud that they are making a substantial contribution to the strengthening and development of West Indies cricket.

We offer a heartfelt thanks to Chetram Singh, president of the Guyana Cricket Board, and the rest of his team for accepting the responsibility of hosting the TCL Group West Indies Under-19 Cricket Challenge this year, and for all the hard work and long hours they shall put into making it a success over the next three weeks or so.

We look forward to the TCL Group West Indies Under-19 Cricket Challenge providing exciting competition and that the matches will be played in the best traditions of West Indies cricket.

'Iron Mike' Tyson files for bankruptcy
NEW YORK, USA (Reuters) - Troubled boxing champ Mike Tyson, once estimated to be worth at least $300 million, has filed for bankruptcy in an attempt to bring some order to his finances, his lawyer said yesterday.

Tyson, currently facing assault and disorderly conduct charges stemming from a scuffle in a Brooklyn hotel in June, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Manhattan on Friday, according to his attorney Debra Grassgreen.

The one-time heavyweight boxing champion -- who served three years in prison in the mid-1990s on a rape conviction and was suspended from professional boxing for biting the ear of heavyweight boxer Evander Holyfield during a 1997 bout -- opted for bankruptcy after years of financial mismanagement and free spending habits that burned through hundreds of millions of dollars in earnings.

According to media reports, Tyson amassed and spent between $300 million and $500 million.

``As a professional fighter, who relied on others to manage his affairs, he discovered that his debts far exceeded his assets,'' Sunday's New York Post quoted Grassgreen as saying. ``Now, he has taken the lead in bringing order to his financial affairs.''

Tyson, nicknamed ‘Iron Mike’, also blames ring promoter Don King for his financial ills, the Post said.

Tyson has a $100-million lawsuit pending against King that goes to trial in September, claiming King cheated him out of millions after he got out of prison in 1995 and went back to fighting for the promoter.

Tyson's financial outlook has been deteriorating for some time and media reports have speculated for over a year that he would have to file for bankruptcy due to mounting legal fees and lavish spending on a series of homes and cars as well as clothing, jewellery and even pets such as pigeons, cats and tigers.

In 2002 he claimed lack of funds prevented him from paying estranged wife Monica Turner Tyson $10 million in a divorce settlement.

During the divorce proceedings it was reported that Tyson had spent $9 million on legal fees alone from 1995 to 1997, as well as $230 000 on pagers and cell phones, $410 000 on a birthday party, $8 100 for the care of his pet tigers and $65 000 for limousine services alone.

Tyson has also alleged that his ex-wife failed to send a promised multi-million dollar payment to the Internal Revenue Service and that Turner squandered millions on a lavish lifestyle.

Cuba, U.S. share gold medals at Pan-American Games
By Brian Homewood
SANTO DOMINGO (Reuters) - Cuba and the United States shared the gold medals between them on the opening day of the Pan-American Games Saturday.

Brazil, meanwhile, received an apology from the Dominican Republic's president after a flag containing "dreadful mistakes" was used in the opening ceremony.

Mexico, under senior national team coach Ricardo Lavolpe, were held to an embarrassing 1-1 draw by Guatemala in the soccer and Argentina smashed an astonishing 30 goals past the Dominican Republic in the men's hockey.

After months of worrying whether the host nation would finish all the venues in time and domestic controversy about the cost of staging the event, the Games finally began with Cuba taking the first gold.

Eglis Cruz won the women's 10-metre air rifle in the shooting, one of eight sports, which are being used as qualifying contests for next year's Olympics, with a Games record of 497.4 points.

"This is for Cuba," the tearful 22-year-old told reporters.

The next four gold went to the U.S. -- two in the fencing, where Dan Kellner won the men's individual foil and Sada Jacobson the women's individual sabre, one in the women's team gymnastics and another in shooting as Jason Turner took the men's 10-metre air pistol.

FURIOUS BRAZIL
Cuba took the day's last remaining gold by winning the men's team gymnastics ahead of Brazil and the U.S.

The day started on a sour note as Brazil's furious delegation protested about the flag behind which their athletes paraded during Friday night's opening ceremony.

Delegation chief Marcus Vinicius Freire criticised the "disrespectful manner in which the Brazilian flag was treated by COPAN (the local organising committee).

"This organisation did not bother checking the Brazilian flag, allowing it to be made with dreadful mistakes," he added in a letter addressed to COPAN president Jose Joaquin Puello.

