President Jagdeo says in moving Diaspora speech in India...
Love of one's country of origin is natural
"Love of one's country of origin is natural."
President Bharrat Jagdeo said that yesterday in a moving speech in India in which he shared his convictions on the way forward for multi-ethnic Guyana and Guyana-Indian Diaspora relations.

"The Indian Diaspora is so numerous and distinguished that to have been invited as your principal guest on this significant occasion is a great personal honour. I would therefore wish to thank you most warmly for this distinction and I accept the award (Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award) accorded to me on behalf of the thousands who have left India and have this great country in their hearts.

Mr. Prime Minister, I first came to India in 1993 when as Finance Minister I accompanied the late President Cheddi Jagan on his State visit to your country. My second visit was last year a decade later. I recall how impressed I was by the tremendous progress which India had made during the intervening period. I am sure that many others of the Diaspora are similarly impressed. Today India is recognized as a major global power and is a leading nation in knowledge-related services.

My last visit was also memorable because it afforded me the opportunity of discovering my ancestral roots in a village in Uttar Pradesh. It was an emotional event for me, conjuring up as it did visions of how my forebears might have lived and of their historic journey to Guyana to eke out a new existence. No doubt, many of the Diaspora here today may have been stirred by similar emotions on the basis of their own, and their foreparents' experiences.

The Indian Diaspora may be traced to the dark days of colonial occupation. It is a familiar story of people uprooted from their homeland and taken to far-away places. The historical experience was as varied as the destinations. There are, however, many common threads: Certainly for the men and women who left India to work as labourers under indentureship, on the sugar plantations of Guyana and other British possessions, it is a story of great human suffering. Yet, it is a story of triumph and resilience. It tells of their perseverance, adaptability and resistance of enormous pressures to induce them to abandon their culture. However, they did not yield to such pressures preferring to endure discrimination. Their valiant efforts have led to the preservation of their culture. Today, my country is richer because of this contribution. Many of the festivals that originated in India are celebrated as national holidays. Further, Indian cuisine, music and dance are an essential part of our national cultural environment.

Since this initial immigration, there have been other waves that have taken Indians to many lands. Unlike their predecessors, the new migrants have left on their own volition in search of greater economic opportunities. They include doctors, businessmen, scholars, scientists and other leading professionals. In many parts of the world, they form significant constituencies and wield tremendous political and economic influence in their communities.

The Government of India and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry are to be warmly congratulated for their initiative to develop closer links with the Indian Diaspora. I wish to commend you Prime Minister, for the special interest which you have demonstrated in ensuring the continuity of this effort. The decision by the Government of India to establish special governmental and diplomatic offices has led to increased contact and communication with overseas Indians. This outreach is welcome since no matter how far those in the Diaspora may have traveled, India is always present in their hearts.

Love of one's country of origin is natural. Pride in one's ancestry is wholesome and essential. There ought not to be, therefore, a conflict between national identity and ancestral pride. However, one must always be careful to distinguish between ancestral pride and national loyalties. As President of Guyana, a land of six races, I represent all of the people and I am duty bound to govern in their interests. At the same time, I am very proud of my Indian ancestry and I experience no conflict in my determination to work towards forging greater national cohesion. In my country each ethnic group is encouraged to preserve and express its heritage within the national context, and we are determined to live and work together as a single united Guyanese nation.

Indian civilization and culture have promoted the ideals of devotion to religion and family life, diligence and sacrifice in the interest of posterity and tolerance. Doubtlessly, these cultural traits have contributed immensely to the success of Indians in the Diaspora. Yet, the Indian civilization and culture is larger than these traits themselves, and like other civilizations, the Indian civilization has much to offer to the world as a whole.

Our several national experiences confirm that in unity there can also be rich and interesting diversity. Undoubtedly, the world's culture will be richer if its diversity is preserved. When members of the Indian Diaspora express and share their cultural traditions in the communities in which they live, they are not only preserving and universalizing these traditions but also preserving and promoting diversity in a world that badly needs it given the leveling influence of globalization.

We all have a duty to ensure that our children are imbued with the virtues and values that have made us what we are, without becoming parochial. In many parts of the world, children of Diasporas are subjected to various pressures to abandon their culture and forsake their heritage and indeed are even made to feel that both are inferior. We must find creative ways of developing in them a sense of pride in their cultural legacy without affecting their ability to assimilate and develop loyalties to the countries in which they live.

Ours is also the challenge to construct and enlarge the natural networks of relationships within the Diaspora. These relationships can strengthen our cultural linkages and build greater understanding among us. It is evident that there is an abundance of expertise within the Diaspora and this may be utilized to advance the welfare, not only of Indians, but of all the peoples of the world. Additionally, there are numerous opportunities for investment and these once understood could be pursued in mutually beneficial ways.

People of Diasporas must utilize their rich heritage to contribute to human civilization. They can be a voice for reason; they may be engaged in working to create greater understanding; building bridges of friendship; and dismantling the bulwarks of prejudice. In contributing to the creation of a better world in which the interests of all are considered, they would be playing a part in building a safer world.

The Diaspora bears the imprint of India. The world, fairly or unfairly, sees India through them before it is informed of their several nationalities. Consequently, they can be goodwill ambassadors of this great country. When through dint of hard work and sacrifice Indians in the Diaspora reach the pinnacle of their professions and distinguish themselves, they bear testimony to this land.

Today the world is confronted with many challenges. The increasing sophistication of various forms of terrorist activities, the rise in crime and violence, the HIV/AIDS pandemic and the high levels of poverty must be tackled as we seek to provide a better quality of life for our peoples.

India is both prominent and respected in international affairs and under your leadership Mr. Prime Minister, is playing an important role in creating a better and more just world. One example of this is the stand taken by India at the recent Ministerial Meeting of the World Trade Organization held in Cancun, Mexico. At that forum India employed its formidable strengths in leading the developing world in the fight for a fair world trading system. At the United Nations India is an active champion of peace and development. It is for these reasons and the fact that India is an untiring advocate of the philosophy of non-violence, tolerance and respect for all peoples, that my country unreservedly supports India's candidature for a permanent seat on the Security Council of the United Nations.

Mr. Prime Minister, distinguished guests, in the global quest for peace, security and development, the Diaspora must be an important ally. With such support, we will be better able to reach our goals. Let this dialogue, which has begun, continue to flourish to strengthen our alliance in the interest of our countries and peoples and of the world as a whole.
I thank you."

Police Service Commission appointed
A NEW Police Service Commission was appointed yesterday, paving the way for several issues, including that of a new Police Commissioner, to be resolved.

Chairman, Ivan Crandon, told reporters the body wants to start work as early as possible, given a two-and-a-half-year hiatus which blocked key appointments.

Crandon said the stalled appointment of the Police Commissioner is a "burning issue"

but matters will be prioritised based on discussions with the Commission's Secretary, Jairam Geer.

The first meeting is scheduled for Monday, when the need for a deputy chairman for the Commission is also discussed. The body will be based at the Ministry of Works, Georgetown.

Crandon, who served the Guyana Police Force for some 30 years, said he is "very happy" that the Commission is in place, as its prolonged absence was "very distressing."

Former Public Service Minister, George Fung-On will serve as member on the body, along with Henry Chester, Harold Martin and Franchot Duncan-Clarke. Fung-On was recently appointed chairman of the Public Service Commission.

Acting President, Sam Hinds, before whom they were sworn-in at the Office of the President, said the appointment takes provisions in the country's amended Constitution a "step forward."

He said it came after a long process involving Government-Opposition consultations and

in light of the delays, the body has to do a lot of "catching up".

Mr Hinds commended those who will serve, saying they each have significant and relevant experience in the job at hand.

Opposition Leader, Robert Corbin, with whom President Bharrat Jagdeo had been consulting on the appointment of the Commission, also said he was very happy that it was finally being established.

But Corbin did not stay to witness the ceremony in the Credentials Room at the Office of the President, walking out in objection to the presence of Home Affairs Minister, Ronald Gajraj.

He said he refuses to be part of anything at which Gajraj is present, reiterating a call for the Minister to resign. Corbin's call is based on widely publicised claims of a State link to a 'phantom gang' blamed for several executions. (Nivedta Kowlessar)

Police fish runaway thief out of sea
By Michel Outridge
Three brave policemen yesterday afternoon shed their clothing and jumped overboard into the sea at the UG seawall and apprehended a man who reportedly snatched a gold bangle and a ring from a woman who was standing at University of Guyana Access Road, East Coast Demerara, awaiting transportation.

According to an eyewitness, the woman was standing on the road about 12:55 pm when a 28-year-old knife-wielding man believed to be from Plaisance, East Coast Demerara, accosted the woman and robbed her of her gold bangle, valued $40,000, and a gold ring valued $5,000.

After an alarm was raised, the thief shed his clothing and jumped into the sea at UG seawall. Ranks stationed at the Sparendaam Police Station responded promptly to a report of the theft and gave chase to the jewel thief in the ocean.

Three ranks followed the thief with guns in hand, walking in shoulder deep water, and approached the man who was ahead of them.

Shortly after a warning shot was discharged into the air and the thief, who was holding on to a fishing pole, surrendered with his hands in the air walking and began walking out of the water.

He had in his possession a green and black haversack containing a pair of pants, a shirt, a pair of boots, two pictures of himself with friends and a passport.

A search of the man's bag revealed that the woman's jewelry was missing; many said that he apparently hid the stolen items in a fishing pole in the water before the police were able to jump into the water, as he was seen near the fishing pole a few minutes before the police went into the water.

One determined rank returned to find the jewelry but was deterred by the rising tide.

The thief was only clad in his underwear and was taken to Sparendaam Police Station.

When asked to produce the stolen jewelry he did not reply but the angry crowd demanded he reveal where the booty was hidden.

The suspect is said to be a well known thief in the area and with whom the police are very familiar.

Linden residents nab, hand over 5 to police after robbery
--- $3M in articles recovered in boat
Five men are in custody at Mackenzie Police Station following swift action by residents of Endeavour who apprehended them, after they were seen in the area following the alleged theft of $3M in articles from a gas station at Republic Avenue, Linden, on Thursday morning.

The articles were recovered by the police in a boat which contained a vacuum, a pressure pump, a starter, 30 pails containing 5 gallons of oil each, 50 boxes of 2 pint oil, a gas bottle, 2 boxes of mineral water and 30 boxes of 1 gallon oil. These items are currently lodged at the Mackenzie Police Station.

According to a police report, about 04:30 hours Thursday morning the five men prised opened a window and subsequently gained entry to the bond adjoined to the gas station.

After carting off the items, they headed towards Timehri in a boat. The police were summoned to the scene where they quickly formed two groups, one headed to Timehri in a boat while the other group travelled in a vehicle to Dora, Linden Highway.

The five suspects were subsequently sighted in the vicinity of Dora and having noticed the police they opened fire.

This led to a shootout and three of the five men were forced to jump overboard and the others tried desperately to push the boat with the items into a creek.

