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ARCHIVES FOR OCTOBER 7, 2009

World Bank team in Guyana to conduct 2nd due diligence study
…briefs Agriculture Minister, stakeholders on their mission

Stakeholders listen intently as a member of the World Bank’s due diligence study group outlines her role in the activities that will take place in the coming days.

A five-member World Bank team led by Dr Laurent Debroux, Senior Natural Resource Economist, arrived in Guyana yesterday to conduct a second due diligence study, which will be done through dialogue and observation, on Guyana’s readiness to participate in the Bank’s Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF).

The team, joined by the Bank’s Guyana Representative, Giorgio Valentini, and Country Officer, Karen Devica, immediately began their work by meeting with Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud and several other stakeholders at the Guyana Forestry Commission’s (GFC’s) offices in Kingston, Georgetown, to brief them on their mission and outline the activities they plan to conduct over the period of their stay in Guyana.

This study follows up on the June FCPF Participants Committee meeting where Guyana, Panama and Indonesia, were the first countries, out of 37 in the Readiness Mechanism of the FCPF, to have their Readiness Proposal Plan (RPP) approved. The first due diligence mission was in July.

The general objective of the mission is to advise and exchange views

with the GFC and other Government institutions on compliance with the Bank's safeguards and operational policies. The mission's objective is also to hear the views and exchange with representatives from civil society, Amerindian communities, and other stakeholders regarding Guyana's participation in this FCPF/REDD (Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation) preparation phase.

The mission will visit the Amerindian communities in the context of a joint field trip with the GFC, the newly-elected Toshaos, and representatives of key non- governmental organisations (NGOs). The communities that will be visited are Kamarang and Nappi.

During this field trip, discussions will cover issues such as land tenure, consultations, communities' rights, and legal issues, among others.

The mission will also work/provide comments on the draft terms of reference for the Strategic Environmental and Social Assessment (SESA), and the revised draft RPP prepared by the GFC. It will discuss the next steps towards the processing of an FCPF readiness/preparation grant, following the PC recommendation in June.

This mission may also collect ideas and views relevant to the preparation of a proposed Forest, Communities, and Climate Change project, and a proposed Japanese Social Development Fund, as well as for the proposed Guyana-Norway Partnership which the Bank is being asked to help facilitate.

Should Guyana successfully conclude the Bank’s safeguards and other due diligence exercises, it would be able to access a US$3.5M grant for implementing the RPP which focuses on how to maintain the country’s ecosystems through sustainable forest management and to provide environmental and economic benefits to Guyanese and communities while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The other study members include Malcolm Childress (Senior Land Administration Specialist), Zeze Weiss (Senior Social Development & Civil Society Specialist), Miriam Bae (Social Scientist), and Charles di Leva (Chief Counsel Environment).

The NGOs involved in the process are the Amerindian Action Movement of Guyana, National Amerindian Development Foundation, Amerindian People's Association, and the Guyana Organisation of Indigenous People. (GINA)

$198.4M contract awarded to boost non-traditional agriculture exports
by Tajeram Mohabir
AGROTEC Spa, an Italy-based company, in association with Fraser and Housty attorneys-at-law, yesterday signed a $194.8M contract with the Ministry of Agriculture for a consultancy.

It will provide agriculture health and food safety services under the Agriculture Export Diversification Programme (AEDP).

The three-year deal will see, among other things:

* the provision of guidance in the development of a comprehensive policy and a strategic plan for agricultural health and food safety;

* the establishment of a system for organisation and maintenance of equipment;

* the establishment of a database and information system;

* the improvement of regulation procedures and evaluation for tuberculosis, brucellosis and rabies;

* the strengthening of epidemiology surveillance;

* the establishment of a system for risk analysis, inspection, quality assurance and livestock identification;

* preparation of laboratories and facilitation of accreditation;

* the improvement of diagnostics methodology, techniques and procedures;

* the improvement of organisation, procedures, performance and inspection of quarantine system and

* the establishment of a system of registry and control of veterinary drugs, biologicals and livestock inputs.

Landmark step

Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud, speaking at the signing in his Vlissengen Road Ministry, said the occasion is another landmark step in shoring-up activities in the livestock sector.

He said the work of the consultants will move the sector from an ordinary level of agriculture, animal health and safety management to one that is internationally recognised.

Mr. Persaud said this will make Guyana a greater force to be reckoned with on the international market.

He also noted that the award, which will see a total revamping of the management of the livestock sector, was won in a transparent tendering process.

Through the undertaking, 11 foreign experts will be working with local counterparts to ensure quality delivery and Persaud called on the Italian company to perform in an efficient and timely manner, so that the Government obtains value for its money.

He announced that, very soon, the Government will seek, through Parliament, to have the Guyana Development Livestock Board, a semi-autonomous agency take over some of the functions in the project.

Referring to developments in the livestock industry, Persaud said, over the years, local farmers have been able to satisfy domestic consumption, particularly cattle and made inroads in a few overseas markets.

He said, under the AEDP, strides are being made to expand into other export markets which concommittantly will directly increase farmers’ income.

Noteworthy investments

Persaud said the Government has recognised the potential of the livestock sector and made several noteworthy investments to improve animal breed and physical infrastructure.

He said, among those are availability of more pastures and veterinarians, implementation of relevant technology, as well as continuous efforts to acquire new breed animals to enhance the local stock.

Agrotec Spa International Coordinator, Mr. William Marsman said the ambitious scheme, which requires the involvement of the Ministries of Agriculture and Health, spawns six agencies and will be in full swing on January 1, 2010.

Project Manager, Ms. Laura Alessi expressed gratitude to the Government for choosing her company to execute the important task.

The AEDP seeks to increase export as well as income in the agriculture sector at a sustainable level.

The purpose of this programme is to see the establishment of services and institutions facilitating a sustainable rise in earnings from export of non-traditional agricultural output in the aquaculture, fruits and vegetables and livestock sub-sectors.

It also aims to enhance the protection of domestic consumers from illnesses, production diseases and contamination.

Mashramani 2010 launch set for October 16
- theme selected
From a list of 292 entries from across Guyana, the theme for the 2010 Mashramani celebrations has been chosen and will be unveiled along with the logo during a launching ceremony on Friday, October 16.

The winning theme, chosen by a panel of judges from the Central Mash Committee, was part of a competition that called for a suitable theme to be reflective of the spirit of the Mash festival, not more than eight words, and accompanied by a brief explanation. A sum of $30,000 will be awarded to the winner.

The Mash Secretariat on Middle Street is up and running with Lennox Canterbury as Coordinator.

Next year’s Mashramani celebrations will mark 40 years of Guyana’s Republic status and the central planning committee chaired by Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Dr Frank Anthony, is working towards making the occasion special. Committee members are drawn from various governmental and other organisations and have been meeting on a daily basis.

