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CH&PA hands over housing schemes management to Region 3 NDCs
- in a new partnership approach
By Priya Nauth
THE Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) and the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development yesterday officially handed over the management of several housing schemes in Region 3 (West Demerara/Essequibo Islands) to the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) creating a “new partnership approach.”

The exercise was held at the administrative office of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) in Vreed-en-Hoop on the West Bank of Demerara to ensure that the recipients play a more active role in the community development process of the ten housing schemes.

The Canals Polder Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) will be responsible for Bell West Phase I; Greenwich Park/Vergenoegen NDC for Block AA Vergenoegen; Stewartville/Cornelia Ida NDC for Cornelia Ida Tract Y, Cornelia Block Y and Cornelia Block X2; Tuschen/Uitvlugt NDC for Block II Uitvlugt, Parcel 1 – 53 Plantation De Kinderen and Parcel 54 – 96 Plantation De Kinderen; Best Klein/Pouderoyen for Best Block (Crane Phase II); and Toevlugt/Patentia NDC for Bellvue, Block XV.

Development Planner of CH&PA, Ms. Germene Stewart outlining the duties and functions of this new partnership approach noted that the primary purpose of transferring the management of these housing schemes is to ensure that the local authorities play a more active role in their community development process by managing local affairs and ensuring that development is carried out in a proper and harmonious manner according to stipulated plans, regulations and standards.

Partnership approach
“This transfer of management must be seen as a partnership approach to ensure the sustainability of the existing housing schemes,” she told the representatives.

She stressed that in this partnership approach, the CH&PA and the relevant local authorities have critical roles and functions to fulfill.

Under this new agreement, the local authorities would be required to ensure that any building works confirm with provisions of the existing schemes; receive and recommend all new applications for commercial and other development to the CH&PA; process residential building application and ensure that such applications satisfy both public health and building regulations, among others.

Also, the authorities are required to monitor and inspect land use activities in the housing schemes and stop all unauthorised construction and provide information to the CH&PA on such land use contraventions occurring in housing schemes while managing and maintaining the infrastructure and services within these schemes.

She stated that included in the package is a copy of an infrastructure maintenance manual to assist them in the execution of their duties.

Stewart noted that the “role of CH&PA is manifold” and would still be acting in an advisory capacity to address, on a needed basis, issues of mutual concerns to both the local authorities and the CH&PA in areas of land use development.

Also, the CH&PA would assist in monitoring land use and enforcement as well as provide technical support and guidance on planning principles and other issues that may arise.

She reiterated that it is an opportunity for the CH&PA to “build partnership with the local authorities and build local ownership of the housing development programme”.

The Development Planner emphasised that the local authority can now garner revenue through taxes and will now be empowered to make decisions with the involvement of the communities in development and implementation of projects.

Minister of Housing and Water, Mr. Irfaan Ali stated this expands the relationship and collaborative approach to development between the region, the Ministry of Local Government, the Ministry of Housing and Water and more importantly, the NDCs – the closest arm of government to the people.

Milestone
Noting that it is a very important milestone, he stated, “It is one where the commitment of expanding our governance mechanism, of ensuring that all level of leadership is involved in the decision-making process, in ensuring that the governance mechanism in managing the investment and infrastructure that we develop at a national level creates the ownership at the local level and at the level of the community.

He said the activity signifies the official creation of that ownership of the investment that the government has made in the various housing schemes.

“I am very happy that we are here not only to celebrate this accomplishment but to understand the responsibilities, the rules and the framework through which this mechanism would be implemented,” he underscored.

Ali said the CH&PA and the Ministry are satisfied that the schemes “are ripe or mature” for handing over with the level of infrastructure development of a reasonable nature and the level of occupancy above 65 to 70 per cent.

The minister pointed out that a lot of work still needs to be done from the level of the CH&PA in terms of allocation, repossession and re-allocation stressing, “These are responsibilities that lies primarily and exclusively under the mandate of the CH&PA.”

He expressed his hope that the NDCs would further extend the partnership to include the development groups within the communities and, more importantly, “the diverse strata of people that make up the various housing schemes”.

A process
He pointed out that “development itself is incremental and development is not static” adding, “It does not have an end. It is a process of delivering to our people, continuously improve infrastructure and conditions that would improve ultimately their livelihood”.

To this end, Ali said his ministry is looking at integrating the infrastructure and just concluded designs for a new well at Tuschen, Cornelia Ida, La Grange and Vergenoegen, which are all added investments, as a result of the expansion in the housing development.

“Now that we have reached the stage of accelerating, we have to now integrate infrastructure so that all of our people would benefit from the services we provide,” he stated.

He reminded that there are still a lot more of housing schemes to be handed over and the investment made in the ten housing schemes is in excess of $1.8B.

This include specifically a $90M investment under the Basic Needs Trust Fund, he noted and told the gathering that a few major programmes are on stream in these schemes and across Region Three later this year and 2010.

Expansion
Also, he announced that his Ministry was successful in acquiring additional land to expand the housing stock in Zeelugt, Tuschen, Uitvlugt and a small development in Anna Catherina.

In addition to this, he said the Parfaite housing scheme is being expanded that will see an additional 1,500 house lots by April of next year and in the region, between the last quarter of this year and the end of 2010, the ministry hopes to add another 4,500 house lots.

He also revealed that additionally, the ministry is looking to spend $600M next year on road development, with the focus on old communities, under the community road improvement project which is currently under design.

The Minister of Housing and Water further disclosed that another $1.1B is expected to be invested in housing with the expansion of the 4,500 house lots.

Turning to the water sector, he said the ministry is looking to spend a further $328M in 2010 stating, “So you can see the investment portfolio of the Ministry of Housing and Water and the future projections for Region Three is indeed one that is not only huge in financial terms but in terms of value added.”

He noted that presently, the service connection upgrade from Bellvue to Sisters is being completed and installing new water mains, and completing the Vergenoegen water treatment and looking at the service connection upgrade for Pouderoyen Phase II and new borehole at La Grange and Cornelia Ida.

“In 2010, we look forward to continue this aggressive intervention to ensure that our people have equitable access to all the resources that we offer from the Ministry of Housing and Water so the macro plan in terms of housing and water in Region Three has been well developed and advanced,” Ali assured.

He said the local authorities would also receive some important documents and manuals to assist them in maintaining and caring for the infrastructures.

Encouraging the recipients to make good use of these instruments, he said it includes the infrastructure maintenance manual which was developed internally by the ministry and also a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which outlines explicitly what are the duties and responsibilities of the various stakeholders, as well, as the rules, procedures and guidelines and more importantly, the functions and responsibilities of the NDCs, in managing the housing schemes.

Also included is the developers’ manual and specific information about each scheme, Minister Ali added.

He insisted that his ministry “believes strongly in transparency and integrity” alluding, “Transparency and integrity begins from access to information and sharing of information.”

Ali implored the recipients to exercise their responsibilities, judgment, fairness, equity and justice in serving their communities underscoring, “We must be reminded that we are fortunate to be placed in a position that we are able to serve our fellow countrymen and women and that position must not be abused; that position must not be misused; but that position must be used in a manner that is fair and equitable for the benefit of all our people.

He added: “Today, we celebrate the accomplishment of good governance; we celebrate the output of decentralisation; we celebrate the output of inclusive governance; and we celebrate the output of creating ownership at the grassroot level in the handing over of these schemes”.

Region 3 Chairman, Mr. Julius Faerber agreed that residents in these housing schemes require services from the regional administration, the NDC and government and it is very pertinent that the representatives of the region and the NDCs provide these essential services to enhance their livelihood and foster a better relationship.

