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TOP STORY

Summit success
-- Ortega shows, Chavez absent
By Mark Ramotar
GUYANA’S historic hosting of the prestigious and high-profile Rio Group Summit, with seven heads of state attending, was described by President Bharrat Jagdeo as a “success”.

The 19th Rio Group Summit, also attended by two Vice-Presidents from the 20-member grouping, ended yesterday at the Guyana International Conference Centre at Turkeyen, East Coast Demerara.

Joining Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and President of Chile Michelle Bachelet, who were at the summit opening Thursday night, were President of Nicaragua, Daniel Ortega; President of the Dominican Republic, Leonel Antonio Fernandez Reyna; President of Honduras, Mel Zelaya; President of Panama, Martin Torrijos Espino, and Mexico President Felipe de Jesus Calderon Hinojosa.

Special invitee to the summit was Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Mr. Patrick Manning.

“I am very pleased with the level of participation we have had as several Presidents were present here with some Vice Ministers and Foreign Ministers and therefore I think overall I will term the summit a success,” President Jagdeo told reporters at the end of the summit.

A major disappointment was the absence of the charismatic and hugely popular Venezuelan President, Hugo Chavez. He was expected here by yesterday morning and there was no immediate explanation for his not turning up.

Venezuelan Vice-Minister of Northern American and Multilateral Affairs, Mr. Jorge Valero, represented President Chavez at the meeting.

President Jagdeo announced that he managed to conclude a number of bilateral discussions with some of the visiting Heads, including the Brazilian and Mexican Presidents.

He said issues dealt with in the end of summit Turkeyen Declaration communiqué, range from strengthening democracy, ensuring democratic participation of member states of the Rio Group in international fora, the struggle to achieve balance, peace and security in the international region (and) strengthening the fight against terrorism, and strengthening the Rio Group.

President Jagdeo also said he is very pleased that two studies commissioned during Guyana’s Chairmanship of the Rio Group – a study on the treatment of Asymmetries in the context of regional cooperation and a study on the democratization of international relations – “both of these and their recommendations were accepted by the Heads”.

He noted, too, that Guyana put before the informal session of the summit yesterday, a whole range of issues and recommendations to deal with social sector problems in the region.

President Jagdeo and his colleagues said they were encouraged by the progress and achievements of the last 20 years and are convinced of the relevance of the Rio Group as a viable and necessary instrument for political dialogue in the region.

On this note, the Heads of State and Government reaffirmed the importance of the group as “a privileged space” for political consultation and coordination in Latin America and the Caribbean and renewed their commitment to the political consensus and principles outlined in the Veracruz Act of 1999.

The Rio Group leaders also endorsed the agreement reached in Guyana by their Ministers of Foreign Affairs on the strengthening of the Rio Group which paves the way for a more dynamic role for the grouping in political coordination and as a regional interlocutor with other regions and countries, as well as in the principal multilateral fora.

The leaders, according to the declaration, said “they recognised that the longstanding commitment of the Rio Group to the defence of multilateralism, based on full respect for the principles of international law, was integral to its role and importance as a regional block.”

The Turkeyen Declaration also noted that the Heads of State and Government recognised that the growing involvement of the smaller states of the region in the Rio Group represents a favourable step towards greater inclusiveness, resulting in a stronger voice at the global level.

In this regard, the leaders recognised that increased political dialogue and cooperation among the sub-regions of Latin America and the Caribbean, in particular between the countries of CARICOM and Latin America, would contribute to the effective functioning of the Rio Group.

“In an era in which sub-regional integration mechanisms are increasingly developing their own parameters of regional and international outreach, the Heads of State and Government underscored the need for the group to retain its focus as a regional and extra-regional interlocutor,” the Turkeyen Declaration said.

Heads of State and Governments of the Rio Group also highlighted the deepening of regional integration based on principles of co-operation, solidarity, as a fundamental means of reducing poverty and preventing the negative effects of globalisation from deepening the asymmetries which contribute to economic, social and political marginalisation.

“Asymmetries must be overcome in order to achieve equitable and just integration, and concrete and effective mechanisms must be developed to solve the major inequalities in our region,” the Turkeyen Declaration stated.

The leaders, therefore, noted the efforts being made to advance specific and effective measures and actions within a framework of common policies aimed at overcoming asymmetries in regional integration processes.

The leaders also thanked the Pro Tempore Secretariat of Guyana for its

excellent work in preparing the Report on the Treatment of Asymmetries in the Context of Regional Co-operation, and noted that it can serve as a basis for promoting specific and practical measures for overcoming these asymmetries, especially with regard to the special needs of small vulnerable economies of the region.

The leaders also agreed to keep this important subject on the agenda of the Rio Group in order to deepen further discussion and thus achieve balanced and harmonious regional integration.

The Heads of State and Government also examined the current situation in Haiti and adopted the “Declaration of the Rio Group on the situation in Haiti.”

In examining other dimensions of regional security, Heads of State and Government of the Rio Group yesterday viewed with deep concern the continued perpetration of terrorist acts in some regions of the world.

“They strongly rejected terrorism in all its forms and reaffirmed that irrespective of its origin or motivation, the resort to terrorism is entirely without justification.”

The summit also reaffirmed the leaders’ commitment to prevent, combat and eliminate terrorism and its financing by cooperating extensively, fully respecting the mandates of national and international law, in particular international human rights and international humanitarian law.

Heads of State and Government also agreed that the Rio Group would continue to strengthen and expand its contacts with countries and regional groupings with an action-oriented focus to ensure positive and advantageous results for the benefit of participating groups and also as inputs towards the amelioration of the international political, social and economic situation.

The Rio Group leaders also welcomed the initiative taken by Venezuela to host the South American Energy Integration Summit in April, 2007, as evidence of the strides which have been made in integration among the countries of South America in the area of energy.

Almost all the leaders, including the Brazilian and Chilean Presidents, yesterday expressed their gratitude and congratulations to President Jagdeo, the government and people of Guyana, for the gracious hospitality extended to them and the excellent organisation as well as the commendable effort on their part to ensure the success of the summit.

Mystery fire guts city house
By Shirley Thomas
A MYSTERY fire last night broke out at 304 Lamaha Park, Block “PP”, East La Penitence, Georgetown, quickly engulfing the one-flat two-bedroom house and reducing it to rubble in less than half an hour.

Nothing was saved in the inferno. Cash and everything else went up in flames, the family said.

The fire started around 20:30h and the fire department was summoned and responded promptly.

But neighbours, marvelling at the swiftness with which the building was destroyed, said it was already burnt flat before the fire tender arrived.

Despite gallants efforts by public-spirited neighbours to render assistance, little success was achieved since there was no water on hand to put the flames out, and the sand buckets used proved a poor substitute.

Now homeless are Carol Rose and her four children aged 11, 10, seven and two years.

Rose said no one was at home when the fire started as she and the children had gone across the road at a neighbour’s.

When she was alerted that her house was on fire, she said that with weakened knees, she ran across to her yard, only to see the flames billowing from within.

“I see the fire coming through the windows; from under the door and all around.”

The woman recalled that she saw one door open, but there was no way anyone could have entered the building since the flames were raging wildly.

Rose said it could not have been an electrical fire, since power was not connected to the building. Nor could it have been the stove, since she was not cooking at that time.

She said there was a wall lamp illuminating the building, but it was so firmly secured to the wall, there was no possibility it could have fallen off.

Meanwhile, neighbours said they first smelled something burning and began looking around the neighbourhood to determine what it could have been, when they suddenly heard a loud cracking sound emanate from Rose’s home.

“And the next thing we see is this big fire spreading quickly all over the house” one neighbour said.

Several attempts were made to secure water from different sources, but everything failed. Even where water would normally flow, none was coming at that time when they needed it most, the neighbours commented dolefully

As the fire continued to rage, all the tearful mother and her children could have done was keep a reasonable distance away from the heat, listen to the exploding gas cylinder and watch their gains go up in flames.