Mashramani Day, February 23, is the highpoint on a calendar of activities that includes masquerade, calypso, chutney, children’s steel pan and costume competitions, regional activities and flag raising ceremonies. (GINA)

Administration denies claims of interference by former Justice Singh
The administration has denied claims of political interference levelled by former Justice Jainarayan Singh as the cause for the difficulties he faces in receiving his gratuity benefits.

The former Supreme Court judge has retired after serving several years in the judiciary, and has approached the media saying he was encountering difficulties obtaining the benefits due him.

He charged that this is a result of political interference, since while serving he had ruled on judgments which were against the Government.

But yesterday, Head of the Presidential Secretariat/Secretary to the Cabinet, Dr Roger Luncheon, told a media briefing that the Administration repudiates the claims in its entirety, adding that while the former judge indeed has a problem, it is however with the Judicial Service Commission (JSC).

The JSC, he noted, is the body that confirms and addresses conduct and conditions of service for judges..

Luncheon pointed out that because Justice Jainarayan Singh is unhappy and has a difficulty with the resolution of benefits, he is seriously claiming political interference.

But, Luncheon notes, such claims never surfaced, directly or indirectly, while the former judge was serving.

Bodies of Island Princess crew exhumed for DNA tests
By Michel Outridge

Titus Nascimento

The corpses of three crew members of Island Princess were exhumed yesterday for DNA tests.

Crime Chief Seulall Persaud said the relatives requested to accompany the police to witness the exhumation..

H added that there is no new information regarding the circumstances surrounding the violent murders of the crew members, but the owner of the trawler have since admitted that he rented the vessel to be used for commercial purposes.

Persaud said that samples were taken and will be sent overseas for testing.

The group yesterday went to the areas where the bodies were interred shortly after the on-spot post mortems the day the corpses washed ashore in the Essequibo River.

Rickford Bannister

Family members of the men, Titus Buckley Nascimento, Rickford Bannister and Mahendra Singh, said after the exhumation the corpses were placed in coffins and reburied.

Still missing is another crew member, Ryan Chin, 23, of Friar’s Rust, Linden.

Police said that investigations have been launched into a report of a missing cargo vessel named ‘ISLAND PRINCESS’ and its four crew members about 18:00h on September 29, 2009, in the Essequibo River; and there was the subsequent discovery of two bodies off Hamburg and Wakenaam Islands in the Essequibo River on September 29 and 30.

The police reported that enquiries have so far revealed that Titus Thomas called Titus Buckley, the Captain of the vessel, and crew members Mahendra Singh, called Sunil, Ryan Chin, and Rickford Bannister left Parika with the vessel on Saturday September 26, 2009 for Friendship, East Bank Demerara. They were last contacted about 18:30h on the same day and gave their location as Essequibo River mouth. Efforts to contact them about half an hour later proved futile.

The bodies of Titus Thomas and Mahendra Singh were found in the vicinity of Wakenaam and Hamburg Island on September 29 and 30 respectively. Their bodies bore gunshot injuries and they were disemboweled.

The two remaining crew members and the vessel are yet to be found.

Subsequently, about 17:05h Friday September 2, 2009, the body of a man about six feet tall and in a state of decomposition was found on the Queenstown, Essequibo foreshore, disemboweled, and with suspected gunshot injuries to the head and right leg.

The body was clad in mauve underwear, about 30 years old, medium built, brown in complexion and seeming to be to be of mixed ancestry.

Relatives believe that the corpse is that of Herstelling resident, Rickford Bannister.

‘G’ Division Commander, Superintendent Christopher Griffith told the Guyana Chronicle that a wristwatch, a wedding band and a Nokia cellular phone is being transported to the city in order for the relatives of the men that washed up shore on Tuesday and Wednesday to make a positive identification of the articles.

Police said that at about 16:00 h on Tuesday, September 29, the body of an unidentified man in a state of decomposition was seen floating in Essequibo River in the vicinity of Wakenaam Island.

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

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

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

An autopsy established that the man died of haemorrhage and shock, induced by gunshot injuries.

Sonell Nelson photos saved in a folder in Graphics as missing men.

GGMC completes training officers for LCDS field work

Officers during a field trip to a mine site, part of the upgraded training programme.

GUYANA Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), last week, completed training 25 of its officers on approaches to environmental management and concession monitoring.

It was to prepare them for field work within the context of the Low Carbon Development Strategy.(LCDS), GGMC Commissioner William Woolford said.

He said the syllabus included information on environmental management systems, conduct of environmental and social impact assessments, review of the relevant legislation and how to monitor mines for compliance.

Mr. Woolford said the programme gave the trained group tools to facilitate a change of culture within the mining industry.

“It was also in keeping with our thrust to raise the level of our environmental management and concession monitoring to internationally accepted standards,” he said of the five-day exercise that was conducted at the site of the former Omai gold mines.

It was in two parts, one focused on environmental management with the emphasis on social impact assessments and the other on concession compliance monitoring.

The participants, including a Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) staffer, were required to do environmental impact assessments (EIAs) as recommended for any new project.

They also looked at systems which set out procedures for environmental management and measures to be taken for documenting and ensuring that improvements put in place are sustained.

Concession compliance monitoring training concentrated on regulations and achieving compliance with them, concretised their understanding and gave cues how on how to deal with field situations.

“The main focus for them though, was training on how to ensure compliance with the regulations while convincing miners that they should see themselves as co-regulators with the GGMC, that they should see the environment the same way we see it and make sure it is not unduly damaged,” Woolford said.

The resource persons were consultant, Dr Paulette Bynoe and assistants, Ms. Denise Simmons and Ms. Jewel Liddel.

Geological engineer, Mr. Samuel Wright led the concession and compliance monitoring train the trainer course and the Project Administrator was Mr. Lennox Tucker of World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

Woolford said the trained oficers will be deployed in the fields this and next weekend.

“They will be talking to the miners about environmental management and improvements; teaching them how they could think about environmental management and contaminants and mitigation, nudging them towards self- regulation,” he said.

Bynoe and Wright will accompany them in the field to evaluate how they perform in their interactions with targeted miners in the aftermath of their training.

At Festival of Choirs…
Calls continue for music on schools curriculum

Golden Grove Secondary students perform a folk song.

ACTING Administrator of the Allied Arts unit in the Ministry of Education, Ms. Lorraine Barker-King has emphasised the need for more prominence to be placed on the inclusion of music in the schools curriculum.

She spoke at the Schools Festival of Choirs, Secondary Level, last Friday, after repeat performances of the late Michael Jackson’s ‘Heal the World’.

Annandale Secondary School students perform

It was testimony to the impact of one man’s own and the fact that music is important amidst calls for it to be recognised as quintessential continued and Barker-King reiterated the call.

Addressing the gathering of schoolchildren, teachers and Education Ministry officials, she pointed out that music is significant and an important contributor to the development of a student.

Berbice High School students perform with its male lead singers.

“Music is not a frill,” she asserted.