The mobile patrol rushed to the Timehri docks and were assisted with a speedboat, which took them to Endeavour where they met the other party of policemen.

The items were later discovered with the stolen items on the riverbank.

The Police are investigating.

Minister Gajraj denies knowledge of alleged 'phantom gang' killings
--- PNCR walks out at PSC swearing in
HOME Affairs Minister, Ronald Gajraj, yesterday maintained he was not aware of any alleged killings by a 'phantom gang' and said claims of a State connection to such a group have not been validated.

"Not at all," he told reporters when asked if he was aware of the killings, an issue that has prompted an opposition call for him to resign.

"I have said time and time again what my position is with respect to those enquiries. And it is still the same. Anybody can go out there and say whatever they want to say. It must bear scrutiny, it must bear analysis; and not just because somebody jumps up and says something, you will arrive at a judgment position," Mr. Gajraj said.

Minister Gajraj was responding to the allegations widely publicized this week by a man claiming to be an ex-informant for a squad rumored to be behind several executions of fugitives, wanted persons and suspected criminals. Media reports have said the man has implicated a senior Government official in the group's activities.

He has reportedly been giving information to the United States Embassy in Georgetown after claiming he was the real target of an attack by gunmen on Monday night. Cattle farmer, Shaffie Bacchus, 45, of Princes Street, Lodge, was killed in the drive-by shooting.

The reports led to a call Thursday by the main opposition People's National Congress/Reform (PNC/R) for Mr. Gajraj and the entire Government to resign.

Opposition and PNC/R Leader, Robert Corbin, yesterday morning walked out of the swearing-in ceremony for a new Police Service Commission at which Minister Gajraj was present. He contended that the Minister should resign in light of the "serious allegations about the State" and should not wait until President Bharrat Jagdeo returns from an official overseas visit.

Shortly after exiting the Credentials Room of the Office of the President in Georgetown,

Mr. Corbin told reporters he refuses to be part of anything at which Mr. Gajraj is present. He, however, said he was happy the Commission which he and President Jagdeo set up together was finally being appointed after many hiccups.

"The PNC is not unknown for walking off. They could choose anything they want to present a platform for politicking and all of that," he commented.

Mr. Gajraj said experiences have shown that if Government officials say anything, it is given very little, if any, credibility. "But any Tom, Dick and Harry can jump up and make statements, and they are treated as gospel.

"Nobody stops to look at circumstances or the validity...of the statements that are being made. So long as it is made against a Government official...or the Government per se, irrespective of who says, it is gospel," he added.

Minister Gajraj said he has not been privy to statements reportedly made by the ex-informant. However, responding to claims about information supplied, he noted that the Police operate on the basis of information and intelligence. "...and we have said time and time again, we seek to build the capacity of the Force to gather intelligence in order to deal with crime situations."

He also commented on telephone records showing calls made to him by a man media reports said was suspected to be a member of the 'phantom gang', and who was fatally shot on December 10 in Bel Air, Georgetown.

"Axel Williams was only one individual. There were several other persons who were in contact with me on the telephone and on several telephones. So the press might choose to exacerbate Axel Williams' case but I say that there are several other persons throughout the length and breadth of this country who have been in contact with me through all hours of the day and night," the Minister said.

Asked why he was in contact with Williams, Mr. Gajraj said, "Like any other issue, it could be a host of reasons (for which) he might have wanted to be in contact with me, or I (might) want to be in contact with him..."

He said most, if not all, of his telephone numbers are public, as they are paid for by the State.

The Minister referred to the Police Commissioner questions on investigations into the ex-informant's claims about people involved in Bacchus' murder.

He stressed that the issues raised have to do with national security. "There is suspicion and on basis of suspicion, there is speculation. The matters must be investigated.

"I would not disclose if you call me or somebody else calls me, especially if it relates to matters of national security. Sometimes what you tell me might be very innocuous or putting it in the wider context of the security system, might be (deficient). Any informant or information received on criminal situations in my view is a matter of national security."

Minister Gajraj said the media have chosen to publish certain things, apparently without regard to the serious implications for the country's security sector. "Confidentiality has always been, is, an issue and we need to address that aspect," he stressed.

EC/CARIFORUM grant for Dominica airports
By Jaime Hall
THE Delegation of European Commission in Guyana and CARIFORUM yesterday signed a Euro11.95 million grant as support for the Air Access Improvement Programme in Dominica. The signing was done at the CARICOM Headquarters in Georgetown.

The purpose of this project is to improve accessibility to transport between Dominica and the Caribbean region as well as between Dominica and the rest of the world.

It involves upgrading to international standards facilities at Melville Hall and Canefield, Dominica's two airports and is due for completion within the next 36 months.

At the Melville and Canefield airports expansion of the terminal building and associated facilities will be done. Night landing and navigational aids will also be installed at both facilities.

The runways will also be upgraded to meet International Civil Aviation Organization standards and there will be improvements of the sea defenses in the vicinity of those two airports.

When this project is successfully implemented it would allow travellers from international destinations such as Europe and North America to have "same-day" connections to Dominica rather that having to overnight in other countries as happens now.

An integral part of the development of this project has been the involvement of the beneficiaries of the feasibility design stage.

The overall objective of the programme, however, is to improve opportunities for national prosperity through the diversification of the economy particularly through the development of its tourism sector.

2003 records highest tourist arrivals in 8 years
GUYANA in 2003 recorded the highest number of December visitors for the past eight years, but the amount of visitors for the entire year showed a decline when compared to crime-filled 2002.

According to official figures by the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA), visitors in December last year amounted to 13, 684, the highest since 1994 when 15,137 came here.

However, the combined number of visitors for the entire year showed a decline over 2002, when 104,341 persons visited Guyana.

The figure for 2003 was put at 100,933.

Almost half of the 2003 visitors (49%) were from the USA, with Caribbean visitors accounting for the other significant portion (25%).

After December, August was the month with the second most number of visitors, the number being 11,241. (Neil Marks)

A good year for agriculture
--- expanded 'Demerara Gold' market being sought
By Chamanlall Naipaul
Minister of Fisheries, Crops and Livestock and acting Minister of Agriculture, Satyadeow Sawh, has described last year as a successful one for the local agricultural sector.

Speaking at a press conference yesterday to review the performance of the agriculture largest sector for last year, Sawh said despite several constraints including low commodity prices on the international market and difficult weather conditions the sector did well. As such he commended everyone involved in the agricultural sector for their significant contribution and efforts in ensuring a successful performance.

Reporting at the press conference on the performance of the sugar industry for last year, acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GUYSUCO), Keith Ward, said, "it wasn't a bad year but not as good expected."

He disclosed that sugar production was 302,379 tonnes, which was lower than expected, with Berbice Estates producing 61% of that amount while the Demerara Estates produced the remainder. In addition, he indicated that 150 tonnes of organic sugar were produced at Uitvlugt Estate but that could not have been marketed because it was not certified, however, it has now been certified, as such markets would have to be identified for the product.

The CEO explained that production was lower than anticipated because of inclement weather during the second crop. However, he said that the corporation was able to meet all its market obligations including the preferential European market, while the Jamaican, Barbadian and Trinidadian markets were penetrated.

Ward noted that its new packaged sugar that was launched last year, "Demerara Gold," has been well received in the Caribbean market and the corporation is now trying to expand the market for it during this year, and one continue in its efforts to produce more value added products.

He also reported that a contract for the Skeldon expansion and modernization project should be finalized within the first quarter of the year, while the joint project for the establishment of a US$10M venture with the Trinidadian firm Angustura is ongoing and should be formalized later this year.

Angustura signed a memorandum of understanding for the project with GUYSUCO last year.

As regards the financial performance of GUYSUCO for last year, the CEO said the figures are now being put together but he is optimistic that a profit would be declared.

Touching on the projections for this year, Ward said about 10.5 thousand hectares of cane would be replanted and production of sugar is expected to reach 320,000 tonnes, with the first crop anticipated to begin at the end of this month or early next month.

Responding to the closure of the Demerara Estates which is being touted by the international financial institutions Sawh said President Bharrat Jagdeo "is on record as saying the Government is against any closure."

Dealing with the rice industry, CEO of the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), Jagnarine Singh said it performed creditably with the production of rice being 355,000 tonnes as compared to 218,000 tonnes for 2002. Paddy yield was up also from 64.7 bags per hectare in 2002 to 67.3 bags per hectare.

Over 200, 000 tonnes of rice was exported and the demands of the preferential EU markets and the CARICOM market were met, Jagnarine reported that small quantities were also exported to Brazil and Venezuela, noting that the former has a large market but because of the language and bureaucracy some difficulties were encountered in making full use of the market. However, he indicated that most of the difficulties have now been overcome clearing the way for increased exports. He added that export to Haiti is also increasing and efforts are being made to get into the Colombian and Panamanian markets.

Development of high-yielding and high disease resistant varieties of rice are ongoing, while the paddy bug problem has been countered with the successful establishment of "Farmers Field Schools" to train farmers in the technique of integrated pest management. This he said resulted in damages to rice decreasing from about 20% during the first crop to about 4-5% during the second crop.

It is projected that for this year rice production would increase to 367,000 tonnes while the yield is expected to be 68.5 bags of paddy per hectare, and rice exports estimated to reach 234,000 tonnes, Jagnarine indicated.

Guyanese implicated in Antigua/Barbados passport scam
by Natlie S. Fleming
ST. JOHN'S, Antigua & Barbuda (Antigua Sun) -- Immigration authorities in Antigua & Barbuda will be paying closer detail to immigration documents carried by Guyanese entering the country.

Word of this has come from Chief Immigration Officer Colonel Clyde Walker, who disclosed that he himself, based on the powers vested in him, will be prosecuting any foreign national who tries to enter the country illegally.

Colonel Walker's stance comes after a passport scam involving fake Barbados passports has been uncovered in Barbados and Antigua & Barbuda.

He explained that Guyanese nationals in particular cannot enter the US, England or Canada with a visa and they find it very difficult so they resort to fraudulent means.

"Some of them are willing to pay up to US$4,000 to obtain a passport illegally," he says.

Colonel Walker recalled that during the month of December 2003 "we arrested at least four people with fraudulent passports, we have since deported them, but for the New Year I am going to prosecute them myself."

Barbados Chief Immigration Officer Gilbert Greaves has been quoted in the Barbados Daily Nation newspaper as saying that "immigration officers in Antigua nabbed a Guyanese national with three fake Barbados passports and two fake Barbados identification cards, while their counterparts in Grenada held a family of three who had made eight Barbados passports into three."

GLU gives City Hall 72-hour strike ultimatum
THE Guyana Labour Union (GLU) yesterday gave City Hall 72 hours to return money to municipal security guards that were deducted from their overtime pay – or face a strike on its hands.

GLU President Carvil Duncan says the ultimatum was given after the union verified that City Hall's personnel department had deducted all but one-third of the overtime pay of the security guards who worked on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

Mr. Duncan said yesterday the GLU understood that a circular from the Personnel Officer

had been circulated to the effect that just one-third of accumulated overtime would be paid for extra work during the holidays, but neither the security guards nor the union was informed of that decision or ruling.

