Roll back fare increases
-- Nadir appeals to minibus operators
By Mark Ramotar
MINISTER of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Mr. Manzoor Nadir, has again called on those operating public transport, particularly minibus operators, not to increase their fares.

He yesterday noted that the current increase in fuel prices was temporary and does not justify an increase in transportation fares.

At a news conference in his office, he said the Government has dropped the consumption taxes on fuel and he advised commuters that the fares ought to be the same and no increase was justified.

He urged passengers to be vigilant and to enquire about the fares charged by the public transport operators.

Last Wednesday morning, hundreds of commuters were left stranded after a number of minibus operators on 'Route 41' (South Georgetown) halted activities to press demands for fare increases.

This demand was prompted by a hike in fuel cost, which has sent up operating costs, drivers said.

Minibus operators on some other routes have also temporarily halted their operations as they too press demands for fare increases.

The Guyana Public Transportation Association (GPTA) had indicated that the recent increase in fuel price has begun to affect the income of minibus operators.

Nadir, however, indicated yesterday that if the situations becomes more "chaotic", his ministry would have to move to some form of regulation which "would not only be the regulation of fares but the entire operations of the public transport system".

"I am again appealing again to the operators to roll back the fare increases," Nadir stressed.

Asked to comment on the possibility of the minibus operators staging a widespread strike, he such a withdrawal of service will certainly prompt further action in the area of speeding up some form of regulation.

According to the minister, public transport operators have a monopoly as a service since they have a captive market.

But he said there is a strong call by many consumer organisations that the time is now right for public transport fares -- minibuses or taxis -- to come under some regulatory agency/body.

"I am again appealing to operators of public transport, buses in particular, to revert back to the old fares (and) I am asking consumers to be vigilant and to enquire of the fares (charged)," Nadir said.

He, however, noted that there are several operators abiding by the suggestions of the Government to continue with the old fare structure and he said consumers certainly can, by their numbers, have some amount of power and they can refuse to travel with those who want to charge high and unreasonable fares.

The minister said, too, that he has given a commitment to meet some public transport operators at the end of this month to look at the cost of operating public transport services, minibuses in particular.

That meeting, he said, would most likely become "the precursor to a more formal engagement if this chaotic situation persists, for some form of regulatory intervention backed by the necessary legal regulations for minibus fares, as a start."

He explained that when the increase in 1999 was announced, what was taken into consideration then was the fuel price of $400 per gallon.

"Then the gasolene prices ranged between $260 and $270, (but) you can't go every month re-adjusting prices.

"What we have done was to look at the range, that is, $250 and $400. So right now we are at the borderline situation and if in three weeks time, the gasolene prices start falling to $350, it would certainly be unreasonable to increase fares," Nadir explained.

He said that in light of the current situation that has been developing and causing some amount of concern and confusion among the travelling public, some recommendations have been made/discussed.

According to him, one recommendation being made is that buses display prominently on the dashboard or on the front windscreen, the fares that are being charged so commuters would have an opportunity to go on a bus of their choice at this stage.

He noted that the current position regarding the `fare fiasco' is that a majority of operators have not accepted to hold prices and many have forced consumers to pay the higher fares.

They have also continued to threaten to withdraw their services and this has resulted in standoffs between commuters and operators since several commuters were left stranded.

It is understood that two recommendations are being made for a 'free market for fares' or a 'fare regulation', should the situation reach that stage.

This newspaper understands that the first recommendation is expected to have a downward pressure on prices because there is an "oversupply of buses" and many operators and owners have bus loans to pay.

As such, it is felt that the operators would engage in a sort of 'cut-throat competition'.

Nadir indicated that taxi fares, for example, have been stable and have even decreased because of this principle.

The 'free market for fares' recommendation also entails making it part of the road service that buses must display their fares prominently on the front of the buses.

With regards to the second recommendation (fare regulation), it is understood that this would need to be put under the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) or the Transport and Harbours Department.

According to Nadir, fare setting and the conditions of service could put much needed order into the current chaotic and buses, speedboats, government ferry vessels and perhaps taxis would have to come under this regulation.

He said commuters, consumer organisations and some operators would welcome fares and service regulation.

Forum looks at Georgetown Business Development Plan
By Jaime Hall
THE Mayor and City Council in collaboration with the Urban Development Programme (UDP) yesterday held a public forum at Le Meridien Pegasus Hotel on a Business Development Plan for the capital Georgetown.

The forum attracted widespread participation from a number of stakeholders from Government and non-governmental organisations.

It addressed a number of issues that will allow the Georgetown and other municipalities to become self-sufficient while providing an efficient service to citizens.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, Mr. Phulander Khandai in remarks during the forum, said the ministry was particularly pleased with the development of such a forum and would fully support municipalities in the discharge of their mandate for the business development plan.

He said the ultimate plan is to shape all the municipalities into corporate entities so that they could have the ability to finance, operate, maintain and expand urban infrastructure in a way that will allow sustainability.

He said the entities should be able to recover enough from whatever project they embark upon in the plan so as to make their activities viable.

The business plan has emerged as a pre-condition for the US$25M UDP which was initiated in 1990 but finally took shape in the year 2000.

Khandai said the final disbursement for the programme is in March 2004.

However, an extension phase of that project would depend on how well the current phase is done.

He said that a vital two-prong aspect of the programme is institutional development and valuation reform. The institutional development entails the building of capacity in the municipality to train staff in the use of modern technology and modern management methods to operate in a globalised world.

Khandai, however, admitted that training will not be an easy task, given the "brain drain" and the loss of very vital people at all levels of management.

He said it will take the cooperative efforts of those persons remaining to realise the institutional reshaping.

"This whole business of urban renewal has vital importance for our existence as a country and success in the future."

He said urban renewal can no longer remain on the back burner to curb the rural to urban drift, which has being occurring rapidly, bombarding the already weakened resources of the urban centre.

In order to anticipate the challenge that would be presented in wake of this development, there would be need to take on board all the available resources from all sectors and all agencies and organisations in the quest, he pointed out.

Khandai said although many people may say that "Georgetown is not Guyana", the city represents one third of the country's population and is the centre for everything national.

Therefore it is important that Georgetown be brought into focus when developing a business plan for the six municipalities.

He pointed out that the lead has already been taken in municipalities such as Anna Regina, Corriverton, Rose Hall, New Amsterdam and to a lesser extent, ,Linden. All these towns are involved in shaping a business plan in one form or another.

The business plan of the municipality must eventually seek to allow it to operate as a modern corporate entity, the official said.

It must be responsible for widening its revenue base. One example, he said, is a proposed new property valuation reform formula.

He said if common ground could be found on such issues with the relevant stakeholders, this will go a far way in helping to broaden the revenue base of the city.

Town Clerk Ms. Beulah Williams noted that trade liberalisation, which is likely to benefit developed countries could at the same time increase the vulnerability of developing and poor countries like Guyana.

She said that in the end, these changes affect and in indirect ways influence the development of cities and their local communities.

Williams, on that note said it is therefore critical for local authorities and stakeholders to collaborate and cooperate not only to improve conditions but also to develop their cities, to a level where they can compete with others.

She emphasised that coming out of the forum, plans and visions for organisations and agencies will be taken into account in the city business plan.

Williams said that to determine the character of Georgetown, whether it be industrial, administrative, a tourism facility, or a combination of all, the prerequisite to attempts to set priorities in specific areas would require certain non-negotiables.

These include protection of the city's environment, the provision of safe drinking water and basic infrastructure, the maintenance of peace and security, the promotion of investment in the city, the promotion of disaster preparedness, and the promotion of communication, academic and cultural exchanges among local groups.

Father of five murdered in West Berbice restaurant
A FATHER of five was on Monday night stabbed to death in a Chinese restaurant at Armadale, West Coast Berbice, reportedly after he rebuked a teenaged lad about disorderly behaviour on the premises.

Dead is John Pestano, 40, of Lot 33, Number 40 Village, West Coast Berbice.

Reports said that around 21:00 hrs on Monday, Pestano, a rice farmer, was among several customers at the restaurant when one of the patrons, a teenager, began cursing and behaving disorderly.

Pestano rebuked the youth about his bad behaviour and an exchange of words ensued during which the youth broke a beer bottle and stabbed him in the left side of his chest, reports said.

The attacker then dropped the broken bottle, pulled out a knife and stabbed the farmer three more times before fleeing, witnesses said.

Unconscious and bleeding profusely from his wounds, Pestano was rushed by other patrons to the nearby Fort Wellington Cottage Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

West Berbice Police were up to late yesterday afternoon hunting a suspect in the brutal stabbing.

Pestano is survived by his wife Elverine and five children, aged between 16 and nine years.

Row over who is a Bajan 'daddy'
By Rickey Singh
BRIDGETOWN -- Disclosure that a high percentage of Barbadian men are really not the biological fathers of the children they think belong to them, has sparked a controversy here that could soon involve the government of Prime Minister Owen Arthur.

Already there have been strident, emotional outcries that reflect sharp divisions between women and men holding various positions in the Barbadian society.

The screaming front-page story `Duped Dads' in the `Sunday Sun' of January 12, reported the shocking data that one of three Bajan men are not really the biological fathers of some 30 per cent of the country's children who call them "daddy".

Barbados's Consul General in New York, George Griffith, ex-chairman of the Barbados Family Planning Association and former head of the country's Child Care Board, as well as another government official who requested anonymity, have been cited as sources for the article.

The problem of the number of men duped by wives or girl friends into being "daddies" of children for whom they are not the biological fathers, is serious enough, according to Griffith, to warrant the introduction of DNA testing as an effective means of settling paternity disputes before the courts.

But the proverbial ink had barely dried on the "duped dads" story when it was angrily dismissed by the current chairman of the Child Care Board, David 'Joey' Harper, as being "totally irresponsible" in the absence, he stressed, of "scientific analysis".

For Harper, who like Griffith, is viewed as a longstanding supporter of the governing Barbados Labour Party of Prime Minister Arthur, the article and specifically comments by his predecessor at the Child Care Board, constitute "on going attacks on our children..."

First, said Harper, there was the "erroneous report" (in a UNESCO document for 2002) that 10 per cent of children in Barbados were not in primary school.

"Then, based on one reported situation of a six-year-old being used by adults in the drug trade, we are given the impression that this is a large-scale situation. Now we have this irresponsible claim of the number of children not being sure of their biological father", he said.

But Harper's anger could not deter former Chief Education Officer Ralph Boyce who now heads the Men's Educational Support Association (MESA) of Barbados from joining forces with Griffith.

He thinks that for far too long Bajan men have been "victims of paternity fraud" and that a strong case exists for the introduction of DNA testing to deal with this serious social problem.

