Police find arms, ammo in car trunk
--- driver, female passenger in custody
VIGILANT police ranks Tuesday evening uncovered a suitcase filled with arms and ammunition in the trunk of a car they intercepted at Brutus Street, Agricola, East Bank Demerara.

They also arrested the driver of the car, a 37-year-old man who reportedly hails from D'Urban Street, Lodge, and a 30-year female passenger, said to be from Charlotte Street, Georgetown.

Police say the woman, who along with the man remained in custody yesterday, "is reportedly the sister of one of the outstanding fugitives from justice."

The arms and ammunition found in the suitcase in the car trunk are:

* One Chinese-made SKS AK-47 rifle

* One MK90 rifle with 2 magazines containing 40 rounds of 7.62 ammunition

* One Winchester model 94 AE with telescopic sights

* One sniper rifle

* One Winchester rifle with 140 rounds ammunition

* 158 rounds of 9mm ammunition

* 37 5.56 rounds

* One laser scope for a firearm

Investigations are continuing.

Meanwhile, a 22-year-old female of Delph Street, Campbellville, was nabbed at Cheddi Jagan International Airport around 4.15 yesterday morning following the discovery of 14 packets containing 15 kilograms, 272 grams of cocaine in a suitcase. .

Police say thewoman was an outgoing passenger on a BWIA flight en route to Miami, Florida.

The woman's arrest comes on the heels of a similar fate befalling a British citizen, also an outgoing passenger on a BWIA flight for London.

The man was nabbed Tuesday allegedly with three condoms containing 25 grams of cocaine and 5 grams of marijuana in a suitcase.

EC head: Dialogue can help solve Guyana's problems
... urges country to remain active in trade negotiations
After five years in Guyana and Suriname, the Head of the Delegation of the European Commission to Guyana, Suriname, Aruba, Trinidad and Tobago and the Netherlands Antilles, Mr. Vincent DeVisscher, has left Guyana to take up a post in the EC headquarters in Belgium.

The outgoing Head of Delegation, who was instrumental in enlarging the Delegation's responsibilities, says that it has been hard work, but after spending five years in the region he came to understand "the Caribbean way of doing things."

One of the most significant events of Mr. DeVisscher's tenure in Guyana was the European Commission's support for the electoral process in Guyana.

But there were also some frustrating times. In particular, he cited "the slow pace of the dialogue process and the recent security problems in Guyana."

This caused virtually everything to be put on hold and several projects were delayed. However, he noted that there has been some improvement within the last few months and hopes that this trend will continue. He expressed the view that only Guyanese can solve the problems of Guyana "and this through dialogue." He also said that Guyana has to realize that the world will not wait for it to advance. There are trade challenges and Guyana needs to remain active in trade negotiations. To do this, he says, the country needs to maintain a network of friends and recognize that the future of the region is further integration and better trade relations.

While in Guyana, the task of enlarging the Delegation to cover the 5 countries it does today, has been a hard task. Today it is better staffed than it was when the process started. "I am pleased that it has all come together, very pleased and proud to leave a Delegation standing on its own feet."

Mr. DeVisscher said that he was impressed with the hospitality of the Guyanese people; he was impressed with the openness that exists between the Government and the private sector, and the fact that he never felt unsafe or insecure. Mr. DeVisscher said that his only regret was that he was never able to visit the interior of Guyana, since it seemed as if the Delegation was always reorganizing. He noted that he could never really leave Guyana and felt as if part of his soul would always remain here.

After 27 years in service outside of his home country, Mr. DeVisscher returns to Brussels, where he is to take up a position in the Commission's headquarters. (Ajay Baksh)

Hospital staff sent on leave over patient's death
GINA - TWO staff members of the Georgetown Public Hospital fingered in the death of a young patient have been sent on leave pending the outcome of investigations launched into the circumstances surrounding the death of the woman.

Ordered off the job with immediate effect are a Registered Nurse and a Patient Care Assistant.

Emotion-laden relatives have accused the two staffers of negligence in the death Monday evening of 22-year-old Somatie Singh while a patient of the Maternity Ward of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation.

A release from the GPHC says relatives (husband and father-in-law) of the diseased woman met Tuesday with the Director of the hospital's Medical and Professional Services, Dr. Madan Rambarran, and attended a post mortem on Singh's body yesterday.

The post mortem confirmed that the deceased was suffering from a

pulmonary hypertension. Dr. Rambarran had previously indicated that such a condition was not curable except by a heart and lung transplant.

Meanwhile, her premature baby, who weighs approximately 1 1/2 kg, remains

under intensive care.

Dr. Rambarran extended, on behalf of the GPHC, sincerest condolences to

the family of the deceased.

Guyanese students top C'bean CXC
TWO Guyanese students who recently wrote the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) have topped the list of exam writers across the Caribbean. And they have been accordingly recognized.

Queen's College student, Daniel Ram, is the most outstanding student in the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) May/June 2003 examinations.

School of the Nations student Gina Selina Arjoon won the award for the Most Outstanding Performance in Business Education.

An excited Daniel attributed his success to God, hard work, sleepless nights, supportive family, teachers, principal, church and friends.

Born August 21, 1986, Daniel said he was overjoyed when he heard the news. "All the hard work paid off."

Daniel is a worship leader at his church, Lusignan Baptist, where he plays the piano, keyboard and drums. He is learning to play the guitar.

He plans to attend QC Sixth Form 'A' level cape and further his academic studies. His goal in life: to find cures for diseases.

His father Dr. Chatterpaul Singh Ram is a dentist and his mother Ruth Ram is a medical doctor.

Dr. Chatterpaul said his mother inculcated in him the habit of reading from an early age. He said they are elated at the news and are grateful to the many persons that made it possible. Daniel is a lover of cricket, volleyball and chess.

A beaming Gina Arjoon accredits her success to her teacher, Sir Dexter Philips, who made learning fun and encouraged her to develop a love for the subject. Another plus was that her parents are all business personalities. Her Dad, Maurice Arjoon, is attached to New Building Society and her Mom, Janick Arjoon, is a consultant.

The quiet-spoken youth, born January 22, 1987, said her parents and teachers are thrilled but that she has not yet grasped the full measure of the news.

She is currently pursuing her degree in Economics at the University of Guyana and is working toward a scholarship in Canada and a PhD in Economics.

Gina's ultimate goal is to make a difference in people's lives.

The announcement was made by Dr Lucy Steward, Registrar of the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC), at a press conference yesterday at CXC headquarters in Barbados.

Two hundred and six candidates satisfied the criteria for the Most Outstanding Candidate overall, which is eight (8) Grade One's. These candidates came from Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago.

Mr Ram also copped the awards for the Most Outstanding Candidate in the Humanities and the Most Outstanding Candidate in the Sciences with four and five Grade I's in the Humanities and Sciences, respectively.

Acting President to C'bean workshop participants...
Pursue sustainable development goals
At the opening ceremony of a regional workshop on Innovative/Alternative Financing for Sustainable Development, hosted by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Acting President Samuel Hinds told participants that while development is inevitable, the environment must not be sacrificed and financing should flow towards the improvement of people's livelihood.

Participants are drawn from Guyana and the Caribbean region.

The Acting President noted that while half of the world's people have achieved development, the other half is still to reach that stage.

Further, the task is now to find mechanisms for economic sustainability and simultaneously protect the environment.

He noted that the global community needs to ensure that financial resources can be mobilized for equitable development of the entire lobal village.

Further, sustainable development should be viewed as a global challenge, for while unpayable debt burden creates an unfavorable climate for development in emerging societies, the developed world creates an ecological debt.

