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ARCHIVES FOR SEPTEMBER 05, 2009

Lethem Development Plan on track
- Housing and Water Minister

An aerial view of the Lethem area

Government remains committed towards the expansion of the Lethem area which holds great potential for economic development as a result of its proximity to Brazil. The creation of a Lethem Development Plan will see the region performing a wide range of administrative and service-oriented functions.

Because it is a land use policy-based plan, it sets out general guidelines for dealing with substantive planning issues including residential and commercial development, open spaces, transportation, tourism, industrial development and urban design.

Minister of Housing and Water Irfaan Ali during an interview with media operatives at his Brickdam office Thursday said the Lethem Development Plan is multifaceted since it involves a number of stakeholders including the Ministries of Tourism, Housing and Water, and Agriculture, the Guyana Office for Investment (GO-Invest) and the private sector.

He said areas for industrial, commercial, residential and small business development have already been set aside, while his Ministry is aggressively pursuing the issue of regularising housing areas in Tabatinga and Culvert City, and allocating residential house lots in Lethem.

During this year, approximately $445M will be spent by the Ministry to upgrade the housing and water sectors in Region Nine.

Over 220 house lots in residential and commercial areas will be granted, and roads, drains, other structures and pure water distribution networks will be established in Tabatinga to benefit over 2000 people at a cost $220M.

This area will be developed under the Second Low Income Settlement Programme which is being implemented by the Government with assistance from the Inter-American Development Bank.

“I would say the plan is moving on…The Ministry of Tourism, GO-invest and Office of the President had met with a number of businessmen recently and a plan was worked out on moving forward,” Minister Ali said.

On July 23, President Bharrat Jagdeo met with several business persons from Lethem to commence the distribution of 17 plots of land within the designated Lethem commercial district. The project, which consists of a total of 65 lots, is a $1B investment that is expected to create 550 jobs.

The sum of $41M was also allocated as capital grant in the 2009 National Budget to the Lethem Power Company so that additional generators and transformers could be installed to boost electricity supply.

Lethem’s development as a hinterland settlement has been traditionally linked to cattle ranching and other forms of agricultural activity. The settlement was named after Governor Gordon Lethem and developed as the Rupununi headquarters of the colonial government during the period the country was a British colony. (GINA)

U.S. Embassy refutes ministry’s Mormons report
THE United States Embassy here yesterday refuted a statement by the Home Affairs Ministry that it had claimed that 50 Mormons were asked to leave Guyana because of espionage activities.

The ministry on Wednesday night referred to “a report purportedly originating from the Embassy of the United States of America” that the missionaries belonging to the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints have been asked to leave the country because they were engaged in espionage activities, and said the report was “false and unfounded”.

But the embassy, in a statement yesterday, said its communications with the Government of Guyana in the case of the U.S. citizen missionaries have been official and diplomatic and, as such, private and privileged.

“The embassy has not, and would not, issue or originate reports as indicated within that (ministry’s) statement”, it said.

The Guyana Government Thursday reiterated that the missionaries, who overstayed their visitors’ permits and whose work permits have expired, have to leave the country within a month.

Head of the Presidential Secretariat and Cabinet Secretary, Dr Roger Luncheon, stressed that the Mormons were asked to leave because they broke the law.

“…if the competent authority advises you, an intended visitor, or you a visitor whose permit for stay in Guyana has expired and is not being extended or renewed then, like everywhere in the world you subscribe to the law and you leave. This is the norm…that is the issue”, Luncheon declared.

The Mormons were detained at Police headquarters in Georgetown Wednesday and were released after church representatives met President Bharrat Jagdeo on the issue.

The Home Affairs Ministry said the church’s High Representatives here agreed that the 50 will leave voluntarily within a month.

The ministry said that after considering all the circumstances of this matter, and committed to finding a workable solution, a meeting was convened at the Office of the President at the request of President Jagdeo.

At the meeting were Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee and the two High Representatives of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints in Guyana.

The ministry said the church leaders were informed that while Guyana is a free, open and tolerant society, the laws of the land must be respected by all.

They were also assured that there is no intention to deport the 50 missionaries, it said.

“However, in keeping with the laws of Guyana those 50 persons whose work permits and extension of stay have expired will leave the country voluntarily within one month.

“Replacement missionaries associated with the church will be allowed to enter the jurisdiction and to conduct their activities provided they are granted work permits in advance of their arrival”, the ministry said.

At his weekly post-Cabinet media briefing yesterday, Luncheon said the convention is “once you are advised that the stay is no longer being entertained, that visitors leave…that’s the issue.”

Illegal Haslington structures demolished
Following the demolition of several structures on the Haslington/Enmore drainage reserve, East Coast Demerara, by a team of officials from the Housing and Water Ministry Thursday, Minister of Housing and Water Irfaan Ali reiterated that his Ministry has adopted a zero tolerance campaign on squatting, especially along important reserves and areas that pose health and environmental risks.

The Minister said on numerous occasions several notices were issued to squatters advising them that they were contravening the laws, but they failed to pay heed and continued constructing.

Residents, he also noted, frequently lodge complaints to the Ministry as it relates to more persons squatting.

“The fact that these persons fail to comply with the contravention notices and to a situation that was becoming untenable, the Ministry took the ultimate action of removing these illegal occupiers from the land…these persons are not living in these illegal structures. I also want to make it very clear that notices of contravention were served on all the individuals concerned, both verbally and in writing… so I just want the public to know that we have to take this necessary action; we have to address illegal and unlawful behaviour; we have to bring back discipline,” Minister Ali emphasised.

In addition, the Minister said his Ministry has created a registry for several squatter settlements which are under review for regularisation.

He said that despite some squatter settlements can be regularised, there are others that cannot, since they pose tremendous health risks in terms of the environment and drainage and irrigation.

Other areas on the Ministry’s radar, he added, include Wallers Delight, West Coast Demerara, Region Three.

The emergency of some squatter settlements in recent years has become a major challenge for the Housing and Water Ministry. With the reign of the PPP/C administration from 1992, a new housing policy was immediately formulated to place focus on public land distribution as a key factor in the social and economic development of Guyana.

A squatter regularisation programme was also drafted to provide basic services and improve the quality of life of people living in these areas. (GINA)

UG, MACORP sign MOU for national development
By Tajeram Mohabir
The University of Guyana (UG) and the Machinery Corporation of Guyana Limited (MACORP) have inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to foster national development through enhanced training and education at the tertiary level.

The two-year agreement was signed at the Cara Lodge Hotel on Quamina Streets, Georgetown, and in attendance were UG Vice Chancellor Professor Lawrence Carrington, MACORP’s General Manager Mr. Jorge Medina, UG Faculty of Technology Dean Mr. Sherwood Lowe, and other officials.

The pact will directly benefit the Faculty of Technology students by exposing them to more hands-on and real world experiences to complement their theoretical preparation.

Through the MOU, the faculty will also receive financial support to the tune of $850,000 annually, access to MACORP’s laboratory and testing facilities for university lecturers conducting research, accommodation for students on industrial attachment and students working on final year projects.

Faculty of Technology Information Liaison Officer Mr. Audwin Rutherford said the initiative has come into fruition following eight months of discussion.

He pointed out that the agreement reflects another of the machinery giant’s support to UG, which has in turn provided the company with trained personnel.

MACORP, he said will benefit from specific engineering programmes, other than the regular offerings of the university and the $850,000 per year will go towards the funding of final year projects and staff research, acquisition of books and instruction materials.

Professor Carrington lauded MACORP for being a willing partner with the Faculty of Technology and was hopeful that the evolving relationship will be mutually beneficial.

“I am a firm believer in the importance of social partnerships at this time; the economically active sectors of society need to become more and more closely related to the institutions that generate new knowledge and provide training for the essential productive sectors of the society,” he said.

Professor Carrington noted that the relationship with the MACORP and the Faculty of Technology is at the basic stage and he will engage Mr. Lowe and his colleagues on ways of bolstering ties with the company.

“We need to review our curriculum and to consider ways in which we can accommodate the new national perspectives for development. Indeed, we ought also to be leading the way towards exploiting the opportunities for innovation that are offered by the government Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS).

“We ought to be shaping the nexus between innovation and entrepreneurship in Guyana. That kind of forward looking extension of our partnership is something we wish to explore with you and we look forward to a dialogue that goes beyond the limit of our present understanding,” the Vice Chancellor stressed.

He said UG is not the wealthiest university in the world or the region; and consequently, it has developed a number of techniques to make do with its limited resources.