The destruction caused last evening has prompted residents to raise calls for fire hydrants to be set up in the scheme which has well over 300 houses.

Former senior civil servant killed in bus accident
A PROMINENT senior citizen was yesterday morning tragically killed after being struck down by a speeding mini-bus at the corner of Fern Drive and Aubrey Barker Road, South Ruimveldt Park, Georgetown.

Dead is Ernest Fitzroy Barrington, 72, of Lot 80 South Ruimveldt Park.

The retired Chief Management Services Officer of the Public Service Ministry died about an hour and a half later at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

His wife, Mrs. Doreen Barrington, said he suffered brain damage, broken ribs, excessive internal bleeding, among other injuries.

Also injured in the accident was Barrington’s son, Adee, 37, who was with him at the time.

He was examined and sent home, but is being monitored closely by his mother, a retired Health Officer.

Witnesses said the younger Barrington who was accompanying his father to Blue Mountain Road, North Ruimveldt, after being hit by the mini-bus, was hurled through the air and thrown about six feet away from the point of impact.

He sustained no broken bones, but suffered concussions and was late yesterday still in a state of shock and denial.

Mrs. Barrington told the Sunday Chronicle the accident occurred about 08:30h, a few minutes after her husband and son had left home.

She said it was her intention to take her husband across to Blue Mountain Road, a short distance away, with the family car. However, since she was not quite ready when he was about to leave the house, he decided that he’d walk over and have their son accompany him.

The distraught widow said that around 08:30h, she received a phone call from someone on Aubrey Barker Road, informing her that her husband had been hit down and was lying motionless on the road, and that her son had also been injured.

She said the information she received was that her husband and son were about to cross Aubrey Barker Road when an approaching mini-bus stopped, gave a signal and allowed them to pass.

However, another mini-bus coming from behind overtook the parked bus and ploughed into the two men attempting to cross the thoroughfare.

Mrs. Barrington said the men were taken to hospital by the driver of the bus that caused the accident.

She said that when she arrived at the hospital, her husband was still conscious and spoke with her, but that was not for too long. The injuries were too severe and he was bleeding badly.

The doctors did their best, she agreed; he was given oxygen, but died soon after.

Ernest Fitzroy Barrington, his wife recalled, served his country faithfully in many capacities within the government service.

In the 1950s he worked as a teacher at Uitvlugt, West Coast Demerara and later migrated to the United Kingdom.

He returned to Guyana in the 1970s and took up an appointment with the Regional Administration at Matthew’s Ridge in Region One (Barima/Waini). He was also on the team named to set up the Guyana National Service in the 1970s.

His wife said he later worked with the Office of the President; the Guyana Electricity Corporation and the National Treasury before finally being appointed Chief Management Officer of the Public Service Ministry.

He leaves to mourn his wife Doreen; two daughters Dawne and Soyini of Canada and one son, Adee, of Guyana.

NEWS

Cop on duty accidentally shot
A MEMBER of a Police Tactical Services Unit patrol was yesterday accidentally shot while on duty along Regent Street, in the vicinity of the City Mall.

Around 10:45h, Police Constable Ron Peters, 19, of Lot 225 ‘C’ Field, Sophia, Georgetown, was on duty with another rank when the colleague’s weapon – an MP5 rifle - accidentally went off, the bullet hitting Peters in his right calf, an official said.

On exiting, the shell of the round hit him on the left instep. He was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation where he was treated and admitted.

Peters is the first of five children for his parents Carol Ann Peters and Kerwin Joseph of Sophia.

Guyana, Chile to push social issues
THE 19th summit of the Rio Group ended yesterday at the Guyana International Conference Centre, after deliberations and a caucus to chart a plan for expansion and preservation of the 20-member group.

The Government Information Agency (GINA) said the summit was characterised by the issuance of the Turkeyen Declaration that outlined the major issues to be addressed to further development and integration of the group’s members.

The agency said a meeting between Guyana and Chile highlighted the need to advance social and human issues, specifically with countries that have asymmetries and inequalities.

Chile President Michelle Bachelet, the first female leader of the country, reported that the meeting focused on social and human issues which plague development in Latin America and the Caribbean.  President Bharrat Jagdeo has been advocating for these issues to be addressed, President Bachelet said.

The Presidents sought commonality on how both countries can collaborate to access funding for the proposed programmes to combat the issues identified, the Chilean President said.

GINA said that in relation to CARICOM, President Bachelet noted that there are some specific cooperation programmes ongoing between Chile and regional bodies.

She noted the interest expressed by some CARICOM countries to integrate the Spanish language into their societies which could boost tourism and other economical areas.

President Bachelet explained that last year Chile had started a pilot programme for 30 teachers to undergo training in Spanish for a six- month period.

A programme with the Organisation of American States (OAS), CARICOM and Chile is forthcoming that will result in a fund being created to propel economic productivity in CARICOM countries, Bachelet said.

The agreements arrived at between the two Heads of State underscored the thrust of the Declaration of Turkeyen and the new objectives outlined by the Heads of State of the 19th   summit of the Rio Group, the agency said.

The Declaration of Turkeyen reflected the objectives that have emanated from the discussions of the National Coordinators, the Foreign Ministers and ultimately the Heads.

Special emphasis was placed on social issues, such as poverty, health and education to improve the lives of citizens in member states and advance the development process.

The importance of strengthening relations between Latin America and the Caribbean was recognised as a favourable step towards greater inclusiveness resulting in a stronger voice at the global level.

Guyana has relinquished its chairmanship of the group to the Dominican Republic whose President stated that his country would be happy to host the 20th Rio Group summit in March 2008. 

Travelspan GT to inaugurate schedule flights to Ft Lauderdale
TRAVELSPAN GT Inc will be inaugurating its weekly schedule flight service to Fort Lauderdale, Florida from Tuesday.

The airline said this new service will be on each Tuesday and will depart Guyana at 07:30h.

“The new service to Hollywood International Airport, Ft Lauderdale, Florida, will be operated via Port of Spain using our new Boeing 737-800 aircraft that features a First Class service and will provide excellent connecting services to Tampa, Orlando and California.

Travelspan GT Inc has been granted authorization by the United States Department of Transportation and the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority to operate schedule flights between Guyana and Ft Lauderdale. Flights will be operated by Xtra Airways of Nevada, U.S.A.”, the airline said.

TravelSpan GT Inc. said it is looking forward to offering the travelling public the superior service it is known for in the New York, Trinidad and Guyana markets.

A ceremony to commemorate the inauguration will be held at the Hollywood International Airport on arrival of the flight.

Travelspan GT Inc started scheduled flights from Guyana to Port of Spain and New York on November 30, 2006 and has its corporate office located at 69 Main Street, Georgetown, five General Sales Agents Offices in New York, one in Fort Lauderdale and four in Trinidad & Tobago.

Travelspan GT Inc is a sister company of Travelspan Vacations of New York and Amrals Travel of Trinidad & Tobago.

Lessons of resilience, fortitude in Phagwah
-- President
HERE is the text of the message by President Bharrat Jagdeo on the occasion of Phagwah being celebrated today:

“It is with enormous pleasure that I bring Phagwah greetings to all Guyanese, particularly our Hindu brothers and sisters.

Phagwah or Holi, the Hindu Festival of Spring, is derived from the word 'Phalgun', the name of the month commencing from mid-February through mid-March, and is the last month on the Hindu calendar. The first month of the Hindu Year is `Chaitra’, falling in Phalgun.

And so Phagwah or Holi is the start of the Hindu New Year, an opportune time for all Guyanese from all religious and ethnic backgrounds to share in the happy spirit of Phagwah, to reach out and touch, to rekindle the bliss of brotherhood and sisterhood, and thereby purge feelings of selfishness and enmity.

