Guyana/Suriname dispute...
Tribunal set up to hear maritime boundary case
THE Arbitral Tribunal under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea has now been established to hear the case between Guyana and Suriname with regard to their disputed maritime boundary.

According to Foreign Affairs Minister Dr. Rudy Insanally, Judge Nelson is the President of the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) and Professors Franck and Smit were the arbitrators named initially by Guyana and Suriname, respectively.

The parties will shortly be agreeing on arrangements for establishing the Registry for the Arbitration and are already working together to propose agreed Rules of Procedure for submission to the Tribunal at its upcoming inaugurial meeting.

Minister Insanally said provisional mesures are among the matters that would be reviewed by the legal team after the initial meeting with the Tribunual. The application for provisional measures can be made at any time in the process, he said.

Among those measures was a request for CGX, the Canadian oil exploration company, to return if it so wishes and the normal practice of fishing in the Corentyne River should not be affected while the boundary dispute is being addressed by the Tribunual.

The establishment of the Tribunual marks the phase where opposition has been settled, Minister Insanally pointed out.

The next stage will include submissions of both Suriname and Guyana following on their initial submissions. The case will constitute the material that the Arbritators will have to look at, among other things, he explained.

Local Chutney artist launches CD June 13
LOCAL Chutney artist Carlos "Lucky B" Williams, who is now gaining popularity with his latest single "Son- in- Law"- a CD track that has been dominating the airwaves over the past weeks, is holding a "Soca Chutney Masala" tomorrow at the Harbour Bridge Mall Deck, Bagotstown, to officially launch the CD.

The single, which has three other tracks on it, has not yet been realeased to the public for sale, but promotional copies of the songs are being played by local DJ's.

"Lucky B" in an interview with the Chronicle yesterday said the he's appealing to the public for support by buying tickets to attend the event. Tickets cost $500 each. The gates will be opened at 20:15 hours and showtime is at 21:15.

The artist is also planning to hold Chutney shows in Essequibo and Berbice, where he believes he has a big target audience. He is concerned about pirating of the copies of his CD and would like to advise his fans to buy only original copies.

These are labeled with a photo of the artist and the Carib Beer logo, one of the main sponsors of the production. Other sponsors are Jacks Music House, USA Styles and Fashion.

Three hours before opening—
Blocked DDL AGM gets greenlight from Court
By George Barclay
THE Full Court of the Supreme Court of Judicature had blocked Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) Annual General Meeting through a restraining injunctive order issued on Thursday night.

But yesterday afternoon at 1.30 o’ clock, while some shareholders were saddened by the Court order to call off the AGM granted at the behest of three shareholders, the said Full Court discharged the injunction thereby giving DDL permission to go ahead with its meeting. The AGM was scheduled for 4.30 o’clock yesterday afternoon.

The three shareholders, plaintiffs, had sought to prevent the DDL from holding, carrying on or conducting the 52nd Annual General Meeting at the Demerara Distillers Limited Complex, Plantation Diamond, East Bank, Demerara or elsewhere scheduled for Friday June 11, 2004, at 4:30 p.m. until the directors’ annual report has been supplemented to include the information required by them.

The plaintiffs had first approached a High Court judge for the injunctive order. But after that judge refused to grant the order sought, they approached the Full Court late on Thursday evening and were granted a mandatory order.

That was the said order, which was discharged yesterday making way for the AGM to be held.

During the arguments yesterday, it was disclosed that the AGM yesterday would cost DDL a sum of $20M.

The Full court Constituted by Justice Winston Moore and Justice Beasraj S. Roy made the new order to discharge the injunctive order following what Justice Moore described as “able arguments advanced by both sides”.

But the Court ordered that certain demands for information that were being requested by the three shareholders/plaintiffs, be forwarded to them and other shareholders within three weeks.

Representing the plaintiffs, Rakesh Latchana, Christopher Ram and Eileen Cox, were attorneys-at-law Mr. Steven Fraser and Mr. Nigel Hughes.

The defendants, DDL and the company’s eight directors were represented by Mr. Rex McKay, Senior Counsel (SC) and Mr. Miles Fizpatrick, SC.

30 trained in bamboo craft
THIRTY persons are now geared to offer a wider range of furniture and craft products to the industry after completing a six-month training programme in bamboo craft.

The training programme was conducted by the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce in collaboration with the Government of the People's Republic of China.

The training was conducted at the Sophia Exhibition Complex, Georgetown and involved participants from several regions across Guyana. The Government of China funded the programme.

Yesterday, a graduation exercise was held for the first batch of the furniture class and the second batch of the weaving class. The graduands are now capable of manufacturing products from bamboo. The products range from the small craft items to furniture.

The project has two important components -- the development of skills and the development of furniture and craft products. The development category targets persons who are already in business so that they could expand their product range.

Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Mr. Manzoor Nadir, in his remarks at the closing of the training exercise, pointed out that persons who have craft and furniture businesses are being targeted so that they can introduce new product lines, especially those made from bamboo.

The Chinese Government has already indicated that it is willing to extend this project for another year even though the programme has a prohibitive cost, Mr. Nadir pointed out. "While careful selection of participants had to be done, to achieve a 75 percent graduation we can't be satisfied with such results", he said. The cost is high for each person who was accepted into the training programme.

The initial cost for the programme was US$250,000 and if at the end close to 50 persons complete the programme this indicates what the initial cost is to train one person.

With this in mind, the Minister urged that those who are being accepted into the programme should make every effort to complete the training.

Water c'tees get $7.5M to begin D&I management
by Renu Raghubir
THE Ministry of Agriculture distributed a total of $7.5 million to mostly farmers yesterday in its boardroom, when a Declaration of Authority was signed by Minister of Fisheries, Other Crops and Livestock and Acting Agriculture Minister, Satyadeow Sawh.

The signing of document is an assertion that all powers for the management of the Secondary Drainage and Irrigation System in Guyana now come under the Water Management Association.

This association consists of a number of Water Management Committees, which are functioning under the supervision of persons from various communities throughout Guyana.

Permanent Secretary of the Agriculture Ministry, Dr Dindyal Permaul, before handing over the cheques, explained that the committees were given the grants as a boost, to purchase basic office equipments such as furniture and computers etc, since Drainage and Irrigation issues are now under their control.

Dr Permaul stressed that the executives must be cautious in spending the money and urged them to keep all receipts, which must be certified by other group executives upon purchases.

Minister Sawh declared, "We don't have any control over heavy rainfall, but planning and putting methods in place to minimize losses are important."

He said that he was deeply saddened by the amount of money and crops that have been lost during the rainy period, and urged farmers to gain control of the water system in order for agriculture to succeed.

"There will be hard times but the longest journey begins with the first step...We must put mechanisms in place to reduce floods."

"I have seen good people with great intentions collapse many times, but this government will not abandon you," he added.

Cheques for more than $1 million each were given to executives of the Crabwood Creek, Cane Grove, Vergenoegen, Black Bush, Canal Polder and La Jalousie/Vreed-en-Hoop Water Management Committees.

GRC donates $300,000 to rainstorm, fire-hit families
by Michel Outridge
THE Guyana Relief Council (GRC) yesterday presented cash and other donations amounting to some $300,000 to six families whose houses were destroyed and damaged by a rainstorm at pre-dawn on June 4 and to two other families who lost their homes to fire.

The families who were affected by fire are: Julie Rambarran D’Aguiar of Lot 93 Sheet Anchor, East Canje, Berbice and Sarah Thom of Lot 447 Bel West Housing Scheme, Canal Number Two Polder, West Bank Demerara.

The fire disaster families were presented with mattresses, kerosene stoves, kitchen utensils, clothing and food stuff.

