Key bridge for Guyana-Brazil road likely soon
THE key bridge over the border Takutu River is likely to be built soon as plans advance for the long awaited Guyana-Brazil road, Public Works Minister, Mr. Anthony Xavier has announced.
He said he recently received a letter from the administration in the border state of Roraima in Brazil stating that it was moving towards awarding a contract to construct the bridge over the Takutu River.
Building the bridge is a long outstanding issue, Xavier noted at a lunch with the Guyana Association of Professional Engineers (GAPE) Friday.
"...there is movement in that area and I am hoping that we would see the follow through and eventually we will have a proper road to take us from Linden to Lethem and eventually to Brazil", the minister said.
The Takutu River borders Lethem and Roraima and the bridge will provide a link to a top class highway from Bom Fin in Roraima to the state capital Boa Vista and a vast road network to most of the giant southern neighbouring country.
The Guyana-Brazil road is linked to the proposed deep water harbour on the Berbice River which the two countries are working on to give Brazil easier access to markets in Europe, the Caribbean and elsewhere.
The Linden to Lethem road will be maintained, Xavier said and in that respect he has attended some meetings with Transport Ministers of South America.
He said that road is on a list of six priorities that the authorities have decided to pursue with the funding agency that supports South American countries.
On a visit here in December, Roraima Governor, Mr. Neudo Ribeiro Campos announced that Brazilian President Fernando Henrique Cardoso had agreed to fully back the project.
He said Cardoso had agreed that an asphalt Guyana-Brazil road "is very important" for both countries.
The Brazilians have proposed that construction of the asphalt stretch from the Linden bauxite mining town to Lethem should begin in September when the seasonal rains usually stop.
Campos, on a one-day visit to push the road and deep water harbour link, said there was a provisional budget for a bridge across the Takutu River and the Brazilians were studying the format of a proposal to put to Guyana for financing the road.
The proposal would identify the source of the funding, who would be responsible for paving the road and the responsibilities of the two parties to the project, he told a news conference in Georgetown.
Campos noted that with the breakthrough in getting federal approval in Brazil, the two countries then had eight months to sort out the bilateral problems, tie up the financing and pick the company to do the road, the deep water harbour and other related aspects of the project.
Campos said the interest by the federal government in Brazil and the Guyana Government in completing the road had "never been so high".
President Bharrat Jagdeo has announced that Guyana is looking for a joint venture project for a deep water harbour on the coast to link with the proposed road to Brazil.
STRENGTHENING ROADS COUNTRYWIDE
Xavier also told GAPE that his ministry has been trying to strengthen roads countrywide but stated that more has to be done in this regard.
He said it has strengthened roads in Georgetown and the road links to Mahaica, Enmore on the East Coast railway embankment, from Georgetown to Timehri and Soesdyke/Linden.
Works have also been done to the Essequibo Coast road and many other urban and rural roads.
"This process will continue and some of the infrastructure works that we have in line", the minister said.
He added that the ministry is hoping to have the Mahaica to Rosignol road upgraded and the four-lane corridor from the Demerara Harbour Bridge to Georgetown, which was put on hold, completed.
Simultaneously, the ministry is also having a study done by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to construct an alternative route from Timehri to Georgetown, the minister said.
Also in the pipeline, are works to be done in Black Bush Polder and upgrading of roads from New Amsterdam to Crabwood Creek.
The ministry with the assistance of the IDB did a 10-year vision of some of the infrastructure projects they have in mind.
He said the designs of 63 structures for bridges have been completed and have qualified contractors.
He added that the building process for the consultants for the supervision of construction will start at the end of this month and hoped there would be early construction in the new year.
That project also has a road maintenance component and consultants will soon be selected to establish and implement a routine maintenance, management system, Xavier said.
"...under this programme, consultants will establish a data base of maintenance records and condition surveys of the main roads in Guyana", he explained.
This, he said, will allow them to forecast and prioritise maintenance requirements ahead of the deterioration of the roads.
It also includes the maintenance of 100 km of roads and the ministry is hoping that by March next year, the maintenance project contracts will be awarded.
Preliminary activities have begun in this area involving condition surveys and so on, the minister said.
Efforts under way for early construction of Berbice River Bridge
PUBLIC Works Minister, Mr. Anthony Xavier has announced that efforts are under way for the early construction of the Berbice River Bridge with President Bharrat Jagdeo clearing the way for the process to move forward.
He said the ministry is committed to building the bridge and is hoping to have the development agreement in place and signed so that they can move into the financing process later this year.
Xavier said he and Mr. Jagdeo recently met a representative of the Ballast Nedam firm, the first ranked bidder for the construction of the bridge.
The President told the representative of Ballast Nedam that as the project moves off, he would like to see local engineers coming together from the start in examining the designs, for instance, and be like an overall watchdog for this major project.
"It is in this respect that that I am going to write the Guyana Association of Professional Engineers (GAPE) for them to play a role in this process", the minister told members and officials of GAPE at the organisation's luncheon Friday.
Negotiations on the bridge between the Guyana Government and Ballast Nedam of the Netherlands were halted earlier this year as preparations advanced for the holding of national elections on March 19.
At that time the two sides were working on a developmental agreement for the project, which would have formed the main outline for a number of smaller agreements that need to be in place before a financial closure of the project is realised.
Costs were estimated to be between US$30M to US$35M. (ABIGAIL KIPPINS)
STRENGTHENING ROADS COUNTRYWIDE
Xavier also told GAPE that his ministry has been trying to strengthen roads countrywide but stated that more has to be done in this regard.
He said it has strengthened roads in Georgetown and the road links to Mahaica, Enmore on the East Coast railway embankment, from Georgetown to Timehri and Soesdyke/Linden.
Works have also been done to the Essequibo Coast road and many other urban and rural roads.
"This process will continue and some of the infrastructure works that we have in line", the minister said.
He added that the ministry is hoping to have the Mahaica to Rosignol road upgraded and the four-lane corridor from the Demerara Harbour Bridge to Georgetown, which was put on hold, completed.
Simultaneously, the ministry is also having a study done by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to construct an alternative route from Timehri to Georgetown, the minister said.
Also in the pipeline, are works to be done in Black Bush Polder and upgrading of roads from New Amsterdam to Crabwood Creek.
The ministry with the assistance of the IDB did a 10-year vision of some of the infrastructure projects they have in mind.
He said the designs of 63 structures for bridges have been completed and have qualified contractors.
He added that the building process for the consultants for the supervision of construction will start at the end of this month and hoped there would be early construction in the new year.
That project also has a road maintenance component and consultants will soon be selected to establish and implement a routine maintenance, management system, Xavier said.
"...under this programme, consultants will establish a data base of maintenance records and condition surveys of the main roads in Guyana", he explained.
This, he said, will allow them to forecast and prioritise maintenance requirements ahead of the deterioration of the roads.
It also includes the maintenance of 100 km of roads and the ministry is hoping that by March next year, the maintenance project contracts will be awarded.
Preliminary activities have begun in this area involving condition surveys and so on, the minister said.
Efforts under way for early construction of Berbice River Bridge
PUBLIC Works Minister, Mr. Anthony Xavier has announced that efforts are under way for the early construction of the Berbice River Bridge with President Bharrat Jagdeo clearing the way for the process to move forward.
He said the ministry is committed to building the bridge and is hoping to have the development agreement in place and signed so that they can move into the financing process later this year.
Xavier said he and Mr. Jagdeo recently met a representative of the Ballast Nedam firm, the first ranked bidder for the construction of the bridge.
The President told the representative of Ballast Nedam that as the project moves off, he would like to see local engineers coming together from the start in examining the designs, for instance, and be like an overall watchdog for this major project.
"It is in this respect that that I am going to write the Guyana Association of Professional Engineers (GAPE) for them to play a role in this process", the minister told members and officials of GAPE at the organisation's luncheon Friday.
Negotiations on the bridge between the Guyana Government and Ballast Nedam of the Netherlands were halted earlier this year as preparations advanced for the holding of national elections on March 19.
At that time the two sides were working on a developmental agreement for the project, which would have formed the main outline for a number of smaller agreements that need to be in place before a financial closure of the project is realised.
Costs were estimated to be between US$30M to US$35M. (ABIGAIL KIPPINS)
Aid for victims of post-elections unrest from this week
THE Office of the President is to this week begin disbursing assistance, to the tune of $150M, to victims of the post-elections unrest.
A release from the office said Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon will on Tuesday announce the particulars on the size of the award made in each of the eight categories into which the information garnered from the 402 claimants has been assorted by the Assistance Assessment Committee.
He will also pronounce on the basis on which these awards are being made.
Verified claimants, too, will be advised the same day on how to access assistance, the Office of the President said.
The committee looked into claims from those who suffered in violence and unrest after the March 19 elections.
Gopaul denies abusing vehicle duty-free concessions
HEAD of the Public Service, Mr. Nanda Kishore Gopaul yesterday said he is owed apologies from persons accusing him of abusing his position in the public sector in operating two vehicles allegedly obtained with duty-free concessions.
He also said he was disappointed at the unprofessional manner in which journalists this week invaded his privacy in showing footage of his vehicle parked at his residence in light of these accusations.
He said that without notice, TV personnel filmed the back of his car and not the front, which is damaged, and broadcast the footage Friday night.
Gopaul is inviting them to return and film the damaged section of the car and get the correct details.
He was accused of abusing his position to benefit from duty-free concessions but yesterday he told the Chronicle that the only reason he was granted duty-free concession on another motor vehicle was because his car was involved in an accident a few months ago.
He said he was advised that it would not be safe to use the car for some time and that it would take a while to be repaired.
He said he made the necessary applications and presented documents to the relevant authorities and was allowed duty-free concession on another car.
This, he said, is not strange in the Public Service since public servants whose vehicles were damaged as a result of an accident have applied for another duty-free concession and when the damaged vehicle is disposed of, the relevant duty or a proportionate sum would be paid back on the vehicle.
He added that because of his contract with the Government, he is entitled to the services of a chauffeur and to a State vehicle.
He said he chose to have his own vehicle and in so doing saved the State a lot of money.
"I did not abuse my authority. (The duty-free concession) has to be applied for and the circumstances had to be explained. It was done in a transparent manner", Gopaul stated.
Deportee killed in confrontation with Police was reportedly wanted in Trinidad
DEPORTEE Antoine Adisena Houston, one of three men shot dead in a confrontation with a Police patrol in the city Thursday morning, was reportedly wanted in Trinidad in connection with several killings and robberies.
Reports yesterday said he also worked as security and a handyman at Congress Place, headquarters of the main Opposition People's National Congress Reform (PNC/R) since December last year.
Police said Houston was deported from the United States on May 26, 1998 for attempted murder and was linked to a series of robberies on the West Coast and East Coast Demerara.
The PNC/R has disputed the Police account of how Houston and the two others died and the party has planned a protest rally in the city this afternoon and a march Thursday.
Police identified one of the other men killed as Steve Grant or Steve Robinson, and are still trying to get the full name of the other known as `Short Man' or `Doggie'.
Police in a statement said a patrol in the Industrial Site at about 05:30 hrs Thursday saw a vehicle with its licence plates partially obscured by cardboard.
As the ranks attempted to stop the vehicle, "three men jumped out and fired shots at the Police party causing them to take evasive action", the statement said.
Police said that during the confrontation, the vehicle "sped away from the scene".
They said members of the patrol returned fire and the three men were "fatally shot".
