Nineteen charged after assault on Office of the President
NINETEEN people, who allegedly took part in last Wednesday's illegal march that culminated in the storming of the Office of the President and violence in other parts of Georgetown, all faced charges in a city Magistrate's Court yesterday.

Before they were put in front of Acting Chief Magistrate Juliet Holder-Allen, the defendants stood up and repeatedly chanted: "Harambee! Harambee!" a Swahili word meaning working together, pulling together.

The allegations against them ranged from forcibly entering the Presidential Complex in New Garden Street with intent to use violence, malicious damage to State property in the Accounts Department there and participating in an unlawful precession without permission from the Commissioner of Police.

Among those charged yesterday were former television talk show host Ronald Waddell, who is ensnared in the allegation of aiding and abetting riotous damage to the Office of the President.

He pleaded not guilty and was put on $55,000 bail.

Police Inspector Gordon Peters, prosecuting, had objected to the grant for all the defendants, given the serious nature of the offences and where they were committed.

The Prosecutor asked for time to facilitate further investigations but the magistrate was not convinced that the Prosecution had presented enough evidence for her to remand the defendants in custody.

As a result, Anjie Howard 21, of Lot 15 Vigilance, East Coast Demerara and Karen Reis 31, of One Mile Squatting Area, Wismar, Linden, were granted pre-trial liberty on $10,000 recognisances.

A juvenile in their midst was told to deposit $20,000 and Calvin Anderson, as well.

Charles Smith, Kevin Marks, Robert Prince, Michael Waldron, Steve Paul and Charles Marks were made to find $35,000 each; Forbes Prince ($55,000) and the surety for Mark Glasgow (no address given either) and James Franklyn, 31, of Victoria, also on East Coast Demerara, was set at $30,000, individually.

The magistrate warned the defendants not to be involved in any other procession while free or their freedom would be withdrawn.

She admonished the bailers, too, about their responsibility to ensure the defendants return on July 29.

Prior to the Court appearance by the group, a bomb scare caused Mrs. Holder-Allen to clear her courtroom but the hoax also affected the High Court, from where people were evacuated, as well.

Normal activity resumed after explosives experts combed both premises and found no such devices.

Arson not ruled out in city fire
-- looters strike as flames rage
`About twenty to thirty people charged into the house, pick up things and start running left, right and centre with them...We thought they were Good Samaritans...' - Dale Vansluytman, whose house was looted
By Shirley Thomas
ARSON has not been ruled out in the Monday night fire which hit three houses at Lots 108-109 Third Street, Alberttown in the city, leaving about nine persons homeless and others displaced.

The fire left millions of dollars in destruction in its wake, victims said.

No one was reported injured in the fire but two households lost everything and persons living in the third house, which was badly scorched, suffered more losses when looters struck as the flames raged.

A witness said that shortly before the fire broke out, a woman was seen clapping her hands on the pavement opposite one of the houses, and uttering words which suggested that there was likely to be a fire soon.

About 10 minutes later, there were shouts of fire coming from the building, the witness said.

The fire which began at about 20:15 hrs was said to have started in a back bedroom of the front building in the eastern half of Lot 108 Third Street.

De Cunha yesterday said he was in his bedroom reading his Bible when his wife rushed inside shouting: "Fire in de back room! Fire in de back room!"

"By the time I rush to de back room something explode, and fire start coming through from all angle from de room," he said.

De Cunha said that for the last five months or so, he and his family had been renting the building from Sumner who is in New York. Initially, Allison was not in the building with them, but on a recent visit here by her husband, she approached him and requested his permission to share the property with her sister and family, he said.

De Cunha said they agreed and the young woman (aged about 32) moved into the back room of the property. According to him, that was only about a week ago, but problems began almost immediately.

De Cunha claimed that Sumner and his wife have been separated for some time.

He said the bottom flat of the building housed a vulcanising shop which had been closed for a while.

When the fire struck Monday night, items housed there included four motorcycles, a compressor, engines, jacks, batteries, a gas stove and washing machines belonging mainly to Robert Sumner.

Sumner's brother, Phillip, who lives in the building aback of the house in which the fire started, said he was at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri, when he got a telephone call from his 15-year-old son that their house was on fire.

He said he hurried home, but luckily his house was not affected, since the firemen did a good job of containing the flames to the front buildings.

He said he was grateful that his niece and nephew were on the scene and offered protection for his home from persons who were there looting.

A second building, west of Sumner's, owned by Neil Vansluytman and occupied by his son Dale and his family, was not only severely scorched, but heavily looted by persons on the scene.

Dale said that as the fire raged and it became clear that his home was under threat from the flames, they ran out of the building and persons on the scene, pretending to be sympathetic, ran inside and began removing items.

But instead of removing them safely out of the way, the items were looted, he said.

The younger Vansluytman, shaking his head in despair, stated, "A lot of things missing."

"About half o' de house gone", he said.

Recalling the horror of the experience, Dale said: "About twenty to thirty people charged into the house, pick up things and start running left, right and centre with them...We thought they were good Samaritans..."

Some of the items stolen were a television set, microwave, generators and a cylinder with gas.

The entire eastern side of the building was scorched and walls and roofing damaged as well. Other items were destroyed by water.

Meanwhile, a third building at Lot 109 and occupied by Wesley Van Russum and his three children, Peter, Sarah and Natalie, was also razed.

The old and unpainted building burned rapidly and reports said that this situation was aggravated after power wires attached from the outer pole to the building burst and began 'dancing' uncontrollably.

Under such circumstances, firemen, out of caution could not apply water to that section of the building, witnesses said.

However, residents said the Fire Service performed creditably and firefighters were able to contain the flames to the three buildings even in an area where houses are built close to each other.

Asha wows Caribbean audience
...brings home Miss West Indies title
`The M.C...asked 'Who's the queen of the night?' The people shouted back `Guyana!''
By Neil Marks
ASHA Pieters glows with so much childish innocence that it is almost unimaginable that she could have achieved the feat, but she did.

When she was chosen to travel to St. Lucia to represent Guyana at the Miss West Indies pageant a week ago, Asha said she wanted to win but didn't expect to.

The contest was held last Sunday and Guyana's delegate charmed and excited the crowd all the way to the crown.

At the age of 18, Asha was the youngest of the 10 delegates.

Those she competed against were from Mexico, El Salvador, Honduras, Ecuador, St. Vincent, Grenada, St. Lucia, Trinidad and Anguilla.

The pageant was a great experience for Asha and she is confident that more international crowns will come her way, including that of Miss Universe.

From the time she landed in St. Lucia, she met a Guyanese woman at the Rex St. Lucian Hotel who volunteered to be her chaperone. Other Guyanese were soon introduced to the Guyanese beauty and her visits around the island included a meeting with a Guyanese cricket team.

"The Guyanese Federation sold tickets for me. They picked me up at the hotel and took me out", she related.

The pageant consisted of many segments - talent, spectacular national costume, sophisticated look, evening gown, swimsuit and question and answer.

Asha's evening gown, designed by Michelle Cole, was the same she wore on the night of the Miss Guyana/Universe Pageant, as shown on yesterday's front page of the Chronicle.

For her talent piece, Asha performed the dramatic poem entitled "I'm a Guyanese". The same talent piece won her the best talent prize at the Miss Teen Caribbean pageant, and it landed her the same prize this time round too.

"I think that what made me win was that I had a lot of confidence and I used that to get the support of the audience from the start. I wanted to win, but didn't expect to. One of the things that I have learnt is that if you want crowd support, you have to hit it off from the start", Asha told the Chronicle yesterday.

She said when she first came out dressed in her costume, the audience went wild as she simply didn't wear the costume, but she "loosened" up her body and paraded on stage `Mashramani style'.

Asha's opening line "From Guyana to my fellow West Indians" is what made her a crowd favourite. She said that while she portrayed herself as a proud Guyanese, she made sure the crowd understood that she was also a proud West Indian.

According to Asha, her swimsuit also had the crowd in uproar. She came out on stage in a robe and let it loose to show off the two-piece swimsuit by her designer Olympia Small.

Asha won the "Sacha face" and the swimsuit competitions at the Miss Guyana/Universe Pageant.

In the question segment, Asha said she was asked to tell what she likes best about Guyana.

"Our beautiful Kaieteur Falls, powering down from the Potaro River at 741 feet, making it the largest single drop waterfall in the world. Also, our white sand beaches and Amerindian resorts display a scenic beauty for all to enjoy. That's what I like about my country", was her response.

When she came off stage, Asha said she knew she had won the crown.

No finalists were narrowed down in the competition, she said.

Asha related the moment that led up to her crowning.

"The M.C announced Trinidad the second runner-up and El Salvador as the first runner-up. Then she put the microphone to the audience and asked 'Who's the queen of the night?' The people shouted back 'Guyana'!. At that point, the tears started rolling down. She did the same thing three times and then announced me as the winner".

Asha will appear in an upcoming issue of the popular magazine 'Black Women', which covered the pageant.

The queen has many people to thank for her success. Asha told the Chronicle that her parents and grandparents, aunt Dorothy and uncle Carl are the driving forces in her life.

A Miss Denise is also topping the "Thank You" list. "Thank you for always putting up with me and my hair," are Asha's words to Denise.

The queen described Pamela Dillon as her "second mother" and would like to publicly say thanks to Dillon's Simpli Royal agency for sending her to become Miss West Indies.

`Well dressed' criminals kill Beharry guard
...men chatted under plum tree before attack
By Mark Ramotar
AN ARMED security guard employed by Edward B. Beharry and Company Limited was shot dead yesterday by a gang of three "well dressed" men who attacked one of the company's sales/distribution vehicles on its regular weekly rounds in South Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara.

The bandits then fled the scene, reportedly with nothing, running in the direction of neighbouring Sophia where they were seen boarding a passenger mini-bus and making good their escape.

Thirty-five-year-old Carlyle Wickham, also known as Carl, of 22 Surat Drive, Triumph Village, East Coast Demerara, was shot in the head and the groin and reportedly died on the spot.

Wickham was employed by Beharry as a security guard and at the time of the incident, he was escorting a Beharry Salesman, Abdool Shaeed and a porter.