The families who suffered damage to their homes as a result of the rainstorm are: Shireen Ross (Persaud family), Sunita Rampersaud, and Haimwattie Gangaram, all of Riverview Housing Scheme, Lancaster, Mahaica; Edgar Thomas of Lot 302 Section B, Victoria Village, ECD, Julian Hatton, of Lot 354 Victoria Village, ECD, and Theophilus Ferguson, of Lot 367- 13th Street, Paradise, ECD.

The rainstorm-hit families were presented cheques of $15,000 to $25,000 to help rebuild their houses, and an additional assistance of clothing, food stuff, kitchen utensils, mattresses and kerosene stoves.

Secretary of GRC, Barbara Walrond, who made the presentations yesterday, told reporters that GRC is always ready to render assistance. She said; however, that extreme caution has to be exercised to ensure that the families actually affected by a disaster benefit from the assistance offered.

The GRC to date has assisted 58 families who have suffered loss by way of natural disasters.

The families yesterday expressed their gratitude to GRC and said they would soon embark on the rebuilding of their homes.

President Jagdeo to meet former U.S. President, Guyanese community
PRESIDENT Bharrat Jagdeo is visiting the United States of America today to meet the Guyanese community there as well as former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, who is Head of the Carter Center in Atlanta, Georgia.

President Jagdeo's programme today includes a business breakfast in Brooklyn, interactions with Flatbush Adventist Church and the Al Abadin Masjid, and a press conference at Marriot Court Yard, JFK.

The Guyanese leader will participate in several religious functions. Among these are visits to the Arya Spiritual Centre and the Jama Masjid. President Jagdeo will also attend the opening ceremony for the Bhuvaneshwar Mandir.

He will then travel to the Atlanta-based Carter Center for the meeting with the former U.S. President and then travel to Canada for Guyana's Independence Festival there. (GINA)

Rainfall destroys Pomeroon farms
PERSISTENT rainfall over the past two weeks has left several farms along Upper Pomeroon River flooded.

Reports said some cultivations are under as much as five feet of water which overflowed the river bank.

Captain of St Monica, Mr Thomas Charles told the Chronicle the situation has affected hundreds of farmers also at Kabakaburi, Karawah and Arapiako, all Amerindian communities.

He said large acreages planted with cassava, plantain and bananas were destroyed.

Meanwhile, Kabakaburi Captain, Mr Edward Smith said the flooding damaged pineapple and pear crops in his community and both captains are now appealing to the Ministry of Agriculture and other agencies to help with the replanting.

The Region Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam) Regional Democratic Council (RDC) recently spent $9.7M to build dams along the Pomeroon River bank at Panama, Akawini, Victoria Lands, St John, Head Field, Belfield and Aberdeen, to prevent water intruding on farms in those areas.

Crippled schoolboy gets wheelchair gift
MINISTER in the Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security, Ms Bibi Shadick has donated a wheelchair to a crippled schoolboy of Cullen, Essequibo Coast.

Senior People’s Progressive Party (PPP) organiser in Region Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam), Mr Parmanand Persaud recently handed over the gift, on behalf of the donor, to the beneficiary, Mahendra Jaigopaul, in the presence of his neighbours and relatives.

The boy’s mother, Mrs Leela Jaigopaul said her son is a pupil of the Fisher Primary School who took ill suddenly three months ago and has since been unable to attend classes.

She said the 10-year-old wants to continue his education.

No plans to call snap elections
- Persaud
GOVERNMENT has refuted claims that preparations are in place for snap elections next year, according to the Government Information Agency (GINA).

GINA, in a statement yesterday afternoon, said Information Liaison to the President, Robert Persaud, had indicated that there are no plans to hold general elections before it is constitutionally due sometime in 2006.

A private media had speculated that ongoing outreaches to the various Regions by the President and Government Ministers are indications of the Government’s plan to call a snap election.

“The outreach to communities, in all regions of the country by the President and Ministers of Government is consistent with the policy of taking Government to the people and pro-activeness in addressing people’s issues”, Persaud was quoted as saying.

“Those who construe a routine intensification of engaging communities, solving problems and initiating needed policies as preparation for snap elections are clearly off the mark,” Persaud stated.

“Further, the dynamics of the Guyana Elections Commission preparing for national elections do not provide the luxury of calling a snap election. The President said at the start of the year that the coming year will be one of implementation of projects and programmes. This is what is taking place. The opposition and others should not get nervous - it is just Government working hard for the people.”

One critic stated that the Minister of Local Government Harripersaud Nokta has been visiting the Amerindian communities to guarantee votes for the party at the supposed ‘snap’ elections. Government officials’ visits to Amerindian communities are to ensure that Guyana’s indigenous people play an integral role in the governance process, after being neglected for decades under the People’s National Congress regime.

Furthermore, this process of constant consultation provides the much-needed feed-back mechanism to Government from the people at the grass-root level who will be able to ascertain what is needed in their communities. (GINA).

GT&T is sponsor of Rose Hall anti-drug campaign
GUYANA Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) has been installed as the official sponsor of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club’s annual anti-drugs and pro-education campaign.

GT&T was the official sponsor of the Club’s under-19 team from 1995 to 2003, investing close to $2 million.

As official sponsor, the company this year will be co-sponsoring the Club’s annual youth magazine, sponsoring anti-drug billboards in front of schools, a monthly youth television programme, advertisements in the national media and funding community projects in the township of Rose Hall.

Three senior cricketers of the Club also signed contracts to promote GT&T's Cellink brands via commercials. These persons are Esuan Crandon, Assa Fudadin and Niel Williams.

In return, Rose Hall Youth and Sports Club will be promoting Cellink for the company in the county of Berbice.

Club Secretary/ CEO Hilbert Foster, at the launching ceremony recently, thanked GT&T for supporting the organization's most important campaign, which targets 60,000 youths in Berbice. The programme is geared to encouraging young Berbicians to say 'No!' to drugs and stay in school and obtain an education.

GT&T Marketing Manager Michael George hailed the relationship between the Club and his company as a strong bond with the emphasis on youth development.

The Club later presented a special plaque to Mr. George that highlighted the bond of two recognized champions. Mr. George and his marketing staff of Raymond Hunte, Rhonda Johnson, Margaret Washington and Sharon Tong were installed as honourary members of the Club.

IAC extends welcome to TABAR crew
THE Indian Arrival Committee (IAC) has extended a very warm welcome to the commander, other officers and ratings of the Indian Naval Ship (INS) TABAR, which cast anchor at Port Georgetown on Thursday, and wishes them a very pleasant stay in Guyana.

The IAC, in a statement yesterday, said it recognized that the INS TABAR, which means 'Battle Axe', is a highly sophisticated modern warship armed with a formidable array of state-of-the-art weapons, sensors and control systems developed with cutting-edge technologies for the defence of Bharrat (India).

The organization also indicated that it is pleased that the Indian Government has seen it fit to open for exhibition to the Guyanese public, "this impressive symbol of the increasing power of India".

The IAC also expressed gratitude to the crew of the INS Tabar for their donation of blood to the National Blood Transfusion Service, blood that will be used for the benefit of all Guyanese, including Indo-Guyanese.

"The IAC hopes that in future officers of the marine wing of the Guyana Defence Force can be placed on the Indian Naval Vessels for training purposes and also that visits to Guyana by ships of the India Naval become a regular feature," the statement said.

Prime Minister Sam Hinds and Georgetown Mayor Hamilton Greene were among the scores of Guyanese to visit the Indian Naval Vessel yesterday and given a guided tour of the Tabar.

