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ARCHIVES FOR OCTOBER 01, 2009

GPSU President hopes for
The beginning of an era of genuine cooperation and collaboration
By Priya Nauth
The 18th Biennial Delegates’ Conference of the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) opened yesterday underscoring the important role that public servants play in the development of Guyana.

GPSU President Patrick Yarde addresses the opening session .

The three-day exercise opened at the Pegasus Hotel in Kingston Georgetown, under the theme “Uniting to Overcome Social, Economic and Political Injustices Confronting the Union and its Membership”.

President of the GPSU, Mr. Patrick Yarde, took the opportunity to express appreciation to President Bharrat Jagdeo and his government for the contribution and support towards the conference and for the hosting of a reception for delegates last evening.

“We interpret this gesture as an acknowledgement of the invaluable contribution and support public servants give every day to the government,” he observed.

“Further, we recognise this as an illustration of how much can be achieved if the GPSU can be treated and interact with government as a social partner,” he added.

Head of the Presidential secretariat Dr. Roger Luncheon, at right, and GPSU President Patrick Yarde at the opening of the Delegates’ Conference yesterday.

He said this can only be achieved when both parties trust each other and then public servants will be willing to work, galvanise and mobilise their energies, experiences and skills to promote Guyana’s development.

Yarde said, “This is how we interpret the government’s gesture and we hope that this marks the beginning of an era of genuine practical cooperation and collaboration in which no side loses sight of the need for improvement in the conditions of public servants generally, and for the sustained development of a vital economy without which our demands cannot be met.”

He noted that in the face of serious challenges, the GPSU has responded meaningfully to them over an unbroken period of 86 years.

Noting that although the nature of the challenges have changed and evolved over time, he insisted that the union has remain faithful to its fundamental principles to contribute to promoting and safeguarding the interests of its members and the public.

“This is a challenge in the face of serious difficulties in the Guyanese society which has not been met very easily. Contrary to our national motto ‘One People, One Nation, One Destiny’, we remain divided and fractured along social, economic and political lines with negative consequences for our progress towards a cohesive nation,” he observed.

Yarde reiterated the union’s commitment to struggle for the social, political and economic well-being of its members and the working class.

He spoke of a number of achievements among the union’s membership over the years, including respect for its members and fellow trade unions nationally, regionally and internationally; respect, regard and recognition from the governments of Guyana for its uncompromising stand on the rights of workers; a strong infrastructural and organisational base including a multi-ethnic diverse leadership with a strong youth group being mentored for the future; appointment of union representatives on boards of government agencies; representation on the Public Service Commission; and unification of the public service.

However, Yarde stressed that in spite of these accomplishments, the union is still faced with a number of problems and challenges.

The GPSU President reminded that over the years, the union has re-emphasised the important role that public servants play in the country’s development.

“Public servants keep the wheels of government turning, they keep the country running,” he insisted, and noted that the union has conducted a study of a basket of necessity and is convinced that there is need for an urgent review if public servants are to exist above “the poverty line”.

He urged that over the course of the conference, delegates should dedicate themselves to devising strategies to address and overcome the difficulties identified and how improvements could be made.

“This requires that focus be placed on desirable changes in the Guyanese society and may require adjustment and changes in the structure and operations of our union,” he underscored.

He said of interest and concern to the union is the “serious rift which continues to exist in the local labour movement” and the “narrow political considerations which continue to influence and formulate the implementation of public policies” which do not serve the public interest.

He said during deliberations, a number of motions will be considered which cover a wide spectrum of problems and issues which have constantly been discussed.

“May the results of the deliberations of the 18th Biennial Delegates’ Conference of our union impact positively not only on the GPSU and its membership, but beyond, to impact on our country and the people of Guyana whom we must re-commit to serve,” he concluded.

Work together
Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr. Roger Luncheon, declaring the conference open, taking cognizance of the series of observations and concerns of the GPSU President, noted the constructive approach suggested which accords well with the intensions of the administration.

He said, “We cannot pander to old dogmas”, but have to go the extra mile and be innovative and work together to find acceptable solutions to the emerging challenges.

“These are tough times that we are facing and it calls for stern leadership, it calls for great commitment and profound sacrifices, once we present a vision that is the basis for the support that is needed by our people,” he put forward.

Reflecting on the administration’s work over the years, he reiterated, “We all have a role to play, this role has to be played together, in concert, and the objective is national development.”

Maintaining that the administration is “rooted in the working class identity”, he stated, “The issue here is to reconcile the interest of these many players to get a win-win situation.”

Among those present were Minister of Labour Mr. Manzoor Nadir; Leader of the Opposition People’s National Congress Reform Mr. Robert Corbin, Head of the Private Sector Commission Captain Gerry Gouveia, Permanent Secretary of the Office of the President Dr. Nanda Gopaul, trade unionists, and members of the Diplomatic Corps.

All set for GuyExpo opening
By Priya Nauth
ALL is set for Guyana’s largest local trade and investment exposition which opens today, promising to be a packed event with ‘a total difference’ this year.

Work ongoing at the main entrance to the exhibition site

The highly-anticipated GuyExpo 2009 to be hosted at its traditional venue, the National Exhibition Centre at Sophia, Georgetown, under the theme ‘Promoting Business in a Low Carbon Environment”, runs until October 6.

Speaking to the Guyana Chronicle yesterday at his South Road office , Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Mr. Manniram Prashad, said that everything is set and well-organised for Guyexpo 2009.

He said there are more than 250 booths, noting, “This year’s exposition is one with a difference. It is almost transformed completely in the sense of what we have to offer this year.”

He said in the annex there will be 96 craft producers’ booths which have been built to specification and standards so as to ensure easy access and flow for patrons to view the products on display.

Minister Prashad said that in the main pavilion, for the first time ever, there are international booths.

He said there are about close to 100 of such booths in the main pavilion and the international pavilion.

Finishing touches are put on at a booth.

“The whole exhibition is taking things to another level and importantly also for the first time ever, we will be having an international food court,” he disclosed.

Prashad said a wide variety of cuisine will be available, including Brazilian, Malaysian, Chinese, Indian and Jamaican.

He said small carts and such will be prohibited around the compound and strict security will be made available to monitor such activities; the whole Guyexpo compound is” well laid out” with a new stage and washroom facilities up to date.

“The entire exhibition area has been transformed and there are more open spaces for people to sit and relax,” he told this newspaper.

He said Mike Charles will be showcasing different aspects of Guyana, and also there will be a surprise exhibition for Guyana’s ambitious Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS).

He acknowledged the five main sponsors: Banks DIH, Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL), Ansa McAl, Digicel and Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GT&T).

Assuring that there will be a host of activities for the entire family, Prashad underscored that there will be lots of activities for children to indulge in, with Banks DIH putting up a ‘fun park’.

He said Guyexpo will have a host of new things happening, and in keeping with the objective of showcasing Guyana’s excellence and local produce for export, a seminar will be conducted tomorrow, in collaboration with Guyana Office for Investment (GO-INVEST) and the Private Sector, during which exhibitors and investors from the Caribbean and further a field will be briefed on Guyana’s business climate and how to do business here.

He said this seminar will draw about 100 participants from overseas, from St. Lucia, Barbados, Jamaica, India, China, Suriname, Venezuela, Brazil and South Africa.

In terms of security arrangements, the committee has been working with the police to ensure that all arrangements are in place, and also traffic arrangements have been made with Duncan and Garnett Streets being used for going into the exhibition site, and Dennis Street for leaving, to ensure that traffic flows easily.

Against this backdrop, he said that Caribbean Airlines is sponsoring a free ticket every night, to any part of the Caribbean or South America, and so patrons are asked to retain their half tickets for a chance to win a free trip, with the drawing on stage every night between 22:00h and 23:00h.

The major trade show, which was inaugurated in 1995, aims to create the enabling environment for businesses to develop and grow by advertising locally produced goods and services to local and foreign investors.

It has since grown vastly in attendance, participation and scope, and has become a national calendar event, attracting interest from the Caribbean and further afield.

Two new magistrates sworn
THE judicial system was strengthened yesterday when two new magistrates were sworn.

‘TWO NEW MAGISTRATES’: Ms. Adela Nagamootoo (left) and Ms. Omeyana Hamilton at the swearing-in ceremony yesterday.

