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ARCHIVES FOR OCTOBER 02, 2009

President scotches low carbon fund rumours
-- Urges businesses to seize climate change opportunities
PRESIDENT Bharrat Jagdeo last night reiterated that international funds flowing to this country from its proposed Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) will be subject to stringent accountability measures and urged business firms to seize looming opportunities in the climate change battle.

The LCDS logo at the entrance to the GuyExpo 2009 exhibition site.

At the opening of the annual GuyExpo at the Sophia Exhibition Complex in Georgetown, he said that contrary to some rumours spread particularly by some politicians, “we have always made clear that forest payments will not be administered by my office.”

He assured that the investment fund likely from putting Guyana’s forests in the service of the global climate change cause will be under the full oversight of the National Assembly with monitoring by an international financial institution, most likely the World Bank.

All funds will be audited and an annual report will transparently lay out for all to see how the REDD (Reduced Emissions from Degradation and Deforestation) fund is being invested, President Jagdeo stated.

His assurance came against the backdrop of the theme of the trade fair and exposition `Promoting Business in a Low Carbon Environment’ which, like the LCDS, he said is also truly a world-leading move.

With two glowing promotional blimps from Digicel and Thrill hovering in the night sky over the exhibition site, he pitched his message directly to the business sector.

Mr. Jagdeo said it will take some time for the new low carbon economy to take root and there will be setbacks along the way.

But, he said, those companies that identify and seize the opportunities to participate now will prosper in the years ahead as they work out two things:

** How to develop low carbon products and services in Guyana, and

** How can they benefit as national development is accelerated using the new resources that the forests can generate for the country.

“It doesn’t mean that overnight every business in this country will become a low carbon pioneer, but it does set the challenge for every business to start thinking about the fundamental shift in the world economy which can be of benefit to themselves, our country and its people and to the wider world”, he said.

He pointed out that many countries have already identified how low carbon development can lead to competitive advantage and are working to make this advantage real, referring to the optimism about low carbon development and the green economy by British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and United States President Barack Obama.

“Unless we act, most future growth in emissions will come from the developing world, therefore most of the innovations and new ideas to solve climate change will need to be devised and implemented in the developing world.

“And those companies and countries that grasp this now will be those that are positioned best for the new economy as it emerges in the coming years”, Mr. Jagdeo said.

He added that countries which deploy their forests to combat climate change are particularly well-placed to seize these opportunities, noting that if the world is to stabilise greenhouse gases by 2030, about 40 percent of the solution in the next decade must come from the forestry sector worldwide.

“We are already one of the first countries -- developed or developing – to recognise this and our Low Carbon Development Strategy is one of the first in the world.

“It was never intended to replace either our National Development Strategy or the National Competiveness Strategy but instead to augment them with more modern thinking on how we can accelerate our own national development while at the same time acting in solidarity with the rest of the world and working in partnership to avert climate catastrophe”, he said.

The President urged business people to closely follow three developments on the horizon that will start making the implementation of the LCDS a real possibility:

** Further details to be announced within the next two months about cooperation with the government of Norway to provide the world with a working model for REDD+ which is the mechanism through which international payment for avoiding deforestation is likely to be integrated into a global climate deal after the United Nations summit in Copenhagen, Denmark in December. Guyana will hopefully start to receive payment for the climate services its forests provide based on performance shortly afterwards.

Mr. Jagdeo praised the government of Norway as one of the most forward thinking in the world on this matter and said he looks forward “to our two countries showing the world what can be done to address climate change when true partnerships are formed.”

** An upgraded version of the LCDS is to be published based on the three months of national consultations that have just concluded. “This will further develop the ideas we set out in the initial draft on how we can use forest payments to shift our entire economy on to a low carbon trajectory and the upgraded document will incorporate the many excellent ideas suggested by individuals, organisations and companies across the country”, the President said.

** Copenhagen will set the parameters for how progress might be made in building a new global economy in the years ahead. These negotiations are frequently tortuous but the people of Guyana can feel proud of the role its team has played in progressing the REDD and low carbon development agendas as well as the international recognition it gets for these efforts.

The President assured that Guyana will not be found lacking in the run-up to Copenhagen and called on all businesses in Guyana to take note of these three events as they unfold.

“Each will present new opportunities for our economy to grow and prosper and for new forms of partnership in new sectors to take our country forward. Importantly, our forests will start to be valued for the climate services they provide and this will lead to a steady build-up of payments which will be used to accelerate our national development”, he said.

New avenues include supporting the move to renewable energy by opening up non-forested parts to agriculture; by getting young people into low carbon industries such as business process outsourcing and eco-tourism and by enhancing the competitiveness of industries through new investments in many areas, he said.

GuyExpo 2009 emphasises Public and Private Sectors working together
To improve the business environment
By Priya Nauth
GUYANA’s premier trade and investment exposition opened last evening with emphasis on the importance of the public and the private sector working together to further improve the business environment in Guyana.

At the GuyExpo opening, President Bharrat Jagdeo is flanked by Minister Manniram Prashad, at right and Chairman of the Private Sector Commission Captain Gerry Gouveia.

The highly-anticipated GuyExpo 2009 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.

Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Mr. Manniram Prashad welcoming the gathering to the most important event on the calendar of trade and investment activities in Guyana, promised that Guyexpo 2009 will be a far more enriching experience than previous ones.

Also welcoming the overseas visitors and investors, he said, “We have arranged this event to enable you to take full advantage of the renowned Guyanese hospitality and to experience the wide ranging skills of Guyanese industry. Kindly avail yourselves of the quality products and services being turned out by our producers - small, medium and large - and from all sectors of the economy.”

Noting that this is the 12th GuyExpo since its inception in 1995, he insisted that it has continuously expanded to become one of the premier trade and investment events in the CARICOM region.

He commended the dedication and drive displayed by the committee in executing this event and noted that GuyExpo embraces firms of all sizes and from all the administrative regions of this country, showcasing an even wider range of quality products and services than any of the preceding GuyExpos.

He said that the theme of GuyExpo supports the national and internationally acclaimed Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) which has gained much international recognition and support.

“Guyana has taken the lead in this mission and will continue to support and encourage its local producers and manufacturers through alliances, to preserve and protect our environment, whilst increasing the quality of goods made in Guyana to compete in the international market,” he assured.

He stated that the GuyExpo logo symbolises the vulnerability, susceptibility and delicateness of the rainforest emphasising, “It is our duty and responsibility as stakeholder groups – commercial, industrial, community and domestic – to preserve and protect the environment.”

Adding, “The future of the rainforests is in our hands. We all need to work together to build a low carbon economy where national development and combating climate change are complementary.”

He said that the private sector is recognised as the engine of growth and development and must adapt to the realities of being “models of low carbon development”.

“We as Guyanese must be energy sufficient, and we must take advantage of the investment opportunities in a low carbon environment,” minister Prashad stated.

Partnership

He pointed out, “This event is a partnership between the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce and the private sector of Guyana.”

Prashad said as the theme suggests, GuyExpo 2009 is a summons to action by manufacturers of goods and providers of services encompassing farmers, craftspersons, artists and Guyanese from all walks of life, committed to progress and to explore the vast opportunities for self-improvement and community development as the vehicle to propel Guyana onwards.

“Guyexpo 2009 presents participants with an opportunity to put in the public realm the results of their innate talents, innovations, enterprise and industry,” he stated.

He congratulated all the companies, noting, “We are encouraged by the fact that even more companies have chosen Guyexpo 2009 to launch new products.”

“This highlights the value and importance the private sector places on this premier event in their business strategy. Your participation in GuyExpo 2009 highlights the progress Guyana has made and reassures us all – both at home and abroad – that the private sector has the capacity to take advantage of the growth opportunities being created,” he exhorted.

He reminded that a mandate of his ministry is to promote the development of tourism, industry and commerce, and “has been championing the role of the private sector both domestic and foreign in taking up the expanding opportunities being continuously created.

“Being a resource-based country, we have reason to be highly optimistic in expanding and bringing new investments here…our macro-economic and financial framework remains stable,” he posited.

“We have been under the National Competitiveness Strategy (NCS) working assiduously in a new partnership with the private sector to push the horizon of investment opportunities,” he noted.

Alluding to the Berbice Bridge and the Ogle International Airport as examples of private/public partnership, he said these have induced new investments, generated jobs and provided quality services which were earlier not available, underscoring, “There are others in the making.”

“When it comes to improving the business environment – this government is serious in delivering services to you across the board,” Minister Prashad reassured

“It is recognition of the positive impact these changes are having on investment and trade that enabled Guyana to make an 11 point leap in the ranking of the World Bank ease of doing business index,” he stressed.

He said the government is “committed to continue on this course” and disclosed that Guyana has just become a member of Trade Point International and Trade Point Georgetown should be operational by the end of this year.

Noting that the physical arrangements for this year’s activity surpasses all previous efforts, he reiterated, “We should not forget the overriding purpose of trade fairs and in this regard, I urge you to get on with new commercial opportunities”.

Chairman of the Private Sector Commission (PSC) Captain Gerry Gouveia said the private sector looks to not only showcasing its products and services, but making new friends and partners.

Genuine partnership

“We, the members of the PSC look forward to the many business opportunities that Guyexpo makes available to us every year,” he said and maintained that the PSC of Guyana welcomes with “open arms foreign investors”.

Taking note of the importance of working together in good faith in the interest of the country, he observed that each year GuyExpo becomes better and more refined.

“As we prepare to face the global challenges, the private sector is heartened by the genuine partnership that exists between the public and the private sector,” he expressed.

He noted that the public and private sectors work together in all spheres of society, particularly in the Competitiveness Strategy, which is owned equally by the government and private sector and other members of civil society.

“We work genuinely together identifying the issues of competitiveness that would make us competitive on the international scene,” Captain Gouveia stated.

He agreed that the theme of GuyExpo is “most fitting at this time” since climate change is affecting all of us.

