Issue No. 422

Citing a potential conflict of interest due to a new business venture, the Minster of Health Services, the Honourable Gilbert McLean announced on Monday

HSA Chairman Resigns

The Minister of Health Services, the Hon. Gilbert McLean announced the immediate resignation of Mr. Kel Thompson, the Chairman of the Health Services Authority (HSA), at a press conference held on Monday, 9 June.

Following their press conference (left to right) Hon. Gilbert McLean; Mr. Kel Thompson, former HSA Chairman; Miss Andrea Bryan, the new Chairperson; Mr. Mervyn Conolly and Mr. Lewis Ebanks.

Mr. McLean also revealed that HSA Chief Executive Officer Mr. Mervyn Conolly would vacate his current position to become the country's first Superintendent of Health Insurance.

Miss Andrea Bryan will take over the position of interim chairman until a replacement can be found.
In addition, the Minister announced proposed amendments to the Health Insurance Law, which would include the establishment of a Health Insurance Commission.

Mr. Thompson's resignation comes one month short of his full one-year term as HSA Chairman of the Board, and was made to avoid a possible conflict of interest with Mr. McLean. Taking over the position of chairman on an interim basis until a replacement can be found is the Ministry's Permanent Secretary, Miss Andrea Bryan.

During the press conference, Mr. Thompson said that he is pursuing an aviation-related business opportunity that requires he submit an application to the Air Transport Licensing Authority by 15 June. "I discussed my interest with the Minister," he said, "and we agreed that it would be inappropriate if I remained as Chairman of the HSA while applying for this privilege that will be granted to someone by an authority answering to the same Ministry."

For his part, Mr. Thompson was pleased with the progress he made in his eleven months as chairman. "I think the record clearly indicates that what was once a Government department, is now generally run like a business, and is considerably more efficient."

"From a financial perspective," he continued, "we have realised savings of about four million per year and have improved our revenue by approximately the same amount, while at the same time increasing the level of service."
In accepting the resignation, Mr. McLean praised the efforts of the outgoing Chairman. "When Mr. Thompson was asked to chair the HSA board," he said, "he recognised that it demanded courage and the wherewithal to make difficult decisions and so [he] agreed to accept the chairmanship of the board with the condition that it would be a one-year term I want to thank him for shepherding the newly created authority through its infancy."

Mr. McLean said that the HSA was ushering in phase two of its strategic plan. "Now that we can breathe easier because of the authority's improved financial stability," he said, "we can afford to give even more attention to improving medical excellence and customer services, which I consider to be phase two of the HSA's development."
The Minister announced his intention to present a bill establishing a health insurance commission, as well as amendments to the law and regulations before the forthcoming meeting of the Legislative Assembly. "As superintendent [of health insurance]," he said, "Mr. Mervyn Conolly will function as the chief executive officer of the health insurance commission and will advise the Minister of Health Services in relation to health insurance matters. He will also remain as a director on the HSA board."

He went on to discuss the importance of Mr. Conolly's role with the board. "Mr. Mervin Conolly [has] been in health care in the Cayman Islands for more than 23 years," he said. "He has served as hospital administrator, director of Health Services, and upon the creation of the authority in 2002, became its chief executive officer. These years of service have given Mr. Conolly a highly informed, comprehensive and broad view of the health sector perhaps the broadest of anyone in the Cayman Islands."

Also mentioned at the press conference was Mr. Lewis Ebanks, who has accepted an offer to extend his term as deputy chairman and managing director of the authority until the end of September 2003, in order to facilitate a smooth transition into the next phase of the HSA's development.

Ms. Bryan provided an overview of the proposed Health Insurance Commission, saying that its functions would include requiring every health care facility and registered health practitioner in the Cayman Islands to file with the commission annually and at every adjustment of their fees, the maximum fee charged for each health benefit they provide.

The interim chairman also announced some new health services, including a new women's centre, and a mental health facility to house in-patients on a short-term basis which is expected to be open in August of this year.

Return

No European Savings Tax Directive for Bermuda

Ms. Paula Cox

In what has surely come as a welcome surprise to Bermuda's financial sector, a European Union (EU) spokesperson has made a clear statement, contrary to general assumptions otherwise, that Bermuda will not be covered by the EU Savings Tax Directive, according to a report in the Royal Gazette on Saturday, 7 June.

The Savings Tax has been a hot topic here recently amongst many since the Court of First Instance ruled that the UK could not legally enforce the directive on an Overseas Dependent Territory such as the Cayman Islands.

But while the controversy surrounding the possible application of the tax in the Cayman Islands remains unresolved, Bermuda's position now appears straightforward it will not be subject to the tax.

The reason for Bermuda's omission, however, is less certain. According to the EU spokesperson, it was not covered by the agreement because it was not listed in the final missive only overseas territories in the Caribbean are included in the written statement. "Last time I looked," said the spokesperson, "Bermuda was not in the Caribbean."
The spokesperson was unable to comment on whether this omission was planned, or was merely due to an oversight, according to the Royal Gazette. The result, however, is that Bermuda's banks will not be affected, except perhaps for subsidiary branches located abroad.

Paula Cox, Acting Finance Minister of Bermuda, speaking to the Royal Gazette, was not surprised by the remarks of the EU spokesperson. "I don't think we were ever included," she said. "We have an exchange of information agreement, and as long as the proper paper work is filled and referred to the Attorney General's chambers, it can be released. But we do not want anyone on fishing expeditions. We do not engage in such matters."

In a written statement, Ms. Cox referred to the June 2000 meeting of the European Council, which provided for "the EU members and their relevant dependent or associated territories (the Channel Islands, Isle of Man, and the dependent or associated territories in the Caribbean)." The Royal Gazette emphasised the fact that nowhere in the above reference was there any mention of islands in the mid-Atlantic, such as Bermuda.

With other overseas territories facing the possibility of the Savings Tax being implemented by 1 January, 2005, Bermuda's exemption is likely to cause many to question both the fairness and the effectiveness of a tax which is made to apply in a differential manner.

Return

BoB Online Celebrates 2nd Anniversary

May marked the two-year anniversary for Butterfield Online, Bank of Butterfield's highly successful Internet banking service. The first real-time online banking service in Cayman, Butterfield Online now has approximately 5000 online customers with over 14,000 online accounts.

"Each month over 18,000 transactions and requests are processed online, and the number keeps growing," said Roy Tatum, Butterfield's Electronic Banking Manager. "We've also added a number of features and services since the launch two years ago."

Butterfield Online provides customers with the ability to securely view bank and credit card account balances and transaction history, manage fixed deposit accounts, transfer funds between their accounts and to accounts of other Butterfield customers, and order bank drafts and cheque books.

Online customers can pay bills to over 35 local businesses including insurance companies, all the utility companies and the Chamber Pension Plan, as well as make payments to their Butterfield credit cards and American Express card accounts.

Mr. Tatum adds "Butterfield Online is the only local online banking service that provides for the special needs of business customers. Businesses can have controlled access for selected employees, as well as single person or dual authorisation for online transactions." He explains that Business clients who do not wish to have full transaction ability can opt for a "View Only" online service.

Current online services are scheduled to expand in the coming months by adding features such as Secure Messaging and account balance information for the Butterfield family of funds.

Bank of Butterfield assures all online customers that they use the highest level of security encryption commercially available. Many online transactions cost less than conventional paper transactions and signing up is free and may be done at any Butterfield branch. Alternatively an application form can be downloaded from the Butterfield website and faxed to the Bank.

Bank of Butterfield International (Cayman) Ltd. was formed in 1967 and operates from five locations in Grand Cayman, including three bank branches.

Return

World Report

United Nations envoy Razali Ismail

SEOUL: Communist North Korea admitted publicly for the first time that it was seeking nuclear weapons and blamed "hostile" US policy for forcing it to develop a deterrent.

LONDON: Britain is not yet ready to join the euro, Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown announced, while holding out the possibility of a referendum on the issue in the next few years.

WARSAW: Fireworks exploded over Warsaw after official confirmation that Polish citizens had overwhelmingly backed membership of the European Union in a weekend referendum.
YANGON: UN envoy Razali Ismail, who is pushing for a meeting with detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, said he was "encouraged" after talks with two of Myanmar's most powerful generals.

WASHINGTON (UPI) The Supreme Court has made it easier for workers to win discrimination claims against their employers. The justices sided with a female forklift driver at a Las Vegas warehouse who was called a trailblazer by some and a troublemaker by others. In 1994, Catherine Costa was the only woman operating forklifts in the warehouse at Caesar's Palace.

MONROVIA: French troops evacuated more than 500 foreigners from the war-wracked Liberian capital Monrovia, as continuing battles between rebels and government forces sparked a lightning truce mission.

Return

News

Students honour women in words

WRC Programme Officer Tammy Ebanks Bishop (2nd r) presented the trophies and gift certificates to first-place winner Stephanie Powery (at right), Marzeta Bodden (2nd l), and Joanna Jackson (left).

The three student winners of the Honouring Women Month writing contest have been named. The first-place author is 15-year-old Stephanie Powery of West Bay, who attends the John Gray High School; Marzeta Bodden (17), a Community College student, placed second; followed by Joanna Jackson (15), also a John Gray student.