Barker-King said the significance of music and arts in the schools curriculum is being demonstrated by the Ministry through the Schools Festival Choirs.

The biannual event was initiated in 2006 by Acting Chief Education Officer, Ms. Genevieve Whyte-Nedd and she and other Education Ministry officials, including Minister within the Ministry, Dr Desrey Fox, were present at the festival opening on Thursday, when primary schools performed.

Secondary schools took part yesterday but all, from different regions countrywide, rendered a national song, a folk song and one of their choices, came from several regions across Guyana.

Primary schools

The primary schools that participated were Wales and Kawall in Region Three (West Demerara/Essequibo Islands); Company Road and St. Andrew’s in Region Four (Demerara/Mahaica); Hopetown and Number 29 in Region Five (Mahaica/Berbice); All Saints and Rose Hall Estate in Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne); Mackenzie and Regma in Region 10 (Upper Demerara/Berbice) and St. Margaret’s, West Ruimveldt, North Georgetown and Winfer Gardens in Georgetown.

Of the lot, Hopetown Primary was adjudged the best.

Taking the stage yesterday were secondary schools from Aurora in Region Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam); Golden Grove and Annandale from Region Four; Fort Wellington and Mahaicony from Region Five; Berbice High and New Amsterdam from Region Six; Linden Foundation and New Silver City from Region 10 and St. Rose’s, New Campbellville, Lodge Community High and Bishops’ High from Georgetown.

The winner amongst them was Bishops’.

Barker-King explained that the participation of the latter group is an indication that some focus is being put on music and arts in schools.

Additionally, music was lauded, as an expressive art that bridges many divides in addition to assisting with the development of an individual, by chairperson of yesterday’s proceedings and Headmistress of Queen’s College, Mrs. Gem Rohlehr-Vogt.

School heads and managers like herself were charged by Minister Fox last Thursday to facilitate singing and music as a regular part of the school programme.

She announced that efforts will be made by the Ministry to establish a National Schools Choir and Steel Orchestra by 2010.

Going the Low Carbon Way
While some on the local scene are griping and attempting to throw a negative spin on Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), which is in consonance with the international agenda on Climate Change and Global Warming, increasingly leading statesmen, reputable international organisations, leading personalities in the entertainment world and both developing and developed countries are recognising and endorsing it as viable, feasible and very crucial in reversing the current patterns in the global environment.

Credit must be given to President Jagdeo for so ably articulating the strategy. both at the local and international arenas, and aggressively galvanizing support from major organisations and leading statesmen and countries across the globe.

And this again has been reinforced by a World Bank team that is on current visit here. World Bank Guyana Country Representative, Mr. Giorgio Valentini, said the bank wants to reinforce the message that it supports the Guyana Government on its climate change programme, including the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS).

“We think the government has done a very good job in the consultations on the strategy”, he told this newspaper. He said this view is also shared by the donors.

Valentini said the 20-member mission includes representatives from the United States and the United Kingdom, two of the FCPF donor countries, and it is the final assessment before anticipated approval of support for Guyana under the trust fund.

The visit, organised by the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC), is financed by the World Bank and the British Department For International Development (DFID) and the mission will undertake field trips, Valentini said.

It is therefore no surprise that Guyana is leading a group of 37 countries around the world that stands to benefit from the World Bank’s Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF), a Multi-Donor Trust Fund (MDTF) administered by the World Bank.

Valentini earlier this year said, “I am a supporter of the climate change agenda of the country and the proposed LCDS provides a very good entry point into the preparation mechanism for the FCPF and the future carbon fund mechanism. The President has well illustrated the benefits of Guyana's forest to the world and the potential for improving Guyana's socio-economic development. On this, we are looking forward to supporting the government in implementing the LCDS and to make Guyana a best practice for the rest of the countries in the FCPF.”

“It’s a very unique opportunity if you think about Guyana being the first of 37 countries worldwide in this”, he said.

He explained that the preparation phase to be supported by the grant involves a baseline and historical assessment of the forest to understand the rate of deforestation, changes in the forest and the drivers of deforestation.

It is therefore evident that Guyana’s LCDS is on a solid foundation as the global momentum is building up globally in favour of such a strategy which is not just about the development of individual countries, but rather would be of benefit to the entire world which faces one of the most uphill tasks in the history of mankind and that is to reverse the frightening changes in global weather patterns

According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) the Billion Tree Campaign has just passed the four billion mark, in a crucial step towards its target of seven billion trees planted by the end of 2009.

From the UNEP Twitter campaign to tree-plantings on every continent, thousands of people around the world mobilize to put more trees on the planet

UNEP further pointed out that the Billion Tree Campaign has passed the four billion mark, in a crucial step towards its target of seven billion trees planted by the end of 2009.

The milestone was reached following confirmation from the Ethiopian Ministry of Agriculture that an additional 687 million trees were planted in 2008 under the country's nationwide tree planting campaign - part of the one billion trees that were planted over the last 52 days.

The total has also been boosted by individual tree planting efforts by people around the world taking part in a global tree planting drive for World Environment Day, a hands-on way for communities to urge world leaders to "seal the deal" at the crucial UN climate change talks in Copenhagen in December.

Some bright spots have emerged
INTERNATIONAL events broadcast on TV and Radio and published in newspapers over the past several weeks have been depressing to say the least.

From death and destruction in the Far East and the Pacific Islands arising from climatic conditions, to deadly clashes between police and protestors in Guinea-Conakry resulting in the deaths of more than one hundred and fifty demonstrators to the politically explosive stand off between the de factor military regime and the Constitutional President Manuel Zalaya in Honduras.

But as if all was not lost, three bright spots emerged.

The first bright spot was the first ever rock concert held on September 20, 2009 in Cuba which attracted thousands of young Cubans to celebrate “Peace without Frontiers”. The concert was promoted by the ever popular Colombian rock artiste, Juanes.

To many “Cubanologists” the realization of such an event was unthinkable, if not unbelievable. “Why a rock concert in Communist Cuba?” They pondered in “shock and awe” while holding tenaciously to the orthodoxy that such events are irreconcilable with their notion of the “communist ideology”

But the rock concert in which a total of fifteen artites from six countries participated shattered the age old belief that modern popular music, rock or any other geñre is incompatible with progressive democratic thought as exemplified in the Cuban model of socio-economic development.

Further, the rock concert which was part of Cuba’s observance of International Day of Peace made a significant breakthrough in the real and psychological blockade imposed on Cuba by demonstrating to the world how a society can reinvent itself in keeping with modern times and still remain firmly committed to its beliefs and principles.

The second bright spot was the celebrations marking the 60th Anniversary of the establishment of the People’s Republic of China. For several hours TV viewers around the world were captivated by the wonderful display of joy and talent by thousands of Chinese performers at Tiananmen Square, Beijing.

