Traffic lights a symbol of South-South cooperation
Months after the completion of Guyana’s National Stadium at Providence another project, the new traffic lights system, has been completed, enhancing relations between Guyana and India.

Prime Minister Samuel Hinds yesterday morning, at a formal commissioning ceremony, flicked the switch of the traffic lights at the junction of Main Street and Avenue of the Republic.

He said, “The accomplishment of these projects resides not only in their presence and effective functioning for the use intended, but also in the representation of the significance of south-south co-operation between the Government and people of India and the Government and people of Guyana.”

The Prime Minister said the proper working and maintenance of the new and modern traffic signal system will undoubtedly, improve traffic management and safety. It is also expected to prevent accidents, injury, deaths and property loss.

“In committing to and executing this project, Government is fulfilling its vision for enhancing the lives of all citizens by improving public safety and security, and providing an enabling environment for the growth of Guyana’s economy that is unfolding, while regularising the way we commute and conduct ourselves daily,” he posited.

The Prime Minister expressed Government’s gratitude to the Government and people of the Republic of India for extending monetary support and service in realising for Guyana, the accomplishment of another significant project

India’s High Commissioner to Guyana Avinash Gupta, in his remarks, said the ceremony is the culmination of events initiated with the visit of Vice President of CMS Traffic Systems Limited Krishna Kumar to Guyana in September 2006, when a presentation of the state-of-the-art traffic signal system was made to the government.

The project was later given impetus with the signing of an agreement for installation of modem traffic signal systems during the visit of the Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, to Guyana in November last year.

High Commissioner Gupta said, “CMS Traffic Systems Limited is a well-known company in India and is responsible for installing more than 60 percent of traffic lights in the country. This was their first international project, but they came with wide experience of executing similar projects in India.

He explained that CMS is the only organisation in India that has ISO 9001:2000 certification for its complete operation, including installation, commissioning and maintenance of traffic signal systems 

The High Commissioner said, “The successful conclusion of this project demonstrates, beyond doubt, our strong intention of becoming a reliable partner in the economic development of Guyana.”

The High Commissioner said his remarks would be incomplete if no mention is made about the growing relations between Guyana and India.

He said, “Since the two state visits of President Bharrat Jagdeo to India in August 2003 and January 2004, the relations between our two countries have been put on a smooth road which does not have any traffic signals; if there is one, it always remain green.”

Minister of Transport and Hydraulics Robeson Benn, in addressing the gathering, said the new traffic light system replaces the collapsed Eagle 30-year old traffic light system in Georgetown and its suburbs, with a new system connecting 50 modern controlled intersections.

Minister Benn elaborated on the status of the project, “Forty-eight of the intended fifty intersections have been activated, and 45 of these have been put in service. Two intersections – one at High and Croal Streets and the other at High and Regent Streets await the relocation of the two minibus parks.”

He said the light was not installed at one of the intended location because of the continuing presence of encroaching structures at the Brickdam and Water Street intersections. Diamond on the East Bank Demerara is being considered as an alternative site.

The Minister said the new system, installed by CMS Technologies, a world leader in traffic system management and instrumentation, boasts significant features which include solar powered backup to main electricity supply, digital, remote programmable electronic circuitry, route and intersection synchronisation, large light emitting diode and digital countdown displays, directional arrows and pedestrian sequences.

The Ministry of Public Works and Communications has established a traffic management unit which has been trained by CMS Engineers in the maintenance, upkeep and operation of the new system.

He called on motorists and road users to exercise patience and responsibility and to accept that “the law of averages” still exists and that with judicious use of the system, unnecessary fears, anxieties and intimidation at major intersections of the city are now things largely of the past.

The project was made possible through a US$2.1M Line of Credit from the Indian EXIM Bank. Physical work on the project commenced on January 21, 2007 and was completed on July 11.

CMS Traffic Systems Limited of India, engaged the services of local Sub-contractors Gaico Construction Inc, Civ-Tech Construction & Contracting Services, Godfrey Bovell Construction Services, and Novad Consultants & General Contractors for the execution of the project.

The lights also feature a pedestrian push button feature which allows pedestrians to make a demand on the system to cross the street. Vehicle Activated Signals are located at the following intersections:

* Rupert Craig Highway and Courida Street

* Rupert Craig Highway and UG access Road

* Rupert Craig Highway and Conversation Tree

* Rupert Craig Highway and Sheriff Street

* Vlissengen Road, Carifesta Avenue and Clive Lloyd Drive

* Vlissengen and Thomas Road

* Lamaha and Albert Streets

* Brickdam and Louisa Row

* D' Urban and Haley Streets

* Eccles and East Bank Public Road

All other intersections have fixed time signals most of which were placed along particular corridors namely: Camp Street, Main Street/ Avenue of the Republic/High Street, Vlissengen Road  and Mandela Avenue / Sheriff Street.

Also present at the ceremony yesterday were Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee, Georgetown Mayor Hamilton Green, Commissioner of Police Henry Greene, and Traffic Chief Roland Alleyne.  (GINA)

Police incinerate 99 kilos marijuana
Police destroyed 99 kilos 45 grams of cannabis sativa (marijuana), worth $7M yesterday morning at the municipal incinerator on Princes Street, Georgetown.

The marijuana was found in several areas in Berbice and on the East Coast Demerara. In picture, ranks prepare to incinerate the marijuana.

Global pressures impacting on prices of local commodities
Guyana, like other countries in the Caribbean and other parts of the world, has been experiencing price increases for certain commodities which is a direct result of global changes. 

The price increase for certain local commodities is being blamed on the Value Added Tax (VAT) which became operational in January this year. However, many of the items which have had price changes are zero-rated and hence do not attract the 16 percent VAT. This is a global phenomenon as countries are being affected and Governments are working to find ways of ensuring that consumers do not feel the full brunt of the problem.

This situation is not unique to Guyana, since other countries are facing price increases for various essential food items, including flour. Consumers in Caribbean countries have been affected by the rising flour prices due to the increased cost for wheat on the international market. This has led to Government exploring ways of reducing the burden on consumers.

Prior to the introduction of the Value Added Tax (VAT), bakeries had to absorb a 10 percent consumption tax which was passed on to them by their suppliers. However, with VAT at 16 percent, bakeries that are VAT-registered and compliant are able to recover the additional cost which was not possible prior to the introduction of VAT.

Some of the zero rated items are:- plain bread made with white or whole wheat flour and tennis rolls, raw white or brown rice, raw brown sugar, cooking oil, cow’s milk and milk powder, cooking salt, fresh fruits but not including apples, grapes, dates, prunes, peaches, plums and strawberries; fresh vegetables including onions, garlic, potatoes but not including olives, carrots, radishes, broccoli and cauliflower, dried split peas, uncooked fresh, chilled or frozen chicken; locally produced uncooked fresh, chilled or frozen pork, beef, shrimp, mutton, fish and salted fish, but not including canned products.

The Value Added Tax (VAT) was instituted from January this year and involves a cycle of different transactions including payment of tax, claiming of input credit, and payment of refunds.

In May this year, there were complaints that the price for milk and potatoes had risen but this was due to world market changes. Milk is a zero-rated item. A shortage in Australia and Argentina, due to a prolonged period of drought, caused the price for this item to increase.

The price of wheat has hit an 11-year high on the world market amid tightening world supplies, and this has led to increases in the price of flour, not only in Guyana, but in other parts of the Caribbean. Consumers in countries such as Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados and Jamaica are facing greater increases for flour and associated products when compared to Guyana.

Consumers in Trinidad and Tobago earlier this week complained that the price of bread and baked products had increased, since there was a 15 percent rise in the price of flour. Milk prices in those islands have also risen due to international factors.

Barbados also reported that the price of flour is likely to be increased for the second time this year, while in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, there are changes in the prices as well. Also, last month in Dominica, consumers were grappling with an increase in the cost of food and other goods.

Corn prices in other countries have also risen, and doubled in some places. The food price index in India has risen 11 per cent in one year, and in Mexico in January there were riots after the price of corn flour went up four-fold.

Corn, a staple animal feed, is also in demand as an ethanol base in Canada, but the price increase for this commodity has helped fuel a 4.6-per-cent rise in the price of meat and a jump of 3.7 per cent in the price of milk, ice cream and cheese.

The price of corn in the United States of America has doubled over the past year. This is attributed to the promotion of bio-fuel in that country, as corn plays a greater role in this industry.

In China, the price of eggs and meat has quadrupled in the middle of a sharp shortage while there is an acute shortage of milk and drinking water in India.

Indonesians are eating their rice boiled instead of fried in oil because high biofuel demand has made palm oil unaffordable. Palm oil prices in the region have surged 80 per cent since the beginning of last year.

Italian pasta makers fear that the industry is on the brink of a crisis with a rise in the price of durum wheat which rose 30 to 40 per cent this year. Drought and the demand for wheat for use in biofuels have pushed international prices to their highest in a decade.

Also, Germans are paying more for their favourite beverage, since barley prices have doubled in two years, as German farmers abandon the grain in favour of crops that can be used in biofuels.

The fast-growing corn-based ethanol sector has caused the price of corn to double in the past year as more of the grain is diverted from food and into biofuel. The cost of fuel has been rising in the past few years and this has a heavy impact on the cost of other goods and services.

The Government of Guyana, in the face of these global pressures and development, continues to be proactive in exploring ways of mitigating the impact of these changes on domestic consumers. This is reflected in the recent moves to open the market to the importation of flour and chicken to force prices down.(GINA)

Racism has no place in the party…
Leader Robert Corbin tells PNCR Congress
By Chamanlall Naipaul
The People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) must make a realistic assessment of itself, and retool, if it is to achieve its goal of returning to government, Leader of the party, Mr. Robert Corbin told members at the opening of the 15th biennial congress last Friday at its Congress Place headquarters in Sophia.

He observed that while the party has made impressive achievements, it would be unwise to bask in the past.

“It is all well and good to reflect on our past achievements, but life moves on and times change. Whilst we need to take strength from our past successes over 50 years, we must make a realistic assessment of our present condition lest we become irrelevant to the trials and challenges of the current times. We must be realistic. The PNCR, despite its abundance of talent, the eminent superiority of our capacity to manage and our development programmes, is out of office. The working classes are, in many places, suffering under the burden of incompetence, underdevelopment, injustice and marginalisation, and the PPP/C government has shown no increased capacity for reconciliation, institution building or international vision. Thus, we cannot afford to spend all of our time, in 2007, basking in the glories of the past successes. The challenge is now, the battle is in 2007. The issues at stake are nothing less than the survival of Guyana as a coherent nation and the turnaround of economic fortunes to sustained viable growth,” Corbin posited.

He implored party members that the party’s machinery, structure, ideology, tactics, policies and manifesto must be brought under close scrutiny during the deliberations of the congress.

He added that the leadership, at all levels, must also bear scrutiny, and standards of performance before, and during and in the course of regular party work must be examined fearlessly and honestly.

“Inappropriate and outmoded practices must be identified and modified in radical ways. All of us, from the highest office holders to the newest members of the party, must be prepared to do the self-examination that is necessary to bring this party back to its full glory. None of us should leave here content unless we have made a commitment to the people of Guyana. We are at the crossroads and we must seize the moment,” the PNCR leader declared.

On the issue of ethnic diversity, Corbin unambiguously stated that the party opposes all forms of racism, discrimination, intolerance and oppression.

“The PNCR is not, has never been, and will never become an ethnic enclave or pressure group. It is for this reason that we feel so keenly the assertion by our comrade, Sir Shridath Ramphal, when he wondered in 1988, whether we have not travelled far enough to become simply Guyanese. Guyanese, it is true, whose ancestors came at different times from different places and in different boats, but Guyanese who share an indispensable identity. Today, whatever the ships we came in, we are in one boat,” the party leader offered.

He reiterated that racism, crude or subtle, has no place in the party, and that will be one of the important pillars in the PNCR’s indoctrination and orientation over the next two years.

Treatment of Mocha young girls cruel and inhuman
....says GHRA
The cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment experienced by the two girl children in Mocha, East Bank Demerara, reinforces once again the unpalatable truth that this country remains a dangerous place for children, particularly poor children, according to a statement from the Guyana Human Rights Association.

The statement continues: The condition of their lives and the treatment they have received virtually violated  every Article in the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) that the Government of Guyana and the administration of justice is committed to uphold. In particular Article 40 recognises the right of “every child alleged as, accused of, or recognized as having infringed the penal law to be treated in a manner consistent with promoting the child’s sense of dignity and worth, which reinforces the child’s respect for the rights and fundamental freedoms of others and which takes into account the child’s age and the desirability of promoting the child’s reintegration and the child assuming a constructive role in society”.

“The vision embodied in this Article is so far removed from our reality that adult society in Guyana needs to take a swift reality check as to which century it wants to inhabit. At present the society abounds with threats to the moral, physical and sexual integrity of girls and young women. The adult world finds sexually saturated television completely acceptable. Every commercial for a concert or fete, virtually every music video out of Jamaica projects the idea that girls and women are gagging for sex 24 hours a day. Our conviction rate for rape offences is less than one percent. Yet when two poor and impressionable teenagers, lured by men, go off the rails, the institution society is so indignant it heaps medieval forms of abuse on them. 

“How a policewoman could believe that parading 13 and 14 year girls around the village in handcuffs with heads shaven is in any way excusable, defies belief. What can charging them with ‘wandering’ achieve, other than deflect from the comprehensive negligence of individuals and institutions responsible for the care and welfare of  children. ‘Wandering’ was rendered obsolete by the CRC on the grounds of discrimination, being a crime only applied against children – the onus nowadays is on the other side of the coin - adults and institutions not exercising their obligations of care

“The two girls apparently lived in an environment in which they had no benefit of love, care or parental guidance. Quite the opposite, they claim to have been raped by in-laws and more recently by other men/boys. Their failure to name the sexual predators is being turned into further condemnation of the girls.

“Guyanese adult society is deeply ambivalent. On the one hand we yearn to live in a modern progressive society which our children feel safe and could build a future. On the other we persist with cultural prejudice and ignorance, fuelled by dogmatic religious backwardness. The price of this irresponsibility is the continuous drain, not only of the brightest and the best of our young people, but of any of them who can find an exit strategy.

Three injured in West Berbice accident
Three family members were injured when the car they were travelling  in turned turtle on the West Berbice Highway at Onverwagt yesterday afternoon. Driver of the car Richard Semple, 31, his reputed wife Julie Harris, 30, and their five year old daughter Tonya, all of Manchester Village, Corentyne, were pulled out of the badly damaged motor car by passersby.

Julie Harris and her daughter were rushed to the Georgetown Hospital for multiple body and head injuries after receiving  emergency treatment at Fort Wellington Hospital.

The condition of the five-year-old was said to be critical .

Richard Semple escaped with minor injuries.

Eyewitnesses stated that the vehicle, a white AT 192 Carina PJJ 853, was proceeding along the highway heading for Rosignol and was just coming off the bridge between No.28 village and Onverwagt, when the driver lost control.

Chicken exports to T&T soon
By Chamanlall Naipaul
A local company could begin exporting chicken to Trinidad and Tobago in a couple of months following a visit by health officials from the government of that country here scheduled for next month end to verify that health requirements are in place.

This was disclosed by Managing Director of DIDCO Trading Company Ltd Deo Singh at a news conference yesterday at its Friendship site on the East Bank Demerara.

According to Singh, Trinidad could import as much as one million pounds of chicken per month, and his company has put in place all the health requirements requested by Trinidad health officials.

He assured though that only excess chicken, after the local demands have been met, will be exported so as to ensure that there is no shortage on the local market.

He recalled too that exports could have started already, but a fire at the Friendship processing site in February this year resulted in its power plant being put out of operation and this stalled plans.

If everything goes according to plan, the exports will be history-making because it will be the first time that poultry meat will be exported from Guyana.

However, Singh said a new power plant is expected to arrive in another two weeks and processing operations and production of poultry meat would begin next month.

This, he said will boost production and improve supply on the local market, and also reduce the current prices of chicken which have been showing an upward climb in recent months.

The businessman dispelled the notion that the recent upward trend in prices for poultry products is related to the implementation of the value added tax (VAT), and instead offered that it is part of the international market trend of rising prices for agricultural commodities stemming from rise in prices for agricultural inputs which are by-products of the fuel industry and oil prices have been soaring for quite some time now.

Coupled with this, Singh explained is the move towards bio-fuel production and corn, which is a major input in poultry feeds, is being diverted towards ethanol production thus causing a scarcity and increased prices for the commodity.

Another factor with respect to increased prices for poultry products is economics related whereby in a free market prices are determined by demand and supply.

Singh provided figures from the U.S. Department of Agriculture which shows a continuous increase for poultry products there during this year, with prices actually exceeding those in Guyana.

The businessman is predicting that when his plant begins production next month prices for poultry products would go down, with poultry meat coming down to about $200 per pound.

On the issue of plans by the government to import about 500,000 pounds of chicken at a lower tariff, Singh opined that if this were done a month ago, when there was reduced supply on the local market, it would have “made good sense.”

He disclosed that his plant will be producing some 800, 000 pounds of chicken from next month and from then on a similar production figure every fortnight, and moves are already underway to facilitate this with a shipment of 3,100 tonnes of corn and soya bean unloaded yesterday for stock feed production.

In addition, Singh revealed that farmers contracted by his company will be given free baby chicks and will only pay for feed, in effort to boost chicken production and reduce production costs for them.

He also expressed satisfaction with the move by Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud to implement legislation making it mandatory for chickens to be vaccinated, as this will reduce the mortality rate at chicken farms and improve production.

However, he called for firm measures to end smuggling of chicken from neighbouring Suriname which is providing unfair competition for the local poultry industry.

He explained that smugglers are repackaging chicken from Suriname in unlabelled bags and then selling it on the market as locally produced chicken.

In this regard, he announced that his company is offering one million dollars for persons providing information leading to the conviction of smugglers.

He noted that whenever there is glut on the local market it is because of the smuggled chickens.

Singh firmly believes that the long term solution to combat the trend of increasing prices for agricultural commodities and products lies in the expansion of cultivation and getting more people involved in agriculture. This, he added, will also create increased opportunities for increased employment.

He said he does not see why Guyana should be importing so much milk, some US$21M annually, as it could be self-sufficient in this product through the establishment of mini-milk plants throughout the country.