The Regional Chairman thanked the Ministries of Housing and Water and Local Government for finalising these arrangements to have the schemes handed over.

Fugitive Offenders Amendment Bill gets green light from National Assembly
By Tajeram Mohabir
THE Fugitive Offenders (Amendment) Bill of 2009 was on Thursday approved by the National Assembly but with strong opposition from the Alliance For Change (AFC) member Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan.

The legislation which amends the Fugitive Offenders Act of 1988 makes provision for the extradition of fugitive offenders from and to Guyana and for related matters.

Legal Affairs Minister and Attorney General, Mr. Charles Ramson told the House that the Bill sought to address an imbroglio created by opposing judgments by the Court of Appeal and the High Court on the matter.

He pointed out that in 1992, the Court of Appeal in King versus Director of Prisons case held that the 1931 article seven of UK-USA treaty implied that a person once extradited to the USA will not be re-extradited to a third country.

But, in the Full Court or the Supreme Court last year in the Barry Dataram’s case ruled that there is no implied condition of prohibition for re-extradition of a fugitive offender to a third country emerging from the 1931 UK-USA treaty.

Against the backdrop of these two different positions on the matter, Ramson said the Bill was brought before the National Assembly to harmonise and statutise the law in this regard.

He said a fugitive offender may be committed to, or kept in custody for the purpose of extradition or may be extradited to a Commonwealth country or any treaty territory in connection with any extraditable offence, if the Home Affairs Minister considers it necessary in the interest of justice.

Sub-section 3 (b) of Section 8 of the Principle Act stated: “The minister (the Home Affairs Minister), whether it is in the interest of justice, may take into account any relevant factors, including but not limited to, any evidence that there is a likelihood of the fugitive offender being extradited to a third country from the Commonwealth or a treaty territory”.

It stressed that a person may be extradited from Guyana under the amended legislation to any Commonwealth country or treaty territory and prior to the extradition, be committed to or kept in custody for the purpose of extradition where the law of a Commonwealth country or treaty territory does not contain the provision required by sub-section 3 (b) of the Bill.

Ramson said where the law of a Commonwealth country exists, a treaty territory or a treaty relating to the extradition of fugitive offenders does not contain the provision of sub-section 3 (b), the law or treaty shall by necessary application, be read and construed by the minister, magistrate, High Court, Full Court and Court of Appeal as if the provision was incorporated into the law or treaty.

He underlined that the right to complain of infraction, if any, in extradition arrangements lies in the asylum state and the person whose extraction is sought is not entitled to complain to the court in any proceedings.

The legislation, he said is not new and the intention is only to serve the cause of justice which is the duty of the government.

But Ramjattan contended that the legislation is an attack on Acting Chief Justice Ian Chang as its statutory overrules his ruling in the Dataram case and adds power to the Homes Affairs Minister which never existed.

He argued what was worrying too is that the Home Affairs Minister can refuse extradition of a person who is favoured by the Government as the legislation allows him to “cherry pick” extradition cases.

The Bill, he said also violates the separation of powers and will make judges feel timid.

People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Parliamentarian, Mr. Anil Nandalall in defending the Bill, denounced Ramjattan’s claims, pointing out that with the advent of international and transnational crime, the concept of extradition has become an imperative matter.

He said the Bill which legal brings clarity on extradition will ensure criminals have no where to run or hide.

Nandalall underlined that the government has always respected the decision of the Court of Appeal and has never appealed its decision.

However, he said to ensure there is harmony in the law and judicial system, the legislation was brought before the House to be statutised.

The PPP Parliamentarian underlined that every government pass laws to erase conflicts with their developmental agenda programmes and absolutely nothing is wrong with the government bringing to the House an amendment to correct a conflict in the judiciary.

Contrary to Ramjattan’s assertion, Nandalall said the Home Affairs Minister cannot extradite selectively as the person has to be a fugitive offender and the minister’s decision can be challenged.

His colleague Parliamentarian, Mr. Bernard De Santos also condemned Ramjattan’s arguments contending they were in line with political expediency rather than legal expertise.

He expressed disappointment too with People’s National Congress-One Guyana (PNCR-1G) who boycotted the sitting of the National Assembly, stressing the lawyers on their benches would have made a valuable contribution to amended legislation.

The AFC had boycotted the previous sitting. The former Attorney General underscored that in cases of conflict with the law, the government has a right to legislate to deal with the “big fishes” in a manner of certainty.

This he said is nothing new and it is the function of the government.

Ramson in winding up the debate slammed Ramjattan for attempting to hoodwink the people and accused the AFC of fast becoming an alliance for confusion.

He also said Justice Chang is the ablest of judges he has known and the legislation was not to chastise him as Ramjattan suggested but to merely bring about harmony in the law as it relates to extradition.

The Maritime Zone Bill of 2009 was scheduled for debate on Thursday but was deferred to the next sitting of the House.

PNCR statement on water is ‘biased, uninformed and uneducated’ - Minister Ali
By Priya Nauth
MINISTER of Housing and Water, Mr. Irfaan Ali, has dismissed the statements made by the leading opposition party the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) regarding the water sector as “biased, uninformed and uneducated”.

He was speaking at a press conference held at his Brickdam, Georgetown office yesterday along with Chief Executive Office of GWI, Mr. Yuri Chandisingh; Public Relations Officer, Mr. Timothy Austin; and Head of Operations, Mr. Joseph Coddette of GWI.

Responding to statements regarding the operations of the entity last Thursday by the PNCR in a press statement, he alluded to it as “bias, uninformed and uneducated statements” concerning the water sector.

“The attack on the professionalism of the young staff and the management of GWI was most uncalled for and is an insult to the dedication, commitment and excellent work; hard work which these persons have been enduring day after day to ensure that our people have a better supply of water,” he charged.

“This is nothing strange. The PNC seems to be in a habit these days of belittling our public servants,” he added

Agreeing that there is always room for improvement in any system, he pointed that the entity will continue to strive towards improvement.

“In the water sector, we are not going to tolerate uniformed attacks on the professionalism of these persons who are dedicating their lives to serving our Guyanese people,” he stressed.

Reiterating that the attack on the team was “uncalled for and most unjustified”, he expressed confidence in the staff and their experience adding, “I cannot tolerate any unsubstantiated disrespect of these individuals by any individual group or organisation much less the mismanaged PNC.”

He said that GWI has noted that the statements which refer to matters of water quality, water sector operations and the management of the company have been fashioned from an “obvious lack of knowledge of the water sector and its various operations”.

He said the statements also blatantly ignored the remarkable progress made in the local water sector, as well as, the tremendous amount of government of Guyana funding which has resulted in highly effective programmes which consistently enhance the quality of water supplied to the nation.

With regard to the improved water delivery through consolidated planning, he reminded that in the past there was no collaboration with the various entities involved in the construction of housing schemes.

“Recognising the weakness and ad hoc planning for housing, the Central Housing and Planning Committee was established to effectively plan for the establishment of housing schemes. This authority comprised of a coordinating group with the GWI, Central Housing and Planning Authority, Guyana Power and Light, Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission and such others,” he said.

Noting that housing schemes are constructed and planned for occupation in phases, he said in the initial stages, commissioned schemes had their demand for potable water met by the existing facilities.

“Now that the schemes are more occupied and not yet exceeding supply capacity, investments have been mobilised to cope with growing demands. Such an approach is economically and technically feasible as it reduces the initial capital investment but saves on the operation and maintenance of an asset that would not reach its full capacity for several years,” he explained.