Police said they recovered a Beretta sub-machine gun with one magazine containing 32 rounds of live ammunition, a Browning 9mm pistol with seven rounds of ammunition in the magazine and a .32 Taurus revolver with three rounds.
The PNC/R claimed the three were the latest "extra-judicial killings" by the Special Target Squad, popularly known as the Black Clothes Police.
It said members of the squad gunned down the three young men at the corner of Mandela Avenue and East Bank Highway "in full view of many citizens".
The Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) in a statement yesterday challenged the Police account of the incident suggesting that both sides would have suffered injuries in a shootout.
"In a society such as we have become, the role of the Police in safeguarding and promoting civilised behaviour is of paramount importance", the association said, adding that the current wave of violent and vicious crimes is a frightening reality.
"It cannot be invoked, however, to explain or excuse violence by the Police", GHRA said.
It argued that an effective response requires the mobilising of a far wider range of talent and resources than even an efficient police force can command and said the argument for a national commission charged with devising a national security policy is overwhelming.
"As part of its mandate, such a body should thoroughly review all aspects of policing, identify the structure and functions of a National Police Oversight Committee and ensure its recommendations are put into effect", the association advocated.
Road safety engineering team established
By Abigail Kippins
PUBLIC Works Minister, Mr. Anthony Xavier has said that while building roads has always been the responsibility of the ministry, road safety cannot be put on the back burner.
In this light, he said the ministry will be part of road safety programmes.
He said a road safety engineering team has been established and has started collecting data and setting up a data base which will include traffic accidents and vehicle accounts categorised by location.
"...we are hoping that an analysis of this data will identify the stretches of roads which may require redesigning or the installation of devices which can certainly help to reduce accidents", he said Friday at a Guyana Association of Professional Engineers (GAPE) luncheon in Georgetown.
Xavier said road safety engineering has gained prominence in some developing countries in recent years to the extent that it is included in the curriculum of engineering in educational institutions and in some cases the data generated is used for the revision of traffic laws and regulations.
He said the ministry is also examining the physical works component which will improve the traffic `singularisation' and priority areas and it wants to install some crash barriers and side walks.
However, he said very important is a public awareness programme on road safety.
"I am hoping that through this programme we will be able to establish some foundation where we can move up in this area".
In relation to air transport, the minister said considerable progress has been made in the direction of creating a new Guyana Civil Aviation Authority and a Cheddi Jagan International Airport Corporation.
"And I hope over the next two years, to have available to me US$7.5M to meet the further expenditure".
He said the ministry also wants to overlay the existing runway at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri, intend to out in new sewerage and drainage systems, operate the power distribution system, and upgrade the systems for aircraft projects at Timehri to increase operational safety.
Some design work has been completed and evaluation of contractors for those works has begun, he said.
The authorities are also moving speedily to privatise the Ogle aerodrome, East Coast Demerara and are hoping that the lease would be signed to the Ogle investors in the next two weeks and works can get under way soon.
Xavier said that last year, the ministry did an institutional and organisational study which relates to an evaluation of its capacity to fulfil its mission, comply with its legal mandate, to assume as necessary its responsibility as executing agency of projects funded by bilateral and multilateral funding agencies and the preparation of improved action plans suitable for the implementation as a phased activity.
He said this study, having been completed, recommended among other things the creation of a works services group which will embrace all projects funded by bilateral and multilateral agencies.
"...it is therefore the recommendation of my ministry and the Government that in order to maximise the use of our scarce resources, we have to move ahead with this group and at the same time forge ahead with our infrastructural programmes".
Concern over Cytotec
--A pill used as an abortifacient is blamed for a high incidence of medical complications
By Michelle Nurse
LOCAL health care providers have expressed concern over the unsupervised use of Cytotec - a drug employed by some young women for terminating unwanted pregnancies.
This concern stems from the high incidence of young women who are daily seeking medical attention, at both public and private health institutions, for serious complications after using the drug.
In fact, doctors are of the opinion that Cytotec has now become one of the major causes of abortion complications in Guyana, and they place the blame squarely at the feet of pharmacies which dispense the prescription drug over-the-counter.
"...Cytotec has taken over as a cause of abortion complication where previously, years ago, people used to use knitting needles and so on ...," prominent gynaecologist, Dr. M.Y. Bacchus said.
Health Minister, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, who, shortly after assuming his post, had issued a statement expressing his concern over the situation, told the Sunday Chronicle last month, that young women enter the Georgetown Hospital daily suffering from infections stemming from incomplete abortions. The method of choice of terminating their pregnancies was Cytotec. He had noted too, that the problem becomes more widespread in areas outside of Georgetown.
Cytotec, is a drug originally dispensed to treat gastric and duodenal ulcers. It also prevents ulcers associated with the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID), used mainly by elderly and frail persons who depend on any NSAIDs because of arthritis and other complaints. By default [when some pregnant woman used Cytotec for ulcers, it caused bleeding and, in some cases, abortion] it was soon discovered that the drug could be used to induce abortion.
The little pill works on the lining of the abdominal walls. It affects the muscles of the uterus, which then begins the process of contractions. The contractions, in turn, open the mouth of the womb so that the foetus is expelled.
Dr. Ramsammy conceded: "It is a safe drug for the purpose of inducing labour. It can be an important part of management for medical termination of pregnancy. Gynaecologists certified (under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act) to terminate pregnancies, will agree that it can be used."
He added that in remote areas of Guyana, the drug could be used as a cheap and safe way to medically terminate a pregnancy. But it must be used under expert supervision in order to prevent complications, he stressed.
Dr Bacchus, operating out of his private clinic on Waterloo Street, agreed.
"Cytotec is a useful addition to the armamentarium of drugs used in Obstetrics; because of the simplicity of its use, it is often taken for granted with poor patient monitoring and subsequent mishaps. We must not abandon this useful drug. We must encourage more judicious use," Dr. Bacchus said.
Another well-known gynaecologist, Dr. Neville Gobin of Woodlands Hospital, also in the City, commenting on the usefulness of the drug, said: "Apart from abortions, we do use Cytotec for patients who are in labour to facilitate labour and delivery of the patient. In our hospital we tend to rely less on drips. Before, we used to rely on drips to accelerate labour. Now we use small doses of Cytotec, and we find that the results are very good."
Not now a "taboo drug" by a long shot, according to Dr. Bacchus a gynaecological/obstetrics specialist for more than three decades, Cytotec gained a bad reputation, "at first" because it was used injudiciously.
"It is an accepted drug now. It has been accepted, for example, in Britain, by the Royal College of Obstetricians, and in the (United) States by the American College of Obstetrics. It is used both in obstetrics and gynaecology. So it's not a taboo drug anymore. It used to be a taboo drug when it first started because of its improper use for abortions and it had a bad, very bad reputation because it was used indiscriminately by a lot of Third World countries for abortions," he told the Sunday Chronicle in an interview.
"A lot of research has gone into the use of Cytotec to terminate unwanted pregnancies. Ever since sex began, there have been unwanted pregnancies, so the need to terminate pregnancies has always been there, and by and large, it (abortion) has always been (done) by surgical methods. There's been the search for medical methodology - the use of drugs, tablets, etc. - that can cause termination of pregnancy," said Dr. Gobin.
He said research was conducted on the drug in Brazil and Mozambique. The research concluded that it can be used for terminating pregnancy, and it is being used nowadays because it is much cheaper than the RU486 (abortion pill) developed by the French. Though it is widely used in Europe, the price of RU486 is prohibitive for Third World countries.
"RU486 is usually combined with the Cytotec, but trials have shown that Cytotec alone can do the job...in terminating pregnancies," Dr Gobin said.
"In First World countries today, an abortion up to seven weeks is not done by a D&C. They give... RU486, then three days later, they give Cytotec and that causes the woman to lose the baby 98 per cent of the time. So, it's very effective. However, RU486 is very expensive and we don't get it in this part of the world. RU486 is not available in Third World countries, so people use Cytotec alone...," Dr. Bacchus said.
Dr. Gobin estimated that Cytotec has been in use in Guyana for about two years. He explained that Cytotec causes abdominal cramps and bleeding, which vary with the stage the pregnancy. The woman will experience less bleeding and cramps the earlier the pregnancy.
According to the specialists, use of the drug can result in no interruption of the pregnancy, complete abortion, or incomplete abortion - part of the product is expelled and part remains in the uterus. In the latter instance, the patient will have to end up having a `clean out' or an `evac' of the uterus.
Of the effects, the incomplete abortion is the most serious because retained products can lead to sepsis; it can lead to haemhorrage and this can adversely affect the immediate and future reproductive health of the woman, Dr Gobin pointed out.
Among the other complications which Dr. Bacchus said can occur are:
* Heavy bleeding necessitating blood transfusions with its inherent dangers; patients can go into shock and die because of blood loss;
* Infections. Once the woman becomes infected, the infection can spread up to the uterus and the tubes and which can render the woman infertile;
* chronic lower abdominal pains
Good servant; bad master
"I do not know of anyone who has lost her life as a result of using Cytotec to procure an abortion. The worst, in our country, is that it can cause tremendous bleeding. And as it is, it's like what they say about fire: it is a good servant but bad master. Similarly Cytotec is a good drug if it is used correctly, under proper supervision, with proper counselling," he stressed.
Dr. Gobin said 40 to 50 per cent of the women he sees with unwanted pregnancies would have admitted to trying Cytotec before going to him.
"I find that the age range (is concentrated) more (on) the younger age group. I would say from the teens up to about age 30. The use of Cytotec is more common in this age group.
"This is because it is more readily available and then there's the fear of the surgical procedure. Then there may be other reasons, especially for the young people where parents may not know that (they) are sexually active and that they are pregnant. They feel that they can use the tablet and terminate the pregnancy without anyone being any the wiser," Dr Gobin offered.
Dr. Bacchus said on average, he sees between 30 and 40 patients each month who suffer complications after using Cytotec.
"They are young girls, in their teens, late teens, and in their 20's," Dr Bacchus said of the patients who visit his clinic with complications from Cytotec use.
"The girls would come to you and say `doctor I use Cytotec, but I still pregnant'. Sometimes they might bleed a little, not heavily and the pregnancy continues," he said.
Mostly young women turn up at the Georgetown Hospital and they have to undergo dilation and curettage (D&C), and in many cases, have to undergo other surgical procedures - depending on the status of the pregnancy - to remove the dead foetuses, the Health Minister said.
In New Amsterdam, Dr. Narine Datt Sooknanan, the only doctor in the town registered under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act to do abortions, described the situation as "very disturbing".
At least three women seek medical attention at the New Amsterdam Hospital each day suffering from complications following the use of what they call the `$500 pill' or the `push-up tablet', he told the Sunday Chronicle Friday. At his private clinic, the number per day is greater.
"They come at the hospital bleeding, and some of them bleed for months. Some of them are anaemic and need blood. They come in literally at the last moment... Only yesterday, two women had to get blood transfusions after (suffering complications from Cytotec use," Dr. Sooknanan said.
In some cases, the New Amsterdam doctor said, women have to "go more than once to the theatre" to have the "products" of an incomplete abortion removed. Complications from use of the pill can include damaged tubes and pelvis, loss of libido and chronic pelvic pain.
Drug dispensed over-the-counter
At the heart of the matter is the fact that the drug is being dispensed over-the counter. There is also the concern that doctors not certified under the Abortion Act are prescribing the drug.
Said the Minister in his statement to the press in May: "It appears that some doctors not certified according to the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act are prescribing Cytotec to women for the purpose of terminating an unwanted pregnancy. It is not clear whether such prescriptions lead to supervised use of this medication.