The Brazilian Olympic Committee (COB) said later they had received an apology from Dominican Republic President Hipolito Mejia.

Pan-American Sports Organisation (ODEPA) president Mario Vazquez Rana shrugged off the jeers he received while making a speech during Friday night's festivities.

Rana, whose criticism over delays in preparations of the Games upset many Dominicans, said the jeering "was part of life".

"Sometimes it makes me happy when they jeer me because I learn something," he told reporters.

Back on the sports field, the host nation's fledgling men's hockey team were thrashed 30-0 by Argentina.

Jorge Lombi led the charge with nine goals while Matias Vila and Jorge Esraris helped themselves to four apiece.

In the soccer, Mexico needed a controversial penalty from Diego Martinez to scrape a 1-1 draw with underdogs Guatemala, who had gone ahead through Fredy Thompson at the start of the second half.

"Everyone had doubts about the penalty, it didn't look like a foul to me at all," said Guatemala's Mexican coach Victor Aguado

Vaughan reads the riot act to lacklustre England
By Tony Lawrence
LONDON, England (Reuters) - New England captain Michael Vaughan exchanged some frank words with his players after the one-sided defeat to South Africa in the second Test at Lord's yesterday.

``I have given a talk in the dressing room that was pretty down to the bone, pretty honest, and told them a few facts which I felt they needed to know and which will give them a gee-up,'' Vaughan told a news conference after the innings and 92 runs defeat.

``I don't think we were as hungry as they. I can't answer why. It's something that needs to be addressed.''

Vaughan, made captain just days before the game after Nasser Hussain's shock decision to quit, made it clear that he was not beyond blame himself.

``To get hammered in your first Test match as captain, to play two bad shots, it will be a huge character test for myself.

``I know (as captain) you have to rock the boat at bit a few times and upset a few players.''

Vaughan is not an England selector but said he would be thinking about a team that he thought could beat South Africa at Trent Bridge before making suggestions. ``That's all the input I can give,'' he said.

DIFFICULT DEBUT
He accepted his debut as skipper had not begun in perfect circumstances following Hussain's resignation after the drawn first Test.

``It was difficult, everyone was aware of that. If somebody resigns on Monday and somebody takes over for Thursday it's never the easier route. I had one day in the job and the game started.

``I don't think we won one session. Not once did we put them under pressure. All in all, it was a pretty poor performance.''

Vaughan said he was not aware of any retirement plans among his team, following media speculation that veteran quick bowler Darren Gough could retire after struggling in his first two Tests back after a year of injuries.

``He's a little bit down, I would be lying if I said otherwise, but so are the other bowlers,'' he added.

Vaughan, however, had words of praise for all-rounder Andrew Flintoff, who he said had been ``outstanding'' as a bowler before scoring his run-a-ball 142 in a losing cause.

``He chose the right ball to hit. He has that many shots and is that powerful. Even his defensive shots go for four.''

The third match of the five-Test series begins on August 14.

Beijing puts Chinese stamp on 2008 emblem
By Scott Hillis
BEIJING, China (Reuters) - China, hoping to show a welcoming face to the world after the SARS outbreak, unveiled the 2008 Olympic Games emblem yesterday, a traditional red seal depicting a figure with arms outstretched in victory and greeting.

In a lavish ceremony at Beijing's 580-year-old Temple of Heaven, organisers pledged the 29th Olympiad would be held open and transparent, pressing issues for China after the government admitted covering up the deadly outbreak earlier this year.

An official crowd of 2 008 guests gathered under a clear, blue, summer sky -- something of a rarity for the smoggy city of 12 million people -- for the event, which was delayed by several months because of the flu-like disease.

Chosen from a field of 1 985 entries from China and abroad, the winning design borrows from the Chinese practice of stamping everything from traditional paintings to parking tickets with a red seal engraved with Chinese writing.

Dubbed ‘Dancing Beijing’ by the organisers, the emblem shows a stylised human figure in mid-stride with outstretched arms. It resembles the character ‘jing’, meaning ‘capital’.

``Your new emblem immediately conveys the awesome beauty and power of China which are embodied in your heritage and your people,'' International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge told the crowd in a taped video statement.

``In this emblem, I saw the promise of a new Beijing and a great Olympics,'' Rogge said.