U.G. launches Anthropology summer school
By Shirley Thomas
The University of Guyana last week launched its Denis Williams Summer School of Anthropology, amidst glowing tributes to the life of the late Dr. Denis Williams (1923-1998), renowned Guyanese archaeologist, historian and award winning artist.

Dr. Williams, who was eventually to become the Director of the Walter Roth Museum, produced several publications, including Archaeology and Anthropology, the journal of the Walter Roth Museum in 1978, and received several national awards, and an honorary doctorate from the University of the West Indies in 1989.

Among the distinguished persons commending the initiative to launch the Denis Williams Summer School of Anthropology, and acknowledging his works, were: Dean of the School of Education and Humanities, University of Guyana – Mr. Tota Mangar; Dr. Mark Plew of Boise State University; Dr. George Mentore of the University of Virginia; Ms. Jennifer Wishart – a member of the Amerindian Research Unit, and previously Coordinator of the Amerindian Research Unit; Mr. Al Creighton – Senior Lecturer of the University’s School of Education and Humanities and Aviation Captain Gerald Perreira, a local anthropologist at the Walter Roth Museum.

The vote of thanks was delivered by an elated, but very modest Ms. Eve Williams, daughter of Dr. Dennis Williams, who, on behalf of the Williams’ family, expressed appreciation for the honour bestowed upon her father.

Mr. Creighton said that the Summer School of Anthropology is a training programme to be run in the summer of each year. It will entail training in Social Anthropology, Cultural Anthropology and Archaeology. The project is funded by the University of Virginia and the students themselves.

The first part of the curriculum he said, is a sub-programme in Anthropology which is already on stream. The programme in Anthropology is being run through the collaborative efforts of the University of Guyana and the University of Virginia. There are eleven students pursuing the programme at this time, drawn from various Departments of the University of Guyana, including Environmental Studies; and Forestry. There are as well persons from Regions Two and Nine, sponsored by the Iwokrama Rainforest Research Project; and two Touchaus from Kabakaburi.

Noting that the collaboration began in 2002 with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the University of Guyana and the University of Virginia, Creighton said that this paved the way for the specific programme in Anthropology. He credited Dr. George Mentore of the University of Virginia, as the main person behind this initiative.

Creighton said the activities of the summer School are currently progressing within the University’s Amerindian Research Unit of the Department of Language and Cultural Studies.

Meanwhile, the second programme being offered by the Denis Williams Summer School, is Archaeology. That programme, funded by Boise State University, the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, and the University of Guyana, is headed by Dr. Mark Plew of Boise State University, and assisted by Mr. George Simon and Gerald Perriera of the Walter Roth Museum. It is being run through the collaborative efforts of the University of Guyana and the Boise State University.

Ms. Jennifer Wishart of the Amerindian Research Unit said that the Archaeology Programme, introduced at the University of Guyana for the first time this year, will kick off with a field trip to the hinterland village of Kabakaburi on Wednesday. Ten persons so far have been enrolled into that programme: Six from the University of Virginia, and three Guyanese, namely: Jentian Miller - one of the Lecturers from UG’s School of Education and Humanities; Ms. Shabana Daniels, sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport; and Mr. Mohamed Khan – a student of the Social Sciences Department.

President meets Scouts ahead of trip for 21st Jamboree in UK
A contingent of youths from the Scouts Association of Guyana will join over 40,000 other scouts from almost every country in the world at the biggest ever World Scout Jamboree.

Friday, ahead of their trip to the United Kingdom for the 11-day event which begins on July 28, the scouts, led by Gary Mendonca, met President Bharrat Jagdeo at State House.

“We paid a visit to the President this morning to introduce him to the delegates of the contingent and to explain the programme of activities that we will be experiencing at the Jamboree for 11 days. The President is the patron of the Scouts Association of Guyana and we were privileged to have the opportunity to spend some time with him explaining our coming adventure,” Mendoza said after the meeting.

At the Jamboree, there will be 16 sub-camps, each designed to become the home for up to 1,800 young people.

SPEND THE MONEY!
- Global AIDS Programme boss says spend the AIDS money
From Neil Marks in Australia
THE Director of the Global AIDS Programme for the World Bank, Dr. Debrework Zewdie, says Guyana and countries in the Caribbean are guilty of a "moral hazard" in having money to fight the epidemic but failing to utilise it fully when some of it could be plugged into research.

Guyana is part of the World Bank's US$155 Caribbean multi-country initiative. She said this was so, even though one of the realities of Guyana is that the true extent of the problem is unknown and worse yet there is hardly, if any research to test the effectiveness of the antiretrovital (ARV) therapy given to people living with HIV/AIDS.

Dr Zewdie is presenting her thoughts on ARV rollout and research issues in the developing world for the International AIDS Society (IAS) conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention which opens today in Sydney, Australia.

Scientists and global policy makers meeting in Sydney for the AIDS conference say ten per cent of all resources dedicated to HIV programming should be used for research towards optimizing interventions utilized and health outcomes achieved.

"We must identify which approaches are effective in the field, which are not, and why. We must also learn how to integrate HIV-specific services with primary tuberculosis, malaria, prenatal and postnatal and sexual and reproductive health services," IAS says in the "Sydney Declaration" for this week's conference.

Unfortunately, the conference organizers say, few granting agencies or national health budgets commit designated funds to operations research, and where such funding is available, it is often underused.

Speaking with reporters at the Macquarie University in Sydney, Dr Zewdie said that while the Bank does not dictate for countries what they do with the non-repayable money the Bank provides, she wants to see some of that money pushed into research. This is because, she said, the dynamics of the transmission of HIV/AIDS in Guyana is unknown, as much as about the effectiveness of the ARV.

Because of failings on the part of the Caribbean programme, she said the World Bank has had caused to review its programme and have refocused its initiative here in the Caribbean. She said this was done six months ago.

The government has repeatedly stated that everyone who needs ARVS in Guyana have access free of charge.

In 2003, the World Bank approved the Multi-Country HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control APL to support the Caribbean Regional Strategic Plan of Action for HIV/AIDS. Under this programme, support is provided to National HIV/AIDS Strategic Plans of individual countries, which are based on the Caribbean Regional Strategic Plan. Guyana is supported through the Guyana HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Project.

In Guyana, it is thought that heterosexual (male to female) transmission accounts for about 80% of those infected with the disease. Additionally, transmission through men-who-have-sex-with-men (MSM) is estimated to be about 18%.

The organizers of IAS 2007 say the evolution of HIV prevention, treatment, and care over the past quarter century is one of the great successes of medical science. Committed and sustained research efforts have provided the evidence on which approaches to programming are based.

According to the IAS, these same scientific efforts are now resulting in new prevention technologies and drugs, and new strategies to manage and deliver both. Good research drives good policy.

However, more money needs to go into research. The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, for example, allows up to 10% of each grant to be allocated for operations research, but this provision is rarely used by countries and the research community is rarely represented on Country Coordinating Mechanisms (CCMs).

IAS is calling on individuals and organisatons to sign the Sydney Declaration to  make national governments and bilateral, multilateral, and private donors allocate 10% of all resources for HIV programming to research.

"We believe that without such funding, we will fail to maintain a sustained and effective response to the AIDS pandemic."

Labourer commits suicide
A 36-year-old labourer of Cullen Sand Top on the Essequibo Coast, late Thursday afternoon committed suicide by slitting his throat with a cutlass, allegedly after brutally chopping his wife.

Reports reaching the Sunday Chronicle said that Jageshwar, also known as “Mutt”, and his wife Shamdai Jageshwar, were involved in a heated argument at their home when he grabbed a cutlass and chopped her several times about the body.

Reports said that the woman – the mother of Jageshwar’s two children, began screaming for help before collapsing on the floor.

Thinking her to be dead, the man allegedly turned the cutlass on himself, slashing his throat, then collapsed on the floor.

Neighbours, on hearing the screams, rushed over to the couple’s house, where they found both of them bleeding on the floor. They rushed them to the Suddie Hospital, but Jageshwar was pronounced dead on arrival there. His wife was treated for wounds, and later held by the police for questioning.

Motorcyclist hurt in crash
A 32-year-old motorcyclist was yesterday rushed to the Accident and Emergency Unit of the Georgetown Public Hospital, after being involved in an accident at the corner of Middleton and Garnet Streets, Kitty.

Eston Williams of West Ruimveldt arrived at the institution bleeding, and suffering multiple injuries to his head and face, as well as a suspected broken right arm.

The accident occurred around 14:45 h, when Williams on his CJ motor cycle travelling north along Middleton Street, crashed into a motor car driving west along Garnett Street. On impact the motorcyclist was flung off his cycle and landed on the roadway. He was transported to the hospital by the driver of the motor car involved in the accident.

The driver of the car emerged unhurt, but both his vehicle and the motor cycle were badly damaged.

Jagdesh fears he is paralysed
A man who fell from a tree whilst picking genips two Sundays ago, fears he might have been paralysed from his waist down, but is unable to afford a Machine Readable Imaging (MRI) scan.

Jagdesh Naraine, 38, of Number 64 Village, Corentyne who works on a beverage delivery truck for B. Parsram and Sons at Number 62, Village, was off duty at the time of the accident.

Naraine said he would normally pick genips which he would sell to augment his income. On that Sunday he was up in the tree when he stepped onto a limb which broke, and he fell several feet to the ground. He was picked up in an unconscious state and rushed to hospital.

Naraine said he has lost feeling in his legs, and has been lying in bed for the last two weeks, unable to use his limbs. He fears he might have suffered a spinal injury, and is now grieving over the fact that he might be unable to work to earn a living even after leaving hospital.

IICA Agriculture Ministers meet in Guatemala
In Guatemala, the stage is set for the week of Agriculture and Rural Life of the Americas.

Thirty-four countries will be taking part, most of them represented by their respective minister of agriculture.

The Guatemalan colonial city of Antigua Guatemala will provide the backdrop for the week of Agriculture and Rural Life of the Americas from today to 27th July 2007, which will bring together ministers of agriculture , other high-level government representatives, senior officials of international agencies and other stakeholders of the hemisphere’s agriculture sector.

Delegates from the 34 member countries of the inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) are meeting in Guatemala to discuss important issues related to the sector and take strategic decisions, under the slogan of “Working together for the agriculture sector of the Americas”.

This important hemispheric event, which is held every two years, was organised by the Government of Guatemala, through its Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food (MAGA), with technical and logistical support from IICA.

Several events will take place during the week: the fourth Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture and Rural Life within the framework of the Summit of the Americas process; the Regular Meeting of the Inter-American Board of Agriculture (IABA); the forum of Ministerial Delegates of Agriculture and Rural Life and two other forums involving stakeholders of the agriculture sector.

Guatemala’s Minister of Agriculture, Bernardo Lopez, will be hosting the event. In a letter to the delegates, he urged them to consolidate strategies that would make it possible to realize the Shared Vision of Agriculture for 2010, in a spirit of democratic cooperation.

Minister Lopez said the countries needed to “promote the sustainable development of the sector to generate a new dynamic of shared responsibility to enhance the positioning of agriculture and rural life on the agendas of our nations”.

The Director General of IICA, Chelston Brathwaite, said “the contributions and proposals will make it possible to move forward with the joint and collective effort of building up agriculture and a rural milieu that are prosperous, modern, competitive and sustainable, and of achieving a better standard of living for rural communities”.

Brathwaite stressed that Guatemala would be “an excellent opportunity to hold a strategic dialogue on the future of agriculture and to make progress on specific issues”.

Berbice Expo 2007 surpasses expectations
-attracts thousands
Expositions and trade fairs and similar events were introduced by the Government to celebrate and promote pride in industry and entrepreneurship, and over the past few years, they have served to boost the tourism sector.

The first major event for this year, the Berbice Expo, opened Friday evening at the Albion Community Centre Ground, under the theme ˜The ancient county where opportunities beckon.

Minister Prashad congratulated the Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce (CCCC) and the planning committee for the outstanding work to successfully host the event that has been gaining momentum since it was first staged in 2005.

This exposition will afford the business community in Berbice the splendid opportunity to showcase their talents, innovations, entrepreneurship and industry. “Your fervent response is a demonstration of your commitment to showcase what Berbice, and more so, what Guyana has to offer while it assures that the private sector has the ability to grow and prosper,” the Tourism Minister said.

A number of entities participated in the exhibition including businesses that were there for the very first time.

He said such activities are looked forward to not only by Berbicians and the business community, but by tourists as well.

The purpose of any trade fair is to promote local products and services not just locally, but also regionally and globally, the Minister said. Trade fairs do this by bringing together manufacturers, traders and buyers. In addition, they generate new ideas, new markets and new opportunities, Minister Prashad noted.

The Berbice Expo and Trade fair is now a calendar event of the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce and part of Government plans to boost the tourism sector while creating a more vibrant trade industry.

Acting President of the Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce, Adrian Anamayah, expressed his gratitude to the government for the tremendous support that is being given for hosting such events.

He noted that the Berbice Expo is becoming self sufficient and requires little help from Central Government.

There were approximately 200 exhibitors and this number is expected to grow in the years ahead. The three -day event will today.

Some of the participating businesses are Edward. B. Beharry and Company, Banks DIH Ltd, the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) and  several government agencies including various ministries, the New Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC), the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) and the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GUYSUCO).(GINA)

Health Ministry donates wheelchairs to NGO
The Central Islamic Organisation yesterday received a timely donation of five wheel chairs from the Ministry of Health.

The donation is part of the Ministry’s mission to assist persons who are in need of the chairs. The organisation will identify the persons who will receive the chairs.

Shaik Hussain of No. 78 village Corentyne, who has a spinal problem, has been identified as one of the recipients. Hussain was shot by bandits last month.

The donation is part of the 250 wheel chairs the Health Ministry received from the Church of Latter Day Saints of the United States on June 15 last.

Plastic City residents get school uniform vouchers
- 17,000 already handed out
Approximately 17,000 uniform vouchers have already been distributed to beneficiaries in several communities across the country, as well as orphanages and other homes where children are housed.

Last week, residents of Plastic City/Best Foreshore, Region Three received their vouchers from Minister of Human Services and Social Security Priya Manickchand and officers of the Ministry.

The programme forms part of Government’s effort to assist parents to ensure their children stay in school.

The Ministry was allocated $30M for the provision of uniforms for over 20,000 children. The Amerindian Affairs Ministry was also allotted $10M to provide for Amerindian children. The vouchers are valued at $1,500 each.    

Minister Manickchand, who toured the Plastic City community and interacted with residents, urged parents to ensure that their children attend school since the Government has recognised that the only way out of poverty is through education.

The Minister and officers also visited the David Rose Special School in Georgetown where vouchers were distributed. While offering words of advice to parents, the Minister called for their continued partnership with the Ministry and the Government in providing the necessary environment and making sacrifices for their children to attend school.

Residents praised the Government for taking special interest in assisting them in providing for their children. They also commended the work of Minister Manickchand and her Ministry.

Last year’s $77M allocation benefited over 13,000 children. The programme is being executed through a collaborative effort between the Ministries of Human Services and Social Security and Amerindian Affairs, with the latter being responsible for over 120 Amerindian villages countrywide.

From an initial allocation of $31M in 2002, the sum was increased to $34M in 2003 which benefited 7,545 children. A sum of $750,000 was given to the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs to assist children in the hinterland communities.

In 2004, Cabinet approved an allocation of $40M of which the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs was granted $20M to provide uniforms for Amerindian children countrywide, while $20M was allocated to the Human Services Ministry which benefitted 13,028 children.  

Of the $40M approved for the programme in 2005, of which the Ministry of Labour Human Services and Social Security received $30M and the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs $10M to complete distribution in the regions which did not benefit in 2004. Approximately 13,500 children benefited from the $30M allocation.

The school uniform programme is being executed by the Difficult Circumstances Unit (DCU) of the Human Services Ministry. This unit over a five-year period expended approximately $150M in providing needy persons with prostheses, hearing aids, braces, wheel-chairs, funeral expenses, spectacles and medication.

THE CANADA/CARICOM 'PARTNERSHIP'
Editorial Viewpoint
By RICKEY SINGH
IT MAY not have been given the attention the region's media had attracted to last month's Washington Conference between President George Bush and CARICOM Heads of Government.

But let there be no doubt about the optimism that has emerged for a new economic parnership and positive relations in general between our Caribbean Community and Canada, following last Thursday's working visit to Barbados by the Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper

His young, fresh-face personality and readiness to openly acknowledge "neglect over the years" of the Caribbean by successive administrations in Ottawa, may have contributed to prevailing optimism among CARICOM Governments that are understandably anxious to go beyond a now expiring and very limited one-way free trade pact in the form of 'CaribCan'---Canada's version of the also expiring US-created Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI).

The 48-year-old Harper, who heads an 18-month old New Conservative Party administration, was in Barbados for bilateral talks with the government of Prime Minister Owen Arthur and later with a group of CARICOM Heads of Government comprising:

President Bharrat Jagdeo and Prime Ministers Arthur (current CARICOM chairman); Trinidad and Tobago's Patrick Manning; St.Vincent and the Grenadines' Ralph Gonsalves; St. Lucia's Stephenson King (ag); Antigua and Barbuda's Baldwin Spencer; Dominica"s Roosevelt Skerrit, The Bahamas' Hubert Ingraham, and St. Kitts and Nevis' Denzil Douglas

The government leaders of Jamaica (currently locked in national election campaigning); Belize, Suriname and Grenada had excused their absence.

Unlike the meeting with President Bush last month, no "joint statement" was released to the media following the working lunch meeting between Harper and CARICOM leaders.

But in separate statements, both the Canadian Prime Minister and Prime Minister Arthur, speaking on behalf of CARICOM, were to emphasise a new determination to forge a more imaginative relationship for mutual benefits.

While Arthur kept emphasising the difference between having even a revised trade agreement and a desirable "economic partnership", inclusive of provisions for free and fair trade; services and investment, as well as dispute-resolving procedures, his Canadian counterpart was emphatic in what's envisaged. He told a media briefing:

"We accept criticism that there has been some negligence over the years, but we are moving forward, full throttle, on the development of a new economic partnership for this region...

"Canada" he pledged, "will have a sustained high-level presence in the region, will engage more with key regional partners and will display leadership within the regional organisations and institutions..."

