East Demerara floods:
No breach found in dam
`There is no overtopping, no breach’ -- ND&IB Engineer Lionel Woodsworth
WORKERS of the National Drainage and Irrigation Board (ND&IB) are denying reports in a newspaper yesterday that a breach in the East Demerara Conservancy dam was responsible for rising waters in many villages on the East Coast.

He told the Government Information Agency (GINA) that a 150-man team was working around-the-clock on the conservancy dam and a report on activities there at 08:00 hrs yesterday said there had been no breach.

A media team late yesterday afternoon toured the conservancy and found that the report about a breach in the dam was false.

ND&IB Engineer Lionel Woodsworth told reporters there has been no breach in the dam or overtopping from the conservancy.

He confirmed that a team was working around the clock to protect the conservancy.

He reported that following record heavy rains last month which triggered widespread floods in many parts of the coast, the water in the conservancy was level with the top of the earthen dam, but it has begun to drop.

The media team visited the koker (sluice) in the Maduni Creek and saw that the water was being drained out into the Atlantic Ocean.

Woodsworth explained that the water from the Maduni Creek makes its way into the Mahaica Creek and then into the Atlantic.

Mr. Robert Persaud, Information Liaison to the President, who was in the visiting team, said the floods on the East Coast were not from any breach in the conservancy dam, but from the unusually heavy rains.

At Eight Ground, Cane Grove, the media team saw preventative works under way in that part of the conservancy.

Woodsworth said these measures were being taken should there be another period of unusual rainfall.

"There is no overtopping, no breach", he assured.

Many villages along the East Coast remained under water yesterday more than two weeks after the heaviest rains in more than 100 years but the level continued to drop.

More pumps are being deployed to drain the water from submerged villages and the massive government-led relief effort to get food and essential items to flood-hit residents continued.

Health teams maintained a close watch for water-borne diseases and a large medical brigade from Cuba is due here today to boost local efforts to contain any outbreak of diseases.

Tens of thousands have been affected by the floods which last month swept the city, the East Coast and East Bank Demerara and the West Demerara.

Drainage hindrance removed from Sophia
Deputy Mayor Robert William and Walter Willis, an engineer from the Ministry of Public Works on Sunday visited section A Sophia, where they removed a blocked pipe which prevented the flow of water.

The Government Information Agency (GINA) in a release said that at 6:00 hrs, a team from the City Council along with volunteers from the community started to remove the pipe, in an effort to alleviate flooding in Greater Georgetown.

It added that the ‘self-acting’door for the pipe was broken allowing water to flow freely when the tide was high or low.

Residents say since the pipe has been removed and the canal is now clear, the flood waters have receded from their yards, GINA stated.

The community representative Marie Mohamed said the ‘self-acting’ door for the pipe was broken and Deputy Mayor Williams said later yesterday when most of the water has drained off the land, the team would have returned to replace a new door or provide some temporary measure to prevent the water from flowing back into the canal during high tides.

Meanwhile, in another location at the back of Section A Sophia, a similar exercise will be conducted to help relieve the residents of flooding, GINA noted.

More health teams treat flood victims
In an effort to provide medical attention to flood victims, 26 health teams were dispatched on Sunday to various communities, according to Health Minister, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy.

He told the Government Information Agency (GINA) that more than 40, 000 persons have benefited so far and residents have expressed gratitude to the government.

Government through the Ministry of Health has over the past weeks, been dispatching health teams to the most affected areas, GINA said.

Visible water level reduction expected
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Drainage and Irrigation Board Ravi Narine expects visible reduction in the water levels on the East Coast of Demerara if there are four to five days of sunshine and all the pumps are functioning.

At a press conference held at the National Communication Network (NCN) TV on Sunday, Narine said the government has recently installed 18 and 20-inch heavy-duty pumps at Liliendaal, Better Hope, and Buxton. Additionally, Government is preparing to install more pumps there which will arrive from the United States and Trinidad and Tobago.

Narine reported that water levels on the East Coast of Demerara have receded as much as 18 inches except in some low lying areas of Enmore, Buxton and Better Hope. These areas he claimed may actually see a rise and fall in the water level as a result of a build-up of water from the backlands in periods of high tide.

The level of water in the East Demerara Water Conservancy has dropped and overtopping has been reduced by more than 90 percent, Narine reported. He also stated that the Boerasirie Conservancy in Region Three has recorded reduced overtopping and that region is stable.

He warned however, that there is a possibility of flooding in the Mahaica area due to pumping of water from the conservancy into the Maduni and Lama canals.

Meanwhile, Narine stated that as soon as the present rainy season is over the government will start planning for the May/June rains.

Albouystown, first mosquitoes eradication target
Twenty-three teams from the Health Ministry are in the fields going door-to-door, beginning in Albouystown, to give residents directions on how to effectively use abate granules – a chemical – to destroy breeding sites of mosquitoes.

The Government Information Agency (GINA) stated that each household will be given a small bag of abate to treat their own water source.

Minister of Health Dr. Leslie Ramsammy informed GINA that fogging communities only kills adult mosquitoes. Therefore, to effectively kill the larvae and protect Guyanese, abate is the most feasible option.

He noted that many persons have called to find out when their area will be fogged, but the Health Minister pointed out that to fog Georgetown – one cycle would cost approximately $4M and it would only bring temporary relief.

Communities have a role to play in supporting the Ministry’s efforts to control the mosquito population, and people can do simple things to control mosquitoes outbreak, the Health Minister stressed. He noted that residents should ensure they get rid of all unwanted containers, coconut shells, tins, old tyres and bushes.

“These are all ideal breeding sites and if garbage is properly disposed, the breeding sites will be destroyed, and this will reduce the mosquito population,” said Minister Ramsammy.

The focus of the Health Ministry is to visit approximately 37,000 households and 4,000 bags of abate daily.

Last week, the Vector Control Services Department began community inspection and treatment with abate granules. (Government Information Agency)

Gafoors gives back to customers
Twenty-five lucky customers whose names were pulled at the hardware store, Gafoors at Houston, East Bank Demerara Christmas promotion received their prizes on Saturday last at the store’s location.

Georgiana Williams of Block X Diamong, East Bank Demerara and Naresh SAffie, Zeelugt North East Bank Essequibo are the fourth and fifth prize winners respectively. Williams is the recipient of a Jailing Scooter, while Saffie received an A/C unit with free installation.
There were 20 consolation prize winners.

Berbice NGO appeals for funds in ambitious scheme
A NON-GOVERNMENTAL organisation (NGO) in Berbice has launched the appeal for an ambitious scheme it intends to undertake this year, for the benefit of children.

Alpha Children's Home in Gay Park, New Amsterdam, with the motto 'Each child deserves a chance', has listed the establishment of the first hospice for homeless HIV/AIDS children among its targets.

In a widely circulated letter, outlining the proposals, Alpha President, Ms. Esther Bruyning promised to also mail special correspondence concerning the home and said teams from the community, churches and various other organisations will be mobilised to work on different schemes at the place.

"We are depending on you to help us, for we have absolutely no finances or personnel for these projects," she admitted, adding, however, "we have you, our partners, who are willing to stand with us in what we want to accomplish."

Bruyning said Alpha intends to:
* fence its yard,

* paint the entire building,

* improve drainage and irrigation at the site,

* construct a concrete washing sink outside the kitchen,

* resurface the external area,

* improve security by repairing windows and installing locks on doors and
* renovate the structure, which houses a laundry to make an office.
The letter, addressed to 'Dear Partners', said Alpha would form a drama and singing group, organise sporting activities and raise funds to purchase musical instruments for the targeted children.

Bruyning announced that Alpha will be celebrating its 13th anniversary and the first for Alpha Children's Extended Boys Home on April 10 while soliciting one-time gifts or regular support donations of $500, $1,000, $1,500, $2,000, $2,500 and $3,000, in monthly or quarterly contributions.

Ansa Mcal donates pumps to CDC
Deputy Army Chief of Staff, Colonel Chabilall Ramsaroop says the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) and the Government of Guyana is extremely thankful to Ansa Mcal Group of Companies for its donation of five pumps and 50 feet of hose.

Deputy Chairman of Ansa Mcal in Guyana, Mr. Paul Chan-a-Sue said the GX 160 pumps and hose were brought here via BWIA at a significantly reduced cost.

He said the pumps cost almost $1M (Guyana currency).
Mr. Ramsaroop explained that the pumps will be put into operation immediately, noting that the University of Guyana (UG) already made a request for one.

The others, he said, will be placed at other locations where they are desperately needed.

Meanwhile, reports of a breach in the East Demerara Conservancy Dam aback of Vryheid's Lust are false Deputy Army Chief of Staff, Colonel Chabilall Ramsarup said, acknowledging that there was a breach at Crown Dam.

But he assured that the breach will be fixed, adding that East Coast residents should not be alarmed about reports of further flooding, which could be caused if the conservancy breaks.

High level team distributes hampers in Sophia
RELIEF efforts are continuing with more government officials visiting flood hit communities and making food hampers distribution to the affected residents.

Residents from areas receiving the assistance were Block 'F', 'R' and 'R' Extension, all in North Sophia.
The distributions were made from tents on the main road because of the impassability of streets there.

Dr. Luncheon told the Chronicle that representatives of residents in North Sophia were asked to ensure a fair distribution is carried out.

Residents said they were thankful for the hampers but also expressed dissatisfaction, saying that the flood water was still lodged in many yards because of poor drainage system in the entire Sophia.

In some parts of the community, water has receded about one foot while it remains in other parts.

One resident stated, "We need proper drainage... when this water was higher we had to pay $100 to get to our homes and in the nights it was $260," adding that residents are willing to clean the drains once government provides the equipment.

