President hails Army’s frontline role
By Neil Marks
COMMANDER-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Bharrat Jagdeo, underscored the “principled and disciplined way” in which the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) has assumed a greater role in confronting the many threats to public safety and order as he pinned 40th anniversary medals on soldiers last evening

He said it was with “pride and satisfaction” that he publicly expressed commendation to the Army and pointed to how it has joined the other Disciplined Forces in the frontline fight against crime and violence.

Speaking at Army headquarters, Camp Ayanganna, at a ceremony replete with military fanfare, Mr Jagdeo pinned 40th anniversary medals on one officer and 28 other ranks from the various arms of the Army. Every other serving member of the GDF will receive the medal at a later date.

“Sufficient time has elapsed for the most comprehensive of actions that an administration can take, the most generous award a nation can give - that is in honouring all of its soldiers for discharging their duties with dignity, respect and professionalism,” he said.

He said that in honouring officers with the 40th anniversary medal, his government and the people of Guyana are recognising individual and collective contributions to the respect and honour in which the nation holds the GDF.

He added that in the four decades of its existence, the Army has been tested, but has shown character and strength and any accolade is well deserved.

“What makes me especially proud is when I go across the region and other Heads of Government say to me, that `we’ve seen your soldiers in action (on a humanitarian basis or in military exercises) and (we) think you have one of the best trained Army in this part of the world.’ It makes me proud,” he said.

The President said the GDF has risen to prominence not only with its daring exploits on the border, but also in building camaraderie capable of withstanding the challenges of the times.

After pinning the commemorative medals, the President unveiled a Veterans Monument on the lawns of Camp Ayanganna, dedicated “To the memory of the men and women who served in the military forces of British Guiana and Guyana.”

“The annals of Guyana cannot be written without mention of the young men and women, who in the ranks of the GDF and in service to Guyana have created history and made the Army a lasting symbol and a quality national institution”, Mr Jagdeo said.

The GDF came into existence on November 1, 1965 when training began under a team of instructors from the United Kingdom.

Recruits for the new force were drawn from the British Guiana Volunteer Force, the Special Services Unit, the British Guiana Police Force and Civilian Volunteers.

Heart 2 Heart success
By Neil Marks
WITH some 300 children on the waiting list, the successful heart operations of four in India are just the beginning of First Lady Varshnie Jagdeo’s “Heart 2 Heart – Save a Life Campaign” and she is already gearing up to raise funds for 10-15 children to travel to Chennai come February, 2006.

The First Lady’s Kids First Fund, which has pioneered efforts to send children of poor families in Guyana for surgery overseas, launched the ‘Heart 2 Heart’ campaign earlier this year with the help of the Health Ministry and international connections she has been able to form overseas.

With the cost of heart surgery in Trinidad about US$15,000, in the U.S. four times that amount, and even more expensive in Canada and the United Kingdom, Mrs Jagdeo decided that India was the best route with the cost there at US$3,000.

“The benefit of going to India is that we can get top quality health care at a fraction of the cost elsewhere and it is easily accessible,” she told reporters at the NCN TV studios in Georgetown yesterday.

Joining her were the four children who underwent open heart surgery at the Frontier Lifeline, International Centre for Cardio Thoracic and Vascular Diseases in Chennai, India.

Dr K.M. Cherian, the world renowned heart surgeon who did the operations in September, and his colleague Dr Sekar are scheduled to visit Guyana on November 19 to hold a free cardiac evaluation clinic.

“This will enable all our children to have an up to date echo and consultation at no cost,” Mrs Jagdeo said.

In the absence of an echocardiogram machine which uses ultrasound waves to investigate the action of the heart, detection of heart complications in Guyana is done with “physical skills”, Health Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy said, adding that the ministry is moving to acquire the technology.

Sharing the press conference with the First Lady, he said the ministry will pay the US$2,000 airfare each for the children to travel to India in February.

Kids First Fund will be holding several fundraising activities, including the regular grass track races, to help meet the cost of the operations.

“For a total of US$5,000 we can transform the lives of our children who have heart problems,” Mrs Jagdeo said.

“We thank the First Lady, the Three Rivers Kids Foundation, and all who helped to save the lives of our children - to give them a new life,” said Holacie Harrichand, whose daughter Premadai, underwent open heart surgery.

Premadai, nine, was diagnosed with heart complications when she was four years old and could not lead a normal life, not being able to “run about and skip about”, her mother said, adding that her daughter is now able to do all those things and eat regularly.

Mrs Harrichand said her daughter began to enjoy herself soon after the surgery when they were taken sightseeing in Chennai along with the others.

FAST, FAST HEARTBEATS
Roxanne Forde, the mother of nine-year-old Casey, also expressed her appreciation to the First Lady and the other organisations that made surgery for her only child possible.

“I couldn’t do it on my own,” she said. She recalled that her son had to cut short his playtime with his friends as his heart would start beating “fast, fast” and he would invite his friends to put their hands and feel how his heart was beating.

“I didn’t know if he was going to make it,” she confided.

Casey had a hole in his heart, which was discovered when he was six-months old and prompted by one of her friends, his mother started going to clinics organised by the First Lady two to three years ago. She is grateful that her son has been given a new lease on life.

The other two cardiac patients who underwent successful heart surgery were Anjanie Pritipaul, 13, of Cornelia Ida, West Coast Demerara and Romel Mohamed, four, of Eccles, East Bank Demerara.

Ms Jeanette Singh, President of the Three Rivers Foundation, a sister charity of Kids First Fund, joined the group in the UK where the children stopped briefly before moving on to India.

The Three Rivers Foundation raised CAN$12,000 to pay for the four surgeries and Ms Singh selected the first batch of cardiac patients.

While in London, the children stayed at the Guyana High Commission and Guyanese in London took turns cooking for them.

On September 23, three days after they left Guyana, they toured the city of London, courtesy of the Big Bus Company which granted complimentary passes to the whole group.

The children reached the Chennai medical centre the evening of September 24, and after a grand welcome and tour of the hospital, they were admitted for surgery, all of which were completed on September 30.

“The entire hospital staff of doctors, nurses, technicians, cooks and cleaners treated our whole group like royalty and went beyond their scope of duty to make us comfortable,”, Mrs Jagdeo reported.

QUICK RECOVERY
All four children made quick recovery following their surgeries. “Two days after their operation, the children were walking around without help and were very cheerful,” she said.

Ten days after surgery, the children were taken on a short shopping trip and did some sightseeing. They returned home on October 17.

Their follow-up care will be carried out by Dr Hardat Persaud, the medical coordinator for Kids First Fund, and the organisation will monitor the children’s progress and supply them with their medications free of charge.

The trip to India was without cost to the relatives of the children. However, the First Lady said that in future cases, relatives and others who are in a position to contribute financially towards meeting expenses would be allowed to do so.

While in India, the First Lady was invited by Dr Cherian to visit the Indian state of Kerala, his birthplace.

There, she visited St. Gregorios Cardiovascular Centre in Parumala which is the sister hospital to the one in Chennai. It is the first cardiac centre to be built in a village.

The First Lady visited other medical institutions in Kerala, and others in Mumbai and the Indian capital New Delhi.

“All of them are interested in coming on board to help with our medical needs by way of accepting patients from Guyana at reduced costs; to form outreach teams to come here and do surgeries and hold clinics free; to train technicians, doctors and medical personnel and for us to consult their experts for advice on difficult cases,” she said.

‘The whole trip was a resounding success. We are going to deal with institutions that do free service for the people of India who cannot pay. It was good to see that so many institutions have a charitable aspect and are doing surgeries free for those who are financially challenged,” Mrs Jagdeo added.

For the 10-15 children who are scheduled to travel to India, she said a food fund raiser held at the Guyana High Commission in the UK raised 1,700 Pounds Sterling.

The First Lady expressed thanks to everyone who helped to make the trip to India a success, in particular the British High Commission, the Indiasn High Commission, BWIA, Air India, the Frontier Lifeline Hospital, Mr Suresh Cherion, Mr Vasudevan, Mr Girish, all at Kumarakom, Mr Dharuwallah, Mr. Geoff Lepps, Sanspariels Greenlands Limited, all at BDM and the staff of the Guyana High Commission in the UK and New Delhi.

Almost 100 truants held in Mahaicony
-- NDC vows to help keep children in school
By Clifford Stanley
MEMBERS of the Mahaicony/Abary Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) have pledged to become more actively involved in campaigns to stamp out truancy in the Mahaicony/Abary sub-region of Region Five (Mahaica/Berbice).

They took the stand on the heels of a recent campaign in Mahaicony during which officials caught scores of school-aged children who were not in school, most of them with the knowledge of their parents and guardians.

Schools Welfare Officer in the sub-region, Ms Roxanne Charles, said the sweep was done by the Schools Welfare Service over a three-day period and nabbed close to 100 truants under the age of 14.

Personnel on the sweep included Charles, Ms Gillian Vyphius, the School’s Welfare Officer in Abary/Berbice Sub-Region Two, a Police Officer, a Nurse and Mr B. Bisnauth and `Pepsi’ Deonarine Singh, two councillors from the Mahaicony/Abary NDC and other day-to-day volunteers.

Charles said that during the sweep, team members found a 13-year-old boy employed at a rice mill as a general labourer at a wage of $850 a day. His employer said he thought the lad was older, she reported.

Another youngster in school uniform was found with a knife in which he confessed he intended to use during a fight he expected with another student at his school.

Quite a few of the truants were caught on the seashore where they were catching fish, Charles said.

The team, acting on a tip-off, found a 12-year-old girl at home babysitting.

The Schools Welfare Officer said the team targeted boys and girls 14- years old and under since those under this age were below the age for compulsory education which is 14 years nine months.

The team reminded the parents of those caught that they had both a legal and moral obligation to send the children to school.

They also took their names and particulars for future reference before releasing the truants back into their care.

Charles said some parents were openly hostile to the anti-truancy team while some were supportive.

She feels many of the parents did not realise the implications of the tacit encouragement of truancy.

She stressed that such parents are liable to prosecution under the Education Act in the Laws of Guyana Chapter 39:01 and added that she firmly believed that many parents would come to their senses if the Police were to apply the law against them for their neglectful behaviour.

Meanwhile, the NDC Councillors who assisted during the three day sweep, expressed concern over the extent of truancy in Mahaicony.

They pledged to make transportation and other resources available so that the Welfare Service could be more effective in carrying out its mandate of clamping down on truants and their parents in the area.

Missing sugar worker walked off the job
-- GUYSUCO
By Michel Outridge
THERE were indications yesterday that the sugar worker who has been reported missing since Friday, reported for work that day with the intention of leaving before his shift ended.

La Bonne Intention (LBI) sugar factory employee, Mr Ashraf Alli Majeed, 36, vanished after walking off the job Friday afternoon, the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GUYSUCO) reported yesterday.

Factory Manager at LBI estate, Mr Albert Katryan, told the Guyana Chronicle that Majeed, of Lot 285 Block 12, Nonpariel, East Coast Demerara, collected his weekly pay packet before he reported for duty at 14:00 h on Friday and signed for it at the factory pay office as is customary.

