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ARCHIVES FOR OCTOBER 05, 2009

Agri Minister underscores important role farmers play in food security
- at inter-faith service
The Ministry of Agriculture yesterday ushered in Agriculture Month with an inter-faith service and brunch to mark the occasion, under the theme “Building a new agricultural sector along a low carbon path.”

The prayer service on the Ministry of Agriculture’s lawns, Regent Street and Vlissengen Road, Bourda, commenced at 9:30 h with prayers, songs and religious renditions from members of the Hindu, Muslim and Christian communities. Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud said his Ministry had decided to commence Agriculture Month with an inter-faith service since it is important for persons to think about the creator in all activities, most importantly when one engages in the activities of providing food.

The Minister further observed that Guyana is celebrating Agriculture Month at a time when close to 950 million people around the world are unsure about their next meal and a time when approximately 30,000 babies die each day as a result of hunger.

Minister Persaud said that Guyana is the only country within CARICOM that remains food secure and has been able to satisfy its food needs.

Minister Persaud and others at the service on the Agriculture Ministry lawns.

“We are the only country within this Region which has the greatest promise and the greatest potential to feed our brothers and sisters across the Region,” the Minister stated.

In addition, the Minister said farmers engaged in food production are special gifts from God and that they should always be remembered for the role they play in providing food for the nation.

“In this month of activities, we are going to place special emphasis on our farmers…we are going to put our farmers at the centre,” Minister Persaud said.

The Minister expressed optimism that Guyana will realise its potential not only as a great nation but as a people living in unity and harmony, and working hard together to become a reliable food provider in the Region and beyond.

Deputy Permanent Secretary for Administration, George Jervis, said Agriculture Month is one of the better months in the calendar for Guyana, since traditionally agriculture has been linked with religious worship.

Agriculture Month celebrations will feature a range of activities including the commissioning of the Doppler Weather Radar, the National Cattle Exhibition and Guymkhana, National Agriculture and Research Institute (NARI) Research Conference and Open Day, Coconut Forum and Mini Exhibition, Farmers Day and Exhibition, and the Commissioning of the Aquaculture facility at Maharaj Oil Mill, Cove and John, East Coast Demerara.

Today, the Agriculture Ministry will formally launch Agriculture Month and commission the Doppler Weather Radar at Timehri. (GINA)

New Vendors Mall opens on Water Street
Minister Lall advises that itinerant vendors be controlled
By Telesha Persaud

THE spanking New Vendors Mall on Water Street, Georgetown, was officially opened on Saturday.

The facility was constructed at a cost of approximately G$100M and now holds some 184 stalls, Clerk of Markets Mr. Schulder Griffith said yesterday at the opening ceremony.

It features large stalls and wide lanes which allow for customer friendly shopping, less congestion and the display of a wide variety of goods and services.

Businesses there include grocery stalls, salons, barber shops, boutiques, cafeteria, internet café, haberdashery, variety stalls, and soon to be opened, a printing service and a pharmacy.

The mall also sports a common eating area where shoppers can relax.

Construction of all stalls was undertaken by vendors themselves under the guidance of the City Engineer’s Department and was monitored by Deputy Clerk of Markets Mr. Errol Brisport.

Along with the Clerk of Markets and his Deputy, other officials who attended the ceremony were Mayor of Georgetown Mr. Hamilton Green, Deputy Mayor Mr. Robert Williams, and Minister of Local Government and Regional Development Mr. Kellawan Lall.

Local Government Minister Mr. Kellawan Lall, at left, with a young girl about to cut the red ribbon to declare the mall open. At right is Mayor Hamilton Green.

In his address, Mayor Green said he is confident that the new mall will have a deep impact on the environment in which it is located.

He urged stallholders to ensure that there is no littering, no vulgarity and no hangings of items on the fence and gates.

The Mayor pointed out that though the complaint of unfair competition from external sources exists, stallholders will be given special treatment in that Guyana Power and Light (GPL) will not be charging them at the regular commercial rate.

He said they are also working along with the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GT&T) and the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) to ensure these services are provided.

In his opening remarks, Minister Lall said he wished to inform that “Government does not owe the City Council a single cent at the moment,” noting that it has already paid up its taxes for the third quarter and continues to pay them when due.

He encouraged the Mayor to make a request of President Bharrat Jagdeo if the Council needs an advance in taxes.

Speaking about the new facility, Minister Lall advised vendors to take possession of the mall, not just in sense of occupying the stalls, but in maintaining an environment that is conducive to shopping.

He observed that in many parts of the City, school children have to mix with traffic because itinerant vendors are blocking the streets and pavements. “Though it’s true that many are being allowed to vend in various parts of the city, it must not be done disorderly,” he said.

He asked the Mayor to make sure that the pavement along the new mall is kept free of such vendors. “Why would we want to go into these hundreds of millions of dollars of investment and then find another set of people coming here? We therefore end up back at square one,” he lamented.

He further charged the City Council to take a decision as to how many people could be accommodated to do vending in the city. “It cannot go on unendingly. We should not always say it’s a complex issue. At some point in time, we have to say we cannot accommodate more people,” the Minister noted.

He advised that, at the next meeting of the Council, the Mayor introduce a motion to change the By Law of the capital so as to ensure that no vending is done along the pavement of the new mall.

The Minister also recommended that a special account be set up to hold a percentage of the proceeds of rates so that maintenance works could be done.

He said such an arrangement is in place at the Stabroek Market and expressed hope for it to be done at the other municipal markets.

Minister Lall concluded his speech by ensuring the vendors that he will be visiting them from time to time.

The Clerk of Markets said crucial to the survival of any market is the removal of unfair competition from its environs and recommended that the City Constabulary be very firm with vendors who contravene the provisions of the City Government By Laws.

Referring to the new mall, Griffith said: “This project may not be one hundred percent complete as yet, but when you consider where we were as against where we are today, I am sure that you will agree that we have justifiable reasons to feel proud.”

“This is indeed a true example of how public/private partnership and cooperation can truly aid in development at all levels,” he said.

Catholic Youth takes abstinence programme to the streets
By Vanessa Narine
Wanting to make a difference in Guyana’s youths with the Programme on Abstinence for Guyana (PAG), the Roman Catholic Diocesan Youth Office in Guyana Saturday took to the streets to advance abstinence awareness.

Solidifying her pledge, this young lady leaves her handprint.

“With everything that is happening in the world, moreso in Guyana, we are trying to promote abstinence as a way of life among youths and are advocating faithfulness among married persons,” Ms. Lucretia Stanton, coordinator of PAG, said.

Stanton and three other volunteers with PAG set up a booth on Water Street, Georgetown, in front of Bounty Supermarket, and invited passers-by to share in the information.

According to Stanton the area sees much pedestrian traffic.

She added that another such initiative was undertaken at Timehri since there was a need for the information there.

Once at the booth, persons were invited to make pledges to practice abstinence; and in order to solidify their pledges, they made their handprints and signed their names.

Afterwards the individuals were given information brochures and commended.

Stanton explained that the public awareness campaign was coming ahead of the group’s Conference on November 7th, at Marian Academy.

“The theme for the conference is Abstinence – Together we can make a difference,” she said.

Making his pledge for faithfulness this man signs on the PAG’s initiative.

This conference is one of many such programmes undertaken by the Roman Catholic Diocesan Youth Office in Guyana, through the PAG.

Among the other initiatives are:

* An awareness day on October 13, 2007, in the compound of the National Library, purposing to make youths aware of the Programme on Abstinence (PAG) as well as to understand the value of choosing abstinence as a way of life; and

* The Abstinence Convention held on June 14, 2008, at the Marian Academy, which aimed at helping young people understand abstinence and encouraging faithfulness.

PAG efforts are in line with the Church’s desire to inculcate high moral standards in the youth of today's society and to curb the prevalence of HIV/AIDS.