These winners were selected from numerous entries to the competition, which is part of the special Quincentennial edition of the annual Honouring Women events. The three young ladies were awarded trophies as well as gift certificates donated by Hobbies & Books.

Stephanie Powery's winning piece paid tribute to her mother, with details from before her birth, "As I emerged from the confined, dark yet secure, cosy home I had been living in and developing for the first nine months of my life" It continued through the events of their family, and to the present, concluding with the words, "No matter what adversities or afflictions she faced she never gave up on us. Her protection and perpetual love has proved to be the foundation of our upbringing As I look behind me I see so many precious moments shared with her, and as I look in front of me I see many more to come."

Similarly, Marzeta Bodden honoured the consistent effort and attentiveness shown by her mother at home, in the community, church, school and work. She noted, "Our legacy of respect and admiration for her will be everlasting and ever present, so will the legacy of service and her charitable acts to her children, her family and the country."
The other top finisher, Joanna Jackson, wrote about many women. It focussed upon her mother, "Her words are constant reminders of who I am" as well as a 'second mother' who has also helped pave a positive path for her development. Entitled 'One Women Who has Influenced my Life,' her essay also uplifted other women in the teenager's life, including teachers and 'church sisters'.

Return

Personnel Dept. offers places on UK courses

University of Portsmouth Business School's Stephen Pilbeam will be conducting interviews on the island 9-13 June.

In an effort to recruit new applicants, Government's Personnel Department has scheduled a series of interviews with University of Portsmouth Business School representative Stephen Pilbeam, 9-13 June.

The department has been offering a master's degree in Human Resources Management (HRM) and a Certificate in Personnel Practice via the UK-based institution, over the past two years. To date, more than 40 participants have completed these programmes through the department, with a 100% success rate.

Deputy Permanent Secretary of Personnel, Graham Wood, says "Having a representative conduct the interviews demonstrates the university's strong support of these programmes. I'm happy that we've managed to develop a solid relationship with the university and I hope that we can keep producing more personnel-oriented professionals who will contribute to the success of these Islands,"

Stephen Pilbeam MSc MITL FCIPD is a Principal Lecturer in Human Resources Management (HRM) at the University of Portsmouth Business School and also the Course Director for the university's Personnel Management Programmes. The university is an internationally recognised centre of excellence for personnel and HR management education.

Pilbeam has close links with the UK's Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) and is a Fellow of the Institute. He also has extensive teaching experience in the UK and overseas and specialises in human resource management and reward strategy. His most recent publication, co-authored with M. Corbridge, is People Resourcing HRM in Practice FT Prentice Hall, published last year.

All interested members of the public are asked to visit the government website at www.gov.ky, for information and applications. To speak to a representative, phone the Personnel Department at 949-7900, the Personnel Training Unit at 244-3521 or visit the department at Government Administration Building.

Return

Celebrating 50th anniversary of Coronation of HM QE II

Mrs Jennifer Dilbert on her way to Westminster Abbey

A service to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the Coronation of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, on Monday 2 June was attended by Mrs Jennifer Dilbert, Cayman Islands Government Representative in London.

Mrs Dilbert represented Cayman at the service at Westminster Abbey. Accompanying HM The Queen, were The Duke of Edinburgh and other members of the Royal Family.

Following the service, Mrs Dilbert attended a function, hosted by Crown Agents Stamp Bureau, to mark the launch of a stamp collection for the Overseas Territories. The collection showcases the new silhouette of the Queen's head, a trademark of British stamps.

Return

Pin-ups and toothpaste: how Prince Harry lives in Eton

Recent photo of Harry, son of the Prince of Wales (Prince Charles), as Conrade in an Eton College production of 'Much Ado about Nothing'.

Prince Harry, the younger son of the Prince of Wales, who finishes his studies at Eton College later this month.

Prince Harry stands during the Wall Game at Eton College

LONDON (AFP) Britons poured over brand-new photographs of Prince Harry on Sunday, 8 June looking for clues into his lifestyle at Eton College ahead of his graduation.

The 18-year-old younger son of Prince Charles and the late Princess Diana takes his last exam Thursday at the exclusive English private school, where he has been largely left in peace by the British press.

To mark the occasion, Saint James's Palace allowed a photographer for the Press Association news agency to record his life and the first results appeared in the Sunday newspapers.

One showed the fresh-faced Harry in front of two paintings he made which featured lizard motives. "They're very good," wrote art critic Brian Sewell in the Sunday Mirror newspaper.

Another had Harry in his Etonian bow-tie uniform hamming it up with a gorgon statue on the school grounds. "Clown Prince," headlined the Sunday Express.

But the most dissected image featured Harry, smiling as always, sitting in a black leather armchair in his room, surrounded by:

A framed, black and white Mario Testino portrait of his mother, who died in a 1997 car crash in Paris. (It was Testino who took the official, palace-approved portraits of Harry when he turned 18 last year.)
Two pin-ups of buxom British glamor model Caprice, and a third of actress Halle Berry. (Caprice immediately put out a press statement to say: "It is an honor to get such recognition from the royal family.")
A tube of Aquafresh ("The cornershop toothpaste, so surely a plant?" asked a skeptical Observer), with an electric toothbrush standing up next to it.
A bottle of mineral water from Prince Charles' own brand of Duchy organic food products.
A large, circular Indian-style wall hanging ("Is Harry following in (older brother) William's footsteps with a love of exotic wildlife?" wondered the Sunday Mirror).
A container of Lynx deodorant. Television advertisements for the brand claim it can instantly turn geeks into babe magnets on the dance floor.

Firmly closed to the right of the frame is a laptop computer, and the only book was a Testino album. The News of the World did, however, spot an exam schedule pinned on the wall.

The photos of Harry were issued on the heels of a glowing interview, with pictures to match, of Prince William at Saint Andrews University in Scotland. He turns 21 later this month.

Return

Rotary Sunrise pulling together to help Cayman children with giant Mini raffle

Sunrise Rotarians pulling together to help Cayman children & youth projects.

Sunrise ladies with the coolest car in Cayman.

Sunrise Rotarians are well on the way to hitting the target on their Giant MINI Raffle which is in aid of Children and Youth projects on all three Cayman Islands.

The first prize in the raffle is a brand new, high spec MINI Cooper S. A return Business Class trip for two to London has been donated by British Airways for the second prize. Third prize is a three-day holiday break at the Little Cayman Beach Resort (accommodation only) and return flights by Island Air. Many other prizes are being provided by local businesses.

"The car is phenomenal," said Rotarian Tim Dailey "Everywhere we go, people are amazed at the performance and the great looks". The car is supplied by G.T. Automotive Imports of Godfrey Nixon Way and they are convinced that this new edition MINI is going to be a runaway success just like its forebear was in the 60's. "Normal delivery is 4 months from order, but we have 9 in the showroom right now" says Stephen Gunby. The car costs from around CI$19,000 to CI$23,000 depending on the spec. The Rotary raffle car is top of the range, with all the bells and whistles.

The grand draw takes place at the Kaibo public beach on Fathers day, Sunday 15th June. In addition, anyone wishing to purchase a car will receive an extra $250 discount when presenting an order accompanied by a ticket to G.T. Automotive Imports between 16th June and the 30th of June, 2003.

Tickets are $25 each or 5 for $100 and are available from Fosters Food Fare, A.L. Thompson Home Depot, Arabus, Island Art and Framing the Grand Old House or any Sunrise Rotarian. On Cayman Brac they may be purchased from Audley Scott. All proceeds from tickets will go towards helping children and youth projects in the Cayman Islands.
More information can be obtained from Alastair Paterson 949 6804 or Geoff Mathews 946 9460 or Tim Dailey 949 5759.

Return

Editorial

Tourism Goal Set Too Low

As lower tourism air arrivals continue to bring tough economic times here in Cayman, with figures considerably lower than the heady pre-9/11 days, the dramatic increase in cruise ship passengers has somewhat tempered the impact of the downtrend.

Though cruise ship passengers spend a lot less money here per day, and offer more in the way of quantity than the quality in tourists the Department of Tourism seeks, there is no denying that they have helped keep the Cayman Islands' economy afloat in these uncertain times.

While it is true that cruise passengers tend to patronize a limited number of businesses on Grand Cayman, the impact of their spending trickles through the entire economy. They might not be the ideal spenders as tourists for us, but they sure have helped us recently.

The problem is, after what will undoubtedly be a record year in 2003 for cruise passenger arrivals, according to published reports quoting the Director of Tourism Lania Rittenhouse, 2004 will see an enormous 33 percent drop in those arrivals. A further anticipated drop in 2005 will bring cruise ship passenger arrivals to totals under that of 2001.
These figures, if accurate, foretell continued economic difficulties for this country, especially in light of the relatively low goals set by the Department of Tourism (DoT) to boost air arrivals here.