A choir of nearly sixty thousand including the Chinese President sang the tune “Ode to the Homeland” much to the delight of million of viewers around the world. And a gala performance including acrobats, musicians and fireworks in a sea of colour, with thousands of children, attractive wardrobes and an incalculable number of banners made the celebration an impressive, memorable and heartwarming occasion.

One can well imagine the months of planning and rehearsals that went into the preparations for such a massive event. The military and civilian parade that preceded the gala performance was unmatched, in any part of today’s world.

The Chinese must be a very proud people considering the feudal conditions under which the majority of the population lived and worked before the triumph of the Revolution under the leadership of Mao Tse Tung not to mention the many experiments the country experienced since the establishment of the People’s Republic.

Today, China’s power and influence in the world cannot be challenged and it is equally important to note that China’s foreign policy is based on peace and friendship among the peoples of the world.

The third bright spot I wish to refer to was the announcement that Brazil, our neighbour will play host to the Olympic Games in 2016.

This is the first time ever the Olympics will be held on our continent. It is the first time Guyana will be just next door to a host country and it is the first time a third world country in our part of the world will host the games.

This means that Guyana will have to begin positioning itself to take advantage of the opportunities that will open up with this momentous occasion.

With the inauguration of the bridge across the Takutu River added value is given to our relations with Brazil and by extension the rest of South America. It is through this prism we must view preparations for our participation in the opportunities that lie ahead as regards this epochal occasion.

It is hoped that the upgrading and paving of the road from Linden to Lethem would be completed long before 2016, thus enhancing our geo-strategic position as the Caribbean gateway to Rio.

We Guyanese like other South American countries feel we have won. Brazil’s victory to host the 2016 Olympics is our victory and as President Jagdeo declared; “We share in its celebrations”.

I salute my friend Celso Amorin – the indefatigable Foreign Minister of Brazil. He is one of the most successful Foreign Ministers in the world. I have no doubt about the quiet diplomatic work done by his Ministry to win this Olympic prize. Congratulations Celso!

We look forward to the fulfillment of the promise made by President Lula;

“Rio will be unforgettable, filled with joy and creativity for which the

Brazilian people are well known”.
CLEMENT J. ROHEE
Minister

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GRA clears air on electricity theft claim
I am disappointed that the Kaieteur News has accused the Guyana Revenue of stealing electricity without conducting a proper investigation.

I am surprised that this media house which has gained some credibility over the years could have dealt with this matter in such a cavalier manner.

While we acknowledge that the media has a responsibility to report the truth, I believed that the trust is information gathered from credible sources which has been researched.

This article which appeared in the paper’s October 3rd edition quoted “a source from GPL”. It is unacceptable to accuse an entity with such aheavy responsibility and mandate, of a criminal offence as theft on the basis of information gathered from an unnamed source.

Where is the fairness and balance required of journalist? Would it not have been fair to give the GRA the opportunity to respond to such a claim before the article was published?

If this newspaper was responsible to their readers they would have at least sought the GRA’s explanation on this matter before publishing something of this sort.

Nevertheless, I would take this opportunity to provide the facts.

Early in 2009 the Guyana Revenue Authority contracted Cummings Electrical Co. to upgrade its electrical infrastructure at its Anna Regina Office. This was necessary to upgrade the system to accommodate additional computer systems and equipment and to power new air conditioning units installed.

About two months ago, the Guyana Power and Light’s (GPL’s) electrical wire (power line) connected to the building sparked and fell to the ground. After the wire was reconnected by GPL the Manager of the Anna Regina Office, Winston Harris asked GPL to examine all connections and systems within the building to ensure that this situation does not reoccur.

Kaieteur News reported that the building is unmetered. If the newspaper would have been responsible enough to check the credibility of their source they would have not reported this lie. There been has meter at this office since the building has been in operation and the officer is regularly billed by GPL.

The fact is that it is Mr. Harris who suggested to GRA that the meter might have led to the sparks and the fallen wire. It is suspected that GPL’s investigation would have revealed that due to the electrical configuration in the building the meter was not reading the electricity usage at the building.

GPL has not informed GRA as to the status of the meter since or the results of their investigation.

This is the fact. I maintain that the Kaieteur News owes the GRA an apology for accusing the entity of electricity theft.
KHURSHID SATTAUR
Commissioner General

The nature of “fear” – then and now
I lived through the entire Burnhamite era (1965-85) and, without a doubt, it was largely authoritarian. It was characterized for the most part, as I had written then, by political despotism. Fraud, Fear and Food (the triple F policy) were weapons of political rule.

Elections were routinely rigged; attacks on civil liberties including press freedom and freedom to dissent, complemented by use of goon squads/thugs against opponents, the prevalence of choke-and-rob/kick-down-the-door banditry had cast a pall of fear and uncertainty over the land; and the banning of essential foods, (we had sarcastically dubbed that LFSB - lines for soup and bread), even rationing of newsprint for my newspaper, were sordid features of that time.

But that time is different from now: Today we enjoy electoral democracy; free, not necessarily fair, but plural media; qualitatively better infrastructural facilities and social benefits (primarily in education, health, housing/water, sports and care for children/women/elderly). In short, life is better now than then.

However, the kind and intensity of fear we experience today did not exist then. The narco-criminal enterprise, phantom gangs and deportees were not yet born. Never did we witness the brutality and barbarism that seized our collective lives and psyche such as the slaughter of Minister Sawh and his family; shooting of five pressmen; discovery of headless and guts-less bodies; car-jacking/kidnap-murder of taxi drivers; mindless slaying of innocent occupants and torching of homes; bestiality and terror of Lusignan and Bartica, etc. The daily headlines and sensationalism of crime have a chilling effect on our lives.

It makes matters worse when members of our security forces became, and still are, both criminals and victims. Several of them have been identified amongst extortionists, drugs traffickers/enforcers, bandits, pirates, ruthless and cold-blooded killers and rapists. I have received so many reports of villagers who go to report crimes at police stations, only to see the criminals in uniform. Berbicians were and continue to be afraid of reporting incidents of rape on their women and girls out of fear of reprisal. The dispatch of the so-called Blackclothes ranks there has eased the dis-quiet. On one occasion, when they protested vigorously as they ought to, villagers were tear-gassed and a protester was killed by police bullets.

The fear I see today, even amongst media practitioners, cannot be compared to that I have seen or experienced in the Burnham era. This is a truism. I was therefore taken back when I read Friday Musings in which Sharief Khan blind-folded himself and said, “I am sorry friend Moses – but I just don’t see the media (sic) fear you see.”

Without checking, Sharief fell victim of the newspaper headline, which was, to say the least, misleading. He repeated and relied on the rubric: “…that there is greater fear in Guyana today than during the Burnham reign”.

What I actually said, dear pal, was: “I have seen fear in this land that I have not seen even in the worse days of what I call the Burnhamite rule.”

I admit that what I said lent itself to misinterpretation and, perhaps, just perhaps, was over-stated. But I did not say that the fear is greater. It is different. It has a new and specific context.