"Even more worrisome is the fact that young women are able to obtain Cytotec from various pharmacies without a prescription. It appears as if most women who use Cytotec for an unsupervised termination of pregnancy obtain the drug via this method. Either of these routes is illegal and is a breach of the regulations. The Ministry of Health intends to take strong action against pharmacies that dispense Cytotec without the required prescriptions from doctors. We will also take action against doctors (who) are not certified according to the Act as practitioners permitted to perform medical termination of a pregnancy who prescribe Cytotec for this purpose."
It is Dr Bacchus' view that the "drugstores make a fortune from it". He explained that it costs drugstores about $100 wholesale per tablet, but they retail it to customers at prices as high as $500 and $1000 per tablet.
"That is the price mark-up they have. They take advantage of the situation, because most women (with unwanted pregnancies) would prefer to use a pill rather than go to a doctor to terminate a pregnancy. And of course, a lot of women end up in hospital or at private doctors, from incomplete pregnancies... In fact, in Trinidad, there's a Cytotec ward, much in the same way that there's a `slip and fell' ward here."
Drs Bacchus, Sooknanan and Gobin all advocate education - for both patients and pharmacists - as the primary tool for curbing the improper use of the pill.
"We have sensitised the media and the people, but the people continue to use the drug. Then problem needs to be addressed with respect to the people who sell the drug. The drug store people encourage them to use Cytotec. It is sold too easily. The people who bring in the drug should not be able to sell it," Dr. Sooknanan said.
He added that he "sometimes sympathises with the women" who use Cytotec, but "the culprits are the people who sell it through the back door." These illegal drug stores and those pharmacies which operate without pharmacists, "should be shut down" he said.
If its use cannot be effectively controlled, the other alternative is to ban importation of the drug, he said.
"Even if the Minister bans the use of Cytotec ... and it is only used as a hospital drug, you'll still have people smuggling it in. I imagine education, health education, is the only thing for the patient, because some of them do get away with it (using Cytotec). The pharmacists make so much profit out of it... Education too, (is essential) for the health providers, to let them know exactly what they are dealing with... It might be a good thing for the pharmacists' association to educate its officers into the uses and dangers of Cytotec," Dr Bacchus said.
It is Dr. Gobin's view that the drug should no longer be sold in pharmacies.
"The dosage and the way it is being used are wrong. People go over-the-counter and they buy the Cytotec. They insert some, some drink some, some insert one or two, some drink one or two, and this is totally unsupervised. They are not given counselling as to what to expect. Even with the right dosage, a person using Cytotec to terminate a pregnancy should be cautioned about the possibilities.
"I understand that even in some market places you can go and buy the `abortion pill' as it is being called now. So the dosage that is recommended by the people who have conducted the trials are not (being adhered to) ... There is no counselling as to what to expect and what effect Cytotec can have.
"It is a drug that should only be sold under prescription. It is a drug that needs to be prescribed. People just go and ask for the abortion tablet and they are being sold it. In many cases, the pregnancy may not even have been confirmed. A woman might just have missed a period without being pregnant," the doctor stressed.
According to the doctors, ideally, a woman should go to a doctor, submit herself to a medical examination to ascertain the stage of pregnancy, then the doctor would determine how much Cytotec can be used.
"For example, different stages of pregnancy require different amounts of the drug," Dr. Bacchus explained, adding that early in the pregnancy, there is need for a larger dose of Cytotec. As pregnancy progresses, the dosage decreases.
Education key to arresting problem
Pointing to the critical role education must play in arresting the problem, Dr. Gobin said:
"I feel that sexual attitudes and sexual behaviour are totally unrelated to the availability of the success of Cytotec. I think those problems are more social and it stems mostly from the lack of sex education.
"One is when the abortion bill was passed about six years ago, one of the aims of the bill was to reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies. If the Bill has been successful in reducing the number of unwanted pregnancies, then the need for Cytotec will automatically be reduced. So the issue is addressing or taking measures to reduce unwanted pregnancies, and that will mean promoting contraceptives, the use and availability of contraceptives, improved sex education because one of the more vulnerable groups is the teenagers, not only for pregnancy, but for STIs including AIDS, and one of the factors responsible for cancer of the cervix is sex at an early age, sex with multiple partners, and this is unprotected sex.
"So sex education among the early teens, is a key factor, and the availability of contraceptives will go a long way in reducing the number of unwanted pregnancies. And if you reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies, you'll reduce the need for Cytotec.
"So what you have to do is take it away from over-the-counter sales, and here I hope that the Minister will be successful in his campaign to prevent the indiscriminate sale of Cytotec," Dr. Gobin said.
Noting that the "Cytotec issue is a very serious" one, President of the Guyana Pharmacists Association (GPA) Mr. Cecil Jacques, said his association is "totally against" pharmacists dispensing the drug over-the-counter and would support any call for the non-dispensing of the drug without a prescription.
Since the first Cytotec alert was issued last year, Jacques said the GPA dispatched memos to each distributor and pharmacy on the effects of the pill. And as part of its continuing education thrust, the GPA also hosted a lecture on the subject.
"So, pharmacists were educated as to its dangers," he said. He, however, agreed that the association could organise other lectures to again address the issue.
But he is not confining the education campaign to the more than 100 registered pharmacists.
"Education should not be limited to the pharmacists, but should be extended to students of pharmacy, members of the medical fraternity... members of the public. Everybody needs to be educated about it, so that the choice (of method of abortion) is put in the patient's hands.
He, too pointed to the fact that many pharmacies, some unmanned by pharmacists, are taken by the "commercial idea to just sell" drugs. He also spoke of unauthorised physicians dispensing Cytotec to patients.
The Cytotec problem though, is not confined to Guyana. In neighbouring Brazil, there has been some measure of controversy over the use of Cytotec to the point where the government had to wrest control of its use.
Sister CARICOM state, Trinidad and Tobago also had problems with the drug and may still be experiencing some setbacks with it, Dr Bacchus indicated.
"Brazil, too, had a problem with Cytotec. People used it indiscriminately. They used to make it in Brazil and the Brazilian government ...had to control it. You can get it now, but ... under very controlled (circumstances)."
Promising young writer hails new book as A `long awaited breath of fresh air’
By Linda Rutherford
A promising young local writer has hailed former Information Minister, Mr. Moses Nagamootoo’s first novel, ‘Hendree’s Cure’, as 𠇊 long-awaited breath of fresh air” at a time when most of what passes as Indo-Caribbean literature has been obsessed with a sense of being rootless.
For too long, says Janus Writers Guild’s Ruel Johnson, “writers in the North American and British Indo-Caribbean Diaspora, with better access to publishers, editors and a ready market, have presented their own writings fraught with themes that have little or no relevance to the Caribbean people.”
A former student of President’s College, Johnson, who made this observation at the book’s launching some weeks ago at the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre, says what is worse is that these writers have been foisting upon their unsuspecting readers, writings that have been “loaded with superficial, affected, inane and often clumsy impostures of Indian, Caribbean and, most importantly, Indo-Caribbean identity as the only truly viable literary representation of people of Indian ancestry living in the Caribbean.”
The one undeniable fact of our literary history, the 20-year-old says, is the phenomenon of the reactionary invocation of Africa by Caribbean writers identifying themselves with their African ancestry as the only alternative to a vilified European heritage.
This invocation, which has been dealt with, albeit insufficiently, by St Lucian Nobel Laureate Derek Walcott in ‘A Far Cry from Africa’, Johnson says, is a phenomenon which, by tagging the Caribbean with an African sense of identity, naturally denied people in the Caribbean of Indian ancestry an adequately representative role in voicing, particularly in literature, a Caribbean sense of identity and community.
The inevitable reaction to this, he says, was “another reactionary momentum,” this time from Caribbean writers of Indian ancestry, to start exploring their own Indian identity in Indo-Caribbean literature.
Johnson contends that with the bulk of Indian intellectuals, writers and academics migrating to North America and Europe, more and more of what started out as true Indo-Caribbean literature - the literature of people of Indian ancestry living the Caribbean experience - slowly became the literature of the Indo-Caribbean Diaspora, a communal oeuvre with its own distinct themes of alienation, migration and adjustment; themes that remain foreign to most Caribbean people of Indian ancestry who have settled into a reconciliation with Caribbean living.
A case in point, he says, is the book, ‘Jahaji: An Anthology of Indo-Caribbean Literature’ edited by Frank Birbalsingh. In the book’s introduction, Birbalsingh deals with the historical marginalisation of the Indo-Caribbean subject in a manner that is increasingly being accepted as Caribbean literature by other Caribbean writers the likes of Kamau Braithwaithe.
In the book, Johnson says, Birbalsingh decries the fact that the Indo-Caribbean subject is denied opportunity to tell, through literature, his or her own particular Caribbean story.
This has brought the youngster to the conclusion that the very injustice that Indo-Caribbean literature was initiated to combat, it is now guilty itself of perpetuating.
“What passes now for Indo-Caribbean literature; just as what passes for Guyanese literature,” he says, “is simply an authentic literature of disproportional misrepresentation.”
A most interesting turn of events, he said, is that one of the very contributors to the book, ‘Jahaji’, a Canadian by the name of Raywat Deonandan, winded up eclipsing Nagamootoo’s ‘Hendree's Cure’ with his own ‘Sweet Like Saltwater’ for the ‘Best First Book of Fiction’ in last year’s Guyana Prize for Literature.
One of Nagamootoo’s greatest strengths, he says, is that while much of the ethnic literature coming out of, or concerned with, the Caribbean has been overburdened with overdone themes like language etc. - akin to using five pounds of pepper to assert the fact that you are making pepperpot - he succeeds “with a subtlety, resonance, grace and intelligence rare in a first novel,” in underscoring the humanity of a hitherto overlooked and fading ethnic group here, by simply telling his version of their virtually untold story.”
With the act of libation that is ‘Hendree’s Cure’, Johnson argues, Nagamootoo restores to life, both within himself and all those who have read the book, the Madrasis of the Corentyne.
“As long as a single copy of this book exists, why should anyone mourn the Madrasis?” he asks.
Yet on the contrary, he says, as “ultimately beautiful” as ‘Hendree’s Cure’ is as a libation, we here in Guyana need to guard against a body of literature that is all lament. Many are the untold stories, he says, that are out there just yearning to be told; “situations that we have to muster the courage and will to explore.”
What cannot be overstressed, he says, is the need for a revitalisation of Guyanese literature, the embodiment of our national spirit, as one of the things that will glue together our fractured society.
But what equally cannot be overstressed, he contends, is the impossibility of Guyanese literature developing anywhere outside of Guyana.
Region One to spend more than G$76M on capital works
THE Region One (Barima/Waini) Regional Democratic Council (RDC) proposes spending more than G$76M on capital works for the year. The works are projected to be completed by the end of November.
Regional Chairman, Mr. Norman Whittaker is quoted in a release as saying that all arrangements are being put in place to ensure that works are executed in a timely manner, and that the region’s taxpayers get value for their money.
Among projects to be undertaken are the construction of health huts at Blackwater, Sacred Heart, Tasswini, Cabrora and Almond beach, and the fencing of the Mabaruma District Hospital compound.
Also in the works are the extension of the St. Nicholas, Kamwatta and Karaburi Primary Schools, and the construction of a Primary School at Kokerite on the Barama River.
The Region also proposes cleaning 20 miles of the Moruca River; desilting drains at Morawhanna and constructing 2000 feet of revetment at Burabina and Barima end.