The former Chief Education Officer said it was wrong and sinful for men to be duped as biological fathers when they are not.

He called on the government to establish a mechanism by which DNA testing could become accessible and affordable to people who currently find DNA costs quite "prohibitive".

Boyce's stand coincided with that of former Member of Parliament of the opposition Democratic Labour Party, Mazie Barker-Welch, who feels that it would be a responsible approach for more "readily and accessible" DNA testing to be made available to "verify paternity".

The Child Care Board's Harper, on the other hand, was to find backing for his stand from the President of the National Organisation of Women, Nalita Gajadhar, who lambasted Consul General Griffith for advancing what she regards as a "totally ridiculous" situation that could only create "animosity between men and women of Barbados".

"I am really sick and tired of these people in positions of authority who make statements like that", declared the NOW President, adding: "We live in a real world where there is the possibility of some men fathering children that are not theirs biologically, but there is no evidence or study to support Griffith's statement".

Consul Griffith, with his own long years of involvement in both family planning and child care services, maintains that the "situation is serious enough to merit the introduction of DNA testing, and the sooner the facility is made available the better it would be".

For the government official who prefers anonymity in the media, and whose own analysis points to some 30 per cent of children calling "daddy" men who are not their biological father, the trouble has to do with mothers.

"Many mothers", he said to the 'Sunday Sun' writer, Tony Best, "really don't know who are the fathers of their children because of multiple sexual partners before pregnancy..."

National coordinators advance work on establishing CCJ
NATIONAL coordinators for the establishment of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) met in Guyana on Sunday for a joint meeting, the first in a series of activities planned by the CARICOM Secretariat and aimed to move work on the establishment of the court into a heightened state this year.

They are also charged with ensuring that the programme of public education is effectively realised in individual member states.
Sunday's meeting at the CARICOM (Caribbean Community) Secretariat, Bank of Guyana Building, addressed several critical issues of the CCJ, including the importance of the court; the communications dimension and the present state of play specifically as it relates to action required at the Community and national levels.

Annan urges Venezuelans to end impasse lawfully
UNITED NATIONS, (Reuters) - U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan yesterday urged Venezuelans reeling from a crippling strike to use only lawful means to resolve their differences and said he wanted to help calm the situation.

``I will be seeing President Hugo Chavez here (tomorrow)...and I hope to be able to discuss with him the developments in Venezuela, and how one can intensify the mediation efforts, to calm the situation and return it to normalcy,'' Annan said.

``I have had the chance of speaking to him several times on the phone, and he knows I believe one should use constitutional and democratic means to resolve this issue, and this is my message not only to him, but to the opposition,'' Annan told a news conference.

An opposition strike, started on Dec. 2, has deeply shaken the government and Venezuela's oil industry, stoking tensions between Chavez and his political foes, who are demanding he resign and call immediate elections.

Chavez, who survived a brief coup in April, has rejected demands for an early vote.

The shutdown has slashed Venezuela's oil exports, causing widespread domestic fuel and food shortages and jolting world energy markets.

Notorious on Wall Street for his failed economic policies and anti-capitalist rhetoric, Chavez was elected in 1998 vowing to wrest control from the country's corrupt elite and enact reforms to help the poor.

But opposition has grown amid charges the president wants to establish a Cuban-style authoritarian state.

Chavez is officially going to U.N. headquarters to attend ceremonies turning over Venezuela's leadership of the ``Group of 77'' developing nations to Morocco for 2003. The group has 134 members.

He is due to hold a news conference after his talks with Annan.

Commissioner, Corbin due to meet on Buxton today
POLICE Commissioner Mr. Floyd McDonald has agreed to today meet Chairman and acting Leader of the People's National Congress Reform (PNC/R), Mr. Robert Corbin on the situation in the East Coast Demerara village of Buxton, among other matters, a source said yesterday.

Corbin last week wrote McDonald requesting an urgent meeting.

In a PNC/R press release over the weekend, Corbin said, "all blatant law breakers should be equally brought to justice" if there is to be national confidence in and support for the work of the security forces.

He said his party was concerned about stability and feels constrained to draw this serious situation to the attention of President Bharrat Jagdeo and Commissioner McDonald.

The press release said a national and coordinated strategy needs to be devised to deal with the crime and security situation plaguing the country.

The main Opposition PNC/R said it is, therefore, in this context, and in the interest of Guyana, that Corbin, as Chairman and acting Leader of the party wrote McDonald requesting an urgent meeting with him to discuss these developments.

Corbin also wrote President Jagdeo the same day (January 10, 2003), urging him to use his good office - in his capacity as Head of Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces - to ensure that the work of the Police and the Army is done sensibly and with restraint and that there be an immediate review of the present operation in the East Coast communities.

Second gunman killed in shootout identified
POLICE yesterday identified the second person who was fatally shot by cops last Friday at Ogle, East Coast Demerara, as Sheldon Olliveire, also known as Anthony Garaway and Ismail Abdulla - a Trinidadian by birth.

The other person killed in the incident had been earlier identified as Patrick Cumberbatch.

In a release yesterday, the Police said they were still continuing investigations into last Friday's shooting incident.

The two men were shot dead by the Police at a checkpoint in Ogle after one of them reportedly opened fire at the law enforcement officers.

Three guns, two bulletproof vests and live rounds of ammunition were among the items found in the grey Marino car the men were travelling in at the time.

Wanted for murder
POLICE have issued a wanted bulletin for Hoofman Lall who they say is armed and considered dangerous.

The bulletin released yesterday evening said Lall is wanted for murder.

He is as 5ft 4", mixed race, brown in complexion and weighs 115 pounds.

Police said Lall has a long vertical scar on his abdomen and a scar in the centre of his forehead and his address is New Amsterdam, Berbice or Agricola, East Bank Demerara.

His Mother is Deborah Lall and father is Rudolph Lall, both of 70 First Street, Agricola.

Police said anyone knowing his whereabouts is asked to get in touch with the nearest Police Station or any of the following numbers: 226-6978; 225-8196; 226-1326; 225-3650 or 225-2227.

Police probing businesswoman's murder
POLICE yesterday continued investigations into the Monday night murder of businesswoman, Roxanne Seckle, 39, at her premises, 33 Brutus and Second Street, Agricola, East Bank Demerara.

Police said she was shot five times about the neck and upper torso around 19:10 hrs and was pronounced dead on arrival at the Georgetown Hospital.

The businesswoman, her son, Clifton Seckle Junior, 18, and two other children were at home in bed when two gunmen entered the home through an open door, proceeded to the bedrooms and discharged several rounds, fatally wounding Roxanne Seckle.

Clifton Seckle Junior, received gunshot wounds to the right side neck, Police said.

He was in hospital in critical condition yesterday and was scheduled to undergo emergency surgery.

A customer who was in the shop during the shooting and sustained a gunshot wound to his left leg was also being treated at the hospital.

The wounded customer, Bertram Davidson, 52, of Caesar Street, Agricola was said to be in stable condition.

Police said the two gunmen left the home, joined another gunman who was standing guard on Brutus Street and they discharged a hail of bullets before escaping.

The businesswoman's husband, Clifton Seckle Senior, 45, who owns and operates a beer garden and snackette opposite the home at lot 81, and a niece, were in the snackette at the time and escaped unhurt.

Six 9mm spent shells were found in the home, Police said.

Cop accidentally shot
POLICE are investigating the circumstances of the accidental discharge of a service revolver in the barrack room of the Vreed-en-Hoop Police Station, West Coast Demerara, at about 07:15 hrs yesterday.

According to a press release from the Public Relations Department of the Police Force the accidental discharge resulted in a gunshot injury to a member of the Force. He received gunshot wounds to the abdominal area, the release said.

The wounded rank is hospitalised and his condition was reported to be stable.

Initial investigations revealed that the wounded Constable was in the station barrack room with two other Constables, when the accidental discharge occurred, Police said.

"From all accounts, it is pellucid that no malice aforethought ever existed or accompanied this incident", the release said.

New CXC Chairman elected
PROFESSOR Kenneth Hall, Pro-Vice Chancellor and Principal of the Mona Campus of the University of the West Indies, is the new Chairman of the Caribbean Examinations Council.

Professor Hall was elected on December 6 during CXC's 33rd Council meeting held at the Jack Tar Village Resort in St. Kitts and Nevis. His appointment took effect from January 1, 2003, the council said in a press release.

"He brings to the Council a wealth of experience in education administration at regional and international levels", the release said.

A Jamaican national, Hall graduated from the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, with a Bachelor's degree in History and a Postgraduate Diploma in International Relations from the Institute of International Relations, UWI, St. Augustine. He then obtained Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in History from Queen's University, Canada.

During this career, Hall has held key academic and administrative positions in the Caribbean and North America. He lectured in History at Mona Campus, UWI, was Professor of History at the State University of New York (SUNY) at Oswego, Adjunct Professor of Caribbean Studies at SUNY, Albany and Professor of American Studies at SUNY, Old Westbury.

In 1994, Professor Hall joined the CARICOM Secretariat as Deputy Secretary General. In this capacity, his responsibilities included the internal organisation and operation of the Secretariat, overseeing the Divisions of Finance, Corporate Services and Information and Communication. He previously worked at the CARICOM Secretariat between 1975 to 1977 as Chief of Research and Director of the General Services and Administration Division.

Hall has published books, articles and reviews on various issues. His most recent works include:

CARICOM: Beyond Survival; Globalisation: A Caculus of Inequalities; Contending with Destiny: The Caribbean in the 21st Century; and Integrate or Perish! Perspectives of Leaders in the Integration Movement 1963-1999.

Hall succeeds Sir Keith Hunte as Chairman of CXC at a very critical time for the organisation. This year CXC celebrates its 30th anniversary.

As the Council reflects on its achievements over the past 30 years, it is mindful of the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead as its members enter into international and other agreements, the release said.

In the changing regional context, CXC said it will have to ensure its continuing role in the development process.

According to the release, as Chairman, Hall will be working with Council members, staff and resources persons to enable CXC to meet the new and changing demands of the region.

Bureau moves to ensure imports meet required standards
IN AN effort to ensure that domestic and imported products are quality checked and safe for use, Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) is urging its local manufacturers and importers to register for year 2003.

In a press release the GNBS said it is specifically concerned with safeguarding consumers' access to quality goods such as domestic electrical appliances, computers and new and used tyres.

In addition it is urging tyre dealers to ensure that they store and mark their tyres properly and in accordance with the relevant quality requirements.

It said it also wants to ensure that products such as animal feed and cigarettes that fall below its standard levels are not imported into Guyana.

These products must also bear a quality mark from their own countries or an international standard, or dealers must submit other information which proves they satisfy the requirements and do not break the law, the bureau said.