Involved in the proposed "new partnership" to take shape following the launch of structured new negotiations for the envisaged "modern relationship", would be projects that embrace education, capacity-building; security and democratic governance; trade and investments, the environment and climate change.

One of the distinguishing features of this region's relations with Canada--where there is an expanding Caribbean diaspora, including many thousands of Guyanese--has been the consistency on the part of successive administrations in Ottawa to avoid the arrogance and meddling that has been experienced in dealing with other trade and aid partners of our Caribbean Community.

Let, therefore, the negotiations begin for the promised "new partnership" for the next 10 years that could make a qualitative difference to previous aid and trade agreements with Canada.

After all, as Prime Minister Harper himself was to observe when he addressed a business forum before leaving Barbados to conclude a five-day four-nation visit to Haiti:

"From Canadian direct investment in excess of sixty billion dollars to billions more in the import and export of products and commercial and travel services, Canada and CARICOM and its associates certainly have a trade foundation upon which to build..."

BEYOND PNC'S 15th CONGRESS
The challenges yet to come for both major parties
By Rickey Singh
THIS COLUMN was being written while the People's National Congress Reform (PNCR), was engaged in Friday's opening session of its 15th biennial congress that concludes today.

For the first time in its some 50-year history, the party, the traditional arch rival of the People's Progressive Party (PPP) for state power, has had to contend with an open leadership challenge prior to the start of a congress, its highest decision-making forum.

Not since Hamilton Green, the once most powerful elected General Secretary of the PNC under founder-leader Forbes Burnham--who died in August 1985--signalled in 1991 his interest in contesting the leadership against then holder and Head of State Desmond Hoyte, has so much interest been generated in a threatened leadership challenge..

What had prevented the leadership contest between then Prime Minister Green and Hoyte---who died five years ago, and was succeeded by Robert Corbin---was the prospect of its negative impact on the PNC for the scheduled 1992 national elections. 

The elections were to be held under arrangements with the Carter Centre under entirely different and internationally supervised rules to those that had always ensured electoral "victories" (sic) for the PNC.

In the interest of "party unity", he said then, Green chose to withdraw from the leadership challenge against Hoyte with the understanding--as was reported at the time--that he would be chosen as deputy leader with regular consultation being the norm between them.

Mysteriously, that expected development never happend; and the PNC went into the 1992 elections with its "reform" wing.

It was to discover that not even Green's goodwill gesture or expedient decision to withdraw from the leadership contest, nor even the "reform" component could have prevented the party's loss of the state power it had so firmly controlled, and terribly abused, for some 28 years.

Now, in 2007, for the current 15th biennial congress, Corbin--the once controversial National Mobilisation Minister of the late President Burnham, and an earlier militant of the party's youth arm, Young Socialist Movement (YSM), found himself facing what never previously occured in the history of the PNC--a real open competitive campaign for leadership.

His challenger, Vincent Alexander, recognised as one of the party's intellectuals with a commitment for research and policy formulation, was to discover, to his deep chagrin, that the cards were heavily stacked against him, in the form of the voter-registration process, to unseat the old political trench fighter Corbin.

As the internal rows became fierce and overspilled into the pubic domain over credibility of the electoral process, including lack of verification of the register of voting delegates, there emerged the threat up to Friday of likely legal action to force a postponement of the party's scheduled elections of office bearers, including the leader.

Alexander's Options            
However, by yesterday--following a mix of "cheers" and "booings" at Friday's opening ceremony, there were clear indications of Alexander and his supporters backing away from the leadership duel and considering new post-congress initiatives, including a likely legal challenge on the conduct of the elections, while keeping his options open for the future.

There was no doubt, from the information released by Congress Place ahead of the biennial conference, that Corbin was going to retain the leadership of the party.

Open, competitive contest for leadership and other significant decision-making positions in a party is good for enhancing governance in a multi-party parliamentary democracy.

In this context, there are aspects of the governance structures of both the PNC and PPP that should perhaps be subjected to critical reviews now that they are without their legendary founder leaders, and functioning in a world fundamentally different to the era when political  battles fought at home were often strongly influenced and driven by external factors and forces that kept the "race pot" boiling.

One significant contradiction highlighted by Alexander's expressed discontent with the election arrangements for the 15th biennial congress could well influence a new approach in how the PNC manages its affairs and conducts future biennial congresses.

It is the contradiction that the PNC cannot strenuously argue in favour of verification of an electoral register for national elections but expediently duck for cover with conflicting positions when it comes to verification also for internal party elections, including the leadership.

So-called "surge of voters"--a euphemism for political chicanery--is something that has reportedly taken place at previous congresses of both the PNC and PPP, though not involving the leadership. There have been more than the proverbial political "cobwebs" on the respective "congress doors" of both parties.  

While the leadership challenge posed by Alexander may yet prove a positive development in a politically cleansing process at the top for the PNC, or the "retooling" of the party--as Corbin has called for--overall the campaign seemed largely a negative quarrel between the incumbent and challenger that offered NO fresh ideas for NEW directions for party and country.

Elections 2011
As it has been for many previous congresses, the focus for rallying the troops for the 15th biennial event that concludes today, was cast in a characteristic anti-PPP, anti-government mould---or classic scapegoating for lack of alternative ideas outside the box.

From the reports, nothing has really stood out among the traditional complaints and allegations about governance under the PPP that points to raise hopes for initiatives for forging new directions that could well influence the governing party itself to also reflect, with some humility, on where it and this nation should be going beyond "Elections 2011".

It is normal for a governing party to do a better job in cleverly concealing its internal disagreements/conflicts than its primary challenger for power.

This applies quite correctly today to both the PNC and PPP (never mind their expedient appendages that should now be simply absorbed in the whole and avoid the unnecessary hyphens or slashes).

If in two years time the PNC could well be facing a decisive leaderhsip challenge, the PPP has the even greater challenge to contemplate its best choices as Presidential candidate for 2011, now that the incumbent Bharrat Jagdeo is serving his final term as Head of State.

Perhaps the first significant signal of the PPP's thinking along those lines could come with its next congress, scheduled for 2008, but which could well be deferred to 2009 due to current plans for local government elections next year.

It is a very major decision for the party and the country's future and one that may well require serious consultation with, among others, that old, very experienced and tough political battle axe, Janet Jagan, matriarch of the party. To do otherwise, could prove quite problematic, to say the least,for the party..

It is never too early for any major political party or movement to discuss alternative leadership structures, policies and strategies to maintain not just its own relevance, but in being better placed for charting a more promising, enlightened future for the nation it seeks to serve. 

This holds good for both the PPP and PNC--beyond 2008/9. In the meantime, let's look forward to more mature political leadership and less of the traditional rancour and self-serving divisions that only diminish hopes for a better future for Guyana.

BRAIN DRAIN OR EXPORT EARNINGS?
By Sir Ronald Sanders
(The writer is a business consultant and former Caribbean diplomat)
The United States has become the principal beneficiary of the migration from Caribbean countries of its best educated people.  But the US is not the only developed country that has benefited from the Caribbean’s investment in the education of its people: Canada, Holland and the United Kingdom are also beneficiaries.

The figures for migration of secondary and tertiary educated people are high for every Caribbean country.  The most recent study shows that Suriname led the field for migration of tertiary educated people at 89.9% followed by Guyana at 85.9%, Jamaica at 82.5%, Haiti at 81.6%, St Kitts-Nevis at 71.6% and Antigua and Barbuda at 70%. 

Of the Commonwealth Caribbean countries, only the Bahamas and St Lucia were below 40%.

By the same token, many Caribbean countries profit from large remittances sent back to the region by its people who live abroad.  In fact, in relation to its Gross National Product (GNP), the Caribbean area is the largest recipient in the world of remittances. The largest single source of such remittances is the United States.

Of the Commonwealth Caribbean countries, Jamaica gains most from remittances.  In 2003, remittances to Jamaica represented a wapping 18% of its GNP, higher than aid and higher than foreign investment.   Guyana, Grenada and Barbados followed with contributions to their GNP of 8.1%, 5.3% and 4.5% respectively.

These remittances are vitally important to every Caribbean country.  They help to keep the country stable by ensuring the survival of unemployed or low-paid workers, paying for housing of persons who might otherwise be homeless, circulating capital in the economy and in some cases buying food and medicines. 

No country could afford not to receive these remittances which may be even higher than official calculations since remittances are often not sent through the banking system or even through the money transfer companies; some are hand delivered by friends and relatives travelling between countries.

If remittances were not being received the level of poverty, crime and social instability in many Caribbean countries would be worse than it is.  Therefore, governments, undoubtedly, welcome the remittances.

Nonetheless, Caribbean countries are facing a dilemma over the migration of their best trained and educated people. 

Simply put, it is this: while countries welcome the significant and irreplaceable contribution that remittances make to their social welfare and political stability, they devote large sums of money on the education of their people only to see a large number of them migrate to developed countries, and they lose people who are needed to help make businesses more productive and profitable.   Even governments suffer from the loss of skilled and qualified people whose technical skills are needed in a range of areas including in formulating and implementing fiscal and trade policy.

And a solution does not boil down to restricting the migration of qualified and skilled people.  Any such decision by a government would be an infringement of basic human rights.  It would fuel social discontent within countries, and probably lead to a host of illegal activities for migration.

The Caribbean could take the view that the ‘brain drain’ is simply another export industry.  Just as rice, sugar, bananas are exported in return for foreign exchange earnings and economic growth, a reality would be that people are trained for export to the work force of industrialised nations and their remittances would constitute the earnings that Caribbean countries receive.

Indeed, Caribbean countries are accustomed to exporting people to jobs.  When the Panama Canal was being painstakingly dug, much of the back-breaking and often fatal labour was performed by Caribbean people who migrated to the job opportunity.  There were other significant movements of people to the United States Virgin Islands when a refinery was built there, and, of course, after the Second World War, large numbers of Caribbean people went to Britain to fill the breach for able-bodied people to carry out a range of tasks in transportation, construction and health services.    In all cases, the migrant workers sent money back home.

The difference with the present problem is whereas in the past the labour that was being exported was largely unskilled, the current migrants are highly trained at great cost to their Caribbean countries of origin, and the loss of their knowledge reduces the capacity of the Caribbean to compete in the global economy.

So, the economists would question whether the cost of production – the amount of money spent educating people for work in the developed nations – is justified by the amount of money received in remittances. 

Whatever the Economists conclude, the fact of life is that people move away from economic, social and political conditions that trouble them.  In part, these conditions across Caribbean countries are pushing skilled people away from their homelands.

It is also a reality that people are pulled to industrialised nations by better circumstances such as well-paid jobs, employment that matches their skills and training, and good social conditions such as health care.

Clearly Caribbean countries have to come to terms with two realities.

First, every country in the region has to improve conditions to keep more of its skilled people at home. This means health and modern education facilities have to be improved and the environment for investment and business has to be strengthened. 

And, second, it has to be accepted that some skilled people will continue to migrate however much conditions in their home countries get better.  Of course, many more will migrate if the domestic conditions do not improve or if they worsen.

If the brain drain is regarded as a reality, then there may be merit in seeing it as an export industry, and a case should be made to the industrialised countries who gain to contribute meaningfully to education and training in the Caribbean.

This would take the full burden of education off the shoulders of Caribbean countries and share it with the countries who are also its beneficiaries.

NGMC Feature
Strength in numbers – farmers unite
The old adage - ‘united we stand divided we fall’ has far-reaching consequences for the further growth and development of Guyana’s agriculture sector, particularly the producers and exporters of non traditional crops, which because of the relatively new emergence of this sector, is less organized and unified in its approach to trade.

Traditional crops such as rice and sugar have progressed over the years, notwithstanding the advent of severe and unpredictable weather patterns and rapidly changing trade and economic policies fuelled by globalization and an increase in free trade. As a result of these developments, competitiveness has become critical since markets that were once guaranteed and protected are slowly eroding.

Nevertheless, the export of rice and sugar continues to be major contributors to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The organized and professional approach of entities such as the Rice Producers Association (RPA), which represents rice farmers nationwide, plays a critical role in protecting the rights of its members, providing effective representation and support. It is not an exaggeration to say that rice farmers, and by extension the rice industry, may well have been less successful without the support of the RPA and similar entities.

Some of the major accomplishments the RPA has made on behalf of rice farmers include adequate drainage and irrigation systems, high quality seed paddy, enhanced access roads from fields to mills, tax concessions on machinery and some basic inputs such as fertilizer & fuel, access to modern farming techniques and technology, and fair prices for paddy.

Clearly, no one farmer standing alone is likely to garner such accomplishments in the interest of maximizing production and improving his standard of living. Only as a group can such achievements be attained.

The benefits and importance of farmers in the non-traditional agro-products sector establishing organs which can address their interest collectively, is therefore critical to meaningful progress.

Agricultural cooperatives or associations play an important role in marketing agricultural crops. A cooperative structure serves to provide agricultural producers with the opportunity to process and market their crops in a joint business venture with other producers.

Uniform preparation of a commodity for a buyer can also be achieved, as can minimization of the numbers of farmers with whom a commodity purchaser must do business. This has its obvious advantages, since no buyer would prefer doing business with twenty farmers separately, as against one organized entity.

Agricultural cooperatives are formed to solve market failure. Market failure occurs when goods are not distributed to the benefit of all persons involved in markets. In particular, two instances characterize market failure. First, large numbers of buyers and sellers may fail to enter the market. Second, equilibrium prices may never be reached because market prices are too low or too high, which may adversely affect the sellers or buyers, respectively. By solving market failure, farming and commodity systems become more economically efficient.

These associations are also formed to achieve market power, or to influence terms of trade. This trade may take the form of domestic or international markets. Terms of trade relate to price, timing, form, and other quality or quantity specifications.

The Government, through agencies such as the New Guyana Marketing Corporation (NGMC) has been consistently encouraging farmers to establish organized groups but little progress has been made in this regard. Some degree of distrust seems to exist among farmers, creating a barrier to genuine cooperation, and providing an incentive for the ‘every man for himself’ approach.

However, no benefits are to be derived from this approach. An examination of the agriculture industry in developed countries indicates that there exist both marketing and supply cooperatives. Agricultural marketing cooperatives, some of which are government-sponsored, promote and may actually distribute specific commodities. There are also agricultural supply cooperatives, which provide inputs into the agricultural process. In Europe, there are also strong agricultural / agribusiness cooperatives, and agricultural cooperative banks.

To engage in any meaningful dialogue with the rest of society, farmers need their representative organisations, the farmers’ organisations, structured from grassroots to the international level, as their legitimate voice. This is why farmers’ movement gives a lot of importance to farmers’ organisations, organisations by farmers and for farmers, as an important pillar of today’s society.

Dozens of vibrant and effective farmers’ associations exist throughout the world in countries such as the United States of America, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, France, Germany and Brazil.

The onus is therefore on farmers in Guyana to envision both the medium and long-term advantages of establishing associations which can only serve to benefit them both individually and as a group, and also successfully propel the industry into the new global economy.

Bangladesh:
When Democracy Goes Bad
By Gwynne Dyer
"We do not want to go back to an elective democracy where corruption becomes all pervasive," Lt Gen Moeen U Ahmed, the chief of the Bangladesh army, told a conference in Dhaka in April. Typical talk from a soldier who has thrust the civilian political leaders of his country aside -- but he does have a point, for the leaders in question are a pair of obsessives whose rivalry has poisoned Bangladesh's politics for decades.

Two political dynasties, alternating in power, have ruled Bangladesh ever since 1991. Among the larger democracies, only in the United States have two families, the Bushes and the Clintons, monopolised executive power for a longer time. But whereas the Bush-Clinton rivalry still continues -- if Hillary Clinton wins the presidency next year and goes on to win a second term in 2012, the two American families will have been alternating in power for 28 years -- the Bangladeshi rivalry is coming to an end. So, unfortunately, is democracy in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh's democracy was never much to write home about.  It won its independence from Pakistan in 1971, but there were twenty years of tyranny and military rule before the first genuinely democratic government was elected in 1991. This change had domestic roots, of course, but it was also part of the wave of non-violent democratic revolutions that began in the Philippines in 1986 and swept through Indonesia, Taiwan, Thailand and South Korea.

Two steps forward, one step back. Thailand's democracy has now given way to military rule, and democracy in the Philippines isn't looking too healthy either. But nothing compares with the fall from grace of Bangladesh, which is usually ranked among the five most corrupt countries in the world by Transparency International. The credit for the disaster goes largely to the two women who have alternated in power there for the
past sixteen years.

Sheikh Hasina, prime minister from 1996 to 2001, is the daughter of Mujibur Rahman, the "Father of Bangladesh," a former student agitator who led the movement for separation from Pakistan and then became the first leader of independent Bangladesh. He was an instinctive autocrat without a single democratic bone in his body, and he died in 1975 in a bloody coup by junior army officers that also killed his wife and all of his children except Hasina and one other daughter who were abroad at the time.  So Hasina has a chip on her shoulder.

Khaleda Zia, her bitterest rival, is the widow of General Ziaur Rahman, the army officer who succeeded Mujib after a chaotic interval. He reversed most of Mujib's policies, including socialism and a strictly secular state -- and then Zia also died in a hail of bullets in another military coup in 1981. So Khaleda also has a chip on her shoulder. She became Zia's political heir, and prime minister from 1991-96 and again from 2001-06. Corruption flourished even more vigorously under her rule than under that of Sheikh Hasina.

Neither woman chose politics as a profession; both were driven into it by family tragedy. Neither woman is a monster: each would probably offer up her own life if it would guarantee a safe and prosperous future for her 150 million fellow-countrymen and women. But each loathes the other, and would rather die than compromise or cooperate. Too many of their supporters have the same attitude.

The view of General Ahmed, who has effectively been running the country since elections were cancelled in January, is essentially that democracy is to blame. Sheikh Hasina, out of power, declared a boycott of this year's elections because she believed that the incumbent, Khaleda Zia, was going to rig them. In those circumstances, the election result would be meaningless, so the army intervened. And the general just doesn't think democracy is right for Bangladesh.

But if it isn't right for Bengalis, one of the most politicised, argumentative populations on the planet, then just who is it right for?

Democracy in Bangladesh has gone horribly wrong because of the bitter heritage from the war of independence -- which, like most such struggles, was partly a civil war -- but the solution is to fix it, not to cancel it.