Floods -- natural disaster or man-propelled hazard?
FLOODS have been added to the parody of issues that have taken center stage in Guyanese politics.
PNC/R leader Robert Corbin on May 16 visited Fyrish/Gibraltar and several other areas affected by flooding. Bleeding with anger after Mr. Corbin's visit, Fyrish/Gibraltar residents damaged or destroyed infrastructure in their area two weeks later -- protest action Mr. Corbin told reporters on Thursday the villagers were forced to resort to, in order to get the action of the government.

A week ago Justice For All leader C.N. Sharma took the cameras of Channel Six to Diamond, and for days afterwards re-aired the video as he criticized the government for doing little or nothing to avert flooding and spare residents the terrible conditions that result from heavy, seasonal rainfalls.

Critics argue that it was unthinkable of the Opposition not to capitalize on the sufferings of people to reiterate the electorate's choice of the PPP/Civic as being contrary to their best interests.

But floods and the watery conditions that remain on the land for days after the rainy season ends are anything but easy to cope with. Disease, sickness and death could follow, as could the loss of farm crops, poultry and even livestock.

Some countries have reported damaged or destroyed buildings and vehicles, uprooted trees causing power and utility outages, drowning -- especially people trapped in cars, contamination of drinking water, and the dispersion of hazardous materials.

If governments know all this, why, then, does flooding occur and why does it become such a constant agony? Is flooding avoidable or is it inevitable? Are floods a natural disaster or a man-propelled harard?

Floods result from several causative factors, including stream waters escaping from a watercourse and running over lands outside their normal and overflow channels, heavy prolonged rainfall from large-scale storms or a series of storms or from a near-stationary or slow-moving thunderstorm complex, saturated soil conditions from previous rainfall, or high existing river flows, again from previous rainfall events.

Experts say flooding, whether along rivers and streams, or from rainfall saturating water-worn land, is both natural and inevitable. It occurs in the developed world which has the money, equipment and human resource capability to exert flood control, and moreso in the developing world, where none of those resources is so readily available.

Although Guyana has two wet seasons, flooding often occurs when, in addition to the regular, seasonal rains that considerably inundate land and roads and overflow river banks, we experience torrential rains from the "tail end" of hurricanes or tropical systems.

Guyana is particularly vulnerable to excessive rainfall because its flat coastal, clayey belt, that narrow strip of land that stretches 425 kilometers between the borders of Venezuela and Suriname, lies about 4.5 feet below sea level. And the coastland is where 90 percent of the country's population live and on which most of its agricultural activity occurs. But even though the coastland is subjected to flooding and erosion, the rainy season also creates havoc in highland areas in the Mazaruni and the Rupununi.

In the U.S., where flooding takes place ever so often, it is estimated that natural hazards cost insurance companies about US$1 billion per week.

We've said nothing of the tens of millions of dollars that are being spent each year on the essential maintenance of drainage and irrigation infrastructure and on improving canal facade management, or of the heavy siltation from the Amazon River and other tributaries that slows water flow.

Suffice to say that an understanding of Guyana's physical conditions, so far as water absorption is concerned, is as important as bemoaning the situation that results from flooding.

Habeas corpus hearing relating to 13-year- old--
Alleged abducted teen sent to NOC for protection
By George Barclay
JUSTICE Beasraj S. Roy yesterday sent 13-year-old Bibi Natalia Hamid to the New Opportunity Corps (NOC) Essequibo, for protection, where she will remain until habeas corpus proceedings and a related contempt motion brought by her mother, are fully heard and determined by the judge.

At the invitation of Attorney General Mr. Doodnauth Singh, Senior Counsel (SC), the judge on Thursday inspected two children’s homes with the hope of chosing one to accommodate the child while she remains under the jurisdiction of the Court.

After inspecting the ‘Save the Kids Home” at Cornelia Ida, West Coast, Demerara, the judge who, had been given some information about the facilities offered by the New Opportunity Corps (NOC), chose the latter as the most suitable, and ordered that the child be kept there for protective purposes until the matter is completed.

The judge ordered that there must be no communication between Bibi Natalia Hamid and Reeaz Khan.

Another decision taken by the judge yesterday was that of appointing an expert to counsel the teenage girl. This suggestion or advice came officials of the Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security. These persons are among interest groups represented at the hearing in Chambers.

Ms Lisa Thompson, the chosen counsellor, was invited to the Judge’s Chambers yesterday, when she was briefed on the case.

Justice Roy made it clear that his decision to send the child to the New Opportunity Corps does no mean that she has committed an offence, or that she is paying the penalty for some wrongdoing. She is there only for protective purposes, the judge pointed out.

The child is the subject of habeas corpus proceedings brought by her mother Bibi Shameeza Hamid, in which she had accused businessman Reeaz Khan of abducting her daughter, and had asked that the girl be produced in Court.

The judge had ordered Khan to produce the girl and he did so.

But the judge had also ordered that the girl be kept in the protective custody of her mother and aunt until the matter was fully heard and determined.

But while the order was still in force, there was an allegation that the girl had been removed from her aunt’s home and taken to a children’s home at Mahaica, from where it is alleged she escaped.

The girl had also filed a petition to marry Reeaz Khan, which petition lawyer Nigel Hughes submitted could not be entertained since the girl was a still a minor and could not take such action without the permission of her parent or the Court.

The girl’s petition has not yet come up for hearing.

However, although Section 30, 31 of the Marriage Act Chapter 45:01 states that a girl under 16 cannot be married except with the permission of the Court, the said law stipulates that the girl may petition the Court for permission to marry but the Court may only grant that permission if it is satisfied that the girl is either pregnant or delivered of child.

In the meantime, Khan was cited for contempt and is to appear before a Bail Court Judge on Monday, June 14, 2004, in answer to the contempt charge.

Khan also appeared before a West Demerara Magistrate on Thursday in answer to a private criminal charge for unlawfully removing the girl from her aunt’s home. He has pleaded not guilty and was placed on $100,000 bail.

He, too, has filed a petition to marry Natalia. That petition is before Chief Justice Mr. Carl Singh, but no date has been fixed for the hearing.

At Berbice Assizes...
PPS manager testifies for Defence in rape case
ASSISTANT Branch Manager of Property Protection Services (PPS), Stephen Beharry testified for the Defence yesterday at the trial of the 63-year-old man accused of raping a girl, 15, between May 1 and 31, 1997.

The witness said the man in the dock at the Berbice Assizes, Charles Layne had worked as an armed guard on May 18, 1997 at Shell Antilles, East Bank Berbice.

Beharry recalled making up a roster on which was recorded the duties and location of guards employed by the company and the documentation was tendered in evidence.

Led through evidence-in-chief by Layne, who is conducting his own defence, the witness said the guard, J. Andrews, was on duty from 4pm to 6pm on that date and Layne, who commenced his shift at 6pm, was relieved the following morning.

Beharry said the guard hut, which is 24 feet away from the main road, has surrounding transparent windows.

Under cross-examination by State Prosecutor Candace Raphael, the witness said, on May 18, 1997, another guard was on the 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. day shift.

The trial is continuing before Justice Claudette La Bennett and a mixed jury.

Five years imprisonment for knifepoint jewels robbery
MAGISTRATE Kumar Doraisami yesterday sentenced Kwame Bhagwandin to five years imprisonment after convicting him of robbery under arms in New Amsterdam Court, Berbice.

At the conclusion of his summary trial, the convict was found guilty of robbing Andrew Seegobin at knifepoint, in Pitt Street, New Amsterdam, of gold jewels valued $81,000.

Evidence led by the Prosecution said the victim was ascending the stairs at Zodiac Restaurant when Bhagwandin and others forced him against the enclosed stairway with the blade at his neck and relieved him of the jewellery.

The prisoner admitted having five similar charges pending.

Three witnesses testify against cops on murder charge
THE preliminary inquiry (PI) into the charge against two policemen, for the murder of refrigeration technician Imran Hussein, continued before Magistrate Kumar Doraismai in New Amsterdam Court, Berbice, yesterday.

