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ARCHIVES FOR AUGUST 15, 2009

Hundreds of youths interact with President Jagdeo on…
REVOLUTIONARY ‘LCD’ STRATEGY
- President stresses need for ‘all to be involved’
By Priya Nauth

President Bharrat Jagdeo interacting with young participants

HUNDREDS of youths from across the administrative regions were yesterday given an opportunity to understand Guyana’s historic and ambitious Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), as well as to recognise the important role of young people who “are the future leaders”.

The awareness session, which draws a full house of youths packed inside the Guyana International Conference Centre at Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara, was more of an interactive engagement between President Bharrat Jagdeo - who launched the strategy in June - and the participants.

Guyana’s LCDS under the theme ‘Transforming the Economy Whilst Combating Climate Change’ has been engaged in widespread national consultations over a three months period.

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) is moving to forge a successor to the current Kyoto Protocol that is to be endorsed in Copenhagen and President Bharrat Jagdeo has been leading the Guyana lobby for forest preservation to be a central plank of that new convention.

The Government aims to table the plan at the December summit for inclusion in the new climate change regime.

Guyana’s strategy is based on avoiding deforestation and preserving its standing forests in exchange for payment for this service in the cause of climate change from the international community.

President Jagdeo, during his interaction with the young participants, said climate change will “affect our societies, the way we live and even our prospect for prosperity” and insisted that “we have to be a part of a global solution”.

President Jagdeo addressing the youths

Touching on the increase of green-house gases which has resulted in global warming, he alluded to the Copenhagen agreement and explained, “We are trying to get a global agreement that will commit each country in the world but particularly the countries that are the biggest polluters, the ones that are putting out the most gases, to reduce the amount of gases they put into the atmosphere and also to provide help for the poorer countries in the world in their quest to put out less gases into the atmosphere.”

He said, “If we get this agreement, there are going to be some resources but whether we get this agreement at the global level or not, we are going to have to deal with the consequences of climate change and global warming.

He pointed out that the strategy is about a set of investment opportunities and also investments that will do several things including “protect us as far as it is possible in the future against the impact of climate change.”

Also, President Jagdeo noted that efficient use of energy and deforestation are important.

Noting that there is a market for carbon services, he said, “Countries like ours must be paid for the carbon stored here…it is a payment for the service that we provide to the rest of the world.”

He said resources generated from trading carbon services will be invested in various developments such as infrastructure, renewable energy like moving to hydropower for the generation of electricity, Information Communication Technology, education and health.

The Head of State insisted, “In the future, knowledge will be the most important asset.”

Chairman of the Climate Change Unit in the Office of the President, Mr. Shyam Nokta

Maintaining that climate change is a reality, he said the LCDS can also be used to raise awareness on other things of “how we live” such as attitude and behaviour and the strategy “is about planning for the future”.

He also insisted that youth involvement is important in the process, and the strategy can only work if it is implemented in the long term and by all of the people of Guyana.

Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr Frank Anthony reiterated that it is a vision to transform the Guyanese economy while at the same time combating climate change.

To achieve this, he said the strategy recommends “keeping our existing standing forests to provide eco-services to the world.”

&#xIn this way, instead of cutting the trees down and selling its by-products, we can keep the trees to sequestered atmospheric carbon dioxide for a fee,” he noted.

He added, “So in this way, we will be able to do what appears at first glance to be something quite contradictory - that is saving our forests while getting paid for doing so.”

&#xThe strategy is also quite revolutionary. We are one of the very few countries in the Western Hemisphere that have taken this bold step,” he observed.

?ut it is this type of visionary leadership that is required if we are going to stabilise and ultimately reduce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere,” he stated.

Participants at the awareness session for youths

Noting that it is because of the President’s advocacy, leadership and actions on mitigating climate change that the international community is now developing a “new posture” to standing forests around the world.

&#xThe government feels that this strategy can become a model that can help guide other countries into developing their own strategies,” the minister stressed.

He said that the LCDS strategy has been widely consulted with people in communities all across Guyana and thousands of persons participated in these discussions and the positive feedback that “received is an endorsement of the correctness of this strategy”.

However, he stated, “But while there was overwhelming support from Guyanese across various communities, it was very disappointing to note that the Opposition parties choose to walk out of parliament when the motion was up for debate.”

&#xIt is sad that they have failed to take their jobs seriously. When the history of this issue is going to be written, the Hansards will show that they ‘stand down’ when they should have ‘stand up’ and be counted on this important issue of mitigating climate (change) not only for Guyana but around the world,” he stated.

&#xYoung people in our country are natural leaders; you do not shy away from responsibilities,” he noted.

He noted that with many competing activities that are happening during these school holidays, the young people have been able to prioritize and participate in these discussions that “will help make the future”.

&#xI want to thank you for your maturity, and I am sure with your unflinching support that the LCDS will pave the way for a new wave of long term sustainable economic development,” he anticipated.

He said the strategy will open a gateway of opportunities with new career paths in science, economics and national development.

&#xI am confident that with your support and participation that this strategy will not only be a promise about what is possible but that you, the young people of our country, can ensure that it becomes an reality,” he exhorted.

He said to achieve this; climate change mitigation and the LCDS in particular will have to be an integral part of the youth agenda.

He said the awareness session is just one of many such encounters that the government will have to engage young people on this important national and international issue.

The minister encouraged the young participants to take the discussion on climate change into their schools, communities and “play their part in embracing a low carbon lifestyle”.

&#xThere is often a cliché that is used: youths are the leaders of tomorrow. You do not have to wait for tomorrow, you can start leading now by embracing the LCDS,” he insisted.

&#xThe green gold of our forest is one of our collective riches, let us harness it sustainably so that we may all prosper in this country,” minister Anthony encouraged.

Chairman of the Climate Change Unit in the Office of the President, Mr. Shyam Nokta in his presentation also outlining some of the growing impact of climate change, stated the changes that are seen around the world is due to the effects of global warming.

𠇌learly as a global community, we need to take action and we need to take urgent action,” he maintained and this can be done through mitigation and adaptation.

Agreeing too that climate change is a reality, he said the forest is a very important aspect of how climate change is addressed underscoring the importance of the Copenhagen meeting.

Reminding that the strategy is based on a model of avoided deforestation, he said Guyana has an expectedly low deforestation rate and “that Guyana can be apart of this global solution.”

“We recognise that the world is in need of a model to address this issue of deforestation and we feel that working with a number of global partners Guyana can provide this model,” he said.

“We feel that Guyana, by deploying our forests to combat climate change without slowing our own national development or giving up our forests, we can play a very important part in addressing this issue of climate change,” he reiterated.

Noting that there is a role for all, Nokta said, “Especially for you, the young people who are the next generation…you are the ones that have to be the agents of change and attitudes and interest.”