“And while we may want to put the blame squarely on the doorsteps of the developed world, here and now we have a responsibility as well. All businesses, you have to do your business with a high level of corporate social responsibility,” he called.

“We have to embrace good and responsible environmental practices; it is our corporate social responsibility to minimise the emission of dangerous gases. We have to take care of our environment,” he went on.

Repeating that changes need to be made as “we embrace the future” in the interest of the environment, he stated that the private sector is aware of the new challenges and the way it needs to do business.

Congratulating the minister and his team for putting together the event, he stated, “The PSC looks forward with excitement to the future of Guyana…we look forward to working together in good faith and in good partnership with all stakeholders,” he emphasised.

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 a field.

Among those present were Prime Minister Samuel Hinds; Ministers of Government; Members of the Diplomatic Corps.

Guyana, Brazil continue discussions on hydropower development
By Priya Nauth
ANOTHER delegation of Brazilian officials met with Guyanese counterparts yesterday to engage in discussions on hydropower development in Guyana.

It was the second visiting team since Brazil President Lula Da Silva undertook the missions at the ceremonial opening of the Takutu River Bridge, Head of the Presidential Secretariat (HPS), Dr. Roger Luncheon disclosed at his post-Cabinet media briefing, at Office of the President, Shiv Chanderpaul Drive, Georgetown.

He said the delegations comprised technical and professional members of the Brazilian Government and its State agencies conducting, as promised, preliminary discussions.

Luncheon said talks on the development and the role that could be played by Brazil on the Lethem/Linden road took place and ended last week.

But yesterday, the other of two delegations met similarly to pronounce on the part Brazil can assume on hydropower development here, he explained.

Luncheon said there is a development plan for the Lethem/Linden road that has already been adapted and shared.

But he said the financial model that sees the road develop along the lines that President Jagdeo and President Lula intend has not been settled.

“The visit by the Brazilians here is a further example of the lengths to which we have gone to look at the feasibility of financing the road and with their inputs, so it doesn’t appear to be a straightforward public financing, government financing, that indeed we would have to bring new forms of financing infrastructure into play,” he hinted.

“Not forms only that rely on domestic forces as was done with the public/private mix leading to the Berbice River Bridge but now we are talking about new forms that involve international finance capital and even contributions, loans and grants from neighbouring countries and bilaterally,” Luncheon elaborated.

He said, once the financing is established, it will have to take with it the conditions under which it is available and many times those would be related to supervision, recovery of debts, toll stations, sale of land and such.

“In essence, it is a bit too early, unless we wanted to speculate, unless we want to say to the world we are so determined that anything you want we are willing to give so that this road could be financed, and we haven’t said that,” Luncheon pointed out.

President Bharrat Jagdeo said Monday that he is pleased with the pace of discussions between Guyana and Brazil following a recent visit by the first team from the neighbouring republic.

That group met Prime Minister Samuel Hinds and several Cabinet Ministers, including Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh and Transport and Hydraulics Minister, Mr. Robeson Benn and top officials from related ministries, at Office of the President, for exploratory talks.

Alleged Kwame Mc Coy tape…
Luncheon warns sensationalism can undermine unbiased investigation
By Priya Nauth
HEAD of the Presidential Secretariat (HPS), Dr. Roger Luncheon has said the “media sensationalism” surrounding the alleged Kwame McCoy tape can only undermine the commitment to “due process and a full and unbiased investigation”.

He made the comment at his weekly post-Cabinet media briefing yesterday at Office of the President, Shiv Chanderpaul Drive, Georgetown.

“The tape that surfaced is claimed to be a fabrication by Mr. Kwame McCoy. The ardour with which the matter is being dealt, particularly by the media and other entities, is of interest,” Luncheon remarked.

He acknowledged that calls to have the matter investigated is reasonable as questions have surfaced about its authenticity.

“That is the tape’s authenticity, issues surrounding entrapment, issues surrounding wiretapping and also extortion.

“In the context of these uncertainties, the strident calls for various definitive interventions to be put in place, the media sensationalism can only undermine the commitment to due process and a full and unbiased investigation,” the Cabinet Secretary stated.

Luncheon said he has listened to the tape but would not swear that he heard from the beginning to the end.

“But I joined many other Guyanese who had little choice, unless they wanted to switch channels or move to other sources of public information from being familiar with the content of the tape.”

He said “there is a wealth of information out there, that allowed for other perspectives or maybe additional perspectives to be looked”.

“So it is not the Government generating perspectives that are an addition to what’s on the table. I merely brought them to your attention. Why those perspectives would need to be attended to, I think, in the throes of calls for action to be taken, most of us would want to be associated with responsible intervention,” Luncheon offered.

“So, I feel that it should be put on the table and, as the investigation proceeds with the support of those whose inputs are essential, indeed these many areas would be pronounced on and, if found to be, laid to rest,” Luncheon said.

Asked whether, in light of the investigation, McCoy will be requested to step aside, Luncheon said, in terms of the Office of the President, once the investigation proceeds, that will determine what action would be taken.

About Mc Coy’s noticeable absence from the briefing, the HPS said he applied for and was granted leave.

Mc Coy had sued three media houses, claiming $150M, for continued harassment surrounding the controversial broadcasts and publications.

He was granted an injunction, restraining the defendants, Prime News, Enrico Woolford of Capitol News and National Media Publishing Co. Ltd. from further broadcasting or publishing allegations related to the recording but the injunctive was, subsequently, discharged by Acting Chief Justice Ian Chang.

Mc Coy has denied that he is the other person in a recorded sex conversation with a 15-year-old boy and Police are investigating a complaint by the Liaison Officer to the President that he was impersonated.

Hospital authorities blame negligent parents
Upsurge in accidents involving toddlers, children
By Shirley Thomas
A 22-month-old baby boy was on Wednesday morning rushed to the
Accident and Emergency Unit of the Georgetown Public Hospital after reportedly ingesting kerosene at his parents’ home, 2 Riverview, Ruimveldt. He was treated and admitted to the Paediatric Ward.

And on Tuesday, a four-year-old toddler of Craig, East Bank Demerara, was also admitted to the hospital after he ingested thinners, a liquid used to dilute paint. The child was treated and also admitted to the Paediatric Ward.

Also on Tuesday, around 16:30h two-year old Christopher Grant, of 382 BB Eccles, East Bank Demerara, was rushed unconscious to the Accident and Emergency Unit of the hospital, after falling the top stairs of a two-flat building.

Reports are that the child was playing, when he fell from the stairs. He was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in a critical condition.

Meanwhile, last Sunday, around 18:00h. a three-year-old baby girl of Chelsie Park, Mahaica, East Coast Demerara, suffered severe burns about her body, after a pan accidentally fell off a stove and spewed its contents on her. She was admitted to the Burns Unit of the GPHC.

And in the neighbouring village of Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara, last Saturday, a six-year-old boy was attempting to cross the Mahaicony Public Road when he was struck down by a minibus and suffered a fractured leg. He was admitted to the Pediatric Ward of the hospital

Over the past several weeks, there has been an upsurge in the number of infant cases treated at the Georgetown Public Hospital for preventable illnesses. Hospital authorities observed that many of the cases were caused through negligence on the part of parents and guardians.

And whilst the abovementioned cases all involved toddlers, many other children and young adults have either keen killed or seriously injured on the nation’s roads.

Examples of cases in which young lives have been snuffed out on the nation’s roads over the last four months include:

* Sixteen-yr-old Jetrow Persaud, a student of North West Secondary School, pinned and killed by a tractor he was driving at Waune, North West District on May 28.

* Two-year-old Fabian Gomes of Long Creek, Linden/ Soesdyke Highway, struck down and killed by a car while being taken to play school by his other siblings on June 9.

* Six-year-old Ricardo Mc Bean of Brighton Village, struck down by a vehicle on the Brighton Public Road, Corentyne, Berbice on July 26.

* Seven-year-old Amishya Ali of Railway View Meten-Meer-Zorg,

West Coast Demerara, and 12-yr-old Ricky Kumar of Parika, East Bank Essequibo, killed instantly when struck down by a speeding motor car on their way to a religious service, accompanied by their grandmother on August 16.

* Twelve-year-old Viveekanand Rudradeo of Ogle, at Better Hope, East Coast Demerara , struck down by a hit-and-run driver while riding along with his father on August 29. He died on September 8.

* Four-year-old toddler struck down and killed by a motor vehicle on the East Bank Demerara about three weeks ago, walking with his mother.

* Nine-year-old Indar Ragubhir of Blairmont, West Coast Berbice, killed in an auto crash while returning from a visa appointment at the United States Embassy in Georgetown on September 16.

Concerned about the wanton slaying and maiming of children on the nation’s roads, Chairman of the National Road Safety Council, Surendra Khayaam, is renewing the call to motorists that they have a duty, when driving, to observe the five Cs of Road Safety, namely Care, Caution, Courtesy, Consideration and Commonsense, and to be on the look out for children using the roads at all times.

This newspaper also wishes to remind parents that children have a right to operate in a safe environment whether at home or out of the home, and that such rights must be respected.

Wives believe disembowelled bodies are of missing fishermen
By Michel Outridge
AN HIGHLY emotionally charged atmosphere prevailed at the Herstelling, East Bank Demerara homes of two families yesterday, when they learnt that the disembowelled bodies retrieved from Essequibo River, earlier this week, might be those of their missing loved ones.

The corpse are believed to be that of 40-year-old Titas Nascimento called ‘Buckley’ and Rickford Bannister, 46, both fishermen.

Nascimento’s grieving wife, Shanti Rickiram, 39, told reporters the father of two left home last week Thursday and efforts to contact him since have failed.

The woman collapsed several times, shouting the name of her spouse while their children, crying, were also being comforted.

Relatives said they are awaiting the return of recovered personal effects, such as a wrist watch, wedding band and cellular phone, to make a definite pronouncement on the identify of the deceased.

