City stores gutted amid street protests
by Shirley Thomas
FIRE of unknown origin which reportedly started in the top flat of the popular A.H & L. Kissoon furniture store on Camp Street shortly before 17:00 hrs yesterday wreaked havoc in the capital city, amid continuing anti-government street protests.
The fire swiftly swept through the block between Camp and Wellington streets, gutting no less than a dozen business places along Robb and Regent streets.
Businesses completely destroyed include Anand's garment store; Sookraj and Sons Garment Store and Cambio; Madagabar Resort Office; Globe garment store; Kirpalani and Sons; Shamdas Kirpalani; Dhoray's Fashions; Alicia's Fashions; Daswaney's; Shoppers' Paradise and the headquarters of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU); the Guyana Rice Producers Association office and the Gimpex Building.
The Lotus restaurant next to Anand's store, though appearing intact from the front, was damaged behind.
Buildings destroyed on Robb Street, apart from the entire Kissoon's furniture complex, extensively rehabilitated and diversified recently, included a pharmacy next to Kissoon's; Archie's Electrical Store; Bossie's; the New Garden Chinese restaurant and Tau-Am Associates.
The fire broke out just as President Bharrat Jagdeo was naming his new Cabinet at the Presidential Secretariat.
Despite gallant efforts by fire fighters to save the GAWU building which had started burning from behind, the last of the upper floors crashed thunderously to the ground.
After about two hours, firemen were still battling to contain the inferno to the GAWU building with the hope of saving the building next door which houses the MTV station.
When news of the fire spread, many of the business places in that vicinity had already closed for the day and workers left for home. A few proprietors were about leaving their premises and all attention was turned to Kissoon's.
Fire tenders from the central and sub-stations with a full turn out of fire fighters were immediately despatched to the scene. The Georgetown Sewerage and Water Commissioners which was in the midst of a water rationing operation due to the prolonged dry weather was alerted, and immediately stepped up its water pressure.
In less than an hour, so heavy was the pressure that leaking fire hoses began spurting water all over, and firemen had trouble controlling the hoses. In some cases it took four firemen lying on the ground to control a hose.
With adequate pressure the firefighters fought valiantly to bring the raging flames under control, but fanned by fierce winds blowing in a westerly direction, Kissoon's building was in less that an hour reduced to rubble, and from then on there was no turning back.
Despite the best efforts of the firemen, the flames quickly spread south to Regent Street and west along Robb Street and initially the National Bank of Industry and Commerce and Bhena's footwear at the corner of Regent and Camp streets were seriously threatened. But for the gallant and selfless fight put up by firemen at all levels, and the sturdy brick walls in their architecture, those two buildings would have been gutted.
An annexe at the back of the bank's compound was already well alight from within and was quickly brought under control.
As word about the fire spread, businessmen who had already left their premises headed down to the scene, perhaps in the hope of being able to save goods, but that was virtually impossible. The intense heat and power lines dancing dangerously on the ground forced persons back, keeping them at bay.
Stupefied, the owners looked on helplessly.
Mr Glen Lall, part owner of Bhena's footwear arrived at the scene of his wife's business breathless, but thanked heaven when he saw how closely his store missed being caught up in the inferno. Sighing, he commented, "All I'm seeing is a dim future for this country."
Proprietor of Sooksons, Mr. Ramnauth Sookraj, badly shaken, mustered up the courage to stand and face it all. His cambio, he said, had "millions of dollars in the safe" but nothing was saved.
Sookraj said that only a few days before he had stocked up his store. He set his losses at about $1200 million, adding that that figure would have been an underestimation.
And proprietor of Bossies Enterprise, Mr. Keithroy Bachelor, an Antiguan, also lost everything. Bachelor, who had been operating at his Robb Street boutique about four years now, said he's still thankful to God that no lives were lost.
Several truckloads of traffic, beat duty and riot squad police were deployed to the scene to help maintain law and order.
Intermittently gunshots were heard ringing through the air to ward off curious onlookers who would hamper the progress of fire fighting activities, or attempt to loot businesses.
As showcases cracked from the intense heat, operators of some business places such as discount stores were seen hurriedly nailing up zinc sheets to their businesses. Under the intense heat, decorative tiles began falling off the walls of the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry more than 40 feet away, on the opposite side of Regent Street.
The businesses in that part of the commercial area were mostly old wooden buildings, recently renovated and freshly painted.
In addition, most of the merchandise were fabrics and clothing, footwear, leatherette and plastics and other poly and synthetic materials.
And many stores though initially far away from the blaze ended up losing everything, since they were either heavily grilled up, or had zinc sheets and steel plates nailed on to their show cases and doors. Nothing was saved from any of the buildings.
This posed a greater difficulty to firemen who tried to extinguish flames from within the burning buildings to reduce the spread of the fire.
As fire raged through the GAWU building, large flying debris at one stage posed a serious danger to the Guyoil gas station at the corner of Regent and Wellington streets.
And at 18:35 hrs, even as all energies and resources were turned on fighting the raging fires just across the road from the gas station, another fire mysteriously started up at the Strand Cinema. But firemen quickly extinguished the blaze.
Because of rapidly burning power lines, electricity had to be shut off in that part of the city, and by night fall the area took on an eerie appearance, with the fires providing the only form of light.
Streets were quickly cordoned off and security forces and an ambulance placed on standby.
A few residential buildings in Robb Street were also threatened, and residents, the Warrens, Hackets and Williams, were up to late last night seeking refuge in the middle of the road where all their belongings were packed.
On Robb Street, the fire stopped just before the Guyana Democratic Party office owned by Mr. Asgar Ally.
Giving thanks and praise, Mr. Ally credited it to the fact that he had his Quran in his office at the time of the fire. "By the grace of Allah, our building was not in any way damaged," he asserted gratefully.
The fire was described as one of the biggest and most devastating in the history of the capital city.
Less than a year ago, the Kissoons Group of Companies was hard hit by fire which completely destroyed the Park Hotel in Main Street. Following that fire, many of their employees were absorbed by the furniture store in Camp Street.
And Anand's too, only a few months ago suffered millions of dollars of losses through fire which destroyed its warehouse in Water Street.
Nine new members in Cabinet
PRESIDENT Bharrat Jagdeo yesterday announced much anticipated Cabinet appointments, keeping his promise of changes by introducing nine new faces and switching portfolios among Ministers.
New ministers are Dr Jennifer Westford, Minister of Public Service Management; Dr Leslie Ramsammy, Minister of Health; Ms Bibi Shadick, Minister in the Ministry of Human Services, Social Security and Labour; Ms Carolyn Rodrigues, Minister of Amerindian Affairs and Mr Navin Chandarpal, Minister of Agriculture.
President Jagdeo said four technocrats will be named for Minister of Planning and Economic Development; Minister of Tourism and Industry; Minister of Foreign Affairs and an Attorney General.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will now have a new section, Ministry of Foreign Trade, which will be managed by former Foreign Minister, Mr Clement Rohee. He will deal with World Trade Organisation issues, Free Trade Area of the Americas negotiations and Joint Commissions.
The post of Foreign Minister will be held by one of the technocrats.
The Ministry of Tourism and Industry is now minus the Trade portfolio, which will covered in a soon to be established Trade and Investment Agency.
Minister Geoff Da Silva who headed this ministry in the previous Government will be the Chief Executive Officer of the new agency, while a technocrat will be in charge of the ministry.
President Jagdeo, who noted the importance of investment to the future of the country, will chair the new agency and leader of the Guyana Action Party/Working People's Alliance, Mr. Paul Hardy will be on its Board of Directors.
The entity will be operated within the Office of the President.
Mr Jagdeo will also be in charge of the Information Ministry.
The rest of the Cabinet are Dr Henry Jeffrey, Minister of Education; Dr Dale Bisnauth, Minister of Human Services, Social Security and Labour; Mr Harripersaud Nokta, Minister of Local Government; Mr Clinton Collymore, Minister in the Ministry of Local Government; Mr Saisnarine Kowlessar, Minister of Finance; Mr Shaik Baksh, Minister of Housing and Water; Mr Ronald Gajraj, Minister of Home Affairs; Mr Reepu Daman Persaud, Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Parliamentary Affairs; Mr Satyadeow Sawh, Minister of Fisheries, Crops and Livestock; Ms Gail Teixeira, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports; Mr Navin Chandarpal, Minister of Agriculture; and Mr Anthony Xavier, Minister of Transport and Hydraulics, Ministry of Public Works.