Meanwhile, health teams visited the community twice yesterday while the Sophia Health Centre at 'C' Field is functioning with a doctor and medic working around the clock.(Renu Raghubir)

Flood relief task force set up in Atlanta
GUYANA’S Honorary Trade Representative in Atlanta, Georgia, Mr. Neilson Wray has set up a task force in Atlanta to coordinate local relief efforts for those affected by the severe flooding in certain areas of the Guyana coast.

In a statement, he said the team will work in various ways to collect as many items and as much funds needed to provide relief to those most seriously affected.

Spearheading the immediate and extended relief activities in Atlanta, is Mrs. Dawn Simmonds, an attorney admitted to practice in Guyana, and a former President of the Guyana Association of Georgia.

Wray said he and Mrs. Simmonds will ensure that all forms of contributions, donations etc. received in Atlanta, specifically for the Joint Operations Centre (JOC) established by the Guyana Government, will be forwarded to Guyana expeditiously.

He said they will be active among the wider Caribbean community, organisations and individuals who want to help.

Wray said he met Jamaica's Honorary Consul in Atlanta, Mr. Vin Martin and other Caribbean officials in an effort to rally as much support as possible in this time of crisis. “At the meeting with Mr. Vin Martin, the Jamaican Consul expressed his sympathy to the Guyanese people as a whole. He promised to stimulate the Jamaican community in the Atlanta area to do their best in support of Guyana's national flood relief”, he said.

In addition to the efforts of the ad hoc committee, other organisations such as the Guyana Association of Georgia and individual persons have indicated an intention to send items and monetary contributions to the JOC and certain reputable civic organisations in Guyana.

Wray advised that those who want to send contributions directly to Guyana can contact JOC Task Force Commander Colonel John Lewis.

All donations of money should be sent to The National Relief Fund, Bank of Nova Scotia, 104 Carmichael Street, Georgetown, Guyana, Account No. 109780.

This account is managed by a committee that comprises a cross section of the Guyanese community and includes individuals from the private sector, the government, the opposition and public servants, Wray said.

Ogle airport reopens
OGLE Airport Manager, Mr. Anthony Mekdeci, announced yesterday afternoon that flood waters have receded sufficiently for a resumption of operations there.

The aerodrome was among many places flooded after record heavy rains more than two weeks ago and aircraft owners and operators had shifted operations to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport at Timehri.

Cyril Potter College advisory
THE Cyril Potter College of Education is requesting that all academic and ancillary staff report for duty at NCERD in Georgetown today at 09:00 hrs.

The Government Information Agency (GINA) said students of the Turkeyen and Georgetown centres are asked to note that the reopening of the college will be announced later.
The dates for examination will also be announced later, the agency said.

ND&IB Head says no breach in conservancy dam
CHIEF Executive Officer of the National Drainage and Irrigation Board (ND&IB) Ravi Narine has denied a report in a newspaper yesterday that the East Demerara conservancy dam was breached.

Responding to a page one headline in the Kaieteur News - `5-ft breach spotted in conservancy dam’ - Narine told the Government Information Agency (GINA) that this was not true.

He told the agency that a 150-man team was working around-the-clock on the conservancy dam and a report on activities there at 08:00 hrs yesterday said there had been no breach.

“According to my report, there is no breach. I would appreciate if the Kaieteur News could give their information to the ND&IB. We need to know where the breach was reported and when. Our teams will verify any such report,” he told GINA in a telephone interview.

Narine said the water level in the East Demerara conservancy level remained stable and the Guyana Sugar Corporation (Guysuco), which is assisting in monitoring the conservancy dam, could also verify any report of breaches.

The East Demerara conservancy dam was severely threatened during the recent intense rains and there was overtopping in several areas, GINA noted.

Guyanese in Suriname donate flood relief   
A TRUCK from BK International arrived from Suriname Sunday with 20 tonnes of items donated by Guyanese living in Suriname and the business community there, the Government Information Agency (GINA) said.  

“As you know a lot of Guyanese are living here and they are concerned with what is happening in Guyana. They are deeply involved in raising items to send for their Guyanese brothers and sisters,” Karshanjee Arjune, Guyana’s Ambassador to Suriname told the agency in a telephone interview.

Bottled water, canned juices, canned foodstuff, blankets, kerosene oil stoves and lamps were some of the items sent by the Guyana Embassy in Suriname.

Ambassador Arjune told GINA he was pleased with the positive response by the business sector in getting up items to send for flood-hit victims.

He also acknowledged the support of the Suriname Government, which has expressed its sympathy over the disaster, the agency said.

“Everyone is playing a role in sending assistance to Guyana,” Ambassador Arjune added.

GINA said another shipment is expected shortly with more supplies from the Suriname Government, government agencies and the business communities.

Arjune said an organisation which was active in raising funds for Tsunami victims diverted the funds to its neighbour.

“Even the Rotary, Lions and cricket clubs have pooled money for relief,” he said.   

Supply Primary School reopens today
- temporary shelter closed
By Chamanlall Naipaul
PARENTS of students of Supply Primary School, Mahaica were yesterday demanding that residents affected by the floods who are being sheltered there, return to their homes and classes should resumed.

Students of the school turned up for classes and were disappointed that the school still housed flood victims. No teacher reported for work.

The parents told the Chronicle that they are anxious to have their children complete the curriculum for the Secondary School Entrance Examination (SSEE) which is due this April, and as such are demanding that classes at the school be resumed.

They are also contending that if some of the persons being sheltered there cannot return home because of water-logged conditions, negotiations could be made to have them housed at a nearby church building as the floods have completely receded in the areas where most of the sheltered persons lived.

Another school in the community,Gibson Primary at Unity, Mahaica is also sheltering about 115 persons.

Meanwhile, some 500 acres of rice have already been destroyed in addition to kitchen gardens and large acres of cash crops, while some 1,000 acres of rice which are at the pre-harvesting stage are under threat, farmers told the Chronicle, adding that if flood waters are not drained off quickly the rice will perish.

In addition, farmers said if the rice perishes, they will be unable to replant because of their losses and will not have the finance to meet the inputs including land preparation, chemicals and labour costs.

They are also calling for another pump to be deployed in the area as they claim that the three pumps that were installed cannot cope with the present level of flooding.

Residents lamented that a 'self-acting' koker which was closed to prevent the overflow of water from a canal into the residential area is being opened by mischievous persons, resulting in two farmers who volunteered their tractor pumps to drain off excess water withdrawing their services. They say the water level in the community continues to rise to its original height as fast as it is being pumped off.

Residents are also claiming that only persons whose homes were flooded are receiving flood relief , while cash crop farmers who lost their produce are not given any relief.

President Bharrat Jagdeo has indicated that occupants of shelters in some areas could return to their homes.

"We have an assessment of the shelters and in some areas where life has gone back to normalcy, they should start getting out of shelters," the President advised.

However, he said he would have to await an assessment from the Army which is in charge of shelters, noting that he would not like to send people back to areas still affected.

Over 2,507 persons are in shelters manned by the Army including four on the West Demerara, 23 on the East Coast Demerara and 12 in Georgetown.

East Coast garbage collection ongoing
The massive garbage collection on the East Coast of Demerara will be ongoing, according to Rajendra Bisessar, Technical Adviser in the Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security.

He told the Government Information Agency (GINA) that the clean-up exercise and work began three days ago. Clean-up teams have been put in place at Better Hope, Happy Acres, Mon Repos, Haslington, Melanie, Buxton and Enmore.

“So far, 26 truckloads of garbage have been removed and this is being dumped at the Mandela Avenue dumpsite,” he explained, pointing out that the collection of garbage bags placed by residents along the roadway has also begun.

“We are calling on people to bring their bags on the embankment or the public road and we’ll collect them,” Bisessar said.

He said that though animals may scatter the rubbish, the teams will still clean up the mess.

Yesterday two truck-loads of bags were picked up along the road-side and 4000 large empty bags were distributed to residents, GINA said.

Bisessar said the teams are also planning to go into inaccessible areas by boat to bring garbage out and the exercise will initially continue for the next five days.

He noted too, that the teams are working beyond the call of duty, sometimes up to six in the evening. (Government Information Agency)

Liliendaal to Triumph pumps operating
To dispel rumours of pumps not working on the East Coast of Demerara, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Drainage and Irrigation Board (ND&IB) Ravi Narine commenced inspecting drainage systems beginning at Liliendaal yesterday.

All pumps were noted to be in operation and the pump attendants verified this, according to the Government Information Agency (GINA) in a release.

At Liliendaal, five pumps were working. Two were brought from OMAI while one was provided by the Georgetown City Council. When the CEO visited the area, a pump was being re-fuelled, GINA said.

At Ogle, the sluice was functioning as well as a pump while at Plaisance one of the pumps brought from Berbice, Region Six and installed a week ago, was still in full flow. Water in the area has significantly receded as a result. This was also the case at Better Hope where residents stated that due to the operation of the two pumps there, the level of flood water was dropping.

One of the pumps at Better Hope was also donated by OMAI and the other was provided by Government.

Meanwhile, at Montrose, five pumps were in operation and another at Triumph.

The CEO explained that he will continue with the inspection of more pumps today (Government Information Agency).

Corbin criticises government's flood relief efforts
- makes demands to President Jagdeo
Leader of the People's National Congress Reform (PNCR) and Main Opposition leader, Robert Corbin said he has written President Bharrat Jagdeo yesterday informing him that he is entitled to full involvement in the decision making process on the flood situation.

He told members of the media at a news conference that he intends to make public his suggestions to the president and asked that an approach be taken to facilitate the reasonable rehabilitation of the flood victims.