And I cannot recall pronouncing clinically about “large doses of fear” by the media in reporting stories that could be deemed offensive to the administration.

What I said is this: “People are exercising much more self-censorship today than in the past, and we can’t in seven minutes analyse the reasons for this. What I want to say is that we can help to shed the fear if we become bolder, if we speak up. It is our inalienable right to say how we feel and why we see things the way we see them…”. Even if this means that we must “censure those who govern us”.

I recalled that I was a victim of authoritarian rule. Then access to the media was denied. My newspaper was closed down.

I had prefaced that by saying that “Guyana is not a landscape where journalists are routinely jailed.” I referred to mild sanctions against journalists from time to time by government officials but these, I said, were not a policy but behaviour that shows intolerance for criticism.

About Freedom of Information, I said legislation is over-due and we should accept the assurances of both the President and Prime Minister that the law will be drafted later this year or some time next year. In a previous address, I had said that Broadcasting legislation was also due, and I looked forward to opening of the airwaves to allow independent radio stations.

I stated: “Press freedom is the greatest power in the hands of the people against the state, and it must be exercised judiciously and with restraint and responsibility. The role of the press is to help the process of good governance, and promote a new wave of democracy that will see our system being more humane, our democracy more people-oriented, and that our people see themselves for who they are, not as government and opposition. In celebrating press freedom, I wish to say that the press in Guyana is alive. We need to go forward and make our country safer, more secure and a better place for all Guyanese, which require journalists to be courageous to shake off our shackles of fear.”

I cautioned journalists that when FOI is enacted, it will require greater responsibility from them to use the accessed info to help educate the public to make informed choices. For too long journalists complain of not being able to access official information. Though we have little “state secrets” and there is access to personal information, i.e., birth, marriage and death certificates and court documents, I still sensed unease among journalists that I have not seen and experienced in the past.

The unease is not due to any despotic rule, but results from the political climate. I refer to ethno-political and demographic cleavages, the competition for political space and power, which foster a body of intolerance. “Those inside, wish to feel that they are always right; and those outside, wish to damnify those in power.”

Since the 2002 jail-break, the Buxton insurgency and resultant blood-spilling, the disappearance from the army of a cache of deadly AK-47s, the role of journalists has undergone dramatic change. Many hold back what they know, or what they could under normal circumstances report from fear of recrimination and harm. They tell, to use a now discredited refrain, “half a tale”; or they just “talk half, and lef half”.

I repeat the context of this fear: Guyana has seen an armed insurgency which, though limited, was dangerous. The root was probably exterminated, but it showed how crime was used as a weapon of political struggle. Drugs lords exploited the distrust that existed between the state and its armed apparatus, and occupied the space between the government and the political opposition.

If I had used the phrase “heavy doses of fear” it would have been justified when members of the security forces became contaminated, and joined the criminal frenzy. I am reminded of an old adage that goes like this: when the fence we erect around our garden begins to eat the crop, we have no protection.

The syndrome of fear is not created by the government. In many ways, the state is a victim of this fear. Police stations, even the force’s headquarters, have been cordoned off and barricaded. Even the Office of the President, considered sacrosanct or out-of-bounds, was attacked and invaded.

The fear has a paralysing effect on homeowners and businesses as well. The attack on Nathoo’s Bar was always a reminder that killers were on the prowl. Many a nights, the city became deserted like a ghost town.

But the government cannot be totally absolved from blame. Episodes of intolerance and knee-jerk reaction resulted in unease among media workers when, for example state advertisements were withheld from Stabroek News, and CNS 6 TV was shut down for a second time (the first during the 2005 flood was wholly justifiable). I talked to many reporters and cameramen whose livelihood was threatened. They would never be the same again, and as the saying goes – once bitten twice shy. The mask of this self-censorship is fear.

As a journalist in the Burnham era, maybe I did not admit to fear. I saw myself as a soldier fighting a righteous cause. Many of us in the profession battled for press freedom, and suffered for it. In the end, we triumphed. October 5, 1992 became the “Dawn of a New Era”. Momentarily, fear gave way to hope. Cheddi Jagan gave us hope that power would not be abused.

I have come to respect Sharief for his courage, which was why we became close friends. A day or so after Walter Rodney was assassinated, I met Sharief at El Globo on Regent Street. He was wearing a red head-band. We sank our sorrows with several shots of the devil’s brew, and determined to walk towards Burnham’s Residence, which is now Castellani’s House. We stood on Vlissengen Road and, in chorus, shouted several times as loudly as we could: “Burnham –Murderer!”

We saw two dark cars darted from Burnham’s yard, and Sharief and I ran towards Hadfield Street. It was beyond midnight, and dark. Though I ended up in a stink, muddy, concrete drain I picked up a brick and was about to hurl it at the windscreen of one of the on-coming cars. I had seen in films that bricks could stop tanks, or so I later told my friends. Sharief interrupted my attempted bravado, pushed me to the side of a building as the car sped past us. We survived.

In spite of the fear, we stood up and spoke out. We must do no less today. October 5 must command us to take the higher ground and ride on a new wave of our democracy for greater tolerance and better governance.
MOSES V. NAGAMOOTOO

GFF Super League ...
Topp XX whip Kings 3-0; Alpha nail Milerock 2-0
By Joe Chapman

Goalscorers (left) Damian McAllister and Jamie Wilson.

STRIKER Jamie Wilson got the double, bringing his tally to four goals in the tournament while Damian McAllister, who started the scoring, netted the other as home team Bakewell Topp XX emphatically disposed of Victoria Kings from the East Coast 3-0.

On the other hand, Shawn Bishop kept top-ranked City side Alpha United in the lead of the points standings as he nudged home the first of his team’s goals in a 2-0 win over a spirited Milerock side, when the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Super League games were played Sunday night at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground in Linden.

In the first of a double-header card in front of a sizeable crowd, Topp XX used their home ground support to good effect as they outplayed their opponents with three strikes in the first half of play, which rendered the Kings a spent force going into the second half of play.

The first goal of the game between Topp XX and Victoria Kings saw the Topp XX team assert control early, so by the 31st minute their first goal came after a scrimmage in the box.

The ball was then pounced upon by McAllister who finished after dribbling one defender and shooting past Victoria Kings’ Andrew Williams in goal.

The second goal was scored in the 35th minute through a corner by Jamie Wilson: where the ball was bent inwards to the last post catching the goalkeeper out of position, as it landed in the goal.

One minute before the half-time whistle came Topp XX sealed the win when McAllister squared the ball for Wilson to finish the play against the flailing hands of Williams, for a 3-0 halftime advantage.

The game was scoreless in the second period as both teams tried to find the back of the net but the only significant happening was when Topp XX’s Deon Charter was sent marching in the 87th minute, for what was ruled a dangerous play against an opposing player by the referee.

