Commission accelerates ID card distribution
- arrangements in train for March 19 polls
THE Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) yesterday said it has accelerated the pace of distribution of the new national identification cards for the March 19 elections and other arrangements are in train for the polls.
The cards will be the main proof of identification for eligible voters and these are to be retained by the holders after voting.
Officials said the commission, which has captured a total of 418,000 images of voters for the cards, hopes to complete production on Monday, the day when the Disciplined Services will cast their votes.
The commission said 438,940 electors are on the final voters list.
To date 91,911 identification cards have been distributed and the process is ongoing in all the districts except District Six (East Berbice/Corentyne), the commission said.
Some 223,709 of the documents were reportedly in the field for distribution by yesterday afternoon, Deputy Chief Elections Officer, Mr Calvin Benn reported at a media briefing.
GECOM Chairman, Major General Joe Singh said about 95 per cent of the cards have been produced, and laminating and batching was in progress for distribution in Districts Three (West Demerara/Essequibo Islands); Four (Demerara/Mahaica) and Six (East Berbice/Corentyne.
In District Four (Demerara/Mahaica), the largest of the 10 electoral districts, distribution commenced Wednesday and some 600 distribution points are involved, he added.
Singh said the commission will early next week conduct a review of the process to determine whether any other options will have to be utilised to expedite the delivery of the cards.
He said one proposal is to engage GECOM staffers in a house to house distribution, accompanied by scrutineers from political parties.
The Chairman hinted too that the involvement of postal workers, in an effort to ensure that the bulk of the cards are distributed by Polling Day, is also being considered.
Meanwhile, the commission by way of advisories will be informing voters of the locations where they can go to uplift their respective cards.
They have been advised to go to the offices of the Deputy Returning Officers to check whether their names are on the final voters list.
Singh pointed out that in some of the rural communities, the distribution process has to be aided by use of a loud hailer and community leaders were drafted in to assist.
Brothers charged in shallow grave murder
BROTHERS Vickram and Vinod Budhram of Naamryck, East Bank Essequibo, were yesterday charged with murdering a teenager whose body was found in a shallow grave late last month.
Sharon Sooklall, 17 years, a computer student, also of Naamryck, was reportedly raped and killed.
Police said her body was found in a shallow grave in the backlands at Parika, near Naamryck.
The two brothers appeared yesterday at the Georgetown Magistrates court and were remanded to prison.
Police said the case has been transferred to the Leonora Magistrate's Court, West Coast Demerara, for April 13.
Mattress squatters outside President's residence were organised
-- Housing Minister
Ministry to deal with Ogle squatters applications Monday
HOUSING and Water Minister, Mr Shaik Baksh yesterday said the squatters who turned up to bunk on mattresses outside President Bharrat Jagdeo's residence in Georgetown Thursday night, were organised by the main Opposition People's National Congress Reform (PNC/R).
There was no immediate reaction to the charge from the PNC/R but Baksh told a news conference that by his presence at the scene Thursday night, PNC/R leader, Mr Desmond Hoyte had "adopted" the squatters.
He claimed the PNC/R strategy with the squatters was to discredit the government's massive housing programme, a key plank in the governing alliance's current elections campaign.
About five families suddenly turned up Thursday night outside the President's home on Forshaw Street, Queenstown and placed two mattresses at the entrance to the residence, demanding to speak to the President.
Reports said they arrived in the area by mini-bus and walked to take up quarters outside the residence.
A spokesman for the group claimed their structures at Ogle had been dismantled in the morning and they had nowhere to go.
Soon a large crowd turned up and police were deployed to clear the area of protesters and others.
Police arrested two squatters and their children were taken to a drop-in centre in the city for the night.
At a news conference at the Freedom House headquarters of the governing People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), Baksh said the squatters had several times been advised to visit his ministry to have their concerns addressed.
But instead, they went back and rebuilt shacks that were dismantled on three occasions.
A group of squatters appeared one day last week and began putting up shacks on reserved land around the Ogle airstrip and aviation and government authorities warned they were endangering the safety of pilots, passengers and aircraft taking off and landing at the aerodrome.
The land the squatters took up was in the flight path of aircraft, they said.
The Housing Ministry said it had dismantled the shacks to keep the area clear.
Baksh yesterday said most of the squatters already occupy house lots in the nearby Plaisance village, especially along the railway embankment. And some have allocation letters for lots from the Ministry of Housing and Water, he reported.
As a result of this, he feels strongly that the fresh squatting at Ogle was not a spontaneous exercise.
"Clearly this squatting has been organised and we now are seeing those agencies and political organisations which have organised the squatting.
"Because, after we removed the structures (Thursday), a small number of squatters were encouraged and bused in to have a protest and picketing exercise in front of the President's residence", he stressed.
"These people had to be living somewhere -- it's just an organised form of squatting that is taking place in our opinion -- and they quickly remove their (building) materials when we broke it down the first time", he argued.
"Many of those persons have accommodation, they were living somewhere. They just don't appear at nights and say `Look, we squatting now, and we have needs for housing.' They had to be living elsewhere and they remove their materials to other places", Baksh reiterated.
He said the mere presence of Hoyte at the scene when police removed the crowd from around the President's house Thursday night was proof that the PNC/R had organised the exercise.
"...of all persons, Desmond Hoyte, leader of the PNC Reform, turned up and to some extent he adopted the squatters", Baksh said.
The Housing Minister noted that this was not the first time that the PNC leader had "adopted squatters".
"In 1998, at Non Pariel (also on the East Coast Demerara) he adopted the squatters and at Belfield again, where there was mass squatting, he adopted the squatters.
"But we were able to neutralise those incidents of mass squatting and to provide housing for those persons who were attempting to squat at Non Pariel and at Belfield", he said.
He argued that the PNC/R was instigating the squatting because "they want to discredit the government's housing programme, because that is on the forefront of our campaign (for the March 19 elections)."
"There is no doubt that the government's housing programme has been a success story, maybe one-third of the population has benefitted", he added.
Baksh said many persons, including Captain Gerry Gouveia of the Aircraft Owners Association, were against squatting around the airport so as to ensure the safety of flights and passengers.
The minister stated that children of the squatters had been seen running across the tarmac.
"...these things cannot be tolerated -- people squatting in an aerodrome area and also in a burial ground which is used as a dump heap -- also for health and safety reasons."
He said when the squatters first appeared at Ogle, officials "moved very quickly to remove the structures" and told the squatters to visit the ministry so that their applications for house lots can be processed.
"But they returned on March 3rd, in larger numbers and we moved again in a joint exercise, between the Ministry of Housing and Water and Guysuco (the sugar corporation) and removed 50 structures and we took away most of the materials and again we implored on those squatters to come into the ministry", he said.
"Our officials spoke to them in the presence of Guysuco officials to come in and have their grievances redressed by the ministry but they did not adhere to our request and over the last weekend once again they moved back in larger numbers, and this time in the area of the burial ground mostly".
Thursday's demolition, Baksh said, was the third within two weeks, and all the structures were removed without any form of discrimination.
This took place at 5:00 hrs and he said there is no problem demolishing shacks at that time of the morning.
Baksh said that since many of those affected want to visit the ministry on Monday, a special desk has been set up there "so that they could come in and apply for house lots and they will have their applications processed very expeditiously".
Easy down-payment methods will also be arranged for these squatters, and an extended period of two years to complete payment, he said.
Under the low income housing scheme, they will be allotted the $58,000 house lots, he said.
Baksh said that in 1998, his ministry took a stern decision not to tolerate any form of mass squatting in the country, especially when it is organised.
