Three teens charged with schoolgirl murder
THE three teenagers detained by police for questioning into the rape and murder of Julie Sooklall, a 13-year-old school girl of Wakenaam Island, were yesterday charged with murder.

Dhaneshwar Sooklall, 18, Azuradeen Khan, 17, and Kumar, 17, of Wakenaam, appeared before Magistrate Lester Ceaser yesterday at the Suddie Magistrate’s Court on the Essequibo Coast.

They were remanded to prison until January 12, 2005 when the preliminary inquiry into the case is to begin at the Wakenaam Magistrate’s Court.

The three were handcuffed and transported under heavy guard to the Magistrate's Court from the Suddie Police Station lockups.

Sooklall went missing after she left home for school on the Essequibo River Island last week Monday.

Her partly nude body was found in a clump of bushes near the Sans Souci Cemetery on Tuesday morning by members of a search party.

Her throat was slit and an open umbrella was placed over her face. She was still wearing her school uniform at the time of the discovery.

A post mortem examination showed that the child was brutally raped and murdered.

The post mortem also revealed that her trachea was severed by a knife and she was hit with a blunt object at the back of the neck.

Last Saturday, thousands of Guyanese from across the country attended the funeral service at Wakenaam.

Many persons broke down and cried openly for the school child as the coffin was lowered into the grave.

Many women, mostly mothers, collapsed and fainted as sadness and grief filled the atmosphere over Wakenaam Saturday afternoon.

The murder has deeply shocked residents and school children on the island.

Benschop admits being in OP; ‘wants Government removed’
By George Barclay
Magistrate Chandra Sohan, the last witness for the Prosecution in the Mark Benschop treason trial, revealed yesterday that the accused had admitted by inference in his statement from the dock that he was at the scene at the Presidential Complex on the day of the incident.

Magistrate Sohan, who conducted the Preliminary Inquiry (PI), was called by the Prosecution to testify about an address Benschop had made before committal. He had been asked by the Magistrate whether he had anything to say in his defence, and was cautioned that whatever he said would be taken down and used at his trial.

Benschop had made an address, which lasted over four hours, but the Prosecution led by Mr. Sanjeev Datadin with Mr. Anil Nandlall, had named certain sentences, which they wished to use. And the judge granted their application to call the Magistrate to testify about the relative contents of Benschop’s address.

According to the Magistrate, Benschop had said among other things, "This country will never have peace until we have a proper political system. All the citizens, i.e., my black brothers, will have to find a way to rid themselves of this racist corrupt Government. We will have a proper Chief Judge and Chancellor.

"I have done nothing wrong that day. I am innocent. I saw Presidential Guards round up persons in the compound that day and placed them in the Accounts Department and cold-bloodedly shot them in the presence of Dr. Roger Luncheon.

"I was never at the PSM (People's Solidarity Movement) meeting. They wanted me for the information I have against them," Benschop is reported to have said.

Prior to the granting of the application to lead the evidence, Mr. Datadin had told the Court that the object of the Prosecution in requesting the portions of Benschop's address was to put him (Benschop) on the scene and to assist the Prosecution in establishing the element of the charge and the intention to overthrow the Government.

On the other hand, the Defence, headed by Mr. Basil Williams associated with Mr. Mortimer Coddett, Mr. Linden Amsterdam, Ms Carol Martindale-Howard and Ms Emily Dodson, accused the Prosecution of truncating the address to suit the Prosecution. They submitted that the entire address be admitted in evidence so that the jury would hear and understand everything.

Justice Moore said that he would grant the application for the entire statement to be admitted, but he reserved the right to reject things that were “scandalous”.

Mark Benschop is charged with having formed an intention to overthrow by force the Government of Guyana on July 3, 2002.

During the trial, the Prosecution led evidence to show that one-time co-conspirator Phillip Bynoe had, at a meeting prior to July 3, 2002, at which Benschop was absent, told his gathering about a planned march by him (Bynoe) on July 3, 2002 to get rid of President Jagdeo and overthrow the Government.

When the trial resumes this morning, the Defence will begin making no-case submissions in the absence of the jury with the object of convincing the judge that the Prosecution had failed to make out a case of treason for the accused to answer.

Valiant efforts failed to save Rupununi teens
THE two teenagers who perished in the Rupununi last week died from fumes from a generator in a well, a regional official said yesterday.

Mr. Clarindo Rudolph, Vice-Chairman of Region Nine (Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo) said the post mortem showed that Ivar Pedro and Jason Alicock died from carbon monoxide poisoning.

They were overcome by the fumes from a generator installed inside the well to pump water, he reported.

Alicock, 16, of Surama Village in the North Rupununi, was a student of the Bina Secondary School at Annai.

He was playing with others in the school compound on Thursday afternoon, about 17:00 hrs, when he heard that Pedro, 17, of Rocomuta, South Pakaraima, was in danger in the well.

Rudolph said Pedro, an intern at the nearby Bina Hill Institute, had been assigned the task of pumping enough water for a weekend event that the institute had planned.

The well in the school compound also supplies water to the institute and has a cement cover with a manhole for persons to go down when necessary, he explained yesterday in a telephone interview.

According to Rudolph, the caretaker at the school said she saw Pedro at the well on Thursday afternoon and when he told her he had been tasked with pumping water for the institute, she advised him that he had to get prior permission because water was in short supply due to the current dry weather.

He reported that she said she later heard the sound of the generator in the well.

She was later alerted by students who were washing by the well that Pedro was inside and in danger.

Alicock was among those who heard that Pedro was in danger and climbed down into the well to try to rescue him, Rudolph said.

The Regional Vice-Chairman explained that the pump is small and can only supply water to the surface from a certain distance. It was therefore installed about eight to nine feet down in the enclosed well, he said.

It appeared that the two teenagers were overcome by the fumes from the pump which quickly built up inside the enclosed well.

Alicock was still breathing when he was pulled from the well but died later. Pedro died inside the well, Rudolph said.

Some others at the scene, who inhaled the carbon monoxide, were flown to Georgetown for medical attention and have since returned to the Rupununi.

The two teens were buried on Sunday.
The Chronicle understands that there were valiant efforts by several persons in the area to rescue Pedro.

The generator, which was tied to a piece of rope, was hauled to get it out of the way and off the rope that a rescuer had used to go down into the well.

A piece of wood was tied to a rope to be a seat which Alicock then climbed on.

It is believed that the rope was not long enough to reach down into the water and Alicock apparently ended up getting off the seat to get into the water in order to help another rescuer who had gone down before him.

A third longer rope was then let down after him to be tied around the other person so that he could be hauled up. A flashlight was lowered into the hole to give the rescuers more light, sources said.

The pipe that sucks water from the well hung down from the top to a few feet above the water and the two pieces of rope got tangled around it making impossible to haul the boys out.

The pipe presses up against the wall which made freeing the ropes difficult. Jason, while in the water without a rope, tied the rescue rope around the other lad and urged those outside to hurry up and haul him out. The boy was hauled up but a little past half way he got stuck on the PVC pipe that contains the metal pipe.

By this time, the well was filled with carbon monoxide which prevented the boys from breathing oxygen. All their efforts were more difficult because of the poison in the air. One was hopelessly stuck and couldn’t be hauled up and Jason was crying out to the others to hurry up.

Another person went into the well to the 10-foot level where a board straddled a ledge. He untangled the other lad but before he finished Jason went under.

The other lad was hauled out and the rope with the wood seat was pulled out of the way.

Another rescuer was lowered down with a rope tied around a foot and a rescue rope was let down, according to the sources.

Jason was pulled out from under water, the rescue rope tied around him, and he was hauled out of the well.

Pedro was still below the surface and had been for more than an hour. The sources said that since everyone who had gone into the well felt the effects of the carbon monoxide poisoning, a decision was made not to send anyone else down into the well until conditions were safer.

The water pump was used to pump the carbon monoxide out of the well.
When Pedro was later brought to the surface he was dead, the sources said.

Man found dead with head between bars
POLICE in Georgetown are investigating the circumstances under which Ishwarlall Gopie, 50, of 29 Sussex Street, Albouystown, died.

He was found at 02:30 hrs yesterday with his head stuck between two bars on a window in his bedroom, police said.

He had been drinking heavily Sunday before going home and his son found him dead with his head between the bars on the window and reported the matter to the police.

Banks DIH declares $1.5bln in profit
BANKS DIH Limited has declared a profit before taxation of $1.518 billion.
In a press release on the “record-breaking declaration that is sure to have shareholders smiling”, Banks DIH said this represents a 46 per cent increase in profits over last year and reveals net assets per share at $12.54.

Dividends increased to an all-time high at $0.40 per share (40 per cent).
The Board of Directors announced that a revision of the dividend policy will now allow the option of shareholders being paid three dividends per year instead of the current practice of two annual payments.

“The legacy of shareholder values continues throughout the large Guyanese family of Banks DIH, comprised of people from all walks of life.

“The management of Banks DIH Limited would like to take this opportunity to thank all customers, hard-working dealers across the country and committed shareholders without whom none of these achievements would have been possible”, the press release said.

Reduction in City water supply
MANAGING Director of the Guyana Water Inc., Mr. Andrew Barber, has advised in a press release to the Guyana Chronicle yesterday that residents of Central Georgetown will experience a reduction in their water supply over a three-day period.