He leaves to mourn his reputed wife, Avis Hudson, who is also a security guard, on attachment at the University of Guyana, and his four daughters - Carlotta, 18, who has just completed her 'A' Levels at the St. Roses High School; Treneisa, 13; Carolyn, 15 and four-year-old Shabeki.

Residents said the three men, whom they described as being "well dressed", were not from the area but were seen 'liming' there since 08:00 hrs yesterday.

Scores of persons gathered at the crime scene, a few of whom indicated that the three men escaped down the mud dam into the Sophia area where they were seen hurriedly boarding a passenger mini-bus plying the Sophia/Georgetown route.

Wickham's eldest daughter, Carlotta, recounted that her father, whom she described as a very loving and humane person, used to work with the Beharry Company before migrating to Barbados where he lived for a while.

He then came back around August last year and started working again at Beharry as a security guard around October last year.

Residents said the three men were seen in the area, sitting under the plum tree, which is a short distance from the shop. One woman said that although she did not recognise them as being from her area (South Cummings Lodge), she did not pay much attention to them since they appeared to be "very casual and well dressed".

"I was inside when I heard the shots and then I came out...and then I saw when one of the three men fired the bullets with a shine handgun," she reported.

According to the resident, the man with the gun was shouting 'gimme the money, gimme the money' and shooting simultaneously.

"Was three a them. One was standing under that plum tree, one was standing on that bridge and the one that had the shine gun like silver, he was firing (bullets) all the time...," one man said, pointing to indicate the specific locations he was referring to.

It is understood that the salesman, Abdool Shaeed and the porter, were entering the shop when the men decided to strike. The bandit with the gun targeted Wickham who was standing guard by the vehicle parked across the dam. Reports indicated that he ran around the van after the bandit started firing. Two bullet holes were evident on the driver's side.

It could not be ascertained whether the guard confronted any of the bandits or returned fire.

The salesman, meanwhile, sought refuge in the shop. It is understood that after the bandit started to shoot, he ran through the door leading into the house (which was open) and hid in the kitchen.

Reports are that the porter also escaped and ran down the street.

"What I think happened is that they think they would ah get the money out of the vehicle. Was that dey really going fa, fu get the money from the vehicle," a resident on the scene asserted.

One woman who was walking on the same dam that the three men used to escape on foot, gun in hand, had to run to the side of the dam and hide behind some bushes. The woman said the man with the gun in his hand looked "menacing", running down the dam with his two accomplices.

According to her, one of the men, who was dressed in black pants and white shirt, had a black bag.

Members of the Police Target Special Squad arrived on the scene shortly after, but left in a haste. Other members of the Police Force remained and conducted investigations.

The bandits also fired shots at the grocery store at the corner of the street, where the salesman went to transact his business, but they did not enter the premises.

Those at home at the time were a 20-year-old girl, who was selling in the shop, her mom and their neighbour's two children, aged three and four years.

The girl said she does not know the salesman, since another one from Beharry would normally go to the shop to sell groceries.

She said that when the salesman ran into the shop in fright after the bullets started to ring out in the street, she immediately locked all the doors.

The girl said they normally buy chowmein, curry powder and a few other items for the shop from the Beharry van.

"Actually I paid the guy for the stuff but I didn't even collect anything up to now. I mean it's not much. These people don't get much sales here anyway. I just bought about $2,000 chowmein and some curry powder," she said.

She also noted that the van went in the area every Tuesday around 11:00 hrs to 12:00 hrs.

Wickham's sister, the district midwife at the Beterverwagting (BV) Health Centre, Ms. Avril Smith, was an emotional wreck yesterday shortly after hearing the tragic news.

"This is very sad and shocking to me. Last night (Monday night) my brother spoke with me concerning some very important matters and we promised to look after it today (yesterday)," Smith told the Chronicle.

Smith, who is the eldest of eight children, said she received the tragic news from her first cousin, Fiona Wickham. According to her, Fiona, who lives a short distance from where the incident occurred, rushed over to the Health Centre at BV and "started screaming".

"I thought that her mother or somebody had died, but then she shouted that Carl is dead. I wanted to know who's Carl because I couldn't think about my own brother. However, eventually she said it was my brother Carl," Smith said, the tears streaming down her face.

"I said, `Are you sure? How did this happen?'. I still couldn't believe (Fiona). So I called home and spoke to my niece (Carlotta) and asked for Carl. She told me that her father had gone to work...," Smith recalled.

"I am very sad, depressed, upset right now. I can't take this..."

Smith also noted how sad it is "to pass on these kinds of messages to relatives" but said she will have to get the news over to relatives abroad.

Apart from Carl, she and another sister are the only siblings in Guyana as the others are overseas.

Meanwhile, in a press statement issued yesterday afternoon, the management and staff of the Beharry Company extended "deepest sympathy to the relatives of Carl Wickham."

"Carl was a dedicated security officer who always performed his duties in the most professional manner...we lost a member of our family to senseless crime and we mourn his loss," the statement said.

The company also said it stands by Wickham's family in their hour of grief.

Victims of protest asked to contact Human Services Ministry
THE Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security is asking persons who suffered loss or injury at the hands of the protesters in Georgetown last week Wednesday, to call telephone number 226-5460.

"Persons or organisations who witnessed incidents during which persons were injured or robbed or who rendered assistance to victims on that day and can identify any of the said victims are also asked to call the same number with information regarding the victims", the ministry said in a notice yesterday.

Berbice Chamber condemns invasion of Office of the President
THE Berbice Chamber of Commerce and Development Association (BCCDA) has come out in strong condemnation of last week's invasion by a mob of the Office of the President in Georgetown.

In a statement yesterday, the BCCDA said it "unreservedly endorses and supports the views already expressed by our President, Mr. Ramesh Maraj, the Private Sector Commission, The Association of Regional Chambers of Commerce and joins with the other right thinking and responsible voices in condemning in the strongest possible terms the unseemly and unwarranted invasion of the Office of the President by an unruly mob" last week Wednesday.

It noted that the storming of the complex led to the death of two protesters, injuries to several others and considerable loss and damage to property by fires and looting.

"The Chamber is particularly concerned since this irresponsible act was carried out at a time when the leaders of the Caribbean Community and representatives of the regional organisations and some of the major world powers were in Guyana and would have been made known to the rest of the world via the electronic media", the statement said.

The chamber urged all responsible groups and individuals to reflect on and consider carefully the undesirable consequences of this event and the "incalculable harm which our unstable political and social climate has done and will continue to do for the prospects of attracting new investments to provide job opportunities for young people, and calls for an urgent resumption of the political dialogue with an invitation extended to the former U.S. President Jimmy Carter to act as Facilitator and Mediator."

"The chamber hopes that its feeble cry will be clearly heard in the places where it matters most and that a sense of peace, justice and tranquility will soon return to this land of ours", the statement said.

Corbin denies threatening TV talk show host
CHAIRMAN of the Opposition People's National Congress Reform (PNC/R), Mr. Robert Corbin, has denied the claim by television talk show host, Mr. Kwame McCoy that he threatened him.

Corbin told this newspaper Monday that he never threatened McCoy, and said the claims by the talk show host were "totally false and malicious".

"McCoy is not of any stature to attract my interest or concern," he said in a telephone comment.

McCoy, also the Public Relations Officer of the Georgetown Hospital Public Corporation, last week issued a statement accusing Corbin of threatening him.

He said he was on duty at the hospital last Thursday morning when Corbin, in the company of two women, approached him and threw disparaging remarks at him.

According to McCoy, the PNC/R Chairman approached him and said: "I am Robert Corbin you talk about on television; we will get you at the appropriate time and make you an example."

McCoy, who hosts a television programme called `Square Talk', added that Corbin then focused a video camera at him.

"It is appalling that those who claim or aspire to be leaders engage themselves in such behaviour. Why must I be a target for Mr. Corbin and his supporters because of my views as a practising journalist?", McCoy asked.

He called on the Guyana Press Association and law-abiding Guyanese to condemn behaviour which seeks to intimidate any journalist from expressing his/her views.

The talk show host also asserted that last Thursday's threat by Corbin is a pattern from PNC/R members and supporters "who make some people specific targets".

McCoy said the incident, including two threatening telephone calls, came amidst a number of continuous threats and remarks from time to time.

"Journalists must be allowed to practise in a manner that is free from intimidation, threats and abuses. This is a serious matter which I have since reported to the Police", McCoy stated.

National body approves new standards for poultry industry
THE poultry industry has been given a boost with two new standards that were recently approved by the National Standards Council.

In a press release, the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) stated that the Specification for Poultry Meat and Code of Practice for Poultry Processing are important standards, which are vital for improving the quality of poultry meat produced and imported.

It said that with the implementation and maintenance of the standards in the industry, poultry producers would be able to sustain a consistent quality, and thus offer protection to the consumers of poultry meat.

"The Specification for Poultry Meat addresses the grading of meat and guidelines for packaging and labelling. With respect to grading, meat can be categorised as Grade A, B, or C. When one of these grades is seen on poultry labels, it indicates to consumers that the meat conformed to the general requirements of the veterinary public health unit and also satisfied the following requirements: free of any foreign smell, free of protruding bones, free of visible foreign matter or dirt, and free of bruises or discoloration. The flesh should be intact and, in the case of fresh poultry, should contain no traces of prior freezing."

The release continued: "With respect to labelling, the label should have: the brand name or trade mark, product description or operator's identification, name and address and veterinary public health unit approval number of processing plant, registered business name and address of the importer or packager, country of origin, net mass in metric units, water content, handling instructions (such as temperature and storage), date of slaughter and the manner of transport for the product."

On the other hand, the Standards Bureau said, the Code of Practice for Poultry Processing outlines the hygienic conditions under which poultry is reared, slaughtered, packaged and handled at the various establishments.

"For example, poultry processing facilities should have adequate space to carry out their operations. It should be mentioned that adequate washroom facilities should be provided for staff and these should be away from the processing areas. Adequate hand-washing facilities should be provided too," GNBS said.