“ There are points when you need to extend yourself beyond your present limitation and try to make leaps forward; and in my opinion, it is by partnering with companies like your own, who have a vested interest in production of good technical personnel, that we will be able to meet some of these needs that are necessary,” Professor Carrington.

Medina said MACORP pursues its interest with the community development and the well-being of its workers in mind, and is open to exploring other activities that are beneficial to the company.

He said the company began operations here in 1993 and its relationship with UG started in 1995 when it donated a vehicle to the institution.

MACORP has also signed a MOU with the university to produce bio-diesel. The current programme, he said, is in keeping with the company’s mandate of fulfilling its social responsibility to the community.

Newspaper vendor dies
By Shirley Thomas
After battling to survive for just about one week, 59-year-old Veronica Atherley, the newspaper vendor shot in the vicinity of Stabroek Market last Saturday, has succumbed.

She died at the Intensive Care Unit of the Georgetown Public Hospital around 14:50h yesterday, while yet on a life support system.

There was a great outpouring of anguish amongst family members when, at 14:00h her children and siblings, many of whom had been waiting around the hospital for several hours to visit her, walked into the Intensive Care Unit and were told that she had passed away.

Even though, over the last few days, Atherley’s condition showed no signs of improvement, relatives kept hoping and praying for the best. Her son Troy Jackson, who felt optimistic that she would rally, had just brought her a large packet of pampers, when he was greeted with the sad news.

Trying in vain to remain composed, Troy recalled that on Thursday, he promised that he would bring her grandson ‘Rondelle’ to visit her.

“When she heard that, I saw a smile on her face, and I knew that she understood what I was saying to her, and was happy.” But sadly, she had her last breathe before Rondelle was able to get there.

Veronica Atherley who lived at 45 Stewartville, West Coast Demerara, had been a newspaper vendor for years, and sold the Guyana Chronicle and other dailies. A dedicated worker and pleasant personality, she was always there to ensure readers get their newspapers, regardless of the condition of the weather.

Atherley was accidentally shot last Saturday afternoon as she sat on a bench selling newspapers opposite the East/West bus and Demico car parks on Croal Street.

Reports said that the bullet which hit the woman in her hip was discharged by a businessman who was pursuing two men who had allegedly robbed him. The injured woman was rushed to the GPHC and was initially admitted to the Female Surgical Ward after being treated at the Accident and Emergency Unit. After her condition worsened following surgery, she was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit.

Atherley, a mother of six (four boys and two girls), was also the eldest of nine siblings for her mother, who died 27 years ago. She was literally ‘mother and father’ to them, they sobbed yesterday, adding that she always worked hard to support the family and give them a decent life. “She working to make an honest dollar when she was shot,” her sister Pauline said, weeping uncontrollably.

A post mortem examination is to be done on Monday.

Meanwhile, the person who discharged the round which hit Atherley was initially taken into custody, but was released on Monday, reports said.

PANCAP 13th RCM Meeting to be Held in Guyana
The 13th Ordinary Meeting of the Regional Coordinating Mechanism (RCM) of the Pan Caribbean Partnership Against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP) will be convened in Georgetown, Guyana from 17 - 18 September, 2009.

Under the chairmanship of John Fabien, Minister of Health, Dominica, and Chairman of the RCM, the meeting will receive reports on the status of programmes and projects being implemented by PANCAP as well as the ongoing re-organisation of PANCAP Coordinating Unit (PCU). Discussions will also focus on the movement towards a constitution for PANCAP.

The issue of resource mobilisation remains high on the agenda and initiatives on the Global Fund and the Second Phase of the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) will also be discussed.

Arrangements for the 9th Annual General Meeting of PANCAP which will be held from 29 to 30 October, 2009, in St George's, Grenada, under the theme “Towards Universal Access: Enhancing the Multi-sectoral Response to HIV and AIDS in the Caribbean” will also be finalised at the meeting.

The meeting opens at 9:00 am with a special session in which remarks will be delivered by several Community officials, including Guyana’s Minister of Health Dr Leslie Ramsammy, who is also the Global Fund Board member for the Latin America and Caribbean constituency; the Honourable John Fabien; and PANCAP Director, Mr. Carl Browne.

The RCM is the Executive Board of PANCAP and its responsibilities include providing policy guidance on the effective management and operation of the partnership and approving and directing all PANCAP projects. PANCAP, established in 2001, is the regional mechanism responsible for coordinating the Caribbean’s response to the HIV and AIDS epidemic.

(CARICOM Secretariat)

Returning to the days of the community spirit

Education Minister Shaik Baksh in his message for Education Month which is observed every year during this month urged all stakeholders to work collectively to ensure a highly successful 2009-2010 academic year and to that end exhorted the need to begin by focusing on some of the basic elements which are critical to attaining educational goals and objectives. The theme for education month “School Attendance and Punctuality; Keys to Education Success” identifies two of those elements.

The minister is perfectly right; we need to get back to the basics. It makes no sense we build all the wonderful institutions, implement excellent teacher training programmes, etc. but we do not get the basics right because we will end up back at square one.

However, an important factor in this equation is that parents, teachers, community leaders, etc. have to carry themselves in such exemplary manner so that they truly become role models to our children.

Teachers, parents and leaders have to set the example by being punctual at work and when attending other engagements. It is no secret that children have a tremendous tendency to imitate the behaviour of adults, especially those who are seen as role models.

But the reality of today’s world, unfortunately, is that many of those who should be role models on the contrary are guilty of not upholding the right values and in extreme cases, even indulge in the some of the worse forms of immorality and ill behaviour.

On the issue of punctuality this has become a sore problem in our entire society. In fact, lateness to work, school, meetings, etc. have become the norm and when an event gets underway on time it is more of a pleasant surprise rather than the regular practice. In short the punctuality problem has become endemic in our society.

Therefore, while we urge our children to be punctual at school at the same time we have to work concertedly to make punctuality become a norm and perhaps a part of the culture of our society.

Another interesting and pertinent point made by Mr. Baksh in his message was his call for the return to the days when the entire community aided in ensuring that children met their responsibilities and guided the young along the right path.

“Our communities need to return to those practices. If our nation is going to benefit from the significant contribution the Government of Guyana is making in the area of education, we must all play our part, because we stand to benefit in the long run,” Mr. Baksh correctly observed.

In other words, the minister was speaking of the days when the community spirit was alive and well and is urging a return to those days.

However, modernisation and the insatiable pursuit of material wealth have destroyed such wonderful concepts and practices such as the community spirit.

In fact, modernisaton and the pursuit of materialism have resulted in people moving away from the spirit of collective thinking and action towards a more selfish and individualistic thinking, outlook and behaviour which are the source of so many of our societal problems. Today’s society has become a dollar-driven one where morality, discipline, decency, community spirit and such like human actions have been sent to the back burner.

We have moved from the days when grandparents and the elderly were next in line to take care of children in the absence of their parents. Today, we have day care centres whose services have to be paid for.

So Mr. Baksh is right, indeed we need to get back to those days of the community spirit but the hurdles and the distractions of the so-called modern world may prove an uphill task but nevertheless we have to work towards such a goal and the draw inspiration from the old Chinese proverb: “the longest journey begins with the first step” or Frank Sinatra’s famous song: “Life is like a cycle.”

Kaieteur’s News front page
By Dr Randy Persaud
ONLY last Friday President Jagdeo pointed out that Kaieteur News is engaged in a willful campaign of distortion, aimed at ruining the image of Guyana.

The president was aggressed upon by KN publisher Glenn Lall, in what the Guyana Chronicle described as an ‘emotional outburst’.

Kaieteur News responded by writing stories of press freedom, and more broadly by painting itself as an innocent victim. But how innocent is Kaieteur News? I will answer this question based on KN’s ‘own journalistic’ practices. Here we go.

I want readers to take a careful look at the Friday (September 4, 2009) edition of Kaieteur News.

There is a big caption reading “Stanleytown Pump supplier implicated in international fraud – pg. 12”. Let us examine this story carefully and see what comes out. For clarity of presentation I’ll break down each point in an easy to read format.

1. Kaieteur News originally published a front page story with huge photographs of the Stanleytown Pump alleging that the actual cost was $11 million, but that the contractor charged $61.5 million (KN July 20).

2. Kaieteur News followed this up under various stories of government corruption. All the stories were given the front page, accompanied by dramatic photographs.