"It wasn't until the guards received their pay that they knew what was going on," Mr. Duncan said in an invited comment.

City Hall personnel couldn't be reached for comment, but a GLU official said Mayor Green apparently also wasn't aware that the Personnel Officer had sent out such a circular.

The GLU said that it was prepared to call a strike and "close the city down" if its ultimatum was not adhered to.

Man found dead in Buxton
An unidentified man was found dead with two gunshot wounds to the head and chest in a clump of bushes at Middle Street, Buxton, yesterday afternoon and another was hospitalized at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) in and what is described as an alleged kidnapping plot by criminal elements.

According to reports, the dead man was clad in a white vest and a pair of blue jeans and was lying face down when he was discovered.

It appears as though he was trying to flee from his shooter(s) when he was shot because a live round was discovered close to the body and also the position of the body and its environs.

The shirt and a pair of slippers of another man were found not far away. He was said to be severely chopped about the body.

It was not known up to press time who carried out the shooting.

Upgrading of East Coast bridges, approaches continues apace
Upgrading of bridges and approaches along the carriageways of the East Coast Public Road is continuing apace, with the long-term objective of facilitating smoother flows of traffic in and out of Greater Georgetown. Workmen are also rebuilding a number of bridges.

Approaches to several diversion bridges have deteriorated as a result of the recent heavy rainfall. This has prompted the Ministry of Public Works to instruct the contracting firm, Dywidag, to begin carrying out repairs in order to provide a better surface for commuters.

Officials of the Ministry of Public Works have disclosed that because of the deterioration of the bridge approaches, vehicles travelling along the East Coast are frequently ensnared in long queues and instances of traffic congestion.

However, because of the recent inclement weather, repair works were delayed. It is hoped that the slight break in the rainy weather over the last few days would allow engineers to begin much-needed repairs to the more deteriorated sections of the carriageways.

At present, there are two diversion bridges along the East Coast Demerara.

According to officials of the Ministry, the initial plan was not to build diversion bridges, but rather to repair the main bridges in sections thus allowing for one-lane traffic flows.

After considering the delays and traffic build-up this programme could cause, the contractor decided that diversion bridges should be built to facilitate the normal flow of vehicular traffic.

The bypass bridges have not only reduced the estimated duration of the project, they have also saved the Government additional costs.

As part of the project agreement, the contractor is required to carry out continual maintenance to the structure to ensure traffic flows are not interrupted.

The bridges project, which cost about US $22M, is expected to be completed in 21 months. The project involves the construction of the Mahaica and Mahaicony bridges along with several other structures between Timehri, East Bank Demerara and Rosignol, West Berbice. (Jaime Hall)

Guyana poised for further debt relief
--Dr Luncheon
GUYANA’s attainment of the completion point of the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative has opened the door for further debt relief from the country’s bilateral and multilateral creditors.

This disclosure was made yesterday by Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon, who indicated that the details of further debt relief will be concluded at the upcoming Paris Club meeting, to be held in Paris, France.

Luncheon, at his regular post-Cabinet news briefing at the Presidential Complex, said Guyana will be represented at that meeting by Finance Minister Mr. Saisnarine Kowlessar, and Director of Budget in the Finance Ministry, Dr. Ashni Singh.

He said the team would be complemented by the Head of the Debt Management Unit in the Finance Ministry and other senior staff from that unit.

The team, he said, has already been engaged in preliminary discussions with regional creditors, and the response has been favourable.

The team leaves Guyana this weekend, and according to Dr. Luncheon, the Government’s expectations are that agreements would be reached to reduce Guyana’s stock of debt to the extent of allowing significant reduction of debt servicing - the interest to payments charges on the country’s Consolidated Fund.

Guyana’s recent qualification for debt relief under the enhanced framework of HIPC places it on record as being the ninth country to reach the HIPC completion point.

As a result of this achievement, Guyana will benefit from US$30M annually over the next ten years to advance development in the country’s social sector. (Mark Ramotar)

Ramsammy resting after surgery
HEALTH Minister Dr. Leslie Ramsammy has successfully undergone elective cardiac bypass surgery in the United States and is said to be resting at his home in Long Island, Queens, in a stable condition.

Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr. Roger Luncheon, in giving a status report on the Health Minister’s condition at his regular post-Cabinet media briefing yesterday, indicated that Cabinet was reassured with the information from Dr. Ramsammy that he was recuperating at home in New York after his elective Cardiac bypass surgery.

“We were assured that his condition was stable and that his physicians anticipated his convalescence to be uneventful,” Dr. Luncheon stated.

He, however, noted that Dr. Ramsammy’s return to service, as Health Minister would, of course, depend on medical advice to be tendered by his physicians, but it is not expected to be “anytime soon”.

In the interim, Public Service Minister Dr. Jennifer Westford will continue to hold the portfolio of Minister of Health, Dr. Luncheon said.

Wilton Angoy dies in Barbados
RETIRED former Guyanese civil servant, Wilton Angoy, who served as Guyana's first honorary consul to Barbados (1985 to 1992) and became well known in Barbados as a prolific letter-writer to the press, is dead.

Angoy, who passed on in Barbados in the early hours of Thursday morning, would have been 97 on Monday.

Once an active sportsman, he played Inter-Colonial football for the then British Guiana against local contemporaries such as Roger Blackman, and Dr Harold Forde. Born January 12, 1907, in New Amsterdam, Berbice, Guyana, he went to school in Barbados for a short period at Combermere in the early 1920s, when he would have formed some life-long friendships, according to his son, Simon.

His love of writing perhaps reached its peak when he completed a book, entitled Guyana Man, which was published during the period 1989

to 1990.

He leaves to mourn his two sons, Dave and Simon; a sister, Stella, in Toronto; two granddaughters and one grandson. (Barbados Nation)

Death of a leader
THE news of the passing of Dominican Prime Minister, Pierre Charles, has come as a surprise to most people. The fact that he had just turned 50 made his passing all the more difficult to come to terms with. Advances in medical technology and improvements in the quality of life have had the effect of raising longevity rates way beyond the 50s.

Incidentally, his death came a mere three years after the passing of former Dominican Prime Minister and icon in Caribbean politics, Rosie Douglas, who died in October of 2002.

The passing of two leaders within a relatively short time-span forces us all to reflect on our own mortality. Life can be short, much shorter than we sometimes are led to believe.

Yet, the inevitability of death and the intensity of the pain and suffering associated with the loss of someone special are, together, something that can only be understood by those who are made to suffer by virtue of such loss.

In the case of leading public figures, the suffering is even more diffused. One cannot help but recall the mass outpouring of grief when the late leader and President of Guyana, Dr. Cheddi Jagan, departed this mortal world in March of 1997.

The harsh reality of life is not only the inevitability of death but also its unpredictability. Death, as we all know, has neither regard nor respect for age, country, influence or status.

This is why we have to try to make our contribution to society, however modest that contribution may be. Dominican Prime Minister, Pierre Charles, undoubtedly made his contribution, not only to his country but also to the wider community. As Prime minister and Acting President Samuel Hinds correctly observed, he will long be remembered by the entire Caribbean Community and more particularly by his native Dominica, which he served with dedication and distinction.

CARICOM Secretary General, Mr. Edwin Carrington, in paying tribute to the late leader, described him as a true friend of the integration movement. According to Mr. Carrington, the Dominican leader approached his work in the Community with the conviction that the viability and prosperity of the Community constituted the only way forward for the region.

And current CARICOM Chairman, Mr. P.J. Patterson, summed up the true character of Prime Minister Charles when he said that despite the inhibitions of poor health, no one could have disputed his dedication as a regionalist and his firm commitment to what CARICOM sought to achieve in the interest of the Community and of all member states.

In the end, we will all be remembered, not so much for our earthly possessions, but for the extent to which we put ourselves to the benefit of humanity. The true stamp of greatness lies in the extent to which one is able to subordinate individual interests to that of the broader society as exemplified in the lives of great men such as Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King and our own Cheddi Jagan.

Teenage carnal knowledge victim accuses ex, his friend
THE 15-year-old victim in a 2003 carnal knowledge case has accused her ex-boyfriend and his friend of the sexual crime.

Rocky Gravesande, of Lot 43 Broad and Russell Streets and Sherlock Peters, of Lot 30 Broad Street, both Charlestown addresses, appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Juliet Holder-Allen yesterday.

The two were each put on $55,000 bail and the case was transferred to another court for February 19.

The allegation against the men is that they committed the indictable offence at Middle Road, La Penitence, last April 22.

The teen and Peters were involved in a relationship when they met on West Ruimveldt Front Road and he agreed to take her on his motorcycle about 19:30 hours (7.30 pm).

Police said the motorcyclist told the virtual complainant he had to collect something in La Penitence, another Georgetown ward, where he and Gravesande forced her into the sex act.

Shot Army flagship drug accused further remanded
THE ex-solider who was shot by Police during a short-lived freedom bid on Thursday has been charged with escaping from lawful custody.

Wayne Inniss, of Lot 130 Lamaha Springs, who ran away from the Maraj building in Charlotte Street, appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Juliet Holder-Allen yesterday and was further remanded to prison on that charge until February 4.

Inniss was awaiting the continuation of the preliminary inquiry (PI) into the charges against him and another accused in the Army flagship drug bust case at a City court when he made the escape dash but was pursued and re-arrested after being wounded by Police gunfire.

Inniss and Shandy Stephens, of Lot 118 Dacama Circle, Mackenzie, Linden, are jointly charged with conspiracy to traffick in 60 kilogrammes 681 grammes of cannabis (marijuana) between May 1 and 11, 2003 and trafficking in the same quantity of the narcotic by exporting it.

They were busted after the marijuana was discovered aboard the Guyana Defence Force vessel ‘GDFS Esssequibo’ when it docked in Barbados last May to participate in the Caribbean regional ‘Exercise Tradewinds’.

Both of the accused were dishonourably discharged from the military and originally faces summary charges.

But, on August 12, 2003, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) substituted the pre sent charges and the others were put down sine die (indefinitely).

The PI into the new charges continues on Tuesday, January 13, before Magistrate Maxwell Edwards.

‘Tall Man’ charged with $50,000 burglary
PHILLIP Chester nicknamed ‘Tall Man’ appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Juliet Holder-Allen on a burglary charge yesterday, after being fingered by a member of the household.

Police said the daughter of virtual complainant Shazella Haniff pointed out the defendant as the man she saw in their bedroom on the night of January 3.

Chester, of Lot 243 East Ruimveldt, Georgetown, pleaded not guilty to the charge and was put on $20,000 bail, pending his next court appearance on January 23.

Particulars of the offence said the defendant broke and entered Haniff’s home and stole a shoulder bag valued $1,740 with $48,260 cash in it.

False passport declaration costs fisherman $20,000
ACTING Chief Magistrate Juliet Holder-Allen yesterday fined Sewraj Sookhai $20,000 with the alternative of three months imprisonment for making a false declaration to procure a new passport.