INVESTING BILLIONS
Unveiling of the emblem also marks the start of marketing for the 2008 Games, which were awarded to a jubilant Beijing two years ago over the concerns of critics who faulted the Communist-ruled country's human rights record and undeveloped infrastructure.

China, which returned to Olympic competition only in 1984 after a 50-year absence, is spending tens of billions of dollars to build new roads, subways and sporting venues in Beijing to make sure its highest profile international event ever comes off smoothly.

As the evening sky darkened to match the deep blue roof tiles of the landmark Hall of Prayers for Good Harvests, kung-fu movie star Jackie Chan and Chinese women's table tennis champion Deng Yaping carried an ornate golden box to the white steps outside the hall.

Chinese parliament chief Wu Bangguo and IOC Coordination Commission chairman Hein Verbruggen removed a grapefruit-sized jade seal and stamped the emblem in red ink on a piece of paper.

Hundreds of performers then staged a sports-themed show that portrayed runners, swimmers, bicyclists and martial artists in a production arranged by famed Chinese director Zhang Yimou.

``It's a great honour. There are more than one billion people (in China) and I'm one of them,'' Jackie Chan, clad in a white Chinese-style suit, told reporters just before the event. ``I'm so proud right now.''

Hussain would not have resigned after Test loss
LONDON, England (Reuters) - Former England captain Nasser Hussain said yesterday he would not have resigned if his team had lost the first Test against South Africa at Edgbaston this week.

Hussain, 35, relinquished the captaincy following four years in charge after the first Test finished in a draw last Monday. Michael Vaughan took over for the second Test, which started at Lord's on Thursday.

``If we had lost the first Test I would not have resigned because I would have believed I had messed up the game and it was up to me to turn the series around,'' Hussain wrote in his weekly column in The Sunday Telegraph.

``But as it was a draw and the series was still 0-0, no damage had been done and it was time to move on.''

Whatmore appalled at team's batting display
CAIRNS, Australia, (Reuters) - Bangladesh coach Dav Whatmore said yesterday he was appalled at his side's display after they collapsed for 147 from 45.1 overs to lose by nine wickets against Australia in the second one-day international.

Paceman Brett Lee took four for 25 to help skittle the tourists for 105 in Saturday's eight-wicket loss but Whatmore said he was more upset with yesterday’s performance.

``Yesterday Brett Lee had a fantastic spell of bowling and there was a bit more juice in the wicket. Today simply reflected that gulf between the teams,'' Whatmore told a news conference.

``I'm not concerned about losing but I am concerned about the way you lose and I was really appalled at the way some of our batsman made decisions today and just their basic cricket knowledge.

``Unless they show marked improvement they are not going to get close to winning.''

Bangladesh lost both matches in last month's Test series by an innings but showed some signs of improvement, especially in their first innings of 295 after being sent in during the second Test.

However, shot selection was poor for the tourists yesterday as several batsmen gave their wickets away with wild slogs when a more careful attempt to try to bat out the 50 overs would have been a better approach.

``I don't know what to say. I'm just appealing to their individual pride really,'' said Whatmore, who started his two-year appointment with the team in June.

``At least there's one positive thing. No one can complain if they get dropped.

``I'm still fighting to not jump to conclusions. In another couple of months I'll be in a better position to make judgements.''

Whatmore, who played seven Tests for Australia, coached Sri Lanka to triumph in the 1996 World Cup.

Bangladesh became a Test-playing nation three years ago and have lost 20 of their 21 matches with one draw.

Martyn unruffled at missing place in history
CAIRNS, Australia, (Reuters) - Records did not enter Damien Martyn's mind as he smashed an unbeaten 92 against Bangladesh yesterday, the Australian batsman said.

Martyn, who faced just 51 balls, was stranded eight short of his hundred as Australia coasted to a nine-wicket win. Had his century come in another 10 balls or less it would have been the fourth fastest in one-day international history.

``No I wouldn't have had a clue (about the records). Maybe that's what the guys are going on about right now in the rooms,'' Martyn told a news conference.

``It would have been nice to get it but it's not the be-all and end-all.''

The crowd of 7 654 anxiously waited to see if Martyn could reach his hundred but two boundaries by left-hander Michael Bevan (40 not out) in the 19th over made it impossible for his partner as the home side scored 148 for one from 20.2 overs chasing Bangladesh's modest 147 all out.

``There was no talk really. We were just batting and not worried about that,'' Martyn said.

``If you start trying to plan things it can all go wrong.''

