Major Canada firm may start new Guyana airline
LEADING international aircraft manufacturer, Bombardier Incorporated, is in talks with the Guyana Government on starting a national flag carrier for Guyana, the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported yesterday.

It said President Bharrat Jagdeo yesterday met representatives of the Canadian company to discuss the establishment of a national flag carrier by next year.

The proposed plan, the agency said, includes financing and part-management of the new airline by the Canadian-based parent company, Bombardier Aerospace.

Among those at the State House meeting were Bombardier’s Director of American Sales, Ross Gray and Chief Executive Officer of the proposed new company, Air Guyana, Tulsi Ram Issurdatt.   

According to GINA, Gray said “We are prepared to provide all the private enterprise equipment and support necessary for the firm’s establishment and operations.”

The agency said he expressed confidence in Guyana’s potential and described the venture as one with “tremendous opportunities”.

Bombardier Incorporated’s Bombardier Aerospace subsidiary is the world's #3 maker of civil aircraft behind Boeing and Airbus; the #1 regional aircraft maker (Canadair, de Havilland), ahead of Embraer; and one of the two largest makers of business jets (Challenger, Learjet), just behind Gulfstream.

Bush looks to blunt Chavez appeal on Latin trip
-- U.S. navy medical ship to call in Guyana
By Steve Holland
WASHINGTON, (Reuters) - President George W. Bush, hoping to blunt the populist appeal of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, said yesterday he will use a Latin America tour to pledge help to improve the plight of the region's poor.

In a speech to a Hispanic group, Bush sought to project a more humanitarian side to America's image, which has been dominated under his presidency by an emphasis on fighting terrorism and drug trafficking.

He leaves on Thursday on a week-long tour through Brazil, Uruguay, Colombia, Guatemala and Mexico.

The Bush administration is trying to make friends with more moderate leftist leaders in Latin America, where anti-U.S. sentiment runs high.

The trip comes as Washington is adjusting to political changes in a region where 12 elections last year saw a broad range of leftists come to power, including some who openly challenged U.S. policies.

Without mentioning Chavez, Bush said he recognized that tens of millions of people across Latin America were questioning the value of democracy and that the benefits of it have not trickled down to everyone.

"The millions across our hemisphere who every day suffer the degradations of poverty and hunger have a right to be impatient," Bush said.

He said he wanted people in the region to understand that "you have a friend in the United States of America, we care about your plight."

Bush outlined plans to provide an additional $385 million to expand affordable housing programmes in the hemisphere, and a three-year, $75 million initiative to help Latin American youth learn English and get the opportunity to study in the United States.

He also announced he would send a Navy medical ship, the Comfort, to Latin America and the Caribbean in June to treat 85,000 patients and conduct up to 1,500 surgeries.

The vessel will make port calls in Belize, Guatemala, Panama, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Haiti, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana and Suriname.

He also announced a new health care professional training centre in Panama that will serve all of Central America.

It will be Bush's first foreign trip of the year and the White House acknowledged that the president's emphasis on fighting terrorism and drugs and pushing free trade had deflected attention from aid programmes for the poor.

"One of the problems we have in Latin America is that the trade, terrorism and counter-narcotics agenda has caused people not to pay enough attention to the other half of his agenda, which is not just making these areas safer but making them better," said White House national security adviser Stephen Hadley.

While the White House insisted Bush's trip is not aimed specifically at countering Chavez, the Venezuelan firebrand figured to be a frequent theme.

Chavez rankled U.S. officials last September at the United Nations by mocking Bush as the devil, an image he resurrected last month by vowing to send sulphur to Brazil for Bush's visit there.

One still missing from trawler tragedy
By Shirley Thomas
UP TO late last night there was still no trace of Rudy Fernandes, the last person listed as missing from a crew of five on board the ill-fated trawler “William II” which capsized in the Atlantic Friday, leaving one dead and others fighting a grim battle for survival out on the high seas.

But while his relatives are hoping in earnest for his survival, they claimed that a visit to his employers at New Hope, East Bank Demerara, yesterday left them devastated.

His sister Anita Fernandes said management claimed that they made a trip out in the Atlantic and found no trace of their trawler or the missing man.

As such, she said, they were advised there is nothing more that can be done and the search has been called off.

The only crew member confirmed dead to date is Peter Duncan, also called “Footie”, of 80, St Stephens Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, a father of two infant daughters.

Three men have so far been lucky to return home, where they related the harrowing experience of being tossed back and forth, amidst howling waves in the cold and choppy Atlantic waters for more than 24 hours, with an occasional fish pen as their only fortress in their desperate bid for survival.

The three survivors are captain of the trawler, Rasheed Hussain, 36, of Craig; Vitendra Monahar of 486 Fourth Street, Grove, and Malcolm Welcome, 32, also called “Malo”, or Lot 15 New Hope, all on the East Bank Demerara.

Yesterday, Hussain, who was rescued by a pilot boat Saturday afternoon, and Monahar, who was washed ashore at Cornelia Ida, West Coast Demerara Saturday night, accompanied staff of the fishing company on another trawler out into the Atlantic but found no trace of the missing Fernandes or the “William II”.

Hussain feels that if the Coast Guard had been in a state of preparedness to respond to the call for help, everyone might have been recovered alive.

He said he was rescued by the pilot boat around 15:00h Saturday. That boat, he said, immediately called the Light House which in turn called the Coast Guard, requesting that help be sent. Unfortunately, he said he was advised that the request could not have been met.

Hussain is also dissatisfied that the management of the trawler company, Quality Seafoods, did not send a smaller boat to look for the missing crew member. He said a vessel as huge as the trawler they sent, could only have done a search for another trawler, and not someone who might have possibly drifted closer to the sea coast.

Duncan’s wife Linda Joaquin and his mother Joylyn Duncan yesterday said they have been trying in vain to reach the director of the company or his agents.

would be $75,000. “We don’t have that, we are poor people,” she said, adding that they feel that since the young man died while on the job, his employers should be at least be responsible for his burial.

The couple, who did not have a home of their own, were being temporarily sheltered at a relative. The dead man’s unemployed spouse who is now left with the responsibility for caring for their seven and four-year old daughters is at her wits end to determine just what would be done with her husband’s body following the post mortem tomorrow.
Attempts to reach the company director for comment were unsuccessful.

Shot barber buried
CLIFTON Garraway, the 27-year-old barber gunned downed by an off-duty policeman on February 25, following an altercation at the Nuclear Disco, Garnett Street, Kitty, Georgetown, was buried yesterday.

Relatives of Garraway, an employee of GEE QU barbershop on South Road in the city, and who resided at 42 East Ruimveldt, also in the city, transported the body to the young man’s home village, Dartmouth on the Essequibo Coast where it was buried following a church service at his grandmother’s residence.

Garraway, who sustained four bullets, including one to the head, had reportedly bumped into a young woman, said to be an acquaintance of the suspect.

Apparently annoyed at the barber’s action, she fetched the assailant and an argument ensued between the two men which led to the shooting.

The barber was pronounced dead on arrival at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, while his assailant who had also sought medical attention at the same hospital for a wound on his left hand, was admitted and placed under police guard.

Upon discharge he was transferred to the Brickdam Police Station.

The Police in a statement said: “The rank was not on duty and the shooting followed an alleged altercation and scuffle between the (barber) and the police rank.

“The police rank had been issued with a handgun by the force, and also carried a licence for a personal weapon. The reason why the police firearm had not been lodged after completion of duty, as is standard procedure is not yet known.”

Meanwhile, sources told the Guyana Chronicle that the policeman is to appear in court today to answer a charge of murder.

Relatives of Garraway, whose former colleagues spoke highly of him, are demanding justice.

CWC to help HIV/AIDS fight
THE International Cricket Council (ICC) has dedicated Cricket World Cup 2007 to the global campaign ‘Unite for Children, Unite for AIDS’, and will today officially launch its partnership with several leading international organizations to promote the drive.

The launching of the ICC partnership with UNAIDS, UNICEF and the Caribbean Broadcasting Media Partnership on AIDS (CBMP) is billed this afternoon at the Guyana National Stadium at Providence, East Bank Demerara.

Among those slated to attend and speak are Chief Executive Officer of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the CWC 2007 event, Mr. Karan Singh; UNAIDS Country Coordinator Dr. Kathleen Israel; and UNICEF Regional Advisor on HIV/AIDS, Mr. Geoffrey Ijumba.

The ICC partnership with UNAIDS/UNICEF/CBMP is aimed at promoting the campaign in the run-up to and during the CWC tournament which will take place in Guyana and several other countries in the Caribbean from March 11 to April 28.

Through a series of high-profile activities around cricket’s biggest event, the partnership will support the ‘Unite for Children, Unite against AIDS’ campaign, launched in 2005 by UNICEF, UNAIDS and other partners, by projecting various messages around HIV/AIDS, children and young people, including HIV prevention.

It will also project messages aimed at overcoming HIV/AIDS stigma and discrimination to an estimated audience of two billion people who will be viewing the CWC tournament, the world’s third largest sporting event.

Cheddi Jagan, Kowsilla death anniversaries today
GUYANESE will today commemorate the death anniversaries of two heroes in the struggle for workers rights in Guyana – those of former President Dr. Cheddi Jagan and martyred sugar worker, Kowsilla.

Referring to the death anniversaries, the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) said the month of March brings “bitter-sweet memories” for GAWU and to virtually the entire Guyanese nation.

“Bitter, because it was March 6, 1997 – one decade ago already – that Guyana’s national hero and original freedom fighter, Dr. Cheddi Jagan, passed away in an American military hospital,” GAWU said in a statement.

The union said Dr. Jagan’s life long struggle for freedom and social justice for all Guyanese is “etched in the national psyche forever”.

The union also recalled that forty-three years ago, on March 6, 1964, Kowsila, known as Alice, was run over by a strike-breaking tractor driver at the Leonora sugar estate on the West Coast Demerara.