Twenty-six-year-old Omeyana Hamilton and Adela Nagamootoo, 29, took the oath in the presence of Prime Minister Samuel Hinds at his Wight’s Lane, Kingston, Georgetown office.

The Guyana Chronicle understands that both will be serving in the West Demerara District, until two serving magistrates return from leave.

Ms. Hamilton told reporters she has four years experience in practising law and her first posting was in the Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) as a State Prosecutor.

She also was attached to the Guyana Legal Aid Clinic.

Hamilton said she sees her new assignment as a means by which she can serve the country at a higher level.

“It is a good opportunity for me to serve the people of Guyana,” she said.

Ms. Nagamootoo, who has seen practice in the High Court and Magistrates’ Courts for close to three years, is the daughter of Mr. Moses Nagamootoo, who is also an attorney-at-law, Member of Parliament (MP) and the Central Committee of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP).

In brief remarks to the media, she said she is looking forward to working in the Judiciary.

Acting Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Carl Singh and Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson were at the swearing-in ceremony, too.

For more agriculture cultivation…
Canada aiding reforestation project underway at Madhia
By Clifford Stanley
A REFORESTATION project in Region Eight (Potaro/Siparuni), intended to serve as a model for transforming land made barren by mining back into green foliage and vegetation, is proceeding apace..

Students of the Mahdia Secondary school view the manure making process for the reforestation project.

The work is being undertaken by Guyana Environmental Capacity Development Project (GENCAPD), in collaboration with Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), Guyana Forestry Commission, Ministry of Agriculture and University of Guyana (UG), at St. Elizabeth, Mahdia.

The aim is to plant 1,600 trees in a sterile mined out area and use the experience to advise miners, who will be required by law, to do similarly on completion of their operations at their allotted locations.

Spearheading the scheme is soil scientist, Mr. Mortimer Livan, who said the ultimate objective is to develop a ‘TECHPAK’, or technology transfer package, which will enable large and medium scale miners to comply with the regulations in relation to care of the environment and, more particularly, to reforest mined out sites.

“The GGMC has indicated that agreement on reclamation is a major condition for acquisition of a mining permit,”he said.

Under the extant law, miners are compelled to make a deposit into an environmental bond on being given permission to mine and they can lose the substantial sum lodged, if they fail to facilitate reclamation on concluding their mining.

Transforming Moonscape: An intern on the reforestation project checks an acacia tree one of 1600 targeted to be planted between now and early next year.

“So the project is aimed at assisting miners with the technology and the expertise for satisfying this requirement when they close their operations. It is a pilot project. We want to show them what has to be done,”Livan said.

He said similar requirements are in place for miners in many countries worldwide and, locally, they are intended to be educational not only for miners but for residents in the Mahdia area, as well.

Livan said people living there are presently being taught how to make compost or manure for the purpose of learning the technology in the process.

The group includes schoolchildren who can use the compost in gardening asnd he said the expectation is that the knowledge will propel those living in the predominantly white sand area into high yielding agricultural production of vegetables and food crops at minimal cost, without expenditure on fertilizer.

Livan is being assisted with the supervision by two UG students and one from Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA).

The trees being planted are the acacia type, a species known as capable of enriching the soil with atmospheric oxygen to encourage the planting of more demanding food crops.

So far, 100 trees have been planted and 1,500 more are to be made available for planting during the first two weeks of October.

INTER-CROPPING
The planters are looking at the possibility of cultivating other crops, such as cassava in the process of inter-cropping or alley cropping to make full use of the unique qualities of the acacia.

The UG students are ensuring that there are maximum growth rates during the current El Nino season, as the area is to be fully reforested by early next year and the findings and observations will be made known to all stakeholders in the mining industry, Livan said.

The GENCAPD undertaking is a mining assistance programme for the Government and people of Guyana, being funded by the Government of Canada through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).

The intention is to build the environmental management capacity of mineral industry institutions in this country and the Canadian Centre for Minerals and Energy Technology (CANMET), a division of Natural Resources Canada is providing technical and management assistance.

The reforesting is one of a number of GENCAPD projects currently ongoing or imminent. Others identified are a feasibility study on the use of cyanide by small and medium scale miners; a malaria reduction programme using certain forms of bacteria; studies and advisories on diet for pregnant women in relation to mercury levels in mining or nearby communities and trapping and exporting of ornamental fish as an alternative or complementary economic activity to mining.

The current GENCAPD one, in the second phase of the Canadian assistance programme, started in April 2007 and is slated to end in September 2010.

At annual fair…
Education Ministry introduces school health, nutrition, HIV/AIDS policy
By Vanessa Narine
THE Ministry of Education has introduced a School Health, Nutrition and HIV/AIDS policy, which is to be implemented countrywide.

Minister of Education, Mr. Shaik Baksh made the announcement yesterday at the Ministry’s annual health fair.

He said the policy was developed in conjunction with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), the World Bank and other stakeholders.

According to him, the aim is to promote and facilitate the implementation of health and nutrition programming and HIV prevention throughout the education sector.

He said its creation was informed by the Rapid Situation Analysis of the Education Sector’s response to HIV/AIDS in the context of school health, conducted in October and November of 2007.

The study was designed through consultation with members of the school community, educators, school boards, administrators, learners, support staff, Parent Teachers Associations (PTAs) and faith-based organisations, among others.

Issues addressed in the policy are the roles and responsibilities of different stakeholders involved in school health and nutrition and HIV prevention; life skills based education; safe and sanitary school environments; school health and nutrition services and health, nutrition and HIV/AIDS related school policies.
EMBEDDED
Guiding the formation was the goal of ‘Education for All’ and Baksh said it must be embedded in the school system, as healthy children are better positioned for success.

The strategy underscored several facts, primary amongst them is that good nutrition and health are not only essential inputs but are also important outcomes of basic good quality education, he explained.

It applies not only to all students but to teachers, non-teaching staff, managers, employers and other providers of education and training in all public and private, formal and informal educational institutions and in every part of the education sector.

In that context, Baksh cited the need for strengthened partnerships to effect successful implementation, because the objective cannot be achieved by Education alone but by a multi-faceted approach.

Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) Country Representative, Dr. Kathleen Israel echoed the same sentiments.

She lauded the Ministry initiative that will facilitate the introduction of a framework to address good health and nutrition, which factors are integral to good education.

Israel pledged the continued support of PAHO in the quest for school health.

She said there is no nobler cause than that of meeting the needs of young people to develop their potential and mould them into productive citizens.

Chief Planning Officer in the Education Ministry, Mrs. Evelyn Hamilton reiterated that the new policy is in recognition of the need to deal with the whole child.

She said it is another of many avenues to aid the development of schoolchildren.

The other ways include a massive HIV awareness campaign in 2005 and efforts currently underway to sustain it; a vision screening programme that provided care and treatment for approximately 8,000 persons; hearing screening and an entry level screening at nursery and primary levels which, besides being a mini-health check, was a way of advocating the importance of health.
“These efforts are a comprehensive response to the child,” Hamilton stated.

Claim that dismissal was based on race, fails
Yasin’s action against Guyana Lottery Company dismissed
JUSTICE Roxanne George yesterday handed down a judgment stating that the claim for damages by Mohamed Fazloor Yasin against the Guyana Lottery Company Ltd., for allegedly dismissing him on the basis of race, among other things, was misconceived and without merit.

The claim was dismissed with $75,000 costs to the defendant.

The plaintiff, a former sales representative with the company, says in his statement of claim that “he was wrongfully and unfairly dismissed on the basis of his race and because of complaints of racial and ethnic discrimination which he made against the defendant to the Ethnic Relations Commission and the press, contrary to and in breach of section 8 of the Temination of Employment and Severance Pay Act, No. 19 odf 1997”

He therefore claimed damages for wrongful dismissal, damages for breach of contract , damages for breach of statutory duty , interest and other just and reasonable reliefs and costs.

The plaintiff was represented by Attorney-at-law Mr. Anil Nandlall while the defendant was represented by Mr. Edward Luckhoo, S.C.

The defendant denies the plaintiff’s claim and contends that apart from duties specifically outlined in the agreement of employment dated April 4, 1997, there was an implied duty that the plaintiff, as manager, would keep company matters confidential and would act in the interest of the company at all times .

