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ARCHIVES FOR SEPTEMBER 07, 2009

Single parents training launched in Region 5
By Nathalene de Freitas

Minister of Labour Manzoor Nadir speaking to the single parents at the launching of the programme at the Sunrise Development Group in Region 5.

The Board of Industrial Training (BIT), through the Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security, recently launched another Single Parents Training programme, this time in Region Five (Mahaica/Berbice), at the Sunrise Development Group.

Minister of Labour Manzoor Nadir, who was present at the ceremony, said the assistance programme was a plan in the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) manifesto and is now a realisation, which promised to provide skills training to single parents and other vulnerable groups.

He pointed out that the driving force behind the Single Parents Training Programme is Minister of Human Services and Social Security Priya Manickchand, who in her absence, sent her strongest commendation and encouragement for the parents to make the best use of the opportunities they have been provided with.

Nadir outlined that a single parent database was set up at the beginning to single out the most vulnerable. He said approximately 18,000 single parents were registered countrywide and from this the most vulnerable were selected.

He noted that from the list it was revealed that most single parents selected three types of assistance: day care services, which saw single parents earning below $20,000 being given vouchers for 25 percent of the daycare fees; a grant for special economic ventures, such as help with starting small businesses; and assistance for those trained in getting involved in areas such as catering, garment construction, office procedure and cosmetology.

Minister Nadir pointed out that $25M was allocated in the 2009 budget under the BIT to start the single parents programme. A minimum of 300 will be trained in 2009. With this launching, 150 will be trained and another 100 plus will be placed in the next batch.

“We could have given out monetary assistance of $150,000 to each single parent, but what will happen when the money is used up. If we invest to empower you, it will last for a lifetime” the minister said.

“You have to plan as single parents and you must have a vision. You only enhance your chances of success if you have a vision” Nadir emphasised.

Dr Dale Bisnauth, Chairman of BIT, said it is important for single parents to equip themselves with the skills to be able to provide not only for themselves, but also for those who depend on them. He said the launch of the programme shows government’s commitment to reducing unemployment among the younger generation.

The single parents training programme is presently being launched in various regions across Guyana. Training for persons in the single parents’ aspect of the programme costs $70,000 each, and Minister Manickchand had promised that those who successfully complete their training will be provided with one set of their tools, such as a new sewing machine or catering equipment.

It is hoped that more money will be placed in the budget next year to facilitate the training of more single parents. Minister Nadir noted that Government is partnering with Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and other organisations to provide effective completion of the courses.

The duration for the Region Five training programme will be four months and the trainees will also receive special tutoring in English, Mathematics and Entrepreneurial skills as well.

Work ongoing to enhance potable water supply in hinterland communities
More than $150M budgeted to enhance water sector
By Priya Nauth
IN its effort to improve access to potable water in the hinterland communities, several interventions are being made by the Ministry of Housing and Water to further enhance the lives of the people.

This is according to Minister with the portfolio, Mr. Irfaan Ali, in an exclusive interview with the Guyana Chronicle last Friday who gave an update on some of the major works being carried and to be completed by the end of the year.

He said as part of a commitment made during a recent visit along with officials of the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) to Region Nine (Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo), drilling of the well was successfully completed in Hiowa and now drilling is taking place in Parishara which is to be completed this week, after which the team will move to the Tiger Pond community. These works will cost $15M.

“Those were promised to Region Nine,” he reiterated; and after those works are completed, works will commence in several other areas where commitments were made.”

The Berbice riverine communities of Sand Hill, Kimbia, Wiruni and Wikki/Calcuni; and in Demerara River, the Great Falls area, Region Ten (Upper Demerara/Berbice) will all benefit from solar pumping systems.

“These eight communities will benefit from the solar pumping systems as part of the macro plan to have solar systems in a 160 communities in the hinterland,” Minister Ali said.

These systems are presently being ordered and should be in the country sometime at the end of November for installation, he informed this newspaper.

Ali said that approximately $40M in borehole development and solar pumping systems will be spent in these eight communities.

In Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne) Orealla/Siparuta, works are being done on the construction of storage facility, installation of solar pumping systems, rehabilitation of the pump house and the distribution network at a cost of some $13M, and will benefit over 1,000 persons in those communities.

The Housing and Water Minister assured that these works should be completed before the end of the year.

Turning to Region Seven (Cuyuni/Mazaruni)), he said construction of overhead storage tanks are being done in the areas of Phillipi, Chinowieng, Kamarang and Itaballi, at a total cost of $13.5M benefitting about 1200 in these communities.

In Region One (Barima/Waini) - the communities of Whitewater, Santa Rosa, Waramuri, Manawarin, Scabei and Matthews Ridge will benefit from the construction of water trestles and overhead storage facility at $14M, bringing relief to over 600 people.

Also, in this region in the Mabaruma area, works are being done on the extension of the ground storage reservoir, network upgrade and rehabilitation of the pump station which will benefit 800 persons at a cost of $9M; and in Port Kaituma, a $3M project to rehabilitate the storage tank and pump house is being conducted to benefit some 900 residents in that area.

Over the years, the ministry has placed tremendous focus on hinterland communities by providing support to ensure that residents have an efficient potable water supply, and under the ministry’s hinterland water programme, a number of remote communities have benefitted from infrastructural development.

More than $150M has been budgeted for the enhancement of the water sector in hinterland communities.

Unidentified male fished out of Lamaha Park trench
The body of an unidentified male was yesterday morning hauled from a trench at Lamaha Park, Georgetown, with a suspected gunshot wound to the chest.

According to reports, three boys were walking along the dam at around 10:00h when they noticed the body floating in the trench between a clump of bushes.

Residents from the area who gathered to get a glimpse of the decomposing body stated that all week they were getting a foul smell from the area.

One woman whose house is just behind the trench told this publication that last Wednesday the Police were in pursuit of a man wanted in connection with an armed robbery, and they opened gunfire in the North Ruimveldt area, sending residents ‘diving for cover’.

The incident took place in the vicinity of Cul de Sac and Soufriere Streets, North Ruimveldt, around 10:20h.

It is believed that the suspect escaped, but it could be that he was fatally shot and fell in the trench.

Up to last evening the Police had not provided the name of the dead man.

Jackson glove sells for $49,000

Jackson wore the glove when he was visiting Australia in 1996

(BBC News) A jewelled white glove Michael Jackson threw to an Australian fan in 1996 has been sold at an auction in Melbourne for US$49,000.

The late singer tossed the glove into a crowd after a film premiere while he was visiting the country as part of his HIStory world tour in 1996.

It was caught by music collector Bill Hibble, who has since died. His mother put the glove up for auction.

The glove was bought by the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.

Auction house Bonhams and Goodman said the item - which was worn by Jackson on the day he married Debbie Rowe, the mother of his two elder children - fetched nearly twice the US$25,500 expected.

"There was a huge amount of interest in the week leading up to the sale. We were still pretty surprised by the price," Charlotte Stanes of the auction house told Reuters.