She was part of a group of peaceful female protestors opposed to strike breaking when she was “savagely mauled”, GAWU said.

Kowsilla paid the ultimate sacrifice for the nation’s sugar workers who had to struggle a further twelve years to get the union of their choice, GAWU, to be recognized in February 1976.

GAWU, along with other fraternal and friendly organizations, will commemorate Kowsilla’s passing with a traditional wreath-laying ceremony at Anna Catherina, West Coast Demerara at 07:30h.

Several commemoration activities will also be held today for Dr. Jagan.

“Their passing gave us strength, inspiration and hope. Long live the memory of the lives and work of Comrades Cheddi and Kowsilla,” the union said.

Food for the Poor to build 500 houses
IN ITS continued effort and commitment to address basic human needs and help alleviate poverty in Guyana, Food For the Poor (Guyana) Inc has announced that it will be spending some $350M to build 500 houses across Guyana this year to be given free of cost to poor and needy families.

Since its birth in Guyana in 1991, Food for the Poor said it has been at the forefront of the fight to alleviate poverty and suffering in Guyana, and has changed and adopted according to the needs of the poor and needy.

In a statement, the organization said it is due to the dire need for housing that it began its housing project in April 2004, and by December 2006, 473 homes were built for poor families across Guyana.

Houses, it said, were built on the East Coast Demerara; Sophia, Georgetown; West Coast Demerara; West Bank Demerara; West Coast Berbice; Wakenaam; Corriverton; the Essequibo Coast; St. Cuthbert’s Mission and Mabaruma.

Food For the Poor said it is hoping to complete building the houses by December 31, 2007.

T&T drops charges against Chief Justice
TRINIDAD GUARDIAN – In a shock move, Trinidad and Tobago’s prosecution yesterday afternoon dropped the charges against T&T’s Chief Justice Satnarine Sharma.

Sharma had been charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice in the State’s case against former Prime Minister Basdeo Panday, who was convicted of failure to disclose a London account on three consecutive years.

The Government’s case against the Chief Justice is believed to be unprecedented in the Commonwealth and has divided opinion in the country’s legal fraternity and in the population at large.

The State’s case against Sharma hinged on the evidence of the country’s Chief Magistrate Sherman McNichols, who was about to be sworn in when the prosecutor, Gilbert Petersen, SC, said: “Because of the position indicated by the witness, we will not be proceeding further with this prosecution.”

Only last week, it was revealed that the State had given consideration to starting new impeachment proceedings against Sharma relating to the Panday case.

Children complete heart surgeries in India
FIRST Lady Varshnie Jagdeo has reported from India that the latest group of children flown there for heart surgery have had successful operations and are doing well.

She said they are due to leave India around March 15 for the United Kingdom and are booked to fly from London for home on March 20.

She said families of the children can call the Frontier Lifeline Hospital on telephone 91 44 420 17575 to enquire about them.

This latest group to go to India is part of the work of the Kids First Fund's Heart 2 Heart programme which started in September 2005.

A fundraiser for the Kids First Fund is due to be held at the Guyana High Commission in London from 1 p.m. on March 18.

Mrs. Jagdeo said anyone wanting to contribute can contact the Guyana High Commission (Ms. Browne) 0207 229 7684 or Kieran 07956 530 474.

Manning to meet Chavez March 20
TRINIDAD and Tobago’s Prime Minister Patrick Manning feels his country and Venezuela can meet the energy requirements of the region and he is to meet Venezuela President Hugo Chavez on related talks on March 20.

He also said here last week that should Venezuelan crude be processed at the Petrotrin refinery in Point-a-Pierre, Trinidad, the traditional supplier of oil to the region, the integrity of that system would be maintained.

Manning was speaking to reporters Saturday as he was about to depart the Guyana International Conference Centre, Turkeyen, East Coast Demerara, the venue of the just-concluded 19th Rio Group Summit. He was a special invitee to the historic summit of the group with Guyana becoming the first English-speaking country hosting such a conference.

Trinidad and Tobago is yet to sign on to the June 29, 2005 PetroCaribe Agreement reached at Puerto la Cruz, Venezuela, and which aims to integrate the energy sectors of Venezuela and Caribbean countries, including Cuba. The arrangement also covers the Dominican Republic.

PetroCaribe would be responsible for coordinating and managing all issues associated with the energy-related links between the signatory countries in accordance with the agreement.

The agreement stipulates those buying must pay market prices for Venezuelan oil but they could pay a portion up front and finance the rest over 25 years at low interest rates.

It includes too, an Alba Caribe Fund for which contributions are being drawn from the financed portion of oil invoicing and the savings from direct trade. Venezuela has pledged an initial amount of US$50 million to activate the fund.

Trinidad, prior to the PetroCaribe agreement, was the leading supplier of oil and petroleum products to CARICOM countries, but this position could be overtaken with this new oil deal in place.

A March 20 visit by Manning to Venezuela, at the request of Chavez, is an ideal opportunity for the two countries to discuss and resolve the differences that exist between them regarding the energy issue, the Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister said.

“The stage is set for discussions on how we monitor the gas on both sides and the question of satisfying the requirements of Jamaica, Mexico, Brazil. Panama has raised a question on that matter.”

Manning said if Venezuelan crude is processed at the Point-a-Pierre refinery, Trinidad would still have access to all the Caribbean markets and therefore be able to guarantee them energy security.

"If we don't supply the region then we can't guarantee the security. There is the requirement for energy in the region that can be satisfied by Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela together," he added.

Guyanese pilot miraculously survives plane crash in St Vincent
(Special to the Guyana Chronicle)
IN WHAT observers call a miraculous escape, Guyanese-Barbadian Anil Ramlochan narrowly escaped death when a small single engine plane he was piloting crashed Saturday morning at Ebenezer Joshua Airport in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Also surviving the incident was Barbadian co-pilot Andrew Lythcott and two female passengers. Incredibly, they walked away from the overturned plane but afterwards received medical attention from the hospital in the island’s capital Kingstown. St Vincent and the Grenadines lies 100 miles west of Barbados.

Ramlochan, 34, was at the controls of the Cessna 172 going in to land when, apparently, it got hit by a strong cross wind and a wing clipped a fence bordering the runway and the Arnos Vale Cricketing Complex where the Australian team in the Cricket World Cup tournament was practicing.

The privately-owned plane flipped over and ended up in the bed of a nearby shallow river. Those inside then climbed out. A photo of the downed aircraft showed the front wheel sheared off, the fuselage crumpled and the wings damaged.

Guyana Honorary Consul in Barbados, Norman Faria, said he was in contact with the family whom he knows.

“Anil came back to Barbados the same Saturday afternoon and everybody is thankful that all on the aircraft survived. Things could have been worse. I understand the family is having a thanksgiving get together tonight (Monday night) and from what I gather Anil will continue with his flying career,” said Consul Faria.

The crash is to be investigated by the Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority.

St Vincent and the Grenadines is about to start building an international airport on the south of the island. Aside from being able to accommodate larger aircraft, it would also be easier for pilots to land on compared to the facility at Arnos Vale which is often buffeted by cross winds from the surrounding hills.

On November 13 last year, Guyana-born Dominic Gonsalves was piloting a SVG Air Aero Commander 500 when it plunged from the air while approaching mainland St Vincent after takeoff from the outlying Grenadines island of Canouan, thirteen minutes flying time away.

Authorities in St Vincent have announced that Gonsalves and passenger Rasheed Ibrahim can now be presumed dead.

Donation for Uncle Eddie’s Home
UNCLE Eddie’s Home in Georgetown, which caters for elderly destitute persons, has been given a US$2,000 boost by United States based Guyanese, Dr. Margaret Thompson.

Dr. Thompson, who has over the years also been a regular contributor to the development of the Hopetown community in West Coast Berbice, has decided to extend a helping hand to the Uncle Eddie’s Home.

In photo, Matron of Uncle Eddie’s Home, Ms. Rita McEwan collects an envelope with the cash from Professor and Senior Counsel Peter Britton, a close friend of Thompson. The presentation took place last Wednesday and was witnessed by several inmates at the home.

Health fair at Thirst Park tomorrow
BANKS DIH Limited in collaboration with Project Dawn will be holding a health fair tomorrow from 09:00h to 17:00h on the lawns of its Thirst Park complex, Greater Georgetown.

Persons can attend for free consultation on hypertension, nutrition, oral and dental hygiene, home and public health and diabetes, the company said.

20,000 CARICOM visas issued ahead of CWC
MORE than 20,000 CARICOM Special Visas have been issued since the community’s new visa system was launched on February 1 as part of the security arrangements for the Cricket World Cup (CWC) 2007.

The CARICOM (Caribbean Community) Secretariat said the visas have been issued to people across the world.

The CARICOM Special Visa system is aimed at facilitating movement within a “Single Domestic Space”, established among the nine CWC host countries and Dominica, without compromising the security of citizens and visitors to the Caribbean region.

“Cricket World Cup 2007 has provided us with our first opportunity to regulate collectively the movement of people in and out of our Single Domestic Space,” said Commander Louis Baptiste, who heads the Joint Regional Communication Centre (JRCC) in Barbados. “It’s part of an unprecedented security operation to promote a safe environment for people attending the tournament.”

The JRCC, the secretariat said, has been working closely with a number of agencies offering technical support, member states of CARICOM, Interpol and other international law enforcement agencies, all sharing information as part of security arrangements ahead of the tournament.

It said background checks are daily carried out on applicants for the CARICOM Special Visas and there are additional security checks on the validity of travel documents presented.

As part of its remit, the JRCC is also responsible for vetting the Advance Passenger Information (API) submitted by all air and sea craft, entering or departing the Single Domestic Space, under new legislation passed by the 10 CARICOM countries, the secretariat said.

ACP, EU conclude bilateral meetings
MINISTERS from the six African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) regions last week met European Union Commissioners Peter Mandelson and Louis Michel in Brussels, Belgium to conclude a recent string of bilateral meetings between the ACP regions and the EU.