Majeed clocked in his time card when he reported for duty Friday. He worked as a Massecuite Pump Attendant in the factory and was on the 14:00 h-22:00 h (2pm-10pm) shift that day, Katryan said.

Majeed was responsible for the machine which boils the cane juice until it turns the sugar solids into a crystal form. He was first employed in 1991 as a planter who worked in the cane fields and was subsequently transferred to the factory.

Katryan said Majeed approached the Shift Manager shortly after 15:00 h on Friday, complained of feeling unwell and requested to see the Medex.

After he visited the dispensary and based on his diagnosis, the Medex told Majeed he was fit to resume work and to report to the Shift Manager, the manager said.

But armed with his bag, Majeed told the Shift Manager he did not want to work and left without his permission, Katryan added.

He explained that it was also confirmed that Majeed did not clock out his time card and did not leave the factory by an estate truck or any other estate vehicle on Friday when he walked off the job.

Employees yesterday said they last saw him outside the main gate of the factory, walking towards the main road about 16:00 h Friday.

It was confirmed that Majeed did not ride his bicycle to work that day as he did sometimes.

Majeed was described by his colleagues as a quiet and punctual person who keeps to himself.

Fellow workers yesterday said he appeared to have domestic problems but an uncle phoned the Guyana Chronicle to deny a suggestion from a source close to the Police that they were also investigating the possibility Majeed might have gone off with a woman he had been seeing.

The uncle said the missing man was devoted to his family and had not been known to be seeing another woman.

Katryan said he is as baffled as anyone about where Majeed might have gone after he walked off the job Friday and is hoping he will make contact with his worried family soon.

GUYSUCO, in a press release yesterday, said Majeed reported for work at 14:00 h Friday and at about 15:30 h the same day, he complained to his immediate supervisor that he was feeling unwell and was immediately referred to the Primary Health Care Centre at LBI.

The corporation said the Medex administered liquid antacid and antacid tablets and sent him back to work.

It added that Majeed returned to work about 15:45 h, refused to perform his normal duties and left without permission and without clocking out.

Majeed has not reported for duty since, the corporation said.

His wife, Sharmila Majeed, 36, yesterday told the Guyana Chronicle she had not heard or seen her husband since he left for work Friday.

She is appealing for Majeed to return home or call since his family is distressed.

Members of the public who may have any information regarding his whereabouts are asked to contact his family on telephone numbers 220-7045 or 270-4354.

The police yesterday said they were continuing investigations into the mysterious disappearance.

Wind farm for Hope Beach
THE establishment of a wind farm at Hope Beach on the East Coast Demerara is one step closer after a Guyanese team’s visit to Curacao in the Netherlands Antilles.

According to a press release from DELTA Caribbean N.V. – a wind energy company based in the Dutch-speaking Caribbean island – a three-member delegation comprised of Raphael Singh, Fianna Holder and Shyam Nokta participated in a one-week programme hosted by DELTA Caribbean’s Managing Director Mr Roy Kolader.

Singh and Holder, both employees of the local Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and Nokta, an environmental management consultant, were there on invitation of the company for them to observe the operations of wind farms at two locations on the island, Playa Kanoa and Tera Kora.

one-week programme,” stated the release, “offered them the possibility to experience on the spot a wind farm in full operation and to get a good picture of the daily operations of a wind farm. They visited the wind farm sites, had meetings with the technical staff and learned about the technical and environmental aspects of the wind farms.”

While there, the team also interacted with officials from several government entities on the island including the Department of Environment and Country Planning, and the Department for the Environment.

DELTA Caribbean N.V. has been in operation since 1996, a subsidiary of Zeeland-based multi-utility company DELTA N.V.

According the DELTA Caribbean website, its parent company is involved in the areas of Energy, Development and Water, Data Transmission, Environment, and Waste Management.

Wind generation has long been touted as an alternative source of energy in Guyana, and the establishment of a Hope Beach farm would be an historical first for the country.

Cummings Lodge developer says he `erred’
By Chamanlall Naipaul
THE developer behind the Cummings Lodge Railway Embankment project halted last week by the City Council, yesterday said he concurs with the statement issued on the matter Monday by Commissioner of the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GLSC), Mr Andrew Bishop.

The commissioner acknowledged that the GLSC had received an application/plan from Dr Cecil Rajana to erect a two-flat building, the upper flat to be used for apartments and the lower flat to be used for a retail store. He added that originally a gas station was included but that was shelved.

Rajana yesterday told the Guyana Chronicle he is in full agreement with Bishop’s statement and commended him for the professional manner in which he handled the issue.

He said the GLSC has been “most helpful” with respect to his proposed project.

He conceded also that he had not received permission from the other relevant agencies to go ahead with the project, and thus he erred.

However, Rajana said that in his plan he catered for proper drainage, parking and other related facilities because he recognised their importance in ensuring that there is sound environmental compliance.

He said this was particularly with respect to drainage as he has been a resident of the area for a very long time and is cognisant of the existing drainage problem.

The project was embarked upon in good faith and with positive intentions, Rajana offered, pointing out that the business when established would have created employment in the community, improved security and provide an access for students away from the main road.

He also recalled that he has an historic connection with the land as his parents, who were cattle farmers, had established a grass field there since 1973 when the National Dairy Development Programme (NDDP) embarked on a programme to increase milk production.

He said the land has been beneficially occupied by his family for more than 15 years and he could therefore argue a case of prescriptive rights for the plot.

Asked if he would continue the project should he receive the green light required from the relevant agencies, he said he was uncertain as he is involved in developing other sites as well.

Bishop has stressed that no lease has been issued as the GSLC is awaiting the response of the other relevant agencies involved in granting permission for such projects.

He noted that the area belonged to the former Demerara Railway Company and is now government transported land.

He recalled that in June this year Rajana submitted an application to lease the land in question and on review of the application, GSLC noted that the development would stay clear of the first 40 feet of the centre line of the road; all necessary drainage works would be built and the developer would comply with all necessary requirements of the other agencies.

“The GSLC processed the application with the assumption that the applicant would be actively engaged with the other agencies to secure the necessary clearances and permits. Concurrent processing for time efficiency is not an unusual practice. The developer was advised that a lease would not be issued without formal inputs of the agencies. And a lease or licence has not been issued to date,” Bishop said.

“Given these circumstances, and in light of the recent involvement of the court, the Commission is taking steps to suspend the letter that was issued to Dr Rajana,” Bishop stated.

He noted that it is to Rajana’s credit that he has agreed to cease all work and engage in discussions with the required agencies and the GSLC will await comments from all the relevant entities before proceeding with the leasing of the land.

Town Clerk of the Georgetown City Council, Ms Beulah Williams, accompanied by senior members of the City Constabulary last week swooped on the site ordering an immediate ceasing of ongoing work which had been progressing for more than a week.

Williams told the Guyana Chronicle her investigations revealed that there had been no permission from any relevant authority for the construction to proceed and there was no alternative but to stop the work by heavy machinery.

$15.4M project under way at Den Amstel
REPAIRS to Den Amstel Community Centre on West Coast Demerara, estimated to cost $15.4M, have begun.

The work is being done in the wake of appeals by residents to President Bharrat Jagdeo when he visited the community in August.

A release from the Regional Administration in Region Three (West Demerara/Essequibo Islands) said the job was recently awarded to contractor David Fraser.

He is to do major repairs to the ground and first floors as well as the pavilion.

The reinforced concrete ground floor, with concrete columns, will include a bar and a storage room and a ceiling, new roof and sanitary facilities on the first floor.

The entire building will be rewired and repainted and a hard court constructed, the release said.

It said rewiring of the Practical Instruction Centre in the same village, promised by President Jagdeo, too, has been completed and arrangements would be made to provide football and cricket gear.

Progress reported after delayed Essequibo rice payments
By Chamanlall Naipaul
PROGRESS was reported after talks yesterday on non-payment to rice farmers on the Essequibo Coast between representatives of a joint Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB)/Guyana Rice Producers Association (GRPA) delegation and the rice miller involved.

GRDB Chief Executive Officer, Mr Jagnarine Singh, told the Guyana Chronicle the meeting was fruitful and cordial.

He said Chief Executive Officer of the Kayman Sankar Rice Milling Complex, Mr Beni Sankar, assured that, by next week, he would be able to say definitively when payments would be made.

He also promised that within another week from that time he should have available about $20M to make payments, Singh said.

However, the top GRDB official said his delegation registered its concern at not being informed by the miller about the unavailability of cash which was also not conveyed to the GRPA, and both agencies learnt about the problem through the Guyana Chronicle.

Singh said that had this information been communicated to the GRDB and GRPA, the explosive situation which developed could have been avoided as they would have been able to explain the realities to the farmers.

He said the delegation further pointed out that other millers schedule the issuing of cheques to farmers only when cash is available to back these up.

However, Sankar was apologetic and expressed regrets at the fracas that ensued last week between irate farmers and officials of his company following the dishonouring of the cheques by the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) at Anna Regina, Essequibo Coast.

Some 50 rice farmers had alleged that they were issued with “bounced” cheques and the rice miller conceded he has outstanding payments to the tune of $25M. He said he is committed to ensuring that the farmers are paid.

Sankar told the Guyana Chronicle the cheques were post-dated to October 28 in anticipation that he would have been able to sell off his stocks of rice and have the cash to back the cheques by that date.

Singh said a check of the records of the Kayman Sankar Rice Milling Complex revealed that $239M in paddy was purchased for the crop and $96M of both paddy and rice remain in stock.

However, he said the value of the stock would go up to about $150M because when paddy is converted to rice the latter fetches a higher price.

He added that the rice miller explained that cash flow problems with his company emanated from the fact that in keeping with market trends, a Trinidadian company with which he did business has ceased doing so because the Trinidadian government has not waived duties on his product.

Singh said this issue will be taken up at the level of the Council for Trade and Economic Development of the Caribbean Community.

Sankar charged that the slow pace of the aid package for recapitalising the rice industry announced by the European Union in becoming a reality, has also contributed to cash flow problems.

He said that had this financial facility been made available, there would not have been so much difficulty with cash flow among millers.

GRPA President, Mr Leekha Rambrich and Assistant General Secretary, Mr Hardat Ramnarine who were part of the delegation at the meeting, told the Guyana Chronicle that their organisation is in full agreement with the position of Sankar.

Sankar had earlier told the Guyana Chronicle that he still has some $150M in stocks at his bond but is optimistic about shipping them off soon, and if this materialises he would be able to make the outstanding payments to the farmers within a month.

Another alternative Sankar said he is contemplating is borrowing the money to pay the farmers, but this would be at a high cost for him. However, he said if he decides to go that route payments could be made within two weeks.

Sankar also said that he understands the plight of the farmers and their anger and would do everything to pay them in the shortest possible time.

The farmers said they delivered paddy more than a month ago and received cheques dated up to October 28 but these were not honoured by the bank.

They said the payments are crucial as they need cash to purchase inputs such as fertilisers and chemicals to prepare for the upcoming crop.

Meanwhile, Singh said a joint delegation of the GRDB and GRPA will be on the Essequibo Coast to meet farmers Friday to update them on the recent development and listen to any further concerns they may have.