However, Topp XX chalked up their second win after losing twice in four games played by them.

The second match looked competitive up to the stage where Georgetown’s top-ranked side Alpha United failed to take the initiative in the opening salvoes despite being the pre-game favourites against the Upper Demerara club champions.

In fact the City side should have gone 1-0 up after Bishop slammed a volley into the crossbar in the 24th minute.

In the 37th minute Quincy Madramootoo was red-carded taking Alpha United down to ten men.

But they survived and were able to resist the challenge from Milerock eventually.

After a scoreless first half, Milerock found themselves down by a 1-0 score-line when a squared ball was met by Bishop who was able to slam home a shot from outside, beating Milerock’s goalkeeper Jamal Forde in the 61st minute.

This took the wind out of the bauxite mining team and it was difficult for them to regain confidence, as Alpha United outpaced them to the end.

Alpha United now sit on top with nine points in the team points standings after playing unbeaten with three wins from five games with two draws and are followed by Rosignol United who have 8 points from five matches, inclusive of three wins and two losses, with Liquid Gold on seven points from four matches after winning two, drawing one and losing the other.

Topp XX are next on six points followed by Seawall and Buxton United on five points with GDF next on four as are Milerock and Kings in that order.

Windies tour Down Under could represent fresh start - Edwards
HYDERABAD, India (CMC) – Fidel Edwards believes the West Indies tour of Australia next month could represent a fresh start for the regional side.

The West Indies fast bowler has recently recovered from a back injury he sustained during the tour of England, and is in India to represent the Deccan Chargers in the Twenty20 Champions League.

But following his recovery, he joined his revolting team-mates, and made himself unavailable for the ICC Champions Trophy which ended on Monday in South Africa.

“We are all very serious about playing and offering our services to (West Indies),” Edwards told the ESPN-Star website.

“Hope it will be a new start for all of us and also hope things will become normal. We all have to perform because everyone is waiting for the opportunities to come back into the team.”

Edwards acknowledged it had been frustrating for him and the other players watching the depleted West Indies side in recent months.

“It has really been pretty disappointing indeed. But again you have to take that day-by-day,” he said.

“Personally, I am trying to get back. I was injured in England and have been working hard on my fitness. Probably, it would really been more frustrating for others than me, since I have been plagued by injuries.

“We have not played since our home series against India. We are all eagerly waiting (a resolution).”

Edwards praised fellow fast bowler Kemar Roach, for taking his chance and performing in the depleted side.

“(Kemar) is a very good fast bowler,” he said. “I know him personally because we have played together for Barbados and with the A-Team.

“He is very quick and on his day he is really difficult to face.”

But Edwards is placing his full attention on helping the Chargers to win the inaugural Champions League which features the winning first-class teams from all the major Test-playing nations.

“It is very important for me as it is for many others,” he said. “A good tournament I reckon will test everyone’s abilities.

”We are very confident as a team. We shall be certainly hoping for some good starts. A lot of good teams are taking part and that will make this tourney very interesting and exciting, I believe.”

Edwards also reckons that Trinidad & Tobago – the reigning West Indies Twenty20 champions – will acquit themselves well in the competition.

The Chargers meet T&T in their final group match on Wednesday next week.

“I personally believe they hold a pretty good chance in this version of the game,” he said.

“In fact, they have done well in the last two to three years back home in domestic cricket. I am sure they must be equally eager to play in India as others.

“They cannot be taken for granted. They can really produce some good entertaining cricket.”

Deccan Chargers have a formidable line-up. They are led by Australian legend Adam Gilchrist, and include his former teammate Andrew Symonds, as well as Indian stars Rohit Sharma, VVS Laxman, RP Singh, along with Sri Lanka fast bowling legend Chaminda Vaas and New Zealand all-rounder Scott Styris.

Final-four Neal and Massy bowls off today in two counties
By Calvin Roberts in Anna Regina
(Compliments of Gizmos and Gadgets and Breeze)

AFTER nine weeks of competition among 35 first division teams in Guyana, the best four teams in the 2009 Guyana Cricket Board (GCB)/Neal and Massy nationwide tournament will battle it out for a place in the final which will be played under the lights at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, on Saturday October 17.

Demerara zone winners Malteenoes Sports Club (MSC) will travel to the Ancient County of Berbice, where they will face the runners-up in that zone, Albion Community Centre (ACC), at Albion, while the Berbice zone winners Rose Hall Town Windies Sports Club (RHTWSB) will journey to the Cinderella County of Essequibo to oppose North Essequibo at the Anna Regina Community Centre ground.

MSC must consider themselves unfortunate if they don’t make it to the Stadium next week, as Lady Luck has been on their side throughout the latter stages of the competition, where they managed to record some astonishing come-from-behind victories.

In a preliminary round game against Guyana National Industrial Corporation (GNIC), MSC were shut out for a paltry 116 from 29.1 overs, even though Shemroy Barrington made 56 (8x4; 1x6) but thanks to the bowling of skipper Steven Jacobs, Orin Forde and Dion Ferrier, they bowled out their opponents for 81 from 25.3 overs, with Jacobs claiming 4-23.

They got past Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) by seven wickets in their semi-final encounter at the Everest Cricket Club ground, but when they faced the latter in the zone final at the former ground, they were wobbling on 43-7 before a pugnacious and unbeaten 90 from Forde made off 74 deliveries with five sixes and seven fours, steered them to 155-8 from their 40 overs.

A combination of pace and spin from National Under-19 fast bowler Seon Daniels (3-16), along with Ferrier, Jacobs Berbice’s very own Damian Van Tull, bowled Everest out for 147 from 37.4 overs, with Daniels going into today’s match perched on a hat- trick.

This time around, MSC must be aware that their opponents for today’s fixture ACC are no easy pushovers, hence the complacency they displayed in their batting against GNIC and Everest cannot be repeated.

It therefore means that Forde, despite his last innings, Barrington, Jacobs, Ferrier, Randy Lindore and to an extent Van Tull, Guyana/Stanford 20/20 Superstar Lennox Cush and Danny Narayan will all have to turn up with their A game today, leaving no room for ifs and buts against a spin-based bowling attack from Albion.

The City team’s bowling has proved its worth time and time again in this tournament, but how Jacobs, Daniels, Forde, Ferrier, Van Tull and even Kareem Naughton, who showed he was no rabbit with the bat against ECC, fare today is left to be seen.

Their opponents’ batting lineup consists of the Chattergoon brothers in national opener Sewnarine Chattergoon and his younger brother Harrinarine, West Indies record holder Narsingh Deonarine, Ranga Lachigadoo and the pugnacious Jonathan Foo who has displayed the ability to hit the ball to all parts of the ground on his day.

Added support will be forthcoming from national spin twins Veerasammy Permaul and Devendra Bishoo, who are capable lower order batsmen along with skipper Orvin Mangru and the hardworking medium pace all-rounder Doodnauth Lallbeharry.

