Commonwealth Heads vow to achieve improved global environmental governance
-- international conference slated for September
PRESIDENT Bharrat Jagdeo and other Commonwealth Leaders who met at Marlborough House, London over the past two days to discuss Reform of International Institutions believe that ‘a new system of environmental governance’ needs to be fully integrated with development priorities and concerns, and must be responsive to the needs of vulnerable countries.

In addition, a financing mechanism needs to be developed that underpins the linkage between development and the environment, and notably supports investment in long-term sources of energy and environmental efficiency, the Commonwealth Heads said in a statement yesterday at the end of the two-day meeting.

Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma and President Bharrat Jagdeo in London yesterday.

Recognising that the Commonwealth is uniquely placed to play a leading role in this regard, the Heads cited the importance of collaboration now to build high levels of Commonwealth consensus on positions in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) negotiations.

Prior to the meeting in London, President Jagdeo had indicated that the issue of climate change and Guyana’s offer of its rainforest services in the battle against the climate change phenomenon would be on the agenda of the meeting of Commonwealth Heads.

The Heads, in an end of conference statement yesterday, indicated that they intend to pursue the possibility of an international conference in order to achieve improved global environmental governance including the possibility of a new international organisation or a reform of the existing arrangements, working on the basis of a Commonwealth consensus and wider international support.

“The effective management of the global environment is one of the most pressing international priorities of our generation. The impact of environmental degradation is most starkly felt in the smallest, poorest and most environmentally vulnerable countries,” the Commonwealth Secretariat said.

This, they said, is needed in order for them to achieve early results and the strongest possible foundation on which to build the requisite global governance structure.

“Commonwealth positions should be built around our shared view that the outcomes of the UNFCCC negotiations should address all aspects of the environment, including climate change, energy balance and the impact on global human development within the context of sustainable development,” they stated.

Bearing all these in mind, the Heads have vowed to advance a programme of reform of international institutions as the world faces finance, food and fuel crises.

“The Commonwealth will work closely with the institutions concerned. To that end, we will work with the wider Commonwealth community, including at an extraordinary meeting of Commonwealth Heads of Government on 24 September, 2008,” they announced.

It was pointed out that guidance has been given to the Commonwealth Secretary-General to develop an Action Plan on Reform of International Institutions and the Commonwealth Heads will ensure that they use the full extent of their networks, including their civil society and professional associations.

“We intend, individually and collectively, to carry forward our reform agenda to relevant international fora. We will seek to enlarge the breadth of international commitment to our Commonwealth reform agenda, and call on others to join us in this endeavour,” they affirmed.

The meeting which took place on June 9 and 10 comes on the heels of concerns raised by countries globally about the impact of climate change on especially vulnerable States.

Guyana, one of four countries which still possess their rainforests, has offered to keep its forest intact to provide service to the rest of the world as it battles the phenomenon.

President Jagdeo has noted, however, that it is only fair that Guyana receives monetary compensation for this venture as it is the developed countries which have contributed most to the phenomenon through their high levels of carbon emissions in the atmosphere.

Chaired by Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Gordon Brown, the two-day meeting which ended yesterday, included other Leaders such as Prime Minister of Mauritius, Dr. Navinchandra Ramgoolam; President Mahinda Rajapaksa of Sri Lanka; Prime Minister Patrick Manning of Trinidad and Tobago; Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak of Malaysia and Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama of Ghana. (GINA)

GPL, Finance Ministry ink US$31.4M agreement
- to finance three major projects, cushion impact of rocketing fuel prices
THE Guyana Power and Light (GPL) yesterday singed a US$31.4M agreement with the Ministry of Finance to finance three major projects aimed at reducing generation costs.

According to a release from GPL, it is intended to finance:

** 20.7 MW of Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) fired generating capacity for the Demerara System and 5kM of 69kV transmission interconnection;

** 20kM of 69kV transmission lines to interconnect Guysuco’s Skeldon factory with GPL’s substation at Number 53 Village and;

** Refurbishment and conversion of 10MV of diesel generating capacity at the Canefield Power Station to Heavy Fuel Oil operation.

GPL said the three projects are critical to its efforts to reduce generation cost at a time of record fuel prices and upon implementation, the company will be able to reduce production cost by over US$1.8M per month considering the current difference in price of US$60 per barrel between HFO and diesel.

“GPL’s plan is to reduce drastically, its dependence on diesel generation, from 32 per cent now to about 5 per cent by the second quarter of 2009 and to rely on renewable resources to provide 98 per cent of its power supply by 2012. By making US$31.36M available on concessional terms, the Government is positioning GPL to cushion the impact of rocketing fuel prices on tariffs,” it said.

“It is expected that the Canefield upgrade and conversion will be completed by December this year while the transmission interconnection to Skeldon will be completed by March next year. These projects will significantly improve the quantity and quality of our power supply in Regions Five (Mahaica/Berbice) and Six (East Berbice/Corentyne). This will be an important milestone of all our consumers in Berbice who have been demanding an

improvement in the service,” GPL noted.
The power company said, too, that the new 20.7 MW power station in Demerara will be located just north of the old Kingston Steam Plant and consist of three 6.9 MW Wartsila generators, it stated.

“These engines are the latest version of the Wartsila 32 that GPL had been using very successfully since 1994. This new HFP fired generating capacity will allow the company to retire old and unreliable diesel generating capacity of Garden of Eden and Versailles and reduce its dependency on Caterpillar power modules which have been pressed into base load duty,” the release explained.

“This timely intervention by government, utilising scarce resources will certainly help GPL manage its spiralling production cost and improve the quality and reliability of its supply.”“Consumers should be cautioned however, that conservation will remain a vital element of our strategy to deal with spiralling fuel prices. Every opportunity taken to reduce our energy consumption would help and if we act collectively we can survive without the need for drastic action,” GPL urged.

GFC investigates alleged timber export documents tampering
THE Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) said it is currently investigating the tampering of export documents, which may be indicative of forgery, by Guyana Timber Products (GTP) Inc of 283-285 Shantinikatan Street, Prashad Nagar, Georgetown.

GFC said the company submitted an application for a Timber Marketing Certificate (TMC) for various species, in the second week of May 2008 and the said application was supported by the applicant’s Grader’s Grade of the species.

The grade was subsequently verified and confirmed by GFC’s Inspector and against this background a TMC was issued to GTP Inc.

According to GFC, the GTP made application for export certificates to complete the process for export of the produce. The GFC said it discovered that the grades on the approved TMC, supporting the application for the export certificates, were tampered with.

The GFC said it views this as a very serious breach and is currently conducting a comprehensive investigation into this matter. The GFC further stated that it is urging all stakeholders to ensure full compliance with its guidelines and procedures, as anyone found to be non-compliant, will be dealt with very seriously.

The GFC said it will continue to monitor all aspects of forestry activities within its mandate, to ensure that Guyana benefits in full, from its forest resources.

Psycho-social intervention for sexually harassed students
– Minister Baksh
IN light of the recent incidents of sexual harassment in schools, the Ministry of Education will ensure that affected students are offered psycho-social support.

A statement yesterday from the Government Information Agency (GINA) said plans are on stream to have counsellors placed in schools.

“What we want to do is have a corps of guidance officers, about six of them to be stationed at schools for short periods. We will be working on that perhaps for the next school year,” Minister of Education, Shaik Baksh said.

There are currently psycho-social programmes ongoing for children of the East Coast Demerara and in Bartica.