Bird flu:
Health experts seek to boost drug supplies
By Patricia Reaney
GENEVA, (Reuters) - Global health experts said yesterday it would be possible to produce 900 million doses of a new vaccine against a human pandemic flu outbreak but even that would not be enough to meet demand.

Some 400 animal and health experts meeting at the World Health Organisation in Geneva want to build up regional stockpiles of antiviral drugs to counter a possible pandemic virus that could travel around the world in 3-4 months.

"So 900 million in eight months will not reach the target of global, equitable and timely access. One needs enough vaccine for 6.4 billion people and that is currently not in the cards," said Dr Klaus Stohr, the team coordinator of the WHO's Global Influenza Programme.

He told the meeting to map out a plan to halt the spread of bird flu that strong surveillance and response networks for early detection of pandemic viruses will make a difference.

Poor countries including Vietnam, which reported its 42nd death from bird flu, said they were worried about sufficient supplies of antiviral drugs which will be the first line of defence against a human pandemic until a vaccine can be developed.

Margaret Chan, the top WHO pandemic official, said the global health agency was in talks with drug makers and looking into the logistics of how to deliver the treatments.

"We have taken up the challenge," she said.

The global health agency already has a stockpile of three million antivirals that can be quickly deployed.

Containing the H5N1 bird flu virus that has spread from Asia to Europe and threatens Africa and the Middle East is considered the best way to prevent it from mutating into a human pandemic strain that could kill millions of people.

The H5N1 bird flu virus has already killed 64 in Asia, including the latest victim, a 35-year-old man in Hanoi. An Indonesian girl is also suspected for dying from bird flu. Officials are waiting for test results.

All of the victims had close contact with birds and the virus is not easily transmissible from person-to-person.

TIME RUNNING SHORT
"If we can reduce the presence of the virus, we will reduce the probability of a human pandemic," Bernard Vallat, the director general of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) said.

Dr Joseph Domenech, the chief veterinary officer of the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), said time was vital.

"We have to work on our early warning systems much more."

Vallat told the second day of the three-day meeting that veterinary services were at the vanguard of the fight against animal diseases, including those transmissible to humans.

He said if an outbreak of bird flu occurs in any country, classic animal health policy should be immediately applied with the subsidised culling of infected or in-contact animals and strict movement curbs introduced for animals and humans.

"Hours count. If you don't act within 48 hours, the virus can spread and the costs multiply by thousands," Vallat said.

The OIE and U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) have set up a network of laboratories and expertise specialised in avian influenza, known as OFFLU, but it needs more funding.

The OIE also said for the early detection and culling policy to work, it was fundamental that there should be "immediate and fair compensation mechanisms for livestock producers".

In those countries unable to mobilise enough resources to stamp out an outbreak by mass culling, the option of vaccination should be considered as a back-up policy, Vallat said.

The Paris-based group said more needed to be done to improve the coordination between national authorities in order to speed up the response time to a reported case.
(Additional reporting by David Evans and Stephanie Nebehay)

Trinidad police detain Bakr for questioning
By Linda Hutchinson-Jafar
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad -- Former attempted coup leader Yasin Abu Bakr remained in police custody yesterday although no reasons have been given for his detention.

Radio reports speculated that Bakr, taken from his home by police around midnight Monday, was being questioned about statements made by him last Friday during Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations in which he threatened "war and bloodshed" against rich Muslims if they failed to pay zakaat (a charity of two and half per cent of their earnings) to his Jamaat-al-Muslimeen organisation.

Zakaat, one of the pillars of Islam, requires Muslims whose wealth is above a certain limit to pay a percentage of it to the poor and needy.

In his Eid-ul-Fitr sermon, the controversial Jamaat-al-Muslimeen leader said he had appointed himself and his organisation collector of the zakaat.

There has been outrage in the country over the statements by Bakr, who led 113 followers in a six-day coup attempt in July 1990 against the former government of ex-Prime Minister ANR Robinson which left 24 people dead.

Spiritual leader of the Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamaah Institute, Maulana Siddiq Nasir said Bakr had no right to impose or collect zakaat from Muslims.

"If we were an Islamic state, the state will have the legitimate authority to enforce the collection of zakaat. Those who refuse to pay could be punished. But we don't have any Islamic state here, so that cannot work here," Maulana Nasir said.

Another Muslim organisation, the Trinidad Muslim League (TML) said it was "alarmed" by Bakr's statements.

"The TML holds that in accordance with the Islamic Law no Muslim leader or government is empowered to forcefully collect zakaat," according to the statement.

The release said Bakr's remarks were a "serious threat to the Muslim community and the stability and peace of the nation".

The TML has called on Prime Minister Patrick Manning, Security Minister Martin Joseph and Commissioner Trevor Paul to "ensure the religious rights of Muslims and their safety and protection are not compromised."

Joseph has since asked for a police report on Bakr's statements to determine whether his statements can be viewed as an open threat.

He added that if Bakr's promise of a "war" was in fact a threat, the authorities would act upon it.

Last month, the former coup leader was detained by police for questioning into an explosion which injured 10 people. It was the fourth in a series of mysterious explosions, mainly emanating from garbage bins.

Although he was freed, police have sent clothing worn by Bakr on the night of the explosion for further forensic testing in the United States.

Bakr and his followers were freed after a year in jail when a high court judge ruled that an amnesty given to them during the insurrection was valid.

Although the judgement was later overturned by the London Privy Council, this country's highest court, Bakr and his followers were never re-arrested and brought to trial for treason, murder and kidnapping charges.

Acting St. Lucia PM says:
‘Migration helps economy through remittances from abroad’
ACTING St Lucia Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre says those who claim that St. Lucians are fleeing the country for economic and political reasons are merely denying the fact that migration has been with the world from creation.

Addressing the annual conference of the Castries Central Constituency Group of the ruling St. Lucia Labour Party (SLP), Mr Pierre said “migration is an essential historical fact of life for Caribbean people and indeed people the world over.”

Responding to claims by opposition critics that St. Lucians are fleeing to Canada, the USA and the UK because the Labour Party is in office, Mr Pierre, who is also First Deputy Leader of the SLP, said St. Lucians “have been migrating to other countries over the years, just as nationals of other countries have been migrating to St. Lucia.”

The Acting Prime Minister noted that St. Lucians have over the decades “ventured to places near and far in search of better economic opportunities.”

He identified such places as Ascension Island, Cuba, Curacao, St. Croix, Guyana, Cayenne, Martinique and Panama, “where St. Lucians went in droves to work to feed their families back home.”

He said the remittances sent home to families from those working abroad “do make a significant contribution to the national economy and this has been so under successive governments.”

He pointed out that “in the case of Jamaica, for instance, remittances from abroad represent the largest slice of non-export foreign exchange earnings for that island’s economy.”

The Acting Prime Minister said those who criticised migration were therefore “denying a historical fact, as migration has been with us since time immemorial and will continue for a very long time.”

Rose Hall Developers Club adopts new anti-HIV/AIDS strategy
THE St Francis Community Developers Club, in Rose Hall town, Corentyne, Berbice, recently hosted a three-day workshop as part of its Foster Care Sponsorship Scheme.

The aim was towards organising a better support programme for the families of children living with or affected by HIV/AIDS and other socially transmitted diseases (STDs).

The seminar was sponsored by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and held at the club’s Annexe Restaurant, East Sideline Dam, Rose Hall. It gathered stakeholders involved in helping to reduce the stigma and discrimination attached to the ailments, according to Club President, Mr Mr Alex Foster.

He said foster care and not the institutional type is necessary as the latter does not offer comprehensive support for child victims.

“Children, after spending time at an orphanage, cannot deal with the realities of life…they are not prepared for the real world and cannot cope as a rounded, developed individual, with the various issues,” Foster said at the forum.

The club, over the past five years, has been doing a Family, Youth and Children at Risk Project, throughout Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne).

Foster said it has met with great success but present demands have forced the organisation to review its operation and the foster care sponsorship idea was conceptualised when he returned from an overseas engagement.

He said the unique process is to create an alternative to institutional care for children living in homes and shelters and a supporting environment for other persons at risk who need to access social services but can live with a family.

Those accessing the programme, through the Family, Youth and Children at Risk initiative, will be given the opportunity to explain their individual circumstances to counsellors, peer educators and community leaders the club previously trained.

Subsequently, the project’s outreach officers would go into different communities to verify the information for documentation and recommend corrective action.

A special committee called ‘Friends of St Francis’ will examine the data before final approval is given for donor assistance and the benefactors would meet the sponsored persons and their families or communicate with them formally through a project officer.

Foster said the club would become less dependent on a one to one relationship with friends or well-known sponors and move to attract a wider support base, through which people will be given the chance to support families in crisis.

He said it is anticipated that the procedure would reduce the number of children in homes/orphanages, too.

British help for small farmers
BRITISH High Commissioner, Mr Stephen Hiscock, yesterday donated $3M to the Small Business Development Finance (SBDF) trust to help small farmers.

Handing over the cheque at his Georgetown office, he said it will be used to support SBDF projects to help farmers increase their productivity, expand their business and for non-traditional agriculture production and processing.

He added that the British High Commission has been very supportive of the SBDF role in the mutual interest of reducing poverty and creating meaningful income earning economic activities in Guyana.

The SBDF trust, established in 2002, is a private sector initiative to deal with problems of unemployment, poverty and women’s suffering in rural as well as urban areas in Guyana.

For the period March-April this year, the High Commission has given the SBDF $7M to restart many enterprises and strengthen them in times of depression and helplessness.

The trust also helped cash farmers who lost everything in the devastating January floods.

SBDF Managing Director, Ms. Manjula Bridgemohan, on behalf of the organisation, thanked Hiscock for the support and continued confidence in the trust.

She said the organisation will ensure that each dollar of the assistance will be used efficiently for the purpose for which it has been assigned.

Authentic Indian food, anyone?
FOOD, the ancient wise men of India believe, is a gift from the gods and if it is true that its preparation is a form of prayers, then there is something very religious happening down at Le Meridien Pegasus and it is diverse in colour, taste and texture!

The Indian High Commission and Le Meridien are holding an Indian Food Festival at the Georgetown hotel and the Indian Government has flown in two “Rasoyaas” from New Delhi to prepare authentic Indian food and correct the misnomers about this cuisine matched only by the French and Chinese.

Ashok Kanojia and Sidharth Mohan of the Samrat and Ashok hotels in New Delhi have taken over the kitchen at Georgetown’s finest hotel and it is sure to contain freshly grounded spices to use with meat and vegetables, and when laced with fruits, nuts and lentils, is sure to let you know it’s Indian.

If you can cough up the $4,000 then you’ve had yourself a taste, or a bellyful, if you will, of India’s fine culinary art, refined over thousands of years.

Indian High Commissioner, Mr Avinash Gupta says one of the reasons the food festival came about is the fact that he wanted to give his friends a taste of authentic Indian food but there is not even a single eatery in the city.

Gupta was astounded that 43% of Guyanese are Indian and there is no Indian restaurant even when remote places like Ulaanbaatar, capital of Mongolia, boasts of three!

So, what are two myths about Indian food? Well, the famous ones are that Indian food is fatty and hot. Not true.

What is true? First, sometimes, the food is cooked in excess fat but the cooking is only deemed complete when the fat leaves the sides of the utensil in which the food is cooked or comes to the surface! In other words, the ingredients, in particular spices, expel all fat when fully cooked.