Ali insisted that these techniques are extremely timely in the context of third world development where funding for the procurement, operation and maintenance of assets is limited.

On this note, he added that before 1992 there was no budget for housing, there were no housing schemes and no housing development.

“There was no investment in the housing sector. Our people were cut short of any opportunities to improve their living conditions in terms of housing development,” he stated.

He said since 1992, a housing programme was developed noting: “Most obviously if from 1992 to now, we have allocated more than 80,000 house lots throughout the country then there would be a higher demand for water.”

“However, it would not be practical for us as soon as the land is developed to expand the water investment because you need a certain level of occupancy that will meet the demand for the water.”

The minister said now that the level is being met, the ministry and GWI have started the expansion of the infrastructure to deliver water, for example, in the case of the just completed Diamond new well on the East Bank Demerara.

He said there are planned investment and interventions aimed at improving the sector incrementally and “matching the development in the housing sector and other aspects of the economy consistently with the development of the GWI infrastructure”.

“Before 1992 there was no investment, we had to start from scratch,” he reminded and noted the works being done such as the $1.6B water treatment plant in Berbice and more than $600M in the hinterland.

“I think that the PNC is trying to use water as a “political ticket” but the progress and development that has been made in the water sector would expose them tremendously,” he exhorted.

Alluding to the water supply investments yielding results, he recalled that the Sophia and Central Ruimveldt water supply system were conceived and executed under the umbrella of the Georgetown Water and Sewerage Commission.

He noted that when the GWI inherited the Georgetown Water Supply network in 2002, the system showed signs of neglect, poor maintenance, lack of investment and generally, lack of attention.

“It was thus necessary for GWI to immediately engage in the rehabilitation of the boreholes and other system components. This resulted in the two boreholes supplying this system to achieve enhanced capacity,” he said.

He said this more than adequately caters for the demand and has redundant capacity to meet peak demand, and as such, the water supply for this system provides customers with more than ten hours of water per day and not three hours as “erroneously stated by the PNCR”.

“They spoke about the investment in Georgetown failing to realise that we took over in 2002 from the City Council; I have never heard the PNC for one day condemned the City Council for its neglect, lack of management and lack of leadership,” he observed.

Alluding to the South Ruimveldt and Sophia water treatment facility being completed, he said, “This is physical evidence and practical evidence; what is it that the PNC is talking about.”

He added: “It is just, I would say, uninformed political statement aimed at creating mischief.”

Also, Minister Ali alluded that very important for not only GWI but globally is the issue of education and changing the culture in the use of water.

“There has been a parallel plan with our investment portfolio and plan and that is to get customers to understand the importance of conserving water, harnessing rainwater and utilising the water in an efficient and effective manner,” he noted.

With regard to wastage, he said GWI has embarked on a massive revenue metering programme which will see every customer in the system metered by 2011.

“GWI has further recognised the synergy of coupling this programme with the upgrade of the most vulnerable network components, the service connections. With such an approach, both leakage and wastage are suppressed and hence the performance of the system improves to the point where upsizing of pump is unnecessary,” he stated.

He said the success of this approach has been well documented and speaks volumes on the ability of GWI to conceive, plan, design and execute relevant projects that yield results.

He stressed that such programmes are also on stream in Linden, Bartica, Bare Root and Paradise and have already improved level of service to the residents of these areas.

“With the suppression of leakage and wastage, GWI is able to provide longer hours of service to customers hence, like Guyana’s neighbour Brazil, GWI has to rationalise pumping hours to effectively manage the electricity cost which forms 60 per cent of overall cost and is not recouped in revenues earned,” he compared.

Alluding to the issue of water quality, he underscored that GWI routinely tests water from all the boreholes and treatment plants for quality control which was not done prior to 1992.

He noted that water is routinely tested for total and faecal coliform, the bacteria that leads to diarrhoea and other water borne illnesses and GWI maintains comprehensive records of these tests in the central laboratory.

The GWI is guided by the World Health Organisation’s standards for provision of safe water to consumers.

“The PNCR suggestion of mixing alum, lime and chlorine is a further evidence of their ignorance of water treatment. Such a mixture is alien to water treatment worldwide,” he told the media.

Also, he cleared that GWI’s operation is guided by a water operation license and not the Municipal and District Council Act as suggested by the PNCR.

“We are governed solely by the GWI’s Operations License of 1992 which states that the utility is required to provide water at standpipe level which has been achieved in the majority of areas served,” he repeated.

Also, he said the PNCR statement regarding power supply is “clearly contradictory” reminding, “Here is it that two weeks ago the PNC went on a bandwagon even taking a motion to parliament talking about power problems and then they are saying that GWI is hiding under power problems and there is no power problems: so they are confused - they are a confused party.”

He said GWI is looking at educating people and moving towards rainwater harvesting which has become mandatory in some countries such as Grenada and also been lauded as part of green technology.

“Part of our plan would be to ensure that our people are educated in the use of rainwater in resolving the challenges that lies ahead,” he stated.

Turning to the issue of fair and transparent procurement process, he said, “I wish to say that every procurement we make is advertised publicly. It goes through a technical and financial evaluation process and it is scrutinized by the Auditor General and the internal audit department.”

He added that the company has a strong internal mechanism such as the anti-fraud policy that governs the operations of GWI.

“If Mr. Keith Scott wishes to make statement on the transparency and integrity of the entity, he should do so by providing facts…,” he put forward and urged that statements made to the public must be supported by facts.

“We are not going to be bugged down by an organisation that seeks to discredit the hard work of the government and of the GWI,” Ali maintained.

He concluded, “For a matter of fact, their unjust criticism strengthens our resolve to work harder for the improvement of the sector to the benefit of every Guyanese.”

United Nations is more needed than ever before - UN Resident Coordinator
By Vanessa Narine
TODAY the United Nations (UN) celebrates 64 years of existence and at a flag raising ceremony, yesterday at the Promenade Gardens, to commemorate the anniversary the primary points underscored were the need to have partnerships deepened and have efforts of UN agencies redoubled to ensure a safer and better place in which to live.

10-year-old Michael Phang hands out paper made doves of peace to Madam Ambassador Elisabeth Harper.

In Guyana the UN development agencies presence comprises six organisations which include: the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF); the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA); the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO)/World Health Organisation (WHO); the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO); the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP); and the United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS).

Also, there are several other non-resident UN agencies that support development here and approximately US$10M funding is expended on different programmes and activities to advance development in the country.

After the hoisting of the Golden Arrowhead and the United Nations Flag the gathering of UN staffers, members of the diplomatic corps, members of government and other stakeholders were addressed by the UN Resident Coordinator, Dr Kiari Liman-Tinguiri.

The UN Resident Coordinator asserted that at present owing to global challenges the United Nations is more needed than ever before.

“The United Nations is indeed, more than ever before, the forum where all nations, developing and developed, can and do come together to define global strategies that defend the public good,” he said.

Liman-Tinguiri pointed out that at the forefront of such a defence is the response to climate change.

He lauded the efforts by President Bharrat Jagdeo in developing and promoting the Low Carbon development Strategy (LCDS).

“The life of future generations depends on what is done today,” the UN Resident Coordinator posited.

Additionally, progress of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) was highlighted as a quintessential global strategy to defend the public good.

To this end, Country Representative of PAHO/WHO, Dr Kathleen Israel, stated that from a developmental perspective the MDGs remain an important rallying agenda for the UN agencies working at a country level.