The Education Minister reiterated that teachers will be dismissed for committing these acts against students.

“We will not compromise on this. Teachers who are found guilty of any allegations are not fit to be teachers and they will be removed from the system,” he said.

He added that headteachers may also face penalties for these acts occurring at their schools.

“If there is negligence on the part of headteachers, the Ministry will recommend sanctions on them also. They cannot be oblivious of these things taking place in the school system,” the minister declared.

He said reports with recommendations for either dismissal of teachers or other penalties for head teachers are submitted to the Teaching Service Commission (TSC) by the Ministry, which is the body responsible for taking disciplinary action against teachers.

GINA said two headteachers are currently being investigated for attempting to suppress issues of sexual harassment at their schools.

Baksh said his ministry currently does not have authority to prevent teachers dismissed from the public schools being employed by private schools.

However, he said new legislation which is expected to be implemented later in the year, will allow the Ministry to have some control in this regard.

Responding to the issue of screening of teachers, the Education Minister said there is only so much the Ministry of Education can do since there are over 10,000 teachers in the country.

During the last two weeks, Guyanese have been bombarded with the news of cases of sexual misconduct meted out especially to school children, the most recent two cases occurring at two schools in Georgetown, involving school children and teachers, ending in bizarre experiences and embarrassment.

In our Editorial yesterday on this issue, it was noted that in no civilised society in the world today could these immoral acts to satisfy one’s sexual desires be condoned, especially when it takes the proportion of teacher/student relationship, as was one of the reported cases, and the other a teacher’s insatiable appetite to indulge in acts of sexual misconduct.

Guyanese are concerned that prior to these two cases, there might have been numerous unreported cases of sexual misconduct involving teachers and students, but because of fear of bringing their schools in disrepute and failure to act decisively when sexual matters of this ridiculous proportion surface, administrators throw the blanket on them in the name of protecting the schools’ image.

Because of these two latest cases of alleged sexual misconduct, some parents are now contemplating continuing sending their children to schools, especially those two that have been identified as the scenes of the sordid experiences.

The public has also been calling for an uncompromising investigation by the Ministry of Education of all allegations of these nature and offending parties must be made to bear the fill brunt of the law.

Teacher in sex scandal on $60,000 bail
THE 32-year-old teacher at the centre of the sex scandal at Charlestown Government Secondary School, who appeared last Friday in court charged with indecently assaulting one of his students, was yesterday released on bail when he made another court appearance.

Gopaul Ramatulla of Lot 165 Middle Road, La Penitence, Georgetown, appeared before Magistrate Oneidge Walrond-Allicock and was granted $60,000 bail.

On the last occasion, he pleaded not guilty to two offences, one of which alleged that he also used threatening language to the 13-year-old girl on June 3.

Attorney-at-law Mr. Nigel Hughes, in his successful application for bail yesterday, stated that Ramatulla has been teaching for in excess of 12 years and has also been a dedicated member of the President’s Youth Award Scheme, where he taught in excess of 250 persons.

Hughes claimed that these were mostly females, and some of them were present in court to attest to his impeccable character.

According to Hughes, Ramatulla has been suspended from teaching at the said school which means that he presents no danger to the child.

The lawyer stated that these are summary charges and there had been no reports of the use of violence.

Hughes said Ramatulla’s reputation has been badly damaged by reports that have been circulating in the media. He claimed that the Police brought his client to court only to satisfy what was created in the news reports.

Police Inspector Hugh Winter, prosecuting, however objected to the granting of bail, as the child is still at school.

Winter said Ramatulla does not have the impeccable character as described by Counsel, as there are similar allegations that were reported to the headmistress of the school.

At present, Winter said, these allegations are being investigated by Probation Officers, one of whom was present in court yesterday.

He maintained that Ramatulla should remain incarcerated until the end of the trial.

“The court should not work by the circumstances created by the press who forced Police into charging my client,” Hughes rejoined.

The lawyer also claimed that Ramatulla received a number of threats from the time he went into prison.

Magistrate Walrond-Allicock said she was inclined to go along with the Defence and asked Winter if the public was going to be at risk in any way or whether or not there was a likelihood that Ramatulla would continue committing the same offence.

Winter however stated that he could only provide information to a certain extent, since the matter was before this court for the first time.

Ramatulla was released on $60,000 bail and the case will be heard again on July 8.

Prior to Hughes making his bail application, Prosecutor Winter had requested that the 13-year-old be allowed to give a sworn testimony as he deemed her capable and prepared enough to do so.

But after Hughes cross-examined the child, he objected to the application by Winter.

The Magistrate said she would decide on this matter by the next court date.

Taxi-driver was delirious, defence claims
TAXI Driver Oswald Rambarran who, in his attempt to elude Police, was injured when ranks fired at him, yesterday appeared before Principal Magistrate Melissa Robertson-Ogle charged with escaping from the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), after he was admitted and placed under Police guard.

Thirty-four-year-old Rambarran, of 589 West Ruimveldt, pleaded not guilty to the charge which said on June 3 last, being in lawful custody pending an assault charge, he escaped.

Rambarran was represented by attorney-at-law Mr. Adrian Thompson who made a failed bail application for him.

Thompson said his client, while at the Hospital, was given medication which led to his becoming delirious and walking out. He said this is not a case where Rambarran was remanded and escaped.

Police Corporal Sherwin Matthews, prosecuting, however stated that a man cannot just walk out of the Hospital, especially if he is being guarded by Police.

Matthews said the Police Force would carry out an internal investigation with regard to the Police who was guarding Rambarran at the time.

But Thompson implored the Magistrate to consider the bail, because he claimed that Rambarran was shot close to his heart.

But the Magistrate said if he was in such real danger, he should have remained in the Hospital.

Rambarran was remanded to prison and will return to court on June 13.

The Magistrate however stated that she would indicate on the case jacket that the defendant needed to be hospitalised.

A Police press release had earlier stated that about 22:00h on the night of June 2, ranks of a mobile patrol observed Rambarran, assisted by a male accomplice, trying to place a man in the trunk of a motor car.

On seeing the police patrol, the accomplice made good his escape while Rambarran drove away in the motor car, the release said.

The Police subsequently gave chase and shots were discharged at the vehicle. Rambarran was hit in his left side.

The police then caught up with the vehicle at Grove, East Bank Demerara, and Rambarran was taken to the GPHC where he was admitted a patient under guard.
*****
Cell Phone Shack robbery accused on bail
KISHOWN Nurse yesterday appeared before Principal Magistrate Melissa Robertson-Ogle charged with breaking into Cell Phone Shack at 21 North Road, Lacytown, and was released on bail.

Nurse, 21, of 721 South Turkeyen, East Coast Demerara, denied the allegation and was represented by attorney-at-law Mr. Adrian Thompson.

Particulars of the charge said between June 5 and 6 last, Nurse broke and entered the store belonging to Christopher Low-Koon and stole one computer, three flash drives, a DVD player, 67 cellular phones and other articles, all valued $3,093,000.

Thompson said his client is a technician and presently has a contract with Balwant Singh’s Hospital.

The lawyer said Nurse should have been charged with receiving stolen property, because someone took the cell phones for him to repair, after which he took them to Cultronics, South Road, Georgetown to see if they were working.

Instead, Thompson said the Police charged Nurse with everything, as if it was possible for him to take all the items away by himself.

According to Thompson, the defendant gave Police the name and address of the person who took the articles to him. But when Police went to the address, he said, the person was not there.