He noted that as development occurs, the impact of the environment will rise. Thus, there is need for the developed countries to seek more sustainable living standards and the developing countries to practice environment-friendly sustainable development.

Mr. Hinds said Guyana has made and will continue to make significant contributions to the debate on sustainable development.

He said it is not realistic to ask developing countries to opt for an alternative energy source that is more costly than petroleum.

And so, he urged participants to come up with an alternative energy arrangement that makes prices more competitive, relative to petroleum.

Other speakers included UNDP representatives from Guyana and other Regional offices.

Among those attending yesterday's session were members of the diplomatic corps, Government officials and members of the UNDP.

Farmers urged to grow for international market
GINA -- FARMERS in Wakenaam and Leguan, Region Three (West Demerara/West Demerara), have been encouraged to diversify and cultivate non-traditional crops to meet international market demands.

The timely advice was given by Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries Other Crops and Livestock Mr. Satyadeow Sawh, when he met recently with the farmers of the two islands on a number of issues pertaining to the rice industry.

He urged the farmers to rise to the challenge as opportunities exist in the sector, and too seize opportunities so that they can further enhance their lives and propel the sector forward.

Minister Sawh noted that Government is working to ensure that farmers receive the necessary support and infrastructure to guarantee the success of the agricultural sector, which he described as the backbone of the country.

He cautioned the rice farmers to be wary of millers and buyers who are out to exploit them by way of shortchanging.

The Minister reminded that the Government is aggressively pursuing international markets for rice, while farmers have to ensure that the rice produced is of good quality.

Accompanying the Minister to assess the needs during this harvesting period as well as help prepare the farmers for the upcoming crop were General-Secretary of the Rice Producers' Association (RPA) Mr. Dharamkumar Seeraj; Marketing Manager of the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) Mr. Nigel Dharamlall; Mr. Chaitram Kissoon of the National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI), and Ms. Michelle Washington of New Guyana Marketing Corporation (NGMC).

Mr. Seeraj told the farmers that the RPA has been working to ensure that proper standards are met in the sector so that Guyana can export high quality products to international markets.

He noted that the GRDB, along with the Guyana National Bureau of Standards and the RPA has embarked on a campaign to ensure that scales used are accurate,. Resulting from the campaign two mills have been closed because of inaccurate scales.

Seeraj disclosed that for the year 52,000 tonnes of paddy have already been exported and the demand on the market has also increased, out-weighing the supply.

However, the price of paddy has not increased and farmers are still paid next-to-nothing for their produce.

He urged farmers to ensure that they receive documents from millers stating the grade of their paddy, the agreed price and the number of bags, so that they are not robbed in the process.

Seeraj said also that the RPA is negotiating with companies for the lowering of the price for fertilizers.

The GRDB, according to Mr. Dharamlall, is working to build partnerships to move the industry forward, noting that the demand for rice on the international market is great and Jamaica recently signed a contract for 18,000 tonnes and is seeking an additional 10,000.

Meanwhile residents posed questions relating to drainage and irrigation on the two islands in particular the kokers which are not functioning properly.

And in an effort to effect some relief, Minister Sawh mandated the island's Drainage and Irrigation Department to ensure that work is done to correct remove this problem.

In relation to the prices received for paddy, the RPA said it is working to negotiate a reasonable price for farmers who pointed out that the transportation of paddy to locations such as Georgetown is very expensive and uneconomical.

SSRP hands over St. John's School
Senior officials of the Ministry of Education, Georgetown and Region Three, look on as Local and Regional Development Minister Harripersaud Nokta, left, and Social Services Minister Bibi Shadick, right, assist a pupil in cutting the ceremonial ribbon to formally open St. John's Community High School at Edingburg, Anna Catherina, West Coast Demerara.

The school, rehabilitated by VICAB Consultants at a cost of $18.9 million, was handed over Tuesday to headmistress Ms. Seokumarie Gobin at a ceremony in the school compound.

Begun October last year, work on the school entailed the construction of a new roof and flooring, a sick bay, a computer room and a staff room.

It was pointed out that the rehabilitation works was completed in ten months, and that for 11 months teachers and staff occupied venues in Den Amstel.

Noting that over 800 schools countrywide had either been built, rehabilitated or refurbished, Minister Nokta disclosed that he will be attending another school-handing-over ceremony at Leguan on Monday.

Director of the Education Ministry's Secondary Schools Reform Project (SSRP), Dr. Kenneth Hunte, presented a plant to the headmistress of the school, "so that the school may start a garden."

St. John's students graced the handing-over ceremony with cultural presentations.

Others at the ceremony were Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mr. Ganga Persaud; Regional Education Officer, Ms. Doodmattie Singh; Assistant Chief Education Officer (ACEO) Ms. Donna Chapman and Regional Chairman of Region Three, Mr. Esau Dookie.

Red Cross, NBTS blood donation clinic
GINA - The Guyana Red Cross, in collaboration with the National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS), will conduct a blood donation clinic on October 1, 2003, from 09:00 hours to 15:00 hours.

The clinic will be held at the Guyana Red Cross headquarters in

Kingston. The public is invited.

A press release from the Red Cross says the clinic is part of the institution's continuing efforts to promote First Aid and Safety.

Woman charged after thwarted attempt to mail cocaine
THE woman implicated in the thwarted attempt to mail cocaine, Rodetta Orethie Wallace, of Lot 87 Third Street, Industry, East Coast Demerara, appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Juliet Holder-Allen yesterday.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to drug trafficking but was remanded to prison until tomorrow, September 26.

Particulars of the offence said the ‘Exclusive Styles’ boutique salesgirl tried to post 2.5 ounces of the drug to Manila in the Philippines on September 22.

Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) Prosecutor Oswald Massiah said Wallace went to the General Post Office (GPO) about 8 o’clock that morning and presented a yellow envelope, containing two books and two postcards, for express mailing.

Massiah said that a Customs Officer on duty received the package but observed that a whitish substance was in one envelope and closer inspection confirmed his suspicion.

Teen accused of attempting to murder taxi driver
A SIXTEEN-YEAR-OLD has been charged in connection with one of the recent attacks on taxi drivers in Georgetown.

The teenager, Dennis Harris, of Lot 141 D’Anrade Street, is accused of attempting to murder Michael Hinckson, 28.

Harris appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Juliet Holder-Allen yesterday to face the indictable charge and was remanded to prison until October 15, when he will make his next appearance in another Court.

Police said Harris hired Hinckson last August 9 to take him from Republic Street to a playground in Bel Air but, after that destination was not found, the passenger requested another, in Bel Air Park.

However when the car stopped and the driver turned to tell his passenger what was the fare was, a knife and an ice pick were pointed to his face.

Hinckson was wounded on his neck as he fled from his attacker who was apprehended in Duncan Street, another part of the city, by personnel from Professional Guard Service (PGS).

Caricom Rice Mills Ltd sues Didco Trading for $19.5M
CARICOM Rice Mills Limited is suing Didco Trading Company Limited for $19,554,526, which sum represents monies for broken rice supplied to Didco.

A writ to the effect was filed in the Supreme Court Registry yesterday by the Caricom Rice Mills. The writ calls upon the Court to compel Didco Trading Company to honour its obligation.

The hearing is fixed for October 6, 2003.

According to the plaintiff, as contained in the writ of summons, on July 4, 2003, the defendant agreed to purchase and the plaintiff agreed to supply to the defendant 500 metric tonnes of cargo broken rice at $10.50 per lb.

The defendant agreed to make payment therefor to the plaintiff within 30 days of delivery.