“UN agencies as individual entities and the UN system as a collective is called to renewed and intensified action within the framework of strengthened unity among and between itself as well as to nurture old and build strategic alliances in the interest of humanity and human rights,” Israel said.

She explained that her organisation, like other UN sister agencies, has been working in specific areas sparing no effort or resource to ensure that the targets set by the MDGs are met.

Dr Israel noted that her agency works in health and holds the position that without health there can be no meaningful development.

PAHO/ WHO focuses on child mortality, maternal health, gender equality, HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis and other infection diseases.

Dr Israel also pointed out that emphasis was placed on environmental sustainability in achieving the agency’s goals.

She opined that depending on partnerships, which create strategic alliances, the best outcomes for the resources invested will be realised in addressing the challenges of the day.

“The United Nations does not operate in vacuum,” she asserted.

Israel stated that PAHO/ WHO is committed to working with other specialised agencies of the UN system and will continue to work in a harmonised and collaborative environment to realise national goals and, by extension, respond to global imperatives and contribute to the achievement of UN objectives.

Country Representative of FAO, Dr Lystra Fletcher-Paul, echoed these sentiments and noted that and integrated and unified approach is key to success.

While food security is the main focus of the organisation’s mandate other areas of work include nutrition, improving agricultural productivity, better the lives of the rural population and contribute to the growth of the country’s economy.

“Our work ensures that a better world is left for future generations,” she said.

The Deputy Representative of UNCIEF, Mr. Rudi Luchmann, added that in a world of inter connected challenges and threats there can be no sustained development without peace and without the respect of human rights.

UNICEF’s mandate centres on the rights of children and women.

Luchmann added that sustained cooperation between the UN agencies and other stakeholders is essential to advance the goals of the United Nations.

To this end, he stated that Guyana has made significant strides but stated that along with these marked successes there are challenges.

“The challenge is now to transform the successes we’ve seen into actual results, particularly change in attitudes and behaviours for our children and women,” he said.

Luchmann explained that it takes only a few years to change laws and legislations and increase social budget expenditure and increase attention to the human rights, but it takes decades to change people’s behaviour and attitudes and practices that hamper the fulfillment of all human rights.

“UNICEF is committed to a mission of realising peace and development and human rights,” he said.

He affirmed that the United Nations is very much needed, now more than ever.

The Deputy Representative said, “If there was ever a time for cohesiveness, for coming together, to make a difference in the world this is it. Now is our time to take concerted global action to tackle global problems.”

Luchmann highlighted that together the United Nations agencies are here to take risks and assume the burden of responsibility of making the world a better place.

This effort, making the world better, according to UNFPA Assistant Representative, Ms. Patrice La Fleur, will only be sustainable through capacity building which facilitates quality initiatives focused on development.

UNFPA works in the areas of sexual and reproductive health and gender equality.

“UNFPA recognises the need for redoubled efforts,” La Fleur posited.

She added that UNFPA’s aim is a world where people can enjoy their rights and live free from want and poverty despite the many challenges faced as a people.

Duly noting the challenges that confront the work of the United Nations, Justice Donald Trotman, President of the United Nations Association of Guyana (UNAG), pointed out that a purposive count shows that much has been done and achieved by the UN.

He added that UNAG is pursuing more participation of grassroots people, instead of the existing governmental concentration, at UN fora with the establishment of a United Nations Association of the Caribbean.

“The association expects that the people will be looked upon as an integral part that makes the United Nations systems work, to maintain it integrity and its continuing effectiveness,” Trotman said.

Ambassador Elisabeth Harper, the Director-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, acknowledged this and added that the close relationships between the United Nations and Guyana has resulted in improvements is several areas of national development.

“The partnership for enhanced human development has resulted in notable progress particularly in the reduction of hunger, increase in the number of school enrollments, combating HIV/AIDS and achieving environmental sustainability,” she said.

However, she noted that despite this there is still much to be done to fully realise development goals and hence what is needed is international cooperation which will facilitate a holistic approach to development of UN member states.

Harper asserted that Guyana welcomes the commitment of the UN to mobilise the UN system for various development initiatives.

“Guyana is fully committed to the purpose and principles of the United Nations Charter,” she said.

Reiterating the UN’s mandate that seeks to advance the well being of the people of Guyana as it strives to make the world a better place, were staffers from the UN who ended the anniversary celebrations with a rendition of the late Michael Jackson’s song, ‘Heal the World’.

The UN is an international organisation whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and the achieving of world peace.

The organisation was founded in 1945 after World War II to replace the League of Nations, to stop wars between countries, and to provide a platform for dialogue.

There are currently 192 member states, including nearly every sovereign state in the world.

Guyanese national gunned down in ‘Hell Yard’
TRINIDAD NEWSDAY - Former Charlotte Street, Port-of-Spain vendor and Guyanese national Samuel De Souza, 25, was gunned down in ‘Hell Yard’, Phase 4, Beetham Gardens Thursday morning, bringing to 428, the number of people murdered in this country so far this year.

Dead – Guyanese Samuel De Souza ( Newsday photo )

Investigators said they had no motive for the murder but De Souza’s relatives believe his killing was a case of mistaken identity.

According to a police report, at about 7.10 am ‘Hell Yard’ residents heard several gunshots and when the shooting stopped De Souza’s body was found lying on the side of the road near a track, bleeding from the head. He died on the scene. An autopsy revealed De Souza was shot in the face with the bullet exiting the back of his head.

Speaking outside the Forensic Science Centre in St James, De Souza’s aunt Linda Valentine said she strongly believes her nephew was mistaken for someone else since he was not known to be involved in any drug related or gang matters.

“He was always quiet but very free-spirited. He was not in crime and did not even involve himself in any bacchanal. He was loving.

At one time he operated a parlour in Beetham and everyone respected him. He loved to go parties though and most of all he loved his food. He always said he wanted to die with food in his hand,” Valentine said.

A resident, who asked not to be identified, claimed that De Souza lived in Beetham for many years, since his early teens, and never threatened anyone or got involved in criminal behaviour.

“This is a real shock to the community. We have a lot of questions as to why he was killed,” the resident said. Up to late Thursday no arrest was made and investigations are continuing.

Health Ministry fire…
Police working with overseas authorities to apprehend escapees
CRIME Chief Seelall Persaud said yesterday that the Police are working collaboratively with overseas authorities to apprehend two men who escaped from lawful custody at Providence Police Station last July 17, after they were arrested in connection with the Ministry of Health fire.

He said investigations, so far, have revealed that the suspects skipped the country but they will be brought to justice.

It is only a matter of time before they are caught, the Assistant Commissioner assured.

The fugitives are Kurt Thierens alias ‘Bage’, or ‘Glasses’ and Colin Jones called ‘Bonny’. They are among nine persons, who were held in the probe of the July 17 blaze in Brickdam, Georgetown and taken to Providence lock-up which was considered very secure.

Thierens, 31, is of African descent, with black hair and brown eyes. He is five feet six inches tall and slim built. His address was given as Lot 102 Middle Walk, Buxton and National Avenue, Triumph, both on East Coast Demerara and Lot 219 Residential Area, Yarrowkabra, Soesdyke/Linden Highway.

Jones, 20, also of African descent is thin built, five feet six inches tall, as well, with black hair. His address was stated as Lot 3 West La Penitence, Georgetown.

Police said anyone with information that would lead to the arrest of Thierens and Jones should telephone numbers 225-6411, 225-2700, 226-2917, 225-8196, 227-2128, 225-6941 -3 or 911 or report to the nearest station.

All information will be treated with strict confidence, a Police release said.