The crystal-encrusted white glove will eventually go on display in Las Vegas

She added it was the first Jackson glove to go on sale since he died on 25 June.

The white glove Jackson wore when he first performed the Moonwalk on the Motown 25 TV special in 1983 is also set to go under the hammer at a New York auction later this year.

It is being sold by Commodores member Walter Orange, who was given the glove as a gift from Jackson and is expected to fetch up to $60,000 .

Jackson was buried last week in California, two months after he died of a lethal cocktail of prescription drugs aged 50.

His death has been ruled a homicide by the Los Angeles coroner. The verdict increases the chances of criminal charges being brought, although no-one has been named an official suspect.

Commodore Best holds leadership talks at Joint Services Seniors meeting

In this composite photo, Commodore Gary Best addresses heads and senior officers of the Joint Services.

Chief-of-Staff of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and Chairman of the Joint Services, Commodore Gary Best, last Tuesday guided meaningful discussions on leadership during a meeting with Heads and Senior Officers of the GDF and its sister services.

The meeting at the Officers’ Mess at Base Camp Ayanganna focused on several issues relating to effective command within the Joint Services.

It followed a previous engagement with the Chief-of-Staff after visiting the GDF’s main bases to discuss maintenance of order, discipline and its traditional high standards with the Force’s troops.

Commodore Best spoke about the actions of some of their members that have prompted negative press and have fed negativism from time to time.

He noted that while Senior Officers hold command positions, their leadership duties have been lacking; and in this regard, he called for leadership to be displayed.

He added too that while leadership is an individual organisational responsibility, it must be approached through collective action.

Leadership, he said, has to be result-oriented and he emphasised that the Joint Services cannot be intolerant in their approach to incidents reported to them by the public and from within the force.

He also called on officers to ensure that disciplined action, when the need arises, be swift and decisive.

“Officers must follow up to ensure their subordinates comply with orders that are given,” Commodore Best said.

The Heads of the Joint Services are to meet to discuss differing disciplinary procedures and make necessary recommendations to the Defence Board in this regard. The GDF’s Codes of Conduct will be scrutinised and revised, following which the Army will be republishing and reissuing new copies to its officers.

It was suggested that a forum be convened to hold similar discussions with the middle managers and supervisors throughout the Joint Services. (GINA)

Swine flu hits UWI - Three cases confirmed; health ministry takes control
INFLUENZA A (H1N1) (formerly swine flu) fear swirled through the air at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, campus Saturday after three students were confirmed to have been infected with the virus.

Campus officials have reported that the affected persons and others with flu-like symptoms have been isolated.

Well-placed sources told The Sunday Gleaner that a total of 60 students were showing flu-like symptoms.

Mid-afternoon Saturday , Deputy Principal Joseph Pereira convened a meeting with director of student services, Thelora Reynolds, administrators of halls of residence, and a team from the Ministry of Health.

The UWI issued a statement later saying that the Public Health Department of the Ministry of Health had visited the campus and had instituted the necessary public-health measures.

As a precaution and containment measure, the UWI said it was advising members of staff and students who might have symptoms of influenza to stay home and to contact the nearest health practitioner. "They should not report to the campus until they have been properly assessed."

In the meantime, the UWI said based on the advice of the Ministry of Health, it is not necessary to suspend classes. However, out of an abundance of caution, it has decided to cancel all social events scheduled to take place at the Mona campus for the next seven days.

The university is working closely with the Ministry of Health and is assuring the public that the situation is being closely monitored by the administration and the public-health authorities. Steps are also being taken to minimise the spread of the infection.

Ending the exploitation of our indigenous people

The announcement by Amerindian Affairs Minister Mrs. Pauline Sukhai that her Ministry will be stepping up the campaign against businesses that are exploiting and taking advantage of indigenous workers is a most laudable one because it is one of the most common problems existing in our society.

“This is a matter of concern to our Ministry and, while not specifying named businesses, most prevalent are those operating in the forestry, mining and night spot sectors that take advantage of Amerindian workers. I wish to signal that the Ministry will intensify the campaign in addressing these issues and we will also work harder to collaborate with our other sister ministries in ensuring that such practices are minimised,” she said.

She also correctly observed that some businesses in the entertainment sector lure young under-age Amerindian girls and the conditions of work turn out to be different to those that are agreed and promised when recruited.

This problem has been around for quite some time now and fundamentally has its origins in the unacceptable view of many sections of our society that our indigenous people are inferior in intelligence and as such they look upon them “second class citizens.” On the contrary given the opportunities and exposure to a proper education our indigenous people have proven beyond the shadow of a doubt they are just as capable, as any other sections of the population, of excelling in academics, politics, medicine, arts ort sports among other fields.

And that is why the present government has been working feverishly to intensifying training and improving educational and economic opportunities within the indigenous communities so that they can be empowered to lift themselves out of poverty and do not fall prey to those heartless entrepreneurs who seek to exploit and take advantage of them.

On this score, the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs has wisely recognised the need for an awareness programme in the high risk areas which will incorporate a range of social issues and will advise, alert and support the communities with respect to exploitation of their residents.

However, it must be emphasised that in order to eradicate or minimise this problem campaigns and awareness programmes have to be sustained as going about them in an ad hoc and inconsistent manner will not suffice.

The government for its part has been investing heavily on building more schools, health centres, improving training for medical and teaching personnel as well as providing assistance to help kick start cottage industries and other similar economic and commercial ventures.

In addition, the problem cannot be left alone to the Ministry to deal with. The entire society has to play a role in combating this injustice facing our indigenous citizens.

In this regard, Mrs. Sukahai has acknowledged in the quest of supporting the village economies, President Bharrat Jagdeo, true to his commitment, approved $79M as an investment for the start-up of the National Secure Livelihood Programme.

She said the government has also provided specialised technical support and aims to provide the opportunity for the development of young people with on-the-job training to bolster sustainability when the experts’ contracts end.

Now that the long awaited Takutu Bridge has become a reality, economic and commercial ventures in Lethem and the surrounding communities will spring up there by boosting employment opportunities and provide an avenue for residents to improve their standard of living.

One of the objectives of a democratic society is to create equity so that all people regardless of race gender, class etc. would be a fair opportunity to better their lives and in so doing their society and country.

This has always been the goal of the late President Dr. Cheddi Jagan and the party which he and his comrades found and throughout his life he tirelessly worked to achieve this goal. His lieutenants have followed in his footsteps and are diligently working towards the achievement of that goal.

Sloppiness of Guyana’s press is recognised far and wide.
THE Deseret News in Salt Lake City, Utah, says that the story of the Mormons detained in Guyana is now focused on correcting inaccurate first-day media reports emanating from this country.

The American newspaper says it received e-mails from several missionaries serving in Guyana, both directly and indirectly through family members, unhappy with Wednesday's Associated Press report stating that the detained missionaries "could be heard singing 'We Shall Overcome' from their cells Wednesday night."