The defendant contended that in breach of this duty, the plaintiff disclosed information relating to the defendant in the public domain by the publication of letters in the newspapers. The defendant therefore contended that the plaintiff’s conduct amounted to serious misconduct within the meaning of Termination of Employment and Severance Pay Act No. 19 of 1997,warranting summary dismissal.

Continuing her judgment, the judge said that the defendant also contended that despite its view that the plaintiff should have been summarily dismissed, by letter dated January 17, 2006, pursuant to the provisions of his terms of employment, and in compliance with the TESPA, the defendant gave the plaintiff three months pay in lieu of notice, severance benefits and entitlements totaling $1,403,666 which he accepted.

Among other things, Justice George, in her judgment, had said, ”An assessment of the evidenced led in this case leads me to the inescapable conclusion that the plaintiff’s case is without merit.

There is absolutely no evidence that the cause of dismissal was because of racial discrimination or because of the plaintiff’s report to the ERC about racial discrimination at the defendant company.

The judge added, “Í must also mention that much of the submissions made by Mr. Nandlall had no evidential basis and therefore could not be considered in a determination of the issues in this case.

The plaintiff’s claim is therefore dismissed as being totally misconceived with costs to the defendant in the sum of $75, 000.

Curbing truancy is a crucial task
Curbing truancy is a crucial task of any society because it is breeding ground for the development of criminals and other anti-social activities and destruction of the future of children. And by extension lay the foundation for an increase of social problems in society.

Missing out on education severely affects children's life chances. Truancy is always in the news, but what does it mean for parents and what can parents do to tackle the problem?

Your responsibility:
As a parent you have the legal responsibility for making sure your school-registered child attends school regularly.

Five tips for preventing truancy problems:

* Make sure your child understands how important it is to attend school regularly and that you do not approve of them missing school.

* Take an active interest in your child's schoolwork. Ask them about their day and praise and encourage their achievements at school.

* If your child tells you they are bored at school, ask to meet with their teachers.

* If your child makes excuses to try to avoid going to school, listen to them - you may find there is an underlying problem. It could be problems with schoolwork - it could be bullying.

* Make sure that your child gets to school on time. Arriving late can be disruptive for your child and the other children in the class.

The costs of missing out:

* All absences come at a price - children missing school may not be able to keep up with school work. In a busy school day it is difficult for your child's teacher to find the extra time helping them to catch up.

* Missing two weeks of term time in each year of a child's school life is the same as missing one whole school year.

* Its not only academic work that is affected by missing school. Missing out on the social side, especially at primary school, can affect children's ability to make and keep their friendships, a vital part of growing up.

Here in Guyana Chief Schools Welfare Officer (CSWO) Ms. Bhanmattie Ram has reported that the Schools Welfare Department has picked up some 400 truants from 17 campaigns carried out in the first quarter of 2009.

Ms. Ram disclosed to this newspaper that half the amount came from Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne) ,and close to 300 were taken off the streets and other places during past two weeks.

According to the CSWO, based on available statistics, some 425 children were apprehended for the same period in 2008.

She pointed out that around 20 per cent of the 400 truants are cases of real concern, as they include a few who never attended school.

The remainder, Ram said, happened to be students who stayed home because they perceive little work will be done at school’ but on the whole they are not habitual truants.

She explained that the high number of truants identified in Region Six was due largely to the vigilance and support from practically all the key education stakeholders.

The CSWO noted that in Region Two, (Pomeroon/ Supenaam), 50 truancy cases were recorded, the second highest for all the 10 Administrative Regions with the exception of Regions Eight (Potaro/ Siparuni) and Nine (Upper Takatu/ Upper Essequibo) where no campaign was conducted.

Notably too, Ram revealed that only four truants were picked up in Region Four (Demerara/Mahaica), a whopping reduction from 68 in the first quarter of 2008.

However, she feels that many more truants could have been apprehended if her department had more access to transportation.

These are some interesting disclosures which show clearly that the truancy is more prevalent in some communities and therefore more resources should be allocated to combat the problem in those communities where it is more prevalent.

Ms. Ram indicated also that more truants could have been picked up had there been more access to transportation. Against this background the Education Ministry should spare no effort to provide better transportation facilities.

However, it is clear that the Schools Welfare Department has intensified its anti-truancy efforts and from all indications has chalked up an impressive performance in the first quarter of this year. It is hoped that that this laudable performance would be sustained for the remainder of the year.

Ms. Ram also stressed that the children picked up during the campaigns are counselled together with their parents on the importance of education and its role in their development.

This is perhaps an even more important as aspect of the anti-truancy performance.

However, it is imperative that the entire society provide support in the anti-truancy and must not be seen as only a government/ministry because if such societal problems are not tackled effectively it could result in the colossal undermining of our future as a nation.

After all they are just poor losers
GENERALLY, most people see political activists as a confused bunch. Some have even remarked that a few of those opposing the government are gradually becoming unhinged and are taking their obsessions to new levels of craziness.

A disturbed few have taken refuge in the press. Here, they unwittingly confuse opposing government policies with publicly harassing government officials.

Online and in print you can read the glee with which they make all manner of baseless accusations that grow grosser and more outlandish every day. Apparently it is the same on local TV. The attacks are disgusting and relentless and it always fails.

Indications are that the government’s chances of winning re-election are solid while the ravings of these operatives are seen more and more as mere rabble rousing. So why are these agents of harassment moving politics to new heights of madness?

Why do they persist in vile but useless actions? Why are the stories they peddle so without class, so boorishly crude and sordid? Have they gone off the rails?

The tone of their activism reflects a mindset suffering the painful angst of political insignificance.

And while their behavior reeks of desperation, they have still managed to find a role in the desert of Guyana’s political wildness; they will be a menace to society. That’s all that’s left for them and they mean to fully embrace it.

They will use the press as the tool in their campaign of harassment (while hiding as reporters, columnists and particularly ugly TV talking heads).

So, as we watch, amused as they project their impotent political psychosis, we should some have pity on them, after all, they are just poor losers with a need to vent.
JUSTIN de FREITAS
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NACTA got it right in Aruba and Tobago
SINCE Sheila Holder, M.P for AFC claims that Vishnu Bisram and the NACTA polls have never accurately predicted an election outside of Trinidad and Guyana; I wish to note that NACTA correctly predicted the outcome of elections in Aruba and Tobago this year. Holder's problem, as is Freddie Kissoon's, is the inability to accept the fact that the PPP, according to the poll's findings, remains the most popular party in Guyana. Holder and Kissoon rely on Dick Morris polls which find the AFC as the most popular party.

On accuracy of polls, Morris was wrong in Guyana. But last week, Mr. Bisram penned in the Guyana papers that his findings in Aruba showed the opposition AVP (headed by Mike Eman) was heading for a victory over the incumbent MEP of defending Prime Minister Nelson Oduber. The results of the Sept 25 elections show AVP won 12 seats, MEP 8 seats and a minor party 1 seat.

I am a NYC teacher. Myself and another NYC teacher and several other NACTA affiliates traveled to Tobago (on their own expenses) to assist Bisram with his polls to determine the outcome of the island’s Assembly elections held last January. NACTA initially predicted 9-3 in favor of the incumbent PNM against the opposition TOP in early polling. Later, on the eve of the elections, the tracking poll showed 8-3 in favor of PNM with one seat too close to call. The final result was 8-4 with one seat won by TOP by a handful of votes.

I also wish to note that in the 2005 Tobago Assembly elections, NACTA predicted 11-0 in favor of PNM with one seat to close to call. The PNM won 11-1 with the lone opposition seat won by some 14 votes. The NACTA findings were published in the Trinidad papers as well as in SN.
VASSAN RAMRACHA
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Nothing is more important than the transformation of nations
NOTHING is more important and more urgent today, than the transformation of the nations. For any nation today to have peace, unity, harmony, righteousness, and prosperity, that nation will have to undergo a complete transformation. If there is to be an end to racism, to violence, to corruption, to evil of every kind, there must be a complete transformation of the nation.

The author of this article is promoting a vision for the transformation of the nations. Some of you sometimes pray, “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” I wonder if we grasp the awesome depth and breadth of those words. In short, we are saying, we want earth to be like heaven. For this to happen there has to be a major transformation of the nations of the world.