Mr. Barber explained that the GWI is carrying out a cleaning exercise on the Shelter Belt Canal to improve the quality of water supplied to customers.

According to the statement, the GWI regrets any inconvenience the low water pressure may cause and wishes to assure citizens that full service to the communities will be resumed as soon as the exercise is completed.

Public reading of Hannays’ `Trial of an Angel’ today
TORONTO-based Guyanese playwright and director, Shirvington Hannays, is in the country to promote his new play `Trial of an Angel’ that debuted in Toronto, Canada in July of this year to very good reviews.

The public reading of the play will be held at the National Cultural Centre on Tuesday November 30, 2004 at 17:00 hrs.

The general public, especially theatre persons are invited and encouraged to participate in the brief discussion at the end of the reading of the play.

Hannays has identified Guyana as a secondary location for the filming version of the play that he is currently working on in Toronto.

While here, Shirvington and Gem Madhoo-Nascimento will also being launching `GuyCarib World Film Fest’, a festival that will showcase works for television and film from around the world by, about and featuring Guyanese or persons with Guyanese heritage.

A mini-version of the festival takes place at the Emba-sea at Court yard, Pere Street, Kitty on December 2, 2004 at 18:00 hrs and will feature the PBS award nominated documentary on former President Janet Jagan, and works by several Toronto-based Guyanese filmmakers. University students and the general public are invited.
Created by Shirvington Hannays

Upper Corentyne Technical Institute will make `big difference’
-- President
PRESIDENT Bharrat Jagdeo is positive that the Upper Corentyne Technical Institute will have a significant impact on the lives of residents on the Corentyne.

According to the President, a number of skills, including carpentry, masonry, electronics, and computer programmes, will be taught at the institute.

“And people will have certificates as it will be a certified programme,” he added.

The $135M Upper Corentyne Technical Institute was promised to residents by the President about three years ago. (GOVERNMENT INFORMATION AGENCY)

GNBS warns public about fake water pump
GUYANA National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) yesterday alerted the public that a fake water pump, with the label ‘Pedrolla, is being sold in this country.

He said the bogus product, detected by GNBS inspectors about three weeks ago, is a counterfeit of the one made in Italy and they are trying to ascertain its manufacturer.

Ramcharran told reporters the makeover is defective and there is a lot of difference, that can be easily discerned, between it and the original.

The Director disclosed that GNBS has seized 200 of those fraudulently manufactured and urged the public to beware and not buy them, although the price is cheaper.
Ramcharran said investigations are ongoing to determine the source of the merchandise and the probe would entail visits to hardware stores countrywide.

GNBS Senior Inspector, Mr. Keemo Fyffe said the original ‘Pedrollo’ is larger that the copy and, made of aluminum, pumps a greater volume of water.

Pedrollo has a cooling temperature while Pedrolla, of cast iron make, rusts easily, is quickly heated and does not perform well, he explained.

Fyffe added that Pedrolla has similar information on the label and the same certification stamp.

Parliament amends Financial Institutions Act:
Bill seeks to block abuse
A BILL to amend the Financial Institutions Act 1995 to prevent abuse of financial institutions by insiders was passed yesterday in the National Assembly.

The Bill was piloted by Finance Minister Saisnarine Kowlessar who said it was drafted and tabled out of consideration of what happened in the past.

The minister, during the debate, drew reference to the failed Globe Trust and Investment Company that was forced to close its doors in 2001.

It was found that a senior official of that company and his wife had an amount of $36M outstanding in loans at the end of 2000 and four of the directors had borrowed just more than $21M each, with their accounts running from six-21 months in arrears.

Not all of these accounts were provided for. Each of the four directors pledged security to the tune of $12M only to back the loan they took.

The loans were apparently used to meet the directors’ equity contribution to the company to allow the licence worth $250M to be secured in keeping with the provisions of the Financial Institutions Act.

When the Bank of Guyana audited the company it was revealed that Globe Trust’s top 20 loans totalled $515M or 201 per cent of its capital base. Ninety-six per cent of these accounts were non-performing.

Opposition Members of the Assembly supported the Bill. GAP/WPA Member Sheila Holder hoped that it would prevent a recurrence of the Globe Trust affair.

There were concerns about certain technical aspects of the legislation but these were addressed by Minister of Legal Affairs Doodnauth Singh.

Minister of Housing and Water Shaik Baksh also rose to support the Bill. He quoted from the Globe Trust Report which showed that the management of the institution was not acting in the best interest of depositors and these improper practices were the main contributors to the collapse of the institution.

Many poor, working-class Afro Guyanese were affected by the collapse of the financial institution.

The Bill will enhance corporate governance and strengthen the powers of the Central Bank to deal with problematic licensed financial institutions.

It will prohibit the granting of loans by a licensed financial institution for the purpose of purchasing shares in the same licensed financial institution or its related companies.

It also will prevent insiders from colluding with others to obtain credit facilities by fraudulent means.

The Bill provides that no licensed financial institution shall make a loan, advance or other extension of credit in any amount to any person for the purpose of purchasing shares in the institution or its parent company, or in any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, except where such a loan is fully collateralised by deposits with the institution or by obligations of the Government of Guyana.

It provides that any director, officer, employee, representative or agent of a licensed financial institution, or other person conducting business on its behalf, who knowingly accepts false information from any person for the purpose of that person securing a loan, shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable, upon summary conviction, to a fine of not more than $500,000 and imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years.

The bank will be able to suspend from office any person concerned with the management of a licensed financial institution who fails to take all reasonable steps to secure compliance with the Act, and any person concerned in the management of such an institution who is found guilty of an offence under the Act shall, in addition to specified penalties, restore in full the amount of any resulting financial loss to the institution.

It also makes provisions whereby the bank can take control of any defaulting licensed financial institution.

According to Minister Kowlessar, the Bill provides for a viable, safe and sound financial system.

When Globe Trust collapsed, President Bharrat Jagdeo intervened to reduce the impact on the small man. His focus was to ensure that the small depositors were given access to their monies that was stuck in the system.

It was estimated that 50 per cent of the total holdings of the institution belonged to depositors with $10,000 or less.

Out of some 4,173 depositors, around 2,000 had deposits of $10,000 or less. (GOVERNMENT INFORMATION AGENCY)

Ministry investigating issue of stranded Amerindian troupe
THE Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport has launched an investigation into complaints by members of an Amerindian culture group that they were left stranded during a visit to Georgetown to participate in an event at the National Cultural Centre.

A letter was written by members of the group from the North West District in Region One (Barima/ Waini) and the Rupununi in Region Nine (Upper Takutu/ Upper Essequibo).

The letter claimed that upon arriving in Georgetown to participate in the event, the group received no government assistance and were stranded. The letter was published in sections of the media.

The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport has since started an investigation into the claims made by the group. (GOVERNMENT INFORMATION AGENCY)

Efforts being made to acquire traffic lights
-– Teixeira
“THE issue of the non-functioning traffic lights in Georgetown is a sore issue but efforts are being made by my ministry to have this situation corrected in the not too distant future,” says acting Minister of Home Affairs Gail Teixeira.

This was part of her message to mark National Road Safety Week from November 28 through December 4.

The theme for the week is “Accidents can be deadly. Use the roads safely.”

Teixeira noted that, at the moment, the ministry is trying to get funds to install about 23 traffic lights at the most crucial intersections.

She said the issue will not be swept under the rug and avenues are being explored for financial support

“What the public should realise is that these lights will cost an estimated US$2M, and that is just to purchase them. We still have to look at monies for maintenance,” said Minister Teixeira in an interview with GINA.

She said attempts to fix the existing traffic lights are thwarted by unscrupulous persons who deliberately damage them.

“Persons are being mischievous and whoever is caught will be prosecuted,” she stressed.

Drivers, also, have a responsibility to approach intersections with caution, she added.

She advised them to stop at the lines placed at intersections and then proceed when it is safe to do so.

“There is no doubt in my mind that everyone wants a reduced accident rate. However, we must be willing and prepared to make some positive and consistent effort in that direction.

“Therefore, drivers must reduce speed and not exceed posted speed limits; much money is expended on improving our roads and drivers must resist any temptation to speed excessively,” Teixeira said in her message. (GOVERNMENT INFORMATION AGENCY)

HIV/AIDS is ‘clear and present’ danger
-- CARICOM Secretary-General
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts/Nevis, (Bahamas Information Services) -- Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretary-General, Edwin Carrington, says the region is locked in a “deadly stranglehold” by the HIV/AIDS epidemic that is likely to annihilate a sizeable portion of its workforce if something “radical” is not done to reverse the trends.

The epidemic has already cost regional economies more than US$50M directly and indirectly, in addition to the large numbers of nationals who have died as a result of complications from the disease, he told a conference on HIV/AIDS related stigma and discrimination here last week. (The monetary figure was obtained from a survey conducted by the Health Economics Unit of the CARICOM Secretariat).

According to the latest UNAIDS figures, the Caribbean is the second-most affected region in the world, trailing only sub-Sahara Africa.

Statistics further show that AIDS has become the leading cause of death among persons aged 15-44.

The UNAIDS report also shows that there have been 53,000 new cases of adults and children infected with the disease in 2004.

“We are entering times of `clear and present danger’ and this is particularly threatening and disturbing, especially now that we in this region are optimistically poised to implement the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME),” said Mr. Carrington.