At the moment, General Ahmed is arresting hundreds of prominent political figures on corruption charges. Doubtless many of them are guilty, for that is how politics has been played in Bangladesh for decades.  If they are found guilty by properly constituted courts and banned from further participation in politics, no great harm will be done.

If Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia themselves were among those excluded from politics on the grounds that they engaged in corrupt practices, that would not be a bad thing, either. But politics -- DEMOCRATIC politics -- needs to continue. It also needs to continue (or rather, resume) in Thailand, and Pakistan, and all the other places where the voters were "deceived by the politicians," or "made the wrong choices," or whatever other formula the saviours in uniform use when they grab power for themselves.

People get things wrong. Politics is a messy business. As Winston Churchill said, "The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter." But he also said: "Democracy is the worst form of government -- except all the others that have been tried from time to time."

Gwynne Dyer is a London-based independent journalist whose articles are published in 45 countries.

Suicide
A real problem .
By. Rev. Kwame Gilbert
Recently the Minister of Health, Dr. Ramsammy , met with a group of individuals representing various interest groups , to discuss the need to establish a National Suicide Prevention Unit .

This move was applauded by all of us who were present, since it was widely expressed that suicide is a very real issue that is affecting our country at this time.

Recently Region Six has seen an alarming increase in the number of suicides among young people .This troubling issue needs to be urgently addressed and again it is very heartening that our Health Ministry has undertaken a national effort . To quote Dr. Ramsammy who said “My desire though lofty, is possible, and that is to stop the next suicide from happening” echoes the very heart of many parents and families who lost loved ones to suicide.

It is proven that over 90 percent of people that die by suicide have a mental illness at the time of their death. Having earned a degree in professional counselling myself and studied behavioral analysis and crisis intervention, and also with almost sixteen years as a counsellor, I would want to suggest that one cannot conclusively say that all suicide is as a result of mental illness. While untreated mental illnesses, including depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and many others, cause the vast majority of suicides, persons sometimes who have had no history of any of these conditions also sometimes are the victims of suicide.

What is of the greatest importance in this whole drive is for us all to be aware of warning signs that can put us on the alert and save lives.

People who appear depressed or sad most of the time very likely are candidates for suicide.

Feeling and expressing hopelessness, withdrawing from friends and family, feeling tired most of the times, making statements like -:

“I can’t go on any longer, I hate this Life, I don’t care anymore, and I will end it all”. These are critical warning signals that can help you spot a person who might be suicidal. However it must be noted that some people who die by suicide do not show any warning signs. Many people hide their depression because there is still a strong social stigma against mental illness. When people hear that you are going to the psychiatric clinic, the reaction almost always is “you mad”.

But most persons do show some warning signs, so we need to be aware of what those signs are and try to stop the next suicide from happening.

Now it must not be construed that because a person is depressed for a day or two, that he is suicidal. Depression is usually a prolonged period of sadness that interferes with your ability to function. One cause of depression is a chemical imbalance in the brain and as such it can be treated medically. On the other hand, from a spiritual perspective, some depressions require more than medical treatment. That is where people like me come in. All in all suicide cannot be tackled only from a clinical perspective. This fight requires a collective effort by all of us.

One might be wondering, what do I do if I see these signs? Well firstly we must always take suicidal comments seriously. Never assume that the person is joking or just seeking attention .Secondly get help immediately. Do not leave a suicidal person alone. Get other friends and family involved. Never swear to secrecy with a suicidal person. Tell someone who you believe can help.

The human mind is a very private place, and as such it is hard to really know what people are thinking. But once they have expressed their thoughts, take them seriously. Show an interest in the persons living around you The child in your class that hardly speaks, the little boy in your neighborhood who never plays. The girl that is always talking about being fed up. Pay attention, you may be able to stop the next suicide from happening. Hats off to the Minister of Health for his commitment to saving lives.

Maccarinelli retains WBO world title
… with unanimous points victory over the ‘Big Truck’
WELSHMAN Enzo Maccarinelli retained his WBO cruiserweight title with a bruising but unanimous points victory over Wayne ‘Big Truck’ Braithwaite in Cardiff.

With 38 knockouts on the records of the two fighters, an early finish was anticipated between two big punchers.

But the Swansea man, making the third defence of his title, adopted a patient approach in a mature performance.

He floored the ex-WBC champion in the fifth round and finished well ahead on all three judges' scorecards.

The 119-108, 118-109 and 120-107 verdicts were testimony to Maccarinelli's dominance, a couple of final-round scares apart.

The 26-year-old, who took his record to 27 wins from 28 fights, with 20 KOs, imposed himself well in the early stages, working his jab well.

Urged on by fellow Welsh world champion Joe Calzaghe, sitting at ringside, he connected with a couple of clubbing left hands in the second round and unloaded a barrage of blows in the third, wobbling Braithwaite.

But the New York-based Guyanese fighter, nicknamed ‘Big Truck’ for his own punching power, retained his composure despite finding himself out-boxed.

The 31-year-old struggled to land any effective blows of his own, and Maccarinelli worked his man well on the inside during the fifth.

He had already landed two good shots when Braithwaite advanced, only to be caught flush on the chin by Maccarinelli's counter off the ropes, a great follow-up left hand sending Braithwaite to the canvas.

Maccarinelli's intensity appeared to drop a touch in the seventh but he still ended it on a high, sending Braithwaite's gum-shield flying into the crowd with a stinging upper-cut.

Another good one followed in the eighth before a sustained attack in the next left Braithwaite bleeding from his mouth.

The challenger, who had won 22 of his 24 previous fights, 18 by knockout, enjoyed his best round in the 10th to retain a glimmer of hope.

Maccarinelli was forced to take two good left hands from Braithwaite in the final round, and a right hand over the top also shook the Welshman, but he kept things tight thereafter to seal a deserved success.

"It was a tough match-up against a WBC world champion, and he is one of the top fighters in the world," Maccarinelli said afterwards.

"He took some great shots; I dominated behind my jab. I neglected the right hand a bit, but I hurt it early on and it was painful every time I threw it.

"But my jab kept him at bay. I showed I could take a shot on the chin, I showed I can box and I have great stamina. It was a good performance.

"He took some tremendous body shots that would have crippled most people."

Victory could now set up a potential clash with IBF champion Steve Cunningham on November 3, on the undercard of Calzaghe's date with Mikkel Kessler at the Millennium Stadium. (BBC Sport)

Twenty-two nations to battle for CFU’s Under-15 football title
… Guyana intensifies preparations from today
By Allan La Rose
TWENTY countries affiliated to the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) together with, specially invited El Salvador of Central America and CONCACAF’s top nation, Mexico, will vie for top honours when the third edition of the Biennial Under-15 football tournament gets under way in the Twin Island Republic of T&T next month.

The CFU’s showpiece event will be contested among five groups of four teams each in the preliminary competition and will kick-off on August 18 with a group ‘A’ match-up between hosts, T&T and Aruba at the Hasely Crawford Stadium (HCS). The other two teams in the group, USVI and Bahamas will meet the next day at the same venue.

The make-up of the rest of the groups are; ‘B’ – Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, Haiti and The Cayman Islands, ‘C’ – Barbados, Netherlands Antilles, Cuba and Bermuda, ‘D’ – Suriname, St Kitts, BVI and St Vincent and the Grenadines and ‘E’ – Guyana, Jamaica, Dominica and St Maarten.

The top team in each group along with the best second-placed side, overall, at the end of the preliminary competition on August 23 will then join the two specially invited teams for the quarterfinals, to be staged on August 26 at two different venues.

Guyana begin their title chase at 17:00 h against Jamaica on August 19 at the Marvin Lee Stadium (MLS), where all of the group ‘E’ matches will be played, and finish the group campaign on August 23 when they clash with Dominica at 15:00 h.

The other game versus St Maarten is fixed for 15:00 h on August 21.

El Salvador will confront the winner of group ‘E’ at the MLS in the second game of the quarterfinals double-header at 17:00 h while preceding that will be Mexico up against the winner of ‘C’ at 15:00 h.

The other two quarters to be contested at HCS will match the group ‘B’ winner versus the best second-placed side at 15:00 h and the match to follow at 17:00 h will bring together the winners of ‘A’ and ‘D’.

The semis are scheduled for August 28 at HCS where the tournament will climax on August 30 with the Championship match set for 18:00 h.

The other stadia to be used in the preliminaries are Larry Gomes (B), Manny Ramjohn (D) and Dwight Yorke (C) in Tobago.

Meanwhile, Guyana’s training preparations will go into top gear from today when the squad departs for a two-week encampment at Kwakwani, over 100 miles from the city.

The twenty-five players selected together with their parents and the coaching staff of five will assemble at 11:00 h at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) pavilion where they will meet officials of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) prior to departure.

Mahmoud double sends Iraq into Asian Cup semis
By Martin Petty
BANGKOK, Thailand (Reuters) - Striker Younis Mahmoud scored twice to give Iraq a convincing 2-0 victory over Vietnam in an entertaining Asian Cup quarter-final yesterday.

The Iraqi captain popped up unmarked inside the area to head Nashat Akram's lofted free kick into the net after two minutes and set the tone for the rest of the match.

Iraq were always on the attack and doubled their lead in the 65th minute when Mahmoud fired an inch-perfect free kick over the Vietnam wall and into the corner.

The victory was marred, however, by news that two people had been killed and 15 others wounded when Iraqis fired weapons into the air during celebrations in Baghdad yesterday.

It was fourth-time lucky for Iraq, who have been knocked out at the quarter-final stage in the last three Asian Cups.

Their Brazilian coach Jorvan Vieira, however, said he was not satisfied with the performance.

"I hope we can play much better in the next game, it was good, but I'm not satisfied," he told a news conference.

"We were not so positive, we relaxed after the goal, and this is dangerous.

Vieira said it was too early to talk about the possibility of Iraq winning the competition.

"We have a right to dream but we have to keep our feet on the floor," he said.

Vietnam rarely threatened but could have equalised on the stroke of halftime when Chau Phong Hoa darted down the left and cut the ball back to the unmarked Nguyen Minh Phuong, whose powerful low shot was blocked by the Iraqi defence.

A vibrant atmosphere made up for the vast number of empty seats at the Rajamangala stadium, where flag-waving Vietnamese and Iraqi fans dressed in national colours blew horns and pounded on drums.

Mahmoud almost made it a hat-trick two minutes after his second goal when he side-footed the ball over the bar, and was agonisingly close in the dying seconds when he was put clean through on goal and shot wide of the target.

Vietnam coach Alfred Rieldl admitted his side were totally outplayed, but commended them for their performance in the competition.

"We had 90 minutes and we didn't even have one chance to win the game," he said.

"We caused a sensation in Vietnam to reach the quarter-finals. No one expected us to get this far."

Iraq will meet the winners of today's match between South Korea and Iran in the semi-finals in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday.

National Amateur Boxing squad begins training tomorrow
THE fifteen amateur boxers selected by the Guyana Amateur Board Association (GABA) for training with a view to be selected for the upcoming World Championships scheduled for Chicago in October will begin training preparations at the National Park tomorrow morning.

The pugilists will be under the supervision of coaches Terrence Poole, Siebert Blake, Clifton Moore and Carl Franklin.

The names of the boxers released by the GABA are: flyweight - Ryan Jeffers and Dillion Allicock; bantamweight - Clive Atwell and Clevon Rock; featherweight - Ray Sandiford and Quacy Craig; lightweight - Aubrey Moore and Andrew Murray Jr; light-welterweight - Hendrick Pelswijk and Bert Braithwaite; welterweight - Leon Carter and Dennis Thomas; middleweight - Mark Pierre and Devon Boatswain and lightweight - Orrin Grenville.

Meanwhile, head of GABA, Affeeze Khan, has reported that he has been able to get the executive to unanimously agree to appoint an auditor to audit the accounts of GABA which have not been audited for the last 25 years.

Appointed to make an official examination of the accounts of GABA is Harryram Parmesar, of Solomon, Parmesar and Company, Chartered Accountants/Management Consultants. (Allan La Rose)

I say what I like and I like what I say
Kevin Mitchell on Geoff Boycott, the player and commentator
UNLIKE many of the wretched players who have failed under his critical gaze this summer, Geoffrey Boycott has been in what Henry Blofeld might call "splendid form" behind the microphone.

He has zeroed in on Chris Gayle's sleepwalking coolness, he has lambasted the lack of fire in West Indies bowlers and the waywardness of England's, he has put the case for and against Paul Collingwood as captain, without conceding it was a forgone conclusion; he has, as ever, taken nothing for granted.

In short, the old boy has had a vintage summer. That he has done so while coping with the burden of his cancer treatment is testimony to his courage and professionalism.

I'm presuming, by the way, that Boycott and Blofeld are on cordial terms. It's sometimes hard to know who Boycott is and isn't talking to. If you haven't had at least a minor run-in with him in or around the press box over the years, you're probably invisible or have stopped breathing.

But who would have it any other way? Boycott, notably among the plethora of post-playing-days experts paid to point out the shortcomings, and occasionally the excellence, of their successors, has always provided a robust counterpoint to, say, the more subtle ways of Richie Benaud.

Geoffrey doesn't do irony. Or compromise. But he does do Yorkshire. Not in the way the late Fred Trueman did, nor in the unintentionally hilarious manner of Brian Close, or with the slightly bitter tone of Ray Illingworth.

Boycott's nod towards the stereotypes of his county has always been invested with lashings of sound judgment. His views may be brutally delivered, and take little account of the sensitivities of those not lucky enough to be born the greatest living Yorkshireman - give Simon Mann a break, Geoffrey - but, quite simply, he is rarely wrong.

Allied to his forthrightness, such certitude lifts him above most of his colleagues. It is what he is paid to do - just as he was paid to score runs, not entertain. I'm sure Boycott meant it when he said in his autobiography: "I would exchange the rest of my life for five more years of playing for Yorkshire and England." Yet, when he did finish playing, he walked away with the same resolution he showed at the crease, as if the work of scoring runs should be brought to a definitive close.

He remembers it to the very minute, as he told The Observer a few years ago: "September 12, 1986, at Scarborough, playing for Yorkshire. I walked off the pitch at exactly 5.21pm. I showered, waited for all the players to leave then had a final stroll around the ground. I felt a real sadness but I knew I wouldn't play again, no matter how much money people wanted to give me."

There never was much ambiguity about Boycott's attachment to making money, not that it's a crime. Similarly, when he was stepping out with various women, he could legitimately point out that he was, after all, a single man and his private life was his own business.

In everything he does and says, there is certainty, or at least the striving for it.

He is not someone to entertain doubts over the smallest detail of his existence. Whenever he has detected even a small flaw, he has gone to work to correct it. As a player, he became a sound fielder through hard work, and he even bowled serviceable seamers.

His one concession to unconformity was to keep his cap on when bowling. I remember interviewing Close and Boycott within a couple of months of each other and being struck by a key difference in two outwardly similar personalities. I asked each of them when they had last picked up a cricket bat.

For Close it was easy: he was still turning out with Yorkshire's academy side at the time, well into his sixties. Boycott was adamant he had not been tempted. That day in Scarborough was it.

For Boycott, playing cricket was always about doing it at or near the highest level. There was no point, as far as he could see, in doing it just for fun. It would demean his talent. Scoring runs, as many as possible, and defending his wicket, as resolutely as he could, was a personal obligation as much as a commitment to those who depended on him to make the most of his gifts.

Close recalls promoting himself up the order to ginger up Boycott in the Gillette Cup final for Yorkshire against Surrey in 1965 and was rewarded with the spectacular sight of the young curmudgeon opening his shoulders to strike three sixes and 15 fours on his way to 146.

Boycott, naturally, disputes Close's account.

If there is a downside to this dogged, disputatious approach to life, it is in what seems to be a lack of lightness. You wonder if someone who is never wrong, who demands so much of himself - and, consequently of others - can ever be content, can ever be wholly satisfied with his lot. But isn't that the price of greatness?

And, whatever he says, great is what Boycott always wanted to be. Was he a great batsman? A lot of objective observers would say very nearly. Is he a great commentator? For what it's worth, I think so. (Cricinfo)

First Test at Lord’s
Anderson’s five for 42 puts England in command
By Richard Sydenham
LONDON, England (Reuters) - England reached 77 for two at the close of the third day of the first Test as the home side took command against India at Lord's yesterday.

Michael Vaughan was 16 not out and Kevin Pietersen had 15 as they survived an evening session that had been interrupted by the weather to give England an overall lead of 174 runs.

Left-arm seamer Zaheer Khan removed the England openers and had figures of two for 36. With two days remaining and with more rain likely, England will be seeking to set the tourists a target of at least 300.

India, replying to England's first innings 298, earlier collapsed to 201 all out before lunch after losing their last six wickets for 46 runs in the morning session. Swing bowler James Anderson claimed career-best Test figures of five for 42.

They resumed on 145 for four and seeking to get somewhere near to England's first innings total.

However, once former skipper Sourav Ganguly was bowled in the sixth over of the morning for 34 by an Anderson delivery that swung in to him the capitulation had commenced.

Ryan Sidebottom removed nightwatchman Rudra Pratap Singh before Anderson had the dangerous Mahendra Singh Dhoni caught by Ian Bell in the gully for a duck. The score was then 175 for seven.

Anil Kumble batted for 24 minutes before Sidebottom trapped him lbw for 11 and the last remaining batsman, VVS Laxman, was unable to hold off England's charge and edged Sidebottom to wicketkeeper Matt Prior for 15.

With India nine wickets down, there was a shoot-out between Anderson and Sidebottom with a five-wicket haul on offer.

Anderson, 25 this month, won the contest when Zaheer Khan mishit a hook and was caught by Andrew Strauss at first slip. It was Anderson's third five-wicket Test haul and first in four years.

England's second innings was progressing solidly at 40 without loss following the first of two lengthy rain delays when Strauss, on 18, failed to move his feet to a Zaheer ball outside off stump and edged to first slip.

Shortly before, Strauss had been involved in an exchange with India fast bowler Shanthakumaran Sreesanth that may have affected his concentration.

The batsman was struck on the thigh by Sreesanth who threw, supposedly at the stumps, after fielding off his own bowling. Sreesanth apologised, though Strauss's response was to walk away while Sreesanth neared his delivery stride next ball.