A statement from the European Commission (EC) office in Georgetown, said the meeting last Thursday in Brussels focused on the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) negotiations between the EU and the six regional blocks of the ACP, of which Guyana is a member.

The last month has seen a series of bilateral ministerial meetings between the EU and Western Africa (February 5), Central Africa (February 6), Eastern and Southern Africa (February 28) and the Pacific (March 1).

“The EU and these regions have agreed on the overriding importance of shaping the EPAs into trade and development agreements that boost and diversify ACP economies,” the statement said.

“They also agreed the importance of reaching agreement on the text of new agreements ready for the beginning of 2008, when the WTO (World Trade Organisation) waiver protecting existing arrangements, will expire,” it said. 

The EU and these regions also agreed on the importance of the widest possible market access to the European market for ACP regions, adding to the 97% duty free or reduced-duty access already granted by the EU.

The EU and these regions have also agreed on the importance of ensuring that substantial financial resources are made available to assist in the implementation of the EPAs, both from the European Union and individual Member States.

The EPAs are the trade and development agreements that the EU is negotiating with the six ACP regions. They will replace the trade chapters of the 2000 Cotonou Agreement between the EU and the ACP countries. The exception of these chapters from WTO law will expire in 2008, requiring both parties to have put in place a WTO-compatible alternative.

The EU has committed to ensuring that the EPAs will guarantee both the development focus and the preferential trading terms currently enjoyed by ACP countries, while complying with WTO obligations.

The EU is conducting parallel negotiations with six ACP regions: the Caribbean (including Guyana); West Africa; East and Southern Africa, Central Africa, Southern Africa and the Pacific.

The EPAs are aimed at enhancing trade between the EU and the ACP regions only after transition periods of up to a decade or more and will maintain exceptions that reflect particular needs.

‘GUYANA, ENJOY DE MIX’ due for CWC
A NEW visitor’s handbook, ‘GUYANA, ENJOY DE MIX’, is due out in time for Cricket World Cup here, according to the publisher.

Ms. Valerie Garrido-Lowe, Managing Director of Kalodion Advertising, said it is a 4.5 inches by 6 inches visitors handbook with a high-gloss cover and 160 gloss-coated inside pages.

“Exceptional and amazing design and layout from cover to cover created to lure and captivate readers of all ages will be featuring hotels, restaurants, sports bars, night clubs, resorts, tour packages, shopping, art and craft, sightseeing, massages and much more - all the must see, must do activities and spots in Guyana”, she said.

The handbook will be distributed freely at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri, at hotels, restaurants and resorts and will be an annual publication, she added.

Firms, Garrido-Lowe said, can advertise on the back cover, inside back cover, inside front cover or on the regular inside pages.

They can also advertise on more than one page.

Those wanting to advertise can call 223-1478, 661-2665 or Sales Representative, Charlene James on 645-4284.
They can also email at kalodion.advertising@gmail.com.

Technology
IN THE U.S., a small controversy is brewing over the use of a new security device.

Developed over a decade ago for use in America’s prison system, the backscatter has been touted to replace metal detectors and x-ray scanning machines at airport security checkpoints.

“They can scan your whole surface,” says one article on the popular online magazine, Slate.com, “locating and identifying anything of unusual density — not just metals, which have high atomic numbers, but drugs and explosives, which have low ones.”

An image accompanying another article shows what looks like a film negative of a shot of a naked woman. The picture is in fact a backscatter image of one of the executives of the company who developed the machine – she was fully clothed at the time the image was taken.

We are in an age where computers have a hand in running virtually every facet of human existence, from travel to food, and especially how we communicate with each other. Just when we think that we have reached the zenith in what is possible in one area, some new innovation comes around and shifts the boundary a bit further back.

The latest model phones available in Guyana today, for example, can record and store pictures, sounds and moving images. They can surf the Internet, read and send e-mail, and download content. The patented Bluetooth technology enables two or more phones within a certain radius to wirelessly transfer files to each other.

However, if modern technology continues to excite us, it no longer has the power to makes us feel overwhelmed. We are ecstatic at the great quality of the pictures which our new digital camera takes, but there is no longer any wonder and awe about the fact that no film whatsoever is involved in the capturing of those Kodak moments.

It is a definite plus that our new laptop computer has a DVD burner and a wireless LAN card, but the novelty of both digital video and high-speed Internet has worn off a few years ago.

This familiarity, however, is not a universal phenomenon. The homogeneity of the elite does not automatically translate into a parallel homogeneity of the masses.

Even as the technological forerunners of the world begin to morph into virtually the same being – linked together by blogs and wireless internet and smart phones – those less technologically advanced continue to be left out of the loop.

The problem with this brave new world of ours is that the unintegrated ‘savage’ does not belong to some remote and obscure minority but rather makes up the vast majority. If there has been any democratisation of technology in the past few years, it has arguably been driven more by the profit motive than anything else.

The already tiny and decreasing upper class will only take so much of a particular item before either their interest or the market is saturated.

As awesome as the New Age appears to be, the real revolution in science and technology is going to take place when innovation is driven not simply to satisfy the pleasures and sate the insecurity of the world’s wealthiest, but to address the needs of those who make each new leap in technology a sustainable one.

Perspectives
The visionary Cheddi Jagan
By Prem Misir
TODAY marks the 10th death anniversary of former President Dr. Cheddi Jagan.

But this is not the time to lament his death; this is a time to celebrate his vision, the vision he had for this country, and, indeed, the world.

And history will remember Cheddi Jagan as a world leader who struggled for social progress among the dispossessed and the disadvantaged; who vigorously implanted progressive political thought; who was a resolute builder of political movements; who forged the political-labour nexus; who was an unwavering Caribbean integrationist; who was a true internationalist in his unrelenting promulgation of the New Global Human Order (NGHO); and whose authentic local legacy has to be his tireless fight for national unity, working-class unity, and racial unity.

His ideas and his indefatigable promotion of these ideas have not only redefined the Caribbean, but have impacted the world of the poor. These writings and his grassroots work have a superlative nexus with current philosophical debates, particularly in the philosophy of history and the social and behavioural sciences coupled with moral and political philosophy.

This understanding of history sees economic, social, and political influences of human life as the most important factors shaping human experience, personality, ideas, and social arrangements.

And it is through this understanding of history that he was able to construct a proactive and empowering vision for this country.

Today, as I attempt to pen a few words on Dr. Jagan’s achievements, what really stares you in the face through his many writings is his profound sense of vision.

Dr. Jagan had this vision since about 1945 -- that colonialism, in order to be successful, had to subordinate to its interests, the critical institutions and processes of the colonized society.

And so the former President evolved as a tenacious fighter for Independence; and he is among the first few, if not the first, to have kicked off this struggle against colonial domination.

This novel idea of Independence emerged in 1945 in Dr. Jagan’s pamphlet titled `COOPERATIVE WAY’. Dr. Jagan said: “It therefore behoves the working class people to get control of government through their constitutional ballots in our forthcoming election, with a view towards complete independence. A free and independent Guiana can easily cooperate and eventually federate with her Latin neighbours, especially Brazil.”

We see his active vision at work, too, on April 3, 1962 during his Budget Speech. Dr. Jagan spoke about the dynamics of globalization, even though he did not use the actual term. He said: “…The fact is that we are living today in a world which has become closely knit together. We are not living in the days when communications were difficult, when countries were more or less economically content. We are living today when international trusts, combines and cartels are devouring the world; the big giants are swallowing up the little giants, the sharks eating up the sardines...”

He warned then of the dangers of globalization, echoing the West’s domineering stand in relation to the developing world. And within the same sentiments as former Indian Prime Minister Dr. Gujral would later aptly say: “my globalization is good for you but yours is not good for me.”

But Dr. Jagan’s vision shows his mastery at work in countering this inhuman globalization as far back as 1945, and making the case for the New Global Human Order (NGHO). The NGHO would empower people so that they would not be cowed down by the dynamics of a callous globalization; the people would be in the forefront applying the tools of internationalism to their advantage, creating a niche for themselves in this global economy.

The NGHO represents a remarkable vision not only for Guyana but for all countries.

And he expressed, too, his vision for developing a cultural mosaic in this multiethnic society. Jagan points to the utility value of cultural differentiation in the pursuit of national unity. Jagan noted that race was never a serious problem in Guyana. He believed that the problem was one of class.

The early division of labour produced and reproduced racial antagonism and cultural loss to divide and exploit the working class. In fact, Indians as indentureds were then perceived as outcasts, culturally different, and economically subservient.

The 1928-53 years struck a blow to Guyanese unity through the British divide-and-rule techniques, with accompanying racial alignments and divisions. In the early 1920s, there was no Indian public servant higher than a Third Class Clerkship. In 1931, Indians only held 8 per cent of the public service positions when they comprised 42 per cent of the population. And in the 1960s, Burnham’s defeat at successive elections produced a greater emphasis on African-race consciousness, a unified African front, with Indians as the common enemy.

Clearly, Jagan found that ethnic relations in colonial Guyana were acrimonious to promoting cultural identity; an acrimony not primordial to Indians and Africans, but constructed and manipulated by politicians.

Here, too, political institutionalization of each ethnic group’s culture may dissipate the emotive language of race and race conflict and contribute to national unity. In this sense, Jagan really advanced the case for apportioning political space to all cultures in the drive toward national unity.

And so there is no question that former President Dr. Jagan’s authentic legacy has to be his vision and tireless fight for national unity, working-class unity, and racial unity.

`Boom Boom’ box race
WE HAVE witnessed the passing of the budget, the Rio Summit, and soon we will be witnessing Cricket World Cup matches.

But I want to bring to the attention of the President, the Home Affairs Minister and those in authority a matter that is frequently in all newspapers and media.

That is noise nuisance [loud music] in communities.

We were told that this matter will be taken to parliament; we are in the third month of the new year -- when will this happen? Or will it ever happen?