The statement continued: "Other points worthy of mention are the sanitary maintenance of the processing facilities, pest control practices and the hygiene and health of the employees.

"The good health of the staff cannot be overlooked. For example, persons with respiratory diseases and infected sores should not be allowed to work in the processing area. Also every effort should be made to reduce the presence of pests such as flies. In addition, manufacturers and operators should have measures in place to have all waste materials disposed of in a responsible and environmentally friendly manner."

"The Guyana National Bureau of Standards wishes to encourage all poultry producers, importers and dealers to work together to conform to the requirements set out in the standards as we strive to promote standards and quality in the industry."

Muslim Mission to launch skills programme for South Georgetown youth
THE Guyana Muslim Mission will launch a six-month youth vocational skills training programme on Friday, August 4, 2002.

A release from the Mandela Avenue, Georgetown headquarters of the Guyana Muslim Mission said the project will offer courses to more than 70 unemployed young persons of the South Georgetown area.

Courses will include sewing, carpentry, joinery, masonry, electrical installation, information systems and entrepreneurial development.

"The objective of the project is not only to endow unemployed youths with technical skills, but also to complement these skills with an appreciation of entrepreneurship that would, hopefully, generate self-employment.

"It is anticipated that the project will impact positively on the targeted communities through contributing to improvements to the physical infrastructure and a reduction in the social ills that currently plague these communities," the release noted.

It continued: "The project is a community-oriented one and is intended to target unemployed youths from the South Georgetown communities of Tucville, Meadowbrook, Stevedore Housing Scheme, South and North Ruimveldt, East and West Ruimveldt, Lodge, and East and North-East La Penitence".

Youth interested in participating in the programme are invited to apply to the Guyana Muslim Mission, Headquarters of Masjid Muhammad, 4052 Mandela Avenue, Greater Georgetown.

GCA elects Executive Committee
MEMBERS were elected to the Executive Committee of the Guyana Consumers Association (GCA) when the group held its Annual General Meeting at St. Stanislaus College in Georgetown last week.

The GCA in a statement issued over the weekend, said those elected to the Executive Committee were Mr. Patrick Dial, President; Ms. Eileen Cox, First Vice President; Ms. Ansuia Latchman, Second Vice President; Ms. Ava Singh, Secretary; Mr. John Edwards, Treasurer; and Ms. Kavita Sahadeo, Asst. Secretary/Treasurer.

It said those elected as Committee members are Joan Collins, Lloyd Cummings, Sheila Prescott, Rizwan Khan, Savitri Persaud, Joseph Mohamed and Majeed Hussain.

HIV in young set to soar by 70 per cent
`In some countries the proportion of young girls living with HIV is shocking' - Drew Altman, President, Kaiser Family Foundation
By Patricia Reaney
BARCELONA, Spain, (Reuters) - HIV infections among the young are set to soar by more than 70 per cent by the end of the decade when 21.5 million teenagers and young adults could be living with the virus.

A report released at the 14th International AIDS Conference yesterday shows about a third of the 40 million people living with HIV/AIDS are under 25 year old.

Over half of all new infections last year were in children, teens and young adults, and most were in sub-Saharan Africa, which is already bearing the brunt of what is considered the worst infectious disease catastrophe since the bubonic plague.

``HIV is an epidemic driven, not entirely, but substantially by young people,'' said Drew Altman, the president of the Kaiser Family Foundation, a U.S.-based independent health philanthropy.

Last year 12.4 million young people were living with HIV/AIDS. Of the five million new infections each year, almost six in 10 are in people under 15.

If the epidemic continues on its current course and without improved prevention, access to antiretroviral drugs or a vaccine, it could lead to more than 21 million deaths in the most highly affected countries among 20-34 year olds this decade alone.

SHOCKING PROPORTION OF GIRLS
Altman said a combination of high infection rates and a youthful population was propelling the number of new infections, the majority of which are in young women and girls.

``In some countries the proportion of young girls living with HIV is shocking,'' he added.

In Botswana, female infections are estimated to be as much as 45 per cent. Lesotho could have a high of 51 per cent and in South Africa, which has the largest number of HIV/AIDS cases, it is thought to be between 21-31 per cent.

Without antiretroviral drugs, which have extended the lives of many people in wealthy countries, there is about eight or nine years between infection with HIV and death in countries in sub-Saharan Africa.

Only a tiny fraction of people with HIV/AIDS in poor countries are prescribed treatments, which despite slashes in drugs prices are still too expensive for most countries.

``These figures show why youth prevention needs to be a top priority in the fight against HIV. They also show why we need to get more serious about taking existing prevention programmes for youth to scale,'' said Altman.

Young people are more vulnerable to HIV because of their age and emotional and physical development. They also do not consider themselves at risk and most who are infected do not know it.

The Kaiser Foundation used new U.S. Census Bureau data to make its projections on the future spread of the virus in young people.

It concluded that simple changes in behaviour such as delaying sexual activity, fewer sexual partners and using more condoms can make a difference.

Prevention has been a big message at the conference. AIDS experts warned that without more aggressive efforts to stop the spread of HIV there could be 45 million new infections this decade.

``If we scale up and actively increase our efforts we could reduce the number of new HIV infections by over 60 per cent. That particularly has an impact on young people,'' said Dr. Helene Gayle of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Caution urged on reports of AIDS vaccine
`I think we will get protection (from the virus) but I don't know what level we will get' - Donald Francis, manufacturer
By Patricia Reaney
BARCELONA, Spain, (Reuters) - AIDS charities have urged caution after a U.S. biotechnology company said a preventive vaccine against HIV/AIDS could be available by 2005 if early trial results were good.

Preliminary findings from the Phase III trials of the vaccine will not be available until early next year but its California-based developer, VaxGen Inc said it was optimistic.

``I think we will get protection (from the virus) but I don't know what level we will get,'' Donald Francis, president and co-founder of the company, told an AIDS conference Monday.

Francis said the vaccine used a standard approach and worked in chimpanzees.

``We expect to see in humans what we have seen in animal studies,'' he said. ``If all goes well it could be available by the end of 2004 or early 2005.''

Hopes for AIDS vaccines have been dashed in the past and AIDS charities said it was still early days for this one.

``All developments in the fight against HIV are welcomed. However, this potential vaccine still has a long way to go before its effectiveness can be proved,'' said Andrew Ridley, of the Terrence Higgins Trust, a London-based AIDS charity.

``In the absence of a cure or effective vaccine, prevention through education still remains our biggest weapon against the continued spread of the disease,'' he added.

A spokesman for the International AIDS Initiative (IAVI), a global non-profit organisation working to speed the development of a vaccine, agreed.

``We could get lucky on the first shot but most scientists think it is a very, very long shot,'' he told Reuters.

BEST HOPE TO CONTROL EPIDEMIC
With 40 million people living with HIV/AIDS and infection rates rising, the development of a preventive vaccine is considered the best hope of controlling the rampant epidemic.

It is doubtful that the first preventive vaccine will be 100 per cent effective against the virus, but experts believe even 30 per cent protection could help to curtail the epidemic.

``Our target is 100 per cent but if we get 30 per cent I'll be thrilled,'' said Francis.

VaxGen's AIDS vaccine works by inducing the immune system to produce antibodies that attach to the gp120 protein on the surface of the virus. The theory is that it will prevent the virus from attaching to cells and block infection.

Francis said VaxGen was committed to tiered pricing, which would make the vaccine affordable for poor countries, and was beefing up its manufacturing capabilities to produce it in bulk quickly.

The company is testing the vaccine on 5,400 high-risk volunteers in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico and the Netherlands to see if it can stop sexual transmission of HIV.

A similar trial in Thailand, involving 2,500 injecting drug users, will determine if it can prevent blood-borne transmission.

The efficacy rate will be determined by comparing the number of infections in the placebo group with the number among the people who received the vaccine.

Other vaccines are also being discussed at the 14th International AIDS Conference in Barcelona. Thailand expects to begin the world's largest preventive HIV trial later this year in a collaboration with the United States.

Dr. Vallop Thaineau, of Thailand's Ministry of Health, told the conference 16,000 people would take part in the trial of a prime-boost combination virus using a canarypox vaccine made by Aventis Pasteur followed by a boost of a subunit vaccine made by VaxGen.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), described it as ``a very important trial.''

More than 15,000 doctors, scientists, politicians and AIDS activists are attending the conference, which opened on Sunday.

Boy, eight, drowns during Sunday afternoon swim
EIGHT-year-old Jamaal Johnson of Lot 46 Stanleytown, New Amsterdam lost his life last Sunday afternoon following a swim in the Berbice River.

The 'Prep B' pupil of St. Theresa's Primary School, was among friends and relatives playing in a lumber yard at Lot 40 Mud Lot, New Amsterdam, around 12:30 hrs, when he requested that they go for a swim.

His cousin, Godfrey Joseph, 13, said that they were 'flicking' (somersaulting) within the compound of the sawmill when Jamaal made the request. However, when the others refused, Jamaal went ahead for the swim.

"Jamaal asked me to come and swim, and I said no. When my back was turned, the other boys told me that Leron, another friend, had loosed a boat, which was tied to an unused barge," Joseph recounted.

He continued: "When I looked, I noticed Jamaal was in the boat and it was drifting out as the tide was washing out (high tide)."

Joseph said that after swimming to the boat, he secured the rope, and was pulling the vessel ashore, when two friends - Keith and Eusi - jumped out of the boat to assist in pushing it on to the mudflat (foreshore).

It was then, unnoticed by the lads, that Jamaal leapt out of the small vessel.

"Eusi and Tito Carmichael went to rescue him after we heard him shouting for help, but they were unable to save him," Joseph said.

Thirteen-year-old Tito Carmichael, a Third Form student of Vryman's Erving Secondary school, recalled sitting on the barge, which was moored along the riverbank, when he noticed Jamaal was encountering difficulty in the water.

"I noticed that he was going down, but although I dived to rescue him, the water was pushing with a great force," Carmichael said.

Upon realising that his efforts were unsuccessful, Carmichael said he came out of the water and ran to tell his uncle, Reuben Joseph, who moments later, jumped overboard but was also unable to locate the lad.