The defendant, it is said, subsequently orally agreed to purchase an additional 344.75 metric tonnes of cargo broken rice from the plaintiff at the aforesaid price of $10.50 per pound on condition that payment was to be made 60 days after delivery.

In keeping with the agreement, the plaintiff delivered the cargo broken rice to the defendant in Georgetown, on July 14, 2003.

Now, according to the statement of claim by the plaintiff, the defendant is indebted to the plaintiff in the sum of $19,554,526 being an amount due owing and payable to the plaintiff by the defendant.

The claim went on to state, that the plaintiff had made several demands on the defendant for the payment of the sum to date, but the defendant had failed, refused or neglected to pay.

The law firm of Boston and Boston issued the writ. (George Barclay)

Court hears of motorcycle robbery at gunpoint
ACTING Chief Magistrate Juliet Holder-Allen yesterday refused bail to Timothy Yaw who faced a robbery under arms charge.

The defendant, 20, of Lot 66 James Street, pleaded not guilty to robbing Krishna Ramgobin of a $120,000 motorcycle while armed with a gun.

Police Inspector Gordon Peters, prosecuting, said the motorbike belongs to Deodat Rajput but the virtual complainant was riding it along Barr Street, also in Albouystown, Georgetown, when it was taken from him at gunpoint.

The case has been transferred to another Court for tomorrow, September 26, until then, Yaw has been remanded to prison.

We can build a more cooperative, caring society
I think there is an important and useful suggestion in the Chronicle editorial [4/8/03] titled, "The benefit of the doubt."

According to the editorial, among other things, it says "The police should also intensify its building of a partnership among parents, teachers, community, youth and non-governmental organizations to enhance its credibility and, consequently, to prevent individuals from being victims and perpetrators of crime."

The editorial goes on to suggest some of the means through which the building of this partnership can be done, and I feel that the non-governmental organizations, parents and teachers themselves and others can help to initiate these positive and useful contacts themselves besides supporting the efforts of the Police.

Together we can build a more cooperative and caring society to protect and safeguard our mutual interests and concerns.
Yours faithfully,
Marilyn Moore

Clueless about broadcasting in Guyana
With reference to a letter written by Mr. Emamudeen of the USA titled, 'Is he arguing for censorship?' published in Stabroek News of July 31, 2003, I wish to comment.

In his letter he stated that there is a deliberate attempt by the Head of the Government Information Agency (GINA) to suppress freedom of speech.

However, the argument put forward by the Head of GINA was not whether freedom is vital and guaranteed by our Constitution, rather the discussion was whether that freedom of expression infringes on the rights of others.

In every system of Government, democracy or socialism, there are limitations to personal rights of individuals.

However, in a democratic society, such as Guyana, where freedom of expression threatens the freedom of others, then Government is obligated to intervene to pursue corrective actions.

Debate on ethnicity is 'healthy' as the writer claims. However, there is a vast difference between 'healthy' and 'racist' debates/comments on the airwaves. Comments, such as, 'one ethnic group should rise up against another because of the perception of oppression', is definitely not considered as 'healthy'. I am sure that Mr. Emamudeen of the USA would agree with my 'healthy' comments.

I agree with him that 'The responsibility of a journalist is to seek the truth...'. However in Guyana's context 'disdainful or outrageous' stories range from blatant racist and libelous comments about Government officials to slanderous remarks against unsuspecting private persons.

Another section of his letter which stated that 'Setting up parameters for the operations of newsrooms to protect people from ugliness of the truth and the wicked distortion of facts...' is a blatant misrepresentation of what freedom of speech in Guyana entails.

'Protection from the ugliness' if it implies the spewing of racial and slanderous comments is the genesis for the creation of a Broadcasting Authority. The idea to create broadcasting regulators arose from discussions between the ruling PPPC and the PNCR. So, it is hardly a case of dictatorial rule by the Government.

Further, comments such as, 'In a democratic society the views of the minority whether we agree or disagree with such views" just help to show that Mr. Emamudeen indeed resides outside the confines of Guyana and is totally unaware of broadcasting in Guyana. In fact, I am convinced that he is clueless as to Guyana's broadcasting situation.
Elizabeth Reid

Workers' rights must not be excluded from trade agreements
THE shift of the trade union movement toward a more open and integrated world economy is most certainly going to require unity among workers, and I strongly suspect that future calls will not be effective if workers' unity is allowed to stop at the frontiers of the nation's state.

When massive amounts of good and increasingly service cross borders and the denial of internationally recognized workers' rights such as the rights to organize, to bargain collectively and, if necessary, to withhold one's labour without fear of being replaced, becomes not an 'internal affair' protected by a nation's sovereignty but a matter of concern to the international community.

As such, trading agreements in future must incorporate a social dimension, protection for workers who are forced to "adjust". And these will have to be negotiated with the full participation of the elected representatives of the workers - their union's leaders.

Trade treaties which have been negotiated up to this point in time have not taken into consideration the concerns of labour. A completed treaty between Venezuela and the CARICOM nations did not address workers' concerns.

In fact, the Caribbean Congress of Labor was forced to complain that it and its affiliates had not even been consulted prior to the treaty's ratification. Obviously, labour's views were not taken into consideration.

The lack of respect for the working population of the Caribbean was duplicated in the United States. The regional trade union movement, from the very beginning of negotiations on the free Trade (FTAA) and CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), was briefed on negotiations. But briefings are far different than consultations.

In any event, Caribbean labour's interests were not taken into consideration during the negotiations, and certainly were not addressed in the side agreements. I may speak frankly without fear of any questionable motives on my part. Working people, of course, were the only ones. The planes, trains and bridges - and all the protection for citrus, peanuts sugar and wheat - there was not one word about the rights of workers on both sides of the border to obtain decent salaries/wages and safe working conditions or to defend themselves from gross exploitation.

Our fight to keep and improve those standards here and around the world will not be slowed by this defeat. Instead, we take heart from the extraordinary steadfastness showed by the working people of the Caribbean and their allies in the face of a vigorous assault by the nation's most powerful and financial interests and their friends in high places. As a result, the process of trade negotiations was moved from corporate backrooms into the living rooms of average citizens. The regional trade union movement will continue to be in forefront of the struggle to ensure trade between nations.

The regional trade union movement has supported the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). Oh, yes! We want workers' rights to be an integral part of this worldwide treaty. Unfortunately, we cannot generate much enthusiasm among many Governments of the World of Clauses to protect workers' rights. But we're going to keep trying because our goal is a noble one and is consistent with the trade union principles, which have guided us for 300 years.

The sad fact is that many countries are willing to sacrifice the rights of their workers, as well as their standards, in order to attract capital. It's perhaps desirable that unreasonable and ideologically motivated opposition to foreign capital is being overcome as long as that capital does not exploit workers. But without workers' rights clauses in trade legislation, without union participation in the negotiation of trade treaties, such exploitation is likely to be the end result of bad treaties.

Now the workers of the Caribbean area may point with pride to the strong union structures which they have developed and reasonably ask why anyone would harangue them about workers' rights and sovereignty as these influence foreign trade. But pride in one's own system of workers' rights and protection may overnight become ill-founded when one looks at the status of these rights and protection in other countries around the world.

The mobility of international capital today - that which comes to the Caribbean today and which may leave tomorrow - is bound to affect not only economic development policy but also labour laws and practices.

When the economic systems of a country identify poorly paid or cheap labour as a comparative advantage, exploitation is the most probable result. Not many workers in the Caribbean would appreciate being told that their countries' advantage in trade affairs is minimal. Worse yet, if it true, that the policy of the country must be to hold down salaries/wages and benefits for workers in order to keep the capital it has already attracted, in order to attract more.