Some of the other items monitored by the GNBS under its standards compliance programme are textiles, garments, footwear, safety matches, mosquito coils, paints and fertilisers.

New generator for GNNL
THE Guyana National Newspapers Limited (GNNL), publishers of the Guyana and Sunday Chronicle has acquired a new generator to boost its operations.

The fully computerised 250 KVA Perkins Diesel generator, fitted with an automatic change over switch, can power the entire complex in the event of a power outage or an emergency.

It was acquired through Engineering & Construction Incorporated (ECI), local agents for Perkins, and replaces a smaller 75 KVA generating plant.

In this Corwin Williams picture, GNNL staffers, from left, Mr. Bernard Prince, Handyman, operating the forklift; Assistant Production Manager, Mr. Samuel Bynoe, partly hidden, and Mr. Michael Payne, Handyman, are in the process of off-loading the generator at the GNNL, Lama Avenue site Monday.

Texaco winners receive prizes
TWO more persons won vehicles in the Texaco Five Purchases Power Contest when the third drawing was held on January 9.

Roopchand Rampersaud and Yogun Persaud were presented with a Toyota Marino motorcar and an RZ minibus, respectively.

The presentation for the third drawing of the contest took place at the Providence Service Station, East Bank Demerara.

Rampersaud, of Number 62 Village, Corentyne, Berbice, purchased gas from Feroz service station, Number 6 Village, West Coast Berbice, the company said.

Persaud, of 77 Grove, Back Street, North West, East Bank Demerara, who won the other top prize bought gas from R&K service station at Parika, East Bank Essequibo.

In photo, Rampersaud and Persaud receive the keys to their vehicles from officials of Texaco.

Ceremonial opening again cancelled
THE scheduled traditional ceremonial parade for the opening of criminal sessions at the Demerara Assizes suffered a last minute cancellation yesterday.

It was the second consecutive occasion, following that in October last year, when security reasons were cited, disappointing members of the public who expected to witness the pomp and ceremony outside the High Court building in Georgetown.

The Police had arranged for the parade and march past at which the salute was to be taken by Justice Jainarayan Singh.

However, yesterday morning, notices were put up at various places in the Court precincts, stating that the ceremony had been called off.

Cases were nevertheless presented, also before Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards, the second judge presiding over listed trials.

Public Sector modernisation programme on target
THE Public Sector modernisation programme is under way and should be completed by April 2003.

"A thorough examination is being done in all the operations in the ministries," said Dr. Nanda Gopaul, Permanent Secretary of the Public Service Ministry in an interview with the Government Information Agency (GINA).

Gopaul explained that there was need to have a "surgical operation" in the Public Sector organisational charts that are being developed, and an assessment of the needs is being conducted.

"We intend to put the reform of the ministries and the regions on the front burner," he said.

The programme emphasises improved technology, examining job descriptions and developing new work attitudes among public servants.

The Government and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) jointly funded the one-year modernisation project. The contract was awarded to the Governance Network and was signed in March 2002.

According to the Permanent Secretary, to ensure accountability and transparency in the reforming of the ministries, an audit of the payroll was done to make sure that persons involved in the programme were indeed working in their respective ministries.

He also announced that the Supreme Court Registry and the Deeds Registry would come under the programme.

On the topic of the wages negotiations, Gopaul hopes that the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) would be able to come to the table to discuss wage packages for 2003, 2004 and 2005.

"We have to look at the interests of the public servants," he said.

Another area that comes under the minister is that dealing with scholarship programmes, and Gopaul alluded to the fact that the students who are currently studying in Cuba are adapting comfortably.

He expressed his gratitude to the Government of Cuba and the various universities, which went out of their way to construct new blocks for the students.

"These students are now as part of the Cuban family. They are fitting in admirably," said Gopaul.

He explained that there are other scholarships but these are very competitive.

However, Gopaul said, the Government of India has been very cooperative and helpful, and it is hoped that India would assist Guyanese students with postgraduate programmes.

"We have a number of medical persons trained but not a lot in specialised fields," the Permanent Secretary said.

He also noted that in countries such as Brazil and China, the language barrier creates a problem.

However, he is encouraging students who want to be afforded the opportunity of studying overseas, to study a foreign language.

Students, who were selected for Cuban scholarships, for example, and are not versatile in Spanish, will have to go through an intensive one-year programme to study the language.

Contract sealed for conference centre design
GUYANA and China yesterday signed a contract for the design of a modern US$6M two-floor convention centre.

The 3,550 square metre facility will be constructed at Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara, west of the site identified for the new CARICOM (Caribbean Community) Secretariat.

The facility is being funded through a grant from the Chinese Government to the tune of US$5 to $6M, and upon its completion, will be able to accommodate some 386 people.

The project will be coordinated by the Chinese and is due to commence early 2004 with a completion schedule of 18 months.

Signing the contract at the Ministry of Public Works on behalf of the Government of Guyana was acting Permanent Secretary within that Ministry, Mrs. Elisabeth Austin, while Chief Architect of the project, Mr. Li Toufeng signed the design contract on behalf of the Chinese Government.

In brief remarks at the signing, Prime Minister Sam Hinds, who holds overall responsibility for communications, expressed thanks to the Chinese Government for the execution of what he deemed "a facility that is lacking."

Mr. Hinds said upon its completion, the centre will "go well with the CARICOM headquarters."

He wished the team well in its undertaking.

The Ministry of Foreign Trade and International Cooperation is the coordinating agency for cooperation between Guyana and China, while the Ministry of Public Works and Communications is the executing agency for the project.

Region Two reports all 2002 capital works completed
THE REGIONAL Democratic Council (RDC) of Region Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam) has reported that all its planned capital works projects for 2002 were completed.

Regional Executive Officer (REO) Nankishore Persaud said the 100 per cent achievement, with $173.6M, catered for significant development in the entire social sector, the greater part of the funding on drainage and irrigation in the predominantly agricultural region where rice is the major crop.

He said the $92M spent on drainage and irrigation improved the network and access dams for the benefit of farmers.

According to him, reinforced concrete and steel barricades were constructed at Coffee Grove, Fair Nauth, Sparta, Reliance, Windsor Castle, Bounty Hall, Aberdeen and Mainstay and box culverts at Capoey, Golden Fleece and Columbia.

Persaud said swamp relief tubes were installed at Middlesex, Hibernia, Aurora and Spring Garden and regulators put in place at Little Alliance, Better Hope, Coffee Grove and Devonshire Castle.

Greenheart revetments were built along Anna Regina Police Station Street and in Queenstown, Bush Lot, Taymouth Manor, Bounty Hall and Capoey and several canals desilted in the main rice growing areas, he said.

Persaud said Government buildings were repaired and painted and maintenance undertaken on the public road between Maria's Delight and Charity.

Structures to protect the road shoulder at Huist T’Dieren and Riverstown were also erected and the section between Supenaam and Aurora graded and leveled to maintain sea and river defences, he said, adding that floating refuse was removed and overhanging trees cut in Akawini and Wakapoa creeks.

Maintaining Liberty and Hackney primary schools in Pomeroon, the Education Office at Cotton Field, quarters for Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) volunteers at Anna Regina Multilateral School and Cotton Field Secondary School and repairs to Liberty school stelling were other undertakings.

Persaud said quarters for nursing sisters and the matron in Suddie Hospital compound were also repaired and painted and Kabakaburi, Supenaam, Karawah, Siriki and Abrams Zuil health clinics maintained.

Similar attention was given the Amerindian hostel at Charity.
More details given by Persaud said:

the main access bridges to Lima Housing Scheme and CARICOM Rice c Mills, at Anna Regina, were rehabilitated;

a new health post was constructed at Mora, in Pomeroon and Columbia, on Essequibo Coast while those at St Monica, also in Pomeroon and Aurora, on Essequibo Coast, too, were extended;

extensions were done to the numbers one and two buildings at Charity Secondary and Suddie Primary schools, the existing nursery schools at Better Success and Cotton Field, new ones were constructed at Supenaam Creek and Three Friends and a dormitory added at Wakapoa, in Lower Pomeroon;

streets at Affiance, Cotton Field, Anna Regina and Golden Fleece estate were upgraded with bitumen and ‘chip seal’ material while sand, loam and ‘crusher run’ were used on those in Aurora, Suddie Housing Scheme, Riverstown, Dartmouth, Lima Scheme, Henrietta, La Belle Alliance, Suddie, Anna Regina New Scheme and Danielstown;

a 150 horse power (hp) outboard engine and a wooden boat were purchased for use in Pomeroon River by visiting officials and four more wooden boats were bought and handed over, as well, to the Karawah, St Monica, Mora and Warapaqua communities in Upper Pomeroon. Two outboard 40 hp motors were acquired and given to residents of Karawah and St Monica while two of 25 hp capacity were received at Warapaqua and Kabakaburi;

with a saving of $22.9M from its 2002 capital works allocation, the RDC also put in four additional irrigation checks at Zorg-en-Vlyght, Capoey escape channel, La Belle Alliance and Windsor Castle and a box culvert at La Belle Alliance and

timber revetments were erected at Capoey, Reliance East and West, Anna Regina, Hibernia, Fairfield and Bush Lot with money from the same source and a new relief mechanism placed at Manakuru to drain 10,000 acres of land suitable for agricultural cultivation.

There are two aspects to this very dangerous phenomenon. Firstly, increasingly, since 1997, there seems to have emerged the idea of achieving political power through street violence. That this distressing spectre has gained currency over the years there can be no doubt. On the other hand, there seems to have appeared in our society, a lawless element preoccupied with the promotion of insecurity and instability through bizarre methods of criminal violence and civil disobedience. Both groups seem to share the common mission of encouraging public disorder, spreading communal fear and totally destabilising the state. This new etiquette of dissent threatens the very concept and climate of public freedom which we hold sacred and which now cries out for creative intervention and robust defence. Without law and order there can be no peace, no freedom and no rights for anyone.

It is precisely at this conjunction that the Police Force finds itself in the line of fire. In an effort to preserve the whole range of rights and freedoms the Police Force finds itself pitted against these elements of criminal disorder. That the Police exist to maintain social order appears incontrovertible. Yet the effectiveness of the force derives from a consensual model of society which legitimises Police action. The Police must see themselves, and ought to be seen by all others, as protecting the mass of ordinary law abiding citizenry from the few who are bent, for one reason or the other, upon perpetuating criminal violence and creating public mischief.

The Police would be the first to argue, and we would be forced to agree, that they are certainly not responsible for the failure on the part of society to deal with the perplexing problems of social and economic injustice. Nevertheless, they find themselves drawn, as the moth to the flame, into many of the problems and many of the grievances for which they, as Police Officers, are not empowered to, and therefore cannot, solve. Yet in the current turbulence the Police with the responsibility for maintaining stability have become the focal point of a vicious criminal backlash.