At the four percent increase per year increase suggested by Mrs. Rittenhouse, it would take four years just to reach the air arrival figures of the year 2000, and even those figures probably could not sustain the number of businesses now in Cayman. Of course, if the figures are accurate, many of our local enterprises might not survive to see 2007 anyway.
It is good business practice to set goals, but we are not sure why the DoT has set its aim so low; it's not as if the local economy is in such terrific shape right now that it could afford the slow and incremental growth suggested by the Department, especially considering air arrivals are almost 15 percent lower now than in 2000.

Perhaps it is time Cayman started targeting new markets so that all of our tourism eggs aren't always put in only the American basket. While it would be unimaginable to ignore the vast United States market, there are people from other places in the world that enjoy sun, sea and sand as well.

As the Euro currency continues to strengthen against the US dollar, a Cayman vacation becomes more and more affordable to people on the other side of the Atlantic.

There are many benefits of targeting Europeans, starting with the fact that they tend to take longer holidays, primarily because they get more annual vacation time. Another advantage of the European tourist is that many travel in the summertime even to tropical destinations which, if the market is developed, could help even out the tourism seasons here.

Other Caribbean destinations like the Dominican Republic, Cuba, Cancun and Martinique have successfully targeted Europeans, so it's not a far stretch to say that Cayman could do the same, particularly with the current exchange rates of the Euro dollar.

With the rebranding of Cayman's tourism product underway, it makes sense to diversify the market as well, to make us less reliant on the United States. Promoting regular charter flights from Europe could help ease the pinch of lagging air arrivals, and help us spread the word of the wonders of the Cayman Islands to an entirely different, and sustainable, market.

Return

Letters to the editor

PPM supports the police in the fight against crime

Dear Sir,

I write on behalf of the George Town District Council of the Peoples Progressive Movement to lend our support to the recent efforts of our Police force in the fight against the recent rash of serious crime.

Like all residents of these Cayman Islands we too are alarmed at the apparent increase in crimes, especially those involving guns. Indeed, as reported in the press the Commissioner of Police himself apparently stated that at the time of the news report he had seen more crime in the past four weeks than in the last four years.

The announcement by Commissioner Thursfield of the formation of a special unit to combat serious crime is definitely a step in the right direction and we congratulate the RCIP on taking a stand. The message given was appropriately tough and criminals have been served their warning.

Sadly though the press report also indicated that our Police Force is still under-resourced and in need of equipment and at least another 20 officers to properly 'serve & protect' the public. This is certainly an unsatisfactory situation; one that we trust Government will ensure is rectified as a matter of urgency.

Despite the staffing shortages, it is heartening to see our Police Force, including Senior Officers, give up some of their free time to bolster the ranks to ensure that sufficient numbers are available to patrol the 'beat'. This self sacrifice is commendable. Our Police is willing to go the extra mile, now we the public need to also step up the plate.

To reiterate parts of the reported statements of Commissioner Thursfield; i.e "crime fighting is not the business of the police only these matters need the whole community to address if they (the community) simply do nothing, the death or serious injury of our young people is inevitable, it will happen everyone has a duty, a responsibility to help and not let the situation deteriorate."

Friends, do your duty, help our police officers. If you know details of a crime then tell the police or telephone crime stoppers. If you do not help to resolve the problem, then you will become a part of the problem. We cannot turn back the hands of time, but we can work together to ensure that our Islands remain friendly, peaceful, and safe.

A. R. Tatum
Chairman, G.T. District Council of the PPMnecessary.

Return

Centralisation of Due Diligence information suggested

Dear Sir,

The deadline for the "know your customer" and "due diligence" compliance, pursuant to the new regulatory environment in Cayman's financial services sector, is fast approaching. By the end of June of this year, all customers of banks, and other specified financial institutions, must have supplied various information to your bank or financial institution, including: reference letters, certified copies of passports, copies of various IDs (including a Driver's License), copies of utility bills etc., etc.

While this new regulatory environment is said to be driven by worldwide expectations and best practices, the implementation of the compliance regime is far from world class. Especially in an era of E-commerce, E-government, Document and Knowledge Management, Electronic Data Warehousing, Document Imaging and Archiving etc, what appears to be overly cumbersome is that in Cayman, existing and new customers have to provide the same information to every institution with which they have a relationship.

It seems to us, that a far better system would be to centralise this information in a secure electronic document "warehouse", with the Monetary Authority (CIMA) or a private organisation approved by CIMA, being the host and administrator of the information. Information would be requested from each individual or corporate account-holder, but would only be sent once to this centralised "data warehouse". Each financial institution would have secure access (for a fee) in order to verify the existence of customer information. In addition to being a secure private-public partnership, this centralised repository would avoid duplication and flatten the growing mountain of paper as well as the mutual inconvenience and inefficient costs.

While we encourage everyone to cooperate with your financial institution in order to comply prior to the impending deadline, we call upon our respective policy-makers to give the innovation, summarised above, their favourable consideration, going forward.

Mario E. & George R. Ebanks
Enterprise Forum

Return

Current Commentary

A Pentecost meditation

By Gabriel Jay Rochelle

ALLENTOWN, Pa. (UPI) This past Pentecost Sunday, Western Christianity celebrated the birthday of the Christian church. In this meditation, theologian Dr. Gabriel Jay Rochelle, who as an Orthodox Christian will celebrate Pentecost one week later, reflects on what the biblical account of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-11) means for the Community. Rochelle teaches sacramental theology and homiletics (preaching) at Saint Sophia Ukrainian Orthodox Theological Seminary in South Bound Brook, N.J.

"In order to have a community, you need communication. Shared stories and holy things are the basis of communication. The community grows by receiving gifts that enable communication. That's what Pentecost is all about. Listen!

At Pentecost we hear spectacular stories and recall awesome deeds, which may make us overlook what's going on right before our eyes. These pyrotechnics started the Christian community with a bang, but the Holy Spirit works among us in ordinary ways to achieve communication and to build community.

We are called to the community of faith; we do not make this decision on our own, though we contribute to it. We pray that all people will grow in the faith into which they have been baptized and chrismated (anointed). It takes hard work, and there are no guarantees. We need communal support to be transformed.

We become holy as we partake of holy things. We become the Body of Christ as we receive the Body and Blood of Christ. We become restored icons of God as we venerate the icons of those who are now among the saints alive who pray for us. We become agents of forgiveness as we receive forgiveness.

The kontakion (liturgical hymn) states poetically what is happening:

"When the Most High came down and confused the tongues, He divided the nations; but when He distributed the tongues of fire, He called all to unity. Therefore, with one voice, we glorify the all-holy Spirit!"

This unity does not come in a flash. We live in a world of Babel. Unity requires understanding, patience, and hope. Our faith is often debased into mere religious activity. Violence often supplants peacemaking, lack of commitment opposes faithfulness, and despair may overwhelm our call to hope. Powerful forces build structures that lead away from, not toward, community. In the rush to reach the sky we leave the ordinary paths behind.

Saint Paul gave us the word. The works of the flesh destroy community. They divide us from one another, they lead us to exploit others, and they feed on our selfishness and greed. "By contrast the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, competing against one another, envying one another" (Galatians 5:22-26).

"Spirituality" is a buzzword in our society. Beloved companions in Christ, this passage expresses the spirituality we are called to embody, the spirituality that leads to genuine community.

Saint Paul may have had a vision of a giant cosmic Body, of which each of us is a part. Each member is important if the body is to function at its highest capacity. When people are absent from the Divine Liturgy, the Body of Christ is diminished by their absence. When people are absent from one another in time of need, the Body is diminished by their absence. When people are taken from us by death we suffer loss; the Body needs time to heal these scars. We can get along without some parts, but we always compensate for the loss.

The Body of Christ is Christ's presence on earth. Our Lord Jesus Christ cared for the poor and the needy, the spiritually and the economically hungry. He lived and died for the mourners, the peacemakers, the merciful, the suffering, the tax collectors and sinners.

We are those people! We are those for whom Christ died and rose again. We are the poor and the mourners who are blessed in Christ's realm.

The Body of Christ is made up of those whom Christ is healing. We are one Body on the road to wholeness. We will get there together or we will not get there at all.

New people become part of the Body of Christ through Baptism and Chrismation. They hear the sacred story. They receive the holy things. Some come by marriage, some come on their own, but all seek wholeness, a gift that will not be denied. We the needy become, in turn, those empowered to respond to a world of need.

The troparion (another liturgical hymn) for Pentecost shows how God catches us up in this mission: "Blessed art Thou O Christ our God, who hast revealed the fishermen as most wise by sending down upon them the Holy Spirit; through them Thou didst draw the world into Thy net, O Lover of Mankind. Glory to Thee!"

May we join those fishermen, full of the Spirit. May we be joyful and eager to do the ordinary work that will draw the world into the net of Him who is the lover of mankind."

Return

News Analysis

Blair running out of trust with British public

Britain's Prime Minister Tony Blair

By MARTIN WALKER, UPI Chief International Correspondent

WASHINGTON (UPI) - For three hours the afternoon of Thursday, 5 June, Tony Blair's full Cabinet talked about whether or not the economic conditions were right for them to call a referendum and recommend to the voters that Britain should join the euro.