Police Corporal Sherwin Matthews, prosecuting, however stated that Nurse was given the phones to sell.

He said some of the articles were found with him and asked the court to consider the amount of money involved in this allegation when determining whether or not bail should be granted.

Nurse was granted $300,000 bail and the matter was adjourned to June 30.
*****
Bicycle theft led to assault
A 50-year-old resident of 83 Adelaide Street, Charlestown, yesterday appeared before Principal Magistrate Melissa Robertson-Ogle charged with assaulting a man whose bicycle his son allegedly stole.

Roger Taylor was not required to plead to the charge and was represented by attorney-at-law Mr. Nigel Hughes.

The Magistrate decided to read the matter as an indictable one, because she said another person, Taylor’s son, who was jointly charged with him, was not in court.

Particulars of the offence said on June 1 last, Taylor assaulted Sherwin Monker so as to cause him actual bodily harm.

Hughes said the father of seven, who has been a businessman for over 20 years, was attacked at his home by the victim.

He said his client retaliated because of the victim’s aggressiveness.

But according to Police Corporal Sherwin Matthews, prosecuting, Monker received several lashes to his face with a gun.

He said Monker left his bicycle at King Edward Street, Albouystown, when the second accused (Taylor’s son) picked it up.

Matthews said Monker then went to inquire about his bicycle when he was cuffed by Taylor’s son.

He said Taylor then joined in to assault Monker with the gun.

The victim, present in court yesterday, said he received a black-out after he was hit to his face by Taylor’s son. He claimed that when he subsequently tried to grab hold of him, Taylor took out the gun.

The accused was granted bail in the sum of $60,000 and the matter will come up again on June 27.

We can break the cycle of low production
As I said before, time and time again the development of our agricultural sector is not a task merely for the " Government", it is the task for everyone including the private and public sectors. We can achieve success only if all of us seek to understand the nature of national development and accept individual and collective responsibility for the work to be done.

There is no magic formula or blue-print for achieving success in the agricultural sectors the private/public sector stakeholders should deliver on their different responsibilities, investments and infrastructures respectively. Success will be earned by the constant and strenuous application of our commonsense and our physical energies.

Given our resource base, we in Guyana are in a fortunate position to break the cycle of low production in the agricultural sector and achieve our goal if the private and public sector invest in the economy.

We welcome private, local and foreign investment in the agricultural sector and private initiative which bring much benefit to workers in creating jobs, improving skills and advancing both workers and the country's welfare. According to Moss-Soloman the region is on a path of recognising the role of the small farmer. The Agri-Forum was held against the background of the rising cost of food on the one hand, and on the other, the region's effort at addressing the decline in investment in agriculture, one of the key binding constraints in the Jagdeo Initiative.

There are more than 5,000 acres of fertile lands in the Essequibo region that are being virtually wasted because of no infrastructure. The Akiwini has an abundance of rice growing lands which were cultivated by Mr. Ivor Allen and Mr. Dilip Singh but because of poor drainage and no embankment these lands were left abandoned. Many productive assets are either not being used at all or are producing below capacity because of poor drainage and irrigation in this region.

We still have far too many hectares of good agricultural land which are either idle or inefficiently utilised. Drainage and irrigation systems malfunction and operate inefficiently because of inadequate maintenance or failure to correct some minor faults. We must focus on the particular things we have to do to achieve our objectives. We must do these things in a carefully planned and systematic way.

In the final analysis, development does not come about by making or understanding statements of principles and policies. It comes about because people are willing to do work or become involved.
MOHAMED KHAN
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Universal initiatives
The ‘grow more campaign’ launched by the Ministry of Agriculture some months ago is intended to encourage all Guyanese to produce food for their own consumption to assist in alleviating the high food prices.

The large scale farmers are also being encouraged to not only grow more but to improve their efficiency in production. They are being encouraged to have the market forces drive production. This approach is excellent since it could avoid farmers’ frustration by them having produce and no market.

Any Guyanese, or rather any right thinking individual would see this as a positive move. I therefore find it incomprehensible that the PNCR could find cause to criticise this initiative.

The emphasis of the Nation Watch programme seems to want to politicize every thing in Guyana. On last Sunday’s programme, a PNCR member accused the Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud of withholding agricultural tools from certain Guyanese.

Before making such claims the PNCR should test the system. Why didn’t the party organise a set of farmers who are PNCR supporters to approach the Ministry for tools? Is it because he knows that he will have nothing to complain about?

The measures being put in place by Government to cushion the effects of the rising cost of food and fuel on the world market cannot be described as assisting one group of persons to the exclusion of others. These initiatives are universal.

Politics seem to be blocking the vision of the PNCR to the extent that they are failing themselves rather than succeeding under this administration. It has reached a stage where they are even encouraging their supporters not to capitalise on the opportunities being offered.

I know that in one particular village that is controlled by the PNCR, the residents were reluctant to purchase the subsidized flour being sold by the Ministry of Agriculture since they were told that the flour was not ‘good’.

These continued unsubstantiated claims keep causing sections of society to remain in ignorance to satisfy the PNCR agenda.

It is time that the leaders of the PNCR teach their followers that they have a stake in Guyana and that they need to capitalise on all opportunities available and stop the negativity.
JEAN RAMROOP
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Joint Services must keep the pressure on
Now is not the time to celebrate and praise the joint services security forces because one criminal was killed and others may have been wounded.

Now is the time to tell the joint services to keep the pressure on these criminal bastards.

The time has come to bring in criminals dead or alive. Now is the time to give criminals their choice. Surrender to security or die.

Now is the time to forget about those who will cry (injustice) and human rights abuse when criminals are killed, maimed and /or disfigured by security forces.

Let the main opposition PNCR and Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) cry about injustice and human rights abuse all they want.

These groups do not shed a tear for the countless innocent citizens of this country when criminals cut them down brutally.

Ask tax payers and law abiding citizens of this country what they want most and they will all tell you they want these criminals to be brought to justice.

Take the fight to these mindless criminal killers and keep the pressure on at all times.

It's the tax payers who are paying for this so let the choppers fly 24/7 to ensure we do not hear these words ever again:

“Criminals escape during shoot out with security forces.”

Every time we hear those words we tend to believe that something is terribly wrong with our security forces.

When criminals escape, too often we tend to believe that members of the security force are working hand in hand with criminals.

Now is the time to change that perception of our security forces.
T. KING
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Leave Hillary Clinton alone
The conversations that are ongoing and that seek to trash former Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton are absurd. Why can’t people leave Senator Clinton alone? The woman has been through enough already in what has been a very dramatic season of primaries and caucuses. It doesn’t matter if she won the popular vote or not. What is important for persons especially those backing the Democratic party is to rally behind the current presumptive nominee Barack Obama and to get him in the White House come January next year.

What is important as well is that Obama reach out to the eighteen million persons who voted for Senator Clinton by choosing her to be his ‘number two’ on the ticket. There will be ‘not-so-pleasant’ ramifications if he doesn’t. Still, though, he must not be pressured into choosing Sen. Clinton.

Hillary has crossed boundaries where no woman has crossed before. She fought to the very end with determination and courage and dignity. I know she had wanted to win the nomination but as fate played out, she didn’t.