He said one of the squatters, Neville Boodhoo called 'Civic', had been to his office and was offered another house lot in another scheme.
Subsequently, Baksh said, Boodhoo became "very incensed".
"He seemed to be under the influence of alcohol and he started to raise insults and do all kinds of things and I had to tell him to leave the office", he said.
He said Boodhoo was well aware he had to desist from squatting in the area.
Under the Criminal Jurisdiction Act, it is a criminal offence to illegally occupy land, the minister added.
Boodhoo and his wife, who were in the group outside the President's residence, were yesterday charged and appeared before a city magistrate.
Zeeburg Secondary School excels again
ZEEBURG Secondary School on the West Coast Demerara has once again performed outstandingly well at the CXC examinations.
At its 33rd Annual Speech Day and Graduation Exercises Thursday, the Headmaster (Ag) Mr. Eniat Hussein disclosed that the 38-year old institution obtained 85.5 per cent overall passes at last year's examinations. This represents an increase of three per cent over 1999. There was a 100 per cent performance in ten subject areas. These include Spanish, Caribbean History, Office Procedures, Food and Nutrition, Geography, Technical Drawing, English B, Agriculture Science (Double Award), Integrated Science and Metals.
There were also excellent performances in other areas such as: Principle of Business - 98.9 per cent, Principles of Accounts - 98.8 percent; Physics - 95 per cent; Social Studies - 93.4 per cent; Biology - 73.7 per cent; English A - 71.6 per cent; Mathematics - 62.2 per cent and Chemistry -61.1 per cent.
In addition, 17 students gained distinctions in one or more subjects.
Commenting on the results, Mr. Hussein said, "We have improved in every subject area including English A and Mathematics. Those results speak for themselves. For Zeeburg Secondary School to have achieved the status of the top secondary school in Region Three was no easy task."
He pointed out that while the institution places great emphasis on academics, attention is paid to the all-round development of students. In this regard, Hussein cited several achievements of the school in non-academic areas.
He disclosed that Loris Abrams, a student of the school, was selected as captain of Guyana's under-15 football team; Rakesh Goberdhan, another student, represented Guyana in the under-15 Caribbean cricket competition. The school emerged first in the Regional Mashramani Calypso competition and second in the National Contest in the 11-13 age category. Fazeena Baksh was the winner in the Courts Essay Competition and in the essay competition of the Guyana National Bureau of Standards, the school copped both the first and second positions. The Headmaster attributed the school's successes to the manner in which its instructional programme is organised.
"You will agree with me that in a developing state like this noble land of ours education is of primary importance. Therefore, it should be the concern of our administrators that our educational institutions function in the best interest of the students. Students are to be moulded to have all-round development. As educators, we must be concerned with the whole child and not the child passing examinations alone. At Zeeburg, we do have academic pursuits as top priority, but not at the expense of discipline and general all-round training. The premium which we set on education in this institution demands that we have a well-organised system.
"Hussein also pointed out that the Parent Teachers Association and the Students Council are playing vital and integral roles in maintaining discipline and in providing additional facilities for the teaching/learning process.
Chairman of the Teaching Service Commission, Mr. Richard Mangar, congratulated the institution for its commendable performance and declared that the school is "on track to provide quality education."
Mr. Mangar said he recognised that a healthy 'synergy' exists among students, teachers and parents. This, he said, augurs well for the further development of the school. He also urged that the school should have greater interaction with the local community, the private sector, NGOs, public departments and tertiary institutions. Mangar also advised that closer attention be paid to staff development because greater professionalism would lead to a higher quality of tuition.
Region Three District Education Supervisor, Mr. Krishna Budhoo, encouraged the 146 graduating students to enroll at tertiary institutions to enhance their qualifications. This, he said, will help them to become more competitive on the job market and to pursue successful careers.
Some 30 students received prizes or trophies for outstanding performances in sports and academics.
Top students at the various levels were: Form One - Hassan Karim; Form Two - Erica Bolodhoo; Form Three; and Form Four - Reana Parsaram.
Best graduating student was Ashme Devi Singh who obtained eight subjects with three distinctions. She received a cash prize of $10,000 and the Seven-Star Fuel Corporation trophy. First and second runners up were Shafeeza Inshan and Amelia Hydar who received $8,000 and $6,000 respectively and a trophy each. Since 1983 the Seven-Star Fuel Corporation has been sponsoring the awards for the best graduating students. It is a United States-based firm owned by Guyanese, Premchand Singh, a former student of Zeeburg Secondary who hails from Leonora, West Coast Demerara. He migrated to the US in 1968. (Guyana Information Services)
Relocation process frustrating moved `Tiger Bay' people
THE people who lived in the last two dilapidated `Tiger Bay' buildings that were demolished recently have settled into their temporary homes in East La Penitence, another part of Georgetown.
Making the report at a Press Conference Thursday, the Tiger Bay Rehabilitation and Relocation Committees said the group is very happy with the new conditions.
One of them, Mr Rudolph Blackman boasted he can now sleep without fear that something would cave in on himself and family.
General Manager of Guyana Publications Limited, which publishes Stabroek News, Mrs Doreen DeCaires, who is a member of one Committee, said assistance will be sought to provide more building materials and toilet facilities at East La Penitence.
She said it is not yet known when the house lots allotted to the displaced will be ready for construction to start at Haslington and Belfield, East Coast Demerara, Diamond and Grove, East Bank Demerara and Tuschen, East Bank Essquibo.
DeCaires said visits were made to Tuschen and Diamond, which were not in a state of readiness last week and a lot more has to be done at Diamond, where there is no potable water supply and electricity although poles have been planted.
According to her:"We were told there were lights in the area. But, at Tuschen, they have all the light poles but no electricity nor water and the place is covered with weeds."
"There are a few houses here and there but that area is definitely not ready," DeCaires emphasised.
She said some of the lots could not be found but the people to whom they were allocated offered to help clear the land, so they could begin building as quickly as possible.
At Belfield, one person has begun to build but said there is no water, despite the relevant authorities insisting that the commodity is available.
DeCaires said the Committee will try to ascertain the situation.
She said the infrastructure at Haslington would have to be verified.
"We are always told by the Ministry next week. But, when next week comes, it's another story. We were told, in Diamond, we would have water at the end of January.
"We have frequent meetings with the Minister and there are always excuses, I really do not understand why Tuschen is not ready," DeCaires said.
Minister of Housing and Water, Mr Shaik Baksh, could not be reached for comment and some people are very reluctant to relocate to places allotted them.
DeCaires said the Tiger Bay residents spent two years trying to access their allocations and are very frustrated.
"It's a frustrating exercise for anyone who has been promised a house lot and has not seen it materialise.
"We have been working closely with the community. My belief is that all the people that were interviewed and accepted house lots still want to go in their houses but the slow process is not helping and I think, as soon as the land is ready, they will be persuaded to find the money and get on the land.
"That is my belief from speaking to the people," she said.
Chairman of the West End Management Committee and Chairman of the Tiger Bay Rehabilitation Committee, Mr Kelvin Andrews said People's National Congress/Reform (PNC/R) members, who visited last week, encouraged them to stay on the property, saying it is worth millions of dollars to the owner.
However, Andrews said, when the relocation process began, everyone wanted to have house lots.
He said they are advising people to own land and take it if the price is right.
"Don't look at what land does not concern you," Andrews advised.
The cost for each allotted piece is $58,000 and the awardees were to make down payments of $19,300 each in six months and pay the remainder in two years.