Secondly, Indian food is spicy but not chilli hot. Some exotic spices are used for their special flavours, aroma and medicinal value. The use of red chilli is at one’s own discretion. Individuals are at liberty to increase or decrease the chillies according to their preference.

The Indian High Commissioner is hoping that the Indian food festival moves a Guyanese businessman to invest in an Indian eatery.

If that happens, at least we know who the regular customers will be. (NEIL MARKS)

Police, Army get gift cell phones from GT&T
GUYANA Telephone & Telegraph Company (GT&T) yesterday donated 10 fully activated ‘C115’ ‘Motorolla’ cellular phones each to the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and the Guyana Defence Force (GDF).

GT&T Deputy General Manager, Public Relations, Mr Terry Holder handed over the instruments to Police Commissioner Winston Felix and Army Chief of Staff, Brigadier Edward Collins in the Joint Operations Centre, at Police Headquarters, Eve Leary, Georgetown.

Holder indicated, however, that the users would have to pay for calls made on them.

He said the presentation was symbolic and applauded the GDF on their 40th anniversary being celebrated this month.

Holder said the Police gift phones will go towards communication in crime fighting and Collins endorsed the remark while expressing gratitude for the donation at this time.

Collins said the GDF will continue “to lean” on GT&T and would use the phones in the course of Army duties. He declared he was “touched” by the gesture.

Felix, in saying thanks, too, commented that the kindness will boost communication in the Force because cell phones are very important.

He acknowledged that they were presented at a time of need in the operations being undertaken by the Police.

After the presentation, Holder initiated a call for GT&T Chief Executive Officer, Major General (rt’d) Joe Singh to speak to Collins, his successor as Chief of Staff.

Health Minister appeals for more male nurses
HEALTH Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy is heartened by the number of males in this year’s nursing programme and yesterday urged them to set standards so that others will join.

“I am heartened by the fact that more males have joined the profession…This is not a female profession; we as guys have permitted the ladies to dominate”, he said.

“By your quality of service provided, you can encourage more males to join the profession…we need more males”, Ramsammy stressed at an orientation ceremony for trainee nurses and nursing assistants in Georgetown.

He urged the aspiring nurses and assistants to treat patients with diligence, understanding, love, care and tenderness.

Next year, some 500 students will be registered for the programme, bringing the total number since the programme started to 1,000.

Ramsammy told the students they are joining a very important sector in the development of one’s country.

He said although everyone wants to make a salary, a nurse’s job is much more than a profession, it is a mission. “When you choose this as a job, you are choosing a mission; you are now part of one of the noblest professions in the world”.

Touching on the issue of the migration of skilled nurses, the minister noted that Guyana is not the only country facing the problem.

“The migration of nurses and other health professionals from developing countries to the developed ones is a universal problem”, he said.

Ramsammy added that although people cannot be prevented from leaving the country, there has to be some equity.

“At the international level, we have to advocate that systems be put in place to stop the looting of professionals from our country”, he urged.

He said the government is also trying to get better working conditions and wages for those in nursing.

Guest Editorial:                                  
U.S. alone on blockade against Cuba
(UNDER successive governments in Georgetown, Guyana has been consistent in firmly expressing opposition to the more than four decades of an unprecedented blockade of Cuba by the United States of America.

It has always supported initiatives at the United Nations for an end to this U.S. policy under successive administrations in Washington and is expected to vote against the blockade when the issue comes up under a Cuban resolution this week.

Coinciding with yesterday's annual presentation of a report by Cuba to the UN General Assembly on the blockade, the Barbados `Daily Nation’ published the following editorial which we reprint courtesy of that newspaper.)

FOR the 14th successive year, Cuba will today (Tuesday) formally present for debate a report to the United Nations General Assembly on "the necessity" of ending the very costly, punitive economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed against it by the United States of America over four decades ago.

Over those many years, with Cuba losing billions of dollars annually and international public opinion overwhelmingly in support of an end to the blockade, successive administrations in Washington have failed to muster in its favour more than just four votes in the 191-member UN General Assembly.

The General Assembly is a deliberative body whose decisions are not binding on any of the five members of the power-wielding Security Council. So much for democracy at the world's premier institution in this year of the 60th anniversary session of the General Assembly. 

For those in every region of the international community wondering why this unprecedented blockade in peace time by the world's sole superpower against a small Caribbean nation has not engaged the UN Security Council, there is a simple answer. 

The USA will immediately resort to that cherished weapon of a veto to block any resolution for the lifting of the blockade against Cuba. It is the old story of might is right. It is also a classic example of the need for reforming of the UN to reflect the democratic yearnings, social, economic and cultural realities of a fundamentally different world to when the world body was created with very laudable objectives.

Having quickly moved, following the rise of the Fidel Castro-led revolutionary government in Havana in 1959, to have that Caribbean nation expelled from the Organisation of American States, the USA has been consistent in excluding Cuba from any of its trade and economic initiatives involving nations of the Latin American-Caribbean region.

This has been the case, for instance, from Ronald Reagan's Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI) to the current attempts to establish a Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) that is now in serious trouble to come on stream, as surfaced at the just-concluded stormy Fourth Summit of the Americas in Argentina.

Whatever the misgivings about the Cuban governance system, a striking reality today is that the protest demonstrations taking place across the Western Hemisphere are not against Cuba but the USA.

A related reality is that it is the USA and not Cuba that suffers from international isolation on the issue of the blockade. This is evidenced by the recurring votes at the UN General Assembly against the blockade -- a four-decade long punishment to which NO other nation has been subjected by ANY veto-wielding member of the UN Security Council.

Cuba rightly continues to contend that there is no regulation in international law which justifies a blockade to which it is being subjected, in times of peace.

It is a sentiment widely shared across the world and fully endorsed by our own Caribbean Community. 

Yohance Douglas murder trial:
Missing original depositions recovered
THE original depositions in the Yohance Douglas murder trial which had been reported missing have been recovered, and were yesterday presented to trial Judge Dawn Gregory-Barnes by her Registrar.

Defence Counsel, Mr Bernard De Santos, had claimed that the non-availability of the original depositions had prevented him from pursuing certain aspects of the evidence.

In the case, policeman Gerald Alonzo is accused of shooting Douglas, an 18-year-old University of Guyana student, dead on Sheriff Street, Georgetown on March 1, 2003.

The case for the prosecution, as put forward by State Prosecutor Miss Donelle Harding, is that the accused was among a batch of five cops on patrol for escaped criminals when they received a report from base that two cars, each with five men, were on the East Coast Demerara road heading to the city.

The cops reportedly opened fire on the car in which Douglas and others were and the student was killed.

Policemen in the patrol car that day included 18282 Alonzo, 18839 Cummings, 18342 Thomas, 18758 Thomas and 18842 Baijnauth.

Police investigations into the shooting led to Alonzo and Baijnauth being charged with murder but Baijnauth was freed in the lower court.

One of the witnesses to testify yesterday was Detective Inspector John Cummings who said he had to leave for duties in Berbice that day.

But before leaving, he said, he told the patrol members, that included Alonzo, if they received any information in relation to any person involved in criminal activities, they should report this to the office immediately.

He also told them that if they happened to come into contact with any persons involved in criminal activities, they should contact the office and call for assistance.

According to Cummings, the Police `Fountain Base’ squad was first formed in June 2002 and was charged with seeking information in relation to five escaped prisoners from the Georgetown Prisons, and other persons involved in criminal activities.

Under cross-examination by De Santos, the witness said the patrol members wore civilian dress, with bullet proof vests with the word ‘Police’ written on them.

On the day in question, he said, the base had received information that two cars were coming down from the East Coast – each had five men, and one car was without number plates.

Questioned about evidence that he gave in the lower court, Cummings admitted that in the process of their investigations, the men on patrol were authorised to arrest persons, depending on the circumstances.

The hearing continues today.

Jamaican jailed for cocaine in bicycle tubes
DUKELY Everoy Brisco, one of two Jamaicans who were on trial for drug trafficking, was sentenced to three years imprisonment yesterday.

Acting Chief Magistrate Cecil Sullivan also fined the prisoner $10,000 when the latter changed his plea to guilty.

Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) Prosecutor Oswald Massiah had called two witnesses and Brisco was to lead a defence yesterday when he adopted the shorter course.

The case for the Prosecution was that Brisco, a taxi driver on vacation in Guyana since February 11, concealed bicycle tubes in a carton but CANU officers saw a whitish substance emerging from one of them as the box was passing through an external scanner at Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri.

Attorney-at-law Mr Vic Puran, who pleaded for the minimum sentence to be imposed on Brisco, said the convict had already spent almost 10 months in jail.

According to the lawyer, Brisco accepted a dismantled bicycle for delivery to a friend’s girlfriend in Jamaica without examining it and he cooperated fully with the Police in the investigations.

Puran maintained, too, that Brisco’s participation in the crime was passive not active.

At his first court appearance, on February 22, with Hugh La Don Dennis, also from Westmoreland, Jamaica, Brisco had denied trafficking two kilogrammes 139.8 grammes of cocaine on February 17.

Dennis was found not guilty and freed some months ago.

At Berbice Assizes…
Manslaughter accused granted adjournment
JUSTICE Yonette Cummings-Edwards yesterday adjourned a manslaughter case at the Berbice Assizes, giving the accused an opportunity to retain Defence Counsel.

Pertab Singh called Gopie, who is indicted for unlawfully killing Deonan Surijbally on June 26, 2001, told the judge he had not yet retained a lawyer.

Consequently, the trial will resume on Friday when State Prosecutor Faith McGusty is expected to deliver her opening address to the mixed jury sworn to try the case.

Juvenile in squibs murder case remanded
THE juvenile charged with the Diwali murder at Rosignol was remanded into Police custody last week when he appeared before Magistrate Kim Kyte-John in Blairmont Court, also at West Bank Berbice.

The 14-year-old will make his next appearance on November 16, for a Police report.

Particulars of the capital offence said he murdered Farhad Ally who suffered two fatal wounds following an altercation over the throwing of squibs at a November 1 Diwali function.

Brazilian remanded on carnal knowledge charge
A BRAZILIAN man was refused bail and remanded to prison yesterday on charges of carnally knowing a girl under 12 years of age and buggery.

Eudes Jose De Aruda was not required to plea as he is charged indictably before Acting Chief Magistrate Cecil Sullivan, who transferred the cases to another court for November 11.

Particulars of the offences said the accused had forced sexual intercourse with the three-year-old child and sodomised her on October 14.

Police Inspector Lloyd Thomas, prosecuting, said De Aruda, a miner, was staying at the victim’s home when he took her to the Botanical Gardens in Georgetown.

Owner of Amar’s Auto Sales on fraud charges
OWNER of Amar’s Auto Sales in North Road, Amarnauth Pooran, 45, of Lot 86 South Ruimveldt Gardens, also in Georgetown, has been charged with forgery and uttering a forged document.

He appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Cecil Sullivan yesterday and was granted $45,000 bail, until December 15, when he makes his next appearance in front of another magistrate, to whom his cases have been referred.

