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ARCHIVES FOR SEPTEMBER 19, 2009

Minister Persaud urges COTED to intensify food production momentum
By Wendella Davidson
With the issue of inter-regional trading among some CARICOM countries still posing major problems for some CARICOM states, like Guyana, the 32nd Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) dealing with Agriculture, opened at the Pegasus Hotel in Georgetown yesterday.

Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud, second from right, at the head table, addressing the 32nd Special COTED meeting.

Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud, in his welcome remarks, wasted no time in calling on his regional counterparts, heads and other representatives of agriculture-related agencies in CARICOM, to not lose focus and become complacent, but to continue to intensify the food production momentum.

He cautioned that the recent decline in the price of agricultural commodities and food products globally should not lead to the region becoming complacent and losing focus on transforming the region’s agriculture sector.

“From the economic outlook, and given the anticipated catastrophic impact of climate change on world food supply, if we do not continue, and in fact intensify, the agricultural and good food production momentum, we will once again find out, as we did in the global food crisis, how vulnerable we are and the hardship which can visit our peoples,” he said.

Addressing the day’s agenda, Persaud said while it is evident that the Secretariat had to deal with the issue of time constraint, he was confident that several key issues such as the Liliendaal Declaration Agriculture and Food Security, the establishment of the Caribbean Agricultural Health and Food Safety Agency, would be actively discussed.

A composite of participants at the COTED meeting

Reiterating that the focus of the meeting should be in terms of priority regional actions, the Guyana Minister of Agriculture urged that now is the time for COTED to mobilise and get on with the job of delivering on the Jagdeo Initiative, as mandated by the Heads in the Liliendaal Declaration on Agriculture and Food Security.

The Declaration issued during the 30th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government identifies the “agriculture sector as one of the drivers of economic growth and poverty alleviation of the Community”.

And noting the “admirable gesture” by Suriname having the agency which has been long in making set up there, Persaud expressed the hope that this will bring to fruition the efforts that have been expended over the past decade.

“The operationalisation of the agency, the creation of the associated national agencies, and the harmonisation of the Region’s sanitary and phyto-sanitary legislation are essential for us to be able to participate in the global marketplace and even remove barriers to interregional trade,” he added.

Alluding to matters to be discussed under Agricultural Trade Facilitation, Persaud noted the region’s disappointment at the slow progress being made in respect to market access intra-regionally, but said the work of the Expert CARICOM Team (ECT) has been heartening.

Remarking, “We must identify the financing to allow the ECT to expand its scope and continue its work”, Persaud plugged for member states to be allowed fair play when he declared “in each and every situation where extra-regional goods are being exported into CARICOM, the member states must be allowed an opportunity to compete.”

CARICOM Secretary-General, Edwin Carrington, in setting the tone for the day’s deliberations, reminded that agriculture has always been a key item on the Regional agenda, with initiatives, policies, and strategies that have been identified over the years, all aimed at strengthening Regional agriculture.

But, Carrington lamented, the region has not yet been able to effectively transform the ideas and plans contained in the myriad documents into an acceptable reality, a task that continues to face the region.

On this note, he questioned whether yesterday’s special meeting could be made “truly special by taking decisions, which, when the history is written, “could be said to have been the turning point in Agricultural development in the Community.”

Noting that under the guidance of President Bharrat Jagdeo as the lead Head of Government for Agriculture in CARICOM, and Chairman of CARICOM, there has been the hosting of an Agricultural Donor Conference, an Agriculture Investment Forum and most recently an Agri Business Forum, the Secretary-General said the initiatives were all designed, among other things, to promote the agricultural sector and demonstrate its attractiveness as an investment opportunity.

“They were also in full recognition that agriculture and trade in agriculture among our Member States can be a major driver of the integration process,” he added, while noting that he could hardly recall a powerful nation whose foundation has not been in its ability to feed itself, irrespective of its other strengths.

Declaring his confidence that as a Community the Region has the capacity to do likewise, in meeting its food and nutrition needs, Carrington said the Region must however be seen as “one market for our agriculture products,” adding “We must therefore remove the barriers to trading among ourselves. We must challenge ourselves to develop the necessary protocols that would truly facilitate trade in agriculture products, while taking into account the need to secure plant and animal health and food safety. One must not be at the expense of the other.”

Carrington, who challenged the meeting to let Agriculture take the lead in the efforts to develop the region, noted that nine key binding constraints that hinder development of the sector have been identified, and must be addressed.

And noting that the issue was a pivotal item for discussion today, he expressed the hope that there would be agreement among member states to commit the necessary resources to removing or alleviating the constraints.

Chairman of the COTED meeting, Minister of Land, Fisheries and Forestry in St Lucia, Ezekiel Joseph, in his remarks, echoed the sentiments of the earlier speakers on the focus of the meeting, but lamented the Region’s weakness in the area of implementation.

He acknowledged that some of the constraints facing the region included a lack of funding, and inadequate infrastructure, unreliable markets, high cost of labour and trade barriers, and urged that the bottle necks in implementing decisions taken at the regional level need to be identified.

“We need to set up systems to assist with dealing with constraints and we also need to identify bottlenecks to implementation and take the necessary action,” said Minister Joseph.

He further warned his COTED colleagues that the region does not have the luxury of time on their side, saying “We don’t have the luxury of time. Time is not on our side.”

New batch of Cuban scholars urged to study hard
By Priya Nauth
“I appeal to you to make sacrifices, to ensure that you study hard, discipline yourself and see that the success stories of your colleagues who have come and are serving can come your way.”

President Bharrat Jagdeo delivers the charge to the scholarship awardees off to Cuba.

These were the words of the Permanent Secretary of the Office of the President, Dr Nanda Gopaul, to the Cuban scholarship students yesterday.

The 146 students were given the charge by President Bharrat Jagdeo at an orientation seminar for the Cuban Scholarship Award Programme for the Academic Year 2009/2010 on the lawns of State House, Main Street, Georgetown.

Dr Gopaul, addressing the students and parents, along with members of the Cabinet, recalled that the Cuban scholarship award scheme started in 2002 with President Bharrat Jagdeo securing an agreement with Cuban President Fidel Castro at that time to offer Guyana 350 scholarships.

He said that the 2002 scheme was followed by another in 2006 which ensured that another batch of 965 students will proceed to Cuba over the period 2006 to 2010.

He disclosed that 715 scholarships have been made available in the field of medicine and the others in engineering and information technology, among others.

The Permanent Secretary said this batch of 146 comprises 100 in the field of medicine, and Guyana has secured an additional 42 scholarships under the CARICOM /Cuba arrangement.

Dr Gopaul observed that the 2002 scheme has already “begun to bear fruit”, with students in engineering and agriculture as well as medicine at home and serving the country.

He noted that as of this year, 136 students are pursuing studies in agricultural sciences, 760 in medicine, eight in sports, and 237 in engineering and other sciences.

He assured that this programme not only caters for persons living in Georgetown but also every region in the country, and from varying backgrounds.

He said by the end of 2010, there would be over 1300 students pursuing studies in Cuba and the yearly return from now on will be significant, especially in the field of medicine.

He recalled that recently some 66 doctors were placed into the system here.

The Permanent Secretary posited that the rates of persons dropping-out and leaving as a result of indiscipline are “quite insignificant”.

“Students will have an opportunity to upgrade themselves and to qualify themselves once they apply themselves to the task,” he insisted.

“The others who have left these shores and have come back have been more than grateful, and those of you who are going will have to understand that as you pursue higher learning, the road will not be easy,” he stated.

He stated that “sacrifices will have to be made” and stressed, “Cuba is a country that has done us proud, that has given quite a lot to us.”

He said the students will not only be trained but will come back and serve their country with jobs available for them.

Minister of Public Service, Dr Jennifer Westford, stated that the students are embarking on a very important step in their lives and their primary goal is to “study”.

She encouraged them to continue to apply discipline and “broaden their horizons” and deemed them “ambassadors of their country”.

She said the batch was chosen from over 300 applicants throughout the length and breadth of Guyana and upon their return, are expected to provide services throughout the country.

Cuban Ambassador Mr. Raul Marrero said that the programme is an example of what can be achieved through solidarity between the two countries.

Congratulating the students, he encouraged them students to concentrate on their studies and to help to contribute to the future development of Guyana.