"Who in the world knows that song? Not us!" wrote one missionary, adding that the late-afternoon singing served as "exercise to beat the heat and the boredom.”

Wrote another: "We did not sing 'We Shall Overcome,' but we did sing primary songs and hymns for about two hours to entertain ourselves. We sounded beautiful."

Contrary to the report the missionaries were never placed in cells, the group was kept together in a large room with a handful of CID employees working at desks at the other end of the room, the Utah newspaper reports.

Perhaps local the local press have not realised that they are dealing with Christians who have no agenda to embarrass the government and therefore are not motivated to exaggerate and sensationalise every story.
DAVID SEEGOBIN

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Confidence in the security forces needs to be restored
THE recent series of crimes involving security personnel are a low point in the security affairs of the nation. Just when the confidence stock of the security forces was climbing with the elimination of the “Fine Man” gang and the routing of criminal elements, we have the Ramdass killing, and other allegations pointing to the security forces.

People have now lost a lot of faith in the security forces to protect them bringing back memories to the dark era of kick down door banditry of the late 1970s and 80s during the dictatorship. Much need to be done now to restore faith in the security forces. Government should consider establishing a Commission of Inquiry on the need to transform the security agencies to boost peoples’ morale and confidence in them.

One of the questions in my annual NACTA polls over the last several years (going back to 1996 as published in the Chronicle) was on peoples’ confidence in the security forces in protecting them. Year after year, only small percentages of the nation had faith in the security forces protecting them. There is near unanimity among a cross-section of the population that there are rotten elements in the security forces and they have got to be weeded out.

People told me tales of horror and disgust of the treatment meted out to them by some police elements and nothing was done to discipline the rascals who preyed on the weak. While some of the people may tend to exaggerate what they experienced at the hands of elements within the police, the inescapable truth is that, if they can help it, a majority of law-abiding people would like to avoid dealing with the police or going into a police station. Nor would they like to be stopped by a policeman when driving.

As the NACTA polls found, there is a widespread feeling that the ills of the security forces are due to their acute politicisation. People lost respect in the army and police because of their roles in election riggings and terrorising of political opponents during the dictatorship. The security forces were badly manipulated to serve political ends and since the restoration of democracy, not much was done to professionalize them to respect law and order and peoples rights. In fact, many people felt that elements of the security forces were involved in criminal acts. With the restoration of democracy, the NACTA poll found that people have not been satisfied with the job being done by the army and police. People believe that elements in the army and police were and still are involved in drug trafficking, robberies, and other crimes. I observed drug pushers peddling their stuff near the presence of police and no action was taken. People saw their security forces, the police, in particular as corrupt and insensitive to them. Almost everyone complained they had to offer a bribe to the police to get things done or to avoid a charge. Some women complained that police and army personnel demand sexual favors to avoid charges (of their men folks or themselves). People completely lost faith in the army and police to protect them when businessmen were being killed between 2001 and 2004 and resorted to their own means of protection. And when the massacres occurred on the East Coast, Bartica, and the interior last year, the stock of the security forces was at an all time low. But the security forces rose to the occasion and wiped out some of the wanted criminals. And when they got fine man and his gang, people started seeing the security forces as heroes and as the kind of security they could be proud of and depend on to protect them. And now this setback involving the murder of Ramdass, and maybe their involvement in the murders of others over the last couple of weeks.

The security forces cannot expect people to trust them, with all that has happened in recent weeks. They will have to change radically and the heads of the Police and Army need to take swift actions against the tainted officers and seek to root out corruption. The corrupt should be weeded out immediately and brought up on charges. The good security forces ought to be rewarded and applauded. And government should take steps to re-train the forces to become people-friendly. A Commission should be established to look into problems with the security forces and to make recommendations towards reforming the security forces and improving their performance so as to restore peoples’ confidence in them.
VISHNU BISRAM

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When will Sheila Holder resign?
MEMBER of Parliament Sheila Holder of the AFC was caught lying and exposed by NY-based newspaper editor Annan Boodram and internationally reputed pollster Vishnu Bisram. Both of these men, people of integrity and repute, claim they accessed information from the OAS and pollsters Peter Wickham of Barbados and Ramesh Deosaran of Trinidad confirming that Holder lied about information she provided Freddie Kissoon for one of his columns in which he fabricated information. It is well known Freddie manufactures information to substantiate his claims and people don't pay much heed to his fictional writings. Now Sheila Holder has teamed up with Freddie to manufacture evidence. In the Westminster system, of which we are a part, when a M.P is caught lying, he or she tenders his or her resignation. British M.Ps recently resigned when they were exposed for inaccurate info. Since Holder was exposed for lying, when will she resign from parliament?

The AFC has prided itself as the party that is different from others. Is being the source of manufactured information the AFC meant as “the difference”.

I voted for the AFC in 2006. Not again! The party disappoints me by associating with the corrupt and those who pen fiction presented as facts.

I am disappointed quite frankly that Holder is the source of gossip to a known fabricator and con man. Will Rafael Trottman and Khemraj Ramjattan take action against Holder? I await their response. In the meanwhile, I urge Mr. Bisram to demand an apology from Holder and or pursue legal action for Holder to own up to her falsification of information.
CYNTHIA LONDON

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Oposition seems to be encouraging flouting of Guyana’s laws
I have been following the information on the issue with the Mormons who have over stayed their time in Guyana and have been asked to leave and I think that too many people seem to be missing the point that Guyana’s laws have been broken.

We all are aware that Guyana is an open country which is evident in the fact that the Mormons have been given free reign to go about their business countrywide with no interference.

Guyana has been lenient so far and the fact that these people have been allowed to remain here and practice their religion for so many years is testimony to that leniency. It does not mean that because someone is lenient that they must be taken advantage of. It is like the old saying, you give them an inch and they want to take a mile.

The opposition parties seem to be encouraging the breaking of Guyana’s laws in this instance by supporting these people. They have openly chastised government over the years making claims of lawlessness .Are we to believe that the opposition would have the government flout the laws for this group of people? This is blatant disregard for the country and its laws.

We have all seen what happened with Jonestown where persons came under the guise of religion and we all saw what happened in the years that followed culminating in the tragedy which is a national embarrassment for the country because in some circles that is what Guyana is identified with.

Some Guyanese were not even aware of the situation in Jonestown until after the episode was made public. Would the PNCR like to shed some light on what really transpired where persons who claimed to be men of God took the lives of so many?
LAURA SINGH

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Sad that as an entity gains stature we covet it
IT is a sad fact of human nature that as any entity gains in stature or value, we covet it and also vilify and berate the very architects of this prosperity; through our frailties of jealousy and pride and other failings. Such is the case as Guyana makes strides in numerous areas of development. Granted, politics is dirty business. But after having been outmaneuvered in most aspects of politics an unstable cadre surfaces as drowning men clutch at straws. Drowning men must clutch at straws they will also clutch at other drowning men. I remember a phrase on Wall Street as failing or failed companies would form a partnership; "drunks leaning against each other for support."