3. The corruption ‘line’ has been vigorously followed by other stories of alleged corruption, all with huge photographs. In one dramatic instance KN showed a photo of a bridge, alleging corruption. This story was refuted by the contractor who pointed out that the bridge in the photograph had been built years before. The story, in other words, was a big lie.

4. Kaieteur News then began another ‘line’ of stories in which it tried to lay the blame on Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud.

5. The contractor who installed the Stanleytown Pump repeatedly pointed out that the KN story was erroneous. A detailed accounting was provided by Mr. Tulsi in Stabroek News letter section on September 3, 2009.

6. By September 3, 2009, the Kaieteur News strategy of using photographs to front stories of alleged corruption had caught the public’s eye, and in fact had become a captured audience.

7. Using this captured audience, and knowing fully well that Tulsi had provided a detailed accounting of the Stanleytown Pump expenditure, Kaieteur News decided to ‘move in for the kill’. What should KN do in light of Mr. Tulsi’s refutation of the macabre front page propaganda onslaught.

8. Instead of retracting the original Stanleytown Pump story, KN decided to engage in an extraordinary stunt of deceit.

9. On September 4, 2009 Kaieteur News runs the big caption noted above with the throw to Pg. 12. The story is a big hoax in that it is fundamentally misleading.

10. The hoax has two parts. The first part is that the report on international fraud has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with Guyana. The entire story is about fraud in the United States and Nigeria!

11. The second part is even more deceitful. The international fraud story was published SEVEN YEARS AGO in the United States. Kaieteur News simply reprinted that old story and inserted the words Stanleytown Pump in the story line. Please note that Kaieteur News ITSELF admits to this. No one is making this up.

12. Kaieteur News then complains that it is not able to get through to the supplier of the pump to verify the information provided by Mr. Tulsi. Believe it or not, there is more to this.

13. Mr. Tulsi’s account of the expenditures is situated next to the SEVEN-YEAR-Old report on Nigeria. The intended effect is to displace Mr. Tulsi’s account so that it would not be taken for what it is – a detailed accounting of the expenditure.

I would like readers to note the following things.

(a) Kaieteur News relies on dramatic pictures knowing fully and well that ‘a picture’ can tell a thousand words.’ The deceitful part of this is that most of these pictures are not followed up by proper investigative journalism.

(b) Kaieteur News knows fully and well that a large section of the Guyanese population do not actually read newspaper reports with care. With that knowledge, Kaieteur News then relies on photos to willfully communicate misleading information.

(c) Kaieteur News has a writing staff that has openly declared that it is interested in bringing down the current Government of Guyana.

(d) The photos used by Kaieteur News are intended to drive uncertainty, anxiety, and outright fear in the minds of the Guyanese population.

(e) The entire propaganda campaign by Kaieteur News is intended to support opposition political parties and other opposition forces that engage in ‘irregular forms of politics’.

(f) Some writers at Kaieteur News have demonstrated a pathological hatred for President Jagdeo, despite all his accomplishments.

(g) Most important of all – Kaieteur News is one of the political arms of the opposition, but when it is challenged, it screams that it is an independent newspaper.

The people of Guyana should know where President Jagdeo stands on the question of press freedom. President Jagdeo has stated that he will do everything to protect the right of the press to publish without fear. Mr. Jagdeo went so far as to say that he will protect the rights of a press even if some outlets lie. Let us see if Kaieteur News has the courage to publish this article.

Clousseau
Clousseau has spent some time reflecting on the Stabroek News’ cartoon which appeared in the issue of Thursday, September 3, 2009, basically depicting an illusion of sweeping bad news under the carpet and at the same time inviting investors and tourists to come to Guyana.

What good purpose or for that matter, what purpose at all was intended, save and except to demonstrate the ill-advised negativism that that Stabroek News holds for the administration of our country? Is it not true that in every other country, there will be good and bad issues that abound that cause dissent, that generate animosity and that are generally just plain bad? And by the same token, there will be issues of pure joy that engender upliftment, that create enthusiasm and that are generally plain good. So Clousseau asks what good really is the aim of publicising only the bad in the society. There cannot only be negative issues, indeed, an unbiased analysis of the entire situation should be pursued to arrive at a conclusion with proper equity.

Adopting a negative posture on Guyana is clearly disloyal and should be roundly condemned. Certainly the positives outweigh the negatives. Damaging our country should be a criminal act and the unbiased analysis will expose the sinister nature of the Stabroek News in their daily reporting on the events within our nation. It is shamefully palpable. In any event, linking the invitation directed to potential investors and tourists with the puerile notion of sweeping the ills of the country under the carpet is certainly in bad taste and definitely damaging to the best interests of the nation. That particular press media cannot be so naïve not to recognise and so Clousseau concludes that the sole exercise was a deliberate effort to downgrade the country. Quite unpatriotic isn’t it?

The Stabroek News would be better advised to follow one of the cardinal rules of the profession and that is to offer their comment. They can also tell the world the truth, nothing but the truth about living in a real democracy such as what obtains in present day Guyana.

Indulging in smear journalism can only reap dangerous reprisals.

Least we forget in the Twenty First Century
‘It is far beyond comprehension why men of such high stature and eminence failed to recognise that colonial masters after the surrender of sovereignty, invariably follow the age-old ‘Divide and Rule’ doctrine.’
By R.O. Bostwick
THE advent of Political Independence in the year 1966 was immediately followed by rising expectations in several respects.

The catchword was Guyanisation at any price, even if it hurts.

As a consequence of this understandable exuberance, we recklessly began to jettison everything or anything that had a Colonial taint.

This was at the behest of our political leaders, doubtlessly intoxicated with the new-found power that had been thrust upon them without rebellion and the firing of weapons as had been the case in India, Kenya, Nigeria, Rhodesia, the Congo and elsewhere around Colonial Empires of the day.

In Guyana, the aim was to control the “Commanding heights of Industry” to make “the Small Man a Real Man” and also to “Feed, Clothe and House the Nation” overnight.

This was the socialist short-cut path to prosperity that almost every nation that had been freed of Colonial dominance sought to pursue.

Little was it realised that this was a prescription for eventual national socio-economic disaster. So we nationalised the Bauxite and Sugar Industries almost without due diligence, probably as a matter of reprisal. We similarly nationalised all Bookers Holdings, including Shipping, Stores, Garage, Pharmaceutical Plant and others, to name only a few.

Sprostons Shipbuilding which had established the ‘Clyde’ of the Caribbean in Shipbuilding in British Guiana was also nationalised.

And this precipitate action appears to have been the compelling factor that caused scores of businesses both local and expatriate to flee Guyana for safer climes abroad.

And scarce qualified human resources followed in their wake over subsequent years to the present time.

Intemperate political action placed an enormous burden on the nation which was still in ‘diapers’ just after birth with the ‘umbilical cord’ still very raw.

And to compound the problem while still in infancy, the nation’s two main political leaders who had led the way to Independence hand-in-hand and shoulder-to-shoulder, fell apart over the sharing of Power.

It is far beyond comprehension why men of such high stature and eminence failed to recognise that colonial masters after the surrender of sovereignty, invariably follow the age-old ‘Divide and Rule’ doctrine.

The Imperialists created similar schisms in relation to India, Pakistan, Kashmir, in the Belgian Congo and over the whole of Africa, in Cyprus, in the Middle East – in short over the whole world. This was also the method used in the days of the Roman Empire.

Otherwise how could a small ‘City State’ like Rome control the whole known world in its time. Or how could an ‘Island State’ like Great Britain govern and control from a distance of thousands of miles the former British Empire, including what is now known as the United States of America, Canada, British Guiana (Guyana), Australia, New Zealand, Ceylon (Sri Lanka), India and numerous others.

It was primarily through playing race against race, tribe against tribe, religions against religions, sect against sect and numerous other instruments of division. So the two main races of British Guiana (now Guyana) allowed themselves to polarise through politics.

The two founding Fathers of the Nation have long taken their exit from the stage of this earth, but the schism that had been created unfortunately haunts us to this day.

A Nation Divided against itself cannot stand. If the Berlin wall could be broken down, there could be no good reason why the wall that divides our two major races, primarily because of politics, cannot be broken down at this early point in the Twenty First Century.

After all, the ancestors of both races built this nation with their blood, sweat and tears during slavery and indentured servitude; there is a common bond.

The people of the United States of America have shown the way in the election of an African American as its President despite a vast white majority.

It is Time for Change. Our nation must lick the wounds of the past for the genuine re–unification of Guyana. We can do it; yes we can.