These are in addition to purchasing a tractor and trailer for use by the Yakarita residents and a grader, Hymac, bulldozer and Land Cruiser for the Plant and Machinery section of the RDC.
The procurement component 11
Opening of tenders
AFTER the project would have been advertised, the bidder will await the opening of their tenders, which is done as a public ceremony. Based on the instructions to tenders, all packages for that specific project will be opened, numbered and initialed by the members of the Central Tender Board (CTB).
At the same time also, bidders present are required to sign the attendance sheet as proof of their attendance at the public opening ceremony. Usually, the number of the b\id, the price, the requisite compliances, the bid security, and any other information as outlined in the bid document, will be announced. In the event there are no instructions, or the instructions are not cleat, the CTB can make a ruling as to what information will be announced at the public opening ceremony. The names of the bidders are only announced if the bid document clearly defines that. The information announced at the opening is recorded on prescribed forms and are kept for the CTB records.
The Engineer’s Estimate is announced at the opening of tenders.
After all the bids are announced, the bidders would be required to leave. As far as practically possible, this process must be a process of opening of tenders only. Only very relevant and substantive queries may be entertained during the opening process. All packages not properly labeled as per bid document, or incorrectly labeled are returned to the respective agency for onward dispatch to the respective bidder.
The Evaluation Process
All bidders are registered on prescribed forms at the CTB Secretariat. This is verified to ensure that al the required information is properly kept.
The CTB, usually on a random basis, chooses a team toe valuate the bids. The bids are released to the coordinator of the Evaluation Team. The movement of bids is done on prescribed forms by the Secretariat, within a given period, usually one week. Based on the number of bids received, the technical nature of the project, the various elements of the evaluation criteria, some projects require longer a period for the evaluation process.
The evaluation of the bids must be done in accordance with the evaluation criteria as outlined in the bid document. Sometimes, evaluators are required to submit individual score sheets and reports.
The evaluation Report is then circulated to the CTB board members for their review and recommendation, after which the project is dispatched to the subject Minister for his review.
The Award
Based on the review completed, and the recommendation of the CTB, an award is issued to the accounting officer, outlining the awards and the value of the project. For all foreign funded projects, the requisite `NO OBJECTION’ from the respective donor agency in writing is a requirement prior to the actual signing of the contract.
The execution agency must also ensure that the requisite performance bond is in place from a reputable financial institution.
The Execution Agency, at this stage, is responsible for the execution of the project.
Let’s learn Metric
The Litre
The Metric unit for measuring volume is the Litre. The symbol for the Litre is capital `L’.
The general rule for writing metric symbols is to use lower case letters, however, there is an exception in this case.
Another commonly used unit is the millilitre which is used for measuring smaller amounts of liquid.
Here are some examples
Millilitres (mL) - used for measuring very small amounts of liquids. For example, contents of medicines 1000 millilitres (mL) is equal to one LitreOne regular bottle of soft drink contains ½ litre or 500 mL Use milliliters instead of pints.
Litre (L) - The Litre is used for measuring intermediate and large amounts such as fuel at the filling station, juices in bottles and cooking oil.
One litre is equivalent to one and three quarters of a pint. 4.5 Litres is equivalent to one gallon.
Do not buy rice, peas, and other grains by litres. These commodities must be weighed by mass.
Think Metric! It’s easy.
For further information, please contact: The Guyana National Bureau of Standards, Flat 15, Exhibition Complex, Sophia. Tele: 225-6226, 227-7050, 227-7890.
Aruka River to get its own Health Centre
THE Basic Needs Assessment Fund has agreed to construct a health centre at Sacred Heart in the Aruka River, in the Barima/Waini area of Region One.
A release from the Region One Regional Office said that when completed, the health centre would have the capacity to accommodate about 600 residents from the Sacred Heart and Aruka mouth areas so that they may be able to attend clinic and receive medical attention in a healthier and more comfortable environment.
The centre will also facilitate outreach clinics from the Mabaruma Public Hospital.
A trained community health worker has already been assigned to Sacred Heart, the release says.
DanceSport takes off here with opening of school
By Linda Rutherford
LOCAL dance aficionados got an eyeful of what to expect of the ‘Georgetown School of Ballroom & Latin Dance’ at a reception to mark the academy’s official launching on Friday night in the Hotel Tower’s Rupununi Room.
The event drew the likes of businessman turned politician, Mr. Stanley Ming, Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister, Mr. Manzoor Nadir and a good following from the diplomatic community.
Invitees were treated to an exhibition of the various movements in what is now popularly known the world over as DanceSport like the Tango, which has its origins in Argentina; ‘Free-style Interpretive Jazz’; the Rumba which has its origins in Cuba; and the more popular Salsa.
As the school’s founder, Ms. Supriya Singh explained, modern-day competitive ballroom dancing is made up of two distinct types of dancing, namely the Standard or Modern dances - under which category the waltz, quickstep, foxtrot, tango and Viennese waltz fall - and the Latin dances which comprise the rumba, cha-cha, jive, paso doble and samba. These are in addition to the salsa, mambo, swing and merengue which are very popular in entertainment circles.
She said DanceSport has now grown so popular around the world that in 1997, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced that it was granting recognition to the International DanceSport Federation (IDSF), which boasts 77 national member federations on five continents.
This acknowledgement of DanceSport by the IOC, she says, clearly defines the activity as a legitimate sport and paves the way for a possible competitive future in modern Olympic games.
Supriya said that DanceSport, described by IDSF President as “…one of the more graceful sports where men and women compete on equal terms,” has, in recent times, also influenced fashion considerably, as seen in the fringes, tassels, and asymmetrical hemlines worn in competitive costumes, styles which enhance the whole movement of the body as you get into the Latin dances.
The idea of opening a dance school, Supriya said, was conceived two years ago while working the treadmill and wondering whether there was not a better way of getting one’s daily fill of exercise and having fun all at the same time.
Things really began to fall into place when she met Marlon Nurse, a local youngster who can be considered an expert in the field and whom she challenged to teach her the rumba.
When she realised how talented an instructor he was, Supriya said, they both agreed that they needed to form some sort of a school and to get DanceSport firmly established here.
The school is now firmly rooted and is temporarily housed in the Poolside Gymnasium at the Hotel Tower. Classes officially began in June, she said, adding that response to the brief advertisement she placed on television was so phenomenal she received calls from all across the country, from as far off as Berbice and Bartica, and from all types and all ages of people.
“It is very heartening to know there is that much interest out there [in learning to dance],” she said.
To date, there are 25 students on roll. The school already has a calendar of activities planned for the rest of the year, and it is hoped that they will be able to perform for residents of the Palms in either October or November.
Nurse, who has been dancing for about 17 years and is the school’s principal instructor, said his mentor, British gold medal dancer, Peter Giles, will be here in another three months to see how the school is doing.
Also expected are Guyanese Eric Phillips and a group of South African dancers, and another troupe out of Blackpool, England.
Lesson from Haiti
ONE VERY important lesson for Guyana to have emerged from the 14-month long political impasse in Haiti, the Caribbean's most poverty-stricken nation, is the eventual shift by the coalition of opposition parties from non-cooperation to agreement for national dialogue, including with the governing 'Fanmi Lavalas' party of President Jean Bertrand Aristide.
Refusal by the opposition parties - grouped under the umbrella of 'Convergence Democratique', to recognise the legitimacy of the Aristide presidency and subsequent rejection of all initiatives, nationally, regionally (CARICOM) or at the hemispheric level (OAS), for national dialogue, had to come to terms with the realities at home and abroad.
The opposition, sensing the mood of the international community, and more precisely that of the aid donor countries and the major financial institutions, eventually made an important distinction:
This had to do with their claims of electoral malpractices at the parliamentary and local government elections of May 2000 to favour Aristide's Lavalas party. And the fact that though voter response was very low, Aristide did win the presidency at a free and fair election in November. Hence, their acceptance of the legitimacy of his presidency and a new approach in dealing with the President.
Significant Shift
With the OAS-CARICOM mission and leading civil society representatives being key players in intensified efforts at national dialogue to end the impasse over democratic governance, the coalition of opposition parties felt that the time had come to shift to conditional dialogue. Their more recent attitudes clearly reflect a new spirit to hasten the process towards reconciliation and democratic governance.
Guyana has had its own bitter experiences with confrontation politics as led by the People's National Congress which, having failed to win the free and fair elections of both 1997 and 2001, had resorted to post-elections divisive, extra-parliamentary tactics.
But amid the disturbances with which it has been associated in and out of Georgetown following the March 19 poll, there came its expressed "recognition" of the legitimacy of the administration of President Bharrat Jagdeo.
It went on to file another election petition, even as its leader, Desmond Hoyte, and Jagdeo were engaged in arrangements to make dialogue at the highest level an important feature in the resolution of differences of national importance.
While in Haiti, opposition parties and personalities became targets of violence from the ruling Lavalas party, here in Guyana, the populace and the PPP/Civic had to contend with the destructive politics of "slow fire/more fire".
It is encouraging to know that there is a moving away from such a political course and, like the opposition parties in Haiti, the PNC/Reform recognises the value of dialogue in reconciling differences in a climate of peace.
Both Guyana and Haiti desperately need such a climate to attract aid and investment. The people simply want to get on with their lives, as President Jagdeo often observes.
Khan's Chronicles | Festus Brotherson | Clement Rohee | Rickey Singh | Emancipation Special
Am I old-fashioned?
By Sharief Khan
GEORGETOWN - When I see women going crazy over guys with muscles, saying things like "Ooh, what a bod!" I must admit to feeling a little jealous and trying to do a little dragging down of the objects of their wonder.
What man doesn't feel a little put down when hunks get all the female attention he wishes would be directed his way?
But, that's life and most of us try to make do with what nature has handed us.
Some guys lift weights, go to gyms and work out to improve their physique; some women go to gyms and walk/jog to get in shape and keep fit.
Nothing wrong in wanting to look good and feel good.
But there's got to be a limit to people trying to improve appearances.
And that's why I was amazed at the news Friday that the latest Miss Venezuela hoping to be the next Miss World admitted that she had a bit of ``physical preparation'' -- artificial breast implants, a nose job and a little trimming of fat from the hips for her contest.
Andreina Prieto admitted on Thursday night that were it not for the help of cosmetic surgery, she probably would not have made the line-up for the Miss Venezuela contest.
The raven-haired 19-year-old was chosen from among 40 other contestants to represent our next door neighbour at the next Miss World competition in South Africa on Nov. 17.
Prieto, wearing a blue bikini, told reporters that prior to entering the competition, she had three separate operations: one to improve the shape of her nose, a liposuction to remove fat from her hips and breast implants.
Can you believe that?
``If it wasn't for that, I probably wouldn't be here,'' she said.
She displayed a brilliant smile, but did not say if that too was the result of surgery, the Reuters news agency reported.
So, how much of her is for real?
Venezuela takes the beauty industry very seriously and has gained a reputation as a ``factory'' of international beauty contest winners.
The factory has worked so well that Venezuelan women have won five Miss World titles and four Miss Universe crowns.
A private company, the Miss Venezuela Organisation, specialises in preparing candidates for the Miss World and Miss Universe contests, and spends around US$72,000 on each contender, in clothes, diets and, of course, cosmetic surgery.
Little wonder that women from poor countries seldom seem to make it to world beauty contests/pageants. They may find it difficult to compete with the made-over opponents strutting the stage in their new-found forms.
