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ARCHIVES FOR OCTOBER 15, 2009

At November CHOGM…
Guyana will look mainly for climate change support
By Priya Nauth
PRESIDENT Bharrat Jagdeo has indicated that, at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) next month, in Trinidad and Tobago, he will be looking to mainly secure support for climate change and a new model of development for small middle income countries.

He spoke about it Monday at a press conference in the Guyana International Conference Centre, Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara, about the Guyana perspective and as Chairman of CARICOM.

President Jagdeo, noting that the CHOGM will take place just before the Copenhagen meeting, said: “I think it is a CARICOM position largely. We are going to try to secure some support for climate change.

“Secondly, try to secure a new model of development for small middle income countries,” the Head of State said, including special developmental features and differential treatment in trade, as well as the debt relief for middle income countries without creating a moral hazard.

“I think those are the two main things that we will look at as a region,” he told reporters.

Alluding to Guyana’s case, President Jagdeo said: “We know the Venezuela issue always gets reflected in the communiqué and the solidarity of the Commonwealth is very important in that regard.”

The CHOGM, the supreme body of the grouping, is held every two years and gathers Commonwealth leaders to discuss theirs and other issues and agree on collective policies and initiatives.

This year, it will be hosted in Port of Spain from November 27 to 29, under the theme ‘Partnering for a More Equitable and Sustainable Future’.

According to the CHOGM official website, all nations, regardless of size, have an equal say at the forum and all decisions and initiatives are agreed only by consensus.

The sugar workers strike
GuySuCo CEO says ‘it’s counter-productive and destructive
By Tajeram Mohabir
Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr. Errol Hanoman, yesterday contended that the countrywide strike called by the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) is deleterious to the industry.

Some 88 per cent of the country’s sugar workers yesterday down tools in support of a call from GAWU following the Corporation’s withdrawal of a wages and salaries negation meeting on Tuesday at the LBI training centre.

Speaking at a press briefing at the National Communication Network (NCN) on Homestretch Avenue, Georgetown, Hanoman said the strikes the Corporation has been experiencing can only serve to derail the industry’s turnaround plan and frighten away its bankers and creditors.

“We must all ask ourselves the question. Is this what we want for the sugar industry in Guyana? Surely, the old adversarial style of industrial relations in the sugar industry is no longer appropriate! It is counter productive and destructive.

“GuySuCo expects that all stakeholders will approach the situation in a sensible manner and that good sense will prevail, as we seek to once again reach out to the union in fostering a professional and cordial relationship for the well being of our workers, the industry and the nation as a whole,” he told reporters.

Hanoman said GuySuCo yesterday took the decision to withdraw from a planned wages and salaries negotiation with the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) at the LBI Estate, after a section of workers downed tools in protest at its wages offer for 2009, among other issues.

He pointed out that the stand-off is clearly against standard industrial relations practices which both parties are full aware of and have subscribed to in the past.

“ It is our understanding that following the principled decision, rather than calling off the strike action so as to facilitate a continuation of the negotiation, GAWU and its members went even further in staging an industry wide strike today (yesterday),” the top GuySuCo official said.

He said that such development could not have come at a more inopportune time, as the current weather pattern is ideal for land rehabilitation and harvesting; moreso, the industry’s turnaround plan is in progress.

Hanoman reported that as of June 2009, over 35 per cent of the industry’s cultivation was uneconomical because of extremely poor yielding.

He said too that rainfall distribution in the past four and a half years has been erratic and well above average in both quantity and distribution, noting that the period 2005 to June 2009 has been the wettest in the past 50 years.

These conditions, he lamented, have seriously jeopardised not only tillage and planting operations, but a significant amount of follow-up work as well.

“The situation facing GuySuCo is grim, as in 2008 the Corporation suffered a loss of $4B and owed its bankers $3B.

“At the end of September 2009, we owed the banks just under $5B and our losses for this year are projected at $2.5B.

“As of December 31, 2008, the amount owed to creditors stood at $2.6B and as of September 30 this year, $1.8B,” Hanoman disclosed.

He said in many parts of the world, given the grave financial situation being experienced by GuySuCo, estates would have been closed with workers made redundant.

Instead, he said GuySuCo has come up with a bold plan to turn the industry around and stressed, without the plan, it would be unlikely the industry would survive the next three years.

The CEO emphasised the GuySuCo board and management are very confident the fortunes of the industry can be reversed with the full implementation of the plan and pointed out that in these circumstances, his team is extremely concerned about the impact the union’s behaviour will have on the Company’s bankers, creditors and customers.

Hanoman said that investment in the next four years to return the industry to viability is estimated at over $45B.

“Further, it is our hope that by 2014, over 40 per cent of our cultivation would be fully mechanised, while the remaining 60 per cent will be semi-mechanised.

The press briefing also had in attendance GuySuCo Chairman, Dr Nanda Gopaul and Finance Controller, Mr. Paul Bhim

Soon after the GuySuCo briefing, GAWU also held a press conference at its Kingston, Georgetown Headquarters to voice its side of the matter.

GAWU General-Secretary Mr. Seepaul Narine said his union views the decision by GuySuCo to withdraw from the wages and salaries negotiation is influenced by ulterior motives.

He reiterated that the strike by the majority of cane harvesters at LBI on October 13, 2009 had no relation to negotiations between GAWU and GuySuCo, a point GAWU President Mr. Komal Chand who was also at the press briefing made earlier.

The workers, Narine said, downed tools to press their demand to obtain an acceptable target for sugar production for their estate, to secure weekly production incentive (WPI) for the week-ending October 17, 2009.

“The Corporation recognising that its target to produce 290,000 tonnes of sugar as stated in the 2009 National Budget is far from realisation, is attempting through its abrupt withdrawal from the negotiations to blame the workers’ strike action/s for the poor performance of the industry again, this year.

As of October 12, 2009, the General-Secretary stated the industry’s production stood at 189,411 tonnes, some 52, 589 tonnes of sugar outstanding to achieve the revised target.

“The remaining quality of canes could be harvested in just seven weeks, at a production of 8,000 tonnes of sugar per week and given the long predictable dry weather during this year, the Corporation recognises that there is a lot of time to have all the canes harvested and, therefore, to exhaust the workers in strikes is seemingly its choice.

“The union detests what it considers this nefarious ploy by the Corporation and seeks that the sugar workers be respected and treated with dignity. The union takes the opportunity, to call upon the Corporation to avail itself to allow the negotiations to resume without further delay under the chairmanship of the Chief Labour Officer.

The Corporation is expected to negotiate in earnest, as the union and the workers do, to arrive at a negotiated settlement.

Fire strikes at abandoned match factory
FIRE of unknown origin destroyed a section of the abandoned match factory at Plantain Walk, West Bank Demerara, yesterday afternoon.

Two female guards attached to Roshan Khan Security Service, who were on duty there, told the Guyana Chronicle they observed thick smoke emanating from the building about 15:05 h and summoned the Guyana Fire Service (GFS).

They said, shortly after, a tender from the Leonora Station, West Coast Demerara, arrived on the scene and swiftly doused the flames.

The guards said they, usually, check the building and its environs every hour and the last time they did so before the blaze, they saw nothing suspicious.

The place was not receiving electricity that having been disconnected four days ago, said the duo, who were glad that firefighters were able to contain the fire.

The conflagration attracted curious onlookers including schoolchildren and there was speculation that scavengers in search of zinc sheets and scrap metal in the thick surrounding bushes may have lit something and the fire got out of control.

President’s statement on TCL ‘factual’
A statement issued by the Government Information Agency (GINA) yesterday said that President Bharrat Jagdeo’s comments at a press conference earlier in the week about the TCL matter were factual and were intended to clarify ongoing media questions.

Following is the GINA statement:
It has come to the notice of the Administration that the TCL Group has sought to characterise as an improper representation of fact, President Bharrat Jagdeo's comments surrounding media queries about the conflict of interest issue involving TCL and its litigation at the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).