Violence and policing are inevitably associated. Criminals have used violence against innocent members of the public and against the Police themselves. The problems created by the current criminal elements, armed with the most sophisticated range of weaponry, have presented the Police with one of their most serious challenges within recent times. The Police, as the major target group are totally exposed and completely vulnerable. But even so their work has not been made any easier by a model of journalism aimed at tarnishing the image of the Police Force, of discrediting policing activities and undermining the legitimate authority of the force. One suspects that initially some criticisms were perhaps well intentioned but it soon developed into an orchestrated campaign of vilification which severely hampered effective law enforcement, isolated the force and rendered members of the force almost legitimate targets of criminal elements. Twelve murdered in 2002 and four murdered in January 2003 alone.

For all this the Police Force remains the only legitimate line of defence against a criminal class whose vicious and recurrent attacks on the Police must inevitably threaten the force's commitment to duty. The state cannot compromise with such lawlessness and must marshal all possible resources, public and private, for a major counter assault. What is also very frightening is the singular realisation that unless the forces of law and order seize the initiative, quickly and decisively, public safety will undoubtedly erode to the extent where flight will become the major consideration of all the productive law abiding elements in the society.

Professor Erwin N. Griswold, a former Dean of Harvard Law School once argued that violent opposition to the law or the forcible disregard of another's freedom falls beyond the pale of legitimate dissent or even civil disobedience, properly understood. It is nothing short of rebellion and must inevitably be countered by the determined rigour of the state.

One of the fruits would be some display of friendliness, creating a win/win situation for all concerned. Each side has to make a decision to avoid playing to the gallery and insisting that because the position taken may be the right one, it must never be surrendered to the enemy on the other side at any cost. The ultimate consequence of such an attitude is that the gaps between us widen and everything is seen as a cause for war.

The situation in certain sections of Demerara, more specifically Georgetown and parts of the East Coast, is directly attributable to this pre-occupation by everybody with being right. Most of us comprise the lookers-on who long to see the emergence of a new spirit of cooperation and understanding on the part of those to whom we look for leadership. The old spirit is slowly poisoning the nation and little notice seems to be taken of the heart-rending cries for peace and a chance to live a normal life.

Life is short and the possibility of wasting most of it through no fault of their own constitutes a dreaded nightmare for so many people. And so some choose to flee. This is what one of the leading newspapers in Barbados had to say of us - "Many of the Guyanese who come to Barbados do so because they find life in their homeland intolerable. Guyana is racked by political and racial strife not to mention the upsurge of crime. People have been forced to seek refuge elsewhere..."

As a Guyanese I am pained by these words but by our deeds we invite such comments about our country. I am pleading with our leaders that they try once more to have genuine dialogue, that they set out to build genuine relationships. We have had enough of analyses and learned dissertations about our situation.

Let us see now some attempt at being friendly and civilised. Away with behaviour that tells supporters on either side that we are not prepared to yield even one inch to the enemy. The only road to progress is by way of mutual respect and friendliness. If we are not going to take that road then I suggest that we drop the term dialogue and substitute in its place a more adversarial term, one more in keeping with what seems to be the current approach to dialogue. But in doing so we will be rejecting our only opportunity of moving forward as a nation.

Today we commemorate the birth of one of the greatest figures of the 20th century, Martin Luther King, and the greatest honour we can accord him is to eschew rancour and hatred as together we strive to build a society where we can embrace one another as real brothers and sisters.

Fazil Azeez sues GBC for $4M
FORMER General Manager (GM) Fazil Azeez has sued Guyana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) for in excess of $4M, alleging breach of contract.

In the writ, filed at the Supreme Court Registry Monday by attorneys-at-law Khemraj Ramjattan and Moses Nagamootoo, the plaintiff said his claim is for superannuation and other benefits.

Azeez said the letter terminating his services is in contravention of a previous GBC board decision to grant him two years study leave, from September 2000, to facilitate his completion of legal studies at Hugh Wooding Law School in Trinidad.

According to Azeez, the October 2001 correspondence, from then board chairman Prem Misir, said he would no longer be needed and, since then, he has failed to make GBC honour its statutory and contractual financial obligations to him.

Azeez, who was appointed GM in 1993, said, following his request for entitlements, current board chairman Bish Panday wrote him on May 22, 2002, stating that he was still GM on leave but his July 17, 2002 effort at clarification of his true status was not afforded a response.

At Berbice Assizes…
Corentyne restaurant murder case adjourned again
THE murder case at the Berbice Assizes, surrounding the unlawful killing of Chinese restaurateur Young Min Fun, has been adjourned until tomorrow.

On the resumption, Justice Winston Moore will continue the voir dire (trial within a trial), started last week, to ascertain whether the Judges' Rules were breached to obtain a caution statement from Philbert Cush, one of the accused.

The judge said he was adjourning the proceedings again to enable other witnesses to testify at the inquiry surrounding the attestation.

Cush is jointly indicted with fugitive at large Gogonan Ramoutar for murdering the victim at his Number 47 Village, Corentyne restaurant in Berbice, on February 9, 1999.

Defence Counsel Adrian Anamayah necessitated the smaller trial when he objected to the tendering of the deposition through Police Corporal Rupert Singh.

At Demerara Assizes…
Sentence postponed on brother manslaughter convict
JUSTICE Yonette Cummings-Edwards yesterday postponed sentence on Yusuff Shadick, who pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the unlawful killing of his brother, Nezim Shadick, at Patentia Housing Scheme, West Bank Demerara, on May 31,1999.

In the first case before her, after the opening of criminal sessions at the Demerara Assizes, the judge ordered a probation report on the convict and deferred sentencing to January 23.

The surviving Shadick was originally indicted for murder but Justice Cummings-Edwards permitted State Prosecutor Faith McGusty to accept his guilty plea to the lesser count instead.

The Prosecutor said the victim and the killer were involved in an argument that evening in the neighbourhood where they both lived.

The wounded man was stabbed several times with a broken bottle and pronounced dead at Georgetown Public Hospital.

A report on the post mortem examination said he suffered eight lacerated and incised wounds and the cause of death was perforation of the left femoral blood vessels and laceration of the small intestines.

Waddel should clear the air
Why doesn’t Ronald Waddell come forward and scotch the rumours that he was shot by Troy Dick, one of the five prison escapees, reportedly because of a quarrel.

It is of some surprise also, but then again not that the rumour mongers and biased reporters on certain news casts and talk shows are keeping mum on this one

It puts a crimp in their agenda.
Isabella Daley

PNC’S sole ambition is to be included in government
Will Guyana become a one-party state if the PNC ends its cold war excursion and return to its PPP roots?

This is the question Ms. Geralda Dennison wants answered. In responding to a letter of mine, which urged a reunification of the parties, Ms. Dennison wanted to know also which other "force" would be strong enough to form an effective opposition should the PPP and PNC be reunited.

These are important questions. However, I think at this time of conjured-up political crisis an even more important question would be: Wouldn't Guyanese be better off with a single government (not a squabbling coalition) in which all citizens perceive themselves as being equally represented?

The PNC's sole ambition right now is to be included in government. The time has come for "shared governance, power sharing, inclusive governance" or "whatchamacallit" - they just want in and they intend to get in by hook or crook. The PNC has demonstrated its utter contempt for the elected PPPCivic alliance over the last ten years. It is wishful thinking to believe them capable of creating a harmonious and productive cabinet with the PPP. I predict that we all will be suffering agonising periods of governmental failure should these two embark on some harebrain scheme to rule at cabinet level.

But as a single entity they will have to trash out their many differences at party level before making their policy public - before it can affect our lives.

This is why I believe the PNC needs to get back in the PPP. Guyanese will be spared the nastiness that has become the political norm. It will all be trashed out at the party executive level before it reaches us in the street.

So which is better? A two-party state in which citizens are at each throats or a large party state in which the politicians have to agree to a unified policy before presenting it to the people?

By the way, with the PNC neglecting it's parliamentary duties, and the appointed Opposition Leader deceased, Isn’t Guyana "virtually" a one-party state at this time? The PNC's "pseudo street government" notwithstanding, things seem to be progressing quite nicely, so I do not share Ms. Dennison's concern about what a one-party state could mean for Guyana.

The PNC and the PPP are perceived as split personalities of the same political creature (and I do not necessarily mean a division of good and evil sides). Only when this creature is healed by its personality becoming whole, rejoined and when it is not perceived as alternatives to each other, will we, as a people be able to move forward politically. At that time we might find ourselves voting for a political opposition because we believe in its policies and not because the party is mainly comprised of our "kith and kin."

If the PNC wants to be in government, it simply must rejoin the PPP.
Justin deFreitas

GARBAGE DISPOSAL AT LEONORA.
On my visit to Leonora, over the holidays, I was amazed at the manner in which residents were getting rid of their wastes and garbage.

For one I noticed many of the residents throwing every single piece of waste into the surrounding trenches and on the side of roads. What was more worrying was that residents living in nice houses were also dumping their garbage into the trenches and on the roadsides.

I found out that there is no assigned garbage dump, or a garbage collecting system. The reason given was that Guysuco controls everything and that it was difficult to get anything done.

Most alarming was that a Leonorian, who had lived in Toronto for over 25 years was also dumping his garbage into the trench. A Guysuco Chief Engineer was doing the same and a roadside Tailor, working out of a container placed at the side of the road had all his garbage just sitting at the side of the trench.

A deep trench is almost blocked with everything you can think of, bottles, old wheels, plastic bottles, clothing, drums, barrels and underwear.

I suggested that they should burn their garbage and use the ashes for gardening. I was met with a verbal abuse. I know that Georgetown is no better.

But that is no reason to make the whole country a garbage dump.
The environment of a country reflects on the mentality of its people.
N.S

Persuasive politics
Not unmindful of the requisite hyperbolic benediction universally permissible upon the demise of nationally recognise figures, I as a resident Guyanese with adequate first hand familiarity of the last four decades of Guyana’s political history, am truly astounded by the estrangement from the norms of casuistry some letter writers have espoused in paying tribute to H. D. Hoyte S. C. M. P.

To say that he was an accomplished lawyer, well deserving of his investiture of the commission of senior counsel, albeit upon his accession to ministerial office, would not be sufficient recognition of his value to Guyana in any panegyric. He was undoubtedly an astute and skilled actor on the political stage with the uncanny capacity to promote his centripetal influence in the eyes of his superiors, the ultimate objective of which was his search for the apogee of power. As President pro tempore in 1985, he ensured his election as President with a margin of victory unparalleled in enormity even by the proven indecent maneuvers of his predecessor and mentor, L.F.S. Burnham. To credit him with serving his black constituency of studied meiosis expected only from authors of considerable grace and suavity. To list the various projects and areas of change of which Guyana was the beneficiary during his period of purloined governance would be admirable and historically accurate. But to engage in the flights of fancy, esoteric invention and the imaginary characterised Peter Ramsaroop, Eric Phillips and Hamley Case essayed in the Stabroek News in recent days, constitutes a cataclysmic transmogrification of their leader about which even the bereaved inner circle would need to seek verification to supplement their preferred encyclopedic reservoir of his plans, achievements and successes.