The Culture of Prosperity and Saving
By Dr Randy Persaud
QUOTE:Guyana has gone ‘wild’ with entertainment. The bars and restaurants are full. Hardly a week goes by without some big show with star performers from outside. Mavado is coming next. The stadium will no doubt be filled. A friend said to me the other day – “Neva mind how people say things bad; jus knack two tinin cup and the whole place gun full up.”
WE all have something to complain about. We all want government to do more. I do too. Yet, if we become a people where our biggest contribution is complaining, we are not likely to move forward.

The time has come to combine the complaints with real contributions. Our contributions may take different paths, but today I want to focus on the relationship among self-restraint, savings, and development.

Self-restraint has a major role to play in national development. As simple as it might look, self-restraint can be the basis for individual upward social mobility, as well as the platform for national advancement as a whole.

The first act of self-restraint concerns the household budget. Let me state this clearly so there is no confusion. If you spend more than you earn, you will never save.

If you do not save you will always have to borrow, and if you borrow, you will always be in debt.

If you are constantly in debt, you are basically borrowing from your children or worse yet, robbing them of their future.

While personal spending may add a drop to the multiplier effect, personal insolvency does not add to family, community, or national development. Those interested in the relationship between household economics and community development might refer to Julius Wilson’s When Work Disappears.

The same way that the level of national savings is critical to domestic capital formation, saving in the home is critical to the financial future of the household.

I’ll tell you a little ‘secret’. You all know what the Ford Motor Company did for the American economy. Or do you? While Ford is known for lowering unit cost by mastering the process of mass production and for introducing the five dollar per day, it is less known for its Sociological Department.

Yes, in the early days Ford Motor Company had a department that was actually devoted to the sociology of the family. Social workers from the company would go to the houses of employees and discuss with them their saving strategies as well as issues of ‘moral conduct’. Mark Rupert, a political scientist at The Maxwell School (Syracuse University) detailed the operation of this department in his book Producing Hegemony.

Now, for Rupert, Ford was interested in the production of corporate hegemony, that is to say, a new ‘industrial man’ committed to hard work at the company, and frugality at home. I take the point. Yet, it was this same new ‘industrial man’ that catapulted the United States into an industrial giant. Apart from the new Taylorism and accompanying work ethic, there was also the factor of domestic savings. The ‘worker’ realised that savings were critical to home ownership and to the life chances of their children. The new car had to be paid for from the ‘regular family budget’.

Obviously we need to see wages and salaries go up in Guyana. But I have to insist that higher pay does not necessarily translate into greater financial stability. Why? The reason is straightforward. Higher pay can simply be wasted in the present, in the form of immediate (conspicuous) consumption.

Allow me to turn to the same United States culture just mentioned to illustrate the point. The current global economic crisis has roots in the U.S. mortgage industry among other sources.

De-industrialisation in the United States was followed by stagflation and many writers predicted the End of America. But soon the U.S. led the world into a ‘new economy’ in which services – computer services, telecommunications, finance, medicine, education, healthcare, personal care, and real estate (among other things) replaced the factory as the engine of wealth creation. Microsoft, Google, Long and Foster, and the finance houses produced more millionaires in a few years than the decades it took the Robber Barons and their lesser associates to get rich.

But something was tragically wrong. I’ll leave the Reaganomics deregulation and liberalisation out of this for now. The new economy was accompanied by an aggressive push for personal consumption.

This began in earnest during the Clinton years, and especially in the post dot.com bubble-burst, period - i.e. around 2001.

Here is what happened in a nutshell. Everyone went mad with consumption. The rich lost all restraint and began buying more and more country homes and villas. Toilet bowls lined with gold were installed in office washrooms, and furniture costing the lifetime earnings of an average worker were set up to demonstrate status.

Executives took private jets as if they were doing a little run to Parika. On the water fronts, it was regatta everyday. Weber and Veblen were both right – class yes, but in the end it is all about status. But that was not all.

At the bottom end, there was a massive proliferation of ‘dollar stores’ some of them under the most ironic of names such as Dollar Giant.

Those who had been kicked out of the industrial sector and had not gained entry into the knowledge end of the new economy, ended up with jobs such as cutting the lawns, selling at coffee shops, or toiling away at some McDonalds, Wall Mart or Seven-Eleven for a little over six bucks an hour.

The injustice was clear to the sociologists, but apparently opaque to the economically disenfranchised. They lined up to take the bad-credit; no-credit car loans.

Mad consumption caused the rich to lose big, but what after all is a few million here or there? The ‘poor’ did not have much to lose and since most of their debts were unrecoverable, they were simply forgotten. How about the middles classes?

The middle classes buoyed by low interest rates and lax lending regulations jumped into the new economics of free-for-all consumption.

Office workers chucked their modest homes and started to buy McMansions (large, but cheaply built mansions). Those whose budget would have allowed for a 1500 square feet home threw caution to the wind and gobbled up three car garage homes. The standard bathroom or kitchen was ripped up and redone with spanking cabinets and granite. The solitary light fixture was ripped out and replaced with recess lighting. Things looked good. Everyone was consuming. Yet, it did not end there.

By 2001 real estate prices began to rise, and families saw their real estate values doubled in a few years.

A Richmond Hill home bought for US$185,000 in 1998 would have easily fetched US$500,000 by 2005.

This led to an all out war on consumption. The folks then decided to use the home equity to buy that Lexus or Suburban that had always eluded them. Americans went wild and lined up to buy houses the same way in which people lined up for Radica tickets here. Ahhh – the thrill of consumption was in the air.

But we know what happened in the end. We know where the U.S. is today. And we have heard about the pains of adjusting downwards for millions of Americans.

We should take note because it appears that Guyana has also been infected by the promises of conspicuous consumption. I know the critics would say that this is a far fetched comparison, but I ask you to trust your eyes.

At one level it is good to see so many beautiful houses and establishments being built in Guyana.

Yet, we should be a bit careful. In part, those houses are a result of sound government policies – affordable house lots and interest rates, continuous infrastructure investments, and stable macro-economic fundamentals.

Low interest rates have also allowed a step level increase in ownership of private vehicles.

(I wonder how many people outside know that Guyanese once paid 35% interest for a home or car loan; you could get it now from NBS for as low as 4.95%).

The stores are also packed with every possible item you could imagine. I went into Giftland the other day and was wowed by the display of consumer goods.

Actually, I must confess some embarrassment. I saw so many items there that I brought back in my container because I thought I was kissing them goodbye! I hopped into Bounty the other day for a box of cereals and was ‘confronted’ by no less than fifteen brands. The food stores are overflowing. I have not forgotten entertainment.

Guyana has gone ‘wild’ with entertainment.
The bars and restaurants are full. Hardly a week goes by without some big show with star performers from outside. Mavado is coming next. The stadium will no doubt be filled. A friend said to me the other day – “Neva mind how people say things bad; jus knack two tinin cup and the whole place gun full up.”

But be careful, because as I noted above, a culture that veers towards the pleasures of consumption can easily be sacrificing its future.

A culture of prosperity must include strong elements of self-discipline or restraint.

There is nowhere better to begin than in the home.

Let me close with a bit of advice from my friend Ramesh – a.k.a. Slick who is manager at a huge car lot in Silver Spring, Maryland.

Said Slick – “When you walk into the lot with the money and you see the cars you are smiling; when you leave with the car and the money in my pocket, I am smiling.” Not quite the stuff of high end philosophy; but I am sure you get the point.

Government sets aside $400M to bring relief to rice industry
By Tajeram Mohabir
President Bharrat Jagdeo yesterday announced that the Government has set aside some $ 400 M to bring some short term relief to the rice industry.

Speaking at a press briefing at State House, the President said the amount will ensure that some of the problems facing the industry are addressed in a more definitive manner.

Mr. Jagdeo pointed out that the Rice Producers Association (RPA) has been asked to consult with rice farmers countrywide to work out the best modes to utilise the resources.

The RPA, he said, will be in contact with the Government over the next few weeks to decide on the modalities for using the sum.

Earlier in the day, the Guyanese Head of State met with rice farmers, RPA General Secretary Dharamkumar Seeraj and Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud to discuss some of the challenges facing the industry.

“The situation is very difficult for many of them, based on the high cost of inputs and the difficulties that they have with some millers and the prices that are currently available for their paddy,” Mr. Jagdeo said.

Persaud yesterday also put forward a document to Cabinet to address the challenges affecting the farmers, Mr. Jagdeo said.

Meanwhile, he said the Government is aggressively looking to expand markets available for the industry as this year’s production will be the highest ever.