This festival brings to light the familiar story of Prahalad, his father the demon king Hiranyakashyapu, and his sister Holika.

We all can draw lessons of resilience and fortitude from Prahalad as he unflinchingly stayed the course with his devotion and faith. Prahalad’s ultimate triumph of good over evil brings hope to all humankind committed to a path of peace and prosperity.

Phagwah is the one event when sprinkling coloured powder ('gulal') or coloured water on each other shatters all barriers of discrimination, so that everyone seems to be the same, and so universal solidarity is reaffirmed.

Let all Guyanese celebrate this colourful festival of Phagwah in joyous spirit without any distinction of caste, creed, colour, race, status, or sex. Let us be determined to build permanent bonds of friendship and unity to bestow greater stature on Guyana.
Happy Holi to all Guyanese here and in the Diaspora!”

PNCR Phagwah message
“THE People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) expresses sincere good wishes to the Hindu community of Guyana in particular, and Guyanese in general, on the auspicious occasion of the celebration of the festival of Phagwah in Guyana.

As the celebrated Indian National Kulapati Vani wrote many years ago, “festivals are gatherings for refreshing the spirit and enjoying life”. We urge all Guyanese to use this occasion to refresh their spirit and enjoy life, and to participate fully in this colourful festival and enjoy the rich elements of our religious and cultural diversity.

We are conscious, also, that our spirits are becoming increasingly sullen and sour in the brooding darkness that now engulfs our land. Violent crime, pervasive joblessness, creeping despotism, and deepening poverty, stalk our land; partisanship, discrimination and executive lawlessness compound bad governance; our economy and society are in tatters and our nation can only see dark clouds on the horizon.

We are heartened, however, by the true meaning of this festival which has not only a secular significance of fertility, rebirth, renewal and regeneration, but an important religious moral. The religious significance of Holi lies in the conquest of good over evil, manifested in the destruction by PHAHALADA of his demonic father KING HIRHNYAKASHIPU.

Several demons are now abroad in our embattled land, and as we urge the Guyanese people to appreciate the spiritual significance in this festival, we also urge them to brace themselves against the many evils that are in our midst and resolve, at this juncture, to take steps to end these calamities that now bedevil our country.
AGAIN HAPPY HOLI TO ALL GUYANESE.”

PPP Phagwah message
“THE People’s Progressive Party (PPP) extends best wishes to Guyanese in general and the Hindu community in particular on the festive occasion of Phagwah.

Phagwah is one of the most popular festivals in our country and has added to the rich cultural diversity of Guyana.

Its message of the victory of good over evil is one of hope for all those struggling to overcome obstacles towards social, economic and political progress.

As we celebrate Phagwah this year, let us rejoice in our significant achievements as a country.

Let us also rededicate ourselves to uprooting the evils of crime and corruption and other evils that still persist.

We have no doubt that our work for peace, progress and prosperity will triumph and our people will have a better future.”

`A time to share’
-- Reepu Daman Persaud
PRESIDENT of the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha, Pandit Reepu Daman Persaud, in his Phagwah message, said the festival is “truly a time to share in the true spirit of Sewa and wherever there is hate replace it with love and take all steps necessary to reconcile differences and construct a united society.”

“Holi transcends all barriers. There is complete equality. The Rang or colours which smear us and make us virtually unidentifiable, removing every distinction even between Kings and subjects, emphasise the oneness of humanity or the famous Hindu perception Vasudeva Kutumbakam – Humanity is one family”, he said.

Mr. Persaud noted that an air of joy pervades the home and the family at this time with children touching the feet of their parents, spraying them with perfume and placing Abrak and powder on their faces and squirting on their clothing Abeer or coloured liquid.

“Parents bless their children and wish them not only Holika Shubh Kaamnanyea, but a bright and prosperous future. Greetings are extended to relatives and friends squirting abeer and powdering them.”

Persaud stressed that Holi does not license anyone to recklessly and wantonly drench passers-by or to barge into people’s homes and splash water on the occupants.

“These acts are against the spirit of our lovely Holi festival and should not from part of the Phagwah celebration.

Celebrate and do so happily but do remember the significance of the festival which sends a clear signal of respect for human rights so bravely fought for and won by Prahalad.”

GAWU message
“IT’S the annual semi-religious event again. Hindus primarily join with nature to welcome spring after the relative gloom of the previous winter.

The colours, the splendour and liveliness of spring induce devotees to disregard status and social norms as they employ water, abeer and coloured powers to celebrate life.

The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) joins with the Hindu community as it involves all Guyana to observe and celebrate the festival of Holi – commonly called Phagwah here.

GAWU wishes to celebrate the festival’s hope and optimism whilst regarding the religious mythologies surrounding the historic event.

Mankind in all societies need hope to sustain life amidst the challenges of conflict, crime, disease, natural disaster and poverty. Holi offers this hope on the often-present horizon.

The Phagwah legend tells of Prahalad believing in the eternal God, Vishnu, much to the displeasure of his father an evil king. The father and king challenged Prahalad the son to sit on a blazing fire alongside the wicked Aunt Holika.

She was burnt as Prahalad survived. GAWU hopes that Guyana survives the fire and heat of political and economic challenges and sabotage.

GAWU sees the glorious, inclusive festival of Holi ushering in the reality of a `new’ enhanced city of some standards.

This season of Phagwah also offers a threshold for new economic activities in construction, hospitality and tourism-related employment and the hope of oil exploration, among other exciting events.

The Holi month of course, is the month of Cricket World Cup 2007 – with all the possibilities which the world’s third largest sporting event offer.

Many of GAWU’s membership are participants in the annual festival. The union wishes them and all Guyana a joyous Phagwah free from conflict and anything negative.”

Remember the poor
-- C.N. Sharma
LEADER C.N. Sharma and executive member of the Justice for all Party has joined in extending joyous Holi greetings to the entire nation.

At this time when Hindus celebrate their New Year, he said people should herald the event with remembering the poor and the unfortunate.

According to Mr. Sharma, the triumph of good over evil in the saga of Prahalad over his father King Hiranyakashipu proves that God is watching over us.

He said the entire nation must unite at this time when good triumphs over evil and help to eradicate the problems faced by the nation.

EDITORIAL

A major problem, major source
Editorial Viewpoint by Rickey Singh
NARCO-TRAFFICKING remains a most challenging problem for the Caribbean and Latin America region, including Guyana.

As the problem persists, at varying levels across borders, it has also become the norm for the United States authorities to regurgitate in annual reports, real and perceived problems for more effective responses by governments. Without, of course, sharing any blame.

It is not that governments, and those of our Caribbean Community in particular, are either unaware of or uncommitted to dealing with this horrible crime that, like an infectious disease, is affecting so many aspects of our social and economic life.

Rather, it is the little credit, if any at all, often sandwiched between layers of criticisms that fill the annual "International Narcotics Control Strategy Report" which comes from the leading nation in this western hemisphere that remains the single biggest consumer of illegal drugs --the United States of America. The latest such report, released last month by the U.S. State Department, is no exception to the norm.

No attempt should be made to minimise the social, economic as well as political problems resulting from drug trafficking and related crimes of money laundering and gun-running. 

Their harmful effects with corrupt practices by law enforcement agencies; the crowded prisons, violence and demeaning behaviour of our young people, including primary and secondary school students, hit us with depressing regularity.

What is of equal concern is that too often the U.S. State Department's annual report gratuitously indulge in language of expediency -- in the  absence of EVIDENCE -- to delink governments, and more specifically top officials and lawmakers, from facilitating either production, processing, shipment or distribution of illegal drugs.

The report would then move with full speed, consistent with a standard format, to virtually pour scorn on what such governments are failing and more than imply complicity with alleged corrupt cops, immigration and customs officials and even whack away at "weak" judicial systems.