It is the view of this author that the transformation of the nations, any nation, must begin with the men of the nation. In political circles in Guyana in the early 1970s there was an expression, “the new Guyanese man”. I don’t recall that it was ever said what kind of creature that would be. But some readers will immediately recognise the concept of ‘the new man’, ‘the new creature’, ‘and the new creation’. According to this vision, the transformation of the nations, any nation, must begin with the coming into being a new man. This means that until men are completely changed, it is useless to expect nations to be changed.

But how can a man become a new creature, a new creation? What is the impact of the man that is so radically transformed in every area of his life, that he is called a new creation? The impact of the new man is felt in his home; on his job; in his community; in all his associations, and in the new leadership be brings to the nation.

The transformation of the nations, any nation, this nation, must begin with the restoration of men to the dignity, character and status for which they were created. In this, perhaps lies the greatest challenge that has ever been presented to men. Can it be that what the nation is today is due largely to the men? Does it also mean that what the nation is tomorrow will depend on the men? Think about it men!

“The restoration of men is the key to the transformation of the nation.”

If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, please send them to the author at martinroberts393@hotmail.com.
MARTIN ROBERTS
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Systems that deny God are bound to collapse
I commend Pope Benedict XVI for condemning communism and for illustrating, during his visit to the Czech Republic, how such systems that chase power and deny God are bound to collapse. The pope’s warning has special relevance for the world’s democratic governments that are increasingly becoming socialist in nature. Under the guise of freedom they seeks to impose on society a culture of death that includes homosexuality, same-sex marriage, embryonic stem cell research, cloning, euthanasia and abortion.

The increasing tendency of Canada, the U.S. and European nations to repudiate their Christian roots is not, as some think, the expression of some morally superior tolerance for other cultures but rather the authorization of an absolute way of thinking and living that is radically opposed to the variety of cultures - cultures which, in the end, are dogmatically relativised.

Communist-socialist governments falsely present themselves as the authentic spokesmen for the aspirations of the people. Under such systems, every affirmation of faith or of theology is subordinated to a political criterion.

In truth, atheism and the denial of the human person, his liberty and rights, are at the core of Marxist belief which requires a total subordination of the person to the collectivity. Communism ultimately subsumes the autonomous nature of all spheres of existence: religious, ethical, institutional and cultural.

In a democracy, however, it is the State that conforms to the society it serves - not the other way around. Alternatively you end up with dictatorship and totalitarianism.
PAUL KOKOSKI
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Truth and love have always won in the end
“WHEN I despair, I remember that all through history the ways of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants, and murderers, and for a time they can seem invincible, but in the end they always fall. Think of it – always.” Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (1869 – 1948).

The above quotation by Gandhi epitomises the deep, underlying philosophy of this man of God.

October 2, 2009 marks the 140th birth anniversary of The Mahatma (Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi). In India, Gandhi was also fondly called Bapu and “Father of the Nation”. Hundreds of books have been written on the Mahatma and his struggles in India’s independence movement.

Gandhi studied law at the University of London (1888-1891) before moving to South Africa. During his initial years in South Africa, Gandhi was immensely perturbed by the treatment meted out to Indians by white South Africans. As a result, in 1906, Gandhi started the Satragraha movement to protest a law that stated that all Indians should be finger printed and carry an identification card. This law was clearly discriminatory based on race. Gandhi’s initial strong convictions in what he believed in was evident when he declared that he will either go to jail or die rather than follow an anti-Asian law. He was subsequently joined by thousands of Indians residing in South Africa in a civil disobedience movement. Gandhi’s thoughts on truth and justice were evolving. Organized strikes on the sugar plantations and coalfields, with help from Gandhi’s supporters, led the South African authorities to arrest him. Severe Indian immigrant opposition to the South African government’s race-based laws resulted and, in 1914, the South African government gave important concessions to Gandhi’s demands that included recognizing Indian marriages.

In 1915, Gandhi returned to India. He started the first Satyagraha movement at the request of poor farmers who were compelled by British planters to grow indigo on 15% of their land and the entire crop was taken by the British planters in lieu of rent. The Satyagraha movement pressured the British government to evaluate the conditions of the farmers and was subsequently successful in allowing the farmers to have full benefits from their land. The success of the Satyagraha movement was instrumental in increasing Gandhi’s popularity in India.

Gandhi’s next mission was to rid India of British colonial rule. He formed a non-cooperation movement consisting of thousands of Indians, including professionals and women that will be in the forefront of the freedom struggle for the first time. Gandhi was adamant that all his supporters must practice non-violence in order to achieve their objective, that is, the dream of an independent India. However, due to mob hysteria and violence that subsequently ensued, Gandhi was arrested and sentenced to six years in prison by the British rulers but released in 1924 due to medical reasons.

During the ensuing period, Gandhi focused on many humanitarian issues, including Hindu-Muslim unity, women equality, and untouchable concept rejection. These humanitarian issues will remain Gandhi’s core principles.

One of the most abhorrent and suppressive acts of British-ruled India was the imposition of a salt tax. The British law at the time dictated that the sale or production of salt by anyone but the British government was a criminal offense punishable by law. This salt tax law was one of many economic improprieties used to generate revenue to support British rule. On March 12, 1930, Gandhi started the historic Dandi Salt March that challenged a law restricting Indians from salt manufacture and this was used as a spring-board for non-violent political protest. Many Indians were arrested and thrown in jail. The Viceroy of India, Viceroy Lord Irwin was forced to hold talks with Gandhi and on March 5, 1931, the Gandhi-Irwin pact was signed.

After World War II broke out, the British government needed India’s support. The Indian Congress Party wanted independence granted to India for India’s participation in World War II. The British government refused this request and, in 1942, Gandhi initiated the “Quit India” movement. Subsequently, due to widespread protests and demonstrations, Gandhi and leaders of the Congress Party were imprisoned. However, due to deteriorating health, Gandhi was released form prison in May 1944.

After World War II ended, the Congress Party met with the British government on the future of an independent India. However, due to differences between the Congress Party and prominent Muslim leaders, the talks were unsuccessful. Subsequently, after numerous meetings with the Congress Party and the British government, India was granted independence in 1945 on the condition that India is partitioned. Gandhi vehemently opposed this but eventually agreed in order to see an independent India. During the independence period, Gandhi worked relentlessly to promote unity of Hindus and Muslims. Some Hindus, however, thought that Gandhi conceded too much to the Muslims. As a result, a Hindu, Nathu Ram Godse, assassinated Gandhi on January 30, 1948.

Gandhi’s final words were “Hey Ram” meaning “O God”.
Gandhi’s non-violent philosophy has inspired millions. Dr. Martin Luther King in the USA and former South Africa President, Nelson Mandela were deeply inspired by Gandhi’s non –violent philosophical approach and successfully used it to achieve freedom for their people.

Finally, I will end this article with a quote by Nobel Laureate Albert Einstein:

“I believe that Gandhi's views were the most enlightened of all the political men in our time. We should strive to do things in his spirit: not to use violence in fighting for our cause, but by non-participation in anything you believe is evil.”
SHIV MAHARAJ, PhD
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Guyana is not an illiberal democracy
IN a recent column(Statements of another mind KN 08-30-09), Freddy Kissoon wonders about why PPP supporters vote for the party of their choice. He looks to Sigmund Freud for an answer and comes up empty. Incidentally, Freud practically founded the field of psychoanalysis and would have been quite offended to be lumped, as Freddie does, with “philosophers …” Freud considered his work to be very scientific, not philosophical. Anyone who studied Psychology would know that.

I am not surprised by Freddy’s inability to explain voting behaviour in Guyana. He said there is no such thing as political science, a field that, among other things, studies and explains voting behaviour – a topic I am currently teaching. Incidentally, I did doctoral studies in political science and sociology, among other disciplines. Freddy once claimed that he was a “Doctor” but backed down to a “Masters” when challenged in the letters pages of the Stabroek News in the late eighties. He told us at one time he studied Guyanese history and another time he is a specialist in German history and now teaches politics. So we don’t really know what he studied and looking at his misrepresentations in KN’s columns, we are not sure he studied and learnt anything.