Persaud on Thursday, addressing scores of Region Two farmers at the Regional Democratic Council compound in Anna Regina, said the Government is considering several interventions to help them obtain a better price for their paddy. These include:

* working with the Transport and Harbours Department for an additional vessel, and the government will support the cost of service to transport the paddy from Region Two to

Parika. This will be worked out between the Guyana Rice Development Board and the RPA

* making efforts to encourage other millers and exporters to buy paddy from Region Two so as to encourage more competition on the Essequibo Coast;

* reimbursing farmers the export commission for rice exported from Region Two;

* encouraging the sourcing of non-traditional markets for rice, and targeting Haitian, Venezuelan and Cuban markets;

* Guyana insisting that there is no waiver of CET for rice so that the CARICOM market can be fully utilised;

* GRDB publicizing all contracts entered into by exporters so farmers can track the price being offered for Guyana's rice overseas; and

* the Bureau of Stands and GRDB stepping up the monitoring of scales and grading systems at all mills, especially in light of recent reports of tampering.

This year rice production is expected to reach a record high of 360,000 tonnes.

Minister Persaud calls for CARICOM support for region’s rice industry
By Wendella Davidson
Guyana is expecting a bumper rice crop, the highest in recent decades, and according to Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud, who made the announcement yesterday, it is expected that all CARICOM member states will support the Caribbean rice industry by looking at this country.

Persaud, who at the time was addressing the 32nd Special Meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED), Agriculture, at the Pegasus Hotel, told those in attendance, “We must insist that extra-regional rice, heavily subsidised, is not allowed into the region, and if states do not insist, the Common External Tariff (CET) must be applied so as to ensure that our rice producers have access to our region’s market.”

The issue of intra-regional trade has been a long-standing problem plaguing CARICOM member states, even as much energy and resources are expended in negotiating extra regional trade arrangements, as regional producers continue to face market access problems intra-regionally.

Persaud also noted his satisfaction with the region’s efforts in seeking to reaffirm the commitment given by the Government of Haiti to allow all CARICOM goods duty free access, adding “ Within this framework, Guyana intends to pursue a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to allow duty-free access for rice which currently faces a tariff of eight per cent, thus restricting export to just about 25, 000 tonnes per annum.

Guyana has been insisting on no waiver of the CET, which is being charged on rice being exported from out of the region to CARICOM , so that the CARICOM market can be fully utilised

Mr. Persaud, in an invited comment to reporters following the opening ceremony, reiterated that the Guyana Government would be seeking to engage and conclude a MOU with the Haitians, “so that we can double or increase exports to that country further.”

Haiti, according to Persaud, imports much of its rice from the US and the commodity is subsidised, a situation which has destroyed the Haitian rice industry.

And, not wanting a repeat of such a situation, Guyana in its proposal, has offered to lend technical assistance to the Haitians in rebuilding their rice industry, Persaud said.

He however pointed out that Guyana’s gesture is not only to benefit from the sale of rice to Haiti and get a greater market share, but also, in the spirit of the community, to work with Haiti in rebuilding it rice industry so that all CARICOM States could enjoy some degree of food security.

“We have already communicated our intentions as it relates to the MOU, we’ve had some technical discussions and we hope that very soon we would be able send a technical mission to advance this further”.

“We are also pursing similar initiatives with the Venezuelans, the Cubans and the Columbians, so as to widen the market base for rice,” he added.

On the issue of remuneration, the Agriculture Minister, who quite recently has been having dialogue with rice farmers who are disgruntled over the $2,000 per bag price being offered by exporters, said it is an area still being explored.

Discussions are ongoing with exporters and the Private Sector to take the lead, something which Persaud noted the Government had expected would have been done earlier.

Let good sense prevail with respect to paddy prices
The current issue over paddy prices between millers and rice farmers should be solved expeditiously to the satisfaction of both parties because if this dissatisfaction of farmers is allowed to escalate it will not be good for the rice industry which is one of the main pillars of the national economy.

It is a fact that prices for rice n the global market have been showing a downward trend but at the same time this should not be a smokescreen for millers to under pay farmers who toil exceedingly hard, make tremendous sacrifices and investment.

International rice prices have followed a downward trend since January this year, reflecting sluggish import demand and, since April-June 2009, the arrival of large 2008 secondary crops. The weakening was reflected in the FAO All Rice Price Index whose January-June average slid to 264 points, 23 points lower than its corresponding 2008 level. However, rice prices diverged across the different market segments, losing more ground in the case of Indica varieties, while prices of both aromatic and medium grain rice were more resilient. Based on the current outlook and barring major production setbacks and sudden changes in government policies, the world rice market situation appears in a rather comfortable balance, especially in the light of the relatively large world rice reserves built up in the past two seasons. As a result, world rice prices may continue to be under downward pressure in the coming months.

After all rice farmers are the primary producers and without them there would be no millers, like wise without the millers the farmers’ paddy would be useless. So it is a symbiotic scenario and both parties need to recognise this and work in partnership for the betterment of themselves and the industry as whole.

Justice, reasonableness and fair play must be the watchword of farmers and millers because any other route could threaten the foundation of the industry.

Recently the General Secretary Dharamkumar Seeraj of the Guyana Rice Producers Association (RPA) has said that his organisation which represents rice farmers will not settle for farmers getting less than $3,000 per bag for paddy.

He explained that with $2,700 per bag, the planters would only be breaking even.

Mr. Seeraj gave the undertaking after a meeting at which farmers and millers in Region Three (West Demerara/ Essequibo Islands) failed to reach agreement on a price for paddy from the current crop.

According to him the millers gave no indication of making a reasonable offer and one of them, who had owed farmers millions of dollars, tried to blame the government for the low prices proposed.

This attitude demonstrated by the millers is certainly not a health one and does not augur well for the industry if they continue in the same manner.

Nevertheless, it will be hoped that all stakeholders would sit down at the bargaining table and allow good sense to prevail.

It will, however, be noteworthy to recall the caution to farmers by the Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud when prices were soaring not to “put all their eggs in one basket” because the high prices will not last indefinitely. It is a fact that agricultural commodities are subjected to constant fluctuations in prices and therefore the minister’s advice should have been heeded because the current situation is one of a downward trend in prices.

There have been several calls for rice farmers to diversify their mode of production and venture into other areas which would complement rice farming such as aquaculture and dairy farming.

Unfortunately, not many rice farmers have responded to this call, perhaps the current situation facing them would serve as a wake up call.

We have come a long way
WE are once again approaching the celebration of the return of democracy and free and fair elections on the 5th October, 1992.

When this happened under the leadership of the late Dr. Cheddi Jagan and the People’s Progressive Party, with the support and collaboration of others, the PPP/Civic government had to put right a great many things.

However, everything could not have been done in a short sixteen years.

We have come a long way, but we still have a long way to go - we have to be in for the long haul.

Having democracy restored meant among other things that we were restored to respectability having rejoined the community of democratic nations.

However, much to the dismay of the naysayers, we keep rising to the occasion, not only dealing with old problems but the serious new challenges that have arisen since, for the benefit of the people and country.

We have recorded many successes, and have vastly improved and extended our socio-economic and physical infrastructure.

At our regional and general elections, the integrity of the ballots we cast have been restored, a fundamental human right, which was denied us for decades under the PNC dictatorship.
JOHN DA SILVA
……………..
Passing the test of three
ONE day the great philosopher Socrates came upon an acquaintance who ran up to

him excitedly, and said, "Do you know what I just heard about one of your students...?"

"Wait a moment," Socrates replied. "Before you tell me, I'd like you to pass a little test. It's called the Test of Three."

"Test of Three?" questioned the man.

"That's correct," Socrates continued. "Before you talk to me about my student let's take a moment to test what you're going to say. The first test is Truth. Have you made absolutely sure that what you are about to tell me is true?"

"No," the man replied, "actually I just heard about it."

"All right," said Socrates. "So you don't really know if it's true or not. Now let's try the second test, the test of Goodness. Is what you are about to tell me about my student something good?"

"No, on the contrary..."

"So," Socrates continued, "you want to tell me something bad about him even though you're not certain it's true?"

The man shrugged, a little embarrassed.

Socrates continued, "You may still pass though because there is a third test - the filter of Usefulness. Is what you want to tell me about my student going to be useful to me?"

"No, not really..."

"Well," concluded Socrates, "if what you want to tell me is neither True nor Good nor even Useful, why tell it to me at all?"