The result of such short-sighted policies is to put workers against workers, on a world-wide scale, until the salaries/wages paid to labour fall to that of the lowest common denominator. The ILO principles enunciated as far back as 1948 in Philadelphia, that the services of men are more than commodities to be bought and sold, will have been forgotten, sacrificed on the altar of the almighty dollars.
Sherwood Clarke

Housing a far cry from the past
The process for the allocation of house lots, given the long period of neglect under the former administration, is moving at a commendable pace. This is a far cry from the massive squatting and many logistical problems that in the past prevented many low-income earners from owning their own homes.

The government took head on the Herculean task of providing basic infrastructure for newly-established housing schemes over the last ten years.

The government has been remarkably successful in its endeavours and even some opposition spokespersons have felt themselves constrained to admit this, especially as so much of it is so visible.

Some complaints inevitably arose from disappointed or disgruntled applicants, very few when you consider the very large numbers, and just as inevitably these were pounced upon by the opposition, which had closed down the Housing Ministry during its tenure, for its anti-government propaganda mills.

Nevertheless, as one Opposition politician publicly said, "You have to give Jack his jacket, you can't deny him that." Of course, a lot remains to be done. The PPP/Civic manifesto and the Government's mandate continue to be fulfilled with transparency and accountability.
Yours faithfully,
Randy Williams

Double dose of in-justice
Last October 24th my husband's life was almost snuffed out by the murderous road rage of a drunken hit and run driver on the Soesdyke Public Road. The driver was never arrested until weeks later. Unknowingly, he was passed through the court. He pleaded guilty and made to pay a $50,000 fine. Today he is a free man on the streets, free to murder someone on the roads of Guyana.

As for my husband, he is home unable to work. He has a broken arm that is of no use to him at present and a broken leg still not properly healed. So far, we have not received any compensation from the driver nor from the owner of the vehicle.

Secondly, and more recently, the murder of my only son Kumar Sarjon aka Buddy who was just 22 years: On June 26th 2003 he was hit on the back of the head with a cricket bat and died the following day at Woodlands Hospital. A postmortem on 30th June revealed he died as a result of hemorrhage of the brain and a fractured skull.

At present my son's murderer is a free man out on $175,000.00 bail while my son is lost forever. The magistrate and the prosecutor did not say a word to us during the first calling of the case. We rather suspect something funny happened, including statements by eyewitnesses being altered.

In this country it seems if you have money you can get away with anything, including murder.
CHAMPA SEONARAINE

There is no gender to Allah in the view of Islam
As to the many letters trying to justify the feminine gender of God, I would like to express the views of Islam on this matter since some seem to blame Islam for having a patriarchal position on Allah, although Allah-God is strictly without gender inclination or affiliation.

It is interesting to notice that Allah is the personal name of God in Aramaic, the language of Jesus and a sister language of Arabic. There is no gender to Allah - we can't say Allah the Goddess. "There is no God but He the Living, the Everlasting." He isn't a woman to beget children nor a man to father them. "...who has not begotten." While He is the God of all peoples and genders, He isn't the resemblance of any, lest He discriminates in form-"and equal to Him is not anyone."

Arabic, like Semitic and European languages, genderises all things, both animate and inanimate, into masculine or feminine. Hence school or Madressa being feminine in Arabic and Masjid being masculine does not imply gender discrimination- a far too overboard notion of feminist militants. So too God in Arabic- ilah has to have a linguistic category of feminine or masculine and the oral tradition of Semitic languages has categorized the definite noun ilah , Allah as masculine. Not that He is male but grammatically He is referred to as Him and not her.

Some would opine that the Creative and simultaneously the Stern qualities of Allah only deserves that He is referred to as Huwa- He. Manhood in its most apparent of meanings is: A person's characterizing himself with that which men are customarily described with, such as carrying heavy loads and taking on heavy burdens. From the clearest examples of this is the undertaking of the burden of the Message on the part of the noble messengers, of whom Allah said: "And We did not send before you except men whom We revealed (the Message) to." Allah sent Messengers with this burden of His message so He himself had to be able to bear burdens.

God is perfect in Islam. He isn't only Powerful but among His 99 famous All-Perfect attributes are compassion, affection, nurturing, etc. He is more kind to His servants than a mother: one hundred times more according to some Hadith. But this is the nature of a rounded comprehensive being who is to be worshipped and obeyed by the vagaries of obedient and disobedient servants; male and female devotees and black and white clients. He is indeed love. "He is the All-Merciful, the All-Compassionate." Without changing into a gender war He has displayed qualities that Mothers would normally display and more. He is Allah.

Just as He refers to Himself occasionally in Quranic and Biblical references as Nahnu- royal plural- or We but He isn't misconstrued to be polytheistic similarly His masculine pronoun is never believed to be referring to a goddess. Allah is simply God the deity and not mother a Goddess.

Muslims are keen against adulterating their fundamental belief of the Oneness of Allah. No suffix to God-No Gods, Goddess, Godfather; nor prefix like raingod, semigod.

Praying for the guidance of all, as we search for the True Path in understanding who is our Maker.
Yours faithfully,
Ml HABEEB

Venue Summit 1 attracts great participation
KINGSTON, Jamaica, (ICC CWC 2007: Close to 150 participants from a dozen countries will take part in Venue Summit 1 hosted by the ICC Cricket World Cup West Indies 2007 at the Sandals Grande Resort in St Lucia from September 26 to 27.

VS 1 has been scheduled ahead of the Host Venue Selection Tender that will be opened later this year and will inform prospective host countries on how to become an ICC CWC 2007 venue.

“This event has steadily grown and this is exciting as it demonstrates the high level of interest in countries getting the latest and the most official information directly from the organising committee,” remarked Don Lockerbie, the venue development director for the ICC CWC 2007.

Lockerbie added: “The original idea for VS 1 was to gather several leaders from each West Indies Cricket Board territory to give an update regarding the Venue Assessment Team and the process for selection of ICC CWC West Indies 2007 venues starting later this year.”

“With three days to go, ICC CWC West Indies 2007 is expecting 140 participants to attend VS 1. Within the WICB member countries alone, 85 delegates from nine countries are attending.”

Antigua & Barbuda heads the list with 14 participants, Trinidad & Tobago will send one less, Barbados’ delegation will number 11, and host country St Lucia will provide 10.

Other WICB member countries represented are Grenada, whose Prime Minister Keith Mitchell will spearhead their six-member delegation, Guyana, Jamaica, St Vincent & the Grenadines and St Kitts/Nevis.

An additional 23 delegates are from countries such as the United States, including nine from the Florida-based Broward-Lauderhill Host Committee that is headed by Mayor of Lauderhill, Richard Kaplan; Bermuda and Cayman Islands are also attending, Lockerbie noted.

VS1 opens tomorrow night with a cocktail reception and dinner at the Sandals Grande Resort, where legendary West Indies fast bowler Ambassador Courtney Walsh will be the keynote speaker.

Lockerbie, Chris Dehring, managing director of the ICC CWC West Indies 2007, and Rawle Brancker, chairman of the ICC CWC West Indies 2007, will also speak.

On Saturday’s packed agenda, the day will be broken into two sessions, each with four 45-minute presentations by various resource personnel. The day concludes with a farewell cocktail reception and dinner at the Beausejour Stadium.

“The farewell cocktail reception and dinner will be special and a positive way to show delegates how flexible a stadium can be - from hosting Test matches to special events,” Lockerbie said. “This, they will not want to miss!”

Confident bodybuilders head for CAC championships
By Leeron Brumell
GUYANA’S four bodybuilders left for the 2003 Central American and Caribbean (CAC) championships in the Bahamas, yesterday, full of confidence of medalling.