The fisherman pleaded guilty to the offence which Police Prosecutor Gordon Peters said was committed on January 8.

Sookhai, of Nooten Zuil, East Coast Demerara, had falsely declared that he was never issued with nor previously held a travel document.

But, on his return visit to the Central Immigration and Passport Office, at Camp Road, Georgetown, he was confronted with documentation to show that he had obtained a passport on September 9, 1999.

Fine, community service for marijuana possession
CEDOFF Parris, of Lot 3720 North Ruimveldt, Georgetown, was yesterday fined $3,000 for being in possession of two grammes cannabis (marijuana).

In addition, Acting Chief Magistrate Juliet Holder-Allen sentenced him to do 50 hours community service.

Police had searched the 22-year-old Parris on January 6 and found the narcotic in silver foil in one of his pants pockets.

Police charge television reporter, friend after bar fight
CHANNEL Six television ‘News Today’ reporter Tyron Alli and his friend, Diaramlall Sukhram, appeared in Court yesterday after they fought each other in a bar last Sunday.

Before Acting Chief Magistrate Juliet Holder-Allen, Alli, of Lot 27 Austin Street, Campbellville, pleaded not guilty to assaulting Sukhram and causing him actual bodily harm.

Sukhram, of Lot 18 Shell Road, Kitty, another Georgetown address, denied that he assaulted Alli, also on January 4.

Police said the two were drinking at 11.30 pm when an argument arose between them.

Sukhram was cuffed in the eye and struck with a pools game cue stick while Alli was dealt cuffs, too, the Court heard.

Both defendants were granted self-bail and will be back in Court on February 5.

Medical certificate admitted at rape case inquiry
THE medical certificate issued after the 15-year-old victim was examined by a doctor has been admitted in evidence at the preliminary inquiry (PI) into the charge against a Corentyne taxi driver.

The exhibit was tendered on Wednesday through Police Woman Constable Rose Bascom, who accompanied the secondary school student for the medical examination at New Amsterdam Hospital.

Defence Counsel Rupert Trim, representing accused Earl Bynoe, offered no objection to the admission of the document at Reliance Court, East Canje.

Bynoe, of Lot 197 Mayor and Town Council Housing Scheme, New Amsterdam, is charged with the rape of his passenger at Palmyra, Corentyne, also in Berbice, before Magistrate Kumar Doraisami.

The pre-trial proceedings will resume on January 21.

Husband granted self-bail in wife assault case
GAVIN Grant, 48, of Reliance Abandon, was granted self-bail Wednesday on after he pleaded not guilty to charges of common assault and malicious damage to property.

Magistrate Kumar Doraisami, at Reliance Court, allowed the defendant to sign his own recognisance after he also denied assaulting his wife, Sympathe, last December 12.

Police said Grant lashed the woman on her left leg with a piece of wood at their Betsy Ground home, also in East Canje, Berbice, where he damaged a wooden door valued $2,500.

The trial starts on January 21.

At Berbice Assizes…
Nephew challenges caution statement in uncle manslaughter case
THE accused in the uncle manslaughter case at the Berbice Assizes, Junior Savory yesterday challenged a caution statement attributed to him.

Savory, who is conducting his own defence, objected to the attestation being admitted in evidence, saying it was obtained through a promise held out to him.

As a result, Justice Winston Moore started a trial within a trial (voir dire) to determine the admissibility of the document.

Earlier, Police Detective Sergeant Colbert Halley testified that, during investigation into the crime report, he met Savory in company with Detective Constable Warde at Number 65 Village, Corentyne, on January 3, 2002.

Halley said, when he confronted him with the allegation that he murdered his uncle William Alert, Savory had what appeared to be bloodstains on the left side of his head.

Halley said it was then Savory elected to make the statement which the witness wrote and Detective Corporal Sendal Thom signed as witnessing the deposition.

The witness said he did not threaten Savory with violence at any time.

The case for the Prosecution, being presented by State Counsel Yohhahnseh Cave, is that Savory, 21, unlawfully killed Alert, 41, with a cutlass following an altercation.

The trial is continuing.

Police recapture another escaped prisoner
THE quick action of ranks at Central Police Station in New Amsterdam led to the recapture of a remanded prisoner who escaped while on his way back to prison in the same town yesterday.

Delroy Cort had been taken to New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court to testify at the preliminary inquiry in a murder case when he made the daring escape bid.

But, in less than half an hour, he was re-arrested and taken into Police custody.

Cort is charged on three counts of armed robbery but has not been able to post bail which was reduced to $30,000, at Reliance Court, East Canje, also in Berbice, on Wednesday.

It was the second time in two days Police recaptured escapees, following the shooting of another, in Georgetown, on Thursday, as reported in the other Court story.

Ranks in Stewartville robbery response should be emulated
All law-abiding citizens will join with Police Commissioner (Ag.) Floyd McDonald in commending the police ranks who successfully intervened during a robbery in progress at Stewartville Housing Scheme, West Coast Demerara, rescuing members of a family.

One bandit was shot dead and the other wounded. According to the account in the media, it was obvious the four police ranks responding to the call for help did so promptly and used correct tactics in approaching the crime scene to make their intervention effective.

Residents and neighbours must also be complimented for being alert to what was going on and in summoning the Police.

The action taken by these four ranks [and the neighbours] should set an example for other members of the force as well as citizens to emulate.
Yours faithfully,
Public-spirited Citizen.

THE DOUBLE STANDARDS OF CHRISTOPHER RAM
We - editors, columnists, journalists - have a special task in society; we must be fair, responsible and respect the truth at all times. We must never have sacred cows. We must never be crusading for one side against another side. And we must attempt at all times to win the respect, confidence and trust of the population. In other words, society looks to us to be educated about the truths of life.

We in the media ended the year analyzing all that went wrong in Guyana but we left out looking at ourselves in the mirror. We started the year setting standards for others but we didn't fix an agenda for ourselves for 2004. Both of these pursuits we in the media must embrace. The year for the media started with what can only be described as an ominous sign. Let us as early as the first part of the first month of a new year do some introspection and self-criticism.

Last year, one of my columns was entitled, "GLASS HOUSE DWELLERS." The article focused on the role of Mr. Christopher Ram as a newspaper columnist. Mr. Ram does a weekly perspective entitled, "THE BUSINESS PAGE" for Stabroek News. Mr. Ram came under intensive and extensive criticism in letters in all three dailies over his format. The trouble came with Mr. Ram's probing of the annual general reports of some companies. Mr. Ram found out that sound management principles were not being practiced. Praise was given to Mr. Ram by readers over his meticulous exposé.

Then trouble began for Mr. Ram. Readers pointed Mr. Ram in directions his business eyes should go - in the corridors of other companies. Mr. Ram replied to his detractors, gently admitting the truth with a large dose of journalistic banality. He wrote that he could not delve into the shuttered closets of the other companies readers mentioned because his firm RAM & MC RAE audits those firms. His critics, including this writer, hit the roof. Speaking for myself, this was unacceptable hypocrisy because as a newspaper columnist who has written for all the major newspapers in this country that was heresy beyond belief.

Mr. Ram is the business columnist for a newspaper. He has to maintain the professional standards the laws of media practice demand of media operatives. Let us look at the caption under Mr. Ram's articles that is always there. This is what is says: "Business Page is dedicated to providing objective information on issues of interest to the business community and the public at large." But this is simply misleading. To put it harshly, this is not the truth as you will come to see as you read on. Simply put, what Mr. Ram was telling his fellow Guyanese was this - "look guys, I am a business analyst for this country but I am interested in looking into certain businesses only; take it or leave it." This is nonsense. Then Mr. Ram cannot be a business analyst. He cannot be a newspaper columnist.

Having been exposed for his double standards, Mr. Ram lay low for a few months then returned to his old habits. He just finished telling us what was wrong with the last annual general report of DDL and then the fight started all over again. Readers were again incensed and again pointed out to Mr. Ram that his client is not practicing good corporate governance. Mr. Ram is silent. Others cite the case of OMAI, which said it hasn't made a profit since it came to Guyana and whose books Mr. Ram audits - Mr. Ram is silent. Yet again, the business style of a certain bigwig at GUYSUCO was thrust into the limelight and Mr. Ram does GUYSUCO's books - Mr. Ram is silent. GPL came in for a barrage of attacks, including a funny case of its chairman saying that he was paying only a small amount for his electricity consumption because his meter was defective - and, of course, Mr. Ram audits that company too. Mr. Ram is silent

Now facing a rising tide almost daily in the newspapers, Mr. David De Caires has come to the rescue of his columnist (I wonder when Kaieteur editor Adam Harris and Kaieteur publisher Glenn Lall will come to my rescue). In an editorial note of January 7, Mr. David Caires wrote, "It has been previously explained more than once that Mr. Ram cannot analyze accounts he has audited...we would be happy for other accountants to analyze those accounts." Let me say most defiantly here that this is unacceptable media practice. Mr. Ram functions in the Stabroek the way editors and columnists function - to look objectively at what takes place in society. The caption box in his columns says so. That little caption box must be removed immediately because it paints a false picture.

One must separate Mr. Ram from four other columnists - Khemraj Ramjattan, Raphael Trotman, Robert Persaud and Ravi Dev. These are persons who have been given space to articulate their party policies. Kaieteur has extended space to both the PPP and the PNC and the PNC is yet to take it up. These men are not columnists in the traditional media sense of the term. And Guyanese understand this. No one expects Ravi Dev to criticize ROAR in his column. No one expects Robert Persaud to devastate the PPP in his articles. But Guyanese expect Adam Harris, David De Caires, Ian Mc Donald and others to tell the nation the truth about what takes place in and out of the country.

The Stabroek's explanation of Mr. Ram's style is impossible to swallow. What the Ram case shows is that Stabroek News has a narrow, almost insular approach to media practice. Stabroek must follow traditional patterns and employ a business analyst who has no sacred cows. A fine example of such is Lou Dobbs, the famed business analyst for CNN. Pick up the leading papers in Europe or the CARICOM region and you will be treated to excellent independent writings in business journalism in which the writer's pen covers the entire landscape of the society from which he is reporting.

I find it downright insulting that a newspaper editor can openly tell us that his columnists have territories they cannot thread on. This is not the right way for the media to start the New Year. Really, this country is stuck in old habits.
Freddie Kissoon

Guyana has recorded many notable accomplishments
In her letter in Stabroek News [8/1/4] headed "Many are involved in shady activities," Sahiman Shaw herself seems to be indulging in a shady activity in the contents of her letter which, under cover of seemingly condemning the activities of the past PNC administration, takes a very broad swipe against the PPP/Civic administration of the past ten to eleven years.

By no stretch of the imagination can Shaw or anyone else say that, “Guyana has spiraled out of control" or that the PPP/Civic Government's "focus has shifted to power consolidation and self-preservation."

Under the camouflage of attacking the PNC's rule, it is clear that the writer's real motive in writing the letter is to attack the PPP/Civic Government, as almost three-quarters of the letter is devoted to that. However, the writer's purpose will not be served by this subterfuge.