Andrews said the system of paying was revised and Baksh told them to pay $5,000 per week or fortnight and the time was further extended.
Andrews said most of them occupied the lots and the Relocation Committee was formed since the two buildings were dismantled.
The other Committee members are Jad Rahaman (Palm Court), E. Hackette (West End Management), Stanley Ming (Mings Products and Services Limited), Amanda Richards (Farfan and Mendes), Dorothy Fraser (Red Cross), Donald Nurse (COURTS), Janet Jagan (Patron), C.R.Jacob (Jacobs Investment), Minister Geoffrey DaSilva and Richard Oliver (Guyana Police Force).
Youth Challenge members begin work in hinterland communities
YOUTH Challenge Guyana recently commenced its programme for this year with the deployment of 32 volunteers to Regions One, Two, Four and Ten. The young people are working alongside residents to assist in the development of those communities.
The volunteers, who hail from Canada, Australia and Guyana, left Georgetown on February 15 for their two-month stints. Completion date is April 15.
This assignment marks the commencement of the Guyana 2001A Field Programme Projects, according to Assistant Field Programme Director, Ms Catherine Fleming. The projects are aimed at embracing the spirit of volunteerism, as the United Nations celebrates "International Year of the Volunteer".
The skills-sharing and capacity-building projects being conducted by the Youth Challenge volunteers are benefitting the Guyanese people tremendously.
Last week, British High Commissioner, Mr Edward Glover, at a reception to welcome another group of volunteers to Guyana, praised highly the professionalism, enthusiasm, energy, and the remarkable bravery he has seen in volunteers at work here.
And all across Guyana there will be greater emphasis on the cementing of relations and bonds of friendship between volunteers and local people as they work towards the development of Guyana.
Ms Fleming said that the key activities throughout the period of work will be:
** Two follow-up Youth Skills Summits based in Mahdia and Moruca
** Social infrastructure projects with SIMAP
** HIV/AIDS data collecting and education
** Building a chicken shed with Help and Shelter
** Working with the members of the Guyana Marine Turtle conservation Society, and
** Assisting Teacher Trainees with GBET (Guyana Basic Education Teacher Training Programme) in Moruca, as well as a mobile GBET component through remote hinterland communities surrounding Mahdia.
Some of the major sponsors and partners identified to lend support to the project are: Texaco West Indies Ltd; Guyana Oil Company Ltd; Guyana Basic Education Teacher Training Programme; Help and Shelter; SIMAP; Guyana Marine Conservation Society; the Regional Administration and community functionaries.
The Challengers have been divided up into groups of ten and eleven, each working with two leaders. The groups have been assigned to the Moruca Sub-Region, the Upper Pomeroon and Mahaica.
In Moruca they are involved in social infrastructure work in the Kumaka/Santa Rosa; Waramuri/Manawarin; Assakata/Kwabanna areas;
They will also assist SIMAP/President's Youth Initiative Projects including the rehabilitation of the Kumaka Secondary School and dorms, and construction of a Youth Vocational Centre.
The youths are liaising with the three existing area groups to focus on project management, financial controls and management of resources, employment opportunities, health education, and HIV/AIDS Awareness.
Social infrastructure work is also being undertaken in Jacklow, Pomeroon. At Shell Beach the youths will assist in the Marine Turtle Conservation project, while at Mahaica, the focus will be on income generating projects.
According to Fleming, the diversity of their sponsors and partners, through the projects highlights the importance of volunteerism as a tool for positive community action.
She said that Youth Challenge Guyana continues to encourage both individuals and organisations to engage themselves in projects that support community-driven initiatives.
Meanwhile, the volunteer group will strengthen the capacity of the youth leaders to organise and run a follow-up Youth Skills Summit (YSS), focusing on issues identified by community youths.
Fleming told the Chronicle that, ultimately, a date will be set by the area's youth for next year's YSS, to be run entirely by the Youth Advisory Council (YAC).
An elated Fleming asserted: "Working alongside community health workers and Medexes, Challengers will respond to community needs by assisting the delivery of primary health education sessions (including immunisation clinics, oral health and 'ready body' clinics).
She vividly described some of the activities and challenges being boldly taken on by the Challengers. For example, the youths are moving around the hinterland villages of Mahdia by bicycle and on foot.
During this period, Challengers will be combining youth development with teacher training and primary health education.
Volunteers, along with personnel from the Guyana Basic Education Teaching Training Programme, will be flying into Maikwak and Paramakatoi to make trekking expeditions into Kopenang, Kamana, Kurukabari and Kato. (Shirley Thomas)
GTV rebroadcasts youth programme on elections
WHAT do the young people of Guyana think about politicians? And what do they want for the future of their country? These questions and many more were answered in `Elections 2001 - The Young People's Perspective', a programme to be rebroadcast on GTV at 17:00 hrs today.
Produced by Lorraine Harris (Ministry of Information) in collaboration with GTV, and part funded by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the hour-long programme portrays the opinions, observations, desires and aspirations of Guyana's youth.
"From the North West District of Santa Rosa to the Essequibo Coast and around the capital city of Georgetown, their voices ring out to tell a story that should be heeded by everyone.
"It is stated in the Convention on the Rights of the Child, of which Guyana is a signatory, that "every child has a right to voice their opinion in all matters affecting them" and the forthcoming elections do affect the young people of Guyana.
"As one young man eloquently put it `we are the new generation, and the new generation needs to "think" like the new generation," Harris said in a release.
The producer thanks UNICEF and the hosts of the programme for the `Elections 2001' T-Shirts, which also have the words of the Convention printed on the back.
Copies of the programme will be sent to television stations in Bartica, Essequibo and Berbice to ensure maximum viewing.
Viewers are advised to look out for skits and some creative musical scores, especially "What do you see?" written and performed by Roman Harris.
Police arrest 16 in city raids
SIXTEEN people were arrested Wednesday evening during raids by Police in Kitty, Alberttown and Brickdam areas of `A' Division.
A number of articles, including television sets, radio and tape recorders and audio cassettes, were seized, a Press release disclosed.
It said two of those held were charged with possession of untensils for the purpose of smoking and appeared in Court Thursday.
Mattress squatting couple charged
THE couple detained by police when they tried to squat on mattresses in front of President Bharrat Jagdeo's residence Thursday night, appeared before a city magistrate yesterday.
Neville Boodhoo nicknamed `Civic' and his wife, Rehana Khalid, of Ogle, East Coast Demerara, have been charged with provoking a breach of the peace and unlawful assault.
Principal Magistrate Juliet Holder-Allen, before whom they appeared, put Boodhoo on $2,000 bail and allowed Khalid to go on her own recognisance, pending their return to Court on April 4.
Police arrested them and other squatters who said their homes at Ogle were demolished earlier on Thursday, after they took mattresses and bunked outside where the President lives.
Attorney-at-law Mr Vic Puran, a one-time political assistant of late President Forbes Burnham, said the two had a right to petition the Head of State.
Because they went to his office seeking justice and President Jagdeo did nothing, Puran said, when making an application for the defendants' pre-trial liberty.
Defence Counsel contended that the two people did not act in a disorderly manner and said the accusations made by the Police are untrue.
"My clients are destitutes with two children to take care of, Your Worship. And they have no money to post bail," Puran submitted to the Court.
Passenger held with cocaine at airport
RANKS attached to the Police Force Narcotics Branch yesterday intercepted a British West Indian Airline (BWIA) passenger attempting to smuggle a quantity of cocaine out of the country.