“We all have to act soon, we have to think big and we have to work together in our own way, but as a collective, to play our part in addressing this issue of climate change,” he posited.

The youths also participated in the painting of mural on climate change on the Kitty seawall in the city and digital photo demonstration.

Queen’s College runs away with top spot
By Vanessa Narine
Queen’s College has run with the top school spot in this year’s Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE).

The country’s top performer in the exams is Q.C. student Ms. Wallisa Roberts.

Roberts earned five Grade Ones in Caribbean Studies Unit 1, Biology Unit 2, Pure Mathematics Unit 1, Chemistry Unit 2 and Environmental Science Unit 2.

The other top performers, also from Queen’s College, are Ms. Melissa Moore, Ms. Makesha Archer, Ms. Yana-Marisa Edwards, Mr. Praim Persaud, Ms. Kathleen Pires, Mr. Aaron Haralsingh, Mr. Roy Permaul and Ms. Wainella Isaacs.

Ms. Eileen Marray, from New Amsterdam Multilateral, was also on the list of outstanding performers, along with Ms Patrice Douglas from President’s College.

The top student, Roberts, explained that her performance was as a result of hard work, long hours and dedication, augmented by the support of her family, teachers and God.

“I didn’t expect this, but I am happy with the result because my hard work paid off,” she said.

She asserted that hard work was indeed the only way to success.

Adding to her sentiments was another of the exceptional performers, Ms. Makesha Archer, who pointed out that hard work was the only way success would come.

She posited, “I am happy because I worked hard and this is what I am encouraging, for others to work hard.”

Another student, Ms. Wainella Isaacs, echoed this as she pointed out that hard workers get what they deserve, just as the top performers did.

Ms. Melisa Moore, also from Queen’s College, explained that she was elated at the results and concurred with her peers that hard word is a must.

Overall, Queen’s College recorded a 92.74 percent pass rate, with 168 of its students sitting the examinations, while The Bishops’ High School saw a 95.75 percent pass from their 46 students, and St. Rose’s High School had a pass rate of 97.44 percent, with 22 of its students taking the exams.

These were the three top schools. The other seven centres where CAPE was facilitated included Mackenzie High School, New Amsterdam Multilateral, Adult Education Association - New Amsterdam Branch, Adult Education Association – Georgetown, President’s College and St. Joseph’s High School.

According to Minister of Education Mr. Shaik Baksh, who announced the results yesterday at a press briefing, the results showed that the performance level was maintained.

We want improvements in the results, but the pass rate is high, by any standard,” the minister asserted.

The CAPE results arrived in Guyana Wednesday.

The minister reported that 426 candidates, an increase from last year’s 392, from the eight secondary schools and two private centres, wrote this year’s CAPE in Guyana.

“The average pass rate is similar to last year’s,” Baksh said, pointing out that the pass rate in 2008 was 87.9 percent, and this year’s is 87.5 percent.

The CAPE candidates were offered units in 24 subject areas, two of which were Single Unit Subjects and the remainder Double Unit Subjects.

In 14 units, candidates obtained a 100 percent pass rate. The 14 units include Accounting Unit 1, Art and Design Unit 1, Biology Unit 2, Electrical and Electronic Technology Unit 1, Environmental Science Units 1 and 2, Geography Unit 1, Information Technology Units 1 and 2, Literatures in English Unit 1 and 2, Geography Unit 1, Management of Business Unit 2, Physics Unit 2 and Food and Nutrition Unit 2.

Sixteen units saw pass rates of 75 percent or higher and included Accounting Unit 2, Applied Mathematics Units 1 and 2, Biology Unit 1, History Units 1 and 2, Communication Studies Unit 1, Caribbean Studies Unit 1, Chemistry Unit 2, Geography Unit 2, Law Unit 1, Management of Business Unit 1, Pure Mathematics Unit 2, Sociology Units 1and 2 and Computer Science Unit 1.

The other seven units obtained a pass rate of 50 percent and higher, in Chemistry Unit 1, Economic Units 1 and 2, French Unit 1, Law Unit 2, Physics Unit 1 and Computer Science Unit 2.

The remaining two units had pass rates below 50 percent, in Pure Mathematics Unit 1 and Spanish Unit 1.

The Minister pointed out that there have been marginal declines in the results. To this end, he highlighted that the pass rate for Pure Mathematics Unit 1 has increased from 38.7 percent in 2008, to 45.75 percent this year.

There is also a notable decline in the performance at Spanish Unit 1. Here the pass rate declined from 2008’s 80 percent to 33.33 percent this year.

The Minister did, however, acknowledge the improvement in the performance at Physics Unit 1 which moved from 44.4 percent in 2008 to 58.33 percent in 2009.

Mr. Mohandatt Goolsarran, Director of the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD), stated that the few areas that are weak will be built upon.

“We will build these areas via development of Human Resources to ensure that the students receive quality instruction and also there will be procurement of current resources, such as text books and the multimedia,” Goolsarran said.

Asked for a general overview, the NCERD Director asserted that once again Guyana did well.

President, scouts interface on LCDS
By Vanessa Narine

President Bharrat Jagdeo with the scouts at Thursday’s consultation.

Consultations are about listening to the people and sharing ideas, and the process is a learning one for all involved.

This was the sentiment expressed by President Bharrat Jagdeo as he met with teenaged scouts from Guyana and the Caribbean here for the 14th Caribbean Jamboree.

The interaction took place at the Sophia Exhibition Centre Thursday when the Head of state discussed Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS).

“We came here to listen to you,” the President asserted.

He added that while the voices of policymakers and others with vested interests in an issue are the common voices that are heard, it is important for the youth to speak and to contribute.

With that, the Head of State launched into his explanation “in a nutshell,” of what the LCDS is, in an effort to enlighten the cross section of teens on transforming Guyana’s economy while combating climate change.

Jagdeo pointed out that Guyana's Low Carbon Development sets out a new development path for the country that is based on deploying the forests to mitigate Global Climate Change while fostering greater economic development by investing in a low carbon development.

Scout leaders from across the Caribbean with President Bharrat Jagdeo.

The President emphasised that the world is changing and the issue at hand is a global one that has come about as a result of an increased concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

In this light, the effects have been many, foremost among which is a vast change in weather patterns.

“There is a need to slow down the polluting greenhouse gases,” Jagdeo posited.

And this could be done through:

* The reduction of fossil fuel use;

* The exploration of alternatives to reduce fuel consumption; and

* The reduction of deforestation.

He said, “Here in Guyana we are looking at the Low Carbon Development Strategy.”

The President pointed out that 86 percent of Guyana is forested, 76 percent of which is tropical forest areas.

With the LCDS, Jagdeo explained that Guyana will be able to help with climate change and earn money which can be used for adaptation (to climate change) and for creation of opportunities for the Guyanese people.