Announcing the appointments yesterday afternoon in the Credentials Room of the Office of the President, President Jagdeo said that in choosing the Cabinet he has operated under a law that no other President of Guyana before him had to operate under.
"I had restrictions placed on my ability to appoint people...," he said.
The President was referring to a new law passed in Parliament a few months ago, limiting to four, the number of technocrat ministers that could come into the Government from outside the list of candidates presented by the ruling People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) for the March 19 elections.
President Jagdeo, however, noted that this law was supported by all Members of Parliament including those representing the main opposition People's National Congress/Reform (PNC/R).
He said the Cabinet will be changed frequently over the next five years based on his assessments.
The President also reiterated his numerous calls to PNC/R leader, Mr. Desmond Hoyte and the leadership of the PNC/R to engage in dialogue, but firmly said he will not succumb to dialogue coming out of intimidation or threats.
"I hope that my call for dialogue will be answered and answered quickly and that we can get down to the business of managing this country and moving our country forward.
"I am interested in dialogue but I want to make it clear that dialogue where both sides participate as equals will yield results, (but) dialogue coming out of intimidation and threats will not yield results".
"I believe genuinely that this country can move forward if all the parties work together," he said, adding that "threats and force will not solve anything and it will not make me succumb to any dialogue or to give in to any unreasonable demands."
"So I want to make that very clear. Our country needs to move on, we have had general and regional elections and the results were quite clear (and) they were sanctioned by all the international observers that came to Guyana," President Jagdeo said.
The PPP/C gained some 52 per cent and PNC/R approximately 42 per cent of the votes cast.
President Jagdeo referred to a post-elections statement from the Commonwealth observer group, which said the elections were the most observed in the history of the Commonwealth.
"The results are clear and it's time to move on. Our country needs stability for us to move forward and with stability would come more investment, more jobs and better education, health care, housing, water...the important things that our people so badly demand," President Jagdeo said.
He added: "We also have to develop a culture of dialogue in this country and it seems as though that is lacking until now where political leaders of this country cannot deal maturely enough to understand that the whole country and all the people rely on us."
According to President Jagdeo, personalities sometimes become more important than the country.
"I want to make it clear that no one, not Mr Hoyte nor myself, we're not more important than the people of this country and the welfare of this country and we have to behave in such a way," President Jagdeo declared.
Yesterday's appointments are in keeping with the deadline given by the Guyana Elections Commission for a list of the Members of Parliament to be submitted by Thursday.
President Jagdeo said the Government has to get Parliament reconvened quickly so the Government can move forward with Constitutional reform and key pieces of legislation that have already been drafted.
Among those present for the announcements yesterday were soon-to-be-sworn-in Prime Minister, Mr. Sam Hinds; Dr Roger Luncheon, who was sworn in amidst protest last week as Head of the Presidential Secretariat and Mr Kellawan Lall, Political Advisor to the President.
President Jagdeo thanked those persons who served in the previous Cabinet for the service they have given to the country and said he is continuing discussions with a number of persons, locally and overseas-based and from other political parties before naming the four technocrats in his Government. (MARK RAMOTAR)
Corbin among PNC/R protestors arrested
- demonstrators overturn car
CHAIRMAN of the main Opposition People's National Congress/Reform (PNC/R) and attorney-at-law, Mr Robert Corbin and Chairman of the Reform component of the party, Mr Jerome Khan were yesterday arrested by police when they refused to remove from the entrance of the Office of the President in Georgetown.
The two and other supporters of the PNC/R were protesting against the re-appointment of Dr Roger Luncheon as Head of the Presidential Secretariat.
The party began its protests outside the Office of the President last week.
Corbin and Khan were reportedly ordered released by a judge late yesterday.
The group of PNC/R supporters yesterday gathered at the Vlissengen Road and Regent Street and New Garden Street entrances to the Presidential Secretariat, chanting and singing hymns for a while, when police officials arrived on the scene and ordered them to disperse.
When the officers tried to remove Corbin and Khan who were standing at the main gate, the supporters started pelting stones at them.
A police officer was also injured during the fracas.
The police retaliated by firing pellets and everyone scattered for cover.
A middle-aged man was hit by pellets in his back and behind his ear, while a 74-year-old icicle vendor was hit in her foot.
Bleeding profusely, the man's shirt was taken off by some of the women, and raised in the air.
Corbin, Khan, the middle-aged man, and the elderly woman were arrested and taken away in a waiting police vehicle.
When Corbin and Khan were handcuffed and taken away by police, the crowd became very angry.
Some women shouted, "How could dey do dat!", while others verbally abused the police officers on the scene.
Earlier in the morning, Corbin lay down across the entrance of the Office of the President and some female protestors threw themselves on top of him, in agreement with the move, while others cheered him on.
Police barricades were removed and placed further up New Garden Street preventing the protestors from blocking the entrance of the Presidential Secretariat.
By this time, most the protestors had gathered at the nearby Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) headquarters and ordered traffic to use the New Garden Street entrance.
Things nearly got out of hand, when an irate driver who refused to use that entrance, confronted the crowd of mostly women, some of whom had hit the trunk of the car.
They also overturned a car which was proceeding along Regent Street.
The protestors diverted their attention to the Ministry of Agriculture urging employees to leave the office to join them and a few were seen leaving shortly afterwards.
Officers of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) had to intervene when the protestors made their way into the adjoining Ministry of Agriculture building.
They cleared the area, and in doing so, no one was injured.
Meanwhile, Mr James Mc Allister, executive member of the PNC/R condemned the actions of the police in manhandling his two colleagues.
He said it appeared to him that Corbin, in particular was singled out by the police, because they went directly and arrested him.
"the members of the crowd objected to this, and there was a confrontation with the police, and then the police became very, very violent and they began to hit people (in) all parts of their bodies with batons and then they started to fire shots", he stated.
"Our intention right now is to shut down the town, right now," he told reporters.
Rampage halts business in city
- several injured as Police, protestors clash
BUSINESS activities on Regent Street and other parts of the capital yesterday halted when persons demonstrating against the re-appointment of Dr Roger Luncheon as Head of the Presidential Secretariat took to the streets.
Within a few minutes, stores on Regent Street were closed and persons hurriedly made their way out of the path of demonstrators who became involved in several fierce confrontations with the Police.
Police ranks fired pellets into crowds and several shots into the air to disperse persons who had started marching along Regent Street after they were forcefully removed from the vicinity of the Office of the President.
Earlier, the protestors were stationed at the two entrances, Vlissengen Road and New Garden Street, to the Office of the President and Police were subsequently called in to remove them.
The group, which had started protesting Luncheon's appointment last week, grew substantially as the demonstration continued yesterday.
Some derogatory remarks were made against Luncheon who held the position since the re-elected People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) first assumed office in October 1992.
The People's National Congress/Reform (PNC/R) has organised the protests against his re-appointment, claiming that the post must be headed by a public servant.
Police yesterday quickly broke up a small group of protesters, gathered at the Vlissengen Road entrance of the Office of the President, at about 10:00 hrs.
They joined others who were protesting at the main New Garden Street entrance but this crowd was also dispersed by Police who fired pellets.
Several persons were reportedly injured during the shooting. They said they were being denied their democratic right to protest and that they were demonstrating peacefully.
But there were several reports of persons being injured by protesters and business places came under attack during the rampage on Regent Street yesterday.
Sears, at the junction of Alexander and Regent Streets, will have to replace some broken windows. Security guards on duty had to summon help from armed officers to break up the group of persons who had started stoning the hardware store.
An electricity post, a `stone's throw' away from this store was also set on fire and concerned citizens immediately put out the blaze.
Officials said luckily for Sears, the bottom flat of the building had been secured with ply boards for the past few weeks to guard against such attacks.