I must make reference to Mr. T. King’s letter in the Kaieteur News of Monday last. How can this gentleman compare Hillary Clinton to the likes of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR)? Hillary Clinton simply cannot be compared with the PNCR. She has done her people and her country proud. She has won supporters from all corners of the United States and the globe at large. She means well for America. And she conceded in the end though she may have been a little late in doing what she did - but as we say, better late than never. She and Barack Obama, I believe, will rock the White House and America if they are given four years to clean up the act of the failed administration of George W. Bush.
LEON JAMESON SUSERAN
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Call for unified minimum wage
The current PPP Government needs to create a unified minimum wage as it is unfair to treat the Public Servants differently than other workers in Guyana who are struggling to make ends meet.

Then, the minimum wage can be raised to G$30,000 per month.

This is to be done so that Guyanese become au fait with the effects of raising wages without raising productivity in Guyana.

I am going to stand by the side-lines and watch as the rich gets richer while the poor gets poorer in Guyana through the fools-notion that raising Public Servants’ wages in Guyana will resolve the problem in the country.

If people are ready to give politicians and Unions the benefit of the doubt when they call for increased wages (without raising productivity) then they are going to learn the hard way. That is, raising wages in Guyana will not create wealth for the poorest segment in Guyanese society.

The only way to create real wealth for all Guyanese is to control inflation. Keeping inflation to under 5% is what will ensure that people's savings are protected.
SEAN ADAMS
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We should look less further afield
The recent letter published in the Chronicle, entitled “Islam and Homosexuality” acknowledges the existence of Muslims and scholars in the religion who have evinced a more tolerant perspective on homosexuality. Clearly within mainstream, moderate Islam there will be much dissent with the views expressed, as most Muslims are taught that homosexuality is completely at odds with Islamic doctrine.

However, it is perhaps most important to highlight the fact that Muslims are encouraged to be charitable in their deliberations of others’ shortcomings and differences. Despite the current climate that is permissive of harsh, vitriolic rhetoric directed at others of differing lifestyles and opinions, it is neither charitable nor compassionate to discriminate based solely upon theological principles or interpretations. As mentioned in the letter, “…piety is God’s prerogative to judge…”

All too often we humans, of varying religious persuasions, use scripture to justify misogyny, murder, and institutionalised ignorance. We are often inclined to assume the mantle of divinity, automatically conferring upon ourselves the ability to discern who has earned a place in the favoured gardens of our Creator. It is both presumptuous and sacrilegious to even begin to imagine we know upon whom our Creator will bestow mercy.

Instead of focusing on judging others and their supposed “sinfulness”, we should perhaps look less further afield and contemplate whether or not our Creator considers us worthy to even glimpse the reflection of paradise.

Given that compassion is the defining quality of our Creator, perhaps there is some value to it.
SCHEHERAZADA ISOOF-KHAN
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We need to support the Joint Services
I would like to congratulate the men and women in uniform for the greatest task and professionalism they portrayed as the country is supportive of their action and effort they demonstrated in bringing one of the most wanted criminals to an end.

Many Guyanese are optimistic that only law enforcement personnel can bring our country to peace and freedom, so whenever such an undertaking is being done, we say to our law officers, thank you for all the efforts made to serve and protect our nation.

I am a firm believer that someday, with time, most of these criminals that are plaguing the nation will be sought and apprehended.

This country needs to support and stand behind the Joint Services, risking their lives to hunt down the criminals and bring stability to our county. However we want to see quicker responses when an incident is occurring. The police force needs to be more responsive to reports of crime and criminal activities.
AYUBE KHAN
Toronto Canada
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Impressed with what I now see
I read a letter in the Stabroek News newspaper from Nishard Williams and I think this person should do some investigating before criticising the government.

First of all it is not this government that forced Guyanese to leave Guyana in droves. It was the previous PNC government.

They had run the country into bankruptcy and Guyanese of all races had no choice but to cut and run. Corruption was turned into a fine art by the PNC. At that time you had to bribe public employees to do their jobs. Let me give you some examples:-.

If you wanted a birth certificate, passport or had to deal with customs, you certainly had to know someone that worked in those departments or be prepared to pay up. Yes, this was the order of the day under the PNC.

I had applied for a passport and after six months, I was told to come back, month after month.

She talked about jobs being given to party members and no respect being given to people with education. This is a blatant lie. On the contrary it was under the corrupt PNC that this was going on. People were put in positions where they could not function, "square pegs in round holes".

As for putting food on the table, maybe Nishard Williams did not live through the days when Forbes Burnham was banning all imported foodstuff left, right and centre, while the privileged in the PNC were getting their foreign foodstuff.

I left Guyana in 1991 and went back in 2002 and every year since then and I am impressed with what I see compared with what it was during the dark days of the PNC under Burnham and Hoyte.
NOHAR SINGH
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Recognising our potential
Guyana continues to play its part in the global fight against climate change. I read a letter in KN dated June 9 that President Jagdeo will be in London this week for a meeting with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown where he hopes to discuss the use of Guyana’s rainforest to help fight climate change.

It is good to see that even though Guyana is a small country it can still contribute to issues that also affect developed countries. It is when these global issues arise that we really recognise the potential this country has.

I recall hearing and even saying to myself that Guyana needs to utilise more of its resources to promote tourism by engaging in deforestation. I am grateful to the government now that such measures were not taken because we too would have been severely affected by climate change.

By offering the use of our rainforest it is hoped that the country will be able to garner some amount of monetary compensation. During this period of increasing food prices and the number of measures government is putting in place it would be good if the country can acquire additional foreign currency since this will mean more money to ease the burden of citizens.
YVETTE McALLISTER
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Happy with partial results
I must give kudos to the Joint Services for carrying out the recent security operation that produced results.

It’s a relief to know that they are on the trail of these heartless criminals. For too long people have been harbouring thoughts that they may have escaped the grasp of our security forces and are roaming free.

While the population would have been much more pleased had they all been captured, we are nevertheless happy with this partial success.

I want the criminals to feel the same fear that they created and I pray that the Joint Services will keep on their trail until they are found, captured and tried before the courts for their dastardly acts they committed.

The joint forces have reassured us that they are working hard to bring these criminals down, who have for too long made us afraid and as a result we lived with fear of not knowing where they may strike next.

I am asking all Guyanese, especially those in the outlying communities to report any suspicious persons or activities to the police so they can bring these criminals to justice and once again Guyanese can continue with their lives without worry about these criminals.
CHUMANDAT PERSAUD
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I support strong action
I am very happy that the Ministry of Education is taking strong action to curb sexual harassment and molestation in schools.

Being a parent of three (3) girls I am concerned about these ills that have been proliferating in our educational institutions.

I am also perturbed that some of the head teachers are suppressing these criminal activities and not taking the necessary action to report them to the ministry.

How can these representatives of our children sit there and encourage such wrong doings? Where have all the moral standards gone? I agree with the Minister that parents have an important role to play in giving their children the necessary guidance to keep these incidences from occurring but that does not give these individuals the right to take advantage of our children.

Our learning institutions have been established to create good human beings for our society: to nurture and educate our children to become productive citizens to the society. It is not an institution which was established to train rapists, paedophiles, gang fighters, drug users and people of evil nature.

In some cases I do believe that some of these people are just born sick! There are glitches in their minds, mental illnesses that lie dormant.

My heart goes out to those children who have been affected by these sick animals.

As a parent I am in support of the Ministry’s actions all the way. We must put measures in place to ensure that our school system is safe and free from these persons who have no regards for our children.
MELINDA MADARI

Five athletes confirmed for Beijing Olympics
--door open to others
By Michael DaSilva
THE participation of five local athletes at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games has been confirmed and the door is still open for others providing they make the qualifying times in their respective events.