Not just Guyana, but other CARICOM governments have had cause to complain against failure and/or refusal by U.S. authorities to share vital intelligence information they claim to have and which could be quite helpful, once verified, for effective and appropriate actions to significantly curb the flow of illegal drugs like cocaine and marijuana to the U.S. and Europe via Caribbean air and sea routes.

This, by no means, should justify the Guyana Government, or any of its CARICOM partners, from failing to actively and systematically pursue policies and programmes that could significantly curb the illicit drug trade.

For example, the foot-dragging by the government in relation to any visible effective implementation of the 2005 "National Drug Strategy Master Plan", to which the U.S. State Department report has also made reference in  chronicling the deficits against the Jagdeo administration's responses to the narco-trafficking.

Countries like Guyana do not, of course, have the resources to circulate anti-narcotics reports that could also expose the extent of illegal consumption of drugs in the U.S.; the level of related corruption and abuses that this horrendous crime has on its law enforcement and judicial arms; or how its private sector moguls are also linked to the drug cartels and barons who exploit Caribbean jurisdictions in accumulating wealth with their evil trade.

This is a factor that even sections of the Caribbean media often fail to focus on. More attention should be paid to the realities of life in the major centres of importation and consumption of illegal drugs, namely the U.S. and Europe with the former in the lead.  

Without divulging sensitive intelligence information/strategies, there needs to be more transparency in bilateral and multilateral cooperation arrangements between CARICOM and the U.S.

It could help to disabuse feelings abroad in our region that the cooperation and assistance flowing from Washington administrations are more geared to satisfy America's needs than responding to specific social and economic initiatives to enable significant reduction, if not throttling, of narco-trafficking criminal networks.

FEATURES

'Uncle Sam's' contempt for Caribbean
-- Different strokes for a 'spy' and a terrorist
By Rickey Singh
HEMISPHERIC security with a special focus on countering terrorism, reducing poverty and other major social issues that contribute to political stability and undermine good governance, would have formed part of yesterday's Rio Group Summit in the Guyanese capital Georgetown.

We should know by today if not by late last night, the key decisions reached from the official communique expected from the 20-nation summit of Latin American and Caribbean leaders, whose deliberations had been preceded by a series of technical and ministerial meetings.

The Rio Summit was concluding in Georgetown five days ahead of President George Bush's one-week tour of five Latin American states starting on Thursday, March 8. 

The journey would take him to Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Guatemala and Uruguay with favourite topics of his like "war on terrorism", "democracy" and "social justice" on his work agenda.

It is ironic, though by no means surprising, that President Bush would want to discuss coordinated responses in the battle against "terrorism" while his administration maintains a policy of benign neglect, to say the least, in relation to one of the most notorious terrorists currently in the U.S. and wanted for the single most horrific terrorist act in the modern history of the Caribbean.

The wanted man is the Cuban emigre, Luis Posada Carriles, who has been implicated as playing a key role in the 1976 bombing of a Cubana passenger aircraft off Barbados killing all 73 people on board.

Two years ago CARICOM made a passionate call for Posada to be brought to justice for his role in the Cubana tragedy, consistent with the war against terrorism. Both Cuba and Venezuela are also still waiting on the U.S. government for the extradition of Posada to face trial for that unprecedented criminal act in Caribbean air space.

Now, as arrangements were being finalised for last week's Rio Group Summit and this week's five-nation tour of Latin America by President Bush, an important development took place in a Miami court that further exposes the hypocrisy and contempt of the administration in Washington in its "war on terrorism" and observing the rule of law.

The development was last Tuesday's sentencing by a Miami district court judge of a Cuban-born university professor and his wife to five and three-year prison terms respectively for admitting to "spying" for Cuba.

Eleven days earlier, another Cuban, Luis Posada Carriles, who should be facing trial for causing 73 deaths by terrorism, was instead informed of charges of "lying" to U.S. immigration. The contrast perhaps represents the latest example of the hypocrisy, the moral inconsistency, of the Washington administration.

This hypocrisy is well located in President Bush's policy and related attitudes of United States authorities in dealing with the documented case of the anti-Castro terrorist, Posada for his involvement in the Cubana tragedy off Barbados.

More, later, of the now 77-year-old Posada. First to the "spying" 61-year old professor Carlos Alvarez of Florida International University.

He admitted in court to sharing, in collaboration with his wife Elsa, information to Cuban intelligence on Cuban exiles living in Florida. Alvarez told Judge Michael Moore that he was once part of "an underground movement" to topple the government of President Fidel Castro. Later, however, he chose to be "an advocate for dialogue" with the intention to help improve relations between Cuba and the U.S.

According to information provided the prosecution by the political and intelligence arms of the United States government, Alvarez had used the codename "David" while he and his 56-year-old wife Elsa (codenamed Deborah) were engaged in sharing information with Cuban intelligence to "influence dialogue".

In sentencing them, judge Moore correctly noted that "a good motive is never an excuse for criminal conduct…"  Well, Posada and his collaborators in crime must be laughing.

They would include officials of the Ronald Reagan administration, and also significant roles played by U.S. Central Intelligence personnel who had trained, bankrolled and protected Posada over the years of sustained anti-Castro activities as documented in books, magazines and newspaper articles published in and out of the U.S. and found in archives.

Even before being facilitated in escaping from prison in Panama for his involvement in the attempted assassination of President Fidel Castro in that Central American state in 2004 during an official visit, Posada had earlier been assisted by U.S. intelligence personnel in Caracas and anti-Castro Venezuelan elements to escape from jail while awaiting trial for his role in the 1976 Cubana tragedy.

Perhaps for that Cubana bombing tragedy, Posada also had "a good motive", to use words of judge Moore, since it was consistent with his driven CIA-sponsored commitment to get rid of a "dangerous enemy" of the Empire in the Western Hemisphere -- namely the Castro government. That very government in Havana with which the other Cuban emigre, Alvarez, was an intelligence collaborator.

Posada's "good motive" in his campaign against "Castrosim" had previously engaged him -- as  also documented -- in bombing targets inside Cuba, that resulted in deaths, injuries and destruction,     Also, as an active collaborator with the CIA and the anti-Sandinistas "Contras" when he operated out of El Salvador under the codename "Ramon Medina" to help destabilise the then government in Nicaragua..

Now, however, while the governments in Havana and Caracas, as well as CARICOM have been calling for him to face trial for his murderous role in the Cubana bombing tragedy, Posada is waiting to answer charges in a Texas court. But surprise, surprise, not for ANY of his terroristic activities.

No way. Simply for "lying" to immigration officials in his quest to become a citizen of the "greatest democracy"—U.S. -- that has been his sanctuary, on and off, for a pretty long time.

It seems that in Bush's America, a Cuban emigre who engages in confessed intelligence collaboration with Castro's Cuba must pay the price, along with his wife, of imprisonment for their unlawful "spying" activities But the other Cuban emigre, Posasa, a well documented terrorist whose criminal activities have wasted many lives, can simply be prosecuted for "lying" in order to secure U.S. citizenship and be at home with members of his family

What utter hypocrisy, what deep contempt for our Caribbean governments calling for Posada to be tried for the Cubana tragedy. What mockery of the rule of law and Bush's own "war on terrorism".

Posada is due to face a jury on May 11 on charges of illegal entry into the U.S. (which one of them?) and "lying" to immigration personnel in his effort to secure U.S. citizenship. What a political show – U.S.-style!

Integrating Latin America and the Caribbean
By Sir Ronald Sanders
(The writer is a business consultant and former Caribbean diplomat)
GUYANA has become the first English-speaking country to host a summit meeting of the Rio Group made up of 20 Latin American and Caribbean nations.