Anyway, if Freddy had studied in any of the social science fields, rational choice might have given him a clue in explaining “voting behaviour” in our dear old beautiful Guyana. Freddy, of course, would have had to study Guyana a bit to fit, using a variety of disciplines, in the variables of what choices presented themselves to the Guyanese voters. Sociology might have educated him about the importance of groups in macro behaviour. Anthropology might have educated him about the formation of those groups. Political science might have alerted him to the importance of “heuristics” in voting decisions. There is also a role for Psychology. And Freddy looks to old Sigmund, some say the father of the field of Psychology, who specialised in studying the individual mind. But at least Freddie could have looked at some theories in Social Psychology. AT CUNY, where I studied, a course in Psychology was mandatory. And in doctoral studies, a course in Political Psychology was required. Incidentally, Freud would have gone crazy had he studied Freddy.

On another note, my brother, Freddy, has been playing fast and loose with seemingly solid “academic” claims bootstrapping his specious arguments by misapplying, misquoting and misrepresenting the arguments of noted scholars – all towards a lame effort to bolster his misguided conclusions. Take his constant references to Fareed Zakaria to support his claims that an “elected dictatorship” exists in Guyana. Firstly, to say that Zakaria claims democracies can descend into dictatorship is banal. Any form of government can, and have, descended into dictatorship.

Zakaria’s point was that America (under Bush) was making a mistake in promoting democracy – defined by the holding of free and fair elections in the Middle East. Zakaria argued for the gradual liberalization of countries. Following his mentor Samuel Huntington, who is required reading for those like me who studied politics, Zakaria assumed that history had a linear path and the western European experience of installing liberal institutions before democracy ought to be followed in the rest of the world. This is why he dubbed some democracies “Illiberal democracy” – including that of the US, where he claims the liberal institutions had degenerated, one might note. The problem with Zakaria’s argument is how we guarantee that those who (undemocratically) say they will construct the liberal institutions will actually do so. Zakaria also feels that a certain high per capita income in the population should precede democracy and if we hold to that criterion, many countries will not be democracies.

Those of us who study history would not be comfortable with Zakaria’ idea of putting our faith on a benign dictator to build democracy. There is no way to ensure that we will end up with a “good dictator” such as Lee Kwan Yew (Singapore) rather than say an Augosto Pinochet (Chile) or a Forbes Burnham. I should note that in Guyana, President Jagdeo has been elected democratically and he and his party claim they are constructing liberal institutions in the reforms in parliamentary democracy.

I should also note that liberal democracies had autocratic rulers for hundreds of years before experiencing full democracy. Is this not what Freddy wishes for Guyana?

But what is all of this to Freddy? He will still drop some big names and concepts to support his prejudices and arguments because he believes Guyanese are gullible and that no one will bother to correct him on his misapplication of social theories.
VISHNU BISRAM
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What is the reason for Ramsaroop’s bitterness?
I have been keeping abreast with the exchange between Boyo Ramsaroop and Dr. Randy Persaud and from the ‘conversations’ the fact remains that Mr. Ramsaroop left the PPP for his own reasons and should accept the fact that others chose to remain.

From the tone of Mr. Ramsaroop’s letter it seems that he is bitter and it makes me wonder at his statement that he didn’t seek anything from the Party. If indeed this is true, then why would the gentleman be bitter toward the party which he chose to leave?

He has given us the reason for his bitterness which he explained is because he sought to have what he felt was corruption within and without the party to be addressed. However, it is being touted and believed that Mr. Ramsaroop sought to acquire more land to expand his horticulture enterprise but this was not approved. Is this the real reason behind his bitterness?

We can all look at the Freddie Kissoon case where he had requested duty free concession and that a candidate of his choice be appointed Vice Chancellor of the University of Guyana and none of these were approved. Hence, Freddie’s bitterness was magnified and took on mammoth proportions.

I believe that Mr. Ramsaroop is bitter just because his request was denied and he was of the opinion that having been a part of the party for so long, he should have been entitled to having his request approved. Party loyalty and all that but there is news for Mr. Ramsaroop, the days of Party paramountcy are long gone. Thankfully Government does not give away state resources to party members as rewards for being with the party for years.
DAVID LEWIS

IAAF ratifies Bolt’s world records
MONACO, (CMC) – The astounding sprint world records that Usain Bolt registered at the World Championship this past summer are now official after the sport’s world governing body announced yesterday it had ratified his 100 and 200 marks.

The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) confirmed that both marks, 9.58 seconds in the 100 metres and 19.19 in the 200, have been approved as official.

“Both marks were set at the World Championships in Berlin in August when the Jamaican ran 9.58 seconds in the 100. He ran 19.19 in the 200, breaking the records he set at the Beijing Olympics,” the IAAF stated on its web site.

On August 16, the first anniversary of his stunning Beijing 100-metre world record triumph in 9.69 seconds, Bolt raised the bar even further with his 9.58-second clocking at the 12th IAAF World Championship at the famous Berlin Olympic Stadium.

Four days later, Bolt sliced 0.11 seconds off his Beijing 200-metre mark of 19.30 with his 19.19 clocking.

The IAAF also announced yesterday its ratification of the women’s hammer throw – also at the Berlin World Championship -- by Poland’s Anita Wlodarczyk, who set the mark of 77.96 metres.

GCB/El Dorado Limited Overs…
Drepaul takes five for 54, as Demerara beat Essequibo
By Calvin Roberts, in Anna Regina
(Compliments of Akbar Trucking Service)
A MISERLY spell of left-arm spin bowling from Sauid Drepaul guided Demerara to a comfortable 54-run victory over Essequibo in the first match of their Guyana Cricket Board (GCB)/El Dorado-sponsored senior Inter-county limited overs tournament at the Anna Regina ground yesterday.

Essequibo won the toss and in hazy conditions asked Demerara to take first strike and reduced them to 247-9, with Leon Johnson and Rajendra Chandrika leading the way with 41 each against the bowling of Ryan Hercules who took 3-30 and Trevor Benn 2-48.

When the home team, who continue to struggle at this level of the game in Guyana despite solid foundations from either their batsmen or bowlers began their reply, they got a positive start from Norman Fredericks (41) and his sibling Ryan (27) who posted 79 for the first wicket, but they still crumbled to 193 from 46.5 overs, as Drepaul took 5-43.

When Demerara batted, Chandrika and Shemroy Barrington (25, 1x4, 1x6, 30 balls) added 48 for the first wicket from exactly eight overs, with the latter starting things off by hitting Garraway back over his head for four, while Chandrika drove both Garraway and Benn through extra cover for boundaries of his own.

When Garraway delivered a short delivery to Chandrika, he could only watch as the diminutive right-hander hammered it through the cover point area with disdain for four to push the score to 40-0 in the seventh over.

Essequibo reaped success when Barrington who had lofted Benn over long on for the first maximum of the match, holed out to Garraway at midwicket off the next delivery and was quickly followed by Christopher Barnwell (2) who could not get his bat inside the line from a delivery from Ryan Hercules and presented wicketkeeper Geewan Singh with a regulation catch to leave Demerara on 57-2 in the 11th over.

Johnson joined Chandrika and they repaired the damage done by Benn and Hercules with some positive running in-between the wickets along with the odd boundary, with Chandrika hitting Benn for four through point, after surviving a confident appeal for lbw the previous delivery.

The introduction of spin in the form of Andrew Williams and skipper Ramesh Narine not only saw a boundary drought appear but also the demise of Chandrika, who presented the former with a simple return catch off his second ball, in his attempt to turn a delivery through the vacant midwicket area.

All told, Chandrika faced 60 deliveries and struck six fours, adding 34 with Johnson for the third wicket.

Gajanand Singh (18) joined Johnson and as he was looking to settle in while displaying a positive running attitude, he failed to regain his ground from a direct hit by Narine, who was stationed at point after being sent back by Johnson at 114-6.

Johnson found a useful ally in Steven Jacobs who displayed an aggressive attitude in his 37-ball 36 which was decorated with three fours and a big six hit back over the head of Garraway, before he lost Johnson who was caught by Norman Fredericks running around from cover to extra cover off Benn.

The two had added 56 for the fifth wicket from 10.2 overs, with Jacobs driving a well-pitched up delivery from Garraway back past him, immediately after hitting him for six, whilst both he and Johnson took boundaries off Benn.