The acquaintance was defeated and ashamed and said no more.
FAIYAZ
……………..
What is happening with the Transport and Harbours Sports Club?
IT is with great concern which I pen this letter. As a member and former secretary of the Transport and Harbours Sports Club from 1964 I saw many changes. The ground was redone by members on a self-help basis and turned out to be one of the best grounds in the country where test players practiced whenever test cricket was played in Guyana.

The building was repaired a few times and it was extended some years go, all of this was done by the employees of the Transport and Harbours Department and there was not intervention of any government minister and the club progressed in a satisfactory manner.

There were some problems but after some deliberation a decision was taken to rebuild the structure. This construction was completed in March 2009. All the facilities put in place to make members feel comfortable.

To date no one has been able to tell the members what is the true position with the club. The cricketers cannot enter; dominoes and billiard players have moved to other clubs and no opportunity for overseas members to interact. In keeping with the constitution, the General Manager of Transport and Harbours Department is the President of the club and he is unable to update the members.

It is being rumoured that a minister is in control of the building and nothing is happening club wise at the present time. What I do know is that the club is losing money and the members are being deprived of the usage of the facilities therein.

It is my opinion if indeed the minister has control, then he should hand over the club to the members so that they can put things in place to make it functional once more in keeping with the club’s constitution.
KENRICK FRASER
Member
……………..
Is this really an industry problem?
THERE has been much talk recently about the problems in the rice industry. However, these problems leave one to carefully examine the situation to see what the real difficulty is, that is to say whether it is an industry problem or something beyond that.

To illustrate this, let’s take the following into consideration. If a farmer were to spend $60,000 to cultivate an acre of paddy and does not harvest a minimum of 30 bags per acre between A and C grade then he should not be involved in paddy production, bearing in mind the drainage and irrigation infrastructure and the release of new varieties by government, in view of the following operations involved in production, cultivation, seeding, fertilizing, harvesting and transportation.

Assuming the farmer harvests 30 bags of paddy per acre and is paid $2,500 per bag then he makes $75,000 which leaves him with a profit of $15,000 per acre that is 25 percent on his investment. This is not a bad return for six months, which is 50 percent per year compared to the bank which is only offering five percent per annum.

At present the minimum wage is $35,000 per month that is $420,000 with benefits per year. Therefore a farmer has to cultivate 14 acres of land to obtain the minimum wage and without benefits.

They are not many farmers who cultivate this amount of land and although the farmers with these small acreages have a lot of time on their hand, often they cannot get other forms of employment to augment their income. We all know that $35,000 per month is insufficient for one to subsist and sustain a family, maybe $75,000 per month which is $900,000 per year which results in a farmer having to farm a minimum of 30 acres.

The majority of millers are indeed manipulated by middlemen involved in marketing as they themselves are too small to market. The millers might be seemed to be making lots of money, but the truth is that the return on investment is minimal.

As I pointed out, this is clearly the dilemma that rice operators whether millers or growers find themselves in. Now, the problem is to find an approach that will solve what seems like a tedious task. The solutions are not far reaching; they are right before us but needs to be more vigorously pursued.

Because of the unscrupulous middlemen involved in marketing, better marketing strategies needs to be adopted in order to obtain a good price for rice which translates in improved prices per bag of paddy. Secondly a fund should be established to make good the difference between the minimal amounts for living against the price the farmer would have received for his paddy and thirdly the agricultural diversification programme should be more vigorously pursued, thus enabling the farmers with other avenues to supplement their incomes.
BENI SANKAR
……………..
We should examine the international scene with respect to rice
RECENTLY, in Guyana, there have been questions concerning the price of rice on the local market. But before we start thinking of the local markets, I think it’s very critical that we examine and focus our attention to what is happening on the international scene, since this is what determines our prices locally. I have been following the recent trends on the world market as it relates to rice and its prices and there has been a drop in the prices for rice traded internationally.

International prices of the major traded rice varieties have been weakening in the past several months. The slide was particularly pronounced for the rice with a high percentage of brokens, which was priced 36 percent less in January-May 2009 than in the first five months last year. Over the same time periods, the prices of the higher quality aromatic rice varieties dropped by 9 percent. In August, 2009, rice prices fell 7.4% on news that stocks held by Thai government rose to its highest levels on record. This can be clearly seen in the table below:

Published by FAO – Rice Price Update September 2009 issue.
We can clearly see the drop in the prices in the table above and this is one of the major contributors for the decrease of prices locally.

The recent price trend is threatening the viability of the industry, at a time when food security and food sovereignty are critical. However, in Guyana, the production level is quite high since last year it was made evident that we had the highest production in the history of rice in Guyana. I am quite sure that this will continue this year.

As a concerned Guyanese with interest in the rice industry, I wish to urge my colleagues in the rice industry that this trend is not likely to last forever and we might see an increase for the upcoming crops. Prices will fluctuate and we are in the business of production and trading, hence sometimes the horizons will be bright and at other times will get dim. I will make it my duty to write my findings in the letter column of the print media.
SAMUEL SINGH
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Home and school should strive to restore good manners
I think I have a responsibility to the nation of Guyana as a Missionary and Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, to declare the mind of God towards the nation.

I grew up in a single parent family at a time in the history of Guyana when young children were taught good manners, respect, courtesy and politeness. These were hallmarks of good training.

Three institutions were responsible for such behavioural pattern; one the family, two the school, and more importantly the church.

If there was a breakdown in the family, the school was there to take up the challenge, if there was little help from the family and school then the church was the stabilising institution that made an impact and brought things back to order.

However, today it is a different story; a vast majority of children show no respect for parents or elders. Rudeness and rebellion is prevalent in many homes. It is like a cancerous disease that is eating away at the very moral fabric of our family unit and society.

This behaviour I believe stems from the negative attitude of parents who lacks basic understanding and training in matters that pertains to life.

As a minister of Christ I had the distinct privilege in serving (apart from my ministerial duties) in the capacity of Chairman for three schools within a 13-year period; two of which I served as PTA Chairman. The last school I served on the Board of Governors as Chair. Apart from that as a volunteer I taught Poetry and reading at the Buxton Primary School. I discovered that children need help in discovering their true potential, and if that help comes from the Lord then it doesn’t matter if it’s a single parent or a poor family setting that child will be set for his or her destiny regardless of location or adversity. Guyana will only rise if the true Church takes its righteous place in society. The state of the country is a reflection of the church. The real reason why the country is so corrupt is because the church itself is corrupt.

I cannot begin to outline the gross sins that the church is involved in but I know this as I know my own name. The root of all evil is in the church. The sin of covetousness has grip the church and is taking its ministers into the pit of hell if they don’t repent. It is so rampant that it is becoming a culture to vie for the largest congregation with rich and wealthy members. To take large offerings from poor people as a prerequisite for healing or prosperity, drive the most luxurious cars, live in the prestigious communities in extravagant houses. Yes, that’s right you care reading this right now written by an Apostle of Christ. If you are a minister of the church and is reading this and you are practicing such things then don’t be annoyed with me, and deny this is not so or seek to justify your action by changing the word of God to accommodate your lifestyle; do the Godly thing and repent and turn away from such practice and you will be a better Minister fit for the Kingdom of God.

Let me give you one example of competition in the church. A young minister who lack experience came to his senior pastor (who is head of a very large congregational) and requested to be released from the church with the hope of leading a congregation himself. The senior pastor went on to discourage this young man who had the calling of God on his life and wanted to fulfill his mandate and mission. He went on to ask the young man if he thinks he is making the right decision as he has a large family and is unemployed. The big question was; how are you going to maintain your family? By the time he left the minister’s office he would have lost all desire to be a minister and in so doing lost the vision.

There was no advice on how to be a good minister or counsel on preaching or teaching. The young man left the minister’s office somehow convinced that God was leading HIM, and that was the most important thing to him.

Three months after the younger minister invited the senior pastor to tour the sanctuary where he ministers, only to be told that the church according to his research pays their minister well. Can you imagine that the same minister that insinuated his family will starve if he decides to go into ministry is now saying, after three months that it is well?

The covetous spirit is still there in the church as this is just one instance. There are countless stories of church ministers who are well off but is ready to stand in the way of others whom they think will do better than themselves. This dear friend is not the teaching of Christ the Lord. Jesus himself taught his followers, beware of covetousness. And Paul’s writings to Timothy 1st Epistle chap 6:10. For the love of money is the root of all evil…

Undoubtedly, reading the daily news we are aware of corruption in the government and institution of learning. If one is sensitive he will discern or perceive that there is rampant marginalisation, discrimination and victimisation across the nation. But don’t be fooled, the very vices are present in the church.