“HIV/AIDS is a destructive force that can undermine the whole edifice of the CSME. The epidemic of stigma and discrimination fuels human and economic disaster if not checked as a matter of urgency,” he added.

Carrington said there are an accumulative 500,000 infected persons living with the disease, including the 53,000 persons who got the virus this year.

He said an estimated 40,000 persons have died from the disease, with more than 20,000 children expected to be left orphaned by the year 2020, as a result of the disease.

The Secretary-General said Persons Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) represent a significant part of the labour force between the ages 15-44, considered the most productive years.

“These trends raise alarm bells for us in the Caribbean,” he said. “All the indications are that we are locked in a deadly stranglehold by an epidemic that is likely to annihilate a sizeable portion of our workforce if something radical does not happen to reverse the trends”.

Carrington said HIV/AIDS is a complex, developmental issue that is not confined to any one sector, organisation, agency or individual and that no single ministry, organisation or agency can successfully combat the disease or the stigma and discrimination attached to it.

He said those countries in the region that have achieved successes in the war on AIDS – The Bahamas is recognised as having one of the greatest success stories in the Americas with regards to treatment and education – have done so because of multi-dimensional approaches to the epidemic that combine the human and financial resources of government, the private sector, the public service, religious organisations and civil society groups.

“Do we truly believe in the multi-dimensional approach or are we so caught up in defending our programmes and positions that we fail to be honest with ourselves and more importantly to those who really matter, people living with or affected by HIV/AIDS?”

“We are dealing with real people, humanity, and a condition that is primarily spread by the most intimate of acts. People will deal with this differently and we must be prepared, in keeping with our respective callings and mandates, to offer assistance and more important, to offer leadership as individuals and as organisations.

“We must not be consumed with fighting over turf, status, ideologies and philosophies because while we are so consumed, people are dying, children are suffering, our economies are collapsing,” the Secretary-General added.

UNAIDS Executive Director, Dr. Peter Piot, said there are signs that stronger prevention efforts in The Bahamas and Barbados since the late

1990s, could be nudging HIV-infection levels lower.

Dr. Piot warned, however, that the lack of good quality HIV-surveillance data in most Caribbean countries is hampering the ability to design and run potentially effective prevention programmes and will almost certainly undermine efforts to expand access to antiretroviral treatment.

“As the region with the second-highest rate of HIV-prevalence in the world, AIDS is already having a major economic impact in the Caribbean,” he said.

“But AIDS is more than just a disease, it’s a threat to human security and development (that is) unique in human history.”

Piot said social, not just technical challenges, will need to be addressed if the countries of this region are to bring their epidemics under control.

“The stigma and discrimination drive AIDS underground. The increased vulnerability to HIV can hamper our efforts to reverse its spread. If children with HIV are turned away from school as happened in Guyana last month and if men who have sex with men are killed as happened in Jamaica, then fear rather than fight will reign and whole communities will suffer,” he said.

The `Champions for Change’ conference, organised by CARICOM and the United Kingdom, looked at reducing HIV/AIDS related stigma and discrimination.

Securities Council checks out Banks DIH takeover rumours
THE Guyana Securities Council yesterday said that following recent rumours in the market place and newspaper articles about a takeover of Banks DIH Limited, it had contacted Banks DIH Limited and Ansa Mc Al of Trinidad and Tobago.

In a press release, it said Ansa Mc Al responded as follows "…although consideration is presently being given by the company to business opportunities in Guyana including the possible acquisition of an interest in Banks DIH, at this time we have not made any public offer to acquire shares in that company. Ansa Mc Al Limited is not at this time attempting to take over Banks DIH".

It said Banks DIH advised that it has “not been approached by any person indicating an intention to make an offer to purchase or enter into negotiations for the purchase of the issued capital of this company."

Reopening the Jonestown files
`ROLL CALL’, a newspaper in Washington DC, yesterday recalled the November 18, 1978 Jonestown murder/suicide in Guyana’s northwest district that shocked the world.It reported:

“By late 1978, stories of abuse and mass suicide rehearsals in religious leader Jim Jones' community, located in a remote area of Guyana, had attracted the attention of the mainstream media and the concern and curiosity of a California Congressman.

In November of that year, Rep. Leo Ryan (D) embarked on a fact-finding mission to the Jonestown settlement on behalf of the International Relations Committee and concerned relatives of cult members.

He was determined to investigate allegations of mental and physical abuse and bring to light the truth about Jones' People's Temple religious sect.

The visit to the village revealed a depressed and angry community, and Ryan left with approximately 15 defectors.

In a shocking turn of events on the afternoon of November 18, Ryan’s group, which also included journalists, relatives and aides, was ambushed by members of the cult on an airstrip in Port Kaituma.

Ryan, three journalists and a defector were shot and numerous others were wounded, including Ryan aide Jackie Speier, now a California Senator.

Just as the ambush was beginning, Jones ordered more than 900 people to drink cyanide-laced fruit juice in one of the largest mass suicides in history.

Former Roll Call columnist Karen Feld wrote that Ryan was "always looking, always questioning, always seeking answers. His fierce independence led to his path from California to Washington as it also led his mission to Guyana".”

We last week noted that 26 years after it occurred, the mass murder-suicide that took place in the jungle of Guyana continues to spawn movies, books and academic research.

The Jonestown tragedy in which more than 900 American citizens lost their lives is still considered one of history's most catastrophic events.

Yet, we noted, onto this day the true story of Jonestown is not known, even though various theories have been advanced about the activities about this American commune located in the interior of Guyana.

There was an air of secrecy over this cult and it obviously enjoyed cover from the government of the day.

When Mr. Ryan and his team arrived here, a reporter at the Guyana Chronicle got wind of the story and went to the then Editor-in-Chief with what he thought was a scoop – that an eminent U.S. Congressman was here to probe the activities of a little known group camped out somewhere in the northwest district.

The Editor-in-Chief called two top government ministers at the time on the story and was told to drop it.

The reporter was instructed to write a few lines saying that Congressman Ryan was here on a private visit and that was what the Chronicle reported – not a line about the probe into the activities at Jonestown.

And when the Jonestown massacre exploded on November 18, many people around the world knew what had happened before Guyanese here.

When the story of the nightmare finally got out, it was the first time that many here knew there were almost 1,000 Americans living in a commune in this country.

No answers were forthcoming for a shocked population and the full story of Jonestown has never been told.

Over Jim Jones’ altar at Jonestown was a sign that said something like, `Those who forget the past are condemned to repeat it’.

And that’s precisely why we repeat that it is important for the Jonestown closet to be opened – the cover-up must be uncovered.

Man charged with murdering kidnapped taxi driver Nandlall
POLICE have charged a man with the murder of Vivakanand Nandlall, the taxi driver who was kidnapped last year and later found dead.

Particulars of the charge against the remanded prisoner said he and three accomplices were the kidnappers who murdered the victim between October 16, 2003 and March 12, 2004.
Richardson will be back in Court, at Vigilance, on December 16.
Earlier Police reports had said a $1M ransom was paid by relatives of Nandlall and, last October 14, Albert Evans nicknamed ‘Doni’, of Buxton, appeared at Vigilance Court, also on East Coast Demerara, charged with negotiating the payment.
Evans had been granted $75,000 bail but the bond was subsequently cancelled and he, too, is now on remand in jail.

Nandlall, 20, of Lot 125 Block 12, another East Coast Demerara address, was abducted on October 16, 2003 and his skeletal remains were discovered aback of neighbouring Bare Root on March 12, 2004.

In Berbice…
Interest group to lobby for better ferry service
CHAIRMAN of the West Berbice Interest Group, Mr. Krishna Sewlall has made an appeal for the Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD) to maintain the schedule of vessels plying the ferry between Rosignol and New Amsterdam.

He said his 40 members grouping was formed with the primary objective of representing more than 500 schoolchildren and workers who use the service daily.

Sewlall said, if there is any delay, commuters should be informed by way of loud speakers at the terminals or advance notices which would advise them to utilise the alternative at Blairmont, West Bank Berbice.

He said, on many occasions, the 6.30 a.m and 7. 30 a.m. ferries, which take most of the morning travellers, are delayed and no T&HD representative informs the waiting passengers who consequently
arrive late at school or workplaces.

Sewlall said new management is much needed for the department to do better, or the alternative would be to grant fishermen licences to convey commuters whenever the boats are delayed and they have to spend an additional $140 to cross the Berbice River in privately-owned launches.

He said the use of three motor vessels is not practicable because of poor communication or lack of it between the captains when they are stuck midstream awaiting berth at the stellings.

About the gangways, Sewlall said two should be available so that people can avoid pickpockets who prey on unsuspecting travellers while they are in a waiting crowd.

He said, too, that schoolchildren should be allowed to disembark before vehicles on the lower deck, in order to reduce the number of accidents that can cause injuries or death.

Sewlall said his organisation has submitted proposals to the Office of the President, the Transport Advisory Board and Ministry of Public Works and Communication but it wants the West Berbice
Chamber of Commerce and sister associations to help make stronger representation.

Bail granted alleged ‘trunkers’ nabbed in sting operation
THREE alleged ‘trunkers’ (persons who steal from unattended motor vehicles) who were nabbed in a Police sting operation last Thursday, appeared before Senior Magistrate Melissa Robertson-Ogle yesterday.