Like Martin Luther King, let us have dreams. And in those dreams we must see men, women and children of all races in our beloved Guyana holding hands together in unity to make this Nation Truly Great.

We must stop the unending rhetoric and act now or face the deluge of perpetual socio – economic poverty in the midst of our vast untapped mineral resources in a country that has the advantage of a population of less than three quarter million souls.

There is enough space available for everyone.

Let us sink differences and move forward to better times.

Our posterity yet unborn will be ever grateful to for having the courage to change course after decades of mistrust.

CARICOM'S CHALLENGE ON W.I. CRICKET
Comment by RICKEY SINGH
(THE following article is reprinted, courtesy yesterday's Barbados Weekend Nation, as appeared in the writer's "Our Caribbean" column)

"WITH the not surprising collapse of a mediation process to resolve the long, debilitating dispute between the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and West Indies Players Association (WIPA), questions of immediate relevance would be what's the next move and how soon? Not just by the disputing parties, but more critically, CARICOM governments?

Both the chosen mediator, the distinguished Caribbean diplomat and thinker, Sir Shridath Ramphal, as well as current CARICOM Chairman President Bharrat Jagdeo of Guyana, who initiated the mediation, have separately expressed deep disappointment.

Though not explicit, both President Jagdeo and Sir Shridath have conveyed the impression, in my view, that the WICB, more than the WIPA, should take the rap for the collapse of the mediation process that was expected to end on a positive note by end of August.

While the diplomat Ramphal mixed his disappointment with a plea to the followers of West Indies cricket "not to despair", noting that "cricket is in our regional genes and cannot be lost", the political leader and CARICOM chairman Jagdeo was making a telling observation.

He said he was not "wholly surprised over the failure (of the process), explaining that mediation was agreed to in the context in which WIPA made all their players available for the (coming) Championship Trophy in South Africa.

"The members of the WICB did not disclose to me, or WIPA, that they had already selected a 'B' team for the Championship Trophy" President Jagdeo disclosed, adding that while the Board's President (Julian Hunte) had subsequently "apologised for the omission, the damage had already been done", resulting in weakening the mediation process and, finally, failure.

Was it really an "omission", or, as some think, characteristic arrogance on the part of the WICB? In defence of its integrity, the WICB seems to have an obligation to dissuade the public from thinking that its representatives did not, truthfully, enter the mediation process in bad faith by failing to disclose, up front, that a "B" team had already been selected for the Champion Trophy scheduled for later this month in South Africa?

Last Monday, while WICB President Hunte was still holding his silence, the Board's Vice-President, Dave Cameron, lost no time in announcing "arbitration" as the next move to settle the lingering dispute with the WIPA now that mediation has failed.

Cameron also took the opportunity to swipe at the WIPA players, contending that they have been constantly shifting their positions over the years while the Board kept "putting a bandage" to problems and "each time giving, and giving and giving..."

Really? At the time of writing, there I was no public response from WIPA on either the collapse of mediation or to remarks by the WICB's Cameron. But I have no doubt that a WIPA statement will be forthcoming.

However, in considering the bigger picture--the future of West Indies cricket--it is imperative that CARICOM Heads of Government now bite the bullet with a challenge to the WICB over its failure to implement the core recommendations of the seminal 2007 report from a high-level Committee on Governance of West Indies Cricket (established by CARICOM) under the chairmanship by former Jamaica Prime Minister, P.J. Patterson. This is a matter to be revisited.

In these days the less stress the better
Well I’ll be jiggered! Mr. Hamilton Green has done it again. This time he wants; “to see if he can help build a better Guyana”

And as if this is not cynical enough he wants to: “lift the tone of society” and; “to see good governance take place in an environment of peace and stability”.

To make this happen, Mr. Green nonchalantly proclaims that all those affected by corruption and bad governance and who are desirous of getting involved must be prepared to deal with a Government in a way that would make them understand that this is “serious business” Atta Boy Hammie.!

The only problem with what Mr. Green wants to do is that the PPP/C Government is already doing exactly what Greene claims he wants to do.

Nowadays good governance is everybody’s business including the PPP/C and the current Administration. We never saw governing as jokie business, for us it is serious business.

So where does this place Mr. Green? In the midst of the obstructionists and the green eyed (sic!) opponents to the progressive developments taking place all around the country.

What Mr. Green and other critics of the Government and the ruling PPP/C seem to forget is that the PPP was in Opposition; or as some say in , the political wilderness for twenty-eight (28) years.

We suffered a lot but we also learnt a lot and we gained immense political experience while in the opposition trenches.

We observed the PNC from those very trenches and the way they rode roughshod over the Guyanese people taking away many of their rights.

We know what it means to be in opposition and we know what it is to be in government.

What we stood for then is what we stand for now.

It is of interest to note that the PNC is now in Opposition for the longest period in its political history. At the same time, the PPP is currently serving in Government for the longest period since its establishment in 1950.

And from all indications it looks as if it will be this way for sometime, unless a political tsunami occurs to upset this equilibrium.

The PNC is now learning what it means to be a modern Opposition Party and it is doing so at a heavy political price.

The first down payment was made by Hoyte after he lost miserably to Janet Jagan in the 1997 elections. And Corbin made three additional down payments before the 2006 elections before the 15th Congress of the PNC and the most recent 16th Biennial Congress

That party is now reeling from the wounds inflicted upon it as a result of internal turbulence.

The PNC will never be the same again and Hammie will not make it better. The pyrrhic victory scored by Corbin at the recent Congress is a reflection of the old PNC doctrine of destroying in order to build.

So when Mr. Green tells us that he wants to see “if he can help build a better Guyana” he obviously meant with the PPP in opposition and the PNC in government.

No one will take Mr. Green seriously. After all, the PNC which is in his DNA and which governed Guyana for almost three decades did have the opportunity to build a better Guyana. But what happened? Why didn’t the better Guyana emerge? Mr. Green must tell us. And the old hackneyed argument that the PPP prevented that from happening just won’t suffice.

Incidentally, along came Mr. Lincoln Lewis and in his usual, reckless and cavalier style proclaims that;

Guyanese must seriously ask the question how much better off are we as a people (since the PPP/C took office)”.

The comparative analysis is of no interest to Mr. Lewis. He obviously was not asking whether Guyanese were better off since Independence or during the 1964 to 1992 period. His obvious interest is from 1992 to 2009.

Any reasonable person would agree that as a nation we are better off since Independence. The country has certainly not degenerated into a Somalia, Zimbabwe or Afghanistan thanks to the maturity of the Guyanese people and their total rejection of the kind of politics advocated by Mr. Lewis and Mr. Green alike. People want to move on with their lives, they know that neither Hamilton Green’s ambitious nor Lewis’ antics will help them do so. All these two men’s posturings will do is to bring the people more stress and in these days the less stress the better.
CLEMENT J. ROHEE
Member of the Central and Executive
Committee - PPP

Disgraceful attempt to smear company’s reputation in Guyana
YESTERDAY a tabloid newspaper in Guyana reprinted a seven and a half years old news article from the St. Petersburg Times about MWI Corporation. That article is replete with falsehoods and innuendo about our company which was politically motivated and which was brought by a disgruntled former employee in 1998. The criminal case against our company ended in early 1992 with no charges being filed. Subsequently, the disgruntled former employee brought a civil case against the company which remains pending at this time.

MWI Corporation categorically denies each and every allegation in this civil case and we have and will continue to vigorously defend our company and its reputation against these specious and false charges. We have never been adjudged civilly responsible by any court for any of these charges and we fully expect to be exonerated when the court finally rules on our disposition motions. The disgraceful attempt by this tabloid to smear our company’s reputation in Guyana is outrageous and should be ignored. We are always prepared to provide quotations on our equipment to customers such as you and we never provide such quotations to newspapers, especially irrelevant tabloid newspapers.

Please be assured that we are always prepared to respond to any questions which you may have about any of these matters.
WILLIAM E. BUCKNAM, Esq.
Vice-President and General Counsel

A watchful eye should be kept on these so-called church people
ONE has to sit up and take serious note of what these so-called church people are all about.

It would appear that American Mormons want to infest Guyana the same way as they have done and do in America.

If this man made religion is not tolerated in America then why Guyana?

Or is there something more sinister to this invasion?

If one were to read Stabroek and Kaieteur newspaper, one would think that all Guyanese want to migrate to America not the other way around.

Who in their right mind would want to leave the most powerful and richest country in the world to live in Guyana?

Like Dr. Henry Lee said in the OJ trial "Something must be wrong"

The big question that must be asked by every Guyanese and their government is why would these Americans want to leave the mighty USA to live in Guyana?