‘Your views count too’, the President seemingly says to this youngster. Photos by Cullen Bess-Nelson)

As the President ended his nutshell presentation, he invited questions from the scouts, who exhibited an awareness of climate change and an interest in Guyana’s steps to combat the global problem. His invitation and the eagerness of the scouts began an interesting exchange where the teens wasted no time in asking direct questions.

One of the scouts asked, “What happens if LCDS fails?”

In response, the President explained that failure is a very relative term as the development outlined for Guyana in the LCDS will still have to be done.

However, he pointed out that alternative means of financing will have to be found if the carbon development avenue falls through.

“When will the LCDS be implemented?” another scout queried.

The President pointed out that the process is an ongoing one and added that similar consultations have been held across the country.

Another teen from Trinidad and Tobago requested that the President explain the breakdown in economies that depend heavily on the oil and gas market.

The Head of State proposed the idea of diversification in other sectors, apart from the oil and gas sector.

“What will be the effect on our animals?” another asked.

The President responded that among the other positives of the LCDS, there will be a preservation of biodiversity. Besides the trees, he stated, the environment would be preserved. He posited that forests have multifunctional uses.

A scout from Guyana posed the question as to whether the LCDS would somehow impede Guyana’s progress.

To this, the President responded with a firm no.

�n Guyana feed us (The Caribbean)?” was another of the questions posed.

The President was optimistic in his response, and pointed out that this was a “big possibility of the future.” He stated that Guyana can grow a lot of food here cheaply, with the use of much less chemicals.

An enthusiastic scout made it his job to ask about the role of youths in the fight against climate change.

President Jagdeo explained that the scouts can use their network for awareness. Among other initiatives, he urged the youths to become involved in the writing of letters and getting active initiatives going.

Throughout the session, the President made it a point to ask what was the scouts’ understanding of climate change and how they viewed its effects.

One youth from the British Virgin Islands said that climate change was a “scary” concept to grasp. Others ventured to say that measures can be taken to counteract this.

Some of the measures highlighted were adaptation through better construction and through development of sea defenses.

At the end of the interactive session, the youths concurred that they now had a clearer understanding of Guyana’s initiative to transform the economy while combating climate change.

The LCDS initiative was launched on June 8, 2009, and since then there have been 15 sub-national consultations across the country involving some 222 coastal and Amerindian communities.

A series of awareness activities are ongoing, including responding to requests for presentations by interest groups, organisations and the public at large.

Countering the brain drain

The effects of the brain drain undoubtedly have had and are still having a telling effect on the socio-economic development of developing countries across the globe. This has resulted in a shortage of adequately qualified personnel particularly in the social sector of these countries, notably in the crucial areas of health and education.

Dhananjayan Sriskandarajah in his article: “Reassessing the Impacts of Brain Drain on Developing Countries” points out:

“The scale of this "brain drain" is staggering. As demographer B. Lindsay Lowell and geographers Allan Findlay and Emma Stewart point out in their research, nearly one in 10 tertiary-educated adults (those with some university or post-secondary schooling) born in the developing world — between a third and half of the developing world's science and technology personnel — now live in the developed world. With demand for skilled workers in the developed world unlikely to diminish soon, that sucking sound is likely to get louder.”

He adds: “The implications for poor sending countries are stark. According to the African Capacity Building Foundation, African countries lose 20,000 skilled personnel to the developed world every year. All the developed world's efforts to increase aid to these countries may not matter if the local personnel required to implement development programs are absent. Every year there are 20,000 fewer people in Africa to deliver key public services, drive economic growth, and articulate calls for greater democracy and development.”

“That something needs to be done about brain drain is not in question. G8 leaders have discussed the issue, the UK's Commission on Africa calls for better responses, and unions, development agencies, and other civil-society groups are demanding action.”

The UNDP notes that policies to reduce the degree of loss of the highly educated as a result of the international brain drain, or to encourage the return of emigrants, may make a significant contribution to capacity development and retrieval. In many countries, problems of capacity reflect the misallocation of resources, especially the underutilisation of human skills. It is common in many countries to find that organisations, particularly in the public sector, cannot retain skilled people since they cannot compete with the overseas opportunities to which highly educated people have access. It is necessary for the capacity assessment exercise to indicate why these processes are continuing and to address these underlying causes of the capacity problem. In the absence of policies to improve the functioning of the labour market or to lower the level of the external brain drain, the social returns on further investment in high-level training and education will be unnecessarily low and other measures to support capacity development may be ineffective.

Our country is one of those countries that are seriously affected by the brain drain syndrome; however, in recent years efforts have been intensified to counter the situation.

In this regard training of personnel in the agricultural, health and education fields have been stepped up through both local and overseas programmes.

On this note one of the major initiatives has been the Cuban scholarship programme which will see hundreds of Guyanese trained in several fields including agronomy, engineering, and in particular medicine where by over 350 doctors would have been trained by the end of the programme.

Only two days ago some 122 students who successfully completed their studies graduated and will now enter the local institutions to contribute towards the development of this country.

It is hoped that these graduates, as President Jagdeo exhorted them, would approach their tasks diligently and gave back to their country.

The people and government of Cuba must be given full commendation for their generous assistance to our country, despite the severe difficulties they are experiencing.

VENEZUELA'S AGGRIEVED 'BROTHER'
By RICKEY SINGH
(The following is a reprint, courtesy of yesterday's 'Weekend Nation of Barbados, in which it appeared as the writer's "Our Caribbean" column)

"GOOD neighbourliness between bordering sovereign states is felt to be best sustained by eagerness to remove obstacles to friendship and bilateral cooperation. When doubts arise over such a shared commitment then it is in the interest of both to address, with sincerity and seriousness, the cause for such skepticism.

There seems good reason to liken such a situation to the prevailing status quo in Venezuela-Guyana relations. Neither is disposed to even allude, publicly, to concerns that have arisen over the lack of any progress of significance in their age-old dispute that has arisen from the Venezuelan claim to some two thirds of Guyanese territory.

But this perception will persist until there is more focused attention to achieve a resolution and it is certainly in the immediate and longer-term interest of Guyana's economic progress for the administration of President Bharrat Jagdeo to be deluded by official "brotherly" rhetoric flowing from the government of President Hugo Chavez in the absence of efforts to facilitate Guyana's economic development in the so-called "disputed zone".

In February 2005, ahead of the formal launch of the Caracas-initiated PetroCaribe project for purchase of oil and natural gas by Caribbean and Latin American states on very concessional terms, the charismatic Chavez had paid a one-day official visit to Guyana and pronounced their readiness "to begin a new era in relations between our two brother countries..."

Among projects he alluded to was the construction of a new highway criss-crossing Guyana, Venezuela and other Latin American states. Well, Guyana became one of the signatories and beneficiaries of Chavez's PetroCaribe project---recently proposed changes to which have now emerged as an issue of deep concern for CARICOM participating countries.