Perhaps, the deceased, given his superlative veneration in death, may have accelerated his mortality if only to spare the majority of the Guyanese nation the reality of the anarchy and trauma to which it was subjected in 2002 by his unprecedented demonstration of an unwillingness to observe and give expression to the 1980 Constitution of which he was its putative author, refusing to make full use of Parliament to promote the changes he sought, including shared governance with which some commentators belatedly credit him. The incomparable Burnham must, on reflection, been intellectually challenged, since as leader of the Opposition, he never created a diarchy, as did Hoyte, in which the latter sought to act as a de facto President! Gilding the lily is the clearest index of the caparisoned integrity attributed to him and dilutes the annals of history which ought to remain untainted by the euphoric exegesis of zealous whose concerns for Guyana are driven only by the lure of the trappings of political office, hence their sporadic interventions from the distant allure of the metropolis.

What is statesman-like in slo-fire, moh-fire; making your nation ungovernable; endorsing the unlawful draping of the principal national symbol (our Arrowhead) on the casket of the archenemy of law and order----the notorious Bandit, Blackie; advising investors to stay away from Guyana; publicly recommending matutinal ablutions for the Secretary to the cabinet (condemned even by a Stabroek news Editorial) dedicating his life to see the barbaric sustained acts of violence against the Guyanese Indian Community? The conduct of a leader’s followers is reflective of his subliminal character and the unruly mobs at his State Funeral revealed the essence of Desi, as he was hypocoristically denominated. Serious historians will find his legacy unattractive in a civilised global environment and his successor will do well to distance himself from its miasmic consequences, if the PNC/R is to remain a viable alternative. The revelations in Prof. Bishoondat Persaud’s letter in Stabroek news of the 7th inst are a timely recollection of the history behind the E.R.P. and, in this regard, I find comfort in the unapologetic reminiscences of former president, Janet Jagan O.E., since the Kabaka in his usually condign style, parted company with two of his political stalwarts, C.M.L. John and Neville Bissember, for their reprobation of the Olympian rigging in 1968 which set the tone for all subsequent plebescites until the internationally imposed 1992 election process justly returned the indomitable Cheddi Jagan to the seat of Government.

I look forward to the day when persuasive politics rather than coercive experimentation would usher in the preferred polity.
Godfrey John

No need for shared governance
“ The call for shared governance results from the lack of good government” is the heading of Patrick M. Yarde.’s {President of the Guyana Public Service Union }letter in Stabroek News of Sunday, 12th January, 2003 and this to me is the most powerful reason to date why we do not need shared governance.

For the first time since October 1992 this country has had good governance, of which there can be no successful contradiction, so this effectively negates Yarde’s limpid attempt to try to justify his party’s call for shared governance.

Yarde and others would have been fully justified to call for shared governance between 1964 and 1992 but they did not, because their incompetent, fraudulent and dictatorial party the PNC was in government. And now that they are in opposition, there has been no improvement. This is indeed rare, that a party is incompetent in both government and in the opposition, such as the PNC is.

It is of no surprise that Yarde and the GPSU is once again coming out to support their party line as they have always done, when the PNC was in office and now that they are out and threatening strike action not because of an industrial cause but because of political motivation.

Yarde or any others cannot support any allegation that the government is partial in providing jobs, infrastructure, or opportunities for development for citizens.
Zameer Ally

Out of touch with reality
Someone writing under the name of “Segu Talewa” in the Stabroek News of Monday, 13the January, 2003 claims, as stated in the heading that “ Rigging elections was an act of African self defence,” in response to a letter by Mrs. Jagan on 5.1.03 captioned “ When the rigging started in 1967.”

He or she claims that unlike the PNC past and present, they will not cower whenever the word is mentioned but seek to describe it “as an act of African self defense.” I remember here Vincent Alexander telling us that “ a government can be illegitimate even if elected, or legitimate even if not elected.”

The writer , male or female, goes on to underline how far they are out of touch with reality, by stating “ Rigging postponed for 28 years the weak and ineffective government we have today. Rigging delayed the coalition between drugs and corrupt officials. During the rigging contractors and consultants of all colour and hue had an opportunity to work, today it is a virtual monopoly.”

I must remind the writer and readers that in 1953 the People’s Progressive Party under the leadership of Cheddi Jagan and Chairmanship of Forbes Burnham won our first elections under the adult suffrage system where you could vote once you were twenty-one in those days without regards to income or property qualifications - winning eighteen out of twenty-four seats.

This, if you will, was an outstanding example of “shared governance.” Unfortunately, after the suspension of the Constitution and the expulsion of the government, “ Burnham, after some time, perhaps “ as an act of African self defence” or as was thought personal ambition split with Cheddi Jagan.

We had two PPP’s Jagan and Burnham factions for some time before Burnham renamed his faction the People’s National Congress {PNC}.

The writer cannot support his view that there is any discrimination in the award of contracts as this is done through laid down procedures and is a transparent process.

Instead of rigging elections, Burnham and the PNC had ample opportunities at Constitutional conferences prior to the 1964 elections held under the auspices of the British Government, sympathetic to him and antagonistic to the PPP, to make representations for the form of government which he wanted, but he pressed for the new electoral system of Proportional Representation as he felt this would have caused Jagan and the PPP to be defeated. How wrong he was?

It seems from this writer and the letter by Patrick M. Yarde recently that the opposition against the Government is really being driven by economic forces. Perhaps, David Hinds is right when he says that the upper classes in the PNC are using the lower classes to fight their cause. What do you think?
John Da Silva

Consumers must not support terror
No one can even attempt to deny that there is a clear nexus between most of the violent crimes in the country including the centrally directed attempts to set gasoline stations alight {slow fire/more fire} and the slime that is spewed out by talk show hosts and the obvious bias in certain news casts such as Prime News, Evening News and Capitol News which seemingly idolize criminal and unsocial behaviour and demean and ridicule the efforts of law-enforcement agencies.

We have to look also at the businesses which advertise on these news casts and ask them if they want to continue being associated with them especially if they consider that they as well stand to suffer from the likely results of these biased news casts and talk show hosts which law-abiding citizens find to be odious.

There is even a feeling among some that perhaps some of such businesses may be willing to promote terror and violent crimes as a way of wiping out their business competition. Can we as consumers continue to support them when they are considered by some to be supporting terror?

Is the ACB paying attention to these broadcasts by agents provocateurs masquerading as journalists to promote civil disorder seemingly supporting the criminal activities?
Ramesh Sooklall

England confirm Zimbabwe visit
… February 13 Harare match would go ahead
By John Mehaffey
LONDON, England (Reuters) - England confirmed yesterday they would play their World Cup fixture in Zimbabwe next month despite opposition from the British government.

At a news conference delayed for two hours after a small group of protesters barged their way into Lord's, England and Wales Cricket Board chief executive Tim Lamb said the February 13 Harare match would go ahead.

``The decision of the management board was unanimous,'' Lamb said. ``We have not been elected to make decisions of a political nature.''

The ECB decision follows a meeting with British Culture, Media and Sport Minister Tessa Jowell five days ago. Jowell expressed both security concerns and government disapproval of what she called the appalling human rights record of Robert Mugabe's government.

Yesterday's announcement was greeted with relief by World Cup chief executive Ali Bacher and the chairman of the Zimbabwe Cricket Union Peter Chingoka.

``Cricket takes decisions for cricketing reasons and is not qualified to do the job of politicians,'' Bacher said.

A spokesman for British Prime Minister Tony Blair said the government had told the ECB it would prefer them to call off the match.

``They have taken a different decision,'' he said. ``We accept their decision.''

DEMONSTRATORS INVADE
Nine demonstrators, headed by British activist Peter Tatchell, pushed through the North Gate at cricket's world headquarters 30 minutes before the scheduled news conference.

Tatchell, who has twice tried to make a citizen's arrest on Mugabe, compared the visit to Britain's competing at the 1936 Berlin Olympics in front of Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler.

``Mugabe is just using this to boost his credibility,'' he said.

The group were persuaded to leave the room at the Lord's indoor school and Tatchell later complained to police that he had been punched by security officials. Another demonstrator, Zimbabwean Alan Wilkinson, said a cut on his head had been caused by a guard wielding a mobile phone.

When the news conference finally got under way at a room in the Warner Stand, Lamb said there were no economic or trading sanctions against Zimbabwe and no universal sporting boycotts.

``We have not been elected to take decisions of a political nature,'' he said. ``Moreover, I would reiterate that the cancellation of one cricket match would not make the slightest bit of difference to the Mugabe regime or in any way lessen the economic and political turmoil in Zimbabwe.''

He said the England players' representatives had reported that all the World Cup squad were happy to be guided by the ECB.

``There's no indication that any player wishes to withdraw,'' Lamb said.

Lamb said the ECB had told government ministers of its determination to deny the Mugabe government the opportunity to exploit the England team's presence in Harare.

``We will not take part in any ceremonial activities that could imply any support for the regime or be used as a propaganda platform,'' he said.

World champions Australia, Pakistan, India, Namibia and the Netherlands are also scheduled to play in Zimbabwe in six of 54 World Cup ties. The tournament, which will be staged in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Kenya, opens in Cape Town on February 8.

Krishna Arjune lone newcomer in Guyana squad
OPENER Krishna Arjune, who represented the West Indies B team in last year’s Busta Cup regional four-day tournament, is the only newcomer in the Guyana 13-member squad released yesterday for the three away matches in this year’s tournament, which bowls off on January 31.

Arjune joins the left-handed pair of Azeemul Haniff and Sewnarine Chattergoon, who opened the batting in the 2002 tournament. The Everest Cricket Club opener had the distinction of registering his maiden first class century for the West Indies B in last year’s competition.

Fast bowler Rayon Griffith, who also represented the West Indies B in the latter part of last year’s tournament after being named in the Guyana squad, is once more among the 13 players identified. Griffith failed to make Guyana’s final eleven in all the matches outside of Guyana but was subsequently allowed to play for the West Indies B against Guyana at Bourda and also versus Barbados at the Kensington Oval in Barbados.

The 13-man squad does not contain any major surprises with middle-order batsman Andre Percival forcing his way back due to the unavailability of Test players, captain Carl Hooper, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Ramnaresh Sarwan who will be on World Cup duties.