I live in Peter’s Hall, East Bank Demerara and have  two neighbours who ignore all concerns of the citizens in our street.

Every weekend they `race’ with there `boom boom’ boxes, playing them to the maximum volume. Others in their houses cannot be at ease.

Please -- is there someone with a heart? If so, please do something.

The Minister of Health has said listening to sound above 90 decibel can cause you to become deaf!
Does anyone care?
AFFECTED CITIZEN

Same old square buildings
I AM pleased to see the type of investment by Republic Bank in Guyana, although I’m wondering if the architect could not have come up with another architectural masterpiece, than the same old square buildings that we are accustomed to.
COLIN ARTHUR

Allow better sighting for drivers
THE accident as reported in your paper Friday should let the authorities responsible for traffic modify the intersection for traffic.

The concrete barriers (rails) along New Garden Street should be removed and replaced with something that allows better sighting for drivers. 

On the note of the authorities responsible for traffic in Guyana, the Police Department should take itself away from this area of work because traffic is an engineering issue and should be handled by Transportation Engineers.
SURENDRA SINGH

Hail South American cooperation
GUYANA’S hosting of the Rio Summit should be taken as affirmation of our recognition of our place on the South American continent.

I hope that one of the post-summit goals will education of Guyanese about the culture etc., of the countries in this group.

Here in Guyana we know a lot about countries that are north and east of us but not of those that are in our backyard.

Please, let us hear the music and see the movies.

And the fact that they speak Spanish and Portuguese should be no deterrent.

In Guyana we are very competent in viewing foreign language films with English sub-titles.

For a start, we can solicit help from the Brazilian Cultural Centre; they have an excellent collection of films and documentaries that they show to the public.

Let us hail South American cooperation.
LORNA MCPHERSON

Expected lower Digicel rates
I WELCOME Digicel to Guyana and wish them all the success.

We really needed cellular competition in Guyana and already we are seeing cell phone prices falling at an unbelievable rate.

However, I am disappointed with Digicel’s post & pre paid rates.

I expected cheaper rates, especially since the PUC had set a floor and ceiling rate from $7 to $32 per minute.

I must remind your readers that Umobile’s lowest rate was $15 and you saved 50% calling any 3 numbers on the Umobile network.

While Digicel may boast of being the best network and have the best customer care in Guyana, it’s not enough to make the average Guyanese switch to the Digicel network.
NOT SATISFIED 

Poor record keeping
IF THE Ministry of Education is to survive the 21st century challenges as a nation's foremost entity to mould the youths and 'Touch Their Future,' they must start inculcation and practising excellent record-management.

If one is to analyse the Ministry of Education's record system at the school level, regional level and central level, it is a national disgrace. Many of their sub-systems can be best described as dysfunctional and the officers supervising these systems care less and/or do not possess the skills to manage the ministry's records.

In addition to this known management deficiency, teachers within the system are partly responsible for this quagmire. Take, for example, some publicly-owned secondary schools in this country maintain inadequate record systems. A recent incident enlightened me to this horrendous state of affairs.

One recently applied for a known secondary school in northern Georgetown but could not have detailed information included in the document. When enquiring why the document was incomplete, I was told that the student, perhaps, did not complete the tenure of the student's school-years. Upon enquiring, the student was able to prove the school attendance by producing reports for all five years at that institution.

When this was conveyed, the following possible were given:

a) it was the teacher at the time who failed to record the information on the student's record sheet that normally possesses the bio-data

b) documents may have been displaced due to larceny

c) documents may have been damaged due to the floods

d) documents may have been mis-filed or misplaced and could not be located systematically though they might be in the school

In this modern era of information, how can schools not preserve, protect and properly organise data on past and current students since these are vital for students and alumni to use to advance their educational and employment status locally and overseas?

The Ministry of Education, through the Head teachers, should insist and punish teachers severely when they fail to complete students' records. They should be summarily dismissed and criminal charges brought against them because, indirectly, they are damaging lives. These are the teachers, who collect salary every month, under false pretence and failing to carry out duties for which they are paid.

The Ministry of Education should have a systematic mechanism whereby they should have a central data base to cater for failure of data collection and processing at the school level. Head teachers should insist that teachers should complete their records every term or their salaries and other benefits should be withheld.

The Ministry of Education should make an organisation resolution to start to keep proper records in a way that will benefit all. This is not a mammoth task since the Roman Catholic Church is considered to be one of the best entities in the world in record-keeping, even manually, and it is now being transformed in the digital era of Information Technology. Guyana should, therefore, take a page from the Universal Church and get its act together.

If this in not done as a matter of priority, Guyana will continue to be one of the most backward nations in the Western Hemisphere where academic record keeping is concerned.
LLOYD A. KING

Next Level basketball…
Pacesetters dethrone Kings
PACESETTERS dethroned Kashif & Shanghai Kings with an overtime win in the final of the Next Level Entertainment (NLE) nationwide club basketball competition and pocketed $250 000 on Sunday night at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

Third place in the competition went to the much improved Nets who defeated Beepats’ Scorpions earlier in the night.

Pacesetters can now consider themselves undisputed club champions of Guyana having won the Georgetown league championship earlier this year and now this national championship.

In the final, they dominated most of the game, with their big three (Royston Siland, Stephan Gillis and Naylon Loncke) taking control and leading them to victory at 74-69.

Gillis who had struggled somewhat over the last few games was on fire. He drilled five three-pointers (5-8 from the field) and scored some clutch baskets to finish with a game-high 24 points.

The three-point shooting was not confined to the Georgetown player as Marvin Hartman from Kings also shot five three-pointers (5-12 from the field), with two of them bringing his team back into the game in the late third quarter.

Despite Pacesetters leading at the first three quarters, Kings had a chance to steal a victory in the last minute of regulation time.

Pacesetters were ahead by a point, with seconds left on the board and a steal resulted in Kings’ guard Abdullah Hamid reaching the foul line. He scored the first shot to tie the game at 65, but missed the second, sending the game into overtime.

In overtime, forward Loncke and guard Devon Cameron led the attack for the eventual winners.

Gillis also grabbed five rebounds. Royston Siland scored 16 points, while he pulled down 15 rebounds and made three blocked shots and four steals, Loncke scored 17 points, grabbed four rebounds and four steals, and Cameron scored eight points and made four steals.

Hartman hit 21 points, while he collected five rebounds, four assists and five steals. Centre Jason Alonzo finished with a double-double - 16 points and 19 rebounds. The centre showed his dominance with four blocked shots.

Another ‘big man’ for the Linden side, Alwayne Wilson finished with a double-double - 13 points and 15 rebounds. Hamid added nine points, three rebounds and three assists.

Polish government backs down in battle with FIFA
By Sam Harcourt
WARSAW, Poland (Reuters) - Poland and FIFA came to a deal, yesterday, that ends the threat of the country's national team being banned from the European Championship qualifiers.

Soccer's world governing body had threatened to ban the national team and Polish clubs from international matches unless the government reversed its decision in January to suspend the FA's board, taken in the midst of a corruption scandal that has implicated more than 70 officials.

But the sports ministry, yesterday, reinstated the board, and FIFA chief Sepp Blatter and Polish President Lech Kaczynski told a joint news conference that the two sides had reached a compromise.

"Poland ... has regained the full confidence and rights of the FIFA family," Blatter said.

Under the compromise a joint commission of UEFA, FIFA and government representatives will oversee the calling of a special congress of the football association's members to elect new management.

"There are no victors here, everyone has won," reinstated FA chief Michal Listkiewicz told news channel TVN 24.

"My first decision (after reinstatement) is to summon the first board meeting and this meeting will aim to call a congress, for sure in the first half of April."

The Ukrainian Soccer Federation had accused Polish Sports Minister Tomasz Lipiec of undermining a joint bid by the two countries to host the Euro 2012 finals by refusing to back down in the row.

The joint Ukraine-Poland bid is one of three being considered by UEFA along with a solo bid by Italy and a joint bid from Croatia and Hungary. The winner will be announced by UEFA's 15-man executive committee on April 18.

In the 2008 European Championship qualifiers, Poland are one point behind leaders Finland in Group A.

Patriarchs rebound to draw with Bald Heads
… Another clash in train
RASTAFARIAN Patriarchs came from two-nil down to earn a two-all draw against the Bald Heads, in a keenly contested Masters’ clash in wet and soggy conditions at the GFC ground on Sunday night.

The game proved to be very competitive as even the penalty kicks drew even at 4-4 forcing promoters, I-Movement Promotions, to split the prize money and to organise a new match for March 24.

Watched by a mere handful of spectators who braved the weather, both sides came out attacking as they rolled back the years, matching skill for skill. But it was the Bald Heads who broke the deadlock in the 12th minute, when captain Terrence Archer, who found the back of the net, cashed in on a missed clearance by stand-in goalkeeper Sean Jacobs.

Within eight minutes it was 2-0 as former striker Stanford Miller, who was given room just at the top of the box, fired in a low right-booter to the keeper’s left.

Suddenly the dreadlocked men came to life and the game was truly on with both sides attacking each other’s goal, but solid defence at both ends kept the score 2-0 in favour of Bald Heads until five minutes from halftime. A left-side corner kick taken by left fullback Terry Frank was back-headed by former national striker Orin Agard to reduce the lead to 2-1 at the break.

On the resumption both sides made several changes, but it was the Rastas who were the aggressors. Fifteen minutes from fulltime right fullback Derrick Gritten produced the equaliser with a perfectly executed right-booter from just outside the area that went into the ‘V’ of the far post.

Both teams followed the rules and the referees had no need to show any cards.

In the opener a Georgetown female team defeated a Rest side made up of players from East Coast Demerara and East Bank Demerara 3-0, to take the Ah Sports Trophy.

Also, on the receiving end was Seaton Floris of the Bald Heads who won the Swiss House Trophy for being the oldest player while the Patriarchs captain Vibert Butts was adjudged the Banks DIH MVP of the game.