But somewhere in the back of every Cabinet Minister's mind was a rather more urgent question - how far the government in general and Tony Blair in particular still carried much credibility with the public. If they called a referendum and advised the public to vote "Yes," how many of them would trust Blair's judgment?
Blair, facing Prime Minister's Question Time in the House of Commons, put forth his usual accomplished performance against charges that the intelligence evidence about Iraq's weapons of mass destruction had been doctored to strengthen his case for the war. Iain Duncan-Smith, the lacklustre and thoroughly decent Conservative Leader of the Opposition, delivered his own customary feeble performance.

On the face of it, Blair won. He denied doctoring anything. He played the patriot card, praising the achievements of the British troops. He turned to human rights, telling the British people they should be proud of toppling such a brutal dictator. And he wallowed in his own triumph and sneered at the discomfiture of his critics.

"They said there would be thousands dead. They said it was my Vietnam. They said that the Middle East would be in flames!" Blair mocked the hapless Duncan-Smith.

And the massed ranks of Blair's backbenchers shouted down the Opposition. So it was a parliamentary triumph. Yet it was hollow, because one phrase from Duncan-Smith seems to be echoing in Britain with far greater reach and resonance than Blair's defense.

"The truth is that nobody now believes a word that the Prime Minister says." This was the truly devastating remark from the Conservative leader, and people seem to be taking it seriously.

One of Blair's former Cabinet colleagues, Development minister Clair Short, who resigned claiming that she had been misled over the Iraq war, has reinforced Duncan-Smith's charge.

"The fact that there was deceit on the way to military action is a very grave accusation I am making. If we can be deceived about this then what can we not be deceived about?" Short said.

The British public seems to agree. Last week, the Daily Telegraph published a poll that showed the Conservatives just one percentage point behind Labour. Blair's own ratings were grim. After the 1997 election, Blair had a positive rating of 60 - that is, 60 percent more voters approved of him that disapproved. Just after his successful 2001 re-election, Blair's approval rating was 18. Last week, it was minus 18.

Worst of all were the poll figures asking whether the Government has been honest and trustworthy. Only 29 percent, fewer than one in three, said 'Yes.'

At the time of the last election, 56 percent thought Blair's government was honest. And 62 percent of British voters polled said the British government was no longer trustworthy.

There are frightening figures for any politician, but desperate for a leader like Blair who had managed to forge a close personal link with the British electorate, convincing them of his decency and his integrity. The failure to find Saddam Hussein's WMD, nearly two months after the fall of Baghdad, has corroded the level of personal trust that had been Blair's biggest asset.

And Blair has yet to face his biggest test in persuading the British public to put their doubts to one side and trust their prime minister. The decision whether or not to join the euro is just the half of it. (The chances are that the Cabinet will agree to duck the issue of a referendum, which the polls say they would probably lose.) The issue they cannot duck is the European Union's new constitution, whose draft has just been published by the convention chaired by former French President, Valery Giscard d'Estaing.

The merits of the new constitution are almost beside the point. The Conservatives and the press and most of the public want a referendum in which they can say yes or no to the new constitution. Blair says no - the constitution will be ratified in the usual way by Parliament, not the public.

In effect, Blair is telling the voters "Trust me," when the issue of Trusting Tony is now at the heart of British politics, and less than a third of the electorate thinks he is honest.

"They fear the government is going to sell them out on Europe and thus will try to do it stealthily," says Robert Worcester, chairman of the MORI polling firm.

So Blair's apparent success at Question Time in Parliament may have been one successful skirmish in a much longer and more serious campaign for the trust of the British public that Blair now seems to be losing. And without it, Blair's plans for Europe, the Middle East, Iraq, domestic reform or anything else will bog down. He seems to be running out of time, just three months short of August 2, the date when he can claim to be running the longest-serving Labor government in British history.

Return

Overseas Commentary

Anglosphere: The Democracy Club

By JAMES C. BENNETT

WASHINGTON (UPI) - For several decades there has been sporadic discussion in the Western democracies on the idea of a democratic alternative to the United Nations. This alternative would be an organization - let's call it the Democracy Club - with many of the same goals and purposes of the United Nations, but whose membership roster would be limited to countries with genuinely constitutional representative governments, accountable to their citizens, with such attributes as a fairly enforced code of laws and effective civil rights.

However, this solution, attractive as it may be, is not without its problems. First of all, with such a definition of membership, we probably couldn't get away with excluding the French. I say this not to indulge in French-bashing (well, perhaps just a little) but to point out a more problematic truth.

We are distressed by such travesties as Libya and Syria chairing U.N. bodies on human rights and disarmament; we must endure being lectured by representatives of "national" governments that are little more than gangs of pirates who have seized the presidential palace back home; we tediously note mischievous coalitions of such kleptocracies passing one after another absurd resolution in the U.N. General Assembly.

But for all that, it remains a fact that much of the real damage done to the interests of the responsible democracies comes not from kleptocrats guarding their spoils, or from progressive transnationalists trying to implement world government. Rather, it has come from traditional nation-states such as France and Russia (both of whom would pass the democracy test, Russia shakily) using the United Nations as a mechanism to advance traditional national interests.

Indeed, opportunistic Third World kleptocrats and dreamy German, Canadian, and Scandinavian transnationalists alike have tended to be pawns for other ends on the part of states whose Security Council seats have become a form of entitlement that does not merely fail to accurately reflect real clout in the world, but serves as a substitute for it. A Democracy Club would include France and Russia, and exclude China. Yet China has used its veto and threat of veto more sparingly than the two former powers; of them, shakily democratic Russia has used its veto power more responsibly than France.

Still and all, a Democracy Club, even with these drawbacks, would be superior to the United Nations, and to some extent, its exclusion of kleptocracies, pseudo-states, and failed states. For instance, their absence from the councils of the Club would eliminate the temptation for nations such as France to court their votes and in doing so prop up loathsome dictatorships. Shakily democratic states with substantial traditions of corruption (some Latin American states, for example) could still be suborned in this fashion, but there would be fewer of them, and some accountability could be required as a condition of membership.

Perhaps most importantly of all, such a club could have rules, and such rules could be enforced. Part of what is needed is a catchall rule that no action of the Club could in fact be used to undermine the general interests of the democracies. Supporting a rogue state against the interests of the democracies, for example, would pretty clearly violate this rule.

Such an organization would be able to take over a number of the more useful technical functions from the United Nations, such as regulation of radio spectrum and other global-commons problems. By arriving at sensible solutions far more quickly, and without payment of ransom to kleptocratic pseudo-states, it would naturally tend to assume more and more of the valid functions of the United Nations. It could also serve as a more effective mechanism for restoring basic order to failed states, acting in such places as Cambodia, Congo, and Haiti while the United Nations remains paralyzed.

Of the various issues in assembling such an organization, the most interesting and possibly the most complex would be those of defining its relationship to organizations that already have some of its characteristics, such as the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the Group of Eight economic summit, or NATO and its penumbral organizations such as the Partnership for Peace. It is possible that some or all of these would in time become integrated into a Democracy Club.

Lyndon Johnson was once asked why he tolerated J. Edgar Hoover's continued fiefdom at the FBI. Johnson, in his inimitable Texan style, replied that he'd "rather have him inside the tent (urinating) out, than outside the tent (urinating) in." By such a criterion, we could probably even tolerate the French in the Democracy Club.

Return

'Terrorists are right here'

By AL SWANSON

CHICAGO (UPI) - My dear gray-haired mother was right.

"The terrorists are right here," she's said many times since the horror of Sept. 11, 2001. She was not shocked at all when the City Colleges of Chicago fired a computer technology instructor on Wednesday because he lied on his job application.

It seems Muhammad Salah was on a federal government list of terrorists and had spent nearly five years in an Israeli prison for allegedly funneling cash to Arab bombers. Salah, 50, a naturalized U.S. citizen from Jordan, pleaded guilty in 1995 to sending $650,000 to the violent Islamic extremist group, Hamas. One bombing killed an Israeli soldier.
Three years ago, Salah was named in a lawsuit by the parents of a 17-year-old American Jewish boy who was killed by Palestinian terrorists in Jerusalem in 1996.

ABC News was the first to disclose that several suspects on the government's terror watch list were employed around the country.

Last year, Salah was dropped from a list of substitute teachers by the Chicago Public Schools after FBI agents told school officials about his alleged ties to Middle East extremists.

How the Palestinian-born Salah was able to get a job at the city colleges with unfettered access to computer systems and the Internet in the Olive-Harvey College computer lab one can only guess.

The city college's standard background check only covers the United States - not any foreign convictions.
"We do a standard background check through Social Security," said Paula Bridges, City Colleges' director of marketing and public relations. "At this time, certainly we are reviewing the procedure to ensure that we are doing all that is necessary."

"We did a reasonable search and a reasonable search is the United States of America," said City Colleges Chancellor Wayne Watson. "To search the entire world might be cost prohibitive. We are looking at that right now."
Attorney General John Ashcroft told a congressional hearing on Thursday he wants to strengthen the 19-month-old Patriot Act to close weaknesses terrorists could exploit. The USA Patriot Act II would give the Justice Department far-reaching new powers to conduct domestic spying, keep terrorists in jail without bond, and carry the death penalty for any terrorist act that killed someone.