The Chronicle learnt that Jamaal, the eldest of four children born to Nikkita Johnson, had been warned earlier about going to the riverside. An aunt, Ms. Lovern Joseph, said that Jamaal's mother and herself had travelled to Georgetown on Sunday morning to visit a sick sibling. Lovern said while she returned to Berbice on Sunday afternoon, Jamaal's mother did not return until Monday.

Lovern said that upon arrival at the Rosignol Ferry Stelling on Sunday afternoon, she was told of Jamaal's drowning. As a result, she became agitated and hurt her ankle as she attempted to get into the ferry.

Describing her late nephew, Lovern said Jamaal was helpful in the home. But, whenever he finished his breakfast he would "just disappear". He was frequently absent from the house, Lovern said.

Meanwhile, other relatives of the drowned lad were yesterday continuing their search for his body. (JEUNE BAILEY VAN-KERIC)

Chamber of Commerce warns politicians of wrecking business climate
...says they will end up presiding over ruins
THE Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), unequivocally condemning last week's violent illegal protest in which stores in the capital were looted and burnt, yesterday warned politicians about wrecking the business climate in the country.

"Fight your battles at the ballot boxes and give the business community a break or face certain social and economic disaster," the body declared in a statement cautioning politicians who feel "the end justified the means (and) are prepared to wreck the business climate in Guyana for the sake of achieving power".

The statement released by GCCI President, Mr. Edward Boyer declared, "they (the politicians) will preside over ruins."

Protesters in an illegal procession last week Wednesday stormed the Office of the President complex where two were shot dead and this was followed by a flare-up of violence in the city, marked by arson, robberies and assaults on citizens.

The GCCI said that Guyana can never develop without a strong and vibrant business community, noting that each passing day, businessmen have to contend with bank loans, punitive taxation, a malfunctioning Customs and Trade Administration, high utility bills and last but not least, death at the hands of the bandits.

"Whatever the perceived or real injustices protesters were agitating against, resort to unconstitutional actions is a recipe for riot. Their brutish methods have resulted in deaths and destruction for members of their own ranks as well as innocent citizens.

"Profits and losses have no colour. Guyanese of all races and classes will be affected by the concomitant slowdown in our economy as the business sector reels from the effects of the current siege it is under. Our country's image, already tarnished internationally, will be further eroded. The poorer classes of citizens will be especially vulnerable to the aftermath of anarchy, and ironically, it is the low-income people who are being ruthlessly manipulated to destroy their own and their children's future," the GCCI said.

The release added that that there can be no significant socio-economic development where there is political strife and called on Guyanese political leaders to heed the call for constructive dialogue.

The GCCI also noted the assurance given by the United States Ambassador, Ronald Godard of his country's commitment to assist in upholding the democratic process in Guyana.

"Compared to some war torn areas in the Middle East, Guyana's problems are certainly not insurmountable. What we have to recognise is that the root cause of our troubles is political and therefore the solution has to be political. Internationally, civil society is playing a greater role in influencing how their politicians function. We in Guyana must do the same, " the release added.

The GCCI is calling on all decent minded citizens to denounce and resist efforts by pockets of criminals to impose mob rule, noting the complacency of Guyanese in confronting the atrocities being committed against innocent persons.

The body said it is the poor who carry out the battle when the rich and powerful declare war and if the energy and passion of the young people are channelled in the right direction, there will be tremendous economic gains.

This is all the more commendable when it is realised that they had to press ahead with an agenda of some very significant and pressing issues in a most undesirable political climate.

How very unhelpful was that climate, manifested itself with an illegal anti-government protest that led to the invasion of the Office of the President, Bharrat Jagdeo, with deaths, injuries, arson and assaults on business premises and innocent people.

In the circumstances, as host of the summit, President Jagdeo himself deserves to be commended for staying the course with his Community colleagues, and not to be distracted by the unexpected display of political rebellion that was to be subsequently denounced by the Community leaders in an end-of-conference statement on the "Guyana situation".

Despite some pre-summit political criticisms of the draft agenda circulated by the CARICOM Secretariat, and even comments by some Prime Ministers, the agenda remained largely as circulated.

The difference was really in how it was dealt with, a significant feature being the extended caucus sessions of heads.

For the Prime Minister of St, Kitts and Nevis, Denzil Douglas, who gave what President Jagdeo described as "a most comprehensive and informative overview" of the serious nature of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the Caribbean region, the 23rd summit in Georgetown was a "landmark" event for "concrete" decisions taken.

He placed high on his list the agreement, finally, to establish the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) with original or non-appellate jurisdiction in dealing with disputes arising from interpretation of the significantly revised CARICOM Treaty.

An extension of this decision was the summit's mandate for the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) to raise US$100 million on the regional/international money market to ensure the financial sustainability of the CCJ and to independently administer a Trust Fund from which money would be made available for governments to contribute to the functioning of the Court.

Barbados has played a consistently key role in advancing the arrangements for what is expected to be, eventually, a court with both an original and appellate jurisdiction for all member states of the Community.

Attorney General and Minister of Home Affairs, Mia Mottley, who succeeded now Chief Justice Sir David Simmons, as chairperson of the CCJ's Preparatory Committee, was most "consistent in vigorously moving the process forward", according to one top Community official.

The implementation process of the summit will now be carefully monitored.
(Reprinted, courtesy of yesterday's 'Daily Nation' of Barbados)

In this Viewpoint, I wish to examine the urgent need for the exploration of a common wavelength of mutual respect and understanding between people of differing views and so court Reconciliation in order to enjoy peaceful co-existence. In this regard, I shall focus on the efforts being made by the United Nations Association of Guyana (UNAG) to promote the peaceful resolution of conflicts and the pacific settlement of disputes in keeping with the principles and ideals of the United Nations Charter.

The United Nations Association of Guyana (UNAG) during the past four years has been promoting programmes for Guyanese adults and children on the need and advantages of avoiding conflicts and settling disputes peacefully by way of organised community efforts rather than resorting to the formal judicial system which more often than not is costly, inadequate and unable to resolve conflicts expeditiously. This process otherwise known as “Alternative Dispute Resolution” (ADR) has been practised by communities, especially rural communities, for centuries in many parts of the world. The underlying rationale is that the responsibility for maintaining stability and peace, mutual understanding and cordial social relationships should be undertaken by members of the respective communities rather than depending totally on the institutions of the state. This approach is not only relevant but also realistic in the case of Guyana, which has been disrupted in recent years, by social, ethnic and political conflicts.

It is universally accepted that there can be no meaningful socio-economic development without stability and peace. With this objective in mind, UNAG has been involved in the setting up of Community Peace Councils in a number of areas in Guyana since the launching of the Community Peace Project in August 2000.

The Project is supported by a grant provided out of a “Peace building Fund” monitored by the International Humanitarian Assistance Division of the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). As at June 2002, I am pleased to say that Ten Peace Councils have been established in various coastal areas of Guyana complementing three Councils, which were established prior to the initiation of the Project.

In a nutshell, the basic aims and purpose of the Peace Councils are:

(a) To provide a framework of peacemaking through the active involvement of the parties concerned with the support and assistance of Peace Councillors who endeavour to resolve disputes and conflicts by such methods as negotiation, facilitation, conciliation, mediation or arbitration; and

(b) To promote peace-building through various community activities, such as sports and games, literary activities, joint public celebrations, self-help projects, etc., in order to enhance cohesion in social relationships.

The peacemaking procedures help citizens to resolve their differences with the aid of trained peacemakers, while the peace-building process assist communities to maintain harmony, sustain a culture of peace; and build trust, understanding, care and concern for other people’s problems and rights as well as respect for differing opinions.

A typical Peace Council is concerned with settling conflicts and disputes within the community, reducing the risk and rate of violence, educating and encouraging its inhabitants to live peacefully, emphasising the importance of harmony in the community, persuading individuals, groups and organisations to accept responsibility for stability and peace in the community and to work out peaceful solutions for their problems.

The Community Peace Councils are Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and have good working relationships with other NGOs and with Government and Public Service agencies as well as religious organisations, community policing groups, the local police, Probation Officers, Neighbourhood Democratic Councils, Magistrates, Parent-Teachers’ Associations, Justices of the Peace, political leaders, youths and sports organisations, women’s organisations, senior citizens’ groups and other community groups.

The voluntary contributions and dedication of members of the 13 Peace Councils, so far in operation, are indeed commendable. The demand to set up more Peace Councils is growing, but our resources are limited. Funding from the Canadian International Development Agency is coming to an end but we trust that additional assistance would be soon available in order to sustain the existing Peace Councils and expand our work in other areas in Guyana.

The United Nations Association of Guyana wishes to enlist the support of all our leaders in the political spectrum, the Private Sector, the Trade Union Movement, religious organisations and NGOs, to re-double their efforts in finding solutions to problems and differences through peaceful means. Such an approach would avoid unnecessary confrontation and lead towards reconciliation and cooperation.

In conclusion, I wish to call on all our citizens, including the youths, to play their individual and collective roles in promoting peacemaking and peace-building at the community, regional and national levels in order to build a stable and progressive Guyana for ourselves and posterity.

(Dr. Boodhoo is currently a Management Consultant. He is a former United Nations Adviser and Pro-Chancellor of the University of Guyana)

Senior Superintendent Philbert Adams, who is stationed at Eve Leary, Georgetown, said so in answer to the five-member jury at the inquest into the deaths of the notorious bandit and his female companion, Rhonda Forde.

"...he should have given himself up long," the witness said when questioned at the sitting presided over by Coroner Melissa Robertson.

The witness said he felt sad on seeing London's wounded body because he is a friend of the dead man's brother.

Giving his version of the preceding events, Adams said, on February 8, 2000, he was Officer-in-Charge of Crime at Police 'A' Division, based at Brickdam Station, when he received a telephone call from 'Operations Room'.

He said the 11:30 p.m. caller, Woman Inspector Marshall informed him that London was surrounded in an apartment building at Eccles, East Bank Demerara and was firing gunshots at the Police.

Adams said he switched on his television set and saw the scene on Channel Six before he got dressed and went to Eccles Public Road where he parked his car.