However, to date, there has been no known movement in the direction of critical importance to Guyana's economic development strategy, namely a methodical approach to resolving, like "two brother countries", the dispute located in Venezuela's 19th century claim to two thirds of Guyana's 83,000 square miles territory in the sprawling Essequibo region.

In between visits to Caracas and Georgetown by high-level representatives of Venezuela and Guyana that resulted in more official pronouncements of good neighbourliness and promises to deepen cooperation, came the death of the distinguished Barbadian diplomat and jurist Oliver Jackman in March 2006 while serving in the UN Secretary General's "Good Offices process" for a resolution to the dispute between Guyana and Venezuela.

It is now almost 18 months since Guyana's former long-serving Foreign Minister Rudy Insanally, disclosed that a proposed replacement had been made for continuation of the UN Good Offices process.

There is no indication about which side--Caracas or Georgetown--is holding up the process for Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon to make the new appointment, although I recently learnt that an announcement could be forthcoming in the very near future.

Guyana's Foreign Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett made a surprised one-day visit to Caracas last month where she met with her Venezuelan counterpart, Nicolas Maduro. No joint statement was issued.

But on July 12 the Guyana Information Agency reported that the two Foreign Ministers had "agreed on a work programme in several areas of interest, including the resumption of the UN Good Offices Process ..." It appears as if, from the perspective of Caracas, the manana (tomorrow will do) culture continues to prevail--evidentially to the disadvantage of the aggrieved "brother" in Georgetown."
"It will affect (the U.S. position in Copenhagen). The further along we are, the more explicit we can be. But it would not preclude us from doing an agreement," he said.

Trotman and Ramjattan must settle leadership issue
– For the long term
THE Alliance For Change (AFC) has stated that it is the main opposition party. I am sure Mr. Corbin and Dr. Van-West Charles, among others, might have something to say about that.

Yet, there is something quite compelling about the AFC’s assumed role. Simply put, if we accept the AFCs thesis of the decline of the PNC, the logical conclusion is that the political market-place in Guyana is alive and well. Those who have been crying about a democratic deficit in Guyana should take note.

The AFC needs to think carefully about a number of issues. The following points come to mind.

Ramjattan and Trotman really need to settle on the question of the party leadership for the long term.

Shouldn’t it have been Ramjattan’s turn to be the presidential candidate? Should it be a matter of taking turns? Many informed people feel that there is considerable uneasiness between the two men on this question.

The AFC must not forget what happened to the WPA. The WPA fought a brave struggle against the PNC for democracy in Guyana, but in the end could not settle on its own leader. In-fighting for high office basically brought the party down. The AFC should be careful because it might end up the same way.

The AFC needs to become more than an urban based party. Ramjattan and Trotman might need to leave their law offices more often and go out to all the far flung regions, much like the PPP does on an ongoing basis.

Public relations operations won’t do the trick anymore. When you are a major political party you have to be engaged all across the nation, everyday. Thus far, the AFC has relied on press statements and other Public Relations stunts to stay alive. That must now end.

The AFC must also, at all cost, become more transparent about all aspects of it operations. One would hope that in the next general election the party does not depend on foreign experts, because these experts are expensive.

May I also take this opportunity to note that Dick Morris is more copper than gold, expensive though he is. He once boldly predicted that Hillary Clinton would never become a Senator. AFC transparency is a big issue and it is important for the party to come clean with the Guyanese public.

The AFC leaders really need to develop a sharper sense of public decency. Mr. Ramjattan and Mr. Trotman are obviously interested in power. The drive to political office, however, must not cloud their capacity to always do what is right. The two gentlemen, for instance, have made wild allegations about President Jagdeo, and yet, when the President makes comments about duty free issues, the AFC cries wolf.

Finally, the AFC really should be careful that it does not become a follower of the PNC. Judging from the picketing exercise in front of Parliament recently, this is indeed happening. Mr. Trotman should be especially careful that he does not appear as an assistant to Mr. Corbin. If this happens, then Mr. Ramjattan would quickly become an assistant to an Assistant.
DEXTER MATTHEWS

Freddie Kissoon must pay all his taxes
EVERYDAY Guyanese are bombarded with nonsense from Freddie Kissoon. The man poses as if he is holier than the Pope, but Guyanese must know more about him before they become infected by his venom.

Some of Freddie Kissoon’s problems are serious. He once boasted in a Kaieteur News article that he will not pay taxes on his income from Kaieteur News.

This is illegal according to the laws of Guyana. All of us must pay our taxes and Freddie Kissoon must also pay all his taxes if he has not done so. I call on the Guyana Revenue Authority to audit Freddie Kissoon.

There should be no delay because this is a matter of fairness and legality. Kissoon wants Guyana to work according to laws, but he would have a free reign by not paying taxes on his Kaieteur income as his own article indicated.

Another thing that really bothers me is that Freddie Kissoon is constantly preaching velvet revolution.

He thinks he is fooling people by calling it velvet revolution, but all the people he is plucking know what he really means.

The man is calling for violence in Guyana in a disguised form by using the code velvet revolution.

When Freddie says boycott parliament the opposition does that. That is happening now. If Corbin and Trotman go to parliament Freddie might cuss them down and call them cowards.

The velvet revolution that Freddie wants is a big one that involves much violence on the streets of Georgetown.

If Freddie does not want violence he can come out and say so today. I am calling on the DPP to take immediate action to get Freddie Kissoon to stop inciting violence through his coded velvet revolution.

The DPP should also investigate Kaieteur News which allows Freddie to use the newspaper to incite people into acts of illegality even if that intention is not deliberate. Kaieteur News should be investigated if it has indeed been paying Freddie for his writings without deducting taxes.

Sometimes Freddie will not use the word revolution. He would call his instigation of violence street protest. When he calls for velvet revolution and street protest, those calls can incite violence in this society.

All Guyanese know where street protests lead.

The ERC should also investigate Freddie because he is constantly preaching about race. His hatred for Indians is well known.

He attacks them every time he gets a chance. One reason is because he is ashamed of himself but the other reason is that it fits in with his political agenda. The ERC should do its job and investigate this man, who is Guyana’s number one race riot instigator.

I do not like to write letters to the editor but I feel compelled this time to do so. I hope you have the courage to publish this letter.
RICHARD VERBEKE

A walk on the dark side
IN its fight against terrorists the United States decided to use outside forces, private mercenaries, some might say, for what the former Vice-President confirmed was a necessary walk on “the dark side.”

Among those the US government recruited was Blackwater Inc. a paramilitary outfit which at that time operated largely outside the law. (Blackwater has since renamed itself Xe Services.) In sworn statements filed in a U.S. federal court on Aug. 3, two former employees allege that the company’s owner either murdered or arranged the murder of witnesses who were cooperating with federal investigators.