Mr Corbin also said that he has written to the Speaker of the National Assembly and copied to the President eight 'demands' to be discussed in by the National Assembly. Among them that a measures taken to counter and remedy the dangers posed by teh drainage and irrigation system be outlined, a list of assistance offered by the donors and friendly countries and a report on the 'so-called' Task Force set up by the President.

However, the government is maintaining that on January 17 the President responded to the flood by allocating $20M for emergency relief an two days later, that sum was increased by $200M, adding that when the President hosted a meeting with Ministers and others including Opposition Leader, Robert Corbin, five committees were established and the PNCR was invited to name a representative to each of the committees.

Also, as donations arrive members of the media are invited to witness the handing over of the items.

Among the government's intervention, there were water and food (both cooked and dry rations) distributions, the setting up shelters for flood victims, pumps were deployed to several locations and appeals were made for donations of boats and pumps and Ministers have been going out to various locations to distribute food.

The President at a press conference last week had said that he has asked engineers to investigate the present drainage system to find out why the water level is moving slow. And the Joint Operation Command Centre also said that some persons on the East Coast have been cutting dams and vandalising pumps set up to drain the water off the land.

Red Cross gets boats for flood relief drive
THE Trinidad Cement Limited (TCL) Group has presented 18 inflatable boats to the Guyana Red Cross Society in support of its flood relief programme.

The presentation was made by Mr. Clinton Williams, Chief Executive Officer of GNIC, who represents TCL in Guyana and Kit Nascimento, Public Relations Consultant to TCL. Ms. Dorothy Fraser, Secretary General, received the boats on behalf of the Red Cross

In a press release, Nascimento said the Trinidad Cement Group was fully committed to providing support to Guyana in this difficult time for its people.

He noted that word of the flood disaster has disseminated slowly internationally and even in the Caribbean and it has taken time for companies to identify and mobilise support. Nascimento said TCL was impressed with the excellent work the Red Cross was doing in identifying and assessing the populations with the most urgent needs and its organisation to deliver support on the ground effectively and efficiently.

Williams indicated that these items have been identified and requested as priority needs by President Bharrat Jagdeo himself. 

He said this was the first shipment of support from the TCL Group and other shipments of food items and medical supplies were due.

Ms. Fraser thanked TCL for the support and stressed that the Red Cross could not do the job alone and was receiving enormous assistance from NGO groups across Guyana and internationally without which it would be impossible to achieve the kind of support so urgently needed by those with the greatest need.

She said the Red Cross looks forward to and will depend upon continuing support to meet the tremendous challenge of cleaning up as the flood waters recede in order to get life back to normal as soon as and as safely as possible.

Praise for Guyanese soldiers in Grenada
GUYANESE soldiers helping to rebuild hurricane-ravaged Grenada have been commended for their discipline and professional approach by Director of the Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO, Mirta Ross Periayo.

The Government Information Agency (GINA) said her praise came in a letter to President Bharrat Jagdeo which was copied to Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Chief of Staff Brigadier General Edward Collins.

The letter in part said, “It is with utmost satisfaction that the PAHO/WHO recognises the efforts of the Guyana Defence Force contingent, based in Grenada, in the aftermath of Hurricane Ivan. The GDF assistance to PAHO/WHO and the Grenada Ministry of Health, particularly with the emergency repairs to Richmond Hospital for the elderly and the St. George’s Hospital laundry, provided significant relief not only to in-patients but also contributed to ensuring that the health sector remained operational when the affected population most needed it.”

A GDF contingent has been serving in the island which was devastated by Hurricane Ivan in September last year.

GINA said the army has also received a letter of commendation from Lieutenant Colonel (retired) Dick Stoops – a veteran of the United States Army who served in Vietnam. He was in Guyana in October 2004 with a volunteer group in Region Nine (Upper Takutu/Upper Essquibo), the agency said.

Stoops commended the soldiers for their discipline and commitment.
He wrote, “I served in the U.S. Army for 25 years in the field artillery. During that time I commanded four company-sized units, two of which were during the Vietnam War. I would be proud to have any one of these soldiers serve in my unit. I hope to again some day return to Guyana, and if I do, I look forward to again work with the GDF."

Finding a consensus for human survival
IN 1996, a few short weeks after the Georgetown forum to further disseminate the ideas advanced in the New Global Human Order (NGHO), the brainchild of the late President Cheddi Jagan, Guyanese learnt of the Global Ethic Foundation established in Tubingen, Germany by Mr. Hans Kung, a Roman Catholic dissident. According to an interview published in the NEWSWEEK issue of August 12, 1996, Mr. Kung promoted the idea that religions, governments and corporations should find agreement on a basic code of ethics.

“The need for a consensus on ethical principles,” Mr. Kung argued, “has become critical in the wake of the rapid changes in technology, science and global trade.” And in replying to the questions, “What is a global ethic?” and “Why do we need one?” Kung explained: “A global ethic means a fundamental consensus on binding values, irrevocable standards and personal attitudes which can be shared by people of all religions and also by non-believers. Hardly anyone disputes the need for a new global consensus – a minimum ethic, which is absolutely necessary for human survival. How are schools to cope with the readiness to use violence, which has increased so strongly? How is our society to become more human again? In an age when more and more children are killing children, it is obviously necessary to teach them some very basic imperatives, like ‘You shall not kill’ and ‘Have respect for life’.”

Mr. Kung’s profound comments echoed the admonition uttered by the then Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr George Carey, who in a BBC interview in July of 1996, had appealed for a debate to examine the current state of morality in Britain and the importance of children being taught to grow up as moral and responsible agents of society. “It would a failure if our schools were to produce people with the right skills and aptitudes to take on economic competitors, but who cannot string two sentences together about the meaning and purpose of life, or who have no idea what it means to be a good citizen and moral person. Without a spiritual or moral heartbeat society will perish,” predicted Dr Carey.

That the philosophical thoughts of these two men from different societies converged so seamlessly on mankind’s quest for a moral standard of human behaviour indicated their concern for the increasing disregard amongst some young people for the dignity of others and the sanctity of human life. Many youths lack tolerance for the religious and cultural differences in other people.

Although articulated almost ten years ago, the views of Mr. Kung and Dr Carey still argue relevance in a changing world. While today, mankind is far more advanced in communication technology and there have been wonderful achievements in medicine and science, the people of this planet are bothered by the banes of ethnic and religious conflict, terrorism, the terrible consequences of HIV/AIDS especially in the African continent, poverty and violence. Children and teenagers are prone to rebellious and destructive behaviours even in the developed societies; in some poor countries, parents sell their children to criminals in the sex industry; and in many big cities thousands of children commit crimes and also sell bodies for something to put into their stomachs.

We accept the reality that there is no panacea for all the problems plaguing mankind in this age. However, we do submit that the acceptance of a universal code of moral behaviour will promote economic and social justice for the downtrodden and marginalised and also help to alleviate much human suffering and mental anguish.

Jury hears how row over missing chainsaw ended in murder
JUSTICE Yonnette Cummings-Edwards and a mixed jury at the Demerara Assizes yesterday heard about the day when logger, Harry Merchant Dest, allegedly beat Linden Hill to death because Dest thought Hill had stolen his missing chainsaw.

After being arraigned yesterday, Dest pleaded not guilty. He then informed the Court that Mr. Hukumchand would be defending him.

In her opening address, Prosecutor Ms. Judy Latchman said that the incident occurred at Kunibani Backdam, Upper Demerara River on March 10, 1998.

The accused, she said, reportedly went to the backdam (backlands) and discovered that one of his chainsaws was missing. After questioning Hill about the matter, Dest reportedly began to beat Hill with a piece of wood. Hill succumbed later the said day.

A post mortem procedure revealed that Hill had died from haemorrhage of the brain and fractured ribs.
The hearing continues today. (George Barclay)

East Ruimveldt murder accused freed on no-case submissions
Troy Garraway, who allegedly shot to death Keith Hopkinson at a house in East Ruimveldt on June 12, 2003, walked out of Court a free man yesterday.

Justice James Bovell-Drakes freed Garraway after listening to no-case submissions by Defence Counsel Mr. Compton Richardson. The judge then directed the jury to return a formal verdict of not guilty in relation to the accused.

In his ruling, the judge thanked Mr. Richardson and Prosecutor Ms Nyasha Williams respectively, for the able arguments they had submitted to him for consideration.

According to the Prosecution, Keith Hopkinson, the deceased, was sitting on the patio of his East Ruimveldt home on the morning of June 12, 2003, when he was shot to death by the accused, who had entered his yard with several other persons.

Richardson contended that the Prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case and had adduced arguments in support of his contention. He described the evidence of identification as "hopeless".

Judge Bovell-Drakes found yesterday that the evidence of identification was bad, and that the star witness, the brother of the deceased, was a self- confessed liar.

The judge also found that the evidence was "unsatisfactory, unsound and was of such a nature that no reasonable jury, properly directed, would convict (anyone)". (George Barclay)

Court restrains Channel 6 from transmitting while suspension in force
By George Barclay
JUSTICE Winston Patterson has granted a Nisi Order restraining C.N. Sharma and Savitree Singh from transmitting any video or audio over Channel 6, while that station's suspension of licence is in force. Sharma and Singh are also ordered not to obstruct or hinder the servants, agents or officers of the State from taking steps to give effect to the suspension of the Broadcasting Licence.

Justice Patterson granted the Order on Sunday after hearing an ex parte application from Valmikke Singh, the Chief Executive Officer (Ag.) of the National Frequency Management Unit. The summons is returnable in Chambers on February 8.

The summons was issued by Attorney General, Mr. Doodnauth Singh, Senior Counsel (S.C.)