The Office of the President advises that President Jagdeo's comment at a recent press conference was intended to clarify ongoing media questions and reports that are focusing on claims of conflict of interest involving TCL.

The Administration further advises that President Jagdeo's statement at that press conference was factual and that indeed the issue of conflict of interest was a subject of deliberation by the Heads of the CARICOM Community, following which, Prime Minister of Belize, Dean Barrow was made responsible for addressing their concerns with the principals. Thus the President's disclosure was factual and incontrovertible that the Heads of Government discussed the issue of conflict of interest by TCL.

Despite TCL's protestations about this matter, President Jagdeo was under no obligation to be ambiguous in his representation.

Furthermore, the crux of the matter remains TCL’s inability to provide the region with reliable and competitively priced supplies of cement.

GuySuCo’s Demerara cane sugar upgraded
The Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) quality management system for the production of genuine Demerara cane sugar was upgraded from 9001: 2000 to 9001: 2008 at a recent surveillance audit by SGS, the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company.

The achievement comes in light of strides by GuySuCo to ready itself for a significant increase in production of direct consumption branded packaged sugars.

According to a release, the Corporation is placing special emphasis on ensuring its products adhere to and maintain high international standards.

GuySuCo, the release said, is the only sugar producer in the Caribbean that is internationally certified.

The company’s Marketing and Trade Department, Human Resources Department, Head Office, Materials Management Department and Factory and Human Resources Department of Blairmont Estate all operate under the International Standard Organisation (ISO) Quality Management System.

GuySuCo Quality Assurance Manager, Mr. Sharma Dwarka, said the Company is venturing into more value added production and greater emphasis will be placed on production quality and consistency.

He said GuySuCo remains fully committed to customer satisfaction, continual improvement of its products and services, and management will ensure compliance to all regulatory requirements.

“The Corporation has implemented an internal audit system to ensure continued maintenance and improvement of the system to meet the requirements of standards ahead of international inspections,” he pointed out.

The release stated that as a result of benefits from the implemented system, best practices at Blairmont are now being introduced at Enmore, where construction is currently underway on the 1.2 billion dollar Project Gold packaging plant.

It also reported that training exercises are on stream, involving personnel from the factory department at the East Coast of Demerara location, to make certain they are prepared well in advance of the completion of the project.

GuySuCo is targeting the production of some 125,000 tonnes of value added sugar annually which will be marketed extensively in Guyana, as well as on strategic markets around the world.

The Corporation’s overall goal is to produce in excess of 400,000 tonnes of sugar on an annual basis over the coming years.

Police promise tight security for Diwali
The Guyana Police Force says it will come out in full force tomorrow and Saturday to provide security for Diwali activities.

Special focus will be on the Saturday night Diwali celebration in Alexander Village, Georgetown, where a serious approach will be taken towards all perpetrators of crime and activities aimed at disrupting the celebrations.

The Force is expected to turn out in large numbers and will show zero tolerance towards those wishing to mar the festivities.

No motor vehicles will be allowed within the immediate environs of the Alexander Village Mandir beyond 17:00 h on Saturday.
The area will be closed to vehicular traffic.

Guyana economy doing well despite global situation
- President Jagdeo
By Priya Nauth
THE Guyana economy is doing well despite the global situation, President Bharrat Jagdeo reiterated Monday.

He was replying to questions about the performance for this year at a Monday press conference in the Guyana International Conference Centre, Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara.

His answer was: “So far, I think, given what is happening around us, I feel comfortable that the economy is doing fairly well.

“I wouldn’t say along the same growth plan that we had planned before the crisis but it is doing better than many other countries in our part of the world and also our revenue is doing fairly well.”

Last July, the Head of State had also said he was pleased with the way the economy was performing, so far, on the revenue side, although it deteriorated from the previous year’s comparable period, as was expected because of the global financial crisis.

Mr. Jagdeo said, in spite of what has happened, “in the real sector, we have still been able to maintain the revenue. In fact, we have a higher revenue inflow this year than last year.”

He had pointed out that the programmes and budget are larger than the year before and many of the former that were put in place.

President Jagdeo reminded that he has already announced a special housing programme for low income people and said Government is moving to get $400M of the $2 billion in supplementary estimates approved by Parliament soon, to start the Revolving Fund, in anticipation that just about that amount may be used for the year.

“And then, of course, the $1.6 billion will be put in the fund to ensure that people who may have passed the age where they can get a loan from the bank or those who cannot meet the collateral requirements of the bank will be able to own houses, too,” he stated.

President Jagdeo said: “In spite of the global crisis, I think we have managed to hold things steady here, particularly if you look at the macro fundamentals, you will see that they are stable unlike in many countries of the region and the rest of the world.”

He went on: “In Guyana’s case, we think we can cover all of our short term gaps, from the balance of payments perspective, because our budget will be fully financed, so we will not have that unfinanced fiscal gap and the balance of payments gap, too, could be met in the short term and over the medium term.”

On the business front, recently, at the opening of GuyExpo 2009, the Chairman of the Private Sector Commission (PSC), Mr. Gerry Gouveia said that organisation commissioned a study conducted by three economists from the University of Guyana who found that the effects of the global economic crisis on Guyana were minimum on businesses.

All sides should strive towards ending sugar industry dispute expeditiously
What is currently taking place in the sugar industry-the nation’s largest industry, should be of grave concern not only to the stakeholders but to the entire nation because it seemed that during this crop the industry was doing much better with lesser incidences of major strikes, absenteeism etc. In fact, production figures since the present crop began have been on target at most estates and officials of the Guyana Sugar Corporation expressed optimism that the target for the crop would be achieved.

However, with the major union the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) has threatened to shut down the industry with a general strike and this certainly is not a healthy sign and could brew into a major setback for the industry and the national economy which hinges on it.

According to GUYSUCO it withdrew from wages negotiations with GAWU because it would not do so under duress and cited a strike at LBI Estate as the source of its dissatisfaction.

The Corporation made it clear that to resort to strike action while the negotiations are ongoing is seen as a breach of good faith and an attempt to pressure GUYSUCO into submission and place its negotiating team in a vulnerable position.

“Such a move is only counter-productive to the task at hand and serves to delay the conclusion of the negotiations,” GUYSUCO stated.

The Corporation is correct to point that that it is not common industrial relations practice to be negotiating under duress.

However, the issue in this instance appears not to be one purely of duress, as GAWU claims that the LBI strike is totally divorced from the wages negotiation and had to do with weekly scheduled targets at the estate.

The President of GAWU, Komal Chand pointed out that the shop steward and union officials at the LBI Estate have advised him that the workers there are on strike over the inability of GUYSUCO to agree with the union on the weekly production target for last week.

Workers for each crop work to achieve a weekly production target as well as the production target for the crop.

The GAWU President explained that the second crop started late, resulting in the continuation of operation in the non-schedule grinding week, and the need for setting of targets for this period.

Chand said the latest action by GUYSUCO is reprehensible and provocative because the strike at the LBI Estate is centered on a target dispute, not over wages as the Corporation believes.

He said the union’s representatives are strongly of the view that the move by the Corporation was uncalled for, as the industrial action by the workers was totally unrelated to the wages discussion which is under the supervision of a senior Officer at the Ministry of Labour.

However, there has been another disturbing development and that is the other union in the sugar industry the National Association of Agricultural, Clerical, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE) claimed yesterday that its workers were locked out from the estates.

If the union’s claim is true then such action by the Corporation is rather puzzling because it is unconnected to the current wages negotiation between GAWU and GUYSUCO.

Nevertheless, in all of this, what should be of primary importance to all stakeholders is the bigger picture, and that is the long term effect on the industry, which is trying to return to viability, as well as the consequences of the national economy.

This column had advocated strongly that the issue of industrial relations with respect to the sugar industry should be given closer attention because based on the findings of the inquiry which was set up to examine the industry it was clear that industrial relations was one of the weak links which impeded production and productivity.