The witness said he proceeded to the access road that runs North to South outside Toucan Suites guest house and stopped about 70 yards North of the premises.

Gunfire rang out from the place and shots were being fired at it, said the veteran of 30 years experience.

Adams said he was in a drain about three feet East of the access road from where he assessed the situation.

He said, about 02:45 hrs on February 9, he saw Guyana Defence Force (GDF) soldiers and other Police moving towards Toucan Suites and heavy gunfire was exchanged before the ranks withdrew from the compound.

Adams said, about five minutes after another burst of gunfire, some troops ran towards the complex and emerged with two injured persons.

An injured man was placed in a GDF vehicle and the other person in a Police automobile and both were driven away.

Subsequently, the witness said he gleaned from a Police radio transmission set, between two and three feet from him, that one of the hurt individuals was GDF Private Harvey and the next a female whose name was unknown.

At approximately 03:20 hrs, one more burst of gunfire erupted from different calibre weapons, like shotguns and automatic pistols, Adams said on the basis of his knowledge and training.

Then policemen and soldiers crept to the outer perimeter of the concrete fence at Toucan Suites and called out for London and 'Blackie' repeatedly, asking him who else were with him and he replied that there were three others but did not give names.

Adams said only policemen were behind the eastern fence but soldiers were also in a building on the southern side of the guest house, on the verandah and in the yard.

The witness said he, Superintendent Leon Fraser (since deceased), Senior Superintendent Steve Merai and Constable Abraham (called 'Robo Cop') were on the western and northern fences while more policemen and troops were across the access road, too.

About 05:45 hrs, Adams said he left the shooting scene and went to the public road for coffee when he met Assistant Commissioner of Police Henry Greene and then GDF Chief of Staff, Brigadier Joe Singh.

The witness said he briefed them on what took place during the night, before going back to the western side of Toucan Suites where he saw soldiers set up an 82 mm recoilless gun facing East and aimed it at a door on the lower flat of the besieged building.

Four shots were fired at the target and the witness said he saw dust, smoke and fire after the blast.

The flames originated from the second flat and the roof and he returned to the western side of the fence to take cover.

Merai and Abraham were also there but nearer to a guard hut outside and Fraser near an intersection.

No soldier was positioned close to Merai and Greene was in the yard on the western side with other Police officers.

There, as well, was Captain James McAllister, with a video camera which he handed to a private prior to calling for 'Blackie'.

Adams said London and McAllister were involved in a conversation after the latter identified himself.

Among other things, London asked who were the other persons at the back of the building and the witness said he advised McAllister not to answer that question.

London then enquired for Merai who was at the front and Fraser who Adams could not have seen.

Allister had a pistol in his waist but, on the advice of Adams, relieved himself of it.

Coroner Robertson wanted to know if it was better for McAllister to go without a weapon and the witness replied that the latter would have been in less danger not having the gun.

Adams said McAllister entered the building but ran out because of the intense heat.

The witness next saw something thrown out from the front of the edifice and he heard ranks from the western side saying: "He coming out".

Adams said he left his position and was proceeding to the road for a clearer view when he heard gunshots from all angles.

"I plunged to safety in the middle of the access road with my head facing East and I was lying on my tummy," the witness recalled.

Someone shouted: "Hold your fire" but Adams did not recognise the voice and, in about two minutes, shooting resumed and some policemen and soldiers ventured into the yard and emerged with London who they put in a pick-up vehicle.

Adams said the wounded man was some 12 feet from him and he noticed wounds on the lower leg, parts of the head and shoulders.

The witness maintained that he was not able to say who shot London about two feet outside his apartment door, leaving him unconscious but breathing.

After London was removed, soldiers retrieved about eight rifles and shotguns and eight concussion grenades, claiming them as Army property abandoned after Harvey was shot.

Adams said he gave Clarke a pump action shotgun with a burnt stock as the Fire Service started to put out the blaze.

The witness said he and others checked the room London occupied and found a quantity of different calibre firearms and ammunition, including two 12-gauge shotguns, one AK-47 automatic rifle, one 9 mm 'Browning' pistol, a 'Taurus' revolver and a 'Sterling' submachine gun with serial numbers erased, all of which were handed over to Assistant Superintendent of Police Armstrong and Inspector Deonarine.

Adams said he prepared a statement about a month later but the coroner said the one in her possession is dated September 19, 2000.

The witness explained by saying it is possible that was the date on which the typist typed the document.

Adams said he spoke to retired Brigadier Singh on October 12, 2000, when he was Chairman of Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) and asked him to submit a statement but his response was that he "did not want to mix politics with the incident."

Attorney-at-law Mr. Vic Puran, who is representing the Police, declined to cross-examine Adams.

Cross-examined by the jury, the witness also stated that he was about 20 yards from the person who was shouting: "Hold your fire".

"Did the Police need information from 'Blackie' as to where he got the weapons?" was another question from the jury, to which Adams replied: "Yes, the more information you get, the better".

The inquest continues on July 22.

At the onset of the incident my mind immediately raced to the scene of the Washington White House, where I know for certain that protestors would not have been allowed yards within the Presidential Palace.

But just imagine per chance that they did manage to scale the fences of the White House, disregard the presence of security forces, and head towards the Secretariat pool, with cutlasses and knives, seizing the hapless workers by surprise.

Now, could you envision how many relatives in the US would have been mourning the loss of their loved ones? I am by no means referring to those under siege, but rather the rebels, who would have been shot in their attempt to murder and drive fear into the public officials. That’s the United States. Let’s return to Guyana.

While our country is a relatively young democracy when compared to the big USA, Guyanese ought to know that there is a constitution that governs the State. There are limits and modes to one’s protest action. The storming of the Office of the President was one marked example of a country whose citizens have lost total respect for the law of the land.

I am personally disappointed in the so-called politicians, who attempted to isolate themselves from the nationally and internationally embarrassing situation. By now I suppose that experience teaches wisdom and therefore those who queue up for regular “marches” would reflect on the outcome of their latest action. I sincerely hope that they would review their hasty actions that have led to the deaths of two persons and others injured.

If these acts were aimed at gaining an audience with the President, then it was certainly out of order. I wish to implore the Opposition politicians to consider the dangers and risks they are putting their supporters to, when they parade up and down the streets in a precarious manner, whilst at the end of the day, they, the politicians have their bread well-buttered on both sides.
Bernard Scott

Time for dialogue now!
It is now compulsory and inevitable that our leaders should sit together to resolve their differences so as to move the country forward. I believe that if selfish motivations persist, this would lead us only down a steep decline that would be difficult if not impossible, to be rescued.

Ours is a country shaped through the input and experiences of not just one group, but a variety of people, who have toiled to create a diverse unity known in no other part of the Region.

With a small population of less than 800,000, we should not allow our preoccupations to be guided by our political prejudices, but rather love for our fellow man. If we, including our leaders, should for a moment set aside our pride, then it is possible for our country to be lifted to greatness.

Consider the effects in our country with our leaders discussing a way forward for the nation together, and our children playing, forgetting race or colour. Imagine our natural resources being fully exploited and our tourism industry soaring. The pessimists might inquire: what is this person thinking, can anything good come out of Guyana?

I say a resounding yes, because we have not been geographically dislocated or economically inundated. If we bear our nation’s symbol in mind along with a sense of God-dependence and not self-dependence, then I believe our country will move forward.

I say to Mr. Hoyte, now is certainly not the time to behave like Jonah when the ship is sinking. Sit and iron out your differences with the President, who continues to plead for a dialogue. It is time that Guyanese see their land become the “promised land,” until such time as we meet to the other side.

It is time that we plant seeds of unity, rather than discord, that threatens to further destroy our land.
Remington Niles

PNC needs to learn about good governance
One can’t help being amazed at the thoughts expressed in the letter in Sunday Stabroek 7th July, 2002 by H.D. Hoyte, Leader, People’s National Congress Reform, and headed “ Will not bandy words.”

However, it must be noted that he isn’t now using the designation of Leader of the Opposition and we can speculate on what this may indicate for the future.

He is obviously annoyed by certain statements in the SN Editorial of Friday 5th July and similar statements in that same newspaper on July 4th and 5th.

For example and he quotes “ Phillip Bynoe stridently and openly called for the removal of the government. This call was later endorsed by Mr. Hoyte.”

Many people saw and heard Mr. Hoyte regularly calling for the removal of this government and he and his party announced that they were putting the Dialogue process on hold, absented themselves from Parliament and announced an active programme of non-cooperation with the administration.

Hoyte goes on to make the absurd statement that “ My position on this corrupt, racist, incompetent and oppressive regime is clear and nationally known.” Absurd because no one can sustain such allegations against this government, least of all, Hoyte.

But when he goes on to state that he will “ not resile one inch from the stance I have taken in the continuing struggle to promote good governance in Guyana “ we realise how really far he is out of touch with reality. Since he was a part of the Burnham/Hoyte PNC government from 1968 to 1985 and when he was President on Burnham’s death from 1985 to 1992 the last thing they displayed was any capacity for good governance so it is beyond our understanding in what way he can now promote “ good governance in Guyana.” It is simply not possible.

He and his party/alliance are the ones who should take the opportunity to learn about good governance.
Sharmila Singh

Guyana will bounce back
It is with a sense of anger, frustration, bitterness and sorrow that I have decided to write this after reading about what's happening in the land of my birth and also hearing it on the radio here in New York. What in God's name is going on? These criminal elements that are responsible for these criminal acts must be dealt with to the fullest extent of the law. Guyana cannot afford this type of publicity any more.

As I said some time ago in a previous letter when these business places are burnt who ultimately suffers? I'll tell you who, the employees do, that's who, no job, no pay, no food to feed the kids all because of the actions of a few criminals.

I will say to every law-abiding Guyanese when anyone sees these criminal acts being carried out do not endanger your life or well-being but try to let the police know who the guilty ones are. Just think about this scenario. The driver of the fire tender was beaten and one of the wheels punctured. What if a fire had broken out at the Public Hospital? It means that every piece of fire equipment would have been needed there. I think everyone has got the idea of what I am trying to say so report these criminal acts when you see them.