Guyana's authorities must find out who are the ones in Guyana that are inviting these Americans. Jim Jones does ring a bell loud and clear in the ear.

It would appear as though only Americans are losing their way in other certain countries lately, like the two American journalists who got lost and ended up in North Korea.

Like the two so called American hikers who got lost and ended up on Iranian soil.

So let’s see which countries are referred to as the "axis of evil" by the worse President the world has ever seen. Was it not North Korea and Iran?

Most Guyanese know America's government has a disdain for PPP from day one and it would appear like that trend will continue even with an Obama administration.

In my opinion it would take no sweat for America to replace the PPP/C government with the PNCR "again".

Keep a very watchful eye on these so-called "church people" at all times.
T. KING

Interestingly the lawbreakers are all Americans
THE Guyana political opposition is all up in the story of the group of Mormons who have clearly broken the country’s immigration laws.

Interestingly, the lawbreakers are all Americans and opposition activists are keenly playing up this aspect rather than seeing their departure as merely a procedural aspect of law and order. The government has said that the church may send in replacement missionaries provided their paperwork is intact.

Recently, the opposition has taken to cozying up to anything American, even writing to the American government and asking the Obama administration to meddle in local politics.

Observers are noting that the Mormon episode could be yet another poor attempt by the opposition to create tension between the U.S. and Guyana governments.

Is the American government so gullible that it would base its foreign policy on a group of Mormon lawbreakers?

Who knows?

Some in Guyana go so far as to say that U.S. policy regarding this country should be based on the testimony of an admitted gangbanger who was paid to testify against an American lawyer in a Brooklyn courtroom.

Apparently desperate people imagine desperate things.

Is the Mormon Church so in need of followers that it would allow itself to be used as political cannon fodder in a country where they are guests?

Meanwhile, an Associated Press (AP) story quoted attorney Nigel Hughes as saying that the Mormons have about $2 million in Guyana and so he asked, “Why then expel them?” This lawyer is clearly not familiar with the laws and the consequences of breaking them or maybe, in Guyana, once you dangle $2 million the law no longer applies.

Mormons “do great missionary work and cultivate farms in the country,” Hughes said and I immediately thought, how strange, he could have said exactly the same thing about the Jim Jones cult!
JUSTIN de FREITAS

Appalled at the way in which people flout Guyana’s laws
I am appalled at the way in which people flout Guyana’s laws and expect that we should make exemptions just because perhaps they are trying to help in certain areas. The issue with the Mormons, although it is embarrassing that Guyana has had to take this step, is in fact one such example where persons show a total disregard for our laws.

When Guyanese go to any country, the United States of America included, and they overstay their time, they are arrested, sent to detention centres and deported. This also happens in the Caribbean countries where our nationals are sent back after overstaying their time. Why should we do any different?

From what the Ministry of Home Affairs has said, there were persons here doing missionary work although their work permits were never approved and there were some who the Ministry had no knowledge of. Although it is admirable that these people are willing to do missionary work in Guyana, they still need to follow our laws just as we are expected to follow their laws.

I dare say this would happen in any country and Guyana is just doing what is right in ensuring that its laws are not disregarded and thrown on the way side.
LAURA SINGH

Contract to build capacity within Home Affairs Ministry, Police Force a good one
OVER the past decade the Government of Guyana (GoG) has undergone a fundamental transformation, but Guyana has not been able to chart a course towards a modernised, economically and socially viable and progressive police force and army.

The contract with a U.S. firm to build capacity within the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Guyana Police Force is a good one as it set out to see the lawmen being trained in modern policing techniques.

These projects and strategy must lay a solid foundation for the renewal of virtually every element within the police force. Although much remains to be done to fulfill this vision, the community policing strategy (CPS) will set a new course by recognising the inter-relationship between the police and the society and especially, the importance of the public confidence for sustained human development. It should be noted that over the past few years, the government has taken a number of decisive measures to begin to address the challenges of the Guyana Police Force without success. Improved budgeting and fiscal planning systems, combined with other initiatives such as improving public confidence in the integrity of the force.

The CPS will have to lay a solid foundation on which to shape a comprehensive and forward-looking plan for the modernisation if it is to succeed. Aware that trying to do “everything at once " would lead to certain failure, care and attention must be given to identify the vital many interventions that will make the biggest difference. This exercise will cost the Guyanese people US$22M

Particular attention should be given and identifying the essential stumbling blocks for sustainable public confidence. The CPS should concentrate on building lines of accountability, providing timetables and milestones and ensuring that top leaders in the force continue to play the lead role in planning, assessing progress and taking the decisions that will be required to sustain the long term project.

Finally, a three-element programme phased over several years should be implemented to improve transparency by increasing access to information, streamline the regulatory framework of the police force and improve ethics and integrity.
MOHAMED KHAN

Education stakeholders should be encouraged towards improving performance standards
PERFORMANCE on national standardised examinations is one way of measuring the degree of progress within the education system. Although these statistics would not present a comprehensive view of student performance, given the wide range of factors involved, it is one of the few objective indicators of educational output. Recent performance trends on the secondary level are highly encouraging on a number of levels. Firstly, the overall performance of students, in relation to Grades One to Three passes at the CSEC examination, has consistently increased over the past three years. In 2007 this pass rate was 56.94%, in 2008 57.23% and in 2009 the pass rate is 63.7%. The number of candidates writing the examinations has also increased, suggesting that our ability to prepare students to perform on this level has improved.

When one looks at some specific subject areas, this figure increases significantly. For example, although the overall number of students writing the discrete sciences remains lower than one would hope, Grades One to Three passes in Chemistry and Physics exceeded seventy-five percent. Satisfactory performances were recorded in Biology also, where, although there was a decline in performance from 2008, the pass rate of 68.25% was recorded. Excellent performances were recorded in fifteen other subjects including Integrated Science, Human and Social Biology, Agriculture Science, Social Studies and a range of technical vocational subjects. In the areas of English and Mathematics improvements were also noted. In English A the increase was a marked twenty-three percent, while in Mathematics, a more modest increase was attained.

More impressive is the fact that in 2009, ninety seven (97) candidates secured Grade One passes in eight or more subjects. This is an increase from 2008 in which eighty seven (87) candidates secured Grade One passes in eight or more subjects. The ‘ninety seven’ candidates are from Regions 2, 3, 4, 6 and Georgetown.

These figures in isolation do not relate the significance of these accomplishments. The overall performances of students reflect a greater degree of equity within the education system. Excellent performances are noted from a wider cross-section of students across the country. Schools in Annai, Aishalton, Santa Rosa and Port Kaituma are now producing students with seven and eight Grades One and Two passes. As such, it appears that the Ministry’s efforts at ensuring Universal Secondary Education are producing some results. The hope is that a wider range of secondary institutions could ensure performances on this level and the indicators suggest that this is becoming a reality. These results suggest that the interventions and strategies being employed are having a positive impact on the education system and the students, teachers, parents, officers and all education stakeholders should be encouraged to continue working to lift the performance standards in the education system.
Olato Sam
Technical Adviser to the Minister of Education

We need to change what we can today
Mr. RALPH Ramkarran is right in his article that QUESTIONS MUST BE ASKED, but I am not sure who he thinks should be asking the questions, if not the elected officials? Or what action GoG can take immediately and long term to correct the obvious known problems, he himself described. I do not belittle the successes of the forces; however, these were the reason for their existence and cannot be allowed to give any cover to their systemic problems, seen by civilians daily.

It astounds me that the only difference between the security forces and the criminals, seem to be some AK-47's and a better motivation, not special training or just money. While some were complaining about not getting the SWAT training and heavy weapons, the GDF had AK-47's in storage. I still believe we need 1-3 outside officers with special skills for key areas in the GPF.

Unfortunately, it appears that the GoG and opposition have created a buffer between the Security and civilian authority that makes official questioning or reforms hard to make. Questioning the services is not political, unpatriotic, ungrateful or unreasonable. We need to change what we can today and tomorrow where we can. Prevailing culture stymies any attempts made by internal or external attempts for changes.
NAME WITHHELD

Is this the way we treat our environment?
THE sea shores at the Georgetown seawall has become a garbage dumpsite. My recent evening walk there on Monday afternoon confirms that once a clean & peaceful seawall is now being littered with all sort of garbage.

The garbage include plastic bottles, plastic bags, Styrofoam boxes, cups, old tyres and broken glass bottles which are sticking out from the shore.