It also advocated that at all times good sense and a spirit of compromise should prevail from all stakeholders and thus avert any antagonism which only harms the workers and the industry.

And therefore in this current impasse, all sides should avoid resorting to blame throwing and get down to the serious business of resolving it expeditiously because unless this stance is adopted the consequences could be grave and regrettable.

TANZANIA A LAND OF HOPE AND PROMISE
HOST OF THE 55TH ANNUAL CPA CONFERENCE
By Ralph Ramkarran
I had the opportunity of visiting Tanzania, the land of the enduring legacy of one of Africa’s greatest statesmen, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere. In the awesome presence of the snow capped peak on Mount Kilimanjaro in

Speaker of Guyana’s Parliament, Ralph Ramkarran in conversation with the Hon. Shrimatee Meira Kumar, Speaker of the Lok Sabha, the Parliament of India, at the Annual Meeting of the CPA in Tanzania last week.

Arusha, I attended the 55th Annual Meeting of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) and of its Executive Committee. It was my first visit to Africa and I came away with the certain impression that Africans, who play a very important role in the CPA, are as concerned as the rest of the world about developments, or the lack thereof, on their continent and elsewhere in the developed and underdeveloped world.

Tanzania gained its independence in 1961 and was officially declared a one party state in the 1965. It had already been a de facto one party state as the TANU dominated the political space then as it does now. Socialism, a form of development said to be already entrenched in Tanzanian culture, was declared as its goal in the Arusha Declaration which was made by Nyerere on February 5, 1967. It became an important statement which influenced the direction of the African revolutionary movement in the era of the burgeoning growth of non-alignment and the world wide national liberation movement. It provided the impetus for African and other non-aligned countries to boldly shake off the influence of colonialism and imperialism and proceed on the path of revolutionary democracy and socialist oriented development. Alas, the way charted by Nyerere did not succeed and he eventually retired to allow a new generation of leaders to take over. His voluntary relinquishment of political power was an exemplary act for which he was justly praised as it was then unknown in Africa and the developing world.

Today Tanzania’s leadership, drawing from the moral and ethical standards established by Nyerere, is respected in the world. The country’s economy is growing and it has one of the highest indicators of governance in Africa. This does not mean that Tanzania is not experiencing difficulties. At the opening of the CPA Conference, President Kikwete referred to the global economic crisis and to climate change and their devastating effects on developing countries, including Tanzania. The visible evidence of this dramatic impact was the melting of the snow on the peak of Kilimanjaro, which if it continues will alter the image of Tanzania, which has always been identified by its famous snow capped mountain.

The CPA International Executive Meeting had its second bi-annual meeting for the year to review its plans, finances and programmes for the ensuing year and to fill the places of those officers and members who, by the well established principles of rotation, retire to make way for other representatives. It also reports to the General Assembly on its work during the period between conferences.

Separate discussions were held by the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians on matters which directly concern and affect women and a report was made by the Chair of the CWP, Ms. Kashmala Tariq, who is a member of the International Executive Committee.

Issues discussed at the conference included Coalition Governments and their impact on Parliamentary democracy, Policy Responses to the Global Financial Crisis, the Role of Parliaments in Combating Terrorism, the Role of Parliament in Shaping the Information Society, the Role of Parliamentarians in the Elimination of Violence Against Women with Particular Reference to Domestic Violence and Climate Change: Are Policy Solutions Working?

Member of Parliament Norman Whittaker presented a Paper at the Workshop on Policy Responses to the Global Financial Crisis which he will write about separately. He will write about it separately. Along with the Clerk to the National Assembly, I sat in at the Climate Change Workshop and made two interventions outlining Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy. I also made reference to the impact of deforestation on climate change and took the opportunity of urging support for the REDD proposals likely to be discussed at Copenhagen.

Readers may well ask: Why waste time on the CPA? What does it do for Guyana? This is a legitimate question especially in view of the fact that in times past, the people of Guyana were anxious for and could have used some international support for the challenges to parliamentary democracy here. But the role of the CPA is essentially to deliver services to its constituents by way of programmes to strengthen parliamentary democracy and to provide a forum for debating topical issues. Members of the CPA have always found these to be important functions and have continually supported the organisation in this work.

The CPA has provided very important assistance to the National Assembly of Guyana in its modernizing programme. Several seminars have been held which have been well supported by MPs. A number of other forms of assistance have been made available, the last being the preparation of a strategic plan at CPA’s expense. The National Assembly of Guyana expects much more assistance in the future from the CPA and other Parliaments which I took the opportunity to discuss. (www.conversationtree.com).

Diwali being celebrated in New York
DIWALI which signifies the triumph of good over evil is enthusiastically enjoyed by people of every religion with its radiant touch creating an atmosphere of joy and festivity among people in various countries including the U.S. It usually takes place eighteen days after Dusshera (burning of the effigy of the evil Ravan) or Ram Leela (coronation of Lord Rama). It was celebrated in NY two weekends ago and again last weekend.

It was enjoyed by 200,000 at the South Street Seaport in Manhattan and thousands more in Richmond Hill and in Elmhurst. Mayor Bloomberg was the Chief Guest at the 22nd Annual Diwali Festival at South Street. Several other politicians, including Mayoral Challengers Bill Thompson and City Comptroller candidate John Liu also attended the celebrations. There were a large number of Whites, Blacks, Asians, and Hispanics at the Seaport celebrations.

At South Street Seaport, Diwali was celebrated in all its sound and sparkle. It was an entertainment filled day. There were spectacular fireworks, dance, music, a food fair, bazaar, children fair, free gifts, and more. Several West Indians performed. The celebration started at noon and concluded at 7:00 followed by the magnificent fireworks which produced special effects resembling lighted deyas burning in the atmosphere. The fireworks burst into umbrellas of colourful embers. From the ground, it was watched in awe by thousands, the beauty raining down on them. The flames looking like lit deyas danced in the air, after rockets burst with loud noises. The ‘bombs’ went off pop, pop again and again. Loud cheers from the appreciative audience accompanied each boom. The colours were unbelievable – a fitting display for Diwali.

The Seaport program was carried on SONY and SAHARA Entertainment TV stations and also filmed by the local community programs for broadcasts over the next two weekends.

Today, Diwali celebrations are an embedded part of Richmond Hill. Its crowd appeal in Queens where most Guyanese are settled and at the Seaport have increased thanks to fantastic cultural extravaganzas and fireworks. The White House also celebrates Diwali and President Obama had one planned on the evening of the 14th. NYS Governor also wished the community greetings on the occasion of the festival. The Governors of New Jersey and Connecticut have also released Diwali greetings to celebrants. Politicians in other states (such as California, Texas, Ohio, Washington, Florida, etc.) where Indian communities have risen have also planned celebrations.

On Saturday, the Diwali celebrations came to Little Guyana in Richmond Hill at the Dr. Cheddi Jagan Square where there was a cultural variety concert and on Sunday the celebration shifted to Little India in Elmhurst. The New York (NY) City Council will celebrate Diwali on Oct 19 evening at City Hall and the public is invited.

Celebrations are also planned in all of the mandirs this weekend and melas are planned for Hindu communities across the US.

Guyanese have been gearing up for the festival. The shopping district is teeming with shoppers purchasing items to welcome their Goddess.
VISHNU BISRAM
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Climate change is the single-most worrying challenge
CLIMATE change is the single-most worrying challenge facing our world but can the conference in Copenhagen come up with real resolutions to combat this phenomenon or will it be a global public relations exercise. At the end of the day, there will be a new climate agreement, but it would not have enough substance to cut green house gas emission by 2020.

In December, a multitude of world leaders and other delegates would assemble in Copenhagen for the conference on climate change. Ironically, their presence will contribute to green house gas emission and consequently, to climate change. Just think about the long flights, the bottled water, the use of communication and allied equipment, including computers and cell phones and the picture will become clear on how this great assembly of leaders will also be involved in climate generation.