Colin Goodridge alias ‘Alligator’, of Lot 27 West Zes Kinderen, East Coast Demerara, Trevor Alfred, of Lot 308 North East La Penitence and Terrence Griffith nicknamed ‘Chicken’, of Lot 137 Middle Road, La Penitence, all pleaded not guilty to simple larceny.

Particulars of the joint charge said the three stole $10,000 belonging to Lennox Rahat from his car when it was parked on Water Street, also in Georgetown.

The defendants were each granted $20,000 bail.

Alfred alone is charged with maliciously damaging a door lock on the car and was ordered to post an additional $10,000 for his bail pre-trial freedom.

Defence Counsel Abiola Wong asked for Alfred’s hire car to be released from Police custody but Chief Inspector Gordon Peters, prosecuting, said the vehicle is being kept as evidence, as it was used by the defendants in the commission of the crime.
The Court denied Wong’s request and the trio will be back in Court today.

Thief jailed for a year
LARCENY convict Marvin Pillay alias ‘Barley’, 31, of Lot 2 ‘A’ Queen Street, South Cummingsburg (Tiger Bay) in Georgetown, was yesterday sentenced to one year imprisonment.

He pleaded guilty to the offence before Senior Magistrate Melissa Robertson-Ogle.

The prisoner admitted stealing a compact disc (CD) player, two speakers and an equalizer, all valued $162,000, between November 23 and 24.

Police said the musical appliances, belonging to Ron Cummings, were stolen from his mini-bus that he parked under his house.

Prisoners found with narcotics get additional sentences
TWO convicted felons were each sentenced to an additional three years imprisonment yesterday, for separate drug offences.

Senior Magistrate Melissa Robertson-Ogle imposed the custodial punishment on Jerry Persaud and Omit Chitran, 27, who also have to pay individual $10,000 fines.

Persaud pleaded guilty to being in possession of 50 grammes cannabis (marijuana) last Wednesday, for the purpose of trafficking.

Police Chief Inspector Gordon Peters, prosecuting, said the narcotic was found in the prisoner’s underwear at the Georgetown Jail on Camp Street.

The other inmate had 14 grammes of the same narcotic, on his person, too, at the penitentiary on November 10. Both sentences are to run concurrently.

Death row prisoner on felonious wounding charge
PATRICK Goodluck, who is on death row at Georgetown Jail, appeared in Court yesterday, charged with feloniously wounding another prisoner.

The convicted killer pleaded not guilty to the November 9 offence and will make another appearance on December 3.

Details of the charge said Goodluck unlawfully and maliciously wounded Brian Benjamin with intent to maim, disable, disfigure or cause him grievous bodily harm.

Police said Goodluck dealt the virtual complainant several lashes with a piece of wood.

Tap into the diaspora
THE recent public debate among political parties and other interest groups and persons about the state of the electricity sector, has prompted me to write this brief letter to point out the role that the Guyanese Diaspora can play in helping Guyana to fast-track its development.

Here I am suggesting that a `Diaspora Fund’ be established and managed by a broad cross section of reputable Guyanese, spanning the various divides of our country. A representative of a prominent regional or international non-governmental organisation could be included as well.

Through the media and town-hall meetings, the objectives and accounts of the `Diaspora Fund’, down to the last cent, should be made public to ensure that there is transparency.

This fund should ask each Guyanese overseas to contribute a minimum of US$5 per month towards a specific project such as the development of a hydro-power generation over a specified period.

The tapping into the financial resources of the Guyanese Diaspora in the Caribbean, North America and Europe could also be employed in the development of value-added industries such as processing and canning our fruits and vegetables for export to the Caribbean and other regions of the world.

Guyana desperately needs a jump-start with cheap and reliable electricity. Harnessing the resources of the diaspora in this and other areas of economic activity could be an important step forward.
D. CHABROL

Back the Bill
I CONGRATULATE Minister Bibi Shadick for presenting the much-anticipated Age of Consent Bill for its first reading in the National Assembly.

I hope that the House will give its full cooperation and pass it without much disagreement.

Should this amendment be passed, it will make history for a developing country - Guyana.

This is a monumental task for the Government of Guyana.

Once again, congratulations and best wishes to all who fought for this to happen.
MOHAMED NIZAM ALLI

Clear bushes from Wakenaam road
LIKE most, if not all Guyanese at home and abroad, I am shocked at the brutal murder of an innocent and defenceless little angel, whose life was snuffed out last week in the most horrifying manner.

As a former resident of Wakenaam myself, I know the geography of the whole area where this hideous crime is reported to have taken place.

It is, most times, a desolate area, with the road passing through, on one side, the cemetery and the other, private land.

This private land, as well as the cemetery, is always overgrown with bushes where criminals could lay in wait to attack their prey.

The surrounding bushes were an ideal area for an ambush against such a little innocent girl.

My wife experienced the unwelcome flasher(s) on many occasions in the same area as she rode her cycle to work as a teacher in one of the schools on the island.

Reports to the police did not prevent this sort of incidents. (Of course this is about 15 years ago).  

This is not the first brutal murder that took place in this area.

Residents of Wakenaam will remember the murder of a young man with a young family who lost his life to a murderer in the same area. The cutlass was the weapon at that time, according to reports.

The area needs to be cleared of all bushes on both sides of the road which should be widened, even if it means going a metre on to private property.

Residents should not allow their children to pass through there by themselves. They should be accompanied by an adult or walk/ride in groups.
My thoughts/prayers are with the family.
I. H.

Where are the Courts Christmas lights?
LAST week there was a lot of coverage in the media about the launch of Courts Guyana Incorporated tree-lighting ceremony on Main Street, Georgetown.

My family and I were looking forward to seeing the lights. We decided to drive along Main Street on Sunday evening, only to be disappointed.

There were no Christmas lights. It was Main Street as usual.

Courts received a lot of media coverage for their ceremony. Are they now shortchanging the Guyanese public?

Is there some sort of schedule for the lighting that the public is not aware of?

Courts should be able to sustain the cost of this tree lighting campaign to which they committed themselves.

By the way, there was no ‘blackout’ in the area at the time.
RUPERT WILLIAMS

Sewerage in the canals
THE city of Georgetown is facing a terrible dilemma.
The administration of Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) recently said that it has no choice but to continue dumping sewerage in the Georgetown canals.

The sewerage system in Georgetown was built when the boundaries of Georgetown encompassed a much smaller area.

The population was relatively small and the system was adequate for that period.

However, at that time there was no planning for urban development and expansion and today the city is left with a system that cannot sustain the number of people living in Georgetown.

A plan should have been created 40 years ago.
A modern system would surely cost billions of dollars.

The question residents of Georgetown must ask themselves is whether they can afford to pay for such a system, because a new system will cost consumers about 10 times what they are now paying for sewerage disposal.

This is a problem that has far reaching consequences but according to GWI, their hands are tied at the moment.

The problem has to be faced sooner rather than later and I hope there is a plan ready to cover the next 100 years.
ANDREW WILSON

Prostitution, homosexuality still illegal
IT WAS with interest that I read the letter in yesterday’s issue of the Kaieteur News headed `Bishop Edghill’s comments cause for concern’, which reminded us of Health Minister Ramsammy’s comments on the BBC Caribbean Report calling for the laws that criminalise prostitution and homosexuality to be scrapped, as well as Bishop Juan Edghill’s response on the issue.

This is a serious and topical issue around the world today.

However, I believe that Guyana would be better off with prostitution and homosexuality remaining illegal.

The entire issue is touchy but in the long run, we have to realise that though we need to do our best to eliminate stigma and discrimination, legalizing prostitution, homosexuality and other immoral practices would only make things worse in our country.

I believe that this issue had a lot to do with United States President George W. Bush winning that country’s recent elections.

Many people felt strongly about the decline in moral values in the country if some of his challenger John Kerry’s policies were implemented, though Kerry was otherwise favoured.

Guyana already has a high rate of persons infected with HIV and AIDS and if we make such practices legal, what is going to happen to our society?

Some things are definitely just wrong and cannot be considered ‘the right thing’ or something deserving to be legal.

Who will these laws benefit? Only the people who want it legal - no one else.

If this is done, it is better that we begin to legalise murders, drug-smuggling and all other practices, because these are all wrong.

Laws are made to govern a society and even if some are broken, they still at least limit people to a certain extent.

Some people still hide and do as they please. When these acts are legalised, I can imagine what we will be seeing on our streets and all over the place.

There will be no limit to what will occur. It may be Sodom and Gomorrah all over again and extreme chaos in the country.

What will happen to our future generation, now that we already have so much to deal with already?

I am no religious individual but I agree with the government for not making these practices legal and with those persons who believe that homosexuality and prostitution should remain as choices people make on their own accord.

If that’s what they choose, let them be - do not discriminate, and let them live their chosen lives.

But the rest of society should not be made to agree with it and accept it, nor should laws be provided to assist them in their wrongdoing.
SATESH DEODAT

Proud of Banks DIH
I HAVE been a proud shareholder of Banks DIH Limited for several years.

The shares I own today were passed on to me from my father, and one day I hope to do the same with these shares.

I recently received my dividends. Earlier, I had received a bonus share issue, one additional share for every four shares I held so now my shares have also increased.