Bannister’s wife of four years, Angela Dabidyal said he left to work at sea on September 14.

She said, before then, he was a watchman at Meadow Bank wharf in Georgetown where he met the owner of a trawler on which he secured employment.

Dabidyal said she called him on his cellular phone on Friday night and he told her he was on his way to Parika, East Bank Essequibo and would be back home the next day.

When he did not show as expected, she said she tried calling him, again, many times but her calls went unanswered until Tuesday, when he said he was proceeding to Mahaica, East Coast Demerara.

That was the last time she heard from him and other attempts to contact him proved futile. It was the reports in the newspapers that aroused her suspicion that he could be one of the murdered duo.

Dabidyal said it was sometime last month that Bannister began working on the fishing vessel, with a crew of four.

She burst into loud wails yesterday as she spoke to the media.

“Look how cruelly they killed him. He had no eyes, no intestines and he was also shot several times. It is a brutal way to die,” she lamented.

The Police, in a Wednesday night press release, said that at about 16:00 h on Tuesday, September 29, the body of an unidentifiable man in a state of decomposition was seen floating in the Essequibo River in the vicinity of Wakenaam island.

The release said the corpse was fair in complexion and clad in a three-quarters pants and white shirt, lying face downwards with a wound to the head and disembowelled.

A post mortem examination, performed by Dr. Nehaul Singh, revealed that the cause of death was haemorrhage and shock due to gunshot injuries.

The other unidentified body, in a state of decomposition was found about 10:00 h Wednesday, September 30, afloat in the same river. It was fair in complexion, of medium build, about five feet nine inches tall and clad in long black pants with two wounds to the left side of the head and disembowelled.

An autopsy on it, done by the same pathologist, established that the man died of haemorrhage and shock, induced by gunshot injuries, as well.

Moving away from the confrontational approach
The public service in any country undoubtedly plays a crucial and pivotal role in its developmental process and how efficient and effective it functions to a large extent determines the rate of development because it is the life blood of government and its agencies.

President of the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) recently noted: “Public servants keep the wheels of government turning, they keep the country running.”

The relationship therefore between governments and public servants/bargaining agents should be a healthy one because this is essential for the smooth running of government.

Unfortunately in Guyana, historically the GPSU adopted a confrontational and antagonistic stance to governments led by the People’s Progressive Party (PPP).

In fact, the union played a major role during the strikes of the 1960s called by the TUC in collaboration with foreign forces including the CIA to remove the elected government.

A statement made by the then Premier Dr. Cheddi Jagan of “not a cent more” was twisted out of context and used as a platform to lash out against the government.

What Dr. Jagan meant was he was not in favour of giving an increase in salary to those public servants that were already enjoying high salaries and not all public servants. However, those who were bent on removing the government created the impression that the government did not intend to pay salary increases to any public servant.

From those days the GPSU has not changed its attitude to PPP governments very much. Ironically, during the long PNC reign in government all manner of harassment were meted to public servants including wage freezes; using them as scabs to break sugar workers strikes, forcing them to attend PNC rallies and other functions of the ruling party to build numbers. But the union never protested or took to the streets for those violations of the rights of its membership. Instead it remained silent, except for the period when George Daniels was president of the union. In fact, under his tenure the union became a member of the then FITUG group of unions.

As a result of his militancy George Daniels eventually was forced to flee Guyana because of threats to his life by the then ruling party

Nevertheless, the tone of the 18th Biennial Delegates’ Conference of the GPSU was one which gave the impression that the union is willing to shelve the confrontational/antagonistic approach to one of more partnership which should be the preferred route. The former approach hardly ever brings positive results and is counterproductive leaving much bitterness in society.

The reception hosted at State House by President Jagdeo therefore was probably aimed at demonstrating the government’s willingness to develop a more cordial relationship with the union.

Touching on the above this what Mr. Yarde had to say: “We interpret this gesture as an acknowledgement of the invaluable contribution and support public servants give every day to the government. 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 correctly noted too that 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.

“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,” Yarde declared.

If this is the route the union intends to take then the government should seize the opportunity to mend fences and begin a new era in its relations and develop a win-win situation which will be of great benefit not only to public servants but the entire country as a well.

On this note Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon made some very instructive remarks: “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. We all have a role to play, this role has to be played together, in concert, and the objective is national development.”

The Parrot
Is the Waterfall paper on a diet ?
THE Parrot is very aware of the efforts many take to ensure that they engage in some form of physical activity.
No, I am not talking about anything related to Boxing and the other thing.

Well, you know what I want to say. I am speaking about the hundreds who flock the seawall and the National Park competing, in a subtle cooperative way, for space to exhibit their physical manoeuvres which are expected to keep them fit and hopefully, to prolong life.

This phenomenon has caught on over the years and people from all age groups and sizes are involved. The reason is simple; stay fit; live healthier.

The exercise craze has led to some “spin-offs”. Some people ensure that they are visible on the exercise “trails” so that they can be considered as being “in” on what’s “in”; not necessarily there to keep fit but to keep eyes fixed on them.

Sometimes the “eye-fixing” can be a pleasurable experience. On other occasions, the “eye-fixing” leads to images of Freddie. Not the Waterfall paper Freddie; “Nightmare on Elm Street” Freddie.

In many instances, exercising expeditions make for good conversation. You know, just like some who like to play “big-shot” and who like to talk about which fancy supermarket they shop and which fancy private school their children attend and which fancy place they went for a vacation and which fancy brand name they wear and which fancy car they travel in.

They talk about where they exercised and who they met. Even if they just pass a “big one” along the trail, they make others believe that the “big one” and them are personal friends. Yeah, I am sure you know plenty people like that.

The point is exercise is a big thing even if many are not really exercising. The best “yardstick” to judge if somebody really exercising is if they start to get “fine” just like the stick.

This has its downside since getting “fine” can lead to certain stigmas being attached. This brings me to exercising over at Freddie’s paper. Not “Nightmare on Elm Street” Freddie; the Waterfall paper Freddie; the Waterfall paper.

The paper suddenly get “fine-fine”. Just look at the first edition for this brand new month, October. The paper really get thin. Why? Exercise?

One of Uncle Glenn’s hands was recently seen in a blue sling. Dem boys seh, that he was trying to exercise when the hand slip. Dem same boys seh that he did practising to do like the Chinese acrobats and the task was too much for him. Seeing that the exercise didn’t work out for him, the paper itself started to exercise.

Whatever physical manoeuvres the paper employed, it worked like instant nail-polish remover. Overnight the paper lost plenty weight! Plenty! The Parrot understands that many calls were made to the Waterfall paper enquiring about what they used to get such remarkable results.

Doctors, Trainers, even Henry; not the former Minister, the other one; Winston; not the former PNCR Chairman, the other one and Randolph called. Even Uncle Glenn was surprised at the number of calls. But being the politician he is, he said it was ploy to see how many people buying he paper.

Dem boys, he same boys seh, he not telling the whole truth. Dem seh that over the last week or so, the Waterfall paper was padded up with news about pumps and government projects and Kwame and Evan.

The paper now run out of pumps and government projects to write ‘bout because Uncle Ashni and Robert; not Corbin the other one, fix them, (not the pumps and projects), Uncles Glenn and Adam, “good and praper”.

Uncle Ashni and Robert debunked all the “tall tale” stories Uncles Glenn and Adam write ‘bout pumps and projects. Never before was such obsession seen by two grown men over pumps.

Dem same boys seh that is something dem don’t want to talk about. So right away the Waterfall paper lost much “padding” without pumps and projects to denigrate. It then turned to Kwame and Evan.

Now that Kwame has left the jurisdiction after taking leave, the Waterfall paper lost more “padding”. As a result it shrunk “thin-thin”. Kwame by heself does take up a lot of space, so with him on leave, “lil bit” left.

In a desperate effort to try to hold on to some “padding”, the Waterfall paper apparently put a GPS (Global Positioning System) pun Kwame.

How else was the paper able to “report” when and where Kwame landed for his vacation and who picked him up and all the other “fine-fine” details? Dem said boys confirmed that the Waterfall paper got GPS; Glenn Peeping Secretly!

The paper blaming Kwame. His absence has led to its “weight” loss. One smart boy asked if the “weight” loss is because the paper has to walk long-long distances in following Kwame.

The Parrot ain’t know. Also, now that Evan, who the Waterfall paper said was fired is still on the job, still more “padding” has been lost.

What the Parrot knows, is that some people who does start “hot and sweaty” in exercising does stop after a while. A boy with vision seh that the Waterfall paper only trying to be “in” with the “in” and may stop exercising when Kwame come back. Again, I don’t know. Anyway, I gone; my eyes are fixed on some pleasurable “ins”. Squawk! Squawk!

Anti-government horses need reawakening
WHERE Mr. Kissoon and those of his ilk? Over the past few weeks he had been so agile about his allegations that this Government is holding the status of being an ‘elected dictatorship’, but all of a sudden he seems to be silent about his allegations? Dr. Prem Misir picked up on this allegation and disputed Mr. Kissoon’s assertions of Guyana being an ‘elected dictatorship’. But all the horses seem to be back in their stables, trying to be dormant, ruminating on hay.

I am assuming that they probably realised that their allegations were deeply flawed, and unreasonable, notwithstanding what the reality is, as opposed to the content of their fairy-tale episodes.

Such an act by these fairy-tale writers verifies the weak level of their arguments, and this also applies to the many persons who write in the newspapers, who are unable to back up their arguments and allegations, since the majority of their allegations are unreal.

As Misir stated in his letter titled, ‘Where is the creeping dictatorship that President Jagdeo is busily constructing?’ - “Political mischief continues to drive lawlessness and irresponsibility in Guyana. The increasing use of mayhem to distort the work and achievements of the democratically-elected People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government has long become the norm of politics in this country; and so, we would need to distinguish between politicians who ‘live off politics’ and politicians who ‘live for politics’. Those politicians who ‘live off of politics’ are the prominent mischief makers heavily armed with promoting self-interests rather than the people’s interests.”