Yet, this conference is integral to the global struggle against climate change. Therefore, this forum will provide the opportunity for leaders to negotiate and be innovative in their quest to stabilise climate conditions. It is therefore easy to see that, there is likely to be some new policy on climate change. Seriously, no country can afford to walk away from the conference in Copenhagen without participating in some arrangement to reduce emissions. Leaders would want to take ownership for movement in addressing this phenomenon. Nevertheless, the quality of the new policy will depend heavily upon the perceptions and realities of the participating nations. These perceptions and realities would be informed by their history, geography, politics and level of economic development, culture, intensity of economic and environmental activism and position on the world stage.

As a result, some delegates could determine that the conference is nothing more than a global public relations exercise where nations have to act out particular roles to the global community. These days it is very fashionable for politicians to talk green.

They need to impress rather than do something tangible to cut emissions. Therefore, they will engage in rhetoric and talk but nothing substantial will be achieved. But even talking about the challenge of climate change has utility. At the very least it raises awareness about the plight of mankind on a planet on fire, whose ability to regulate its temperature has been weakened by the activities of man. Still, nations need to do much more than just talk or negotiate their own special interests between reduction of green house gases and the nebulous notion of development. Indeed, national interests are important, so too is the thought about being our brother’s keeper in an uncertain world.

In fact, on June 1st, a 53 page option paper has been crafted in Bonn. About 182 negotiation teams and 4,000 delegates gathered in Bonn and discussed legal texts. Many have suggested that, the paper appears to lack real focus. That document contemplates adjustments to future climate change instead of the overarching problems of reducing fossil energy consumption in this trying period.

Further, it seeks to suggest that the agreed text at the conference will change policies by large emitters and consequently, help stabilise climate conditions by 2020. However, at best the draft is really a sketch of proposals of many colours and shapes; it is an attempt to find compromises to satisfy main negotiating parties in the light of conflicting interests. Certainly, this is not what is needed. Therefore, this entire conference could end up as just another public relations exercise by political and other leaders, many of whom will be, in reality, representing the interests of well-financed transnational corporations. If this happens then the outcome of Copenhagen will probably be nothing more than an updated Kyoto Protocol with revised long-term global targets, amendments, concerning such issues as: mitigation, adaptation and security.

Notwithstanding that, we remain optimistic that, there may be others, at the conference, who would see it as an opportunity to ensure environmental prudence and leadership. This demands less rhetoric and much more individual and collective action. One area for action is a long term strategy for phasing out fossil fuels over the next few decades. Encrusted in this must be a clear and specific plan of action for those heavy emitter countries.

It is clear that, climate change is really about energy change. Therefore, climate policy must be about energy policy. This is how it ought to be discussed at the conference. Governments cannot give commitments to reduce CO2 but do nothing about the use of fossil energy. Otherwise, they would be hard-pressed to achieve their reduction targets.

Again, developed countries have a moral responsibility for addressing climate change. They are responsible for more than half of global emissions. At any rate, they have the technological and financial capabilities to achieve it. In fact, they should be leading the rest of the world in a discernable programme to stabilise climate conditions. I believe social movements and citizens need to encourage governments to take radical action now to stem climate change. International conferences and agreements are good but the situation is so critical that individual nations need to take action to save themselves and the world.

In the end, there will be a new agreement in Copenhagen but it is not likely to contain sufficient substance to adequately address the situation. As a result, it is highly possible that green house gas emissions would continue to rise beyond 2020.
ROYSTON KING
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India’s friendly economic development provides hope at Copenhagen talks
India’s commendable action of promoting environment friendly economic development provides more hope for Copenhagen climate talks.

As the countdown to Copenhagen has begun, India is fast positioning itself as a resourceful and responsible leader ready to meet the climate change challenges head on. The fact that the country has already set up a ministry to promote alternative sources of energy and has targeted to cut carbon emissions by 2020 demonstrates that it takes the climate change issue seriously. By focusing on the issue from the perspective of both adaptation and mitigation, New Delhi is coming out with a strong climate agenda to strengthen its position as a negotiator at Copenhagen in December. In continuation of its official approach of taking a broader perspective on measures to fight the menace, India's environment minister, Mr. Jairam Ramesh has spelt out a series of measures that are scheduled to go some distance in reducing India’s emissions. "India is going to aggressively take on voluntary mitigation outcomes. We are now going to go for domestic legislation which will enshrine some targets," he is reported to have said in an interview to "The Guardian". These include a mandatory fuel efficiency cap in 2011, an energy efficient building code to start by 2012 and an increase in electricity produced from renewable sources to 20% by 2020. The Government also remains committed to stepping up efforts to stop deforestation, raising its target for tree cover to 15% by 2020. This positive approach could mean that India has upped its own profile for Copenhagen, a fact that has been reiterated by Ed Miliband, the British climate change secretary who said that the tangible move made by India had improved the chances of a comprehensive global warming deal at Copenhagen.

It goes without saying that global warming presents one of the greatest challenges of our time having catastrophic repercussion for humans. Indeed, the global warming may be taking place at a swifter pace than initially thought. The latest reports indicate that the climate change is already impacting the lives and livelihood of individuals and communities across the globe. The Arctic ice is melting at a much faster rate. In fact, the report of the World Wide Fund for Nature released sometime back indicates that the summer sea ice in the Arctic Ocean could completely disappear between 2013 and 2040. This could lead to disastrous rise in sea levels as well as snow fed rivers which will in turn displace thousands of people living in hills besides migrating coastal population. Scientists have warned that unless drastic measures are adopted, low lying nations like Bangladesh, Kolkata, Mumbai, London, San Francisco, Manhattan and other metropolitan areas could go under water by 2050. In India also, Himalayan glaciers are melting at a threatening rate. The rate of retreat of Gangotri glacier has almost doubled from around 62 feet per year between 1950 and 1971. Various studies have concluded that climate change has a profound effect on the weather patterns across the world. Due to this, extreme weather conditions have become frequent in recent years. Changes in monsoon pattern have resulted in severe droughts and intense flooding in many parts of India. Given this prospect, India’s growth is likely to suffer enormously in the very important agriculture sector. Though rapidly receding Himalayan glaciers, stagnating agriculture yields, increasing dry spells and unpredictable monsoon make the country very vulnerable to climate change, the good news is that it is taking meaningful action to counter the menace. Reports corroborating India’s green credentials have also been circulating of late. An earlier report saying that the country has consistently “greened” its GDP since the 1980's, with the energy intensity of India’s GDP falling from 0.3 kgoes per dollar of GDP in 1980 to 0.16 kgoe in 2004 buttress these assertions. Further, a range of policy initiatives announced by the Indian government, for instance, a $22 billion solar energy programme, a $2.5 billion forestation fund and a National Energy Efficiency Mission have earned plaudits from the climate secretary Ed. Miliband who put it aptly by saying that India wants to be a dealmaker and not a deal breaker in Copenhagen during his visit to New Delhi on September 2.

India has demonstrated that it fully understands the consequences of climate change by drawing a micro action plan for addressing the climate change issue. The details of this plan were spelt out by the Environment Minister Mr. Jairam Ramesh at a South Asia Media workshop organised by the centre for Science and Environment in New Delhi some days back. It is commendable that the country has already increased its budget for environment and forest from 3700 crore in 208-09 to 8300 crore in the current fiscal. There is also to be workshop on Clean Development Management for capacity building of experts from SAARC nations. The Minister has also lined up an India carbon market conclave serving as a forum for knowledge. This again speaks of positive action. As Mr. Ramesh firmly believes that adaptation measures are more fundamental than mitigation, he is going to convene a global conference to define the Roadmap for enabling technology development and as technology transfer to developing countries. "We are holding a Climate Change and Technology conference in New Delhi on October 22-23 with 190 countries participating. This will be one of our major contributions to Copenhagen", he said. However, he declared that India will not take legally binding targets on emission level decrease at the Copenhagen meet. The government also plans to introduce some strict legislatures to minimise the emission of Green House Gases in the near future. For instance, there will be energy efficiency standards for electronic appliances, which will come into effect from January 2010. There is also another governmental plan for fuel efficiency standards setting emission norms for vehicles, expected to come into force in the next 2 years. The energy conservation building code that has already been introduced in Delhi will be extended to all other states. Also, there are plans to outsource monitoring work to gauge the actual position of plantations done under afforestation drives. And last but not the least, the states especially the Himalayan and coastal states have been asked to prepare a comprehensive action plan before the December summit. Besides, it is for the first time that the government has decided to take youngsters to the Copenhagen meet.