In spite of many difficulties internal and external, Guyana has done remarkably well, particularly considering what it inherited from the PNC. Considerable progress has been made in rebuilding and extending the country's socio-economic and physical infrastructure and the country has recorded many notable accomplishments on the human development, poverty reduction and foreign direct investments scales as recorded by international agencies.

Guyana is by no means a Utopia; we do have our problems. But all fair-minded citizens have seen the development and progress the country has made under the present Government, and our increasing potential to deal with the remaining difficulties.
Yours faithfully,
John Da Silva.

Street lamps are acting up
NOT so long ago some of our recently installed street lamps started to act up.

After observations and complaints, the relevant authority repaired them much to the public's de(light).

Now, it seems as though the City Fathers/Mothers have quite a problem on their hands.

Some of the same repaired or replaced lamps are again not working while others are malfunctioning.

Mr. Editor, I feel this situation is grossly unfair to both the cash-strapped City Council and the Citizens.

Moreover, wouldn't an enquiry to ascertain the quality and life expectancy of some of these obviously substandard lamps that were purchased with scarce resources be in order?

It would be just for the Council to get its money's worth by having service of a reasonable duration.

Questions are bandied as to whether the Council has to pay for these repairs/replacements, or if it does not have to, who will?
BROTHER 'B'

I love men, not their evil acts
After you published two of my recent letters about the invasion of Iraq and the Middle East conflict, several persons have met me and asked, "man, why you are so anti-America?" "Why you hate Bush and Blair, you don't frighten they revoke your visa?"

I am not anti anything except evil and as the Mahatma said we should not hate the man we must hate the evil in the man. So even though I love Bush and Blair as fellow humans I hate their evil act, and in-spite of who might say what the invasion of Iraq was and destruction that have resulted from that evil act. Who does not like my position, well we can agree to disagree.
WENDELL P. GEORGE

Are we so used to failures that we're blind to success?
Some recent reports in the media, among them in the Business Page Reports by Mr. Christopher Ram, appears to be determined to project the Demerara Distillers Limited Group of Companies (DDL) in a negative light.

With obvious bias, these reports conveniently ignore the incontrovertible and universally acclaimed successes which DDL has sustained over decades in creating wealth for its shareholders, expanding employment opportunities in poor Guyana, enriching careers and increasing earnings for its employees, multiplying revenues for the Government and improving the quality of life for the people living in the communities in which the company operates. Instead, the writers use tenuous pedantic arguments and bureaucratic mishaps or omissions such as delays in the communities in calling of shareholders meetings or late publication of reports to impute deliberate manipulation by the respected leaders of the Company, and to magnify small understandable flaws into imaginary crises of governance.

It does not take more than commonsense to wonder about the true objectives of these wolves in woolens tailored to make them look professional and as if they are themselves perfectly beyond reproach. Whatever happened to the maxim: Success speaks for itself? Or, we so used to failures that we have become blind and deaf to success?
NOWRANG PERSAUD

Guyana routed for paltry 108…
Title-holders Barbados in control after day one
By Adriel Richard
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - Title-holders Barbados, set up by their bowlers and formalised by their batsmen, showed they meant business when they captured first innings points from Guyana in their opening round match of the Carib Beer 2004 Cricket Series at Kensington Oval yesterday.

Replying to Guyana's modest first innings total of 108, Barbados were 120 for two when stumps were drawn on the opening day with Kurt Wilkinson undefeated on 72, eyeing his third regional first-class hundred, and left-hander Floyd Reifer not out on eight.

Sent in to bat, Pedro Collins cruelly exposed the frailty of the Guyana top-order batting with four wickets for 31 runs from 14 overs to send the visitors crashing to 46 for six at the lunch interval.

After the interval, a 60-run, eighth-wicket stand between Mahendra Nagamootoo, whose 38 was the top score, and captain Neil McGarrell with 21 revived Guyana's innings after the visitors had subsided further to 46 for seven.

Gaining bounce and movement from a helpful pitch, Collins removed Azeemul Haniff, Krishna Arjune, Sewnarine Chattergoon and Narsingh Deonarine in an opening spell of 10 overs that cost 13 runs.

Collins, who has played 19 Tests for West Indies, made the breakthrough for Barbados when Haniff was comprehensively beaten and bowled by a well-pitched delivery for four in Collins' third over, the fifth of the day.

Collins, brother of West Indies fast bowler Fidel Edwards, then had Krishna Arjune caught behind for nought edging a drive, and opening batsman Sewnarine Chattergoon caught low down at first slip for six in the space of four balls in his fourth over.

Things got worse for Guyana when Collins had Narsingh Deonarine caught at fourth slip for nought and Ian Bradshaw, Collins' clubmate, had Lennox Cush caught behind for 16 to leave the visitors 37 for five.

After Collins was rested at the Joel Garner End, newcomer Ryan Nurse, also known as Chicken Breast, had Vishal Nagamootoo caught behind sparring at a short, rising ball for seven runs.

Tino Best, last season's leading bowler, had Travis Dowlin caught at silly mid-off for nought in the first over after the lunch interval. But Mahendra Nagamootoo and McGarrell spent over 1-1/2 hours defying the Barbadians attack.

Bradshaw, however, made the breakthrough when Nagamootoo was caught at mid-off skying a well-disguised slower delivery to mid-off after striking half-a-dozen fours from 61 balls in 1-3/4 hours.

Ryan Hurley hastened the end with two wickets for six runs in five overs and Bradshaw ended with two for 22 from 10 overs.

With 43 overs available to them and the pitch playing much easier, the Barbadian batsmen capitalised with an array of scintillating strokes. Wilkinson provided the most delight with his sweetly timed drives through the offside, but he lost Sherwin Campbell, his opening partner, when he was caught at first slip off Esaun Crandon for 12.

A partnership of 69 between Wilkinson and left-hander Ryan Hinds pushed Barbados closer to the first innings lead. But Hinds was bowled for 21 when he moved down the pitch to drive a delivery from Cush.

GUYANA 1st innings
A.Haniff b Collins 4

S.Chattergoon c Reifer b Collins 6

K.Arjune c wkpr Browne b Collins 0

L.Cush c wkpr Browne b Bradshaw 16

N.Deonarine c Hinds b Collins 6

T.Dowlin c Mayers b Best 0

+V.Nagamootoo c wkpr Browne b Nurse 7

M.Nagamootoo c Best b Bradshaw 38

*N.McGarrell not out 21

E.Crandon c Reifer b Hurley 0

R.Thomas c Mayers b Hurley 1

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

Total: (all out) 108

Fall of wickets: 1-12, 2-14, 3-15, 4-29, 5-37, 6-45, 7-46, 8-106, 9-106.

Bowling: Collins 14-6-31-4, Best 13-2-25-1 (nb-4), Bradshaw 10-3-22-2, Nurse 5-0-19-1, Hurley 5-2-6-2.

BARBADOS 1st innings

K. Wilkinson not out 72

S. Campbell c M. Nagamootoo b Crandon 12

R. Hinds b Cush 21

F. Reifer not out 8

Extras: (b-3, nb-4) 7

Total: (2 wkts) 120

Fall of wickets: 1-31, 2-100.

Bowling: Crandon 7-1-29-1 (nb-3), Thomas 0.5-0-1-0 (nb-1), *McGarrell 15.1-4-29-0, M. Nagamootoo 9-1-28-0, Cush 9-1-22-1, Deonarine 2-0-8-0.

Carib Breweries committed to bringing out the fans
CEO of Carib Breweries, Andrew Sabga, says his company is committed to bringing the fans back out to regional cricket.

While addressing the regional media launch for the Carib Beer Series at Kensington Oval, Barbados, on Thursday, Sabga disclosed that for the 2004 series his company was planning to build and promote the excitement that has become an integral part of West Indies cricket.

“The games in 2004 will be promoted during the tournament with intensity by means of some very exciting competitions and promotions.” he added.

Sabga said that Carib Beer was proud to play such a vital role in the promotion and development of regional cricket, describing his company’s partnership with West Indies cricket as a “solid regional investment and a perfect alliance”.

The Carib Breweries’ CEO compared the vision for Carib Beer to become the most sought-after Caribbean beer in the global marketplace with that of many of the players in the series who will be striving to be among the most sought-after cricketers internationally.

President of the WICB, Teddy Griffith, in his opening remarks said that he recognised the need to improve the standard of the competition while generating more spectator support and providing a quality product for the sponsors. He also added that it was his intention for the Board to examine the structure and financing of the tournament.

Griffith confirmed that in collaboration with the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC), there would be a weekly one-hour “game of the week” package and live radio coverage throughout the series as well as a live regional telecast of the Final.

T&T invited to International rugby tourney…
Nascimento resigns in protest
PRESIDENT of the Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU), Kit Nascimento, resigned from his post in the North American & West Indies Rugby Association (NAWIRA) on Trinidad & Tobago’s participation in the International Rugby Board’s Sevens Series in Los Angeles, USA, preferring a West Indies team instead.

According to the GRFU, the IRB and Rugby USA invited Trinidad & Tobago, the current West Indies sevens champions, without consulting with NAWIRA or the West Indies Rugby Union.

In protest, Nascimento resigned his secretary post in NAWIRA.

The GRFU noted that West Indies Rugby Union supported by the GRFU, recommended that the member unions be represented by a West Indies team.

This was the case at the last IRB World Sevens Series held in Chile and Argentina, in which West Indies team performed creditably, placing fourth among the American hemisphere teams behind Argentina, Canada and USA. The West Indies team was narrowly defeated by Rugby Canada.

“It was the view of the majority of the West Indies Rugby Unions that West Indies rugby would be much more competitively represented in Los Angeles by a Rugby West Indies team than any one of the individual Unions,” the GRFU stated.

“The IRB and Rugby USA decided differently and chose to invite Trinidad & Tobago, who are the West Indies current Sevens Champions. A West Indies Sevens Championships has not, however, been held since 2002, and much has changed since then,” the GRFU pointed out.

“It remains the position of the Guyana Rugby Football Union that the IRB should accept representation in the World Sevens series by the Rugby West Indies team.”

Kenya’s Odumbe shines as 20 wickets tumble in St Kitts
BASSETERRE, St Kitts, CMC - All-rounder Maurice Odumbe snared a five-wicket haul and posted a half-century as Kenya secured a clear first innings advantage over West Indies-B on the opening day of their Carib Beer series first round match at the Edgar Gilbert Park yesterday.

Odumbe led Kenya’s bowling as they ripped through the West Indies ‘Development’ team’s batting and reduced them to 97 all out.

The first-time visitors to the region also struggled with the bat against pacer Jason Bennett but Odumbe stroked 61 and dragged them to 149 all out at stumps for a 52-run first innings advantage.

Sent in to bat, West Indies-B secured a fairly promising start when Jason Haynes (28) and Ryan Ramdass (17) shared a 46-run opening stand.