Everyday, these persons try to create havoc within our society, in an effort to segregate the people, for either political gain or just for boredom’s sake. Dr. Misir in his letter went on to say, “Let me say that use of the race card for some time now has turned out to be the mask for this unrelenting political mischief, especially articulated through the media. What is the reason for this mischief? Clearly, the raison d'être has to do with undermining this government and rewrite the political history of this country. But the people have the power to end this political nuisance, a political tragedy in some sense.“

Kissoon and those of his ilk seem to be captivated by this mirage that Government of Guyana is an ‘elected dictatorship’. How then are we enjoying so many freedoms? How is it that they (Mr. Kissoon and like-minded others) and all the other opponents are allowed to express their opinions in the media today? As Misir stated, “And we now hear from regular, or may be ‘paid’ media letter writers, that President Bharrat Jagdeo is a ‘dictator’, busily constructing a ‘creeping dictatorship’, and an ‘elected dictatorship’, and may be ‘pleasing’ Indians. It’s not surprising that these terms were excluded from the vernacular of the PNC regime when these very people worked within the PNC dictatorship; not unexpected because they seem unable to distinguish between a dictatorship and a thriving democracy.”

I want to make it clear that this anti-government group of paid columnists seem to be back in their stables, trying to be dormant, ruminating on hay, without reinforcing their position of Guyana being an ‘elected dictatorship’. These horses need some reawakening.
ELIZABETH DALY
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Kissoon’s article inaccurate and mischievous
I refer to "The Freddie Kissoon Column" on page 10 of the Kaieteur News of 28 September, 2009 headlined "Robeson Benn's Vinayak or Vinaigrette" and wish to clarify some gross inaccuracies in relation to the Ministry's New Asphalt Plant.

The Asphalt Plant - a Mobile Asphalt Drum Mix Plant OM 50 - was purchased from Vinayak Road Equipment of India at a cost of $34.6M (G) and not the $200M as claimed by the Columnist. The cost included installation, spares and training of national operators (the Ministry's).

The Plant arrived in Guyana in July 2009. The Indian Technicians arrived in Guyana at the end of July 2009. Site preparation, plant installation and testing were completed by September 16, 2009.

It should be noted that in an article in the Stabroek News of the 24 September, 2009, the cost of the Plant was clearly stated as US$169,000 and the Plant was site tested and production commenced.

The Plant was sourced from India after considerable discussions were held with competent national personnel. As a matter of fact, there is a similar plant purchased from the same Supplier by a Company' in Guyana from whom advice was also sought.

Vinayak Road Equipment (an ISO 9001:2000 Certified) is a reputable Company. It is a leading Manufacturer and Exporter of Road Construction Equipment in India . It has already supplied several similar plants and machinery to Afghanistan , Iran , Iraq , Jordan , Oman , St. Vincent , Ecuador , etc. Their in- depth experience in the field of road construction machinery has delivered quality and proven design machinery to leading road construction companies in India and elsewhere. Their website is •• www.vinavakroadequipment.com ••.

Notwithstanding the frequency difference of 50HZ/60HZ in terms of the equipment/utility supply, respectively, it was confirmed in writing by the Supplier (Vinayak Road Equipment) that the system design allows for the Plant's safe and sustainable operation within the current frequency limits. This is also the view of the Ministry of Public Works and Communication's experts and it is apt to note that the 50/60 HZ configuration allows for the removal and set up of the plant on a generator for large out of town projects where a mains supply is unavailable.

It is envisaged that the plant will be officially commissioned shortly on the completion of the ramp that will facilitate loading of the bins with material to produce the asphaltic concrete.

As a consequence of the foregoing, therefore, the Ministry considers the article referred to at paragraph 1 above regarding the Mobile Asphalt Plant as grievously misleading and mischievous. If any effort was made to verify the facts with the Ministry of Public Works and Communications any misconceptions/doubts would have been clarified. Obviously, the Columnist, in his customary style, gives the impression that he sets out to sensationalise any issue and to deliberately mislead the public.

We have also been informed that the columnist gained entry to the Ministry's compound at Garden-of-Eden, East Bank Demerara, by falsely telling the security guard that "the Minister" had given him permission to visit the site, and that it was only with difficulty that he was persuaded by the supervisor to leave the location.

The Ministry expects an urgent retraction of the said article and an apology for the deliberate misrepresentations contained therein.
LESLIE WILBURG
Permanent Secretary (ag)
Ministry of Public Works and Communications
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A chimpanzee-like missing link would eventually be found
REMEMBER how the lunatic fringe went bunkers over the Ida fossil? How they screamed that the evolutionary missing link is actually a “mermaid”? Well, standby for another helping of crazy religiosity as scientists announce that there is no such thing as a “missing link” and they have “Ardi” to prove it.

National Geographic magazine is reporting that Ardipithecus ramidus (nick named Ardi) is the fossil that “puts to rest the notion, popular since Darwin's time that a chimpanzee-like missing link— resembling something between humans and today’s apes— would eventually be found at the root of the human family tree.”

The magazine says Ardi shows an “unexpected mix of advanced characteristics and of primitive traits seen in much older apes that were unlike chimps or gorillas. As such, the skeleton offers a window on what the last common ancestor of humans and living apes might have been like.”

"This find is far more important than Lucy," said Alan Walker, a paleontologist from Pennsylvania State University who was not part of the research. "It shows that the last common ancestor with chimps didn't look like a chimp, or a human, or some funny thing in between."

So, probably fake pastors hoping that the missing link is a mermaid are out of luck. Readers can get more details about Ardi at National Geographic online.
JUSTIN de FREITAS
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Guyanese friend John Liu wins NY office
I write to thank those NY-based Guyanese and others who came out to vote for my candidate, John Liu, enabling him to win the Primary for the vacant position of NYC Comptroller which is like the Auditor General, Accountant, and Bookkeeper of the city’s finances. Liu oversees the city’s annual US $60 billion plus budget and the investment of city employees’ $80 billion plus pension contributions.

Liu is a friend of Guyanese New Yorkers and other immigrant groups. He has taken up several immigrant issues (including bias crimes) during his tenure as City Council member and has sponsored Guyanese celebrations in the City Council (City Hall) including Diwali, Phagwah, Caribbean Indian Arrival, and Guyana’s independence celebrations. He also participates in the carnival celebrations in Brooklyn.

Liu is the first Asian to win a primary for a city wide office. Several Indo-Guyanese (who are defined as Asians in America and placed under Asian Americans in the national census) ran for City Council and state offices but were unsuccessful.

Liu was first elected to office in 2001 as a City Council member from the heavily Asian concentrated neighborhood of Flushing where several Guyanese and South Asian nationals are settled. Flushing is like a mini-Chinatown with a multitude of nationals with beautiful Hindu and Buddhist temples and Masjids. I lived there with other Guyanese for almost a year and thousands of Guyanese from other neighborhoods would visit Flushing's beautiful parks for picnics. Incidentally, before Richmond Hill became the hub of Guyanese business activities20in the late 1980s, many Guyanese shoppers would trek to Flushing for their massala, curry powder, religious paraphernalia, and other Guyanese items.

Liu regularly visits Richmond Hill for community events. He was a Chief Guest at the last Phagwah Parade and has been invited for this year’s Diwali Parade. The Indo-Guyanese community often donates heftily to his campaign most recently last week for his run off campaign. In fact, politicians from the Bronx and Brooklyn often come to Richmond Hill for campaign donations and leave with heavy bags. The Governor of NY, Dave Patterson, also received campaign funds from Richmond Hill.

Liu won Tuesday’s run off primary winning 56% of the votes but received only 101K votes in a low turnout of about 9%. He attributed his victory to labor unions and the ethnic newspapers which endorsed him, including Caribbean New Yorker. I penned an article in favor of Liu.

Having now won the Primary to be the Democrat’s standard bearer in the general election on November 3, Liu needs the community’s support. I urge Guyanese-New Yorkers to join the campaign as volunteers. We can be sure that he will continue to celebrate the city’s diversity and we can look at him as a friend in a higher office.
VISHNU BISRAM
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City Hall downplaying $100M owed by PNCR
CITY Hall with its continuous problems of being cash strapped sought to downplay the important fact that the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) has owed $100M in rates and taxes to the Council, which would go a long way in assisting the council to carry out its functions.

It is being touted that since Mayor Green is an executive member of the party he sought to help out his brothers by allowing them to withhold critical funds needed by the council as a show perhaps of party loyalty.

However, this has just served to show the public the level of incompetence and the complete lack of accountability and transparency that exists in the council.

After the matter was brought to the public’s attention for so long, the Council is finally moving towards collecting its taxes from that party. However, why has the Council waited this long to finally approach the PNCR and work out a payment plan? The money owed to the Council by that Party can go a long way to ensure that work is done in the City.

Mayor Green has always been quick to criticise government at every opportunity he gets even though it is the government that has had to bail out the council on countless occasions and will, I am sure, continue to do so, since government does not want the people of the city to suffer.

The members of the PNCR should be ashamed! The party makes such noise when it feels that something is going wrong and that government is not accountable or transparent enough. But this time, the party has itself been robbing the city of much needed funds by refusing to pay its taxes. The main opposition has been robbing the residents of the City of development and services and should be ashamed of its actions!
CECILIA PERSAUD
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Don’t attack overseas-based Guyanese
Overseas-based Guyanese applauded for contribution to restoration of democracy
I write to applaud those overseas-based Guyanese who contributed significant amounts of their valuable time and cash to struggle for the restoration of democracy in Guyana. Life has been a real struggle for immigrants eking out a living in America and the fact that some Guyanese could commit time and scarce money for the restoration of democracy in their former homeland is a demonstration of their abiding love and commitment to Guyana. They were/are patriots in every sense of the word and deserve full praises for their work. Instead, what we get are attacks and criticisms from people like Freddie Kissoon who never seem to appreciate what overseas-based Guyanese have done for Guyana. Kissoon always seem to denigrate the contributions of and put down overseas Guyanese in his columns. Without the contributions of people like Arjune Karshan, Mel Carpen, Dr. Baytoroam Ramharack, Vishnu Bisram, Ravi Dev, Chuck Mohan, myself, and so many others, Guyana may still be a dictatorship and people like Kissoon will not have been a columnist free to attack others with whom he disagrees.