The wonders of medical science have improved the lives of untold numbers of people around the world, curing illnesses and correcting defects.
There are ways to help fat people lose weight and for thin ones to put on weight, if they need it.
All's that for good and healthier living and lives.
But for women to undergo cosmetic surgery, like putting in breast implants for a beauty contest is taking the miracle of science a little too far.
Isn't it supposed to be unfair, illegal - like athletes taking steroids and drugs to enhance performances at competitions?
Athletes - men and women - found guilty of doping for competitions are penalised and sometimes banned from ever taking part again.
Beauty pageants should be about the natural, genuine person - not about contestants walking around with artificial body parts.
Men, usually fanatic about cars, would recognise when an auto shop has done good bodywork and paint job on a vehicle that needed a facelift.
They would usually ogle such cars, admiring the classy finish and the expert workmanship that went into restoring or even improving the beauty.
I guess that when they ogle good-looking women from now on they would probably have to scratch their heads hard and wonder, "Good-looking body or bodywork?"
Wonder how far the beauty surgeons intend to carry this implanting business?
I may be old-fashioned, but somehow I would prefer to admire women I know are the genuine stuff, home-grown and good looking with nothing false or implanted.
I wouldn't want anything to slip away or crack up at critical moments and that's not likely to happen when you stick to nature's own.
Nothing wrong with helping Mother Nature along with a bit of perfume, other cosmetics and changing hairstyles; but I find this cosmetic surgery stuff a bit too much.
Thank God, Guyana is not yet able to afford the kind of beauty factory Venezuela has.
We can do without that kind of development because it would be so good to be walking around and saying, "What a body, boy!" instead of, "Wonder how much she paid for that bodywork?"
Wonder if it would be the same way if/when we find oil?
In the meantime, keep tooting the horns for the real, good-looking Guyanese women!
Khan's Chronicles | Festus Brotherson | Clement Rohee | Rickey Singh | Emancipation Special
Science vs. religion: Let’s get ready to be humble!
Part I of II
By Festus L. Brotherson, Jr.
TO RELIEVE stress, my wife and I jetted to Las Vegas and spent one week of doing nothing in that den of unabashed capitalism - organised confusion really - where greed and other baser instincts of human nature are underscored. With clocks banned and 24-hour daylight-type special effects being mandatory in the casinos (to facilitate worry-free gambling, shopping, and general networking), it was the perfect stress-busting place. Easily lost was a sense of time.
It was not unusual to forget the day of the week!
Upon our return home, useful memories prevailed. There was the experience of having decidedly lighter pockets than when we had left Ohio. And then, ringing in my head, there was that world famous boxing voice urging the combatants `Sugar’ Shane Moseley and some unknown, overweight foe of the champ’s to: “Let’s get ready to rummbllle!” Moseley won that fight.
However, during the same two-week period since my last article, an examination of the Guyanese and wider international arena for other main events outside of boxing suggests that my own voice should exhort in stentorian pitch for maximum attention: “Let us get ready to be hummbllle!” How come?
Over the period, and still ongoing, international developments in comedy and intellectualism combined to impose an unsettling stamp on human affairs. It ruffled the axiomatic feathers that, armed with science as an instrument of purposefulness, man is always in charge of influencing and actually carving destiny. From scanning world press reports, there appeared the usual laughter amidst fear of the unknown. There was happiness amidst uncertainty. So far, so good. Nothing really new here. There was, of course, new folly like the people in Australia who were petting Great White sharks as they feasted on the carcass of huge whale!
However, while the ability of the human beast to laugh at the follies of its own species provided customary comic relief, the uniqueness of the intellectualism did showcase some moral dilemmas of a wrenching type. The implications were frightening. They ignited dramatically, for all to bear witness, an expanding chasmic disjuncture between scientific advancement, secular law, religious values, and societal ethics. This gulf now routinely has science and the application of its principles in the form of technologies way out in front of human capacities to cope through extant laws and ethics that govern our lives.
I speak of the debate in the USA about scientists engaging in “embryonic stem-cell” research.
What is it?
It is research work on the earliest beginnings of human life to help eradicate diseases. Stored over many decades for fertility purposes, very large numbers of unused human embryos are scheduled for the rubbish heap. Does this mean killing off humans? Does it mean we can farm such beginnings of life and then kill them off after utilitarian scientific applications are done?
One advocate against this research is Dr. Bill Donahue of the National Catholic League for Religion and Civil Rights in the USA. He wonders if the embryo is human life or, in the antiseptic language of science, is merely “a draft” that can be used and altered at will. He and others have speculated on working for the conferring of constitutional rights on the “personhood” of chimpanzees because they are the human’s closest known relative. Certainly an odd stance for a creationist!
One writer who takes a more centrist approach is Kenneth L. Woodward. In a recent Newsweek article, he pointed to a connection between the level of rhetoric we use in framing our positions and acceptance or non-acceptance of them against a backdrop of moral
dilemmas. He wrote: “In any political debate burdened by strong ethical differences, the first casualty is usually language itself. So it is with the ethical issues surrounding stem-cell research-specifically the question of whether days-old human embryos should be destroyed on the promise they offer of therapeutic answers to Parkinson’s and other degenerative diseases.
The words we choose to frame our arguments reveal the moral universe we inhabit. Those tiny flecks frozen in tanks of liquid nitrogen-what exactly are they? To the secular eyes of The New York Times editorial page, for example, they are ‘just clumps of microscopic cells’ and thus of no intrinsic moral worth. On the other hand, what the Vatican sees is the moral equivalent of a fully developed ‘person’ and therefore worthy of social respect and legal protection. Most everyone else sees something in between.”
The potential fruits of such scientific advances are breathtakingly positive. These include reversal of and cures for spinal injuries, other paralyses, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s, etc. But, side by side with such hot, unbridled optimism lay cold discomfort in the human psyche. The unease tapped a nagging sense that what was happening was the breaking down of final walls where the human dare not tread; where the human should not venture for risk of despoiling the sacrosanct area of God, i.e., creation knowledge. In other words, the unease was fear. And this entire new tension between science and religion was really an old one - evolution versus creation.
The realisation of man’s rapidly evolving intellectual capacity for pushing away disenchantment, mysticism and other imprisoning barriers in service of some Lecky or Hegelian-type ever evolving, ever unfolding and expanding logical reality seemed jarringly extensive and abrupt; as if the human mind was being asked to make decisions that it was so far not socialised to make. This is not so uncommon because, as we shall see, technologies tend to be out in front of societal coping mechanisms through laws and socialisation processes.
And, for me, this instance with stem-cell advances reflected, in particular, the endless depth and giddying expanse of the unstoppable globalisation juggernaut whose catalyst and midwife of advanced technologies slam the limited usefulness of conceiving of this paradigmatic phenomenon of globalisation, that provides both exhilarating human uplift and discombobulation, solely in economic terms!
Arrayed in full force for a position of caution about advancing near God’s realm are the most powerful moral elites on the planet, including, as usual, the Pope as head of the Roman Catholic Church. Their position is simple. Meddling in stem-cell research is evil! But given the esoteric quality of this major tension between science and religion, let us first satisfy the hunger for stress relief through the first part of the still ongoing reality of comedy twinned with intellectualism.
For example, one influential radio talk-show host in the USA described as “mentally torturous” last week’s tête-à-tête exchange between President George W. Bush and Pope John Paul on stem cell research. It was a case, he said, of “two leaders with scant understanding of English trying to communicate in the language.”
One wonders if Newsweek’s Kenneth L. Woodward, earlier cited for emphasis on language, was correct. Hmm!
For some Americans, given the overall rough reception of their president in Europe, Mr. Bush’s continuing discovery, through eye stares, that Russia’s Mr. Putin was again his soul mate on missile reductions seemed a puny consolation prize. It did not play well in conservative circles. Mr. Bush, some have joked, has not helped this unfortunate perception. They now point to the recent announcement since his return that he will be taking a full month off from intellectual jousting in Washington, DC, and spend that time holed up in Crawford, Texas, at his ranch.
Was the US chief executive going into hiding, exhausted from bruises of two recent lackluster European sojourns? This ability of citizens to poke fun at themselves is an important strength of American society.
Nearby, Cuba too seemed to be tolerating and developing the tendency! In the context of continuing hardships and recent happenings such as President Fidel Castro almost falling during a speech, and the just past very significant date of July 26 (the date in 1953 that marked the official start of the Revolution), Cuban comedians on the island have been poking irreverent fun at themselves in nightclubs.
Here is a sampling: What do you call a full Cuban Orchestra returning home from an overseas trip? The answer? A Trio. And how do we know for certain that Adam and Eve were Cubans? The answer? They had no clothes, no shoes, apples were hard to come by and they were told that they were living in paradise. Oh my!
Meanwhile, in Guyana, commentators were hurling verbal missiles at one another in a public and very longwinded debate about creationism and evolution.
Remarkably, the issue concerned not pushing the boundaries human knowledge into the God realm, as in stem-cell research, but whether or not it was appropriate to teach creationism at the University of Guyana. Ugh! Come on, guys! The debate was at times flattened to rigidities of Islam and Christianity.
The mightiest response that effectively dwarfed the debate and demonstrated the pointlessness of this voluminous cant was Cassandra’s column, “There’s Superstition in Science and Religion,” in the Sunday
Stabroek of July 22, 2001. The truth that was housed in that essay title has been painfully detailed over many decades by writers such as the late Aaron Segal with Badeau, Zahlan, Sardar, et al, making additional, informed contributions.
Some might not have found this debate in Guyana comedic. Okay. But few can deny the fun in the Wednesday Ramblings of July 22 when we were told the tale that, “President Bharrat Jagdeo of Guyana bumped into Venezuelan Foreign Minister Luis Alfonso Davila yesterday at Suddie market, Essequibo. Davila said he was there to pick up greens for his wife waiting back home in Caracas. Advisers quickly warned Jagdeo that allowing Davila to shop at Suddie Market would set a precedent that could see other ministers coming over on shopping trips.”
This was a delightful way of easing tensions over Venezuela’s territorial claim on Guyana. I feel wicked and am tempted to say that Dr. Hinds and cohorts also provided comic relief by their re-introduction of the power sharing song. I won’t yield to temptation. Get thee behind me, Satan.”
(TO BE CONTINUED).
Write Dr. Brotherson at P.O. Box 901, Brunswick, Ohio 44212, USA or send e-mail to: lysias2@yahoo.com
Khan's Chronicles | Festus Brotherson | Clement Rohee | Rickey Singh | Emancipation Special
NINE PROTOCOLS TO 2005
BY THE HON. CLEMENT J. ROHEE
MINISTER OF FOREIGN TRADE & INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION
(Continued from last week)
The Government of Guyana has taken a consistent stand on this matter over the years. Prime Minister Gonsalves’ call for a creative approach in the search for a resolution to this problem is timely and worthy of urgent consideration by member States of the Community. Without a resolution of this matter, the effectiveness of a Single Market and Economy will be under severe pressure.
Guyana is unreservedly committed to the establishment of the Single Market and Economy. This is a long-standing position of the country irrespective of the Government of the day.
Speaking at the 11th Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government held at Grand Anse, Grenada in July 1989, former President Hoyte said;
"We must encourage our entrepreneurs to be more aggressive in basing their manufacturing activities on regional raw materials and in developing the regional market. But to achieve this objective, we must convert CARICOM into a single economy and a single market and make the regional resources a common endowment available to CARICOM entrepreneurs on equal terms. Given such conditions, we can more rapidly expand and diversify our production base, stimulate internal trade and regional demand, increase our exports, and maintain a competitive edge in a fiercely competitive world".