Let me be modest and yet bold in my declaration of what is in the mind of God towards this nation and the church.

There is both a lack of civility and divinity. I plead with the institutions of the home and school to bring back good manners and to the church to bring back God into the church.
VANRICK BERESFORD
Apostle and poet
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NY Guyanese pay tribute to ancestors
IT is heart rendering to read the story on the Pitri puja conducted for those who were massacred last year. It is an appropriate time to remember those whose lives were senselessly flushed out by criminal gangs. According to the scriptures, those who partook and attended the pitri puja will be rewarded with eternal bliss and therefore should be applauded for taking time to pray for our ancestors. In New York (NY), Guyanese are also performing Pitri Puja to pay homage to their departed ancestors.

The annual rite of Pitri Paksh (more popularly known as Peter Pak) ends this weekend to make way for the auspicious festival of Navratri. Over the last two weeks, people have been offering prayers for the souls of the departed ancestors or relatives. People petition God to forgive the souls of their loved ones so they can rest in peace in heaven.

Pitri Paksh is observed with the offering of dhaar (water and black till seed) at sunrise. Families get together and make these special offerings and sing bhajans for the soul of their fore-parents and other relatives who passed away. In Guyana, they would normally offer dhaar at the banks of a river or canal or trench. But in the U.S, dhaar is offered in their backyard or in a basin in their apartment and then disposed of. Some people prayed at the shore or Rockaway beach and at other beaches.

The late Pandit Prakash Gossai, in explaining Pitri Paksh in an interview last year, said "Pitri Yagya is extremely important allowing us to not only remember our own ancestors but all the old women and men who made contributions to the world and to our civilization and who are responsible for our presence in the world today. They are responsible for who we are. It is a time for people to pay tribute to the ancestors for their immense contributions and services to humanity. It is the time to express deepest gratitude to deceased elders who brought with them the traditions, customs and culture of Mother India”.

Thus, Pitri Paksh is the remembrance of departed ancestor souls by paying respect through prayers, fasting, performing of special rituals, chanting, and austerity. People make offering of water with Black till (sesame) seeds and flowers early in the morning at sunrise to please the Gods”.

During Pitri Paksh, Yamraj or the God of Death is propitiated and offerings are made to him to be kind to the departed souls. Prayers are also offered for one's own soul for God to be merciful in the after life. It is important to understand that Pitri Paksh is not praying to the dead but praying for the dead. During this period, every effort is made to satisfy the wishes of the departed so that they rest in peace.

People fast to make offerings. Round balls of rice and flour, called pinda, are also offered, along with the sacred kusha grass and flowers, amidst sprinkling of water, black till (sesame seeds), and chanting of mantras from the Sam Veda. Favorite food items of the departed person are specially prepared and offered after performing a puja.

By reflecting on the accomplishments of our ancestors and examining their lifestyles, we develop a desire to hold on to good family values. Thus our pitris must be regarded as glorious as heaven as Prakash often reminded people.
VISHNU BISRAM
……………..
Response to Rawlins’s letter was sarcastic in intent
P RAWLINS wrote: “Mr. DeFreitas stated in his past response to my letter that this country has a penchant for stupid violence and unthinking brutality; continuing Mr. DeFreitas states why bother? These are everyday occurrences and no big deal.” (GC Sept 17th).

“Well Mr. DeFreitas I must ask if you are part of the problem or part of a cure? Would it make a difference if you were the one brutalised or even killed?” Rawlins asked.

Mr. Rawlins, please look up the word, sarcasm. And please check the newspapers archive to see my positions on law and order in Guyana.
JUSTIN de FREITAS
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Windies crushed by 188 runs in warm-up against South Africa
POTCHEFSTROOM, South Africa, (CMC) – Inexperienced West Indies received a fiery baptism yesterday as South Africa crushed them by 188-runs in their first official ICC Champions Trophy warm-up match at Senwes Park.

Winning the toss and batting, the Proteas piled up an intimidating 388 for four off their allotted 50 overs before returning to undermine the under-strength Windies for 200 off 41.1 overs.

Jacques Kallis (86), Graeme Smith (83), JP Duminy (80 not out) and Mark Boucher (55) all pummeled half-centuries as West Indies bowlers came under fire from early.

None were spared but medium pacer David Bernard Jr grabbed two for 71 from his 10 overs while fast bowler Tino Best snared two for 88 from his allotment, to emerge from the carnage as the best bowlers for the tourists.

West Indies were given a flying start of 80 off 77 balls by Dale Richards (41) and Andre Fletcher (35) but they lost five wickets for 25 runs in the space of 46 balls, to slip to 105 for five and send the innings into terminal decline.

Only Darren Sammy with a fine 52 from 61 balls showed any fight down the order as left-arm spinner Roelof van der Merwe undermined the innings with four for 34.

Already facing a daunting task in the tournament with a weakened team devoid of its elite players, it was hardly the type of start West Indies would have wanted.

But up against one of the major tournament favourites, there was little the makeshift side could do as South Africa romped to an emphatic victory.

Richards slammed seven fours in a knock that lasted 42 balls while Fletcher stroked six fours off 40 balls, to briefly raise the Windies’ hopes of an upset.

The duo showed little respect for the opening pair of Dale Steyn and Wayne Parnell and had gathered 25 overs from the first three overs sent down.

Fletcher took successive boundaries off the last balls of the second over from Parnell while Richards dished out similar treatment to Steyn in the next over.

Fast bowler Albie Morkel eventually got the breakthrough when he bowled Fletcher in the 13th over, to spark a Windies collapse.

With just five runs added from 16 balls, Richards was bowled by Kallis in the 16th over and the left-handed Devon Smith then dithered for 27 balls over 17 runs before being trapped lbw by van der Merwe.

Four balls later at 105, van der Merwe bowled Travis Dowlin for five and with no run added, captain Floyd Reifer departed for one, lbw to off-spinner Johan Botha.

South Africa were then frustrated by two partnerships as Sammy, who struck six fours and two sixes, shared 35 for the sixth wicket with Bernard (11), and a further 47 for the seventh wicket with Royston Crandon (13).

When Sammy was bowled by van der Merwe at 187 for seven in the 38th, the resistance ended meekly.

Earlier, Herschelle Gibbs and Smith added 79 before Gibbs retired hurt after striking six fours and one six in 38 off 40 balls.

Smith and Kallis completed the first wicket stand by adding a further 115 runs, as the hapless Windies bowlers were put to the sword.

The left-handed Smith slammed 11 fours and a six off 74 balls while Kallis was more cautious with seven fours and two sixes off 90 balls.

It was Duminy and Gibbs, however, who raised the temperature with an exhilarating fourth-wicket stand of 116 off 55 balls.

Duminy’s 80 required just 49 balls and included four fours and five sixes while Boucher’s knock came from 27 balls and was decorated with nine fours and one six.
West Indies will play their second match tomorrow against Sri Lanka.
SOUTH AFRICA (Maximum 50 overs)

H Gibbs ret. hurt 38

*G Smith c Miller b Bernard 83

J Kallis b Best 86

AB de Villiers c Fletcher b Bernard 16

JP Duminy not out 80

+M Boucher c Richards b Best 55

A Morkel not out 5

Extras (b4, lb3, w14, nb4) 25

TOTAL (4 wkts, 50 overs) 388

Did not bat: J Botha, R van der Merwe, D Steyn, W Parnell.

Fall of wickets: 1-194 (Smith, 28.2 overs), 2-230 (de Villiers, 34.2), 3-255 (Kallis, 38.1), 4-371 (Boucher, 47.2).

Bowling: Best 10-0-88-2, Roach 4-0-29-0, Bernard 10-0-71-2, Sammy 10-1-76-0, Miller 10-0-65-0, Crandon 6-0-52-0.