Last week, Kissoon wrote that Vishnu Bisram must be a wealthy man to spend his own money to fund opinion polls in Guyana. One does not have to be wealthy to support or fight for democracy. One needs a kind heart and commitment to a cause and be willing to put your pocket to it if you believe in it. Bisram and Dr. Ramharack, both of whom I have known since 1977 as students at CCNY, were committed to the restoration and institutionalization of democracy in Guyana. They were/are not wealthy individuals. They are simple, ordinary, humble, working class individuals. They don’t lie and pretend to be anything other than themselves and they don’t misrepresent the views and writings of others. They spend money to support worthy causes. Like myself, they spent thousands of dollars of their own money in the struggle for the restoration of democracy in Guyana. Thus, it is not a shock to me, as it is a shock to Kissoon, that Bisram spent his own money to conduct polls in Guyana. I am a NYC teacher. My brother, Rennie, a political scientist, and a NYC teacher, and I travelled to Guyana and Trinidad (and on occasions Tobago) on our own funds to assist Dr. Ramharack and Vishnu Bisram with their polls. Ravi Dev also used his own personal money to travel to and throughout Guyana to assist with the TRPI polls. Others travelled with us from NACTA from NY and Trinidad to assist with the polling in Guyana and Trinidad.

Kissoon has been raising red herring that has nothing to do with polls. Who funds the polls, websites, and NACTA have nothing to do with the findings of the polls. Respondents don’t answer interviewers’ questions based on the funding of the poll or whether the pollster has a website. Bisram is a credible pollster and people answer the polls’ questions based on his reputation and credibility.
VASSAN RAMRACHA

Johnson named ICC Cricketer-of-the-Year
... Gambhir is Test Player-of-the-Year; Aleem Dar takes Umpire-of-the-Year award
By Andrew Miller
MITCHELL Johnson capped a tumultuous year by becoming the sixth winner of the prestigious Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy, after being named as the ICC World Player-of-the-Year at cricket's annual awards ceremony in Johannesburg.

Johnson, who shot to prominence during Australia's memorable series win in South Africa in February and March, claimed the title ahead of his fellow nominees, Gautam Gambhir, Andrew Strauss and Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

Johnson was a surprise choice for the title, not least because of the massive and very public crisis of confidence he suffered during Australia's Ashes defeat in England, particularly in the pivotal second Test at Lord's which England went on to win after Johnson's first-day figures of 3 for 107 in 19 overs.

But when he got his game right he was nigh unplayable, as his sensational performances against South Africa demonstrated. With 80 wickets in 17 matches, he was the most prolific strike bowler of the year, and he also recorded his maiden Test century and an unbeaten 96 against South Africa.

"I'm really blown away," said Johnson. "I am just surprised to be up here. It has been a great 12 months for our side. We have lost some wonderful players in recent years and we have been rebuilding with some young guys in the team and we have played together well."

India's star opener, Gambhir, was named as Test Player-of-the-Year, after an impressive haul of 1 269 runs at 84.60 in the eight Tests during the qualification period. "It's been a dream run for me. I never thought it could be like this but life has changed for me and I am very happy," said Gambhir. "As a unit we have played very well and I am just glad to contribute to the overall success of the team."

Mahendra Singh Dhoni retained his title of ODI Player-of-the-Year, seeing off competition from his team-mates, Yuvraj Singh and Virender Sehwag, as well as West Indies' Shivnarine Chanderpaul.

Dhoni played 24 ODIs during the voting period, scoring 967 runs at an average of 60.43 and strike-rate of 86.63, and also claimed 26 dismissals as he led India to 17 victories including a 5-0 demolition of England.

Tillakaratne Dilshan was a worthy winner of the Twenty20 International Performance-of-the-Year award, after capping a sensational World Twenty20 tournament in England in June with a show-stealing 96 off 57 balls against West Indies in the semi-final.

His performance at The Oval, in which no other Sri Lanka batsman managed more than 24, included two sixes and 12 fours, and though Sri Lanka went on to lose the final to Pakistan, Dilshan was nevertheless named as the Man-of-the-Tournament, with a total of 317 runs at 52.83.

Dilshan is perhaps most notable for his signature ‘Dilscoop’ shot - a flick-shot over his, and the keeper's, heads - and as he accepted his award he was equally proud to have coined a new term in cricket's lexicon.

"I'm really proud of myself for having a new shot named after me," he said. "That shot has given me confidence. If I am under pressure I can play that shot and put the pressure back on the bowlers."

Australia's fast bowler, Peter Siddle, was named as the Emerging Player-of-the-Year, after claiming 49 wickets at 28.93 in the 12 matches since his debut at Mohali in October 2008, including five-wicket hauls against South Africa at Sydney and England at Headingley, both of which led to memorable victories.

Siddle beat his fellow Australia seamer, Ben Hilfenhaus, to the award, as well as England's Graham Onions and New Zealand's Jesse Ryder.

New Zealand's cricketers were considered to have conducted themselves better on the field than any other nation in 2008-09, as they claimed the Spirit of Cricket award for the second time, having also won during the inaugural Awards ceremony at Alexandra Palace in London in 2004.

The judgement was made by the ICC's umpires and match referees, in conjunction with the ten full-member captains, and Daniel Vettori accepted the accolade on behalf of his colleagues, only 48 hours after reversing a run-out appeal against Paul Collingwood in their must-win group match against England.

"I think most teams within world cricket aspire to the intangible notion of the Spirit of Cricket," said Vettori. "It's not easy to define but I think when you get out on the field of play most guys know where that line is and most play the game in the right way. If we can couple the Spirit of Cricket award with the ICC Champions Trophy then we will be very happy indeed."

Pakistan's Aleem Dar ended Simon Taufel's monopoly to claim the Umpire-of-the-Year award. It was the first time that anyone other than Taufel had picked up the accolade in the six years that the ceremony has taken place.

South Africa's spearhead, Dale Steyn, is the only player to retain his place in the World Test Team-of-the-Year, with last year's captain, Graeme Smith, missing the cut to accommodate World Player-of-the-Year nominees Gambhir and Strauss at the top of the order. Dhoni takes over as captain; AB de Villiers, Sachin Tendulkar and Thilan Samaraweera make up the middle-order, while Bangladesh's impressive all-rounder, Shakib al Hasan, is chosen as the spin option alongside three quicks in Johnson, Steyn and Stuart Broad.

Six countries were also represented in the World ODI team, and just as with the Test side, there's only one survivor from the XI named 12 months ago. Dhoni was last year's wicketkeeper, and now he is captain as well, having been picked alongside his team-mates Virender Sehwag and Yuvraj Singh.

Three Sri Lankans - Dilshan, Ajantha Mendis and Nuwan Kulasekara - also feature, as well as two Englishmen, Andrew Flintoff and Kevin Pietersen, neither of whom have played a part in the side's remarkable revival during the Champions Trophy. West Indies' Chris Gayle, Pakistan's death-overs specialist Umar Gul, and New Zealand's surprise package, Martin Guptill, make up the numbers.

England's women - World Champions in 50-over and 20-over cricket this year, were rewarded for their dominance when their star player, Clare Taylor, was named as the Women's Player-of-the-Year. Taylor, 33, scored 565 runs in 18 ODIs an average of 70.62, and 230 runs at a lofty 115.00 in England's six-match World Twenty20 campaign.

Ireland's captain, Will Porterfield, was named as the Associate Player-of-the-Year, after leading his side to nine ODI victories in 11 fixtures in a memorable season that also included qualification for the Super Eight stage of the World Twenty20.

World Test Team-of-the-Year: Gautam Gambhir (India), Andrew Strauss (England), AB de Villiers (South Africa), Sachin Tendulkar (India), Thilan Samaraweera (Sri Lanka), Michael Clarke (Australia), MS Dhoni (India, capt. & wkp.), Shakib Al Hasan (Bangladesh), Mitchell Johnson (Australia), Stuart Broad (England), Dale Steyn (South Africa), Harbhajan Singh (India, 12th man)

World ODI Team-of-the-Year: Virender Sehwag (Ind), Chris Gayle (WI), Kevin Pietersen (Eng), Tillakaratne Dilshan (SL), Yuvraj Singh (Ind), Martin Guptill (NZ), MS Dhoni (Ind, captain, wkp.), Andrew Flintoff (Eng), Nuwan Kulasekara (SL), Ajantha Mendis (SL), Umar Gul (Pak), 12th man: Thilan Thushara (SL).

GPF looking to retain Joint Services athletics title
… alll comes down to sprint events
TWO days of tight competition in the annual Joint Services Athletics Championship have left defending champions, the Guyana Police Force (GPF), with a 12-point lead over their closest rival the Guyana Defence Force (GDF).

Today’s competition will continue with the points standing as follows: Guyana Police Force lead with 238 points, Guyana Defence Force 226 points, Guyana Fire Service 64 points and the Combined Services 23 points.

The stage will be the playground of the speed demons as the events are predominantly sprints namely the 100m, 200m ,400m, 4x100m, 4x400m, which means that the outcome of this year’s championships will come down to a battle of the sprinters.

The 1500m and the shot put finals are also on today’s itinerary.