While the company was in the employ of the American government an ex-marine said, it smuggled weapons into Iraq hidden in bags of dog food. The weapons were used by persons, not licensed by the State Department, to kill or injure Iraqi civilians.

Another ex-employee accused the owner of Blackwater of setting up a web of companies to obscure wrongdoing, fraud and other crimes, including money laundering, illegal arms dealing and tax evasion. This former worker also claimed that the owner was a frequent visitor to the company’s “man camp” in Iraq’s Green Zone and failed to stop his men from drinking heavily, taking steroids, and using prostitutes including “child prostitutes.”

Blackwater has been the target of at least four grand jury investigations and accusations of tax fraud, improper use of force, arms trafficking and overbilling.

The company has denied the allegations filed in federal court.

Now we learn that Barack Obama, whose government some are hoping will investigate the “phantom squad” killing of terrorists in Guyana, has gone ahead and signed contracts with Blackwater to the tune of $174 million plus untold millions more for aviation services. Just last month, Blackwater’s Presidential Airways received a U.S. Army contract for aviation services in Afghanistan worth $ 8.9 million. The company is also free to bid for further U.S. government contracts and is currently doing so.

The Nation magazine reports that while Obama inherited a mess when it came to Blackwater's entrenchment in Iraq and Afghanistan, he has continued the widespread use of armed private contractors in both countries.

So it seems the Obama administration is paying some alleged criminal contractors in his fight against the terrorists and the Taliban in Afghanistan. I wonder how he will judge us in our fight against the people who were on a crime spree of terror and murder in Guyana and how he will view this country’s battle with the Taliban in Buxton.
JUSTIN de FREITAS

Hiding one’s name worst kind of self-serving cowardice
ON Wednesday, August 5, 2009 Stabroek News reprinted an article (and photograph) first carried in the Trinidad Express under the headline “Region must save Haiti – Andaiye” (I believe the Express used the same headline). I write to make a correction to the article and a comment on a letter published in Kaieteur News of August 11, 2009 whose headline was “Why the silence or lukewarm?” (sic), which was in part a response to that article.

The correction to the article is that I never said that the region should “save” Haiti. My whole presentation, which I was invited by the Emancipation Support Committee of Trinidad and Tobago to make as part of their 2009 Emancipation observance, was on the 200 plus years of resistance by Haitian working people to uninterrupted assaults on their liberty by Europe, North America and Haiti’s tiny elite, often referred to as its “permanent government”. What I said was that everyone in this region who struggles to expand and defend their freedom has owed a debt to the Haitian people from the time they waged the world’s first successful revolution against slavery, which ended in 1804 - 60 years before the US Civil War; and I called on the region to begin to pay that debt by supporting the resistance the Haitian people are continuing to make. The most recent example of this was a massive boycott of elections from which Lavalas, the party of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide who was removed in a US-backed coup in 2004, had been banned; estimates of the percentage who voted in the two stages of the elections range from 3% to 11%.

Only people who don’t resist need saving as distinct from solidarity from outside – and it may be despair about the relative lack of resistance in Guyana that leads people to call for others to save Guyana.

My comment on the August 11 response of a (real?) letter writer to the August 5 article is this: even when Freddy Kissoon accuses me wrongly of commenting on the situation in other countries of the region while not commenting on corruption, torture and other evils in Guyana (he didn’t and wouldn’t say that I didn’t comment on the murderous violence of 2002-2007), I will accept his right to criticise me or anyone else because every criticism he makes is made in his own name; besides, I think I should be saying more. But as for the letter-writer who signed his or her criticism of me and others as “Concerned Guyanese” - how can anyone condemn others by name for what he/she sees as not speaking out bravely while hiding his/her own name? This is the worst kind of self-serving cowardice.
ANDAIYE
Red Thread

Surprised at poor turn out at PNCR’s protest rally
I must confess that I was surprised at the poor turn out of Guyanese who joined the PNCR’s protest rally.

Mr. Corbin must have been terribly embarrassed that despite his pleadings to his supporters to come out and join the anti-government protest, less than 100 persons responded.

I was a viewer of “Nation Watch” the day before the planned “March” and Mr. Corbin was appealing every five minutes to his supporters to come to the rally.

I was worried when his lieutenant Amna Ally declared during the programme to “let us go and get them!”

Those who experience the PNC’s “slo fiah…mo fiah” campaign which was characterized by violence, burning, looting, robberies and other forms of “terrorism” were praying that the protests will be non-violent.

Even though the PNCR leadership went to communities like Albouystown and begged supporters to join the march there was very little response.

I commend my Guyanese brothers and sisters for their maturity. I believe that they have become fed up with the PNCR’s methods.

They recognise that protest demonstrations are not in the best interest of people.

I hope that Mr. Corbin would get this clear message that “slo fiah…mo fiah” no longer has any appeal to Guyanese and that they are only interested in peace and progress.
SIMON PRINCE

Selling cell phones without accessories is unacceptable
ON August 10, 2009 my faithful mobile phone ceased to respond to its every day expectations. These occasions make one become aware the importance of communications and the need for instruments to facilitate this. I am not one of calibre like people in the government, business, media etc. but my phone keeps me functioning and help me meet targets.

I had one option and that was to secure a new phone, so I calmly went to a CellLink outlet at Parika to make my purchase. I had a hard decision to make between the servers and decided on GT&T. It was exciting looking at the instruments on display and decided on the one I needed to purchase. I was full of joy and excitement looking at my instrument I walked out the store anxious to make it work. Suddenly I realised that I had not been given a manual or an ear phone, so I rushed back to the sales clerk and stated my case.

I was told that they do not sell the type of phone I purchased with a manual or ear phone as it was not so sophisticated. I needed a phone so I walked out the store depending on my skills to take me through, so today August 11, I downloaded the manual.

What is this? I can say this is not a good business strategy for GT&T or its associates who bring these instruments in. I made a present of a Coral 100 phone to a friend, it cost me $3,500 and with that I was given a manual and all accessories. I hope management of this out let reads this letter and present me my booklet and ear piece since I cannot listen to the radio and need to do so.

What is happening to our businesses? They are slowly degenerating. I am certain that the executive of GT&T and CellLink will not be pleased. Let us move Guyana forward and not retrogress.
ASHTON SIMON

Chronicle editorial on timely payment to farmers welcomed
THE Chronicle editorial on timely payments to farmers was welcomed. I would like to see more of these editorials that bring to the public consciousness on so many wrongs left unchecked. Almost any day we can read outrageous situations in letters to newspapers and most times no one in authority seems to read much less react to them.

Newspapers are supposed to be guardians of our democracy, not press secretaries for politicians and business people. I wonder if a newspaper should not have a responsibility to correct the wrong information in another paper in support of the public good.
N. AUGUSTUS

Newspapers reports on Simels trial have anti-government bias
ANYONE who has been reading the reports in Stabroek News and Kaieteur News on the Simels witness-tampering trial in New York will come to the conclusion that the reports are selective with an anti-government bias.