"I'm not law enforcement. I'm an educational institution," said Watson. "I'm familiar with the Patriot Act as an average citizen. I've no opinion on that. I have not read it. I was disturbed, no, I was concerned that there is not a mechanism to notify employers of such a situation. So far, our investigation indicated that nothing inappropriate was taking place."
No one wants terrorism here, not the civil libertarians or the taxpayers in more than 120 American cities, towns and counties who have gone on record opposing Patriot Act II.

"To my mind, the purpose of the Patriot Act is to secure our liberties, not to undermine them," said House Judiciary Committee Chairman Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis.

He'll get no argument from mom, who could use some help protecting her beautifully landscaped bungalow from the home-grown terrorism of neighborhood thugs and drug pushers.

Mom really isn't all that worried about a terrorist attack on the South Side. Many residents are armed to the teeth and truthfully your average terrorist wouldn't stand much of a chance if he hoped to escape. But she always knew they were near.

"The terrorists are right here," she'd say.

Return

Ask Dr. Brothers

The facts about mind control

Dr. Brothers

Do most people have built-in resistance to thought control or brainwashing? Is our ability to resist it directly related to our intelligence? Is timing important to mind control? Do methods of brainwashing differ from place to place and year to year? Can there be permanent damage to hostages who undergo brainwashing in time of war? Is the Stockholm syndrome related to the United Nations and the current war? How much do you know about this subject?
1. Most people are not vulnerable to mind control or brainwashing attempts, whether during wartime or peacetime.
TRUE ( ) FALSE ( )

2. Those who are intelligent won't bend to terrorists or fanatics of any kind.
TRUE ( ) FALSE ( )

3. Pseudo-religious cults are the most dangerous and the most expert when it comes to mind control.
TRUE ( ) FALSE ( )

4. Street kids from poor backgrounds are the most susceptible to any kind of brainwashing, whether by military forces, terrorists or cults.
TRUE ( ) FALSE ( )

5. Methods of brainwashing and mind control differ greatly and have changed widely throughout the years.
TRUE ( ) FALSE ( )

6. Brainwashing of any kind rarely leaves any permanent damage.
TRUE ( ) FALSE ( )

7. Timing is important in mind control.
TRUE ( ) FALSE ( )

8. The Stockholm syndrome is a condition that grew out of the recent United Nations meeting that discussed the Iraq war.
TRUE ( ) FALSE ( )

ANSWERS:

1. FALSE. Everyone is vulnerable if approached at the right time. Preparation can be helpful, but if the efforts to use mind control are intense or brutal, only a desire to die will make one resist.

2. FALSE. No matter how excellent the mind, intelligence doesn't guarantee that the person will be immune.

3. FALSE. Pseudo-religious cults or leaders are no more dangerous than any other captors who might be experts at mind control. However, if the captors happen to be of the same religion as their captives, even though their views are more fanatical and extreme than their hostages' views, their task of mind control might be somewhat easier.

4. FALSE. Some experts feel that the best targets for brainwashing are obedient, polite youngsters from the protected upper and middle economic classes. Street-smart kids are less apt to trust adults and more apt to rebel and question all authority.

5. FALSE. The basic technique of isolating the hostage separating him or her from friends, family and everything he or she has known in the past remains the same. Food and sleep deprivation, humiliation, mortification, rigid control, constant persuasion and threats of bodily harm have not changed over the years.

6. FALSE. Brainwashing that involves mental and physical torture, including long periods of isolation, almost always leaves some permanent damage. The victim's spirit and ability to trust him- or herself and others might never fully recover.

7. TRUE. Adolescents are extremely vulnerable because their sense of self, their identity, their ego structures are not yet well-formed. Timing is very important, and anyone approached or taken hostage when he or she is lonely or in a period of emotional conflict is more susceptible.

8. FALSE. The Stockholm syndrome is one in which victims or hostages form emotional bonds with their captors. The term comes from a 1973 bank robbery in Sweden, when hostages were held in a vault for six days.

If you answered six of these eight questions correctly, you're better informed than most on this subject.

Return

Health News

Time-tested tips for expecting moms

Preparing your home medicine chest is just as important as preparing the rest of your home for the arrival of a new baby.

(WMS) Your layette is at the ready, you've decorated the nursery, stockpiled plenty of diapers and bought all the childproofing essentials. What about the medicine chest? Have you filled it with the essentials?

As with the rest of your home, it's important to prepare your medicine chest for the arrival of your new baby by including treatments for common ailments and minor emergencies that may strike on the home front.

Here are some basics to include:

· Bandages of various sizes
· Roll of cotton or cotton balls
· Sterile gauze pads
· Ice bag
· Roll of tape (paper, cloth or plastic), about 1-inch wide
· Hot-water bottle
· Tweezers
· Rectal or digital thermometer
· Infant anti-fever medicine (ibuprofen or acetaminophen -- not aspirin)
· Syrup of ipecac: This substance induces vomiting and can be given to your child in the event of accidental poisoning. However, be sure to contact your local poison control center before administering.
· Antiseptic powder: This is ideal solution to help relieve diaper rash and other minor skin irritations.
Almost all babies develop a diaper rash an inflammation of the skin on the buttocks, genital area and thighs at some point during infancy. Symptoms include: redness over the diaper area, but not on the abdomen; increased discomfort, especially at diaper change time; and tight, papery skin, or skin that appears shiny and bright red.
Moms, dads, grandparents and childcare providers have used Columbia Antiseptic Powder to relieve minor skin irritations like diaper rash for over a century. The powder combines ingredients that stop itching, destroy harmful bacteria and fungi and promote the healing of damaged skin. Hypoallergenic, safe and effective even for those with sensitive skin, the powder has long been a physician's favorite.

"The formula is safe and fast-acting, and does not contain any harmful steroids or antibiotics," said Dr. Rick Minter, of Missouri, who regularly recommends the powder to his patients. "Think of it as first aid for your skin."

"It always seemed to do the trick when nothing else worked," said Barbara Wolfe of Florida, whose family has used the powder for four generations. Elizabeth Hilton of Ohio agreed. "My grandmother used this powder on her children and my father has used it all of his life. Nothing clears up diaper or heat rashes faster."

For more information and additional health care tips, write The F.C. Sturtevant Company PO Box 607, Bronxville, NY 10708, call (888) 871-5661 or visit www.columbiapowder.com.

Return

Overseas People

Malian designer unveils designs at Kenya fashion week

Kenyan models present creations by Kenyan Sylsie Creations 07 June 2003 during the Kenya fashion week at the Sarit center in Nairobi. AFP PHOTO / SimonMAINA

A Kenyan model presents another creation by Sylsie Creations.
AFP PHOTO / Simon MAINA

A creation by Mumbe Silhouttesi. AFP PHOTO / Simon MAINA

NAIROBI (AFP) Malian designer Alphadi called on African designers to try harder to market Africa on the world stage.
"A culture without fashion is a dead culture because fashion is about developing ideas, creativity and vibrancy of the people and their lives," Alphadi told participants at the recent Kenya Fashion Week.

The three-year-old Kenya Fashion Week was this year graced by several top African designers, including Alphadi, who is based in Paris and Niamey.

On the eve of the show on Thursday, Alphadi unveiled his latest exquisite creations for men and women at a gala dinner, ahead of Friday's official launch of the event.

Designs by Alphadi, 46, who calls himself "a child of a magician of the desert," reflected his own diverse cultural roots.
Known to weave strands together to create his own style, he does this to preserve the forgotten African fashion materials and techniques.

In one of his creations, he used Ugandan cloth made from bark as the dominant fabric for garments in order to pay homage to east Africa.

Consequently, he appealed to African designers to use their skills and creativity to make money.

"I make between five to 10 million dollars annually from all my 20 shops around the world and invest it in industry across west Africa, where I get most of the fashion materials and ideas," Alphadi said.

"Having achieved success and recognition as a leading African fashion designer on the world scene, I would like to encourage young African talents to promote African fashion and creativity on the international market," he said.
"Use fashion as a development tool, to provide sustainable job opportunities in the continent," he said, adding: "Europeans are our partners and friends, not leaders in design."

Organiser Moraine Tremaine said that "having shown his collections at the world's most prestigious catwalks in Paris, New York, Quebec and Tokyo, Alphadi's participation in the Kenya Fashion Week has boosted the event's profile for the future."

Alphadi also urged governments to use the US Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) to market the continent as a place for professionalism and creativity.

Return

Honduras pays homage to Japanese astronaut

Honduran President Ricardo Maduro

Japanese Astronaut Payload Specialist Chiaki Mukai

TEGUCIGALPA (AFP) Honduran President Ricardo Maduro honored Japanese astronaut Chiaki Mukai at an official ceremony at the presidential palace here, a government statement said.

Mukai, 51, was presented with an award recognizing her scientific work with the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the statement said.

Mukai's first space flight was aboard NASA's Columbia space shuttle in July 1994, and her second was aboard space shuttle Discovery, in October-November 1998.

Mukai, who accepted Maduro's invitation to visit this tiny Central American country, is scheduled to give three lectures on her work with the US and Japanese space programs during her stay.