Finally I wish all the people who were hurt by this unruly few including the policemen have a speedy and full recovery and to those injured by the police

it serves you right you had no legitimate business to be in that building at that time. I hope you have all learnt your lessons, and to all peace loving and law-abiding citizens of Guyana PLEASE HELP SAVE THE LAND OF MY BIRTH TO WHOM I OWE SO MUCH.

Guyana can and will bounce back, all is not lost.
Nat Griffith
Bklyn,NY

Driving the nail furtherdown the coffin
I would like to offer a few comments on the letter of PNC executive Joseph Hamilton on the senseless descent into wanton violence that characterized the East Coast march on Wednesday, July 3 in which he apologized to the victims of the mayhem.

No doubt Mr. Hamilton felt aggrieved at what was taking place outside the St-George's cathedral during the service for his expired brother. He probably decided that his brother was too nice a person to attract such contempt. And indeed his brother was a nice person and a giant of a dedicated teacher. The death of Bertrand Hamilton causes people like myself who have studied philosophy to reflect on the meaning of life with more academic investigation simply because one cannot understand the non-logic of life. Why Bertrand Hamilton? The guy was a dedicated, moderate voice that Guyana needed at a time like this.

Mr. Hamilton's letter comes within the framework of nationalist sentiments, and it is a refreshing voice in which the person is prepared to make a distinction between the country Guyana, and its ruling party. The failure to recognize this line of demarcation is the reason for the failure of WPA politics after 1992. Two weeks ago, the WPA called me and requested a special favour from me. Because of the nature of the invitation, I accepted. I was told that CNS Channel 6 had offered the WPA regular free airtime to promulgate their views and the party would like me to interview Eusi Kwayana on matters of national importance. I saw it as an opportunity to engage Mr. Kwayana on the nuances of WPA's political culture, and this is exactly what I did.

My point to Mr. Kwayana is indeed the role of the WPA has been so coruscatingly courageous that any post-1992 phenomenon had to include the WPA. This was not to be. The drama of power obsession took over the PPP administration. The rest is now history. What the WPA did after 92' then was to determine the future of its relation with the Guyanese people. That relation has now come to an end, killed by the anti-nationalist politics of particularly four central WPA figures - Clive Thomas, Bonita Bone-Harris, Tacuma Ogunseye and Joycelyn Dow. These four persons have embraced a type of political culture that is 180 degrees opposite of that of the WPA's political behaviour since its formation in 1974. As expected, Mr. Kwayana did not reject many of the accusations I made against the current political activities and statements of these four persons. He told me in the interview that as far as he knows these people are no longer with the WPA. Three days ago, Mr. Ogunseye wrote a letter to the Stabroek News and Kaieteur News informing readers that he is a WPA activist.

This is interesting. If Mr. Ogunseye is still active in the WPA then his presence is driving the nail further down in the coffin. In this fragile moment in the life of this sad nation, Guyana needs a resuscitated WPA with all its moral glory. Someone like David Hinds has excellent political qualifications to be the catalyst. He is an African Guyanese and non-racist, and I challenge any Indian in this country and the diaspora to question his credentials to lead a non-racial movement in Guyana.

Anyway, I spent a long time before I make the connection between Hamilton's letter and the WPA's decline. The connection is that Hamilton sees a separation between what is good for his country and the make-up of the PPP. For him, the reckless and dangerous onslaught on innocent people and the destruction of the properties of Guyanese investors cannot be justified on the part of political activists who oppose the PPP and want to replace them as the leaders of the government. I believe if the WPA had maintained this fence of separation, it would have been a consistent force of moral authority in Guyana today and may have well been one of the crucial players that domestic, regional and international could have turned to as they seek problem-solving mechanisms to save Guyana.

Mr. Hamilton's letter is the transformation of a PNC activist whose thinking should be harnessed along with that of PNC stars like Raphael Trotman. In the PPP, there are the independent, brave voices of people like Kemraj Ramjattan. With a few outstanding independent participants like Major-General Joe Singh, the private sector which yesterday said that it wants to talk to people who are interested in saving Guyana, they should now contact these people for the formation of a group whose existence may lead to an evolution that we will all welcome. For fifty years, a people called Guyanese, and a nation named Guyana have had no peace. If Lebanon and Russia are now enjoying some of it, then why not Guyana. Unlike Lebanon and Russia, we have never got involved in revolutions, civil wars and troubled spots around the globe. So if peace can come to them, then history and life deserve to bring some to us here.
Frederick Kissoon

Security
Police Commissioner McDonald’s description of the Office of the
President as being sacrosanct should apply to every home in Guyana. Security of the state means security for every citizen equally.
Robert S. Drepaul

Arrest them
I refer to Dr.Ramsammy's excellent letter dated July 7th, however he failed to call for the arrest of those leaders he mentioned he saw. If the Government desists from arresting our so-called leaders for committing illegal acts, then a signal is being sent that there are two sets of laws in Guyana.

It is imperative that these leaders be arrested and charged, or the

Minister of Home Affairs and the Police Commissioner be held responsible when others do the same.
Jim Narine

One People, One Nation, One Destiny
It is very hard to understand how we say these words "One People, One Nation, One Destiny" and yet the Guyanese people are so divided. I am not trying to offend any Guyanese who are not racist, because I know there are many Afro-Guyanese and many Indo-Guyanese who are not racial against each other.

But, we are living in the year 2002 and I thought that we have come a long way in the way we think, live and carry ourselves.

Instead of our people working together to build a happy and profitable future for our families especially the children, we are fighting. We are breaking down what we should be building. That is just to show that we are not doing things for the benefit of the country or our families, instead we are doing it for selfish, racist reasons.

Many of us go to church, Mosque, Temple, etc., and we pray for the things that we need. But a few hours or days later, we are doing things that the God we pray to would not accept, yet we think it's the right thing to do.

I know many Guyanese feel the same as I do. We need to work together and

build this beautiful land with different people, culture and beliefs.

This land that can provide a magnificent future for the little

children that we should cherish.

Let's work together and make this country a place where all of us could live, attract tourists, increase revenues and allow for a better standard of living for ALL GUYANESE.

We should not distinguish ourselves the way the political system has allowed us to do. We are all Guyanese, One People, One Nation, One Destiny. Why not live by the words we have learned all our lives and stop being hypocritical. We are all one blood.

The Guyanese people have this great asset that many would desire, but yet it is being torn down. Please, stand together with dignity, pride and responsibility and make a successful future for all Guyanese. We have come too far to have the same way of thinking.

Leave the racist actions and thinking in the past where it belongs.
We are all Guyanese.
Guyanese

PNC must pay for crimes
It was unbelievable when I first started reading the news about the
invasion of the Office of the President and the simultaneous assault on the Indo-Guyanese and their businesses. Information I received from Guyana said that this crude PNC/R coup attempt was being openly planned weeks ago to overthrow the government and kill the Indians on the East Coast.

This frantic, racist effort by PNC/R is yet another disgrace but this time in the presence of many Caribbean Heads of State. The PNC/R unrelenting, undemoractic means of re-instating themselves as Guyana rulers must be strongly condemned by the Caribbean leaders. If their goal is to intimidate and destroy progress, how can the their people get jobs?

What kind of future is there for Guyana when a major political party is leading its people straight down a hellish path? Yes, the Europeans have uprooted the Africans and Indians out of Africa and India and brought them to Guyana but their own people are leading them straight into hell.

Those families on the East Coast who are taking the brunt of the PNC/R racists inspired attacks, those who have had their businesses looted and burnt should demand monetary compensation from the PNC/R. Those victims must openly accuse the PNC/R and say that-- you are the reason for our businesses being looted and burnt, you are the reason for our mothers and fathers being murdered, you are the reason for our hellish and fearful lives. You must stop this or go. The PNC/R should be forced to apologise and give monetary compensation to the families of all victims. The PNC must go.

Because of their violent History and present day policy of '' slow faya'' ''mo faya'', the PNC/R should be hauled infront of the International Tribunal Court in The Hague and put on trial for crimes against humanity.

I found it intersting that someone said that the PNC/R is full of
madness. How do you deal with insanity? In most countries the insane is not responsible for their behaviour. They are kept in an insane asylum.
Overseas Guyanese.

Sir Garfiled Sobers schools cricket…
Jadunauth leads Covent Garden to victory with unbeaten century
By Ezra Stuart
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - Left-handed opener Ricardo Jadunauth hit the first century of this year’s Sir Garfield Sobers International Schools cricket competition in helping newcomers Covent Garden of Guyana to a pleasing 21-run victory over Mill Hill of England yesterday.

In their second match of the tournament, played at the Carlton ground in the central parish of St Michael, Covent Garden who won the toss and batted amassed 203 for three in their allotted 40 overs and then dismissed Mill Hill for 182 in 36 overs.

Jadunauth struck seven fours in compiling an even unbeaten 100 off 119 balls to follow up his 43 on Monday when Covent Garden lost their first match by 65 runs to Barrackpore of Trinidad and Tobago.

It was a responsible innings of class and concentration from Jadunauth, who had the satisfaction of reaching three-figures off the penultimate ball of the innings.

Other useful contributions came from all-rounder Zaheer Saffie, who made 33 off only 27 balls with two fours and a six and Shabeer Khan, who hit three fours and a six in making 30.

When the English youngsters batted, the spin trio of Narendra Singh (4-20), Saffie (3-28) and captain Amernauth Debyial (2-32) undermined them.

Debyial led from the front in the field, taking three well-judged catches, including the match-winning catch when he pouched a dangerous-looking Ibrar Raja, who had struck three fours in a breezy 26 off 22 balls.

Earlier, Jadunauth shared an opening stand of 41 with Avinash Sookdeo (10) and then added 59 for the second wicket with Khan to take the total to exactly 100 at the end of the 26th over.

The Guyanese then accelerated the scoring, gathering 103 runs the last 14 overs as Saffie and Jadunauth featured in a 66-run third-wicket partnership.