The athletes for the September 24-28 event are defending bantamweight champion Sylvon Gardner, finalist Paul Nichols, Olwayn Lynch and Mike Morris.

The short and modest Gardner did not want to predict what the competition would be, but said he was aiming high.

Training under national coach Forbes Mitchell at the Power Plant gym in Campbellville, Gardner weighed in at 142 pounds - the ideal weight for his category. He is entering this year’s competition with more muscle mass and he feels comfortable with it.

Referred to as the ‘Pocket Hercules’ of bodybuilding, Gardner contended that the team training together was the best way for Guyana to move forward.

“The training is good, we worked well together and this togetherness is what CAC is all about,” Gardner told Chronicle Sport.

Nichols, second last year in the lightweight category is required to be below 154 lb. He left Guyana half-pound over the limit. He hopes to shed that weight during travel, which gives him the edge.

The silver medallist has his sights set on the gold medal, this time round. On the local scene, Nichols is said to have the best back, which is one of his strongest attributes.

Nichols referred to bodybuilding saying: “Once you have a strong area, you ‘cruel’ it (push it to the max).”

“And that’s what I have been doing over the past year. I also worked extensively on my calves, which I felt were the weakest parts of my body, but now I’m good,” Nichols said.

Nichols was thankful that Lynch and Morris were able to adapt to the training regime within the space of six weeks, under Mitchell, and he is confident that they will do their best when the time arrives.

The team ensured that Nichols, of fair complexion, got a tan so that his full features can be shown under the bright lights.

Morris is relatively new to the sport at age 30. He will join Gardner in the bantamweight division, but he is also required to make the 143 lb limit. He weighed in at 144.5 lb Tuesday evening.

But Morris said he was feeling good ahead of the competition, going in the CAC with a Mr Physique title. He also placed second in another contest in St Maarten.

Morris said training under Mitchell was “slightly” more difficult than he was accustomed to under his coaches at the Fitness Paradise gym, but was looking forward to doing his best under the Golden Arrowhead.

Lynch, of the Interline Fitness Gym, on the West Coast of Demerara, is the outspoken one of the group. This is his first international tournament and has to drop from 180 lb to 165 lb for the welterweight division. Standing at 5ft 11 inches, he weighed in at 167.5 lb.

The 27-year-old outboard captain is excited to be on the stage for two reasons. Said he: “First of all it’s a Guyana thing and secondly it’s a great achievement for me because I’ve received tremendous support from my family, friends and team-mates. I’m also feeling confident because the hard part has gone and the bottom line is that my confidence lies with Christ”.

Mitchell appointed as coach after the national championship is optimistic that the athletes will medal. He said that he expected Sylvon to retain his title, Nichols to take the gold because undoubtedly he is in great physical condition. The Power Plant owner said that Paul’s downfall last year was the execution of his poses.

Being in the sport for fifteen years, Mitchell noted that his job with Lynch was to make him comparable with Paul, which would increase his chances of medalling, while Morris’s entire package had to be worked on. He further noted that Morris might be at a disadvantage because he is relatively new to the sport.

Mitchell, himself has never competed but he felt his appointment was based on his past experiences of putting out excellent builders in Frank Cromwell, Nichols, Gardner and Maxine Suffrein.

The broadly built trainer said he regretted Suffrein not making this championship and hoped that she would see it as an incentive to train harder to reach the helm of female bodybuilding.

“I hope she can use this as a yardstick for her future competitions and not let this be a setback in her life,” Mitchell said.

A call was made for more entities to come on board to assist the athletes and future bodybuilders.

Off the stage, President of the Guyana Amateur Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation (GABBFF) Yale Holder, Vice-President Frank Tucker and General Secretary Donald Sinclair will present their plans to host the next year’s championships.

Included in the presentation package are a folder containing a magazine depicting Guyana’s rich heritage, brochures containing maps of Georgetown and significant buildings.

The local executives will also be showing a video on Guyana’s preparation for the championship.

Intermediate amateur boxing to be staged tomorrow
THE National Intermediate amateur boxing championships will be staged at the National Gymnasium for three nights from tomorrow.

Weigh-in is fixed for tomorrow morning at the venue from 09:00 hrs, after which boxers will be required to weigh-in on the morning of the day in which his bout will be staged.

The Guyana Amateur Boxing Association will not allow any boxer to enter the ring barefooted and coaches must be properly dressed, in tracksuits if possible.

Gong-time each night will be 19:00 hrs.

Universal Airlines assists Hamilton to train in New York
NATIONAL cyclist Tyrone Hamilton will fly to New York for training with Team Squiggle and the Metropolitan Cycling Association, with assistance from Universal Airlines.

In a simple ceremony in the airlines Main Street office, Reservations Supervisor Shameeza Khan handed over an air ticket to Hamilton.

The USA cycling organisation invited Hamilton and Dwayne Gibbs to train there, while having a chance to improve their racing skills by competing against others cyclists and in events not available here.

Hamilton and Gibbs will have the opportunity to race in a velodrome while having access to the many training meets in New York.

The road-racing season starts from March through October, while the track season is from May through September.

Hamilton and Gibbs will be provided with accommodation and meals by the hosts.

The invitation was extended through president of the Guyana Cycling Federation Jonathan Creavalle.

Brazil extend lead over France in FIFA rankings
ZURICH, (Reuters) - World Cup holders Brazil have extended their lead over France at the top of the FIFA rankings list, soccer's governing body said yesterday.

Brazil's wins this month over Ecuador and Colombia have enabled them to stretch the lead over their closest European rivals to 26 points, with Spain maintaining third place.

France now lead Spain by 62 points after the European champions beat Slovenia and Cyprus to record seven successive wins in their Euro 2004 qualifying group.

Argentina have moved up two places after beating Venezuela and drawing with Chile and now sit in fourth ahead of Mexico.

England have also moved up two places to sixth after September victories over Macedonia and Liechtenstein.

Netherlands dropped three places to seventh after losing 3-1 to the Czech Republic, who themselves rose three places to joint ninth with Germany after maintaining their unbeaten record in their Euro 2004 qualifying group.

The biggest movers of the month were Bolivia, who rose 20 places to 94th, and Bosnia, who rose 19 places to 58th after Euro 2004 qualifying wins over Norway and Luxembourg.

Carib Beer 40 Overs League…
Dilchand and Newland see Police to semifinals
POLICE have become the final team to reach the semifinals of the 2003 Carib Beer 40 overs league second division cricket competition in Berbice. Led by half-centuries from Bharrat Dilchand and Michael Newland, Police were able to easily defeat Aroaima by 84 runs in their quarterfinal played last Saturday.

In the match played at the Rose Hall Welfare ground in Canje and which was reduced to 35 overs a side, due to the late arrival of the Aroaima team, who began their journey by road via Linden and Georgetown since 02:00 hrs that same morning, Police won the toss and batted first.

They started well, with Bharrat Dilchand and Cylus Gibson putting on 43 for the first wicket in 6 overs before Gibson was run-out for 11.

Zaheer Moahan went shortly after but then Dilchand was joined by Michael Newland and together they put on 99 runs in just 16 overs before Dilchand was caught off Johnny Earl for 71, which included seven fours.

Thirteen runs later Newland fell to Howard Bovell for 53 (5 fours), leaving Police comfortably placed at 166 for 4 in the 27th over. With a further 22 from Rawle Ferreira and 16 from Ron Lyte, Police were able to add further 52 runs in the next 8.2 overs to reach 218 all out in 35 overs. Bowling for Aroaima, Ricky Edoo took 3 for 31, Howard Bovell 2 for 43 and Jason Craig 2 for 48.