To make it more glaring, a few parts of the reports which would have been favourable to the government were not treated with the importance they deserve.

One of the significant statements during the trial was the removal of headless corpses from Buxton which were taken from the village to Buxton Backdam by army personnel.

Why wasn’t this court evidence played-up in the newspapers? Why has the PNCR, especially Mr. Corbin, remains silent over this revelation?

Another significant revelation at the court trial was the involvement of Ronald Waddel in the Buxton criminal operations.

Corbin’s latest antics-road marches, picketing etc are the actions of a man who is confused because his party is broken up, his leadership is challenged and come 2011 elections, the PNCR will lose more votes.

Incidentally why is the Guyana Press Association (GPA) so silent? Here is a situation where two local newspapers have launched a concerted attack on the government with a series of unbalanced reporting and the GPA is not reacting.

I leave it to the public to form its own conclusion.
D. DYALSINGH

Hazardous stench from Success chicken farm continues
SOMETIME ago I wrote a letter to your newspaper about a chicken farm in Success which was published. I must say thank you.

However, I request that the problem be highlighted again because we are still facing with the disgusting stench.

This resident at Success, East Coast Demerara, who lives two houses away from the Hindu Temple has his whole back yard with a chicken farm. As I would have mentioned before that the stench emanating from these chicken pens are very hazardous for us.

There were two persons who went into the 5th Street of Success inquiring about the pen and the discomfort it causes in the neighbourhood. After that visit by the two persons the smell had eased for about two weeks and now it is back again.

We are pleading with the relevant authority to make regular check-ups with this chicken farmer since the residents in the area are unable to speak to him. We also would like the media to visit the village and do a report of this unacceptable situation.
NAME WITHHELD

India’s 63rd independence anniversary to be celebrated in NY
INDIA’s 63rd independence anniversary will be celebrated in New York (NY) with the annual India Day Parade which attracts hundreds of thousands of revellers. Guyanese will be in the thick of the celebration at the press conference, the dinner, the parade itself and a cultural variety show at the public park in Manhattan.

Indo-Guyanese took pleasure in participating in the first India Day parade in 1981. The parade started out small and grew in size and stature over the years. The Guyanese participation in the actual parades have been small but they comprised a large segment of the crowd that turned out to view the parade as it made its way through Madison Avenue. Initial participation comprised of City College students such as Baytoram Ramharack, Vassan Ramracha, Vishnu Bisram and others seeking to inform the world about election riggings and human rights violations in Guyana. Later parades included the Arya Samajists led by Pt. Ramlall, the Social and Political Association of East Indians, the Indian Seva Sangh, the Indo Club, the Conservative Party of Guyana, the Jaguar Committee for Democracy in Guyana, the Republican Party led by Vishnu Bandhu which boasted the first Indo-Caribbean float, the Association of Concerned Guyanese led by Arjune Karshan, the Indo-Caribbean Federation, Kali Travel and Ramesh Kalicharran who was liaison for Indo-Caribbean people to the parade and who organised Guyanese performing artistes for the cultural show and who sent Guyanese floats. All of the Guyanese participation in the annual parades from 1981 through 1992 had in one way or another trying to raise political consciousness about human rights abuses in Guyana and calling on the world to demand free and fair elections. The Guyanese marched in the parade with their banners and distributed flyers, pamphlets and newsletters. Many pleaded for India's intervention to help end and restore democracy in Guyana.

Today, there is very active involvement of Guyanese in the parade with their banners. The Guyanese press is in attendance. I am invited every year to meet with the Bollywood stars and other VIPS from India. Thousands of Guyanese joined the many more who line the parade route to cheer the floats and VIPs. They come out in large numbers to catch a glimpse of their favourite movie stars who graced the parade as Grand Marshals. Also, many artistes of Guyanese parentage performed at the parade and at the pavilion on 23rd Street. For Guyanese, participation in the parade is a continuation in NY of India's independence celebrations in their home countries. And for many, the parade evokes memory of flag hoisting ceremonies in their villages during the struggle for swaraj (independence).

Indo-Guyanese must be applauded for the manner in which they have been observing India's independence and promoting their identity in NY. It is very heartening to know that 171 years after they have left Mother India to settle in the Caribbean from where they emigrate to NY, they still take pride in celebrating their identity comparable to other ethnic groups proudly celebrating their ethnic heritage in the U.S. and the independence of their home countries. This Sunday there will be flag hoisting ceremonies at the Guyanese mandirs to be accompanied with the singing of patriotic songs.
VISHNU BISRAM

IOC in fine balancing act with new sports
BERLIN, Germany (Reuters) - The International Olympic Committee's plan to introduce golf and rugby sevens at the 2016 Olympics makes financial sense but the impact on younger audiences is far less certain.

When the IOC launched its plan a few years back to take sports in and out of the Olympic programme, the main aim was to give the Games a facelift as the average age of television viewers and spectators was steadily rising with younger fans moving away to other forms of sport and entertainment.

Until 2005 no sport had ever been taken off the programme since 1936, with more coming in to lift the total number at the world's biggest sporting event to 28.

So when the president, Jacques Rogge, announced in 2006 the number of core sports would drop to 26 for 2016 and 25 for 2020 with three spots up for grabs at every Games for new sports, the move was welcomed by federations around the world.

Olympic inclusion automatically means more money for the sport from the IOC and state coffers, more global exposure and bigger broadcasting deals.

In return the IOC can count on more lucrative deals themselves from sponsors and TV if they bring in a sport that carries extra financial weight.

TARGET AUDIENCE
"We have no doubt that golf and rugby are very spectacular sports," Rogge told Reuters in an interview yesterday.

"There is no reason they would not participate in the trend -- the augmentation by 20 percent of the TV ratings for the Games in general after Beijing -- and in particular the major audience, this very crucial 12-24 age category, where we have seen a surge in audience after a slump of 10-14 years."

The IOC redistributes 92 percent of its marketing revenues that are estimated to top $5 billion for the 2010-2012 period, with broadcasting rights making up the lion's share of that.

Golf certainly meets financial criteria, being arguably among the richest sports in the world, but is it also as popular among young people as karate or roller sports, two of the sports not shortlisted along with baseball, softball and squash?

Some of the sports, who consider they have a bigger youth appeal than those selected, disagreed with the IOC choice.

"I feel that it is a very negative message for those on the outside," Karate international federation chief Antonio Espinos said after the shortlist was announced. "I don't see when on the horizon we might have this possibility.

"I don't know how much more we can do, in terms of development of our sport, to convince the IOC," he said of the sport which claims to have 100 million active athletes of all ages worldwide.

FINANCIAL CHOICE
Sports marketing experts say the decision to shortlist golf and rugby makes financial sense.