During the confrontations with the Police and protesters as they moved off from the Office of the President, a motor car belonging to the Chief Administration Officer of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Major Claudius Vaughn, was damaged.
He said the car was parked on South Road when the crowds had started stoning the building. Its back windscreen, valued at about $50,000, was shattered.
Vaughn said he made a report to a city Police station and noted that while it is the people's democratic to protest, he deplores their violent actions since damaging people's property cannot be considered as peaceful protesting.
An official of the ministry was also hit by one of the stones thrown into the ministry's compound. She sustained a minor wound.
The office of the weekly publication, Catholic Standard, at South Road and Wellington Streets also came under attack by the protesters.
Mr. Colin Smith, Editor of the Catholic Standard, explained that there was a photographer in the building taking shots of some of the scenes when the group started pelting it, breaking several windows. A door was also damaged.
According to Smith, the protesters were reacting to a rumour that talk show host, Mr Kwame McKoy, was hiding there. They began shouting for McKoy as they stoned the building, Smith said.
As the standoff between Police ranks and protesters continued, employees of many stores along Regent Street were seen peeping through steel grills and barriers to catch a glimpse of the situation.
Shoppers and vendors were locked in Bourda Market and stalls were quickly shut as people hurriedly secured their business places.
As the protestors moved along, they branched off into several streets and eventually a fire was set on Wellington Street. However, this was quickly noted by ranks on patrol who immediately put it out and arrested those who allegedly set fire to the rubbish.
Those arrested were ordered to remove the trash from the street before they were taken to the lockups.
There was a build-up of traffic along Regent Street and other parts of the city as barriers were erected and traffic diverted.
Protestors themselves engaged in diverting the traffic, especially those who had stationed themselves in the vicinity of the Brickdam Police Station to protest the arrest of two PNC/R members, Chairman, Mr Robert Corbin and member, Mr Jerome Khan.
Business places around the city had remained closed for the past few weeks following post-elections disturbances on the East Coast Demerara when Police used tear gas and fired pellets to disperse protestors who set up barricades and burned tyres on roads to stop the flow of traffic.
Store owners were also forced to shut their doors when protestors of the PNC/R went on a rampage through city streets during the party's legal bid to block the swearing-in of President Bharrat Jagdeo.
Barriers were erected on buildings around the city and there were hardly any signs of activity.
East Coast phone service disrupted
TELEPHONE service on the East Coast of Demerara was disrupted late yesterday afternoon as a result of a damaged cable.
A source from Guyana Telephone and Telephone Company Limited said the cable was damaged at Ann's Grove.
Technicians from the city travelled to the area to help repair the cable and were working feverishly to restore service, the source said.
Carpenter badly burnt in hot water accident
A CUMMINGSBURG, Georgetown carpenter was badly burnt when he accidentally caused a pot of boiling water to topple from a table as he tried to retrieve tools stored under it.
Walter Harricharran, 31, of Lamaha Railway Line, was preparing to leave his home for work around 07:00 hrs last week Saturday morning when the accident occurred.
He is currently a patient in the Accident Ward of the Georgetown Hospital nursing serious burns about his body.
A relative said that his wife, Loretta, was preparing breakfast on a Chinese stove on the table in their kitchen and had just left to go outside when Harricharran attempted to get out his carpentry tools, which were under the same table.
As he bent to remove the bag with the tools, he accidentally pulled the tablecloth from its position, causing the stove and pot of hot water to tumble.
The father of three was drenched and badly burned on his face, neck, abdomen and arms.- (Shirley Thomas).
Young mother dies after labaria attack
A 36-YEAR-OLD mother of three of Airy Hall, Essequibo Coast died on Saturday at the Suddie Hospital after she was bitten by a labaria snake in her backyard.
According to reports, Mrs. Basmattie Persaud, known as 'Sunita', was harvesting eddoes from her backyard last Friday when she was bitten about four times on one of her legs by the labaria.
She was rushed to the hospital about one hour after she was bitten but died the following day.
Persaud leaves to mourn her husband, Jaio, and three young children.
A post mortem examination is to be done on the body. - (Rajendra Prabhulall).
Habitat International chief to visit Guyana
FOUNDER and President of Habitat for Humanity International, Mr. Millard Fuller is scheduled to meet Government officials, corporate executive members, church leaders, Habitat families and volunteers during a one-day visit here tomorrow.
A Habitat for Humanity Guyana release said Fuller will participate in the dedication of the 108th house to be built by the organisation. It will be the 40th house built by the body's East Coast Demerara affiliate.
Habitat for Humanity International is celebrating 25 years of work this year. Through its work, houses have been built in Latin America and the Caribbean since 1980 and in Guyana since late 1994.
Fuller will be accompanied to Guyana by his wife Linda. They will stop here while enroute to Brazil for the celebration of the 35,000th house built in Latin America and the Caribbean region.
The vision of Habitat for Humanity is the elimination of poverty housing throughout the world, an objective it says can be achieved by engaging members of communities, volunteers, donors and families in need of decent housing, in a not-for-profit volunteer led programme.
GBC employees protest extension of De Groot's service
EMPLOYEES of the Guyana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) yesterday picketed outside the radio station's High Street, Georgetown studios against a three- month extension in office of Acting General Manager, Mr. David De Groot.
As a result, the usual midday newscast was not broadcast and only freelance workers manned the shifts.
Branch Chairman of the Clerical and Commercial Workers Union, Mr. Dale Andrews said the employees are strongly against the extension of De Groot's tenure as Acting General Manager at the radio station.
His six months in office came to an end last month and it was agreed for his tenure to be extended at a recent Board of Directors meeting. De Groot is a member of the board.
Andrews said he nor other employees were informed of the meeting when the decision was taken.
Andrews said the matter was not a political one but the employees want to be treated in a professional manner and he claimed De Groot has been in the habit of ridiculing members of staff, a practice they do not take to very kindly.
De Groot was appointed Acting General Manager last October when General Manager, Mr. Fazil Azeez left to pursue studies overseas.
Efforts to get a comment from GBC management were futile. - (Stacey Davidson).
Lewis says police will be firm
COMMISSIONER of Police Laurie Lewis yesterday again called for sanity to prevail as violence hit the city from street protests and assured that the rule of law and order will be maintained and enforced.
He urged those who hold responsible positions in society and in the country to examine themselves and the situation occurring with a view to deciding whether this is the way one wants Guyana to go.
"It is wrong for fires to be set, people beaten and robbed...we have been at pains and we have shown extreme tolerance in spite of all the statements which are being made, and we are being injured and this cannot go on forever", he told reporters at his office.
He said the police would have to be firm in the face of chaos and mayhem.
Lewis noted that 27 persons were arrested up to noon yesterday, including two executive members of the Opposition People's National Congress/Reform (PNC/R) who were part of the crowds demonstrating in front of the Office of the President yesterday morning and playing leading roles.
The two top PNC members arrested were Mr Robert Corbin, Chairman of the PNC/R and Mr Jerome Khan, Chairman of the Reform section of the party.
Lewis noted that Corbin said he sustained injuries while he was being detained at the Brickdam Police Station yesterday. Corbin also requested that he see his doctor. He said as far as he is aware, Khan sustained no injuries.
Lewis also assured that nobody had been shot.
According to him, with this environment being created, there has been an increase in armed robberies by "a specific set of people". He said this also is not doing the country any good.
He reported that people were assaulted yesterday, not only physically but also with words. Fires were also set in various parts of Georgetown.
Lewis said the Police Force had a video tape "where a certain personality was seen purchasing gasolene from a gas station then proceeded to set fire in an area." He said the tape was being examined by the Police.
The Police Chief also touched on the plight of school children who have to take examinations and are being affected by all of this.
The Secondary Schools Entrance Examinations, commonly called "Common Entrance" are scheduled for tomorrow and Thursday.
"I think that children who have to take examinations should not be forced to undergo this type of activity at this time."
"The Guyana Police Force has absolutely no objection to a peaceful protest and it has shown this before...but we cannot sit idly by and allow chaos, mayhem and a breakdown of law and order", he stressed.