Particulars of the June 3 offences alleged that Pooran:

* with intent to defraud, forged an agreement of sale and purchase purporting to show that it was signed by Wilberforce Kendall and

* uttered the forgery.

Police Inspector Lloyd Thomas, prosecuting, said the defendant gave the false documentation to one of his customers.

Trinidadian charged with not paying hotel bill
TRINIDADIAN Raymond Sagaram, charged with obtaining credit by fraud here, pleaded not guilty before Acting Chief Magistrate Cecil Sullivan yesterday and was granted $50,000 bail.

He will make his next appearance on November 22, to again face the allegation that, between June 22 and July 14 last, he incurred a debt of $133,168 at Windjammer International Hotel in Georgetown, by means of fraud.

Police Inspector Lloyd Thomas, prosecuting, said Sagaram is a music artist who rented a room at the hotel but refused to pay his bill and left after spending two weeks there.

Bow and arrow murder accused in court
EIGHTEEN-YEAR-OLD Aubrey Creame (no address given) was yesterday charged before Acting Chief Magistrate Cecil Sullivan with the November 1 murder of Wilbert Daniels, at Chinese Landing, Barama River.

The accused was remanded to prison and his case was transferred to Akwero Court, also in North West District, for January 10, 2006.

Police Inspector Lloyd Thomas, prosecuting, said the prisoner and Daniels were drinking in a shop when an argument arose between them and Creame fatally shot the victim with an arrow and bow.

Couple granted bail in illegal gun, ammo case
THE couple charged after the gun and ammo find at Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara, secured bail when they returned to court yesterday after being remanded in custody overnight.

Acting Chief Magistrate Cecil Sullivan set surety at $75,000 each for businessman Mohamed Feroz called Terry, 37 and his 24-year-old reputed wife, Ruthlyn Francis.

It was their second court appearance in two days after pleading not guilty on Monday to illegal possession of the firearm and ammunition.

Particulars of the offences said the defendants had a Smith and Wesson revolver and 41 live .357 rounds at Lot 268 Block ‘A’ Diamond Housing Scheme, while not being the holders of licences in force on November 4.

They were arrested when Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) officers raided their home during a drug eradication and intelligence exercise.

Their case has been transferred to another court for November 14.

An anatomy of the Sacred Heart issue
THE Protocol re building a church according to Canon Law is as follows:

(1) “No Church is to be built without the expressed written consent of the diocesan bishop.

(2) The diocesan bishop is not to furnish this consent unless he judges that a new church could serve the good of souls, and that the means necessary for building the church and for divine worship would not be lacking in the future; he is to make this judgement after listening to the presbyteral council and the rectors of neighbouring churches”.

As can be seen, rebuilding the Sacred Heart Church is within the Protocol of Canon Law.

The Bishop is concerned with the building of a new church, because this would ordinarily also involve the establishment of a new parish. So much for the law.

The fact is that a “new parish” is not in question here. But this doesn’t prejudice the validity of the conditions.

It’s generally agreed that the new church would indeed serve the good of souls. The parishoners have been clamouring for it.

Over the past months, it has been made abundantly clear that the finances necessary for building and maintaining the church will not be lacking. The priest who served the parish up to the time of its destruction is still available. The Society of Jesus would be more than willing to attend to the worshipping community.

There may be need to discern the views of the priest/people of the neighbouring parishes – Kitty, Campbellville, Fatima, Cathedral, St. Pius, Meadow Bank, Sacred Heart, Malgre Tout.

Not without relevance to the Sacred Heart issue is the recent remodelling of Bishop’s House which was done in record time – `labba time’ as we say in Guyana.

And so some data relevant to Bishop’s House will be quite appropriate – some of which up till now has never been made available to the general public.

(a) Formal occupancy of the building was 30th January 2004 and remodelling started in August 2004 – all within the space of seven months.

(b) Bishop’s House was used by two preceding Bishops – the last one for the past 30 years. Neither of the two saw the need for remodelling.

(c) The cost of remodelling which was never made public was in the vicinity of G$20M, a sum which two members of the original building committee thought to be exorbitant, as it could have been reduced by G$5M. This suggestion was rejected and the two members resigned in protest.

(d) Some parishes were told to contribute to the cost of remodelling and a fair for this purpose was held at Thirst Park. This fair was able to generate G$3M-$4M. To my knowledge, these figures too were never made public.

(e) The Bishop’s House caters to the needs of one person. The Sacred Heart Church caters to the needs of hundreds of parishioners and other individuals outside of the parish boundaries.

The above is the Sacred Heart problem in a nutshell.

It must be borne in mind that 75% of all the priests in the Diocese are in favour of rebuilding the church, and since the majority of the priests belong to the Society of Jesus, it goes without saying that the Society of Jesus supports rebuilding the Sacred Heart Church – these same missionaries who have done so much for the church in Guyana.

To recapitulate, the remodelling of Bishop’s House was done almost overnight. Since the destruction of the Sacred Heart Church more than 10 months ago, a decision to rebuild it is yet to be made.

Let us then continue to pray for those in charge, that common sense and justice would prevail in the end.
DR JOHN FREDERICKS

Secret demoralisers
THE national elections are coming up next year and some persons are using the media to tell People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) supporters, in effect, that they need not come out to vote since the PNCR cannot win any elections.

And they are directing this kind of demoralisation propaganda to the Afro-Guyanese supporters of the PNCR in particular.

The PNCR, as a party, must show electoral strength to survive and wield influence and its Afro, Indo, Amerindian and Mixed supporters must be encouraged to come out and vote as Burnham did in the 1950s and 1960s.

These secret demoralisers and weakeners of the PNCR are taking up the pose as Afro-Guyanese racists to deceive but these disguised enemies of the party should be ferreted out before it is too late.
W. GRIFFITH

Wasted prayer
I WAS aghast at reading Ronald Waddell's letter on what he says is a "Buxton resistance" to racial "oppression" (Stabroek News, November 6).

It's as if my beloved Guyana has devolved into a system of apartheid worse than that which existed in South Africa.

Why then, I wondered, is the resistance coming only from Buxton and not from all our Afro-Guyanese communities? Why not a countrywide resistance effort, why not a Caribbean-wide resistance effort, in fact, why not a global effort as was the case against the notorious apartheid regime in South Africa?

Why has the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) not made a stand on the "genocide against African-Guyanese" which Waddell claims is happening?

The whole world knows about the genocide in Rwanda. Why are they ignoring the deliberate and systematic destruction of a single racial group which Mr Waddell believes is occurring in Guyana?

And when did Waddell's "African nation" arise autonomously in Guyana? I thought we are "One People, One Nation, One Destiny"!

Waddell promises an end to the Buxton criminal rampage (or "resistance" if you take his word) only "When we as descendants of Africans are assured of a system under which we can reach our full potential".

He did not say exactly which part of the current system bans the ambition of African descendants.

Another part of the pledge is: "When we can be part of a system where we can benefit from the social services." Mr Waddell did not say which social service has reserved benefits only for Indians, Chinese, Portuguese, Amerindians, Europeans and other races in Guyana, to the exclusion of Africans.

He says, "When we do not have to live in fear of being gunned down and police invading our cars."

It seems to me that all Guyanese live in fear. In fact, only some feel safe to walk the road at certain times after dark. Just look at how the homes and stores are barricaded and you'll see the fear among all.

Waddell continues his demands by saying, "When we can send our children to school and they can graduate." He did not specify which school eliminated a child, or prevented one from graduating because of the child's skin colour.

His final condition for peace in Buxton is when: "we are assured that we can build businesses and employ our children in this country like any other persons."

Mr Waddell did not say which Afro-Guyanese was denied a business licence because of his race and he did not say which Afro parent was prevented from hiring their child.

I take it he knows child labour is illegal, so if the government stops a business from hiring a child, it has little to do with racial "genocide" and Afro oppression.

Mr Waddell finally gave holy praise saying: "We thank God for the Buxton resistance . . . and we give praise and thanks to the Almighty". He also asked that his God protect the fighting "militants".

Sooner or later I knew a God would turn up in this sordid affair.

But Waddell's prayer seems wasted to me. Rather than ask the "Almighty" to strengthen a besieged "resistance", it might be more effective to have Him simply abolish the pressure.

Unless, of course, there is no real pressure to begin with.
DAVID SEEGOBIN

They should think again
THE world community of democratic nations is fully committed to supporting and protecting democratic governance in the Caribbean which, of course, includes Guyana.

It is very important that this commitment is realised, especially by those who believe they can subvert or overthrow democratically-elected governments by force.

Such activities will not be tolerated by the world democratic community.

In addition, those who lead or support such movements can be branded international criminals and end up before the world criminal court in the Hague.

So those who feel they can have a legitimate government outside of the ballot box had better give the matter more careful thought, before embarking on such adventurism.
PATRICIA RAMPERSAUD

Teen wrongfully arrested
MY 16-YEAR-OLD son for the very first time was made to suffer the ignominy of being placed in the Suddie Police Station lock-ups for no justifiable reason but from sheer carelessness ever so detrimental to the society.

It is on record that a report of threatening behaviour was made against my son with the victim being a primary school boy on October 15 last and the very next day I accompanied him to the station.

From investigations carried out and for reasons best known to the Police, my son was advised that he would not be prosecuted with the matter being closed. He was given a warning and sent away.

Exactly two weeks later on October 30, my son and I were standing by the roadside next to my home when a constable living nearby arrested him for the same offence.

The constable threatened to put me in the lock-ups too from his arrogant behaviour and bluntly refused to even listen to my explanation of what had already transpired in the matter.

On visiting the station during the night, my son had already been incarcerated for several hours. After it was verified from the records that the matter had already been dealt with, he was released.

There was nothing to prevent the constable from checking the station records before and after executing the arrest and had this been done, such an embarrassment which cannot be treated lightly would have been avoided.
NANDRANIE MANGAL

Cosmetic facades?
I OFFER my congratulations to the Alliance For Change (AFC) on its launch.

I was particularly impressed that the new party intends to move Guyana to issues-based politics. This is very much needed and I would like more information on how the AFC will deal with the issue of ethnicity and race since this is the most serious and urgent issue this country faces.

Mr Raphael Trotman had the courage some years back to state that the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) needs to apologise for its past.

Will Mr Trotman, if he is elected President, move to have this done? And how does the AFC intend to settle the burning issue of race and ethnicity?

Will they establish a Truth and Reconciliation Commission as South Africa did so we can all settle the past once and for all? Will they deal urgently with the gross ethnic imbalance in the Disciplined Forces and the civil service?

Will they implement the Disciplined Forces recommendations, which the Jagdeo Government has failed to do?

Will they help to arrest further outbreaks of ethnic criminality and violence by passing legislation to outlaw all hate crimes? Will all of the diverse cultures and religions be assured their rightful space, and will we have fair and just representation at all levels, including at any event or festival that is billed as national?

Can the AFC assure us, that is, that they will bring back morality, decency, honesty, truth, discipline and peace (all of which are absent from Guyana’s landscape) through legislation, regulations and just and fair practices and policies?

All past governments have failed to address the root issue of race and ethnicity.

The PPP/C and PNCR have only slapped on cosmetic facades and I am somewhat perturbed about the AFC’s plan to switch the presidential and prime ministerial positions midway through their term (if elected) since this looks suspiciously like a cosmetic appeasement to the very race and ethnicity issue that the AFC promises to move us away from.