She will cap her three-day visit with a stop at Copan Archeological Park, 400 kilometers (250 miles) northwest of Tegucigalpa, where Japanese archaeologists are participating in research on Mayan culture.

"President Maduro is a person who has great initiative and interest in educational matters, and we are grateful for his invitation," Mukai told reporters.

"In my opinion, science is a tool for living in harmony with nature, natural resources and the environment, and Honduras has many possibilities for advancing in science and technology," the astronaut said.

Return

Overseas Feature

Dominican Republic student chosen as Miss Universe

By James Aparicio

Miss Dominican Republic Amelia Vega smiles after she was crowned Miss Universe 2003, in Panama City, Panama. Seventy-one delegates participated in the 52nd Annual Miss Universe Competition.
AFP/ PHOTO Teresita CHAVARRIA

Miss Cayman Islands 2003, Nichelle Welcome was one of the Miss Photogenic finalists.

PANAMA CITY (AFP) Amelia Vega, an 18-year-old high school student and aspiring singer from the Dominican Republic, was crowned Miss Universe 2003 amid strict security.

Miss Venezuela, Maria Angel Ruiz, 23, was the first runner-up, followed by Cyndy Nell, 21, from South Africa.
Reigning Miss Universe Justine Pasek of Panama and pageant co-owner Donald Trump placed a 250,000-dollar crown of diamonds and pearls on the new beauty queen.

The 1.83 meter (six-foot) tall Vega, niece of popular Dominican singer Juan Luis Guerra, dedicated her triumph "to the Dominican people," adding: "When you work hard, with exertion and sacrifice, you can reach it all."

Representatives from 71 countries took the stage earlier at the contest held at a brand new convention center in Amador, a former US military base at the Pacific Ocean entrance to the Panama Canal.

Miss Antigua and Barbuda, Kai Davis, was voted Miss Congeniality, and Miss Puerto Rico, Carla Tricoli, was voted Miss Photogenic. Miss Cayman Islands, Nichelle Wecome was one of the finalists in this category.

Vega, who before the contest told reporters she wanted to follow in her uncle's footsteps and was recording her first CD, was also voted best dressed contestant for her shimmering gown that was reminiscent of the ocean's waves.
"I didn't come here just for the crown, but also to make my country proud," she said, adding that she wanted to become "the first Miss Universe from the Dominican Repubic."

Panama's Pasek was only the runner-up in the 2002 Miss Universe pageant: in September she took over as queen when organizers stripped Miss Russia, Oxana Fedorova, of the title officially "for breach of contract because she has failed to fulfill the duties required of the title" but unofficially because Fedorova reportedly married in secret and was pregnant.
It was the first since the pageant was first held in 1952, organized by a swimsuit company in southern California, that a Miss Universe lost her crown.

One contestant was forced to drop out: Miss Iceland, Manuela Osk Hardardottir, couldn't handle the tropical heat and was hospitalized over the weekend for dehydration.

Hardardottir, 19, is not in the running as a finalist, though she was to participate in the event, organizers said.
The contestants' every move have been shadowed by the tabloids, one of which reported that Miss Spain, Eva Maria Gonzalez, and her roommate Miss Colombia, Diana Lucia Mantilla, got into a fistfight over Gonzalez's smoking habit. The two girls were all smiles later when they publicly denied the report.

And Venezuela almost failed to send a representative due to money problems.

The problem was eventually resolved, but Ruiz's late arrival generated unwelcome media gossip, with some calling her delay a strategic maneuver to tip the scales in Venezuela's favor.

The contest, jointly owned by property tycoon Trump and NBC Television, was broadcast to an estimated 600 million television viewers in 117 countries and hosted by Cuban-American model Daisy Fuentes and US comedian Billy Bush.

It takes "a lot of hard work" to be a model said Fuentes, best known in Latin America for her tumultuous love affair with Mexican singer Luis Miguel.

Also at the event are Puerto Rican singer Chayanne and the female string quartet Bond.

Some 700 foreign journalists were in Panama covering the event.

Panama last hosted the event in 1986, when the General Manuel Noriega now doing time in a Florida prison ran the country. Venezuelan Barbara Palacios won that year.

Panama closed public schools in the capital and announced that government workers could pack up early to avoid clogging the roadways during the event. Fearing student unrest, officials also closed the University of Panama.

The beauty queens are protected by 1,500 agents from President Mireya Moscoso's own security because of protests by students and unions opposed to both the pageant and the president's economic policies.

Some 3,000 workers and students marched through the heart of Panama City Tuesday to demand a higher minimum wage, and protest the pageant's multimillion-dollar budget.

The protesters crowned their own beauty queens, each representing what they say are the country's ills:

nemployment, privatization, corruption, foreign debt, impunity, poverty and misery.

Moscoso said the protests were part of a plan "to put the country in a bad light because they know there are (hundreds) of foreign journalists" in Panama.

Commerce Minister Joaquin Jacome estimated the Miss Universe contest generated 60 million dollars in revenue for Panama.

Return

Overseas News

Once conjoined twin out of hospital

Conjoined twin Maria de Jesus Quiej Alvarez smiles for photographers with Cris Embleton (l), co-founder of Healing the Children, during a news conference announcing the release of Maria de Jesus from UCLA's Mattel Children's Hospital 07 June 2003 in Los Angeles, CA. AFP PHOTO/Gerard BURKHART

LOS ANGELES (UPI) - One of two formerly conjoined twins from Guatemala was released from a Los Angeles hospital Saturday.

CNN reported her 22-month-old sister, however, remained hospitalized, recovering from complications from surgery last August to separate them.

Maria de Jesus Quiej Alvarez squirmed and smiled as she left Mattel Children's Hospital at UCLA. There was no word when her sister, Maria Teresa, might be discharged.

The twins were joined at the head for 377 days before doctors separated them in a 23-hour operation.

The girls returned to Los Angeles on May 22, but their parents were left in Guatemala because there was no room on the plane.

Maria Teresa underwent surgery last month to replace a valve that helps drain brain fluid. It was her fifth operation since the separation.

Her sister was being treated for an infection and will stay with a foster family for now.

Return

Discount airlines: 24 % of seats

Low-fare airlines now account for 24 percent of domestic scheduled airline seats.

AirTran has been the most aggressive, starting 13 non-stop routes in the past year. They have connected cities as small as Akron, Ohio, and Moline, Ill., that previously lacked low-fare service.

By contrast, the largest low-fare airline, Southwest, has started fewer than six routes in the past year, mostly long hauls, such as Baltimore-San Jose, Calif.

The newest low-fare services are going to Canada, Mexico and the Sun Belt - about half of the new routes connect California, Florida, Nevada or Arizona to other states.

"It's getting a little more crowded for the high-cost airlines," Tom Parsons, publisher of BestFares.com, told USA Today.

It's getting crowded for the discounters, too. The heated competition has driven some low-cost competitors, such as National and Vanguard, out of the skies.

Return

Anti-euro sentiment prevails in UK

Chancellor Gordon Brown

LONDON (UPI) - Britain is not likely to hold a referendum anytime soon on switching to the euro, a published report said.

In a BBC interview Sunday, 8 June on the eve of the Labor Party's statement to the Commons, Chancellor Gordon Brown admitted six years after Labor came to power promising to play a "leading role in Europe," the government still had not convinced the public of the advantages of closer European integration.

The chancellor will join Prime Minister Tony Blair at a news conference Tuesday to launch a campaign to unite Britain around a "pro-European consensus."

Brown is expected to confirm Britain had not passed all the five economic tests for euro membership that he set in October 1997.

In a recent poll for the News of the World, 68 percent wanted to keep the pound sterling compared to 62 percent in May and 58 percent last June.

Return

Kids post pleas to absent dads on web

LONDON (UPI) - In anticipation of Father's Day, the British government has created a Web site for children to post messages for absent fathers.

The Department of Education created a competition for primary school children to send messages to their fathers, with the best winning tickets to various attractions, the London Telegraph reported.

Some have used the opportunity to introduce themselves to fathers they have never met and others have pleaded for a visit.

Judith Trowell, director of the Child, Family and Adolescent Mental Health Center said children were most likely to be able to cope without a father when the relationship between their parents had not been angry and adversarial.

She said it's "common for children to idealize the absent parent and dream about how much better life would be with them," and that some children also tend to blame themselves and look for what they have done wrong.

The website address is fathersdirect.com.

Return

Missouri journalist fired for plagiarizing

SEDALIA, Mo. (UPI) - Young journalists copying the work of others isn't just a big city problem.

Fresh on the heels of the New York Times' Jayson Blair scandal that toppled the newspaper's top editors, the Sedalia Democrat revealed Sunday it had fired a reporter for copying the work of others, including movie critic Roger Ebert.
In an editorial published Sunday, Editor Oliver Wiest wrote he became aware of a problem when a reader called and said a movie review by 29-year-old Michael Kinney was similar to one penned by Ebert.

An investigation found "several similar instances of plagiarism" from online sources in Kinney's work, Wiest wrote.
Wiest said Kinney lifted descriptions, sentences and "occasionally a paragraph," from sports stories and movie reviews.