I am smiling.
However, what is worrisome to me is an article in a newspaper based on a 'rumour' of an impending "hostile takeover" by a Trinidadian company.

I grew up with companies like Banks DIH Limited and Demerara Distillers Limited (formerly the Guyana Liquor Corporation).

These are two of the oldest beverage companies in Guyana, and I am always proud to buy any of their products.

Banks DIH has stayed the Guyana course through good times and bad, sometimes struggling, especially during the hard times of the late 70's and early 80's when we learnt to like flavours like "Black Cherry".

I loved the "Baby Bubbly" and I miss a "Puma Punch".

Recently, I noticed a certain 'analyst’ in the Stabroek News is claiming that my company is not making money, and is advising that the food outlets of Banks DIH Limited be closed.

Is it that this "analyst" would prefer to see hundreds of Guyanese unemployed?

I wish to see people show the patriotism and loyalty we talk about.
LOYAL GUYANESE SHAREHOLDER

The public deserves better services
THE service to the public in nearly all government sectors and agencies is poor.

It is the money of taxpayers that finance these services yet taxpayers get the poorest of government services.

Clearing goods from the wharves takes a long time and you have to be going back and forth from the Customs Department to the wharves.

To get your goods cleared you have to decide to spend the entire day in frustration before the process is completed.

When you go to the Deeds Registry to get a birth certificate it is frustration again.

You have to wait months after filling out the form and submitting it.

When you go to the post office in Georgetown to purchase a stamp you find yourself in a long line.

At the counters, employees are occupied with paying Old Age pension, NIS pensions and receiving payments for GT&T and GPL bills.

There is no special teller selling stamps. Time is wasted just for one stamp.

At the government ministries, you have to spend an entire day just to get a document signed or to get a document process by a staff member.

Sometimes you find yourself going to and from the ministry to get something done. You might be lucky if you know someone working in the department before you get quick service.

Why it is that government services are of poor quality? Is it that the pay for government employees is low and so they perform according to the pay, or is it that the system is such that government employees have to work at a pace as if they are going to a funeral?

Employees in the private sector work more diligently. Most of the time private sector employees give service of high quality. Their service is prompt, for example at the banks, insurance companies and at GT&T.

Regardless of the level of salaries state employees, or any employee for that matter, get, they should give proper, efficient and prompt service to the public.

It is an obligation on state employees. If the salaries are not enough, they must not enter the government service. They must seek job outside of the government service.

Poor taxpayers have to pay a high rate of taxes on their meagre income to finance these services and it is important they get good services for the monies they pay to finance the government’s budget.

The government must not condone low quality of services from government employees. Ministers of the government must move to put a system in place to see that the public is served efficiently.

At many government offices employees look upon members of the public with scorn and contempt and seem to feel that they are not worthy of being treated properly.

The unions representing public sector worker always fight for a living wage for their members. They must also see to it that their members work fairly and efficiently to justify their monthly take home pay.

Unions must not be only calling for higher wages and salaries but also for equivalent services to match their emoluments.

The government must start making efforts to get an efficient public service that can serve the people of this country.
They must not allow things to go as they are going now.
BALDEO PERSAUD

Not a detriment to progress
I WATCHED Mr. Yesu Persaud’s TV programme on Sunday when he interviewed Dr. ‘Joey’ Jagan.

Dr. Jagan, in his remarks, and I’ve heard this view of his before, referred to the aging leaders of the USSR, China and Cuba and how they kept back progress.

Mr. Persaud took him up on the China reference, noting that China has made tremendous progress in the last 50 years and is listed with India as the two major nations for the future.

What I object to is Dr. Jagan’s inference that aged leaders are a detriment to progress.

I’m not sure if he has forgotten that his father, our great leader Cheddi Jagan, was approaching his 79th birthday when he died in 1997.

His age had nothing to do with his performance and he always had fresh and innovative ideas for improving his country.

Unfortunately, some of the remarks made by his son seem to indirectly undermine the former President’s ideas, ideology and performance, and I object!
SURESH LALL

Salazar gets elusive world title
… pounds `Grenade’ London for ninth round TKO
By Isaiah Chappelle
PAMELA ‘The Grenade’ London had no time to pull the pin and explode as American Martha ‘The Shadow’ Salazar pounded a ninth round technical knockout to claim the Women’s International Boxing Federation (WIBF) and North American Boxing Association - Women (NABAW) titles.

From the opening gong of the main event, Salazar showed that she was technically superior scoring easily with some stiff jabs to head, shots to body and a left-right combination. London pinned her to the rope in the closing moments and landed an overhand right to head.

In round seven, manager Carwyn Holland whipped up moral support, leading a chant “Pamie, Pamie, Pamie” but London could not reply with shots to Salazar.

The visitor continued punishing London, even as Holland continued the vocal support, and in a brief outburst, London landed a solid overhand right to head, giving the local supporters something to shout for.

London tried fighting it out in the ninth round, but few of her shots connected and Salazar landed a solid left, followed by a right and powerful uppercut to head. London had no reply and referee Tommy Thomas ended the fight 1:19 minutes into the round.

Salazar, who won the WBE title a month ago in a return fight with Marsha Valley in California, improved her record to 8-3-0 (2 KOs) and at last got a recognised world title which had eluded her through controversial decisions with Vonda Ward.

The Mexican born Salazar with a great, great grandfather who was American Indian was gracious in victory, saying she would give London a return match because she had the makings of good fighter.

“She is tough. I told her to get some more experience and when you are ready, call me back.”

But Salazar’s immediate focus is to exact revenge in a return match with Ward before the end of next year.

“I will finish business there.”
London’s trainer Donald Allison told Chronicle Sport that his ward had a bruise on her hand and every time she threw a shot, it pained.

“She also has a problem with her knees and she could not move quickly enough from the shots. The refereeing was trying to stop the fight earlier. She put up a good fight but she lost. However, she will come again. We want a rematch.”

The setting was great for a world title card but perhaps too far away and the ‘Rumble in the Rainforest’ fizzled with a poor turnout. The programme began some three hours after the 16:00 hrs start. All were invited to fill up the seats at ringside.

President Bharrat Jagdeo arrived in time to witness the co-main and main events, but the visit of world famous heavyweight Joe Frazier’s daughter, Jackie Frazier-Lyde, did not materialise.

Windies pre-tour camp delayed
SHOULD cricketers who aren't being paid to attend a training camp be required to provide advertising exposure to sponsors?

That's one of the latest hiccups in negotiations between the WICB and WIPA that has led to a delay in the pre-tour camp scheduled to begin in Barbados yesterday).

West Indies cricketers invited to camp are not paid any fees for attending and WIPA wants to make sure that players aren't required to wear advertisers' logos on training gear without adequate compensation.

The 25 players invited to the Barbados camp will collect per-diems in the range of US$50 and US$75 but they will not be paid any fees for the three weeks.

The WICB provides transportation, accommodation, breakfast and lunch for the duration of the camp but players are required to secure their own dinners.

Since the camp is considered part the overseas tour, which is being sponsored by Digicel, it is likely that the training gear provided by the WICB will be emblazoned with Digicel's red and green logo.

If that is the case, WIPA wants to make sure that the players are compensated accordingly. The two sides are exchanging proposals on compensation and a deal is expected to be hammered out over the next 48 hours. The camp will likely begin tomorrow.

Only the 14 players who survive the post-camp cut will get a match/tour contract. (Caribbean Cricket.com)

Spectacular return for Army footballers…
GDF win league for first time in 12 years and $1M
THE Guyana Defence Force (GDF) returned to first division football in spectacular fashion, winning the league for the first time in 12 years and pocketing the biggest prize money in city football, with a 2-1 win over Georgetown Football Club (GFC) in the FL Cup final at the GCC ground, Bourda, Sunday night.

In the third place play-off, Pele mercilessly hammered Alpha United, 7-1, with Travis Grant and the Mannings brothers - Konata and Mandela - hitting double goals.

GFC were first in the net when Robert Osborne caught the goalkeeper off the line and hammered home the goal.

But just before halftime, Seon Brewley offered a short range shot during a mix-up in front the goal and produced the equaliser. The match was deadlocked 1-1 at halftime.

A superb headshot produced the winner in the 64th minute. Royston Morrison received a nice cross from the right and butted the ball into the net.

With that victory, the GDF drew down $1 million, the biggest prize money in the history of city football. For placing second, GFC pocketed $500 000.

The only time before now the GDF won the league was in 1992 under coach Orin Argyle and captain Clifton Clarke, with National players Courtney McCurdy, Mark Pollard and the Van Buckley brothers - Eze Jr and Ere.

Three years before, the Army had only won the city’s premier knockout trophy in 1989, sponsored then by GNCB, under coach Clifton Bobb. Players then included National defender Marlon De Souza, striker Desmond Morgan and goalkeeper ‘Collar Man’ Pollard. They beat Thomas United in the final.

After that crop of players phased out, the Army hardly played football and were subsequently relegated to the second division in the mid-nineties and only returned this year to the first division.

Earlier, National youth player Travis Grant gave Pele their first goal within two minutes of play and former National Under-17 captain Konata Mannings netted the first of his double in the 24th, while National striker Gregory Richardson wrapped up the half in the 28th minute. Pele led 3-0 at the break.