When the tired and sleepy Aroaima began their response, they soon found themselves at 46 for 4 in the 12th over, with Newland taking two and Sheldon Crandon and Sherwin Drepaul taking one each. In the next over, Drepaul picked up two more including opening batsman Lambert Wade for 19, to further slump to 57 for 6.

They never recovered from that and even though Howard Bovell made 45 (6 fours and one six), Aroaima eventually folded for 134 in 26.4 overs, with Royston Lawson also contributing 20. Bowling for Police, Sherwin Drepaul took 3 for 45 and Michael Newland 2 for 18.

Police will now meet Young Warriors in the second semifinal on Sunday at the Cumberland ground in Canje.

Skeldon Community Centre have already reached the final of the competition which is scheduled for Sunday October 12, 2003, at the Skeldon ground.

Sean Devers responds to GCB statement
Let us put cricket first
THE Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) issued a press statement in the media yesterday in response to a story I wrote for the Tuesday issue of the Stabroek News with the headline ‘GCB shocker as Chanderpaul gets nod over Sarwan’.

While it is the right of the GCB to take issue with the content of the story, I was very disappointed and hurt that the GCB suggested that I fabricated 'the national selectors recommended Ramnaresh Sarwan as the skipper' even though I mentioned in the story that this information was provided by sources close to the GCB.

By giving the public the impression that I just made up that the selectors recommended Sarwan without anyone from the GCB telling me so tarnishes my credibility as a cricket journalist and cricket commentator and suggests that I am a very dishonest person who has very little respect for ethics.

I think the GCB acted very irresponsible by suggesting that I felt that the GCB has a pro-Chanderpaul or anti-Sarwan lobby within the board.

Although I honestly felt that Sarwan should have been appointed Guyana captain to better prepare him for the job of West Indies Vice-Captain which he now holds, I do not believe that the GCB’s decision to give Chanderpaul the Guyana captaincy has anything to do with the GCB being anti-Sarwan or pro-Chanderpaul.

I was told by two members of the GCB that Sarwan was recommended by the selectors and I told the president of the GCB this without giving names to protect my source of information.

It might have been a case of the GCB members lying to me when they provided me with the information for my story or it could even be that the GCB lied about the matter in their media release. But to say that I made up things that were never told to me by GCB members to support my campaign of Sarwan for captain is very unprofessional of the GCB.

I swear that I was given that information by GCB members and after a long conversation with the president of the GCB yesterday, I think he realises that I did not make up the story. He even suggested that I might have been intentionally misled by the GCB officials so as to cause disunity among the board.

The GCB took offence that I mentioned that Neil McGarrell and Mahendra Nagamootoo, who captained Guyana before, were by-passed for the job.

That is my style of writing. I try to provide as much information as possible and it is a fact that the two players were by-passed. I never said it was wrong that they were by-passed and in fact I would never expect the two to be given the captaincy ahead of Sarwan or Chanderpaul so I don’t understand why the GCB had a problem with me mentioning that the two players were by-passed.

I hope now that Chanderpaul has been appointed he can be allowed to perform the duties of captain without the pressure of having to worry about what people say about his appointment.

While I still think Sarwan should have been appointed, I hope that the two players and all those involved realise that Guyana and West Indies cricket is bigger than the players and administrators, some of whom seem bent on destroying the game because of politics and the hunger for power.

I am satisfied from my discussion with the GCB president yesterday that the GCB has no personal problem with me and have no intentions of restricting what I write about cricket run by that board.

I am presently being paid by the GCB to promote the GCB raffle programme; and it would be very unfair of me to say that because the monthly draw of the raffle which was promised by the GCB and which was never done suggests that the GCB is a dishonest and mischievous board, which wants to swindle the public.

Due the circumstances beyond the control of the GCB the preliminary raffle drawing had to be pushed back to this month-end.

It would have been much easier for the GCB officials to contact me to find out if I was in fact told that the selectors recommended Sarwan instead of running to the press to accuse me of fabricating the story.

So much negative things are affecting our cricket at present and I implore all those who say they truly love the game to put aside their pride and ambition to be the most powerful and put cricket first by working together to help revive the game, especially in Demerara.

Latif quits as Pakistan cricket captain
By Abdul Waheed
KARACHI, Pakistan (Reuters) - Beleaguered Rashid Latif, who ended a five-match ban at the weekend, resigned as captain of the Pakistan team yesterday.

``I have stepped down as captain, the reasons for which I don't want to discuss now,'' Latif told Reuters.

``But I have not retired as a player and I am available for the home series against South Africa (starting next month).

``I have my reasons for deciding against captaining the side, but I am very keen to play as a player against South Africa and thereafter,'' he added.

The 34-year-old Latif, who has played 37 Tests and 161 one-day internationals, decided to step down a day after being warned by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to act more responsibly if he wanted to retain the position.

``The PCB can only confirm that Rashid has resigned. He has given no reason to us for his decision,'' PCB spokesman Samiul Hasan told Reuters.

Latif, whose five-match suspension by the International Cricket Council (ICC) ended when Pakistan completed a 5-0 whitewash of their one-day series against Bangladesh in Karachi on Sunday, has been at odds with the PCB since August.

The Pakistan board let him off with a reprimand after he wrote a letter, which he later released to the public, to the ICC warning of the menaces of match-fixing.

Local media also reported that Latif and chief selector Aamir Sohail had disagreements during the Test series against Bangladesh.

DISPUTED CATCH
Latif was then banned for five one-day internationals by ICC match referee Mike Procter after Bangladesh lodged a complaint about a disputed catch during the third day of the third Test in Multan on September 5.

The PCB's warning to Latif earlier this week came amidst speculation that it might retain Inzamam-ul-Haq as captain for the home series against South Africa.

As stand-in skipper for the banned Latif, Inzamam led Pakistan to a 5-0 clean sweep in the one-day series against Bangladesh.

Latif captained Pakistan for the 1997-98 tours to South Africa and Zimbabwe before temporarily retiring at his prime, saying he was suffering from burnout but amid reports he had made match-fixing allegations against team-mates.

He was recalled after a three-year exile in 2001 and was reappointed captain in place of Waqar Younis after Pakistan failed to qualify for the Super Sixes of the World Cup.

The PCB had announced Latif would continue as captain until the tour to New Zealand in December and January.

However PCB chief Tauqir Zia told reporters in Karachi on Tuesday that Latif had to show more maturity and responsibility, although no decision had been taken on the captaincy.

Pakistan take on South Africa next month in five one-day internationals and two Tests.

Mushtaq ready to make leap from Sussex to Pakistan
By Abdul Waheed
KARACHI, Pakistan (Reuters) - Pakistani leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed called on selectors yesterday to give him a chance to prove his worth against the South Africans in next month's one-day and Test series.

``I know I can make their batsmen think with my spin. But first the selectors have to give me a chance,'' Mushtaq told Reuters.

He has just returned home after an outstanding season with English county champions Sussex, for whom he captured over 100 wickets, earning him the British Professional Cricketers' Association's player-of-the-year title.

Pakistan have not picked Ahmed since his last Test appearance at Auckland against New Zealand in February 2001.

His figures were one for 62 and none for 21 in the match won by Pakistan and dominated by off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq, who took eight wickets.

``I have got my confidence back after playing with Sussex and I am getting plenty of grip and rotation on the ball. I feel good enough to take on the South Africans in the one-dayers or Tests,'' Mushtaq said.

The 33-year-old is the first bowler to take over 100 wickets in an English season since England's Andrew Caddick and West Indian Courtney Walsh achieved the feat in 1998.