So we have gang of the forgotten, the opportunists, the defunct, and the alleged "rigger" in this unlikely but somewhat predictable cadre who declare that their primary act is to educate. Meanwhile let me express my surprise and delight at excellent accomplishment of Guyanese youth in the various examinations. Maybe due to better schools, teachers equipment, morale and all else that goes with that. All this is happening in a country with a severe brain-drain problem. So they want to educate us.

Even individually or as a group they cannot conceive of a single moral leg to stand on. They are the "PPP" of Power, Prestige and Pillage." Yet they would have us know they are a viable alternative to the legitimate PPP government. In spite of intimidation of every imaginable and some unimaginable kind, the PPP has stuck to the task of nation building and the results are showing clearly, as this cadres lack of credibility.

You know, when the pie that was Guyana was quite small, let's say five dollars, stealing two dollars created a big problem. Large foreign debt and a small GDP to support it left little, even for pillage. Now, a much larger pie exists and it is natural and obvious that anyone near can smell it and will salivate. But it belongs to the Guyanese, those who stuck it out or were stuck in Guyana. It must be nurtured and protected. It is a Guyanese duty. Hard work and success under adverse conditions is a rarity and this government never wavered. Having free health care is much better scenario than where your next meal is coming from. Okay, enough praise for the government. Guyanese on the ground know what is best.

DANIEL DHANRAJ

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Readers can easily determine who really has an agenda
FREDDIE Kissoon (KN Aug 30) finds it funny that I want him to disclose his source in New York that couldn't locate Bisram as a teacher. Wow! What humour indeed! A man who has no concept about confidentiality suddenly clams up when challenged to disclose a source. Given the fact that it has now been proven that Freddie manufactures information, one can logically conclude that he has manufactured this source. After all, as I pointed out before, any journalist worth his salt could easily verify that Bisram is a teacher.

Mr. Editor, the real humour in Freddie's letters is the level to which his outpourings are now littered with confusion. For example August 30 Freddie on wrote, "Secondly, Mr. Boodram says because Freddie Kissoon says Bisram is not a teacher, so he, Bisram is not a teacher." Boodram has never said such a thing. Actually I have always made it absolutely clear that I know that Bisram is a teacher, while Freddie assumes this is not so based on the findings of a manufactured source.

Then on September 4, Freddie wrote, “He (Boodram) wrote last week that because Freddie says Bisram does not do polls, it means Bisram does not do polls.” This bit of confusion on the part of Freddie is a gem that needs no elaboration.

Added Freddie (August 30), "Mr. Boodram, Mr. Bisram and Ravi Dev know that there is no such thing as NACTA." Now dear Freddie concludes, on the basis of repeated statements that I know the members of NACTA et al that Boodram knows there is no such thing as NACTA.

Poor Freddie! I guess the pressure to defend the indefensible is becoming quite telling on his intellect.

And in keeping with his Goebellian mind set, Freddie keeps repeating that, "It is this same Boodram who, when confronted with Bisram’s own letter on how much he travels and how many countries he conducts polls in, wrote that B isram makes up for the sessions he is absent from school by teaching during recess (I guess he means the summer)."

Again never did I write any such thing. In response to Freddie's assertion to the contrary, I pointed out that New York does have summer school and that students who fail during the regular school year are provided an opportunity to get promoted by attending summer school. In fact, I taught summer school this year - all of six weeks. Further I pointed out that one could be a teacher and still be able to travel constantly, as I, myself, have done for many years. Freddie, of course, is at a loss to figure this out so he assumes that the students of such a teacher would suffer.

Mr. Editor, the only person who is not convincing is Freddie Kissoon. No one has ever even alleged, much less proven that Boodram has ever manufactured information or sources. In fact, my journalistic integrity stands up to the most intense scrutiny whereas it is now on record that Freddie manufactures information and ipso facto, he also manufactures sources.

Mr. Editor, Bisram did write that he is the highest paid teacher in New York, but even Freddie knows that this statement ended up in the letter by oversight as Bisram would readily admit and that Bisram actually meant to say that he is one of the highest paid teachers.

Let me close by saying there is an organisation called NACTA and Vishnu Bisram is a high school teacher in New York City as basic journalistic investigation would easily prove. So Freddie can shout on the rooftops until he's hoarse, but he can't negate facts. And Freddie Kissoon can talk all he wants about agenda but someone who manufactures information and sources has little, if any credibility left. In essence readers can easily determine who really has an agenda.
ANNAN BOODRAM

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McBean did not confirm to standard rules and regulations
THE debate about the treatment of ex-Superintendent of Police Mc Bean and the end result of his dismissal is regrettable. However the record will show that he was not granted study leave and he did not confirm to the standard rules and regulations within the Guyana Police Force and the public service in Guyana.

Mr. Mc Bean proffered inaccurate information and declined to be forthright in responding to the authorities in Guyana.

His loss to the GPF is noted, but his conduct during this episode questions his moral and ethical suitability for holding or even aspiring for higher service in the Guyana Police Force.
DONNA FORDE

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Business community, others ashamed at Glen Lall’s behaviour

SINCE the Kaieteur News story about Glen Lall’s emotional outburst last Friday, a number of business people have expressed shock and dismay at the publisher’s conduct. One business executive stated that ‘Glen Lall clearly has a political agenda, but if he wants to be a popular hero he should not muddy the good name of the private sector in his quest for fame.’

Another executive said that while the business community would like to see a number of changes, such as improved energy supply, he is not ‘prepared to have the private sector hijacked by a man (Glen Lall) who is clearly bent on sowing seeds of destruction in Guyana’. The executive also stated that he has ‘never seen anything as embarrassing to the business community as Glenn Lall’s callous disrespect for a sitting president.’

Another businessman, who is from Berbice said that the matter between Glen Lall and the President can be quickly settled if the publisher does the right thing and apologise to President Jagdeo. The executive noted, however, that he was more concerned about the consistent attacks from Kaieteur News on reputable businesses in the country. ‘Too many good people have had their names dragged in the mud by this vindictive newspaper’, said the businessman. He asked if there weren’t any laws in this country to stop the slandering and unfounded accusations published by Kaieteur News everyday.

Apart from people in the business community, several complaints from the general public have also been made about Glen Lall’s conduct. One person who called from Grove stated that she is now ashamed to be seen with Kaieteur News in her hand. She said ‘it makes me feel dirty.’ She continued – ‘I never knew Glen Lall wanted to be president’.

Another person from Tuschen said she felt like crying when she read Glen Lall’s disrespectful words about President Jagdeo. The woman said – ‘Jagdeo is the President of this country, my President. Shame on you Glen Lall! I will never buy your paper again.’
NAME AND ADDRESS WITHHELD
Editor’s note: - This paper has no reliable reports of Glen Lall’s intention to seek the Presidency in 2011.