After Saffie was trapped leg-before wicket, wicketkeeper Omesh Narine, who had a horrible time behind the stumps, spilling a number of catches and missing a couple of run-outs, made eight while giving Jadunauth further support as 41 runs were scored off the final four overs.

Needing to score at just over five runs-an-over for victory, the English school boys, got an encouraging start with openers Martin Harsh and Mark Steam attacked newball bowlers Feiniz Samud and Roger Samuel in putting on 40 in eight overs.

However, left-arm spinner Debyial, made a crucial double strike, trapping both Steam (18) and No.3 batsman Paul Mason (0) leg-before-wicket in the same over.

Mill Hill slipped to 86 for four but top-scorer Alex Martins Craig, who hit 45 off 43 balls with four fours and a six and the big-hitting Greg Jacobs revived the innings by adding 41 for the fifth wicket.

Covent Garden, however regained the initiative with Saffie picking up two wickets, including Martins Craig in one over to leave the score on 127 for six.

At the other end, Jacobs, who made 36 off only 28 balls, smashed Jadunauth for three sixes over mid-wicket to keep alive Mill Hill’s hopes of victory.

But the introduction of Singh to bowl off-breaks, turned the game firmly in favour of the young Guyanese as he claimed the last four wickets in four overs.

After the match, coach Roderick Lovell told Chronicle Sport, he was happy that the boys were able to rebound so quickly from their opening loss.

“We talked about the senior players, who are the batsmen, holding the innings together and it was just a matter of time before they got adjusted and it was good that they did it so quickly,” Lovell said.

“The team spirit was always high and that’s a good sign. We always thought of one of the senior batters batting through to the end and it was nice to know that Jadunauth batted through for the first century of the tournament,” Lovell said.

Lovell noted his two areas of concern are in the bowling and fielding departments.

“We bowled too many boundary balls. That is something we need to cut out in future games and we also need to do some work on our fielding,” the former Guyana medium-fast bowler said.

Today is a rest day but Covent Garden will have a tough assignment tomorrow when they oppose one of Barbados’ top school teams, Deighton Griffith Secondary.

The Deighton Griffith team includes national Under-19 captain Kenroy Williams and attacking left-handed opening batsman Martin Nurse, who made his first-class debut in this year’s Busta Cup Series.

Summarised Scores: Covent Garden Secondary 203 in 40 overs (Ricardo Jadunauth 100 not out, Zaheer Saffie 33, Shabeer Khan 30). Mill Hill 182 in 36 overs (Alex Martins Craig 45, Greg Jacobs 36, Martin Marsh 29, Ibrar Raja 26, Mark Steam 18; Narendra Singh 4-20, Zaheer Saffie 3-28, Amernauth Debyial 2-32). Covent Garden won by 21 runs.

Midfielder Browne to join national squad
NATIONAL midfielder Jermaine Browne is expected to return home tomorrow night to join the Senior National football squad now preparing for the CONCACAF Gold Cup preliminary against the Netherlands Antilles.

The Suriname-based Browne will be flying in earlier than originally planned because the final between his club Robin Hood and Transvaal was postponed from Sunday.

According to an officer in the Guyana Football Federation secretariat, efforts are also in train to have goalkeeper Richard Reynolds travel on the same flight as Browne.

The National squad was already boosted with the arrival of two foreign-based players - striker Randolph Jerome and defender Howard Lowe who play professionally in Trinidad & Tobago.

A one-week stint in Trinidad & Tobago has been arranged for the Nationals who will fly to the Twin Island Republic next week Thursday and return the following Wednesday. They are expected to come up against three professional teams in practice matches there.

National captain Charles Pollard and striker Carey Harris will join the squad in the Caribbean island where they are based.

The squad will play three practice matches before leaving on the tour. They will meet a West Demerara side this afternoon at the Uitvlugt Community Centre ground from 16:00 hrs.

Friday evening, the Nationals will meet an East Bank Demerara line-up under floodlights at Thirst Park. In the first match of the double-header, the National Under-17 squad will come up against an East Bank Under-23 side.

The third encounter is against an Upper Demerara team at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground on Sunday.

Guyana will meet the Netherlands Antilles here on July 28, a Sunday, for the first leg of the home-and-away preliminary, with the return match fixed for August 11.

The GFF has three venues where the match may be played. The grounds are GCC Bourda, Mackenzie Sports Club and Uitvlugt.

Meanwhile, no decision has yet been made on the three players who were suspended indefinitely from the squad, pending a review by the management.

The coaches drew a line on indiscipline, booting out the three players because they did not attend a training session Sunday although they were in camp and transportation was provided for players to go to the training venue. (Isaiah Chappelle).

Hamilton honoured at CAC Congress
THE late honorary treasurer of the Amateur Athletic Association of Guyana, Bertram Hamiton, was honoured at the Congress of the Central America & Caribbean Athletics Confederation (CACAC) in Barbados, Sunday.

Hamilton, who was also an IAAF Level II coach and two other athletic stalwarts who passed away recently, were honoured at the regional body’s highest forum.

Area representative of the North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletics Confederation (NACAC), Neville McCook of Jamaica paid tribute to Hamilton.

“His sudden and unexpected passing at age 42 has removed from the Guyana family one of the great supporters of the sport in our region,” Mc Cook said.

The official pointed out that Hamilton was involved in the recent “thrust” in developing junior athletics in Guyana.

McCook said: “It is our hope that this important programme will not suffer. I call on the powers that be, as special tribute to Bertram, to ensure the continuity of this programme.”

The other deceased officials honoured were: Nefiali Rojas Nater, NACAC general secretary and Puerto Rican coach Juan Fuerte.

Meanwhile, the Congress decided on the venues for future championships.

The Pan-American Juniors will be staged in Barbados next year; Carifta Games in Bermuda in 2004; Central American & Caribbean (CAC) Juniors in El Salvador in 2004 and CAC Cross Country in Mexico in 2004.

Progress reports of championships to be staged next year were presented to the Congress by the Organising Committees.

The championships are Carifta Games in Trinidad & Tobago (April), CAC Seniors (July 4-6), CAC Age Group (July 17-20) and CAC Cross Country (November 22-23).

Kennard Memorial Caricom meet August 24, 25
HORSES will be galloping in some 12 races of the two-day Caricom meet, staged by Kennard’s Memorial Turf Club at the Bush Lot Farm, Corentyne next month.

Two big prizes of $90 000 for the winners are carded for the first day, Saturday, August 24. The first one is for three-year-olds over nine furlongs and the second for D & Lower class horses over seven furlongs.

The big prize of $110 000 is billed for the second day over nine furlongs for B & Lower class horses. A $90 000 first prize is up for two-year-olds over five furlongs.

Entries close on Friday, August 16, at 16:30 hrs with the club secretary at Bush Lot Farm, Corentyne.

ENGLAND
M.Trescothick b Kumble 9

N.Knight c Kaif b Yuvrav Singh 31

R.Irani b Kumble 53

A.Flintoff c Nehra b Agarkar 51

M.Vaughan c Yuvraj Singh b Khan 30

N.Hussain c Kaif b Khan 6

P.Collingwood b Nehra 9

A.Stewart b Khan 0

A.Tudor not out 3

D.Gough not out 7

Extras: (lb-6, w-18, nb-6) 30

Total: (for eight wickets, 32 overs) 229

Fall of wickets: 1-52, 2-72, 3-148, 4-196, 5-202, 6-219, 7-219, 8-219.
Bowling: Nehra 5-0-28-1, Khan 7-0-53-3, Kumble 7-0-39-2, Agarkar 4-0-38-1, Yuvraj Singh 6-0-37-1, Sehwag 1-0-9-0, Ganguly 1-0-10-0, Tendulkar 1-0-9-0.

INDIA
V.Sehwag c Stewart b Irani 46

S.Ganguly c Flintoff b Tudor 6

V.Laxman c Hoggard b Collingwood 14

S.Tendulkar c Stewart b Hoggard 36

Yuvraj Singh stp. Stewart b Irani 5

M.Kaif b Irani 1

A.Ratra c Stewart b Irani 2

A.Agarkar c Collingwood b Irani 0

A.Kumble not out 21

Z.Khan c Gough b Flintoff 2

A.Nehra c Irani b Tudor 24

Extras: (lb-1, w-7) 8

Total: (all out, 29.1 overs) 165

Fall of wickets: 1-31, 2-62, 3-78, 4-100, 5-114, 6-118, 7-118, 8-120, 9-127.

Bowling: Gough 4-0-19-0, Tudor 4.1-0-30-2, Flintoff 4-0-33-1, Irani 7-1-26-5, Collingwood 5-0-31-1, Hoggard 5-0-25-1.

Irani in excellent all-round display as England win
By Greg Stutchbury
LONDON, England (Reuters) - England all-rounder Ronnie Irani produced a man-of-the-match display in guiding his side to a 64-run victory over India in their rain-affected triangular series one-day match yesterday.

With the game reduced to 32 overs each after persistent rain on Monday and yesterday, Irani (53) combined with Andrew Flintoff (51) in a 76-run third wicket partnership to push England to a challenging 229 for eight.

The Essex captain then ripped through the Indian batting order, grabbing five wickets for just 26 runs from his seven overs to help skittle India out for 165 in 29.1 overs.

Irani's five-wicket haul was only the second in a one-day international at the Oval since Mike Hendricks did it for England against Australia in 1980.

Earlier, he had also scored his first one-day international half-century. His runs came off just 53 balls before being bowled two balls later by Anil Kumble.

``It went well,'' Irani said. ``I have to pay tribute to Alec Stewart because he was superb behind the stumps today. It was a very good team performance.''

England captain Nasser Hussain was happy for his Essex team-mate.

``I'm very pleased for him because he's worked very hard and hopefully he can repeat it on Saturday,'' Hussain said. ``We were very good today, I was very pleased with our performance.''

LORD'S FINAL
Both sides have already made the final of the triangular series at Lord's on Saturday at the expense of Sri Lanka.

Hussain added: ``I thought the whole batting line-up ...Flintoff, Irani, (Michael) Vaughan went about it the right way and it was a good score. Then we bowled well and took our catches.''