"I can understand the negativity that surrounds this decision," Gareth Moore, International Sales Director at international research and consultancy firm Sport+Market told Reuters.

"But whilst rugby and golf have a stronger pull, they are also not fully global yet and can play a significant role in the uptake of these sports in new and emerging countries.

"The commercial impact of the sports should not just be seen with negativity.

"Ultimately, with the attraction of old and new target groups for these sports, they can help deliver strong revenues -- revenues which the IOC can then redistribute to new emerging sports for the future," said Moore.

With the host of the 2016 Games still to be decided -- Madrid, Tokyo, Chicago and Rio de Janeiro are bidding -- and the 2014-2016 U.S. broadcasting rights deal, which is the biggest IOC money-maker, still to be signed, the inclusion of these two sports should make the TV deal that much more lucrative. But whether the sports will add to a larger number of younger viewers remains to be seen.

Sprint showdown the highlight of world champs
BERLIN, Germany (Reuters) - When it comes to showdowns, athletics has seen nothing like it since the days of Ben Johnson v Carl Lewis more than 20 years ago.

Usain Bolt, the triple Olympic champion, against Tyson Gay, the triple world champion. The fastest man ever over 100 and 200 metres against the fastest man of 2009 over both distances. The extravagant crowd-pleaser against the "boring" one.

However, tomorrow’s 100 metres final and the 200 on Thursday represent only a flashing 30 seconds of what should be an entertaining nine days.

It all takes place on the iconic blue track of Berlin's Olympic Stadium and officials have not been afraid to ride the exploits of Jesse Owens there at the 1936 Olympics.

The United States team will wear kit with the initials JO stitched in while the descendents of Owens and German long jumper Luz Long will present the medals for the men's long jump.

In the 1936 Games, Luz famously gave Owens advice on his run-up after the American had fouled his first two jumps. He made his third safely and went on to win the event, along with three gold medals on the track.

Luz took silver and the two men walked from the stadium, arm-in-arm and became lifelong friends despite the political pressures within Germany at the time.

The relationship between Bolt and Gay is unlikely to be so enduring. Though there is none of the bristling animosity that marked the Lewis-Johnson rivalry, today's best sprinters rarely get beyond a "hi, how's it going?" when they pass.

'EXCITING INDIVIDUAL'
"Usain Bolt is a very exciting individual. He's fun and he has a lot of personality and is exciting. And he backs it up," Gay said this week. "I'm probably what you call boring."

Times of 9.77 for the 100 metres and 19.58 over 200 would not generally be called boring. If Gay's persistent groin problem holds out and he gets good starts the American has the chance of unsettling Bolt in what, with Asafa Powell also hoping to have a say, could be two of the sport's all-time great races.

The women's sprints look more open, particularly the 100 where seven competitors have broken 11 seconds this season.

Olympic silver medallist Kerron Stewart is the form runner and her 10.75 in Rome was the fastest for nine years.

Compatriots Shelly-Ann Fraser, the Olympic champion, and Veronica Campbell-Brown, the world champion, will also be in the mix while the American challenge is spearheaded by Carmelita Jeter, seemingly peaking at the age of 29.

Campbell-Brown could have a stronger chance in the 200 metres, where she is the Olympic champion, but the favourite to make it three world titles in a row is American Allyson Felix.

As with Bolt and Gay, American 400 metres rivals Jeremy Wariner and LaShawn Merritt have avoided each other all season but they know each other well enough.

Merritt finally stepped out of the shadows to beat Wariner in the Olympics last year and is confident he can prevent his compatriot completing a hat-trick of world titles.

Yelena Isinbayeva is also seeking a third successive world gold in the pole vault and, until a month ago, looked an unbackable favourite.

An early exit at last month's London Grand Prix showed she is human but, with Olympic silver medallist Jennifer Stuczynski pulling out this week with an Achilles injury, even a below-par Isinbayeva looks good enough to win.

Kenenisa Bekele already has three world gold to his name over 10 000 metres and is seeking to match compatriot Haile Gebrselassie by making it four in a row.

The world record holder's chances were boosted yesterday by the injury-withdrawal of compatriot Sileshi Sihine, the man who habitually follows him over the line at major championships.

Sihine's wife Tirunesh Dibaba has also pulled out of her defence of the 10 000 metres but could still run over 5 000.

Federer completes top-eight party at Montreal
MONTREAL, Canada (Reuters) - Roger Federer beat Olympic doubles partner Stanislas Wawrinka 6-3, 7-6 at the Montreal Masters on Thursday, ensuring the world's top eight players will compete in the quarter-finals of an ATP event for the first time.

Of all the tournaments staged since ATP rankings began in 1973, Montreal marks the first that the world's top eight have fought their way to the quarter-finals of the same event.

Yesterday’s high quality line-up was to include players from eight different countries, four past champions and four grand slam winners. Among them, only American world number five Andy Roddick has not claimed multiple titles this season.

"It's actually a little bit easier here because the top eight had a bye, but at the same time it's not just the top eight seeds it's the top eight ranked players in the world," Federer told reporters. "It's definitely a special occasion.

"It just shows the top guys now are really consistent and they're showing up at the big events," the Swiss world number one added. “It's nice it finally happened."

Joining Federer and Roddick are world number two Rafael Nadal of Spain, Briton Andy Murray (3), Serbia's Novak Djokovic (4), Argentina's Juan Martin Del Potro (6), Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France (7) and Russian Nikolai Davydenko (8).

JOINING THE PARTY
Federer, playing in his first event since clinching a record 15th grand slam title at Wimbledon last month, was last to join the party, but his attendance was never seriously threatened by Wawrinka, his partner for doubles gold at the 2008 Beijing Games.

After surrendering the first set, the Swiss number two fluffed a chance to break Federer in the second, and betrayed his frustration by blasting a ball out of the stadium.

Big-hitting Tsonga stands in the way of a semi-final berth for Federer, the Frenchman advancing with a 6-3, 6-3 win over compatriot Giles Simon.

Defending champion Nadal gave his knees a proper work-out in an energetic 6-3, 6-2 win over Germany's Philipp Petzschner, and showed his delight with a buoyant post-game dance around centre court amid wild applause from fans.

"A little better, the movement was a little better," said Nadal, who had been sidelined for two months with tendinitis in both knees prior to Montreal.

"I am happy because I am in the quarter-finals and it is more than I expected when I came here."

Nadal can expect a much sterner test against Del Potro, who is in superb hard-court form after winning the Washington Classic last week.

The Argentine did it tough in his third-round match with Victor Hanescu of Romania, however, coming back from a set down to win 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Murray's hardcourt campaign moved into top gear with a 6-1, 6-3 win over resurgent Juan Carlos Ferrero, denying the Spaniard revenge for his quarter-final defeat at Wimbledon.