A Police statement said the banned substance was discovered in the false bottom of a suitcase and a picture frame containing several small pouches when the passenger was at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri.
The passenger was on a flight to Miami, police said.
Building on women's achievements
ONE of the more commendable initiatives reported from the International Women's Day observances Thursday was the announcement that 10 community counselling centres are soon to be established around the country.
This is in an effort to have women confront and find suitable solutions for their challenges, Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Ms Indra Chandarpal said.
Women, for example, continue to face a host of challenges in the workplace, at home and in the wider society and avenues should be available to offer help when needed.
In many places, women dominate the workforce but they continue to be subject to harassment and violence from men who see them only as sex objects to prey on.
It is sometimes difficult for them to deal with these situations in the right way and the ministry and related agencies should be establishing mechanisms to address these concerns.
Much has been achieved towards improvement in women's rights but there is a lot to be done, especially at the community and domestic level.
Under the counselling centres plan the minister outlined, women, in particular, must know that people are available to listen and help them make meaningful recommendations for their future.
Personnel within the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils will be trained to perform these duties, she told reporters.
These are initiatives in which all sectors of society should be involved because they eventually affect everybody.
Mrs Chandarpal referred to some critical points that have been identified on issues that sometimes are often talked much about but on which little is sometimes done.
It is clear that the ministry has put in much work on its programme and that the groundwork is laid for advances on women's issues.
"...issues relating to poverty, women's participation in the economy, leadership making, violence against women, women in education and health, were all issues of the five year action plan, which is not only a vision paper", she said.
The minister said since everything mandated for 2000 has been executed, the ministry is now looking at new issues including the necessary skills training for women, moving away from the more traditional areas.
The rules for these elections required parties to have their lists of candidates be comprised one-third women and this is an advance that has to be built upon.
The minister stressed that violence is still a problem in society despite the legislation under which men should be persecuted.
She noted that since people view the beating of women as a norm in society, much more has to be done to eradicate the problem, including the education of the public in relation to these issues.
She said last year, a committee working towards eradication of family violence, was created and funded by the Government of Guyana and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with the intention of educating the people, even students.
The government has also been looking at the establishment of a Family Court, which she said was already approved but for which legislation is yet to be passed in parliament.
Much has been done, but no one can afford to relax at this stage and the momentum has to be kept up.
Jail for theft from construction site
FIFTY-ONE-YEAR-OLD Komal Ali, of Lot 46 Austin Street, Campbellville was yesterday sentenced to one year imprisonment for break and enter and larceny at a building site.
He pleaded guilty to the offence in front of Chief Magistrate Paul Fung-A-Fat.
Police said Crasford Klass had secured his premises where construction is under way and left on February 25.
The virtual complainant returned on March 1 to find a wheel barrow, a number of louvre panes and paint, all worth $14,920, missing.
Investigations led to the prisoner who confessed to the crime, the Court was told.
Father remanded in domestic violence case
A FATHER was remanded to prison yesterday on a charge of abusing his 11-year-old son.
Chief Magistrate Paul Fung-A-Fat refused bail to Lloyd Cameron, 44, of Lot 3730 North Ruimveldt, Georgetown, after he denied the allegation.
Corporal Cranston Daw, prosecuting, said the boy, Lloyd Cameron was beaten with a belt about his body because he behaved badly on March 6.
The child complained to an aunt who reported the incident to Police, the Prosecutor said, before the domestic violence case was put off to April 9.
Bicycle thief jailed
CHIEF Magistrate Paul Fung-A-Fat yesterday imposed a six months jail sentence on simple larceny convict Bryan Singh, of Lot 35 Sheriff Street, Campbellville, Georgetown.
The prisoner stole a $18,000 bicycle belonging to Dharamdeo Harimanan on February 26.
Police said the owner had left the unlocked bike in the yard where he lives before he saw the thief riding it.
Sister cited for contempt in legacy dispute
ONE of two sisters involved in a property dispute has been cited for contempt by Justice B.S. Roy.
But the judge has given the contemnor, Desiree Halloway, an opportunity to purge herself by giving a key for the house to her sibling, Marva Halloway, before he pronounces sentence Monday.
Justice Roy took the action after Desiree failed to adhere also to an agreement, for an exchange of keys to the premises, reached when the judge and lawyers for the two women accompanied them on a visit to the place at Lot 48 Freeman Street, East La Penitence, Georgetown.
The siblings had lived at the address with their mother, who was renting the premises from Central Housing and Planning Authority until her death in 1993.
Marva continued to live in the home when Desiree left Guyana for England and the former said she paid rental and effected repairs which amounted to a total of $300,000.
Both Marva and Desiree, who returned here in 1998, have since applied to purchase the legacy and, although neither has been successful, the latter changed the gate and the door locks and threw out the personal belongings of the other.
Marva sued Desiree for damages in excess of $450,000 and another judge granted an injunction, restrainig Desiree from excluding her sister until the case is heard and determined.
However, Desiree has flouted that April 1999 order, too, causing Justice Roy to declare that she is guilty of "contempt upon contempt".
Insult to our intelligence
WHAT has the PPP/C told the young people of Guyana during these election campaigns?
Nothing! Instead of trying to win our favour by outlining a youth policy, we are being fed instead rap music filled with insults and profanity.
Their advertisements are obviously a desperate attempt to appeal to us, the black youths.
Decent Guyanese should really examine the message that the PPP/C is sending about our youths.
Apart from the tastelessness of the music, Jagdeo and the PPP/C have abused yet another medium to engage in personal attacks on Mr. Hoyte, a man who has brought international respect to Guyana.
Mr. Hoyte is known worldwide as the one who brought a catalyst to the economy of Guyana.
One can check reports from the World Bank, the IDB, the United Nations and the U.S. State Department.
We, the young people of Guyana, want to hear what policies and programmes the parties have to offer us.
For the PPP/C to believe that hurling insults and profanities, whether from the platform or in rap music, is an insult to our intelligence.
The young people are right to completely ignore them.
DENISE PARRIS
They need to be reminded
ONE of the main planks of the People's National Congress/Reform (PNC/R) election campaign is the conversion of Mr Hoyte, the one time socialist CZAR under Burnham (he held several important portfolios) to a free marketeer.
After he ascended to office on his own, after the rigged 1985 elections, as evidence of the "scales falling from his eyes", in St Paul fashion, he is credited with the initiative to induce Omai and Barama to invest in Guyana.
In fact, Omai and Barama speculators started to come to Guyana before 1985, but let us give Jack his jacket. The two enterprises came to fruition during his watch.
Omai made an initial investment of US$30M and Barama a similar amount for which very generous concessions were given.
But what is often overlooked in that during the PNC/Hoyte regimes, sugar production was reduced from 300,000 tons in 1968 to 129,000 tons in 1992, when Hoyte exited.
At the price of US$500 per ton, in one year alone, in sugar sales, the cash loss was US$100M.
If one multiplies that figure by the years the PNC began the rundown of sugar production, the loss of sugar earnings amount to anything near to US$1 billion.
Sugar receipts as everyone knows have had a multiple effect on the economy, in taxes and wages several time over. Keep in mind Omai and Barama do not pay corporate taxes.
A similar situation occurred with rice; production was reduced from 300,000 tons in the seventies to 90,000 tons in 1992.
At the then price of $200 per ton, the economy was starved of US$22M in 1991 and when that loss is aggregated for the years prior to 1991, another $200 million earnings would have been lost.
So what is the net gain from the Omai and Barama investments?
The answer is minus; the contribution in negative terms to the Guyana economy from the Burnham/Hoyte debacles.