Indeed, climate change is a matter of grave concern. Unless all countries accept responsibility, none of us will be spared its terrible effects. Due to the excessive burning of fossil fuel, deforestation and increased industrialisation, a scary situation is being created due to global warming which is scheduled to affect the entire planet. Though it’s true that the economy needs to grow, but it’s also true that ecology has to be protected from the harmful effects of carbon emission.

The environment is not restricted to boundaries of different countries. Indeed climate change due to its global manifestations demands a global response. Sadly, the Western Nations which are exhorting India to take legally binding commitments to control carbon emissions have not even met the commitments they had agreed to under the Kyoto Protocol. Despite being the main culprits behind the accumulation of Green House Gases, the rich countries are seeking to kill the coyote and gain cheap credits outside Kyoto. This was manifest at the Bangkok talks ending on Friday where several countries like U.S., EU, Australia, Japan, Canada and others got together to demand scrapping of Kyoto and benefits of offsetting their targets against credits.

As there is no point in shifting blame about who is responsible for climate change, India’s assurance on the eve of the UN Climate Summit of World Leaders that "We are not part of the problem but we want to be a part of the solution" aptly sums up its optimism about reaching an agreement at the climate negotiations at Copenhagen. All negotiators would do well to remember that the fate of every nation on this planet hangs on the outcome of Copenhagen meet. In the face of very little time for action, the need of the hour is to move beyond posturing and do something.
SUNITA VAKIL
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Is Freddie pimping for the AFC?
THIS is a must read to prove once and for all how stupid and idiotic Freddie Kissoon really is.

He wrote this piece in KN yesterday.

He met a woman at Medicare Pharmacy on New Market Street and she told him the mental trauma the family was enduring with the sudden removal of her child.

“After she had finished speaking, I asked her a question which I normally put to all Indians, without exception, when they relate their tales of hurt by the Government of Guyana. She told me that she gave her ballot to the PPP but will not do so the next time. I inquired why? She wanted to keep the PNC out.”

“That was a foolish reply because competing against the PNC at the last general poll was a multi-racial party with lots of Indians in its membership, the Alliance for Change.

Comment: Freddie asked the woman a very honest question but when she gave him her honest answer she called her answer "foolish".

How more foolish and dotish can you get Freddie?

Is he not pimping for the AFC?

He has become an AFC pimp since he did not like the answer he got.

That is what pimps do best, force you to see things their way and their way only.

Stop being an AFC pimp and accept honest answers to your lousy questions.

What will you do next since you cannot and will not accept the lady's honest answer and called her a fool?

Will you beat her into submission to ensure that next time she votes it must be for the AFC because all pimps do that?
T. KING
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Philosophy of Diwali should be applied to our daily lives
I read with deepest sympathy for the heartfelt request by members of the Alexander Village Mandir for simple protection while they will be conducting services and festivities to celebrate the prominent Hindu festival of Deepavali. It is agonizing that such a request has to be made in the first place. It reminds us how debasing we humans can become.

The chaotic situation at the Alexander Village Mandir has been reported over the past 10 years. Despite the fact that many arrests have been made in the past, it is inconceivable that no convictions were handed down to date.

I have relatives and friends who reside in Alexander Village and I am more than perturbed by the utter lawlessness that is allowed to occur near a sacred place like a Mandir by a group of hooligans who have no sense of morality. It is even more disturbing to learn that these hooligans operate with impunity.

The lack of support by both Hindu and non-Hindu religious organisations and figures to bring awareness of this situation is troublesome. This kind of situation should not be allowed to occur near any religious buildings: mandirs, churches, mosques, etc.

I am making an urgent plea to His Excellency President Jagdeo, The Honourable Minister Clement Rohee, and the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Henry Greene to personally intervene in this very important matter. The right to practice one’s religion is a fundamental right of each citizen. In a pluralistic society such as ours, this religious right is of paramount importance.

The true spirit of Deepavali highlights the conquest of good over evil. Let us strive to apply this philosophy in our daily lives.
SHIV MAHARAJ PhD
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Both sides should abide by laws and regulations
WE are today observing the context of a rapidly changing environment in the sugar industry. The term that most aptly describes these changes is “strikes". The process of strikes by unions has been taking place for a long time now. However, in the last decade it has accelerated by the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU).

Strikes in the sugar industry have been marked by the growing disputes between the union and GUYSUCO. While it is recognised that strikes has the potential to improve the quality of life of the workers in terms of increased wages and salary, better working conditions etc, We must also take cognisance of the devastating effects it will take on the economy.

GAWU as a union have made an invaluable contribution to the on-going development of the country, and stands ready to defend the interests of its membership in the industry. Our country continues to suffer from these strikes. Nothing much has been achieved since our nation's return to the democratic fold of nations in October of 1992.Yet there are long-standing emerging challenges we, as a people and Guyanese must confront. While we recognise that the wages and salaries level does not meet the expectation of a direct living wage, it must equally be recognised that disputes is not the way forward.

The recent crisis in South Asia is a good example of this. The collapse of financial markets not only affected the economic fundamentals of South and North America and Europe, but also led to a “slow down “of those economies. It is government’s responsibility that, at both the industrial and representative, and the political levels, interested parties in disputes must behave responsibly. There are laws, rules and regulations to be followed. These guidelines must be adhered to by both parties if peace and order is to prevail in the sugar industry.
MOHAMED KHAN

Krzyzewski continues as U.S. basketball coach
LOS ANGELES, Calif. (Reuters) - Mike Krzyzewski will continue as head coach of the U.S. men's basketball team that will try to defend their Beijing gold medal at the 2012 London Games, officials announced in Las Vegas on Tuesday.

Krzyzewski, the Duke University coach affectionately known as Coach K, will bring back his staff of assistants that helped steer a U.S. team led by Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade to 2008 gold after a bronze-medal at the Athens Olympics.

"It's obviously a huge honour for me to continue as United States national coach," Krzyzewski told a news conference. "We want to win another Olympic gold medal and we want to win the 2010 world championship in Turkey."

The appointment was announced by USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo.

"There's one gold medal up there and we're going to keep fighting the battle," Colangelo said. "We don't have term limits in USA Basketball, and when you have a great thing going, you keep it going."

Joining Krzyzewski on the sidelines again will be Jim Boeheim (Syracuse University), Mike D'Antoni (New York Knicks) and Nate McMillan (Portland Trail Blazers).

Krzyzewski said that while the mission was accomplished in his first term as head coach, there was more work to do.

"Our goal in 2008 in Beijing was to win the gold medal, win the respect of our country and win the respect of the world, as far as USA basketball is concerned," Krzyzewski said. "All three of those things have been accomplished.

"The gold medal you can put away. You don't put away your relationship with your country or with the world, it's ongoing."

"We all felt as a staff that the work wasn't over. To be quite frank, the work will never be over for USA basketball."

The only disappointment for the U.S. team of NBA champions was their semi-final loss to Greece at the 2006 world championship in Japan, where the United States took bronze.

"Our goal this time is to make it even better," he said. "We need to put great emphasis on winning the gold at Turkey next summer in the world championship."

Krzyzewski said maintaining team spirit was a key to success.
"We want to make it a family. I know that the guys that played for us in Beijing, they became part of our family. Why wouldn't you want to do it again, if you're doing stuff with your family. That's the atmosphere we're trying to develop."