Zaheer removed Alastair Cook lbw for 17 two balls after his first wicket though replays suggested the ball may have struck him outside the line of off stump.

India have not won a Test series in England for 21 years.

ENGLAND first innings 298 all out (A. Strauss 96, M. Vaughan 79)

INDIA first innings o/n 145 for 4

K. Karthik lbw b Sidebottom 5

W. Jaffer c & b Tremlett 58

R. Dravid c Prior b Anderson 2

S. Tendulkar lbw b Anderson 37

S. Ganguly b Anderson 34

R. Singh c Anderson b Sidebottom 17

V. Laxman c Prior b Sidebottom 15

M. Dhoni c Bell b Anderson 0

A. Kumble lbw b Sidebottom 11

Z. Khan c Strauss b Anderson 7

S. Sreesanth not out 0

Extras: (b-4, lb-7, nb-4) 15

Total: (all out, 77.2 overs) 201

Fall of wickets: 1-18, 2-27, 3-106, 4-134, 5-155, 6-173, 7-175, 8-192, 9-197.

Bowling: Sidebottom 22-5-65-4, Anderson 24.2-8-42-5, Tremlett 20-8-52-1 (nb-4), Collingwood 3-1-9-0, Panesar 8-3-22-0.

ENGLAND second innings

A. Strauss c Tendulkar b Khan 18

A. Cook lbw b Khan 17

M. Vaughan not out 16

K. Pietersen not out 15

Extras: (b-9, lb-1, w-1) 11

Total: (2 wickets; 27 overs) 77

Fall of wickets: 1-40, 2-43.

Bowling: Khan 14-3-36-2 (w-1), Sreesanth 8-2-25-0, Singh 5-2-6-0.

Symonds urges Aussie crowds to applaud Murali
MELBOURNE, Australia (Reuters) - All-rounder Andrew Symonds has urged Australian crowds to applaud Muttiah Muralitharan if the controversial off-spinner breaks Shane Warne's Test wickets record when Sri Lanka tour Down Under in November.

The 35-year-old Sri Lankan became the second player in history to reach 700 victims in the final Test against Bangladesh in Kandy earlier this month and lies eight scalps behind leg-spinner Warne's record haul.

Symonds, a former team mate of Muralitharan at English county Lancashire, said he hoped Australian crowds would respect his achievements despite his twice being called for throwing on tours there in the 1990s.

"I just hope the beer drinkers in the sun don't give him a hard time and late one afternoon if he breaks the record they start on him," Symonds told Australian Associated Press.

"I hope that doesn't happen, I hope people can stand up and actually applaud him for what he is, a legend of a game."

Sri Lanka play a two-Test series against Australia starting in Brisbane on November 8, but Muralitharan has only played three Tests on Australian soil largely due to the throwing controversies.

CHUCKER COMMENT
He was also called for throwing by match referee Chris Broad after taking 28 wickets in a three-Test series on home soil against the Australians in 2004.

He later that year skipped the tour of Australia after Prime Minister John Howard apparently agreed with a reporter's comment that Muralitharan was a 'chucker'.

The fact that the retired Warne only smashed through the 700-wicket barrier at the Boxing Day Test against England last year may also add spice to the barracking.

Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland said the prospect of Muralitharan breaking of Warne's short-lived record in Australia was a reason to celebrate.

"Each to their own how they do that, but it has been 700 wickets and whatever it is for breaking Shane's record is a remarkable achievement and well worth celebrating," he said.

"We would prefer an Australian to hold the record for the most number of wickets, but the reality is that records are there to be broken."

Muralitharan has never played at the Gabba, scene of November's first Test, and would also be making his bow at Hobart's Bellerive Oval for the second Test scheduled to start on November 16.

Flood-hit clubs to receive support…
ECB pledge £250 000 flood fund
THE England and Wales Cricket Trust has committed £250 000 to help cricket clubs that have been affected by this summer's torrential weather and floods.

It has been a forgettable summer, leading the weather forecasters to gloomily predict that July is heading for the wettest on record. And the consequences for county cricket are starting to look ominous, financially and for team's prospects in the table. Yesterday, Worcestershire were forced to abandon their Championship match against Lancashire at New Road - the second abandonment in succession at the club.

Though the ECB and their trust can't do much about the torrential rain, the sum they have pledged ought to at least aid clubs' recovery - not just in county cricket, but for clubs and leagues too.

"The weather this summer has created serious problems for cricket clubs at all levels of the game," David Collier, ECB's chief executive said. "Many of the club grounds are the centres of the community and we, at the ECB, felt it was important to do our best to support them at this difficult time."

Details of how the £250 000 will be spread among the clubs have yet to be worked out, and the ECB have also approached Sport England to match this funding. (Cricinfo)

Flintoff set for low-key comeback
ANDREW Flintoff has been cleared to make his Lancashire comeback following ankle surgery.

Weather permitting, Flintoff will turn out for the club's second XI against Derbyshire at Blackpool on Tuesday.

He is not ready to bowl but will play as a specialist batsman and Lancashire say he is making "excellent progress".

The operation was the third on his left ankle and it is not expected that he will play any part in England's current Test series against India.

"The one-dayers are a more realistic target," the 29-year-old all-rounder said last weekend.

Flintoff suffered discomfort in his ankle during a Championship game against Hampshire in early May.

And although he subsequently played as a specialist batsman in a Twenty20 Cup match against Yorkshire, it was decided an operation was the best option.

The problem was diagnosed as "tissue contributing to anterior impingement" and completely different to the bone spur which put him out of action last year.

Following the surgery, the England and Wales Cricket Board said it was anticipated that Flintoff would play again "before the end of the summer".

But it appears he is ahead of schedule in his rehabilitation work with Lancashire physio Dave Roberts. (BBC Sport)

Vinokourov back as Rasmussen keeps Tour lead
By Julien Pretot
ALBI, France (Reuters) - Alexander Vinokourov was back in contention in the Tour de France after winning yesterday’s 13th stage, a 54-km time trial in Albi, but Dane Michael Rasmussen retained the overall leader's yellow jersey.

Kazakh Vinokourov clocked the fastest time of one hour six minutes 34 seconds to beat second-placed Australian Cadel Evans of the Predictor Lotto team by 1:14. Vinokourov's team mate Andreas Kloeden finished third 1:39 off the pace and Astana now have three riders in the top 10 of the overall standings.

German Kloeden crashed on the bumpy course but was soon on his bike to keep his Tour de France bid alive.

"It was the best time trial of my life," said Rasmussen. Starting the stage with the yellow jersey is a huge motivation."

In the overall standings, Rasmussen enjoys a one-minute lead over Evans with surprise package Alberto Contador of Spain in third place 2:31 adrift of the Dane for the Discovery Channel team.

Kloeden is fourth, three seconds further behind as Vinokourov, who started the day in 19th place, moved up to ninth 5:10 behind Rabobank rider Rasmussen.

TREACHEROUS
It was, however, a bad day for the Spanish favourites with Iban Mayo and Alejandro Valverde ending respectively 46th and 47th.

Vinokourov, who crashed during the fifth stage to Autun and sustained knee and elbow injuries, had dropped to 19th in the overall standings after struggling in the Alps.

"I got off to a good start, I am happy with my performance," Vinokourov told reporters. "I want to thank the fans, whose support helped me go through the Alps.

"I was on the verge of pulling out. With Andreas and 'Kash' I think I can win. I am very motivated."

"I think my legs are back. Everybody had written me off but the race is not over with two hard stages in the Pyrenees," he added.

Many riders crashed on the course after rain showers washed out the road at the beginning of the day. Prologue winner Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland was one of them.

"He came down hard but it was just a slip of the front wheel and there was nothing he could do about it," said CSC team manager Kim Andersen.

"It's so dangerous. I almost stopped on the descents, but I quite like time trialing in the rain, it feels faster," said Briton David Millar, 20th at the end of the day.

"I had good fun out there but it's treacherous, absolutely treacherous.”

Pakistan commits to Woolmer benefit game
KARACHI, Pakistan (Reuters) - The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has revised its stance on playing a Twenty20 match against India to raise funds for the Bob Woolmer academy in South Africa.

After initially stating a crowded fixture list made it difficult to find time to arrange the match, the PCB said it was now committed to playing the game at any venue and was trying to finalise a date during Pakistan's tour of India later this year.

"We fully support the idea of Gill Woolmer to raise funds for the academy. We have confirmed the same to her," PCB spokesman Ehsan Malik said in a statement yesterday.

The 58-year-old was Pakistan coach from June 2004 until he died of natural causes during the World Cup in Jamaica on March 18, one day after Pakistan were shocked by minnows Ireland and eliminated in the first round of the competition.

Woolmer's widow, Gill, wrote to the Pakistan and Indian boards suggesting they play a Twenty20 match to raise the funds for the academy in Cape Town, the former England player's dream project.

"We will offer all support to Woolmer's family as a tribute to the former national coach," Malik said, adding the PCB would opt for any venue that the host board agreed upon be it the Indian board or the England and Wales one.

Gill Woolmer has also suggested that Pakistan play a Twenty20 match in England to raise funds.

British Open golf ...
Garcia three clear despite Stricker's 64
By Tony Jimenez
CARNOUSTIE, Scotland (Reuters) - Sergio Garcia repelled a spectacular charge from American Steve Stricker to accelerate into a three-stroke lead after the British Open golf third round yesterday.

The 27-year-old Spaniard, who has been in front since day one, moved within touching distance of his first major victory by carding a 68 for 204, nine under.

Stricker powered through the field to take second spot on 207 after equalling Colin Montgomerie's course record of 64, seven under.

The Carnoustie crowd may be about to witness a final-day shootout between Garcia and Stricker, with seven players sharing third place on 210 including South African Ernie Els.

Also on three under were Americans Chris DiMarco and Stewart Cink, Irish pair Padraig Harrington and Paul McGinley, Briton Paul Broadhurst and South Korean KJ Choi.

"I was pretty much under control, hit a lot of good putts and it was a good round," Garcia told the BBC.

"The support from the crowd was amazing, coming down the 18th I got goose-bumps. I felt good the last couple of days, a little bit nervous here and there, but then I seemed to relax."

Garcia, who did not drop a stroke all day, had a scare at the 17th when he hit a photographer after hooking his approach into the rough.

IMMACULATE RECOVERY
He went up and shook his victim by the hand before producing an immaculate recovery to two feet and sinking his par putt. The Spaniard had a good chance to go four shots clear at the last but missed his birdie attempt from 10 feet.

"You never want that to happen," said Garcia. "When you see a person lying down, it's never a good feeling.

"He was a little shaken up but when I shook his hand he told me he was fine and I managed to make a great four." Stricker's round was the best in an Open at the Scottish venue and matched the 64 returned by Britain's Colin Montgomerie at the 1995 Scottish Open.

"It was a pretty magical round and to do it without a bogey is all the more satisfying," he said.

"We have got a long way to go, 18 holes, and it would obviously be special over here in Scotland, the home of golf, to just have a chance of winning."

The American said he had mused over whether he should carry on as a professional after a period of "begging" for tournament invitations when he lost his card after 2001.

"I fell off the map for a while," said the 40-year-old. "I didn't have the desire and I wasn't really sure if this is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.

TOUR SCHOOL
"At the end of the 2005 season I went back to tour school, didn't make it but then kind of re-dedicated myself to work harder."

World number one Tiger Woods, aiming for a hat-trick of Open wins, returned an eventful 69 for 212.

The American bogeyed the second but birdies at the fourth and fifth and another at the seventh sent him to the turn in a two-under 34.

In-between at the sixth, Woods' ball struck a female spectator and she needed two stitches in a head wound.

"That was terrible," said Woods. "The lady was bleeding all over the place and I felt really bad.

"You have kind of a pit in your stomach ... and I just apologised the best I could."

Woods dropped another shot at the 10th before rebounding with a birdie at the long 14th.

The 31-year-old has not won any of his 12 majors coming from behind on the final day.

World number four Els did well to stay in touch with the leaders after slumping to an eight at the long sixth.

"To make a triple-bogey on a par-five downwind is like giving three or four strokes to the field," said the 2002 champion after his six-birdie round.”

English FA to meet FIFA over Tevez affair
By Martyn Herman
LONDON, England (Reuters) - Representatives of the Football Association will meet soccer's world governing body FIFA tomorrow to discuss the long-running Carlos Tevez saga.

The Argentine forward's proposed transfer from West Ham United to Manchester United has reached stalemate because of an issue over who actually owns the player.

"My understanding is that a senior lawyer from the FA will come to Zurich to meet our senior legal people," FIFA spokesman Andreas Herren told the BBC yesterday.

An FA spokesman said: "We have regular meetings with FIFA and next week we will raise the issue of third-party ownership tomorrow."

The two clubs have asked FIFA to settle the dispute and the FA is keen for the world governing body to tighten rules over third-party ownership of players, fearing that similar transfers could happen.

West Ham own Tevez's playing registration although agent Kia Joorabchian says he retains the striker's economic rights and therefore is entitled to any transfer fee.

West Ham were fined 5.5 million pounds ($11.28 million) for breaking Premier League rules over the complex signing of Tevez last August. They were allowed to continue playing him after satisfying the Premier League that the third-party agreement with Joorabchian had been torn up.

Joorabchian accused West Ham this week of "inconsistencies" in their statements regarding Tevez, while West Ham hit back by reiterating that they had terminated any agreements with Joorabchian on April 27.

The Premier League are insisting that any deal for Tevez should be between the clubs.

Tevez flew into Manchester last week but West Ham refused United permission for him to undergo a medical at Old Trafford.

Third-party ownership of football players is common in south America but was almost unheard of in Britain until Tevez and fellow Argentine Javier Mascherano joined West Ham.

Mascherano has since joined Liverpool.

‘HERE, I RECOMMEND THE SHOW’, SAID THE GERMAN SUBMARINE CAPTAIN ABOUT A PORT OF SPAIN CINEMA.
GAYLORD KELSHALL AND HIS FASCINATION WITH MILITARY HISTORY
By Norman Faria
In 1988 I had read Gaylord Kelshall’s interesting history of the Allied forces defeat of the German submarine offensive in  the Caribbean  during World War II in the 1940s. While in Trinidad recently, I sought him out .

He was now curator of the Trinidad Military and Aero Space Museum in the Chaguaramas area  to the west of the capital Port of Spain  and I went there one Monday afternoon to talk with him.

He was sitting  in his  study in a  house made of  joined up 40 foot steel containers. Ten metres in front of  his verandah,  the surprisingly clear  waters of the Gulf of Paria lapped onto what was once the concrete ramp of  a World War II seaplane base whose hangar still stood next door.   

After the pleasantries, I decided to start with a query about the base, where US forces were stationed during the War.  It was the largest, wasn’t it ?.

“No. They actually had 225 bases in Trinidad and Tobago during the war.The largest was Fort Read in which Waller Field air base was located. Fort Read comprised 241 Square miles alone.”

If   you asked him, Kelshall  could probably tell you the names of all the commanding officers at the facilities. Among his personal library of 12,000 books, mostly on  military history,  are several  the 67 year  old former Trinidad Coast Guard pilot  has himself authored,   including the “History of Aviation in Trinidad and Tobago”. He is perhaps more widely known though  ,and certainly received more royalties from any other book, for  the work on the anti-submarine  campaign.“The U-Boat War in the Caribbean”,as it is titled, has been reprinted in the US and translated into German for sale in Europe.

It is a seminal work. In February 1942, five German submarines (“U-boats”in popular terminology) were sent to the Caribbean area. The Allied forces (US, UK, Commonwealth countries, USSR) were unprepared. The submarines wrecked havoc. By the end of the year, 337 ships totaling  1.87 million tonnes  were sent to the bottom. Many were laden with valuable oil and bauxite war materials from Trinidad and British Guiana destined for Britain. But the Allies built up their forces, including stationing anti-submarine planes in Trinidad. By the end of 1943, the U-boat threat had been smashed. Kelshall chronicled, through excellent research over a ten year period hat involved  tapping the U-Boat Archives in Germany and  the US Navy Historical Division, this little known theatre   of the War.

Kelshall’s  book is fascinating from another viewpoint :   it speaks of the  bravery and suffering of soldiers, regardless of which side they fought  There was a need for Allied governments instilling of fervent patriotism during the war to maintain  commitment  and productivity and even sacrifice , as some of the exhortations on his period posters in the museum reflect. He feels though, in restropect, it is good for all to look at the side of the ordinary soldier of both sides.

Kelshall insists the German submarine service, aside from having appalling casualties (32,000 of 40,000 enlisted perished), was not affected by   a type of “politics” as was perhaps the German Army which had the fanatical murderous Nazi SS connection.  “These were ordinary servicemen. Generally speaking, both the officers and rank and file sailors didn’t believe in the Nazi thing, those who actively promoted  Hitler’s un-democratic racist regime.. There was only one German submarine captain, Heinz  Eck, who was tried and executed after the War for machine gunning survivors of a sunken ship. Yet there were many more instances on the American side where Japanese seamen were shot from US submarines in the Pacific,”  said Kelshall..

He would probably not have agreed with the  decision of a  Norwegian government after the War  refusing to have an ex-German U-boat Captain, Erick Topp, stationed at the NATO office in Norway because during the War the German had torpedoed several Norwegian ships.

Along with monuments in the Museum’s  yard to Allied  servicemen and women ,including Trinidadians (58 died in air force action alone), there is  a smaller ( a large plaque really )  memorial to the German submariners. .It was erected by German veterans who had reunions over the years at the Museum, in the same way Allied vets have their get togethers. Though it may seem insensitive to some, it can in no way be compared, argues Kelshall, to the type of monument like the Yaksukini shrine which venerates the WW II Japanese armed forces, including war criminals and which right wing ultra-nationalist politicians use to try to revive militarism. A bust of the great South American Independence fighter, Franciisco de Miranda, is also on the Museum compound, donated by the local Venezuelan Embassy..

Did the Germans ever come ashore in the Caribbean (they ranged as far as the Gulf of Mexico and northern South American coasts) during the war ? Kelshall answers:  “I would say it was possible .There were many places were the home defence could not guard. But, strangely, they didn’t commit any sabotage such as blowing up a pipeline in Trinidad. They did however shell oil facilities in Curacao.”