It has been revealed that two U.S. based athletes – Lee Prowell and Deon Bascom have been confirmed to represent Guyana at the Central American and Caribbean Track and Field championships which will be held in Colombia from July 3-6, and will be seeking to make the qualifying times in their respective events so as to get an opportunity to don national colours in Beijing.

Prowell will contest the men’s 100 metre and Bascom the men’s 400 metre.

Addressing members of the media last Saturday at Olympic House, Guyana Olympic Association’s (GOA) president K. Juman-Yassin informed that US based track and field athletes Marian Burnett and 2002 Commonwealth Games’ 400 metre gold medalist Aliann Pompey along with Guyana based swimmer Niall Roberts, track and field middle distance ‘Queen’ Alika Morgan and cyclist Geron Williams, have all been accredited to represent Guyana at the August 8 to 24 Games in Beijing, China.

However, while Burnett, Pompey and Roberts will be actively seeking medals in the Games’ competitions, Morgan and Williams will be attending the Games’ Youth Camp which will be held during the duration of the Olympic.

Pompey will contest the women’s 400 metre and Burnett the women’s 800 metre.

Juman-Yassin had explained that despite the closing date for accreditation has passed, the athletes going to Colombia for the CAC Games will still have an opportunity of qualifying for Beijing, since the GOA earlier this year, submitted a number of names in the various disciplines for accreditation and the athletes who will represent Guyana in Colombia have already been accredited.

Juman-Yassin also informed that 18-year old George McKenzie a US citizen born to Guyanese parents registered 10.19 seconds for the 100 metre race recently but that time was wind assisted.

However, he also clocked 10.23 which was not wind assisted, but because he does not have a Guyana passport and because he represented the US at the junior level, he would be unable to represent the Golden Arrowhead at this particular games, but it is hoped that McKenzie’s parents along with the GOA will have things sorted out in the not too distant future so that the teenager can represent Guyana soon.

Meanwhile, in other GOA related activities, former national Caribbean squash champion and GOA executive Garfield Wiltshire who has a Masters Degree in Sports Administration, left Guyana for Glasgow, England on Monday to attend the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games Planning Workshop as well as the Commonwealth Sports Development Conference.

Four amateur boxers and an equal number of table tennis players (females), will attend the Pune, India 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games.

The GOA will be paying the athletes’ expenses while the respective associations will have to foot the bill for their officials (manager and coach).

Dr Karen Pilgrim, secretary of the Guyana Amateur Swimming Association has been appointed Chef de Mission.

The GOA is also forward planning for the 2010 Commonwealth Games which will be hosted by the city of Deli in India, the 2010 South American Games billed for Medellin, Colombia and has already indicated to the relevant authorities, the sports the association will be sending teams for.

The GOA will once again be staging its 10K Olympic Run in observance of World Olympic Day which will be observed on June 22.

The run will get underway at 6:00h from outside the Thomas Lands YMCA and interested athletes or teams can get registered at Olympic House.

Juman-Yassin informed that there will be a team run which will involve teams of three males and three females and based on the time recorded by the entire team’s members, the ones with the lowest time will be declared winners.
Juman-Yassin called on the armed forces to participate.

Sir Viv calls for pace like fire at Kensington Oval
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, (CMC) – Cricket legend Sir Vivian Richards believes West Indies should pick an all-out pace attack for the all-important third and final Test against Australia which begins tomorrow at Kensington Oval.

Sir Vivian hopes to see a full list of fast bowlers for the Kensington Oval pitch which he thinks will give the home team the best chance at levelling the series.

“We will have the conditions that should suit fast bowling – Antigua was not,” Sir Vivian told reporters attending a news conference to announce that Johnnie Walker, the world’s best-selling brand of Scotch Whiskey, and the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) have entered into a sponsorship agreement covering this year’s Australia and next year’s England home series.

Sir Vivian added: “West Indies have to try and find the best fast bowling attack that is possible, and bring back some memories of what it used to be like at Kensington Oval.”

Sir Vivian is also very pleased with the work ethic of veteran batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul and he believes this is the reason for his increased success over the last year.

Sir Vivian wants the other players in the Windies unit to emulate Chanderpaul’s diligence in order for them to be successful.

“When you look at someone like Shivnarine Chanderpaul and his achievements, the time spent at the crease, he must have worked hard to achieve these things,” Sir Vivian said. “We are seeing the final product because of the hard work.

“There are times when you have players in your team who become jealous for the right reasons. That jealously should be the positive sign of how I would like to be a Shivnarine Chanderpaul. They should be saying, ‘I’d like to be the guy who is standing up there every minute of the day and be counted’.

“That’s the jealousy factor I would like to see set in, not the stupid old things about if you are achieving and I’m not good enough.

Sir Vivian continued: “Dwayne Bravo is another individual, because of his enthusiasm, that livewire sort of individual, I believe that these individuals can emulate.

“If individuals are smart enough in that team, they will have a look and see that they are some individuals they can learn from. That is so important for team success in the future.”

Sir Vivian however, was guarded about the progress the side has made in recent matches.

“We’ve shown some great strides,” he said. “At the end of the day, after making these strides, we can only keep on speaking about potential for so long. There comes a time when you are measured by winning.

“It’s hard to say. Temperament sometimes does play a part. Sometimes we make a little progress this year and then for some reason, we take a few strides back the following year.”

Following the success of their 2007 World Cup official sponsorship in the Caribbean, Johnnie Walker are again using Sir Vivian and the sport of cricket to convey the importance of responsible drinking.

Johnnie Walker has now become the Official Spirit of West Indies Cricket, and will have a strong brand and campaign presence conveying the responsible drinking message “Know Your Boundaries” throughout the Caribbean.

“It’s important to ‘Know Your Boundaries’ both on the pitch and off,” Sir Vivian said. “During my playing days, I was known for both hitting boundaries and understanding what it took to be at the top of my game.

“Off the pitch, to ‘Know Your Boundaries’ is to drink responsibly, know your own limits and not to drink and drive. I am delighted to be working with Johnnie Walker and Diageo again – we’ll have some fun, but we will always ‘Know Our Boundaries’.”

Dr. Donald Peters, chief executive officer of the WICB, acknowledged the sponsorship was excellent news for West Indies cricket, and it is a pleasure for the regional body to be associated with another company whose portfolio of products is world-renowned and synonymous with quality.

Guyana sending 10-member darts team to Caribbean Championship
GUYANA will be sending a ten-member team to the 17th Caribbean Darts Organisation and 4th American Cup Championship to be contested in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago from July 24th to 3rd August.

Guyana will be fielding teams in the Men’s and Ladies Singles, Men’s and Ladies Doubles, Mixed Doubles and Mixed Triples contests.

The national team will be seeking a repeat in the coveted Men’s singles competition, which Norman Madhoo won in 2006.

Guyana will be fielding teams in the Men’s and Ladies Singles, Men’s and Ladies Doubles, Mixed Doubles and Mixed Triples contests.

At present, the teams are training on Wednesdays and Fridays at the Saltair Sports Club, Le Meridian Pegasus Hotel, under the guidance of captain Norman Madhoo.

Guyana will be competing against teams from the USA, Florida, Canada, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Chile, St. Lucia, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica, and host Trinidad and Tobago.

The teams are:
Men’s:
Floyd Jaundoo & Andy Muir (overseas based players) along with local players, Norman Madhoo,

Mark Semple, Kerry Fitzgerald, Lalchan Rambharose.