The 31-year-old Western Australia made his comeback this week after surgery kept him out of the West Indies tour and last month's two-Test series against Bangladesh.

Martyn convinced selectors he was fit to play in the World Cup final against India in March despite a broken finger and celebrated with an unbeaten 88 as captain Ricky Ponting smashed a brutal 140 not out in the victory.

Martyn made his comeback with 0 not out on Saturday in Australia's eight-wicket win and savoured his promotion to number three yesterday, stroking 15 boundaries and one six.

His replacement Martin Love made 100 not out in the second Test against Bangladesh in Cairns to put his hand up for the two-Test series against Zimbabwe in Australia in October.

``Once you come back from injury you want to score runs,'' said Martyn, a veteran of 33 Tests and 124 one-day internationals.

``You want to show them (selectors) you're fit, that your finger's back to normal again and that you're batting as well as you were before you got injured,'' added Martyn, who also took two catches yesterday.

``I've been hitting the ball well in the indoor nets in Perth and I was just keen to get out there.''

Martyn blasts Aussies to 2-0 series lead
CAIRNS, Australia, (Reuters) - Damien Martyn blasted an unbeaten 92 off 51 balls to lead world champions Australia to a nine-wicket victory over Bangladesh yesterday to take a 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

Martyn, who made 88 not out in Australia's World Cup final win over India in March despite a broken finger, showed he was back to full fitness and form.

The 31-year-old stroked the ball effortlessly through the infield on both sides of the wicket, amassing 15 boundaries and one six as Australia cruised to victory with 29.4 overs to spare.

Bangladesh captain Khaled Mahmud won the toss and elected to bat but, after a promising start, the tourists were all out for 147 in 45.1 overs.

Australia in reply lost opener Andrew Symonds for seven to make the score 17 for one before Martyn dominated a 131-run stand for the second wicket with opener Michael Bevan who made 40 not out in 20.2 overs.

Martyn clubbed three fours and a six in successive balls off Mahmud in the 10th over of the innings. His six over long-on was almost caught by a young sightscreen attendant who fumbled the head-high chance.

The Western Australian right-hander, who missed the West Indies tour as his fractures healed and made 0 not out on Saturday, completed the equal ninth-fastest half-century in one-day internationals off 22 balls.

The Cairns crowd anxiously waited to see if Martyn could reach his hundred but two boundaries by left-hander Bevan in the 19th over made it impossible for his partner.

If Martyn's hundred had come in another 10 balls or less it would have been the fourth fastest in one-day international history.

Bangladesh's innings fell apart under the spell of left-arm spinners Brad Hogg (three for 31) and Darren Lehmann (three for 16) who both recorded career-best one-day international figures.

The tourists lost their first four wickets for 19 runs in Saturday's eight-wicket defeat but Hannan Sarkar and Javed Omar put on 37 in 14 overs yesterday. Sarkar fell when he chased a wide ball from Ian Harvey and was caught behind for 19.

Omar departed three overs later when he was caught behind off Andy Bichel for 11.

Sanwar Hossain (three) chipped an easy catch to Ricky Ponting at midwicket off Hogg to make the score 52 for three.

The left-arm wrist-spinner then had Al-Sahariar caught at deep midwicket for eight and Tushar Imran caught at mid-off for two in successive overs as Bangladesh slumped to 86 for five.

Medium-pacer Symonds had success in his first over when he caught and bowled Habibul Bashar for 31 and Mahmud was run-out for 11 by a direct hit at the bowler's end from Lehmann.

Left-arm orthodox spinner Lehmann, playing in his 100th one-day international, had Tapash Baisya (two) and Mohammad Rafique (six) caught in the deep by Bevan.

Alok Kopali then holed out to Damien Martyn off Lehmann in the 46th over after top-scoring with 34.

The third and final match of the series will be played in Darwin on Wednesday.

BANGLADESH innings

H.Sarkar c Gilchrist b Harvey 19

J.Omar c Gilchrist b Bichel 11

H.Bashar c & b Symonds 31

S.Hossain c Ponting b Hogg 3

Al-Sahariar c Martyn b Hogg 8

T.Imran c Bichel b Hogg 2

A.Kopali c Martyn b Lehmann 34

K.Mahmud run-out 11

T.Baisya c Bevan b Lehmann 2

M.Rafique c Bevan b Lehmann 6

H.Hossain not out 0

Extras: (lb-2, w-16, nb-2) 20

Total: (all out, 45.1 overs) 147

Fall of wickets: 1-37, 2-46, 3-52, 4-84, 5-86, 6-101, 7-121, 8-133, 9-144.