Irani's partnership with Flintoff provided the backbone of the England innings. After Flintoff smashed a six over midwicket off the final ball of the 17th over the pair then added 50 runs off the next six overs.

When Flintoff was dismissed shortly after bringing up his half-century off just 35 balls, Irani and Vaughan continued the treatment, hitting 48 off 29 balls with Vaughan smacking a swashbuckling 30 off 17 balls.

England suffered a late innings collapse as Paul Collingwood was bowled for nine by Ashish Nehra before Zaheer Khan grabbed Hussain (six) and Stewart (nought) off the first two balls of the final over.

Darren Gough saw off the hat-trick ball as he and Alex Tudor scrambled out another 10 runs, with Gough hitting a six off the final ball.

IN EARNEST
India, needing 7.18 runs per over to win, began the run chase in earnest with Virender Sehwag producing a typically cavalier 46 that included eight boundaries and one six before he was caught behind by Stewart off Irani's third ball in the 10th over.

Irani and Collingwood then slowed the run chase dramatically and when a frustrated Vangipurappu Laxman got a leading edge to give Matthew Hoggard a comfortable running catch at mid-off, India needed almost 8.5 runs per over.

Sachin Tendulkar and Yuvraj Singh looked to continue the chase, with Tendulkar upping the rate.

However, when Yuvraj was stumped by Stewart off an Irani wide - which took third umpire Neil Mallender several minutes to decide - the Indians needed 130 to win off 85 balls.

Irani proceeded to race through the batting, bowling Mohammad Kaif for one, having Ajay Ratray caught behind for two, and then Ajit Agarkar caught by Collingwood for one.

His final three wickets were for no runs off five balls.

Hoggard had Tendulkar caught behind for 36, putting an end to the Indian run chase despite some lusty blows at the end from Kumble (21 not out) and Nehra (24).

Irani also had a hand in the final wicket, a fine running catch around the boundary to dismiss Nehra off the bowling of Tudor.

Indian captain Sourav Ganguly felt his side had been outplayed. ``They were better than we in all departments and deserved to win,'' he said.

FIFA communications director sacked
ZURICH, (Reuters) - Keith Cooper became the first high profile casualty of Sepp Blatter's re-organisation of FIFA when he was sacked after seven years as Director of Communications yesterday.

Cooper, 55, told Reuters: ``I have been sacked without a reason being given today. I have known Sepp Blatter for 30 years but was told that I was being dismissed, by Urs Linsi, the acting General Secretary.

``No reason was given, which under Swiss law FIFA have the right to do,'' he said.

``However, this is something of a surprise coming less than two weeks after the end of a World Cup in which the media organisation was regarded as one of the best of its kind - especially bearing in mind the problems created by having the World Cup in two countries.''

Blatter, who was elected president with a hugely increased overall majority just before the start of the World Cup finals in South Korea and Japan, sacked General Secretary Michel Zen-Ruffinen within two days of his election victory at the Congress - and has now sacked the man who was known the world over as the mouthpiece of FIFA.

Two days before the end of the World Cup on June 30, Blatter said he wanted 100 days to re-organise the administration of world soccer's governing body and is clearly wasting no time in his attempt to do that.

Cooper was due to take his annual leave in the United States beginning today, but will not be returning to FIFA House in Zurich.

Tenth MSC Academy to begin July 29
THE 10th Annual Malteenoes Sports Club Cricket (MSC) Academy is set for July 29 to August 23 at the club’s Thomas Lands venue.

According to Desiree Edghill-Adams, the Academy’s Social Skills Coordinator, the club is catering for 150 male and female students on a first-come basis, with those from out of town being offered accommodation.

The application fee is $2 000, which covers meals. Forms can be obtained Raphael’s Real Estate Agency in Charlotte Street between 09:00 hrs and 16:30 hrs, and at the club after 16:30 hrs.

Among the areas to be covered during the programme are food and nutrition, general health and cricketing skills.

Coordinator of the overall programme is Edward Richmond. Cecil Chin is the Academy Coordinator and Theresa Pemberton is the Food and Nutrition Director.

Fletcher wants Hussain to stay on as captain
ENGLAND coach Duncan Fletcher wants Nasser Hussain to stay on as captain beyond the 2003 World Cup.

Hussain has previously hinted that he might stand down following next year's tournament in South Africa.

But Fletcher, whose own England contract expires in September 2003, said: "I would be keen to persuade Nasser to carry on.

"He's done a great job and I enjoy working with him and we pair off well because we have different ways of working."

The pair have worked together since England's tour of South Africa in 1999/2000.

Under their leadership England won four successive Test series against Zimbabwe, West Indies, Pakistan and Sri Lanka two years ago and have only lost three of their last 10 Test campaigns.

Hussain has captained in 33 of his 72 Tests, winning 13, with 10 losses.

After Sunday's one-day international against Sri Lanka at Old Trafford, he has won 21 of his 38 matches at the helm of the limited overs side, 26 of which have been overseas.

"It's all very well leading the side if you're winning, but when you're struggling with a developing team it is a very difficult job," former Zimbabwe skipper Fletcher admitted.

NON-STOP
"I don't know if Nasser can be persuaded to carry on because he makes his own mind up and I don't think people appreciate just how much stress there is as captain or coach of England.

"It's an incredibly difficult job and you don't get a break. In most jobs you can tidy your desk at the end of the day and forget about it all, but that doesn't seem to happen in cricket."

Fletcher pointed to a paucity of credible candidates to take over the job.

"I still think it's too early for the guys we have waiting to do his job," he went on. "Players like Michael Vaughan and Marcus Trescothick still have to develop their game."

Fletcher admitted that a good Ashes series in Australia or success in the World Cup that follows soon afterwards could see Hussain staying on.

"You don't know how he's going to feel in six months' time after the World Cup," he explained.

"He could be totally drained or if England are successful, he may want to carry on." (Extracted from BBC Sport)

Under-19 cricketers resettled after fire scare
THE members of the Guyana Under-19 cricket team encamped at the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) hostel, Third Street, Alberttown, received a shock when fire destroyed two neighbouring buildings on Monday night.

According to manager Carl Moore, the youths were all in the building when they heard shouts of “Fire! Fire!”. After it was confirmed everyone collected their belongings, and left the three-storey building to assemble at a nearby basketball court.

Although nothing was destroyed, power to the building was cut off and the team had to seek alternative accommodation at the Glow International Hotel in Kitty. Moore said transportation was provided by chairman of the National Sports Commission Conrad Plummer and GCB president Chetram Singh.

Moore said the experience was a trying one for his charges and up to late Monday night they were still in shock because of the proximity. He said however, he thinks they handled the whole situation very well.

Scheduled training sessions yesterday morning was called off but the team was back at practice yesterday afternoon at the GYO ground in Woolford Avenue.

The team is preparing for the regional Under-19 tournament in Jamaica August 2-24.

India to play two Tests and seven one-dayers in NZ
WELLINGTON, NZ (Reuters) - India will play two Tests and seven one-day internationals on an 11-match tour of New Zealand at the end of the year, New Zealand Cricket said yesterday.

India will arrive in early December and play two warm-up matches, including a three-day game against the Central Districts provincial team, before the first Test in Wellington starting on December 12.

The second Test will be played in Hamilton on December 19.

The one-day international (ODI) series of seven matches will start on December 26 and includes five day-night games.

``Both teams feel that, with the World Cup so close, an extended one-day series will be beneficial to their preparation,'' NZ Cricket chief executive Martin Snedden said.

The tour will see the first ever one-day international match played at the scenic tourist town of Queenstown in the South Island.

The full itinerary:

December 4 - Festival game v Max Blacks

December 6-8 - Three-day game v Central Districts, Napier.

December 12-16 - FIRST TEST, Wellington.

December 19-23 - SECOND TEST, Hamilton.

December 26 - ODI, Auckland (day/night)

December 29 - ODI, Napier

January 1 - ODI, Christchurch (day/night)

January 4 - ODI, Queenstown

January 8 - ODI, Wellington (day/night)

January 11 - ODI, Auckland (day/night)

January 14 - ODI, Hamilton (day/night)

Triple-header football under lights tonight
VISITING Barbadian football team, Sandy Lane, will be on show in a triple-header under floodlights at Thirst Park tonight.

Sandy Lane will clash with the East Bank Demerara Under-23 team in the second game while from 18:00 hrs the East Bank Football Union league champions, Mocha Champs, will take on Plaisance.

The feature game should be another scorcher between Eye Witness Cup champions Banks DIH and Kashif & Shanghai champions Swiss House Victoria Kings.

But from the first whistle for the night, the action is expected to be hot. Former national player Mark Pollard coaches Plaisance. But victory is a matter of family pride for Mocha, with five Hope brothers in the starting line-up and the sister being manager.

Sandy Lane will be out to prove themselves, having gone down to Paradise of West Coast Berbice 1-2 on Sunday in Berbice.

Shawn Arthur, Mervin Joseph, Andrew Rodney, Devon Smith, Devon Bollers, Delwin Glasgow and Stephen D’Andrade will spearhead the EBDFU side.

Banks DIH will now have to prove that their victory over YMCA Charlestown was not a fluke. They will have National Under-21 player Sheik Kamal and former national Seon Mackenzie in the line-up.

But Kings are of national acclaim and they will be led by Carl Cole who has been just called to the national grid.

New date for `Big Truck’ world title crack
A NEW date for Wayne ‘Big Truck’ Braithwaite’s world title crack has been set. He is one of two Guyanese boxers campaigning in the USA who will be in the professional ring this month.

Braithwaite who should have met Vincenzo Cantatore since last month, will now face the Italian on July 25 in Rome, Italy, while Vivian Harris will come up against Ubaldo Hernandez next Tuesday.

The Braithwaite/Cantatore clash will be for the vacant World Boxing Council Cruiserweight belt. It will not be covered by US television.

That title crack was first set for May 26, then June 1, but was called off after Cantatore was injured.

Harris, who has a record of 20 wins, one draw and one loss, take on Hernandez (18-8-1) in the main bout in the Canton Civic Centre, Ohio. The fight will be broadcast on ESPN. (Extracted from Fightnews.com).