The Special Prosecutor, attorney-at-law Mr Mursalene Bacchus called three more witnesses, Detective Sergeant Ludovick Scotland, Rudolph Masalammy and Jasmattie Mohabir also known as Bridget, sister of the deceased.

Rasheed Mohammed Yusuf and Lindsay Moriah are cops jointly charged with unlawfully killing Hussein last April 12.

The victim was allegedly beaten by the peace officers at a car park in the 'Ancient County'.

Senior Counsel Marcel Crawford and other attorney-at-law Mr Rodwell Jugmohan are appearing for the accused at the pre-trial proceedings to resume on June 25.

Jewel larceny case for June 24
DEVON Jackson, who is alleged to have stolen a $10,000 gold chain from a woman last week, was put on $5,000 bail yesterday.

He denied the larceny from the person allegation before Chief Magistrate Juliet Holder-Allen.

Police said the victim, Gamattie Boodhoo was standing with her children outside Bourda Market when the defendant, of Lot 12 Sophia Squatting Area, also in Georgetown, approached from behind and snatched the jewel on June 4.

The case will be called again next June 24.

Juvenile girl in remanded trio on drug charges
A GIRL, 15, was among three defendants on drug charges who were all refused bail yesterday by Chief Magistrate Juliet Holder-Allen.

The juvenile is jointly charged with Martin Murray, 26, of Lot 178 Charlotte Street, Lacytown, Georgetown and they both pleaded not guilty to being in possession of 21 grammes of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking, at Mabaruma, North West District, last June 5.

The two were remanded to prison until the case is called again at Mabaruma Court on August 17.

Murray alone also faced two more charges of resisting and assaulting a peace officer and he denied those allegations, too.

The other prisoner on remand is Steve Headley, of Lot 142 South Vryheid's Lust, East Coast Demerara, who is accused of having trafficked 5.5 grammes of the same narcotic on June 9.

He will be back in Court on Monday, June 14.

Are Pres. Jagdeo's outreaches worrying the Opposition camp?
THE editorial in Stabroek News dated June 08, 2004 headlined "Patronage" requires a response to clear up some misconceptions and suggestive nuances.

The editorial theme centres on the President's authority and integrity in the dispensation of funds toward developmental projects and expenditure which do not come under the purview and control of Parliament, and not managed by the public service.

The editorial questions the integrity of the President when it asks: "when, however, does presidential prerogative cross the line to become political patronage? What is there to prevent personal interest from being represented as the public good?"

The editorial refers to a bonus payout to the Police Force "under a hitherto unheard-of scheme called the President's Initiative" and "multi-million payout to certain businessmen" who were affected by fire in Georgetown and New Amsterdam.

Finally, the editorial observes that "many were astonished" at the award of the Order of Excellence to the "non-resident head of a regional institution during a year when no other national honours were announced."

The editorial goes further when it asked: "where does all this money come from: how is it accounted for; when do payments start and stop; and who is qualified to benefit from this semi-official largesse?"

In the foregoing commentary there are more than subtle statements and queries to cast doubts on the judgment of the President.

As I understand it, while the dispensation of funds toward certain projects are done on the advice of public personnel, the President's authority allows him to make on-the-spot decisions according to his judgment.

I do not believe that the President has a carte blanche to spend taxpayers' money to gain political patronage without risking exposure.

I wonder if the writer of this editorial was around when the PNC had its infamous Ministry of National Mobilization and Ministry of National Development, the latter enabling the former regime to milk the State of funds for the PNC?

As I remember it, the PPP protested against the functions of this Ministry, because one of its main outlets was funding of the PNC.

Stabroek News has a right to demand accountability for the expenditure of funds whether from the Treasury, Consolidated Fund or lottery revenue. But why subtle queries on President Jagdeo's functional initiatives? Is the editorial suggesting that the President is committing misdemeanours?

Is President Jagdeo so naive and reckless that he would flout constitutional or normal procedures, especially with the combined opposition, including its moles in and outside the media, crying for his blood? I have more than a slight suspicion that this editorial has a linkage to Mr. Jagdeo's successful outreach in Region Nine.

It is obvious that President Jagdeo did not visit Region Nine to look at the scenery and receive garlands. He went there to see what problems the community was facing and what the Government could do to upgrade the people's standard of living.

The President is genuinely interested in the development of youths and improving the lives of Amerindians. And what is wrong with assisting businessmen needing help after a fire?

Political patronage should not be confused with genuine initiatives toward development.
Satesh Deodat

History reveals that the PNC is averse to the rule of law
DUE to the unparliamentary rule of the PNC for 28 years which was not according to any 'rule of law' and which neither the PNC nor the PMJ nor any of those aligned with them will ever address, our inherited Parliamentary system was not able to develop or evolve over those years as it did in other Caribbean territories with the same system.

In fact, a scrutiny/analysis of the existence of the PNC - history, in other words - reveals that the PNC is averse to the rule of law, no matter how much it trumpets and organizes 'rule of law' marches and pronounces at news briefings and sends letters to the United Nations to the contrary.

Remember the episode outside the gates of the Office of the President, when now PNC/R leader Robert Corbin and party executive Jerome Khan led supporters in an illegal protest and had to be bodily removed from where they were disturbing the peace and flouting the rule of law?

Remember the illegal street protests that turned violent, and the PNC issuing statements demonizing the Police for trying to maintain order and the rule of law?

Remember PNC supporters pelting, spitting at and verbally abusing Police officers trying to maintain law and order among the lawless protesters who were angry that their party was outvoted at yet another general election?

Remember PNC operatives going to Buxton, at that time a haven for the criminal "freedom fighters" who were terrorizing the Guyanese coastland, and declaring that there were no criminals in that then-notorious East Coast Demerara community?

Remember the many times that the PNC criticized the Police for putting down armed resistance by criminals in the cops' relentless fight against crime?

Remember that the first thing the PNC did, when the Police and Army were implementing their cordon-and-search operations in Buxton, was condemn the security forces for what PNC supporters in Buxton claimed was the agencies' ransacking of their homes in search of criminals that those villagers were believed to be harbouring?

Remember the PNC promising "mo' fire" and to "make the country ungovernable"? The implication was, and it turned out to be so for a while, that the violent protests would continue, that the human rights of innocent people perceived to be members or supporters of the ruling PPP/Civic would be violated, and that the growth of the nation's economy would stagnate by those subversive practices?

Remember the PNC refusing to accept the results of the 1997 elections, calling for an audit of the results and agreeing to abide by same, but then reneging on that commitment when the audit results confirmed that the PNC had lost the elections fairly and squarely? Those actions in themselves did not constitute a rule of law violation. But the expected continuation of violence by PNC supporters - never mind the party's anticipated explanation that those committing the violence were "criminal elements infiltrating the disciplined group of peaceful protesters" - and the condoning of the violence by the party when it actually declared that it had "adopted" the protesters, more than constituted a violation of the rule of law.

Remember a combination of street protest violence and violent crimes forcing CARICOM to intervene, eventually getting then President Janet Jagan to slice two years off the mandate given to the ruling party by voters in the 1997 elections - just so that the PNC would call off its violent supporters off the streets and return beautiful Guyana to some semblance of stability?

Remember a group of women supporters of the PNC, apparently forgetting that God is not mocked, turned up in front of Minister Gajraj's house and started a mock service and mock prayer with the usual gyrating characteristic of Mashramani reveling? Is that an example of the PNC/R's adherence to the rule of law?

Remember... oh, do I really need to go on???