The Police Commissioner said the worst aspect of the entire situation relates to the rumours which are being peddled all over the country.
He assured the public that the Police Force will be doing its best to ensure law and order is maintained.
He said drivers along the East Coast Demerara road were stopped by persons demanding money from them before being allowed to proceed. People are being inconvenienced and are being told that if they don't give them money they can't pass and that they will get into trouble, he said.
Money has been paid, Lewis said, noting that in one case a man had to pay $700 and in another case a car was damaged because the person did not pay.
"They (the vehicles) have been stopped by what will soon become marauding gangs if they are allowed to continue...," Lewis said.
Lewis said a Police Commander was hit by stones in his head, face and his arm. Another policeman was pulled off his motorcycle and beaten, sustaining injuries to his face and back. His motorcycle was also set on fire, he said.
He said another policeman suffered a head wound.
U.S. General arrives on visit
COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF of the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), General Peter Pace arrived in Guyana on a familiarisation visit yesterday.
General Pace who is accompanied by his wife Lynne and members of his staff are to pay courtesy calls on President Bharrat Jagdeo, who is Commander-in-Chief of the Disciplined Forces, and Chief-of-Staff of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), Brigadier Michael Atherly.
Pace, who is visiting here for the first time, during his meetings with key government and military leaders and U.S. Embassy officials, will discuss security issues of bilateral concern, including equipment and training assistance; the GDF Coast Guard counter drug role and joint training exercises.
The GDF said the visit, reciprocal to a similar one by Brigadier Atherly to the SOUTHCOM headquarters late last year, will serve to build upon the growing relationship between the GDF and the U.S. military.
General Pace before leaving Guyana tomorrow will be guest at a luncheon hosted by the GDF, at the Officer's Mess, Camp Ayangana, Georgetown.
PPP/C condemns violence, PNC/R accuses police of brutality
THE governing PPP/Civic has strongly condemned yesterday's violent disruptions in Georgetown and stressed that if the opposition PNC/R is serious about a productive and genuine dialogue, as it claims, it must end its "futile campaign" of disruption and violence.
The PPP/C, in a statement last night, said the leadership of the PNC/R and the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) must be held accountable for the hundreds of millions of dollars in damage caused by yesterday's fire in Georgetown.
The governing alliance also held the PNC/R and the union responsible for the harm inflicted on targeted citizens and the society, as a whole, stemming from the indiscriminate violence and disruptions.
But the PNC/R, in a statement, accused police of brutality against "peaceful protestors" outside the Office of the President.
"The PNC leaders, such as its Chairman Robert Corbin, are part of the deliberate acts of violence and public terror which bespeak Congress Place's intention not to help create an environment of stability and trust," the PPP/C charged.
It said that while supporting President Bharrat Jagdeo's call and the nation's desire for dialogue, it believes that yesterday's violent and organised disruptions again do not help to create an atmosphere for such meaningful engagements to take place.
"If the PNC is serious about a productive and genuine dialogue, as it claims, then it must end its futile campaign of disruption and violence."
The PPP/C said that all Guyanese must support the law enforcement agencies so as to ensure that law and order prevail in the society.
It also called on "our people to be on high alert and stand ready to defend our democratic gains."
The PPP/C said it strongly deplored yesterday's acts of disruptions and violence.
According to the PPP/C these were clearly intended to disrupt activities at several government offices, including the Office of the President, and the main shopping centres in the vicinity of Regent Street, Georgetown.
It said the GPSU has formally joined the post-elections political campaign of the PNC/R, adding that this also confirms the long suspected political allegiance of that union's leadership.
"The burning of stores and offices, the attacks and intimidation against the citizenry and law enforcement ranks are part of the PNC and GPSU's stated objective of `shutting down' the country", the PPP/C charged.
The PNC/R, following clashes between the Police and some of itssupporters outside the Office of the President, said yesterday will go down as a "dark and shameful day" in the history of the country.
It added that while President Jagdeo was making friendly gestures about negotiations, the regime was intent on "using violence and brute force to subdue the will of the people for lasting peace and stability".
It said that as the protestors objected to the action by the Police against their leaders, the Police "wantonly and indiscriminately fired into the crowd and wielded their batons to beat, bludgeon and brutalise the protesters, mostly women."
The PNC/R said that as a result, several people, including Mr Robert Corbin and Mr Jerome Khan, received life-threatening injuries at the hands of the Police.
It added that the senior two senior party leaders and numerous others were "brutally dragged and thrown into waiting police vehicles."
According to the PNC/R, "We are convinced that today's arrogant acts coupled with the recent events and utterances of the PPP, clearly indicate that they have no interest in dialogue and the creation of a peaceful and stable environment necessary for constructive negotiations to resolve the problems which confront the nation."
The Guyana difference
THERE are some similarities in the demography, culture and politics of Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana.
But there are also sharp differences. For a start, the losers at elections here do not organise demonstrations that threaten the rule of law, extending their protests right into the compound of the courts, clash with the police and beat up on people as happen in Georgetown.
Whatever may be the reservations about some of the post-election tactics of the People's National Movement following its second defeat by the United National Congress, its leader, Patrick Manning, has endeavoured to keep protests within the framework of what's lawful and generally accepted in a multi-party democratic state.
Not so with Desmond Hoyte's People's National Congress in Guyana.
For all the allegations about voter padding and subsequent legal actions, including those involving two successful UNC candidates, there has been no confrontation on the streets, no threats to the rule of law, no hysteria to whip up racial animosity, as seem to be a post-election pattern in Guyana since 1997, although there have been examples of opportunism to exploit social divisions in this country also.
The truth is that for all its many and repeated claims of electoral malpractices, racial discrimination and neglect of its supporters, the PNC does not have clean hands in the politics of the country, and continue to behave as very poor losers to the People's Progressive Party.
Electoral Democracy
Even now, although all the Observer Missions for the March 19 election, as well as the party's own representatives on the Elections Commission, have given their clear approval of a free and fair election, the PNC cannot bring itself to deal with the legitimate government in Georgetown and end its divisive protests.
There is, therefore, a qualitative difference between the post-election politics and leadership style of the PNM and PNC.
Unlike the controversial elections that took place under successive regimes of the PNC for more than two decades, the elections that have returned the PPP to government since 1992 have all been supervised by international, regional and national observer missions and deemed to be free and fair.
The seven-member Elections Commission in Guyana is comprised of three representatives each from the governing PPP and the opposition PNC with the chairman chosen for his 'independence' but from a list of six nominees submitted to the President by the PNC leader.
Known as the 'Carter Center formula', it was advanced by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter for 1992 when electoral democracy was finally restored.
The entire Elections Commission unanimously concurred with the March 19 results officially declared by the Chief Elections Officer, with one of the PNC's representatives, Dr Haslyn Parris, publicly stating that the electoral process was "transparent and clean", a view that was varyingly reflected by the observer missions.
For that principled stand Parris was to receive a beating right in the compound of the PNC headquarters, and his car severely damaged. What an indictment against a party that held Guyana firmly under its control for 28 years with distressing consequences for democratic traditions and racial harmony.
Last month, the PNC once again did what it had done after the 1997 election - filed an injunction to delay the swearing in of the PPP's victorious presidential candidate. And, once again, it was left to the country's Chief Justice to dismiss the injunction.
Now, the PNC is hinting again of filing another election petition, even as it is advocating 'dialogue' with President Jagdeo.
The young, 37-year-old President has said he was anxious to meet with the PNC's 72-year-old leader but hardly in an atmosphere of confrontation and threats.
(Reprinted from yesterday's Trinidad Guardian newspaper.)
`Road rage' murder case...
Prosecution laying foundation to use other depositions
THE Prosecution in the `Road Rage' murder case yesterday began laying the foundation for the possible use of depositions by other witnesses not now available.
Following the jury selection Thursday and the indictment of Freeman Fordyce for the unlawful killing of Canadian Matthew Paeden, State Prosecutor Jo-Ann Barlow was expected to deliver her opening address.