Four minutes after the resumption, Mandela Mannings got his first goal and completed his double four minutes later in the 53rd. Three minutes later Grant completed his double in the 56th minute and Konata Mannings did likewise after yet another three minutes had elapsed, effectively sealing victory in the 59th minute.

Sherwyn Vincent pulled one back in the 62nd minute for Alpha which turned out to be a consolation goal.

IBE hold their nerves to become Demerara Zone champions
By Imran Khan
THE Institute of Business Education (IBE), in an edge-of-the-seat thriller held their nerves to take the title of Demerara Zone champions of the Schools Under-19 Cricket Competition 2004, defeating favourites St Joseph High School by two wickets with four deliveries to spare.

With two runs needed in the last over, at Everest Cricket ground yesterday, to get the 132 victory target Komalchand Lakeram stroked a single from the first delivery and Treon Forde bowled a wide two deliveries later to hand the East Coast school the champions tag.

They will now face Essequibo Islands Secondary School of Wakenaam in the national playoffs while St Joseph will have a tough time to get past Berbice High School.

St Joseph captain Steven Jacobs won the toss and found himself at the crease rather early at 17 for 1. He and Richard Jones added 53 for the second wicket before Jacobs went for 40 from 45 balls, inclusive of four fours.

Jones spent 86 balls over 29 (1x4), which was the next best score as the city school faltered and flopped for 131 under restrictive and penetrative spin bowling from IBE. Off-spinner Whazeer Mohamed blunted the middle, snapping up Jacobs who was stumped and three others, ending with 4 for 24 from a maximum 8 overs.

Suraj Ramkisson also made his vocal schoolmates’ trip to the city worthwhile after getting the day off from classes as he finished off the lengthy St Joseph’s batting line-up, bagging four for 22 from 7.4 overs.

Of the other batsmen only Benedict Prince who hit a six and a four in 14 made it to double figures as St Joseph were dismissed in 37.4 overs.

From 70 for one St Joseph lost their last nine wickets for 61 runs.

IBE got a terrific start from captain Chandrika their premier batsman and Vaidanan Madray who put on 74 runs and set a solid foundation for their middle order.

Chandrika stroked an inning-high 35 from 64 balls with three fours while Madray got 33 from 65 balls with two fours and one six.

After Chandrika was out eight wickets fell for 56 runs. IBE found themselves in dire straits at 101 for 6 with their quality batsmen running out and overs fading. Mohamed and Nazir Jameer then added 26 crucial runs and got the scoring rate within manageable proportions.

Mohamed was run-out, suicidally for 15 then Jameer was caught at long off for 12 leaving the score 130 for 8. All went well in the last over though and their large group of supporters made merry, dancing joyfully around their players.

For St Joseph, Jones bowled well to capture two wickets for 20 from 8 overs in the 40-over encounter while Beckles also got two for 28 from 8 overs. Jacobs also bowled well, getting one for 21 from his portion of eight overs.Bottom of Form

ST JOSEPH innings
R.Jones b Ramkissoon 29

R.Bacchus c Deonsarran b Durga 7

S.Jacobs stp. Chandrika b Mohamed 40

T.Forde c Deosarran b Mohamed 5

T.Christian lbw Mohamed 0

K.Williams run-out 7

V.Beckles c Laundry b Mohamed 3

A.Smith lbw Ramkissoon 0

A.Foster c Laundry b Ramkissoon 8

B.Prince b Ramkissoon 14

J.Rasheed not out 0

Extras: (w-12, b-4, lb-2) 18

Total: (all out from 37.4 overs) 131

Fall of wickets:1-17, 2-70, 3-79, 4-81, 5-97, 6-103, 7-103, 8-111, 9-119.

Bowling: Jameer 3-0-8-0 (w-2), Durga 5-0-18-1 (w-1), Deosarran 3-1-13-0, Mohamed 8-1-24-4 (w-5), Lakeram 8-0-22-0 (w-2), Ramkissoon 7.4-1-22-4 (w-1), Chandrika 3-1-6-0 (w-1).

IBE innings
R.Chandrika c Jacobs b Jones 35

V.Madray stp. Bacchus b Jones 33

S.Deosaran c & b Forde 5

S.Ramkisson b Beckles 0

A.Haniff c Jones b Rasheed 11

H.Durga b Beckles 7

W.Mohamed run-out 15

N.Jameer c Prince b Jacobs 12

K.Lakeram not out 1

G.Babulall not out 1

Extras: (w-6, nb-2, b-5) 13

Total: (for 8 wickets from 39.2 overs) 132

Fall of wickets: 1-74, 2-78, 3-80, 4-82, 5-97, 6-101, 7-127, 8-130.

Bowling: Prince 3-0-11-0, Jones 8-1-20-2 (w-1), Jacobs 8-2-21-1, Beckles 8-1-28-2 (w-2, nb-2), Rasheed 5-0-26-1, Forde 7.2-0-21-1 (w-3).
Top of Form

TICKET give-away:
Frandec Travel Service’s Chief Executive Officer Kathryn Eytle-McLean presents two Caribbean destination tickets to Director of the Kashif & Shanghai Organisation, Kashif Muhammed (centre). It is the third year that the travel agency is supporting the annual tournament. The tickets will be offered as gate prizes.

Anderson hits in double as Beavers shock Uitvlugt 3-1
GAVIN Anderson hit a double goal for Beavers to shock Uitvlugt with a 3-1 upset in the Mal Skills Super League football competition at Uitvlugt ground, Sunday.

Anderson was in the net within five minutes of play, but Lloyd Young equalised for Uitvlugt one minute before halftime and the match was deadlocked 1-1 at the break.

Kip Austin gave back the lead to Beavers in the 60th minute then Anderson completed his double in the 89th minute, effectively sealing victory.

That win put Beavers at the top of the ladder with the previously unbeaten Uitvlugt on 15 points, along with Pouderoyen. They have one more match to play.

Meten-Meer-Zorg scraped their first points in the tournament without breaking a sweat, gaining a walkover from Crane who ended without a point.

The final set of matches are fixed for Sunday at the Den Amstel ground, with Beavers meeting Young Achievers at 14:00 h and Pouderoyen clashing with Uitvlugt at 16:00 h.

DCC, GNIC to clash in Guyflag final
… Dowling hits 170
DEMERARA Cricket Club (DCC) and Guyana National Industrial Corporation (GNIC) will clash in the final of the Guyflag first-division final at a date to be announced.

In semi-final clashes which started last Friday and ended on Sunday, DCC took first innings points from Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) after a good knock of 170 from national batsman Travis Dowlin, while GNIC did likewise in their clash with Malteenoes Cricket Club at the Thomas Lands ground.

GCC, taking first strike were dismissed for 262 in 69 overs at Queenstown. National opener Azeemul Haniff hit a top score of 75 which included nine fours and three sixes. He was ably supported by Ricardo Mohamed with 39 and an unbeaten 35 from Neil McGarrell. Bowling for DCC, leg-spinner Antonelle Atwell grabbed four for 51 and off-spinner Lalchand Persaud two for 42, while medium-pacer Edward Burnett chipped in with two for 50.

DCC, in reply, hit a huge 481 all out. The Queenstown club’s eventual total was achieved through Dowlin’s superb 170 in which he struck 21 fours and one six.

He got solid support from wicketkeeper Derwin Christain with a well-played 98 (7 fours and one six), Persaud 76(11 fours) and Vishal Arjune 58 (8 fours). Bowling for GCC, McGarrell took four for 115, off-spinner Cleon Belgrave three for 88 and Reon King two for 42.

Batting a second time, GCC ended on 58 for three.

Over at the Malteenoes Sports Club ground MSC batting first could only muster 236 all out in 61 overs. Orin Forde was their leading scorer with 88 (six fours, five sixes), Deon Ferrier 56 (four fours and three sixes), and Imran Khan Hussein 34.

Former Guyana and West Indies off-spinner Clyde Butts was GNIC’s main wicket-taker with four for 67, while Mervin Fitzalbert took two for 27 and Reon Griffith two for 21. GNIC in their turn at the crease passed their opponents’ score, finishing on 258 all out.

Fitzalbert returned with the bat to hit a blazing 90, which included 14 fours.

Hoping to make a game of it, MSC declared their second innings on 134 for three with Hussein getting 53 and Lennox Cush 41. GNIC, chasing 102 for an outright victory, closed on 61 for one.

Meanwhile, the Demerara Carib Beer Inter-county team will be involved in net sessions today and tomorrow at Bourda starting at 13:00 h.

They are preparing for the final match of the competition against Berbice at the Wales Community Centre ground on Thursday. Police Sports Club pacer Garfield Morris has replaced King who is off to the West Indies training camp in Barbados.

RHTC waltz away with Baron Foods trophy
By Imran Khan
TWO hundred runs was enough for Rose Hall Town Courts (RHTC) to waltz away with the trophy in the inaugural Baron Foods 50-over competition.

The Berbice team, perhaps unwisely inserted by Everest who won the

toss, toughed it out against a battalion of spinners, posted the fighting total and then defended it with grit to win by 16 runs in the last over on a neatly mowed Blairmont Community Centre Ground Sunday.

Man-of-the-Final Andre Percival, four dropped catches, four run-outs and 26 wides were the significant factors which caused RHTC, drafted into the competition after Blairmont was disqualified, to prevail over Everest.