In addition to the Guyanese President Bharrat Jagdeo, several other Heads of Government of the Rio Group were in Guyana for the meeting held on the weekend of March 2nd and 3rd.

While a larger turnout of Heads of Government would have made the meeting more meaningful, some very important ones showed up including Mexico’s Felipe de Jesus Calderon Hinojosa, Brazil’s Luis Ignacio Lula de Silva and Chile’s Michelle Bachelet.

Guyana is the current official representative in the Rio Group of the Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM) countries, but Belize is also a member of the group, and the Guyanese President invited Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister Patrick Manning to participate in the informal sessions of the summit.

With attendance too by the Dominican Republic (DR) President Leonel Antonio Fernandez Reyna, there were several interests represented at the meeting.

The DR and CARICOM countries are together presently negotiating with the European Union (EU) for an Economic Partnership Agreement which will determine the aid, trade and investment relationship between these two groups for some time to come.

Similarly the DR and Central American countries represented at the summit are party to a Free Trade Agreement with the United States, and five of the Latin American countries are deepening their own trading arrangements under the umbrella of Mercosur.

Then there is the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas (ALBA) being promoted by the Venezuelan President as a regional integration strategy for Latin America, as well as a possible alternative to the U.S. notion of a Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA).

And, in the midst of all this, are the, albeit stalled, but nonetheless overarching negotiations in the World Trade Organisation (WTO) for new arrangements that would govern world trade rules.

Discussions about trade were not expected to feature highly on the agenda of the meeting, and while the Declaration of Turkeyen, the end of conference communiqué, will undoubtedly try to reflect a consensus position of the Rio Group, with all the different and, in some cases, divergent interests involved, whatever they say on trade is unlikely to advance the international agenda.

The great value of this summit is that it provided an opportunity for a small but important number of Heads of Government from the Caribbean and Latin America to talk informally and to exchange ideas about how the relationship between Latin American and Caribbean countries could be deepened in their joint interest.

Meeting at the political level is a necessary first step for creating the framework for an economic relationship that could benefit the people of Latin America and the Caribbean, through trade and investment. But, at the practical level it is the business communities in each of these countries that could give flesh to the bones of such an economic relationship. In turn, they will need an enabling environment which must include the establishment of direct transportation arrangements, access to financing, and a facility for English, Spanish and Portuguese.

The Rio Group is primarily an organ of political consultation; it does not have a mandate to institute arrangements for economic integration, and a summit meeting of only some Heads of Government, however influential they may be, would be reluctant to do so.

Further, the group does not have a permanent secretariat and its work between meetings is carried out by the country to which the Chairmanship falls.

However, there are other organisations to which members of the Rio Group belong who have the capacity to initiate arrangements for structured economic relations between Latin American and Caribbean countries. CARICOM and the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) countries, and CARICOM and Mercosur could formally pursue discussions that might have arisen from informal consultations between the Heads of Government.

It is to be hoped that, arising from this meeting, the Rio Group will take on the role of promoting Latin American and Caribbean economic integration through institutions such as the Inter-American Development Bank.

In any event, Guyana did well to carry the work of the Rio Group during its period of Chairmanship. It has also done well to host the summit, and, in doing so, to act as a bridge between Latin America and the Caribbean.

A conference of Latin American countries in English-speaking Guyana as the representative of CARICOM has immense symbolic value.

It demonstrates that the divide between the two sub-regions, which are a consequence of colonial history and imperial interests in the past, can be overcome.
(Responses to: ronaldsanders29@hotmail.com)

What's wrong with Italy?
By Gwynne Dyer
THE most extreme diagnosis of Italy's problem was offered by journalist Peter Popham in the Independent.

He blamed it all on the Vatican: "Imagine that Hitler did not die in his bunker in 1945 but instead cut a deal with the new West German government, giving him continued sovereignty over a small patch of Berlin -- and continued intellectual hegemony over the millions he had brainwashed during the previous decade....Italy's Vatican problem is a lot like that, with the difference that the Church has been wielding its mind-control for nearly two millennia."

The trigger for this extraordinary outburst was the week-long political crisis that nearly brought down Prime Minister Romano Prodi's centre-left government, Italy's 61st since the Second World War. Yet Popham is not anti-Catholic. It's just that, like most people who spend a lot of time in Italy, he has simultaneously fallen in love with the country and utterly lost patience with it.

It's an affliction he shares with a great many Italians: no country except Argentina spends more time debating what is wrong with it. He blamed the Vatican on this occasion because the crisis was provoked by a government plan to legalise "civil unions" (marriages by another name) even for gays, which greatly annoyed the Catholic Church. But it's more complicated than that.

The vote that Prodi's government lost was actually on a proposal to leave 1,900 Italian troops in Afghanistan until 2011 and to double the size of an American military base outside Vicenza. Both projects are very unpopular in Italy, but they were part of the deal that created the nine-party coalition behind Prodi's government, and only two senators from the far left defected in the key vote on 21 February.

The government would still have won the vote if senator-for-life Giulio Andreotti had not unexpectedly voted against it. But the 87-year-old Andreotti, seven times prime minister and often known as the "Prince of Darkness," is a strong supporter of NATO and the American alliance, so why would he vote against that bill? Because it was going to be so close that his surprise "no" vote could bring Prodi's government down.

Why would he want to do that? Andreotti has always been very close to both the Catholic Church and the Mafia, but on this occasion it was the former tie that mattered. The Vatican wanted to kill the "civil union" proposal, which required killing Prodi's government. Andreotti just seized the opportunity that presented itself. It worked, too: a week later Prodi managed to revive his coalition government, but this time their agreed programme does not include the "civil union" project.

The normally judicious Peter Popham was so irked by this that he implicitly compared the Pope to Hitler, but it is nonsense to blame all of Italy's ills on the Vatican. The Catholic Church used to have huge clout in Italian politics, but that is because almost all Italians used to be devout Catholics. It's still a bit weird to have a tiny sovereign state ruled by a foreigner in the middle of your own capital city, but the Vatican today has no more influence on politics in Italy than the evangelical churches have in the United States. (But no less, either.)

Most Italians would agree that there is something wrong with their country, but it's not the Church that bothers them. The stagnant economy makes matters worse -- even Spain will overtake Italy in per capita income in a couple of years -- but there is an underlying sense of frustration that permeates Italian life.

The Byzantine bureaucracy and the ubiquitous corruption are a big part of the problem. Getting a job usually depends on what group, party or family you belong to, not on your abilities, which is hugely frustrating.

The core problem is that Italy is not really a modern society at all.

For almost forty years after 1945, while the rest of Europe was growing and changing very fast, Italy grew but didn't change, because politics and all of society were frozen in a deeply conservative and profoundly corrupt pattern. In order to keep the huge Communist party from winning power and taking Italy out of NATO, the Christian Democratic party had to be kept in power permanently -- and it was, thanks to foreign money and foreign intelligence services, to its alliance with the Catholic Church, and to its other alliance with the Mafia.

That system ended fifteen years ago when the Christian Democrats imploded in a blizzard of corruption scandals and Communism simultaneously went out of fashion, but Italians have a lot of lost time to make up.

Moreover, the decision to swap the lira for the euro was a disaster for Italy, because it lost the ability to remain competitive by continually devaluing its currency. Italian politics are still poisonous, the justice system is a joke, and the efforts at reform are endlessly sabotaged by the beneficiaries of the current state of affairs.

But that is about what you'd expect at this stage of the process of modernisation, because it IS a process, and it takes time. Spain is about thirty years into a similar process, dating from the death of Franco and the end of fascism, and it is thriving at every level. Italy is fifteen years in, and feeling the strain. But it will probably get there in the end.

(** Gwynne Dyer is a London-based independent journalist whose articles are published in 45 countries.)