To this end, a Training of Trainers’ Workshop on Abstinence was organised through the Roman Catholic Diocesan Family and Life Commission.

This was conducted in June, 2005, by a team of four, from the Governor's Programme on Abstinence (GPA) in Louisiana, U.S.A.

Ms. Lucretia Stanton, right, engages a passer-by in a one-on-one.

There were 35 participants from over 10 different Roman Catholic parishes throughout Guyana and representatives from other religious denominations were also at the workshop.

Following this workshop, PAG was established based on the need to motivate the youth of Guyana.

The main goal of this programme is to spread the abstinence message to youth, which would inculcate high moral standards and help to curb the prevalence of HIV/AIDS in Guyana.

Stanton pointed out that so far the success of the programme has seen more and more young people coming on board.

However, there is a lack of support from adults.

“We work with youths but when they return home they are in the same environment, and because of a lack of support there are hindrances to the programme’s work,” Stanton lamented.
Despite this she asserted that PAG remains committed to its mandate.

Grass fire destroys GWI pipes
Fire yesterday afternoon destroyed a set of sewerage pipes belonging to the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI).

The grass fire, which started just behind the Guyana Forestry Commission, on Battery Road, Kingston, apparently resulted from spontaneous combustion.

According to reports the fire started around 13:30 hours and quickly caught the pipes stored in an abandoned building that was once the storage bond for GWI.

Firefighters from Guyana Fire Service responded promptly and were able to put the fire out before it could spread to the Forestry Commission building.

Commissioner of the Guyana Forestry Commission Mr. James Singh was on site and ordered the removal of vehicles parked in the compound.
The firefighters used water from the Demerara River to put out the fire.

Ministry launches farmers guide on climate change
By Tajeram Mohabir
The Ministry of Agriculture, in keeping with its thrust to empower farmers, has recently launched a publication geared towards educating them to combat climate change.

Minister Persaud speaks at the launching.

The 26 page booklet, titled “Farmers Preparing for Climate Change in Guyana--A guide”, was prepared by the Guyana National Climate Change Unit with support from Conservation International (Guyana) and the Guyana National Climate Committee.

Speaking at the launch convened at his ministry, Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud said the easy-to-read and illustrated handbook is the latest development in the ongoing drive to better prepare farmers to cope with the effects of climate change.

The publication compiled against the backdrop of the exposure of local farmers to climate change, coincides with the observance of Agriculture Month 2009.

Minister Persaud lauded the efforts of Conservation International in supporting Guyana’s fight against climate change, and in this case, their work in preparation of the guide that helps farmers to make the necessary changes to be better prepared to overcome the phenomenon.

Based on the 2005 floods and subsequent events, Persaud said it is evident that farmers lack basic knowledge of what to do in these circumstances.

“We recognise that we need to do much more training, much more awareness, but certainly in programmes and activities by our extension staff and other technical officers, we need to make climate preparedness and awareness a central part of these programmes.

“I do hope and I do anticipate that this guide will assist our farmers and it will be put to use,” the minister said.

He underlined that while Guyana has made several important steps to tackle climate change at the international level, notably thought the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), these must also be taken at the national level to better prepare Guyanese.

Persaud appealed too to the donor agencies, the business community and others to support farmers and the Guyanese populace in addressing climate change related issues.

Conservation International (Guyana) Director, Dr. David Singh, pointed out that the guide is one of several ways in which his organisation is supporting Guyana’s climate change cause.

Conservation International has supported the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) in the establishment of a Reducing Emission from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) Secretariat.

The organisation has also been working with Guyana in providing technical advice on the issue and recently commissioned a study on the application of REDD to Guyana with particular reference to the Georgetown/Lethem Road.

According to Singh, in another few weeks, he will be meeting with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to discuss the inclusion of avoided deforestation in infrastructural development in South America.

Touching on the LCDS, he said Guyana is at a stage where it has to make the push at the global climate change conference at Copenhagen to get a deal that works for it.

“This in not an easy task. The Government of Guyana, through its representation at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change meeting, and at various other fora, has been making incredible steps in making its case.

“But it needs every single one of us, and I would encourage each of you in your own way to come behind this process because if we don’t reach a deal that works for us at Copenhagen, 50 years from now what we would leave for our children would be not what we would want them to have,” Singh said.

Also present at the launching were farmers, Guyana National Climate Change Unit Coordinator Ms. Gitanjali Chanderpal, National Agriculture Research Institute Director Dr Oudho Homenauth, Guyana Forestry Commission, Commissioner Mr. James Singh and other officials from the Ministry of Agriculture and Conservation International.

The long road to the restoration of democracy
Today marks a very significant date in the history of this country as it was 17 years ago on this date the first democratically government was elected ending a terrible dictatorship which lasted 28 years and brought this country to its knees.

It was a breath of fresh air to have democracy restored and President Cheddi Jagan created history by being probably the only political leader in the world to have regained political power after being in the opposition for 28 years. In fact, many had long written him off, saying that he would never be able to be back in government. But he defied all odds and proved the pessimists wrong through his indomitable will, patience, persistence, determination and courage for which he was renowned.

However, getting there was not an easy road because as the dictatorial regime became increasingly unpopular it became more and more authoritarian and vicious, as political opponents were hounded down, harassed and even killed.

Perhaps we came to the crossroads during the 1973 election when the army virtually took over the election and were given orders to shoot to kill by the then Prime Minister and during the elections two activists of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Jagan Ramessar and Bholanauth Parmanand were killed in Berbice when they attempted to prevent the army from hijacking ballot boxes. This election gave the ruling party a phony two-thirds majority it said it would get because of a break through into PPP traditional strongholds. Instead the opposition dubbed it a break through of the ballot boxes! The previous election in 1968 was rigged but on that occasion the army was not visibly involved.

From thereon it was clear that the regime was bent on maintaining itself in power by rigging elections. By 1978 when the next election was due the regime opted to postpone elections to hold a referendum on the so-called new constitution which in reality was essentially to make room for an executive President.

The opposition political forces boycotted the referendum because they knew it would be rigged as the regime did not agree to any reform of the electoral system and as expected the ruling party got over 95% of the votes. The next general election was held in 1980 and as anticipated was heavily rigged.

Up to the mid-1970s the PPP was virtually the lone opposition party however, with the formation of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) led by the great historian and political fighter, Dr. Walter Rodney the momentum in the struggle against the dictatorship picked up as the two parties work closely together and this inspired many who used to sit on the political fence to join the struggle.

By then the regime became more vicious under its new “principle” of the “steel is sharper” and in addition to the security forces, the religious sect the House of Israel led by a criminal fugitive from the US was used to unleash violence on political opposition.

Eventually, Father Darke of the Catholic Standard newspaper and Dr. Walter Rodney were killed in one of the very dark periods in our political history.

By 1985 when the next election was due, there was a dramatic turn of events. President Burnham suddenly died on August 6 and Mr. Desmond Hoyte took over the leadership of the then ruling party as well as the presidency. It was rumoured for a while that he may be a bit more accommodating and agree to some electoral reforms, the key ones having a clean electoral list and counting of the ballots at the place of poll. However, this was not to be and this election was rigged even more heavily than under his predecessor.

By this time the economy was in tatters and infrastructure, the health care and education systems were all in a precarious state and we were now rivaling Haiti for spot of the poorest nation in the hemisphere. And the momentum for free and fair elections picked up again joined by overseas based Guyanese groups in North America and Europe, but particularly in the former.

The PPP employed the services of American Paul Reichler law firm to lobby U.S Congressmen, including the late Senator Edward Kennedy, to get the US government to pressure the regime to have free and fair elections and these efforts were successful.