What of the story told of the German submariner when captured was found with two ticket stubs to a Bridgetown , Barbados  cinema in his jacket pocket ?

“A Captain Adden , the skipper of a Trinidad vessel, reported after the War that he was taken on board a German submarine and shown the stubs of the Globe cinema in Port of Spain and  was told ‘I recommend the show. Go and see it’. But there are variations of the story in French Guiana, Curacao and Barbados, “ said Kelshall who wondered  if it really happened..

Another story is that the U-boat skippers took on local seafarers , perhaps from isolated islands, to help guide the subs through dangerous and uncharted channels . Kelshall:   ”I have no evidence of that. What I do have is that they stopped at isolated islands to get fresh fruit.”

Kelshall said   the residents of the British territories , including then British Guiana, were committed  to British rule. They served honourably, for example, in home defence units and overseas in Allied armies. Kelshall’s  father Ralph (died 1998) was for example,  Chief of Civil Defence in the southern city of San Fernando and the surrounding environs,, in addition to serving as  a sterling role model for his sons in instilling from an early age  the lifelong interest in military history.. Among the duties of home guard and civil defence was to ferret out German spies, several of whom were nabbed, including the head of the SS office in Caracas. German nationals were also rounded up and detained. “People at the time had a feeling they belonged to something, to the home country, the British Empire. They were very patriotic. This is reflected in the  lyrics of the calypsos  at the time.”

Kelshall sees the maritime dimension of his Museum as an important one. He laments the dearth of maritime artifacts locally with very few historic boats of yesterday, for example, preserved. The exception being HUMMING BIRD II,  in which countrymen Harold and Kwalian La Borde circumnavigated the world.

A local archeaology   group has dived on a Spanish galleon wreck in coastal waters, Among the items recovered are “pieces of eight” silver coins and blocks and cordage which are in the Museum.

Still writing everything long hand (“Don’t know how to use the computer---I let my secretary handle that”, he says), Kelshall looks over the Gulf of Paria waters as I leave .He is day dreaming.  Perhaps  of the   time when this part  was full of cargo boats, destroyers, and tankers,  waiting  to set off in convoy to the UK .

And as we shake hands until next time, there is a glance below to the still serviceable concrete ramp from where the armed sea planes would depart to see the ships safely off.

COLLAGES
Collages, a visual feast of the Americas by Terence Roberts, opened at the National Gallery of Art, Castellani House on Vlissengen Road and Homestretch Avenue, Georgetown, last Friday, and runs until Saturday, August 18, 2007.

Roberts’ pieces are lavish and riotous, awash with startling primary colours that capture the vivacity that is so much a part of the continents his work represents.

Avocado
AVOCADOS were first cultivated in South America with later migration to Mexico. European sailors travelling to the New World used avocados as their form of butter. It was unflatteringly known as alligator pear, midshipman’s butter, vegetable butter, or sometimes as butter pear. Avocados were carried not only to the West Indies (where it was first reported in Jamaica in 1696), but to nearly all parts of the tropical and subtropical world with suitable environmental conditions.

Avocados grow abundantly in warm climates. West Indian varieties thrive in humid, tropical climates. Avocados need some protection from high winds which may break the branches. Avocados are now grown in virtually all tropical, subtropical, and warm temperate areas with well drained soils and relative frost freedom. In most parts of Europe, it is still something of a luxury, whereas in the local areas of production it has become a familiar commodity.

The fruit is normally pear-shaped often more or less necked, oval, or nearly round and may be three to 13 inches (7.5-33 cm) long and up to six inches (15 cm) wide. The skin may be yellow-green, deep-green or very dark-green, reddish-purple, or so dark a purple as to appear almost black. It is sometimes speckled with tiny yellow dots, may be smooth or pebbled, glossy or dull, thin or leathery and up to ¼ inch (6 mm) thick, pliable or granular and brittle.

In some fruits, immediately beneath the skin, there is a thin layer of soft, bright-green flesh, but generally the flesh is entirely pale to rich-yellow, buttery and bland or nutlike in flavour. The single seed is oblate, round, conical or ovoid, 2 to 21/2 inches (5-6.4 cm) long, hard and heavy, ivory in colour but enclosed in two brown, thin, papery seed-coats often adhering to the flesh cavity, while the seed slips out readily. Some fruit are seedless because of lack of pollination or other factors. Avocados ripen only after they are picked and the firm fruit ship well. The leaves of the Mexican race are strongly anise-scented but the West Indian varieties are scentless. West Indian type avocados produce enormous, smooth, round, glossy green fruit that are low in oil and weigh up to two pounds. The majority of the avocados grown in the West Indies, Bahamas and Bermuda are of the West Indian race. In the Caribbean, avocados are abundant between August-December, with a peak time around July to August.

Varieties
There are several varieties of avocados. Each type has its unique flavour and texture. In California and Florida alone, there are two dozen varieties, ranging in size from a few ounces to several pounds, with skins bright green to black, some smooth, some pebbly in texture.

Nutritive Value
Avocados seem almost too luscious to be healthful. The rich, buttery-smooth flesh of an avocado is on a lot of people’s lists as a delicious but fattening treat. It’s true that avocados have a high oil content, but the fat they contain is highly monounsaturated, the kind that’s associated with a healthy heart. The more subtropical rather than tropical varieties have a higher oil content. Due to its fat content (unlike other fruits), it is included in the Fats and Oils Group, one of the six Caribbean Food Groups.

Avocados contribute valuable calories, protein, vitamins A, C, and E – primary vitamins in the antioxidant group. However, they are cholesterol and sodium free. Avocados also contain some saturated fatty acids: myristic level may be one per cent, palmitic, 7.2, 14.1 or 22.1 per cent; stearic, 0.2, 0.6 or 1.7 per cent. Of the unsaturated fatty acids, palmitoleic may range from 5.5 to 11.0 per cent; oleic may be 51.9, 70.7 or 80.97 per cent, linoleic, 9.3, 11.2 or 14.3 per cent. Although the banana is thought of as an exemplary potassium source, the avocado actually supplies 60 per cent more potassium, ounce for ounce. These velvety ‘vegetable fruits’ are high in fibre, and provide substantial amounts of folate (folic acid), vitamin B6 and pantothenic acid, as well as some iron, copper, and magnesium. Amino acids of the pulp (N = 16 p. 100) are recorded as: arginine, 3.4; cystine, 0: histidine, 1.8; isoleucine, 3.4; leucine, 5.5; lysine, 4.3; methionine, 2.1; phenylalanine, 3.5; threonine, 2.9; tryptophan, 0; tyrosine, 2.3; valine, 4.6; aspartic acid, 22.6; glutamic acid, 12.3; alanine, 6.0; glycine, 4.0; proline, 3.9; serine, 4.1.

The following date highlights some of the nutritional contribution of avocados.

On the phytochemical front, avocados contain glutathione, an antioxidant with anti-carcinogenic potential. They also contain a significant amount of a cholesterol-lowering phytosterol called betasitosterol. Browning of the flesh of freshly cut avocado fruits is caused by polyphenol oxidase isoenzymes.

Food Uses
Everyone knows that Mexican and southwestern cuisines include a lot of avocados, but Indians in tropical America break avocados in half, add salt and eat with tortillas and a cup of coffee as a complete meal. In North America, avocados are primarily served as salad vegetables, merely halved and garnished with seasonings, lime juice, lemon juice, vinegar, mayonnaise or other dressings. Often the halves are stuffed with shrimp, crab or other seafood. Avocado flesh may be sliced or diced and combined with tomatoes, cucumbers or other vegetables and served as a salad. The seasoned flesh is sometimes used as a sandwich filling. Avocado, cream cheese and pineapple juice may be blended as a creamy dressing for fruit salads.

Mexican guacamole, a blend of the pureed flesh with lemon or lime juice, onion, juice or powder, minced garlic, chili powder or Tabasco sauce, and salt and pepper has become a widely popular ‘dip’ for crackers, potato chips or other snacks. The ingredients of guacamole may vary and some people add mayonnaise. Because of its tannin content, the flesh becomes bitter if cooked. Diced avocado can be added to lemon-flavoured gelatin after cooling and before it is set, and chunks of avocado may be added to hot foods such as soup, stew, chili or omelettes just before serving.

In Guatemalan restaurants, a ripe avocado is placed on the table when a hot dish is served and the diner scoops out the flesh and adds it just before eating. In Brazil, the avocado is regarded more as a true fruit than as a vegetable and is used mostly mashed in sherbet, ice cream, or milk shakes. Avocado flesh is added to heated ice cream mixes (such as boiled custard) only after they have cooled. If mashed by hand, the fork must be a silver one to avoid discolouring the avocado. A New Zealand recipe for avocado ice cream is a blend of avocado, lemon juice, orange juice, grated orange rind, milk, cream, sugar and salt, frozen beaten until creamy, and frozen again. Some Oriental people in Hawaii also prefer the avocado sweetened with sugar and they combine it with fruits such as pineapple, orange, grapefruit, dates, or banana. In Java, avocado flesh is thoroughly mixed with strong black coffee, sweetened and eaten as a dessert.

In the Caribbean, this highly seasonal produce is relished by almost everyone whenever it is available. As expected, consumption is highest during peak times of availability and it is not unusual for one to consume a sizeable portion. It can be eaten alone, as a complement to many one-pot or individually prepared dishes. It can also be used as a sandwich filling or combined with other local foods, eg. farine, and used as a snack

Shopping, storage and preparation
Selecting
The best strategy is to buy avocados when they’re still a bit green and firm and ripen them at home. Choose unbruised, unscarred, unblemished fruit with no wrinkles, and don’t squeeze the fruit or you will bruise it. Look at the stem end: if the avocado is ripe, the stem will pull right out.

If the avocado is rock hard, it will need a few days to ripen (see ‘storage’ below). If an avocado yields slightly to gentle pressure, it is ripe enough to slice. If pressing the fruit leaves a small dent, it is too ripe to slice, but is suitable for mashing. If pressing leaves a large dent, the fruit is overripe, and the flesh will have darkened and spoiled.

Storage
Hard avocados ripen at room temperature in three to six days. To speed up the process, place them in a paper bag or a drawer, preferably with a tomato. Leave firm avocados out on the counter for a few days to ripen. Some people think they ripen best wrapped in foil.

Fruit left longer on the tree has matured to the point that it will ripen quickly after picking. Do not refrigerate avocados because they will never ripen. Keep ripe avocados covered in the refrigerator and use within two to three days. They can turn to mush in as little as a day under refrigeration. Avocado flesh exposed to the air will darken very quickly. Some people think that leaving the pit in prevents discolouring, but the primary factor is keeping air away from the flesh – so wrap a cut avocado in plastic, refrigerate, and use it as soon as possible. Peeled and sliced avocados should be sprinkled with lemon or lime juice to retard discolouration; the citric acid also brings out the flavour.

Preparation
To pit an avocado, cut it lengthwise all the way around (working around the pit) and gently twist the two halves apart. Tap the blade of a heavy knife into the pit, and twist gently to release the pit from the flesh. To skin and slice the fruit, place the halves face down and peel off the skin. (If the flesh is very soft, scoop it out of the skin with a spoon instead.) If the skin is too tough to peel easily, use a paring knife to score it into peelable strips. Cut the flesh into thin slices, or into chunks.

The flesh of cut avocado turns dark within a few minutes when exposed to air. This doesn’t affect nutrition or flavour, but makes the avocado look less appetising. To delay darkening, rub slices with lemon or lime juice, and add the juice to mashed avocado when making guacamole or similar dips. Pressing a plastic wrap firmly over the cut surface of a halved avocado, or onto the surface of a bowl of mashed avocado, will deter darkening.

To peel, cut the avocado lengthwise around the pit, and rotate the two halves in opposite directions. Gently put the tip of a spoon under the pit; if it comes out easily, the avocado is ripe. You can scoop the flesh out of the shell with a spoon, but in many cases the avocado will peel like a banana, just turn it over on the cut side and pull off the skin with your fingers.

Avocados are great with a sprinkle of lemon or lime juice and salt. Mashed avocados is the primary ingredients in guacamole, but the fruit is also delicious sliced and served with slices of ripe red tomato, or cut into slivers and added to tossed green salads. For a pretty salad plate, cut avocados in half lengthwise, leaving skins on, and remove the pits. Arrange on a bed of lettuce and fill the centers with crab, tuna, or chicken salad. Garnish with additional raw fresh vegetables and serve with bread if desired. An avocado pureed with a little lemon juice, salt, other seasonings, and perhaps a dab of olive oil makes a great creamy salad dressing for lettuce or other greens.

Avocados are also good in sandwiches. Any combination of avocado, bacon, lettuce, tomato, turkey, and chicken makes a great sandwich.

Adult Education Association celebrates Golden Jubilee
“We’re terribly in need of our own headquarters,” says Executive Director Ms. David
By Clifford Stanley
Members of the Adult Education Association(AEA) of Guyana Inc., MS, are currently celebrating their golden jubilee with pride in the contributions of the Association to national development over the years and hunger for their own facilities to accommodate a growing demand for the service.

“Our dream is to have our own complex,” Ms Patricia David, Executive Director, said adding that this was the current main concern of the AEA in its 50th year of service.

She explained that apart from its services to adults in public and private sector agencies, the Association has found itself having to respond to growing demands for remedial education for early school leavers.

“Meeting the needs of out of school youths has become our main activity in recent years, and the demand is so great that we are running out of accommodation,” she said.

During an interview last week on the occasion of the 50th year of service, the Executive Director confirmed that for herself and all workers and volunteers of the AEA, the work comes from the heart.

“This is a labour of love. It is not about money. If it were about money many of us who have served over the years would have been long gone.”

Veteran staffer Ms Lucinda Tracey said that she had joined the staff of AEA in the eighties as a secretary and had stayed there for two decades and a half simply because of the satisfaction she gets from helping people, particularly young people, in their personal development.

Ms David expressed gratitude to the thousands of volunteers and semi-volunteers who have been the main resource persons for perpetuating the work of the AEA over the years.

Both staffers said that they had received their inspiration from founder member of the Association Mr Newton L F Profitt, AA, who served from 1957 to 2004 .

Newton Louis Fitzherbert Profitt, born June 9, 1916, died on April 8, 2006.

The six others were Sir Frank McDavid, Colonial Treasurer of then British Guiana; Mr Adolph Thompson, Resident Tutor of the University College of the West Indies; Mr John Gale, a British Council Representative; Bishop Lester Guilly of the Roman Catholic Church; and Mr Vincent McAlman of the British Guiana Trades Unions Council.

The seven men established the AEA in April 1957 and the first classes were held in August of the same year.

The initial program was a series of monthly lectures called the Harold Stannard lectures .

This approach gradually changed to include programs to prepare adults for the General Certificate of Education (GCE) Examinations.

Mr Profitt’s six colleagues eventually either migrated or died, leaving him as the only remaining founder member of the AEA.

In 1971, the Minister of Education, Shirley Field-Ridley, agreed that the AEA should operate in partnership with the formal education system.

The Government of the day provided financial assistance and Mr Profitt was employed full time with the AEA, with responsibilities for its daily activities.

The present Government continues to support the AEA in the form of an annual subvention and with the provision of school buildings for use after hours, David disclosed..

Mr Profitt, David said, managed the AEA with fervour and enthusiasm .

As Executive Director, he saw the establishment of centres and branches in urban, rural, riverrain and hinterland areas, including Bartica.

Thousands of youths and adults have benefited and are benefiting from training in literacy, academic subjects, and technical and vocational skills in several regions across Guyana.

The beneficiaries have included members of the Joint Services, workers in public and private sector agencies and persons serving prison terms.

The training programs offered include computer literacy programs, academic subjects, particularly remedial training in mathematics and English, pre-vocational courses, professional courses and women outreach courses.

David said that the AEA has at its disposal a large bank of volunteers for any kind of training that any one or any organization may need

During the Profitt era, the AEA was registered as a corporate, not-for-profit, non-Government and independent entity governed by a Board of Directors elected bi-annually at the Annual General Members Meeting, in accordance with its Constitution.

The AEA was awarded a National Honour, a Medal of Service (MS) in 1998.

Ms David, who joined AEA in 1999 as a Program Officer, disclosed that a memorable accomplishment of the AEA was the establishment of a branch in the Rupununi, and the successful training of tutors to teach Wapishana the language of the Amerindians.

This course, held in 2002, had been funded by the Institute of Linguistics of the United States of America and had been executed by Missionaries Ms Beverly Dawson, Ms Fran Tracey, Ms Carlotta Ruth, and Adrian Gomes.

The establishment of a branch in Berbice, with forty four sub-centres and counting, has been another milestone and major achievement.

The AEA is also involved in collaborative ventures with several organizations, including the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) and the Roadside Baptist Church Skills Training Centre at No. 68 Village Corentyne which, Ms David said, has sub-centres in villages between Black Bush Polder and Orealla.

The Association has in recent times received support from Partners in Rural Development through the Building Community Capacity Project (BCCP) the Canadian Executive Service Organisation, the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)the American Peace Corps , VSOs from UK, the Japanese Government who donated two mini buses five years ago, individual citizens and the local private sector.

Minimal fees paid by students also subscribe to its finances.

The AEA Head Office is currently located in Duke Street Kingston.

AEA Golden Jubilee activities to date have included church services, a spelling bee competition, and tours to places of interest by students of the remedial school.

A photographic exhibition and a dinner is to be held in September and a concert in December.

Ms Davis admitted that it was a low key program for the occasion, but attributed this to inadequate funds.

“The AEA has traditionally been very lenient with students. Some of them owe a lot of money in fees, but we prefer to have them continue to attend classes rather than drop out for this reason,” she said.

She added that there have been occasions when students would turn up a year or two years after to pay up tuition fees.

The current AEA Executive Committee comprises Mr Lunsford Bowen-President; Mr Hans Barrow MS , Vice President; Ms Patricia David, General Secretary/Executive Director; Ms Bibi Annief, Assistant Secretary; Ms Cheryl Carter, Administrative Officer; Mr Michael Scott, Bursar/Treasurer; Mr Wilfred Gomes, Programmes Officer; Ms Lucinda Tracey , Assistant Programmes Officer; Ms Nalyn Katryan, Co-ordinator, Roadside Baptist Church Skills Training Centre; Ms Ellen Odwin, Co-ordinator Bartica Centre; Ms Patricia Lynch, Co-ordinator (Ag); Berbice Branch; and Mr Michael Brown, Ex-Officio member.