Middle-order batsman Travis Dowlin, who was touted as a possible West Indies selectee after his exploits in 2001 but performed below par in the early matches in 2002, has also been recalled after he was dropped last year.

With leg-spinner Mahendra Nagamootoo not getting the West Indies selectors’ nod for the World Cup, he was an automatic choice in the Guyana squad despite not being named in the previous 18.

The six players omitted from the 18 are all eligible for selection on the West Indies B team as they are all Under-23. They are middle-order batsmen Narsingh Deonarine and Damodar Daesrath, fast bowlers Reon Thomas and Naresh Roopnarine, wicketkeeper Azib Alli Hanif and left-arm spinner Hemnarian Harrinarian.

The 13-man squad is: Neil McGarrell (captain), Sewnarine Chattergoon, Azeemul Haniff, Lennox Cush, Travis Dowlin, Homchand Pooran, Andre Percival, Mahendra Nagamootoo, Vishal Nagamootoo, Reon King, Colin Stuart, Rayon Griffith, Krishna Arjune.

The manager is Pat Legall and the coach is Albert Smith.

Guyana will open their quest for honours in this year’s tournament when they oppose Trinidad and Tobago at Guaracara Park from January 31. (Frederick Halley)

GDA to stage international tourney for Mash
AN international darts competition is on the boards for Mashramani, with the world’s number two player in exhibition.

The Guyana Darts Association is planning to stage a Grand Mashramani Classic tournament, inviting a number of Caribbean countries to participate from February 21-23.

Number two player in the world, John Part, will be here to observe and hold clinics and demonstrations.

Meanwhile, the local darts season for this year throws off with an open competition on Saturday at the Le Meridien Pegasus Saltair Club from 14:00 hrs.

It is a Luck of the Draw Doubles competition and all novices, regular players and prospective players are invited to participate, aiming for cash prizes.

Players were already in action for the year, matching aim in a warm-up Open Singles game, last Friday.

Geoffrey Douglas started the year bright, winning that competition. He overcame Ronald Amyan in the final.

Douglas beat Vibert Yearwood in the semifinals, while Amyan put away youth player Sudesh Persaud-Fitzgerald.

Organisers welcome England's decision to play
By Stella Mapenzauswa
HARARE, (Reuters) - The Zimbabwe Cricket Union (ZCU) and World Cup organisers welcomed England's decision to play in Harare next month, but the political opposition in Zimbabwe was bitterly disappointed.

The British government had called on the England cricket board (ECB) to withdraw from the February 13 fixture because of Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe's controversial policies. But the ECB decided yesterday the team would play as scheduled.

ZCU chairman Peter Chingoka said he was happy the ECB had ``made its decision on sporting grounds'' and had heeded a recommendation by the sport's ruling body (ICC) that it would be safe to play in the southern African country.

``We look forward to welcoming all six teams to Zimbabwe and to a successful ICC cricket World Cup in Bulawayo and Harare,'' Chingoka said in a statement.

Australia, Pakistan, India, Namibia and the Netherlands are also scheduled to play in Zimbabwe. The World Cup, which will be staged in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Kenya, opens in Cape Town on February 8.

Paul Themba Nyathi of Zimbabwe's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) said yesterday's decision would hurt the struggle against what he called the ‘tyranny’ of Mugabe's government.

``I feel sorry for those cricketers because they will have to answer to their own consciences,'' he told Sky television.

DIFFICULT DECISION
``It is a very difficult decision to take because for every Zimbabwean citizen that gets arrested simply because the government wants to create a facade of peace and quiet in this country, those cricketers will bear the brunt.

``These things are incremental. Every little thing that demonstrates the unacceptability of Mugabe's tyranny is a worthy contribution in the struggle of the people of Zimbabwe who day in and day out have to live with the brutality of this regime.

``A little bit of sacrifice from the cricketers would have had an incremental role in the struggles which are being waged by the people of Zimbabwe.''

Culture, Sport and Media Secretary Tessa Jowell told the ECB at a meeting last week that the London government did not want their cricketers to play in Harare because of the appalling human rights record of Mugabe's government.

The Australian goverment has also opposed the games in Zimbabwe but, like its British counterpart, has said it would not force its national team not to play.

CRICKET PRINCIPLES
Ali Bacher, executive director of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2003, said in a statement in Johannesburg: ``The England Cricket Board's decision is to be welcomed for cricketing reasons.

``In making this decision, England are committing themselves to the principles of international cricket -- among which is a desire to develop the game in all regions of the world.

``We understand why there are many calls for political change in Zimbabwe, but cricket takes decisions for cricketing reasons and is not qualified to do the job of politicians.

``Now that this decision has been made, we hope that the first ICC Cricket World Cup to come to South Africa and this continent will be able to proceed according to plan and greatly benefit our country, Africa and international cricket.''

British Prime Minister Tony Blair's official spokesman said he accepted the ECB decision.

``This is a difficult situation for the government because we can express our view but we can't instruct,'' he said.

``We have set out our view that we would prefer were they not to go. We accept their decision, it's their decision.''

The spokesman said the government would continue to be in regular contact with cricket authorities to determine the safety and humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe.

India collapse again as NZ clinch series 5-2
By Geoff Young
HAMILTON, New Zealand, (Reuters) - A half-century by New Zealand skipper Stephen Fleming and an 84-run partnership with Scott Styris led New Zealand to a six-wicket victory in the seventh and last one-day international against India yesterday.

India were bowled out for 122 in 44.5 overs and New Zealand eased to victory on 125-4 in 28.4 overs.

The home side took the series, marked by much low scoring, by five games to two. India have recorded scores of 108 twice and now 122 twice.

Fleming made 60 not out to become only the fourth New Zealand batsman to hit 50 in the series. Styris was out just short of victory for 29.

It could have been worse for India who at one stage were 44-6 but Yuvraj Singh with 33 brought a modicum of respectability to an otherwise poor total. Anil Kumble (21) shared in a stand of 49.

In reply, New Zealand wobbled at 32-3 before Fleming and Styris began righting the innings with some positive play.

The pitch provided plenty of bounce and a bit of sideways movement of the type that has so unsettled both teams in the seven games.

The Indian batting has been so poor that five batsmen have averages in single figures, including Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly.

Andre Adams was the best of the New Zealand bowlers, taking four for 21 and finishing the series with 14 wickets at 9.35 in just four matches.

INDIA
S.Ganguly b Adams 15

V.Sehwag c McCullum b Mills 4

S.Tendulkar c Fleming b Tuffey 1

D.Mongia c Fleming b Tuffey 0

R.Dravid c Styris b Mills 12

Y.Singh c Vincent b Styris 33

M.Kaif c McCullum b Adams 0

A.Kumble c Fleming b Adams 21

Z.Khan c McCullum b Styris 5

J.Srinath lbw b Adams 15

A.Nehra not out 2

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

Total: (all out, 44.5 overs) 122

Fall of wickets: 1-14, 2-17, 3-17, 4-44, 5-44, 6-44, 7-93, 8-99, 9-117.

Bowling: Tuffey 10-1-26-2 (w-3, nb-1), Mills 10-1-29-2 (w-2 nb-2), Adams 8.5-3-21-4 (w-1), Styris 10-2-23-2, Vettori 6-0-18-0.

NEW ZEALAND

S.Fleming not out 60

M.Sinclair b Srinath 3

B.McCullum lbw b Zaheer 4

C.Cairns b Srinath 11

S.Styris b Kumble 29

L.Vincent not out 5

Extras: (lb-6, w-6, nb-1) 13

Total: (for four wickets, 28.4 overs) 125

Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-12, 3-32, 4-116.

Bowling: Srinath 8.4-2-28-2 (w-2), Zaheer 9-2-38-1 (w-3 nb-1), Nehra 5-0-28-0, Kumble 4-0-16-1 (w-1), Ganguly 2-0-9-0

Result: New Zealand won by six wickets. New Zealand win the series 5-2

Fleming calls for pitch investigations
By Geoff Young
HAMILTON, New Zealand, (Reuters) - Another one-dayer, another dog of a pitch.

That has been the case for most of the one-day series between New Zealand and India that ended yesterday with the home side winning the seventh and final match by six wickets and taking the series 5-2.

In a typical low-scoring game, India were skittled out for 122 and New Zealand replied with 125 for four, Stephen Fleming leading the way with 60 not out.

He was only the fourth New Zealander to top 50 in the series while on the Indian side, bowled out four times for scores in the low hundred, five batsmen averaged single figures, including Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly.

Skipper Fleming said: ``It's been a very difficult summer for our batting unit, full stop. We have our techniques scrutinised on wickets that have been very, very bowler-friendly and that's often been overlooked, which peeves us a bit.

``The surfaces need to be looked at a lot more closely. You start questioning your belief on the sort of poor surfaces we have experienced.

``I think it's fair to say the wickets throughout the summer have been below par, it's as simple as that.''

He added: `` I'm going to keep talking about belief. We've got a good side and I'm going to keep hammering it. I believe in these guys.

``We've beaten a very good side in tough conditions and there's no reason in better conditions we can't play even better.

``I'll probably be criticised somewhere tomorrow for saying it, but I believe in these guys and that's what's going to win us the World Cup and I'd be glad if other people came along for the ride.''

Indian captain Ganguly felt it was time Indian cricket recovered from this loss, starting with their trip home for a 10-day rest before leaving for South Africa and the World Cup.

``We've been to South Africa before where we've got runs,'' he said. ``So it' s not like it can't happen, but it's got to happen again.

``We've got to forget the bad times which we've had in this series and look forward. I'm convinced we'll have a good World Cup despite what's happened here. You have bad times, which means you look forward even more to the good times.''

India also lost the Test series to New Zealand 2-0.

World Cup Preview
Heightened hope for Hooper’s West Indians
By Ezra Stuart
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - Heartened by a string of impressive performances in one-day cricket towards the end of last year, there is an air of expectancy around Carl Hooper’s improving West Indies outfit as the players begin fine-tuning for the 2003 World Cup in South Africa.

From West Indies Cricket Board president, Reverend Wes Hall, to the ordinary man in the streets of the many Caribbean countries, there is renewed and heightened hope that the West Indies stand a fair chance of gaining World Cup glory.

The Caribbean cricketers are presently in Antigua for an extensive two-week World Cup preparatory camp and prior to its launch on Monday, Reverend Hall boasted that the WICB is ensuring the squad “will be the best prepared West Indies team ever”.

“The board has done everything to ensure the team is ready,” Hall said noting his body has “come up with a great programme”.

Hall also noted the “preparations have been carefully analysed to meet the team’s needs” and said legendary former West Indies fast bowler Andy Roberts has been asked to make the pitches quicker for the simulated practice matches.