The U.S government eventually froze aid and forced the regime to hold free and fair elections and the Carter Centre led by former US President Jimmy Carter became directly involved n facilitating the process of free and fair elections. But the election due in 1990 was postponed to 1992 because of a flawed electoral list. However, there was one major sticking point still to be resolved-counting ballots at the place of poll which according to then President Mr. Desmond Hoyte would be “a logistical nightmare.” Nevertheless, a visit by President Carter resulted in Mr. Hoyte being persuaded to agree to the counting of ballots at the place of poll and this marked the turning point in our electoral history.

But the PNC did make a last ditch effort to derail the electoral process as it unleashed its thugs. Pressure from the American government eventually helped bringing the situation to normalcy.

And so on this date in 1992, the PPP was returned to government in the first free and fair elections after 28 years.

Unfortunately, President Jagan died before he even completed his first term, but his successors have been working persistently to rebuild and transform the landscape of this country which of course is a herculean task.

Of course since 1992 much has been achieved but undoubtedly there is still so much to be done.

17 years ago, Hammie called Desi a school boy
The Parrot is seventeen years older since. Yes, I am now a big grown adult. You know what they say about when people start to advance towards the higher end of the age spectrum? Forgetfulness tends to become an integral part of life. Just ask Hammie, he always forget to clean the City and to pay the workers. Well I ain’t reached that stage yet; I could still remember when and how things happened. I can remember exactly what happened on this day seventeen years ago in my community.

The day began with cautious peacefulness. It remained like that for most of the day; people cautious, but peaceful. They came out very early to vote. It was the ballot of a lifetime; change beckoned. The vast majority wanted it. Some others, like Hammie and his cabal, didn’t. Long lines meandered around polling places. People felt good on being able to freely cast a ballot. They were confident their votes would have counted. This freeness to so vote was because Uncle Jimmy and his team from his Centre were watching. They watched closely.

Uncle Cheddi and his Party worked for years for such a day to dawn. They also worked hard for Uncle Jimmy’s team to be present. Uncle Desi, the Prezie then, was forced to accept. Remember when he had said he would dedicate his life to ensure that Uncle Cheddi never become Prezie? Well he had to eat his words after. Hammie never wanted to accept Uncle Jimmy’s team. He and his henchmen had other ideas.

As the end of the day neared, plenty confusion broke out in GT after Hammie’s loyalists claimed that they were not allowed to cast their ballot. This was just an excuse to create mayhem. The peace that prevailed earlier was threatened. Uncle Desi extended the deadline for the ballot-casting. More confusion. Some in charge of the polling booths didn’t know in other parts of this big country, so they closed up at the time agreed to prior. While they may not have known, some who turned up after the original closing time and claimed they came to vote, knew.

If your memory is not as bad as Hammie’s, you would remember that them days ain’t had cell phones. Even electricity was scarce. So when the sun downed, things got more scary. At the place of poll where I was, plenty people who voted already for Hammie’s Party, turned up to vote again. They cited Uncle Desi’s extension. The officer in charge didn’t know. Remember no cell phones or communication devices were in possession. A dangerous situation brewed as the only candle was about to burn out.

They unruly crowd advanced menacingly up the very long stairs. The only policeman on duty was unarmed. He looked at the staff as if he was instructing them to jump twenty feet down to avoid the gang. Fortunately, more police came. The gang scooted. The policemen said GT was in chaos. People were looting. Uncle Jimmy and others, including Freddie, were basically trapped in the Elections head office due to Hammie’s supporters including the looters. The looters ran to the House of Freedom in Robb Street. Uncle Desi eventually sent the soldiers to protect the occupants there.

The freedom and change that everybody, including Freddie, woke up that morning expecting, was now severely under threat. To make matters worse, sometime later that night without the votes finished counting and Uncle Jimmy pronouncing, Hammie announced that his Party had won. One man, a big man, drop down with heart attack. He later survived. He said he would have preferred the heart attack than to endure Hammie’s Party again. Hammie continued to talk on the radio. He said Uncle Desi was a school boy and should go back to school.

He called Uncle Desi a school boy because the Prezie caved in to pressure to have Uncle Jimmy present. Uncle Desi was worried, but didn’t give in to Hammie. He was worried that if he had to go back to school, where would he find uniform to fit him, and that he wasn’t accustomed to catching public transportation which was only two buses then. The looting continued just as Hammie continued to “school-boy” Uncle Desi. One man was seen running gleefully with two bales of toilet paper! Yes, he looted toilet paper. His photograph was big in the papers. It just showed how precious a commodity toilet paper was then. You forget the newspapers and feed bags?

Eventually, after much looting and chaos over the next day or so, Uncle Jimmy pronounced. He announced that Uncle Cheddi had won and that Uncle Desi will go into the Opposition. The country erupted in excitement. The changed had indeed happened. It wasn’t a dream. Hammie thought it was a dream. He never dreamt of being in the Opposition. He got his wishes a week or so after. Uncle Desi kicked him out of the Party. Uncle Desi took umbrage at the “school-boy” talk.

So whenever this October 5th day comes around, my memory remembers the events seventeen years back. I remember that if it wasn’t for Uncle Cheddi and his Party’s vigilance and if Hammie had had his way, the freedom and change that came with that day would have remained a dream and Uncle Desi would have been forced back to school. These memories should not be forgotten. If it wasn’t for that day, Freddie and his cohorts wouldn’t be basking in the freedom of expression they now enjoy. Right Freddie? Or, like Hammie, your memory has been erased? Squawk! Squawk!

PNCR does not want an IMC or change of mayor
A letter by Mr Leon Rockliffe that appeared in the issue of Stabroek News September 23, 2009 on page six was informative and to the point. However, he appears to have missed a major point in his presentation on his advocacy of an Interim Management Committee for the Georgetown City Council. He gave details on how it should be comprised.

What Mr. Rockliffe proposed is basically what the PPP-Civic Government envisaged some two years ago, when a High Court writ was served on the undersigned. That Writ sought to injunct me from even thinking of any such IMC for Georgetown. The case was eventually thrown out by the Judge and rightfully so. It had absolutely no merit.

As Minister responsible, I had gazetted no Order, yet Mr. CML John, a City Councillor with some degree of legal training, sought to prematurely halt the establishment of an IMC for Georgetown. Representing me in the High Court was the then Attorney General Mr Doodnauth Singh, SC. This is what Mr. Rockliffe wrote:

“There is ongoing debate over local government reform and the timely holding of local government elections. The Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown are the body corporate established under the provisions of the Municipal & District Councils Act, chapter 28:01 of the Laws of Guyana.”

“The establishment of an IMC would necessitate relevant amendment to the Act. It is my personal wish that Messrs Jagdeo and Corbin would see fit, even for their diverse purposes, to embark on the reform process by isolating this one item, i.e the IMC substitution for a city council to be introduced into Parliament come October. This is emergency time.”

On the contrary, no amendment to the Act is needed.
Section 305 of the Municipal & District Councils Act, provides the government with the authority to establish an IMC for any municipality in Guyana. There was no amendment to the Act when Linden Town Council and Rose Hall Town Council were dissolved and replaced by IMCs. That Section states at subsection (1):

“If the Minister is satisfied upon inquiry held by him that—
(a) a council has exceeded or abused its powers or has made default in the performance of any duty imposed upon it;

(b) the council has failed to achieve or maintain a reasonable standard of efficiency and progress in the discharge of its functions;

(c) the expenditure of the council has generally or on any particular head, been excessive or unreasonable having regard to its financial resources and other relevant circumstances of the council area; or

(d) the council has failed to observe any financial instruction,

he may by order declare the council to be in default and either—

(i) direct the council to perform any of its functions in a manner and within a time specified in the order; or

(ii) transfer to such person or persons as he may deem fit, such of the functions of the council as may be specified in the order, and such person or persons shall exercise and perform all powers and duties of the council in relation to the functions transferred, or

(iii) dissolve the council, or suspend the council for such time as he may think fit, from the performance of such of its functions as may be specified”.