The Democrat is a daily newspaper with a circulation of nearly 12,000 in Central Missouri.
Wiest apologized to readers and promised to impose a new code of ethics in his newsroom.

Return

Rice urges calm after Mideast attack

US National Security Advisor Condoleeza Rice

WASHINGTON (UPI) - National Security Advisor Condoleeza Rice condemned the latest violence in the Middle East in television appearances.

Rice told NBC's "Meet the Press" the attacks are an attempt to undermine both summits in the region last week.
During the Arab summit, key leaders "committed themselves to fight terrorism and pursue the road to peace," she said. "Now, there are going to be those who try and make this stillborn."

She urged Arab leaders to "stay on track."

Later, on CBS' "Face the Nation," Rice said the Bush Administration stands firm behind Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas, even though his support among his own people appears to be waning.

Two attacks Sunday that killed five Israelis were in direct defiance of Abbas' plea to Palestinian militant groups to give up their arms and participate in the peace process.

The groups Hamas, Islamic Jihad and the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades claimed responsibility for the attacks.

Return

OPEC expected to leave output the same

OPEC President Abdullah bin Hamad Al Attiyah

LONDON (UPI) - OPEC President Abdullah al-Attiyah said it is unlikely the oil cartel will vote to reduce production when it meets later in the week.

The Financial Times reported disorganization in Iraq will probably stave off the decision to cut output for now,
he said.

Iraq's eventual return to world markets, however, will put pressure on prices, he warned.

Analysts say when Iraq does return to the market, OPEC will have to cut production and forego revenue in order to stop prices from slipping. Currently, oil prices are within the group's upper echelons, $22 to $28 a barrel.

OPEC is scheduled to meet Wednesday, but Iraq has not been invited. OPEC members maintain Iraq's oil officials do not represent a legitimate government, the Financial Times said.

The Cambridge Energy Research Associate estimated Iraq is still seven to 10 years away from being able to increase its oil production to a point where it
would adversely affect OPEC quotas.

Return

Woman accused of killing man with shoe

NEW YORK (UPI) - In what could give a whole new meaning to "killer shoes" a Brooklyn woman has been accused of beating her former boyfriend to death with her size 12s.

Police told CNN the woman allegedly pummeled the man to death as the two argued outside a nightclub.
Anna Rinehart, 52, was arrested at the scene and faces charges of manslaughter and criminal possession of a weapon.

The victim, Roosevelt Bonds, 51, had obtained a protective order against Rinehart, but it had expired, CNN reported.
He was taken to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead due to chest compression and multiple wounds to the head, neck and torso, police said.

Police described the shoe as "heavy-soled with a substantial heel," the New York Daily News reported.
Bonds was the father of Rinehart's 6-year-old son, the newspaper said.

Return

Tattered mummy is beautiful mommy?

LONDON (UPI) - British archeologists believe a tattered mummy found in a tomb in the Valley of the Kings is Queen Nefertiti, the legendary step-mommy to King Tut.

The Sunday Times of London reported Nefertiti was considered one of the most beautiful and powerful women of ancient Egypt.

A team from York University had been trying to identify the mummy for 12 years and a breakthrough recently came when Egypt let the 3,500 year old mummy be closely studied for the first time, the Times said.

Previous tests had indicated it was Nefertiti, said archeologist Joann Fletcher.

However, the biggest clue came just recently when they discovered the mummy had an arm bent in a way that was allowed only for pharaohs or queens, she said.

"We can never have cast-iron certainty it was Nefertiti," she said, "but we have narrowed it right down."

Return

Monkeypox makes Western debut in US

NEW YORK (UPI) - Monkeypox, a viral disease, has been found for the first time in the Western Hemisphere with at least 19 confirmed cases in the Midwest.

The New York Times reported monkeypox is related to smallpox, but less infectious and deadly.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said 17 cases were reported in Wisconsin while Illinois and Indiana reported one each.

The patients, ranging in age from 4 to 48 years, all had contact with prairie dogs, which are becoming a popular household pet.

The illness lasts from four to 12 days after exposure to a sick animal, but the incubation period can be as long as 20 days, the CDC said.

There have been sporadic monkeypox infections in the rain forest areas of West Africa in recent years, but CDC officials say they do not know how the virus spread to the United States. The investigation continues.

Return

Santana donates tour proceeds to aid Africa

Musician Carlos Santana (l front) and his wife Deborah (2nd r) display their presents offered by South African craftmen as South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu (r) looks on during a press conference in Beverly Hills, CA, 05 June 2003. AFP PHOTO/Hector MATA

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., (UPI) - Carlos Santana announced plans to donate the proceeds from his summer tour to fight AIDS in South Africa, Rolling Stone reported.

The guitarist was joined by Nobel Peace Prize-winner Archbishop Desmond Tutu, actor Samuel L. Jackson, singer-songwriter Jackson Browne, as well as Carlos' wife, Deborah Santana at a Beverly Hills news conference.

Net proceeds from the twenty-four-date tour will benefit Artists for a New South Africa's Amandla AIDS fund. Organizers estimate the concerts could raise as much as $3 million.

After speaking about the AIDS epidemic in Africa, Tutu drew laughs when he said to Santana, "We come to you and say, 'Pack those concerts, man. Make sure we make a lot of money.'"

ANSA was initially created in 1989 by a coalition of entertainers, including actors Danny Glover and Alfred Woodward, to combat apartheid. The focus of the organization shifted to AIDS after that system of institutionalized segregation ended in South Africa.

Return

News From Our Region

St. Lucian to Lead UN General Assembly

St. Lucia's Minister of External Affairs, International Trade, and Civil Aviation, Julian Robert Hunte, last week became President of the fifty-eighth session of the United Nations' General Assembly.

The Castries-based minister will take the helm once the UN opens its new session in September. St. Lucia is the smallest country to ever hold the esteemed office.

Commenting on his appointment, the 63-year-old Mr. Hunte said it was notable, that "this singularly important world body" would pass the leadership of the Assembly to a country as small as his. He stressed that in so doing, the UN has reaffirmed its faith in the equal right of nations large and small, as enunciated in its Charter.

Mr. Hunte is a former business executive who is trained in business administration and accounts, according to his brief bio on the St. Lucian government web page. He is an alumnus of the Anglican Primary School in St. Lucia and is married with three children.

His career in government spans almost four decades, dating as far back as 1967, when he was a city councilor and later was elected Mayor of Castries. In the early 1980's, Mr. Hunte served as chairman of the St. Lucia Labor Party. From 1998-2001, he was the island's ambassador to the UN.

Also elected to the Assembly's vice-presidencies were the states of Cape Verde, China, Equatorial Guinea, France, Haiti, Honduras, Iran, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Morocco, Myanmar, Netherlands, Russian Federation, Senegal, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, United Kingdom, United States and Yemen.

The Assembly also appointed Christopher Thomas of Trinidad and Tobago as a member of the Joint Inspection Unit for a five-year term beginning on January 1, 2004.

Return

Kidnapper of US diplomat killed in Guyana

GEORGETOWN, Guyana (AFP) One of Guyana's most wanted fugitives, who was wanted in the United States for the alleged kidnapping of a US diplomat here, was killed in a shootout with soldiers and police, police confirmed Friday.
Police Anti-Crime Chief Leon Trim said Shawn Brown was among three criminals killed in an unoccupied house in Prashad Nagar, a residential district in Guyana's capital, Georgetown, late Thursday.

Brown was killed three days after the US Embassy in Georgetown said a US Judge in Illinois issued an arrest warrant for the man because of his suspected involvement in the kidnap of US diplomat Steven Lesniak in April.

Lesniak, 35, of Illinois, was snatched from a golf course at Lusignan village and taken to Buxton village, a reputed gangster haven east of Georgetown.

Lesniak, then the Regional Security Officer at the US Embassy here, was later released unharmed after his fiance paid a 15,000-dollar ransom.

Thursday's killing of the three wanted men has brought to 11 the number of alleged criminals that police and soldiers have killed this week. Eight others were killed in a storage bond in Buxton earlier this week and a large quantity of rifles, shotguns and ammunition were found.

Return

Jamaica's tourism director confirms office closure

By Felicia Persaud

Jamaica's Tourism Office in New York will soon be no more. Mr. Paul Pennicooke, Jamaica's tourism director, confirmed this last Friday night as Caribbean Week in New York wrapped up at a ritzy black-tie gala at the famous Waldorf Astoria Hotel, in New York City.

"We're reorganizing the (tourist) board and will soon have three offices overseas one in the United Kingdom, one in the United States in Florida and one in Canada," said Mr. Pennicooke. The physical office as we know it in New York will be soon closed, added the tourist director, confirming rumors and media speculation. Offices in Chicago and Los Angeles will also be closed, but not in Canada and Miami as was quoted in the Jamaica Gleaner recently.

The tourism director also added that following the scandal that rocked the New York Tourist Office last summer, and the subsequent audit that followed, the Jamaican government determined that they were not qualified to say whether they should pursue legal actions or not.