The lineup for the Men’s 100m final reads: Michael Saul (GPF) (entry time: 10.4 secs), Quincy Clarke (GDF) (10.4 secs), Keith Roberts (GPF) (10.5 secs), Rupert Perry (GDF) (10.6 secs), Jermaine Newton (GDF) (10.9 secs), Ryan Scott (10.9 secs), Dellon Harris (11.3 secs) and Winston George (GPF) (11.5 secs).

The top three for the Ladies’ 100m final are Leota Bobb (GPF) (entry time: 11.9 secs), Roshelle Coates (GDF) (12.1 secs), and Delle Williams (GPF) (12.6 secs). The Men’s 200m will feature Quincy Clarke (entry time: 21.5 secs), Keith Roberts (21.9 secs), Michael Saul ( 22.0 secs), Rupert Perry (22.1 secs) and Winston George (22.6 secs).

The Ladies’ 200m lineup reads: Leota Bobb (entry time: 25.8 secs), Roshelle Coates (26.7 secs), Ollando Grant (27.3 secs) and Delle Williams (27.7 secs)

The Men’s 400m will see Mark Edwards (GPF) (entry time:50.4 secs), Winston George (50.4 secs), Trevor Scotland (GPF) (50.9 secs), Odellie DeSantos (GDF) (51.1 secs), Quincy Payne (GDF) (51.8 secs) and Raymond Alexander (52.0 secs). Travis Gilbert and Clive Martin qualified by the virtue of having the fastest times below the qualifying mark.

The Women’s 400m will see Delle Williams (entry time: 1.03.0), Wanita Wayne (1.04.2), Leanna Doris (GDF) (1.04.7), Annasa Mentore (1.08.3) Felicia Sullivan (1.08.7), Latoya Benjamin (1.29.2).

While the outcome is still uncertain many pundits and fans of the track would have surmised the results of tomorrow’s sprint events based upon four GPF athletes namely Michael Saul who is the current National 100m and 200m champion. Keith Roberts who is a former Junior National Champion, Trevor Scotland and Leota Bobb who are also Junior National Champions.

Bruised Windies due home this evening
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (CMC) – A battered West Indies began their long trek back to the Caribbean last night, still picking up the pieces from a bruising ICC Champions Trophy campaign where they failed to win a single match.

The squad were scheduled to fly out at 21:00 h (15:00 h Eastern Caribbean time) and are expected to arrive in Barbados this evening, after connecting through London.

They depart the tournament on the heels of their latest loss, a seven-wicket defeat to India at The Wanderers on Wednesday.

It was their third successive loss in Group A following defeats to Pakistan in their opening match followed by Australia.

The side, decimated by the loss of the elite players because of the ongoing contracts row, finished bottom of their group and were the only team in the tournament to finish without a win to their name.

Floyd Reifer, who endured an abysmal series with the bat with 30 runs from three innings, praised the inexperienced squad following their final match, pointing out they had gained crucial experience.

“I thought our team had a good tournament. Our bowlers did really well through the tournament. (Kemar) Roach bowled quickly, Gavin Tonge had a very good tournament as well,” said the 37-year-old, recalled to lead the side after 10 years out of international cricket.

“(Nikita) Miller bowled well and our fielding was really good and as a team I thought we performed fairly well in the tournament.

“These guys are the future of West Indies cricket. This is only their sixth game as a team and the most important thing for us is to keep improving.”

The failed Champions Trophy campaign represents the second successive flop for the makeshift side, after they were hastily pulled together in July following the elite players’ boycott.

The new-look outfit, comprising several players without any international experience, were swept 2-0 in Tests and 3-0 in One-Day Internationals by minnows Bangladesh in the home series in the Caribbean.

West Indies’ next overseas assignment is a three-Test series in Australia starting in November and efforts are already under way to broker deal which would see a full-strength team being selected.

Ganga has high hopes for T20 Champions League
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) – Trinidad & Tobago captain Daren Ganga said yesterday the upcoming Twenty20 Champions League in India would serve to renew the national team.

“This Twenty20 tournament will prove to be the rebirth of the national team. The rebirth of dedication to excellence,” said the long-serving skipper.

“Whether we win or lose what we are about is giving of our best and I would like to ensure the country that we will go to this tournament and play as winners.”

The tournament is scheduled to bowl off next Thursday and will witness the domestic Twenty20 club champions from around the cricket world clashing for the title as World T20 kings.

T&T, the reigning Caribbean T20 champions, will go up against India’s Deccan Chargers and English County club Somerset in Group A.

Ganga said his side would be relying heavily on the confidence gained from their regional success in recent times.

“Over the last four to five years we have built up an impressive record in the region winning about 10 titles and we move forward with this confidence,” said the former Test batsman.

“We pride ourselves in being the best team in the region and while we chase perfection which is unattainable, we would end up with excellence.”

The squad, who have been in training for several weeks, recently rounded off their preparation with two T20s against a Guyana Select XI in Georgetown.

T&T’s squad includes West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo, Test wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin and exciting batsman Lendl Simmons, who made his Test debut this year against England in the Caribbean.

GCB/MOE Inter-school cricket
Massive wins for North Georgetown, St Winefride’s
SIX schools including North Georgetown Secondary and St Winefride’s Secondary, recorded victories when action in the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB)/Ministry of Education Inter-school cricket competition continued recently across the country.

In their respective matches against Queenstown and Gamaliel’s Academy, North Georgetown and St Winefride’s scored convincing victories, even as Swami Purnananda Secondary, Ebascol Educational Centre, Tutorial High and the International Business College chalked up wins.

Scores from matches played are as follows
Swami Purnananda Secondary defeated President’s College by 54 runs.

Swami Purnananda took first strike and made 138 all out from 33.1 overs, with Mukeshwar Pitam (53) and Domain Waldron (44) being the leading scorers against the bowling of Deryck Mingo who took 5-13 and Durvash Roopnarine with 3-10.

In reply, President’s College were bowled out for 84 in 26 overs, with Roopnarine (16), Akwesi Alfred (12) and Kevin Abrams 11 being the principal scorers while Azale Da Silva with 5-13 and Waldron and Aris Samad who took two wickets each, bowled their school to a 54-run victory.

Ebascol Educational Centre scored 156 before they were bowled out in 30.2 overs against Hindu College, with Reeaz Rahaman and David Mahesh making 22 each while and Seeram Alli and Vishram Alli also contributed 12 each against the bowling of Parsuram Lall (3-16), Shawn Campbell (3-26) and Alexander Outar 2-35.

In reply, Hindu College were bowled out for 85 in 19 overs, with Navindra Dianauth being the only batsman to reach double figures with 11, against the bowling of David Mahesh (5-18) and Rahaman and Joshua Bidajhar who supported with two wickets each.

In the match between St Winefride’s and Gamaliel’s Academy which was played last Wednesday at the GNIC Sports club ground, St Winefride’s walked away with a massive 234-run victory over their opponents.

St Winefride’s took first strike and made 267 all out in 26 overs, with Motiall Avenish 56 (9x4), Sean Browne 39 (2x4, 3x6) and Tevin Williams 26 being the leading scorers against the bowling of Jerry Da Silva (5-68) and Terell Braithwaite 3-70 from six overs each.

Gamaliel’s Academy, in reply, were bundled out for a meagre 24 from just nine overs, as Andrew O’Donoghue took 6-1 from four overs and Jubal Ramphal 2-3 ensuring their team completed their second victory handsomely.

North Georgetown took first strike against Queenstown CHS and were bowled out for 191 from 27 overs, with Martin Pestano Belle leading the way with 95, while Ravindralall Persaud scored 18 and Inford Charles 14.

Chavez Jairam bagged 5-51, Lauret Stewart 3-39 for Queenstown CHS, who were bowled out for 95 in reply from 14.2 overs, with Steven Jupiter scoring 21 while Chavez Jairam and Mario King scored 17 and 14 respectively, as Ravindralall Persaud captured 5-54 and Inford Charles 2-32 for North Georgetown who won by 96 runs.

Marian Academy and International Business College (IBC) squared off yesterday at the YMCA Thomas Lands ground. Marian Academy, taking first strike, scored 155 before being bowled out in 32.4 overs, with Avinash Odit and Timothy Farnum 22, Tagenarine Chanderpaul 21 and Joseph Leo 14 leading the way for batsmen, while extras top-scored with 60.

Bowling for International Business College, Daniel Manohar, 3-28 and Kevin Evans and Bhojnarine Singh with two wickets each did the damage with the ball for their team who reached 159-7 from 25 overs in reply, to complete a three-wicket victory.

Delroy D’Aguiar made a very impressive 62, reaching the boundary nine times (7x4, 2x6) while Gabriel Cole supported with 32. Bowling for Marian Academy, David Ward took 2-22.

In the other match in the Zone played on the said day at GYO ground, Tutorial High defeated St Joseph High by 37 runs

Tutorial batted first and made 204 all out in 24 overs, thanks to the batting of Jamal Norton and Wayne Walker who made 59 each while Aleem Rasheed scored 13 in support. Bowling for St Joseph High, Dhanesh Persaud took 4-32 and Joseph Marks 3- 34 from five overs each.

In reply, St Joseph High were bowled out for 167 in 22.2 overs of which Shivram Persaud (61), Jevon Roberts (50) and Hemchand John and Ronald Geer with 12 each, led the batting against the bowling of Wayne Walker (6-57) and Garfield De Roache (2-9). Tutorial High won by 37 runs.

Amsterdam Under-17 Memorial cricket
Grovesnor’s nine-wicket haul leads Achievers into last 16
… 12-wicket haul for Chandradat
ACHIEVERS Cricket Club of Lovely Lass, West Berbice, became the first team to advance to the quarter-finals of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) organised 2009 Leslie Amsterdam Memorial Under-17 cricket competition, when they defeated Rainbow Generation by an innings to end their Zone A preliminary rounds with an unassailable 30 points to win that zone.

In that match, Rainbow Generation who had done well to restrict Achievers to 125 in their first innings, struggled in their turn at the wicket as Achievers’ bowlers struck back with off-spinner Rajiv Kishun taking 4-13, pacer Cloid Marks 3-12 and left-arm spinner Renalto Grovesnor 2-8, as Rainbow Generation were bowled out for 45 in their first innings.