As the overs began to lessen for the eventual winners, they lost wickets regularly including Jacobs who was caught by Benn at short third man when he attempted to cut a short delivery from Hercules, quickly followed by Krishna Deosarran who made eight.

A 43-run eighth wicket stand between skipper Ramnaresh Sarwan, who batted at number eight and scored a run-a-ball 29 with one six struck over midwicket off Royan Fredericks, and Zaheer Mohammed who also struck Williams for a maximum in his 20, guided Demerara to their eventual total with Drepaul and Joseph Perry being the not out batsmen on five and two respectively.

When Essequibo began their reply, the home fans who turned out in their hundreds to offer support, saw a solid start from the Fredericks siblings, with Norman displaying a no-nonsense mood against the bowling of Barnwell and Deosarran.

Norman hit Deosarran back past him for four followed by a six over wide long on off Barnwell, then watched as his younger brother Ryan also hit Deosarran back over his head for a boundary, as Essequibo raced to 30 without loss in the hunt for 248 from 47 overs after being penalised for a slow over rate while in the field.

After seeing Jacobs grant his brother Royan a life on the sweeper boundary off Barnwell when he was on 20 at 63 without loss in the 14th over, Norman added salt to the wound with an injudicious cut through point off Drepaul.

But that was to be the last hurrah for Essequibo, as Drepaul snared the first four victims for his team, deceiving the Cinderella County batsmen with his guile and flight through the air on a pitch which was keeping low and at the same time, offering tremendous assistance to the slower bowlers.

Norman Fredericks was caught by Sarwan at midwicket for his top score of 41 made off 51 deliveries and decorated with four fours and one six at 79-1 and was followed by his sibling Royan who was bowled by Drepaul four balls later for 27, to leave Essequibo on 80-2 in the 18th over.

Mahendra Boodram (5) and Yogeshwar Lall (10) were caught by Perry and bowled by Drepaul respectively, which left Essequibo on 108-4, before Dillon Heyliger who struck one six in his 22 before he was run-out by Sarwan and Narine added 34 for the fifth wicket.

Heyliger displayed his ability to hit the ball hard to the three senior national selectors present at the game, when he sent Drepaul crashing over wide midwicket for six, while Narine pulled a short delivery from Sarwan to long leg for six.

The boundaries dried up as the spin of Mohammed and Drepaul operated in tandem once again, as they did in the four-day encounter played at the same venue last week and it was from this scenario, that Demerara got the wicket of Heyliger who was controversially ran out by a direct hit from Sarwan, who was stationed at cover, after being sent back by Narine.

142-5 became 143-6 when Jacobs (2-33) rocked back the off stump of a bewildered-looking Narine and when Hercules was caught by Sarwan at midwicket also off Jacobs, Essequibo were staring down the barrel of defeat at 152-7 in the 37th over.

Geewan Singh tried desperately to shore up the lower order but it was a little too late for the home team, as Garraway became Drepaul’s fifth victim, caught by Perry and when Benn was run-out attempting to take a cheeky second run from a leg bye in the final over bowled by Chandrika, they were 181-8.

Fortunately for Essequibo, Chandrika was experiencing pains in his right shoulder after bowling three deliveries and Sarwan turned to Barrington to complete the over and the discarded national opener did not disappoint, bringing both Singh and Essequibo’s innings to a close, when he had the former caught by Sarwan at midwicket for 30 made off 49 balls with one four struck through backward square off Drepaul.

Jacobs 2-33 and Barrington 1-2 offered valuable support to Drepaul for Demerara who will now face last year’s runners-up Berbice on Sunday at the Wales Community Centre ground, after the Ancient County team, led by Assad Fudadin, oppose Essequibo at Blairmont on Saturday.

DEMERARA innings
S. Barrington c Garraway b Benn 25
R. Chandrika c & b Williams 41
C. Barnwell c Heyliger b Hercules 2
L. Johnson c N. Fredericks b Benn 41
G. Singh run-out (Narine) 18
S. Jacobs c Benn b Hercules 36
K. Deosarran c wkp. Singh b Hercules 8
R. Sarwan c Boodram c R. Fredericks 29
Z. Mohammed c Williams b Narine 20
S. Drepaul not out 5
J. Perry not out 2
Extras: (w-16, b-2, lb-2) 20
Bowling: Garraway 7-0-55-0, Benn 10-0-48-2 (w-3), Hercules 7-0-30-3, Narine 9-0-37-1, Williams 10-0-44-1, Fredericks 7-0-29-1.

ESSEQUIBO innings
N. Fredericks c Sarwan b Drepaul 41
R. Fredericks b Drepaul 27
M. Boodram c wkp. Perry b Drepaul 5
Y. Lall b Drepaul 10
D. Heyliger run-out (Sarwan) 22
R. Narine b Jacobs 22
J. Singh c Sarwan b Barrington 30
R. Hercules c Sarwan b Jacobs 4
T. Garraway c wkp. Perry b Drepaul 6
T. Benn run-out 3
A. Williams not out 1
Extras: (b-1, lb-6, w-15) 22
Total: (all out) 193
Bowling: Barnwell 8-3-26-0, Deosarran 3-1-21-0, Jacobs 9-0-33-2, Mohammed 9-0-25-0, Drepaul 10-0-43-5, Sarwan 1-0-10-0, Singh 4-0-17-0, Johnson 2-0-7-0, Chandrika 0.3-0-3-0, S. Barrington 0.2-0-2-1.

Fernandes on the verge of top 100 spot
LONDON, England (CMC) – Guyanese squash ace Nicolette Fernandes, in her comeback year from injury, has moved within a shade of a Top-100 ranking spot and is now 101st on the Women’s International Squash Players Association (WISPA) ratings list.

Up two places from 103rd in the September ratings, Fernandes is just one position shy of a place among the Top 100 in the WISPA October rankings released on Wednesday.

Fernandes, 26, contested the Forexx Women’s World Open in the Netherlands last week and after winning her opening match in the qualifying draw, she lost in second-round qualifying to Hong Kong’s World No.36 Joey Chan.

After being sidelined for almost two years because of a knee injury, Fernandes returned to the international circuit this year and recorded encouraging results in European tournaments.

She reached the semi-finals of the Eindhoven Open and the final of the Swiss Open in March and returned to the Caribbean this past summer to recapture the Caribbean Championship in the Cayman Islands.

Her injury had wrecked her rankings status and after returning to the circuit with a 215 world ranking, the former World No.27 made considerable gain in the following months.

Fernandes, the 2006 Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games champion made a huge leap from 215th to 113th in the April ratings and was 104th in June.

Forexx World Open champion Nicol David, of Malaysia, easily retains the No.1 spot which she has held unbroken for the past three years.

Australia-born World Open runner-up Natalie Grinham, who now represents the Netherlands, displaced American Natalie Grainger at No.2 and Australian Rachael Grinham retains fourth spot.

In one other change among the Top-10, Ireland’s Madeline Perry moved up one place to No.7, unseating Egypt’s Omneya Abdel Kawy.

Women's International Squash Players Association (WISPA) Rankings – October
1. Nicol David (MAS)
2. Natalie Grinham (AUS)
3. Natalie Grainger (USA)
4. Rachael Grinham (AUS)
5. Alison Waters (ENG)
6. Jenny Duncalf (ENG)
7. Madeline Perry (IRL)
8. Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY)
9. Laura Lengthorn-Massaro (ENG)
10. Shelley Kitchen (NZL)
101st Nicolette Fernandes (GUY)

Moore sets sights on making a global mark
GUYANA’S world-rated bantamweight boxer Leon Moore is setting his sights on making a global mark in the sport after collecting a cluster of international titles this past weekend.

Moore outclassed Colombian Mauricio Pastrana last Saturday night at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall for an easy points win in their multi-title 118-pound clash.

The win secured for Moore the World Boxing Association’s FedeLatin, FedeCaribe and North American Boxing Association (NABA) belts.

Ranked No.6 in the world by the World Boxing Council (WBC), the 30-year-old Moore is already in the frame for a world title shot and dreams of becoming the fifth Guyanese man to win a world boxing title.

“It is a great opportunity for me,” Moore told CMC Sport.