WEST INDIES (target: 389 off 50 overs)

D Richards b Kallis 41

+A Fletcher b Morkel 35

D Smith lbw b van der Merwe 17

T Dowlin b van der Merwe 5

*F Reifer lbw b Botha 1

D Bernard c wkp Boucher b Steyn 11

D Sammy b van der Merwe 52

R Crandon c van der Merwe b Duminy 13

N Miller not out 10

T Best c sub (Peterson) b van der Merwe 3

K Roach absent hurt 0

Extras (b4, lb3, w5) 12

TOTAL (all out, 41.1 overs) 200

Fall of wickets: 1-80 (Fletcher, 12.5 overs), 2-85 (Richards, 15.3), 3-104 (Smith, 19.1), 4-105 (Dowlin, 19.5), 5-105 (Reifer, 20.3), 6-140 (Bernard, 28.1), 7-187 (Sammy, 37.5), 8-193 (Crandon, 38.4), 9-200 (Best, 41.1).

Bowling: 6-1-29-1, Parnell 6-0-23-0, Morkel 7-0-48-1, Kallis 4-1-14-1, Botha 6-1-23-1, van der Merwe 9.1-0-34-4, Duminy 3-0-22-1.

Five matches slated for GFF Super League tomorrow
--‘giant Killers’ Rosignol United tackle Topp XX
PLAY in the Guyana Football Federation’s (GFF)Super League tournament will continue tomorrow with five matches at four venues.

‘Giant Killers’ Rosignol United of West Coast Berbice will tackle Linden’s Bakewell Topp XX at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground from 20:00h. in what is expected to be a keenly contested affair.

Rosignol United is the only team in the competition to win both of their matches to date and will be seeking to extend their lead in the points standing, while Topp XX who lost by a 0-1 margin to Bartica’s Liquid Gold will be out to secure their first points after one match.

Rosignol United has six points from two victories.

They first edged East Demerara’s Victoria Kings by a 1-0 margin at the GCC ground, on the opening day of the League (September 6), then on Sunday last, they inflicted a similar margin of victory against Georgetown’s GDF at the GFC ground.

The West Coast Berbice side United will be depending on their previous goal scorers Delroy Fraser and Gladwin Johnson along with Cornel Taylor, Rawl Scott, senior national selectees Travis Henry and Tyson Carmichael and youth national Garson Baker. Joel Singh will perform duties between the uprights.

Smarting from a home loss, Top XX is expected to use home advantage to their benefit, something which was lacking in their last encounter when they lost to Liquid Gold.

They will once again depend on the veteran Troy Nelson to lead their young and talented side.

Support will come from Michael Crandon and Keiron Cameron, both former youth nationals, Michael Wills and Ruel Williams.

Over at the Bartica Community Centre ground, Milerock will attempt to take revenge for their Linden Counterparts Bakewell Top XX, when they collide with Liquid Gold.

The hosts will be flying high and they will be hoping that

Whitney Welcome who scored against Topp XX in Linden last Sunday continues his scoring form.

He will be supported by former youth nationals, Vernon John, Andel Norton and Hamley Martindale, while Prakash Jaisari who will be on duty in goal will attempt to thwart all of Milerock’s efforts.

Milerock, coached by former national player and president of the Upper Demerara association Bryan Joseph, said he has some surprises for his counterpart Devon Bisson.

Milerock will depend on their dependable defender Marlon Maxius who was the goal scorer against Camptown. He will be supported by Michael Rose in goal, Delroy Dainty, Ray Bobb Semple, Steve Brewely and Trevor Tudor.

On the East Coast of Demerara at the Plaisance ground, Victoria Kings will try to continue in their winning ways when they meet the highly favoured Seawall FC of West Demerara from 15:30h.

After losing to Rosignol United on the opening day of the tournament, Kings bounced back and recorded a 1-0 win against GDF and for tomorrow’s fixture, they will be depending on their goal scorer Mortimer Murphy and Winston Pompey to find the back of the opposition’s net.

Support is expected from Andrew Holder, Kojo Huntley, Rashleigh Morrison and Kwesi de Souza.

The White Jags as the Sewall is known will have in their line up team captain and goal scorer of their game Darrius Garraway.

Gavin Brown, Delyon Josiah, Toine Lopes and Zevon Atkinson will all be seeking to ink their names on the score sheet as well.

Marvin Griffith will be on duty in goal.

The other two games will be played at GCC ground commencing at 18:00 hrs with Georgetown champions Alpha United taking on Buxton United of East Demerara while from 20:00h GDF faces Sunburst Camptown.

Alpha United will attempt to show Buxton that they had a bad day at Uitvlugt last Sunday and will be unleashing a host of national players at them, led by the cool and calm Howard Lowe who will expect support from the likes of Dwight Peters, Edison Gomes, Ronson Williams in goal, Abassi Mc Pherson, Quincy Madramootoo, Andrew Murray and Anthony Harding.

Buxton will depend on custodian Brian Robinson along with Les Charles Critchlow, Travis and Randy Phyll, Kevon Sullivan and national striker Clive Andries.

Camptown will have in their line up Nigel Codrington, Troy Prescod, Reshawn Sandiford, Bevon Mosley and Lance Rawlston and national goal keeper Richie Richards.

GDF will depend on a host of talented players to bring them off the cellular position.

They will be led by Warren Gilkes and will be supported by Eusi Phillips, Sheik Kamal, Shawn Arthur, Stellon David, Delroy Deen and Seon Brewley.

WICB hopeful of Digicel deadline extension
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, (CMC)-_ – With no resolution yet to the current contracts dispute but with the date looming for new retainer contracts to be signed, cricket officials are hoping sponsors Digicel can extend the deadline to allow for the impasse to be sorted.

The deadline has been set for September 30 but Gerard Pinard, a member of the West Indies Cricket Board’s negotiating committee, said it was being hoped that Digicel could be convinced to give the feuding parties more time to reach an agreement.

Pinard, an industrial relations consultant, said that during the recently failed mediation talks, Sir Shridath Ramphal had indicated he would contact former Jamaican Prime Minister PJ Patterson to get his assistance in having the deadline extended.

“He (Sir Shridath) said that he would speak to Mr. PJ Patterson and ask him to approach the sponsors Digicel to have the deadline relaxed from September 30 to the end of December,” said Pinard.

“This would allow for the West Indies Cricket Board and the West Indies Players Association to convene meetings in order to come to a reasonable resolution of the issues at hand.”

The dispute, now in its third month, has virtually crippled West Indies cricket with weakened squads being selected for the recent Bangladesh series and the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy in South Africa.

CARICOM last week intervened in an attempt to solve the impasse but neither the WICB nor WIPA have yet to return to the bargaining table.

“The players had refused to sign the retainer contracts because there was a dis-agreement over the issue of the players’ rights,” Pinard said.

“We told WIPA to let the players sign the retainers on time and we would leave the ‘rights issue’ to be dealt with after but this never happened.”

Last year the WICB lost US$3 million in sponsorship money from Digicel because they did not have the required number of players signing the retainer contracts.

Hurdler Brathwaite assigned Ambassador status
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, (CMC) – Hurdler Ryan Brathwaite has been designated the status of Ambassador by the Barbados Government, for his historic achievement at last month’s World Championships in Berlin.

The honour was announced by Prime Minister David Thompson at a celebratory event staged at Kensington Oval on Thursday, on the athlete’s return to the country.

Brathwaite wrote his name into the history books when he captured Barbados’ first-ever gold medal at a major global event by capturing the 110 metres hurdles.

“Tonight we dub you an Ambassador for Barbados, Ambassador His Excellency Ryan Brathwaite,” Thompson announced to wild cheering from the packed Oval. “You will become an excellent role model for all of us…”

In addition to conferring the Ambassadorship on Brathwaite, Thompson also said a National Board of Trustees would be created to oversee the hurdler’s financial, dietary and professional needs as he prepared for the 2012 Olympics in London.

The Barbados leader said in the past, the country had failed to create the suitable climate to build on the successes of athletes, but assured this would not happen this time around.

“One of the errors we have made as a country with previous athletes is after their initial success we did not create the enabling environment to support their continued training and pursuit of excellence,” Thompson said.

“As of tomorrow (Friday) I will give instructions for the creation of a National Board of Trustees to oversee your preparation on the road to London.

“This committee will be charged with advising government on the appropriate strategies for enabling you to access the best available professional help in your Olympic preparations for the 2012 Olympics.”

Thompson charged the 21-year-old to fulfill his end of the bargain, as the country threw its support behind him.

“What we want and hope for is that you would be physically, mentally and intellectually ready for London and we are determined that you will want for nothing.”