As a result of the flooding, the summons noted, the country was in a volatile and vulnerable situation where anxiety and terror prevailed.

It continued that in circumstances, the spreading of rumours and misinformation could have, and did cause in some instances, public disaster and chaos, which posed a serious threat to the country's national security.

Reference was made to Channel 6, which misrepresented facts under a programme entitled, "Voice of the people".

That station, it is said, made inaccurate statements relating to the floods and to the Government's response. It is said that during the programme, statements were made that were likely to provoke public disorder, threatening the national security, causing chaos in the country, and creating a hostile and threatening environment to the national effort to provide humanitarian relief to persons in areas affected by the flood.

One order prevents the defendants, or their servants, from transmitting video and audio signals or other transmission in any from or manner on C.N.S. telecommunication channel, while the said suspension of the telecommunication station licence issued to Chandranarine Sharma and Savitree Singh remains in force.

The other order is an injunction restraining the defendants from obstructing of hindering the servants, agents or officers of the State from taking such necessary steps to give effect to the said suspension of the television station licence issued to Chandranarine Sharma and Savitree Singh while the said suspension remains in force.

At Berbice Assizes...
10 years sentence for robber who brutalised woman
JUSTICE Winston Moore yesterday sentenced Victor Dewar called 'Vicki' to 10 years imprisonment, at the Berbice Assizes, for brutalising a woman who had asked him to escort her home after work on the night of February 15, 2002.

The prisoner had also been indicted for raping the victim but the mixed jury did not convict him of that offence.

They found Dewar guilty, last week Monday, of robbery under arms and wounding.

The case for the Prosecution, conducted by State Counsel James Bond, was that Dewar put a knife to the woman's throat, robbed her of jewellery and stabbed her about the body.

The judge imposed the sentence after hearing a report on Dewar's background by Probation and Family Welfare Officer Ann Choy, who said the subject is the product of a broken home.

Born April 6, 1981 to Carlton and Farida Dewar, he was raised by a couple known only as 'Tall Boy' and 'Baby', somewhere in Little India, Springlands, although that could not be verified, Ms. Choy said

She reported that Dewar attended Skeldon Primary School, another part of Corentyne, up to level four but no record of it could be obtained.

Dewar was charged with robbery with violence in 1994 but the case was dismissed. However, in 1996, he was sent to New Opportunity Corps (NOC), for two years, following a simple larceny conviction.

He escaped from NOC after eight months there and, between 1996 and 2002, secrecy surrounds his whereabouts and activities until he came under Police scrutiny, again, for a 2002 break and enter and larceny crime that netted him a three years jail term.

Choy said Dewar reluctantly indicated that he worked as a fisherman, bus conductor and labourer but claimed he does not remember the names of the persons with whom he was employed.

The investigator said Dewar is a calm, nonchalant man of very few words, who, seemingly, possesses an air of resignation amidst claims of not remembering important aspects of his life leading up to this conviction.

Choy said that attitude is obviously a facade bordering on contempt but concluded that Dewar is the result of poor family dynamics, too, which transpired to produce a mal-adoptive and anti-social, reticent character.

She maintained, though, that a bad childhood does not exempt adults from being fully responsible for their actions.

Sentencing the robber, Justice Moore told him he had not made use of the opportunity when NOC gave him a second chance in life.

The judge remarked that Dewar was cruel to his victim who testified that she was strangled with a belt and kicked on her neck, as well.

Defendants in larceny, drug trafficking cases remanded
PATRICK Adams and Clifford Davidson (no addresses given) were yesterday both remanded to prison by Magistrate Maxwell Edwards, on separate charges of larceny and drug trafficking.

Adams pleaded not guilty to stealing a music amplifier, two speakers, a disc man, compact discs (CDs) and $20,000 cash, making a total loss of $163,500 to John Austin.

Police Chief Inspector Kevin Adonis, prosecuting, said the booty was stolen from a motor vehicle belonging to the virtual complainant, who had parked it a few houses away from his own

The Prosecutor said Adams was arrested after a member of his family was allegedly seen with some of the stolen things.

Particulars of the offence charged against him, which Davidson denied, said he was in possession of 529 grammes cannabis (marijuana) for the purpose alleged.

Adonis said cops on mobile patrol saw Davidson acting suspiciously and a search of the haversack he was carrying yielded the narcotic.

Adams and Davidson are to be back in Court on February 25 and 11, respectively.

Cousin charged with violent robbery
TWENTY-THREE-YEAR-OLD Patrick Venture, of Lot 989 ‘B’ Field, Sophia, Georgetown, was yesterday put on $20,000 bail, after he pleaded not guilty to a robbery charge.

Before Magistrate Maxwell Edwards, the defendant was charged with using personal violence on his 13-year-old cousin, Devon Gill, to rob him of a $9,000 gold chain, last January 9.

Police said Venture slapped the boy and took away the jewel after the lad rode a bicycle over the defendant’s foot.
Venture returns to Court on February 25.

City Hall needs a shake-up
Though I am well aware of how busy the President and the Ministers are including the Minister within the Ministry of Local Government at this time of national disaster, I hope that as soon as it is all over, everyone at City Hall is not pardoned and left to merrily carry on their happy-go-lucky agenda.

As a businessman, homeowner and resident of Georgetown, I feel for the suffering and huge losses of every citizen, particularly those in our capital city, because I know that much of it could have been avoided.

Without a doubt, there has been unprecedented rainfalls and peculiar weather patterns in the region, but for the council so far I am convinced that they are already seeking to take shelter behind the disaster that occurred without admitting how unprepared they were for such an occurrence.

First I would like to say that every citizen knows that the council has been doing a dreadful job for a number of years in maintaining the drains, canals, outfall channels and kokers in the city. In fact, many years ago, the alleys and drains were so clean that children played in them. Sluice attendants were paid to maintain the kokers and they did that with clockwork efficiency. Today, they frequently abandon their posts without any sanction.

Without looking at the various lapses in the past, but just paying attention to the ineptitude of the council from Christmas to now, it ought to warrant a major shake up at the council replacing several senior officers staring from the very top who have shown complete laxity and callousness.

If we begin with the Town Clerk, who is always proud to say that she is the Chief Executive Officer, and pompously announces that the real power lies with her and not the Mayor, then it is logical to construe that the real responsibility for the ineptitude, lack of accountability and capriciousness at City Hall must be laid squarely at her feet.

The Town Clerk and the City Treasurer's only response to any request for improvement in municipal services is that they do not have money. Tell me how do they expect to have money, when they lend themselves millions of dollars interest free, waive huge amounts in interest from big businessmen in an subjective manner, enter into scandalous transactions such as the constabulary uniform deal and the barter arrangement with a local furniture company, both of which the state auditors have found have found millions of dollars unaccounted for?

Since this disaster, the administration utilised this opportunity to obtained council's permission to employ more persons to their ridiculously inflated staff strength to do emergency work. Lo and behold, two of the persons from this ten man gang are siblings of a senior officer of the Finance Department. For this act of nepotism alone the Town Clerk should be let go.

Georgetown has had a break in the bad weather, for some one week now, thus one expected to see the administration launch a comprehensive and coordinated effort to restore conditions in Georgetown to one where the health of the citizens would be no longer compromised. I do not see any fogging, increase in refuse collection, washing of streets or drains, nor am I seeing Sanitary Inspectors visiting yard by yard to assess the situation and proffer advice. I guess the council must be awaiting government and other relief teams to do this.

Workers of the council at various levels from a range of departments can be seen idling or doing private work frequently.

If we look specifically at the Engineer's Department, is it not a conflict of interest for a senior officer there to be engaged in farming, owning and operating a petrol station and other business interests whilst still supposedly employed with the council on a full time basis? How could this one person be expected to be dedicated to his private interests which are considerable and his municipal responsibilities at the same time? And worse the council purchases frequently fuel and other items from this officer's petrol station which would be considered a conflict of interest in any decent society. Further if we were to judge the performance of the Engineer's Department from the state of the roads (those that the government did not do), the condition of the drains, alleys, canals and kokers, the state of the Le Repentir Cemetery, then the City Engineer should go.

I as indeed heartened to learn from the press that Minister Nokta had issued instructions to fire two koker attendants for criminal negligence after they reportedly let a koker door open at Triumph on the East Coast Demerara, last Tuesday. This is after the subsequent high tide flooded the previously drained area. It seemed to me like the government was finally prepared to behave like a government.

But the question that came immediately to mind was why this Minister who acted appropriately and without delay with two neglectful junior workers in the interest of the residents of Triumph, is not doing anything to the big shots at City Hall who have brought untold misery and damage to our entire capital?
Anil Wellingkar

Guyana benefited from Russia’s University
The 5th February, 2005 will see the 45th Anniversary of the establishment of the Peoples' Friendship University of Russia (PFUR) in Moscow. Founded at the time when dozens of countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean acquired their Independence and there was a hunger for qualified specialists in various fields the University stared its noble job to assist with training of young people from developing countries.

After 45 years, the results are visible, 47 thousand of it graduates work in 64 countries. Many of them became well known state and public figures, heads of companies, prominent scientists. At present there are about 23 thousand students, post-graduates and trainees at the University who are being taught by about 2000 lecturers among them 61 academician and 22 professors.

Coming closer to Guyana I am proud to state that 94 Guyanese received their education in People's Friendship University. It is also of great importance that last year a new batch of three young people from your beautiful country arrived in Moscow to study at this world class educational establishment.

Another opportunity exists in the way of developing cooperation between the People's Friendship University and the University of Guyana which signed the relevant agreement during the visit of H.E President Bharrat Jagdeo (who also received his diploma in the PFUR) to Russia in 2003.