RHTWSB, who is another powerhouse club in Berbice and displayed same when they eliminated defending champions Young Warriors in the Berbice zone semifinals, will be facing the lesser known North Essequibo.

There is an old adage, “Cricket is a game of glorious uncertainties”. And once match favourites RHTWSB play to their full potential without complacencies, then their throng of supporters can begin making plans for their trip to the national stadium, next weekend.

With all due respect to the Essequibians, the Berbicians’ batting lineup is a strong one, consisting of West Indies limited overs batsman Royston Crandon, his elder brother and national all-rounder Esaun, Assad Fudadin, Renwick Batson, Delbert Hicks and Khemraj Mahadeo.

Their bowling rests on the shoulders of the Crandon brothers with Esaun sharing the new ball with Batson, with valuable support from Ravi Narine, Troy Matheison and if needed, Fudadin.

Not much is known of North Essequibo, but with the likes of Elroy Stephney, Vishwanauth Lall, Navin Singh, Narvin Mahadur, Rajiv Mohammed, brothers Uvendra and Davendra Balgobin and young Glendon Smith in their line-up, the home team may very well be looking to spring a surprise on their Ancient County opponents.

Gayle recommended to lead Jamaica in President’s Cup
… Miller, Bernard included
KINGSTON, Jamaica (CMC) – Nikita Miller and David Bernard Jr, two members of the makeshift West Indies’ Champions Trophy outfit, have been named in an 18-man Jamaican squad for the WICB President’s Cup one-day tournament.

They will join recently sidelined players Chris Gayle and Jerome Taylor in the squad which will be trimmed to 14 a week-and-a-half before the scheduled start of the tournament on October 28.

Gayle and Taylor are among the elite West Indies players who have made themselves available for the regional tournament, after opting out of the Bangladesh series earlier this year.

They were then overlooked for the ICC Champions Trophy in South Africa which finished on Monday.

Brendan Nash, the Australia-born left-hander, is the other first choice West Indies player included in the squad.

Miller, a slimly built left-arm spinner, and Bernard, a hardworking all-rounder, broke ranks with the elite players to represent the West Indies against Bangladesh.

They were subsequently selected for the Champions Trophy where the Windies lost all three of their group matches.

Wavell Hinds, Brenton Parchment, Xavier Marshall, Shawn Findley, Carlton Baugh and Daren Powell, all of whom have already represented the West Indies, have been included in the squad.

Fast bowler Andrew Richardson, who toured England with the West Indies earlier this year, has made the squad which is completed by Tamar Lambert, Odean Brown, Jason Dawes, Krishmar Santokie, Danza Hyatt, and newcomer Zeniffe Fowler.

Gayle has been recommended as captain with Bernard as his deputy.

Jamaica will open their campaign against Trinidad & Tobago on October 28.

Jamaica squad: Chris Gayle, Odean Brown, Jason Dawes, Krishmar Santokie, Danza Hyatt, Zeniffe Fowler, Brendan Nash, Xavier Marshall, Wavell Hinds, Brenton Parchment, Shawn Findlay, Carlton Baugh, Jerome Taylor, Nikita Miller and David Bernard.

The youngsters won it for us - Ponting
RICKY Ponting has attributed Australia's Champions Trophy success to the efforts of youngsters in his team, especially their performance in an occasionally tense final.

"We have gone through some ups and downs in the last 18 months. A number of great players have left and we brought in a lot of young, fresh players.

It was great to see some of them stand up and deliver," Ponting said after Australia's six-wicket win over New Zealand that gave them their second Champions Trophy title.

Australia's bowling performance in the final was led by Nathan Hauritz, who grabbed 3 for 37, including the well-set Martin Guptill for 40.

Later, in their chase of 201, Australia were in trouble at 6 for 2 but Shane Watson and Cameron White added 128 to put them in control. "Two young guys at the crease at 6 for 2, it doesn't get any tougher and they did a great job," Ponting said.

Australia came into the tournament as favourites along with South Africa, fresh from the success of a 6-1 ODI humiliation of England. They beat West Indies in a tough contest in Johannesburg, were dominant against India in a washed-out game and edged Pakistan in a two-wicket win in Centurion.

They were comprehensive winners in the semi-final against England -- Ponting and Shane Watson hammering centuries in a nine-wicket win.

"In the ODI series in England after the Ashes, we did well there to put ourselves in a position where we can give this tournament a little bit of a shake," Ponting said. "We've played some great cricket over the last couple of weeks here."

The Champions Trophy also brought personal success for Ponting, as he emerged the highest run-getter with 288 at 72 in four games.

He was honoured with a golden bat for that feat, and followed it up with the Man-of-the-Series award, ahead of Watson, who finished the tournament with back-to-back centuries.

"We needed discipline today, and we knew that if I was around till the 40th over, we had a chance," Watson, who was Man-of-the-Match, said after his innings of 105. "It was set up with Ricky's help in the semi-finals to get me through, and he missed out today, but it was time for another to step up.

"The wicket today was a little slower than the other night but Kyle Mills and Shane Bond bowled beautifully straight up until me and White had a good partnership.” (Cricinfo)

Bravo to weigh options before committing to West Indies
By Jamie Alter
WEST Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo has said he will consider the monetary benefits at stake before deciding whether to pledge allegiance to West Indies or go freelance.

While his ultimate goal was to be remembered as a good West Indian player, Bravo laid out the parameters under which he would take a decision about his future.

"If given a chance (to choose a contract from the WICB or go freelance) I would have to see what money is on offer, and what other offers come along," Bravo said in Bangalore, where he is with Trinidad & Tobago for the Champions League Twenty20.

"After that, I will need to discuss it with my manager, my friends and my family before taking a decision. All my life I have dreamed of playing for West Indies and hopefully when I finish my cricketing career, people can look back at my records. That's the most important."

Bravo's comments come in the wake of Kevin Pietersen's view that with lucrative IPL deals on offer, players would not be as keen to accept central contracts from their national boards. Andrew Flintoff had earlier rejected an England contract to concentrate on a freelance career, playing in the IPL and for other clubs around the world.

According to Bravo, those were individual decisions that needed to be taken after careful consideration.

"It all boils down to the player and where he sees his career going, where and how he wants to set up his life. It's a tricky question, and one that I don't think any player will answer off the cuff. You have to play it by ear and see how the future goes."

West Indies cricket has been troubled by strained relations between the region's leading players and the WICB regarding their contracts for over five years now.

The row reached an all-time low when the board decided to send a second-string squad to the ICC Champions Trophy after the senior players went on strike. For Bravo to watch the West Indies side in South Africa was painful - all the more considering West Indies won the tournament in 2004 and were runners-up in 2006 - and he hoped the issue over contracts would be over soon.

"It was disappointing not to be there this year," he said. "We only got the opportunity to look at the games on television but having said that, it was a decision taken by the players and you have to stand by that. We only hope the matter will be resolved sooner rather than later."