Fernandes stays at 28th in world rankings
LONDON, England - CMC - Nicolette Fernandes, Guyana’s Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games women’s squash champion, has kept her No.28 world ranking this month.

The latest Women's International Squash Players Association (WISPA) ratings for March show no change for Fernandes to the all-time high 28th rating she held last month.

This is the third month in a row that Fernandes is securing the No.28 position in the world rankings.

Named Guyana’s 2006 Sportswoman-of-the-Year, as she was for 2005, Fernandes has had two unsuccessful outings in January in the USA – in Connecticut and Dayton.

At the Harrow Greenwich Open in Connecticut, the 23-year-old Caribbean champion was eliminated at the qualifying stage.

She easily won her opening qualifier against Canada’s Neha Kumar but lost in the final round of qualifying to England’s Dominique Lloyd-Walter and failed to get into the main draw.

Fernandes was seeded sixth for the Dayton Open in late January and made a first-round exit when she lost 3-1 to Joshna Chinappa, of India.

Malaysia’s Nicole David retains her grip on the top position for the eighth month in a row, while rising Australian Natalie Grinham stays at a career-best No.2 world ranking.

England’s Tania Bailey, Vicky Botwright and Laura-Jane Lengthorn have made upward movements.

Bailey is up one place to No.4, Botwright climbs two places to fifth and Lengthorn enters the Top-10 at No.10.

Fernandes, who won the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games gold medal in Colombia last July, was named the most improved women’s player for 2006 at the World Squash Awards at the RAC Club in Pall Mall, London in late December.

Also runner-up at the Pan-American Championship in Colombia, in September, Fernandes gained steadily in the rankings during the past year.

Egypt’s Omneya Abdel Kawy moved up two places from No.9 to seventh.

WISPA March Ratings:

1. Nicol David (MAS)

2. Natalie Grinham (AUS)

3. Rachael Grinham (AUS)

4. Tania Bailey (ENG)

5. Vicky Botwright (ENG)

6. Natalie Grainger (USA)

7. Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY)

8. Vanessa Atkinson (NED)

9. Madeline Perry (IRL)

10. Laura-Jane Lengthorn (ENG)

28th Nicolette Fernandes (GUY)

McKay dominates Cumberbatch Memorial cycling
COMMONWEALTH Games cyclist Warren McKay was the top rider in the George Cumberbatch Memorial cycling meet at the National Park, yesterday, organised by Roraima Bikers Club and sponsored by George Humphrey and Clifford Johnson.

McKay won the Category 1&2 race over ten laps, setting the stage to take the 30-lap feature in one hour 11 minutes 36 seconds, along with ten sprint prizes.

Junior Niles claimed the second place in the ten-lapper and John Charles was third.

In the feature race, Robin Persaud was second with one sprint prize, Leer Nunes third and Alonzo Greaves fourth. Charles got one sprint prize.

Greaves won the Category 3&4 race over ten laps, with Persaud finishing second and Shane Boodram third.

In the Juveniles ten-lap race, Daniel Ramchurajee was first, Christopher Holder second, Geron Williams third and Andy Singh fourth.

Wife of the late George Cumberbatch, Emily Cumberbatch, and son Delon presented the prizes.

THE winner: Emily Cumberbatch presents the top prize to Warren McKay.
Toppin is new Barbados cricket chief
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados CMC – Dr Roland Toppin, who withdrew from his selection as the new chief executive officer (CEO) of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), has now been appointed CEO of the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA).

Toppin’s BCA appointment took effect from March 1, filling the position last held by Ricky Craig, in October 2005.

Toppin had been earmarked to assume the role of WICB chief executive on February 1, but the WICB announced in mid-January that he was unable to take up the job for “personal reasons”.

Samuels blasts ton in Windies win
DANIEL TOWN, Jamaica CMC – Marlon Samuels hit an attractive hundred and West Indies completed a 21-run victory over Kenya in their Cricket World Cup 2007 warm-up match, yesterday.

Samuels scored exactly 100 and then retired out, as West Indies, choosing to bat, reached 268 for six from their 50 overs on a hard, true Trelawny Multi-Purpose Stadium pitch.

Chris Gayle supported with 75 and added 70 for the third wicket with Samuels to give backbone to the West Indies’ total.

Chasing 269 to win, Kenya would have been satisfied with their response of 247 for seven from their 50 overs.

Collins Obuya, batting at seven, top-scored with an unbeaten 54 off 68 balls that included two boundaries.

Daren Powell, Corey Collymore, and Kieron Pollard all captured two wickets in a steady, if not devastating West Indies bowling performance.

A small crowd was treated to a silky batting display from Samuels, whose innings lasted 115 balls and was adorned by seven fours and two sixes.

He had come to the wicket with West Indies 61 for two in the 16th over, and scratched around before he blossomed to bring the vocal crowd to its feet with some well-timed strokes either side of the wicket.

West Indies were set back when Shivnarine Chanderpaul was caught at second slip for a duck in the third over of the day off Thomas Odoyo, but Gayle and Devon Smith consolidated in a 58-run, second wicket stand.

Smith was caught at mid-on to pair Samuels with close friend and compatriot Gayle and the two took control of the Kenyan attack.

Gayle was within reach of a hundred of his own, when he was bowled essaying a reverse sweep in the 31st over.

Ramnaresh Sarwan, playing his first international match in three months, did not look too rusty, but he drove Hiren Varaiya into the lap of cover in the 41st over to leave West Indies on 179 for four.

This was the signal for Samuels to cut loose and he marauded the Kenyan attack taking 16 from one over bowled by Peter Ongondo.

He reached his milestone, when he guided Lameck Onyango to third man for a single and trekked off the field to allow Kieron Pollard and Dwayne Smith to carry West Indies the rest of the way.

Kenya started slowly too, losing David Obuya in the third over caught at first slip off Powell, who also removed Maurice Ouma for 10 in similar fashion in the 11th over.

Kenya continued to bleed wickets with Collymore picking up Malhar Patel in the 15th over and Ravindu Shah in the 23rd to leave the visitors on 93 for four.

Pollard showed his all-round ability, when he came into the attack and collected the scalps of Kenya captain Steve Tikolo for 34 in the 30th over and Tanmay Mishra for 22 in the 35th over.

Though Collins Obuya and Thomas Odoyo put on 55 for the seventh wicket, there was never going to be any doubt about he result, although some slackness creept into the West Indies’ fielding, and this made the match much closer.

Today, India will feature in the second warm-up match at Trelawny, when they face lightweights Netherlands.

WEST INDIES (50 overs maximum)

C. Gayle b Varaiya 75

S. Chanderpaul c Tikolo b Odoyo 0

D.S. Smith c Ongondo b Bhudiya 14

M. Samuels retired out 100

R. Sarwan c Suji b Varaiya 27

D.R. Smith not out 22

K. Pollard c wkpr Ouma b Odoyo 14

Extras: (lb-4, w-12) 16

Total: (6 wkts, 50 overs) 268

Fall of wickets: 1-3, 2-61, 3-131, 4-179, 5-246, 6-269.

Bowling: Odoyo 6-1-26-2, Ongondo 9-1-44-0, Onyango 10-1-64-0, Bhudiya 5-0-30-1, Tikolo 10-1-47-0, Varaiya 10-0-53-2.

KENYA (target: 269 off 50 overs)

M. Ouma c Gayle b Powell 9

D. Obuya c Gayle b Powell 7

R. Shah c Powell b Collymore 39

M. Patel b Collymore 12

S. Tikolo lbw b Pollard 34

T. Mishra b Pollard 22

C. Obuya not out 54

T. Odoyo c Powell b Samuels 27

T. Suji not out 16

Extras: (lb-9, w-15, nb-3) 27

Total: (7 wkts, 50 overs) 247

Fall of wickets: 1-13, 2-40, 3-58, 4-93, 5-130, 6-156, 7-211.

Bowling: Powell 6-0-23-2, Bradshaw 8-0-32-0, Collymore 8-0-42-2, Taylor 9-0-34-0, D.R. Smith 6-0-35-0, Pollard 8-0-56-2, Samuels 5-0-16-1.

Result: West Indies won by 21 runs.

Toss: West Indies

Efficient Sri Lanka punish Scotland
CAVE HILL, Barbados CMC – Former Cricket World Cup (CWC) champions Sri Lanka had a good day with both and ball to record a comfortable win by 159 runs over Scotland at the Three Ws Oval, yesterday.

The Sri Lankans never looked troubled as they rattled up an imposing 294 for seven off 50 overs and then the bowlers went to work, dismissing the Saltires for 135 in 41.2 overs.

The batting was led by veteran Sanath Jayasuriya, who excited the crowd of 1 000, with a breezy 70 with four fours and five sixes on a sunny day.

Jayasuriya, the hero of Sri Lanka’s 1996 World Cup triumph, added 117 for the first wicket with Upul Tharanga, who made 70 with four boundaries.

After this, left-hander Kumar Sangakarra top-scored with a breezy 81, with four fours and one six to push the target to just under six per over.

Jayasuriya started slowly but blossomed later in the innings. He hammered Scotland medium-pacer Craig Wright for 20 runs in his only over including two sixes over mid-wicket.

Sangakarra was mis-stumped by keeper Colin Smith off slow bowler Glenn Rogers.

After that, Sangakarra stepped up the pace and his last 50 runs came at better than a run-a-ball rate.

He added 54 for the sixth wicket with Farveez Maharoof, who made 28 off 14 balls with two massive straight sixes.

After the game, skipper Mahela Jayawardene said he was satisfied with the result, but felt they can still raise the bar.

“We had a great day out and we are pleased with the result at the end of the day,” he said.

“We still can get better and we will be working on our intensity. There were times today when we slackened off a bit, so we know what we have to do come Friday.”

The Sri Lankans will face New Zealand at the same venue on Friday before they go to Trinidad for Group B CWC matches alongside India, Bermuda and Bangladesh.

Scotland skipper Wright summed up the game as “a great learning experience” and said his boys would come back stronger in the other matches.