People just don’t have no regard for their surroundings and would be seen throwing all their refuse on either side of the seawall.

Is this the way we treat our environment especially our beloved seawall and seashore??

Or is this the way things are being done in Guyana?

My suggestion is that the vendors selling on the seawall on Sunday nights should be the ones to clean up the seawall & have larger garbage bins placed for the disposal of their garbage.

If no serious action is being taken for the proper disposal of plastics in Guyana then in a few years it will be horrific.
P. RAWLINS

Would Forbes Burnham have tolerated such conduct?
I refer to two articles in the Kaieteur News of September 03, 2009. One dealing with Police Officer, Simon Mc Bean, and the other, what was discussed by Commissioner Khurshid Sattaur and Roger Khan’s lawyer. Freddie Kissoon wants to know what Sattaur discussed with the lawyer, Good question. In order not to show his prejudice or partisanship he should also ask that the judge ‘Oracle’ of the Guyana High Court who allegedly spoke with the lawyer to say what they spoke about.

Secondly, with respect to the issue of Police Officer Mc Bean, are we forgetting or not taking into account the fact that Mc Bean had allegedly inveigled some medical person to issue medical certificates to the effect that he was ill in London for nine months – that those cannot be true when during the nine-month period he was attending classes in pursuit of his course. What was wrong with him contacting the Commissioner of Police explaining his plight and seeking no pay leave or special leave under the circumstances? What example can a senior public officer set to junior officers when he acted in such an allegedly dishonest manner? Would Forbes Burnham have tolerated such conduct?

Come on Freddie, don’t get burnt with the coffee, drink it. It may clear your mind.
WESLEY HEADLEY

Bolt flattens rivals again to win 200 metres
...leads Caribbean winners at Golden League
BRUSSELS, Belgium, (CMC) – Colossal Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt emphatically flattened his rivals again as he won the 200 metres in the fourth fastest time ever and meet record 19.57 seconds at the Brussels Golden League meeting last evening.

Bolt chopped a massive 0.22 seconds off the previous meet mark of 19.79 seconds by the American Tyson Gay, who suffered a 100-metre defeat to Jamaican Asafa Powell earlier in the meet, contested in wet conditions.

Powell clocked 9.90 seconds for a solid win over Gay, and the Caribbean secured other victories at the year’s last Golden League event through Barbadian Ryan Brathwaite and Jamaican Brigitte Foster-Hylton in the sprint hurdles.

Undefeated in over a year in both sprints, the 23-year-old Bolt accentuated the fact that he is leagues ahead of the current world sprinters with another dominant run in front of a full house of 50,000 fans.

Just weeks after his world record performances over 100 and 200 metres at the Berlin World Championships, the 6-foot-5-inch giant took control early and accelerated away from the field in a now customary lopsided win.

“At 25 metres (to go) I backed off. The crowd was extremely wonderful, they gave me energy,” said Bolt who next runs in the World Athletics Final next weekend in Thessaloniki, Greece.

His time was well off his world-record 19.19 seconds but that Berlin world-best, his Beijing Olympics 19.30 and Michael Johnson’s 19.32 are the only faster times on the all-time list.

American Wallace Spearmon was a well beaten second in 20.19 followed by Azerbaijan’s Ramil Guliyev (20.47) with Antiguan Pan American Games champion Brendan Christian fourth in 20.61.

Powell, who held the world 100-metre record at 9.74 seconds before Bolt smashed it (9.72) in May 2008 in New York, secured a rare win over World Championship silver medallist Gay with a fine run.

Showing the grit often missing in his major assignments, Powell impressively repelled a mid-race challenge from Gay and won handsomely.

Powell’s time was just 0.06 seconds off his season’s best 9.84 that gave him bronze in Berlin.

“This new track is really fast. Unfortunately, the rain which fell just before the race affected us," Powell said after the win.

American Darvis Patton ran through for third in 10.08, ahead of Michael Rodgers (10.09) and a cluster of Jamaicans Steve Mullings (10.15), Michael Frater (10.17) and Lerone Clarke (10.19) who finished fifth, sixth and seventh respectively.

Marc Burns, of Trinidad and Tobago, was ninth in 10.25 seconds.

Powell next competes on Sunday at the Rieti Grand Prix where he ran his last world record of 9.74 in 2007.

New sprint hurdles world champions Brathwaite and Foster-Hylton secured good wins to further boost their rising stocks.

The 21-year-old Brathwaite, who won the first ever global track and field gold medal for Barbados in Berlin last month, dominated the 110-metre hurdles in 13.30 seconds.

Jamaican Dwight Thomas, who beat Brathwaite in an upset victory at the Zurich Golden League last week, placed second in 13.38 and American Joel Brown (13.39) was third.

The veteran Foster-Hylton snatched a narrow win the 100-metre hurdles, edging Canada’s Priscilla Lopes-Schliep by 0.01 seconds.

The 34-year-old Foster-Hylton clocked a swift 12.48 seconds to defeat Berlin silver medallist Lopes-Schliep (12.49) and Jamaican Delloreen Ennis-London (12.71).

Jamaicans Shelly-Ann Fraser, Kerron Stewart, Shericka Williams, and Trecia Smith, and Renny Quow, of Trinidad and Tobago, picked up other Caribbean podium finishes at the meet.

American Carmelita Jeter produced another superb run to capture the women’s 100 metres, topping the Fraser and Stewart, the gold and silver medallists respectively at the Berlin World Championship.

Jeter sped to victory in 10.88 seconds, edging Fraser (10.98) and Stewart (11.05).

Jamaica’s ex-World Champion Veronica Campbell-Brown was fourth in 11.10, followed by Bahamian veteran Chandra Sturrup (11.16), T&T’s Kelly-Ann Baptiste (11.26), Bahamian Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie (11.28) and Sherone Simpson (11.39).

Jamaica-born American Sanya Richards secured her share of the US$1 million jackpot – along with Russian Yelena Isinbayeva and Ethiopian Kenenisa Bekele – with a resounding triumph that completed a sweep of all the 400-metre races in the series.

World champion Richards clocked a world-leading 48.83 seconds to flog Britain’s Christina Ohuruogu (50.43) and Williams (50.55).

With one leap, Isinbayeva prevailed in the pole vault at 4.60 metres and so secured her share of the jackpot.

Bekele was the final contender to secure his claim to US$333,333.333, securing the prize in the 5,000 metres with an authoritative win in 12 minutes 55.31 seconds.

Richards, Isinbayeva and Bekele picked up the huge purse after racing unbeaten in all six Golden League events, from Berlin in June, followed by Oslo, Rome, Paris, Zurich and now Brussels.

Quow clocked 45.55 seconds for the runner-up spot in the men’s 400 behind American Jeremy Wariner (44.94).

Smith, the 2005 World Champion, posted 14.23 metres to place second in the women’s triple jump to Cuban Yamile Aldama (14.27m)

CCJ could be asked to rule in WICB, WIPA dispute
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, (CMC) – The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ)could be asked to rule in the bitter dispute between the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and the West Indies Players Association (WIPA).

This was disclosed by WICB’s external legal counsel, Derek Ali during a press conference here Friday.

Mediation talks, headed by former Commonwealth secretary general Sir Shridath Ramphal, broke down last week after the feuding parties failed to find common ground.

“With talks breaking down at the last moment during the mediation, the issues will now have to be taken to the Caribbean Court of Justice for arbitration,” Ali revealed.

The new move is the latest twist in the impasse which has engulfed West Indies cricket over the last month and crippled the regional team, resulting in under strength squads being selected for the recent Bangladesh tour and the upcoming Champions Trophy in South Africa.

The subsequent attempt to broker a solution failed, with the WICB being criticized for having produced a document during negotiations which served to thwart any positive outcome.

This, however, was refuted by the WICB’s industrial relations consultant Gerald Pinard who said the governing body for cricket in the region had done no wrong by sending the document to Sir Shridath.

“We hear talk that the WICB sent in a document that derailed the process and we walked out,” Pinard said.

“This is surprising to hear because what we sent in was a draft agreement outlining what was agreed upon and what was to go to arbitration. This document sent to Sir Shridath on August 31 was not much different from the first one we sent in on August 29.”

Ali claimed that once the document was introduced, the mediation process was brought to a halt

WIPA president Dinanath Ramnarine said earlier this week his organisation would meet in Guyana today to discuss their next move.