However, I am prepared to give the AFC the benefit of the doubt and hope that they will grapple with the monster of racism and root it out of our national consciousness by making sure that the past is properly put to rest and that peace, prosperity and harmony among all of Guyana’s citizens are assured.
SAHEED BACCHUS

Please give it up
OK GUYS -- it's time to give it up.

It's getting rather boring. It has descended into name calling and personal attacks and doesn't contribute anything useful anymore in the debate.

The important thing is to realise that Creolese and English have their special place in Guyanese society at home and here abroad.

At home I use Creolese much to the chagrin of my kids, but at work purely English so I can communicate effectively with my fellow workers who do not understand Guyanese Creolese.

When meeting other Guyanese, the conversation automatically switches to Creolese.

Why should we give up Creolese? You can never tell a Jamaican or a Trinidadian to stop speaking their language and speak English because they are proud of their language.

Having said that, we have to recognise the limitations of Creolese.

So guys, please give it up.
NOHAR SINGH

Deserving appointment
CONGRATULATIONS to Mr Gordon Gilhuys on his appointment to the Magistracy.

I am not surprised because I know this person is very serious and knowledgeable for this position.

He is one who is courageous and fearless in carrying out his duty.

My wife and I wish him all the best.
RUDY & CAMILLE

Pensioners say thanks
ON BEHALF of all pensioners, I extend thanks and gratitude to President Bharrat Jagdeo and the Government for providing water free of cost to us.

I am very pleased to know that my letter which was sent to the Stabroek News and published on Friday, December 1, 2000, page 7, suggesting that sugar workers should not pay for water, has not fallen on deaf ears.

There are two other areas in which the Government can assist pensioners and these are property tax and Guyana Power and Light (GPL) because not all pensioners are fortunate to receive NIS. Some depend only on the old age pension.

I am hoping that the Government will do something to help in those areas in time to come.

Nevertheless, the people are thankful for what has been done, especially those of us in Corriverton.
NOOR MOHAMED ALLADIN

Alliance needed against drug lords
LATIN American and Caribbean countries are all under threat by drug cartels, whose activities help to spawn the violence and murders in all these countries.

This violence makes it more difficult for governments to overcome poverty and improve the lives of their citizens and promote economic development.

There must be a strengthened collaboration among the law enforcement agencies of these countries, a sharing of information and resources.

The existence of our very governments is in danger and this problem has to assume priority, as we cannot improve the lives of ordinary people and lift them out of poverty if we are at the mercy of drug lords and cartels.

Civil society and the private sectors must also form a part of the active struggle as we are all affected.
WALDO PATTERSON

No new faces
THE political landscape in Guyana is undergoing many more changes than ever before as people decide to exercise their democratic rights, never so available before, to form political parties and alliances to contest the upcoming elections.

We are not, however, seeing any news faces or ideas.

We have seen and heard them all before, so we are at a loss to know what kind of a change they really have in mind for us. Or are they just going to try to take us through all that we have experienced before as seems most likely?

The ‘new’ forces or alliances all seem to have one thing in common however – PPP/C bashing.

There can be no doubt that the wish nearest to their heart is to get the PPP/C out – they seem to have no other purpose.

It will be very hard for them to do so, however, through free and fair elections – as the PPP/C has a very good track record in fulfilling their commitments and moving the country forward.
HENRIETTA GRIFFITH

Incorrect figures
WE WISH to set the record straight and correct the gross representation of facts as presented by Ronald Waddell in his letter published in the Stabroek News on November 6, 2005 under the caption “My statements on the Buxton resistance were made in a specific context”.

He stated that the Guyana Indian Heritage Association (GIHA) Crime Report covered the period “after the elections of 1997 to 2004”, and went on quote incorrect figures which he implied were taken from our report.

The GIHA Crime Report gave facts, figures, data and perspectives on the ethnic crimes perpetrated on Indians between February 2002 and February 2003. This is so clearly stated on the cover and within the body of the report that any statement to the contrary must be intended to deceive.

The GIHA Crime Report made reference to the two reports done previously to investigate and report on ethnic crimes and violence on Indians. The first report was done by the colonial Government and it investigated the Wismar Massacre of May 25 and 26, 1964. That report concluded that “this was a diabolical plot, ingeniously planned and ruthlessly executed.”

GIHA’s report also referred to the investigations done by the Guyana Indian Foundation Trust (GIFT) into the ethnic horrors perpetrated on Indians on January 12, 1998 in Georgetown.

To make sure that GIHA’s findings of the 2002 to 2003 criminality are quoted correctly, we will state some of the figures published. It must be noted that these figures were compiled from data made public through Police and media reports.

Many Indians did not report robberies and assaults because they felt it was a waste of time, and a number of rapes also went unreported because of the shame of social stigma and humiliation.

During the year under study, 155 people died as a result of bandit attacks, Police killings, vigilante justice, drug warfare and gang warfare. Of these, 30 were Indian civilians and policemen, all gunned down by bandits in one year - not 39 Indians killed over seven years as Waddell wishes the public to believe. Twenty-one of the 155 murdered were Police, including two CANU officers. Forty-eight bandits, thieves, wanted men and suspects were killed, and of these 44 were Africans, 91.6 per cent.

Between February 2002 and February 2003, there were 10 kidnapping incidents involving 18 people, all Indians. Of these, two were killed, six escaped, nine were released and the fate of one youth, Sadesh Sahadeo, is still unknown. An estimated $85 million was paid in ransom.

The money and valuables stolen during the year under study amounted to $176.8 million. Of this $149.9 million, 84.7 per cent was stolen from Indians.

History in Guyana has a way of being quickly rewritten to suit the prejudices of those doing the rewriting and we hope that these facts will set the record straight.

They can be used as a reference point for any statements made about the findings of the GIHA Crime Report, “Indians Betrayed”, which was published in July 2003.

An account of the unabated assaults, robberies, rapes, kidnappings and killing of Indians thereafter is yet to be fully tabulated. 

It is unfortunate that Waddell is unable to offer non-violent solutions to Guyana’s serious racial/ethnic issues.

This is the only context within which anyone should be discussing these issues and the GIHA Crime Report proffered several steps that should be urgently undertaken, including having Disciplined Forces that are representative of the country’s racial/ethnic diversity, and the institution of hate crime legislation.
ROHINI SINGH
SECRETARY
GIHA

Brain drain universal
A RECENT report in some newspapers indicates that Guyana is ranked number one for migration of skilled labour, commonly referred to as the brain drain.

The improvements in our education system, the increase in tertiary institutions, such as the University of Guyana, Berbice campus, various youth development programmes, including scholarships, and additional training programmes for teachers, have all contributed to this.

This phenomenon of brain drain is universal.

Remittances from such individuals, who migrate, coupled with the experience and exposure garnered in the international arena, benefit the economy immensely when these individuals return home.
JASON HINDS

Laid to rest?
IN RESPONSE to articles carried in your newspaper pertaining to the Charity transformer issue, please note that the matter was dealt with accordingly by the Region Two Administration and Special Assistant to the President of the Republic of Guyana, Mr Kheedmat Budhu.

Please be informed that this matter was published on several occasions and replies were made in accordance.

Hence, we believe this matter should be concluded since the public had a full understanding of the matter.
RAJENDRA PRABHULALL
REGIONAL INFORMATION OFFICER
REGION TWO

Time to rally around Chanderpaul - Coach
MELBOURNE, Australia, CMC - In yet another telling example of how much the tide has turned in West Indies cricket, head coach Bennett King has urged his players to stick together in the face of a mauling from Australia and a roasting from the media here in the aftermath of the first Test.

Already upset by speculation about disunity in the camp under his leadership, Shivnarine Chanderpaul seemed almost desperate for a solution to the defeatist culture that was again evident in the capitulation that resulted in a 379-run humiliation inside four days at the Gabba.

At the same venue where Kim Hughes gave up the Australian captaincy in tears following another drubbing by an overpowering West Indies side 21 years ago, Chanderpaul was at a loss on Sunday to explain how all of the team's pre-match optimism came to almost nothing.

As the squad arrived in Melbourne, yesterday, for a three-day match against the Victorian Bushrangers, King stressed the need to rally round the captain.

"All around, we've just got to stay close and show the resolve that we know we've got," the coach stated, adding that the presence of former captain and fast bowler Courtney Walsh during the Brisbane Test was also helpful.

"It was good having him there. We got him involved with us while we were there, specifically with the bowlers, but also having a chat with Shivvy as well. Courtney's a member of the Win World Cup committee back in the West Indies, so it's a natural thing for him to be with us while he is over here."

That committee, appointed with the specific purpose of preparing a team capable of winning the World Cup at home in 2007, includes a number of outstanding former players and one current star in Brian Lara.

Conceding that the gamble of resting fast bowlers Jermaine Lawson, Fidel Edwards and Corey Collymore before they played in the first Test had paid little dividends, King contended that it was a chance work taking.

"I've got no regrets (about that decision). When you play a side like Australia, you've got to go in there full of confidence," he explained.

"There were some good signs leading into the Test match and I think this loss hurt because we had some high expectations of ourselves, because we thought we were going pretty well. In hindsight, the side that we played (Queensland Bulls) leading into the match was very different from the side we played at the Gabba (Australia)."

After amassing 612 in their only innings against the state side at Allan Border Field, the West Indies could only muster totals of 210 and 129 in the series opener, even though Australia's champion bowlers Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath failed to take a wicket in the second innings.

Happy to have a three-day match before the second Test next week in Hobart for the players to try to sort themselves out, the Australian-born coach noted that the mental approach to the game, more than technical deficiencies, needed to be urgently addressed.

Fifty and counting
ICING on the chequered flag: First Lady Varshnie Jagdeo assists former racing aces (from second left) Christopher ‘Kit’ Nascimento, Joey King, Pat Holder and Hilary Jardine to cut the 50th anniversary cake during the presentation ceremony of the November International motor racing meet at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) pavilion, Monday night. The Guyana Motor Racing & Sports Club (GMR&SC) is celebrating its 50th birthday and Sunday’s meet was dedicated to the milestone. (Photo: Winston Oudkerk)

National junior champion off to Pan-Am C’ships
DOUBLE National title-holder Kristian Jeffrey is in Ecuador to compete in the Pan-American Junior squash championships that served off last Saturday in that country.

National Under-17 and Under-19 champion Jeffrey is a member of the Caribbean Area Squash Association (CASA) Development Team and the other players in the Boys’ Team are Jamaica’s Chris Bennie and Trinidad & Tobago’s Josh Pinnard. Jamaican Noel McKrieth is the coach.

The Girls’ Team has Barbadian Cherri-Ann Parris, Trinidadian Tessa Martin and Coach Karen Meakins of Barbados.

It is the first time that the Caribbean will be competing as one team. However, the CASA Development Team will not win prizes in the team competitions since only teams from sovereign countries qualify to officially place.

However, the players will receive prizes should they place in the individual competitions.

Jeffrey is the Caribbean Under-17 runner-up, losing to arch-rival Binnie for the title in the championships, staged in Trinidad & Tobago during July.