Being asked to follow on, they were bowled out for 57 in their second innings with Grovesnor taking 7- 21 to end with match figures of 9-29.

Off-spinner Devendra Chandradat took 6-18 and 6-15 respectively to end with bowling figures of 12-33 which enabled his team Crabwood Creek to defeat No.68 by eight runs in their fixture.

Scores from the matches played:

At Lovely Lass, Achievers beat Rainbow Generation by an innings and 23 runs.

Achievers took first strike and scored 115 with Sardat Harripaul making 31 against the bowling of Richard Mitchell who took 4-17 and Gregory Archibald 3-34.

Rainbow Generation found the bowling of Rajiv Kishun 4-13, Cloid Marks 3-12 and Renalto Grovesnor 2-8 too hot to handle and were bowled out for 45 and, being asked to follow on, faltered for 57, as Grovesnor grabbed 7- 21.

At Crabwood Creek, Crabwood Creek beat No.68 by eight runs.

Crabwood Creek: first innings 113 with Viendra Gooniah 3-16 and Anthony Durjodhan 2-22; and 51 with Dolaram Persaud 6-14 and Durjodhan 2- 22.

No.68 replied with 80 in their first innings, with Persaud contributing 24 while Chandradat took 6-18, and being asked to follow on, were bowled out for 76, with Chandradat returning to scalp 6-15.

At Rose Hall in Canje, Young Warriors took first innings points from Rose Hall Community Centre in their drawn match.

Rose Hall Community Centre batted first and made 103 with Kevin Ramdeen contributing 25 against the bowling of Jamal Parris who took 4-18 and Orlando Tanner with 2 -30.

Young Warriors replied with 153 to take first innings points, thanks to Totaram Sooknanan 36, Quesi Kendall 28, Linden Austin 24, even as Ramdeen returned with the ball to scalp 6-62. He received support from Udesh Imrit who took 4-58.

'Close race' for 2016 Games vote today
THE hosts of the 2016 Olympics will be decided in Copenhagen today, with Chicago, Madrid, Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo bidding for the Games.

The presentation ceremony will get under way at 0730 BST, with the winning bid announced at around 1800.

Chicago are rated as slight favourites but many commentators are describing the outcome as too close to call.

"This is a very, very close race between four outstanding bids," said British IOC member Sir Craig Reedie.

"Because the bids are so good and because it is so close the last few hours are going to be even more exciting than usual."

The city receiving the fewest votes will be eliminated round-by-round until one candidate secures a majority.

International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge told the BBC: "I believe it's going to be very close - this is a trend we have seen in the last five to six years.

"Security - not only physical but also in terms of the organisation - is very important. We need a very good Olympic Village, state-of-the-art venues, a good transportation system.

"If beyond that we can have a very good home team and a very warm public, the game is almost over."

A large factor behind Chicago's potential success could lie in the presence of US President Barack Obama, a former Illinois senator and Chicago resident.

Obama is due to arrive today but his wife Michelle has been in the Danish capital since Wednesday, lobbying IOC members.

In the past, the impact of star personalities on Olympic bids has been key, demonstrated when lobbying by former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair helped London win the 2012 Games and Russian President Vladimir Putin led Sochi's bid for the 2014 Winter Olympics.

However, Chicago's rival bidders will also be boasting big names, with King of Spain Juan Carlos, the President of Brazil Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Japan's new Prime Minister, Yukio Hatoyama, all coming to Denmark to lobby for their respective cities.

A number of factors are considered by the IOC's voting members in determining an Olympic host city; political and social support, general infrastructure, sports venues, Olympic Village, environment, security, transport, accommodation, past experience, finance, and legacy.

However, alongside these more fundamental considerations, other factors such as emotion, sentiment, geography, politics, self-interest and other factors also play a role - often making predicting a winner near impossible.

The key to victory is picking up votes from the eliminated cities.

The voting starts with all four cities in the hat and the candidate city with the least amount of votes is eliminated at the end of the first round. The IOC members from country of the rejected city then join the voting and a new vote is cast between the three remaining cities. This process is repeated until a majority is found, expected to be in the third round.

Still, one major consideration is believed to mark Chicago and Rio de Janeiro as favourites.

Although there is no official IOC continental rotation policy, it is believed the Americas may have an edge as previous Summer Games will have been held in Europe, Asia, Europe again and Australasia (although it is worth noting the 2010 Winter Games are in North America).

And Rio will be hoping the opportunity to award South America the Olympics for the first time could prove decisive.

Long-time IOC member Dick Pound noted recently: "Policy wise, the IOC has to decide if we're ready to go to a new continent (South America). Is the time right?"

Factors against Rio include concerns about crime and security in the area - an issue representatives from Madrid and Tokyo have drawn attention to in recent speeches and press releases.

Some extra spice has been added to the process with a row breaking out after Spain's Olympic vice-president Jose Maria Odriozola labelled Rio as "the worst of the four candidates", breaking IOC rules about criticism of rival bids.

Madrid officials swiftly apologised for the comments, but Rio have made an official complaint to the IOC over the incident.

Madrid, loser to London in the 2005 bidding process for the 2012 Games, boasts a sound plan, having already built most of its venues. It also has the behind-the-scenes support of former IOC president and current honorary president Juan Antonio Samaranch and credit in the bank from previous bids.

Tokyo also makes a compelling case on paper: a compact Games with superb green and redevelopment credentials.

"They (Tokyo Games) have been designed by athletes for athletes," said Mikako Kotani, a 1988 Seoul Games bronze medallist in synchronised swimming and head of the bid's athletes commission.

"Ninety-seven percent of venues are within an 8km radius of the stadium and the athletes’ village. Seventy percent of athletes are less than 10 minutes from their venues."

However, a win for Madrid would make it three European-based Olympics in a row (London 2012 and Sochi 2014 precede it), while Tokyo's bid could suffer from being too like and too close to Beijing, last year's hosts.

The latest indictor of where the IOC's vote may be headed - their final evaluation report published at the beginning on September - only served to further blur the situation, with no rankings offered and all cities praised. (BBC Sport)

South Africa switches to 40-over domestic cricket
CRICKET South Africa (CSA) has acted on its plan to tweak the limited-overs format by making trial changes to their domestic competition, including reducing the format to 40 overs each, allowing 12 players a side and allowing the batting side to pick Powerplays.

This follows the England board's decision to do away with their 50-over competition and retain the 40-over format to go with the first-class and Twenty20 championships.

However while the teams can pick 12 players, only 11 can bat and field. The first Powerplay will extend up to 10 overs and the second for five and both must be taken before the 35th over. For one, four fielders will be allowed outside the ring, and for the other three.

Also for rain delays overs will be deducted immediately, and matches will be played over a set period regardless of the weather.

The existing 45-over MTN domestic championship will be replaced will the new format from October 28.

Gerald Majola, CSA chief executive, said the changes would revolutionise cricket in South Africa.

"CSA believes the new format will be a dynamic alternative to the dull periods that have crept into the 45-over version by providing added excitement and playing intensity," Majola said.

"This change is part of CSA's vision of giving fans the excitement and action they want without losing any of the basic skills that are an integral part of the game.

"At the same time, we will also be preparing our players for the 50-over international version if that does not change. And if it does become shorter, then we will have a head start."

Majola also said there would be substantial prize money and bonuses for players and franchises. (Cricinfo)

Wenger still the revolutionary after 13 years
By Martyn Herman
LONDON, England (Reuters) - When Arsene Wenger strolled into Arsenal’s famous Highbury stadium in 1996 to become the club’s first overseas manager few could have envisaged the revolution that was about to unfold in English football.

Arsenal have since evolved from a team built on the traditional English attributes of hard graft, defensive craft and a team spirit forged in snooker halls and bars into a club synonymous with sophistication and breathtaking attacking flair.

While that is all down to Wenger, he did not simply arrive and rip up all that went before. Had he done that it is unlikely the former Monaco coach would have been toasting becoming the club’s longest-serving and most successful manager yesterday.

The deep-thinking Frenchman and self-confessed football addict inherited a back four that provided the platform on which he could deliver his refined football philosophy to an unsuspecting English public.

Defensive colossus and captain Tony Adams, who along with Nigel Winterburn, Steve Bould and Lee Dixon formed the meanest defence in England, said the arrival of Wenger saved his career from the demons that dogged his personal life.

It was fitting that he led the side to the 1997-98 league and cup double in Wenger’s first full season at the helm.

For all Wenger’s love of artistic movement and intricate passing patterns, he has always known that a strong central core is vital for any side serious about collecting silverware.

HARD MEN
He signed French midfield hard men Patrick Vieira and Emmanuel Petit early in a reign littered with red cards.

Marc Overmars, Thierry Henry, Robert Pires and now Theo Walcott have all scorched the turf for Wenger with Henry arguably the most influential overseas player ever to join an English club.

“You have to remember, no matter where you end up, the people who helped make you along the way,” said Henry, who scored a record 174 goals and was part of the 2003-04 Invincibles who won a third title under Wenger without losing a match.

“I won the treble with Barcelona last year, but I know that if it wasn’t for Arsene Wenger I would not be the player I am.”

When Wenger arrived from the obscurity of the Japanese J-League, it also signified the start of one of the greatest rivalries in English club football as the London club challenged Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United dynasty.

While Wenger and the abrasive Scot have not always been best friends there remains a bond of mutual respect between the two men, both for their durability and foot-balling principles.

Wenger spoke of his pride this week that he has overseen the club’s move from Highbury to the gleaming Emirates stadium while still delivering teams challenging for honours.

LUXURIOUS STYLE
Arsenal have not won a trophy since the 2005 FA Cup but few of the 60 000 who pack the stadium every other week would ever criticise Wenger who has given them a luxurious style of football without sinking the club in debt.