Instead, she requested and was granted permission by Justice Desmond Burch-Smith to lead evidence about the unavailability of deceased Mary Lynch and Christine Lewis, who cannot be located.
Fordyce is alleged to have killed Paeden in Alberttown, Georgetown, on October 16, 1997, in what Police have dubbed a `road rage' incident (violence at the scene of an accident).
Senior Counsel Peter Britton, for the Defence, did not object and Barlow first called Police Inspector Gordon Peters, who is attached to the Court Superintendent's Office at Brickdam Station.
Peters said he prosecuted at the second preliminary inquiry (PI) into the charge, conducted by then Magistrate Dawn Gregory-Barnes.
A previous process before Chief Magistrate Paul Fung-A-Fat had been quashed in the High Court.
Peters said Lynch and Lewis were among those cross-examined by Defence Counsel during the pre-trial proceedings concluded in front of Mrs Gregory-Barnes and they were invited to make additions or corrections to what they deposed.
Peters said there were several adjournments during which the Police were trying to find Lynch, who testified on February 15, 1999.
Peters identified the 17-page attestation of Lynch and the testimony of Lewis on two pages, both of which were tendered for identification only.
Clerk at Georgetown Magistrate's Court, Anne Whitehead and Leslyn Harcourt, who worked with Mrs Gregory-Barnes, also spoke about what transpired at the completed PI.
Barlow said she hopes to call three more people in support of her application and asked for the adjournment to today.
Police hunting gang rapists in seawall robbery
POLICE were yesterday still hunting for at least one more member of a gang who raped a woman and left her bound to a tree after robbing her companion, too, on the Georgetown Seawall.
The incident occurred Sunday night, Principal Magistrate Juliet Holder-Allen was told yesterday when 26-year-old Ricardo Grant appeared before her.
The accused, who is charged indictably with having carnal knowledge of the victim, 36, was remanded to prison until April 18.
Corporal Lex Barker, prosecuting, said Grant and his fugitive accomplices attacked the woman when she moved away from her lover to answer a call of nature.
The bandits sexually assaulted the mother of five and robbed and her male escort, as well, of jewellery worth $10,000 and $60,000 cash.
The rapists then drove away in the car they stole from the couple, leaving the woman naked and gagged with her clothing.
Barker said the virtual complainant pointed out Grant when she returned to the seawall yesterday.
Shoplifter, missile thrower get same jail sentence
A SHOPLIFTER and a missile thrower were each sentenced to one week imprisonment by Chief Magistrate Paul Fung-A-Fat yesterday.
Devindra Bissoon, who pleaded guilty to the larceny, stole a can of deodorant, priced at $700, from Fogarty's Supermarket, in Water Street, Georgetown, last Saturday.
The thief, of Lot 14 Enterprise, East Coast Demerara, hid the booty in his waist but a security guard apprehended him as he left the premises without paying.
The other prisoner, Kameshwar Twari, 23, of Lot 66 Hunter Street, Albouystown, admitted hurling stones at Darry Fraser, who prevented him from sleeping at a business place in Regent Street, also in the city, on April 4.
Not a graveyard of dreams
AN ENGLISH journalist once called Guyana a "graveyard of dreams".
I was offended, indignant and insulted.
She wrote this about 10 or 15 years ago but I remember the remark.
Let all know, both in and out of Guyana, that we are not and we will not be a graveyard of dreams.
GILBERT CAMPBELL
Power sharing cannot be at the expense of one group
ONCE again the issue of power sharing is on the front burner of the agenda.
Leading members of the Afro-Guyanese community both inside and outside of the PNC have been calling for power sharing at the executive level.
However, in a multiethnic society permeated by ethnic politics, power resides not only in the executive but also in other critical institution of power i.e. the judiciary, bureaucracy (civil service), army and police.
Under the PNC government all facets of power were dominated by Afro-Guyanese, from the economy to the executive, legislative, judicial and bureaucracy.
In other words there was a complete and absolute domination of power by Afro-Guyanese.
Today Indo-Guyanese are told the 28 years do not matter, as it is the past. It appears as if Guyanese history began in 1992.
One would have thought that a Truth and Reconciliation Commission supported by all political parties and civil society groups would be instrumental in the healing process of this nation.
South Africa has done it, why can't it be done in Guyana?
However, beginning in 1992, once the veil of rigging elections was lifted and because of the unchanged pattern of ethnic voting the PPP/C has managed to break the monopoly of power of the PNC by controlling one of the power centres, the executive.
If Guyanese of Indian descent are expected to compromise in terms of their majority and make concessions at the executive level, then Guyanese of African descent must do likewise by sharing the power centres at the other level of governance such as the judiciary, bureaucracy, army and police.
Power sharing must not and cannot be at the expense of one particular ethnic group.
Surprisingly Afro-Guyanese leaders have been mute on the issue of addressing the racial imbalance within the judiciary, bureaucracy, army and police.
If Guyana is to progress and develop then power must be shared at all levels which will ease the insecurities of the two major groups.
As long as Indo-Guyanese vote in bloc as the patterns indicate then Afro-Guyanese can be excluded from the governance of this nation, heightening their insecurities.
Likewise, as long as Afro-Guyanese continue to dominate the judiciary, bureaucracy, army and police, the insecurity of Indo-Guyanese will continue.
Mechanisms such as power sharing must therefore be balanced.
KRISHNA LALL
Disappointed in Georgetown
I VISITED my homeland of Guyana for the first time in 39 years, bringing with me my English partner who was looking forward to seeing all the places I still spoke of so fondly.
The highlight of our stay was the fortnight we spent at the Rainbow Safari Camp on the Mazaruni river, run by Louraine and Ted Sabat.
This paradise offered us beautiful scenery, good Guyanese food, walks in the rainforest, exotic birds and river people who befriended us and showed us unstinting hospitality.
We shall certainly return there.
However, we would not be so happy to return to Georgetown.
The Garden City of my childhood was a sad disappointment, particularly places like the sea wall, the Botanical Gardens and the very sad zoo where a solitary lioness paced up and down her tiny cage, a distressing sight.
If the zoo is to be kept open, please do something to make life better for the animals which live there.
Perhaps overseas visitors could be charged a higher entrance fee? We would certainly have been willing to pay more than G$70 if the money was going to be spent in refurbishing a place which is used as an educational resource.
If Guyana wants visitors, surely a clean and welcoming capital city is the first priority.
The airport leaves a lot to be desired - toilets which were unusable and a cafe showing pornographic videos - but the city outside needs to be cleaned up too.
We are not the only people who would love to return and to bring others but please, make Georgetown the beautiful and welcome capital it once was, not just for visitors but for those who live there all the year round.
JOAN WOODCOCK (NEE MUNRO)
What about the other half elsewhere?
MR DESMOND Hoyte said the PPP/C must realise that it cannot govern efficiently if almost half of the population felt marginalised.
If the PNC/R had won, would the PNC/R be able to govern efficiently with the other half feeling marginalised?
And what about the other half in Trinidad and the USA, and other parts of the world?
Mr. Hoyte it is time for you to let the country move on.
MOHAMED AZAD
In defence of Luncheon
IT IS time that the people speak out.
Nowhere in the world does the loser of an election tell the winning party how to go about forming its government and who to select as its ministers.
It is therefore preposterous and a bit of presumption on the PNC/R's part to even suggest this and the removal of Dr Roger Luncheon.
Dr Luncheon's position stands as the majority of the populace (53%) have spoken.
President Bharrat Jagdeo has been given the mandate to govern this country and Mr Desmond Hoyte and the GPSU must not make demands because they don't have the right to do so.
Dr Luncheon has already been sworn in and there can be no reversal of the President's choice.
A letter writer in the Stabroek News newspaper under the caption `Time for a new leader' had said "Mr. Desmond Hoyte has led the PNC to three consecutive defeats at the polls in Guyana. At 72 years of age and with the prospects of issue based voting removed, it's time for Mr. Hoyte to step aside and allow new leadership to emerge within the PNC".
I concur with this person. The leadership of the PNC should be handed over to a new and young breed of politicians.