Mackeson English/Kashif and Shanghai Futsal tourney opens tonight
…German Restaurant pitches in
By Storme Moore
THE game of futsal will bring the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall to life as the opening game of this year’s 6th annual Mackeson English/Kashif and Shanghai Futsal Tournament will be held there tonight at 19:00 h.

The tournament roster features 32 teams including past champions Fruta Conquerors who have two titles under their belt and Flamingo who is a one time winner.

This year’s games will be played under the straight knockout format with two games being featured weekly on Saturdays and Mondays.

Kashif Mohamed of Kashif and Shanghai, who got on board as an organiser of the event three years ago, said that everything is in place and that all preparations are in line. Mohamed related that he is very excited because this will be the second major Futsal tournament for the year. He went on to say that the sponsorship is good but for serving the purpose of treating the fans more is needed and thus he and fellow organisers are currently awaiting word from other sponsors.

On Thursday Giftland Office Max and German Restaurant pitched in to augment the efforts of Kashif and Shanghai and Frank “English” Parris.

Tonight’s competition will see Beacon coming up against BVTU FC then Den Amstel will tackle Uprising. Young Achievers and Winners Connection will clash and the Bakewell Top XX and Riddim Squad encounter will cap off tonight’s games.

The fixtures for the first set of games are as follows:

Monday 7th September, 19:00h
Thomas United v. Cougars
Fruta Conquerors v. Grove High
Pele v. Golden Star
Flamingo v. Uivlugt
Saturday 12th September
U.G v. Silver Shattas
G.F.C v. Bakewell Buxton Stars
Santos v. Ann’s Grove
Northern Rangers v. BK Western Tigers
Monday September 14th
Sunburst Camptown v. Mahaica Determinators
Black Pearl v. Milerock
G.D.F v. Plaisance
Alpha v. Victoria Kings

Shuffler thankful to FIVB
..-appreciates collaboration of MCY&S and M.O.E
PRESIDENT of the Guyana Volleyball Federation (GVBF) Lennox ‘Lennie’ Shuffler has expressed his immense gratitude to the Federation of International Volleyball (FIVB) for not only making the teacher’s training course in volleyball a possibility but for also making it a success.

According to Shuffler Guyana’s 65 years of strong affiliation to the FIVB is hubbed through the Confederation of South American Volleyball.

He revealed that on the international scene the sport of volleyball is improving rapidly and in light of this the FIVB is trying to prevent developing countries from falling behind by extending lifelines in the form of these annual courses.

Shuffler said that out of the available options which include a young players’ course, a referees course, a level one coaching course and a teachers’ course, he felt that hosting a teachers’ course was the most sensible thing at the time.

Shuffler who is a long time advocate for sports programmes in schools felt that the need for improvement of Physical Education at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (C.S.E.C) Examinations coupled with the favourable response from the Ministry of Education’s (M.O.E) Allied Arts Unit made targeting the teachers a perfect match.

The GVBF president revealed that this is to be a catalyst for CSEC improvement as they (the GVBF) already drafted texts to aid in students’ preparation for the exams.

He was also elated that the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport and the Ministry of Education were more directly involved in this year’s effort as he believes that such coalitions are needed for local development.

The participants that successfully completed the exercise will receive a certificate of acknowledgement from the FIVB when the course wraps up today.

New Zealand seal Twenty20 series win over Sri Lanka
COLOMBO, (Reuters) - New Zealand won the second Twenty20 international against Sri Lanka by 22 runs to clinch a 2-0 series victory yesterday.

New Zealand followed their thrilling three-run victory on Wednesday night with an impressive all-round display, following the disappointment of a 2-0 test series defeat.

The tourists won the toss and piled on 170 with Jess Ryder scoring a 37-ball 52 that included three huge sixes. Brendon McCullum scored 49 from 34 balls.

Sri Lanka's bowlers, with the exception of spinners Ajantha Mendis (1-21) and Sanath Jayasuriya (2-22), were punished as Ryder and McCullum gave New Zealand a winning platform with an 84-run opening stand.

Sri Lanka made a poor start to their run chase, collapsing to 11 for 3 with Tillakaratne Dilshan (one), Mahela Udawatte (nought) and Jayasuriya (seven) all going early.

Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara repaired some of the damage with a 67-run partnership.

Jayawardene stroked 41 from 30 balls, with five fours and a six, and Sangakkara cracked a career-best 69 from 50 balls with seven boundaries.

However, the hosts were always behind the run rate as New Zealand bowled tightly and fielded brilliantly throughout the innings.

NEW ZEALAND innings
B. McCullum c & b Jayasuriya 49
J. Ryder c Rupasinghe b Mendis 52
R. Taylor lbw b Jayasuriya 16
M. Guptill b Malinga 32
J. Oram not out 17
Extras (lb-2, w-1, nb-1) 4
Total (four wickets; 20 overs) 170
Fall of wickets: 1-84 2-109 3-127 4-170
Did not bat: N. Broom, N. McCullum, K. Mills, D. Vettori, I. Butler, S. Bond

Bowling: Kulasekara 4-0-40-0, Malinga 4-0-35-1 (1-nb, 1-w), Mendis 4-0-21-1, Jayasuriya 4-0-22-2, Bandara 2-0-19-0, Dilshan 2-0-31-0

SRI LANKA innings:
T. Dilshan c Guptill b Bond 1
S. Jayasuriya c Taylor b Mills 7
M. Udawatte c Broom b Mills 0
M. Jayawardene c Ryder b N. McCullum 41
K. Sangakkara c & b Oram 69
A. Mathews c Taylor b N McCullum 1
G. Rupasinghe c Vettori b Bond 18
N. Kulasekara c Taylor b Bond 2
M. Bandara not out 4
L. Malinga not out 0
Extras: (lb-2, w-3) 5

Total: (eight wickets; 20 overs) 148

Fall of wickets: 1-2 2-2 3-11 4-78 5-80 6-129 7-143 8-148

Did not bat: A.Mendis.

Bowling: Bond 4-0-18-3, Mills 3-0-22-2 (1-w), Butler 4-0-34-0 (1-w), Vettori 3-0-27-0 (1-w), N. McCullum 3-0-18-2, Oram 3-0-27-1.

Cameroon look to Eto'o to revive flagging hopes
By Mark Gleeson
JOHANNESBURG, (Reuters) - Cameroon are putting their hopes in Samuel Eto'o to revive flagging World Cup qualification chances, thrusting the controversial striker into a new leadership role for vital matches over the next week.

The Inter Milan forward, whose talented contribution to his country's cause in the past has been tempered by an unpredictable temperament, is being cast by new coach Paul LeGuen as the potential saviour of Cameroon's cause.

They must beat neighbours Gabon twice in five days to revive their chances as they meet the Group A leaders first in Libreville today and then at home in Yaoundé on Wednesday.

The contest is among several intriguing tussles through the week as the African preliminaries head to an exciting climax.

Ghana, topping group D, could become the first continental side to qualify while the Ivory Coast, in Group E, has the chance of moving to within one point of a place at the 2010 finals in South Africa.

But the three other groups are all still far from decided.

Cameroon have taken a solitary point from their opening two matches, results which cost veteran German coach Otto Pfister his job in May.

LeGuen has since taken over and in his first game last month, victory in a friendly in Austria, dropped long-standing captain Rigobert Song to install Eto'o as the new leader.

"It is my responsibility as coach to make these choices. I do things that are in the interest of the team to try and attempt to ensure the best possible result," he said in an interview published on the Cameroonian Football Federation website www.fecafootonline.com.

LeGuen, who left his post at Paris St Germain at the end of last season, told the French daily L'Equipe he believed Cameroon could yet revive their chances.

"Although it is difficult, it is not impossible," he said.

GHANA HAVE CLEAN SLATE
Ghana have won all three of their group matches in the final round competition and with home advantage in Accra against bottom-placed Sudan on Sunday are expected to keep up their 100 percent record.

Victory would move Ghana up to 12 points but they will only secure a successive World Cup finals berth if second placed Mali and Benin, who are third, draw their match in Cotonou on Sunday.

Ivory Coast are also on the brink of qualification, and if they secure a home win over second-placed Burkina Faso in Abidjan on Saturday, will be within one point of returning to the finals.

Algeria's hopes of a first World Cup appearance in more than two decades will be boosted if they beat Zambia at home in Group C. In the same group, reigning African champions Egypt must win away at Rwanda today to hold on to a faint chance.

In Group B, Tunisia defend a two-point lead over Nigeria when they meet in Abuja on Sunday. A draw would keep the north Africans on track to appear at a fourth successive World Cup but a Nigeria win would shift the balance in the group.