Chief selector Aamir Sohail has said that Ahmed would be tried out in a practice match against South Africa.

South Africa play a one-day practice match at Lahore on October 1 before starting their revised programme of five one-day internationals and two back-to-back Test matches.

Mushtaq has taken 183 wickets in 50 Tests and 161 wickets in 143 one-dayers.

PCB’s revised itinerary for SAfrica tour
KARACHI, Pakistan (Reuters) - The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) yesterday announced the revised itinerary for South Africa's tour next month.

The United Cricket Board of South Africa (UCBSA) decided on Tuesday that their team would tour on a revised itinerary after initially cancelling the trip on security grounds last Saturday.

PCB spokesman Samiul Hasan told Reuters that South Africa would play five one-day internationals and two Test matches on the tour, which starts with a practice match in Lahore on October 1.

In the revised itinerary both Karachi, the site of a bomb blast last week, which precipitated the initial tour cancellation, and Peshawar, close to the border of Afghanistan, have been dropped as match venues.

The PCB spokesman said they had not been told the exact date of the tour party's arrival in Lahore.

``But we are expecting them on the 29th (of September),'' he said.

Revised tour itinerary:

Oct. 1: one-day practice match in Lahore.

Oct. 3: 1st one-day international in Lahore.

Oct. 5: 2nd ODI in Lahore.

Oct. 7: 3rd ODI in Faisalabad.

Oct. 10: 4th ODI in Rawalpindi.

Oct. 12: 5th ODI in Rawalpindi.

Oct. 17-21: 1st Test in Lahore.

Oct. 24-28: 2nd Test in Faisalabad.

Johnson claims he’s greatest-ever sprinter
BEN Johnson has claimed he is the world's greatest-ever sprinter despite having lost his 1988 100m Olympic title after failing a drugs test.

Johnson won 100m gold in Seoul in 9.79 seconds but was stripped of his medal for taking steroids.

But on the 15th anniversary of the race, the Canadian said he was better than any of the subsequent Olympic champions.

"Regardless of what I did, I'm still the best sprinter of all-time," Johnson told The Times newspaper.

"Most people loved the entertainment and know the game.

"The sport will never be clean. It's going to be going on until the end of time."

Johnson also insists he could have run even faster in Seoul if he had not "shut down at 94 metres".

Johnson's time was not beaten until American Tim Montgomery ran 9.78 secs in Paris last year, beating Maurice Greene's mark of 9.79secs set in 1999.

Johnson claims that on his Seoul form he would have finished in front of all the following Olympic champions - Britain's Linford Christie in 1992, fellow Canadian Don Bailey in 1996 and American Greene in 2000 as well as Montgomery.

Johnson said that Montgomery's world record was on the allowable windspeed limit of two metres per second compared to his following wind in Seoul of 1.1 metres per second.

He is adamant that today's sprinters run on faster tracks than were available in the 1980s.

He said the only man who could have beaten him was 1964 Olympic champion Bob Hayes, who competed when the sport was still strictly amateur.

Lancashire's hard luck story
By Scott Heinrich
LOOKING on as Sussex celebrate their first-ever championship title, Lancashire must surely view 2003 as the season that got away.

History will show the Old Trafford club as having a good summer, finishing second in the County Championship and winning promotion to the top flight of the National League as Division Two champions.

But no review of the season would be complete without nominating the Red Rose county as the hard luck story of 2003.

In one of the driest summers in memory, Lancashire seemed to take bad weather with them wherever they went.

Sussex will rightly claim that bad luck befalls us all, but this year Lancashire had it by the bucketful.

Lancashire's first four championship matches were rain-affected draws. Twice - against Surrey and Nottinghamshire - their opponents were following on, and on the other two occasions they held big first innings leads.

Their first uninterrupted four-day match did not come along until the last days of May when they beat Kent away by 75 runs, and they quickly followed that up with a crushing victory over Leicestershire.

But Lancashire were again beset by rotten weather in mid-summer, falling one wicket short in the stalemate against Essex and drawing against Warwickshire despite enforcing the follow-on with a 320-run lead.

Warren Hegg's side finished the season with a flourish, and for all of their climatic irritations were just 34 points behind Sussex at summer's end.

Former Lancashire and England all-rounder Ian Austin believes the outcome of the title race could have been very different had Lady Luck shone down on Old Trafford.

"To not win those games when they were in great positions would have been heartbreaking for the lads," Austin told the BBC Sport website.

"You do all the right things in preparation for the match and during the match, only for it to be all washed away, but the weather is one thing you can't allow for.

"If you'd offered Lancashire second in championship and the Division Two title at the start of the season, I think they'd have taken it.

"But you just know that if a couple of those games had been kinder to Lancashire then we would have had a completely different ball game on our hands."

Lancashire's season was defined by a series of scores that were out of this world.

On six occasions they passed 500 - including two mammoth totals of 734 and 781 - and in Stuart Law they boasted the championship's breakaway leading scorer with 1 820 runs.

The Australian was one of four to make more than 1 000 runs, the quartet completed by Mark Chilton and new signings Mal Loye and Carl Hooper.

"Over the years I think we've looked at ourselves and said maybe if there is a weak point then it is our bowling," Austin opined.

"But over the past few years it was the batting that had disappointed, so they deliberately went outside the county to strengthen the batting and it worked.

"Bowlers like Gary Keedy (60 wickets) and Glen Chapple (49 wickets) did a good job, but it's hard to take wickets in the rain."

Lancashire can take heart in the wisdom that there is always next year.

"They've got a good platform now," Austin went on. "Who knows, maybe 2004 could be the one. (BBC Sport)

FA charge six Arsenal and two United players after bust-up
By Trevor Huggins
LONDON, England (Reuters) - Six Arsenal players and two from champions Manchester United have been charged with improper conduct after a bust-up in Sunday's 0-0 draw at Old Trafford, the Football Association (FA) said yesterday.

Arsenal, as a club, have been charged with misconduct, while the individual charges apply to defenders Ashley Cole, Martin Keown and Cameroon's Lauren, German keeper Jens Lehmann, midfielder Ray Parlour and French skipper Patrick Vieira.

Lauren, who has been given two improper conduct charges, also faces a further two charges of violent behaviour, while Keown and Parlour also face one count of violent behaviour each.

United winger Ryan Giggs and Portuguese midfielder Cristiano Ronaldo have also been charged with improper conduct, while team-mate Phil Neville has been warned as to his future conduct.

In addition to the charges, the FA has also written to Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger ``seeking his explanations for comments regarding Ruud Van Nistelrooy''.

The Frenchman had accused the Dutch striker, whose wild challenge on Vieira sparked the trouble, of cheating.

Arsenal's charge arises from the club's failure to ensure the proper behaviour of the league leaders' players.

All parties have 14 days to respond to the charges, the FA said on its website.

United issued a statement almost immediately, saying: ``We have received the details of the charges from the FA and we are currently reviewing them internally with our lawyers, the manager and the players involved.

``Until that review is completed, the club will be making no further comment.''

CLUB'S STANDARDS
A statement from Arsenal's board of directors said Sunday's events were still being reviewed, but acknowledged that the club's standards on and off the pitch had not been met.

``The board is taking this matter seriously and intends to meet in the near future to further discuss the events of last Sunday.

``At this juncture, we do not have the video evidence supplied to the Football Association and are not going to jump to any premature conclusions.

``The club demands high standards both on and off the field and the board believes these were not met last Sunday.

``Arsene Wenger has already addressed the players on this issue.''

The trouble at Old Trafford broke out after a late red card for Vieira.