The Georgetown team, continued their strategy of using an exclusively spin-based attack and initially stifled RHTC with just nine runs coming from the first nine overs. David Harper, opening the attack, sent through an exceptional wicketless spell. He bowled ten overs on the trot for 11 runs, only six of which came from the bat as the other five were wides.

Half of his overs were maidens but the plethora of wides (26) from Everest was reckless gifting bonus runs away.

Percival, the Guyana middle-order batsman, stabilised RHTC with 55 unbeaten runs made over 71 balls. The left-hander, whose innings constituted his fourth half-century in six games since returning to Guyana from England three weeks ago, flicked, nudged and used his wiles to get RHTC’s innings to the 200-mark on a flat and slow pitch. Batting at number six and coming in at 77 for 4, Percival battled doggedly throughout, managing only three fours, but hustling singles and twos smartly.

The only other score of substance was from Berbice batsman Royston Crandon who hit 39 from 53 balls with three of RHTC’s 12 fours. Assad Fudadin hit the innings’ lone six in his 19 and Khemraj Mahadeo batting at three, struck three fours in 21 from 53 balls.

Percival and Crandon assembled an innings-best 48 runs, for the fifth wicket before left-arm spinner Shawn Jairaj was introduced. With his first delivery he removed Crandon who lofted him to Sauid Drepaul on the extra cover boundary.

The Everest bowlers shared the wickets, off-spinners Zaheer Mohamed and Krishna Arjune along with left-arm spinner Drepaul taking two apiece for 35, 46 and 49 runs respectively.

Everest did not do themselves any favours in dropping four catches and floundering a run-out chance.

The Fudadin brothers Assad and Abdel profited for one each, Royston Crandon one when on 11, Williams the other and Percival should have been run-out on 13, had it not been for a Rakesh Goberdhan foul-up at short fine leg.

When Assad Fudadin was dropped by wicketkeeper Hemraj Garbaran on 13, it caused an injury to the keeper’s left hand and he had to go off a few overs later.

Ryan Ramdass took the gloves but also put down one, flooring Crandon, but otherwise he did a competent job until he batted.

National opening batsman Ramdass exquisitely spanked fast bowler Esaun Crandon for four through mid-wicket, what was perhaps the shot of the game but then had his furniture collapsing in all directions with the very next ball.

The other Crandon, like Harper, bowled wicketless but his spell was choking, ten overs costing 18 runs while Williams was the top wicket-taker getting 2 for 39 from 9.2 overs

The Everest top order found runs rare, emphasised by the other opener Sauid Drepaul taking 75 deliveries to reach 22 before he was stupendously caught and bowled by Neil Williams leaving the score on 80 for 3.

Before his departure he had put on 46 runs for the second wicket with Krishna Arjune who batted with ease for 24 from 40 balls with three fours.

The first of the four run-outs was a suicidal dash from Zaheer Mohamed (3) as he punched the ball hard and straight to the cover fielder and was easily run-out.

Baichan Balram tried his utmost to keep the Everest middle order intact. While he could not control the fall of regular wickets he did top score with 44 (2x4) from 82 balls. After his departure at 152 for six Harper returned with the bat and, like Percival, used his experience to gather runs with swift running in an effort to keep the mounting run rate in check.

They needed 59 runs from the last ten overs with five wickets left and 41 from 7 overs. In the last five overs 33 runs were needed but off-spinning all-rounder Neil Williams and Royston Crandon teamed up to bowl a miserly few overs and Everest buckled under pressure losing three batsmen to run-outs in the dying stages.

Their chunky captain Surendra Hiralall (3), Goberdhan (11) and Rajkumar Ori (0) were the victims as Harper pressed them for daring singles.

Harper, ending with a boundary-less unbeaten 26, had all his efforts rewarded only with the team’s losers’ cheque of $50 000 and a trophy while the jubilant RHTC pocketed $100 000 plus Percival’s $15 000.

Popular attorney-at-law Khemraj Ramjattan, representing the sponsors, assured the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) that Baron Foods would again sponsor the national inter-club competition in 2005. Chetram Singh, the GCB president, disclosed that he was particularly appreciative of the continued sponsorship as the nationwide competition cost in excess of G$1.5M to host in this its first year.

Singh also lamented that some aspects of the competition’s format needed to be reviewed and changed.

ROSE HALL TOWN COURTS innings
R.Batson b Goberdhan 1

M.Hicks run-out 13

K.Mahadeo c Ori b Mohamed 21

A.B.Fudadin c Harper b Arjune 19

R.Crandon c Drepaul b Jairaj 39

A.Percival not out 55

N.Williams c Mohamed b Drepaul 5

E.Crandon b Drepaul 3

A.Ramdass c Arjune b Mohamed 3

A.A.Fudadin c Garbaran b Drepaul 4

R.Narine stp. Ramdass b Arjune 7

Extras: (w-26, lb-4) 30

Total: (all out from 49.5 overs) 200

Fall of wickets: 1-3, 2-40, 3-55, 4-77, 5-125, 6-137, 7-145, 8-159, 9-186.

Bowling: Harper 10-5-11-0 (w-5), Goberdhan 10-2-43-1 (w-5), Mohamed 10-1-35-2 (w-2), Arjune 8.5-1-46-2 (w-9), Drepaul 9-0-49-2 (w-1), Jairaj 2-0-12-1 (w-4).

EVEREST innings

R.Ramdass b Crandon 6

S.Drepaul c & b Williams 22

K.Arjunec Percival b Narine 24

B.Balram c AA Fudadin b Percival 44

Z.Mohamed run-out (E Crandon) 3

H.Garbaran c Narine b Mahadeo 10

D.Harper not-out 26

S.Hiralall run-out (A.B.Fudadin) 3

R.Goberdhan run-out (Williams) 11

R.Ori run-out (Mahadeo) 0

S.Jairaj b Williams 2

Extras: (w-20, b-4, lb-8) 33

Total: (all out from 49.1 overs) 184

Fall of wickets: 1-9, 2-55, 3-80, 4-83, 5-120, 6-152, 7-160, 8-176, 9-180.

Bowling: E.Crandon 9-1-32-1 (w-5, nb-1), A.B.Fudadin 6-1-11-0, Narine 5-0-21-1 (w-7), R.Crandon 10-2-18-0, Williams 9.1-0-39-2 (w-4), Mahadeo 6-0-23-1 (w-2), A.A. Fudadin 3-0-17-0 (w-1) Percival 1-0-11-1 (w-1).

Sehwag leads Indian reply with rapid unbeaten 82
By Kunal Pradhan
CALCUTTA, India, (Reuters) - Opener Virender Sehwag cracked a rapid unbeaten 82 as India rushed to 129 for one in reply to South Africa's first innings 305 on day two of the second and final Test yesterday.

Sehwag, who hit a fiery 164 in the first drawn Test in Kanpur, hammered 11 fours and one six in his 107-ball innings.

Rahul Dravid was batting on a steady 33 after paceman Shaun Pollock gave South Africa an early breakthrough by trapping Gautam Gambhir lbw for seven.

Sehwag stamped his authority in his typical maverick fashion, punishing leg-spinner Justin Ontong for 23 runs off seven balls at one stage.

Jacques Kallis had earlier scored 121 to help South Africa creep past the 300-run mark.

The all-rounder, resuming on 103 on a track offering early seam movement, could not assert himself against left-arm pacemen Zaheer Khan and Irfan Pathan, who took three wickets each.

Kallis was finally bowled by India captain Sourav Ganguly, shouldering arms to a ball that nipped back after the previous one had gone away.

Anil Kumble joined England's Steve Harmison as the highest wicket-taker this year with 61 scalps when he dismissed Pollock for 18, caught at slip by Dravid. Australian spinner Shane Warne is just one behind on 60.

South Africa, slammed for being too defensive after they took more than two days to score 510 in Kanpur, again scored at only 2.52 runs an over.

FIRST BREAKTHROUGH
The visitors had added three to their overnight 227 for five when Khan got the first breakthrough, having Zander de Bruyn caught behind with an away swinger for 15.

Kallis and Pollock managed to consolidate for the remainder of the first hour but hopes of reaching 400 began to disappear with the loss of two quick wickets.

Pollock was caught by Dravid off Anil Kumble for 18, to fall six runs short of becoming the fifth all-rounder in Test history to take 300 Test wickets and score 3 000 runs.

Only India's Kapil Dev, England's Ian Botham, New Zealander Richard Hadlee and Imran Khan of Pakistan have achieved the feat.

Eight down, Justin Ontong (16 not out) and wicketkeeper Thami Tsolekile (15) hung on for almost an hour before off-spinner Harbhajan Singh grabbed the last two wickets in quick succession.

Sehwag made his intentions clear, starting the Indian reply by steering Pollock for a four behind point off the second ball.

The 26-year-old then drove Ntini for two fours but the South African bowlers clawed their way back with an accurate line.

The floodgates opened for Sehwag when he punished four wayward balls in an over from Ontong.

He drove the first through the covers, pulled the next over mid-wicket for a flat six, slogged the third over the on-side and finished with a cheeky reverse sweep to the third man fence.