Subsection (3) states:
“Where the Minister dissolves a council or suspends the council from the performance of any of its functions under this section, he may by order, transfer to such person or persons as he may deem fit, such of the functions of the council as may be specified in the order, and such person or persons shall exercise and perform, all powers and duties of the council in relation to the functions transferred. (This refers to the IMC).

Following the Local Authorities (Postponement of Elections) Act 1997, the PNC in and out of the National Assembly, demanded that local authorities should have the right to hold internal elections for Mayor and Deputy Mayor or Chairman and Deputy Chairman, pending local government elections. That 1997 Act suspended internal elections.

When in December 2008, the Act was amended to permit internal elections, many local government organs (including the City Council) opted in writing to have those elections held. However, the decision of the City Council was deferred indefinitely.

Here again was another conundrum. As the Minister responsible, I was again taken to Court on a Writ by Mr CML John challenging the legality of the Local Authorities (Postponement of Elections) Act. That Writ too was thrown out by the Judge. The PNCR ensconced at City Hall, along with its support base in Georgetown, do not want an IMC nor do they want to change the Mayor or Deputy Mayor. Everything there must be fine.
CLINTON COLLYMORE
Ministerial Advisor
Ministry of Local Government
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Doppler radar another testimony of progress
GUYANA will soon see the commissioning of the Doppler radar facility at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri which will be providing up-to-the minute weather information, thus allowing the Hydro meteorological Department to make accurate weather predictions. Now Guyana has the technology which will put it on par with other countries on the South American continent and the Caribbean.

In the past, no one could trust the forecast since in many cases it turned out to be the complete opposite on any given day, but today Guyana can step out in confidence knowing that the ‘weather man’ will be providing accurate information.

In other countries, the weather forecast contributes significantly to the Agricultural industry and it is an important function of the newscasts and now Farmers will be able to plan their planting season accurately and Guyana will definitely be joining the rest of the world in having this featured in our newscasts.

The mere fact that government has sought to place so much emphasis on the weather forecasting capabilities of Guyana by investing such a huge amount of money to procure the equipment.

All of these things are testimony to the progress Guyana has undergone and is a prelude to what will come in the future. It reflects the caring attitude of the administration which works to ensure that Guyanese are comfortable and are provided with resources in every sector so that they can have better lives.
J. TIWARI
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We should help victims of disasters
SHOULD we care and have an input when others face natural disasters?

I absolutely believe that we have a role to play and as much as we may not have much to offer like the major donor aid countries, our bits and pieces will definitely help at least one or a couple of families.

I am merely putting this in motion with the hope that UNICEF, UNDP, RED CROSS SOCIETY or any other agency would assign a special disaster task force to undertake this project for aid to the peoples of Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia, and Samoa, America Samoa etc.

A list could be made public with the most important items, a disaster fund open and if it gets kicking, I will definitely do what I can.
T. PEMBERTON
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Freddie's hypocrisy regarding DeCaires
WRITERS should respect and honour Stabroek News’s late founder David DeCaires and not denigrate the man’s good name. David was an honourable man who had zero tolerance for unprofessional conduct. He was not a friend of the government or happy with some of its actions but he respected its legitimacy and right to govern having been democratically elected from 1992 to present. He was opposed to the undemocratic activities of opponents seeking to destabilise the government. And had he been alive today, he would have been displeased to read how Freddie Kissoon invokes his name to support his (Kissoon’s) daily tirades (calumnies) against people he dislikes.

Regarding DeCaires, Freddie is a hypocrite. Freddie used to be singularly vitriolic in his unjustified attacks on DeCaires and SN. Freddie is now magnanimous in his praises of DeCaries giving the impression that DeCaires was the next best thing to sada (saykay) roti and baigan choka.

Freddie used to attack DeCaires regularly when the man was alive saying how the man ill-treated him and calling the man all kinds of names. Freddie even gave us some cockamamie story about why he left SN as a columnist for Catholic Standard. When DeCaires passed away in Barbados, Freddie was not nice in his comments. Even at the man’s memorial tribute in Guyana, Freddie took a parting shot.

Freddie never had justification to attack David in his columns. DeCaires was a fair, decent man who did not harbour ill feelings towards anyone not even against those who (like Freddie) attacked him. He was a professional who did not want columnists who brought his paper into disrepute by writings fictions and calling them facts or who misrepresented the views of others.

Freddie used to write a weekly column for SN. For unknown reasons, the column was terminated right after Freddie was exposed for his misrepresented claim of being Dr. Kissoon. DeCaires used high standards to edit and publish writings in SN and he did not want people on board that would tarnish the integrity of the paper. He did not permit persona attacks and did not publish contents that could not be verified. DeCaires would not have published most of what Freddie has penned in KN over the last several years.

I should note he rejected several of my pieces and at times suggested that I rewrite certain pieces and avoid attacks on others. So most of the unfounded and unsubstantiated assertions, claims, allegations, falsehoods, etc Freddie pens in KN would not be published in SN. In fact, some of Freddie’s letters were heavily edited when published in SN but published unedited in KN. DeCaires and his successor, Anand Persaud, had zero tolerance for unverified claims. They have been outstanding media people and would not have tolerated Freddie’s hallucinations appearing as informed columns and reports.

I should note when Freddie had a SN column, he praised DeCaires as a freedom fighter and a champion of democracy. When the column was terminated, for Freddie, DeCaires was the worst thing Guyana ever produced. Freddie saw SN as viewed as the worst newspaper and Freddie viewed the editors as unfit to run a newspaper. He had nothing good to say about the man or Anna Benjamin or Persaud. In fact, when a poll I conducted in 2007 showed SN as the most credible newspaper in Guyana, Freddie was livid. He went berserk attacking me and DeCaires calling us all kinds of nasty names.

Now that DeCaires is not around to debunk Freddie’s myths and lies, Freddie is invoking the man’s good name to give credence to his fabrications. But people have seen through Freddie’s hypocrisy.

People know that lies, half-truths, distortions and misrepresentations come from the pen of Freddie. He ought to go by the sobriquet “King Liar” – the title of a calypso. Freddie feels a lie a day will keep him in play but Guyanese are not that gullible to accept his hypocrisy.
VISHNU BISRAM
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Mr. King is a real person
I read with great interest the article written by Mr. Freddie Kissoon, titled “How Does Mr. Jagdeo feel about this?” in the Kaieteur edition of October 4, 2009.

I always wanted to respond to the many unfounded, allegations that Mr. Kissoon, continues to make against the government, ministers, its’ employees, the President, Mr. Bisram, Mr. T. King and E. Daly among others.

I want to make it clear that I do not know any of these people personally, except for Mr. T. King whom, I have known for the last thirty five years or so and he is a real person. He lives in Toronto and has no access to governmental information, other than public information. He does not even know Mr. Jagdeo or any ministers. He is not privy to any sources. We have been good friends during this period of time and continue to hang out very often. We play the horses together and socialise. Does this make him a Jumbie?

Mr. King continues to write how he sees it and in my opinion, he has hit the proverbial ‘nail on its head’ every time he writes. He quotes irrefutable facts, none of which, Mr. Kissoon is able to prove wrong.

It is a pity that Mr. Kissoon has dragged his net to cover any and all persons, he does not agree with. He cannot accept that there are many occasions, that he is dead wrong, but wants readers to accept his allegations as the facts.

There are a lot of times when Mr. King writes against the government. He does not take sides.

I can reassure you this, Mr. Kissoon, Mr. T. King is a concerned citizen and he asks pertinent questions and there are numerous occasions to which he has provided the facts to substantiate his claims.

And one further thing, Mr. Kissoon, I am also real. You can google my name on the Internet, if you wish to ascertain my identity.
MOHAMED MOBIN
Toronto, Ontario
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It is a blow for Americans
IN America the right wing nuts went wild on TV and Radio cheering and saying that President Obama lost the bid for the 2016 Olympics.