“I wouldn’t be happy to work in a club that loses 30 million pounds each year,” said Wenger, who has won three league titles, four FA Cups and reached the Champions League final, a competition they have been involved in for 12 years in a row.

“If you see where we are today, I think we have a strong side, and a strong financial footing, so we haven’t done badly,” he said.

With the club announcing a record 32 million pounds ($51.01 million) profit this week it appears that Arsenal are perfectly positioned to break the Manchester United/Chelsea monopoly.

Young French defender Gael Clichy said his compatriot’s love and passion for football was infectious.

“The passion he puts into the game shows through. At training, he is the first to arrive and the last to leave. For me he is one of the best managers in Europe,” Clichy told Arsenal’s website (www.arsenal.com).

“You want to learn from him and give him back that confidence. We are the players we are today because of him.”

Champions Trophy semi-final…
England wait on Broad and Prior
ENGLAND seam bowler Stuart Broad will have a late fitness test ahead of today’s ICC Champions Trophy semi-final against Australia at Centurion.

Broad complained of tightness in his left buttock during Tuesday's defeat by New Zealand, and a scan revealed a torn muscle in his buttock.

England will also make a late decision on wicketkeeper Matt Prior, who has missed the last two games with illness.

He could be replaced by Steve Davies, who has joined up with the squad.

Team director Andy Flower said they had already approached the International Cricket Council - who must approve any replacement to the squad - about bringing Davies in for Prior.

"Matt's over the worst of that illness, but he's still nowhere near 100%," explained Flower.

"We have chatted to the ICC about replacing him in the squad and the protocols involved in doing so, and that option is still available."

Batsman Eoin Morgan has kept wicket for the last two games, but either Davies or a recovered Prior could play, probably in place of Ravi Bopara at Centurion.

After having his scan, Broad joined yesterday's practice under the supervision of physio Kirk Russell and team doctor Mike Stone, but halted during a series of exercises and seemed to be struggling with his movements.

The trio were joined by Flower and captain Andrew Strauss, who held further discussions before Broad simulated running between the wickets with a bat - but he did not appear to be moving freely, and left for the dressing room with Russell and Stone.

"He bowled a few overs at full pace in the nets and practised running between the wickets and had a little fielding test," Flower told BBC Sport.

"He has got a little tear in one of the muscles in his backside, so he's not 100%.

"But we're going to give him a little more time to see if he can be fit for the game, and give him another test in the morning.

"He's an important player in our side, who's just hitting his straps in this tournament, but if we can't get him in we've got other players who can take his place."

If Broad is unable to feature, Tim Bresnan's all-round abilities could see him edge out fellow seamer Graham Onions, whose inclusion would lengthen England's tail.

Another option would be to name Adil Rashid as a second spinner.

"Bresnan's probably the obvious replacement as a first-change bowler, but we'll make that decision tomorrow."

Meanwhile, Australia have been granted permission from the ICC to add batsman David Hussey to their squad as cover for injured vice-captain Michael Clarke, who has returned to Australia with a back injury.

But Hussey appears unlikely to play at such short notice against England, although he may offer them batting cover in the event that they make Monday's final.

Having played the same side in all three group games, seamers Ben Hilfenhaus and Doug Bollinger are expected to miss out again, along with batsman Adam Voges.

Australia will go into the match as clear favourites, but spinner Nathan Hauritz says he has been impressed with England's revival since their 6-1 thrashing in the recent one-day internationals series.

"We played seven games back-to-back against each other and it can get a bit monotonous and draining at times," he said. "It was a fresh start for England over here and they've done really well.

"They have obviously looked at a few different areas, seen what they need to do and it's worked for them so far."

The defending champions booked their meeting with Andrew Strauss' team by scrambling a bye off the final ball to beat Pakistan by two wickets on Wednesday to finish top of Group A.

"We knew if we tied the game we were going through anyway so it didn't really matter what happened on the last ball, but we still want to win every game," Hauritz added.

"It doesn't bother me who we play; we've been playing some good cricket recently. It's good to play England because we know their games and they know ours but it's a new game and a new venue."

England (from): Andrew Strauss (capt.), Joe Denly, Owais Shah, Paul Collingwood, Eoin Morgan, Matt Prior (wkp.), Ravi Bopara, Luke Wright, Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, Ryan Sidebottom, James Anderson, Tim Bresnan, Graham Onions, Adil Rashid.

Australia (from): Shane Watson, Tim Paine (wkp.), Ricky Ponting (capt.), Mike Hussey, Callum Ferguson, Cameron White, James Hopes, Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, Nathan Hauritz, Peter Siddle, Adam Voges, Ben Hilfenhaus, Doug Bollinger, David Hussey.

Umpires: Billy Bowden, Aleem Dar, Tony Hill (third umpire), Asad Rauf (fourth umpire). (BBC Sport)

Bolivia’s players fail to turn up for practice
LA PAZ, Bolivia (Reuters) - Bolivia’s players stayed away from yesterday’s first practice for this month’s World Cup qualifiers in line with their boycott of the national team.

“None of the 22 who were called up has attended (the practice) nor will they,” Milton Melgar, general secretary of the players’ union Fabol told Reuters.

Bolivia, out of the running for a place in the 2010 finals in South Africa, are at home to qualified Brazil on October 11 and away to eliminated Peru on October 14.

Melgar, a former Bolivia midfielder, had confirmed on Wednesday the players would boycott the national team in demand of sweeping changes in the running of football in Bolivi

Fabol wants a single authority rather than the three separate bodies in charge of the country’s football. The League (LFPB) organises the professional game, the National Association (ANF) is in charge of amateur soccer and the Bolivian Football Federation (FBF) does administrative tasks.

“Bolivian football is in a deep crisis and as long as our proposals are not put into practice, the whole country’s professional footballers … indefinitely refuse to represent our national team,” Fabol said when they first announced the boycott in mid-September after the previous qualifiers.

BFB spokesman Javier Silva told Reuters that coach Erwin Sanchez and his staff also did not turn up having been told of the players’ no-show.

“We can’t see an immediate solution,” Melgar said, but added that talks are going on involving the government’s vice-minister for sports.

Silva denied players not heeding the national team call would be punished and did not say what teams Bolivia would put out against Brazil and Peru if the boycott was not lifted.

CLAUSURA FINALISTS
In the Clausura championship on Wednesday night, three players were sent off as Bolivar beat The Strongest 2-1 at home in a La Paz derby to reach the final.

Bolivar, who won the two-leg tie 4-2 on aggregate, will meet Blooming, who beat Oriente Petrolero 1-0 to go through on the away goals rule having lost the first leg 3-2 last weekend.

Bolivar midfielder Leonel Reyes and defender Federico Garcia of The Strongest were sent off for fighting just before the hour and the visiting side’s defender Juan Vaca was dismissed in the 72nd minute for a bad foul.

Bolivar’s Brazilian substitute Charles Da Silva scored their winner six minutes from time, two minutes after coming on, while Argentine striker Damian Akerman scored the only goal in the Santa Cruz derby at Blooming.
The two-leg final will be played on October 18 and 21.

Spain's `golden era’ to boost Madrid bid - PM Zapatero
By Kevin Fylan
COPENHAGEN, Denmark (Reuters) - Spain's "golden era" of sporting success will help swing the 2016 Olympic vote Madrid's way, Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said yesterday.

Zapatero spent much of yesterday morning in meetings with IOC members, who will decide today between Madrid, Chicago, Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo.

The prime minister pointed to Spain's recent victories at the soccer and basketball European Championships, the Tour de France and their Davis Cup tennis win as evidence of the country's enthusiasm and commitment to sport.

"Spain is going through a golden era in sport," Zapatero said at a news conference. "We are also a country that is true to the Olympic spirit and values.

"We have a very good bid. We are a very reliable country. We have organised big international events, not just the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona but a great many international events and the IOC knows that."

Bookmakers put Chicago as the favourites, with U.S. President Barack Obama due to address the IOC on the city's behalf today, but Zapatero said the complicated process, which is likely to go to three rounds of voting, could produce a surprise.

"It's very hard to make predictions about who will be in the final round of voting because of the voting system," he said. "I believe the presentations today will make a big difference."

Speaking of his personal sporting heroes, Zapatero cited Fermin Cacho's success in the 1992 Games.

"Fermin Cacho in the 1500 metres always inspired me," he said. "The image of him winning the gold medal in Barcelona is something that is always there."

Latapy calls up four Under-20 players for final WC qualifiers
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) – Trinidad & Tobago’s head coach Russell Latapy has called up four members of the national Under-20 squad for the country’s two remaining World Cup qualifiers, as he turns his attention to the future following the Soca Warriors’ failed bid to reach South Africa 2010.

On Wednesday, he named Under-20 captain Leston Paul, goalkeeper Glenroy Samuel, defender Robert Primus and England-born and Southampton midfielder Jake Thomson in a 22-man squad for the away match to Costa Rica on October 10 and the home fixture four days later against Mexico.

Both Paul and Primus have represented the senior team already while Samuel has been part of the squad before. Thomson, meanwhile, made his debut as a Trinidadian player last week at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Egypt.

The players are expected to join the senior team on their return home this weekend from the FIFA Under-20 World Cup.

With the inclusion of the young quartet, Latapy has axed W Connection midfielder Clyde Leon and the overseas-based trio of LA Galaxy’s Chris Birchall, Wrexham’s Silvio Spann and St Johnstone’s Collin Samuel.

No room has been found either for the ageing duo of goalkeeper Clayton Ince and defender Marvin ‘Dog’ Andrews while San Jose Earthquakes striker Cornell Glen, T&T’s most impressive striker in recent times, has been sidelined through injury.

T&T lie bottom of the CONCACAF standings on five points after winning just one of their eight final round matches.

The twin-island Republic were aiming to repeat their achievement of 2006 when they qualified for a World Cup for the first time ever.