But after they were separated, teenagers Lendl Simmons (13) and Assad Fudadin (11) -- both preparing for next month’s Youth World Cup in Bangladesh -- were the only other batsmen to reach double figures.

West Indies-B catastrophically lost their last nine wickets for a mere 29 runs as Odumbe returned amazing figures of five for 11 off 10 overs with five maidens and was supported by leg-spinner Collins Obuya, with two for three off 1.3 overs.

Using the series as a developmental exercise as they continue to press for Test status, Kenya were in danger of falling short of the skimpy first innings target as they were sent reeling 40 for six.

Bennett, in his second season with the Windies-B team, captured five for 45 off 15 overs, but Odumbe’s half-century and his resistant and vital eighth-wicket stand with Martin Suji (24) lifted the score from 57 for seven to 128.

Young fast bowler Dwight Washington, with one for nine off seven overs, and left-arm spinner Anderson Sealy, with one for 15 off 10 overs, also proved stifling.

Ramdass (2-16) and Antonio Thomas (1-55) were the other wicket-takers for West Indies-B who will begin their bid this morning to wipe off the deficit.

WEST INDIES-B 1st innings

J.Haynes c Ogundo b Odumbe 28

R.Ramdass lbw Onyango 17

L.Simmons b Ongondo 13

A.Fudadin stp. K.Obuya b Tikolo 11

G.Mahabir c wkp. K.Obuya b Odumbe 1

D.Hyatt c Modi b Odumbe 0

*+D.Ramdin c Otieno b Odumbe 0

A.Sealy c Suji b C.Obuya 6

J.Bennett b Odumbe 7

D.Washington not out 0

A.Thomas c Modi b C.Obuya 1

Extras: (b-6, lb-2, nb-5) 13

Total: (all out - 39.3 overs) 97

Fall of wickets: 1-46, 2-68, 3-68, 4-70, 5-70, 6-82, 7-84, 8-90, 9-94.

Bowling: Suji 6-0-19-0 (nb-1), Onyango 9-1-23-1 (nb-2), P.Ongondo 6-1-19-1 (nb-2), M.Odumbe 10-5-11-5, Tikolo 7-3-14-1, C.Obuya 1.3-0-3-2.

KENYA 1st innings

B.Patel b Bennett 10

R.Shah b Washington 0

H.Modi c wkp. Ramdin b Bennett 11

*S.Tikolo b Bennett 0

M.Odumbe c Hyatt b Sealy 61

+K.Obuya b Thomas 1

C.Obuya lbw Bennett 1

F.Otieno b Bennett 0

M.Suji c Simmons b Ramdass 24

P.Ogundo c Haynes b Ramdass 7

L.Onyango not out 6

Extras: (b-6, lb-3, w-1, nb-18) 28

Total: (all out - 45.4 overs) 149

Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-23, 3-23, 4-38, 5-38, 6-40, 7-57, 8-128, 9-134.

Bowling: Bennett 15-1-45-5 (nb-11), Washington 7-4-9-1, Thomas 8-1-55-1

(nb-7), Sealy 10-3-15-1 (w-1), Ramdass 5.4-0-16-2.

T&T close on 298 for eight
Memorable seven-wicket debut for Browne
By Naz Yacoob
POINTE-A-PIERRE, Trinidad, (CMC) - Virgil Browne grabbed seven wickets for 123 runs on debut to lead a Leeward Islands fightback against Trinidad & Tobago on the opening day in the opening round of the Carib Beer 2004 Cricket Series at Guaracara Park yesterday.

Browne, a 28-year-old from Nevis, troubled all the batsmen despite half-centuries from Shazam Babwah, Tishan Maraj and skipper Imran Jan.

When stumps were drawn, the home team, after being asked to take first strike by the visitors closed on a competitive 293 for eight. Pacer Marlon Black is not out on three and debutant off-spinner Amit Jaggernauth is yet to score.

The 26-year-old Babwah fashioned an exciting 94 to share the honours with Browne after an intriguing day’s play in the ‘oil refinery’.

Babwah excited the small, but enthusiastic crowd with an innings of grit and determination, which spanned 168 minutes and 141 balls and was laced with 12 fours and two sixes.

Babwah shared in a fighting fifth-wicket partnership of 110 in just under two hours with Young West Indies selectee Tishan Maraj, who stroked a resolute 61 that warmed the hearts of the diehard supporters in South Trinidad.

Maraj, the former West Indies Under-15 captain, batted for 156 minutes and 134 balls and struck nine fours.

Earlier, Jan with 55 and West Indies A-Team batsman Dwayne Bravo with 26 gave T&T a solid start by posting 75 for the first wicket before the latter was caught and bowled by Browne.

The left-handed Jan looked the part by showing great responsibility, but with the score on 95, he tried to sweep Browne and played the ball into his stumps.

At lunch, the T&T team was nicely poised on 100 for two, with Maraj on 10 and debutant Ricardo Powell three. On the resumption, and in the second over after the interval, Powell tried to heave Browne over the top and was smartly stumped for three by Jason Williams, who showed a clean pair of gloves during the innings.

T&T was reduced to 107 for four when Browne bowled left-hander Aneil Kanhai for two. But the pair of Maraj and Babwah batted responsibly to repair the early damage.

In-between, Maraj brought up his first half-century at this level with a boundary of Tonito Willett. His milestone came in 125 minutes and 113 balls and contained eight fours. Not to be outdone, Babwah reached his landmark with a huge six over the long-off boundary from the bowling off Browne.

At tea, T&T had consolidated their position on 203 for four, with Babwah on 54 and Maraj 53. On the restart, T&T suffered a setback when Maraj gave Browne his second caught and bowled dismissal in the innings. The 19-year-old University student returned to a resounding ovation from the spectators.

Babwah added 47 for the sixth wicket with wicketkeeper Gibran Mohammed before he was deceived in flight and was stumped by Williams off the probing Browne.

A tearful Babwah in his second four-day, first-class match for T&T returned to a standing ovation from the appreciative crowd.

Towards the end, T&T lost Mohammed for 22 and Reyad Emrit for 13.

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO 1st innings

I.Jan b Browne 55

D.Bravo c and b Browne 26

T.Maraj c and b Browne 61

R.Powell stp. J.Williams b Browne 3

A.Kanhai b Browne 2

S.Babwah stp. J.Williams b Browne 94

+G.Mohammed c wkpr J.Williams b Jeremy 22

R.Emrit c (sub.) Powell b Browne 13

M.Black not out 3

A.Jaggernauth not out 0

Extras: (b-1, lb-2, nb-11) 14

Total: (8 wkts) 293

Fall of wickets: 1-75, 2-95, 3-105, 4-107, 5-217, 6-264, 7-290, 8-290.

Bowling: Jeremy 18-10-34-1 (nb-1),Weston 9-2-35-0 (nb-2), Willett 8-2-32-0 (nb-2), Cornwall 18-3-55-0 (nb-6), Browne 35-2-123-7, Adams 3-1-11-0.

LEEWARD ISLANDS:

*S.Williams, A. Adams, W. Cornwall, S. Joseph, S. Jeffers, T. Willett, C. Tuckett, +J. Williams, V. Browne, K. Jeremy, D. Weston.

Jamaican batsmen battle to reach 258 for eight
By Ryan O’Brian
CASTRIES, St Lucia, CMC - Jamaica and the Windward Islands battled for the upper hand as they met here on the opening day of the 2004 Carib Beer Series at the Beausejour cricket ground yesterday.

The Jamaicans, sent in to bat, got a half-century from Mario Ventura and were 258 for eight when stumps were drawn, with veteran Nehemiah Perry (24) and Andrew Richardson (2) the not-out batsmen.

Jamaica started tentatively and lost former West Indies youth captain Brenton Parchment caught smartly at slip by Darren Sammy off Test pacer Cameron Cuffy for nine with the score on 13.

Keith Hibbert and Donovan Pagon then posted a second-wicket partnership of 47 before Pagon was bowled by medium pacer Darren Sammy for 20.

Hibbert (29) followed seven runs later in similar fashion as Sammy continued to attack the stumps.

David Bernard and newcomer Tamar Lambert added 43 for the fourth wicket before Bernard was caught at forward short leg off the bowling of Shane Shillingford for 18.

Lambert, who won the ‘Best Cricketer’ award in the 2003 Shell Academy class, batted with assurance and was the fifth out -- caught by Devon Smith at slip off leg-spinner Rawl Lewis for 38, including five boundaries.

Jamaican captain Gareth Breese then joined the left-handed Ventura and the pair realised Jamaica’s biggest partnership, putting on 63 for the sixth wicket until Breese was trapped leg-before to Cuffy for 31.

Ventura, after hitting an even 50, with nine boundaries, was immediately run-out attempting a quick single off Cuffy.

Perry, drafted into the squad last week following an injury to pacer Darren Powell, pushed a delivery into the offside and Ventura set off for the single, only to see Cuffy move swiftly to his left and break the stumps at the non-striker’s end with a direct hit.

The other wicket to fall was that of the all-rounder Evon McInnis, who skied a catch to Cuffy at mid-off attempting a big hit against leg-spinner Olanzo Jackson for a breezy 23.

Perry saw Jamaica safely to the close, assisted by a defiant Richardson.

Sammy, with two for 54, and Cuffy (2-56), have been the most successful bowlers for the Windwards, with a wicket each going to Jackson (1-41), off-spinner Shillingford (1-35) and Lewis (1-15).

JAMAICA 1st innings

B.Parchment c Sammy b Cuffy 9

+K.Hibbert b Sammy 29

D.Pagon b Sammy 20

D.Bernard c Currency b Shillingford 18

T.Lambert c Smith b Lewis 38

M.Ventura run-out 50

*G.Breese lbw Cuffy 31

N.Perry not out 24

E.McInnis c Cuffy b Jackson 23

A.Richardson not out 2

Extras: (lb-6, nb-8) 14

Total: (for 8 wickets) 258

Fall of wickets 1-9, 2-60, 3-67, 4-110, 5-132, 6-195, 7-205, 8-237.

Bowling: Cuffy 21-4-56-2 (nb-1), Thomas 13-1-51-0 (nb-4), Sammy 16-3-54-2 (nb-1), Jackson 17-3-41-1, Shillingford 14-4-35-1, Lewis 9-2-15-1 (nb-2).

Get me to the church - and back - on time, hopes Nel
JOHANNESBURG, SA (Reuters) - South African pace bowler Andre Nel is getting married next week - in the middle of the final Test against West Indies.

The match starts in Centurion next Friday and Nel had been due to wed fiancée Deanne Weitz on the Saturday at 4.30 - right in the middle of the final session of the second day.

The arrangements were made 10 months ago when Nel was on the periphery of the South African squad but he has since bowled himself into the heart of the attack, taking 17 wickets at an average of 22.47 in the first three Tests.

Now, the couple have managed to put the wedding back two hours to 6.30 which will give Nel an hour to get to the ceremony - 15 minutes drive away - after the 5.30 close of play.

Nel said yesterday: ``It's been a pretty confusing and difficult time for us, but I am very pleased we were able to find an alternative time.