Public Justice
By Kwame Gilbert
PEACE is simply defined as “freedom from war or strife”.
Technically, peace in this sense can be imposed by the sword or the barrel of a gun. Marxist and totalitarian governments have managed to have “peace” for years. Yet the collapse of Marxism in 1989 showed that coercion will not bring peace or sustainable development. A structure for growth and social development must be in place that will allow for a reasonable degree of freedom and justice.

The Biblical foundation for social peace is justice. This divine concern is so serious that in the Old Testament, the word Justice and related terms are used about 500 times and about 200 times in the New Testament. It is not easy to define Justice, but its essence can be inferred from the Old Testament concept of lex talionis or the famous “eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth” dictum (Ex. 21:24).

The term justice “suggests primarily man’s conduct towards others, especially in matters of legal or personal rights”. (Carl F.H. Henry, God, Revelation and Authority).

It is external. It deals with laws governing relationship and the use or things that order life in society. God insists that governors are to rule with justice (Ps.89:14). Such a command is not a contradiction to His nature as merciful.

Justice has three essential dimensions. Firstly, it deals with equitable and fair legislation for every one. This is important for evangelicals to note, since in a pluralistic society, the challenge is that one has no legal right to impose his religion on others. How then can evangelicals be faithful to the command of evangelizing the lost and at the same time observe the command to do justice?

Firstly, the Christian should so live their lives by both word and deed in a way that promotes a process of inculturating Christian values in society. The attempt must not be to demonize or discriminate against others on the basis of their religion. To do this would be promoting the very injustice Christ abhors. Rather the focus should be on living the Christian life so effectively that those who are otherwise persuaded will be converted, not by unjust force, but by our Christ likeness.

Secondly, the Christian legislator must seek the denominators of common grace for all mankind and ground their actions on them. The second dimension of justice is that it is concerned with remedy. Due process is crucial in administering justice. If the remedial process is violated, then there can be no ample protection for the rights of a person.

The penal code of a nation may consider rape as a crime but if a poor victim has no means to hire or avail the services of a good lawyer, or if the accused has the means to bribe a judge, then there will be a miscarriage of justice. The crucial question then would be: Is the remedy available and affordable to the poorest of the poor? If this is not the case, then that society is unjust. God commands that justice be given to the afflicted and to slaves (Job 36:6; 1 Chr. 18:4)

Thirdly, justice includes penalty. For justice to exist, the penalty of law must be equally applied to the guilty, whether he/she is rich or poor, and not dependent on whom one knows or does not know. Moreover, it must be commensurate to the offence.

It must also be noted that because God requires everything to be just, then justice is a standard which can be applied not only to people. Even weights and measures must be just, i.e., they must be fair (Lev.19:36).

The responsibility to do justice is not only for evangelicals. It is for all of us who are God’s creation. If we as sons and daughters of Guyana do not give justice to our own people, we cannot expect foreigners to give justice to our people in the Diaspora.
Charity and justice begin at home.

Rationalising the depravity of human reasoning
“Never reason for what you do not know. If you do you will soon believe what is utterly against reason.”
-- Ramsay
By P.S. Thakur
THE human mind is never at rest.
There are external (awake) and internal (asleep) stimuli. Within seconds, the mind goes from one subject to another and from one level to another. In wakefulness in human beings, the thinking power becomes even more active -- from brawn power to brain power.

The term “rationalization” in the dictionary is often defined as “reasoning” or “explaining”. This may not be fully correct as “explaining” may not be the same as “reasoning”.
This paper will define “rationalizing” as “justifying”. Unlike explaining which may offer several points of view and objects, “rationalizing” here is where the speaker attempts to justify his own argument or behaviour. It is therefore not objective but subjective.

As long as man has had the ability to reason, from time immemorial, he has been using reasoning to justify his actions. The basis upon which this is done is his “ego”, his self-protecting and self-esteem. An individual has the strong need for self-preservation. The ego has been with us and developed from childhood. Those of us who are more insecure more have the need to protect that ego, especially if it had been abused as a child.

There are three main levels of rationalization. The first is to blame others when events go wrong in our lives. The next is to blame things and events associated with the person or the incident – a divorce, failing an examination, etc. The third is to blame our self, followed by guilt.

(a) Blaming others is a way of protecting the ego. Blaming the person directly involved is the first step in failing an examination; it is the teacher in an examination; it is the spouse in a divorce. It is often what he did or did not – error of commission, error of omission.

(b) While still blaming others, there is onset of the next step. We then tend to blame things or events associated with the person or event. In the case of divorce we may blame it on financial problems, in-laws, etc. In case of failing the examination it may be the type of test, multiple choice or essay or matching time to study. At this point the mind goes searching to find reasons that may be the cause of the problem. The mind even becomes creative in doing so. This makes the ego feel good and this matters a great deal, to alleviate the pain.

(c) The third level is to search the self to find possible causes. “Maybe I should have…” “Maybe I should not have…” The degree of self-blame depends on the level of self-esteem. Those with low self-esteem tend to dwell more on the self-blame. This may reach unhealthy proportions. Those with strong egos will give little or no blame to self. A constructive and realistic self-examination is what is best needed to deal with any such problem. While it may be difficult to change others or the circumstances, it may be much easier to understand ourselves, adapt or change our perception and behaviour.

Guilt is often associated with self-blame. Where it is not obsession or debilitating, it may be a good censor to thoughts, feelings and behaviour that need examination or change.

When we blame others, we often look to others who will support us in our rationalizing. We tend to turn to close friends and relatives who may agree with us even if we are wrong -- a principle known as Groupthink. We then stay away from those who disagree with us. The rationalizing then becomes more ingrained and others may confirm our rationalizing and even extend it, offering more “good reason”. The more the better. If we were once in doubt, we are now convinced -- innocent or not.

The next step in the process is to move to extremes and even become bitter. In the case of the examinations we may drop the course. This may be even after just one examination.

In the loss of a job, we may seek revenge of one kind or another. While doing so the rationalizing continues each step of the way.

In the constructive self examination we adapt, adjust and go on with our lives. In other instances we become bitter, hurting ourselves in the form of heart attack and ulcer. If we have not adapted, but maladapted, the bitterness will continue.

It is always advisable to self examine and even become aware of the rationalizing process as a first step to deal with the problem.

Each difficult situation in life should become a learning experience as we become more mature and constructive in dealing with similar or other problems in the future.

The Greater Caribbean This Week
8th Business Forum of Greater Caribbean to support trade among ACS countries
By Rubén Silié
SINCE its inception, the Association of Caribbean States (ACS) has placed emphasis on the issue of trade as one of the more dynamic themes, and in fact, it can be said that the initial leitmotif that encouraged the countries of the region to come together under this scheme was precisely the issue of trade.

Nevertheless, the countries comprising the ACS have been restricted in the advancement of negotiations to establish their own trade area, since each group of countries comes from a very specific trade tradition, which to some extent, having operated in a particular way for so many years, limits their possibilities of opening up to new markets, even if it is with their closest neighbours on the littoral.

For historic reasons, the earliest trade links were confined to direct relationships with the metropolises, which is understandable given the monopolistic and concentration mechanisms applied during this period of Caribbean history. However, that initial stage, led by European countries, was followed by the predominance of the United States of America over any other trade destination. That northern power's dominance explains why trade with and from the United States accounts for approximately eighty per cent of total trade within the region.

It could be said that the Caribbean has always (though not entirely) been under the control of one authority or another, commercially speaking. Its political independence has not allowed the region to redirect the focus of its trade relations from a perspective that reflects its own interests and the interests of its neighbours.

The link with the North American market is so strong for ACS countries that the fluctuations in their own market follow the demand generated in the North.

At the core of all of this is the regional economic liberalisation process in which international organisations played a crucial role, with the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank leading the structural adjustment programmes that give a new shape to our countries' economies and trade schemes.