Hall’s optimism is shared by captain Hooper, who says the Windies “have a very good chance of doing well”.

“We have been playing good one-day cricket for the last year now and there’s no reason why we shouldn’t continue,” Hooper said on arrival in Antigua for the camp.

“I expect us to play well in this World Cup. I expect that we will go through to the second round,” added Hooper.

Bookmakers have also taken note of the West Indies recent resurgence and have shortened the odds on the regional team lifting the coveted Cup for the first time following their success in the first two tournaments in 1975 and 1979 under the leadership of Clive Lloyd.

After their morale-shattering last-ball loss to South Africa in their first round zonal match of the ICC Champions Trophy ‘Mini World Cup’ in Sri Lanka on September 13, the Windies have won their last two one-day series.

Firstly, the Caribbean cricketers produced a number of electrifying batting performances to beat India 4-3 in the sub-continent in a seven-match One-Day series, marred by crowd disturbances.

Secondly, minus Hooper, star batsman Brian Lara and fast-bowling spearhead Mervyn Dillon, the Windies whipped minnows Bangladesh 2-0 in a three-match contest after holding the upper hand in the rain-ruined first ODI.

Having defeated Stephen Fleming's combative New Zealand outfit 3-1 in their series in the Caribbean last July, the West Indies have been steadily improving.

Young players such as Chris Gayle, Wavell Hinds, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Marlon Samuels, Pedro Collins and Jermaine Lawson, have all emerged with encouraging and enterprising performances, leading to renewed enthusiasm in the Windies camp.

The victory in India came against the odds as the West Indies had to battle against a hostile crowd, which disrupted the first three matches, including the third which was controversially awarded to the home team by the match referee after it was prematurely abandoned.

Led by dashing opening pair Gayle and Hinds, the West Indies were able to get off the grid very swiftly, motoring along at a fast clip in the first 15 overs when the field restrictions were in place with just two players outside the circle.

Gayle, in particular, was in awesome form, hammering three centuries while young middle order batsmen Sarwan and Samuels were also in dazzling form.

The more seasoned Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Hooper also weighed in with vital runs as well as Ricardo Powell when he was given the opportunity to showcase his attacking batting skills.

The return of batting supremo Lara, after recovering from illness during the ICC Champions Trophy, will be an added bonus for the West Indies, whose young batsmen have been starting to showcase their immense batting skills.

Despite the encouraging signs from the young brigade, Lara, with 14 centuries in 7 549 runs in 203 matches at an average of 42.64 and Hooper’s outstanding all-round record of 5 663 runs, 190 wickets and 115 catches in 221 matches, will still be the two players feared most by opposing teams.

Once Lara is fully fit and in good form as well as Hooper, following his knee operation in Australia late last year, the West Indies will be fancying their chances of advancing from Pool ‘B’.

But the relatively inexperienced One-Day bowlers will have to play their part if the West Indies are to upstage Pool ‘B’ heavyweights, South Africa, Sri Lanka and New Zealand as well as lightweights Bangladesh, Kenya and Canada.

The West Indies bowling will be led by seasoned professional Vasbert Drakes, who is extremely familiar with conditions in South Africa, having spent the last six seasons with provincial side, Border.

Drakes, fresh from three consecutive four-wicket hauls against Bangladesh, will receive his main support from Dillon, the deceptive left-armer Collins and the young fiery Lawson.

In the absence of a specialist spinner, Hooper, Gayle and Samuels, who can all be considered spinning all-rounders in the one-day game, will provide support with their relatively flat and economical off-spin bowling.

Seamer Corey Collymore and the recalled fast bowler Nixon McLean, who is also familiar with conditions in South Africa having played for KwaZulu-Natal complete the West Indies six-pronged, pace attack.

One encouraging aspect of the West Indies’ set-up, is that they no longer have a lengthy tail as a couple of their bowlers, noticeably Drakes and McLean are capable of scoring useful runs.

Last but by no means least; reliable wicketkeeper Ridley Jacobs will be a key cog in the West Indies’ wheel with his efficient wicket-keeping and effective lower order batting in the closing overs.

Jacobs will have fond memories of South Africa where he was a standout in his debut Test series in 1998-1999, both in front and behind the stumps.

The West Indies begin their World Cup campaign on February 9 in Cape Town against the South Africans, who have beaten them 18 times against eight losses in 26 One-Day Internationals.

Squad: Carl Hooper (captain), Chris Gayle, Wavell Hinds, Marlon Samuels, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Brian Lara, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Ricardo Powell, Ridley Jacobs, Vasbert Drakes, Mervyn Dillon, Pedro Collins, Nixon McLean, Jermaine Lawson, Corey Collymore.

King’s Jewellery World, Providence in Over-40 clash
KING’S Jewellery World and Providence Sports Club Over-40 cricketers will clash in a feature 30-over match over two days at the Diamond Community Centre ground, starting at 16:00 hrs today.

The team batting first will take strike today while the other will reply tomorrow, also from 16:00 hrs. At stake is a trophy for the winners.

King’s Jewellery World team will come from: Looknauth Persaud (captain), Andrew ‘Tamil Tiger’ Kanden, Jameel Baksh, Ramotar Bissoon, Munir Saffie, Hardat Singh, Shabir Mohamed, John Pynandy, Ramesh Ramjattan, Jai Sankar, Kishan Bacchus and Fitz Clarke. The manager is Paul Beharry.

Providence Sports Club: Gregory Da Silva (captain), Andrew Ng-A-Kien, S. Emmanuel, K. Greene, D. Bissessar, Lennox Clarke, J. Jodha, Mario, V. Gangaram, I. Mohamed, M. Shaheed, V. Henry and S. Blackman.

The umpires are Tony Garnett and Reginald Grant.

Berbice NBIC Under-15 cricket
Tilkuram grabs 14-wicket match haul
PORT Mouant's off-spinner Parasram Tilkuram recorded a stunning bowling performance, capturing six for eight and eight for 30 to guide his team to a narrow nine-wicket outright win over Big Star of Ulverston as the Berbice NBIC Under-15 cricket competition continued recently.

Tilkuram’s 14-wicket match haul was the most taken by any bowler so far in the competition. He also had scores of 27 and 34, which were very crucial in Port Mourant's victory.

Blairmont Community Centre's outright victory over Legalize was set up by a good all-round performance from Leon Saroopchan, who hit 76 and picked up three for 29 and three for 20 and his fellow opening bowler B. Budhu who had a nine-wicket match haul.

Anil Solomon's 10-wicket match haul helped Rose Hall Community Centre to take first innings points from Sisters.

In scores from the matches played:

At Ulverston, Port Mourant beat Big Star by nine runs. Port Mourant 90 (P. Tilkuram 27, A. Chattergoon four for 23, A. Edwards three for 17, R. Rahaman two for 32) and 81 (P. Tilkuram 34, A. Edwards three for 34, K. Gray two for 22).

Big Star 53 (P. Tilkuram six for eight, A. Fleming four for 21) and 109 (J. Thomas 43 not out, K. Gray 26, P. Tilkuram eight for 30).

At Woodley Park, Blairmont Community Centre beat Legalize by an innings and 83 runs. Legalize 55 (B. Budhu five for 16, L. Saroopchan three for 29) and 50 (B. Budhu four for 21, L. Saroopchan three for 20, R. Jailall two for eight).

Blairmont Community Centre 188 for seven declared (L. Saroopchan 76, D. Orilall 24, B.Budhu 20).

At the Rose Hall Welfare ground in Canje, Rose Hall Community Centre beat Sisters by nine wickets. Sisters 46 (A. Solomon five for 15) and 37 (A. Solomon five for 17).

Rose Hall Community Centre 62 for two for declared (A. Solomon 20) and 22 for 1.

At the Berbice High School ground, Tucber Park A beat Tucber Park B by an innings and 98 runs. Tucber Park B 34 (T. Hewitt five for 13, C. Fields three for four) and eight (K. Edwards six for three, J. Leitch three for five).

Tucber Park A 140 for five declared (T. De Cunha 49, E. La Fleur 27, L. Williams 24, D. Jones two for 29, R. Kyte two for 30).

At D'Edward, Achievers beat Number Eight by an innings and 17 runs. Number Eight 104 (J. Joseph 25, R. Belle three for 27, B. Joseph two for nought) and 56 (B. Joseph five for 22, T. Perry four for seven).

Achievers 177 (B. Joseph 32, R. Ramsammy 28, R. Khan 25, J. Joseph three for 37, D. Bridgemohan two for 19, C. Pluck two for 39).

At Ulverston, Big Star took first innings points from Letter Kenny in their drawn match. Letter Kenny 91 (B. Ramnauth 24, R. La Rose four for three, K. Gray three for 14, E. Park two for four) and 30 for eight (A. Edwards five for 12, R. La Rose two for eight).

Big Star 111 (J. Thomas 30, S. Parasram five for 29, V. Narine two for seven).

Essequibo NBIC Under-15 cricket
Fredericks slams first century
THE Essequibo NBIC Under-15 40-over cricket competition commenced last Friday with three matches and was highlighted by its first century, slammed by Norman Fredericks.

At Affiance, North Essequibo defeated Pomeroon by 75 runs. North Essequibo batted first and made 145 all out in 34.1 overs with Balchand Shivambar leading the way with 43 and Anil Persaud chipping in with 19.

Pomeroon's best bowlers were Trevor Garraway who took three for 23, Joseph Baird three for 28 and Mukesh Singh two for 46.

In reply Pomeroon were bowled out for a mere 70 in 23.2 overs with a top-score of 32 from Terrence Tulsuram.

Balchand Shivamber grabbed three for 27, Mohendra Boodram two for three and Avinash Parsram two for 22.

At NOC, South Essequibo defeated Wakenaam by 112 runs. South took first strike and scored 206 for five in their 40 overs thanks to Fredericks who hit a fine 111 while Quincy Daniels made 29.

Anthony Osborne and Hamlet Gordon were Wakenaam’s best bowlers with two for 26 and two for 36 respectively.

Wakenaan, in reply, were bowled out 84 in 21 overs with Gordon hitting an unbeaten 34.

Daniels picked up two for four, Royston Atkins two for 11 while Rovin Dosraj supported with two for 18.

At Vergenoegen, East Bank Essequibo defeated Bartica by 73 runs. East Bank batted first and were bowled out for 146 in 25.3 overs. Pernauth Ramnarine and Denroy Francis were the principal scorers with 47 and 19 respectively.

Leon Fagundes was the main wicket-taker with figures of three for 23 and Jeremy Persaud two for nine.

Bartica, in their run chase, were restricted to 73 in 18.3 overs with Fagundes hitting 15.