Ms David, who has been involved in education for the past forty six, years said that young school leavers comprise a growing number of persons who have been requesting the service of the AEA in recent years.

The main venue for remedial classes in Georgetown is the Court Lily Building at Camp and New Market Streets, Georgetown, with one 140 students on roll.

The AEA has also set up remedial classes in Malgre Tout, West Bank Demerara; and at New Amsterdam, and No.68 villages in East Berbice.

“Requests from parents and guardians for remedial classes for out of school children, have been growing at a rapid rate, and we are out of space,” she said.

Ms David said that the AEA could have gotten their own building with assistance from SIMAP but had failed because of lack of ownership of land.

“If we can get a piece of land, either by donation or by purchase, we can do the rest. What we badly need in our 50th year is our own real estate, so that we can effectively put into use the twenty six odd years of experience in remedial education that we can boast of, in order to help teenagers and young adults who want a second chance,”she said.

Preserving our literary heritage
by Petamber Persaud
The Guyana Prize for Literature 1987-2007
part one
The shortlist for the 2006 edition of The Guyana Prize is now public; here is tabulation under category, author, and work.

Best Book of Fiction
Cyril Dabydeen – Drums of my Flesh

Mark McWatt – Suspended Sentences

Ryhaan Shah – A Silent Life

Best First Book of Fiction
Mark McWatt – Suspended Sentences

Ryhaan Shah – A Silent Life

Clive Sankardayal – The Brown Curtains

Best Book of Poetry
Cyril Dabydeen – Imaginary Origins

Elly Niland – Cornerstones

Berkeley Semple – The Solo Flyer

Best First Book of Poetry
No decision yet

Best Drama
Michael Gilkes – The Last of the Redmen

Ronan Blaze – For Love of Aidana Soroya

The award ceremony for the 2006 Guyana Prize is set for August 23, 2007.
Two thousand and seven marks the twentieth anniversary for The Prize with a mandate to ‘provide a focus for the recognition of the creative writing of Guyanese at home and abroad, and stimulate interest in, and provide encouragement for, the development of good creative writing among Guyanese in particular, and Caribbean writers in general’. This Prize has done much in the development and direction of our literature as can be garnered from what have surfaced since the beginning of the Prize.

Winners of The Prize from 1987 to 2004 are tabulated under year, category, author, work:

1987Best Book of Fiction
Wilson Harris - Carnival

Best First Book of Fiction
Janice Shinebourne – Timepiece

Best Book of Poetry
Fred D’Aguiar – Mama Dot

Best First Book of Poetry
Marc Matthews

Best Drama
No award

1989 Best Book of Fiction
Roy Heath – The Shadow Bride

Best First Book of Fiction
No award

Best Book of Poetry
Martin Carter – Selected Poems

Best First Book of Poetry
Brian Chan - Fabula Rasa

Best Drama
No award

1992 Best Book of Fiction
David Dabydeen – The Intended

Best First Book of Fiction
No award

Best Book of Poetry
Ian McDonald - Essequibo

Best First Book of Poetry
No award

Best Drama
Michael Gilkes – A Pleasant Career

1994 Best Book of Fiction
Harischandra Khemraj – Cosmic Dance

Best First Book of Fiction
Fred D’Aguiar – The Longest Memory

Best Book of Poetry
Mark McWatt – The Language of Eldorado

Best First Book of Poetry
No award

Best Drama
Harold Bascom – Two Wrongs

1996 Best Book of Fiction
Fred D’Aguiar – Dear Future

Best Book of Poetry
Grace Nichols - Sunrise

Best First Book of Fiction
Denise Harris – Web of Secrets

Best First Book of Poetry
No award

Best Drama
Harold Bascom - Makantali

1998 Best Book of Fiction
Pauline Melville – The Ventriloquist’s Tale

Best First Book of Fiction
Gokarran Sukdeo – The Silver Lining

Best Book of Poetry
John Agard – From the Devil’s Pulpit

Best First Book of Poetry
Dennis Craig – Near the Seashore

Best Drama
Paloma Mohamed – Duene

2000 Best Book of Fiction
David Dabydeen – A Harlot’s Progress

Best First Book of Fiction
Raywat Deonandan – Sweet like Salt Water

Best Book of Poetry
John Agard - Weblines

Best First Book of Poetry
Maggie Harris - Limbolands

Best Drama
Paloma Mohamed – Father of the Man

2002 Best Book of Fiction
No award

Best First Book of Fiction
Ruel Johnson – Ariadne & Other Stories

Best Book of Poetry
Michael Gilkes - Jonestown

Best First Book of Poetry
Stanley Greaves - Horizons

Best Drama
No award

2004 Best Book of Fiction
(a shared prize in alphabetical order)
David Dabydeen – Our Lady of Demerara
Fred D’Aguiar – Bethany Bettany

Best First Book of Fiction
No award

Best Book of Poetry
Ian McDonald – Between Silence and Silence

Best First Book of Poetry
Berkley Semple – Lamplight Teller

Best Drama
Paloma Mohamed – Nancy Story

This background data will form the basis for analysis of The Prize in subsequent articles.

On several occasions, Special Awards were given to individuals and a group for contribution to literature in Guyana and the Caribbean. The Special Awards will be the focus of a subsequent article on The Prize.

But for now, the focus is on The Prize to be awarded on August 23, 2007. Each work on the shortlist has the potential to be a winner. Underlining all of this, of course, Guyanese literature will be the ultimate winner - a mandate of The Prize.

Responses to this author telephone (592) 226-0065 or email: oraltradition2002@yahoo.com

Literary update
* The tenth anniversary issue of THE GUYANA ANNUAL is under production, submissions are invited to various competitions offered and articles of local interest are also welcome. This Guyanese literary and cultural tradition started in 1915. It was dormant for a few years until it was resuscitated in 1998 by Dr. Tulsi Dyal Singh. For further information, please contact Guyenterprise or the editor, Petamber Persaud.

* Information needed on Christopher Nichols, Edwina Melville, Rosetta Khalideen, C. E. J. Ramcharitar-Lalla, Angus Richmond, O. R. Dathorne, Randall Butisingh, Meiling Jin.

THE PLAZA SIDE: GT’s GLAMOROUS CINEMA FANS [PART 8]
By Terence Roberts
Because Tutorial High allowed 4th Form Students to drop subjects they had little interest in, I was able to focus on subjects like English, French, History and Scripture that interested me. The truth was Tutorial High was a modern experimental educational institution which suited unconventional intellectual Guyanese youths like myself.

My old man could see the new interest I had in my studies, it was just like him to want to lend a hand. He knew I liked dressing well, and Tutorial’s male uniform was light khaki trousers, white or cream shirts; so I cut cream Dacron slacks to match the brown suede foam-soled Clarkes my old man bought me.

Now that I only attended classes of my choice, I had some time to hangout at Plaza 1pms and of course in the evening. My old man and old lady had no problem with that. In fact later, in 1964, perhaps the most violent year of racial/social strife in British Guiana’s history, my father who was a Sergeant-Major in the local Volunteer Force Army had been called into barracks at Eve Leary and would only drop in briefly by jeep at the house in East Street.

One midday he said to me; ‘Boy, since you seem to be a caretaker at that damn cinema, get me an advance House ticket to ‘The Victors’ at the 4:30 show’. Later, he stepped from a jeep outside Plaza and walked briskly past myself, Poli, Faz, and Lio lounging on motorcycles under the marquee; but he did not have his Stengun with the muzzle dented from one side to the next, the fifty yard gun for dangerous mobs he had taught me about when I had said; ‘But look at the muzzle, it can’t work well!’ and he had replied; ‘That’s the idea, I have no intention of shooting anyone, I leave that to the British Forces’.

Not because I was seen with the Plaza boys, or dressed like them, meant that I was fully accepted as part of the Side as yet. Something was missing. I knew it, and they knew it. What was missing was some special moment, some perfect event or surprise that would be like a climax or orgasm which proved some intimate human similarity between myself and the Side’s lifestyle. I fascinated them with my odd mixture of intellectuality and an exuberant hustler’s attitude. Sometimes they noticed the books I had with me when I dropped by the cinema on my way home from the library or bookstore. Like me, they loved beautiful films like ‘The Sun Also Rises’ about a fun loving Bohemian group of friends in Paris and Madrid, but they had never read Hemingway’s novel which I showed to them.

They had seen the film ‘Desire Under The Elms’, but not the play by Eugene O’Neil it was taken from. Sometimes they saw me with a novel that would become a film which later opened at Plaza. This was the case with ‘The Stranger’, Visconti’s masterpiece taken from Albert Camus’s short powerful novel ‘The Outsider’, which they had seen me with at least a year before the film’s arrived, and Marcello Mastroiani became our new screen idol.

But coming back to the influence of films on us, especially portraying pleasure-loving groups of people, it came as a thrilling surprise when Poli, his brother Lio, who had the proven reputation of being ready to brawl at a moment’s notice, Faz, tall, slim with thick metal rim glasses over his barely opened eyelids, always elegantly dressed in shiny Terylene and Wool drain pipes, a white pleated front shirt and white Italian loafers, also lace, small and jumpy, his speech a slurred slick rhythm of slang, the gold buckles on his suede boots forever loose and jingling when he ran up and down the Plaza stairway…yes, one afternoon they told me the Western ‘The Magnificent Seven’, which had opened at Plaza, had influenced their idea of the Plaza Side, whose members had no time for ‘stupidness’ or unsocial behaviour, a group of guys who were ‘brought up, not dragged up’, Poli added.

Of course they all had families; fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles etc. Homes that shifted often in the city due to economic pressures. Plaza was an asset, it was so big with so many hidden rooms, you could sleep in over night, if you were part of the cinema. We were part of the cinema because Faz’s family owned the snack bar, which was a quiet self-enclosed room beside the ticket booth at the bottom of the stairs. This was our ‘office’ where we lounged, chatted, and joked, leaning or sitting on the counter. Small DIH bottles of Club Soda, Ginger Ale at our hands reach on a shelf behind the counter came in handy later when those who were angered over some trivial matter, like a girlfriend who danced too close and too long with one of us at a night club, or the fact that we dressed too well, and had the pleasure of the cinema night and day free of charge to ourselves, all this was sufficient for angry guys to appear with violent intentions outside the cinema or at the snack bar’s door, where their aggression was cut short by bottles of club soda we grabbed, shook and dispatched at their feet before they were kicked and punched and the brawl spilled from beneath the marquee out into Camp Street, stopping traffic, before the ‘Bongo’ van with the Police Squad dashed to the scene with sirens wailing, and we vanished into the cinema’s secret rooms.

So that was around 1964, the most racial and politically violent year in Guyana’s history, when on the East and West Coast families were slaughtered night and day, launches were blown up, and in Georgetown Molotov cocktails were thrown into businesses and homes, even cinemas. The owner and management of Plaza, Mr. Teluchsingh, apparently a Trinidadian, took a stand with film programs that quietly stood out among the city’s cinemas; films like, the ‘The Victors’, a masterpiece with a row of beautiful, sexy, European actresses like, Romy Schneider, Elke Sommer, and actors like George Peppard and Eli Wallach, a film about lonely and sad Allied Soldiers who find affection with lonely loveless women in bombed out Berlin at the end of World War II; films like ‘Love Is A Many Splendored Thing’, which was brought back for its topic about a discouraged interracial love affair. We tried to show ‘Safari’ with Victor Mature and Janet Leigh, but the censors banned it at the last minute because its anti-colonial violence came too close to real events occurring in British Guiana that year.

Once we even went into Plaza’s private film vaults, which today still stand derelict under the marquee, and found in perfect condition one of Audie Murphy’s best Westerns ‘Gunsmoke’, about two friends who refuse to become enemies manipulated by wealthy powers. The film was a close paradigm of the racial division between the two major political leaders in Guyana. Plaza’s position was simple; violent racial strife affecting the nation would be neutralized on its screen. Maybe that was why the afternoon someone exploded a bomb in Plaza’s washroom across from the snack bar (damage was done but no one was hurt) was the very day our film program showed the rare Western ‘Reprisal’, a most popular film about the persecution of a half-breed cowboy, played well by Guy Madison, in a racist frontier town. Plaza made itself into a reserve of common sense and civilized influence amidst the nation’s mayhem, and the Plaza Side backed up the cinema, anytime.

Evidence of co-accused used to convict other accused in fraud trial
Convicted accused freed by Appellate Court
IN 1954, a Berbice Assize jury unhelped by the trial judge, used the evidence of co-accused Balgobin to convict fellow accused Jairam Gopaul, a Field Clerk of Rose Hall Estate, Canje, Berbice, of falsification of accounts.

Gopaul, who was sentenced to jail, appealed the conviction and sentence on the ground that the trial judge did not direct the jury on the proper use of the unsworn testimony of one accused against the other.

The then Court of Appeal, constituted by Chief Justice Frederick Malcolm Boland and Justices of Appeal Kenneth Stoby and Roland Phillips, allowed the appeal and set aside the conviction and sentence.

Among other things, the Appellate Court found that the trial judge was guilty of non-direction, which was tantamount to a misdirection of the jury.

The appellant Gopaul was charged with falsification of accounts.

At the trial, a man named Balgobin was charged jointly with him of aiding and abetting the commission of the offence. Balgobin was acquitted by the jury.

At the close of the case for the prosecution, Balgobin elected to give unsworn evidence from the dock. His evidence implicated the appellant.

COURT CASE files
By George Barclay
The trial judge had directed the jury that anything said by one accused in the absence of the other was not evidence against the other, and if said in his presence, was evidence only if by words or conduct he adopted it. He did not direct the jury that Balgobin's unsworn evidence was not evidence against the appellant.

The Appellate Court held that the failure on the part of the judge to tell the jury that they were not to consider Balgobin's evidence as affecting the appellant was a misdirection, and as it could not be certain that the jury, acting reasonably, could despite the failure of the judge to give them the proper direction , inevitably would have come to the same conclusion, 'this was not a case for invoking the proviso to section 6 of the Criminal Appeal Ordinance'. In that case, a retrial was not ordered.

Appeal was allowed and Conviction quashed.
The Chief Justice who delivered the judgment noted the appellant was convicted at the Berbice Criminal Assizes. The falsification alleged by the Crown was that the appellant had entered in a book kept by him the name of one Balgobin as having worked, whereas he knew that Balgobin had not worked.

Appellant's defence was that the overseer or headman had instructed him to enter Balgobin's name and he was unaware whether he had worked or not.

Balgobin, who was charged with aiding and abetting, in his own defence, gave an unsworn statement from the dock that he told the appellant he had not worked but was entitled to "holidays with pay", a system by which a labourer is paid for two weeks without working), and the appellant promised to "fix it up." Balgobin was not entitled to "holidays with pay".

Continuing his judgment, Justice Boland noted that the only ground of appeal which merits the consideration of the Court is one based on the submission that a statement given by the co-accused Balgobin - a statement made from the dock on his election not to go into the witness box and give evidence - was allowed to go to the jury without a warning from the judge that it was not to be taken as affecting Jairam Gopaul, the appellant.

The facts disclosed at the jury trial were that Jairam Gopaul, the appellant, was employed as a field clerk at Plantation Rose Hall. He kept what is known as a Time Book and when labourers were taken on it was his duty to write down their names in his Time Book as they were called out by a foreman or some field clerk.

Balgobin at the material time- that is, during the week between the 25th day of June and the first day of July- was a person who used to be employed on the estate working on a tractor.

The case for the Crown was that Balgobin did no work during that week, and in the Time Book, which was kept by the appellant, his name appeared as having done some work from the 25th and succeeding days until the end of the week, and when one made an addition of the sums for which he was entitled to for work each day, he was represented there as being entitled to the sum of $13.10.

The system obtaining at the Rose Hall Estate is that entries in the Time Book kept by the appellant are entered by another employee in a book that is called a Pay List.

It is the duty of the appellant to give to Richieram Beharry, the employee who keeps the Pay List, the information that is necessary for the entry in the Pay List, and there it appears that Balgobin did draw the sum of $13.10 for that week.

It ought to be explained, Boland said, that labourers, when they present themselves for work each day, have their names called out ', as I say, by a foreman and have their work allotted to them. Later on , it is the duty of the foreman or somebody else to inform the appellant, for entry in his Time Book, of the hours that these people had in fact worked.

The case for the Crown is that Balgobin did not work and that this week's entries in the Time Book made by the appellant were false and they were knowingly false, and that in making those entries he had the intention to defraud.

The Crown was asking the jury to say that in the Time Book where Balgobin was entered as having worked, there were erasures and the jury were asked to accept that those erasures showed that the names of a man called Manbodh, in one instance, Kenneth Lord in another instance, and another person in the third instance, had been erased, and that it does seem strange that in the Pay List these three persons have their names appearing as 'persons entitled to receive money for work done during that week. Those three men, according to Justice Boland, gave evidence that they had actually received money as payment for their work during that particular week.

Referring to the defence case, the judgment pointed out that the appellant's defence at the trial as revealed by cross-examination, and in a statement given by him to the police which was put in evidence, and a statement made by him from the dock which he gave on his election not to go into the witness box and give evidence on oath, was that he did make the entries in this Time Book as they appeared there.

He did not admit that there were erasures, Justice Boland said, and added, "I am not sure that he said that, but at any rate that was put forward in cross-examination that it was not at all an unnatural thing that a person making entries like that in lead pencil would have cause to erase names when names are called out by the foreman and then changed.

"He maintained in effect that if these entries were false, if this man Balgobin had not worked , he was not aware that these entries were false; his duty was simply to take down the names as given to him by the foreman and he was under no obligation at all to go around and inspect the work and to see that the various people whose names he had entered were at work.

"So far as that latter submission was concerned, there was some evidence given that during this particular week he was there and must have seen whether they were working or not.

"At any rate, the whole burden of his evidence was 'I know nothing about it. I simply had to write down what was called out and I passed on what I had in my book to the man who was keeping the Pay List'. "I think there was also a report made by some other person in authority but I do not think for the purpose of this case that report is of any importance.

"Balgobin had given a statement to the police and in that statement he stated that some time before the pay day he had been making representations that he was entitled to holiday with pay; that he had actually seen Richieram Beharry and he was told that he was not entitled to it as he had not got the required number of days.