SOUTH AFRICA first innings (o/n 227-5)
G.Smith c Karthik b Pathan 0

A.Hall c Karthik b Khan 7

J.Rudolph b Khan 61

J.Kallis b Ganguly 121

H.Amla b Pathan 24

B.Dippenaar c Karthik b Pathan 1

Z.de Bruyn c Karthik b Khan 15

S.Pollock c Dravid b Kumble 18

J.Ontong not out 16

T.Tsolekile c & b Harbhajan 15

M.Ntini c Pathan b Harbhajan 0

Extras: (lb-17, nb-10) 27

Total: (all out, 121.3 overs) 305

Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-21, 3-130, 4-176, 5-182, 6-230, 7-261, 8-273, 9-305.

Bowling: Pathan 31-7-72-3 (nb-1), Khan 27-7-64-3 (nb-9), Kumble 30-6-76-1, Ganguly 9-3-14-1, Harbhajan 21.3-6-54-2, Tendulkar 3-0-8-0.

INDIA first innings

V.Sehwag not out 82

G.Gambhir lbw b Pollock 7

R.Dravid not out 33

Extras: (lb-4, nb-3) 7

Total: (for one wicket, 38.4 overs) 129

Fall of wickets: 1-17

Bowling (to date): Pollock 12.4-2-41-1 (nb-3), Ntini 13-5-30-0, Ontong 4-1-29-0, Hall 7-0-24-0, de Bruyn 2-1-1-0.

New Zealand struggle to 149 for five chasing 464
By Greg Buckle
ADELAIDE, Australia, (Reuters) - Australia set New Zealand 464 to win then ripped through the touring side's top order to leave the Kiwis struggling on 149 for five at the close of the fourth day's play in the second Test yesterday.

Captain Ricky Ponting declared Australia's second innings closed 13 minutes after the lunch break at 139 for two, handing the Black Caps the almost impossible task of batting through nearly five sessions to save the Test.

New Zealand limped to the tea break at 36 for four at Adelaide Oval, with their leading run-scorer and captain Stephen Fleming already dismissed for three.

Nathan Astle and all-rounder Jacob Oram put on 63 for the fifth wicket before Astle was caught by a diving Justin Langer off part-time spinner Darren Lehmann for 38 at 97 for five.

Oram remained unbeaten on 40.

Wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum hit leg- spinner Shane Warne for an effortless six over mid-wicket in scoring a quick-fire 34 not out from 36 balls including five fours to give the Kiwis some hope of saving the match.

Australia lead the two-match series 1-0.

EARLY WICKETS
Pacemen Jason Gillespie and Glenn McGrath, who shared seven wickets between them in New Zealand's first innings of 251, were quick to break through again yesterday.

Gillespie trapped Mathew Sinclair lbw for two in the fourth over, before McGrath knocked over Fleming's off-bail just six balls later.

Michael Kasprowicz had Mark Richardson caught at third slip by Langer for 16 at 34 for three and one ball later, Warne removed Scott Styris for eight, caught at slip by Michael Clarke.

Australia had begun the day with some cautious batting, resuming on 57 for no wicket and adding just 82 runs in 35 overs for the loss of two wickets.

Ponting was not out 26 while Damien Martyn was unbeaten on six.

Langer (46) and Matthew Hayden (54) shared an opening stand of 93 yesterday after putting on 137 for the first wicket in Australia's first innings, their 13th century stand.

Western Australia's Langer hit 215, his 20th Test hundred, in Australia's first innings of 575 for eight declared, which included 5-152 from left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori.

Five other batsmen, led by Lehmann's 81 and Hayden's 70, made half-centuries in Australia's first innings.
Fleming led all scorers in New Zealand's first innings with an elegant 83.

AUSTRALIA first innings 575-8 declared
(J.Langer 215, D.Lehmann 81, M.Hayden 70, R.Ponting 68, S.Warne 53 not out, A.Gilchrist 50; D.Vettori 5-152)

New Zealand first innings 251 (S.Fleming 83, N.Astle 52; G.McGrath 4-66, Jason Gillespie 3-37)

Australia second innings (57-0 o/n)

M.Hayden c McCullum b Vettori 54

J.Langer lbw b Wiseman46

R.Ponting not out 26

D.Martyn not out 6

Extras: (nb-1, lb-6) 7

Total: (for two wickets decl., 56 overs) 139

Fall of wickets: 1-93, 2-119.

Bowling: Martin 6-1-11-0, Oram 5-1-17-0, Franklin 5-0-18-0 (nb-1), Wiseman 22-3-52-1, Vettori 18-2-35-1.

NEW ZEALAND second innings

M.Richardson c Langer b Kasprowicz 16

M.Sinclair lbw b Gillespie 2

S.Fleming b McGrath 3

S.Styris c Clarke b Warne 8

N.Astle c Langer b Lehmann 38

J.Oram not out 40

B.McCullum not out 34

Extras: (nb-1, lb-6, b-1) 8

Total: (for five wickets, 53 overs) 149

Fall of wickets: 1-11, 2-18, 3-34, 4-34, 5-97.

Bowling: McGrath 7-2-14-1 (nb-1), Gillespie 11-3-27-1, Kasprowicz 8-4-15-1, Warne 18-5-55-1 ,Lehmann 9-0-31-1.

Barrera takes title from Morales
MARCO Antonio Barrera took the World Boxing Council super-featherweight title from Erik Morales in an epic battle in Las Vegas on Saturday.

Mexican Barrera won a 12-round majority decision for his second win over compatriot Morales in three meetings since 2000.

Barrera was favoured 115-113 on one card and 115-114 on a second. The third judge scored it 114-114.

The bout was every bit the equal of the classic they fought four years ago.

On that occasion, the two boxers traded more than 1 500 punches before Morales, born in Tijuana, won a split decision.

Two years later Barrera, from Mexico City, came back to win the second fight on a unanimous decision.

The third instalment matched two boxers with no love for each other who are both heroes in their respective corners of Mexico.

At the MGM Grand on Saturday, Barrera, nicknamed ‘The Baby-Faced Assassin’, was fighting for the first time at 130 pounds and was the stronger fighter in the early rounds.

Morales - known as ‘El Terrible’ - was bleeding from the nose from the early rounds on and his left eye was swelling by the eighth round.

Both fighters rocked the other with punches and in the final two rounds they fought furiously.

But Barrera had done enough and he held two fingers in the air to signify victory when the decision was announced, while Morales simply stared in disbelief.

"It was the most rewarding fight of my career," said Barrera. "I did this fight to show all boxing fans that this is what boxing is all about."

Morales admitted: "My body didn't respond to what I wanted it to do. I don't know why.

"I felt a little tight early, I couldn't get my jab off. I know I gave away a lot of early rounds."

On the undercard, Mexico's Oscar Larios successfully defended his WBC super-bantamweight title against Australian Nedal Hussein.

Larios controlled the full 12 rounds and was awarded a unanimous points decision by the judges in Las Vegas 118-110, 119-109 and 120-108.

The Mexican improved his record to 54-3-1 with 35 of those wins inside the distance while Hussein slid to 36-2.

Ivan Calderon remained unbeaten and kept his WBO strawweight title with a straightforward win over Carlos Fajardo.

The Puerto Rican dominated throughout and won a unanimous decision for his 21st victory.

Mexico's Rafael Marquez stopped Colombian Mauricio Pastrana in the eighth round to retain his IBF bantamweight world title.

Pastrana was unable to see from his right eye and his left eye was bloodied as his corner called for a halt. (BBC Sport)

Pakistan aim to surprise Australia -
Woolmer
ADELAIDE, Australia, (Reuters) - Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer says captain Inzamam-ul-Haq's young side will rely on talent to overcome inexperience in the upcoming three-Test series against Australia.

"I hope to surprise Australia," Woolmer told reporters after the touring side arrived at Perth airport yesterday.

"I suppose everyone does these days, don't they? We're expecting a really tough tour. We're looking forward to it.

"I think we've got a very nice, young, balanced side.

"Probably not quite ready yet but on the other hand, you never know.

"They've got some serious talent and maybe we can give someone a surprise."

The 17-member Pakistan squad will face a two-month tour that includes Tests in Perth (December 16-20), Melbourne (Dec 26-30) and Sydney (January 2-6).

A triangular limited-overs series involving the host nation and West Indies starts in Melbourne on January 14.

The 34-year-old Inzamam, the senior player in the side with 96 Test and 328 one-day international appearances, said before the team left Pakistan that he was confident his young players had the mental strength to cope with Australia's sledging tactics.

Pakistan's opening tour match is a three-day game against a Western Australia state Second XI starting in Perth tomorrow, followed by a Chairman's XI game at Lilac Hill near Perth on December 7.

The tourists will also play a four-day game against Western Australia in Perth from December 9-12 as a final warm-up for the first Test there.

"We've actually come a week earlier so we can get used to the conditions here," Woolmer said.

"It's not so much the pitches, it's more the light and the brightness and just getting used to Australia in general.”

Former Somerset great Bill Alley dies
FORMER Somerset all-rounder and umpire Bill Alley has died in Taunton aged 85. Australian Alley made his name in England, scoring 19 612 first-class runs and taking 738 wickets with his medium-pace bowling. In 1961 he became the last player to score more than 3 000 runs in an English season. A former prize-fighting boxer, he officiated in 10 Test matches between 1974 and 1981 and was regarded as one of the game's great characters. Former Somerset team-mate Peter Robinson told The Times: "Bill was as hard as nails, fearless. "There can’t be many better cricketers who didn’t appear in Test cricket. (BBC Sport)