But alas I must include this piece of irony. ROAR, whose leader Ravi Dev inaugurated a programme on television to try to impress upon the Government to do something, or to lambaste the Government for not taking partisan action against Afro-Guyanese, for the atrocities that supporters of the PNC committed against Indo-Guyanese during those violent street protests, is running alongside the PNC/R in the organizing and conducting of the 'rule of law' marches.

Am I to understand that this is a case of ROAR joining the PNC/R because it cannot beat the PNC/R at the 'beat-and-rob Indians' game? Or is it simply a case of political expediency demanding unorthodox methods to make a point and/or succeed in a cause?

The PNC/R may get through to some degree with its rule of law marchers. But it isn't impressing and never will impress me. And I will continue to pity those big people who know better but who are very comfortable living a life of pretense, just to allow the PNC/R to take them and Guyana down the path to destruction.

Even with the PNC/R being what it is, however, I am happy to say that there have been great improvements over the last decade, with the foundations laid for further development. It was left to this Government to make up for the valuable time lost. It will take time for the country to further develop and evolve.

There is this saying that "the proof of the pudding is in the eating." Unfortunately, I don't expect the PNC/R to put into practice its sermon about being supportive and an advocate of the rule of law.
Yours faithfully,
Christopher Marshall

Has Ronald Reagan been an influence on George W. Bush?
AMERICA'S 40th President, Ronald Wilson Reagan, has already gone down in American history as one of America's, if not the world's, most influential leaders - his flaws notwithstanding.

Considered a B-rated movie star during his years making screen appearances, he initially seemed to extrapolate this less-than-the best status into his presidency with the articulation of policies that irked Democrats and shocked the world. But his iconic end obviously justified his ironic means.

While in office, he was dubbed the anti-Christ because of his policies and approach to world politics, and as if to confirm this, folks cited his name as representative of the 'Mark of the Beast', or 666. His first, middle and last names each contain six letters. So much for the mystery!

In October 1983, when he ordered the U.S. military into Grenada to 'rescue Americans' who might have been in danger of being abducted by people who backed the execution of Maurice Bishop, he actually sent a message to Fidel Castro to end his foray into other states under the pretext of helping build those states' infrastructure when in fact the aim was to spread communism.

I also vividly recall Forbes Burnham, fresh from talks with CARICOM leaders on the Grenada crisis, calling an impromptu meeting of government and public corporation officials at Sophia. There was a sense of gloom, perhaps fear, that Guyana was next, even though it never materialized. But I am sure Grenada was a wake-up call for the Burnham regime, thanks to Mr. Reagan.

I am looking at America's 43rd President, George Walker Bush, and it's like deja vu, because he came in being labeled by his critics as a 'C' average student in college, and lampooned as out of touch because he was born into privilege. His policies are irking Democrats and the world appears at odd with him. Will the end of his tenure justify the means by which he has chosen to achieve his goals?

For Mr. Reagan, the 'evil empire' of communism was a major concern for America to deal with, and he went after the Soviet Union, the bastion of communism, with a passion. For Mr. Bush, the 'evil of terrorism' is a major concern for America to deal with, and he is going after it with a passion. Like Mr. Reagan, Mr. Bush believes cutting taxes, a strong military and spreading democracy are major themes in their vision of a strong America.

Looking at the tracking polls, it is not impossible for Mr. Bush to secure a second term, having weathered the storms that his policies and positions appear to have created. Not only should he have been further down in the polls, according to conventional wisdom, but John Kerry, whose flip-flop record on issues continues to haunt him, remains a messenger without a coherent message and is failing to capitalize on Bush's beatings in the press and world opinion.

As a Guyanese who grew to admire Mr. Reagan for his fierce stance on issues in which he believed, I have come to admire Mr. Bush for his fierce stance on issues in which he believes. With him in office for another four years, it is likely he will delay the inevitable changes that will eventually reshape our world politically and economically in our times. The irritating differences between himself and France's Jacque Chirac prove he will not let America bow or fall easily.

But will he emerge from the ash heap of scorn and ridicule like the "Great Communicator" and come to win the praise of many after the smoke has cleared? Time only will tell.
Emile Mervin,
Brooklyn, New York

Labouring under severe delusions
AUBREY Norton is obviously labouring under severe delusions. He is also being very repulsive in his reference to Janet Jagan as believing in domination.

On the question of nature leading in one direction, I wonder whether Aubrey Norton believes that for him, nature will lead in the opposite direction. He should be more circumspect in matters of this nature and certainly more respectful.

Also, Mr. Norton should say in what circumstances did he have the opportunity to conclude that, to use his words, "Mrs. Jagan who clearly believed in and continues to believe in domination"?

This sweeping assertion simply exposes an alarming ignorance of the personality of our leading and respected stateswoman. If he were less full of himself, he would proffer appropriate apologies.

Mr. Norton is hopelessly shameless and certainly finds himself on unsound ground when he attempts to picture Forbes Burnham as being favourably disposed to power sharing. Aubrey is too young and in fact was not around nor close enough to the PNC founding leader to expound upon the sincerity of the posturing by Burnham on the subject of power sharing.

The undersigned remains supremely confident in the knowledge, by association and as Assistant General Secretary of the PNC, to state that Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham was never prepared to share governance or participate in any government headed by Cheddi Jagan.

I have the personal experience of Dr. Jagan's sincerity on this topic. Aubrey, please note.
David de Groot

Disciplining children is a Divine parental responsibility
FOR all of us who are keenly concerned for a better future, then the total upbringing of our children is primarily the foundation that is laid by us as parents and guardians and later by teachers who are most times also parents or supposedly good by-products of parenthood.

Children are correctly construed to be given to us by the Supreme Creator who is most wise and knowledgeable and His divine guidance should always be the foremost and best prescription to research and to apply to our spiritual and moral well being.

Except for Adam and Eve, and Jesus, all others have come through the normal human intercourse - womb, incubation and birth - and for those mentioned above and all of us to learn the divine unmatched and infallible rules for mothers and fathers to imbibe and impart, upon birth and subsequently, righteous upbringing.

All divide religions speak of us being children of God who out of this special blessings gave us humanity as our race, and all must have priority stick to the understanding, teachings and propagating of the foremost commandment "thou shall love the Lord thy God with all thy heart soul and mind" for at all initial childhood coronation the "nine day", Baptism, Aqeeqa point this enshrouding of the baby's inauguration in the world being faced with Godly centenaries.

Mothers are the first school of the child; the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world, heaven lies at the feet of mothers. However, fathers have the biggest of all responsibilities not only to provide bread and butter for the stomachs, but spiritual medicines for their souls also.

If the love of and for God is punctiliously and meticulously understood and enshrined in the pure nature and later embalmed in their souls, through their family, religious units, and later schools, then undoubtedly the pure original soul will spread with divine attributes and honesty, courtesy, chastity and all other approved characteristics for decent social relationships will automatically evolve. This must be a lifetime performance.

Parents should stop "paying rents" for the upbringing of their children and should reclaim and revive the divine expectation of "do not spare the rod and spoil the child". Of course, any and all disciplining must be done within the divine of "children being children" and all should try to correct them judiciously lest we do it incorrectly, harshly and painfully.

May God bless all parents with the divine qualities so that our lifestyles can impact on our future generations!
S. KHAN

A Freudian slip?
THE reportage into the sex scandal surrounding the 37-year-old businessman and the 13-year-old girl child leaves much to be desired. On the one hand, Stabroek News did not initially contact the businessman to get his side of the story, and on the other hand Kaieteur News held its thunder for eleven (11) whole days before finally deciding to publish the story. Stabroek News first reported the story on May 21 and the public waited in vain for eleven days for Kaieteur News to do same. In the meantime suspicions grew. On June 1 KN finally broke its own silence on the story with a most revealing front page headline: "Reeaz Khan breaks silence on alleged abduction." A Freudian slip?