They frustrated the domestic economy, and shouted for foreign direct investment.
How can they be so two-faced?
The drop in sugar and rice explains why the per capita income for Guyana reached its lowest level of US$400, sharing the bottom of the list with Haiti during Hoyte's watch.
How did the Guyana population react to the decline?
Political protests under Burnham/Hoyte were not tolerated.
Bauxite workers were tear-gassed when they went on strike in Linden. Sugar workers were dismissed and Rabbi Washington provided substitute cane cutters.
The memories of Guyanese may be short, so they need to be reminded.
Consumers joined lines around the shopping centres to buy a tub of margarine and a bar of soap and rolls of toilet papers.
They even taught the population to call `margarine' butter.
Any PNC/Reform government in 2001 will do no better that it did in the 30 years before 1991.
Mr Hoyte's time came and went.
T.A LUCAS
A matter of believing
THE People's National Congress/Reform (PNC/R) is now saying they left `billions of dollars' for the People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government to spend.
Let us say we believe them.
Though the World Bank and other august bodies rated Guyana in the last years of PNC rule, as poor as Haiti and the Finance Minister at that time attested to the pauperised state the country was in, let us say we believe them.
I am sure neither the Auditor General nor the Bank of Guyana can find a trace of these `billions of dollars' they insist they left; nevertheless, let us say we believe them.
Never mind it took them nine years and two elections to tell the nation about these `billions of dollars'; yet still let us say we believe them.
At this time it is very dangerous to criticise the PNC/R, to doubt their word or to prove them liars; just ask Minister Gail Teixiera.
So if the PNC/R says they left `billions of dollars' for the PPP/C to spend, then by all means say we believe them.
Now all that is left is for the Jagdeo government to find the number of the Swiss Bank account the billions were left in and a way to access the money.
Maybe in another nine years the PNC/R will be prepared to tell us more.
KEITH G. AUSTIN
Few Lindeners know of plan
THE consensus is that election time is a season of lies or unrealistic promises.
However, the worst lie that could be told is not what someone tells you, but what you tell yourself, when you are in a state of denial.
Linden became a town in 1970 when the company village was merged with the Wismar, Christianburg Local Authority whose chairman at that time was not Guyanese born.
He came from Barbados and this fact was used to deny him the opportunity of being the first Mayor of Linden. From 1970 until now all Mayors of Linden have been Guyanese born and activists of the PNC.
In 1973 the Regional System of Government came into being and all Regional Ministers/Chairmen of Region Ten from that time until now have been activists of the PNC.
From the time of nationalisation until now all the CEO's of the bauxite industry have been activists of the PNC except for the brief period when the PNC brought in Minproc to dismantle the industry.
The PPP/Civic stepped in and sent them away.
From nationalisation until 1992 the PNC was in control of the Government and during that time the town of Linden, the bauxite industry and the region as a whole fell into a state of utter disrepair. Yet Lindeners are refusing to admit to themselves that their current state of predicament is as a result of neglect by those who wildly talk about kith and kin.
In 1994 a review of the needs of the bauxite industry and Linden was undertaken by the PPP/C government and during that review, a garment manufacturer from Georgetown was invited to consider the possibility of setting up a garment factory in Linden. But before he could start the study, the cry was out "Linden is for Lindeners" and the study disappeared like mist during the midday sun.
This policy of "Linden is for Lindeners" was first enunciated in 1991 and I asked the protagonists of this cause at that time to define a Lindener. But they all went silent for none of them was a Linden born.
Recently, however, at a meeting of the Regional Democratic Council which is PNC controlled, the first ever Linden born person to hold any of the high PNC offices in the region stated that in order to obtain a house lot in Linden, one must be Linden born, or have lived here for five years.
Is there such a residential qualification in any other part of this country?
Linden, like America, was built by immigrants to the area, but it is this narrow mindedness of some in this town and region, that has caused the current state of economic deprivation and they keep fooling themselves and the populace that only PNC leaders could and must be allowed to re-develop the town.
Everything possible therefore must be done to obstruct anyone else from so doing.
In 1995 President Jagdeo as the then Minister of Finance approached the European Union for assistance to re-develop Linden. Experts came and a plan was drawn up, which should come on stream soon after the March 19 election.
In this plan small and medium size entrepreneurs would be assisted with finance and technical expertise, to start up and run businesses in the areas of manufacturing of new products, value added products, and agriculture and agricultural related activities.
Few Lindeners, however, know of this plan, because the Regional Democratic Council and the Linden Municipality which claim to speak on behalf of the people in this area, have done nothing to inform them. These people are now ill prepared to capitalise on the opportunities when they come.
The leaders of the Region and the Municipality have on several occasions avoided meeting with the European Union technical representatives when they visited Linden.
Thanks to the Linden Chambers of Commerce, the day was saved and a few of us have some idea of what to expect.
This is how keen the PNC rulers of this region and town are anxious for development.
Keep the people in a state of ignorance and poverty and we can always remain in office by pointing to someone else as the cause of their predicament.
You can only fool all the people some of the time but the truth is now out.
ALBERT ADAMS
Shocked by photo
THIS is the first time that I have been forced to write a letter to your newspaper, but I was so shocked and sickened by the picture that you ran on your front page on February 28 that I could not remain silent.
I have never before seen such an example of cruel, heartless and insensitive reporting. The picture, covering half of the front page and in vivid colour, depicted the scene on Sheriff Street shortly after the tragic death of eight-year old Gorgan Goodridge on February 27.
The headline read `Tanker kills schoolboy'. The photograph contained two bubble captions of a very cartoonish nature, one indicating the `Killer tanker' and the other the `Body of the schoolboy'.
This photograph completely degraded the tragic nature of this incident by reducing this poor boy's death to nothing more than a cheap way to sell newspapers.
I found this photograph deeply shocking and disturbing. It is disgraceful that a respected national newspaper should run a photograph of a child, particularly on its front page.
Do you have no feelings at all for the family of this poor child?
Imagine if an eight-year-old relative of yours was so tragically killed and the next day you see such a graphic and degrading photograph of the incident wherever you look.
This image must have multiplied the pain and grief of this family many times over, and I am speaking from experience as someone whose own brother was tragically killed at a similarly young age.
I must again repeat my horror and disgust at the cruel, inconsiderate and heartless manner in which you reported this tragic death.
Please rest assured that I shall never again purchase a copy of a newspaper that treats a young life so cheaply and engages in such gruesome and morbid voyeurism.
PAULINE WHITE
Sprucing up
THE People's National Congress (PNC) has saturated the city and coastal areas with many billboards with a photograph of Mr Hoyte and some others from his party.
A notable absence from the photo is Mr Robert Corbin. He is the Chairman of the PNC and many regard him as the `Crown Prince', the leader in waiting.
Why is his picture absent from the billboard?
My view is that while he is situated to take over the leadership of the PNC, the baggage that he carries is so great that the party cannot afford to display his image on their board.
After all the PNC is on a public relations exercise to improve its tarnished image. They are now speaking about reform and even set up a group called Reform.
A lot of efforts are being made to spruce up that party's image, therefore the heavy window dressing.
Putting Corbin's picture among the others could have affected it.
However, make no mistake that Corbin will take over the PNC.
I base this certain prediction on the experience of 1997.
Recall that during those elections the cry was a `new' PNC. Young persons were used to create the illusion that a new page was being turned.
From a propaganda point of view, Hoyte tried to distance himself from the older comrades who were known riggers and thugs.