Brathwaite was treated to a glamorous homecoming, which included a motorcade along the country’s south coast and a glitzy show at the Oval which included several musical and cultural presentation

Caribbean Fury Regal Stationery covers another undercard
By Calvin Roberts
ANOTHER one of the undercards on the Holland Entertainment Promotions (HEP)/S and S Promotions organised Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC) sanctioned Caribbean Fury which is scheduled for the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH) next Saturday has been taken care of, thanks to the generousity of Regal Stationery and Computer Centre (RSCC).

As head of Holland Entertainment Promotions (HEP) Carwyn Holland (centre) and two staff from Regal Stationery and Computer Centre looks on, Office Supervisor Taliesha Ousman (right) hands over the cheque to managing director of S and S Promotions Stanford Solomon.

At a simple presentation ceremony held in their office located in Seaforth Street, Campbellville, Office Supervisor Taliesha Ousman handed over a cheque for $120,000 to co-promoter and managing director of S and S Promotions Stanford Solomon, on behalf of Anil Hardyal, managing director of RSCC.

In a press release, Hardyal who was a former Demerara inter-county softball player, said he was pleased to be associated with the card as he is always willing to give back to sports.

“Without hesitation, when I was approached by the GBBC, I readily decided to throw my support into this card, as it is sportsmen out there who supports me in some way or the other and I am one who is always willing to give back to sports.”

Solomon thanked the sponsors for coming on board with the card in a meaningful way and they are appreciative of their contribution and look forward to having them on board in future promotions.

The main bout on the card will pit Canada’s Corinne ‘Sexy Panther’ De Groot who is of Guyanese descent, against Shaundell ‘Mystery Lady’ Alfred for the Women’s International Boxing Association bantamweight title.

Leon ‘Hurry Up’ Moore and Howard ‘Battersea Bomber’ Eastman will oppose Mauricio Pastrana and Kevin Placide in the two main supporting bouts, with the Moore/Pastrana bout having at stake five titles.

Caption: As head of Holland Entertainment Promotions (HEP) Carwyn Holland (centre) and two staff from Regal Stationery and Computer Centre looks on, Office Supervisor Taliesha Ousman (right) hands over the cheque to managing director of S and S Promotions Stanford Solomon.

Australia regain number-one ICC ODI position but Ponting’s men must win final match of series to stay there
AUSTRALIA has regained top spot in the Reliance Mobile ICC ODI Championship after going six-nil up with one match to play in the ODI series in England.

Ricky Ponting’s side beat the home team by 111 runs at Trent Bridge on Thursday and in the process has moved ahead of South Africa by a fraction of a ratings point

. Australia needs to win the one remaining ODI in the series to stay top and thus head into the ICC Champions Trophy as the number-one-ranked one-day side in the world.

An England win in the final ODI of the series would consign Australia back down to third place.

As a result of Australia’s rise, India drops to third position while England stays in seventh position, three ratings points behind New Zealand in sixth.

The ICC Champions Trophy 2009 gets underway in South Africa on Tuesday and with just a single ratings point separating Australia in first position from India in third place, it looks like a rankings battle is on the cards over the next couple of weeks.

Reliance Mobile ICC ODI Championship (as of 18 September, after six matches in the seven-ODI series between England and Australia)
Rank Team Rating

1 Australia 127

2 South Africa 127

3 India 126

4 Pakistan 109

5 Sri Lanka 108

6 New Zealand 105

7 England 102

8 West Indies 78

9 Bangladesh 55

10 Zimbabwe 26

11 Ireland 25

12 Kenya 0

Mayweather too skilled for Marquez- fighter's uncle
By Kieran Mulvaney
LAS VEGAS (Reuters) - Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez may have the ideal style to beat Floyd Mayweather Jr today, but the American's uncle and trainer Roger Mayweather believes his nephew's superior skill will be insurmountable.

Marquez, who has won world titles in three weight divisions, is renowned for his counter-punching and the older Mayweather cautioned that a different approach would be foolhardy in the non-title welterweight bout.

"If he (Marquez) fights like a real head-first fighter, he's gonna get knocked out early," Roger Mayweather told reporters at the MGM Grand on Thursday.

"He's got a little bit of head movement, he's got some boxing skill and obviously he's got some tough will," the American said of Marquez, who has a 50-4-1 career record with 37 knockouts.

"So he ain't the easiest guy to beat. He ain't bad. It's just that he's facing the best guy in the sport."

Mayweather Jr., 39-0 (25) has not fought since December 2007 when he knocked out Britain's Ricky Hatton in the 10th round, but his uncle did not believe the layoff would be a factor.

"I know one thing about layoffs and I know about fighters," Roger Mayweather said. "What did you think Sugar Ray Leonard had? He had a five-and-a-half-year layoff. He had two detached retina surgeries, right.

"But he still beat the greatest middleweight. He beat Marvin Hagler when he was laid off five-and-a-half-years. Fights are won by skill. That's all there is to it."

BEST FIGHTER

During the younger Mayweather's absence from the ring, most experts have anointed Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines as the best fighter in the world, courtesy of his victories over Hatton and Oscar De La Hoya.

Roger Mayweather, however, ridiculed the idea.

"I don't see how Pacquiao is best," he said of his undefeated nephew. "He's already got a loss. How is he gonna be the best if he already got a loss?

"Floyd ain't lost...so how is he not the best? You can't be the best fighter just because you beat Oscar De La Hoya. Floyd beat De La Hoya too and he did it at a higher weight (class)."

If Mayweather beats Marquez today and Pacquiao overcomes Puerto Rico's Miguel Cotto at the same venue in November, the scene could be set for a potential Mayweather-Pacquiao clash in 2010.

However, Roger Mayweather believes American Shane Mosley would pose a much tougher challenge than the Filipino southpa

Shane gives him a better fight than Pacquiao would," he said.

Not that he thinks Mosley, or any other fighter for that matter, would actually beat Floyd Mayweather.
"My nephew's the most skilled fighter in the world, period."

Outrage in South Africa over ICC awards
By Ajay S Shank
THE International Cricket Council (ICC's) prestigious annual awards appears to have run into a controversy with several high-profile figures from South Africa, including Gerald Majola, the national cricket board's chief executive, criticising the final selection process for not including a single South African player.

Majola questioned the credibility of the awards - which will be presented in Johannesburg on October 1 - and said it appeared to him that the only way to get on the shortlist was to play the Ashes.

Majola's views have been echoed by Mickey Arthur, the South Africa coach, who said the "very disappointing" nominations shortlist would motivate his players to perform better in the ICC Champions Trophy starting on September 22.

Allan Donald, the former South Africa fast bowler and a member of the awards voting panel, admitted that he was surprised by the shortlist. Journalist Neil Manthorp, the only other South African on the 25-member panel, wrote that the honour of being on that jury had turned into an embarrassment. Cricinfo has also received angry emails from readers complaining about the omissions.

When contacted, an ICC spokesperson said that the awards nomination "is a completely independent process in which the ICC has no say whatsoever".

"To me, it looks like the only way to get on these nomination lists is to play the Ashes," Majola told Cricinfo. "Unfortunately, our players don't play for England or Australia. That seems to be the criteria to select these awards.

I don't know what the criteria are for these nominations but I simply can't believe that this has happened to South African players.

My personal opinion is that this doesn't lend credibility to this year's awards, for sure. To rub salt to our wounds, the awards ceremony is being held in our country.

"I am totally dismayed and disappointed. The last season was one of the best ever for South Africa and there were a lot of outstanding performances by our players

. In my personal opinion, there were at least three South African players who should have figured on the shortlist. But I am not going to name them because I don't want to drag our players into this issue when they are preparing for the Champions Trophy. I haven't spoken to them about this either."

Donald revealed that he had nominated two South African players for the shortlist. "But I am surprised to see that there is no one from South Africa in the final list," he told Cricinfo.

The long list of nominations for the individual awards was prepared by a five-member ICC panel headed by Clive Lloyd, the ICC's cricket committee chairman, and including Anil Kumble, Mudassar Nazar, Bob Taylor and Stephen Fleming.

The performance period taken into account was August 13, 2008 to August 24, 2009. This list was then sent to the ICC's independent panel of 25 members - including two South Africans, Allan Donald and Manthorp - to vote for the shortlist of the top four contenders in each category.

The independent panel included former players Ian Healy, Ramiz Raja, Athar Ali Khan, Allan Donald, Bob Willis, Sidath Wettimuny, Srinivas Venkataraghavan, Ian Bishop, Jeremy Coney, Dave Houghton, Roland Lefebvre. The media was represented by Jim Maxwell (Aus), Osman Samiuddin (Cricinfo's Pakistan editor), Sayeed Uzzaman (Ban), Neil Manthorp (SA), Scyld Berry (Eng), Ramil Abeynaike (SL), Sharda Ugra (Ind), Fazeer Mohammed (WI), Richard Boock (NZ), Enock Nuchinjo (Zim) and Jon Coates (Associates).