Bowling: Lee 9-2-24-0 (nb-1, w-5) Bichel 10-0-29-1 (nb-1, w-7) Harvey 7-1-21-1 (w-2) Hogg 10-0-31-3 (w-1) Symonds 5-0-24-1 Lehmann 4.1-0-16-3 (w-1).

AUSTRALIA innings

A.Symonds c S.Hossain b H.Hossain 7

M.Bevan not out 40

D.Martyn not out 92

Extras: (w-4, nb-5) 9

Total: (for one wicket, 20.2 overs) 148

Fall of wicket: 1-17.

Bowling: Tapash Baisya 5-0-31-0 (nb-3) Hasibul Hossain 6-0-37-1 (w-2) Khaled Mahmud 3-0-34-0 (nb-2, w-1) Mohammad Rafique 4-0-29-0 (w-1) Sanwar Hossain 2.2-0-17-0.

List of fastest one-day international half-centuries
CAIRNS, Australia, (Reuters) - List of fastest 50s in one-day internationals (under player, final score, number of balls to reach half-century, opponents and dates) after Australia's Damien Martyn reached his 50 in 22 balls against Bangladesh in the second one-day international yesterday:

Sanath Jayasuriya 76 (17) Sri Lanka v Pakistan 1996

Simon O'Donnell 74 (18) Australia v Sri Lanka 1990

Shahid Afridi 102 (18) Pakistan v Sri Lanka 1996

Shahid Afridi 55 n.o. (18) Pakistan v Netherlands 2002

Mark Boucher 51 n.o. (19) South Africa v Kenya 2001

Lance Cairns 52 (21) New Zealand v Australia 1983

Ajit Agarkar 67 n.o. (21) India v Zimbabwe 2000

Douglas Marillier 56 n.o. (21) Zimbabwe v India 2002

Kapil Dev 72 (22) India v West Indies 1983

Virender Sehwag 55 n.o. (22) India v Kenya 2001

Damien Martyn 92 n.o. (22) Australia v Bangladesh 2003.

Cool Montoya wins crash-marred German GP
By Erik Kirschbaum
HOCKENHEIM, Germany, (Reuters) - Juan Pablo Montoya stayed cool as all around him suffered in fierce heat yesterday when he moved into contention for the drivers' world championship by winning a crash-marred German Grand Prix.

The Colombian, lying third going into the race, jumped up to second and within six points of defending champion German Michael Schumacher with his second victory in six successful races and the third win of his career.

But afterwards he played down his chances of seizing the drivers' title and ending three years of domination by Schumacher and Ferrari.

``No, I am not talking about it or thinking about it. Anything can happen. There are four races to go and we'll just see what happens,'' Montoya said.

As the track temperature touched 50 degrees Celsius, Montoya, in a Williams, pulled clear from the 11th pole position of his career.

After three rapid pit stops he came home 67 seconds clear of second-placed Briton David Coulthard in a McLaren.

Schumacher, who started sixth for Ferrari, fought his way up to second place but suffered a puncture to his left rear tyre with three laps remaining and, after an emergency pit stop, finished seventh.

Italian Jarno Trulli and Spaniard Fernando Alonso finished third and fourth in the two Renaults, but Trulli, suffering from exhaustion and dehydration, almost collapsed afterwards and missed the normally mandatory news conference. As he lay on ground he was sprayed with water before he climbed onto the podium.

LOST WHEELS
Frenchman Olivier Panis was fifth for Toyota ahead of his team-mate Brazilian Cristiano Da Matta. Schumacher was seventh and Briton Jenson Button eighth for BAR-Honda.

It was a great day for Montoya who made the most of the elimination of Williams team-mate German Ralf Schumacher, Brazilian Rubens Barrichello of Ferrari and Kimi Raikkonen of McLaren in a multiple collision at the first corner.

``That made the race much easier for me than it would have been otherwise,'' Montoya said.

Raikkonen's car lost three wheels in the high-speed crash and the driver was taken to the circuit medical centre for checks before being released with a bruised leg.

The Finn had been second in the title race before yesterday.

The accident triggered a secondary crash, which wiped out three other cars.