Lee inspires NSW to Champions League glory
By Sriram Veera
BRETT Lee pulled off a stunning all-round show to enable New South Wales haul in the biggest cash prize in a cricket tournament ever by overcoming a brave effort from Trinidad & Tobago in the final yesterday of the Champions League Twenty20.

The final victory margin of 41 runs doesn't quite tell the real story. T&T came out on the top initially, reducing NSW to 83 for 6, but Lee played a superb hand to propel NSW to a competitive 159 before he returned to jolt the T&T top order with two early wickets.

The game was won in the last five overs of the NSW innings and in the first five of the chase and it was Lee who featured in both the little match-turning phases.

The game had so many sub-plots - the nervy collapse of NSW and T&T's top order, Ravi Rampaul's canny seam bowling, Sherwin Ganga bowling three overs of spin in the Powerplay, Steven Smith's sensible batting and Kieron Pollard's icy-cool batting effort - but the biggest story was Lee's all-round contribution.

He walked in with NSW tottering at 83 for 6, proceeded to slowly pull them out of the hole before shifting gears to charge them to a competitive score. It was almost the perfect counter-punch.

Lee knew the first task was safety - he scored just 7 from 13 deliveries – but knew there was no use meandering to a below-par total and thus upped the ante in the end overs with some stunning hits.

Lee launched his assault in the 16th over against Lendl Simmons: The first delivery, a full toss, was swung over square-leg for a six, the fourth delivery was cleanly hit over long-on, and the last one was carved to the cover boundary.

From then on it was vintage Lee: he cleared the front leg and swung cleanly through the line time and again. Navin Stewart disappeared over long-on and Sherwin Ganga was heaved over midwicket as he powered NSW to a good total.

Lee got support from Steven Smith, who did what was required perfectly: give the strike to Lee, and try to pinch the occasional boundary to soak up the pressure and ensure he didn't lose his wicket.

Lee wasn't done yet for the night, though. He returned with the ball to harass the T&T top order with his pace, bounce and movement. He took care of the impetuous William Perkins with a full, fast and straight delivery and removed Lendl Simmons with a slower one.

Stuart Clark, with his slower cutters, and Doug Bollinger, with his bounce from short of length, proceeded to strangle T&T's middle order and it was left to that man Pollard to try to do the improbable. And he nearly did.

Through this tournament, Pollard has been batting like how Lance Klusener did in the 1999 World Cup. No target seems to be too much for him. Just like Klusener, he was almost unbelievably calm: he started his innings calmly, dealing in singles, before he unleashed his own brand of razzmatazz.

He pulled a free hit from Bollinger over midwicket, swung Nathan Hauritz over long-on and got the equation down to 47 from 31 balls when it happened. He went for another six off Hauritz but couldn't clear, who else but, Lee at long-on. With Pollard's exit, Trinidad's dream run came to a crushing halt.

The T&T wagon might have hit the speed breaker in the chase but the start of the day couldn't have been more different, though.

If NSW were to get to a huge total, the two hard-hitting openers had to contribute heavily but that didn't happen. T&T started with the spin-seam combination and Sherwin Ganga, the off-spinner, bowled three overs in the Powerplay.

The third ball of the game perhaps indicated which team was suffering more from the yips. Warner opted to play a weak reverse sweep and nearly edged it back to the bowler.

Warner did go on to thread a couple of boundaries on the off side but never looked in. Meanwhile the pressure told on his partner Phillip Hughes, who faced three balls in the first three overs, and fell, trying to slog-pull the impressive Ravi Rampaul.

While Sherwin Ganga was miserly, it was Rampaul who really shone with a fine display of canny seam bowling. He hit a full length, got the ball to cut both ways and built pressure. One moment captured his combative spirit perfectly: When Warner tried to impose himself with a crashing cover-drive, Rampaul fired in a sharp 140 kmph bouncer that flew past the startled batsman.

The chance for NSW to break free came in the fifth over bowled by Dwayne Bravo, who had leaked runs in the semi-final. Katich started off with a bottom-hand powered six over long-on but Warner fell in the same over, edging one to right of backward point where Dave Mohammed took a fine catch.

What followed was a nervy phase for NSW as one batsman after another fell to soft dismissals. Katich punched Bravo straight to mid-off, Moises Henriques swung a short delivery to fine-leg, Ben Rohrer pulled a long hop straight to deep midwicket, and Daniel Smith chopped a length delivery back on to his stumps. But Lee and Smith saved the day with some sensible batting before Lee returned with the ball to kill T&T's dream. (Cricinfo)

Jamaica book place in GCB Twenty20 Festival final
… beat USA Chargers by comfortable 77-run margin
By Calvin Roberts
JAMAICA recorded a comfortable 77-run victory over USA Chargers in the first semifinal match of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) four-team Twenty20 Festival at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, yesterday afternoon, to book their place in today’s final.

Jamaica, winning the toss and opting to bat first, reached 201-5 from their 20 overs, thanks to the batting of David Bernard Jr (54 not out), Wavell Hinds (51) and skipper Chris Gayle 49, against the bowling of Devendra Bishoo who took 3-36 from his four overs for the US Chargers, who were held to 130-5 in reply, chasing 207 after being penalised six runs for a slow over rate, with Carl Wright making 54.

Danza Hyatt 15 (2x4, 1x6) opened the Jamaica innings with Gayle and, after being given a life by Curtis Baptiste at midwicket off Reon King (1-30), got things started with a four through extra cover off Imran Awan, followed by an inside out six and a tickle to fine leg for four to end the over.

King returned to knock back the middle stump of Hyatt in his second over, but it only permitted Gayle, who was a silent partner up to the time of Hyatt’s dismissal, and Xavier Marshall 23 (1x4, 1x6) to add 61 for the second wicket from 7.4 overs.

Gayle cut loose on the Chargers’ bowling when he drove Lennox Cush through extra cover and mid-off for four followed by a six off Awan, while Marshall drove King all along the ground for four as Jamaica moved to 25-1 in the fourth over.

Baptiste was hit for four by the pugnacious Gayle who struck Bishoo’s second ball of the game completely out of the ground for six to move to 49, before he was caught by wicketkeeper Carl Wright two deliveries later, having faced 29 deliveries and hit five fours and two sixes.

Shawn Findlay (0) was dismissed off the next delivery by Bishoo whose hat-trick delivery was driven to long on for four by Hinds, following a King misfield and he followed it up with his first six over from a slog sweep off the same bowler over forward square leg.

Bernard joined him following the demise of Marshall who was bowled by a flatter and faster delivery from Bishoo and he wasted no time in hitting David Mohammed to third man for four, followed by six over long off from a Bishoo delivery.

King’s first ball of his second spell was dispatched to the extra cover boundary by Hinds who hit him for a maximum two deliveries later, to raise the 150 for Jamaica in the 17th over, after seeing the 100 being posted three overs earlier.

Bernard refused to be left out of the run scoring party that was ongoing and with a four and six off Baptiste, followed by another four through mid wicket off King, raised his 50 from 20 balls with three fours and the same number of sixes.

The final over was bowled by Cush who was struck by Hinds for two sixes over midwicket before he was stumped off the final delivery after reaching his 50 from 27 balls with five sixes and a solitary four.

When the Chargers began their reply, Wright (54) and Glen Hall (19) added 49 for the first wicket, with both batsmen hitting Jerome Taylor and Bernard Jr for four through extra cover, followed by another four off Taylor from the bat of Wright.

Hall showed his ability to hit the ball hard for the champion team out of the United States of America, when he struck Odean Browne over midwicket for six before he was caught by the same Browne at a wide backward square leg pulling at a delivery from Bernard Jr.