Immediately after the elections the youths were cast aside, the mask fell off and the old, undemocratic PNC took the stage once again.
Many ordinary, peaceful citizens became victims of PNC violence. Many were robbed by criminals who were encouraged to march with the PNC.
The real nature of the PNC remains.
OLIVER SAM
South Africa claw back into first C&W Test
... Chris Gayle hits Test best 81
By Frederick Halley
SOUTH Africa clawed their way back into contention in the first Cable and Wireless Test after opener Chris Gayle's fine 81 had threatened to give West Indies the ascendancy on the first day at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) ground, Bourda yesterday.
At the end of an absorbing day's play, the West Indies were 232 for seven, after being 206 for three, losing four wickets in the space of 22 runs when they slipped to 228 for seven. The not-out batsmen are Carl Hooper, in his first Test as captain, on 12, and Dinanath Ramnarine four.
It was also a day, when the West Indies completely dominated the first session, after Hooper won the toss, when they were well-placed on 101 for one; the second being fairly even with South Africa fighting back to restrict the homesters to 72 runs for the loss of two wickets and the visitors taking honours in the final period, grabbing four vital wickets for the addition of 55 runs.
The wickets to go after tea, included the prize scalp of world record-holder Brian Lara (47), Ramnaresh Sarwan (seven), Ridley Jacobs for a first-ball duck and Nixon McLean (six).
While Lara fell to the persistent and persevering Lance Klusener, it was the second new ball that inflicted three telling blows on the West Indies with veteran fast bowler Allan Donald, in his first over of his third spell, yorking Sarwan and having Jacobs plumb lbw with a full toss. Klusener also accounted for McLean who was bowled off an under edge.
Always a potent force at home, the West Indies were given a solid start of 43 between the Jamaican left-handers Gayle and Wavell Hinds, on what looked a perfect batting pitch, before the latter drove loosely at South African captain Shaun Pollock and was well caught low down at extra cover by Nicky Boje. The compact Gayle, in his fifth Test match, and with an aggregate of 945 in the just-concluded Busta Cup/Shield tournament, was joined by another Jamaican Marlon Samuels. Taking a liking to the bustling and enthusiastic Makhaya Ntini, Gayle continued his run of form with a number of exquisite drives, mostly through cover and extra cover while the 20-year-old Samuels also showed glimpses of his undoubted class. By lunch, the second-wicket partnership was already worth 58 with Gayle on 48, with eight fours off 81 balls and Samuels unbeaten on 31 with five fours. Gayle, whose highest score in Tests was 33 against England last year, reached a richly deserved 50 after the interval in 135 minutes off 95 balls, spiced with eight fours. He however lost his Jamaican counterpart at 131, the right-handed Samuels being deceived and bowled by a well-flighted ball from left-arm orthodox spinner Boje for 40, ending an important 88-run second-wicket partnership in 109 minutes. The classical Samuels, who mixed defence with aggression during his 109-minute stay at the crease, struck six fours off 77 balls. The South Africans, adopted a more defensive approach after lunch, with medium pacer Klusener especially keeping a tight rein on proceedings as new batsman Brian Lara and Gayle tried to unlock the shackles. Gayle was able to free himself in spurts while Lara, playing his first match since the One-dayers in Australia in early February, fought to regain
his form from that triangular series.
The 34-run partnership between the two left-handers ended in a disappointing fashion with Gayle literally throwing his wicket away. Chasing a wide delivery from medium fast bowler Jacques Kaliis, he got a bottom edge for wicketkeeper Mark Boucher to take the catch low down. His splendid knock spanned 217 minutes and was laced with 14 spanking fours off 157 balls. At tea, Lara was 19 and Sarwan two, with the West Indies 173 for three and still in the driver's seat.
Playing to a plan, the visitors employed a somewhat one-day field after the interval, their aim obviously to frustrate the batsmen and this they did successfully with Sarwan especially finding the going extremely tough, struggling from four to seven in over one hour.
The situation apparently took its toll on Lara, who, after hitting Klusener for his fifth four over long-on, succumbed in the same over, skying the medium fast bowler to Donald at mid-on. His 47 occupied 129 minutes off 107 balls. It was then 206 for four.
It became 221 for five and 221 for six when Donald, the only surviving member of the 1992 side, shattered Sarwan's stumps and sent a seemingly shell-shocked Jacobs back lbw.
McLean, who never looked settled, followed seven runs later as the South Africans fought back superbly.
Ramnarine joined Hooper and ended the day with a flourish with an excellent cover drive off Pollock's final ball of the day.
Klusener finished the day with two for 31 from 26 overs, Donald two for 31 from 16, Kallis one for 25 and Pollock one for 37 from 12.
Thieves raid female athletes camp
By Donovan Matthews
PANIC spread among some female athletes at the Mackenzie Primary School just after midnight Thursday when they discovered thieves had broken into and raided their camp.
The females representing the North Georgetown District at the 41st National Milo Schools, Cycling, Track & Field and Swimming Championships at Linden lost clothing and footwear, among other items.
Sixteen-year-old Cheressa McLean and her team-mates returned to the school after a long day of competition at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground to find that thieves had broken into the classroom she and her friends were occupying since Monday morning and made off with everyone's bags which included brand name clothing and footwear.
McLean suffered a suspected mild heart attack and was taken to the Mackenzie Hospital by assistant manager Phillip Fraser who had to go in search of a taxi after his pleas for assistance were turned down by a former Member of Parliament who was in the vicinity at the time.
McLean complained to her teacher Fraser, about having pains in the region of her heart before she was rushed off to hospital. Subsequently, three of her team-mates were also taken to the hospital with complaints, with a Bishops' High School student suffering asthma symptoms.
When the discovery was made pandemonium broke out as the children from the North Georgetown District as well as those from the other districts became hysterical, scampering around the compound shouting `Thief!' and `Help!'
Quite a few of them ran out on to the road seeking assistance but none came even from the two policemen on duty at the school at the time.
After reports that one person, armed with a cutlass and carrying a bag on his back was seen in the compound running away from the building, some of the male students in the compound at the time armed themselves with pieces of wood and staves and went in search of the bandits who had already fled.
The visibly shocked students were in tears as they tried to get help.
It was reported that when one of the students went to the District cook's quarters and told her what had happened, the cook referred her to the policeman on duty who told the student that she and the others should go and check to see what was missing.
It was also reported that another student told the policeman which direction the bandit with the cutlass was seen running, but he told her he is not from Linden and as such he cannot run behind the thief since he does not know the area.
Most of the female students assembled on the roadway saying they were not going back into the building because of fears the thief or thieves might return.
The police station in the area was notified of the problem and shortly after two ranks in plain clothes arrived on the scene. One of them brandishing a pistol ran past the crowd at the front of the school compound and made his way to the rear but returned soon after, luckless.
The students finally went back into the compound but not into the same dorm they were occupying.
A teacher said that since arriving at the Mackenzie Primary School on Monday, students from the North Georgetown District suffered losses on two occasions but this last incident was the worst.
Fraser told this newspaper that his students would not be taking any further part of the championships and would be leaving the compound and the community by mid-morning for home (Georgetown).
At 07:30 hrs yesterday, Fraser said since the incident occurred, no police rank had taken any statements from the students or management of the team. Fraser also said that up to that point, none of the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) executives had spoken with management and had not tried to offer any solution to the problem.
Fraser reported that at 07:30 hrs a technical meeting was being conducted in the school compound and yet no one had discussed the situation with him.
"We are taking no further part of this championships," Fraser said.