Playing his first event since falling to Roddick in the Wimbledon semi-finals, Murray knocked the last bit of rust off his game to blast past Ferrero in just 77 minutes.

Murray next meets Davydenko, a 7-6, 7-5 winner over Chile's Fernando Gonzalez.

Unlike Murray, who barely broke sweat under a blazing Canadian sun, 2003 champion Roddick was left drained after his two-hour 36-minute defeat of feisty Spaniard Fernando Verdasco 7-6, 4-6, 7-6.

The win set the American up for quarter-final showdown with 2007 winner Djokovic, who beat Russian Mikhail Youzhny 6-3, 6-4.

U.S. desperate to make up for Olympic relay debacle
BERLIN, Germany (Reuters) - There is no disgrace in losing the Olympic 4x100 metres relay to a Jamaican team who broke the world record to take gold but the United States never had a chance after dropping the baton in the heats.

With the women's team doing the same thing in Beijing last year, U.S. Track and Field officials are determined to avoid a world championship repeat.

Fortunately the team's two head coaches are Harvey Glance and Chandra Cheeseborough, both of whom won Olympic gold in the sprint relay and know how important to morale the relays are.

"Make no bones about it, those athletes remember Beijing," Glance told Reuters yesterday, the day before the start of the championships.

"We would love to get that stick around in the 4x100 - we need to.

"I truly feel that we have done some things behind closed doors, having meetings, working on some things within our minds, not necessarily on the track, that will make us right.

"Speed is important but you have to judge it and discipline it. When you are running that fast, you are more subject to making mistakes than teams running slowly.

"We know we have the ability but mentally and emotionally there are some things that need to heal and be worked on."

In Beijing third-leg runner Darvis Patton failed to connect with Tyson Gay and, not for the first time, the Americans waved goodbye to a medal thanks to their own clumsiness.

Both men are back in the mix in Berlin as part of a six-strong squad also including Wallace Spearmon, Mike Rogers, Shawn Crawford and hurdler Terrence Trammel.

"This is a very experienced group of athletes," Glance said. "We ran a 37.85 last month without Tyson and with his heavy workload in the individual events and with his groin injury we'll have to watch him.

"But until he comes to me and says 'coach, I can't run' - Tyson Gay will be in our team."

Glance, who finished fourth in the 1976 individual 100 metres and also took a world championship relay gold, said that other nations' improvements had forced the U.S. to up their game.

"In my day we usually had Carl Lewis at anchor so we never panicked if we were a metre behind - not that we were very often," he said.

"But now there are several countries that can put four guys together who can run fast. We won gold in Montreal in 38.33 but that would probably get you fifth or sixth in the Olympics now.

"Japan and Trinidad are fast while Jamaica is like us in having four guys who can run under 10 seconds.

"If someone outruns us, that's fine but if we beat ourselves that's unacceptable. The bottom line is - don't drop it."

World body sanctions Johnson-Dawson rematch
MEXICO CITY, Mexico CMC – The World Boxing Council (WBC) on Thursday sanctioned the November rematch between the Jamaican Glen Johnson and the undefeated American Chad Dawson.

WBC president Jose Sulaiman has agreed for its interim light heavyweight title to be at stake when the two meet on November 7 in Hartford, Connecticut.

This will be the first world title bout in Hartford in 20 years.

A former WBC light-heavyweight champion, Dawson had relinquished the belt to take a fight against International Boxing Federation (IBF) champion Antonio Tarver in October last year rather than fight a mandatory against Adrian Diaconu.

This week, Dawson - joined by his promoter Gary Shaw, as well as his lifelong manager Mike Criscio - met with WBC officials and pledged their loyalty and desire to “come back home” to the World Boxing Council.

“Chad is thrilled that the WBC has sanctioned this fight as it gets him one step closer to regaining the first world title he ever won and even closer to unifying the titles which has always been the goal of both fighters,” said Shaw in a Fightnews web site story.

“We are grateful to the WBC for seeing the value and the importance of the Dawson-Johnson rematch to the fans and to the division,” Shaw added.

Johnson, a former world champion, had been clamouring for a second bout with the 26-year-old Dawson since they fought in April 2008 when Dawson won a disputed decision and retained his WBC light-heavyweight title.

Many ringside observers and TV viewers believed the judges’ decision was unfair and that Johnson deserved the victory.

Dawson won 116-112 on all the judges’ cards.

The 40-year-old Johnson has a ring record of 49 wins (33 knockouts) against 12 losses and two draws while Dawson is 28-0 with 17 knockouts.

Dawson-Johnson II will be broadcast live on HBO World Championship Boxing.

Minister appoints tribunal to oversee appeals process
KINGSTON, Jamaica CMC – Sports Minister Olivia Grange has appointed retired Court of Appeals judge Ransford Langrin to head the Jamaica Anti-Doping Appeals Tribunal, as the latest chapter in the athletics drugs scandal unfolded here.

The Appeals Tribunal will look into the appeal brought by the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission (JADCO) against the Jamaica Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel who earlier this week cleared five Jamaican athletes of doping-related charges.

Grange appointed the tribunal in keeping with the requirements of the Anti-doping in Sport Act 2008.

The tribunal will also include retired Supreme Court judge Wesley James as the vice-chairman, Dr Mark Minott and Lisa Palmer, a deputy Public Prosecutor in the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Yvonne Kong, a sports administrator and retired principal of the GC Foster College of Physical Education and Sport, and Ali McNab are the other members who have been appointed for a three-year term.

Athletes Yohan Blake, Marvin Anderson, Lansford Spence and Allodin Fothergill, who had all been named in Jamaica’s squad for the World Championships in Berlin, tested positive for 4-mehtly-2 hexanamine but a disciplinary panel said Monday they could not make a conclusive determination that the athletes had been in clear violation of the doping code.

A fifth athlete, Commonwealth Games 100 metres champion Sheri-Ann Brooks was cleared last week because of an irregularity.

JADCO hit back at the disciplinary panel’s ruling, noting that the drug was similar to that of one on the banned list.

“This substance is considered by WADA as being of similar chemical structure to tuaminoheptane which is listed as an example of a stimulant in the WADA 2009 prohibited list international standard,” JADCO said.

The controversy has virtually ruled the athletes out of the World Championships which start today.

British High Commission helps out at Joshua House

British High Commissioner Fraser Wheeler presents a basketball to a representative of Joshua House.

STAFF of the British High Commission and the UK Department for International Development (DFID) Guyana Office yesterday took a day away from the office to assist the children at Joshua House on Thomas Street, Georgetown.

The staff completely renovated the Home's computer room, cleaned the compound, read stories to the children and joined them in painting pictures and in a game of cricket. It was an opportunity for the British High Commission and DFID to give to the less fortunate.

At the end of the day, though tired and paint-splattered, the participants were pleased with their efforts but more importantly they had gained new friends.