Everton Nelson (1), Cush (3) and Rashad Marshall (1) did not hung around long enough to partner Wright who continued to attack the Jamaicans with boundaries off the bowling of Browne and Bernard, and from a position of 49-1 in the seventh over, USA Chargers were 54-4 in the 10th.

Wright continued to soldier on for his team, reaching his 50 with a four through extra cover off Bernard, before he was the final batsman to be dismissed, bowled by Nikita Miller for 54 made off 41 balls with six fours.

Skipper Steve Massiah 26 (2x4) and Mohammed 17 (2x4) were the not-out batsmen at the end of the innings against the bowling of Browne (2-18) who received support from Miller and Bernard Jr, with the latter being named man-of-the-match - one for 24 and 26 respectively.
JAMAICA innings
C. Gayle c Wright b Bishoo 49
D. Hyatt b King 15
X. Marshall b Bishoo 23
S. Findlay c King b Bishoo 0
W. Hinds stp. wkp. Wright b Cush 51
D. Bernard not out 54
Extras: w-4, b-4, lb-1 (pen. runs 6) 15
Total: (for 5 wickets, 20 overs) 207
Fall of wickets: 1-19, 2-80, 3-80, 4-106.
Bowling: King 4-0-30-1, Awan 2-0-27-0, Cush 4-0-30-1, Baptiste 3-0-49-0, Bishoo 4-0-36-3, Mohammed 3-0-24-0.

US CHARGERS innings
C. Wright b Miller 54
G. Hall c Brown b Bernard 19
E. Nelson b Brown 1
L. Cush c Findlay b Brown 3
R. Marshall run-out (Hyatt) 0
S. Massiah not out 26
D. Mohammed not out 17
Extras: (w-7, lb-2) 9
Total: (for 5 wickets, 20 overs) 130
Fall of wickets: 1-49, 2-50, 3-63, 4-54, 5-92.
Bowling: Taylor 3-0-21-0, Bernard 4-0-26-1, Brown 3-0-18-2, Marshall 1-0-11-0, Miller 4-0-24-1, Gayle 2-0-12-0, Hinds-1-0-10-0, Findlay 1-0-4-0, Hyatt 1-0-2-0.

WICB congratulates Trinidad and Tobago
THE West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has congratulated the members of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Team for their outstanding performances at the Champions League T20 Cricket Tournament in India.

The Trinidadians placed second – losing yesterday’s final to New South Wales of Australia at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in Hyderabad -- but they won the hearts of many observers during the event.

Speaking yesterday, Dr Julian Hunte, president of the WICB, applauded the players and the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board, for what he termed “an outstanding showing on the international stage”.

“The WICB would like to congratulate the players, the management and the administrators for what was a first-class display on the international stage. The Trinidad and Tobago team played some very good cricket during the tournament and caught the attention of everyone. They have every reason to feel very proud,” Dr Hunte said.

“The Champions League will be remembered for what Trinidad and Tobago brought to it. They brought life, energy and spirit to the tournament and everyone involved should feel like a winner. Throughout the event we saw many players stepping up with brilliant individual performances, but the overall team effort was wonderful to see.”

In yesterday’s final Trinidad and Tobago made 118 all out in reply to 159-9. It was their first defeat in the entire tournament.

Their wins came against Somerset and Deccan Chargers in the first round; against New South Wales and Diamond Eagles in the second round and against Cape Cobras in the semi-final.

TCL Group WI U-19 players told to keep their eyes on the prize
MEMBERS of the TCL Group West Indies Under-19 cricket team, who are presently preparing for the WICB Regional One-Day Championships, were yesterday encouraged to keep their eyes on the prize during a motivational session hosted by the TCL Group.

Speaking to the youngsters, Motivational Speaker, Dr Marlon Hestick, said, “You have already won. You survived the worst circumstances yet in Caribbean society where men have been under real pressure to do well.

“However in sport, especially in cricket, young men, continue to pursue excellence, believing beyond the difficult current circumstances, you will have a great future. Cricketers are powerful people in the Caribbean.”

In acknowledging that the young men have already secured a great achievement, they were advised to remain focused on success. “Your presence here is a celebration of talent, application, performance and importantly the endorsement by the wider community of your potential.

“Potential is a key word. It is related to purpose and is a God-given talent that is in you, that has to be cultivated. While you have already succeeded in reaching this level, ultimate success is ahead of you,” Dr. Hestick said.

TCL Group WI U-19 middle-order batsman, Andre Creary thanked Dr Hestick for his inspiration and assured him and the host of the motivational session, TCL Group, that “the players will definitely remember the words of encouragement and guidance not only during the upcoming games but also throughout their cricketing career.”

Dr Marlon Hestick is President of the Wesleyan Bible College and has over twenty-five years of experience in counselling and coaching young people in youth camps and conferences in Guyana, across the Caribbean and United States.

The TCL Group West Indies Under-19 team will go up against Barbados on Wednesday, October 28 at the GCC ground, Bourda, in Round 1 of the tournament.

The team will then face the Leeward Islands in Round 2 at the Providence stadium on October 30. Round 3 is set for October 31 at Bourda where the boys will play Guyana.

T&T defeated, but far from discouraged
By Nagraj Gollapudi in Hyderabad
THEY didn't win the tournament, but Trinidad and Tobago got the cricketing world talking of the talent in the Caribbean

Trinidad & Tobago should not be disheartened at having lost the final, their only defeat of the tournament. Instead, the tiny nation of 1.3 million should be proud of its men, who not only won Indian hearts with their distinctive brand of cricket but also brought alive the tournament which at its halfway stage was flickering once the hopes of the IPL teams had been extinguished.

But the Trini-Tobagonians - as they are called back home - brought the crowds to their feet with the flair that was once a hallmark of Caribbean cricket.

They rose to the occasion when not many gave them a chance. Daren Ganga brought an inexperienced team to the tournament and there were few expectations, but they dazzled everyone with some endearing performances - natural, fearless, open and vulnerable. That last characteristic, so human, was completely opposite to their Australian opponents this evening.

Both sides had a measure of each other, having already clashed once at the same venue last week, a tense affair that was clinched single-handedly by Kieron Pollard. His powerful 54 off 18 balls reverberated around the cricketing globe, bringing desperate IPL millionaires knocking on his door.

Ironically, Pollard walked in yesterday to bat under similar testing circumstances. Dwayne Bravo, whose brilliant half-century against the Cobras had put T&T into the final, had just played on to Doug Bollinger.

As Bravo shook his head in disbelief, Pollard walked out to loud applause. If he could win the game when the equation was 55 from the last five overs, surely he could pull off another trick … when 92 were needed from the last ten.

But yesterday the pressure and the situation were of a different kind, something virtually unknown to most of the T&T players, who were playing on the international stage for the first time. It didn't help that the crowds expected a six off every ball.

William Perkins, Adrian Barath and Lendl Simmons, all fine young men with nerves of steel, had played some terrific knocks in previous games but this was the summit and they slipped even before they got a grip.

To face men like Brett Lee, Stuart Clark and Doug Bollinger in a final of the most expensive cricket tournament was no doubt an exciting prospect; but there's always a method in the madness. Sadly, that was absent in T&T's chase.

T&T were also hurt by the absence of a second specialist fast bowler. Bravo is a good foil to the consistent Ravi Rampaul, but he has found it hard to stick to a tight line. On Thursday his three overs cost 46 and yesterday he was again expensive, going for 28 in three.