Horace Holder bagged three for 17, Ryan Hercules three for 20, and Alwyn Pollard two for nought.

The competition continues Friday with three other matches. South Essequibo play Pomeroon at NOC; Wakenaam oppose North Essequibo at Wakenaam and East Bank Essequibo take on Leguan at Vergenoegen.

Play in all matches starts at 10:00 hrs.

EBFU Banks Milk Stout football restarts
THE East Bank Football Union (EBFU) 2002 Banks Milk Stout Super League will restart today at the Thirst Park ground with double-header under floodlights in the first match that commences from 17:30 hrs.

Agricola Red Triangle take on East Bank Pacesetters while Banks will face Soesdyke Falcons. This encounter will see a number of past and current national players on show.

On Friday from 18:00 hrs, another double-header is set to see Stewartville squaring off with Western Tigers and Pele clash with a strong Banks line-up.

Pele are presently preparing for their Mayor Cup final which is scheduled for Sunday, January 26, under floodlights at the Thirst Park ground.

ICC keeps Kenya waiting on security decision
NAIROBI, Kenya (Reuters) - The International Cricket Council (ICC)'s Safety and Security delegation ended a two-day inspection of security arrangements in Kenya for next month's World Cup yesterday but did not disclose its findings.

The leader of the delegation, Campbell Jamieson, told a news conference that his team would be issuing a detailed report to cricket's international governing body.

Kenya is scheduled to host two games at the Gymkhana Club in Nairobi -- against New Zealand on February 21 and Sri Lanka on February 24 -- in a tournament that is being played mainly in South Africa.

New Zealand have raised concerns about playing in Kenya after last November's attack on an Israeli-owned hotel in the port of Mombasa, which killed 16 people.

``We have met various parties including officials from the ministries of sport and internal security, and it is from our discussions and findings that we will make a detailed report to the ICC,'' said Jamieson.

``At this stage the delegation can't make any further comments, but I can say that all the parties we met were very cooperative. At this stage, it is inappropriate to take any questions.''

Kenya's World Cup Organising Committee chairman Sharad Ghai was confident of passing the security test.

``We have been asked to prepare another security plan to explain in detail what plans we have in place which we will finalise and send by courier to ICC,'' Ghai said.

``We hosted successfully the ICC Trophy in 2000 where all the Test-playing nations attended and no single incident took place, not even a bottle thrown to the field.''

Serena, Hewitt survive first round scares
By Julian Linden
MELBOURNE, Australia (Reuters) - Australian Open favourites Serena Williams and Lleyton Hewitt survived scares before winning their first round matches yesterday.

Williams's bid to capture the last major title to elude her almost ended at the first hurdle before she fought back to beat unheralded Frenchwoman Emilie Loit 3-6, 7-6, 7-5.

Hewitt, knocked out in the opening round last year when he was suffering from a bout of chickenpox, almost tripped up again when he was pushed all the way by 155th-ranked Swedish qualifier Magnus Larsson before eventually winning 6-3, 3-6, 6-1, 6-7, 6-2.

``It's a little bit of a wake-up call for me but a win is a win,'' the top-seeded Australian said. ``I didn't press the panic button as much as I would have done a couple of years ago.''

Williams was warned for swearing as her frustration boiled over in her torrid encounter with 56th-ranked Loit.

Playing her first match in Melbourne for two years after missing the 2002 tournament with an ankle injury, the world number one clinched the second set tiebreak to stay in the match.

The powerful American then clawed her way back from a break down in the third to book a second-round clash with Belgian Els Callens.

``This match is just a heads-up that everyone wants to beat me and I probably just needed a reminder,'' Williams said.

``I never thought I was going to lose that match; the thought never crossed my mind. I did think 'gosh, this is bad', but I didn't think I was actually going to lose.''

While Williams and Hewitt made shaky starts to their campaigns, two of their biggest rivals showed they were in great touch with powerful displays.

IRRESISTIBLE FORM
Fourth seed Kim Clijsters was in irresistible form in crushing American Samantha Reeves 6-2, 6-1 while last year's men's runner-up Marat Safin showed he was ready to go one better this time with a 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory over Dutchman Raemon Sluiter.

The big Russian showed no ill effects from the shoulder problem that forced him to pull out of last week's Sydney International although he said he was using anti-inflammatory drugs to ease his pain.

He fired 13 aces past Sluiter, including one timed at 209 kph, to win in two and a half hours.

After securing a second round meeting with Spaniard Albert Montanes, Safin said: ``It's okay, the pain is going away.

``It's much better and by the next match I think it will be perfect.''

Clijsters beat Williams in last year's season-ending WTA Championships and has now won 20 of her last 21 matches against all opposition.

The 19-year-old has also won four of the past five tournaments she has entered, including the Sydney International, and has been working out with boyfriend Hewitt to boost her hopes of beating the Williams sisters.

``I've beaten Serena and Venus (Williams) once before but every time I play against them it's a different match,'' Clijsters said.

``I don't know how close I am (to beating them again), it's hard to answer that. I'm just trying to get as fit as I can to be able to compete with the top girls.''

After the shock loss of twice champion Jennifer Capriati on Monday, there were no major casualties on the second day at Melbourne Park.

Twice French Open finalist Alex Corretja was the highest seed at 15 to lose yesterday. He fell to fellow Spaniard Feliciano Lopez 6-7, 7-6, 7-6, 6-3.

Men's sixth seed Roger Federer ousted Flavio Saretta 7-6, 7-5, 6-3, ninth seed Andy Roddick recovered from a set down and a break in the third to beat Zeljko Krajan 6-7, 6-2, 7-6, 6-3 and seventh seed Jiri Novak beat Vince Spadea 6-2, 2-6, 6-2, 7-6.

The women's matches also went mostly according to script with sixth-seed Monica Seles crushing Slovakian teenager Lubomira Kurhajcova 6-0, 6-1 in 45 minutes and eighth seed Russian Anastasia Myskina sweeping past Eva Fislova 7-5, 6-3.

Mugabe slams ‘criminal’ Australians in cricket row
LUSAKA, (Reuters) - Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe lashed out at Australia yesterday over threats to boycott cricket World Cup matches in his country, branding the people of the fellow former British colony as ex-criminals.

Britain and Australia have urged their cricket teams to boycott next month's World Cup matches in Zimbabwe in protest at Mugabe's policies and human rights record.

``Australia has criminal blood. There are criminals who were shipped to that place and settled there. It is not surprising they are speaking like that, that no one should step into Zimbabwe to play cricket,'' Mugabe told reporters during a visit to neighbouring Zambia.

Britain once used parts of Australia as a dumping ground for convicted criminals rather than keeping them in prison at home.

Australia's team are the favourites to win the World Cup, but they have come under pressure from their government to boycott their match in Zimbabwe.

England's cricket chiefs were due to announce later yesterday whether they would play their match in Zimbabwe or comply with Prime Minister Tony Blair's call for a boycott.

``There should be no racism in sport. They should not mix sports and politics. For sport, people come from different backgrounds and so you can't bring in politics,'' Mugabe said.

Mugabe is accused by his opposition at home and abroad of rigging elections last March and of devastating Zimbabwe's economy and causing widespread hunger through his policy of seizing white-owned farms to give to landless blacks.

Hamilton gets sponsorship for three-stage road race
NATIONAL cyclist Tyrone Hamilton will be riding in the annual Independence three-stage road race with sponsorship for the third year from Spads Incorporated.

In a simple ceremony at the company’s New Market and Thomas Streets store, Spads’ Pauline Stevenson handed over the cheque for the funding to Hamilton.

The cyclist placed fourth in his first outing under the sponsorship and moved up to runner-up in the second.

Last year, Hamilton was pipped to the finish line by Dwayne Gibbs in a sizzling final leg finish. Gibbs powered from behind and crossed the line by half a cycle length to win the gruelling leg from Kara Kara, Linden, to Homestretch Avenue. But Hamilton placed fourth overall.

“I intend to improve on my previous performances by winning the race in this fourth year of sponsorship,” Hamilton said yesterday.

Hamilton will be riding under Berkeley and Sta-rite banners, brand name water pumps for which Spads are the agents.

Match will not go ahead -- Allan Lamb
ENGLAND’S World Cup match in Zimbabwe will not take place despite the ECB giving the go-ahead, according to former Test cricketer Allan Lamb.

ECB chief executive Tim Lamb ended months of uncertainty by committing England to the February 13 fixture in the face of government calls for a boycott

But his unrelated namesake told BBC Radio Five Live civil unrest in the country could see the match moved, probably to South Africa.

"I don't think the game is going to go ahead because I think the rioting is going to get even worse," South Africa-born Lamb said.

"By the time the World Cup starts I think there are going to be serious problems.

"There are riots in Harare and people in rural areas are dying because of no food and water."

England players are expected to accept the ECB's decision when they meet in Adelaide today.

MORAL ISSUES
But Lamb feels there are serious moral issues to consider - and said he would boycott the match if still an England player.

"If you don't support the government you don't get any food and I find that very sad.

"To go into a country where the people are being treated like that, I don't think I would go.

"I look at it as a moral issue."

But Lamb, who played in the 1983 and 1987 World Cups, said it was the government, not players, who should make decisions on moral grounds.

"The World Cup is massive for them," he said.

"If I was in their situation at the beginning or middle of my career I probably wouldn't say anything and go along with the ECB.

"But the ECB has been pushed into a corner by the government and if they are against Mugabe they shouldn't allow the team to go.

"I think the government's really sitting on the fence." (BBC Sport).

Dejected Indians in 10-day break ahead of Cup campaign
NEW DELHI, India (Reuters) - India's weary cricketers will earn a break at home from the game at the end of a disastrous New Zealand tour before they set off for next month's World Cup in southern Africa, a senior cricket official said yesterday.

The team is expected to return home on Friday after their final World Cup build-up ended in utter disappointment.

Their much-touted batting failed yet again as India ended their New Zealand tour with a six-wicket defeat in the final one-day game yesterday to concede the series 5-2, having lost both the preceding Tests inside three days.

``They will be rested for about 10 days till they leave by month end. There will be no (training) camp,'' Indian board secretary Karunakaran Nair said.

Repeated batting failures on seam-friendly pitches in New Zealand, after a 4-3 defeat at home in a seven-match one-day series against West Indies, have raised concerns about the team's prospects in the February 9 to March 23 event.

Indian cricketers have played non-stop in the last year, their schedule including home and away Test series against West Indies and England, a home series against Zimbabwe as well as the Champions Trophy tournament where they finished joint winners.

Sourav Ganguly's beleaguered side can hope to acclimatise to more pace-friendly pitches during their fortnight-long stay in South Africa before starting their World Cup campaign on February 12, with their opening pool A game against outsiders the Netherlands.