CARICOM welcomes agreement between WIPA and WICB
GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC) - The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) yesterday welcomed the latest agreement between the feuding players and the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) to resolve their contractual dispute.

A joint statement by the WICB and the West Indies Players’ Association (WIPA) on Tuesday said they had settled most of the issues that crippled West Indies cricket for the past three months.

“The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) welcomes the news that the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), led by its president Dr Julian Hunte, and the West Indies Players Association (WIPA), led by its president and chief executive officer Mr Dinanath Ramnarine, have agreed to a Memorandum of Agreement resolving all but two of the outstanding issues between the two parties,” CARICOM states in a press release.

The latest WIPA/WICB agreement follows a three-day meeting between WICB president Julian Hunte and WIPA head Dinanath Ramnarine, and comes a month ahead of the tour to Australia.

The two issues remaining in the balance -- regarding the India 2009 Tour and the issue of 'Team Rights’ -- have been referred to arbitration and CARICOM says it expects to obtain the assistance on that matter from the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) President Michael De La Bastide.

“West Indies cricket is the signal beneficiary of this collaborative agreement between the WICB and the WIPA. CARICOM expresses its appreciation to Dr Hunte and Mr Ramnarine, and their staff, for their contribution to this resolution and looks forward to continued improved relations between the WICB and WIPA in the interests of West Indies cricket,” CARICOM said.

The parties acknowledged that the proposals by the CARICOM Prime Ministerial Sub-committee on Cricket helped to set the stage for this agreement.

CARICOM had rolled out a six-point plan last month aimed at ending the impasse, with both the WICB and WIPA committing themselves to the proposals put forward.

CARICOM also said yesterday it looks forward to the ideas which will emerge from the Cricket Stakeholders Meeting scheduled to be held in November 2009 and pledges its dedicated support for the “strengthening and creation of mechanisms” which will ensure “enlightened governance and development” of West Indies cricket.

In welcoming the agreement, CARICOM Secretary-General Edwin Carrington also expressed appreciation to CARICOM Chairman Bharrat Jagdeo, President of Guyana, the members of the Prime Ministerial Sub-Committee on Cricket, the mediator, Sir Shridath Ramphal, Digicel and all other parties, including the staff of the Secretariat, for their “contribution to the process”.

Sir Sridath had led an initial mediation process that broke down at the end of August.

Champions League T20…
T&T hold their nerve to floor IPL Champions
HYDERABAD, India (CMC) – Trinidad and Tobago’s cricketers held their nerve and delivered the knockout punch to the fancied Deccan Chargers in their Champions League Twenty20 match yesterday.

Needing to win to avoid elimination, Indian Premier League (IPL) champions Deccan Chargers could only muster 146 for nine off their 20 overs in reply to Trinidad and Tobago’s 149 for seven at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium.

The result confirmed T&T as Group A champions and let English county Somerset in as runners-up for a spot in the second round.

Needing eight runs off the last over, bowled by Dwayne Bravo, the Deccan Chargers lost two wickets and were limited to just four runs as T&T burst into celebration for the second time in three days.

"A great team effort, we beat the IPL champions and it's a great feeling for us,” man-of-the-match Bravo said moments after the match.

Batting first, T&T took 11 runs off the first over by fast bowler Fidel Edwards but the West Indies speedster returned at the start of his next over to remove Lendl Simmons (7) leg-before-wicket as the right-hander played across the line at 19 for one.

Darren Bravo, Dwayne’s younger brother, fell for 14 at 53 for two in the sixth over when he smashed a return catch to Tirumalasetti Suman and captain Daren Ganga fell immediately after, run-out by Andrew Symonds without scoring.

William Perkins stroked a well-measured 38 off 32 balls with six boundaries before falling lbw to Edwards, the second of three key wickets snared by the fiery Barbadian pacer.

Dwayne Bravo was run-out for 11 and Symonds had Denesh Ramdin (15) stumped at 125 for six in the 17th over before Edwards sent back Kieron Pollard.

The big-hitting Pollard thumped 31, laced with one four and four sixes in a 14-ball innings that ended when he was bowled off his pads by an Edwards yorker at 135 for seven in the 18th over.

Sherwin Ganga (13) and Dave Mohammed (2) were not out at the end.

Edwards finished with three for 32 off his four overs.

Spirited T&T, who had upset Somerset in their opening game on Monday, played diligently for the victory that appeared to be slipping away from them in the middle of the Chargers’ innings with their explosive Australian left-hander scoring fluently.

Gilchrist lost top order batsmen VVS Laxman (4), Abhinav Kumar (1) and Symonds (2) cheaply but blasted a shot-filled half-century that threatened to thwart T&T’s victory bid.

Gilchrist struck 51 off 36 balls including six fours and two sixes before departing to a superb diving catch on the mid-wicket boundary by Pollard off Simmons at 85 for four in the 12th over.

Venugopal Rao cracked a quick 30 and helped push Deccan Chargers to the verge of victory, needing eight runs off the last over.

Simmons had delivered a tight penultimate over, conceding just five runs, and Bravo finished the job in a tense last over.

After giving up just three runs from his first three deliveries, Bravo spectacularly bowled RP Singh (5) with a leg-stump yorker with the fourth ball, and fielded from his own bowling to run-out Edwards (0) with the fifth ball.

Needing five runs to win off the last ball and four to tie the game and force a ‘Super Over’, Suman could only get a single to long-off.

“If I had ten runs to defend in the last over, I'd back myself to defend it. Lendl Simmons bowled a very good previous over as well,” Bravo said.

“I hope I continue to lead from the front with the ball. As a unit we are very happy,” Bravo added.

Winning captain Ganga was thrilled with the result although his side did not play their best game.

“We didn't play our perfect game but I'm sure things will improve. Dwayne has all the experience of a senior player, all the bowlers contributed. It was a total team effort,” Ganga said.
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO innings
L. Simmons lbw b Edwards 7
W. Perkins lbw b Edwards 38
Darren Bravo c&b Suman 14
D. Ganga run-out (Symonds) 0
Dwayne Bravo run-out (Suman) 11
D. Ramdin stp. Gilchrist b Symonds 15
K. Pollard b Edwards 31
S. Ganga not out 13
D. Mohammed not out 2
Extras: (lb-8, w-6, nb-4) 18
Total: (7 wickets, 20 overs) 149
Fall of wickets: 1-19, 2-53, 3-53, 4-83, 5-92, 6-125, 7-135.
Bowling: Edwards 4-0-32-3 (w-3), Singh 4-0-22-0 (nb-3, w-3), Styris 1-0-10-0, Suman 3-0-24-1, Symonds 4-0-25-1, Ojha 4-0-28-0.

DECCAN CHARGERS innings
A. Gilchrist c Pollard b Simmons 51
VVS Laxman lbw b Dwayne Bravo 4
A. Kumar c wkp. Ramdin b Dwayne Bravo 1
A. Symonds run-out 2
R. Sharma c Dwayne Bravo b Badree 25
S. Styris run-out (D. Ganga/wkp. Ramdin) 14
Y. Venugopal Rao c wkp. Ramdin b Rampaul 30
T. Suman not out 9
RP Singh b Dwayne Bravo 5
F. Edwards run-out 0
P. Ojha not out 0
Extras: (lb-1, w-3, nb-1) 5
Total: (9 wickets, 20 overs) 146
Fall of wickets: 1-15, 2-23, 3-30, 4-85, 5-86, 6-125, 7-137, 8-145, 9-145.
Bowling: Rampaul 4-0-29-1 (nb-1, w-1), Dwayne Bravo 4-0-24-3, S. Ganga 2-0-17-0, Pollard 1-0-13-0 (w-1), Mohammed 3-0-21-0, Badree 3-0-25-1, Simmons 3-0-16-1 (w-1).
Points: T&T 2, Deccan Chargers 0

TCL-sponsored Windies U19s named for President’s Cup
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) – Jamaican all-rounder Andre Creary is the only survivor from the 2008 squad in a 12-man unit set to represent West Indies Under-19s at the upcoming WICB President’s Cup and ICC 2010 Youth World Cup in New Zealand.