Hooper prepared to fight it out
By Brij Parasnath
WEST Indies captain Carl Hooper has declared that although his team lost the early advantage on the opening day of the first Cable and Wireless Test being played at the GCC ground, Bourda, he is prepared to battle to the very end for victory.
After enjoying a comfortable position of 171 for three at tea, West Indies ended the day on 232 for seven.
The turning point came with the dismissal of star batsman Brian Lara at 206, and his personal contribution being 47. He was soon followed in quick succession by Ramnaresh Sarwan and Ridley Jacobs to the pace of South Africa's leading strike bowler Allan Donald who knocked back Sarwan's off-stump and trapped Jacobs lbw with his next delivery.
Hooper lamented that they were on course for the "300 plus.
"That we had set at the beginning of the day's play but lost the momentum by not taking the singles and then losing those four wickets at the end, the new West Indies captain said."
"When you win the toss and bat on a Bourda pitch, the intention is to score more than 350 runs. We were in a very good position at tea with Lara and Sarwan batting together. I was hoping that we would have finished the day with over 240 for three or four wickets. We needed to take full advantage of batting first on the pitch which had no grass and which would assist the spinners later in the game," added Hooper. who is appearing in his 81st Test match.
Hooper expressed his desire to push the score beyond 300 today and stressed that: "we will fight tomorrow and maybe with the help of the other batsmen we can achieve our goal.
The pitch is expected to play differently, keeping lower and getting slower and this could work to our advantage with leg-spinner Dinanath Ramnarine and myself getting some assistance."
Hooper expressed satisfaction with the performances of young Christopher Gayle and Marlon Samuels and said: "I was extremely pleased and impressed with Gayle and Samuels. They played well and looked assured and confident. Gayle is now coming back into the team while Samuels continued from what he was doing in Australia."
Questioned as to whether it was the right move to send Sarwan at five and not himself going in, the new West Indies captain emphasised that "it was important to groom and test the younger players. They have to showcase their talent and prove their worth. Sarwan got good scores in the recently-concluded Busta series and we expect him to gain the confidence playing at the higher level.
This is a home series and we have to nurture the younger players who will become the backbone for the future."
Speaking about his return to the Test arena, Hooper disclosed that he was nervous. "I was nervous going out to bat. But after some time out in the middle, I overcame that feeling and stayed focused on the job," Hooper said.
How did he feel walking out at Bourda and in front of the cheering and adoring supporters, Hooper said: "It was great walking out to such a reception. It made me feel good that the people appreciate what I was doing for Guyana and West Indies cricket."
Looking at the overall picture, Hooper stressed that South Africa hold the upper hand at the end of the day but we will fight it out.
We will be competitive and we want to win the game. The South Africa bowlers never gave up, they were disciplined. I am hoping that our bowlers will do the same.
Getting Lara out was the big achievement
... South Africa's coach
SOUTH Africa's coach Graham Ford is extremely pleased with the effort and discipline shown by his bowlers "but getting Brian Lara out was the big achievement and made all the difference" on the opening day of the first Cable and Wireless Test at the GCC ground, Bourda yesterday.
Ford, who took over the enviable job of former England Test player Bob Woolmer, claimed that "getting Brian Lara's wicket was the turning point and the one wicket we wanted badly.
All teams want him out of the way because if he gets going, it can spell trouble and even defeat. So we were overjoyed when Lance Klusener had him caught. That brought us back into the game and every one got fired up."
"Whenever any team comes up against West Indies and Lara is in the side, he becomes the prize wicket. To contain him and then get him out is not all that easy. He can change the course of the match very quickly.
When he was out Donald picked up Sarwan and Jacobs very quickly and that showed the discipline and aggression required.
Commenting on the nature of the Bourda pitch, the 41-year-old Ford who hails from KwaZulu-Natal, pointed out that "in South Africa the pitches are bouncier and allow the fast bowlers to generate much more pace than this one at Bourda. This is a slow track and it calls for greater discipline and perseverance.
"Klusener bowled intelligently on the pitch and he made the difference. It was a tremendous performance. We were happy to grab those four wickets after tea and that has put us in a good position at the end of the day," Ford said. (Brij Parasnath).
Cavalcade of Sport to observe International Women's Day
IN observance of International Women's Day, the Women in Sport Working Group will tomorrow host a cavalcade of sport to showcase women's involvement in the many areas of sports.
The aim of the cavalcade is also to encourage more women to take an active part in sport and recreation. The event will be held at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, Homestretch Avenue, Georgetown.
A statement from the group said sports associations will be displaying the best in their sport and information for women wanting to get involved will be available.
The Women in Sport Working Group was established last July to examine the problems women faced in their struggle to gain equality in the world of sport.
The benefits of sport are well documented. Sport gives a person national identity and prestige, personal challenges, economic wealth and health benefits and also promotes community development, the statement mentioned.
The group noted that sports need to be a central element in the life on all Guyanese.
The event starts at 11:00 hrs and concludes at 18:00 hrs. Admission is $100 and food and drink will be on sale.
Three feature races on Kennard Memorial Phagwah meeting
THREE feature races are carded on tomorrow's Phagwah race meeting, set for the Kennard Memorial Turf Club at Bush Lot Farm, Corentyne.
The main feature is for horses classified B & Lower over nine furlongs and is being sponsored by Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL).
Ten horses are entered with the winner to receive $110 000 and the Eldorado trophy; the first runner-up $55 000; the second runner-up $27 000 and the third runner-up $13 5000.
The event for horses in the E & Lower division, over six furlongs, is also another feature race, sponsored by B & K International Inc.
The favourites are Regal Prospect, Zulu Boy and Errin Heat. The winner gets $70 000 and the Isaac Daloo Memorial trophy.
The other feature will see horses, classified F & Lower, gallop over one mile in the Bish Panday Memorial Stakes sponsored by his wife and sons Karran, Vidoor and Suresh.
The pre-race favourites are Going Bold, Soca Jam and Prince of Peace.
The winner is guaranteed $70 000 and the Bish Panday Memorial trophy.
The largest field for the meeting will be in the G class race over six furlongs where 10 horses are entered for the Winston Baijnauth Stakes. The winner will receive $60 000 and the Bill Panchoosingh Memorial trophy. The favourites are Red October, Salibia and Tairona.
Three other races are also listed on the day's programme which gets under way at 13:30 hrs.
Australia's Slater hit with Test ban
CALCUTTA, India, (Reuters) - Australian opener Michael Slater has been banned from the second Test against India starting tomorrow for violating the International Cricket Council (ICC) code of conduct in a radio interview.
The batsman was also fined 50 per cent of his match fee and handed a six-month suspended sentence.
The decision was made by West Indian match referee Cammie Smith, said former ICC president Jagmohan Dalmiya, who heads the Cricket Association of Bengal, yesterday.
"Slater was penalised for making some comments on radio regarding a warning that had been given by Mr Smith on the third day of the first Test match," Dalmiya said in a statement.
"Slater has been fined 50 per cent of his match fee, banned for the Calcutta Test and served a suspended suspension for six months from March 9 to September 8 for breach of Clause 6 of the ICC Code of Conduct and Regulations," the statement said.
Slater was cautioned after he argued with umpire Srinivas Venkataraghavan and India batsman Rahul Dravid after his claim that he had caught the batsman was turned down.
He gave an interview to a Sydney Radio station where he discussed the issue.
Australia won the first Test by 10 wickets. Slater argued with Venkataraghavan after the third umpire, to whom the decision on Slater's claim for a catch was referred, ruled Dravid not out.