The officials were ICC referees elite panel representative: Alan Hurst; ICC umpires elite panel representative: Billy Bowden and chairman of the ICC cricket committee: Clive Lloyd.

While the shortlist was announced on Tuesday, the category winners will be known only on awards night. The votes have already been collated by Ernst and Young, who acted as independent auditors.

South Africa are currently the No. 1 Test and number 2 ODI team on the ICC rankings and the long list, reflecting this, featured four South African players.

Graeme Smith, who led his team to their first Test series win ever in Australia, and AB deVilliers, who hit two match-winning centuries against Australia - one of them set up that historic away series win - were nominated for Cricketer of the Year and Test Player of the Year; Dale Steyn, who was ICC's Test Player of the Year in 2008, also featured on the long list for the best Test player; and Wayne Parnell, the left-arm fast bowler, was nominated for the best Twenty20 International Performance of the year.

None of them made it to the final four in their categories.

Writing on the SuperSport website, Manthorp said the fault lay not with the ICC but with the system used for determining the award winners.

The 25-member panel has to select the final nominees from a dozen or more names on the long list, which, he said, was simply too time-consuming to be done thoroughly. There were "plenty of Proteas" on the long list, he said, but not having played for three months meant they were "out of sight and out of mind."

Andrew Strauss, the England captain, and Mitchell Johnson, the Australian fast bowler, figure in both the shortlists (of four players each) for Cricketer of the Year and Test Player of the Year. MS Dhoni, the India captain and Gautam Gambhir, the India opener, are the other shortlisted nominees for Cricketer of the Year; Gambhir and Thilan Samaraweera, the Sri Lankan batsman, are also in the race for the best Test player.

However, South African players can still be part of the awards night by featuring in the best Test and ODI teams for the last year that will be announced at the ceremony. Smith, for instance, was named captain of the best Test selection last time in a team that also featured Jacques Kallis and Steyn. Herchelle Gibbs was part of the best ODI selection last year. (Cricinfo)

Strauss tells his players to show `character’
ENGLAND captain Andrew Strauss told his players to show "character" after a 111-run thrashing by Australia left them on the brink of a record 7-0 series loss

No side has ever lost a one-day international campaign 7-0. But a sixth straight defeat by world champions Australia meant England faced the prospect of making unwanted history in tomorrow’s climax at the Riverside.

"Six-nil is bad enough to be honest," Strauss said after England were beaten for the second time in three days under the Trent Bridge floodlights.

"We've got one more opportunity (this series) to show our calibre as a side. We need to take that opportunity."

England, set 297 to win after Australia made 296 for eight featuring a maiden ODI century from wicketkeeper/batsman Tim Paine, were bowled out for 187 with a crushing nine overs to spare with only No 8 Tim Bresnan, 31 not out, making more than 30.

Once again England's top order failed, although Strauss, the hosts' best batsman this series, did appear unlucky to be given out caught behind for a second-ball nought.

But the left-handed opener said his dismissal was no excuse for another batting "horror show" that shattered England's already dented confidence ahead of next week's start of the Champions Trophy ODI tournament in South Africa.

"It was a bit of a horror show with the bat," Strauss said. "No one is more frustrated than I am."

Strauss, booed by angry spectators during the post-match presentation ceremony, added: "We were never in the hunt with the bat so I can understand the frustration of the crowd. I'm not going to sit here and make any excuses.

"What we have shown so far in this series hasn't been good enough, far from it. As a group of players and as individuals we need to stand up and show some character now. It's as simple as that."

He added: "It's been damaging for the one-day unit because confidence has become increasingly frail."

However, Strauss insisted England - who just over a year ago were 5-0 down in a seven-match ODI series in India that was cut short by the Mumbai terror attacks - could regroup in time for Sunday's match and the Champions Trophy.

Recalling how England won the one-day series on their last tour of Australia, after losing the Ashes 5-0, Strauss said: "It's not impossible to get back.

"I remember in Australia in 2006/07 we were in a similar state and Paul Collingwood got a couple of hundreds and things turned around.

"It's a very simple process. Sitting around in a team room having a chat about it is not going to solve anything.

"What is going to solve it is a couple of guys standing up and showing the necessary character to go out and turn things around. It's as simple as that... but with each game that passes the pressure grows."

The 24-year-old Paine, in only his seventh ODI, built on the fifty he made at Lord's last Saturday in fine style during a 148-ball innings with 14 fours.

Paine, only given a chance against England because first-choice wicketkeeper Brad Haddin was ruled out with a finger injury that will also sideline him from Australia's defence of their Champions Trophy title, was delighted.

"I'm rapt. I obviously got a bit nervous there so to get it out of the way and for the team to win the sixth straight game is a great thrill," the Tasmanian gloveman added.

"It's my job opening the batting for Australia is to score runs," opening batsman Paine added. "The first few games I felt reasonably good but didn't go on with it so it was just pleasing once I got my start to cash in."

Asked if he felt any sympathy for Ashes-winners England's one-day plight, Paine replied: "Not at all from me."

And he insisted that for all the talk of whitewashing England, there would be no change in Australia's approach at the weekend.

"We haven't spoken about that to be honest," Paine said. "We'll be talking about the seventh game and how we're going to go about winning it.” (Eurosport)

ICC anti-doping policy..
WADA chief says no exceptions for India
THE World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has written to the Indian government and asked whether it backs the BCCI's stand against the 'whereabouts' clause in the amended anti-dope code.

"We've taken it up with the appropriate Indian authorities and made a request to see if the Indian government supports the stand taken by the BCCI," John Fahey, the WADA president, said. "There has been some exchange of correspondence but we haven't got anything conclusive. But when we do receive an official response from the Indian government, we are quite prepared to disclose that view in whatever form that takes."

Fahey hoped that the issue would be sorted out during the ICC's chief executive's meeting in early October, during the ICC Champions Trophy in South Africa. Fahey added that countries should ideally not reveal the players in the registered testing pool.

"It is helpful any sport keeps that to themselves, they should decide who should be on the registered testing pool and they should make their rules about what that might be," Fahey said. "Having said that, any athlete can be tested anywhere any time. I've to stress that again whether you are part of the registered testing pool or not, that's part of the WADA code."

He added that "the element of surprise" in the clause is essential for out of competition tests.

The ICC implemented the new WADA code from January 1 and that included a clause which mandated cricketers nominated to an international testing pool to reveal to an ICC-nominated officer before every quarter details of their location for an hour every day for the next three months to facilitate out-of-competition testing.

This whereabouts system was to start from August 1 but was stalled after the 11 Indian cricketers in the pool, including Sachin Tendulkar, refused to reveal the required information citing security and privacy concerns.

The BCCI has backed the players in this issue and even sought the opinion of two top legal authorities in the country to firm up its stand.

It is believed that the BCCI now has significant support from other ICC full members on this issue. (Cricinfo)

New Zealand suffer warm-up defeat
NEW Zealand's Champions Trophy campaign got of to a poor start in Pretoria, where they lost their opening warm-up game yesterday by two wickets to the Warriors.

After suffering consecutive defeats against Sri Lanka and India in the Compaq Cup due to batting failures, New Zealand's captain Daniel Vettori had stressed the need for partnerships. They managed one worth 95 for the second wicket between Martin Guptill and Ross Taylor, with both scoring half-centuries, but the rest of the batsmen failed to build on a solid platform - New Zealand were 173 for 2 at one stage.

They lost six wickets for 10 runs during a startling lower-order collapse and were dismissed for 237 in the 47th over. The Warriors' opening bowler, Juan Theron, caused most of the damage, taking 5 for 42 in 8.1 overs.

The Warriors chase also suffered from the lack of substantial partnerships but all their batsmen chipped in with useful contributions.

Their top eight reached double figures with wicketkeeper Davey Jacobs leading the way with 54. While the required run-rate never got out of hand, the regular fall of wickets - Ian Butler took 4 for 53 and Daryl Tuffey claimed 3 for 49 - brought the match to a close finish.

The eighth wicket fell with the Warriors needing 24 runs to win but Theron came to the rescue with 21 off 19 balls to ensure victory in the penultimate over. (Cricinfo)