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Sharma and Freddie team would bring much needed laughter
WHY on earth is Freddie Kissoon so “pagly”?

To say that President Jagdeo is lying, Rohee is lying and all those who said they never met Roger Khan are liars is unbelievable.

Freddie, I never met Roger Khan so you think in your warped mind I am a liar too?

If the President says he is not seeking nor will he seek a third term he is a liar and must he too resign?

I now ask Freddie this simple question. How many times have you heard Hilary Clinton will not be running for President of the United States of America?

Oh man she did. Should she resign as well from the job she now holds because she is a liar?

I often wonder what it is really you are doing at UG. Work or play or you get your hi on tabloid gossip? Which is it Freddie?

Anyhow it's good laughter for so many people reading your daily writings.

Personally, I think you should team up with uncle Sharma to make Guyanese laugh because Lord knows Guyanese need much laughter.
T. KING

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Something does not add up in Mormons issue
SOMETHING just does not add up involving the Mormons in Guyana. In God's name, what were 69 foreigners doing in Guyana, attached to a miniscule church? I am sure that the more established organisations like the Anglicans or the Catholics do not have that massive amount of foreigners managing their business. One newspaper said they were doing community work. Mr. Editor, can you please do the world a favor and put one of your trusted journalists to do an in depth article on the work of the Mormons in Guyana. And in so doing, please let us know, whatever they were doing, apart from proselytization, if there were not qualified Guyanese to do the same job, considering our unemployment statistics.

America does allow foreign church workers to enter and work, but the sponsoring church must first advertise locally and prove to the authorities that suitable workers were not available locally. The visiting worker is then provided a work permit and compelled to abide by the law of the land. At the expiration of his work permit, he has a few options: Apply for renewal, with proper reason; go home; get deported or hide away and declare himself/herself an illegal immigrant. Is it too much to ask others to show the same respect for the sovereignty of Guyana? Could the American Embassy not been able to advise its citizens accordingly? If it is true that some of these who were illegally were here did so for many years, then I consider this gross eye pass.

I am truly ashamed of the locals who encouraged this! Has Jonestown been completely forgotten? If it is true that an embassy release mentioned spying, then they probably know more than the Guyanese people, and government should ask for clarification. The most disgusting part of this affair is to read of the opposition leader (hoping one day to become President) actually supporting foreigners to break the law of the land. Then he says that the whole of Guyana might suffer because of this. One supposes he meant that the Obama Administration will withhold aid for Guyana because Guyana wants foreigners to abide by the laws of the land. We can't judge other leaders by our own standards.

You better believe it, the Mormons, as American citizens are compelled to abide by the laws of America, including the law governing polygamy. Is this one of the reasons for running to Guyana? Once again I say, if we forget our past we're condemned to repeat JONESTOWN! Burnham said then that it was an American problem. Whose is it now?

HARRY NAUTH

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What is the AFC’s position on rigged elections?
I should wish to urge the Alliance For Change (AFC) leadership to make a public disclosure of its position on fraudulent electoral activities, or what we in our national vernacular call ‘rigged elections’. I hasten to invoke the work of Bertrand G. Ramcharan, whose book: ‘The Guyana Court of Appeal: The Challenges of the Rule of Law in a Developing Country’, discusses the invaluable significance of the rule of law to good governance and democracy; the economic, cultural, social, civil and political rights of citizens; fraudulent elections and oppression through law, among other things.

In the third chapter titled: ‘The Rule of Law’, under the sub-title: ‘Fraudulent Elections and Oppression Through Law’ the author asserts: “Following Guyana’s independence in 1966, the government’s control of the country under the Presidency of Forbes Burnham could not, under any circumstances, be described as democratic”. The author continues: “It has been documented by impartial international observers that the 1968 elections in Guyana were massively rigged by the introduction of the ‘overseas vote’. The rigging of the elections permitted the People’s National Congress (PNC) party, led by Dr Forbes Burnham, to win a majority of votes and to become the dominant party in the country, thus displacing the People’s Progressive Party, headed by Dr Jagan, to second place.” The book, validated by a large gamut of findings contained in the reports of scores of international, independent, non-political observers and researchers, discusses the way the judicial system was used as a tool in the rampant electoral illegalities for which the PNC, from its inception, has become notorious. It also centres discourse on a number of other topical issues that should indulge the readership of any Guyanese who has an appreciation for history, especially political history of independent Guyana, and who might be curious to find out the origin of electoral scams.

AFC Co-Leader, Raphael Trotman, being a former member of the PNCR, should have more intimate institutional knowledge of the connections of the Robert Corbin-led party with manipulation of electoral processes and outcomes. In recent weeks, there have been allegations of massive rigging of elections internal to the party, from District Conference to Party Leadership. These allegations have been contributing to further fragmentation of the party, rendering it impotent in its posture as a main opposition party. Interestingly, not once was there any publication from the AFC condemning the electoral fraud attributable to the PNCR. What is pellucid is the alignment between the two parties. It leaves one to wonder: Is the AFC aligning to change the state of affairs of the PNCR? Or is it an alliance for fraud?
GUY SCHOLARI

Balls of Fury 2..
CARICOM Superstars take second game and G$1M
…Nagamootoo’s hat- trick goes in vain
By Calvin Roberts
IT was dubbed ‘Balls of Fury 2’ from the first match between the CARICOM Superstars and the President’s XI at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence the previous night and Saturday night’s action was no different, as the Superstars led by Chris Gayle defeated their Ramnaresh Sarwan led opponents once again.

But this time around, the fans who turned out in their thousands to see President Bharrat Jagdeo bowl the first ball and stayed around until the players departed, got their money’s worth as they saw discarded Berbice leg -spinner Mahendra Nagamootoo grabbed a hat- trick, while Gayle slammed a 59 ball 75 with five sixes and four fours.

Being asked to take first strike on a better prepared pitch, compared to the one used the previous night, the CARICOM Superstars led by Gayle and Darren Bravo’s 22 ball 44, scored 164-9 from their 20 overs, against Nagamootoo’s fine figures of 4-1-14-5, his second five wicket haul in this version of the game.

In reply, the President’s XI could only manage 144-9 from their 20 overs, despite a stubborn and resilient 34 from Derwin Christian, 21 from Sewnarine Chattergoon and an unbeaten 20 from Lennox Cush, as Xavier Marshal 3-22 and Dwayne Bravo with 2-40 saw their team to victory.

It was vintage Gayle and Darren Bravo who struck 10 sixes and five fours between them, that brought the crowd to life, following the early demise of Lendl Simmons (04), Marshall (07) and Dwayne Bravo (02) which left the Superstars on 46-3 in the ninth over.

After tickling Christopher Barnwell (2-39) to fine leg for four, Simmons backed away to cut a short delivery but only succeeded in getting an edge through to Christian, while Marshall was run out by Sarwan and Assad Fudadin held a skier at long on to account for Dwayne Bravo off Nagamootoo.