The PNC cannot hope to win another election with the present old administration. They should go and make way for the young who would have new and fresh ideas and not antiquated ones that brought this beautiful country down to its knees.
When the PPP/C took it over, it was riddled with a debt burden of US$2.1 billion.
The PPP/C has been doing a wonderful job in bringing back Guyana to some semblance of respectability since their take over in October 1992 to the present date.
No one can deny the progress they have made over those eight years and still continue to do so. All monies received have been accounted for. Can the PNC/R say the same?
Finally, those persons who say that they have not seen any progress during the last eight years might still be hibernating. The scales have not yet fallen from their eyes.
Until we have unity among our people as Guyanese and nothing else, we will continue to be the laughing stock of the entire world.
Mr. President, choose your Cabinet and Parliamentarians as you see it fit. Don't be railroaded by anyone outside your party.
You and your party must form the government, not Mr. Hoyte's although he can have an input but not necessarily accepted.
After all, losers cannot be choosers.
We all must respect the Government of the day.
GUYANESE
Unity needed for development
I AM writing this letter with great concern about my fellow youths and development of this dear land of ours and pray constantly for peace, love, unity and togetherness among the leaders and citizens of this country regardless of their ethnic belief.
The current situation in this country is very disturbing. Instead of the country moving forward, it is moving backward.
As a youth leader and educator, I think there is only one meaningful decision which can be made.
The two major political parties (PPP/C and PNC/R) must put aside all their differences and come together in the interest of development of the country.
With the two parties cooperating I think that it will definitely have a much greater impact on development.
We must not see each other as Afro- or Indo-Guyanese but as Guyanese brothers and sisters.
Even more we must see each other as a people working towards development for the country and for the benefit of our children and our children's children.
So I am pleading with Mr Jagdeo and Mr. Hoyte to put the past behind them and put Guyana first and let progress continue.
SELWYN LANCASTER
These protests must stop
I AM one of the many persons greatly concerned about our country.
We are all Guyanese and whoever wins the election we should all co-operate and build a strong Guyana.
We should accept the result and live in unity as our motto goes `One people, One Nation, One Destiny.'
The protestors are breaking our motto.
We should all live up to our motto and say proudly we are Guyanese.
Mr. Hoyte should ask his supporters to stop the protesting and behave like the majority of Guyanese.
R. DHARIE
Our Police are true professionals
THE honoured Police Force stood their ground, used minimum force, upheld the rule of law and kept Guyana sane and civilised.
A lot of ridicule and mockery has been heaped on the Commissioner and his Force. The insults and attacks were unceasing from the few who had television exposure.
The personal attacks on the Commissioner were unbearable. He has to be a real good man not to seek retribution. I do not think a Police Commissioner was ever ridiculed so much anywhere in the world.
It was wrong and uncalled for.
The Commissioner has a job and he must do his job without fear or favour. Some do not understand this, it appears.
At times the Police fired pellets at crowds. Supposing real bullets were used?
Tear gas was used in a controlled manner. Despite the constant ridicule and physical abuse the police were very lenient.
The Buxton incident need not have happened. But talk show hosts keep pumping people with rage and hate.
It has been established that the persons who removed documents after the elections were authorised.
The protestors destroyed roads and bridges. Even private vehicles were smashed.
But in my opinion, it is the people who were inciting hatred that should face prosecution and videotapes could be used to prosecute those who attacked the police.
I believe there were some genuine protestors who felt something inside. I also believe some were instigated.
There were criminal elements who used genuine protests for their own wicked purposes.
We have seen what they did to cars, mini-buses and drivers in the Stabroek Market.
Whoever encourages vulgarity in society, lawlessness and disrespect for law and order, look out, these may one day revisit you.
For the great work of the Force, each member should be given one month's salary as a special bonus and this should come from the Government.
All Guyanese must work with and support the Force.
Do not permit anyone to get you in trouble with the law.
ROSHAN KHAN
PNC agreed to abide by the rules
I WANT to quote from Mr Hoyte's pre-election campaign speech: "We will regroup ourselves to the creation of a free and open society in which people can speak their minds freely and exchange views without having to fear the Government (PNC-led) or that there will be reprisals. "The PNC/R will be a Government that is represented by decent and honest people". Is this the decency of the PNC/R that is being played out on the East Coast and in the streets of Georgetown since elections day?
All observers pronounced the elections as `free an fair'. This pronouncement presupposes that the Guyanese people spoke their minds when they elected the PPP/C to form the Government. Yet the PNC/R is claiming victory on the basis of disenfranchisement of some of its supporters. Every party can claim to be a victim of disenfranchisement and respected Major General (retd) Joe Singh indicated that the margin of error fell within the acceptable percentage. Yet the PNC and its allies have taken to the streets and courts to challenge the results - again, although they agreed to abide by the rules prior to the elections. They break faith every time.
Can their supporters trust them?
D.R HETRAM
Trade union leaders stifling truth
IT IS always fashionable here in Guyana for the non-political leader whenever he knows the PNC is guilty of an unpatriotic action to condemn the PPP/C along with the PNC, just to strike a balance in spite of how unbalanced is the situation. Since 1992, the PPP/C won every free and fair election and after every one the PNC brought out street protestors.
The trade union leaders know this yet they will stifle the truth, and blame both sides, just not to make the PNC look so bad.
They even went so far to liken the daily newspapers to Channel 9 talk show hosts.
What a shame!
W.P GEORGE
Windies struggling at 104 for four
By Ezra Stuart
ST JOHN'S, Antigua, (CANA) - Left-arm spin bowler Nicky Boje grabbed three wickets to put South Africa in an excellent position to defeat West Indies in the fourth Cable & Wireless cricket Test at the Antigua Recreation Ground yesterday.
West Indies, set a challenging 323 runs for victory after South Africa declared their second innings at 215 for seven an hour before tea, were struggling on 101 for four when stumps were drawn on the fourth day.
Brian Lara was undefeated on five and Ramnaresh Sarwan was unbeaten on four as Boje, pitching his deliveries into the rough on the pitch, has led South Africa's victory bid with three for 40 off 19 overs.
South Africa, already leading the five-match series 1-0, took a giant step towards taking the first hold on the Sir Vivian Richards Trophy when they claimed the wickets of Chris Gayle (12), Wavell Hinds (29), West Indies captain Carl Hooper (21) and Shivnarine Chanderpaul (16) in the day's final session.
Earlier, South Africa, resuming from their overnight score of 122 for three, suffered a middle-order collapse, losing four wickets for 34 runs before captain Shaun Pollock and Jacques Kallis revived the innings with an undefeated 59-run, eighth-wicket stand.
Veteran fast bowler Courtney Walsh, who produced a magnificent morning spell of 12-4-13-3 to set back the South Africans, engineered the slide.
The 38-year-old Walsh gave the Windies the perfect start, bowling the obdurate Neil McKenzie without addition to his overnight score of 44 with the day's third ball.
Left-arm spin bowler Neil McGarrell, brought into the attack to relieve leg-spin bowler Dinanath Ramnarine, who had been roughed up by Daryll Cullinan, also struck in his first over, inducing Cullinan to edge a cut into Gayle's hands at slip.
Walsh then removed Lance Klusener (1) and wicketkeeper Mark Boucher (3) in the space of ten runs to give the Windies a ray of hope.
Klusener was flicked low to square-leg fielder Hinds, while Boucher edged Walsh's perfectly-pitched leg-cutter into Ridley Jacobs' gloves.
Apart from two run-out chances which went abegging with batsmen stranded, Walsh should have claimed a fifth wicket, but Gayle missed a low, difficult chance at first slip offered by Kallis when on two.
Kallis accepted his good fortune and with Pollock, took the score to 168 for seven at lunch.
On resumption, South Africa added 47 more runs in an hour before Pollock, who had led the hunt for quick runs with an unbeaten 41 off 90 balls, spiced by four boundaries, made his bold declaration with Kallis on 30 not out.
Pollock had accelerated his team's snail-pace scoring by dispatching Ramnarine for two fours in one over and also hooking Walsh for another boundary.
He then cut Ramnarine and swept Hooper for boundaries to hasten the declaration at the refreshment break.