"We set ourselves goals with regards to getting the runs but we lost our head in certain situations," Ganga said later. He admitted that the pressure of playing in a big occasion was too much for his players.

"I just don't think we understood how to go about getting that 160. When you lose wickets very early in a Twenty20 final it puts a lot of our players under pressure and I don't think we handled that pressure well."

Ganga was in no way being harsh on his young team-mates. It's just that in this format, players needed to think on their feet and adapt to conditions. That did not happen today. "It was the one game we faltered a bit," Ganga said.

Still, with their successful run in the Champions League, T&T have managed to get the cricketing world talking of the talent in the Caribbean. More importantly, the ability of the youngsters to believe in themselves and carry themselves in a mature fashion in victory and defeat has shown that there is still hope for the revival of West Indian cricket.

"For both West Indies and T&T, this performance has put our cricket back on the horizon," said Ganga. "There's been a lot of things that people don't want to hear about our cricket. But this is something that has turned that around. It is just going to ensure we grow as a cricketing nation, not just T&T but the rest of the West Indies too."

In the end T&T should go back happy for all the smiles they put on the faces of the Indian public. Every game they played, the Indians turned up in huge numbers; yesterday the stadium was brimming with support for T&T. There is no doubt that Ganga's men were the entertainers of the Champions League. (Cricinfo)

Player burnout worries Australia coach
AUSTRALIA coach Tim Nielsen has expressed concern over possible player burnout for a certain section of the touring party in India for the seven-match ODI series starting tomorrow.

Six players, part of the Victoria and New South Wales squads, have already spent more than two weeks in the country for the Champions League Twenty20 and Nielsen is particularly concerned that there isn't much time to rest between series.

The whole team has been on the road starting from the seven-match ODI series in England, which was immediately followed by the ICC Champions Trophy in South Africa.

Those taking part in the Champions League then headed to India - and both Australian state teams made it to the semi-finals. Nielsen said the strain of travelling will be particularly hard on three NSW players - Brett Lee, Nathan Hauritz and Doug Bollinger - who have a day to head to Vadodara for the first ODI after the tournament final in Hyderabad.

"It’s difficult. We have our New South Wales players playing the final tonight and joining the squad tomorrow afternoon," Nielsen said. "We are supposed to play at 09:00 on Sunday morning. It's that much of travelling, that much of playing.

"Those guys on the NSW team who were on the Ashes tour have not been home for six months, which is a huge ask. Most of our group members had a week and a half at home in that period. If you have a family it can be difficult."

Nielsen was pleased, however, that the endless travelling hadn't reflected in their on-field performances. Australia drubbed England 6-1 in the one-dayers and had an undefeated run in the Champions Trophy.

"We had some young players coming in and the bowling attack changed through injury. Brett Lee was out. We had (Mitchell) Johnson already and (Peter) Siddle, (Ben) Hilfenhaus and (Doug) Bollinger coming into the team," Nielsen said. "They were willing to do things as well as they could.

"We got to a stage when we won 14 out of 16 ODI games in the past three series, Pakistan, England and the Champions Trophy. That's been very a positive signal for us."

Nielsen added that the current Australian team has come through the transition period very well, following the retirement of several senior players. He said a pool of international-class players were identified to take on responsibilities in the event of injuries and pull-outs.

"We had to sit down and actually define how we need to play our best cricket and what we need to do to become competitive," he said. "We had to talk to every player and make sure they understood what was required of them. We had to start looking a little bit outside the square and taking different players to make sure we had more than 11 or 12 players.

You saw through the Champions Trophy that without Nathan Bracken, Brad Haddin and Michael Clarke we were able to cover their losses with three young players who came in. (Cricinfo)

Brazilian Parreira returns as South Africa coach
… replaces sacked compatriot Santana
By Mark Gleeson
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (Reuters) - Brazilian Carlos Alberto Parreira has been appointed South Africa coach for the 2010 World Cup finals, resuming a job he left 18 months ago, the country’s football association announced yesterday.

Parreira is now on course to participate in a record sixth World Cup as coach after being named to succeed compatriot Joel Santana, who was fired on Monday after a run of poor results for the World Cup hosts in recent warm-up matches.

The 66-year-old Parreira was first approached in 2006 to build a competitive side for South Africa’s hosting of the 2010 World Cup finals but quit after 21 matches in charge in April 2008 when his wife fell ill with cancer.

He returned to Rio de Janeiro to tend to her, recommending Santana in his place.

But Santana had little of the charisma of his compatriot and after 18 months was asked to step down after South Africa lost eight of their last nine matches and looked a listless team some eight months before the start of the World Cup.

RETURN CRITICISED
Parreira’s return has been criticised by several prominent South African foot-balling personalities, including former coaches who felt it was time to appoint a local to guide the team at the World Cup finals.

But the South African Football Association said they had already started talking to Parreira abut a possible return before firing Santana.

Parreira was a World Cup winner with Brazil in 1994 and also in charge of his country’s campaign at the last finals in 2006. He was also in charge of Kuwait in 1982, the United Arab Emirates in 1990 and Saudi Arabia in 1998.

South Africa’s next matches are at home to Japan on November 14 and Jamaica three days later.

Parreira, among 15 coaches South Africa have used over the last 17 years, will have the squad for a month in January when the local league shuts down to allow for a training camp.

Further camps are planned for Brazil and Germany in the build-up to the month-long finals, which will be hosted in 10 stadiums across South Africa from June 11 to July 11.

Gibbs, Ntini dropped from South Africa ODI, T20 squads
McLaren and Kuhn earn call-ups
SOUTH Africa have named two uncapped players in all-rounder Ryan McLaren and wicketkeeper Heino Kuhn in the different limited-overs squads against Zimbabwe and England at home starting next month.

The most significant exclusions in the one-day team following South Africa's failed campaign in the ICC Champions Trophy include Herschelle Gibbs and Makhaya Ntini. All-rounder Robin Peterson was also dropped, in order to make way for McLaren, who impressed in the Champions League Twenty20 for Eagles.

Alviro Petersen, the right-handed opening batsman who has played five ODIs for South Africa, earns a recall to the ODI squad. He has earned his place following an impressive stint with the A side.

The one-day squad covers the two matches against Zimbabwe and the first three against England. McLaren has been included in both the ODI and Twenty20 squads while Kuhn has been named in the Twenty20 team alone, which will take on England in two games.

"It is never easy to leave out senior players, particularly when they are men of the calibre of Herschelle Gibbs and Makhaya Ntini who have given such wonderful service over a long period of time," said Mike Procter, the convener of selectors. "But we also have to keep looking forward and reward those players who are knocking strongly on the door.

"Although we have chosen these squads for the Zimbabwe series as well as the first three matches against England, we are flexible and reserve the right to add other players as we think fit. The aim is for all 15 players to get a run in the two Pro20 matches against England."

A notable inclusion in the Twenty20 squad is the attacking opener Loots Bosman, who last played for South Africa a year ago.

McLaren, 26, gave up his Kolpak status, thus making himself available for national selection. He was called up for South Africa's ODI squad to face Kenya and Bangladesh in October 2008 but Kent refused to release him. A right-arm seamer and useful lower-order hitter, McLaren recently starred for the Eagles in a tie against Sussex in the Champions League, which was decided by a one-over eliminator.

Kuhn, 25, plays for Titans in the domestic circuit. He was part of the Board President's XI team which took on the touring Australians earlier this year, where he fell short of a century by one run.

Cricket South Africa has also announced the South Africa A squads for the warm-up 50-over and Twenty20 matches against England. They feature some of the stand-out performers from the Champions League like CJ de Villiers, Rilee Rossouw, Henry Davids and Rory Kleinveldt.