Today, Bravo told the Age that all the striking players would make themselves available for selection for the forthcoming tour of Australia, even though the impasse over the contracts issue continues. Bravo's statement will, nevertheless, come as a breath of fresh air in resolving the ongoing crisis between the WICB and the West Indies Players Association (WIPA), though an official word is awaited.

''We are all going to make ourselves available, that is definite,'' he said. ''We are looking forward to getting back playing international cricket.''

The WICB had stated earlier that only those players who make themselves available for the regional one-day tournament this month in Guyana will be considered for the tour of Australia. Bravo assured that the senior West Indies players, including himself, will participate and give the selectors the chance to pick a full-strength squad for the first time since the World Twenty20 earlier this year.

''We will be taking part in it. All of us are going to be available for selection to go to Australia,'' Bravo said. ''Hopefully, they will select the best squad and we will get our opportunity again to represent the West Indies.” (Cricinfo)

Serena reclaims top world ranking
SERENA Williams reclaimed the world number-one ranking with victory against Ekaterina Makarova in the second round of the China Open in Beijing

Williams, 28, beat the Russian 6-3, 6-2 and takes over the top spot because she progressed further in the contest than current holder Dinara Safina.

Russian Safina, 23, lost to Chinese wildcard Zhang Shuai in round two.

Defending champion Jelena Jankovic was another first-round casualty, losing in three sets to China's Peng Shuai.

The Serbian, who retired from the final of the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo with an arm injury, began confidently against Peng, taking the first set 6-4.

But Jankovic's heavily strapped arm could not take the strain as she served for the match, allowing Peng to break and take the second set 5-7 before the world number 52 closed out the third 2-6.

"It was very difficult and I couldn't really play my best tennis," said Jankovic.

"Despite that I had a chance to win in two sets but she took it to a third and my arm just didn't hold up. It's very disappointing."

American Williams needed only an hour to see off Makarova, 21, firing three aces and conceding one double-fault.

"Obviously I'm happy to be there because I've worked so hard this year to get there, I think I've earned it," said Williams.

World number 15 Maria Sharapova produced a sensational fightback from 5-2 down in the third set to beat ninth seed Victoria Azarenka 6-3, 6-7, 7-5.

Sharapova, who claimed her first title since returning from injury in Tokyo last week, looked set for a second-round exit, but won five successive games to clinch an enthralling final set in three hours.

"The match isn't over until we shake hands," said Sharapova. "I realised that I didn't want to be going home. I'm not leaving China that soon.

"So I just went forward and I kept being aggressive and stayed positive and that gets you a long way."

Fourth seed Elena Dementieva, who won Olympic gold at the National Tennis Center last year, secured a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Hungary's Melinda Czink.

The Russian faces home favourite Li Na in the last 16. (BBC Sport)

Tokyo boss blames ‘political jostling’ for 2016 loss
TOKYO, Japan (Reuters) - Tokyo governor Shintaro Ishihara blamed behind-the-scenes political deals for the city’s failure to win the vote to host the 2016 Olympics.

“Tokyo’s presentation was clearly the best,” Ishihara told reporters on Sunday. “But invisible dynamics were at play. It is a game that is very difficult to win.”

Tokyo was eliminated in the second round of Friday’s International Olympic Committee (IOC) vote in Copenhagen won by Rio de Janeiro.

“There is so much political jostling going on behind the scenes,” the 77-year-old Ishihara said after Rio beat Madrid in the final round of voting to take the Games to South America for the first time.

Tokyo, quoted as 25-1 to win the IOC vote by some major bookmakers, were ousted after odds-on favourite Chicago’s shock first-round rejection.

Japan’s capital, which staged Asia’s first Olympics in 1964, was considered an outsider after Beijing hosted the Summer Games last year. Japan hosted the Winter Olympics in 1972 and 1998.

Ishihara would not be drawn on whether Tokyo would bid for the 2020 Olympics, saying: “We will have to take public opinion into account.”

Hiddink draws on England memory for inspiration
By Gennady Fyodorov
MOSCOW, Russia (Reuters) - Russia will seek inspiration from their shock victory over England two years ago when they take on Germany in a top-of-the-table World Cup qualifier, coach Guus Hiddink said yesterday.

Hiddink’s young side return on Saturday to the scene of that 2-1 win which paved the way for Euro 2008 qualification at England’s expense, the 84 000-seat Luzhniki arena in Moscow, to try to keep alive their chances of an automatic World Cup berth.

“We haven’t played in Luzhniki since that match so it would be great to see a full stadium again. The importance, the build-up to the match, the atmosphere, it’s almost the same,” Hiddink told Reuters in an interview at the team’s Moscow hotel.

“Then, we had to win to keep alive our chances of qualifying for the Euro 2008 finals and we did. It’s a bit different this time as we’ve already secured a playoff spot.”

“It gives us more freedom. We don’t need to play for a draw so we can take more risks in the attack.”

The Germans lead Russia by a point in Group Four and will clinch a place in next year’s finals with a win in Moscow while the hosts need victories in both of their remaining qualifiers to assure themselves of a trip to South Africa.

A draw in Moscow would leave Germany in the driving seat as they host eliminated Finland in their last match, leaving Russia with the prospect of entering a two-leg playoff for a place at the finals.

“This is obviously the most important game of the year for us,” Hiddink said. “It is also the biggest (qualifying) match in Europe this weekend that everybody wants to watch.”

BALLACK CHALLENGE

Hiddink said he had a friendly conversation with Germany captain Michael Ballack about the upcoming clash.

“I was in London last month, visiting Chelsea and when I saw Michael he was challenging me a bit, in a nice way, saying they will beat us or at least get a draw. I just replied ‘Welcome to Moscow’,” the former Chelsea manager said with a wry smile.

Russia have never beaten Germany or West Germany in a competitive match including the days of the Soviet Union.

“I didn’t know that,” Hiddink said when asked if he knew the background.

“But I know German football and the strength of their team well enough. It’s a powerhouse. The Germans have never failed to reach the World Cup finals, it says a lot about a country.

“But it doesn’t mean we can’t beat them,” he said. “We also hadn’t beaten England for a very long time until that win in Moscow. So we will approach Saturday’s game with the same confidence, feeling we can get a positive result.”

One thing worrying Hiddink a little is the form of Roman Pavlyuchenko. The Tottenham Hotspur striker, who scored both Russia’s goals against England in Moscow, has mostly been confined to the bench by his London club this season.

“Pavlo does have a problem of not playing enough but we have other quality forwards on our team,” Hiddink said.

Since taking over the Russia job just over three years ago, the charismatic Dutchman has already achieved a number of milestones in Russian football.

“I don’t worry about setting personal records,” said Hiddink, who last year steered the national team to the European championship semi-finals for the first time in 20 years.

“My job is to make sure we qualify for the World Cup.”