"That is what Balgobin says. He asked the appellant to see about it for him and the appellant told him he would fix it up; and in the dock he said that he was present on pay day and received his money without any knowledge that it was a fraud", Chief Justice Boland had said.

The Appellate Court allowed the appeal of Jairam Gopaul and set aside the conviction and sentence.

Making and Using Molasses Urea Blocks as Supplementary Feed For Cattle
Cattle production systems in Guyana are pasture based with some supplementation using locally available agro-by-products. These by products are mainly copra meal, rice bran, wheat middling and molasses. In recent times the amount of land available for grazing and pasture has been reduced. Also restricted because of the increased exports of cargo rice and copra. This has worsened the poor nutritional status of the cattle due to the reduction in pasture.

Molasses, a source of high energy, may be used to offset some of the deficiencies resulting from this situation. However, because it is a liquid, some difficulties are experienced with transportation, storage, handling and distribution. Using Molasses Urea Block (MUB) can improve the utility of this feed resource, not only by overcoming its handling and storage problems, but also offers the opportunity to incorporate other nutrients to improve feed quality.

The inclusion of urea and mineral in the block improve the ability of the cattle to digest feed. The utilization of the urea in ruminants, however, calls for care in order to avoid toxicity problems. The consumption of urea by animals must be limited and progressive. A very special way of distributing urea to ruminants is to mix it in the molasses to make Molasses Urea Blocks (MUB). MUB is a solid high-energy supplement containing nitrogen and minerals for ruminants to be fed housed or grazing animals on low quality pasture. It is made from molasses, urea, and mineral with a binder such as cement, quick lime or slaked lime. It can never be a completed feed and must be fed along with roughage. MUB allows for the regulated use of urea in a limited and progressive manner. It increases the efficiency of roughage utilization resulting in increased milk yield. It may also improve fertility in animals where mineral deficiencies occur.

Composition
The composition of the blocks can vary in accordance with the purpose of the blocks, type of animal, type of production and the season of the year. Other ingredients can be incorporated such as poultry manure as a source of nitrogen and drugs fro treatment against parasites. Many ingredients can be used to make MUB in accordance with the availability, nutritive value, price, easiness of utilization and their influence on the quality of the blocks. The ingredients used locally are classified as follows:

Urea: This is a source of nitrogen, which can be digested by cattle. It is expected to provide nitrogen likely to be deficient in the feed of ruminants. Its consumption should be limited in quantity and spread out over time in order to avoid toxicity and regulate the level on ammonia in he rumen; this would aid in the better degradation of the cellulose matter.

Molasses: Molasses is a source of rumen fermentable energy source or carbohydrate. It is a palatable carrier for urea and minerals. It is also a source of trace elements and some macro elements such as sulphur, calcium, iron, potassium and a good source of B vitamins. The taste and smell of molasses are very appetizing and make the block more attractive to the animals.

Absorbent: The primary function of the absorbent/ fibre is to absorb molasses, which is the major ingredient in the block. Wheat and rice brans for example have various uses. They have good nutritive value and provide energy, protein and phosphorus. They also absorb the water obtained in the molasses and provide the block with structure. The best sources of fibre are dried leaves from forage trees such as Glyricidia spp., sugar cane bagasse, chopped hay and rice straw. Before using fibre, it must be chopped into small pieces, dried and passed through a 1-2 cm screen.

Salt: This is added both as a source of nutrient and to prevent the animals from eating too much of the MUB. Feed blocks are generally meant to be taken on a ‘little and often’ basis. However, some animals may consume more than is necessary at a time. This may lea to urea molasses toxicities. High levels of salt tend to reduce intake.

Binder: Agents that have been employed to hold other ingredients together in the feed blocks are called binders. These include; quicklime, slaked lime, plaster and cement.

Proportion of ingredients
The literature has indicated several proportional compositions. Table 1: Composition of Different Blocks

The essential materials needed to make a MUB are: moulds, ingredients, mixing equipment, scale, mixing pans/drums.

In making the blocks, the water: cement ratio is very important, as it will determine the final quality of the block. The quality of the water used depends on the amount of cement. The ration is 100 parts of cement to 37 parts water by weight.

The following procedure should be observed while making the MUB:
1. Weigh all ingredients

2. Dissolve the urea and salt in hot water

3. Mix urea/salt solution with filler/c cement

4. Mix cement paste with molasses to uniform consistency

5. Line the moulds with plastic/paper

6. Pour mass into moulds and compact it

7. Leave for one to two days for blocks to harden.

The quality of the block should be: smooth and even with the ingredients very well distributed throughout the block, hard enough so that it is not easily squashed between the fingers and resistant enough not to break when a person steps on it.

The cost per block depends on the ingredients used, their unit cost and the size of the block.

Any farmer requiring more detailed information on the making and using of MUB should contact: N. Cumberbatch, Research Scientist attach to NARI, Mon Repos, E.C.D.

Look great while you travel
By Sherry Bollers-Dixon
This is the time of year when a lot of us travel. The school holidays are here and it's a great time to go and see family and the world itself, if you can afford it.  For most women it's a horrible time, especially with all the packing, especially when it comes to cosmetics.    Most of us find ourselves hoarding a parlour's worth of beauty products to take on holiday, only to come back with most of them unused? Follow our packing tips to make ensure you don't break your back carrying your suitcase before even stepping on to the plane

Packing for a trip is no easy task. Most of us end up packing more clothes than we know what to do with. And shoes? Forget about it; they require a separate suitcase on their own. It's not much easier when it comes to beauty and skin care. While we want to make sure we bring all the essentials, our skin may require different products when we travel than when we're at home. The key is to find multitasking products that don't take up too much room.

Here's how to look great on the go:

Buy a cream blush that doubles as a lip tint

Carry cleansing or refreshing wipes to clean dirt and make-up - even waterproof mascara - from your face, while nourishing skin with moisture. These are especially great for long flights.

Carry an all-in-one moisturiser with sunscreen and tint. Look for creams with SPF 15 protection or higher that have a slight pigment to provide a great finished look without the heaviness of foundation.

Go from day into evening without overstuffing your make-up bag: A hint of shimmer can be applied to the face, body and even hair, creating a sexy night-time look in seconds.

Prepare for lost luggage by bringing a few basics on board. Many of the above products can be easily packed in your travel bag to tide you over until your luggage is found.

Drink plenty of water. Whether you are in the air or basking on the beach staying hydrated is the most important beauty tip of all.

Don't wear nail polish; it chips easily when you're carrying luggage, making your hands instantly unsightly. Instead, get a 'buff' manicure - ask your manicurist to buff your nails to a shine instead of applying polish.

Carry some peppermint or rosemary oil on flights. The re-circulated air in planes can make the atmosphere stuffy. Rub a dab of essential oil on your temples to help relieve congestion. (If you have time for a bath when you get to your destination, you can add several drops of oil to that as well.)

Wear minimal eye make-up, and carry eye drops. Stuffy air, long queues and hours on the go will make you tired. Wilted eye make-up will make you look even more tired. If your eyes feel too naked without some attention, you can apply a light mascara tint and set your brows in place with a clear brow gel. If your peepers feel dry or get red, a few eye drops will fix them.

Apply a leave-in conditioner before you begin your journey. Choose one that's formulated for your hair type so it won't weigh your hair down. The stresses of travelling, especially if you go to a different climate, can dry out hair and cause split ends.

Carry an eye gel or cream. Often, applying a nutritious eye gel or cream is enough of a pick-me-up to get through customs. If not, at least you'll keep the delicate skin around your eyes moisturised and prevent puffiness.

Take your own supplies for your time away from home. Travel-size products leave room in your suitcase for other essentials. Most health and beauty retailers these days carry everything from mini nail polish remover pads to stain remover to deep-conditioning shampoo. Since products such as soaps and shampoos provided by hotels are often harsh, these petite products are important to have.

Good oral hygiene
To be successful, good oral hygiene has to be practiced on an ongoing basis at home. Prevention begins at your own bathroom, where you brush and floss thoroughly each day. Brushing not only removes plaque, but also massages the gingival (gums). The effectiveness of any preventive program is measured by the patient’s level of compliance and their ability to manipulate the toothbrush, floss, etc. correctly.

You probably have been told to brush after every meal, and whenever possible, after every snack. This is still ideal. You should comply with this suggestion, particularly if your teeth are prone to decay or of you have periodontal disease. In some cases, however, differing recommendations are warranted. For example, the Rule of Thoroughness remains the key to oral health. That Rule states that the total time spent cleaning the mouth during every 24 hours must be equal to the amount of natural teeth in minutes. For example, if a person has 20 teeth he/she should spend at least 20 minutes every day brushing, flossing, etc.

Factors to consider include a person’s diet, overall oral health and susceptibility to oral disease, and the presence of physical conditions such as decreased saliva flow. Most studies indicate that early morning brushing is universally indicated because the body’s natural plaque fighters are less active during sleep, so plaque accumulates more quickly. For the same reason it is advisable to brush and floss before retiring to reduce the number of bacteria in and around the teeth during this time of lessened natural defense.

Buying a toothbrush can be confusing as deciding on a pair of new shoes. The variety of shapes and sizes staggers the imagination. Brushes are divided into two categories – manual and powered. Manual brushes come in every color and size, and have bristles that are rippled, trimmed to a dome shape, and available in several neon colors. You can get brushes with handles that have a non-slip grip and a flexible neck that enables it to bend as you brush. There are even brushes on the market with handles that are activated by heat from the user’s hand to change colors.

I believe that the best toothbrush is one that the patient will use as long as a toothbrush has soft, round ended bristles and removes plaque. The handle of a toothbrush does not decide how effective it is. The size and choice of style of brush is determined not only by the size of the patient’s mouth but also by the patient’s age and manual dexterity.

Sonic and ultrasonic toothbrushes, which have been recently introduced on the market, are classified as manual brushes. They emit waves to vibrate the bristle at high frequencies. This makes these brushes very effective for removing plaque and stains. Standard manual brushing techniques can be employed with these brushes, which utilize rechargeable batteries. The Sonicare toothbrush is available with a two-minute timer. This is a particularly nice feature for those who have a tendency to rush, because it encourages you to continue brushing until the time stops.

Power toothbrushes usually have a small brush head. Even though this limits the number of teeth the brush covers at any one time in any area, the design .allows the user increased access to less accessible areas. No one has ever proven that electric toothbrushes clean teeth better than conventional brushes when properly used. An electric toothbrush may, however, be the best choice if you have dexterity problems or a physical disability.

Proper brushing usually takes about three to four minutes. It depends on the clinical conditions in the mouth and the patient’s dexterity in using the brush. Most people reach an ideal time spent on brushing through trial and error. You can check how well you have done by using a disclosing solution. This is a dye that stains any areas where plaque has been left after brushing. Plaque disclosing tablets can be found in the dental practices of most respectable dentists. The time you spend brushing can be increased if there seem to be areas you are missing.

There are several accepted methods for brushing teeth. You need to consult your dentist to determine which method is best for you. One effective method is as follows: To brush the outer surfaces of the teeth, place the brush at a 45-degree angle to the gums. Then gently move the brush back and forth in short strokes no longer than half a tooth. A soft bristle brush will clean under the gums without injuring them. Still using the short scrubbing motion, concentrate on the inside surfaces of the teeth. This is where most neglect has been shown to occur. Use the ‘toe’ of the brush to clean the inner front tooth surfaces. Complete your brushing by using short back-and-forth strokes on the chewing surfaces of the teeth. Make sure you do not miss any teeth or tooth surfaces.

One hint: Brush your tongue. Really! Brushing the tongue cleans off oral microorganisms that contribute to bad breath. Some periodontists even suggest that you brush the inside of your cheeks. Do this gently, of course. The whole idea is to minimize or eliminate as many oral bacteria as possible.

Regardless of the method you use, a systematic sequence of brushing is always recommended. Brushing different areas of the mouth in the same order every time has been shown to increase brushing effectiveness. Cleaning is optimized by using multiple and overlapping strokes. Pay special attention to those areas most frequently missed when brushing – the most posterior (back) molar in all of the arches, the canines (bicuspids), and the facial (surface on the cheek side of the tooth) aspects of the lower anterior (front) teeth. Be careful to brush correctly or you can cause the teeth to wear away (which may cause them to become sensitive). Remember, the effective control of dental plaque is the secret to good oral health.

Deal-breaker
As I sit on my computer e-mailing a woman I could start an affair with, I search for answers.  Your explanations about infidelity are plausible, reasonable, and thoughtful, but I still have questions I would like to ask.

I would like to start by saying I love my wife, but we are at a crossroads.  My wife seems to have an unknown mental aversion to sex, something neither of us recognized upon meeting the first time.  She saved herself for marriage, only to find she did not care for sex.

We have been and are in counseling.  Our therapist has tried to give my wife tools and direction to focus on our sex life, while telling my wife and me she is surprised by my understanding, support, and patience.  Unfortunately, in seven years not much has changed, and I'm looking for a balance between self and marital preservation.

I work with someone who obviously has issues of her own with her marriage, and she introduced the idea of having an affair.   I'm not one to complain about my wife openly, nor did I confide in this woman, prior to her offer, about my own marital problems.  It simply was based upon a mutual unconscious attraction, as best as I can tell.

Prior to having anyone in mind, I once asked my wife if she would allow me to have an affair.  While crying and shaking her head no, she told me that I could.  I am old enough to know I am reaching middle age where I will be more interested in planning my retirement than becoming the table-dancing, lampshade-on-the-head guy at the next wild party.  I do not want to go into those years without a fulfilling, active sex life.

My wife is the kindest, warmest, most caring human being I know.  She would do anything for anyone, but she is greatly struggling with what her husband wants and needs.  We work together to raise our children, pay our bills, and juggle our finances.  So, standing upon the precipice of infidelity, I'm asking for advice.  I’m beyond asking my wife and our therapist for help because the result is the same.

Don
Don, a fulfilling, active sex life is not something you can purchase at Wal-Mart.  You think your wife is standing between you and a given.  It is not a given.  You have a mental picture of what things will be like, but having an affair could change your life in ways you cannot imagine.

You want a great sex life with someone who wants sex, but the woman who suggested an affair has more on her mind than a roll in the hay.  She wants out of her marriage and a new man.  Women don’t give away sex for free.

A young girl having sex isn’t getting anything out of it except to say, “He’s my boyfriend, he loves me.”  A mature woman may get pleasure from sex, but her underlying desire is still love.  If you find a woman who wants only sex, you will get a woman who has been altered or damaged in some way.  If you find a woman you have great chemistry with, you will think you love her and want to be with her.

The idea of saving yourself for marriage goes hand in hand with the idea sex is for procreation, not pleasure.  Perhaps your wife is the way she is because of religious conditioning.  Possibly she is one of those women who are nonorgasmic.  Since she is not excited about sex, it is a gruesome event.

We don’t know what her issue is, but we do know she shook her head no.  That’s her answer.  The body doesn’t go along with lies coming from the mouth.  It boils down to this.  You have to decide what you want: wife and kids, or the risks that come from going outside your marriage.

Wayne & Tamara
Authors and columnists Wayne and Tamara Mitchell can be reached at www.WayneAndTamara.com.

Send letters to: Direct Answers, PO Box 964, Springfield, MO 65801 or email: DirectAnswers@WayneAndTamara.com.

Importance of Pesticide Registration – Part V
Extrapolation and its importance
In the previous article, we examined local trials along with data generated from other countries and how it can be used in the evaluation process. In this article, we will examine the extrapolation process and its importance in pesticide registration

Public domain evidence

Suitable efficacy information may have been published in scientific journals, books or other reliable public data sources.

The advantages and disadvantages of using public domain evidence are similar to using foreign trials data. An additional advantage is that publications in peer-reviewed journals or books have generally been submitted to a quality check, reducing the risk that inappropriate methods were used or incorrect conclusions drawn. However, public domain data may be summarized to the extent that it becomes difficult to assess if the conditions of the trial are comparable or relevant to the national situation.

Extrapolation
It may be possible to extrapolate efficacy information from one pest or crop to another (closely related) one, between cropping situations or between closely related formulations of the pesticide. Extrapolation refers to a situation where a full data set has already been accepted by the registration authority for a specific pest control situation, and additional pest control claims are then considered based primarily on scientific rationale and less on additional data.

Various types of extrapolation of efficacy information may be possible, for instance:
1. Control of one target pest (i.e. insect, disease or weed) to another closely related one, either on the same crop or on another crop;

2. Control of the same target pest on one crop to a closely related crop or cropping situation;

3. Crop safety (e.g. absence of phytotoxicity) between different crops; and

4. Control with one type of pesticide formulation to a different one, but containing the same active ingredient(s).

Extrapolation may be used to form either all or part of the data package submitted for a given registration request. Various factors are important when considering if extrapolation is appropriate:

(a) Sound data set
Extrapolation must be carried out from a sound data set, i.e. the efficacy data that are used to extrapolate from should be adequate in quantity and quality. If a product has already been tested rigorously under variable environmental or pest conditions and still performed consistently, extrapolation will be easier than when the data set from which to extrapolate is variable in itself. Also, if the data set contains more than one use (e.g. where a pest is controlled consistently on two or more different crops, or where crop safety has been demonstrated on a range of crops), then extrapolation is more likely to be acceptable.

(b) Sound biological basis
A sound biological basis for extrapolation is essential. Close taxonomic relationship may not be sufficient justification because taxonomy is not always well correlated with the biology and behaviour of the target organism(s). Therefore, all aspects of pest biology and behaviour, as well as the biology of the crop, should be carefully considered when making and evaluating a case for extrapolation.

For instance, data on seed treatments against non host-specific soil pathogens may be extrapolated from one cereal to another or from one legume to another, provided they are grown in similar field conditions. It may also be possible to extrapolate efficacy data acquired on one species of padi bug on rice to another species, if they show similar biology.

(c) Choice of use from which to extrapolate
It is advisable to consider carefully which crop/pest combinations are likely to be most suitable as a basis for extrapolation to other crops/pests. It is not necessarily the crop with the largest area in the country that should be subject to the greatest number of trials. It may be better to put emphasis on less widely grown crops, if extrapolation from these crops to other ones is likely to be easier. (Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals Control Board)