Women’s:
Jacqueline Clarke (overseas based), Jean Singh, Jean De Souza, Rosetta Hiralal

GABA spreading its wings
…new boxing gym opened at Timehri
By Michael DaSilva
THE Guyana Amateur Boxing Association (GABA) spread its wings last Sunday in donating boxing gear to the newly formed Timehri Young Warriors’ Boxing Gym.

GABA’s executives strike a pose with the Timehri Young Warriors’ gym members and club officials.

According to the community centre’s treasurer Sherlock Hudson, the idea of getting youths of the community meaningfully active in amateur boxing, was realised approximately two months ago when GABA’s president Afeeze Khan visited the community and subsequently held meetings with the centre’s executive and the idea was realised.

The age group of the youths who at Sunday’s opening ceremony appeared very enthusiastic and rearing to go, ranges between 12 and 18 years.

They will be taught the fundamentals of the sport by two coaches in Disil Grimes and Guyana Defence Force’s Curtis Peters.

The two coaches will be ably assisted by national coach Carl Franklyn , who it is expected will make monthly visits to Timehri to see first hand, how the new comers’ are progressing.

In brief remarks at Sunday’s opening, Khan expressed his delight at seeing the number of youths involved in the project.

He said he was very impressed with the reception himself and the other GABA officials received and was equally impressed with the enthusiasm shown by not only the boxers, but by the community centre’s executives and the two coaches.

“We went to many community centres over the past two years to donate gear or open gyms and never before have we received such warm reception.

Never before have we seen so many anxious boys, eager to go and I must say that I’m impressed that a parent is present here.” Khan stated, adding “The effort the executives have put into this is commendable.”

He informed the coaches and club executives of his association’s Starters programme and tournaments which cater for boxers training and competing with others in the same age and weight divisions and who will be supervised based on recommendation to compete at the national level.

Khan invited the coaches to take their charges to Georgetown on weekends to be a part of a more elaborate programme which is being conducted at the National Gymnasium on weekends, where they will train and compete with other prospective champions from Georgetown and its environs.

Rudolph Torrington, the GABA’s vice-president in his address said he is indeed happy to see so many young men really eager to go, but emphasised that the key to their success is discipline.

Franklyn called on the youths to create a love for the sport; to be dedicated and make the necessary sacrifice to one day become a champion.

The Hyde Park Community Centre’s vice-president Owen Holligen thanked Khan and the GABA for offering an opportunity to the youths of the community from staying away from drugs and other illicit activities.

Grimes implored the seriousness of discipline, sacrifice and the love for the sport. “Take boxing like your girl friend or your mother. You have to love it and dedicate yourself to it.”

Peters told the youths that they will have to make up their minds to train hard if they want to be successful.

Hudson told them that they now have an opportunity to get on the world stage and implored that boxing is an opportunity to be recognised.

Nolan Hodge, one of the young prospective boxers gave the Vote of Thanks.

Bracewell defends role played by his coaching staff
…‘You can put all the plans in place, but then who applies them?’
JOHN Bracewell, New Zealand's coach, has defended the role played by his coaching team during the 2-0 Test series defeat by England.

"It's an interesting debate, and I'm sure it will be debated long and hard by whoever wants to debate it, especially between All Blacks tests. It'll fill in some time," he said. "It's an imponderable. The nature of cricket is not a structured game like other games where you put the play on the whiteboard and you go and play it.

"You get the situation where, this is our gameplan, but do I decide or does he [the batsman] decide whether it's a half-volley or not? Do I decide or does he decide whether he's going to get forward or back?"

Asked about the failure of the New Zealanders to cope with the swing of James Anderson in the first innings at Trent Bridge -- Anderson ended up with seven wickets -- Bracewell said it wasn't through lack of planning.

"We talked about what we learned from [Kevin] Pietersen's innings, he tried to present a full face and we felt that was the best strategy to play straight, and we had two guys [Aaron Redmond and Brendon McCullum] play across the line in the first 10 overs and have their off pole pulled out of the ground ... you can put all the plans in place, but then who applies them?"

Bracewell added that there was also no reason that the tail failed to offer support to Jacob Oram, who was left unbeaten on 50. "We failed to adapt and support a guy who was striking the ball pretty cleanly," he said. "We knew what our gameplan was, we talked about it, playing a little straighter, not chasing full and wide balls, and supporting in a partnership role.

Once we moved out into the middle and the training wheels came off, so did all the wheels. We chased wide half volleys and got sucked into width and failed to support a player who could have got us into a point where we were competitive."

He went on to say that some of the side were not psychologically tough enough. "Some are, some aren't, that's the nature of any team. Some of them are pretty tough nuts. Some of them are learning to be tough, and some of them are just our best players and they have their foibles and weaknesses. (Cricinfo)

Ibrahimovic special floors champions Greece
By Mitch Phillips
SALZBURG, (Reuters) - Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored his first international goal for more than two and a half years to send Sweden on the way to a 2-0 Euro 2008 victory over champions Greece yesterday.

The striker, who last found the net for his country in October 2005, combined with partner Henrik Larsson to drive in a superb shot from the edge of the box after 67 minutes to break the deadlock in a dull game.

Petter Hansson scrambled the second goal five minutes later to put Sweden level on points with Spain, who beat Russia 4-1 in the other Group D game earlier.

"It was a difficult game today," Ibrahimovic told reporters. "We won the game and that was the most important thing.

"I feel very happy and it couldn't have begun better. It wasn't an easy game for the strikers because they played with three central defenders." Angelos Haristeas, scorer of the goal that won the 2004 title and one of six Greece survivors from that Lisbon final, had an early sight of goal after seven minutes when he cut in past two defenders on the right but scuffed his low shot.

Goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson also beat out an awkward, bouncing shot from Greece captain Angelos Basinas but spent most of his time watching from afar as the holders played possession football in their own half.

FINAL SWANSONG
Sweden were neat in possession and always looking to release their re-formed strike partnership of Ibrahimovic and Larsson, the 36-year-old out of international retirement for a final swansong.

Both men, however, struggled to shake off the muscular attention of centre backs Traianos Dellas and Sotiris Kyrgiakos, Larsson once becoming the meat in a sandwich when the three climbed for a high ball.

Ibrahimovic stole a yard after 32 minutes to reach a hopeful Fredrik Ljungberg punt but his back-header went over.

The game changed when Larsson laid the ball back into the path of Ibrahimovic, who struck unerringly to end a 14-game goal drought in spectacular style.

Hansson then somehow forced the second over the line after a goalmouth melee.

"It (the win) was important, it was important for Zlatan too as it is two years since he scored," said captain Ljungberg.

"He played well and the team played well."

Greece coach Otto Rehhagel said: "We made decisive mistakes on two occasions."

"The Swedes pressed a lot. We failed to exert pressure ourselves. We did not have that fighting spirit at the key moments."

Asked about Greece's approach for the next match against Russia on Saturday, he added: "We must show something different, we must."

Villa hits hat-trick as Spain hammer Russia 4-1
By Simon Baskett
INNSBRUCK, (Reuters) - David Villa notched the first hat-trick of the tournament to help Spain hammer Russia 4-1 in their Euro 2008 opener yesterday.

Villa grabbed his first when he steered the ball into an open goal after fellow striker Fernando Torres drew goalkeeper Igor Akinfeyev out of his net in the 20th minute.

The 26-year-old Villa added the second before halftime, stroking the ball home after being put through by Andres Iniesta, before making it 3-0 when he tucked in a low shot after jinking past a defender on 75 minutes.