At the final whistle, Keown leapt into Van Nistelrooy in mock celebration, with United's Dutch striker also being jostled by several other Arsenal players.

The treatment was meted out to Van Nistelrooy, who had just missed a stoppage-time penalty, as his earlier tangle with Vieira had led to the red card, an incident that led to Wenger's subsequent accusation of cheating.

VIEIRA DISMISSAL
Vieira and Van Nistelrooy also had a heated exchange in the players' tunnel after the match, according to French newspaper L'Equipe.

The FA said Vieira's charge arose ``for failing to leave the field of play following his sending-off, and for instead seeking to confront Van Nistelrooy and engaging in a verbal exchange with fourth official Neale Barry.''

Vieira, who collected his ninth and Arsenal's 52nd red card under Wenger, said at the time he believed he had been wrongly dismissed and that his club would be appealing against the referee Steve Bennett's decision.

The FA's new chief executive Mark Palios said on Tuesday that discipline was now a top priority for the game's ruling body in England and that prompt action on cases was also needed.

The FA reached yesterday's decisions after studying Bennett's match report and video footage of the game.

The two clubs, who have dominated the English game in recent years, have a history of stormy encounters.

Arsenal had two points deducted and United one point after a brawl involving players in another game between the two arch-rivals in the 1990-91 season.

Arsenal poised for hammer blow after FA charges
By Trevor Huggins
LONDON, England (Reuters) - Arsenal's season looks set to receive a hammer blow after six of their players were charged with improper conduct yesterday, following their bad-tempered 0-0 draw at Manchester United.

The Football Association has come down hard on keeper Jens Lehmann, Lauren, Martin Keown, Ashley Cole, skipper Patrick Vieira and Ray Parlour after Sunday's ugly scenes of United players, mainly Ruud Van Nistelrooy, being jostled.

Punishment is likely to be particularly severe for defenders Keown and Lauren, who face additional charges -- on one and two counts respectively -- of violent behaviour.

Fines are almost certain but, far worse for Arsenal, is the very real prospect of the FA inflicting mass suspensions that could rule out the league leaders' entire rearguard.

Lehmann, Cole, Keown and Lauren represent four-fifths of the Arsenal defence. The fifth member, Sol Campbell, is awaiting a personal hearing after being charged with violent conduct for lashing out at United's Eric Djemba Djemba in last month's Community Shield.

Worse still, Arsenal's defence is itself shielded by Vieira, who was red-carded at the start of Sunday's mayhem, and their other combative midfielder, Parlour, is also facing a violent behaviour charge.

LASTING EFFECTS
Though coach Arsene Wenger might be grateful the impending calamity is occurring at the early rather than the latter stages of the season, the effects could well be long-lasting.

Not only could points be deducted by the FA, or dropped as Wenger turns to his reserves, but the blow to morale is likely to extend to Arsenal's already faltering Champions League campaign.

Though domestic suspensions do not apply in Europe, the effects of any slide down the premier league table would clearly filter through to a team already in need of pulling itself together after a humiliating 3-0 home defeat by Inter Milan.

Under new chief executive Mark Palios, the FA has made it clear that discipline in the game is a major priority and that offenders can expect to be dealt with promptly.

The two clubs have a history of stormy encounters, which stretches back before the premier league was set up.

In the 1990-91 season, Arsenal had two points deducted and United one point after a brawl involving their players.

If nothing else, the likely sanctions for Sunday's clashes could finally force Arsenal to have a long, hard look at their dismal disciplinary record under Wenger, whose team have collected 52 red cards.

Though widely admired for the fluid attacking football that has brought them three FA Cups and two league titles since 1998, those dismissals represent the darker side to Arsenal's game.

Tackling that longstanding problem is likely to be as demanding as holding their season together in the months ahead.

But if Sunday proved to be a turning point for the north London club, there may yet be some benefit for Wenger from a situation that is destined to get much worse before it gets better.

Revenge not top of Ganguly’s agenda
CALCUTTA, India (Reuters) - India captain Sourav Ganguly has said revenge will not top his agenda during next month's home Test series against New Zealand.

``I have not built it up as a revenge series,'' Ganguly said yesterday when asked about the confrontation, which has been dubbed as such by Indian media.

India were humiliated on underprepared pitches in New Zealand last year, losing both their Tests inside three days and conceding the one-day series 5-2.

Ganguly said: ``We need to win like any other series and we need to play to our potential to win.''

Ganguly, speaking at a charity function, said New Zealand could expect turning pitches for the series, but hinted they need not be tailor-made to suit India's key slow bowlers, Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh.

``In India wickets will turn,'' he said. ``You go to England the ball will seam, you go to Australia it will bounce and when you come to India you expect it to turn on the fourth or fifth day.''

Stephen Fleming's side arrived on Sunday to play two Tests and a one-day tri-series also featuring Australia. The first Test starts in Ahmedabad on October 8 with the second to be played in Mohali from October 16.

Schumacher expects U.S. Grand Prix thriller
By Alan Baldwin
LONDON, England (Reuters) - Ferrari's Michael Schumacher expects a U.S. Grand Prix thriller on Sunday with Juan Pablo Montoya and Kimi Raikkonen going flat out to prevent him celebrating a record sixth Formula One championship.

Colombian Montoya, in a Williams, is three points behind Schumacher while McLaren's Raikkonen remains in contention seven points off the lead.

Schumacher will be crowned if he wins and Montoya finishes sixth or lower with Raikkonen no better than third. He can also claim the title if he comes second and the Colombian comes eighth and Raikkonen fourth or lower.

But none of those scenarios have happened yet this year, with Montoya a podium finisher in his last eight races, and Schumacher would need a big slice of luck for anything to be decided at 'The Brickyard'.

``It would be nice but I think it is unlikely,'' he said.

What he and Ferrari will have at the Motor Speedway is a real battle on their hands, with Raikkonen fighting to keep alive his hopes of becoming the youngest champion and Montoya just as determined to lead the way to Suzuka.

``The race at Indianapolis will be the most gripping for sure,'' said Schumacher this week, after flying to the United States early to acclimatise.

``I promise the Indianapolis fans a thrilling race in which we will give our best. Even though the track is not the most difficult to run on, the atmosphere at Speedway really is something else.''

POPULAR FAVOURITE
Montoya, hoping to become the first driver to win the Indy 500 and U.S. Grand Prix at the same circuit, is a popular favourite.

The former CART champion and 2000 Indy 500 winner has the car to win at 'The Brickyard' even if Ferrari have won two of the three U.S. Grands Prix held there since 2000 and McLaren the other.

``We need to keep the ball rolling and make the most out of this race because Suzuka is a circuit that really suits Michael's driving style,'' he said.

``Our car can definitely do well at the Speedway as the power of the BMW engine suits the long straight so I am anticipating a close fight with our immediate rivals.''

McLaren, winners with Mika Hakkinen in 2001, say Indianapolis should suit their car far more than the last race in Italy at Monza.

But Schumacher warned people not to assume Ferrari would be outgunned, and was looking for his sixth victory of the year.

``We are geared up for Indianapolis,'' he told the Ferrari website. ``A lot of people say that it is a track that is more adapted to BMW-Williams but we can't say that we agree.

``The same thing was said about Monza but, after a tough fight, we won out.

``This means two things: predictions based on performances of years gone by are no longer reliable and that every tiny error can have serious consequences.

``Whoever is able to exploit the resources during the weekend will come out on top.

``It is a great challenge that we take on without fear and the other teams will do the same,'' added the German.

``The success at Monza has motivated us even more, but we know we are in a battle and we will not make the mistake of resting on our laurels.''