``I am fully committed to playing in the Test match and will be giving my usual 100 per cent on the field throughout.''

He added: ``Deanne has been very understanding and supportive throughout the whole issue, as have the coach and convener of selectors.''

Asked if he was concerned about getting to the church on time should play over-run its scheduled close, Nel replied, ``For once the groom might be late for the wedding!''

After the briefest of honeymoons Nel will be back at the ground for the third day of the Test on the Sunday. South Africa hold an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the series with one game drawn.

Linden Open Basketball championships…
Retrieve Raiders down Kings to take Esso trophy
By Joe Chapman
RETRIEVE Raiders won the 2003 inter-club Open basketball championship of Linden, defeating Kashif & Shanghai Kings in the second game of the best-of-three ESSO-sponsored finals last Monday at the Mackenzie Sports Club Hard Court.

After taking Game One, the Raiders proved their championship form with another fine victory when they staved off the Kings’ challenge to win by 71-64 points, wrapping the series 2-0.

Once again the Kings were unable to stop the excellent teamwork shown by the Raiders, who led for the greater part of the game, holding the initiative at halftime leading 35-29.

Captain Neil Marks was in tremendous form, top-scoring with 24 points. The shooting forward who can post up, was later named the Most Valuable Player of the finals.

Marks got solid support from guard Anson Durant who triggered the victory with some telling outside shots in the dying moments of the game, to finish with 20 points, while Nicky Barnes ended with eleven.

The Kings had summoned the services of national guard Bruce Davis to their line-up, which included national guard Steve Neils Jr. But this could not change the course of the game - Davis was held to four points, while Neils’ three-pointer gave the Kings their only lead of the game in the second half, 51-50, and it soon evaporated on Durant's reply from beyond the arc. The Raiders never looked back and controlled play until the end of the game.

Neils was eventually fouled out with less that five minutes remaining in the game and Davis' presence could not prevent his side from saving the series.

In the end Neils finished with 21 points as he led his team in a valiant effort while team-mate and former junior national Marvin Hartman contributed 19.

In the third place play-off, Amelia's Ward Jets were winners over Seventy Sixers 82-71, after taking the initiative 40-34 at the break. Guard Rockliffe Joseph was in good touch for the Ward team scoring 22 points with Delbert Caesar netting 21 and Alister Webster ten.

For the losers, Nolan Johnson got a game-high 23 points with Damon Allen 11 and Desmond Chance ten.

Presenting the many trophies and replicas, ESSO's Terminal Manager (Linden) Carl Torrington wished the teams the best for the season and congratulated the organisers, the Linden Amateur Basketball Association (LABA), on the successful completion of the premier basketball championship in the mining town.

LABA president Robert Archer wished the teams the best and thanked the sponsors for their generous offer to take up sponsorship of the tournament which attracted the ten clubs in the Linden area.

Archer was high in praise for the successful basketball season and expressed optimism that ESSO would continue their sponsorship of this tournament in the coming season. Each of the four teams that made it to the final four received trophies, inclusive of the winners' trophy, the MVP trophy, replicas for the winners, and medals for the losing finalists, all compliments of ESSO.

The Retrieve Raiders by virtue of this win have taken the first lien on the trophy donated by the Guyana/New York Sports Association, based in the United States and headed by Richard Thompson.

Last year’s champions Victory Valley Royals also have a lien on this trophy. The first club to have three liens on the Guyana/New York Sports Association Trophy will keep it.

Most outstanding National Park cyclists named
By Leeron Brumell
NATIONAL cycling coach Hassan Mohamed has selected the most outstanding male and female cyclists from his record 17 circuit races during last year at the National Park Circuit.

The coach also named runners-up in the ten divisions that range from BMX to racing cyclists.

According to Mohamed, at the beginning of every year an awards ceremony is held to honour the riders for their hard work and efforts throughout the year.

Ricks and Sari Company Limited have sponsored this ceremony for the past 13 years.

The most outstanding junior cyclist in the BMX division, Romario Bhagwandin, notched up 81 points, recording 15 wins and placing second in only two events in the 6-9 division.

Mohamed noted that Bhagwandin also now holds a Park record for winning 15 races at such a tender age.

His runner-up is Mario Providence with 52 points.

In the BMX 9-12 category, Geron Williams is top with 61 points, and Chris Persaud is the runner-up with 57 points.

In the BMX Mixed Race 12-14 years, Scott Savory is the most outstanding with 44 points, with Ulrica Wilson being runner-up with 38 points, while the 6-12 year girls’ top rider is Ashley Ally and Sherri-Ann De Abru the runner-up.

In the Racing cyclists’ category, 12-14 boys, Ron Santos is the top cyclist with 53 points while Royston Anderson and Berbice rider Judah Klass both ended on 32 points. However, Anderson was named runner-up by virtue of having more wins.

The Juveniles division was hotly contested with Alonzo Greaves taking the division with 57 points and Darren Allen named runner-up with 37 points.

Albert Philander closely followed Allen for the position with 36 points and Shane Boodram 35, the closest of all the categories.

Marlon Morrison occupied the top spot in the Schoolboys and Novices event with 27 points, while Warren McKay was the runner-up with 24 points.

Linden Blackman with 79 points is the top veteran cyclist Under-45 years with Virgil Jones the runner-up with 38 points, while Compton Persaud gained 51 points to take the Veterans Over-45 years division, with Patrick Santos his runner-up with 42 points.

In the final division, the Upright cyclists, veteran rider Maurice Fagundes topped with 38 points while Linden Burrowes filled the runner-up spot with 31 points.

Mohamed said the past year had been a hectic one, as he, for the first time in his career, successfully staged 17 races.

He further added that it was a good year for the cyclist although it was a bit difficult on the business side.

The National Sports Commission (NSC) coach expressed his gratitude to the sponsors, the National Parks Commission, officials and also the media organisations for their support throughout the year.

The presentation ceremony is set for February 8.

Mohamed is hoping to start his season at the end of this month with the season-opener being the Ricks and Sari-sponsored 10-race event on Saturday January 31.

World one-day champions record tense 18-run victory
By Greg Buckle
MELBOURNE, Australia (Reuters) - World champions Australia fielded brilliantly to record a tense 18-run victory over India in their triangular series one-day match yesterday despite a brave innings of 82 from opposing captain Sourav Ganguly.

Michael Clarke took four catches and one for 22 after guiding the hosts to 288 all out in 48.3 overs with a quick-fire 63.

He shared a century partnership with man-of-the-match Andrew Symonds, who made 88 and took two for 47.

Australia had been set for an even bigger score but were kept below 300 after a six-wicket haul from India's Ajit Agarkar.

India scored 270 in 49.0 overs in reply after Sachin Tendulkar clipped 63 from 69 balls to give the tourists a flying start.

Tendulkar, who hit eight fours, and Virender Sehwag (35) put on 103 for the first wicket in 18.2 overs.

Tendulkar's dismissal at 134 for two in the 26th over, after Australia captain Ricky Ponting pulled in a spectacular one-handed catch at midwicket off the bowling of Symonds, was a big blow for India's hopes of victory.

Ganguly was left to anchor the innings after Vangipurappu Laxman (16), Rahul Dravid (16) and Yuvraj Singh (25) could not push to big scores before a capacity crowd of 63 271 at Melbourne Cricket Ground, where India flags almost outnumbered the local variety.

Medium pacer Ian Harvey (3-52) helped turn the match in the 46th over when he had Yuvraj caught at midwicket and next ball ran out Ganguly with a direct hit at the bowler's end. The skipper had batted for two hours, hitting six fours and one six from 83 balls.

SYMONDS SIZZLES
Australia's Symonds and 22-year-old Clarke, who came to the crease at 89 for four, put on 143 for the fifth wicket in 142 balls.

Clarke holed out to deep square leg off leg-spinner Anil Kumble in the 39th over while Symonds thumped three sixes in his 88.

Paceman Agarkar claimed the scalps of Symonds and Harvey (28), both caught in the deep, and Brad Williams (0) to finish with a career-best 6-42 from 9.3 overs.

Adam Gilchrist, who hit six fours, raced to 34 off 34 balls before he was brilliantly caught by a diving Irfan Pathan at deep backward square leg off Agarkar.

Agarkar struck twice in two balls in his next over, the 11th, when he dismissed opener Matthew Hayden for 20 and had Damien Martyn caught at fine leg for a first-ball duck.

Ponting was caught and bowled by Lakshmipathy Balaji for 18 in the 16th over as Australia slumped from 59 without loss to 89-4.

Left-hander Michael Bevan (1) fell cheaply to Sehwag's off-break bowling but Harvey paced Australia's innings in the closing overs before becoming Agarkar's fifth victim.

Australia host Zimbabwe at Sydney Cricket Ground tomorrow in the second match of the triangular series.

Ponting said he was conscious of the need for Australia to improve their fielding.

``We talked about it a fair bit coming into the game,'' he said. ``There was a noticeable improvement tonight. We still put a couple down and probably had a few other half-chances we didn't take.''

Yuvraj said his team were deeply disappointed at losing from such a strong position.

``If one of us would have stayed, things would have been different,'' he said.

AUSTRALIA

A.Gilchrist c Pathan b Agarkar 34

M.Hayden c Yuvraj b Agarkar 20

R.Ponting c & b Balaji 18

D.Martyn c Balaji b Agarkar 0

A.Symonds c Kumble b Agarkar 88

M.Clarke c Laxman b Kumble 63

M.Bevan c Ganguly b Sehwag 1

I.Harvey c Tendulkar b Agarkar 28

A.Bichel run-out 1

J.Gillespie not out 8

B.Williams c Yuvraj b Agarkar 0

Extras: (lb-10, w-14, nb-3) 27

Total: (all out, 48.3 overs) 288

Fall of wickets: 1-59, 2-70, 3-70, 4-89, 5-232, 6-233, 7-258, 8-272, 9-287.

Bowling: Agarkar 9.3-1-42-6 (w-1), Pathan 10-0-61-0 (w-7), Balaji 9-0-52-1 (w-1, nb-1), Kumble 10-0-56-1 (w-4), Bangar 3-0-19-0 (w-1), Ganguly 5-0-40-0 (nb-1), Sehwag 2-1-8-1 (nb-1).

INDIA innings

S.Tendulkar c Ponting b Symonds 63

V.Sehwag b Harvey 35

S.Ganguly run-out 82

V.Laxman c Clarke b Symonds 16

R.Dravid c Harvey b Clarke 16

Y.Singh c Clarke b Harvey 25

S.Bangar c Ponting b Harvey 3

A.Agarkar c Clarke b Gillespie 1

I.Pathan c Hayden b Williams 3

A.Kumble c Clarke b Williams 5

L.Balaji not out 0

Extras: (b-1, lb-8, nb-1, w-11) 21

Total: (all out, 49.0 overs) 270

Fall of wickets: 1-103, 2-134, 3-168, 4-195, 5-257, 6-257, 7-260, 8-263, 9-266.