Russia pulled one back with a header from Roman Pavlyuchenko before substitute Cesc Fabregas dived to nod Spain's fourth goal from close range in injury time after more good work by the inspirational Villa.

"It was great to get three goals and it is a good start for the team," Villa told reporters.

"It was important to win this one but we have to remember it is only the first of three (Group D) games."

Spain, who beat Russia 1-0 in their opening match at Euro 2004, made a confident start to the tie under stormy skies at the Tivoli Neu stadium.

They quickly settled into their patient short passing game and had a couple of early chances, Torres sending a shot skidding wide in the eighth minute and Villa scooping an effort over the bar.

Russia also threatened with Yuri Zhirkov and Pavlyuchenko proving a handful for Spain's back four.

Spain, however, broke the deadlock when Torres raced on to a 30-metre pass from Joan Capdevila.

LUCKY BOUNCE
The striker made the most of a lucky bounce as he tried to beat defender Denis Kolodin before setting up Villa.

Russia almost equalised two minutes later when Konstantin Zyryanov fired a shot against the post.

Torres had a couple of half chances to extend Spain's lead but it was live-wire Valencia marksman Villa who went on to steal the spotlight.

"I am happy but I think we were a bit fortunate in the first half," said Spain coach Luis Aragones. "They pressed us hard but we got that first goal on the break.

"Villa is a brilliant player but so is Torres when he's got space.

Russia coach Guus Hiddink said: "We were caught on the counter attack by our own mistakes.

"We were punished from very naive situations. That's a harsh lesson and I hope we can learn very fast from our mistakes."

For the first time in the tournament no yellow cards were shown.

India crush arch-rivals Pakistan by 140 runs
INDIA hammered arch rivals Pakistan by 140 runs in the second game of the tri-nations series in Mirpur.

Gary Kirsten's team made 330-8 in their 50 overs and their opponents never had a whiff of victory after losing three early wickets, eventually being bowled out for 190 in 35.4 overs.

Pakistan had defeated host nation Bangladesh in the opening match at the weekend but came up again much stronger opposition on this occasion, with Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag and Yuvraj Singh setting the tone with half- centuries.

Sehwag and Gambhir thrashed 155 from the first 21 overs before the latter was caught behind off Wahab Riaz having made a run-a-ball 62.

A further 19 runs were added before Sehwag went in similar fashion 11 short of a century having faced just 76 deliveries, hitting 13 fours and a six.

Despite wickets falling at the other end Yuvraj kept up the momentum with three fours and three sixes in his innings of 55 from 54 balls, Umar Gul uprooting his stumps before claiming the scalps of Suresh Raina and Irfan Pathan following brief cameos.

Pakistan needed to get off to a good start but it wasn't forthcoming, a fine opening spell from Praveen Kumar seeing Salman Butt and Yousuf Khan falling in successive balls in the third over of the reply.

Two overs later Kumar trapped Mohammad Yousuf lbw and Pakistan were already looking unlikely winners despite Kamran Akmal and Misbah-ul-Haq righting the ship.

The pair added 55 for the fourth wicket but Kumar claimed his fourth wicket when Akmal smashed it straight to Yusuf Pathan for a sprightly 38, which included two maximums.

Misbah followed soon after as Pakistan tried to keep up with the run rate but the Indian spinners more-than played their part, Piyush Chawla the chief beneficiary with 4 for 40.

Captain Shoaib Malik made 53 but it was never likely to be anything other than a losing cause as the Indians took five points. (Eurosport)
INDIA innings
G. Gambhir c Kamran Akmal b Wahab Riaz 62
V. Sehwag c Kamran Akmal b Wahab Riaz 89
Y. Singh b Umar Gul 55
Y. Pathan c Rao Iftkhar b Shahid Afridi 3
R. Sharma b Shahid Afridi 9
MS Dhoni lbw Sohail Tanvir 24
S. Raina c Misbah-ul-Haq b Umar Gul 26
I. Pathan c Shoaib Malik b Umar Gul 18
P. Kumar not out 6
P. Chawla not out 0
Extras: (b-5 lb-4 w-20 nb-9) 38 Total (eight wickets, 50 overs) 330 Fall of Wickets: 1-155 2-174 3-199 4-231 5-269 6-271 7-322 8-324
Did not bat: Ishant Sharma
Bowling: Gul 10-0-61-3 (w3), Tanvir 9.4-0-57-1 (w5), Riaz 9.2-0-86-2 (w6 nb9), Iftkhar 10-0-63-0 (w1), Afridi 10-0-52-2 (w5), Younis Khan 1-0-2-0

PAKISTAN innings
S. Butt c Rohit Sharma b Praveen Kumar 9
K. Akmal c Yusuf Pathan b Praveen Kumar 38
Y. Khan c Mahendra Singh Dhoni b Praveen Kumar 0
M. Yousuf lbw Praveen Kuamar 11
M. Ul-Haq c Mahendra Singh Dhoni b Ishant Sharma 24
S. Malik c Suresh Rain b Piyush Chawla 53
S. Afridi st Mahendra Singh Dhoni b Piyush Chawla 23
S. Tanvir c and b Piyush Chawla 6
U. Gul c Ishant Sharma b Yuvraj Singh 7
R. Iftkhar not out 16
W. Riaz lbw b Piyush Chawla 0
Extras: (lb-3) 3
Total (all out, 35.4 overs) 190
Fall of wickets: 1-14 2-14 3-26 4-81 5-94 6-138 7-156 8-169 9-180 10-190
Bowling: P. Kumar 9-1-53-4, I. Sharma 6-0-28-1, I. Pathan 6-0-38-0, P. Chawla 8.4-0-40-4, Y. Singh 4-0-17-1, Y. Pathan 2-0-11-0
Next match on Thursday between India v Bangladesh in Dhaka.

‘Sold out’ signs as
--Twenty20 fever hits England's county clubs
By Martyn Herman
LONDON, (Reuters) - The "sold out" signs are springing up around England's county cricket grounds as the Twenty20 revolution gathers pace.

The country's domestic Twenty20 competition begins its sixth year today and the "crash bang wallop" form of the game has never been more popular after the successful launch of the Indian Premier League (IPL) this year.

While traditionalists and some players like England captain Michael Vaughan warn of the damaging effect it could have on Test matches, the county club's money men are celebrating.

With places in the newly-announced Champions League at stake in September, when two clubs from England will join clubs from Australia, India and South Africa to battle for a $5 million jackpot, the incentives have never been greater.

Yorkshire, one of the bastions of English cricket, has caught the Twenty20 fever and, according to the club's sales director Richard Kaye, the revenue offered by the short form of the game is mouth watering.

Instead of the usual smattering of fans scattered around Headingley for other competitions, Kaye said the 17,000-capacity stadium would be packed when Yorkshire's Carnegie take on Lancashire Lightning next week. There will even be a hot-tub and dancing girls.

"We are one of the better-supported counties but on most county championship days we will have crowds of less than 1,000," he told Reuters by telephone yesterday.

"In terms of corporate hospitality, for the four-day county championship game and one-dayer against Lancashire three weeks ago we had less than 100 bookings over five days, for the Twenty20 match against Lancashire we have over 1,000."

GLOBAL POTENTIAL
He said the IPL had opened everybody's eyes to the global potential of a game that was launched by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) in 2003.

"The IPL has the capability to be transformational in terms of cricket impact globally," he said. "The fact they have bolted on the Champions League is phenomenal. From a player's perspective and a club's perspective, it's really exciting.