Walsh finished with the impressive figures of four for 56 off 38 overs, pushing his series haul to 19 wickets and his overall record tally to 513 in 131 Tests.
Ramnarine also played a crucial role in containing the South African batsmen with one for 55 off 42 overs.
Left with 50 minutes to bat before tea, Gayle and Hinds in particular, took the attack to the South African bowlers, taking the score to 32 without loss.
Hinds sliced Pollock over cover point for his first boundary and afterwards lifted Kallis over mid-on and pulled him through forward square leg off successive balls for fours.
Boje, who after being struck overhead for a four by Hinds, had a confident appeal for a bat-pad catch against the same batsman turned down, replaced Kallis after a mere seven overs.
On resumption, Gayle stroked the first ball from Boje off his legs for four through wide long on, but then perished in disappointing fashion for 12, attempting a cross-batted shot and edging the ball onto his pad for McKenzie to grab the chance.
Hinds, fortunate to survive a bat-pad catch off Boje when he was 20 before tea, appeared to be unlucky from the television replays when Indian umpire Srinivas Venkataraghavan ruled in the same bowler's favour when Gary Kirsten caught the lob off the batsman's pads.
With Hinds' dismissal, Hooper promoted himself in the order above Lara and Sarwan to cope with the threat of Boje.
He moved fluently into the 20s hitting Klusener for consecutive boundaries, but in trying to pull a ball from outside the off-stump, skied a catch for Pollock to take running around from mid-on.
Just before the close, South African captured their fourth wicket when Chanderpaul was trapped lbw as he went back to play a delivery from Boje.
This let in Sarwan just before the close and after getting off the mark with a classic cover-drive off Boje, he survived a confident appeal for a bat-pad catch off the same bowler.
His partner Lara also had a scare off the day's final delivery, which took the edge of his bat and went past the hapless Boucher to the boundary for four.
Both Lara and Sarwan will need to capitalise from their good fortune to save the Windies from crashing to their seventh defeat at the hands of South Africa in 10 Tests.
SOUTH AFRICA 1st innings 247 (H. Gibbs 85; N. McGarrell 4-72)
WEST INDIES 1st innings 140 (S. Chanderpaul 40; L. Klusener 3-15)
SOUTH AFRICA 2nd innings (o/n 122 for three)
H. Gibbs c Gayle b Ramnarine 45
G. Kirsten c Sarwan b Walsh 9
N. McKenzie b Walsh 44
N. Boje c sub. (Joseph) b Hooper 0
D. Cullinan c Gayle b McGarrell 28
J. Kallis not out 30
L. Klusener c Hinds b Walsh 1
M. Boucher c wkpr Jacobs b Walsh 3
S. Pollock not out 41
Extras; (b-6, lb-3, w-4, nb-1) 14
Total: (7 wkts decl'd, 123 overs) 215
Fall of wickets: 1-17, 2-94, 3-96, 4-123, 5-135, 6-146, 7-156.
Bowling: Walsh 38-14-56-4, Dillon 0.3-0-3-0, Hinds 3.3-0-14-0, McGarrell 15-3-41-1, Hooper 24-7-37-1, Ramnarine 42-24-55-1 (nb-1, w-4).
WEST INDIES 2nd Innings
C. Gayle c McKenzie b Boje 12
W. Hinds c Kirsten b Boje 29
S. Chanderpaul lbw b Boje 16
C. Hooper c Pollock b Klusener 21
B. Lara not out 5
R. Sarwan not out 4
Extras: (b-10, lb-1, nb-3) 14
Total: (4 wkts, 45 overs) 101
Fall of wickets: 1-36, 2-56, 3-86, 4-89.
Bowling: Pollock 7-3-13-0 (nb-1), Kallis 8-3-17-0 (nb-1), Boje 19-3-40-3, Kemp 5-3-5-0 (nb-1), Klusener 6-3-15-1.
Kashif & Shanghai Xmas football
GCC aiming to install floodlights
By Isaiah Chappelle
FLOODLIGHTS may be installed at the world famous Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) ground, Bourda, to accommodate matches in this year's Kashif & Shanghai Christmas football extravaganza.
Director of the Kashif & Shanghai Organisation, Aubrey Major, told Chronicle Sport that because of the support the tournament now enjoys in Georgetown, the organisers are aiming to stage more matches in the City, possibly the final.
"Support in Georgetown is good, while in Linden the response is negative," Major declared.
The football pitch at the main venue, the Mackenzie Sports Club ground, was recently shifted and part dug up to accommodate a cricket pitch.
According to reports, the floodlights installed by the Ministry of Sport can no longer be focused on the football field, ruling out night matches which make up most of the fixtures in the mining town.
The Guyana Football Federation had to abandon plans of staging some matches of the recent Copa Caribe Group 1 qualifying series at the MSC.
Major had preliminary discussions with President Bharrat Jagdeo for assistance in installing the lights at GCC and initial indications seem good.
President Jagdeo, since he was Finance Minister, has been instrumental in having government inject money into staging the annual tournament.
GCC president, Neil Singh, yesterday told Chronicle Sport that he had no objections in having lights at the world famous sward once the organisers get the funding.
"We are open to football, to help in any way we can," Singh said.
Meanwhile, the Kashif & Shanghai Organisation has already received a US$4 000 funding for this year's tournament from the New York-based Mines Caribbean Heavy Equipment & Parts company.
Under-15 cricketers leave for T&T
THE Guyana team for the regional Under-15 cricket tournament in Trinidad and Tobago left here yesterday under manager S.K. Singh and coach Albert Smith.
The team, which is captained by Karran Ganesh, was caught by photographer Corwin Williams just before they departed the Guyana Cricket Board Hostel in Alberttown.
Schools football added to Regatta
A SCHOOLS football competition has been added to this year's Bartica Regatta sports, and, along with the regular seniors competition, has joint sponsorship from Western Union and Sprint 151.
In a simple ceremony at the company's Water Street offices, the sponsors handed over the trophies to the Bartica Regatta Committee.
Sonia Noel represented the Bartica Regatta Committee and presentations were done by Western Union's Country Director Anna Lisa Fraser-Phang, Marketing Officer Marlon Williams and Jewel Mbozi, Marketing Manager of Sprint 151.
The package includes trophies and medals and an undisclosed sum to be donated later to stage the competitions successfully, according to Mbozi.
Finals of both will be on Easter Saturday, April 14.
Regional Under-15 cricket fixtures
THE regional Under-15 cricket competition in Trinidad and Tobago begins tomorrow with the home team and defending champions taking on the Windward Islands at Queen's Park Oval.
The other games will pit Guyana against the Leewards at Gilbert Park and Barbados against Jamaica at Inshan Ali Park.
Following are the fixtures for the entire tournament.
ROUND ONE - Wednesday April 11
Windwards vs Trinidad & Tobago at Queen's Park Oval
Barbados vs Jamaica at Inshan Ali Park
Guyana vs Leewards at Gilbert Park
ROUND TWO - Thursday April 12
Barbados vs Trinidad & Tobago at Diego Martin
Jamaica vs Leewards at Barataria Oval
Windwards vs Guyana at Honeymoon Park
ROUND THREE - Saturday April 14
Guyana vs Trinidad and Tobago at Inshan Ali Park
Leewards vs Barbados at Queen's Park Oval
Windwards vs Jamaica at Gilbert Park
ROUND FOUR - Sunday April 15
Jamaica vs Trinidad & Tobago at Honeymoon Park
Guyana vs Barbados at Barataria Oval
Leewards vs Windwards at Diego Martin
ROUND FIVE - Tuesday April 17
Leewards vs Trinidad & Tobago at Inshan Ali Park
Guyana vs Jamaica at Gilbert Park
Windwards vs Barbados at Queen's Park Oval.
Parchment to captain WI Under-19s on England tour
... five Guyanese included
ST JOHN'S, Antigua, (CANA) - Jamaica's Brenton Parchment will captain the Young West Indies cricket team on its upcoming tour of England in the summer.
Windward Islands' Devon Smith has been named vice-captain of the 16-member squad that will play three four-day `Tests' and three limited-over matches against Young England.