He praised seamers John Blain, who took two for 51, and Dougie Brown (two for 52) for their discipline and smart use of the slower ball.

He also noted that left-hander Gavin Hamilton played well for his 25 off 59, managing to keep out ace spinner Muttiah Muralitharan.

SRI LANKA innings
S. Jayasuriya c Wright b Brown 77

U. Tharanga c Poonia b Blain 70

M. Jayawardene stp. Smith b Rogers 8

K. Sangakkara c Wright b Brown 81

C. Silva c wkp. Smith b Blain 1

T. Dilshan c McCallam b Haq 6

F. Maharoof c McCallam b Hoffman 28

R. Arnold not out 3

C. Vaas not out 1

Extras: (b-2, lb-8, nb-3, w-6) 19

Total: (for 7 wkts, 50 overs) 294

Fall of wickets: 1-117, 2-128, 3-203, 4-217, 5-228, 6-282, 7-292.

Bowling: Hoffman 10-1-41-1 (nb-1), Blain 9-1-51-2 (nb-1), Nel 4-0-34-0 (w-1), Wright 1-0-20-0, Brown 8-0-52-2 (w-1), Rogers 10-0-45-1 (nb-1, w-1), Majid Haq 8-0-41-1 (w-3).

SCOTLAND (target 295 runs)

F. Watts lbw b Vaas 13

M. Haq b Vaas 14

N. Poonia lbw Malinga 0

R. Watson c Arnold b Maharoof 17

G. Hamilton c Arnold b Jayasuriya 25

N. McCallum c sub. (Bandara) b Muralitharan 13

D. Brown c Silva b Jayasuriya 4

C. Smith c&b Dilshan 19

C. Wright not out 5

J. Blain c wkp. Sangakarra b Fernando 0

G. Rogers c Tharanga b Dilshan 1

Extras: (lb-5, w-13, nb-6) 24

Total: (all out, 41.2 overs) 135

Fall of wickets: 1-33, 2-35, 3-35, 4-67, 5-98, 6-102, 7-108, 8-129, 9-131.

Bowling: Vaas 6-0-23-2 (nb-3, w-5), Malinga 5-0-13-1, Maharoof 6-0-17-1, Fernando 7-1-26-1 (nb-3), Muralitharan 8-0-24-1 (w-5), Dilshan 4.2-1-8-2, Jayasuriya 5-0-19-2.

Result: Sri Lanka won by 159 runs

Umpires: Simon Taufel, Ian Howell.

Toss: Sri Lanka

World Cup warm-up…
South Africa overcome spirited Irish in warm-up
By Naz Yacoob
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad CMC – South Africa shrugged off a battling Ireland team to record an unconvincing 35-run victory as official warm-up matches for the 2007 Cricket World Cup (CWC) began, yesterday.

Chasing a gettable 193 to record an upset win against the World No.1 South Africans, the Irish team faltered at a crucial stage at the Sir Frank Worrell Grounds in St Augustine.

After looking well set in front of a fair-sized crowd at the newly refurbished venue in East Trinidad, the Irish team failed to deliver the knockout punch after going well at 139 for four to be dismissed for 157.

They lost their last six wickets for a mere 19 runs.

Only all-rounder Andre Botha with a workmanlike 40 off 59 balls, which included three fours, and opening batsman William Porterfield with 37 from 71 deliveries, which contained four fours, offered resistance against the Africans’ bowling attack.

Also making a useful contribution was Kevin O’Brien with 33 off 54 balls which included two fours.

The leading bowler for the South Africans was medium-pacer Charl Langeveldt, who broke the back of the Irish middle-order to end with four for 31. He was well supported by pacers Andrew Hall three for 26 and Andre Nel two for 38.

Earlier, South Africa won the toss and opted for first strike. They were indebted to a stubborn ninth wicket partnership of 85 from 133 balls by Hall and Robin Peterson (29) to reach their modest total. The pair took the score from the precarious position of 91 for eight to 176 before they were separated.

The innings eventually folded with the last ball of the 50th over. Hall was left unbeaten on 67, compiled in 125 minutes with six fours and one six.

Top bowlers for the Irish fighters were skipper Trent Johnston with four for 40 and Dave Langford-Smith (3-30). Botha also chipped in with two for 24.

South Africa opened with skipper Graeme Smith and Abraham de Villiers. The pair got off to a good start, taking five runs from the opening over bowled by Langford-Smith.

However, they lost both openers in quick succession, with Langford-Smith being the successful bowler. Working up a lively pace and extracting some bounce on a pitch which had a tinge of green on it, Langford-Smith had Smith (9) caught at the wicket by Niall O’Brien with the total on 11 in the third over.

Soon after in the seventh over, the hostile 30-year-old Langford-Smith bowled de Villiers (5) to leave the South Africans on 26 for two. All-rounder Jacques Kallis (12) and middle-order batsman Herschelle Gibbs (21) pushed the score to 42, before the Kallis became Langford-Smith’s third victim, when he had his stumps uprooted.

Langford-Smith ended his first spell with the handsome figures of three for 33 off eight overs.

Any sign of a lower-order recovery was quelled by Johnston, who, in a sustained spell of swing and pace bowling, reduced the South Africans to 66 for seven. The tall right-arm fast bowler accounted for Gibbs, Ashwell Prince (7), Shaun Pollock (1) and Loot Bosman (0).

The 32-year-old Johnston had a superb first spell of five overs, two maidens, 17 runs and four wickets.

Mark Boucher (14) and Hall added a further 25 runs for the eighth wicket, before wicketkeeper Boucher perished -- caught at short extra cover by Kevin O’Brien from the bowling of John Mooney to leave his team in tatters on 91 for eight, after 25 overs.

But thanks to Hall and Peterson, the South Africans enjoyed a late-order revival that set up the victory.
Today at the same venue, Pakistan and Canada will square-off in another warm-up match.

SOUTH AFRICA innings
A. de Villiers b Langford-Smith 5

G. Smith c wkp. N. O'Brien b Langford-Smith 9

J. Kallis b Langford-Smith 12

H. Gibbs b Johnston 21

A. Prince c Botha b Johnston 7

M. Boucher c K. O'Brien b J Mooney 14

S. Pollock c wkp. N O'Brien b Johnston 1

L. Bosman b Johnston 0

A. Hall not out 67

R. Peterson b Botha 29

R. Telemachus b Botha 10

Extras: (lb-4, nb-4, w-9) 17

Total: (all out, 50 overs) 192

Fall of wickets: 11-1, 26-2, 42-3, 57-4, 64-5, 66-6, 66-7, 91-8, 176-9.

Bowling: Langford-Smith 8-0-30-3 (nb-1, w-4), Rankin 5-0-22-0 (nb-1, w-1), Johnston 10-2-40-4 (w-3), Botha 9-2-24-2, P Mooney 3-0-10-0 (nb-2), J Mooney 4-0-15-1, McCallan 8-0-37-0 (w-1), O'Brien 3-0-10-0.

IRELAND innings (target 193)

J. Bray c wkp. Boucher b Nel 1

W. Porterfield c Smith b Telemachus 37

E. Morgan b Hall 14

N. O’Brien c wkp. Boucher b Hall 16

A. Botha c Boucher b Nel 40

K. O’Brien c Boucher b Langeveldt 33

K. McCallan b Langeveldt 3

T. Johnston b Hall 0

A. White lbw Langeveldt 0

J. Mooney not out 3

P. Mooney lbw Langeveldt 0

Extras: (lb-2, nb-5, w-3) 10

Total: (all out, 44.2 overs) 157

Fall of wickets: 1-1, 34-2, 69-3, 85-4, 139-5, 148-6, 149-7, 152-8, 157-9.

Bowling: Pollock 7-1-12-0, Nel 8-1-38-2 (nb-2, w-1), Hall 8-0-26-3 (nb-1, w-1), Langeveldt 8.2-0-31-4 (nb-2, w-1), Telemachus 6-0-14-1, Kallis 4-0-23-0, Peterson 3-0-11-0.

Result: South Africa win by 35 runs
Toss: South Africa

England trounce Bermuda in warm-up
By Mark Meadows
KINGSTOWN, St Vincent (Reuters) - Jon Lewis took three wickets to help England skittle out Bermuda for 45 to win by 241 runs in their first World Cup warm-up match, yesterday.

England used the 13-player-a-side format to employ all five of their pace bowlers and spinner Monty Panesar but their workout only lasted 22.2 overs because of the minor cricket nation's abject batting.

Lewis and James Anderson at least proved their fitness after picking up ankle and back injuries respectively during England's victorious tri-series campaign in Australia.

Lewis trapped Kwame Tucker lbw with his first ball, removed Clay Smith for nought and then bowled Saleem Mukuddem when the Bermudan left a straight delivery. Anderson bagged two for eight and Andrew Flintoff two for three off 2.2 overs.

Bermuda, who will be making their first appearance in a World Cup, started brightly with 21-stone Bermudan policeman Dwayne Leverock weighing in with the dismissals of Paul Collingwood and Kevin Pietersen in England's 286 for eight.

Jamie Dalrymple top-scored with 76 to steady the innings after England were 132 for five.

GOOD TOUCH
England captain Michael Vaughan, plagued by knee and hamstring problems, looked in good touch during his short innings of 18 but strapping was applied to his leg following his dismissal.

The 32-year-old, who has been working his way back to full fitness, took to the field, however, for a short spell and showed no discomfort before heading back to the dressing room.

As expected, England omitted out-of-form Andrew Strauss to accommodate the returning Pietersen at number four.

Big-hitter Pietersen, who broke his rib in the first tri-series match with Australia in January, was unusually reserved after some good bowling from 17-year-old Malachi Jones and Leverock.

He then took two smart catches and spilled one as England cantered to victory.

The stands at St Vincent's Arnos Vale ground were surprisingly empty given the World Cup fever which has gripped the island. Schoolchildren have been given the week off and some were in attendance.