However, the mechanism of subjection of these economies to the United States economy does not function solely because of geopolitical reasons (although this factor lies at the heart of the current hegemonic scheme), but it also influences a clearly defined policy regarding differential treatment for exports from that group of countries.

It must be borne in mind that the numerical growth of the Greater Caribbean diaspora in the territory of the United States of America is seen as a new factor for attracting exports toward that country. This is influenced by the growing demands for ethnic products by the migrant population in that country, as well as by the financial sector that is becoming stronger as a result of remittances.

When the governments decided to come together in the ACS, they thought that this association could serve as a mechanism to give a new direction to their trade relations, giving greater consideration to the interest of the countries within the group, or at least reversing the historically inherited order.

With respect to increasing intra-ACS trade flows, one of the initiatives undertaken has been the Business Forum of the Greater Caribbean, whose eighth instalment will be held in March, in Panama City, Panama.

The Business Forum of the Greater Caribbean has undoubtedly played a proactive role, seeking to create a business environment that would help improve the competitiveness of the companies belonging to ACS states, regardless of each state's level of development or export strategies. Every year, business meetings are held as part of the activities developed during the said forum and they have been giving entrepreneurs an opportunity to expand their businesses and make them grow. The statistics from recent forums have proven this and companies are deciding more and more to exhibit their products at that event, which has facilitated the insertion of new products into other international markets.

Yet another beneficial result of the forum, and one that we must emphasise, is the participation of international presenters, who develop relevant topics regarding international trade. As high level professionals, they provide an up to date tool with their knowledge on the issue. This is highly useful for entrepreneurs who are developing their skills on how markets operate in the Greater Caribbean region.

Without a shadow of a doubt, the experiences gained in previous forums have allowed us to deepen the understanding of this new "business culture",  and the ACS Secretariat therefore recognises that the expansion and strengthening of trade relations among the countries of the region require actions that go beyond market access. Thus, it is imperative for contact to be established between the social and political actors, which for us, is the fastest way to increase knowledge among them, this being the best approach toward overcoming the stereotypes that still hinder spontaneous rapprochement among Caribbean people.

(** Dr. Rubén Silié Valdez is the Secretary General of the Association of Caribbean States. The views expressed are not necessarily the official views of the ACS. Feedback can be sent to: mail@acs-aec.org)

SPORTS

Georgetown crowned Pepsi Cup champions
… Berbice whip Bartica 6-3 to claim third place
By Isaiah Chappelle
THE holders of the Pepsi Cup were decided from the penalty spot at the GFC ground, Bourda, yesterday, as Upper Demerara triumphed 4-3 over Georgetown to be crowned champions of the inaugural Inter-association Under-17 championships.

Berbice whipped Bartica 6-3, to claim the third place in a play-off that had one hat-trick each for the teams.
Upper Demerara dominated the match but the strikers could not match the good build-ups, messing the many chances while Georgetown’s goalkeeper Kerry Graham was the city team’s one bright spot to earn the Most Outstanding Goalkeeper award, with wingback Kris Comacho offering good support on the left flank and captain Trevon Lythcott on the right.

Georgetown had one clear chance after a goalless first half, when a free Andrew Murray Jr, who was already called to the senior national squad, got a loose ball just in front of the goal, 25 minutes in.

He took the shot from just inside the box and the ball went high over the cross.

That was matched by Kevin Beaton of Upper Demerara, six minutes later. He collected the ball inside the box at the left, with goalkeeper Graham already out of the goal advancing to try to intercept, and he sent a right-footer past the goal at the right.

No goals came in regulation time, a situation that remained unchanged at the end of extra time, forcing the players to the penalty spot.

Upper Demerara took the first kicks and the first five shots were on target, until Murray lined up the city’s third kick, sending a soft shot straight to the goalkeeper for an effortless save.

The next kicks for both teams were good and Upper Demerara seemed to be one goal away from victory. Then Graham blocked captain Clive Vickery’s shot and Georgetown were back in the game.

But the highly touted Mannaseh Primo sent his right-footer wide of the goal to the left, sending Upper Demerara wild in celebration.

Upper Demerara captured the two Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards, Michael Crandon for the final and Beaton for the championship.

Former national Under-15 captain Sherlon Edwards of Berbice scored the most goals in the championship, netting seven.

Earlier in the third place play-off, Edwards blasted a hat-trick, but that was matched by fellow national youth player Dwayne Blake of Bartica, which turned to be the only goals for the interior town team, while one each came from Kenston Lindey, Roger Crandon and Delroy Ferdinand for Berbice.

Marketing representative of Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL), bottlers of Pepsi here, Alana Johnson said the companies were happy to promote young people in sport, in which talent was showcased.

President of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Colin Klass said it was a proud moment for the national governing body because sponsors were hard to come by.

“For development, you need support. DDL was kind to join to develop Guyana’s football. It is quite a battle to attract sponsors, some citing indiscipline among players for not coming on board.”

Klass said he was impressed with the young players in taking the penalties, some outshining senior players.

“Some senior players do not do it as good as these young players.”

But the football boss warned that winning was not the ultimate criterion, but how the game was played, commending the young players on their fair play.

“Continue to train hard and work hard, and continue school. The senior players have set the standard now and we no longer return from international tournaments with our head hung low.”

Rastas and Baldheads clash today for Banks DIH Trophy and GT&T’s $75 000
THE cream of Guyana’s past and future footballers will be on show today when the ‘I’ Movement Promotions football event is staged at the GFC ground.

Kick-starting the triple-header will be a U-13 match-up between Santos FC and Uprising FC for the Trophy Stall trophy at 15:30 h. The second contest will bring together Uprising and Western Tigers for the Steve Ninvalle trophy in a U-17 affair.

Among the national youth players to be in action are Michael Henry, Cloyd Bascomb, Lumumba Hinds and Telston Bowen for Uprising, while Tigers will have in their line-up Manasseh Primo and brothers Odel and Kallo Nelson.

The main attraction featuring Rastafari Patriarchs and Baldhead Masters will not have in any overseas player due to flight difficulties; however the ‘I’ Movement Promotions is hopeful of having the overseas players for Part Two of the Series set for month-end.

Both camps have expressed confidence in winning the Banks DIH challenge trophy and the GT&T’s cash incentive of $75 000. Expected in the Rasta line-up are former national players Gordon Brathwaite, Vibert Butts, Orrin Agard and Terry Burnette. Past seasoned division one players Natty Wiltshire, Terry Frank, Peter Prescott, Hector Forte, Deryck Gritten and Allan La Rose will be part of the Rastas’ side.

The Baldheads will be spearheaded by ex-national captain Terrence Archer and will include Nicky Thompson, Selwyn Bailey, Marlon DeSouza, Dennis Hunte, Carey Jacques, Ken O’Donoghue, Ronald Barker, Michael Pedro, Calmeth Young and Mark Van Lewin.

The feature game will kick off at 19:00 h and the teams will be met by officials from Banks DIH and GT&T as well as the Minister of Sport.


Essequibo Under-15s beaten by innings and 33 runs
By Ravendra Madholall
STAGGERING from one disaster to another, Essequibo cricket reaped the bitter harvest of indecision, indiscipline, complacency against Demerara at the completion of the initial round of the 2007 Castrol two-day Inter-county cricket competition at Bourda yesterday. It was a humiliation-in-awaiting.

Outplayed at every turn by their better-prepared opponents for the particular demands of this level of cricket, the Cinderella County boys were trounced by an innings and 33 runs, 28 minutes after the resumption of tea.

This was a humbling loss that only magnified the extent of continuous declining standards of their cricket. Once again an atrocious batting performance saw the young Essequibians fold for 87 in their second innings after Demerara, as was expected, declared on 211 for seven with a comfortable lead of 120.

Scores in the match: Essequibo 91 and 87; Demerara 211-7 declared.