An anonymous Kaieteur columnist is justified in asking the question "Why did Stabroek News not publish Reeaz's side of the story?" I would be glad to hear his/her answer to this question, "Why did Kaieteur News delay for eleven days before publishing the sordid saga?" Why the eleven days of silence by the might thundering Kaieteur? Why did it take so long for the highly efficient investigative reporters of KN to wring the story out of the parties involved in this outrage? Kaieteur allowed the Stabroek to hog the entire story for eleven days. The early bird catches the worm; the late bird has to be satisfied with the wormhole.

Anyway it is good that the story broke the way it did. So to both newspapers: get both sides of the story and get them FAST. Expose the political, religious, educational and financial paedophiles in our midst.
Yours faithfully,
M. Xiu Quan-Balgobind-Hackett

Sarwan is not ready for Windies captaincy
By Leeron Brumell
“I DON’T think I’m fully ready for the captaincy because I need more experience, but it would be a dream come true for me to captain the West Indies team,” West Indies Vice captain Ramnaresh Sarwan declared, yesterday.

Sarwan was at the time locked in a question-answer segment with the media houses at NCN-TV’s studio.

The highest Guyanese Test scorer in a single innings (261 not out), said he received valuable support from his teammates when he captained them against Bangladesh in the One-day series they won 3-0.

“Everyone was very supportive, I don’ think it’s a matter of question. I haven’t done it in a long period, but I just think I need more experience rather than saying I don’t have enough.

The batsman pointed out he never really had the opportunity to bat as a captain and bat under pressure as a captain.

“On the couple of occasions that I’ve captained the team it was under pretty easy situations.”

Sarwan, who will be 24 years on June 24, said he would be in a much better position to lead the West Indies team if he captained Guyana in the regional competitions.

He said he was pleased with the advice and support from the players, ex-players and fans. “You try to please everyone. Everybody tends to come up and give you advice and I think that’s very good. It’s kind of hard to please everyone, sometimes they get upset and stuff like that when you don’t do what they want you to, but it’s understandable. The fact of the matter is, whenever you’re in charge you have to go with your instincts.”

But he does not listen to criticisms when on the field, thus he blocks everything out.

Sarwan said he was pleased with the results from the past six months training and was overjoyed with his recent successes in the Bangladesh test and one-day series.

“I’ve really worked on my fitness and I’ve come a long way with Gus Logie and Ronald Rogers.”

He reiterated he was not disappointed when the declaration was made in the final test against Bangladesh.

“They gave me eight overs to try and get to 300, but I told them the most important thing was winning. I think, most importantly, the team comes first. You don’t want to find yourself where you’re bowling a day and three-quarter. I think it was very important for us to win this match and obviously we’ve been under some pressure, so the declaration came at the right time.”

He recalled that Ravi Rampaul carried the message to him but he was not surprised.

Ronnie, as he is also known, said Bangladesh deserved credit for the fight they put up.

“I don’t think we underestimated them but they got us by surprise. I thought they improved and kept improving. I don’t think we (West Indies) played well during the one-day series. We were good in bowling and restricting them for decent totals but when we were batting it was kind of hard getting the ball off the square.

“You must give them credit. I don’t think you can put all the blame on us, I thought they bowled pretty well during the one-day series as well.”

Experience, seemed to be the downfall for the West Indies team, which has a number of youngsters, according to Sarwan.

“I think we don’t have the killer instinct. I don’t know if it’s because we are not accustomed to winning and we’re trying to find solutions. That’s something we’re still working on.”

He said that burnt out players was not the problem in the West Indies team as in the other Test playing nations, but the younger players needed experience, disclosing that for the past year, the West Indies was working with the youngsters for them to understand the importance of cricket to West Indians.

Asked if a foreign coach would be better to work with the team, the right-handed batsman replied: “Who ever coaches the team I’ll be comfortable with and I’m sure the other players will also be comfortable too.”

Sarwan who is a right arm leg-break bowler said he was looking forward to the England tour later this month, saying he has a number of goals, which he would not disclose.

He said the bowling department would have their work cut out for them.

“I think the reason we batted so badly against England was because we were under prepared.”

The vice-captain said in his position, he does not have much of a say in the selection of the teams for the matches and the only time he was involved was in the captain’s role in Brian Lara’s absence.

Nine boxers feature in world women’s ranking
GWENDOLYN “Stealth Bomber” O’Neil’s is now reflected in the official ranking as the Women’s International Boxing Association (WBA) light heavyweight champion.

The ranking has been just updated and American Kathy Rivers is the number two contender for the title, behind fellow American Ann Wolfe who is the number one contender.

Trinidadian Cristal Lessie, who O’Neil is down to fight on the Smart Touch/Freeman Promotions June 26 card, is the number 15 contender.

Wolf is the International Female Boxing Association (IFBA) super middleweight champion, while Leila Ali holds the WIBA title.

WIBA champion O’Neil is the number two contender for the vacant International Female Boxing Association (IFBA) light heavyweight crown. The number one contender is American Monica Mc Gowan, who is also the number three contender for the WIBA heavyweight title held by Flor Maria Delgado.

Four Guyanese are also in the WIBA heavyweight ranking. They are Pamela London (number five contender), Shondell Parks (11), Shelly “Agricola Boom” Gibson (12) and Cheryl Greaves (13).

Sharon Ward is the number 15 contender in for Ali’s WIBA super middleweight title, while Geraldine Cox is the number ten contender for the WIBA middleweight title held by Leatitia Robinson who is the number one contender for the vacant IFBA title.

In the WIBA Super Flyweight division Shondell “Mystery Lady” Alfred is the number 12 contender for the vacant title, while she is listed as number four for Para Draine’s IFBA title in the same division.

Guyana’s Stephanie George is ranked the number 13 contender for the WIBA, behind Alfred.

Khan wins Men’s singles
Matthew Khan claimed the Men’s singles title when the curtains came down on the National Sports Commission (NSC) Independence table tennis competition on Thursday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH).

Khan defeated Andrew Daly in the final 10-2, 11-5, 11-9 while Christopher Franklyn in the third place play off 10-12, 11-7, 11-6, 7-11, 11-8.

In other divisions Jody-Ann Blake ended with another top placing when she teamed up with Khan to take the Mixed doubles senior title.

Blake/Khan gained a walk over victory from the pair of Sydney Christophe/Trenace Lowe, while Michelle John/Christopher Franklyn claimed the third place spot with a 12-10, 11-6, 12-10 victory over Andrew Daly/Delicia Cummings.

The boys’ doubles title was taken by Marlon Joseph/Edinho Lewis over the team of Zach Gonsalves/Keron Van Lange who were beaten in three sets-11-8, 11-8, 11-6.

Joseph then claimed the 18 and under singles title when he defeated Lewis 11-8, 11-8, 9-11, 9-11, 11-9 in a closely contested final.

Michael John finished third.

John also claimed the ‘C’ class open division with victory over Michael John 11-9, 11-8, 11-3. Trenace Lowe finished third.

Sports Editor of Stabroek News Donald Duff won the ‘B’ Class open title with victory over Joseph 11-8, 9-11, 11-5, 11-7. Michael Waithe claimed the third spot.

Zach Gonsalves claimed the under-15 singles title with victory over Colwyn Leitch 11-5, 11-7, 11-3. Orlando McEwan placed third.

The tournament served off on June 4 with action in some 20 divisions and was coordinated by national coach Linden Johnson.

Meanwhile, the Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) will be holding its first trial match for the senior players today at the same venue from 14:00 hours.

There are three trial days for the seniors who will be contesting the Senior Caribbean Championships in Trinidad and Tobago in August.

The remaining two dates are June 19 and 26.