England, who face Australia in a final warm-up on Friday, play New Zealand in their first World Cup group match on March 16. Bermuda's first group match is against Sri Lanka the day before.

ENGLAND

E. Joyce b Hurdle 7

M. Vaughan c Hemp b Hurdle 18

I. Bell c Romaine b Jones 46

K. Pietersen stp. Minors b Leverock 43

P. Collingwood c wkp. Minors b Leverock 7

A. Flintoff c Pitcher b Borden 24

J. Dalrymple c Pitcher b Borden 76

P. Nixon c Hurdle b Borden 17

L. Plunkett not out 10

S. Mahmood not out 15

Extras: (b-4, lb-5, w-11, nb-3) 23

Total: (8 wkts, 50 overs) 286

Fall of wickets: 1-14, 2-41, 3-112, 4-128, 5-132, 6-186, 7-252, 8-261,

Bowling: Hurdle 10-0-58-2, Mukeddem 10-0-56-0, Jones 10-0-60-1, Leverock 10-0-32-2, Borden 10-0-71-3.

BERMUDA

D. Minors c Pietersen b Plunkett 5

O. Pitcher c Lewis b Anderson 2

K. Tucker lbw b Lewis 2

S. Outerbridge c Pietersen b Anderson 7

D. Hemp c Anderson b Flintoff 11

C. Smith c wkp. Nixon b Lewis 0

S. Mukuddem b Lewis 0

L. Cann b Mahmood 5

D. Borden not out 3

M. Jones c Anderson b Panesar 2

K. Hurdle c Anderson b Flintoff 0

Extras: (lb-3, w-4, nb-1) 8

Total: (all out, 22.2 overs) 45

Fall of wickets: 1-13, 2-15, 3-23, 4-24, 5-28, 6-32, 7-38, 8-42, 9-44.

Bowling: Anderson 5-1-8-2, Plunkett 5-1-13-1, Lewis 4-2-7-3, Mahmood 4-0-10-1, Flintoff 2.2-0-3-2, Panesar 2-1-1-1.

Result: England won by 241 runs.

Toss: England.

Indian board comes down hard on Vengsarkar
… Cricinfo staff
THE Indian board has taken strong exception to a remark by Dilip Vengsarkar, the chairman of selectors, regarding Virender Sehwag's inclusion in India's World Cup squad.

Vengsarkar was quoted by a news channel on Saturday saying that the out-of-form Sehwag was selected only because of the insistence Rahul Dravid, the Indian captain.

"When I was leading India, I never got the team I wanted and I didn't want Rahul to go through the same. He insisted on having Sehwag and that made the difference."

The board said it wasn't proper for the chief selector to make such statements and that such remarks could only lead to fresh controversies ahead of India's World Cup campaign in the Caribbean.

"It is not right to comment on team selection now," said Ratnakar Shetty, the chief administrative officer of the board. "I wish Vengsarkar had refrained from making such comments at a time when the team had already left for the showpiece event. The Code of Conduct applies to everybody, players and selectors."

Rajiv Shukla, the vice-president of the board, echoed the same sentiment: "The chairman of the selection committee should not make such a remark. It creates unnecessary controversy before the Cup. He should refrain from making such statements. The team is selected by the five selectors in consultation with the captain and coach. Selection issues should not come out in the open."

Vengsarkar admitted Sehwag did not feature in the initial scheme of things due to his prolonged run-drought but enjoyed backing from some quarters in the team.

"It was a bit of gamble (to have him in the side) ... but I think he has done extremely well in the past. Besides, he has won a lot of matches for India. We are hoping that he would do well in the World Cup."

He backed Irfan Pathan, another player selected despite being out of form, and hoped he would come good in the next few weeks.

"Both Irfan and Sehwag have fantastic records and they have done extremely well in the past. Again, form is important as well. But they have experience, which makes a lot of difference. If there are tight games, experience can win you matches."

Vengsarkar also justified the decision to appoint Sachin Tendulkar as the vice-captain of the side.

"Rahul is an experienced player, so is Sachin. If something happens to Dravid, God forbid, Sachin can lead."

He added that Greg Chappell had done a "reasonable" job as coach and felt he should continue with the team even after the World Cup.

Wizards conjure up bizarre win over Warriors
NEW YORK, NY (Reuters) - Washington's Gilbert Arenas made three free throws after a technical foul was called on Golden State coach Don Nelson with less than a second to play, giving the Wizards a 107-106 win on Sunday.

Arenas had missed a shot as the game-ending buzzer sounded but officials said he had been fouled by Golden State's Mickael Pietrus just before time expired.

Nelson vigorously protested the call and was charged with a technical, giving Washington the opportunity to come back from 106-104 down. Arenas made the three free throws with 0.01 seconds on the clock to seal the win.

"That was bizarre," he told reporters after the game. "You've got to thank the refs for that one."

Arenas, a former Golden State player, looked over at the Warriors bench and smiled before his final free throw.

"I was telling them that they just need to go ahead and go to the locker room, get on the bus."

Golden State's Al Harrington said the call changed the outcome of the game.

"The technical is ridiculous because now you take the game completely away from us," he told reporters.

"It's just unfortunate that the refs made a very, very, very bad call."

Antawn Jamison, who also previously played for the Warriors, added 18 points and 11 rebounds for the Wizards.

Jason Richardson topped Golden State with 28 points and 10 rebounds.

Steve Nash scored 23 points, 18 of them in the second half, as the Phoenix Suns held off the Los Angeles Lakers for a 99-94.

The Chicago Bulls got a career-best 48 points from Ben Gordon to offset Michael Redd's 52 points in a 126-121 overtime road victory over Milwaukee.

The Boston Celtics recorded their fourth straight win, beating the Minnesota Timberwolves 124-117 in double overtime. (Writing by Gene Cherry in Raleigh, North Carolina)

Tough draw for CONCACAF teams at Youth World Cup
TORONTO, Ontario, CMC – CONCACAF teams Costa Rica, Mexico, Panama, USA and hosts Canada found themselves placed into tough groups when the draw for the FIFA Under-20 World Cup Canada was held on Saturday.

Canada were placed in Group A, along with Austria, Chile and Congo, while Mexico drew Group C with Gambia, Portugal and New Zealand for the June 30 to July 12 tournament.

The USA will play in Group D alongside Brazil, Korea Republic and Poland, while Panama will be in Group E that includes Argentina, Czech Republic and Korea DPR.

Group F has Costa Rica competing against Japan, Scotland and Nigeria.

FIFA vice-president Jack Warner, the CONCACAF president and chairman of the Organising Committee for the FIFA Under-20 World Cup, presided over the draw ceremony held at Toronto’s Liberty Grand Entertainment Complex.

Canada’s Jamaica-born 1996 Olympic 100-metre champion Donovan Bailey was among the big names in attendance.

In all, 24 teams were drawn into six groups of four teams for the tournament.

The top two teams in each group, plus the best four third-place teams, advance to the knockout stage.

Helena Guergis, Canada’s Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Sport, announced that the Federal Government had decided to provide a grant of CAN$4.2 million (US$3.55 million) to support the Canadian Soccer Association’s efforts to host the FIFA Under-20 World Cup.

GROUPING - FIFA UNDER-20 WORLD CUP:

Group A (Toronto, Edmonton)

Canada

Chile

Congo

Austria

Group B (Burnaby, Victoria)

Spain

Uruguay

Jordan

Zambia

Group C (Toronto, Montreal, Edmonton)

Portugal

New Zealand

Gambia

Mexico

Group D (Montreal, Ottawa)

Poland

Brazil

Korea Republic

USA

Group E (Ottawa, Montreal)

Argentina

Czech Republic

Korea DPR

Panama

Group F (Victoria, Burnaby)

Japan

Scotland

Nigeria

Costa Rica

Mexico beat T&T U-17s in friendly
MUCURAPO, Trinidad CMC – Paced by goals from Jesus Millan and Ulises Plasencia, Mexico scored a 2-0 win over Trinidad and Tobago in their Under-17 friendly international at the Fatima Ground yesterday evening.

Millan gave visiting Mexico a first half lead and Plasencia struck a last-minute goal to sink the young Soca Warriors in the first match of their two-game series.

Both teams are using the series as preparation for the CONCACAF Under-17 Youth World Cup qualifying series, starting late next month.

Mexico, who lost a two-match series to Jamaica in Kingston last month, jumped into the lead in the 30th minute when Millan broke free for a one-on-one with the goalkeeper and scored with a lobbed shot.

Plasencia struck the insurance goal in the 90th minute when he met a cross from the right and scored after the T&T goalkeeper was hesitant in moving to claim the ball.

Game 2 is today at Ato Boldon Stadium.

Trinidad & Tobago will play in the CONCACAF Under-17 Group B play-offs alongside the hosts Jamaica, USA, Canada, and Costa Rica in Kingston from April 28 to May 6.

Group A is set for the Tegucigalpa in Honduras April 4-8 and has El Salvador, Haiti and Mexico alongside the hosts.

The top two teams from CONCACAF Final Round Group A along with the best three Group B sides will progress to the 2007 FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Korea.

Castrol Under-15 cricket …
Essequibo, Berbice share first-day honours
By Ravendra Madholall
ESSEQUIBO, with an improved bowling performance, skitlled out defending champion Berbice for 135 but both teams shared honours after Essequibo were tottering at 32 for four at the end of the shortened first day’s play in the second round of the 2007 Castrol two-day Under-15 Inter-county cricket competition at the Police ground.

The game began at 13:38 h after overnight rain seeped under the inadequate covers, preventing a prompt start. The two ruling umpires Shannon Crawford and debuting Ava Baker made several inspections and deemed the condition suitable until after lunch.

Despite creditable bowling from the Cinderella County, their batsmen continued to be vulnerable to Berbice spin-based attack as they struggled to their total from a mere 35 overs with skipper and diminutive left-handed Rovindra Mohabir on four and Rove Harris on one, still in arrears of 103 runs.