Slater told the radio station: "It just looks so much worse on the TV than it actually was and they chose to play it and play it and play it and just ham the whole thing up.
"If I'd been out of hand and what I'd actually said was the wrong thing I would have been reported.
"But that doesn't seem to be enough for the journos, and the analysis and whatever that has been going on has been totally blown out (of proportion)," he had said.
Smith had conveyed the decision to the managers of the two teams and their boards, Dalmiya said.
Bedi attacks Indian shortcomings
By N. Ananthanarayanan
NEW DELHI, India (Reuters) - Former India captain Bishen Singh Bedi has accused the current team of lacking match fitness and commitment in their humiliating first Test defeat by Australia.
Australia's 10-wicket victory in Bombay last week in less than three days has left the hosts in disarray and world champions Australia one win away from claiming their first Indian Test series in 31 years.
Australia extended their world record of consecutive Test wins to 16 and Steve Waugh's men look poised to wrap up the series in the second match starting in Calcutta tomorrow.
"Nothing went right for us right from the beginning. Our boys were grossly match-unfit, they hadn't had enough match grinding," Bedi, former Indian skipper and coach, told Reuters.
Bedi said the attitude of the Indian players was poor and top players were paying the price for staying away from domestic matches.
Captain Saurav Ganguly skipped the Duleep Trophy (a zonal tournament) and played only one Ranji Trophy (national championship) game which his Bengal side lost.
In contrast, the Australian side was fully focused, Bedi said.
"The only difference is the attitude of the two sides. I don't think the Australians are as superior as the margin of victory indicates. But they are far more committed," he said.
Bedi attacked the Indian selectors for replacing four bowlers for the second Test. "When the batting has failed they change four bowlers. Where is the cricketing IQ?"
PRAISE FOR INDIAN SLOW BOWLERS
The former left-arm spinner said Indian slow bowlers had given a good account of themselves, barring the period when Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden superbly counter-attacked for individual centuries to set up Australia's win.
"It was not just the bowlers. Bad strategy, a lot of bad implementation. It was a blank performance. They just let the game go out of their hands," Bedi said.
He said Australia showed all the signs of a great team. "There are three world beaters - Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne and Steve Waugh himself. The rest rally around them. We have got great individuals but they don't form a team," Bedi said.
The Indian batting collapsed in both innings and their largely inexperienced bowling attack faded away after reducing Australia to 99 for five in their first innings.
Only Sachin Tendulkar came away unscathed after fighting innings of 76 and 65 which helped India avoid an innings defeat. Ganguly came under fire for poor batting and captaincy after scoring eight and one in his two innings in the Test.
His hopes of batting practice for the Calcutta Test evaporated as he managed only a shaky 40 for an Indian Board President's XI team against Australia in New Delhi.
Roger Binny, India's junior coach, said India had not cashed in on their chances in Bombay and added that the batsmen would have to play to their potential to enable the bowlers to apply pressure on Australia on the slow Indian wickets.
"I don't see Gilchrist and Hayden playing another innings as they did in Bombay and getting away with such shots," the former Test all-rounder added.
First Test ...
Kiwis reach 65 for two in reply to Pakistan's 346
By Geoff Young
AUCKLAND, NZ (Reuters) - New Zealand had restored some respectability to their score at stumps on the second day of the first Test yesterday, after a disastrous start to their innings saw Pakistan take two wickets in the opening two overs.
Chasing Pakistan's 346, New Zealand lost openers Matthew Bell and Mark Richardson within the first two overs for just one run, but at stumps had hauled themselves out of the mire to be 65 for two, with captain Stephen Fleming on 32 and Mathew Sinclair 28.
Waqar Younis struck first, removing Bell for a duck after a dubious decision from umpire Doug Cowie. Replays showed the ball hit Bell's back pad, not his bat, but he was given out caught behind.
There was no doubt about Mohammad Sami's first Test wicket. A beautiful yorker bowled Mark Richardson and New Zealand were in trouble at one run for two wickets.
Sinclair looked shaky early on as he tried to take a positive approach to some impressive bowling from Sami and Waqar, but he soon gained some composure, hitting some nice straight drives and a lovely flick off his pads for four through midwicket.
Fleming showed his class and the two pulled the New Zealand innings to respectability after its terrible start, bringing up their 50 partnership off 108 balls as they set about chasing the tourists' first innings total of 346.
The end of the Pakistan innings was packed with action as Moin Khan and Mushtaq Ahmed took to some loose bowling, putting on 52 runs together to equal the record for the ninth wicket for Pakistan against New Zealand.
Moin was out for 47, caught behind off Tuffey, which gave the burly fast bowler his best return in Tests, four for 96. His figures suffered under the late onslaught from Moin and Mushtaq, with his last four overs costing 29 runs for the one wicket.
James Franklin then induced an edge from Mushtaq to give wicketkeeper Adam Parore his fifth catch of the innings and Franklin his first Test wicket.
The late fightback by Pakistan was in stark contrast to the rain-hit morning session, which produced four wickets and 24 runs.
Both overnight batsmen, Younis Khan and Faisal Iqbal, went to the first deliveries they faced yesterday for 91 and 42 runs respectively, and Saqlain Mushtaq and Waqar went cheaply.
PAKISTAN first innings
I. Farhat c Parore b Martin 23
S. Elahi c Parore b Tuffey 24
Misbah-ul-Haq c Sinclair b McMillan 28
Y. Youhana c Parore b Martin 51
Y. Khan c McMillan b Tuffey 91
F. Iqbal c Fleming b Tuffey 42
M. Khan c Parore b Tuffey 47
S. Mushtaq c Fleming b Martin 2
W. Younis lbw b Martin 4
M. Ahmed c Parore b Franklin 19
M. Sami not out 0
Extras: (nb-6, b-2, lb-7) 15
Total: (all out, 106 overs) 346
Fall of wickets: 1-46, 2-52, 3-130, 4-138, 5-270, 6-271, 7-286, 8-294, 9-346.
Bowling: Tuffey 34-13-96-4, Martin 22-1-106-4 (nb-2), Franklin 21-6-55-1 (nb-4), Wiseman 7-0-35-0, McMillan 14-5-34-1, Astle 8-3-11-0.
NEW ZEALAND first innings
M. Richardson b Sami 1
M. Bell c Moin b Waqar 0
M. Sinclair not out 28
S. Fleming not out 32
Extras: (lb-4) 4
Total: (for two wickets, 27 overs) 65
Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-1.
Bowling: Waqar 8-2-21-1, Sami 10-5-25-1, Saqlain 7-1-6-0, Mushtaq 2-0-9-0.
Second Test in Kandy ...
Sri Lanka face defeat as tempers boil over
KANDY, Sri Lanka, (Reuters) - Sri Lanka were facing defeat in the second Test against England yesterday, closing eight runs ahead with four second innings wicket left after a day of fresh controversy and confrontation.
Their last front-line batsman, Kumar Sangakkara, was on 47 not out as the home side ended the third day on 98 for six.
The game threatened to spiral out of control after Sri Lanka, 90 runs behind after dismissing England for 387 at tea, collapsed to three for three after just 13 balls when they batted again.
Tempers flared as Sri Lankan captain Sanath Jayasuriya was controversially given out, caught in the slips off Andy Caddick, by home umpire B.C. Cooray off what appeared to be a bump ball.
When Aravinda de Silva followed moments later, gloving a Darren Gough bouncer to the slip cordon, Sangakkara and Michael Atherton exchanged words, the Englishman then remonstrating with umpire Rudi Koertzen.