May I use this opportunity to congratulate all Guyanese graduates of the Peoples' Friendship University on the 45th Anniversary of their "alma mater"
Vladimir S. Starikov
Ambassador of the Russian Federation

Georgetown needs an executive Mayor
In the aftermath of the flooding, which has been affecting residents of Georgetown since the Christmas season, long before the excessive rainfall affected persons on the East Coast, West Coast and West Bank Demerara, it has become even more apparent that what Georgetown needs is an Executive Mayor.

Over the last several weeks, I have observed a number of letter writers and some columnists heaping blame for the state-of-affairs of the council at the feet of the Mayor. This indicates that either those persons are seeking a scapegoat to blame for the incompetence of several of the officers at the council or they are completely uninformed of the Municipal and District Council's Act of the Laws of Guyana.

The current local government laws of Guyana’s constitution, is completely irrelevant to the way cities are managed today. The Mayor is severely constrained in executing the mandate that the citizens gave to him when he was elected.

One of the reasons local government must be changed is the way it takes decisions to make sure that local communities have strong, identifiable and visionary local leadership. The Mayor should have a representative and be able to speak on behalf of the council in a wide range of settings.

Today, if we look at capitals around the world, and even our own Caribbean, for example Kingston, Jamaica and Port of Spain, Trinidad, one can see the change for the better, where these cities have been incorporated and run like a business with an Executive Mayor and a Chief Administrative Officer, similar to what obtains in North America.

I am aware that there is a local government reform process underway, and it is my sincere hope and prayer that models from North America and other developed countries are taken on board and amalgamated into the new system. I think that all parties that intend to participate in the next local government elections, should recognise that without revolutionary changes to the local government system, winning mayorship would be a complete waste of time unless that very party holds the reigns of power at the central government level, with the Minister of Local Government using his power to intervene in support of the Mayor as he wishes.

As part of the return to democracy that this government is proclaiming responsibility for, they should give the local authorities far greater autonomy and power. Gone should be the days of the Lord Mayor, as the ceremonial head of the city just being supported by a staff of Maceberers and expected to avoid the direct management of the affairs of the city.

What Georgetown and in fact other towns in Guyana need are sweeping changes at the local government level where executive mayors assisted by mayoral communities can expedite decisions and facilitate service delivery for the maximum benefit of all citizens. In addition, to chairing statutory meetings, performing a ceremonial role by representing council at civic events, hosting dignitaries and acting as patron of local organizations, he or she as political head of the council, should be allowed to drive policies, strategy and direction, interact with the public, receive and interview representative of public interest groups, and handle the public relations and communities function of the city.

Further when the council is in recess, the Executive Mayor should be empowered to take decision on its behalf in consultation with the Town Clerk and give political direction to the Town Clerk.

Few would dispute that our city government is dysfunctional. You need only watch a single City Council meeting to see that our current system is broken. The sad truth is that Georgetown is a city of "can do" people with a "no can do" government. Our city is unable to effectively make plans for the future or address the problems of today.

With the one of the highest crime rates for capitals in the Caribbean region, our people cannot leave a personal item in their car or walk down a number of streets at night. We cannot afford to fix our streets or enforce our codes. We have not successfully encouraged meaningful economic development in the City. We are unable to generate a wider tax base.

How did we get here? We outgrew our form of government. We don't need a study to know that any system without accountability cannot survive. The Local Government Reform should ensure that the voters be allowed to choose an executive mayor who can hire and fire officers as it becomes necessary without the red tape of having to go to various committees of the council and to the subject minister for approval.
John H. Green

Sharma got away with slanderous remarks
I wish to reply to the letter written by Rex McKay on the suspension of Sharma’s television license. I am not going to get into all the legal jargon but I will like to point out that it is not any secret that

Sharma has been very slanderous over the years and he has gotten away with that.

There will always be loopholes in the law and people like McKay who will hold contrary views because they have their motive. It’s about time Sharma respects the laws of Guyana and his outburst of lawlessness be arrested.

Mr. Sharma’s act of reconnecting his transmission
system after it was suspended by the state is an indication of how Guyana will become if ‘Sharma-type
activities’ are allowed to continue too long – in a
state of anarchy.

I am in favour of stern watch dogs of government as well of the independence of the press. But these must be achieved within the ambits of the law.
Carol Frederick

Examination of drainage system- a smart move

The President’s plan to investigate the working of the drainage system in the flood hit areas, especially on the East Coast and in Georgetown is a smart move. His plan to have the team of engineers comprise local and foreign professionals is also a smart move.

Apparently, we have stopped looking at drainage as a critical infrastructure since the Dutch left Guyana. This flood however, has reminded us that we are still below sea level and flooding is a critical factor in Guyana.

As climate change continues to occur, flooding will become an even worse problem. This flood may have thought us something after all.
Barim Premchand

Health on top of flood  
I am pleased to see that the Opposition Party can find no fault in Government’s response to the health aspect of the flood. Minister of Health, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy has proven that in any disaster in Guyana – Government is on top health-wise.

I read the newspapers over the past week about medical teams and volunteers working tirelessly to bring relief to flood-hit victims I was proud.

And as the water is receding, the Health Ministry has undertaken a new initiative - going house-to-house to distribute chemicals that can kill mosquito larvae.

We all know that mosquitoes are prevalent and many persons can suffer from diseases which include dengue and filariasis. 

I know this is a very expensive venture but as the Health Minister pointed out, Guyanese have to be protected.  

I have now learnt that pregnant women and children under two years will now benefit from bed nets impregnated with insecticide – free of cost.

That is what I call an aggressive approach in dealing with the aftermath of the flood. Keep up the good work!.
Sabrina Narine

Sharma must be taught code of ethics
People need to understand the ethics of journalism. While there is freedom of speech in Guyana, journalist and media operatives should abide by the universal code of ethics in journalism. 

The code requires you to be accountable. A part of this requires you to recheck source(s) and verify information. I think it is about time Sharma insist that his media friends enlighten him on the Ethics of Journalism unless he wants to continue to be their scapegoat.

Sharma is a successful businessman, especially in the media business and neither Guyanese nor the Government has a problem with that. But this doesn’t mean that he should use the media to create mayhem in Guyana.  
Satesh Deodat

Situations cause the best or worst of anyone
The Bible declares a person cursed who designates evil as good and good as evil in the Old Testament.

I do believe that as a citizen of Guyana I will be violating my conscience if I do not but attribute to Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo qualities that I look for and cannot find, hardly in Guyana - humility, compassion, genuine care, and a love for us.

The floods have afforded us adequate insight into the nature of this man, who has donned his official facade to walk among us and feel with us never boasting of what he is doing by blowing his own trumpet.
God bless you, Mr. President.
Continue to be with us.
Krishna Nand Prasad

Lloyd could face censure for Vaughn comments
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, (CMC) – Match referee Clive Lloyd is facing censure from the ICC for making public comments about Michael Vaughan’s behaviour during the recently concluded Test series between England and South Africa.

Lloyd, who was match referee for the fourth and fifth Tests, docked Vaughan his entire match fee because of comments made about the umpires during the Johannesburg Test.

Subsequently, Lloyd went on record as saying that Vaughn, the England captain, had displayed a “dismissive and rude” attitude during a subsequent disciplinary hearing at which his remarks about the umpires were examined.

Lloyd went public with his criticism because, he claimed, he had grown weary that many in the media had sympathised with Vaughan, believing the fine was excessive.

Now it appears that Lloyd will be asked to explain his public comments to the ICC.

“Our preference is that if there are issues between players and match referees, for them to be sorted out away from the spotlight,” Brendan McClements, the ICC general manager of corporate affairs, said.

“As a matter of course we will speak to Clive about it to try to get an understanding about what has happened.”

The ICC’s Code of Conduct states “the (match) referee must not make any detrimental written or spoken comments in the media or press about any tour, Test match or one-day International in which he is involved.”

Richard Bevan, the Players Cricket Association’s chief executive, was fully behind Vaughan.

“This is effectively an ICC match referee bringing the game into disrepute,” Bevan said.

“It’s inequitable that an official can make comments but a player is censured.”

He added: “Clive has put private and confidential information from a breach of contract hearing which is still in a delicate situation into the public domain, and that is very inappropriate.”

The argument raises a much bigger question and one that will be discussed later this week when the ICC meets in Melbourne to discuss Code of Conduct affairs.

Currently, players have no appeal against fines levied for level one and two violations of the Code, and this is something they are keen to have changed.

U.S. big test for Soca Warriors - Sealy
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad, (CMC) – Trinidad & Tobago’s Scott Sealy, a first round MLS SuperDraft pick for the Kansas City Wizards two weeks ago, says the opening match of the CONCACAF World Cup qualification final round against the United States will be a huge test for the Soca Warriors.

Sealy, who was the 11th overall pick in the MLS Draft, said that the United States was one the strongest team in the CONCACAF region but noted that Trinidad & Tobago would still be looking for full points.

“It’s the best team in the region, so right away it’ll be a huge test,” the 23-year-old Sealy said.

“It’s very important for our country to start out on a good note. It doesn’t matter if it is the United States or if it was one of the other countries, it’s still a home game, and we’ll be going for the full three points.”

Sealy, who made his debut for Trinidad & Tobago in a 4-0 victory against the Dominican Republic last year, has been in a good run of form recently and has quickly made an impression on T&T’s head coach Bertille St Clair.

Over a three-day span last weekend, Sealy started two matches as one of three forwards for the Soca Warriors, and scored the game-winning goal in a 1-0 victory against Azerbaijan last Friday.

Now Sealy is focused on taking his purple patch of form into the February 9 encounter against the U.S. team.