The TCL Group, backers of the regional U19 tournament, confirmed Tuesday a sponsorship agreement with the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) for sponsorship of the Windies U19 ‘World Cup’ team.

The squad will use their appearance at the October 28 to November 5 WICB President’s Cup in Guyana as vital preparation for the 2010 ICC U19 World Cup in New Zealand early next year.

A provisional 20-member squad had been selected in Jamaica at the end of this year’s TCL Group Windies U19 Cricket Challenge.

Creary, initially called up for West Indies senior team duties when a makeshift team was assembled to face Bangladesh because of the players’ union contracts dispute with the WICB, represented West Indies U19s at the 2008 Youth World Cup but missed the 2009 TCL Challenge this past summer because of injury.

He is one of four players from champions Jamaica included in the squad along with Jermaine Blackwood, John Campbell, and Akeem Dewar.

Prolific Barbadian 16-year-old Kraigg Brathwaite, who stroked a double century in the Barbados Division One Championship last week, is one of the key batsmen in the squad.

Brathwaite was also picked on the West Indies senior squad in July and his Barbadian teammate Shane Dowrich has landed the wicket-keeping duties.

Trinidad & Tobago’s impressive batting trio of Yannick Cariah, Evin Lewis and Yannick Ottley have also been included after solid performances in the summer tournament.

Guyanese batting star Trevon Griffith, the Leeward Islands’ captain Kejel Tyson and the Windwards’ all-rounder Dalton Polius complete the Windies U19 squad.

Players missing out from the original squad are Nelson Bolan, Kirk Harris, Nicholson Gordon, Patrick Harty, Jason Holder, Keon Joseph, Kelbert Walters and Jomel Warrican.

New WICB chief executive Ernest Hilaire has welcomed TCL’s sponsorship of the young group.

“We are delighted at the TCL Group’s ongoing sponsorship of the Regional U19 Cricket Challenge,” he said.

“And are even now more pleased that the company has sponsored the West Indies U19 team for both the Regional One Day tournament and the ICC Youth U19 Cricket World Cup,” Hilaire added.

Windies U19 squad - Andre Creary, Kejel Tyson, Trevon Griffith, Evin Lewis, John Campbell, Kraigg Brathwaite, Akeem Dewar, Yannick Cariah, Dalton Polius, Yannick Ottley, Jermaine Blackwood, Shane Dowrich.

NA United seal BFA Coca Cola title
… drub Scotsburg 5-0
NEW Amsterdam United drubbed Scotsburg 5-0 to seal championship honours in the Berbice Football Association/Coca Cola Senior League which continued last weekend at the Scotsburg ground.

Adrian `Garnett’ Adams was in a destructive mood, finding the back of the opposition’s net in the 10th, 30th and 60th minutes, while his sibling Leonardo was on target in the 47th minute and Kelvin Joseph in the 87th minute .

Adams’ treble takes his personal tally of goals to 18, while the win for New Amsterdam United takes them to the top of the points standing with 25 points from their tally of nine matches.

The team won eight of their matches while drawing the other.

New Amsterdam United’s have now added the Coca Cola title to the Cheddi B. Jagan Memorial Knock-Out title which they won recently.

Real Union and Cougars FC are currently tied for second place with 18 points each.

However, Real Union have completed all nine of their matches with six wins and three losses while Cougars still have two matches to play, one against Strike Force and the other against Scotsburg.

Cougars have won six of their matches to date and lost the other.

A win or a draw in any of their two remaining matches will assure them of the runner-up spot.

Also in winners’ row over the weekend were Mahaicony United who came from one goal down to beat Strike Force 3-1 at the Mahaicony ground after trailing 0-1 at the interval.

Leroy Halley scored a double for Mahaicony United in the 65th and 76th minutes while his team mate Carl Fraser netted the other goal in the 62nd minute.

Strike Force had drawn first blood with a Lynton McKay 25th minute goal.
The competition will continue this weekend.

India selectors in the hot seat with quandaries aplenty
By Sidharth Monga
NOW in its second term, the selection committee led by Kris Srikkanth has to, for the first time, make many tough decisions at the same time when they meet to select the team for the ODI series against Australia.

They have so far been lucky in many aspects: they were handed over a more or less settled-looking team, and two of the big players chose to retire when the time came to make hard decisions regarding them.

And all the while the Indian team had not done badly either.

But during the World Twenty20 in England, just after the second season of the IPL, a few roadblocks appeared. First, injuries came around then the selectors found out that the younger stars were having trouble facing quality fast bowling on helpful pitches.

With Zaheer Khan out, they struggled to find three fast bowlers as well, who could consistently do the job for them.

After a first-round exit in the Champions Trophy, the fast bowlers are low on confidence, the all-rounder slot is a big gaping hole, and what do they do with Rahul Dravid on flat Indian pitches? The selectors have more problems to get around today than they have perhaps done in their whole term so far.

Previously, they brought back two left-arm fast bowlers based on their performance in the IPL, and their strike-rate is 50% on that count.

While Ashish Nehra has come out of nowhere to lead the pace attack, it is hard to believe that RP Singh can keep Praveen Kumar out of the playing XI and Munaf Patel out of the squad.

Even against unheralded batsmen in the Corporate Trophy, RP struggled, but found a ticket to Sri Lanka and South Africa. It's only natural that he makes way for Munaf.

But there is a bigger question the selectors need to answer, a more philosophical one at that. Ishant Sharma has struggled in limited-overs cricket and should be preserved for Tests which - on evidence of his short career so far - seem to be his true calling?

It is unfair to expect a 21-year-old to give up the money and fame that limited-overs cricket in India brings, so who tells him that the management sees him more for five-day cricket, which isn't at the top of the Indian public's priorities?

Or are the selectors of the view that Ishant should be left to struggle and learn, which will help him emerge as a better all-round bowler? If that is the case, how long do they persist with him? Sudeep Tyagi, who impressed the selectors in the Challenger Trophy, will no doubt spend an anxious night and early morning.

In the batting department, imminent returns to fitness for Virender Sehwag and Yuvraj Singh spell more confusion.

Virat Kohli and Dinesh Karthik, their replacements, should make way unless the selectors suddenly find themselves not knowing what to do with Dravid, who was called back to provide stability to a slightly suspect middle order.

Former players and experts are already being asked questions about the merits of selecting or dropping Dravid, which means his place is not certain. If the selectors feel likewise, it will be a shame because it will only show a lack of planning when taking the bold step of calling back the 36-year-old.

Then there is Rohit Sharma. He is back to full fitness, playing the Champions League, but he didn't miss the tour to Sri Lanka and the subsequent Champions Trophy because of injury: he was dropped.

Yusuf Pathan, who seems to be stuck at the thankless No.7 position in the batting order, hasn't done enough justice to the all-rounder's slot.

In his last 11 innings he has reached double-figures twice, and in 30 matches overall he has sent down 111.2 overs, which doesn't reflect his captain's faith in his bowling. Yuvraj, by comparison, has bowled 120.4 in his last 30 matches. Trouble is, Yusuf's brother Irfan, whose exclusion for Sri Lanka and the Champions Trophy in favour of Abhishek Nayar was baffling in the first place, is now out with injury.

Nayar, upon his selection, has been used for one out of six possible matches, and against the West Indies too, he bowled just three overs. To make matters worse, he scored seven in his two innings in the Challenger Trophy, and went for 21 in his two overs in two matches.

His captain, MS Dhoni again, chose to use him sparingly. If this reluctance to utilise Nayar, coupled with Yusuf's form, is taken into account then there could be two slots vacant. Ravindra Jadeja can take one. The other incumbent could hold on to his place, or a batsman who can bowl a bit as well, like Rohit, can fit in.