“I want to thank the promoters, manager (Carwyn Holland), and I want to even thank (Barbadian promoter) Sam Layne, who played a great part in getting me to this level of boxing,” added Moore, who had been based in Barbados for several years.

Moore told CMC Sport that trips to St Lucia and Singapore are among the possibilities for his next bouts as he aims to eventually join Andrew Lewis, Wayne Braithwaite, Vivian Harris and Gairy St Clair as Guyanese fighters to win world titles.

Displaying his wide array of boxing skills, Moore smothered the rugged Pastrana with solid combinations, supported by good hand and foot speed on Saturday night and carved out an easy win on all the judges’ cards, 119-109 (twice) and 120-109.

With the victory, Moore improved his record to 25 wins (22 knockouts) against two losses, and Pastrana dipped to 35 wins (23 knockouts) against 12 losses and two draws.

India knocked out despite victory over Windies
INDIA were sent crashing out of the Champions Trophy despite a resounding seven-wicket win over West Indies.

Australia's narrow two-wicket win over Pakistan sealed India's fate as they finished third in Group A.

Asked to bat on an erratic Johannesburg pitch, West Indies were dismissed for 129 as Praveen Kumar (3-22) and Ashish Nehra (3-31) utilised the conditions.

Quick wickets saw India reduced to 12-2 before Virat Kohli (78) and Dinesh Karthik (34) guided them to safety.

But the subdued atmosphere at the Wanderers encapsulated India's dissatisfaction having come so close to reaching the semi-finals, only for Australia to claim a tense win at Centurion a few hours earlier.

India required arch rivals Pakistan to beat the defending champions as well as beat a below-strength West Indies side by a sizeable margin with a favourable run-rate.

But despite a stirring Pakistan fightback, Australia sneaked a last-ball bye to subject India to their second successive exit from a major tournament in four months.

India were dealt a significant setback before the start of the match when star batsman Sachin Tendulkar was ruled out because of food poisoning, while fast bowler Ishant Sharma made way for Abhishek Nayar.

The all-rounder was only required to bowl three overs as seamers Kumar and Nehra tore into West Indies, reducing the top order to 31-4 inside 11 overs after Mahendra Singh Dhoni won the toss and elected to field on yet another erratic, seam-friendly Wanderers pitch.

A sixth-wicket rally between David Bernard (22) and Darren Sammy (23) took West Indies closer to three figures, but their innings was over in the 36th over when Gavin Tonge chipped an easy catch for Kumar.

India's response began badly as Gautam Gambhir played on to his stumps before Rahul Dravid was run-out for four.

But a steady - albeit slow - third-wicket stand of 92 between Kohli and Karthik ensured India suffered no further hiccups on the way to their first - and only - victory of the competition.

Kohli enhanced his claims for further one-day honours with a composed 104-ball knock, featuring nine boundaries and two sixes. (BBC Sport)
WEST INDIES innings
A. Fletcher c Dravid b Kumar 0
K. Powell c wkp. Dhoni b Nehra 5
D. Smith c wkp. Dhoni b Nehra 21
T. Dowlin b Dhoni 14
F. Reifer c Karthik b Kumar 1
D. Bernard c Dravid b Mishra 22
D. Sammy c Mishra b Nehra 23
R. Crandon b Harbhajan Singh 5
N. Miller not out 17
K. Roach c Gambhir b Harbhajan Singh 4
G. Tonge c&b Kumar 5
Extras: (lb-4, w-7, nb-1) 12
Total: (all out, 36 overs) 129
Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-26, 3-27, 4-31, 5-57, 6-89, 7-99, 8-1026), 9-122.
Bowling: Kumar 9-3-22-3 (w-2), Nehra 8-1-31-3 (w-2), Nayar 3-0-17-0 (nb-1, w-1), Dhoni 2-0-14-1 (w-1), Harbhajan Singh 8-2-14-2, Mishra 6-0-27-1 (w-1).

INDIA innings
D. Karthik c Dowlin b Tonge 34
G. Gambhir b Roach 6
R. Dravid run-out (Bernard) 4
V. Kohli not out 79
A Nayar not out 0
Extras: (w-3, nb-4) 7
Total: (3 wickets, 32.1 overs) 130
Fall of wickets: 1-7, 2-12, 3-104.
Bowling: Roach 6-1-27-1 (nb-3), Tonge 10-0-36-1 (w-1), Sammy 10-1-25-0, Bernard 3-0-22-0 (nb-1, w-2), Miller 3.1-0-20-0.
Points: India 2, West Indies 0

Champions Trophy ...
Aussies reach semi-final with last-ball victory
AUSTRALIA set up a Champions Trophy semi-final meeting with England after they clinched top spot in Group A with a last-ball victory over Pakistan at Centurion.

Ricky Ponting's side began the day knowing victory would book their place in the last four and after restricting Pakistan to 205 for six, were seemingly cruising to their target at 140 for two.

However, they then lost six for 47 to throw their qualification to the semi-finals into jeopardy but Brett Lee and Nathan Hauritz held their nerve under pressure to score the 19 runs they needed from the 25 balls available.

Mike Hussey (64) was the only batsman to pass fifty on a tricky surface on which the batsmen found it difficult to play their strokes.

Hussey combined with his skipper Ricky Ponting in an 81-run stand for the third wicket after openers Shane Watson (22) and Tim Paine (29) had got the Australians off to a solid start.

Ponting had patiently reached 32, from 64 balls, when he mis-timed a slog-sweep off Shoaib Malik for Umar Gul to take a fine diving catch in the deep.

It triggered the middle-order collapse as Pakistan fought their way back.

Earlier, Pakistan failed to capitalise on a brisk start as their middle-order struggled with the wicket.

Shahid Afridi was promoted to the top of the order and added 15 from 18 balls before he spooned a pull shot off Johnson to backward square where Hopes took a good sprawling catch.

Fellow opener Kamran Akmal played some fine off-side strokes but was undone when he attempted to pull Watson and dragged on for 44 to leave Pakistan 75 for two in the 19th over.

Shoaib Malik announced his arrival with a glorious straight six off Hopes, but from there the scoring slowed with just 71 runs added between overs 20 and 40.

Misbah-ul-Haq (41) was out in comical fashion in the final over when he conspired to stamp on his own stumps to a Watson wide as Pakistan crawled past 200. (Eurosport)
PAKISTAN innings
K. Akmal b Watson 44
S. Afridi c Hopes b Johnson 15
Y. Khan c Johnson b Hopes 18
S. Malik c Ponting b Johnson 27
M. Yousuf c White b Lee 45
Misbah-ul-Haq hit wicket b Watson 41
U. Akmal not out 2
Naved-ul-Hasan not out 7
Extras: (w-6) 6
Total: (6 wickets - 50 overs) 205
Fall of wickets: 1-30, 2-75, 3-89, 4-123, 5-186, 6-198.
Bowling: Lee 10-0-30-1 (w-2), Siddle 5-0-24-0; Johnson 10-0-45-2 (w-2), Watson 8-0-32-2 (w-2), Hopes 10-0-50-1, Hauritz 7-1-24-0.

AUSTRALIA innings
S. Watson c wkp. Akmal b Gul 24
T. Paine lbw b Afridi 29
R. Ponting c Gul b Malik 32
M. Hussey b Naved-ul-Hasan 64
C. Ferguson b Ajmal 7
C. White b Asif 5
J. Hopes c Khan b Asif 1
M Johnson b Ajmal 9
B Lee not out 12
M Hauritz not out 9
Extras: (b-1, w-12, nb-1) 14
Total: (8 wickets, 50 overs) 206
Fall of wickets: 1-44, 2-59, 3-140, 4-157, 5-174, 6-175, 7-176, 8-187. Bowling: Gul 9-1-38-1 (w-1), Asif 8-0-34-2 (w-3), Afridi 10-0-47-1 (w-1), Naved-ul-Hasan 9-2-39-1 (nb-1), Ajmal 10-1-31-2, Malik 4-0-16-1 (w-1).
Points: Australia 2, Pakistan 0

Michelle Obama arrives to back Chicago bid
By Paul Radford
COPENHAGEN, Denmark (Reuters) - American First Lady Michelle Obama arrived yesterday, the first of a succession of state dignitaries due in Copenhagen to promote four rival bids for the 2016 Summer Olympics ahead of tomorrow's IOC vote.