If these right wing nuts had any sense they would have seen the odds against the Americans for their foreign policy of eight long horrifying years of George Bush.

This is not a lost for President Obama; this is blow to America and Americans.

America is sneezing like crazy but the rest of the world is not catching the American cold and fever.

Developing countries are developing rapidly thus leaving America behind simply because the rest of the world is fed up and sick of American arrogance to other nations.

Imagine most of the world leaders would sit and wait and listen to the American President’s speech at the United Nations.

What does American Presidents do after their speech? They walk out.

How do the right wing nuts feel when the US Presidents finish speaking they walk out not wanting to hear from the good Presidents of other countries?

Is it because America is big bad and powerful and could do what ever it want when it want? Not so anymore.

To reject the power house United States in the first round is a clear message to the American Government that it will not tolerate American bullysm anymore.

To the anti-government news media in Guyana that allow anti-government bloggers on its blog site, I have bad news for those too.

For many of those on Stabroek News blogs that always say Brazil is taking over Guyana or Brazil owns Guyana, well it's good to see the 2016 Olympics will be taking place in a country that is investing heavily in Guyana.
Go Rio go.
T. KING
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Freddie and Holder need to apologise to Bisram
AS an educator, I teach students to be honest, mannerly and straight and to apologise when they are wrong. An apology is a sign of maturity and is harmless to the apologist. An apology is expected from someone who is wrong. So, I don’t understand why Mr. Freddie Kissoon or Ms. Sheila Holder doesn’t want to apologise for misstatements about Mr. Vishnu Bisram.

Kissoon said he did research and found that Bisram is not a teacher anywhere in the world. He subsequently confirmed that Bisram was teaching over 25 years in NY. He would have been smart to simply check with someone who knows about NY-based Guyanese to find out if Bisram was a teacher. He could have asked Moses Nagamootoo, Dr. Prem Misir, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, even Khemraj Rramjattan, or any other prominent person living in NY. They would have confirmed Bisram is a teacher. Freddie, Bisram is no ordinary Guyanese. He is one of the most prolific Guyanese (maybe Caribbean) newspaper writers in NY. He is among the most hard working Guyanese community advocates and organisers in the city. There is hardly a Guyanese activity in Queens that he is not a part of. And he also tutors students for free. What does it take for Kissoon to say he erred about Bisram and tender an apology?

NYC teacher Mike Persaud is right to describe Kissoon as belonging to “a lunatic fringe” for writing to the principal of the school where Bisram teaches to find out if he is a teacher. Which rational individual would do a thing like that? He should have accepted the confirmation from his KN colleague, Ravi Dev that Bisram teaches in NY.

Kissoon was also wrong about an OAS meeting in Miami in which he, using Sheila Holder’s gossips as a source, claims that Bisram’s poll was a subject of discussion, of all places, at the OAS. Is Bisram that important that Holder says the OAS discussed the man? The Assistant Secretary General of the OAS, Albert Ramdin, repudiated both Holder and Kissoon saying no such discussion took place. Two other participants, men of integrity, also rebuked Holder who now changes her story to say that the discussion on Bisram’s polls was private among a few panelists and not part of the official discussions. In short, she is basically saying it was gossip.

Holder and Kissoon should tender an apology that the gossip should not have been put in the public domain to give a false impression that it was an OAS sanctioned discussion. That is outright dishonest for which the OAS should take immediate sanctions against both Kissoon and Holder and perhaps the AFC for sending Holder to gossip at an OAS meeting.

Kissoon also needs to apologise about his unsubstantiated claim that NACTA does not exist and that NACTA is a one-man organisation. He now has confirmation about the organisation which has performed yeoman service to Caribbean people in the region as well as in the diaspora.

As I previously penned, Bisram is not the founder of NACTA but has donated generously for the founding of the organisation and its myriad activities and he remains a loyal and dedicated financial supporter of the organization’s activities.

Freddie, a retraction of your statements is in order since confirmation is made about your many queries. That is the minimum expected from an academic.
VASSAN RAMRACHA
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Amused at flexibility of opposition parties
I am amused to read in SN that the opposition parties say that they would be “flexible” on their participation when Parliament opens. Mr. Corbin stated that their participation will be based on the agenda in the parliament. “We will determine as the case arises, from time to time, what is in our most strategic interest, Mr. Trotman is not sure if he is going back, however, he sees the Assembly as a place of value, and that the party has a legislative agenda that includes a Freedom of Information Bill as well as questions.

So their agendas for the good of Guyana are held hostage to forcing the government to agree to an international inquiry. Is it possible that these leaders have not learned how to use their positions and the Assembly to get the legislation and questions, they want? The Speaker ruled against the form, not the intent of the motion raising questions regarding the Roger Khan case. Will the next elections be based on which party is better, but which ones are worse? If the GoG has not made any progress, it looks like neither did the opposition.
N. AUGUSTUS

Clinical Demerara dispose of Berbice
By Calvin Roberts
A clinical batting and bowling display from defending champions Demerara, saw them recording an easy seven wicket victory over Berbice in a dress rehearsal final round match of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB)/ El Dorado sponsored senior limited overs Inter-county tournament at the Wales Community Centre ground yesterday.

Berbice won the toss and opted to take first strike on a flat wicket in hazy conditions and were met by the swing of Kellon Carmichael (3-26) and Christopher Barnwell (2-31), who restricted them to 17-4 in the ninth over, before they were bowled out for 195, thanks to the batting of Jonathan Foo (69) and Esaun Crandon who made 57.

Demerara in reply, rode on the back of a 59 runs opening partnership between Rajendra Chandrika and Shemroy Barrington (31), to reach 197-3 from 45.1 overs, with Gajanand Singh and Leon Johnson being the not out batsmen on 41 and 35 respectively.

Sewnarine Chattergoon (09; 1x4), Richard Ramdeen (00), Assad Fudadin (00) and Royston Crandon (00) were all back in the pavilion, as Carmichael and Barnwell went on a rampage in front of a handful of spectators when Berbice took first strike.

Narsingh Deonarine (23 2x4; 1x6) and Foo restored some order to the batting, adding 48 for the fifth wicket with Foo flicking Carmichael to the backward square leg boundary for four, while Deonarine who was dropped by wicketkeeper Joseph Perry off Carmichael when he was on one pulled, Sauid Drepaul over midwicket for six, which raised the 50 for Berbice in the 18th over.

Foo followed Deonarine by hitting Drepaul who took five wickets in Demerara’s first round game against Essequibo, between cover and extra cover and when Deonarine struck Zaheer Mohammed for successive boundaries, Berbice moved to 65-4 in the 21st over.

They lost Deonarine, who was caught by Steven Jacobs at extra cover from a top edge pull off Drepaul and even though Delbert Hicks (12) stuck around to add 21 with Foo from 7.5 overs before he held out to Mohammed at wide mid on, Berbice were 86-6 in the 30th over.

Esaun Crandon strolled to the wicket to join Foo and together they took the attack to the defending champions in a match which served as a dress rehearsal for the final at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence this Saturday.

Foo brought up his 50 with a four then six over mid on and mid wicket off Mohammed, facing 75 balls and accumulating four fours and one six, while Crandon who played the role of a pinch hitter when Guyana defeated Jamaica in the quarterfinals of the 2006 Stanford T20 tournament, struck two sixes and three fours in his 50 from 46 deliveries.

They tore into Demerara’s bowling, with Foo hitting Drepaul over wide long on for a maximum, then watched as Crandon hit Drepaul through point and then to third man off successive deliveries for four, before Foo was caught by Barnwell at midwicket to leave Berbice on 155-7 in the 41st over.