With the contest ending early yesterday, the Essequibians have little time to get things sorted out before taking on defending champions Berbice tomorrow at the Police ground, while Demerara manager Ian John hailed his team, especially the bowlers, for their consistency and accuracy and more importantly effectiveness in grabbing 20 wickets in just over 100 overs.

“The guys did extremely well, taking 20 wickets in less than two days on a typically flat Bourda track, so it was a good all-round effort. The bowlers did their job well; just the batsmen will have to show more application at the crease and score runs heavily,” John revealed.

Demerara resumed yesterday morning comfortably placed at 159 for four with Delon Fernandes on 41 and wicketkeeper/batsman Kevin Singh on one. Fernandes went on to hit an impressive half-century while Singh grafted a solid unbeaten 37 before the declaration came at 11:03 h.

The left-handed Fernandes hit four fours from his 85-ball 55 and he featured in a fine 46-run fifth-wicket stand with Singh, who faced 45 balls and hit three fours in 69 minutes in a steady unbeaten 37.

Essequibo fast bowler Neal Romalho, who bowled with some amount of accuracy and good line and length, was highly rewarded with the impressive figures of five for 29 from 10.3 overs while Keron McLennon and skipper Rovindra Mohabir picked up a wicket each.

At lunch the visitors were 22 for one, and, probably were informed by their coach Vibert Johnson that application will be the ingredient to at least salvage a draw. But right-arm La Rose had other ideas.

La Rose bounced in from the northern end and immediately accounted for McLennon (8) who was spectacularly stumped down the leg-side by Singh and Rove Harris (0), to leave their team precariously placed at 22 for three. Devenash Ramnarace who made a quick 15 became La Rose’s third victim.

Mohabir (5), Melvin Seepersaud, who top-scored in their first innings with 26 and did not capitalise on his promotion to number six, stayed around for 13 before he flashed at a ball outside the off-stump by off-spinner Ricardo Devers.

Royan McAll (6), Romalho (3), and Dwayne Singh (3) were undone by a combination of off-spin and leg-spin by the home team while Keron Sewnarine who made a defiant 15 tried desperately to make Demerara bat again.

La Rose, whose leadership was quite sound, nabbed three for 14 from nine overs while off-spinner Jagdesh Bishun in his eight economical overs grabbed two for four. There was one-wicket apiece for Shameer Fazal, Devers, Amir Khan who took four wickets in the first innings and pacer Seon Daniels, bowling for the winners.

Demerara will now meet Berbice in the final round beginning next Thursday at the Police Sport Club ground.

Australia the hunters rather than the hunted
By John Mehaffey
KINGSTOWN, St Vincent (Reuters) - World champions Australia will approach the ninth World Cup starting in the West Indies this month as the hunters rather than the prey after losing their number one ranking to South Africa last month.

Speaking to reporters after the Australians had practised at Arnos Vale yesterday morning, Australia middle order batsman Michael Hussey said it had been disappointing to lose the top spot to South Africa.

The two teams meet in the final group A match in St Kitts on March 24.

"I guess we become the hunters rather than the hunted," said Hussey, who captained Australia in the absence of the injured Ricky Ponting in their 3-0 loss to New Zealand last month.

"We really enjoyed being the number one side in the world and we tried harder and harder to make the gap further and further between the number one and the number two.

"We now have to try to get that number one place back, we have to try and make the gap bigger again."

Australia play a warm-up match against Zimbabwe tomorrow followed by a game against England four days later before travelling to St Kitts.

Opener Matthew Hayden and all-rounder Andrew Symonds will not be considered for tomorrow’s match while they recover from a broken toe and torn left arm muscle respectively.

But Ponting and all-rounder Michael Clarke played a full part in yesterday’s practice. Ponting had been suffering from a hip injury while Clarke had a sore back.

Hayden walked briskly around the outfield several times and Symonds had a few gentle throw-downs in the nets with a tennis ball.

Hussey said Australia had put the New Zealand defeats behind them and were ready for the challenge of the biggest World Cup yet.

"The Australian team is so meticulous about their preparation," he said. "They are an experienced side who know their own game so well and what they need to do."

As the Australians warmed up on the outfield to the roar of aircraft taking and landing at E.T. Joshua airport, the pilot and passengers of a single-propeller light aircraft had a narrow escape when the plane crashed upside down into a stream only 200 metres away from the stadium. Eyewitnesses said the pilot and three passengers, who were taken to hospital, had been shaken but unhurt.

GABF meets CBC payment deadline
By Joe Chapman
THE GUYANA Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) on Friday confirmed that the mandatory fees to show intent of participation at this year’s Caribbean Basketball Championships were paid to the Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) ahead of the deadline for such payments.

The male tournament is scheduled to take place August 6-10 in Caguas and the female from August 11-14 in Morovis, Puerto Rico.

President of the GABF, Colonel (Ret) Godwin McPherson, said that the federation and the Twinkllas.com website had paid the US$2 000 fees to the CBC before Wednesday March 1.

All countries interested in playing at this year’s championships were required to pay this initial $1 000 for each male and female team.

Guyana last contested the CBC championships in Barbados in 2000 and has missed the 2002, 2004 and 2006 tournaments after failing to pay debts incurred over annual affiliation during the period.

However, last year the GABF cleared those debts and now seemed ready to send teams to this year’s tournaments.

The best performance of any Guyana team was the 1996 winning of the women’s championship.

A decision was taken late last year to have the Caribbean Basketball Confederation’s (CBC) Senior Men and Women basketball championships staged this year in Puerto Rico.

Last year’s biennial championships, as it were, saw Jamaica win the men and the women’s titles.

They had duplicated the 2004 Cubans who dominated the championship at home to win double crowns. Guyana last contested the Caricom Basketball Championships in Barbados in 2000.

The CBC Executive Committee in November last year in the United States Virgin Islands decided that the Junior Tournaments would not be played as planned in 2007.

The bid for the staging of the championship was won by Puerto Rico over the Dominican Republic and Suriname, whose bids were not considered after they failed to show at the General Assembly of the Caribbean Basketball Confederation, which met towards the end of January in Curacao, Netherlands Antilles.

The decision to divide the staging of the tournaments came from the Puerto Rico Basketball Federation and supported by the majority of the Caribbean basketball federations.

But, this was after host nation Puerto Rico Federation had proposed to stage only the men's tournament. It was noted that the Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) rules mandate that both competitions be held in the same country.
The two top teams would qualify for the 2008 Centrobasket Tournament.

ICC amends laws for match referees to decide on matches
MUMBAI, India (Reuters) - The International Cricket Council (ICC) has amended its laws so that match referees, rather than umpires, will decide whether games should be terminated if a team refuses to play.

The amendment to Law 21.3 follows last year's row at the Oval when Pakistan lost to England by forfeit for refusing to take the field after being accused of ball-tampering.

The rule change was adopted at a two-day ICC board meeting which ended in Cape Town on Friday. It takes immediate effect.

"The Board's decision reflects the fact that the match referee is the chief executive of the match, the person who has overall responsibility for the way the game is played and officiated," ICC chief executive officer Malcolm Speed said in a statement.

"This decision does not, however, detract from the on-field role of the umpires and they would, of course, still remain an integral part of the process of awarding a match in those circumstances."

The ICC said umpires would still have responsibility for determining the end of a match in all other circumstances.

The decision to amend the law relating to teams refusing to play was a direct response to last year's chaotic end to the Test match between Pakistan and England.

Pakistan refused to continue playing after the two umpires, Australia's Darrell Hair and West Indian Billy Doctrove, penalised the team five runs for ball-tampering, a charge they hotly disputed.

Under the existing laws, the umpires had no alternative but to award victory to England, though the repercussions did not end there.

Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul Haq was later banned for four one-day games for bringing the game into disrepute. He was cleared of ball-tampering.