Six years later at the 16th Meeting of Conference of Heads of Government of the Community held in Georgetown in July 1995, Cheddi Jagan, the first freely elected President of Guyana pointed out:
"Regrettably, we have not made significant progress towards the realisation of a single market and economy. Here in Guyana there have been significant advances on this issue, I am pleased to announce that on July 1, Guyana joined other CARICOM countries in implementing full convertibility and repatriation of regional currencies, in a move to enhance our economic and trade relations with the rest of the Community".
And at the 18th Meeting of Conference held in Montego Bay in July 1997, then President Samuel Hinds in his address to the opening session of the Conference told his colleagues:
"Guyana is conscious that despite the distances separating us, we can find much benefit in a Single Market and Economy.
It would be for us to find arrangements which distribute the benefits widely, leaving no one out. Dr. Jagan always lamented the fact that the trade between CARICOM Members was only 10 per cent of their total foreign trade, that millions of dollars of food are imported into the Region, which could be provided within the Region. Mr. Chairman, a successful establishment of a Single CARICOM Market and Economy may well be the best preparation for the FTAA".
Later, in July 1998 at the 25th Anniversary Summit of Heads of Government held in St. Lucia, former President Janet Jagan stated:
"Our efforts at a CARICOM Single Market and Economy is of primary importance if we are to make progress towards economic integration. An essential ingredient of this progress is the free movement of skills and people. Some work has been done in this direction, but more remains to be done. Of equal importance, is the strengthening of intra-regional trade; much more regional self-reliance is needed if we are to achieve goals set in the past".
And as late as July 3, 2000 at Canuan, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, President Bharrat Jagdeo reaffirmed Guyana’s position on the CSME when he stated:
"Guyana supports the early establishment of a Single Market Market and Economy".
These public statements from Guyanese leaders are clearly unequivocal expressions of Guyana’s commitment to the Single Market and Economy.
This needs to be emphasised since it is not unusual to hear from time to time the `Doubting Thomases’ in our midst questioning the PPP Administration’s commitment to CARICOM. These individuals would harp back into the past about the PPP’s failure to join the West Indian Federation which lasted from 1958 to 1962.
But, as has been pointed out by Dr. Jagan many years ago;
"It was not the PPP that turned its back on the West Indies rather, it was the West Indies that turned its back on us".
Dr Jagan went on to add:
"Recall the suspension of the 1953 Constitution and the shouts of joy from West Indian Leaders in support of that action which according to the Colonial Office was to prevent communist subversion of Government and a dangerous crisis both in public order and in economic affairs"
It is important to recall that the PPP was elected to office in 1953 but after only 100 days in office, the Constitution was suspended and the Government removed. Elections was held again in 1957. The PPP was returned to office and administered the colony from 1957 to 1964. During this period the then West Indian leaders continued to attack the Jagan-led Government and worked to isolate it using the Communist bogey.
This, according to Dr. Jagan explains the raison d’etre behind his administration’s position vis-a-vis the West Indian Federation.
For the sake of the younger generation, it is important to restate these positions in order to set the record straight so that while we are enthusiastically supporting the speedy establishment of the CSME as has been pointed out in the body of this article, it is important to understand the historical evolution of the process while supporting the progressive transformation of the regional integration process.
In this regard, let us all heed the following words of advice of the CARICOM Heads of Government; "The starting point for effectiveness of the CSME requires a shift in our mind-set to a focus which looks to the entire Region from one which regards only the country in which we reside as being available to each of us. It therefore cannot be business as usual."
Khan's Chronicles | Festus Brotherson | Clement Rohee | Rickey Singh | Emancipation Special
RICKEY SINGH COLUMN
What’s the `symbolism'
President Chavez?
Border rows should be on ACS Summit agenda
SINCE 'cooperation’ is the primary focus of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS), then the 28 nations that comprise its membership should appreciate that progress in advancing set objectives require that conflicts be avoided by bordering neighbours to better foster region-wide cooperation.
In this spirit, therefore, it is perhaps advisable that while the territorial disputes among some members of the ACS continue to be addressed bilaterally with the guidance of independent facilitators - as in the cases involving Guyana and Venezuela and Belize and Guatemala - they should be discussed as an agenda issue at the forthcoming Third ACS Summit in Venezuela.
The President of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez, who will be hosting this summit, scheduled for December 11-12, cannot be unmindful of the fact that the heads of government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) have had to focus on these territorial disputes regularly at their annual summits, pleading for the parties to seek lasting solutions in an environment of peace and harmony.
Both the Belize-Guatemala and Venezuela-Guyana territorial disputes have engaged, at different periods and circumstances, the attention of the United Nations and the Organisation of American States (OAS).
It may prove useful if the ACS now also take on board for 'summit review' the status quo of colonial-inherited territorial rows among member states, as new and broader efforts to avoid developmental resources being squandered to maintain territorial integrity and political sovereignty.
Perhaps some initiative should be exercised by both the CARICOM and ACS Secretariats in promoting the idea for consideration at the coming Third ACS Summit in Venezuela.
There are also the territorial disputes between Suriname and Guyana and the more recent focus on the souring of relations between Venezuela and countries of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) over maritime boundaries as it relates to ownership of the rock area in the Caribbean Sea known as 'Bird Island'.
Venezuela's Chavez
President Chavez's engagement in radical social/political changes in Venezuela has earned him the reputation of a 'revolutionary' politician.
For his critics and opponents, among them influential rightwing lawmakers in the USA, he is a 'maverick' whose policies more than style could create problems at home and abroad.
Their assumed 'fear' of Chavez's politics is linked to their own dislike for Cuba's President Fidel Castro, a close friend of the Venezuelan President. The judgement of the anti-Cuba lobby on Chavez, based on his relationship with Castro, cannot be relied upon for accuracy.
The Caribbean Community governments, for a start, that have good relations with Castro's Cuba, will be more concerned about Venezuela upsetting such relations by creating a mood of hostility in the pursuit of territorial claims that date back to age-old colonial rule in this hemisphere.
From the very outset of his election to the presidency, Chavez has been emphasising his government's desire to have very friendly and productive relations with CARICOM. At his request, he had a met with CARICOM leaders at short notice in Tobago during their 1999 annual summit.
But he has created much unease since by some of his public statements and political posturings on Venezuela's claim to some two thirds of Guyana's 83,000 square miles, knowing how sensitive an issue it is for CARICOM which has been giving unwavering support to Guyana, and has been urging a peaceful resolution by the two neighbours.
A week ago, on Saturday, July 21, came a most significant development when a high-level team of Venezuelan lawmakers chose to suddenly visit posts bordering Guyana, including on both banks of the Cuyuni River where lies the disputed Island of Ankoko that the Venezuelan military had invaded in the 1970s.
Davila and Insanally
In response to media inquiries, the Foreign Minister of Venezuela, Luis Alfonso Davila, who headed the visiting team to the border posts, said they were under no obligations to give prior notification to Guyana. He went on to reaffirm his country's claim to that sizable portion of the Essequibo region that comprises some two thirds of Guyana's territory.
Davila again also rejected the conclusion of an arbitral award by the 'Paris Tribunal' of 1899 that had determined the existing boundaries between the two South American neighbours as constituting "a full and final settlement".
For his part, the Foreign Minister of Guyana, Rudy Insanally, who has had a long career as a diplomat, noted that he could not pretend to know why the team chose to make its visit to the border posts, but carefully added: "There is always the element of symbolism".
Perhaps the 'symbolism' may not be unrelated to the latest statement of solidarity with Guyana by CARICOM in The Bahamas earlier this month on the territorial dispute with Venezuela, as well as the Community's rejection of President Chavez's claim to 'Bird Island'. The latter issue has to do with deep concerns over maritime boundaries by the governments of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).
With reference to the OECS-Venezuela dispute over the uninhabited rock area known as 'Bird Island' in the Caribbean Sea, CARICOM leaders made clear at their Bahamas Summit that any future discussion on the matter "must be conducted in accordance with applicable principles of international law..."
Earlier, in a now customary annual review of the Venezuela-Guyana territorial row, the CARICOM leaders "regretted the constraints posed by Venezuela's claim to Guyana's development". They also supported Guyana's position that the Geneva Agreement, signed prior to Guyana's independence in May 1966, does not preclude it from fully exploiting all of its natural resources.
What message, or 'symbolism', therefore, is to be understood, President Chavez, from the sudden, high-level visit to the border posts, including the western half of Ankoko that Guyana has never conceded to Venezuela?
Whether or not Guyana decides to send a diplomatic note of protest to Caracas, the fact remains that last weekend's visit by the Venezuelan team to the Ankoko Island in the Essequibo can only be viewed as the latest attempt by Venezuela to show its rejection of the 1899 arbitral award.
If it was not an unfriendly, provocative act, then an official explanation by the Chavez administration seems necessary.
Khan's Chronicles | Festus Brotherson | Clement Rohee | Rickey Singh | Emancipation Special
The Emancipation of Slaves
By Ministry of Information Research Coordinator Artie Harricharran
Background of Emancipation
AUGUST 1, 2001, marks the 163rd anniversary of emancipation of African slaves. In 1834, the emancipation Law was passed in Parliament. This did not mean freedom for the slaves. In 1834, the apprenticeship system was adopted by the planters. Under this system, the Africans were treated as slaves. It was not until 1838 that the African slaves were really emancipated. In Guyana, the date of emancipation is regarded as August 1, 1838. On this day, 200 years of slavery came to an end.
Emancipation of African slaves was engendered by some major factors. Continuous revolts against the white plantocracy expressed the slaves’ increasing rejection of slavery. The 1700’s were marked by increased rebellions. Some of the most commonly known insurrections of this period were: The 1763 Berbice Revolt, Demerara Maroon war in 1795, the 1823 Demerara Revolt and the Essequibo Revolt in 1834. This constant threat of slave rebellions promoted the abolishing of slavery.
In Europe, the 1770’s were characterised as the period of Enlightenment. One of the popular ideologies of this period was that all men were equal. The Church gave prominence to this ideology of equality. This endorsed the influential nature of the anti-slavery groups that were becoming stronger in Europe. A few of the more influential anti-slavery groups included the Society of Friends (Quakers), Society for Effecting the Abolition of the Slave Trade which was established in 1787 and The Society for the Mitigation and Gradual Abolition of Slavery (established in 1823). These groups sensitised European society to the horrors of slavery. This contributed to the rise of public opinion against slavery.
A transformation of England’s economic climate originated during the mid- 1770’s. Britain explored the option of buying sugar from other territories; it was argued that this was more economical than supporting slave-owing plantocracies in the West Indies. Questions on the economic viability of the plantocracies in the West Indies, coupled with constant slave rebellions and the rising public opinion against slavery, facilitated the quest for African emancipation.
Britain’s attention was drawn to Australia, East Asia and the East Indies as prospects which were more economically advantageous than the West Indies. More and more economic alternatives to the West Indies were emerging. By the 19th century, there was a cumulative attack on slavery from social, religious and economic perspectives.
Stages of emancipation of slaves
Although slavery was being increasingly attacked and the slaves were constantly rebelling, emancipation was not easily achieved. Emancipation was preceded by the abolition of the slave trade, the amelioration of the slaves, the apprentice system.
On August 15 1805, by Royal Order-in-Council, the slave trade in Demerara was abolished. This meant that no slave could be brought into a British Colony. The supply of labour to Guyana was dramatically diminished. This resulted in the slaves being worked harder than before the abolition of the trade. The consequences of the abolition of the slave trade fueled the slaves’ rebellion against their condition.