Crandon engineered the addition of 40 more runs from the remaining nine overs before he was the last wicket to fall in the penultimate, even though he saw the demise of Veerasammy Permaul and Devendra Bishoo who both made four, leaving Brandon Bess unbeaten on 2, as Drepaul supported Barnwell and Carmichael with 2-51.

When Demerara began their reply in sultry conditions, Barrington started things with a straight drive back along the ground off Bess, followed by a flick through backward square leg for boundaries and another four through the covers off Royston Crandon, before he was caught by a diving Bess at point off Permaul.

Barnwell (10 2x4) who showed signs of permanence at number three, hit Permaul through mid off for four and followed it up with an authoritative drive through extra cover for another boundary, whilst Chandrika swept Chattergoon to fine leg for four.

But Barnwell, who looked intent on posting a big partnership with Chandrika, was smartly stumped by Hicks off Bishoo in the 23rd over, to leave Demerara on 90-2.

Both Johnson and Chandrika hit Bishoo for boundaries, with the latter hitting the national right arm leg spinner over long on for six to move to 48 and raised his half century with a single to deep mid on from the 80th ball he faced, hitting three fours and one six in the process.

Chandrika continued to attack the Ancient County bowling with two fours scored off successive deliveries from Royston Crandon in an over which cost Berbice 11 runs, before Chandrika was bowled by Deonarine.

The 21 year old Chandrika struck five fours and one six from the 84 balls he faced up to his demise off the first ball of the 33rd over, leaving Demerara on 130-3, which raced to 168-3 seven overs later, when Gajanand Singh struck Permaul through midwicket and extra cover for boundaries off successive deliveries.

Johnson watched as Singh struck Deonarine for four through point, followed by another through midwicket, before he finished the match in style for Demerara with an audacious drive for four through the covers off Bishoo.

BERBICE innings
S. Chattergoon c Jacobs b Carmichael 09
R. Ramdeen c Mohammed b Carmichael 00
A. Fudadin b Barnwell 00
N. Deonarine c Jacobs b Drepaul 23
R. Crandon c wkpr Perry b Barnwell 00
J. Foo c Barnwell b Mohammed 69
D. Hicks c Mohammed b Drepaul 12
E. Crandon c wkpr Perry b Jacobs 57
V. Permaul c Barnwell b Mohammed 04
D. Bishoo c Sarwan b Carmichael 04
B. Bess not out 02
Extras: 1b, 1lb, 12w, 1nb
Fall of wickets: 8-1, 15-2, 17-3, 17-4, 65-5, 86-6, 155-7, 166-8, 175-9, 195-10
Bowling
Barnwell 9-0-31-2, Carmichael 10-1-26-3, Mohammed 10-1-50-2, Drepaul 10-0-51-2 (1nb, 1w), Jacobs 9.2-1-35-1.

DEMERARA innings
S. Barrington c Bess b Permaul 31
R. Chandrika b Deonarine 61
C. Barnwell stp wkpr Hicks b Bishoo 10
L. Johnson not out 35
G. Singh not out 41
Extras: 14b, 1lb, 5w
Fall of wicket: 59-1, 90-2, 130-3
Bowling
E. Crandon 6-1-23-0, Bess 1-0-8-0, R. Crandon 5-0-38-0, Chattergoon 7-2-14-0, Permaul 10-1-38-1, Bishoo 8.1-1-29-1, Deonarine 8-1-32-1.

Stuart takes 30-lap feature at Carlton Wheelers cycling meet
WALTER Grant Stuart, a one-handed individual, was the man who emerged victorious in the feature event of the Carlton Wheelers Cycling Club’s 7th annual cycling meet which was held yesterday at the Everest Cricket Club Ground.

National Cycling Coach Hassan Mohamed embraces Walter Grant Stuart who won the feature 30 lap race. Also in the picture are Junior Niles and Enzo Matthews the first and second runners-up in that event.

Stuart also competed in the category 3&4 event, in which he placed third, and the Devil takes the hindmost event.

Stuart who received a lucrative payout for his exploits yesterday said that he is a very humble individual who is devoted to and passionate about cycling.

Another shining star at yesterday’s meet was Christopher Holder who won the Juveniles, Juniors, Category 3&4 (unknown distance) and Juniors and Juveniles 12-14 yrs open events.

Alonzo Greaves also had an impressive day as he claimed the Devil takes the Hindmost race for the second year running; he also claimed victory in the category 1&2-5 & 10 laps races.

Raymond Perez picked up a double as he won in the BMX Boys 6 to 9 years and 9 to 12 years categories. The veterans also had a say as Jaiden Blackman won the Veterans under 50 race while Aubrey Springer won in the over 50 Veterans category.

National Cycling Coach and President of the Carlton Wheelers Cycling Club, Hassan Mohamed regarded yesterday’s event as a continuing success, he said that it is not everyday that facilities are available for a track meeting and he is very thankful to Everest for rendering the ground for use.

All in all Mohamed said that it was a good day of activity and he emphasised his happiness with the fact that the BMX riders gave 100% participation to the day’s proceeding.

Barbados emerge champions at CAC Bodybuilding 2009
ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, (CMC) – Barbados emphatically outmuscled their rivals and emerged champions at the 37th Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships on Saturday night.

The Barbadians, also belatedly awarded the 2008 title after a statistical error, picked up six divisional titles en route to their triumph, and added the Mr CAC bodybuilding title through light heavyweight champion Martinus Durrant, and Renee Cobham’s Miss Fitness CAC crown.

Trinidad and Tobago’s Candice Carr-Archer was declared overall female winner after copping the women’s masters’ category.

Durrant and welterweight Hoskin Worrell won their categories and helped spur Barbados to 208 points, convincing 71-point victors over their closest rivals Trinidad and Tobago (137).

Former champions, Bahamas, placed third after tallying 115 points.

Cobham landed the Open Women's Fitness crown over Nicole Carter in a Barbados one-two finish.

The triumph triggered huge celebration for the Barbadians, who had won the championships in the Bahamas last year but were only officially declared winners here at the general assembly.

“This is a resounding victory because we have won by over 50 points from the nearest rival Trinidad,” declared Walter Sobers, Public Relations officer of the Barbados Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation.

“I think total team effort did it for us tonight. We were informed that we also won last year but that is a little late in coming but this one is definitely better than that,” Sobers added.

Jamilia Sokunbi and Ramona Morgan also claimed women’s body fitness titles for Barbados at 158 and 163 categories respectively and Junior Ramon Broomes won his category.

Barbados also secured five second places and four third-place results.

“All of our athletes made the finals and that contributed to our winning,” Sobers added.

James Darling led Bahamas quest for points after securing two major titles, the men’s masters and the middleweight.

Other category winners include bantamweight Hemradj Mulai of Aruba, lightweight Diego Salinas, of El Salvador, Bermuda’s lightweight Ross Caeser, Puerto Rican Juan Carlos Bega capturing the heavyweight title, and Jamaica’s Phillip Clahar, the super heavyweight champion.

Grenada’s Damien Daniel, who won the Eastern Caribbean championships in Trinidad and Tobago earlier this year, did not live up to expectations and placed fifth in the heavyweight category.

Guest posers were Grenada’s Vaughn Francis, who won the CAC two years ago, and Dennis James, a fourth place finisher in the prestigious Mr Olympia competition, who came off the stage and posed his way through an audience of screaming female fans.

About 250 bodybuilders and delegates from 19 countries participated in CAC Championship which will be held in Aruba next year.

Braithwaite hits third BCA century
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, (CMC) – Promising teenager Kraigg Brathwaite stroked his third century of the 2009 Barbados Cricket Association (BCA) Division One Championship on Saturday and helped Barbados Youth build a competitive score against LIME.

The 16-year-old Brathwaite, who is on the West Indies Under-19 squad for next year’s ICC Youth World Cup, used an amazing 40th career hundred to help Barbados Youth score 270 for six at the Lester Vaughan School ground.