Off-spinner Joemal La Fleur was the main threat in Essequibo’s first innings, so far taking three for five from nine probing overs while left-arm spinner Trinson Carmichael nabbed one for four from nine economical overs as the batsmen showed grit and determination.

Devenash Ramnarace (15), Keron McLennon (4), Herell Greene (5) and Melvin Seepersaud (0) were the men back in the hut for Essequibo whose splendid bowling effort was buoyed by a combination of off-spin and leg-spin from Nokta Moses and McLennon respectively.

Essequibo won the toss and immediately inserted Berbice to take first strike on a moist surface. The decision paid dividends as La Fleur was leg-before to pacer Neal Romalho for five but skipper Harrinarine Chattergoon and Travis Karim quickly galvanised the innings with a comfortable 91-run second-wicket stand.

At tea Berbice were nicely placed at 91 for one with Chattergoon on 38 and Karim on 37, but upon resumption there was a clatter of wickets as the Essequibians fought back brilliantly into the game, snaring the last eight Berbice wickets for just 38 runs with McLennon, despite being expensive, taking wickets at regular intervals.

He conceded 52 runs from eleven overs while Moses from the other end offered wonderful support. Karim firstly lobbed a catch to Richard Sieucharran at extra-cover for 43 from 54 balls including three fours.

Soon after Chattergoon, who batted superbly for his 85-ball 42, was the second man among the carnage. He made a defiant 43 with three fours from 54 deliveries while Imran Latif (15) and Ramesh Naidoo (13) tried desperately to rebuild a partnership from the solid foundation laid by Chattergoon and Karim.

Jamally Odle (0), wicketkeeper/batsman Marvin Basdeo (1), Keron Joseph (0) and Rawn Joseph (0) fell in quick succession to spark unbridled celebration among the Essequibians, who probably never enjoyed a day’s cricket at this level since the start of the competition in 1997.

Moses, the Wakenaam player, grabbed three for 14 from ten tight overs while Romalho, who had a five-wicket haul against Demerara in the initial round, had one for 16 from six overs.

Essequibo left out Keron Sewnarine, Neshaul Gowkarran and Dwayne Singh from their 14-man contingent while Berbice omitted Yougeshwar Deonarine, Khemraj Rampersaud and Shean Sinclair.

Weather permitting, the action is set to resume at 09:30 h today to make up for time lost yesterday,

Burgos remains in medically induced coma
LOS ANGELES, Calif. (Reuters) - Former IBF junior flyweight champion Victor Burgos remained in critical condition, yesterday, after getting pummelled in a title fight with Vic Darchinyan.

Burgos, a 112-pound flyweight from Mexico, was taken from the ring on a stretcher after being stopped by Darchinyan at one minute 27 seconds of the 12th round in Carson, California, on Saturday.

He underwent surgery to remove a blood clot in his brain and to reduce swelling and was placed in a medically induced coma, said Juan Gonzalez, a spokesman for Burgos's promoter, Don King Productions.

Gonzalez said Burgos remained in a coma, yesterday, yet appeared to open his eyes slightly at one point and move his hands. The hospital refused to comment on the boxer's condition.

Burgos, 32, became the IBF junior flyweight champion by defeating Alex Sanchez in Las Vegas in 2003. He moved up to the 112-pound flyweight limit in 2005 and was challenging Darchinyan for his title.

The Armenian-born Darchinyan, who is now an Australian citizen, knocked Burgos down in the second round, but the Mexican returned to his feet and fought gamely until the fight was stopped in the final round.
Burgos has a professional record of 39-15-3.

Australia slight favourites…
Most open tournament yet hel - Ian Chappell
THE 2007 World Cup has all the makings of the most open tournament yet held with as many as six teams having a realistic chance of lifting the trophy at Kensington Oval in late April.

Adding to the difficulty in predicting a winner or even the four semi-finalists is the wide range of pitch conditions that might prevail. As recently as the middle of last year many Caribbean pitches were slow and low with considerable assistance for the spinners. However, a number of new wicket blocks have subsequently been laid and there are suggestions these will provide some encouragement for the faster bowlers. Depending on what actually transpires by way of pitch behaviour, teams like South Africa will either have no chance (if they are slow and low) or a real threat (if they provide pace and bounce) and the reverse holds true for Sri Lanka and India.

Not since the 1991-92 World Cup when matches were played in Australia and New Zealand have teams had to contend with such diverse conditions as those being predicted for the Caribbean. The 1991-92 tournament was a wide open affair with Pakistan saving their best for last and defeating England in the final.

Oddly enough those are the two major nations without a realistic chance of winning the trophy in 2007. Nevertheless, England with their late resurgence on the tour of Australia and the return of the highly dangerous Kevin Pietersen could be worth a flutter to make the semi-finals if a few cards fall their way.

Despite their derailment in the last few weeks, Australia must still be slight favourites, as they have the players best equipped to cover variable pitch conditions. However, they still have to unearth a bowling combination which can consistently "shut down" the opposition in the final overs, with Glenn McGrath currently their only reasonable performer in that situation. They also desperately need a spinner to regularly take wickets in the overs following the Powerplays. If they don't solve these two major problems and Andrew Symonds isn't effective with his damaged arm, then even their strong batting line-up won't be enough to win them a record third consecutive World Cup.

New Zealand, South Africa, India, West Indies and Sri Lanka are all on the next rung of the favouritism ladder. South Africa is a one-dimensional side; they like to stifle the scoring with their pace-oriented attack and they don't bat so well in conditions that suit good spinners. However, they are a blue-collar bunch who are extremely competitive and in conditions that suit their pace bowlers they'll be dangerous if Graeme Smith and Herschelle Gibbs fire with the bat.

India have the batting experience plus the explosive power of Virender Sehwag and Mahendra Singh Dhoni to either post or chase down big totals. The big question mark is the ability of the bowlers to hold it together when they are attacked in the field restriction period of an innings.

It was their failure to retain composure that let them down in the 2003 final and a lot of those same fielders are now four years older so the task won't be any easier this time unless Zaheer Khan and company bowl well.

Sri Lanka have a varied attack that should handle any conditions but they rely heavily on Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene and Sanath Jayasuriya for the bulk of their runs on bouncier pitches. The West Indies have quietly compiled a good one-day record under Brian Lara with a win and a trip to the final in the last two Champions Trophy tournaments. They have depth and power in batting and good variety in bowling and their fielding is solid so it's not surprising that they are a competitive side. Their one failing is a lack of a power bat in the middle-order and they need Dwayne Smith to confirm his potential.

New Zealand is a strong all-round side with a varied and skilled attack, backed by committed fielders. The recent improvement in their top order run-getting has boosted their chances enormously and a fit Jacob Oram, along with the equally dangerous Brendon McCullum, provide power with control in the middle-order. If three successive victories over Australia are a sign that self-belief has made a belated but grand entrance to their camp, then they are genuine contenders.

In a tightly bunched field I favour Australia, New Zealand, West Indies and India to scramble into the final four. If, to reach the knockout stage it's the battle I expect, then it'll be a tremendous tournament; it's just a pity it takes so long to reach the highly competitive stage.

Lara believes Samuels has timed it perfectly
By Simon Evans
TRELAWNY, Jamaica (Reuters) - West Indies captain Brian Lara believes Marlon Samuels, who struck an unbeaten century in yesterday's warm-up win over Kenya, is finally ready to realise his potential just in time for the World Cup.

Samuels broke into the West Indies side aged 19 on the 2000-'01 tour of Australia without a single first-class game behind him but despite an impressive start he has largely failed to build on his promise.

"Marlon Samuels has the ability; we have known that since he was 16 years old and since he came into first-class cricket. Now he is getting more of an opportunity and is responding well," said Lara, who did not bat in his team's 268.

"We are really appreciative that he is coming to the party just at this moment before the World Cup. He is in the right frame of mind, mentally now," added Lara.

Samuels was cleared to play in the World Cup despite an International Cricket Council (ICC) anti-corruption unit investigation into allegations that he passed on confidential team information to a bookmaker.

Against the Kenyans he produced some confident stroke play after opener Chris Gayle had set the innings up well with a classy knock of 75.

Lara said he was pleased with the batting display from his side but felt there was more to come from his bowlers who allowed Kenya to get within 21 runs of their total.

"There was a lot of room for improvement but it is hard (for the bowlers) to get the intensity in a warm-up game," said Lara.

The West Indies skipper believes the adrenalin will start flowing in Friday's final preparation game against India.

"Things will pick up on Friday. We will be closing in on our opening match and India are the kind of opposition who will be looking to get a psychological advantage. That will be a game that neither side will want to lose," he said.

After facing India, West Indies begin their campaign in group D against Pakistan on March 13.

Brazil confirm friendlies, not venues
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (Reuters) - Brazil confirmed, yesterday, they had arranged friendly internationals against Chile and Ghana later this month but said they could not disclose the venues.

The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) said on its Web site (www.cbf.com.br) that Brazil would play Chile on March 24 and Ghana three days later.

The announcement was made after the games had been included on FIFA's official fixture list. FIFA listed Gothenburg and Solna, in the metropolitan region of Stockholm, as the respective venues.

On Sunday, the Swedish soccer Web site Fotbollskanalen.se, quoting the match promoters, gave the same venues and dates as FIFA.

"The CBF informs that the information about the games is true ... and all that is missing is the signing of the respective contracts," said the CBF statement.

"The CBF also makes it clear that it did not officially inform about the friendlies because the venues still have to be confirmed."

Brazil have played six full internationals under coach Dunga, who replaced Carlos Alberto Parreira after the World Cup. Dunga suffered his first defeat in charge last month in the 2-0 defeat by Portugal in London.

Although Brazil is bidding to host the 2014 World Cup, the national team have not played a match at home since a World Cup qualifier against Venezuela in October 2005.

Brazil beat Chile 5-0 in their last meeting in Brasilia in September 2005 and Ghana 3-0 in a World Cup second round match last year.