The First Lady, who will be joined by her husband President Barack Obama tomorrow when `they become part of the team presenting Chicago's bid for the Games to the International Olympic Committee, will lobby IOC members over the next 48 hours.

Also due in yesterday were Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva, backing Rio de Janeiro, and King Juan Carlos and Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Zapatero, supporting the Madrid bid.

Newly elected Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, who is promoting Tokyo's cause, will also be in the Danish capital.

Michelle Obama said nothing to the waiting media at Copenhagen Airport before she was whisked into the city centre for a series of bid-related meetings.

Her husband will become the first sitting U.S. president to address an IOC session and the most high profile of a succession of leading political figures, including then British Prime Minister Tony Blair four years ago, and then Russian President Vladimir Putin two years ago, to successfully campaign for London's 2012 bid and Sochi's 2014 Winter bid respectively.

Obama's visit is widely seen as a high-risk strategy with the potential gain of helping win the bid for Chicago weighed against serious political fallout should the Windy City fail.

The 2016 contest has been declared too close to call by most Olympic observers though Obama's presence has made Chicago a marginal favourite.

On the second of three days of intensive lobbying in Copenhagen, the bid cities were turning to sporting heroes to promote their cause.

Rio brought in soccer great Pele. "Everybody knows my life. I won a lot of tournaments and scored more than 1 000 goals, won three World Cups but I could not play in Olympic Games," he told reporters. "Sometimes I still think I did not get that gold medal."

Chicago had Olympic and world champion athlete Michael Johnson, leading a fun run through the streets of Copenhagen, to back their bid.

Japan's 2000 Olympics marathon gold medallist Naoko Takahashi was also making an appearance in support of Tokyo.

Slowest out of the blocks was Madrid who have held no media events and stage their first news conference this evening, only 36 hours before the IOC session begins.

Electronic transfers compulsory by September 2010 - FIFA
By Rex Gowar
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (Reuters) - Full central control of player transfers is less than a year away after FIFA announced on Tuesday that its automated system would be compulsory from September 2010.

The Transfer Matching System (TSM) is already in use in more than half of FIFA’s member associations and the electronic international transfer certificates (ITC) will be introduced from Thursday for moves of professional players between clubs, FIFA said.

It added, following a meeting in Rio of its executive committee, all transfers will have to be by ITC from September 1, 2010.

“This will give transparency to all transfers and, I won’t say it will diminish but it will also coordinate the work of agents,” FIFA president Sepp Blatter told a news conference.

The meeting, the first ever in Brazil and only the third in South America since the 1978 World Cup in Argentina, also discussed the vexed question of men’s Olympic football.

“We have a clash with the IOC (International Olympic Committee) on this,” Blatter said.

“There is the existing Under-23 limit plus three over-age players and the other (idea) is that we should use the Under-20 World Cup, as is now being played in Egypt, as a qualifying competition which means it would be Under-21 at the Olympics.”

Blatter did not elaborate on how the Under-20 tournament might be used to qualify for the Olympic Games in terms of the number of teams going through from it and the fact that it is played every two years in contrast to the four-year Olympic cycle.

He said FIFA had appointed the head of African governing body CAF, Issa Hayatou, to lead a task force to find a way around the problem of settling on a format for the next Games in London in 2012.

“Olympic football is very attractive to the Games organisers. It is the only sport that is outside the host city apart from sailing and the only one spread around the country,” Blatter said.

“At the last Games in Beijing there were 1.2 million spectators at the matches, much more than athletics, so naturally it’s very important for economic reasons.

“It’s not always been a love story but we have to show respect to the international federations and the IOC.”

Stadium construction on track for World Cup - officials
… stadiums will be ready months ahead
By Peroshni Govender
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (Reuters) - All 10 stadiums for next year’s soccer World Cup are on track to be ready months ahead of the June 11 kickoff, South African officials said yesterday.

“A vast majority of the stadiums are either complete or nearly complete,” Derek Blanckensee, a senior official of the local organising committee, told a news conference at the showpiece Soccer City stadium in the sprawling Soweto township.

Everything is on track. There are one or two minor problems, but there were no alarm bells or anything major to worry about,” he added after leading an inspection tour of five newly built stadiums and the upgraded Soccer City.

Organisers say up to 450 000 foreign visitors are expected for the World Cup, being held for the first time in Africa.

South Africa has entered recession for the first time since 1992 and a series of construction strikes earlier this year raised concerns that the stadiums would not be ready in time.

But local organising committee boss Danny Jordaan said all venues would be ready by the final tournament draw in December.

“We go there with full confidence, that everything will be ready for a wonderful world cup,” Jordaan said.

Soccer’s governing body FIFA expressed concern in July about other logistical problems, headed by transport and accommodation, with a reported shortfall of 15 000 rooms for the competition.

But Ron DelMont, head of FIFA’s South Africa office, told the news conference: “We also looked at specific venues, team hotels and FIFA-accredited accommodation. We are happy to report that we are comfortable with what we saw.”

Organisers said 575 buses to provide transport during the competition have been delivered as part of a new mass transit system.

South African Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan earlier this month said there was a funding shortfall of 2.3 billion rand ($315 million) for construction of new stadiums and this would have to be met by the host cities.

The biggest challenge facing organisers and the South African government is expected to be crime, with recent statistics showing little progress in cutting violent offences.

South Africa has one of the world’s highest rates of murder and rape outside a conflict zone.

President Jacob Zuma has expressed support for plans by South Africa’s new police chief to widen the powers of his officers to shoot to kill in a draconian attempt to cut murders, robberies and carjackings.

Rio Games and World Cup double act good for sponsors
By Karolos Grohmann
COPENHAGEN, Denmark (Reuters) - Hosting the 2016 Olympics only two years after the soccer World Cup is held in Brazil will boost competitiveness among potential sponsors, the head of marketing for Rio de Janeiro's Games bid said yesterday.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC), which will select the winning bid for the 2016 Olympics tomorrow in the Danish capital of Copenhagen, has repeatedly expressed concerns the 2014 World Cup could cut into Rio's sponsorship efforts.

The IOC also noted its sponsorship worries regarding Rio in their evaluation report published earlier this month.

Tokyo, Chicago and Madrid are the other candidates to host the 2016 Games.

"Brazil's advertising market is a very competitive one," Leonardo Gryner, Rio 2016 director of marketing and communications, told reporters.

"(Sponsors) will try to exploit fully the rights they have acquired."

He said if for example one bank was picked as a sponsor for the 2014 World Cup there were several other major banking institutions in the country ready and eager to sign up with Rio 2016.

"We have presented a full communication programme (to the IOC) that covers the full seven years," he said.

Olympics are awarded seven years in advance to allow sufficient time for preparations.

Domestic sponsorship deals are crucial for host cities as they seek to balance a Games budget that currently hovers around $2 billion, excluding any infrastructure works.

Domestic deals can bring in as much as $1 billion for organising committees.

"The organisers of 2016 will have more difficulties to activate a return from sponsors immediately after the London 2012 Games," IOC chief Jacques Rogge said earlier this month.

"In these four years you will have this very important organisation of the World Cup. So that might complicate life a little bit in seeking sponsors and activating and bringing return to the sponsor.”

Maradona calls for help from God to reach World Cup
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (Reuters) - Argentina coach Diego Maradona has called on God’s hand to shield the South American country from World Cup elimination.

“The Beard (God) saved me many times, I hope he saves me this time too,” said Maradona, whose notorious ‘Hand of God’ goal during Argentina’s 1986 quarter-final against England is one of the most talked about at a World Cup.

Argentina are fifth in the South American group, in the berth for a playoff against the team finishing fourth in the CONCACAF region. The top four go through automatically.

They face Peru and Uruguay in their final qualifiers next month, looking to at least remain where they are as they try to avoid missing the finals for the first time since 1970.

“We have to get it into our heads that these two matches are fundamental, that we can no longer go on giving things away like we did against Brazil,” Maradona told the local Cadena 3 broadcaster in an interview.

Argentina lost 3-1 at home to Brazil and 1-0 away to Paraguay earlier this month.

Maradona, who as captain led Argentina to victory in the 1986 tournament in Mexico, has often said God saved him when he put his life in danger over his drug and alcohol addictions.