He was a member of the victorious Guyana Boys’ team, playing and winning the deciding match for the title, coming up against Bermuda’s Robert Maycock.

The 16-year-old was a member of the senior team that played for second place in the Caribbean Championship, also staged in Trinidad & Tobago the following month, again playing and winning the deciding match.

Jeffrey’s trip is sponsored by Ansa McAl Trading and Automotive Arts.

Antigua in need of hotel rooms for World Cup
… Homeowners encouraged to add rooms
ST JOHN'S, Antigua, CMC – Antigua and Barbuda will have to improve its room stock by 35 percent if it is going to accommodate the anticipated 15 000 visitors expected for Cricket World Cup 2007.

And tourism officials here are hoping that some projects which have started and others which are to begin shortly will be completed on time to meet the requirement.

"We are still way behind as far as commitment from the local hotels is concerned with regards to the provisions of sufficient rooms for the supporters," tourism minister, Harold Lovell said.

The Antiguan government recently passed Cricket World Cup (visitor accommodations) Incentive Act, designed to encourage local and foreign investors to expand their existing properties or build new ones.

Lovell said proposals for projects would be given priority.

"We recognise that sometimes these things can be quite time-consuming but the ministry is committed to ensuring that we speed it up and once it's presented to government as a project then we want to reduce the amount of time it takes between the presentation with all the paperwork and the commencement of the project," he added.

About 21 projects, labelled with a price tag 502 million EC dollars, have been earmarked for construction.

Homeowners have also been encouraged to add additional rooms to their houses.

Antigua and Barbuda is one of eight venues selected to host matches.

World Cup Anti-infringement policy concerns Antigua
ST JOHN'S, Antigua, CMC - Antigua and Barbuda's tourism minister Harold Lovell has termed Cricket World Cup 2007's anti-infringement policy as "too broad" and has called on organisers to revisit the legislation.

The AIP seeks to protect against ambush marketing during the event and prohibits non-sponsoring companies from profiting from the event.

Lovell said while his government understood the intention of the AIP it still presented "severe limitations as to (how) you can use the term World Cup and cricket in the same context as your marketing strategy. There are some restrictions there."

Lovell also said it was not only Antigua and Barbuda who had concern about the anti-infringement policy.

"What we're doing is that we're looking at the ambush marketing programme and ensuring that we do everything within the confines of the agreement, but, at the same time, we feel that some of the interpretations that we've heard of are too broad," Lovell added.

Lovell said his government intended to make sure it benefited from the economic spin-offs from the global event without infringing the AIP.

"We have to make sure that we are not placed in a position where we are treated unfairly," he said.

South Dakota’s fastest
GROUP 3 champion again: Mark Vieira adds another trophy to his collection, having recorded the fastest lap time at Sunday’s November International motor racing meet at the South Dakota Circuit, staged by the Guyana Motor Racing & Sports Club (GMR&SC) in honour of its 50th anniversary. Vieira was unchallenged in his new generation Mazda RX7 as he sped away with all three races in that category to once more emerge champion. He clocked 35.93 seconds but did not eclipse his own lap record of 35.62 seconds. He received yet another championship trophy during the presentation ceremony at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) pavilion. (Photo: Winston Oudkerk)

K&S Christmas Football Festival…
Prizes start rolling in
THE prize for the Most Valuable Players and several gate and promotional gifts for the 16th Annual Christmas Football Festival are now in possession of the Kashif & Shanghai Organisation (K&S).

Yesterday, in separate simple but significant ceremonies, the organisers received the $175 000 Jialing motorcycle for the MVP from donor, Automobile Power Products, on Robb Street.

This is the first year the ten-year-old motorcycle company has an input in the football extravaganza, saying it is “quality teaming up with quality” to produce the “greatest” results.

Five phones will be given out as gate prizes, while others will be up as giveaway in the various games during the course of the tournament, which kicks off on December 11 at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground.

On Friday, the names of the teams selected for this year’s tournament will be announced during a media briefing at Water Chris.

Sankar rides away with Berbice 75 km road race
RECOVERING from a puncture, Eric Sankar beat the field to capture the top prize in the 75-kilometre road race, staged by Flying Ace Cycle Club and sponsored by A. Ally & Sons in Berbice on Sunday.

Sankar finished the course from Skeldon to New Amsterdam in one hour 56 minutes 27 seconds.

Gerald Fowler rode in second, Darren Allen third, Warren McKay fourth, John Charles fifth, Sherwin Osbourne sixth, Jude Bently seventh and Ian Jackson eighth, all prize finishes.

Sankar, Fowler and Allen broke away early to lead the race, then Sankar sustained a puncture before half the route was completed and other two leaders waited on him.

By Canje Bridge, however, Sankar carried an attack and rode away, with Allen pulling up. Three leaders claimed three sprint prizes each, after Charles had taken the first one.

The top junior racer was Allen, with Marlon Harvey taking the second slot, followed by Albert Philander and Trevis Cipriani.

Virgil Jones was the first veteran to cross the finish line, with Gary Benjamin second and Linden Blackman third.

In the Upright category, Sherwin Richards was first, Roger Savory second and Kacnus Cipriani third.

Enzo Matthews won the 12-14 years racing bike race, Royston Trotman was second and Terrence Whyte third.

In the BMX races around New Amsterdam, Shaka Rowe finished first in the 12-14 years division, Romel Hernandez second and Devon De Jonge third, while Leoni Cipriani was first in the 9-12 years division, Neil Reis second and Karrindra Baijnauth third.

The 6-9 first prize went to Ravindra Karim, second Jason Likasingh and third Akeem Rudder.

Patron of the club, Errol Alphonso, and sponsor A. Ally and staff presented the prizes.

Alphonso congratulated the riders and encouraged them to maintain discipline, pointing out that it would take them a very far way in life.

Coach Randolph Roberts organised the meet.

NBIC Under-15 cricket…
Tucber Park, Scramblers clash in National final today 
JOEL Amsterdam produced an excellent all-round performance to inspire Berbice champions Tucber Park to a comfortable 78-run victory over Wales in the second semi-final of the 2005 National Bank of Industry and Commerce (NBIC) National Under-15 cricket competition at the Blairmont Community Centre ground on Monday.

The win ensured that Tucber Park reached their second National final at this level in as many years and to come up against Scramblers of North Essequibo in the final set for today at Bourda.

Amsterdam stroked a fine 31 off 49 deliveries with two fours to see his team to a respectable 144 all out in 48.5 overs. He returned with the ball to grab two wickets with his off-spin as Wales, the Demerara Zone runners-up, were routed for a paltry 66.

Apart from Amsterdam, opener Shan Baksh with a responsible 22 and Seon Hetymer 15 were the only other batsmen to reach double figure in what was a disappointing batting display from the Berbicians who were assisted tremendously by some 46 extras in their total.

Off-spinners Roger Henry and Sanjay Ramjit had two wickets each for ten and 26 runs respectively while medium pacer Rudhra Harripersaud supported with two for ten, bowling for Wales who collapsed after at one stage being 32 without loss.

Off-spinners Michael Sampson, three for five from his ten overs, Jamal La Fleur two for 13, Amsterdam two for two and medium pacer Hetmyer two for 20, were the destroyers for Tucber Park. (Vemen Walter)

TUCBER PARK innings

S. Baksh b Henry 22

J. La Fleur c wkp. Benneth b Harripersaud 6

T. Henry b Lindo 0

J. Odle b Dhanpaul 1

S. Hetmyer c & b Henry 15

M. Latif c Kisson b Ramjit 0

O. Joseph c Harripersaud b Ramjit 7

K. De Jesus c wkp. Benneth b Harripersaud 10

J. Amsterdam not out 31

M. Sampson b Benjamin 3

J. Chisholm run-out 3

Extras: (b-3, lb-1, w-40, nb-2) 46

Total (all out, 48.5 overs) 144

Fall of wickets: 1-25, 2-28, 3-46, 4-69, 5-70, 6-70, 7-89, 8-102, 9-127.

Bowling: Harripersaud 10-1-40-2 (w-18, nb-2), Lindo 8-2-25-1 (w-3), Dhanpaul 6-0-20-1 (w-8), Henry 10-4-10-2, Ramjit 10-1-26-2 (w-8), Gunraj 1-0-8-0 (w-3), Maniram 1-1-0-0, Benjamin 2.5-1-11-1.

WALES innings

R. Henry c La Fleur b Hetmyer 12

K. Benneth lbw b Hetmyer 1

M. Dhanpaul c Hetymer b Sampson 1

R. Harripersaud run-out 12

S. Ramjit b Sampson 6

R. Benjamin lbw b Sampson 0

S. Kisson lbw b Amsterdam 1

K. Maniram c Joseph b La Fleur 5

K. Lindo b La Fleur 2

J. Gunraj b Amsterdam 1

J. Persaud not out 0

Extras: (b-1, lb-3, w-20, nb-1) 25

Total (all out, 31.4 overs) 66

Fall of wickets: 1-32, 2-33, 3-37, 4-53, 5-53, 6-55, 7-56, 8-65, 9-66.

Bowling: De Jesus 4-1-15-0 (w-10), Chisholm 3-0-7-0 (w-5, nb-1), Hetmyer 7-1-20-2 (w-3), Sampson 10-8-5-3, La Fleur 5.4-1-12-2, Amsterdam 2-1-2-2 (w-2).

Open Doubles badminton…
Past Nationals to wield racquets again
SEVERAL past national players will be battling in the Open Doubles tournament, staged by the Guyana Badminton Association (GBA) at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall from the evening of November 17.

According to GBA president Gokarn Ramdhani, the event is expected to be very exciting since a number of past players have indicated interest in taking part.

These include Ramdhani himself who is a past national player, along with Mark Chang and Grandison Robinson, among others.

The competition which is expected to last a few days will be run on a best-in-three knock-out format.

All entries must be submitted to the president or executive members before 18:00 h on November 16.

Ramdhani disclosed that the association was also contemplating running off a Queen’s College (QC) tournament if permission is granted, a ten-and-under competition and the Open singles before year-end.

In the last few months, the association has run off the Under-19 Singles, the Men’s B-division Doubles and the B-division Singles, both at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall and the Queen’s College Auditorium.

Meanwhile, the Yonex Badminton Club Under-10 coaching programme continues on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at Queen’s College from 17:30 h to 18:30 h, and registration for interested persons is ongoing. (Faizool Deo)

Disciples whip Warriors in a blow away
PLAISANCE Disciples blew away Better Hope Warriors by a whopping 42 points in the recently formed East Coast Basketball Network, at the Plaisance Primary School, Sunday.

The network is one of three, recently launched by the National Youth Ministry Secretariat and the Patriots Foundation of Plaisance. The other two are the junior league network and the schools network.

The two Kwakwani students on scholarships from the Ministry to study at the Government Technical Institute (GTI) were unstoppable for Disciples in the feature clash of the East Coast clubs, leading the Plaisance team to a 98-56-point victory.

Shooting guard Dave Causway scored a night-high 31 points, including two from ‘down town,’ while in the defence, he grabbed three steals while making four rebounds.

His community mate, Marlon Chesney, a guard too, scored 24 points, while making seven steals, five rebounds and four assists. Also, scoring for the side was Enoch Matthews who finished with a double double, 15 points and 10 rebounds.