“It’s a big, big game for us,” Sealy said. “Everyone in Trinidad knows about it and has been talking about it since the date was set. It’s all over the newspapers there already.”

Sealy scored 43 goals over his four years at Wake Forest, and has shown his ability to find the back of the nets. However, his work rate and maturity of the ball is a feature of the young striker’s game that has stood out.

That’s the thing,” Sealy said. “I do a lot of things that don’t fit the stereotype. The stereotypical view of a Caribbean player is that we play with flair and are fancy with our moves and all that.”

He added: “I play very simple. I can play with my back to the goal and get the midfielders involved by combination play, and try not to do too much dribbling.

Parika-Salem elects Executive Committee
THE Parika-Salem sports club last Saturday held its annual general meeting and elected Alvin Johnson as president and Shamaine John, secretary.

The rest of the executive committee is vice-president - Cosmo ‘Curtis’ Adams; treasurer - Stacy Williams; assistant secretary/treasurer- Terry Seepersaud and Public Relations/Marketing Officer-Sharon George.

Among the Organising Secretaries are Vibert Johnson (cricket), Jenneen Jacobs (circle tennis) and Lancedale Foster (indoor games).

Keion Lanferman and Brian Herbert are the Internal Auditors, while the representatives to the East Bank Essequibo Cricket Committee are Terry Seepersaud and Yougister Bachan.

The new Executive Committee will convene its first meeting this Saturday at 17:00 hrs.

Sanford bags 13 for 138 as Bajans crash to third defeat
By Keith Holder
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, (CMC) – Seamer Adam Sanford completed a 13-wicket haul as traditional regional first-class cricket kingpins Barbados crashed to their third successive defeat of the 2005 Carib Beer Cup championship when they were demolished by an innings and 14 runs by the Leeward Islands on the fourth and final day of the fourth round match yesterday.

With a deficit of 187, Sherwin Campbell’s side were bowled out 20 minutes before lunch for 173 on what was still an easy-paced Kensington Oval pitch.

Former West Indies player Sanford took two more wickets to finish with his best ever innings figures of seven for 40 as well as his best match haul of 13 for 138 to be the undisputed man-of-the-match.

Leeward Islands captain Sylvester Joseph paid tribute to his team as he pointed to the tremendous effort of the 29-year-old Sanford.

“First of all I have to say well done to the team. I thought that it was a very good team effort but as you can see, the togetherness in our batting and bowling, the partnerships that we had I thought they created a lot of pressure on the Bajans,” Joseph said.

“For the past two seasons they have been beating us and we were going all out (to win). We were fortunate that they lost their previous two games and we were just getting into our stride.

“We are so pleased that we can come out here and put things together on such a good batting wicket and I thought Adam Sanford really, really put us in a tremendous position the way that he bowled.”

Barbados captain Sherwin Campbell did not hide his disappointment as he again called on fans to be patient with the relatively inexperienced team.

“Obviously, this is very disappointing. To lose three games on the trot, obviously it hurts. I am not used to that,” former West Indies batsman Campbell said.

“I think I am getting respect from the players but one must understand that this is a young team and the guys are inexperienced at this level. We haven’t been playing together for a long time so they (fans) have to bear with us.

The guys are talented and it’s just a matter of time before we get things right on the pitch.”

The win carried the Leewards to 22 points and left Barbados still in the cellar on four points, gained from their completely rained-out match against the Windward Islands at the 3Ws Oval, Cave Hill.

The day started somewhat bizarre as there were two new batsmen in Kurt Wilkinson and Sulieman Benn. Patrick Browne fell off the last ball the previous evening but before the start of play yesterday his partner Ryan Austin was receiving treatment for dehydration from a doctor at the ground.

Ironically Wilkinson, who, himself, was unable to bat the previous evening because of illness, and Benn played relatively cautiously before Sanford struck. He forced left-hander Benn, who made three, into a drive and he edged a straightforward catch to first slip in Stuart Williams.

Wilkinson and Corey Collymore then added 24 in 14.1 overs before Wilkinson was snapped up at forward short-leg by Shane Jeffers off off-spinner Omari Banks for 13 after batting for 77 minutes and facing 56 deliveries.

Jason Bennett was bowled by Banks for three and soon after Austin came out with Bennett as his runner, Collymore fended Sanford who was brought back from the Malcolm Marshall end at the south, to second slip in Runako Morton off his third ball.
Collymore scored eight in 84 minutes and faced 63 balls.

BARBADOS first innings 292 (D. Richards 79, P. Browne 66; A. Sanford 6-98).

Leeward Islands first innings 479-6 declared (R. Jacobs 101 not out, S. Williams 95, O. Banks 75 not out, R. Morton 58, S. Jeffers 48, T. Willett 43).

BARBADOS second innings (o/n 140/6)
S. Campbell hit wicket b Sanford 0

M. Nurse b Sanford 7

D. Richards b Simon 45

S. Williams c Morton b Sanford 4

D. Smith c Joseph b Sanford 63

P. Browne lbw b Sanford 17

R. Austin not out 0

K. Wilkinson c Jeffers b Banks 13

S. Benn c Williams b Sanford 3

C. Collymore c Morton b Sanford 8

J. Bennett b Banks 3

Extras: (b-4, lb-1, pen5) 10

Total: (all out, 55.3 overs) 173

Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-25, 3-37, 4-83, 5-139, 6-140, 7-143, 9-173.

Bowling: Sanford 16.3-7-40-7, Jeremy 6-2-30-0, Simon 17-6-44-1, Banks 13-1-46-2, Cornwall 3-1-3-0.
Points: Leeward Islands 12, Barbados 0.

Holding says reliance on star batsman is nothing new
By Fazeer Mohammed
PERTH, Australia, (CMC) – Never one to mince words, Michael Holding has fired a verbal broadside at those continually lamenting the West Indies team’s reliance on the individual batting brilliance of Brian Lara.

“What I’d like to tell everybody is that Brian Lara is a part of the West Indies team, and Brian Lara, batting for the West Indies and getting a fantastic 150 is great for the West Indies team,” the former fast bowler observed in the aftermath of Lara’s 156 which lifted the West Indies to 339 for four against Pakistan last Friday in Adelaide and paved the way for a 58-run victory to keep their hopes alive of reaching the finals of the tri-nation VB Series.

“The team has done well occasionally without him performing,” Holding added.

“I’ll remind people of that Test Match again in Antigua when he didn’t perform anywhere near as everyone expected when they were chasing that total against Australia that became a world record. The West Indies team got the total without Brian Lara contributing significantly.”

Facing the prospect of a first-ever Test series clean sweep at home after losing the first three matches, the West Indies reached a target of 418 with three wickets in hand on the final morning of that 2003 Test series.

Lara scored 60 but Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Ramnaresh Sarwan amassed hundreds, while an unbroken eighth-wicket partnership between Vasbert Drakes and Omari Banks saw the hosts to the historic target.

Clearly irritated by the continuing reference to the West Indies as a “one-man team”, Holding, now a respected and forthright international television commentator, drew reference to his own time as a player when another star batsman dominated.

“I’ll remind people when other batsmen got runs, big runs, for instance I.V.A. (Viv) Richards,” he recalled. “When he got big runs for the West Indies, (there were times) when he would be the only one to get a century, and other people contributed forties and fifties. No one said then that it was I.V.A. Richards’ team.

They said it was the West Indies team and that I.V.A. Richards contributed greatly.

“Now, all of a sudden, everything is about Brian Lara as if Brian Lara is the only person in the West Indies team,” Holding continued. “He is the best batsman in the world, and you expect him and hope that he will continue to contribute greatly to the West Indies team, but the West Indies players have shown that they can win matches without him.”

Lara himself has repeatedly played down the continuing emphasis on his role in the regional side, reminding the Australian media that no team can rely on one man and that it takes a total team effort to gain success.

Not that it makes any real difference to most of the journalists and almost all the fans Down Under, for whom the Trinidadian remains the only instantly recognisable figure in a West Indian squad that hopes to change the “one-man team” image by the time they complete the Test series on the return trip to Australia at the end of the year.

Holder resigns as WICB Coaching Manager
ST JOHN'S, Antigua, (CMC) – Australian Darren Holder has resigned as Coaching Manager for the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) after less than a year in the job.

Holder, who joined the board in June 2004, is one of two departures from regional cricket’s governing body announced this past weekend.

Management Associate e-Commerce Operations Marita Laurent has also resigned.

The WICB stated in a release, Sunday, that Holder returns to his native Australia due to a recent significant change in the circumstances surrounding his personal life, while Laurent, who assumed office in 2001, has decided to seek other opportunities.

In expressing his “grave disappointment” at having to leave his position, Holder said that he enjoyed his stint in the Caribbean and deeply regretted he would not be able to continue the work he has begun.

“However there are things in life that are more important than cricket as the present situation at home has clearly demonstrated to me,” he added.

Laurent expressed her appreciation for the opportunity to broaden her professional experience, which her job presented.

Chief Executive Officer of the WICB, Roger Brathwaite thanked both officers for their contributions to the development of West Indies cricket on and off the field.

“Darren had begun to make his presence felt and it is a pity that we should lose his services at this time but we fully understand and support the young man’s decision,” he said.

The CEO pointed to Holder’s work with the West Indies Women’s Cricket team preparing for the World Cup in South Africa, the Level II Coaching courses he conducted and his involvement with the fast bowlers in the West Indies pre-tour training camp and in the run-up to the current VB Series as examples of his contribution.

“Ms Laurent’s contribution to the WICB’s website as well as to the marketing side of our operations was well appreciated,” the CEO said.