Gayle responded by hitting Barnwell exquisitely off the back foot through extra cover for four, followed by an audacious pull shot back over the bowler’s head for a maximum and when Sarwan replaced Barnwell with Cush, the latter was reverse swept for four, whilst Esaun Crandon was also hit back over his head for a maximum.

Apparently Nagamootoo loved the way the explosive Jamaican was batting, hence he offered him a chance when on 29 off Devendra Bishoo, to which the talismanic West Indies opener responded with a deft late cut through point for four.

Darren Bravo joined the act by hitting the hapless Bishoo over long on for six, then watched as Gayle also dispatched the national right arm leg spinner in the same area for a maximum, all in the 12th over which went for 15 runs.

Bravo continued his six hitting act, when he dispatched Cush over long off in the 13th over, followed by two more over square leg and long on in successive overs off Deonarine and another over wide long on off Barnwell.

His skipper reached his half- century and the lone one of the match from 45 balls hitting three fours and an equal number of sixes, with a single off Barnwell, before Bravo sent the same bowler over wide long on for a maximum.

Cush replaced Deonarine and he too was struck back over his head by Bravo for six but after being struck back along the ground by the same batsman, Cush got his revenge when Bishoo held a well judged catch as Bravo tried to clear long on, bringing an end to a 87 runs partnership which came off 44 balls and included eight sixes and three fours.

At 133-4 at the end of 16 overs, became 141-5 when Barnwell removed Kieron Pollard (08; 1x6) who held out to Chattergoon at deep midwicket, two balls after hitting the bowler over deep square leg for six.

Gayle thanked Nagamootoo for the life he gave him earlier, by hitting him over wide midwicket for six but after hitting Crandon for four through point, the rest of the show in his team’s innings belonged to Nagamootoo.

Breaking his contract in Canada to return home for selection to the Berbice reduced 36 man squad, ‘Yanko’ was disappointed as he did not find favour with the selectors who may be fuming with anger, as he conceded one run from the final over, whilst taking four wickets in five balls.

Gayle was caught by Chattergoon at deep midwicket, Dinesh Ramdin (04) lost his middle stump and Kavon Cooper was given out lbw to seal the hat trick and when Rampaul survived the helmet trick delivery, that was his only reprieve, as he was bowled off the final delivery of both the over and innings by a gleeful Nagamootoo.

The President’s XI began their reply with Chattergoon (21) and Sarwan (00) and were quickly rocked by Rampaul who once again, got an edge off Sarwan on its way to Ramdin in the second over, but Chattergoon responded with a four off Rampaul and watched as Fudadin (12) also struck Cooper for four.

Cooper had the final laugh, when he knocked back the middle stump of Fudadin whilst Rampaul ran out Chattergoon, but not before the batsman had struck Davon Cruickshank over midwicket for six, to leave the President’s XI on 41-3 in the eight over.

Christian strode to the wicket at the demise of Fudadin and added 19 with Narsingh Deonarine (08), before the latter and Barnwell (11; 1x6) lost their middle stump to Marshall’s medium pace bowling, with Barnwell losing his after hitting the bowler over long off for six.

Crandon (11) joined Christian at 74-5 and they took the score to 85, before the Bravo combination of Darren who was executing wicket keeping duties and bowler Dwayne accounted for Crandon much to the delight of the Superstars on the field.

Steven Jacobs (01) one of two replacements in the President’s XI side from the first game, Bishoo being the other, never suggested permanence, thus it was no surprise when he was adjudged lbw to Marshall which left his team on 86-7 in the 16th over.

Nagamootoo struck Marshall through point for four, but was caught by Pollard in the next over off Dwayne Bravo and as a show of good faith, Gayle entrusted Ramdin with the ball for the 18th over, to which Christian responded with four fours from five balls between point and extra cover to push the score to 111-8 at the end of the over.

Simmons bowled the penultimate over and was struck for three successive boundaries by Cush, followed by another off the final delivery, as some respectability was brought to the home team’s total, which at one time looked as if it would not get to the 100 mark.

Gayle took it upon himself to bowl the final over and he surprised all and sundry gathered at the ground, when he took a medium pacer’s run up to deliver to Christian who dispatch the second ball for four, before picking out Dwayne Bravo at short fine leg off the next delivery.

Bishoo strode to the wicket and was met by Gayle who sought and received the support of the crowd, in similar fashion to that of Cuban high jumper Javier Sotomayor after each delivery, with a cut throat signal, also similar to that of WWE’s Undertaker.

The crowd warmed to every antic displayed by the tall Jamaican, who asked all his fielders to go into the slip cordon, then bowled a short delivery which Bishoo pulled to forward square leg for four and to the amusement of the crowd, all the fielders minus Gayle, chased after the ball.

The best was yet to come, when he took his run up all the way from the sightscreen at the pavilion end and when Bishoo backed away prior to him delivering the ball, Gayle threw himself face first on the pitch as if exhausted, then watched as Bishoo dispatched the final delivery of the match for four through point, but it was in vain as his team went under once again, this time by 20 runs.

Santos conquer Conquerors to win GFA/COURTS Pee Wee U-11 title
..Uprising beat Renaissance in third place play off
SANTOS edged Fruta Conquerors 2-1 to win the Georgetown Football Association's/Courts Pee-Wee Under-11 Football title, while Uprising beat Renaissance 3-2 in a penalty shoot-out to claim the third spot.

Playing at the Thirst Park ground on Saturday evening, Job Ceasar and Alwyn Williams found the back of Fruta Conquerors' net in the 39th and 42nd minutes respectively for Santos, but this was after Ryan Hackett gave Fruta Conquerors a 1-0 lead in the 19th minute which was maintained until after the interval.

In the third place play off, Uprising and Renaissance were deadlocked at 1-1 at the end of regulation and extra time and the place had to be decided on penalty kicks which the former won by a 3-2 margin.

Jermayne Beckles netted Renaissance's goal in the 19th minute while Kester Grant responded for Uprising in the 35th minute and the score remained unchanged at the end of regulation and extra time.

However, in the penalty shoot-out, Grant, Akosy, and Shemar Harvey scored from the penalty spot for Uprising while Beckles and Kevin Boeters netted for Renaissance from the same spot.

Ceasar was adjudged the Most Valuable {Player of the tournament and together with Hackett won the highest goal scorer award, both having scored nine goals each.

Thomas United and Pele were adjudged the most disciplined teams in the competition.

The presentation of prizes to the respective winners were done by COURTS' Director of Purchasing Clyde DeHass.

Santos received the winning trophy and 10 footballs, while Fruta Conquerors, Uprising and Renaissance received five balls, three balls and five shin pads respectively.

DeHass thanked the GFA and Banks DIH for making the tournament a success.

T&T World Cup hopes dented by Honduras in 4-1 loss
…U.S come from behind to beat El Salvador 2-1

Carlos Pavon’s brace helped sink Soca Warriors in San Pedro Sula.