The British Government recommended that slave owners implement Amelioration of the slaves in May 1823. Some of the stipulations of the Amelioration of the Slaves were the reduction of fieldwork to ten hours; slaves were permitted to marry, breaking up of families by sale was prohibited and slaves were allowed to own property. The unwillingness of planters to implement this plan in Demerara led to a violent revolt in 1823, and it was not until January 1, 1826, that it finally became law.
By an Act of Parliament, legal emancipation was effected on August 1, 1834. This meant the beginning of the Apprentice system. Under this system, the Africans continued to be subjected to slavery. The objective of the Apprentice system was to give the Government time to enact legislation and establish the necessary administrative structures needed for a free society; and to facilitate planters adjustment to the demands of wage labour. This Act of Parliament did not release the African slaves from their condition. Therefore, many historians do not perceive August 1, 1834, as the date when African slaves were emancipated.
On August 1, 1838, the African slaves were finally emancipated. They were no longer bound by rules governing them during the Apprentice system. This took place two years before it was intended for two main reasons. In Guyana, the planters perpetrated abuses, the apprentices resisted, and sugar production faltered. The determined efforts of the Africans to gain emancipation; and the rejection of slavery by influential groups in Europe from social, economic and religious perspectives culminated in emancipation of the African slaves.
Emancipation of the Africans and the development of the Guyanese society
The Africans were now free to explore and practice their culture and religious beliefs. They were free to initiate economic ventures. With a zeal that only liberation can bring, thousands of Africans founded villages all along the coastland in the years after Emancipation: Victoria, Queenstown, Buxton, Hopetown and others. In these villages, schools were established and churches were built. Drainage and irrigation systems to enhance agriculture were constructed. The Africans were free to demonstrate their capacity to engender economic and self-development.
The emancipation of the Africans initiated the indentured immigration scheme. In the following 80 years, Europeans, West Africans, West Indians, East Indians and Chinese were brought to Guyana. Thus, our multi-ethnic society was born. With the explosion of human resource base in Guyana, economic diversification and the establishment of social institutions such as banks, education systems and a police force, Guyanese society began to take shape.
Social and political groups began to emerge as a response to economic and social concerns. Guyana’s first trade union was founded by Hubert Critchlow in 1919. This union was the British Guiana Labour Union (BGLU). It was formed in response to economic depression. Workers’ standards of living were being eroded by the inflation and depression which afflicted the colonies in the wake of the First World War.
Political groups began to emerge. This marked the spirit of nationalism which would eventually lead to Independence. In 1921, the British Guiana People’s Political Association (BGPPA) was formed. The Association was concerned with the short-term objectives of supporting candidates for election to the Combined Court. This initiated the development of political parties in Guyana. By 1926, the Popular Party, led by Nelson Cannon and Arthur Webber, was formed. The Popular Party supported African, Indian and Portuguese candidates.
This political awareness led to the formation of the PPP in the 1950’s. This was the beginning of the final struggle for national independence. In 1953, the Peoples’ Progressive Party won the General elections with Dr. Cheddi Jagan and Mr. Forbes Burnham as leaders. However, this party was later fragmented into two factions - Peoples’ Progressive Party and the Peoples’ National Congress. These are some of the political, economic and social influences, pioneered by the emancipation of the African slaves, which have shaped Guyanese society.
Some outstanding African scholars are: Martin Carter, one of Guyana’s greatest poet; Wilson Harris and Edgar Mittelholzer, prolific and intense writers whose work captures’ Guyanese forming psyche and traditional influences. Other personalities like Cyril Potter, Valerie Rodway, composers of our national and patriotic songs, have aided in defining Guyana’s social and artistic development.
(I would like to thank Mr. David Granger, Editor of Emancipation, for the background information he imparted.)
Windies on top, Sarwan denied century
HARARE, Zimbabwe (Reuters)- Ramnaresh Sarwan's sparkling 86 led West Indies to a commanding first-innings lead as the visitors continued to dominate the second cricket Test against Zimbabwe yesterday.
West Indies were dismissed for 347 late on the second day to take a lead of 216, and Zimbabwe were 27 for one in their second innings at the close, still trailing by 189 runs.
Zimbabwe were dealt a hammer blow in the last over of the day when Dion Ebrahim was adjudged caught behind off Colin Stuart for 12, television replays indicating that the ball struck his arm rather than the glove.
Sarwan, however, was a joy to watch, scoring freely through the offside with a series of flowing drives. He was eventually the victim of an error of judgement and a fine piece of fielding from 17-year-old debutant Hamilton Masakadza.
The teenager moved quickly from mid-off to throw down the stumps at the non-striker's end. It was a decision that required the television umpire, replays revealing Sarwan was only inches short of safety.
His innings lasted just over five hours from 226 balls and included 13 boundaries. It was the fourth time he has been run-out in his fledgling Test career.
Sarwan and Marlon Samuels shared a partnership worth 79 for the fifth wicket, before Raymond Price dismissed Samuels for 39 with a delivery that turned to take the edge as the batsman came forward, Alistair Campbell holding a good low catch at slip.
Courtney Browne made 13, but fell to the second new-ball, edging Andy Blignaut into the gloves of Tatenda Taibu. Stuart was lbw to Bryan Strang for one and number eight Neil McGarrell flashed an edge to gully after making a useful 33.
BOWLING HONOURS
The innings ended when Marlon Black was clean-bowled by Price, but the bowling honours went to Strang, rewarded with figures of four for 83 from 32 overs of nagging line and length.
Earlier, Shivnarine Chanderpaul was dismissed in the first over of the day bowled by Zimbabwe captain Heath Streak, the left-hander fending at a delivery outside the off-stump and edging behind to Taibu. He did not add to his overnight 74, facing 90 balls and striking 13 fours.
West Indies captain Carl Hooper got into full stride almost immediately, taking his team past Zimbabwe's first innings 131 with a sumptuous back-foot drive through cover for four off Streak.
The skipper fell in the first over of Strang's second spell of the day though, well caught by Streak at mid-wicket for 39 as the ball flew off the inside of the bat as he looked to drive through the off-side.
ZIMBABWE 1st innings 131
WEST INDIES 1st innings (o/n 126 for two)
D. Ganga c wkpr Taibu b Blignaut 43
C. Gayle lbw b Strang 6
S. Chanderpaul c wkpr Taibu b Streak 74
R. Sarwan run-out (Masakadza) 86
C. Hooper c Streak b Strang 39
M. Samuels c Campbell b Price 39
C. Browne c wkpr Taibu b Blignaut 13
N. McGarrell c (sub.) Friend b Strang 33
C. Stuart lbw b Strang 1
M. Black b Price 6
R. King not out 2
Extras: (lb-2, w-2, nb-1) 5
Total: (all out) 347
Fall of wickets: 1-14, 2-114, 3-126, 4-180, 5-259, 6-283, 7-333, 8-338, 9-345.
Bowling: Streak 22-6-75-1; Strang 32-13-83-4; Blignaut 16-2-92-2 (w-2); Price 35.2-13-81-2 (nb-1); Flower 6-3-14-0.
ZIMBABWE 2nd innings
D. Ebrahim c wkpr Browne b Stuart 12
A. Campbell not out 9
Extras: (lb-4, nb-2) 6
Total: (1 wkt) 27
Bowling: King 3-1-3-0; Black 3-0-12-0 (nb-2); McGarrell 1-0-8-0; Stuart 0.3-0-0-1.
CONCACAF Club championship…
Fruta Conquerors, W Connection clash today
By Isaiah Chappelle
INTERNATIONAL football excitement will engulf the GFC ground, Bourda, today, as Fruta Conquerors clash with W Connection of Trinidad & Tobago in the first leg of their Caribbean Zone CONCACAF Club Championship.
Fruta Conquerors will be taking the field with a line-up full of players with international experience. The undisputed Georgetown champions have 15 players who wore the national jersey at various levels, including two current senior National players.
Captain Neville Stanton and semi-professional midfielder, Neil Hernandez, were in the last senior National line-up, having played together in the Under-23 Olympic team that did not lose a match in the qualifying series, but bowed out for conceding a goal on home turf.
Goalkeeper Leebert Stevenson also wore the senior National jersey, while four others played with Stanton and Hernandez in the Olympic series. They are strikers Dexter Bentick, Kevin Grimes and Anthony Abrams, and wing-back Lennox Charles.
Foreign injection comes in the person of Seon Hescott who donned Guyana’s colours in the National Under-20 line-up, while Elroy Park once captained the National Under-20 team.
Grimes was also a National Under-20 player, having the distinction of scoring Guyana’s only goal in a CONCACAF championship. Serving at that level, too, were Anthony Nelson, Adrian Briggs and Gavin Blackman.
Nelson and Briggs, along with Sherwin Rose, were in Guyana’s team that competed in the 1996 CONCACAF Under-15 qualifying series staged in Suriname, going into the series as the favourites.
Probably the most experienced player is Hernandez who did a professional stint with Doc’s Khewalaas - even coming up against W Connection.
Fruta Conquerors had international exposure as a club during a tour to Trinidad & Tobago.
Even with such a solid line-up and credentials, Fruta Conquerors will have to play all the football they know to get past W Connection who compete at the professional level in their country. They are unbeaten in the Trinidad & Tobago professional League.
On the other hand, Fruta Conquerors went down 2-3 to Santos on Tuesday at the GFC ground, Bourda.
But that defeat might be a blessing in disguise because players would have realised that losing is possible and weak areas could be worked on. Their players have been training twice daily in preparation for this big international endeavour.
Coach Deryck Whyte told Chronicle Sport that this first encounter on home turf in the home and away tie, is a must-win situation if the club should progress in the championships.
The players are familiar with the ground and will have home crowd support, whereas for the second leg next Sunday in Trinidad & Tobago, they will be in unfamiliar territory.
Kick-off time is 16:00 hrs but the gates will be open from 14:00 hrs. There will be a well-stocked bar and music as the club seeks to raise more funds for the series.
Under-19 cricketers attend Social Skills Seminar
THE Guyana Sugar Corporation (Guysuco), in conjunction with the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB), held a one-day Social Skills Seminar for the National Under-19 cricketers at the Georgetown Cricket Club on Friday.
The seminar, held prior to the team’s participation in the West Indies regional Under-19 tournament, starting in Guyana on August 10, was aimed at providing an opportunity for the youngsters to learn the required social skills and also inculcate proper attributes in order to enhance their abilities to be good ambassadors of their country.
The facilitators included former Guyana and West Indies cricketer Joe Solomon, GuySuco, Press Consultant at Office of the President A.B. Poole, Technical Adviser at the Ministry of Education Olga Britton, Director of Sport Neil Kumar and Medical Practitioner Dr Max Hanoman.
Welcome remarks were given by Guysuco Personnel Director John Bart while Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) president Chetram Singh addressed the cricketers, and manager of the team Carl Moore made the closing remarks and evaluation.
Kennard Memorial CARICOM entries close August 15
THE Kennard Memorial Turf Club has released its provisional programme for the CARICOM two-day meeting, set for Saturday, August 25 and Sunday, August 26. Six races are carded for the first day while seven will be held on the final day.
The first day’s programme reads: Horses classified D & Lower over seven furlongs, two-year-old maidens over five, I & Lower over five, F & Lower over a mile, B & Lower over six furlongs and H & Lower over five.