Two wicketkeepers, Carlton Baugh of Jamaica and Patrick Browne of Barbados, have been picked for the trip that runs from July 19 to September 1.
Browne, Guyanese batsmen Vishal Arjune and Hemraj Garbarran, along with Jamaican fast bowler Andrew Richardson, are the only players in the squad who have never played first-class cricket in the West Indies.
The three limited-overs matches will be played at Hove on July 27, and Chelmsford on July 29 and 30.
The first `Test' will be contested in Leicester from August 6 to 9, followed by the second `Test' at Nottingham from August 15 to 18, and the third `Test' at Chester-le-Street from August 28 to 31.
Squad:-
Brenton Parchment (captain), Devon Smith (vice-captain), Hemraj Garbarran, Omari Banks, Tonito Willett, Narsingh Deonarine, Carlton Baugh, Patrick Browne, Camilus Alexander, Ron Matthews, Ryan Austin, Vishal Arjune, Rayon Thomas, Kenroy Peters, Andrew Richardson, Jermaine Lawson.
Ganga to captain Vice-Chancellor's XI
ST JOHN'S, Antigua, (CANA) - Trinidad & Tobago's opening batsman Daren Ganga will captain the University of the West Indies Vice Chancellor's XI against South Africa in a limited-overs cricket match at Salem Park in Montserrat on Thursday.
Among the players in the Vice Chancellor's XI are two Montserratians - middle-order batsman Devon Williams and fast bowler Tyrone Greenaway.
Experienced West Indies batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul is also in the team as well as retired West Indies fast bowler Curtly Ambrose, who will be the honouree in this match.
Guyanese brothers, leg-spin bowler Mahendra Nagamootoo and wicketkeeper Vishal Nagamootoo, Barbadians Ian Bradshaw and Ryan Hinds, Leeward Islands' pair Sylvester Joseph and Junie Mitchum and Jamaica's opening batsman Leon Garrick complete the squad.
West Indies Under-15 cricketer, Lionel Baker, will be the emergency fielder for the Vice Chancellor's XI.
Squad:-
Daren Ganga (captain), Ian Bradshaw, Leon Garrick, Devon Williams, Tyrone Greenaway, Junie Mitchum, Sylvester Joseph, Ryan Hinds, Mahendra Nagamootoo, Vishal Nagamootoo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Curtly Ambrose; Lionel Baker (emergency fielder).
Berbice reduce GTM squad to 20
AFTER conducting three trial matches, the selection panel of the Berbice Cricket Board of Control, named a 20-man squad to continue preparation for the GTM Under-19 Inter-county tournaments.
With only Narsingh Deonarine, Roopnarine Ramgobin, Devon Clements and Romain Doodnauth returning from last year's tournament, the selectors were forced to choose 16 newcomers led by prolific batsmen Young Warriors' Looknauth Ramsuchit and Rose Hall Town's Royston Crandon.
Apart from Crandon, there are six players with Guyana Under-15 experience; Rawlston Tappin, Eshwarnand Narine, Hemant Poonoo, Delbert Hicks, Assad Fudadin and Suraj Paltoo.
The team will be led by Deonarine, a West Indies `B' team player, while the manager is David Black and coach Michael Hyles.
The squad:
Narsingh Deonarine, Roopnarine Ramgobin, Rawlston Tappin, Looknauth Ramsuchit, Royston Crandon, Naizul Hussain, Devon Clements, Suraj Paltoo, Romain Doodnauth, Deron Peters, Travis Moore, Suraj Paltoo, Badyr Assad Fudadin, Trevor Sinclair, Kwesi Maltay, Delbert Hicks, Hemant Poonoo, Tureshnauth Nakul, Eshwarnand Narine and Moshin Perkhan.
Suriname squeeze into Copa Caribe final round
PARAMARIBO, Suriname, (CANA) - Hosts Suriname whipped Grenada 3-1 Sunday night to edge Barbados on goal difference and qualify for the final round of the 2001 Copa Caribe football tournament.
Suriname, under pressure to win after Barbados had hammered Aruba 5-2 in the day's opening match at the Andre Kamperveen Stadium, got the result they needed to book their fourth appearance in a Caribbean Cup final round tournament.
Suriname, scoring 10 goals, with three against for a goal difference of plus seven, advance to the Copa Caribe final round in Port of Spain in June with hosts Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Group four winners St Kitts and Nevis and Group One winners Cuba.
Barbados scored nine goals, with five against for a goal difference of plus four.
Unbeaten Barbados, eyeing their first Caribbean final round spot since 1994, rushed into a 4-1 lead at halftime through goals by Llewellyn Riley in the fourth minute, Peter Stoute (11th), Norman Forde (14th), and Gregory Goodridge (36th). Lesley Filomena scored in the sixth minute for Aruba.
Barbados had only few scoring opportunities in the second half and got their fifth through Lezron Defreitas in the 64th minute. Wander Gross Santana scored Aruba's second goal in the 73rd minute.
In the evening's second match, Suriname, given a `must-win' job by the earlier result, sent their home fans cheering with a 17th minute lead through Benny Kejansie.
But Grenada equalised six minutes later through Ashley Cyrus to maintain hope for Barbados.
The Grenadians were dominant in the second half but failed to score and Suriname netted twice in ten minutes through Alberto Doesburg (67th) and Clifton Sandvliet (78th) to stretch their unbeaten run and secure their first final round spot since 1996.
Richardson says Windies lack confidence
By Ezra Stuart
ST JOHN'S, Antigua, (CANA) - Former West Indies captain Richie Richardson says a lack of confidence by players is hurting the regional team at the moment.
Richardson notes that South Africa, the West Indies' opponents in the ongoing five-match Test series are tough cricketers and can only be beaten by a side, which is prepared to be aggressive and to dominate them.
"They are very professional, very tough cricketers. They back themselves, they work hard, give a hundred per cent all the time and it is just very hard to beat them," Richardson told CANA in an interview after the third day's play of the fourth Test in his native Antigua and Barbuda.
"In order for you to beat them, you just have to go out there and dominate them. I think they are probably one of the best teams in the world at the moment and it is not going to be easy," Richardson said.
South Africa lead the Cable and Wireless cricket series 1-0 and Richardson noted that "the only way that you can beat them is to go there and outplay them, outthink them and try to dominate them."
Richardson, who captained the West Indies in 24 matches, winning 11 and suffering six losses, called for more aggression in the West Indies' team.
"There are times when you have to be defensive but most times you have to be aggressive. You can be aggressive in your defence.
"You can play a forward defensive shot and the way you play it, you can exude confidence and positiveness and dominance," reasoned Richardson.
"That's what we need to do. I think that our players at the moment are not really showing that sort of confidence. They are not exuding that confidence," Richardson contended.
"You look at the players, you look at their facial expression and it is like, this is tough, I think I am going to come second," Richardson said.
"We got to get the real confidence and positiveness back in West Indies' cricket," added Richardson, who smashed 16 centuries in amassing 5 949 runs in 86 Tests at an average of 44.39.
"The West Indies teams that I know of in the past have always walked with confidence, with positiveness. You see it, just the way they walk and things like that. That has left the team at the moment and we have to bring it back," Richardson said.
"I think one of our main problems right now is that players are not able, especially from the batting point of view, to go out there and take control of the game, take control of the situation," Richardson said.
"I find too often, we would have some good partnerships but we are not as consistent as we should be where the bat is concerned," noted Richardson.
"I just think it is a stage we are going through. We can't afford to knock the players too hard. I think what West Indies cricket needs right now is support.
"The players need support, our cricket needs support and that's what we got to do. We can't afford to make too much criticism. Whatever we do, the criticism that you make, has to be constructive and positive," Richardson remarked.
GFF needs to come up with short-term solution ...
LETTER TO THE SPORTS EDITOR
THE recent impasse between the executives of the Mackenzie Sports Club (MSC) and their counterparts from Upper Demerara Football Sub-Association over the cost and conditions of the MSC towards staging two matches in the qualifying leg of the biennial Copa Caribe compe