Ravens clash with Pistons in Georgetown-Linden rivalry
CITY team Ravens will clash with Pistons of Linden, this evening, in the second round of the Invitational basketball tournament at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

The opening game of the double header at 19:00 hours, brings together Courts Pacesetters and Scorpions while the feature ball game will see Ravens coming against the Pistons.

Courts Pacesetters are undefeated after two games, while Scorpions have a win and a loss, but Pacesetters have not been totally focused in the tournament, narrowly avoiding an upset at the hands of the Wismar Pistons, while the Scorpions have regained their composure after their first loss to the Ravens.

However, the game is wide open. Chronicle Sport statistics show Pacesetters, as the pre-game favourites to advance, but Scorpions should give a good account of themselves.

Game two will bring together Ravens and the Linden side Pistons in a match that should be closely contested.

Ravens have experience and skill on their side, while the Linden teams are known for their aggressive and never-say-die attitude.

Pistons gave up a chance of creating the first upset of the tournament when they squandered a good lead to eventually lose to the Pacesetters in their opening game.

They recovered to take a five-point victory over Under-19 champions Plaisance Clippers on Wednesday night.

The first set of games in the quarterfinals, were fixed for last night at the same venue with Bounty Colts meeting Emperors and Plaisance Patriots coming up against Nets.

Another double header is set for tomorrow night at the same venue.

WICB to prepare team for World Cup, Carib Beer series may change format
… no changes to management team for England..
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - (CMC)-By September, the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), hopes to have a core of 30 players in specialised training ahead of the ICC World Cup West Indies 2007

Teddy Griffith, president of the WICB, revealed the selection panel has been asked to name players to be part of the programme that will produce a competitive West Indies squad for the event.

"They will be engaged in their cricket, but they would also be involved in a programme using the facilities at the St. George's University in Grenada and the University of the West Indies in Barbados," remarked Griffith on the Line & Length cricket discussion on CBC-TV.

"Granted there may be people who may drop out and other people might come in, but want to get this done by the time the team returns from the Champions Trophy in England in September."

Griffith, a former Barbados and Jamaica batsman, also disclosed that next year's West Indies first-class championship could be contested under a different format and there could be no invited international side.

"First of all, it's very expensive to bring foreign teams for our first-class competition and so if we are going to have them they must be of the best quality," he said.

"In the first year, England came and that was marginally successful, but certainly with the other teams it was not so. It would have to be said this is the WICB's contribution to the development of other teams.

"I do not think it has worked and I do not think we have the resources to develop teams other than our own. Even without a foreign team, if there are two rounds of cricket among the six territorial teams, you would have doubled the amount of cricket, but we are still looking at our options."

Griffith also confirmed that there are no changes to the management team for the West Indies tour of England with Tony Howard, Gus Logie, Brian Lara and Ramnaresh Sarwan, all retaining their positions.

Haynes doubts Windies readiness for England tour
DESMOND Haynes, one half of one of the greatest opening combinations Test cricket has ever seen, has expressed concerns about the West Indian team's readiness for English conditions, and said that unfamiliarity with the moving ball could hamper the players.

The Barbados Daily Nation reported Haynes's doubts about the possibility of West Indian success in England - a far cry from the confidence his team exuded while touring in the past. "We are going to England in a couple of weeks' time and there is no preparation in place where the guys can go into an indoor facility somewhere in the Caribbean to start playing against the moving ball.

"I am not too sure of our preparation for that tour and that is why I have a little problem with how well we will do in England," he said. "Because we just came off two tracks that were very, very flat. There was no sideway movement, playing against Bangladesh.

That preparation, to me, is not adequate at this level."

Haynes, who played 116 Tests, most of them in concert with his fellow Barbadian opening partner Gordon Greenidge, pointed out that few players had experienced English conditions, unlike in the past, when many West Indian team members (including Haynes himself, in a prolific career with Middlesex) were fixtures on the county circuit.

Of the one-day squad picked for the tour, only four players - Brian Lara, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Ridley Jacobs - have significant experience in England.

"It is harder on these players now than it was with us because there were about nine guys in the West Indies team that would have played in England or were playing in England for a county or something like that," said Haynes. "We were strong back in the 1980s because we had the opportunity to play county cricket." His comments came after the West Indian team's dismal performances against South Africa, England and - to the mortification of many - even in the first Test against Bangladesh.

The loss to a resurgent England earlier this year raises the possibility of a whitewash - and for a change, it's England that will go into a series against West Indies wielding the whip. (Wisden Cricinfo staff).

Spain eye second Euro title 40 years on
By Kevin Fylan
FARO, Portugal, (Reuters) - Spain need victory from their Euro 2004 debut against Russia in Group A today to avoid unwanted complications and make a convincing case for a first major title for 40 years.

Spain's only moment of glory came when they beat the Soviet Union to win the European Championship in 1964.

Since the group stage was introduced at the finals in 1980, they have only once managed to win their opening game, against Denmark in 1988, and the players are anxious to shrug off their reputation as slow starters.

"The first game is always the most difficult," fullback Carles Puyol said from the team's base in northern Portugal, close to the Spanish border. "We need to do well this time."

Spain certainly cannot afford a repeat of Euro 2000, when they lost their opening game against Norway and were lucky to sneak through with wins over Slovenia and Yugoslavia.

After taking on Russia, Spain face tricky games against Greece, who beat them during qualifying for the tournament, and Portugal.

The last thing the players want is to go into the Portuguese game in Lisbon with a place in the quarter-finals still in doubt.

"That would be very difficult," striker Fernando Morientes warned. "It's not just because of their quality but also because as the host nation they have every incentive to win.

"It would be better to resolve matters in the first two matches."

The return to form of Morientes since his loan move to Monaco should lift a Spanish side otherwise short of firepower.

Top scorer Raul has had a terrible season at Real Madrid, while the 20-year-old Fernando Torres, exciting prospect though he is, has yet to look convincing at this level.

Spain have at least remained free of serious injuries since Michel Salgado was forced to pull out, with just slight niggles for David Albelda and Ivan Helguera.

Russia, who as the Soviet Union won the first European Championship in 1960 and reached three more finals, have more to worry about after injury accounted for first-choice central defenders Viktor Onopko and Sergei Ignashevich.

Left back Dmitry Sennikov has a pulled thigh muscle but is expected to start, while playmaker Dmitry Loskov is nursing a leg injury.

Russia will also be without Yegor Titov who failed a drugs test after the first leg of the playoff against Wales and coach Georgy Yartsev is aware of the task his patched-up side face.

"We're facing a very confident and powerful team," Yartsev said. "Raul and Morientes are known worldwide and their midfielders are very good with the ball.

"We only have a chance if we play disciplined and highly organised football."

Cairns and Styris lift New Zealand on second day
LONDON, (Reuters) - Chris Cairns took three wickets in his final Test match to leave England wavering on 225 for five after New Zealand made 384 all out courtesy of a Scott Styris century on day two of the third Test at Trent Bridge.

At the close of play yesterday, England were 159 runs behind with Graham Thorpe on 30 and nightwatchman Matthew Hoggard, who survived an excellent lbw appeal, on nought.

Andrew Flintoff scored an assured 54 before a quicker ball from Cairns struck him in front of middle stump.

Marcus Trescothick made a fluent 63 before mistiming a drive to Styris at slip off the bowling of the impressive James Franklin. Michael Vaughan scored 61 off 65 balls, looking far more comfortable batting at four than he did in the second Test.

But former Nottinghamshire all rounder Cairns, who has chosen to retire at his old home ground after 62 Tests, trapped Vaughan lbw with a slower delivery that kept low.

The captain and his deputy had steadied the innings after Andrew Strauss was out for a duck edging Cairns to Brendon McCullum and Mark Butcher, who fractured a finger in the field, glanced Franklin to Styris at slip for five.