"It certainly makes you rethink what are the most important competitions you play in. What we have is a new product that appeals to a new audience. In any other form of business you have different products for different audiences and it's great that cricket has the same approach.

"After Tests and one-day internationals this is the next big revenue stream and the impact of the IPL and Champions League means that we will be become even more focused."

Sussex chief executive Gus Mackay said counties were preparing to cash in on the rapid explosion of Twenty20 in the wake of the IPL.

"We are going to adapt accordingly and maximise all the opportunities we can get," he told Reuters ahead of Sussex Sharks' sell-out fixture against last year's champions Kent Spitfires in Canterbury today.

"England are not in Euro 2008 so I think it all points to a bumper time for us counties in the next two weeks."

England's 18 counties have been split into three groups of six with matches being crammed into the next two weeks. The quarter-finals are on July 5-7 with the finals day, featuring four sides at Hamphsire's Rose Bowl, on July 26.

Brazil coach Dunga denies losing patience with Kaka
RIO DE JANEIRO, (Reuters) - Brazil coach Dunga has denied suggestions that he has lost patience with playmaker Kaka.

The AC Milan player has been ruled out of the World Cup qualifiers away to Paraguay and at home to Argentina by Dunga after undergoing knee surgery on May 23.

Brazilian media had suggested that Dunga was unhappy at the timing of the operation and was frustrated at again being left without the World Player of the Year, who missed last year's Copa America after asking to be rested.

"They misunderstood what I said," Dunga told the Sportv cable channel in a telephone interview. "I just want him to get better and after that he can return to the national team in his own time."

Dunga said he took the decision to drop Kaka from the squad even though there was a chance the player could have faced Argentina on June 18.

"From our point of view, there would not have been time for him to be in 100 percent physical and technical condition," he said.

"And can you imagine the responsibility we would have if we sent Kaka out to play Argentina and something serious happened to him."

Dunga said he also accepted the AC Milan had the right to decide the timing of the operation which came immediately after the end of the Italian season.

"Milan pay his wages and they are responsible for him," he said. "Milan decide when he has to be operated.

"The Italian championship finished, Kaka talked it over with his doctor, they did some exams and agreed he had to undergo surgery."

Dunga added: "He's had a difficult year, he's had four or five months when he's been suffering from injury or not been fully fit."

Brazil, who have taken eight points from their first four games in the South American World Cup qualifying group, visit leaders Paraguay on Sunday before hosting arch-rivals Argentina three days later.

Brazil suffered an embarrassing 2-0 defeat to Venezuela in a friendly last Friday, the first time they have failed to beat their neighbours in 18 meetings.

Boonen suspected of cocaine possession
BRUSSELS, (Reuters) - Belgian sprint specialist Tom Boonen is being investigated for suspected cocaine possession after traces of the drug were found in a urine sample last month, a public prosecutor's spokeswoman said yesterday.

"He tested positive on May 26...he faces between three months and five years of prison if found guilty," Inge Delissen, a spokeswoman for the public prosecutor's office in the city of Turnhout said. She said no decision had been made yet on whether to charge the former world champion.

Police carried out a series of searches on Monday but found no evidence, she added.

Boonen's Quick Step team said it would hold a news conference today at 0830 GMT.

Tour of Switzerland organisers said Boonen, 27, would be barred from this year's race, which starts on Saturday.

"Race director Armin Meier has informed the Quick Step team that Boonen has been excluded from the Tour of Switzerland," Tour of Switzerland media officer Kurt Henauer said.

But he added that the Quick Step team would be allowed to take part.

Boonen, who won the prestigious Paris-Roubaix race for the second time in April, was cleared in January after an accusation that he had supplied cocaine to a cyclo-cross competitor.

The Belgian won the world road race championship in 2005 and has several Tour de France stage victories to his credit.

S. Africa organisers brace for soaring World Cup costs
By Mark Gleeson
JOHANNESBURG, (Reuters) - Two years ahead of the 2010 World Cup, organisers in South Africa are facing soaring costs for building stadiums in addition to worries over xenophobic violence, power shortages and rampant crime.

Organising committee chief executive officer Danny Jordaan told Reuters he expected the final cost for the construction and renovation of 10 venues for the finals to finish well above the current budget of 9.8 billion rand ($1.24 billion).

"It will probably be over 10 billion rand," Jordaan said, adding that the financing of the venues remained a challenge.

"We are dealing now with final costs of the stadiums, which are soaring as a result of the downturn in the world economy and rising fuel prices," he said.

Jordaan said there was still potential for cost overruns on some major remaining tenders by the cities hosting matches although 94 percent of items had been procured.

"We don't know what the final impact of the economic downturn will be on our costs. It's unfortunately a moving target," he said.

South African inflation hit a 5-1/2 year high of 10.4 percent in April. Rising fuel prices and likely electricity price hikes to address a dire power crisis mean it could go higher.

Jordaan said recent attacks on African immigrants, accused by poor South Africans of taking jobs and fuelling a crime wave, also had a potentially negative impact on the tournament. At least 62 people were killed and nearly 100,000 displaced.

"It was a setback for the image of South Africa but it was behaviour that was un-South African," Jordaan said.

Despite his concerns, Jordaan promised "a wonderful event", which will begin at Johannesburg's 94,000-seater Soccer City Stadium on June 11, 2010.

"I think what we've achieved since May 2004 gives me a level of contentment and confidence that the event will be a success," he added.

South Africa were awarded the right to host the 2010 event four years ago, winning an-all Africa contest ahead of Morocco, Egypt and a joint-bid from Tunisia and Libya.

"I'm happy with how quickly we have come along and with the legacy we are going to leave for football in this country. Our stadiums will be world class," Jordaan said.

South Africa are upgrading five existing venues and building five new stadiums for the 32-team event.

Initial estimates for stadium construction and renovation were set at just under 6 billion rand while a further 13.6 billion rand is being invested in infrastructure directly related to the tournament.

Davo Lumber Yard XIII and East Coast Select XIII Triumph at Ogle
SOFTBALL fans turned out in large numbers to watch two exciting softball matches at the Ogle Community Centre last Sunday.

Ramchand Ragbeer hands over the cash to Ms. Kathleen Rajcoomar ( secretary) of the mandir.

In the first match between East Coast Select XIII and Floodlights B, Floodlights B batting first made 148 for 9 in their allotted 25 overs with Sheik Mohamed top scoring with 45. The best bowler for the East Coast Select side was Azemul Haniff with 3 for 17.

East Coast Select squad made the winning run in the final over losing 8 wickets and took away the Ramchand Auto Spares trophy. N. Dindial who was adjudged man-of-the- match made 40 runs.

Saheed Gittens was the best bowler for the losing team taking 3 for 25 in 5 overs.

In the second match between Davo Lumber Yard and Floodlights A saw Floodlights A winning the toss and elected to field.

They managed to restrict the batting team for 137 for the loss of 8 wickets with Orin Hudson top scoring with 41, and well supported by S. Bessesar 30 and skipper Bedi Ramjewan 16. Jaipaul Bharat was the best bowler for Floodlights A grabbing 4 wickets for 15 runs.

When Floodlights A took to the crease, they found runs difficult to come by, loosing wickets regularly and were eventually bowled out for 78 runs in the final of 25 overs. Sheik Mohamed again top scored with 22 and man of the match Lalta Gainda grabbed 4 for 16 from his allotted five overs