For the visitors, point guard Dickon Britton scored 26 points, while he made three steals and six rebounds. Also reaching double figures for the side was Solomon Matthews who scored 13 points and grabbed eight rebounds.

The opening game of the night was an Under-14 game, with players from the youth league showcasing their skills. A combined team defeated the Orphanage boys 41-31.

Small forward Compton Gilkes who has played in leagues in USA, led the way with 22 points, followed by Trevon Bobb-Semple with seven.

The opposing team was led by centre Roland Nurse, who scored 12 points while the point guard Ceon Abrams chipped in with ten.

In another game between Bishops’ High School and Christ Church Secondary was a close fight with Bishops’ finishing top. Centre Marvin Ray dominated with 26 points while grabbing 14 rebounds, three blocks and three steals.

Two other players also finished with over 20 points. Small forward Colin Griffith had 24 points, five steals and four assists and point guard John Fraser who played an amazing all-round game, finishing with 21 points, 10 rebounds, nine assists and seven steals.

For Christ Church, Darrel Ramsay powered his way to 23 points and 23 rebounds while Jermaine Slater almost mirrored his game finishing with 22 points and 20 rebounds.

Police beat Ministry of Sport by two wickets
MEDIUM pacer Kwaime Sugrim and opening batsman Rawle Brown led Police to a comfortable two-wicket victory over Ministry of Culture, Youth & Sport (MCYS) in the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) 40-over second division competition, Saturday, at the Everest cricket ground, Carifesta Avenue.

After the match was reduced to a 30-over affair due to the inclement weather, Sugrim took three wickets for 30 runs in his five allotted overs while Brown scored a fluent 38 to steer their team to victory in the 21st over.

MCYS won the toss and opted to take first strike on a wicket, favourable for batting, but did not capitalise on it as they crumbled for 127 in 29 overs. Daniel Richmond led the way with an unbeaten 36 with support from Kevin Joseph (17) and Marvin Vyphuis (15).

Sugrim was assisted by fast bowler Kurth Beaser who had three for 24 from his five while Lloyd Lyght took two for 37.

When the lawmen batted Brown who also plays first division for the cops, was well supported by Trevon Bourne (21) and Linden Wilson (16).

Left-arm spinner Basheer Khan continued his good form with the ball, capturing three for 21 in five overs, with two consecutive maiden.

Pacer Mark Cumberbatch grabbed two for 19 and Ian Rodrigues supported with two for 21 from his five overs.

Local golfers head for French Guiana
SEVERAL local golfers will be travelling to French Guiana this weekend to play in a competition at the newly opened 18-hole golf course in the coastal city of Kourou.

Some of these players have been performing excellently of late, including Jerome Khan who even claimed the course record two weeks ago while playing in the Grand Coastal Golf Championships at the Lusignan golf club.

Other golfers includes the in-form Ian Gouveia, Raj Sankar, Mike Guyadin, and Ritva Solomon.

This tournament precedes the Guyana Open which is scheduled for next week Saturday and Sunday at the Lusignan course.

Keen interest is expected in this competition, which will have golfers from the Caribbean, Suriname and French Guaina, as well as New York, Miami and Canada.

Race walkers invade Bartica for tourism month
… National champion in hunt for 50 wins
NATIONAL race walker Rudolph Mitchell will hunt for his 50th title in the Cavaliers Sports & Tour Club’s staging of the Bartica Race Walk in observance of Tourism Awareness Month on Sunday, November 20.

The five-lap race walk will begin at the Monument in First Avenue and proceed around the town ending at the Bandstand.

According to a release from the organisers, racers from all regions of the country are expected to participate, while many spectators should be going to the interior town.

The race aims at promoting the sport countrywide and ensuring the involvement of both young and old.

Regional Chairman, Gordon Bradford, will send the race-walkers off and later present the prizes to the winners.

Trophies and other prizes will be at stake for male and female racers in the seniors, juniors, veterans and disabled categories.

Lawrence blasts ton to lead ECI to commanding win
A FLAMBOYANT 159 not out from former Guyana Under-15 player Lawrence Farnum inspired Engineering Construction Inc. (ECI) to a commanding 197-run victory over Farnum’s Strikers to complete the series in the best-of-three 25-over tapeball cricket fixture at the National Cultural Centre tarmac, Mandela Avenue, Sunday.

The left-hander began his blistering innings when his side lost the dangerous Waheed Ward for 14 with the score on 27. Consistent opener Ian Jardine and Farnum came to the rescue by posting a valuable 94-run second partnership in just nine overs.

Farnum, a former senior Essequibo Inter-county batsman, hammered 12 aggressive fours and 13 massive sixes and also engaged in an unbeaten recording-breaking 184 fourth-wicket stand with Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) first-division player Trevor Henry who made a quick-fire 70.

The right-handed Henry hit a solitary four while he blasted nine huge sixes as his team imposed a huge total of 305 off their allotted 25 overs and then mesmerised the opposition, bowling them out for a paltry 108.

Fast bowler Gilford Moore and medium pacer Rick Arjune were the chief demolishers for the winning team, sharing eight wickets between them. Moore, who bowled with good accuracy and control, ended with four for 26 from his four mandatory overs while the whippy Arjune snarled four wickets for 42 runs from his spell and former skipper Hillo Davidson and current captain Raul Khan got one each.

For the losers, only Tyrone Benn showed any resistance, hitting a fighting 28 which contained four fours and a six.

And the winner is - Ticket 4406
THE motor racing fan with the gate ticket number 4406 will ride away with the $175 000 Jialing motorcycle.

At the 50th Anniversary Race Meet of the Guyana Motor Racing & Sports Club (GMR&SC), a 150cc Jialing ride was offered as the grand gate prize, compliments of Automobile Power Products.

The fan with ticket #1562 will receive one case of Castrol Oil, one case Mountain Dew and one case Hi 5 Juice, ticket #1214 holder will get one case Castrol Oil, one case I-Cee and one case Sunburst Juice.

Ticket #624 holder will take home one case Castrol Oil, one case Mountain Dew and one case Hi 5 Juice, and the person with ticket #2954 will be presented with one case Castrol Oil, one case I-Cee and one case Sunburst Juice.

Winners are asked to collect their prizes at the GMR&SC headquarters, Thomas Lands, or telephone the office on 225-7492.

England slip to defeat in Pakistan tour match
LAHORE, Pakistan (Reuters) - England's preparations for the first Test against Pakistan suffered another blow, yesterday, when they lost a three-day tour match to a Pakistan 'A' side by six wickets.

Already facing the possible absence of injured captain Michael Vaughan for the series opener starting in Multan on Saturday, England were unable to prevent the home team from overhauling a victory target of 245 with ease.

Captain Hasan Raza, who struck an unbeaten 71, shared a fourth-wicket stand of 129 with Shahid Yousuf, who made 57, before Pakistan 'A' reached 246 for four in 52.2 overs with more than a session to spare.

All-rounder Andrew Flintoff's return of three for 67 will have done little to lift the gloom in the England camp where serious doubts remain over the availability of Vaughan for the opening Test.

Vaughan twisted his right knee while going for a third run on Monday and results of a scan have been sent to medical specialists in London.

Pakistan 'A', resuming on their overnight score of 31 for one, suffered an early blow when opener Imran Farhat was forced to retire hurt on 24 after being struck on the fingers by fast bowler Flintoff.

However, nightwatchman Shahid Nazir established a good platform for the home side with a brisk 43 from just 31 balls before being bowled by Flintoff, who also caught and bowled Faisal Athar for eight in an impressive seven-over spell.

Raza and Yousuf then combined to put Pakistan 'A' on the brink of victory at 232 for four when Yousuf was given out leg-before wicket to Flintoff.

James lifts Cavaliers to victory over struggling Raptors
TORONTO, (Reuters) - LeBron James had 27 points and dished out six assists to guide the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 105-93 victory over the struggling Toronto Raptors on Monday.

Larry Hughes had 16 points while Zydrunas Ilgauskas added 15, helping the Cavaliers get back on track after losing their last two games.

Drew Gooden contributed 12 points and 10 rebounds for Cleveland and former Raptor Donyell Marshall chipped in with 12 points and 11 boards to be one of six Cavaliers in double figures.

Chris Bosh poured in 26 points and snared 12 rebounds and Mike James added 17 points in a losing cause for the Raptors, who slipped to 0-4 for the worst start to a season.

Deadlocked 24-24 after the first quarter, the Cavaliers broke open the tight contest with a 15-4 run at the start of the second and never trailed again.

The Raptors rallied to get within four on a Bosh three-pointer with 7:30 to play in the half but would get no closer, going into the intermission trailing 51-45.

James remained on the bench for large portions of the second half but the Cavaliers continued to dominate, opening up a commanding 19-point fourth quarter lead then coasting to the win.

In Miami, Dwyane Wade nailed the game-winning free throw with 5.2 seconds left to play then blocked a shot at the buzzer as the Heat held on to edge the New Jersey Nets 90-89.

Wade finished with 23 points, six rebounds and six assists, taking charge for the Heat who were missing injured centre Shaquille O'Neal.

Vince Carter had a game-high 32 points for the Nets but had his potential game-winning jumper rejected by Wade as time ran off the clock.

In Chicago, Tim Duncan had 24 points and 16 rebounds and Tony Parker hit for 22 points, including eight in overtime, to lead the San Antonio Spurs past the Chicago Bulls 104-95.

Manu Ginobili contributed 14 points and 13 rebounds to the San Antonio cause as the Spurs outscored the Bulls 13-4 in overtime, the reigning NBA champions improving their record to 3-1.

In Charlotte, Mehmet Okur notched a career-high 31 points, including seven in overtime, to lead the Utah Jazz past the Charlotte Bobcats 95-91.

Andrei Kirilenko flirted with a triple-double adding 20 points, eight rebounds and five assists for the Jazz who improved to 3-1.

Sean May and Primoz Brezec each had 13 points for the 2-2 Bobcats.

In Minneapolis, Kevin Garnett registered 22 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists as the Minnesota Timberwolves eased to a 93-78 win over the Clippers, handing Los Angeles their first loss of the season.

Elton Brand had a game-high 26 points for the Clippers, who slipped to
3-1.

CONCACAF to host player development seminar
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC - CONCACAF will stage the first ever CONCACAF/FA Elite Player Development seminar at the Dr Joao Havelange Centre of Excellence from November 16 to 18.

The FA delegation to the tournament will be headed by Robin Russell, a highly experienced coach educator who now acts as a consultant with the FA.

He will be accompanied by former Southampton manager, Laurie Mc Menemy, who was also an assistant manager of the senior England squad. Craig Simmons, a player development adviser at the FA, will also attend the seminar.

Former Trinidad & Tobago player Alvin Corneal, a member of the CONCACAF Coaching Committee and the prestigious FIFA Technical Study Group, will present a lecture and technical analysis of the recent Caribbean Football Union Under-15 tournament.

Several other topics are expected to be covered in the tournament including The Key Principles in the Development of Young Players' and Preparation of an Elite Player Development Plan'.

The seminar, which will be conducted in English, will consist of a series of lectures and audio-visual presentations as well as group workshop sessions for participants.