He struck 23 boundaries and added 78 for the second wicket with Roston Chase (31).

There were two other century-makers on Saturday’s opening day of 10th round matches.

Kirk Gibson hit 124 in Carlton’s 333 for six declared against BDF Sports Programme at Black Rock, and Nekoli Parris cracked 149 for Sagicor UWI, who reached 316 for five against Maple at 3Ws Oval.

Vincentian Romel Currency hit 50 and West Indies captain Floyd Reifer was 50 not out at the close for UWI.

Elsewhere, retired West Indies medium pacer Ian Bradshaw claimed five for 66 for Wanderers to restrict Bristol to 195.

Wanderers were 45 for two in reply.

The left-arm pacer Ian Perryman also picked up five wickets, returning figures of five for 22 off 12 overs for Empire to wreck Pickwick’s innings for 158.
Empire reached 26 for one in reply at stumps.

`Players won’t want central contracts’
KEVIN Pietersen has joined the growing band of players voicing concerns over the gruelling international calendar and said that with lucrative IPL deals on offer, they would not be as keen to accept central contracts from their boards.

Last month Andrew Flintoff rejected an England contract to concentrate on a freelance career, playing for the IPL and other clubs around the world. Pietersen, one of the most bankable England stars after Flintoff - he just landed a hefty contract to endorse Brylcreem - has been talked about as the most likely player to follow in Flintoff's path.

Pietersen, who is recovering from injury and hoping to make England's tour to South Africa, said Flintoff's situation was different from his but admitted that franchise cricket was tempting to players.

"Freddie's in a different position to me because he's finished his Test career, his body is sort of finishing itself off," he told the Observer. "He puts such a workload through his legs and his knees and his ankles. I'm just a batsman.

I love scoring runs for England. I hate being out injured. I'm not going to make a sob story out of it, because I just want to try and recharge my batteries after five years of a rollercoaster ride.

"But I think the reality of it is now, with IPL and everything around, central contracts are not necessarily going to be things people are going to look forward to."

Pietersen said central contracts did not mean the same that they did when they were first introduced because of the lucrative alternate options available now. He felt the England board needed to rotate players so that they got adequate rest.

"You do want guys playing to the best of their ability and not just thinking: 'Oh, here we go again. Right, I'm going to bat three times this week, I'll try tomorrow, I'll try the next day.'"

Pietersen said there was too much county cricket being played, with the result that the quality of the game drops. "County cricketers coming into the Test environment, they don't face fast bowling and they don't face quality spinners.

The reason they don't face fast bowling is that no fast bowler can come to England and play 18 first-class games, plus 18 one-day games, plus nine one-day games, plus Twenty20. People won't bowl 90 miles an hour [in those circumstances].

"It's a struggle from the start whereas in Australia and South Africa you've got guys who face this kind of bowling all the time. They play only eight first-class games.

"I honestly think that cricket in this country needs to be regionalised and you need to play each match like a Test match, instead of up and down the country, playing every day.

It's an horrendous grind, especially if you're nowhere near the lead. If it was eight teams fighting it out for something, it's a lot closer.” (Cricinfo)

Shocked U.S. Olympic delegate urges heads of state ban
By Karolos Grohmann
COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - The Olympic fiasco arising from U.S. President Barack Obama's failed promotion of Chicago's bid for the 2016 Games should be avoided by keeping heads of state away from the process, a U.S. delegate said yesterday.

Anita DeFrantz, one of two International Olympic Committee members from the U.S. said she was still in shock at Friday's IOC vote which awarded the Games to Rio de Janeiro while Chicago finished fourth and last on just 18 votes - despite speeches in Copenhagen by Obama and first lady Michelle Obama.

Rio also enjoyed head of state support in the Danish capital from President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Madrid had King Juan Carlos of Spain on its team and Japanese prime minister Yukio Hatayama was backing Tokyo in person.

"I think it's (visits from heads of state and political leaders) getting ridiculous. We should go back to the videos," DeFrantz told Reuters.

"They (Barack and Michelle Obama) won and Chicago lost. They were clearly the most popular people there but it was not a contest of most popular heads of state, as you know."

Other IOC members said expectations that visits, like that made by the Obamas, could influence the vote were exaggerated.

"It is not a vote between heads of state," IOC Executive Board member Ser Miang Ng of Singapore told Reuters.

"It was a wonderful gesture (for Obama to come) and the President has a lot of respect from all the members. You could see how popular he is by how many members shook his hand and took pictures."

GIVING TIME
"Many of us understand that giving us his time shows great support for the Olympic movement. By coming he gave a big endorsement but maybe it was not the time for Chicago. Every city has its time."

Another Executive Board member Richard Carrion of Puerto Rica said: "I think we are giving too much importance to the head of state visits. I think it was more the strength of the Rio bid."

Heads of state and political leaders have increasingly attending IOC sessions in recent years to exert influence in favor of their particular city's bid.

Then British Prime Minister Tony Blair helped London win the 2012 Games in 2005 and Russia's Vladimir Putin was crucial to getting the 2014 Winter Games for Sochi.

Carrion said even Blair's influence had probably been exaggerated.

"There is this story that Tony Blair won it for London," he said. "We are very happy to see the heads of state. It does imply a certain support but I would not give it that much importance.

"It would be a very bad comment on our own process though if it could be swayed by heads of state.

Obama's failure to influence the final outcome put him in good company. Nelson Mandela went to the 1997 IOC session in Lausanne to support Cape Town but the South African city finished a long way behind Athens in the bid for the 2004 Games.

Chelsea return to top, Arsenal thrash Blackburn
… Ancellotti happy with return to form
By Martyn Herman
LONDON, (Reuters) - Chelsea returned to form with a powerful 2-0 win over Liverpool at Stamford Bridge to move two points clear at the top of the Premier League yesterday

Second-half goals from French duo Nicolas Anelka and substitute Florent Malouda settled an absorbing contest high on commitment but lacking in clearcut chances.

Chelsea, who suffered their first defeat of the season at Wigan last weekend before an unconvincing Champions League victory in Cyprus, moved to 21 points, two clear of champions Manchester United who drew 2-2 with Sunderland on Saturday.

“After this match I think we have resolved our problem, it was not a big problem,” Chelsea manager Carlo Ancellotti, who had harsh words for his players in the past week, told reporters. “We carried out what we had prepared before the game and for that I’m happy.”

Liverpool, who have now lost three league games compared with only two defeats last season, slipped out of the top four behind Arsenal who enjoyed a scintillating 6-2 home victory over Blackburn Rovers.

West Ham United needed a late equaliser to earn a 2-2 draw at home to 10-man Fulham but they remained in the relegation zone while Everton drew 1-1 at home with Stoke City.

Ancellotti demanded an improvement and he got it, although the Italian would have been concerned when Liverpool dominated the opening 10 minutes with crisp passing.

Liverpool, also needing a quick response after a shabby midweek Champions League defeat by Fiorentina, failed to test Chelsea’s second-choice keeper Hilario until six minutes from halftime when Fernando Torres headed straight at the Portuguese.

Chelsea had taken a grip on proceedings by then with Michael Essien stamping his authority in midfield.

Anelka had Chelsea’s first chance but could not direct a header past Jose Reina from an Essien cross and Michael Ballack headed wastefully over from a pinpoint Deco delivery.

Chelsea’s opener after 60 minutes came from an unlikely source. The usually miserly Javier Mascherano squandered possession to Frank Lampard in the centre circle and the ball was moved quickly to Deco and on to Didier Drogba who crossed for Anelka to stab his third league goal of the season.

BEST CHANCE
Liverpool searched for an equaliser and Torres scuffed their best chance wide before Chelsea sealed victory late on when Drogba squared for Malouda to finish from close range.