New Zealand's bowling options, already hampered by injuries, were further reduced when debutant Kyle Mills (side strain) and Chris Martin (hamstring) both left the field.

COMPOSED CENTURY
Earlier a composed century from Styris had helped the tourists to 374 for seven at lunch but England quickly wrapped up the innings to leave the Kiwis short of the large total possible on a relatively flat Nottingham pitch.

Styris continued where he left off on Thursday evening playing with confidence despite a poor tour with the bat so far.

He was finally out for 108 when he came down the pitch to Ashley Giles and hit a leading edge to substitute fielder Bilal Shafayat.

Hoggard then captured his 100th Test wicket when Geraint Jones snaffled an edge off Mills for nought, though television replays showed the ball touched the ground just before the wicketkeeper scooped up the ball.

The Yorkshire swing bowler's next wicket was clean however, with Vaughan taking a juggling catch to dismiss Martin for two.

Hoggard was also in the action when he managed to cling on at the third attempt to a catch at third man from a lofted McCullum cut for Steve Harmison's third wicket.

Seamer Martin Saggers had earlier forced Jacob Oram (14) and Cairns (12) to sky the ball into the hands of Strauss and Thorpe respectively.

England lead the three-match series 2-0 and are looking for their first series whitewash over New Zealand since 1978.

NEW ZEALAND first innings (overnight 295-4)

M.Richardson c Vaughan b Giles 73

S.Fleming c Thorpe b Flintoff 117

S.Styris c sub b Giles 108

N.Astle b Harmison 15

C.McMillan lbw b Harmison 0

J.Oram c Strauss b Saggers 14

C.Cairns c Thorpe b Saggers 12

B.McCullum c Hoggard b Harmison 21

J.Franklin not out 4

K.Mills c Jones b Hoggard 0

C.Martin c Vaughan b Hoggard 2

Extras (b-2 lb-14 nb-2) 18

Total (all out, 121 overs) 384

Fall of wickets: 1-163 2-225 3-272 4-272 5-308 6-331 7-366 8-377 9-382

Bowling: Hoggard 25-6-85-2 (nb-1), Harmison 32-9-80-3, Flintoff 14-2-48-1, Saggers 22-5-80-2 (nb-1), Giles 27-6-70-2, Vaughan 1-0-5-0

ENGLAND first innings

M.Trescothick c Styris b Franklin 63

A.Strauss c McCullum b Cairns 0

M.Butcher c Styris b Franklin 5

M.Vaughan lbw b Cairns 61

G.Thorpe not out 30

A.Flintoff lbw b Cairns 54

M.Hoggard not out 0

Extras (nb-9 lb-1 b-2) 12

Total (for five wickets, 57 overs) 225

Fall of wickets: 1-1 2-18 3-128 4-140 5-221

To bat: G.Jones, A.Giles, S.Harmison, M.Saggers.

Bowling: Martin 1.5-0-1-0 (nb-1), Cairns 15-5-61-3 (nb-1), Franklin 16.1-1-64-2 (nb-2), Mills 6-1-31-0 (nb-2), Oram 9-0-29-0 (nb-3), Styris 7-0-31-0, MacMillan 2-1-5-

Triple Olympic champion Jones wants grand jury testimony released
By Gene Cherry
RALEIGH, North Carolina, (Reuters) - Triple Olympic champion Marion Jones's lawyer asked the U.S. Attorney's Office yesterday to release her testimony before the BALCO doping scandal grand jury.

Jones is under scrutiny by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) following an investigation into the BALCO laboratory in California. USADA has provided Jones's attorneys with data they believe may be a schedule of steroid use.

"The sworn testimony will confirm what Marion has said publicly time after time, what she said during the three-hour meeting she requested with USADA on May 24th and what is confirmed by the more than 160 drug tests she has taken: she has never, ever used performance-enhancing drugs," attorney Joseph Burton said in a statement.

Earlier yesterday, the attorney for Jones's former husband, C.J. Hunter, told Reuters the former world shot put champion was cooperating with law enforcement officials investigating steroid use in the United States.

Hunter tested positive four times for the banned steroid nandrolone in 2000. He subsequently retired from the sport, accepting a two-year ban.

He has denied knowingly taking any banned substance and said he had fallen victim to a legal but contaminated nutritional supplement.

DOUBTS
Jones staunchly defended Hunter at an emotional news conference during the 2000 Olympics in Sydney but has subsequently expressed doubts.

The Raleigh News & Observer reported that in her forthcoming autobiography "Marion Jones, Life In The Fast Lane," Jones has written:

"The whole business was sounding more and more suspicious to me. I could see how one test, even two tests, could have gone wrong -- but four separate tests had come back positive. And the levels had been so incredibly high. How could he not have known something?"

Jones also said at a news conference before a meeting in Ostrava, Czech Republic, on Tuesday that "Once I found out what my ex-husband did, or was alleged to have done, I parted ways."

Hunter's attorney, Angela L. DeMent, would not respond yesterday to Jones's comments.

Hunter and Jones were married in 1998. They separated in 2001 and were divorced in 2002. Jones is now the partner of world 100 metres record holder Tim Montgomery, who was notified by USADA this week of a potential doping violation that could result in him being barred from the Athens Olympics.

Montgomery and Jones have denied using steroids and neither has ever failed a doping test.

England to name ODI squad today
ENGLAND will today announce their squad for the one-day NatWest Series against New Zealand and West Indies.

And selectors have plenty to ponder over whom to choose for the series which starts on June 24.

A huge area of contention surrounds the keeper's spot, with Chris Read possibly too vulnerable to Geraint Jones.

Anthony McGrath and Rikki Clarke are not certainties, with uncapped pair Ian Bell or Alex Gidman pressing their claims on the county circuit.

And Darren Gough could be omitted after a poor limited-overs series in the Caribbean recently.

Read played in the first three Tests in the West Indies but was dropped for the final Test after selectors ruled his fine keeping was not enough to compensate for his deficiencies with the bat.

He retained his place for the one-day games and was handed the Man of the Match award after hitting 27 off 15 balls and winning the game in Guyana.

But Jones has slotted into the England Test team naturally and scored a ton in only his third game.

McGrath rarely featured for England over the winter, even though he was in the one-day squad, and will hardly be surprised if he is not included.

Warwickshire's Bell has been impressing with both bat and ball recently, and England A captain Gidman has also been playing well for Gloucestershire.

They are favourites to push for the all-rounders' spots currently filled by McGrath, who has had a slow start to the domestic season with Yorkshire, and Clarke, who has been equally indifferent for Surrey.

Gough is in the twilight of his international career and it could be finally finished if selectors pass him over.

He took four wickets in the West Indies at 49.75 runs apiece and has had a slow start for his county Essex.

But with Lancashire fast bowler James Anderson struggling for fitness and the injured Simon Jones definitely out of contention, the experienced Gough could be reprieved.

England one-day squad (possibly from):

Michael Vaughan (captain), Marcus Trescothick, Andrew Strauss, Andrew Flintoff, Paul Collingwood, Rikki Clarke, Ian Blackwell, Chris Read, Geraint Jones, Ian Bell, Alex Gidman, Gareth Batty, James Anderson, Steve Harmison, James Kirtley.

SAfrica to play two Tests in India in November
BLOEMFONTEIN, South Africa, (Reuters) - South Africa's tour of India in November will comprise two Test matches only and no one-day internationals.

Because of time constraints, the South Africans had wanted to play only one-dayers, but United Cricket Board of South Africa (UCB) spokesman Gerald de Kock said yesterday: "The South African team will now arrive in India on November 4 and leave on November 30, during which time they will play two Tests."

A formal announceme