Bangladeshis in double celebration ...
Crush Zimbabwe to seal first ODI Series triumph
DHAKA, Bangladesh (Reuters) - Bangladesh, fresh from winning their first Test series, made it a double celebration by crushing Zimbabwe by eight wickets in their fifth one-day international yesterday to take the series 3-2.

Set 199 to win, Aftab Ahmed led the way with a blistering 81 not out off 87 balls while Mohammad Rafique made 72 off 66 balls, hitting 52 in boundaries, as the home side won with 17 overs to spare.

The pair tore the Zimbabwe bowling apart during a 150-run stand after the early loss of Nafis Iqbal in the third over.

The match was all but settled between the fourth and eighth over of the home team's reply as the score leapt from 18 for one to 71 without further loss.

Medium-pacer Elton Chigumbura was the chief sufferer. Brought on to stem the run flow, he managed one over before being taken off. Ahmed launched his first ball for six over fine leg and four more boundaries followed as 24 came off Chigumbura's six balls.

Bangladesh, who had been 2-0 down in the series, moved on to 85 after 10 overs and 141 for one after 20.

Chigumbura returned to remove Rafique, top-edging to short mid-wicket in the 25th over, but the home side cruised home, captain Habibul Bashar hitting the winning boundary.

Bangladesh, who hold the world record for 47 consecutive one-dayers without a win, won the two-match Test series 1-0.

Earlier Barney Rogers had hit 84 out of Zimbabwe's 198, striking seven fours and a six in a 120-ball stay. He was one of only four batsmen to reach double figures as the last seven wickets collapsed for 37.

Zimbabwe skipper Tatenda Taibu elected to bat in front of a capacity crowed and his side were frustrated by Bangladesh's battery of left-arm spinners.

They seemed to have recovered from the early loss of Stuart Matsikenyeri, however, to reach 161 for three in the 41st over.

But Rogers' departure, stumped by keeper Khaled Mashud off spinner Enamul Haque Jn, sparked a procession which also included two run-outs.

ZIMBABWE

S.Matsikenyeri lbw b Hossain 5

B.Rogers stp. Mashud b Haque Jr 84

H.Masakadza c and b M.Islam Rana 23

B.Taylor lbw b Rafique 36

T.Taibu b Mortaza 31

E.Chigumbura c and b Haque Jr 1

V.Sibanda lbw b Rafique 1

M.Nkala c Haque Jr b Hossain 8

T.Panyangara run-out 1

P.Utseya run-out 1

C.Mpofu not out 1

Extras: (lb-2, w-3, nb-1) 6

Total: (all out, 49 overs) 198

Fall of wickets: 1-12, 2-44, 3-139, 4-161, 5-165, 6-168, 7-184, 8-187, 9-191.

Bowling: Mashrafe Mortaza 9-1-42-1 (w-1), Nazmul Hossain 9-1-51-2, Manjural Islam Rana 10-2-21-1, Mohammad Rafique 10-1-34-2 (w-1), Enamul Haque jnr 10-0-39-2 (nb-1, w-1), Alok Kapali 1-0-9-0.

BANGLADESH

M.Rafique c Utseya b Chigumbura 72

N.Iqbal b Panyangara 9

A.Ahmed not out 81

H.Bashar not out 34

Extras: (lb-1, w-3, nb-2) 6

Total: (for two wickets, 33 overs) 202

Fall of wickets: 1-11, 2-161.

Bowling: Panyangara 8-0-49-1 (nb-2, w-1), Mpofu 3-0-24-0, Chigumbura 6-1-49-1, Nkala 3-0-22-0 (w-2), Utseya 9-1-29-0 Rogers 3-0-24-0, Masakadza 1-0-4-0.

UEFA considers new qualification process for Euro 2008
LONDON, England (Reuters) - Teams that finish as low as third in their qualifying groups for Euro 2008 could still reach the finals if UEFA agrees a new qualification process for the tournament tomorrow.

UEFA's executive committee may decide to have seven qualifying groups, with the winners qualifying automatically for the finals and the second- and third-placed teams playing off for the right to join them.

With co-hosts Austria and Switzerland qualifying automatically, there are 50 countries chasing the remaining 14 places in the finals.

UEFA is considering having six qualifying groups of seven teams and one group of eight.

In a bid to keep the competition alive to the closing stages, only the winners would qualify automatically while the second- and third-placed teams would go into a play-off round.

William Gaillard, UEFA's director of communications, said: "This is one proposal which the executive committee will discuss tomorrow. They may of course decide against it, but it is on the agenda."

The executive committee will also discuss proposals to stipulate how many ‘homegrown’ players should be included in club squads in the future.

Worried too many teams are losing their national identities UEFA wants a number of players, developed through local youth systems either at club or national level, included in squads in the future.

They also want first team squads restricted to 25 players as is the case with clubs taking part in the Champions League.

The proposal will be on the agenda at UEFA's annual congress in Tallinn in April and may run into opposition from the European Union which could deem it a restriction on trade.

The executive committee, who are meeting at UEFA's headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, will also consider which cities will host the European club finals in 2006 and 2007.

Gebrselassie signs three-year London contract
By John Mehaffey
LONDON, England (Reuters) - Haile Gebrselassie, the finest distance runner in history, has signed a three-year contract with London marathon organisers prior to a possible attempt at the 2008 Beijing Olympics gold.

The 31-year-old Ethiopian said yesterday he would compete in the 25th edition of the world's best big city marathon on April 17 after completing a half-marathon in Spain on Sunday.

Gebrselassie retired from the track last year when an Achilles tendon injury thwarted his attempt to win a third consecutive Olympic 10 000 metres gold at the Athens Games.

"It is quite a coup for us to secure Haile's presence for the next three years," said race director David Bedford. "It guarantees a quality race no matter what."

During a glittering career, starting with the first of four consecutive world 10 000 titles in 1993, Gebrselassie has set 18 world records.

Troubled by an injured left Achilles tendon, sustained while training on a 15-year-old track in Addis Ababa, he finished fifth in Athens behind team-mates Kenenisa Bekele and Sileshi Sihine, the gold and silver medallists respectively.

After an operation last September, Gebrselassie confirmed his fitness for London by clocking one hour one minute 46 seconds for a half-marathon in Almeria on Sunday.

He will run further half-marathons in Spain on February 6 and in Lisbon seven days' later.

BEST EVER
London organisers believe they have assembled the best marathon field ever anywhere in the world, including the last five winners.

Kenya's world record holder Paul Tergat, who finished second to Gebrselassie in two Olympic and two world 10 000 finals, will also compete along with Olympic gold medallist Stefano Baldini of Italy and world champion Jaouad Gharib of Morocco.

"This is the Olympic final we should have had," said Bedford.

Gebrselassie also equated the London event to the Olympics.

"To win London means to win the Olympic Games," he said. "If I didn't think I could win I would not be here."

Gebrselassie made his marathon debut in the 2002 London race, where he clocked two hours six minutes 35 seconds, still the sixth fastest time ever.

He said yesterday he thought he could reduce Tergat's record of 2:04:55 to 2:03.

"It's not a big deal," he said. "Maybe soon."

The men's and women's world records have fallen in London and this year the course has been made quicker by avoiding the cobblestones near Tower Hill.

Ultimately, Gebrselassie would like to follow in the footsteps of compatriots Abebe Bikila, Mamo Wolde and Gezahgne Abera and win the Olympic title in the ultimate distance race.

He has not yet decided whether he will run in this year's world championship event in Helsinki but said he was thinking seriously about the Beijing Olympics race.

"I've got three years here and then we shall see," he said.

Clarke wins Allan Border medal
SYDNEY, Australia (Reuters) - Australia's new cricketing sensation, Michael Clarke, received the Allan Border medal yesterday as the country's best player over the past year.

Clarke won the award at a gala dinner in Melbourne ahead of batsman Damien Martyn and wicketkeeper-batsman Adam Gilchrist in a poll of team-mates, umpires and media.

Martyn was named Test player for the year and Andrew Symonds the best one-day player, just ahead of Clarke and Michael Kasprowicz.

Discarded international bowler Andy Bichel was named as the leading player from the domestic interstate competition, while former Test wicketkeeper Rod Marsh and the late Clem Hill were inducted into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame.

Glenn McGrath (2000), Steve Waugh (2001), Matthew Hayden (2002), Gilchrist (2003) and Ricky Ponting (2004) are previous winners of Australian cricket's most prestigious award.

At 23, Clarke became the youngest player to win it. He made his one-day international debut against England two years ago and his Test debut less than four months ago.

Clarke made 151 on his Test debut against India in Bangalore and also captured six wickets for nine runs in the same series. He scored a hundred in his first Test on home soil against New Zealand and made two one-day hundreds in the voting period.

"The last 12 months has been unbelievable for me," Clarke told reporters.

"There's going to come times when I do not score runs and I'm not going to perform, I'm going to drop catches, I'm going to miss run-outs ... so I think I just need to keep enjoying this special time."

Martyn scored 1 373 Test runs at an average of 59.70, including six centuries. Justin Langer was second despite finishing 2004 as the world's leading run-scorer.

Brazilian season claims second major coaching victim
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (Reuters) - The 10-day old Brazilian season claimed its second major coaching victim yesterday when Ponte Preta fired Nene Santana and replaced him with Oswaldo Alvarez.

The Campinas-based club announced the change on their official website following Saturday's 2-2 draw with local rivals Guarani. Santana had been in charge since last August.

Ponte Preta have taken only one point from their first four games in the Paulista championship, one of the regional tournaments which precede the Brazilian championship.

They were the second of the teams who will play in this year's Brazilian first division to change coach, Paysandu having last week fired Agnaldo de Jesus after three games and replaced him with Roberto Cavalo.