Asked if three defeats in eight league games had wrecked Liverpool’s title challenge, manager Rafael Benitez pointed out that it was too many draws which cost his side last season.

“Maybe this time we will win more and draw less,” he said. “It’s a long race and it’s important to keep calm. We will see in May.”

While Chelsea, apart from one blip, have chugged along smoothly this season, Arsenal have provided most of the thrills and spills.

Six different players were on target for the Gunners on Sunday as they took their goal tally to 24 in seven league games with a display of attacking panache watched by the club’s record goal scorer Thierry Henry.

The former darling of the Arsenal fans, who scored 226 goals for the club, would have been proud of any of the strikes from Thomas Vermaelen, Robin van Persie, Andrei Arshavin, Cesc Fabregas, Theo Walcott and Nicklas Bendtner.

Blackburn had twice led in the first half with goals from Steven N’Zonzi and David Dunn but were blown apart as Arsenal, inspired by the magnificent Fabregas, turned on the style.

“When we are confident we have a flow that looks like the goals can come at any moment and from anywhere. Today we scored six and their keeper (Paul Robinson) had a good game,” Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger told reporters.

Arsenal, who along with Liverpool have 15 points, one behind third-placed Tottenham Hotspur, could slip out of the top four on Monday when big-spending Manchester City travel to Aston Villa targeting the victory would take them into third spot.

T&T team off to Champions League Twenty 20
…manager hails 'team of dreamers'
TRINIDAD & Tobago manager Colin Borde has termed as "a team of dreamers" the side that left for India to compete in the inaugural Champions League Twenty20 starting this Thursday.

Despite the lack of star players and experience in subcontinent conditions Borde said the island team would push itself much harder to prove to the world that they are a quality side.

"The team itself shows a lot of discipline and it is not a difficult task to keep them straight as a pin and as players you guys look out for each other and that's an important part of teamwork and you can see that in how these guys play," he said.

"I have known a lot of these guys from a very young age and I have seen them grow into professional cricketers and I know they are never satisfied with the success that they have and that is great. There is a hunger for success and they are always willing to learn."

T&T are pooled with England Twenty20 Cup runners-up Somerset and IPL champions Deccan Chargers, sides that boast a few international names. Borde, however, said that no particular team or individual had the players in awe.

"This team has a lot of confidence... I have never seen them crack under pressure. We have a saying that it is just cricket, just bat and bowl. They have a lot of confidence in their ability and a lot of that confidence comes from hard work they have put in over the last few months, said the manager.

"This is a very disciplined team, they have put in the work... they sometimes complain but they always comply. They worked extremely hard at it and their dreams are big dreams. I don't think I have ever met a player on the Trinidad and Tobago team who did not believe that he could go on to be an international player. Their idols are world-class individuals and not only cricketers - sportsmen.

"These guys think big and I hope that the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board continues to encourage these guys to think big and dream big. This is a team of dreamers and most of their dreams are coming through because most of the requisite work is being done."

T&T will play two warm-up matches before playing their first tournament match against Somerset in Bangalore on October 12. They play Deccan on October 14 in Hyderabad.

T&T squad: Daren Ganga (capt), Dwayne Bravo, Lendl Simmons, William Perkins, Kieron Pollard, Sherwin Ganga, Navin Stewart, Samuel Badree, Darren Bravo, Ravi Rampaul, Denesh Ramdin (wk), Sunil Narine, Adrian Barath, Rayad Emrit, Dave Mohammed. (Cricinfo).

Vettel wins as Button grabs point
By Chris Whyatt
SEBASTIAN Vettel convincingly won the Japanese Grand Prix yesterday to keep his slim title hopes alive but championship leader Jenson Button stayed in control.

Cool Button pounced on an early tangle up ahead to finish in eighth, although a late safety car denied his Brawn team being crowned constructors' champions.

The Englishman now leads the title race from team-mate Rubens Barrichello, who came seventh in Japan, by 14 points.

Toyota's Jarno Trulli snatched second at Suzuka ahead of Lewis Hamilton.

Red Bull's Vettel led from start to finish after defending his pole position from reigning world champion Hamilton off the start.

The young German grabbed 10 points with a stunning drive and now sits 16 points behind single-point scoring Button in the championship with 20 to play for.

Ferrari's in-form Kimi Raikkonen finished fourth at the famously demanding figure-of-eight circuit ahead of Williams driver Nico Rosberg with BMW Sauber's Nick Heidfeld in sixth.

After the race Button claimed that Rosberg illegally set his best sector time under the late safety flag.

And though stewards from governing body the FIA found Rosberg had exceeded the speed limit during that period, they decided to take no action because telemetry data proved the German was "prevented from being able to accurately follow timing information".

The drivers' title fight now moves to the season's penultimate race on 18 October in Brazil where Button, who recovered from a poor start at Suzuka, can land the title he covets.

Brawn came so close to clinching the constructors' championship in yesterday’s race in their debut season, and now need just half a point more to take over from Ferrari as champions.

Their celebrations were cruelly put on hold after a late safety car came out following Jaime Alguersuari's crash in his Toro Rosso with eight laps remaining.

Barrichello had been running in sixth for most of the race and that would have been enough, but the safety car allowed Rosberg to jump up the pack from seventh.

Once Vettel maintained his position in front of the chasing pack from pole, the 22-year-old rapidly built a three-second gap in the crucial early stages from McLaren's Hamilton, who said it became "impossible to keep up with him".

"What a race," said Vettel. "We were pretty confident of defending the start but it was closer than I thought it would be going into Turn One.

"I had the inside so it was my advantage. After that it was head down and I tried to pull a gap. It all worked out and I was pretty much in control until the end."

With smooth-running Vettel's third victory of the season rarely in doubt up front, much of the focus turned to Button's progress as he attempted to recover from starting the race in 10th - a nightmare position stuck in the midfield.

That handicap was compounded when Button suffered a poor start and slipped back a place after McLaren's Heikki Kovalainen jumped up to eighth using his energy-boost [Kers] button.

Trailing the longer-fuelled Robert Kubica, Button pulled a classic overtaking manoeuvre on the Pole to regain 10th position during the fourth lap.

Yet when Button started breathing down Adrian Sutil's neck, he discovered that his car suffered from understeer and that, more crucially, it did not possess the straight-line pace of the lighter-fuelled Force India.

But a dream twist unfolded on lap 14 as Sutil attempted a pass on Heikki Kovalainen, only to be sent into a spin by the Finn, who refused to yield his position.

That allowed Button to cruise past into eighth and, with clean air, he soon started eating into the distance between himself and Rosberg as his pace began to match that of duelling leaders Vettel and Hamilton.

Hamilton was told by his team on lap 24 that he needed to extend his gap on Trulli to three seconds, but over the following phases he failed to do so.

By the time Trulli made his second pit stop one lap after a troublesome final stop for Hamilton on 38 as his gearbox appeared to get stuck, the pacy Italian was able to leapfrog the Englishman and consolidate from there.

Button, meanwhile, was just unable to catch those in front of him despite closing the gap with ever-quicker sector times.

And when the safety car went in late on having pushed all the cars closer together in a train, the 29-year-old did well to defend his position from Kubica in a four-lap dash to the finish.

"Today was about picking up points and that's what I did," Button told BBC Sport.

"I really can't see that I'm only going to [only] get one point. Rosberg is surely going to get a penalty - he set his best sector under the safety car.

"It's nice to pick up one or two points and my pace was very good in the race. It's tough when you are stuck behind people who were stopping much later."

Alguersuari was unhurt after his crash on lap 43 while Toro Rosso team-mate Sebastien Buemi had to retire after 11 laps.

Timo Glock was unfit to race for Toyota, for whom Trulli's result was a coup at their home grand prix, after injuring his leg in a high-speed crash in qualifying though the German looks sure to return in Brazil.