The E & Lower animals will start the second day over a distance of six furlongs. This will be followed by the G & Lower over seven, I & Lower over six, F & Lower over six, B & Lower over one mile, H & Lower over seven furlongs and J & Lower over five.
All races will be run under the rules of the Guyana Horse Racing Authority.
Owners are asked to have their horses properly entered and pay one third of the total entries before their horses can be published in the official programme. No late entries will be accepted.
Entries close on Wednesday, August 15, at the secretary’s office, Bush Lot Farm, Corentyne.
Mullally captures 5-18 as Aussies shot out for 97
SOUTHAMPTON, England, (Reuters) - England left-arm paceman Alan Mullally captured five for 18 in a timely reminder to the selectors as Australia suffered a rare off-day against Hampshire yesterday.
The Australians were shot out for 97 and Hampshire stayed in control as an unbeaten fourth wicket partnership of 122 between captain Robin Smith and Neil Johnson led the county side to 238 for three at the close of the first day.
The three-day fixture is the touring team's only warm-up before the third Test against England starting at Trent Bridge, Nottingham, next Thursday.
Australia, who lead the five-Test Ashes series 2-0, lost the toss and then found they had no answer to Hampshire's new-ball attack of Mullally and debutant James Schofield.
Schofield enjoyed a dream start to his first-class career by having Matthew Hayden caught in the slips for one with his very first delivery, before dispatching Justin Langer (2) and skipper Steve Waugh (10).
Mullally, overlooked for the first two Ashes Tests, removed Simon Katich, Wade Seccombe and Shane Warne. He later removed Jason Gillespie before wrapping up the innings with the wicket of top scorer Ashley Noffke for 28.
When Hampshire batted, Giles White and Will Kendall were both dismissed by Brett Lee without scoring but Derek Kenway hit an impressive 70 from 112 balls to repair the early damage of 14 for two.
Warne eventually removed Kenway, who put on 102 with former England batsman Smith, just before tea.
Johnson then entered the fray and showed just why he was a success for Zimbabwe and is now aspiring to be part of the South Africa side.
His stand with Smith featured a duel between the ex-England man and Gillespie, who forced Smith into edging a short-pitched delivery to Langer in the slips, only for the former Middlesex batsman to spill it.
Gillespie also saw two similar chances to dismiss Johnson go abegging as the Hampshire pair rode their luck, with Smith ending the day on 79 not out and Johnson 64 not out.
AUSTRALIA first innings
M. Hayden c Johnson b Schofield 1
J. Langer lbw b Schofield 2
S. Katich c Prittipaul b Mullally 3
S. Waugh c Johnson b Schofield 10
W. Seccombe c Kenway b Mullally 13
S. Warne c Brunnschweiler b Mullally 1
B. Lee c Brunnschweiler b Mascarenhas 22
A. Noffke c Brunnschweiler b Mullally 28
J. Gillespie b Mullally 1
D. Fleming c Johnson b Udal 6
C. Miller not out 2
Extras: (b-4, lb-2, w-1, nb-1) 8
Total: 97
Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-10, 3-16, 4-20, 5-23, 6-47, 7-63, 8-72, 9-95.
Bowling: Mullally 11.4-3-18-5 (nb-1), Schofield 6-2-25-3, Mascarenhas 8-2-17-1, Johnson 4-0-25-0 (w-1), Udal 1-0-6-1.
HAMPSHIRE first innings
D. Kenway c Waugh b Warne 70
G. White c Seccombe b Lee 0
W. Kendall lbw b Lee 0
R. Smith not out 79
N. Johnson not out 64
Extras: (b-3, lb-13, w-2, nb-7) 25
Total: (for three wickets) 238
Fall of wickets: 1-13, 2-14, 3-116.
Bowling (to date): Lee 11-2-34-2 (nb-1, w-2), Fleming 13-3-25-0, Noffke 13-4-50-0 (nb-2), Gillespie 8-1-28-0 (nb-4), Miller 12-2-45-0, Warne 6-0-23-1, Katich 4-0-17-0.
Laxman lifts India to first tournament win
By Kunal radhan
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (Reuters) - Vangipurappu Laxman cracked an unbeaten 87 as India crushed hosts Sri Lanka by seven wickets yesterday for their first win in the triangular tournament also involving New Zealand.
India now still have an outside chance of making the August 5 final. Sri Lanka have three wins from four games while New Zealand have two, also from four.
India bowled out the Lankans for 183 after grabbing the last eight wickets for just 40 runs, and then overhauled the modest total with more than four overs to spare.
Laxman came to the crease with India one for one after left-handed opener Amay Khurasiya was bowled for nought by paceman Chaminda Vaas.
He shared in a 66-run stand for the second wicket with opener Virender Sehwag (27) and put on 84 for the third with stand-in captain Rahul Dravid, who scored 43.
Dravid was leading the side because Saurav Ganguly was serving a one-match suspension for showing dissent during India's 67-run loss to New Zealand on Thursday.
Dravid, who had led India to victory against Zimbabwe at Rajkot last year in his only previous game as skipper, acted as a perfect sheet anchor for Laxman. By the time Dravid left, edging Vaas to wicketkeeper Romesh Kaluwitharana, India were almost home.
Earlier, off-spinner Harbhajan Singh and left-arm pace bowlers Ashish Nehra and Zaheer Khan grabbed two wickets apiece and gave India the upper hand after Sri Lanka's captain Sanath Jayasuriya slammed 57 for his 44th one-day fifty.
Jayasuriya, who elected to bat after winning the toss, punished India's opening bowlers in a 103-run opening stand with Kaluwitharana (46).
But wickets tumbled rapidly later on and Sri Lanka must now regroup ahead of their next match on Tuesday against the New Zealanders.
SRI LANKA
S. Jayasuriya c Khurasiya b H.Singh 57
R. Kaluwithrana c Sodhi b Y.Singh 46
M. Atapattu c Sodhi b Sehwag 34
M. Jayawardene st. Dighe b Badani 5
C. Vaas c Laxman b H.Singh 5
R. Arnold c Y.Singh b Nehra 11
S. Perera b Khan 4
K. Sangakkara run-out 2
K. Dharmasena c Dighe b Khan 1
M. Muralitharan b Nehra 2
D. Fernando not out 1
Extras: (lb-10, nb-5) 15
Total: (in 46.5 overs) 183
Fall of wickets: 1-103, 2-128, 3-143, 4-160, 5-166, 6-177, 7-177, 8-178, 9-181.
Bowling: Khan 8-0-30-2 (nb-1), Nehra 7.5-0-31-2 (nb-4), Harbhajan Singh 10-1-32-2, Sodhi 3-0-13-0, Sehwag 10-0-40-1, Yuvraj Singh 6-1-20-1, Badani 2-0-7-1.
INDIA
A. Khurasiya b Vaas 0
V. Sehwag c Sangakkara b Dharmasena 27
V. Laxman not out 87
R. Dravid c Kaluwithrana b Vaas 43
H. Badani not out 11
Extras:(lb-5, nb-2, w-9) 16
Total: (three wickets, 45.4 overs) 184
Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-67, 3-151.
Bowling: Vaas 10-1-47-2 (nb-1, w-2), Perera 2-0-12-0 (w-2), Fernando 6-1-25-0 (nb-1, w-1), Muralitharan 10-3-28-0 (w-2), Dharmasena 10-0-36-1 (w-1), Jayasuriya 5-0-22-0 (w-1), Arnold 2.4-0-9-0.
Hussey hammers unbeaten 329 for Northants
LONDON, England (Reuters) - Western Australian Mike Hussey piled up the highest individual score in first-class cricket in England for seven years yesterday with an unbeaten 329 for Northamptonshire.
Opener Hussey's innings on the second day of the four-day county championship division one match against Essex at Northampton was also a record for the county.
The left-hander from Perth, who beat Mal Loye's record of 322 not out for Northamptonshire against Glamorgan in 1998, batted 614 minutes, faced 444 deliveries and hit 48 fours and one six.
Hussey's score was the highest in the first-class game in England since Brian Lara made his world record of 501 not out for Warwickshire against Durham at Edgbaston in 1994.
The West Australian, who was exactly 200 not out overnight, led his side to 633 for six declared in their first innings, to which Essex replied with 152 for one by the close.
Another Australian in high-scoring mood was Darren Lehmann, who hammered an unbeaten 222 for division one leaders Yorkshire on the second day of their match against Lancashire at Headingley.
Lehmann, who made his runs from 256 balls and hit 31 fours and one six, dominated the Yorkshire innings of 376 for five at the close in reply to Lancashire's 373 all out.
Somerset, who are second in division one, went on a run spree against Glamorgan at Taunton with centuries from Peter Bowler (164 off 278 balls) and Ian Blackwell (102 from 111 deliveries).
They helped Somerset to 600 for eight declared - a first innings lead of 431 -but Glamorgan made an encouraging start to their second innings.
Openers Steve James and Australian Jimmy Maher, who hit 15 fours in an unbeaten 82 from 105 deliveries, hurried their side to 152 without loss off 31 overs by the close.
Young Windies looking to clinch one-day series
CHELMSFORD, England, (CANA) - Young West Indies enter the second limited-overs youth cricket international against Young England yesterday, looking for a win that will clinch the three-match series.
Young Windies completed a nailbiting, two-wicket win off the penultimate delivery of the opening match at Hove, to take a 1-0 lead in the series and will carry that confidence into the first of back-to-back matches at Essex.
"After the experience of the first match, we have to be really focused on winning this second match," manager Jeff Broomes told CANA yesterday. "We think we now have some idea of what the English have to offer. We will perform much better than we did in the opening match and we are expecting to win."
Young West Indies restricted Young England to 142 for nine off 50 overs in Friday's opening match at Sussex. Vice-captain Devon Smith then ensured victory for the visitors with the top score of 75 off 120 balls.
Smith was, however, the first of three batsmen who tumbled in the space of six runs to leave West Indies 124 for seven. Omari Banks and Ryan Austin then added 18 to level the scores, but Banks was eighth out, leaving Kenroy Peters to hit the winning runs.
"We did not perform very well in the dew and under the lights," Broomes said. "We are not looking for excuses because we are not accepting any. We did not perform well in the second half of our innings. The talk at Sussex, even before the match, is that teams batting second under the lights there do not win.
"We anticipate that if the weather remains as good as it has been over the last few days, I expect us to do much better and win because we are going to be playing in daylight conditions."
Prior to the opening match, Broomes expressed great concern about the batting and Friday's display did nothing to reassure him.
"I am still concerned about the top order, though Smith and captain Brenton Parchment had that good opening partnership of 58," he remarked.
"Our No.3 and No.4 batsmen, whoever they are, need to be 'shotting' a little bit better. With the confidence of Friday's win, it should bring them a little more confidence and, hopefully, they will come into their own. We believe they have the ability and we are banking on them."
Both sides have named an unchanged final squad of 12 for the match which is likely to be another competitive affair.
Squads:-
YOUNG ENGLAND (from): Ian Bell (captain), Gary Pratt, Kadeer Ali, Gordon Muchall, John Sadler, Bilal Shafayat, Robert Ferley, Chris Tremlett, Kyle Hogg, Stephen Pope, Nadeem Malik, Justin Bishop, Andrew McGarry.
YOUNG WEST INDIES (from): Brenton Parchment (captain), Devon Smith, Vishal Arjune, Tonito Willett, Narsingh Deonarine, Omari Banks, Carlton Baugh, Andrew Richardson, Ryan Austin, Kenroy Peters, Camillus Alexander.