SAN PEDRO SULA, Honduras, (CMC) – Trinidad and Tobago were stung Saturday night by veteran Carlos Pavon’s brace in a 4-1 loss to Honduras that virtually killed their hopes of reaching the 2010 World Cup Football Finals in South Africa.

The 35-year-old Pavon netted twice in the first half an hour for a 2-0 halftime lead at Olympic Metropolitan Stadium en route to the big Honduras win that vaulted them to the top of CONCACAF qualifying table.

And while defeats for T&T and El Salvador left those teams badly outpaced, Saturday’s seventh-round results intriguingly tightened the CONCACAF race for three automatic spots to South Africa.

A mere one point separates the top four teams after resurgent Mexico thumped Costa Rica 3-0 and the USA got past El Salvador 2-1.

Honduras lead the table with 13 points on goal difference over the USA with Mexico and Costa Rica on their heels with 12 points each.

With a plus-2 goal difference, the Mexicans hold third over Costa Rica, who were hurt by their big loss at home and were reduced to a goal difference of minus 3.

Pavon scored for Honduras in the 19th and 27th minutes and Amado Guevara made it 3-0 for the home side 16 minutes into the second half.

David Sauzo scored in the 82nd minute to make it 4-0 and Kerry Baptiste got a consolation goal for the Soca Warriors, who now need miraculous results in their remaining three games to repeat their 2006 World Cup qualification.

Both teams came into the match buoyed by wins in their previous games.

T&T had defeated El Salvador 1-0 on August 12 for their first win of the series and Honduras peppered Costa Rica 4-0.

The top three sides in the six-team series will advance directly to the FIFA World Cup finals and the fourth-placed team will play-off for a berth against the South American qualifying fifth-placed team, a position currently occupied by Colombia.

Mexico, who started the series badly, got a superb game from their 20-year-old star Giovani dos Santos and continued their rebound with an emphatic win away to Costa Rica in San Jose.

dos Santos scored in the 45th and 62nd to send the Mexicans 2-0 ahead and then set up Andres Guardado to score in the 69th minute.

Meanwhile, the USA needed to come from behind to beat El Salvador at the Rio Tinto Stadium in Utah.

Christian Castillo had given El Salvador a 1-0 lead in the 32nd minute with a header but Clint Dempsey equalised in the 41st when he headed in a Landon Donovan free-kick.

Donovan also supplied the cross for Jozy Altidore to score in first-half stoppage time to defeat the Central Americans.

The CONCACAF series continues Wednesday with T&T at home to the USA, Costa Rica away to El Salvador and Mexico at home to Honduras.

Beacon and Uprising record opening night wins
BEACON FC and Uprising were on top of their game on Saturday night as they both debuted this year’s competition with wins on the opening night of the Mackeson English/Kashif and Shanghai Futsal tournament at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

Beacon upset BVTUFC with a final score of 3-2 with Nigel Denny scoring a double in the 20th and 26th minutes and Shawn Morris increased Beacons’ score to 3 goals with his 31st minute strike. BVTUFC’s side of the scoreboard was stimulated by Colin Jones and Sean Daniels who scored one goal each in the 25th and 14th minutes respectively.

Den Amstel suffered battery at the hands of Uprising as that game ended 0-11 in the latter’s favour.

Daniel Favorite and Ronald La Rose scored three goals a piece. La Rose’s strikes came in the 12th, 17th and 28th minutes while Favorite struck in the 4th, 5th and 29th minutes. The inter-team scoring competition continued as Dwayne Dickinson scored two goals in the 23rd and 25th minutes and Terrence Lewis and Oriley Small marked one each on the scoreboard in the 3rd and 15th minutes respectively.

The night’s other games saw Bakewell Top XX losing out to Riddim Squad and Winners Connection trumping Young Achievers.

The Bakewell/ Riddim Squad encounter ended 2-3 with Sceyon Hope recording a game high of 2 goals in the 20th and 22nd minutes; he was assisted by teammate M. Gilkes with his single winner in the 6th minute. Bakewell’s scorers were Michael Wills and Keon Sears who scored one goal each in the 1st and 10th minutes respectively.

Young Achievers scored 2 goals on behalf of Dion Kennedy’s 5th and 20th minute strikes but fell behind on the uptake and conceded 5 goals to Winners Connection.

The heroes for the winning team were H. Davis with his 14th minute strike, R. Gittens with his 26th minute strike and S. Gittens with his 3 goals in the 8th, 9th and 18th minutes.

FIVB outreach benefits 28 of the nation’s teachers
By Storme Moore
TWENTY-eight of the nation’s educators are now better equipped to perform their duties, as Saturday saw them completing a five- day stint in training on how to administer volleyball coaching.

The course which was sponsored by the Federation of International Volleyball (FIVB) and conducted through the joint efforts of the Guyana Volleyball Federation and the Ministry of Education’s Allied Arts Unit was aimed at improving the Physical Education standard in the education system.

The FIVB instructor Dr. Eduardo Bellman of Argentina said that the knowledge that the teachers would have gained from the exercise is very useful and he charged them to pass it on to the next generation.

Bellman said that he is thankful for having been so involved in such a positive activity. Trevor Smith, vice-president of the Guyana Volleyball Federation extended the privilege of further knowledge to all of the interested participants.

“The Guyana Volleyball Federation is willing to assist anyone who has the need to or is interested in elevating their current level of qualification,” Smith said. Arnold Sookraj one of the facilitators of the exercise and Physical Education officer attached to the Ministry of Education’s Allied Arts Unit urged the teachers to go back to their respective schools and make evident the fact that the experience was very empowering.

He reminded the teachers about Minister Frank Anthony’s promise to sponsor a National School Tournament. In light of this Sookraj challenged them to employ their knowledge in preparing their school teams for the tournament. The 28 who successfully completed the course are from educational institutions that span seven regions.

Ghana qualify for World Cup after beating Sudan 2-0
By Mark Gleeson
JOHANNESBURG, (Reuters) - Ghana qualified for next year's World Cup after beating Sudan 2-0 in Accra yesterday to take an unassailable lead in their group.

They are the first of five countries to qualify from the African preliminaries and achieved it with two matches still to play.

Sulley Muntari, who Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho said may be suffering with his energy levels because he is fasting for Ramadan, put Ghana ahead in the 14th minute.

Chelsea's Michael Essien added a second 10 minutes into the second half, scoring from 20 yards out after picking up a loose ball.

Ghana's win, combined with a 1-1 draw for closest rivals Mali in Benin, ensured the Black Stars went seven points clear at the head of Group D.

Mali, who had led from the 72nd minute when their new striker Mamadou Samassa netted on his debut, conceded a goal three minutes from time in Cotonou. Samassa recently switched his footballing nationality from France.

Another former French junior international Nabil Taider scored for Tunisia as they drew 2-2 in Nigeria to maintain a two-point lead in Group B.