South Africa begin their home season with the two ODIs against Zimbabwe, at Benoni and Centurion on November 8 and 10 respectively.

South Africa ODI squad: Graeme Smith (capt.), Hashim Amla, Johan Botha, Mark Boucher, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Jacques Kallis, Charl Langeveldt, Ryan McLaren, Albie Morkel, Wayne Parnell, Alviro Petersen, Dale Steyn, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Roelof van der Merwe.

Twenty20 squad: Graeme Smith (capt.), Yusuf Abdulla, Loots Bosman, Johan Botha, Mark Boucher (wkp.), AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Jacques Kallis, Heino Kuhn (wkp.), Charl Langeveldt, Ryan McLaren, Albie Morkel, Wayne Parnell, Dale Steyn, Roelof van der Merwe.

South Africa A 50-overs squad: Hashim Amla (capt.), Henry Davids, CJ de Villiers, Dean Elgar, Heino Kuhn (wkp.), Ryan McLaren, Morne Morkel, Robin Peterson, Rilee Rossouw, Rusty Theron, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Vaughn van Jaarsveld.

South Africa A 20-overs squad: Justin Ontong (capt.), Yusuf Abdulla, Loots Bosman, Henry Davids, CJ de Villiers, Rory Kleinveldt, Heino Kuhn (wkp.), Morne Morkel, Rilee Rossouw, Rusty Theron, Thandi Tshabalala, Vaughn van Jaarsveld.

Law named Sri Lanka's assistant coach
By Ajay S Shankar
STUART Law has been appointed Sri Lanka's assistant coach and will assist Trevor Bayliss, the head coach, during the team's tour of India in November.

Somachanda de Silva, the president of Sri Lanka Cricket's interim committee, told Cricinfo that the decision to appoint Law, the former Australia batsman, in place of Paul Farbrace - who has joined Kent as head coach - was taken at a meeting yesterday.

de Silva revealed that Venkatesh Prasad, the former India bowling coach released from that post last week, was also a contender for the post and had submitted "a strong application" but the SLC decided in favour of Law as he suited their requirements better.

"We felt that Law, who has a good knowledge of cricket and conditions around the world, was more suited for the job," de Silva told Cricinfo. "But I must admit that Prasad was a strong contender too. Moving ahead, we would like Law to be there till the 2011 World Cup but we are yet to formalise a contract. First we will have him assist Bayliss on the India tour, take a call, and move forward from there."

Sri Lanka, under Kumar Sangakkara, are scheduled to visit India next month for a full-fledged series comprising three Tests, five ODIs and two Twenty20s.

Law played one Test, against Sri Lanka in Perth in 1995, and was a regular in the one-day side for much of the 1990s. He last represented Australia in 1999 and has since acquired British citizenship.

Born in Brisbane, he played for Queensland from 1988 to 2004 and captained them to a series of successes. He remains the most successful captain in Australian domestic cricket, captaining Queensland to four Pura Cup titles and two one-day trophies - and is Queensland's second leading run-scorer in first-class cricket.

He joined Lancashire from Essex in 2002 as the club's overseas player. In 2003, he was named Lancashire Player-of-the-Year, and in 2008 took over the captaincy after Mark Chilton stood down to focus on his own game. During his time with Lancashire, he scored almost 12 000 runs in all competitions.

He was Lancashire captain until he was released from the county for his ICL links last year. (Cricinfo)

Dalglish backing Benitez to get Liverpool out of slump
By Martyn Herman
LONDON, England (Reuters) - Former Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish has jumped to the defence of Rafael Benitez as the Anfield club’s Spanish coach prepares to try and end their slump at home to Manchester United tomorrow.

Liverpool go into their biggest home game of the season on the back of four consecutive defeats in all competitions, their worst run of form for 22 years, and Benitez was booed during the 2-1 home defeat by Olympique Lyon in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Dalglish said Benitez, with Liverpool languishing in eighth place in the Premier League - seven points behind leaders United - is the man to put things right.

“There’s no way Liverpool Football Club and the majority of people would want Rafa to go anywhere,” Dalglish, widely regarded as the club’s greatest player and back at Anfield as an ambassador and working with the Academy, told the club’s website (www.liverpoolfc.tv) yesterday.

“Everyone within the upper echelons of this club has no doubt whatsoever about Rafa - I know that for a fact.

“Everybody at Liverpool knows Rafa is the right man to get the club through this. No-one is pumped up and panicking in any way, shape or form. Everyone is being as helpful and supportive as they possibly can be to the manager.

“Obviously, whether you’re a manager or a player, you have to retain your confidence and belief in what you are doing. It’s very important that everybody sticks together.

“The other vitally important thing is that you must never allow other people to drive wedges between you and through various parts of the football club.”

Benitez, who will take charge of his 200th Premier League game for Liverpool tomorrow, hopes to have striker Fernando Torres back for tomorrow’s clash with the champions although Steven Gerrard looks like missing out through injury.

Despite an abysmal start to the season, he said it was important not to panic.

“It is very important when you play against the top sides to show character and belief. That is what we must do tomorrow against United,” he said.

“The main thing going into these games is that you stay calm. You cannot afford to think too much about if you win or lose before you’ve even played the game. That doesn’t help.”

Swann worried by cricket schedule
ENGLAND spinner Graeme Swann says more players might start "prioritising their cricket" if the amount of cricket played across the world is not reduced.

England embark on a two-month tour of South Africa next month, soon after Test and one-day series against Australia and the Champions Trophy.

"The last two weeks have been our first weeks off in virtually 12 months and it is hard," Swann told BBC Sport.

"If we play too much, people are going to think, 'hold on, I need a break'."

A chronic knee injury prompted all-rounder Andrew Flintoff to retire from Test cricket following the recent Ashes series, although he is still available for one-day and Twenty20 matches.

Flintoff, 31, has also turned down the offer of an incremental central contract from the England and Wales Cricket Board, in order to have more control over his own schedule.

He was not the first player in international cricket to prioritise in this way, but there are fears many more will follow his lead as the calendar becomes more and more cluttered.

In addition, Andrew Strauss, who has barely had a break since being named England Test and one-day captain in January, has admitted he may miss this winter's tour of Bangladesh in February and March.

After the tour to Bangladesh, England will contest the ICC World Twenty20 in the Caribbean at the beginning of May before fulfilling programmes against Bangladesh and Pakistan at home and attempting to retain the Ashes in Australia.

On top of international commitments, the recent Twenty20 boom has seen the introduction of the Indian Premier League and the Champions League.

"It would be nice to get a few days to put your feet up rather than have to put your training kit on and go down to the gym," said Nottinghamshire off-spinner Swann.

"It's like anything, the more you do it, the more blasé you become about it.

"The greatest thing for me is I've only been back involved with the England team so it's still new and exciting to me. We're paid to do this and it's a brilliant job, so I'm not complaining.

"But I can understand fully guys who have been playing four or five years who start thinking 'I'm desperate for a break'. (And when players start) prioritising their cricket, that's dangerous."

Swann added that there should have been a suitable gap between England regaining the Ashes and the one-day series that followed - which England lost 6-1 - in order to promote the sport.

"The one-day series against Australia was hard coming so soon after the Ashes, we didn't have time to celebrate winning them back," added Swann.

"That's one of the things we missed out on, going straight into the one-day series rather than celebrating properly and getting the whole nation behind the team and promoting the sport a bit more. I think we missed a trick there.” (BBC Sport)