With four races remaining, Schumacher leads with 71 points, with Montoya second on 65, the Latin American having accumulated two wins, three seconds and one third on his hot streak since he won the Monaco Grand Prix on June 1.

``I think it went really well today,'' said Montoya. ``The whole weekend went really well for me and today the car was just fantastic -- all day long.

PIT STOPS
``I got a great start and I just went from there. I don't know what happened to Ralf at the start but I just pushed and pushed and they all seemed to just drop away.

``I managed to get a lot out of the car and it went very well. I had a bit of an issue on lap 15 and lost a bit of top speed but that was all. The conditions? It was hot but they were honestly not too bad. Physically I felt pretty good. But I am sure it was a pretty different race for everyone behind me.''

Montoya had three pit stops while most of his rivals opted for two and the Colombian's strategy paid off handsomely.

``I was just trying not to make any mistakes all day and to keep on putting in consistent laps,'' he said. ``From our point of view, three stops was the best way to go, so I ended up one minute ahead of the next guy. Obviously it worked.''

Coulthard, who started 10th, grabbed his first podium finish since winning the season-opening Australian Grand Prix to make up for his McLaren team's loss of title-challenger Raikkonen in the first-corner pile-up.

He said: ``I saw it on the big screen when the safety car came out. It looked to me like Kimi was on the outside, cars were jockeying around and they probably didn't see each other and this led to the incident.

``I am delighted to be back on the podium. It's been a difficult season for me, especially in qualifying. But my race pace has been good and that is the key for future success.''

World title wins for China's Xia, Zhang
By Dave Thompson
BIRMINGHAM, England, (Reuters) - Fifth seed Xia Xuanze of China, a bronze medallist at the Sydney Olympics, won the world badminton title yesterday, battling past Wong Choong Hann of Malaysia 15-6, 13-15, 15-6.

In a thrilling 80-minute final, Xia seemed to be in charge when leading 12-9 in the second set, but ninth-seed Wong fought back bravely to level at 13-13 and then tie the match at 1-1.

It was nip and tuck in the decider until 6-6, but Xia slowly gained control to clinch the title on his second match point.

The two men have met eight times in their careers, with the Chinese player having won all eight.

Xia, 25, the Japan Open winner in April and the All England champion in 2000, told reporters: ``When I got to 8-6 in the third, it increased my confidence and I felt I could go on from there.''

He added that he had refused to be put off by the loss of the second set: ``With the years of experience, you can learn how to deal with situations like this.

``In such circumstances, you can make mistakes but the main thing is to be calm and to concentrate on what you have to do.''

Wong, 26, the China Open winner last year, acknowledged the 8-0 head-to-head in Xia's favour was a problem, saying: ``I think I have to work on it physically and mentally to overcome this barrier.''

He added: ``At 6-6 (in the third)...we were both fighting for the initiative. It was a very, very critical moment. He managed to get up ahead and get points from there...and it gave me a lot of pressure to fight back.''

Wong alone had been flying the Malaysia flag since Friday.

Highly rated compatriots Hafiz Hashim and Roslin Hashim, who are brothers, had met in the second round by a quirk of the tournament draw. Roslin won, only to bow out in the quarter-finals.

GONG DEPOSED
Earlier, women's singles titleholder Gong Ruina was deposed 11-6, 11-3 in the final by Chinese compatriot Zhang Ning.

Gong led 4-0 in the first game but once Zhang found her stride she was generally in control, rounding off a fine week in which her other scalps have included the 1999 world champion Camilla Martin of Denmark.

Seeded second ahead of Gong at four, Zhang, a comparative veteran at 28, was competing in her sixth world championships.

``This was my first time in the final and I had done a lot of preparation that helped me feel very confident before the match,'' said Zhang.

``I have had to work very hard. As you get older, it's more difficult to play all of the time because of injuries.''

China landed three titles on the day, the women's doubles going to defending champions Gao Ling and Huang Sui who beat compatriots Wei Yili and Zhao Tingting 15-8 15-11. The mixed doubles went to South Korea's Kim Dong-moon and Ra Kyung-min who beat titleholders Zhang Jun and Gao Ling 15-7, 15-8.

Breaking the Asian stranglehold, a tense men's doubles final was won by fourth-seeded Danes Lars Paaske and Jonas Rasmussen who edged out Indonesian 11th seeds Sigit Budiarto and Candra Wijaya 15-7, 13-15, 15-13.