Oussama Darragi scored an equaliser from a tight angle in stoppage time of a storming match in Abuja, dealing a large blow to Nigeria's qualification aspirations.

Nigeria had taken the lead in the 27th minute after a superb finish from Peter Odemwingie but Taider's reply came within two minutes.

Nigeria then survived some anxious moments before restoring their lead when a cross from Taye Taiwo set up a tap-in from close range for substitute Michael Eneramo in the 81st minute.

Darragi's equaliser set off a storm of protest from home fans who pelted both teams with objects after the goal and at the final whistle.

Morocco's Adil Taarabt came on as a substitute and dribbled through the Togo defence in stoppage time in Lome on Sunday to give his country a 1-1 draw in their Group A match.

Togo had scored after four minutes through Moustapha Salifou and the draw against the group's bottom side is a blow to their hopes of qualifying. Togo (five points from four matches) are second behind Gabon (six points from three matches).

Only the five group winners qualify for the World Cup from the final phase of African qualifiers. Africa will have six representatives in 2010 because hosts South Africa are automatically in the field.

AUSTRALIA innings

S. Watson c Wright b Bresnan 34

T. Paine c Morgan b Wright 26

C. White c Prior b Bopara 42

M. Clarke c Prior b Wright 4

C. Ferguson b Anderson 55

M. Hussey b Swann 8

J. Hopes lbw b Swann 11

M. Johnson not out 43

B. Lee c Shah b Sidebottom 0

N. Hauritz not out 10

Extras (lb-8, w-8) 16

Total (eight wickets; 50 overs) 249

Fall of wickets: 1-62 2-64 3-73 4-142 5-155 6-179 7-201 8-208

Did not bat: N. Bracken

Bowling: Anderson: 9-0-57-1 (4w), Sidebottom 9-0-45-1 (1w), Bresnan 7-0-25-1 (1w), Wright 10-0-52-2 (1w), Collingwood 4-0-19-0, Swann 8-0-31-2, Bopara 3-0-12-1 .

ENGLAND innings

A. Strauss c & b Hauritz 47

R. Bopara lbw b Watson 27

M. Prior c Paine b Watson 1

O. Shah run out 12

P. Collingwood b Lee 56

E. Morgan lbw b Johnson 14

L. Wright c Paine b Lee 20

T. Bresnan c Paine b Johnson 5

G. Swann b Bracken 14

R. Sidebottom b Bracken 0

J. Anderson not out 0

Extras: (b-5, lb-2, w-6, nb-1) 14 Total: (all out; 46.1 overs) 210

Fall of wickets: 1-74 2-76 3-85 4-97 5-129 6-157 7-168 8-204 9-204 10-210.

Bowling: Lee 8.1-0-22-2 (1nb, 1w), Bracken 10-1-37-2 (1w), Johnson 9-1-50-2 (1w), Hopes 3-0-22-0 (1w), Hauritz 9-0-46-1 (2w), Watson 7-1-26-2.

Johnson inspires Aussies to second ODI win over England
By John Mehaffey
LONDON, (Reuters) - Australia exploited England's lack of power hitters at Lord's yesterday to beat the hosts for the second time in three days and take a 2-0 lead in the seven-match one-day series.

England steadily fell off the pace chasing Australia's modest 249 for eight and were bowled out for 210 with 23 balls remaining to give the world 50-overs champions victory by 39 runs.

A robust 43 not out off 23 balls from Mitchell Johnson revived the Australian innings but their total still looked well within England's reach when Andrew Strauss and Ravi Bopara put on 74 for the first wicket.

But four wickets then tumbled in 31 deliveries, starting with Bopara's dismissal lbw for 27.

Matt Prior was caught behind for one off an airy waft, Strauss (47) hit a soft return catch to spinner Nathan Hauritz and Owais Shah (12) was once again involved in a run-out after confusion with Paul Collingwood.

By coincidence or not, three of the wickets fell soon after a Lancaster bomber flew across the ground to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the date the Royal Air Force returned Lord's to its original authorities after taking over the ground as a recruitment centre during World War Two.

Collingwood fought a dour battle to score 56 from 84 deliveries but neither he nor his partners could lift the run-rate sufficiently to seriously challenge the Australians.

IMPRESSIVE FERGUSON

Callum Ferguson, man-of-the-match for his unbeaten 71 in Australia's narrow win in the opening match at the Oval on Friday, again impressed with 55 from 58 balls after Strauss elected to field first for the second time.

Ferguson added 69 from 86 balls for the fourth wicket with the aggressive Cameron White (42) after Australia had lost three wickets in 11 balls following a brisk opening stand of 62 between Shane Watson (34) and Tim Paine (26).

The victims included captain Michael Clarke, who was out for four when an attempted hook off Tim Bresnan resulted in a thin edge to Prior behind the stumps.

Graeme Swann bowled Michael Hussey for eight and dismissed James Hopes lbw for 11 during a probing eight-over spell of off-spin which cost only 31 runs. James Anderson bowled Ferguson.

Australia slumped to 208 for eight with 4.2 overs remaining after Brett Lee was caught for a duck before Johnson ensured his team posted a competitive total. He struck five fours, including a delicate flick down the leg-side which raced to the boundary.

Johnson added 41 from 28 balls in an unbroken ninth-wicket partnership with Hauritz (10 not out). Eighty runs came off the final 10 overs which included a fielding powerplay.

Saudis hold Bahrain in World Cup playoff
MANAMA, (Reuters) - A superb display by goalkeeper Waleed Adbullah enabled Saudi Arabia to hold on for a 0-0 draw in their World Cup Asian playoff with Bahrain at the Manama national stadium on Saturday.

Waleed pulled off a series of desperate saves to leave the first leg all square before the teams travel to Riyadh for Wednesday's return match.

The winners advance to a two-legged playoff against Oceania champions New Zealand in October and November.

Bahrain created the better scoring chances in the match but could not find a way past Waleed, who produced two acrobatic saves from Sayed Mohamed Adnan and Abdulla Omar in the first half then twice denied substitute Jaycee John in stoppage time.

"I don't know whether the result is good for us or not. We wasted a lot of chances and we were not fortunate," Bahrain coach Milan Macala told reporters.

Saudi Arabia's best opportunity came in the first half when striker Yasser Al Qahtani was brought down in the box but their appeals for a penalty were waved away.

"It was a positive game from both teams who tried to score," Saudi Arabia coach Jose Peseiro said.

"We didn't play with a defensive formation and we should have been awarded a spot kick in the first half.

Four teams from Asia -- Australia, Japan, North Korea and South Korea -- have already qualified for next year's World Cup.

Saudi Arabia and Bahrain were given a second chance to progress to the finals in South Africa after finishing third in their groups.

Bahrain are bidding to qualify for the first time after losing a playoff to Trinidad and Tobago four years ago while their Gulf neighbours are striving for a fifth consecutive appearance.