The Brazilian championship gets under way in April. The competition last year claimed 42 victims -- four alone at Guarani and three apiece at Atletico Mineiro, Gremio and Flamengo -- with another 12 having followed in the close season.

Colombia beat Brazil to reach world youth championship
PEREIRA, Colombia, (Reuters) - Colombia became the first South American country to book their place at this year's world youth championship by upsetting Brazil 1-0 in the South American Under-20 tournament.

Leading scorer Hugo Rodallega scored his ninth goal in seven outings early in the second half as the hosts made sure of their place with two matches to play. The top four teams qualify.

Rodallega, who plays for Quindio, broke clear of the Brazil defence and rounded goalkeeper Renan.

Brazil's Diego de Souza and Colombia's Wason Renteria were sent off for fighting in the 71st minute of a bad-tempered clash.

Colombia have three wins from three matches in the six-team final stage. Brazil are second with six points and need one more to join Colombia in the Netherlands in June. Argentina, held 0-0 by neighbours Uruguay, are third with five points followed by Chile (four), Uruguay (one) and Venezuela (nought).

Arsenal look to end Manchester United hoodoo
By Trevor Huggins
LONDON, England (Reuters) - Champions Arsenal will look for revenge against Manchester United this week when the clubs renew one of the bitterest rivalries in English football.

Two nights of Premier League action begin today with Arsenal hoping to end a run of painful defeats by Alex Ferguson's side in a showcase meeting at Highbury.

It will also be a chance to set aside some of the ill-feelings stirred up by past meetings, most recently in the so-called Battle of the Buffet at Old Trafford in October.

As if extra spice was needed, the game would also give the winners a valuable edge in the race to finish second behind runaway title favourites Chelsea and claim the other automatic place in next season's Champions League.

With second-placed Arsenal just a point ahead of United, a win for Arsene Wenger's side would give them a useful cushion, while defeat would deal a punishing body blow to team morale.

Arsenal will certainly want to avenge their disappointments over the past two seasons at the hands of the FA Cup holders.

United's 2-0 victory in October ended Arsenal's record 49-match unbeaten league run and triggered a mini-crisis in which Wenger's men won only three of their next 10 games.

Off the pitch at Old Trafford, Ferguson was reportedly pelted with pizza in the players' tunnel, sparking a furore that was re-ignited recently by the United manager.

Equally painful was Arsenal's FA Cup semifinal defeat last season by United at Villa Park, dashing the north Londoners' hopes of lifting the trophy in three consecutive seasons.

UNITED LEVEL
That tie came only a week after United had denied Arsenal a morale-boosting victory in the league at Highbury with Louis Saha's late equaliser in a 1-1 draw.

Six months earlier, the two sides were at loggerheads in a bad-tempered 0-0 draw at Old Trafford which led to an ugly fracas and the subsequent banning of four Arsenal players and a 175 000 pounds ($329 400) fine for their club.

Arsenal skipper Patrick Vieira was sent off while a missed late penalty by United's Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy kept Arsenal's then fledgling unbeaten run in tact.

Given the recent history between the sides, which also includes a few notable spats between their respective managers, it will not be a game for the faint-hearted.

However, the likes of Arsenal striker Thierry Henry and United forward Wayne Rooney, who scored two stunning goals in Saturday's 3-0 FA Cup win over Middlesbrough, should also mean there will be no shortage of skill either.

The game will be of passing interest to Chelsea, whose 10-point lead at the top would rise to 12 if there was a deadlock at Highbury yesterday followed by a win for Jose Mourinho's men at Blackburn Rovers today.

Certainly, everything has been falling into place for Chelsea this season.

Along with their commanding lead at the top, Chelsea are through to the FA Cup fifth round, the knockout stages of the Champions League and the League Cup final, where they are strongly favoured to beat Liverpool on February 27.

Fourth-placed Everton are at home to relegation battlers Norwich City on tomorrow and should keep Merseyside rivals Liverpool at a safe seven-point distance in the race for the final slot in next season's Champions League qualifiers.
Liverpool are away to Charlton Athletic today.

Pakistan security team end pre-tour inspection
By N.Ananthanarayanan
NEW DELHI, India (Reuters) - A Pakistani security delegation has concluded its inspection of venues in the run-up to their cricket team's first Test tour of India in six years starting next month.

The Pakistan team, set to arrive on February 25, will play three Tests and five one-dayers. The Indian board has announced the venues but the dates for the matches have not been finalised.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) official Zakir Khan and security expert Sohail Khan described the week-long trip as "informative and successful" but declined to say if they had security concerns over the volatile city of Ahmedabad.

The controversial pick for a Test, Ahmedabad is the main city of the western Gujarat state, which was rocked by India's worst communal riots for a decade in 2002.

"There has not been any controversy over our looking at things in Ahmedabad," Sohail Khan, told Reuters. "As far as the controversy goes you read it through the press."

The two officials, who ended their visit by inspecting the Ferozeshah Kotla ground yesterday, will give their report to PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan later this week.

Sohail Khan felt security concerns for Pakistan players and visiting fans were easing with the warming of political ties between the two hostile neighbours.

The Indian government lifted a ban imposed in 2000 on bilateral cricket with Pakistan, paving the way for India's highly popular first Test tour of Pakistan for over 14 years in March-April last year.

POSITIVE CHANGE
"There has been a positive change after the Indian team's visit to Pakistan," Sohail Khan said.

"The way things were in Pakistan, response by the public there, there is a certain element of reciprocity among Indian public."

Indian board officials said Pakistan would have nothing to worry about during their first Test tour since 1999.

"We met external affairs ministry officials today and they've assured us full cooperation," board vice-president Rajeev Shukla told reporters.

Nearly 10 000 Pakistan fans are expected to travel across the border for the series and the government has assured that special visa offices would be set up in Karachi and Lahore, he said.

"The government is also considering running special trains, particularly for the Mohali Test, even special flights if needed.

The Pakistan officials, however, expressed concern on whether construction would be completed at New Delhi's Ferozeshah Kotla in time to stage the fifth and final one-dayer on April 9.

"The boards will definitely discuss this," Zakir Khan said. "The wicket takes time and it has to be tested by playing. It should not be a sub-standard pitch."

Delhi cricket official Chetan Chauhan said the March 20 deadline for getting the stadium ready would be met.

Murali faces new shoulder operation
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (Reuters) - Sri Lanka spinner Muttiah Muralitharan faces up to 10 weeks on the sidelines after his surgeon recommended immediate surgery on his shoulder injury to avoid long-term tendon damage.

Muralitharan travelled to Melbourne, Australia, to see Dr David Young, Sri Lanka Cricket's surgeon, straight after playing in a three-match tsunami fundraising series in New Zealand during which he complained of severe pain in his bowling shoulder.

When the shoulder, which was operated on last August to drain a painful cyst, was scanned, Young identified a torn muscle tendon that needed to be operated on swiftly to prevent a longer lay-off from the game.

"Murali has a torn tendon in his shoulder and he will be having surgery in the next 24-48 hours in Melbourne," said Kushil Gunasekera, Muralitharan's manager, yesterday.

Muralitharan, who missed several tours in 2004 because of shoulder problems, has been told he will be out of action for another eight to 10 weeks, which means that he is a serious doubt for Sri Lanka's rescheduled tour of New Zealand in April.

The 32-year-old off-spinner will hope to be fit enough by mid-April to start his third season of county cricket in England with Lancashire.

Defiant Gough keeps on talking a good game
By Ken Borland
JOHANNESBURG, SA (Reuters) - England bowler Darren Gough does not subscribe to the view that his body is gradually falling apart.

"I've had a few problems with my knee, but I've learnt how to handle it. It takes a bit of time to get going in the morning, but I don't need any strapping," the 34-year-old says with trademark optimism.

"I just do strength work and go to Germany three times a year for injections. I didn't run for three years, but now I go for one just about every day."

Gough, once a fast bowler but now sliding reluctantly into the fast-medium category, has been written off repeatedly since undergoing a string of knee operations in 2002.

His 229-wicket Test career, indeed, is already over. Battling back to fitness when it seemed easier to retire, he was offered a two-match swansong in 2003 but then quit, deciding to prolong his shelf life as a one-day specialist.

Gough has clung on to that one-day berth and took two for 27 in 10 overs against South Africa in the first of seven one-day internationals at the weekend.

"I always have a point to prove, but not in a nasty way, hopefully it's with a bit of humour," he told reporters yesterday.

"I know that once you're over 30 people want you out, but I must be doing something right because the selectors, the captain and the coach all want me in the team.

"I keep working and even though I'm going on 35, I'm still trying to improve. It's the simple things you have to make sure you're doing right, because you can get a bit lazy. I've been working on that and I think it's been reflected in my accuracy."

The veteran of 143 one-day internationals believes he can play a part for England in the 2007 World Cup, even if many of his critics do not -- "it's not that far ahead and I certainly haven't ruled it out" -- but he accepts that he has some very useful younger rivals.

Steve Harmison and James Anderson both struggled during the Tests against South Africa, but Gough, who has taken 216 wickets at 25.49 in one-day internationals, had words of support.

"Confidence plays a big part in fast bowling, especially after a couple of games haven't gone your way," he says.

"I don't think Steve Harmison is doing that much wrong, he had two catches dropped on the last day of the last Test. It goes in spells and he's a quality bowler. He's going to take wickets sooner rather than later."

Anderson was only selected for one of the five Tests but Gough added: "Jimmy will come back a lot stronger and better bowler. Playing cricket is what he needs and hopefully he can get a run of games with Lancashire when the new season begins.

"But I've not seen any bowler in the world who can bowl the sort of balls he can -- they're looking as if they going at leg-stump and then they hit off.”