Bowling: Gillespie 10-1-50-1 (w-6), Williams 9-0-52-2 (w-4), Bichel 6-0-38-0, Harvey 10-1-52-3 (w-1, nb-1), Symonds 10-0-47-2, Clarke 4-0-22-1.

Next match: Australia v Zimbabwe, January 11, Sydney.

Gayle hits quick-fire 145 but Windies stutter
BENONI, South Africa, (Reuters) - Opening batsman Chris Gayle scored his second whirlwind hundred within a week to rescue a flawed West Indies batting effort on the first day of their four-day tour match against Easterns yesterday.

West Indies, who won the toss, were dismissed shortly before the close for 334 despite Gayle's 145. At stumps, Easterns were 30 for two in reply.

After smashing an astonishing 79-ball hundred in the third Test against South Africa last Saturday, Gayle required just 74 balls to post three figures before lunch against South Africa's first class champions.

Gayle was still in some discomfort from the hamstring injury that has been bothering him but was needed to play as the tourists continue to struggle with injuries.

When Gayle was out, caught by off Pierre de Bruyn, he had faced only 140 balls, hitting 17 fours and five sixes.

Gayle apart, the West Indies buckled in the face of some fine bowling, Zander de Bruyn being the pick with three for 52.

Before lunch, the Easterns bowling had taken a hiding from Gayle, debutant Morne Morkel seeing his first five overs in first-class cricket disappear for 54, including 17 no-balls.

But for some dogged batting at the bottom of the order by Adam Sanford (21) and Ravi Rampaul (20), the West Indians would have struggled to make it past 300.

Sanford continued his good day when he picked up the two Easterns wickets to fall.

WEST INDIES first innings

C.Gayle c J.Morkel b P.de Bruyn 145

D.Sanga c Jennings b J.Morkel 10

R.Sarwan c O'Connor b Z.de Bruyn 12

S.Chanderpaul lbw b Malao 2

C.Baugh c M.Morkel b J.Morkel 36

R.Jacobs c Cullinan b P.de Bruyn 17

V.Drakes c O'Connor b Z.de Bruyn 15

D.Mohammed c J.Morkel b Flusk 19

A.Sanford c M.Morkel b O'Connor 21

R.Rampaul b Z.de Bruyn 20

C.Collymore not out 5

Extras: (b-2, lb-5, w-6, nb-19) 32

Total: (all out, 74.1 overs) 334

Fall of wickets: 1-76, 2-138, 3-150, 4-199, 5-240, 6-241, 7-273, 8-277, 9-317.

Bowling : J.Morkel 15-3-59-2 (nb-1 w-1), M.Morkel 5-0-54-0 (nb-17 w-1), Flusk 10-2-37-1 (w-1), Z.de Bruyn 14.1-2-52-3 (w-1), Malao 15-3-71-1, P.de Bruyn 9-4-25-2 (nb-1, w-2), O'Connor 6-1-29-1.

EASTERNS first innings

A.Seymore not out 13

D.Jennings c sub. (Lara) b Sanford 3

G.Flusk b Sanford 4

Z.de Bruyn not out 5

Extras: (b-4, lb-1) 5

Total: (for two wickets, 13 overs) 30

Fall of wickets: 1-9, 2-15.

Bowling (to date): Sanford 6-2-10-2, Rampaul 4-2-3-0, Collymore 2-1-2-0, Mohammed 1-0-10-0.

FIFA helps Africa take a major step forward
By Mike Collett, soccer editor
LONDON, England (Reuters) - As the Highbury song goes: ``Vieira oh-oh-oh-oh ... he comes from Senegal, he plays for Arsenal.''

The irony of course is that Patrick Vieira, the Arsenal skipper, might come from Senegal but he does not play for the country where he was born 26 years ago.

A World Cup winner with France in 1998, he played against his homeland in the 2002 World Cup when Senegal stunned the world champions 1-0 in the opening match of the tournament.

Vieira is one of hundreds of sons of Africa to be lost to African soccer since the continent's finest players started to pursue their careers in Europe in the 1960s.

Eusebio, the all-time great of Portuguese soccer and the leading scorer in the 1966 World Cup finals, began the trend along with Mario Coluna.

Both were born in Mozambique and both won the European Cup with Benfica in 1961 and 1962 before helping Portugal to third place in 1966.

Of today's top players Marcel Desailly (Ghana) and Claude Makelele (Congo) -- among dozens of others -- can be added to Vieira's name.

Of course no-one coerced these three to play for France. They were delighted to do so and have never hinted for a moment that they regretted their decisions.

NEVER PROGRESSED
But for many other players, who represented one nation when youngsters but never progressed to the senior team, their decision meant they could not pursue an international career elsewhere.

That is why FIFA's new rule, which allows players to change their national allegiance after playing in junior matches for one country, is to be welcomed.

The rule, covering players with dual citizenship or nationality, came into effect on January 1.

This week three former French under-21 internationals Frederic Kanoute, Mohamed Sissoko and Lamine Sakho were declared eligible to play in the African Nations Cup starting later this month in Tunisia.

Kanoute and Sissoko will represent Mali, and Sakho will represent Senegal, and the decision represents another step on the way towards a greater respect for African soccer.

However, Kanoute's club Tottenham Hotspur, who are in a relegation scrap, displayed old-fashioned thinking as they tried to pressure Kanoute to stay in England and help them climb the table rather than represent the country of his father's birth.

In their defence, Tottenham said that when they signed Kanoute from West Ham last August, they had no idea he was planning to switch his international allegiance to Mali after playing for France at junior level.

Spurs said the rules to change eligibility were not even in place at the time.

But while that may be true, Spurs were loath to be without their leading scorer for up to five weeks.

It's clearly time for European clubs, who have been reluctant to release players for the Nations Cup, to wake up to the ambitions of Africa's young talent.

Australia forced to pull out of Hopman Cup final
By Ossian Shine
PERTH, Australia (Reuters) - Australia were forced to pull out of the Hopman Cup final yesterday after Alicia Molik's foot injury proved more serious than initially hoped.

The hosts will be replaced by Slovakia in today’s showpiece match against the United States.

A scan on Molik's left foot revealed a partial tear to an ankle ligament, the player said yesterday. The team's withdrawal means Lleyton Hewitt's eagerly anticipated match against James Blake will not now take place.

``It is out of my hands,'' Molik said.

``I have spoken to Lleyton this morning. You know, these things happen and Lleyton was very understanding. If I could have played I would be out there.''

The recurrence of an old injury could also keep Molik out of the Australian Open, which begins on January 19.

``I will play when my foot is better. Whether that is in a week or in a couple of months I just don't know.

``I am going back to Melbourne today to see my doctor and we will take it from there.''

The Slovaks, with a win over qualifiers Hungary and victory over Australia when Molik pulled out last night, will face the U.S. after Lindsay Davenport secured their spot yesterday.

The former world number one comfortably beat Anastasia Myskina 6-4, 6-4 in the opening match of America's clash against Russia.

Under the rules of the mixed team competition, Russia had needed to sweep the U.S. without losing a set to pip their rivals into the final.

In any case, the U.S. clinched victory when Blake beat Marat Safin 6-7, 7-6, 6-4 in a contest, which featured some sublime strokeplay. The Americans then teamed up to win the mixed 7-5, 6-4.

In the day's other clash, France beat the Czech Republic 2-1.

Amelie Mauresmo beat Barbora Strycova 6-3, 6-4 before Jiri Novak hit back with a 6-1, 4-6, 6-2 victory over Fabrice Santoro.

The French pair took the doubles 6-3, 6-4.

Rusedski attacks ATP after failed drugs test
By Pritha Sarkar
LONDON, England (Reuters) - Britain's Greg Rusedski believes he is being singled out by the ATP after he failed a drugs test.

Rusedski, who admitted testing positive for the steroid nandrolone at a tournament last July, said although more than 40 top tennis players have showed ``elevated levels'' of nandrolone, he is the only one who is being victimised.

``I appear to have been singled out for this treatment,'' Rusedski said yesterday in a statement from Sydney.

``This is wrong, unfair and discriminatory. Instead of prosecuting me, the ATP should be trying to investigate this matter.

``I will fight this case to the bitter end. I would invite the ATP to be open about which other players demonstrated elevated nandrolone levels apart from myself.

``I would invite the ATP to drop this case as it is clear that the source of this problem is tennis rather than anything I did or took.''

The ATP, who runs men's professional tennis, had no immediate comment.

British Davis Cup team-mate Tim Henman, playing in Doha, was ``as shocked as everybody else'' by Rusedski's positive test. He said: ``It quite surprised me and it's strange that it came up now but I feel that it is good that it came out in the open and everybody knows his side of the story.''

Rusedski has denied taking performance-enhancing drugs and will carry on playing until a hearing in Montreal on February 9.

Organisers of the Australian Open said he would be welcome at the first grand slam of the season, starting on January 19.

Despite the announcement of the second positive test in men's tennis in three days, the Open's tournament director Paul McNamee denied the sport had a drugs problem.

MEDIA EVADED
Rusedski arrived in Sydney to play in a major warm-up event for the Open but evaded the media yesterday and was quickly escorted from the airport.

``Drug-taking is not rife in tennis and something here is very wrong,'' added Rusedski, who has been hampered by a series of injuries over the past two years.

``We now have over 47 samples (out of 120 top players tested) demonstrating elevated levels of nandrolone. The odds of this happening at random are billions to one against.

``Potentially nearly half of the (ATP) Tour could have demonstrated elevated levels of nandrolone.

``The only explanation the ATP has been able to find for this is that they themselves caused it. I am sure in my own mind that all the players concerned are innocent.''

In July the ATP said its trainers might have unwittingly given illegal substances to its players via electrolyte replacement products.

It said these products might have been contaminated with nandrolone. As a result, the ATP lifted a two-year suspension on Czech player Bohdan Ulihrach for a nandrolone offence.

During the period between late August 2002 and mid-May 2003, another six samples registered nandrolone metabolites above the limit mandated by the International Olympic Committee.

MUSCLE GROWTH
Nandrolone is an anabolic steroid that promotes muscle growth and helps rapid recovery from injury by duplicating the effect of the male sex hormone testosterone.

It is produced naturally in some animals. A number of athletes, including British 400 metres runner Mark Richardson, have claimed they tested positive for nandrolone by ingesting contaminated food supplements.

Argentina's fifth ranked Guillermo Coria and former Australian Open champion Petr Korda, have also tested positive for nandrolone.

Coria was suspended for seven months and fined $98 500 in 2001 while Korda was found to have used nandrolone at the 1998 Wimbledon championships and was also banned for a year after protracted appeals.

McNamee, a former professional player, said tennis did not have a drugs problem.

``I don't see any evidence of any problem when you consider the amount of testing that goes on in this sport,'' he said. `` But in life there's always going to be some problems and people found guilty.''

On Wednesday, Argentine Mariano Puerta was banned for nine months, fined and stripped of ranking points after testing positive for clenbuterol during an ATP event in Chile last year.