Manchester City striker Emmanuel Adebayor leads Togo on Sunday in their bid to stay in contention in Group A when they host Morocco in Lome.

Togo return to the Kegue Stadium after a four-match ban forced them to host their last four home matches in neighbouring Ghana.

Sacin says split innings will spice up one-dayers
MUMBAI, (Reuters) - Sachin Tendulkar wants one-day cricket to be split into two innings of 25 overs each to bring more balance into the matches.

The premier Indian batsman, who holds the records for most one-day runs and hundreds, backed the format despite doubts whether it would survive Twenty20's increasing popularity.

"I'm for 50-over cricket," he told Times Now channel yesterday at a bat endorsement function. "I was thinking of probably 25 overs each to start with and again you go and play 25 overs."

Tendulkar recalled the 2002 ICC Champions Trophy final in Sri Lanka where the hosts batted their full innings for two days in a row only for rain to force the match to be abandoned on both times. The teams were declared joint winners of the tournament.

"This is also because in certain places, in day-night matches the conditions are completely different when you bat or bowl second," he said.

"So both sides (will) get to bat when the lights are not on. Then both bat when the lights are on, 25 overs," he said. "So it is not so heavily dependent on toss."

In the Indian sub-continent, slow pitches can render chasing a target tough or dew in the night can make fielding difficult in the later stages.

The debate over one-day cricket's future has intensified after the England board last month dropped 50-over cricket from the domestic calendar for the next season.

Argentina expect Messi to deliver against Brazil
By Rex Gowar
ROSARIO, Argentina, (Reuters) - Lionel Messi can stamp his authority on international soccer when Argentina clash with arch-rivals Brazil in today’s World Cup qualifier, coach Diego Maradona said.

"He has to become a man suddenly, he can no longer be the kid with promise, and he's showing it," Maradona said on Thursday.

"He's fast, concentrated, totally committed, he knows the chance he has," he added at a news conference in Buenos Aires ahead of today’s match in Rosario (0030 GMT).

"We've been heaping responsibility onto him...Since I've been coaching Messi, since I've been watching him (train), this has been his best week."

Messi has yet to transfer his brilliant club form for Barcelona to the national stage for Argentina, whose fans hope to see him inspire his country to victory in his first official match in the city of his birth.

He had barely entered his teens when he left Rosario for Barcelona after no club in Argentina could afford the hormone treatment he needed if he was going fulfil his huge promise.

Brazil have not lost to Argentina in four matches since the teams' last meeting on Argentine soil, a Juan Roman Riquelme-inspired 3-1 victory in Buenos Aires in 2005.

Overrun by a counter-attacking Brazil in the 2005 Confederations Cup final, a 2006 friendly in London and the 2007 Copa America final in Venezuela, Argentina managed to stop the rot in a 0-0 draw in last year's qualifier in Belo Horizonte.

QUALIFICATION BALANCE
A World Cup without Messi, widely regarded as the world's best player, and Argentina seems almost inconceivable.

Yet Argentina can ill-afford to drop points if they are to remain on course for the 2010 finals in South Africa.

They are precariously placed in fourth place in the South American group, the lowest automatic qualifying berth, five points adrift of leaders Brazil.

The team finishing fifth after the remaining four rounds in the 10-nation group have second chance to qualify with a two-leg playoff with the fourth-placed team from CONCACAF.

Maradona, beset by injuries, is giving defender Sebastian Dominguez a debut alongside his Velez Sarsfield team mate Nicolas Otamendi and a first competitive start to Napoli midfielder Jesus Datolo after he scored on his debut in last month's 3-2 friendly win in Russia.

"Our idea is to go out to strangle Brazil," Maradona said.

"We will attack them down the wings with Maxi (Rodriguez) and Datolo, and with (Juan Sebastian) Veron through the middle...(Carlos) Tevez and Leo (Messi) will cause trouble for Brazil's two centre backs.

"They have some big names, but whoever plays we know we are going into battle, whatever yellow jersey goes by we will have to chase it."

Bourda and Plaisance Markets to clash for $150,000
…G’town/ East Coast rivalry continues in Inter-market soccer final
THE Inter-Market football finalists are in place and come next Monday at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) ground from 20:00h, Bourda Market will tangle with Plaisance Market as the Georgetown/East Coast rivalry continues, with a first prize of $75,000 going to the winner.

In the final, Bourda Market will start as favourites and will have former national youth player Manasseh Primo, Alpha Sylvester and Calvin Shepherd in their lineup, but Plaisance will be depending on senior national player Warren Gilkes along with John Heliger, and amicable support from a number of established players, to turn back the Bourda Market challenge.

This game will be preceded by the third place play-off between the star studded Kitty Market going up against Stewartville from 18:00h.

Kitty Market will be led by Omali Nassey, Quincy Madramootoo, Wendell St Hill, Gordon Henry & Terrance "Old Head" Lewis while Stewartville will have in their lineup Owen Mc Garrell and Leary Loncke.

Meanwhile, in semi final Action played on Monday at the GFC ground, Plaisance upset the star studded Kitty Market team by one goal to nil, with Warren Gilkes finding the back of the net in the 26th minute.

Kitty tried desperately to equalise, but selfishness and frustration crept in with every "Star" wanting to score against a stern Plaisance defence that desperately counter attacked on many occasions, missing the opportunity to go ahead due to poor finishing.

This game was a replayed game which was abandoned at half time with a nil all score, following a break and enter attack on the referee’s property, wherein the officials’ observed the locks on their locker were broken, from which their wallets, cash, cell phones, camera, ID and credit cards and other items of importance were missing from their bags.

In the first semi- final played on Thursday 20th August, Bourda Market overcame the challenge of Stewartville Market in an exciting and competitive game by a 2-1 margin, following a 1-1 half time score.

Primo found the back of the net for Bourda Market, but Mc Garrell snatched the equaliser for Stewartville before a Calvin Shepherd second half strike sealed the place in the final for Bourda Market.

All prizes in this tournament were donated by beverage giants Banks DIH under their Power Stout Brand and apart from the first place prize, the second, third and fourth place finishers will receive $100,000, $75,000 and $50,000 respectively.

Serena knocks out Martinez Sanchez to reach fourth round
.U.S.Open .wins also for Murray, Juan Martin Del Potro and Kim Clijsters
By Steve Ginsburg
NEW YORK, (Reuters) - Serena Williams moved closer to her third grand slam title of the year by knocking out Spain's Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez in straight sets Friday to reach the fourth round of the U.S. Open tennis.

"She was serving really well, and I think especially in the second set," Williams said after the 6-3 7-5 victory on a warm and near-cloudless day at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

"I just kept fighting, and every time I had a break point I felt like I had a chance to win one of them. I thought she served well. I couldn't get down about it."

On the men's side, second seed Andy Murray of Briton beat Paul Capdeville of Chile 6-2 3-6 6-0 6-2 to reach the third round and Argentine Juan Martin Del Potro bounced Austrian Juergen Melzer 7-6 6-3 6-3 in his second-round match.

In other showcase matches, Belgian Kim Clijsters continued her comeback against compatriot Kirsten Flipkens, while under the lights, two-times champion Venus Williams was to face Slovak Magdalena Rybarikova before number three seed Rafael Nadal takes the court against Nicolas Kiefer of Germany.

Serena was down a break in the second set but recovered to win the one-hour, 27-minute match against her net-rushing opponent.

The Australian and Wimbledon winner screamed and pumped her fist repeatedly in the 56-minute final set, inspiring both herself and the 23,000 sun-baked spectators.

"I got super pumped in the second set when I got down 1-3," said the defending champion, who will next play 22nd seed Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia.

"I felt I needed to do something to charge my battery, so to say, and I just wanted to play harder and do better."

World number 43 Martinez Sanchez, who had 18 winners and 18 unforced errors, was broken for the final time in the 11th game before Williams served out the match at love.

Sixth seed Del Potro, who next plays Austrian Daniel Koellerer, had never gone beyond the third round of a slam until he reached the quarters at Flushing Meadows a year ago.

The 6-foot-6 (1.98 m) right-hander with six career titles used that as a springboard to reach the quarters at the Australian Open and the semis at Roland Garros this year.

Del Potro enjoys the New York atmosphere but is not talking up his chances of being the last man standing a week from Sunday.

"This is my favorite grand slam," said Del Potro, who beat Andy Roddick in the Washington finals last month. "I love to play here. I have a good respect for this tournament.

"I want to be quiet with my matches, with my game, and then we will see."