This will be a selection that will reveal a lot about the mindsets of Srikkanth's colleagues, and their quality. It's a shame, though, that the one time they will make for interesting listening, the selectors - due to BCCI's policy - will not be allowed to share their motives and thinking. (Cricinfo)

Younis open to conditional return
YOUNIS Khan defended his decision to resign as Pakistan cricket captain, saying he was shocked and demoralised by suggestions of match-fixing, but said he had not closed the door on the captaincy.

"What I did was justified because the allegations really hurt me and my family. We are honourable people," Younis said, a day after tendering his resignation.

"But I am going to meet with the chairman of the (Pakistan Cricket) board this week and I will discuss my future frankly with him," Younis added.

Younis submitted his resignation to the board chief during a hearing of the National Assembly standing committee on sports in Islamabad.

The hearing was convened after committee chairman Jamshed Dasti said he would investigate reports that Pakistan had deliberately under-performed against Australia and New Zealand in the Champions Trophy which ended last week.

Dasti later denied making match-fixing allegations and said his remarks had been misunderstood.

Younis, who led Pakistan into the semi-finals of the competition, said: "I was shocked with talk about us under-performing against Australia as we defended a low total of 205 against the world champions till the final ball. Such allegations demoralised me and the team.

"I don't think any honourable and respectable person can tolerate such accusations made publicly. Nothing is more important for me than my self-respect. Cricket comes later.

"The PCB now has to take a decision. I am available to talk to them but I can only rethink my decision on my own terms," Younis added. "Because of the accusations I couldn't even face my brother."

PCB chairman Ejaz Butt said he hoped to persuade Younis to reconsider.

"I know Younus is upset and hurt but I will meet him in the next few days and do my best to convince him to change his mind," Butt said.

Younus led Pakistan to victory in the Twenty20 World Cup in July and a host of former Test players have urged him to withdraw his resignation.

Cricket fans held a protest yesterday outside the PCB headquarters in Lahore, urging Butt to reject the resignation.

Members of the North West Frontier Province Assembly, in Younis's home province, demanded that action should be taken against Dasti while the Mutthaida-e-Qaumi Movement, a coalition partner in the government, said it was considering countrywide street protests.

"I am flattered by the support people have shown for me in this time," Younus said. "It is what makes one proud to be leading his country.” (Eurosport)

Coach optimistic Guyana can reach President’s Cup final four
… Ramnaresh Sarwan appointed skipper
By Calvin Roberts
NOT since 2005 when Guyana defeated Barbados in the final of the inaugural West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Regional limited- overs competition, have Guyana won another regional title, and things got worse when they failed to make the final four of last year’s tournament.

This time around, national coach and former national middle-order batsman Ravindranauth Seeram is optimistic his team can produce enough to first make the President’s Cup one-day tournament final four, then the finals from there - a feat which would be welcomed by the home team fans.

“As I said before, our zone is not a difficult one hence it should be easy for us to qualify for the final four, which would mean improvement in our performance from last year.

With the senior players in the calibre of skipper Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Travis Dowlin and Royston Crandon, two players who have just returned from West Indies duty along with the in-form Narsingh Deonarine, Leon Johnson and Sewnarine Chattergoon, our team can be a force to be reckoned with in the upcoming tournament,” said Seeram.

The 48-year-old Seeram who also performs the duty of selector, further stated that president of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Chetram Singh met and had a pep talk with the players, urging them to make the best use of the early preparation and at the same time, do their best this time around.

“Make no bones about it, the president, like every cricket fan out there, is concerned over our poor showing by the team this year and he said so in a small pep talk which he delivered to the players this morning, a sentiment echoed by the skipper who also urged the players to put their best foot forward.”

One of the things Seeram and company will be paying keen interest to is the fitness level of the 25-man squad which was selected for training, from which the team to contest the GCB Festival next weekend and the Regional Limited overs tournament will be selected.

To this end, the players minus Chanderpaul, who will be in the country this Sunday, were placed under a rigorous training session Tuesday morning. The programme will continue for the remainder of the week from 06:30 h to 07:30 h at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) ground each day.

It is back to the same venue in the afternoon, where they will be engaged in net sessions daily from 13:00 h to 16:00 h under the supervision of Seeram with able assistance from Orin Bailey and, according to the former, the guys showed the eagerness for same.

“When we were putting them through their fitness drills this morning (yesterday), the guys showed us they needed same and we have decided to do so every morning for the remainder of the week, as we want to put the best team on the field for Guyana at the commencement of the tournament,” stated Seeram.

Asked to compare any faults the senior team may have had from last year to now and what was being done to remedy same, Seeram stated that the selectors placed a young team on the field and it did not work out and such a mistake could not be repeated.

“Due to the absence of our senior players, we tried the younger players before but it did not work out. So it was back to the drawing board for us and with the senior players being available this time around, the younger players will have somebody whom they can rally around and together take Guyana’s cricket forward.”

Meanwhile, as was expected, Sarwan was nominated and confirmed captain of the team for the four-team Twenty20 festival which bowls off next week Friday at the Guyana National Stadium between Barbados, Jamaica, the United States of America and Guyana and the WICB Limited overs tournament which will be hosted by Guyana from October 28 to November 5.

Warne says England could 'ruin' Broad
FORMER Australia spinner Shane Warne has advised England not to promote Stuart Broad too high up the batting order, claiming the 23-year-old is "not an international all-rounder”.

The Nottinghamshire player was last week named in England's Test and one-day squads for the winter tour of South Africa, but Warne believes expecting too much from the Ashes hero could be counter-productive.

He wrote in The Times: "If England want to ruin Stuart Broad, it strikes me that they may be going the right way about it.

"Somebody tells me that he won't bat at number seven for the Test series in South Africa. Looking at the squad announced last week, it looks as if the selectors may be leaning that way, when it could be the worst thing to happen to the guy.

"I'm not bagging Broad, because he has the makings of being a good player. He is a decent bowler and a reasonable batsman - just not an international all-rounder.

"By thinking that he is, England risk taking his focus away from what he is learning to do well, first and foremost to support frontline bowlers, then to chip in with runs."

Warne also labelled the selection of Luke Wright for the tour as "strange".

"If he is going for experience then fine, because at 24 he is still young and might offer something down the track," wrote the 40-year-old.

"At the moment he is a bits-and-pieces player who is not worth his place with either bat or ball. To move forward he needs to bat at number five and bowl first change regularly for Sussex. (Eurosport)

Mumbai lands 2011 World Cup final
MUMBAI'S Wankhede Stadium will stage the final of the 2011 Cricket World Cup, which is being co-hosted by India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

The Indian board has announced the eight venues for the 29 matches it is hosting - including Mohali, which will stage one of the semi-finals.

Eden Gardens in Kolkata, which has not hosted a one-day international since 2007, will stage four games.

The other venues are Ahmedabad, New Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore and Nagpur.

Sri Lanka will host 12 games, while Bangladesh will stage eight matches, as well as the opening ceremony in Dhaka on February 18.

Original co-hosts Pakistan were stripped of their scheduled games by the International Cricket Council (ICC) earlier this year because of security problems in the country.

The full schedule for the tournament is due to be announced in Mumbai on November 9, while the two groups of seven teams were recently announced in a revised format following criticism of the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies.

Teams will play everyone in their group once, with the top four teams in each group qualifying for the quarter-finals - making a total of 49 games.

WORLD CUP 2011 - GROUPS & VENUES
Group A: Australia, Pakistan, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Canada, Kenya

Group B: India, South Africa, England, West Indies, Bangladesh, Ireland, Netherlands

Group stage venues: Ahmedabad (2 games), Bangalore (4), Chennai (4), Kolkata (4), Mohali (2), Mumbai (2), Nagpur (4), New Delhi (4), plus venues TBA in Bangladesh (6) and Sri Lanka (10)

Quarter-finals: Ahmedabad plus venue TBA in Bangladesh (2) and Sri Lanka

Semi-finals: Mohali plus venues TBA in Sri Lanka
Final: Mumbai. (BBC Sport)