"So we've now turned it over to a top lawyer in Jamaica," the tourism director added.

Meanwhile, Mr. Pennicooke revealed that future bookings have been impacted by the war on Iraq but he is optimistic the island's tourist sector will rebound within the upcoming months as festivals like Reggae Sunfest, slated for later this month, and the Reggae Marathon and Marley fest, slated for later his year, become reality.

Return

Grenada leader pushes for multi-lingual state

Grenada may soon be a multi-lingual country if Prime Minister Keith Mitchell gets his way. The Grenada leader's remarks came after he was addressed in both Spanish and English by two students from the Grenada Junior Academy during a 'Face to Face' session last Thursday.

It was a historic moment for the six-year-old program, since as the prime minister pointed out, it was the first time that a question was asked in a language other than English.

Said P.M. Mitchell, "I want to make a point. We should have foreign languages [like French and Spanish, and even Russian and German should be] taught in all levels of the society."

He added that "computer language" should be taught throughout the school system. Currently, the island's Ministry of Education provides French and Spanish classes in some primary schools and most secondary schools.

A $30 million Education Development Project was recently inked with the World Bank that makes provision for teacher training and the establishment of at least four Resource Learning Centres, both of which will facilitate the teaching of more languages, a release from the Office of the Prime Minister said.

Return

Special Health Report

Special Health Report

by Louise Daly

CHICAGO, June 1 (AFP) An experimental drug that starves tumors of blood and oxygen extended the survival time of colorectal cancer patients by five months compared to conventional chemotherapy treatments, according to a study released.

Patients with advanced-stage colorectal cancer prescribed Avastin in combination with standard chemo drugs lived an average of 20.3 months compared to 15.6 months for patients on chemotherapy alone.

In addition to extending survival times by 30 percent, the as-yet unlicensed drug was also significantly more effective in inhibiting cancer growth and shrinking tumors, the authors of the study said.

The results represent an "important milestone in the fight against colorectal cancer," said Susan Hellmann, chief medical officer for Genentech Inc., a San Francisco-based biotech company that produces Avastin.

The company is in talks with the US Food and Drug Administration about seeking a license for the drug, Genentech said in a statement.

Cancer specialists attending the 39th annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology in Chicago, where the results of the trial were presented, said the gains in survival time were extremely encouraging.

"The drug was able to hit the target and do it efficiently," said Robert Mayer, a Harvard Medical School professor who led a discussion of new colon cancer therapies here Sunday.

The trial also provides the first major clinical proof of the efficacy of an antiogenesis agent a drug that blocks the formation and growth of new blood vessels (a process called angiogenesis), which is essential for the spread of cancer cells.

"This is the first proof of principle showing that a targeted cancer therapy in general and an angiogenesis inhibitor in particular works against colorectal cancer," said lead investigator Herbert Hurwitz, an oncologist at Duke University in North Carolina.

Avastin works by inhibiting a protein called vascular endolethial growth factor or VEGF that encourages new blood vessel growth.

In the clinical trial, the combination Avastin therapy delayed cancer progression by an average of 10.6 months versus 6.2 months in the control group, and shrank tumors by at least half in 45 percent of patients, compared to 35 percent of the controls.

Return

Sports

Rossi leads Italian podium sweep to win Italian MotoGP race

Italian Honda MotoGP rider and world champion Valentino Rossi (front) leads compatriot Ducati rider Loris Capirossi and Honda rider Max Biaggi during the Italian motorcycling Grand Prix at Mugello's track 08 June 2003. Rossi won the race while Capirossi finished second and Biaggi was third.
AFP PHOTO/Paolo COCCO

MUGELLO, Italy (AFP) World champion Valentino Rossi, on a Honda, won a thrilling Italian Grand Prix here on Sunday to lead an Italian podium sweep and increase his lead at the top of the championship after five rounds.
Loris Capirossi came second on a Ducati with veteran Max Biaggi, on a Honda, third.

Rossi had started on pole but slipped back to sixth before battling back through the field to claim victory.

He opened up a gap between him and the other two riders on the 15th of the 23 laps, though behind him Capirossi and Biaggi were involved in a real battle royal for second spot.

Their machines even appeared to touch slightly as they raced side-by-side for the finishing line.

Capirossi's Ducati made the most of its extra power on the 1km home straight of the Mugello circuit to just edge Biaggi's Honda.

Fourth-placed rider Makoto Tamada of Japan finished a few seconds further back.

"Today we delivered a huge spectacle for the crowd as well as for the riders," said Rossi.

"The spectators must have thought they were dreaming to see such a fight for victory. I would like to congratulate Loris and Max because they are very good riders.

"To win in front of so many people is very special. On the last lap I was worried because I saw my pit board say Loris was coming, but I kept my concentration, kept my rhythm and finished first."

Capirossi was overjoyed to give Ducati a place on the podium.

"This is fantastic and it feels as good as a win," said the Italian. "It's a great day for Ducati, for all of us, and for the fans."

San Marino's Manuel Poggiali, riding an Aprilia, won the 250cc category. He finished ahead of Aprilia riders Fonsi Nieto of Spain and Italy's Franco Battaini.

Poggiali controlled the race from start to finish. Early on he was among a bunch of six riders including Nieto, Battaini, pole-sitter France's Randy de Puniet and Sylvain Guintoli, plus Italy's Roberto Rolfo.

De Puniet crashed out in the latter part of the race.

Italy's Lucio Cecchinello, riding an Aprilia, motored to victory in the 125cc event.

He finished ahead of Spaniards Daniel Pedrosa, on a Honda, and Aprilia rider Pablo Nieto.

The 34-year-old Cecchinello, nicknamed "Lucky", notched up his seventh Grand Prix win, but it was an emotional first in front of his own countrymen. On his victory lap he wiped tears from his eyes with his gloves.

Cecchinello also joins Pedrosa on top of the overall standings as both riders have 91 points.

Return

Juan Carlos hailed King of France by Spanish press

Spain's Juan Carlos Ferrero kisses his trophy after he defeated his Dutch opponent Martin Verkerk, 08 June 2003 in Paris, following their Roland Garros French Tennis Open final match. Ferrero won 6-1, 6-3, 6-2.
AFP PHOTO/Jacques DEMARTHON

MADRID (AFP) Spanish tennis star Juan Carlos Ferrero was unanimously hailed 'King of France' by the local press here Monday the day after he lifted his first Grand Slam title at the French Open.

"Juan Carlos I, King of France" ran the front page headline of the biggest selling sports daily Marca after the man from Onteniente became the sixth Spaniard to get his hands on the Musketeers Cup with a straightforward 6-1, 6-3, 6-2 win in two hours over unseeded Dutchman Martin Verkerk.

Marca wrote that now that the world's top clay court player had finally won the title he conveted the sky was the limit. "We know what he has done until now, but it's impossible to know how far he can go," said Marca.

Madrid's second sports daily AS wrote optimistically that now that Ferrero, who has won eight of his ten titles on clay, had been "crowned like an undisputed king of clay, why not Wimbledon now?"

"He belongs to this new generation of 'all court players' capable of feeling at ease on all surfaces," wrote El Mundo.
"Paris will always be a reference for him, but his objectives go further New York, Melbourne to attain the universal throne."

Under a headline "crowning of Juan Carlos Ferrero at Roland Garros," El Pais compared the performance of the young Spaniard to that of Swedish great Bjorn Borg, the holder of six French Open titles.

"It was an easy victory. He pulverised a surprised Verkerk and grabbed a Cup which seemed predestined as his from childhood."

Ferrero's win gave the Spanish their eighth men's title at the mecca of claycourt tennis and fifth in the past decade.
He succeeded countrymen Manuel Santana winner in 1961 and 1964 Andres Gimeno in 1972, Sergi Bruguera in 1993 and 1994, Carlos Moya in 1998 and Costa 12 months ago.

Return

Schumacher and Todt stick with Ferrari

German Ferrari driver Michael Schumacher (r) talks to French Ferrari Sporting Manager Jean Todt on the grid before the start of the Monaco Formula One Grand Prix. AFP PHOTO/Loic VENANCE

MARANELLO, Italy (AFP) Ferrari's Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher and team sporting director Jean Todt have extended their contracts with the Italian stable until 2006, chairman and managing director Luca Cord-
ero di Montezemolo confirmed Monday.

Speculation had been rife as the German driver, who is bidding for his sixth world title, had indicated that he may retire next year.

The rest of the team behind Ferrari's success will also stay until the end of 2006, technical director Ross Brawn, engine director Paolo Martinelli, chief designer Rory Byrne and head of engine design Gilles Simon.
Frenchman Todt has been at the helm of Ferrari throughout their recent run of success which includes the past four constructors' titles.

Schumacher, the most successful driver in Ferrari's history, joined Ferrari in 1996 after a successful spell with Benetton-Ford which saw him win his first two titles. He has been world champion for three consecutive seasons.

Return

Kareem leaps to bronze in Italy

Kareem Streete-Thompson

Caymanian Kareem Streete-Thompson placed third in the long jump event at the IAAF Grand Prix Level II Primo Nebiolo Memorial Meet in Torino, Italy this past weekend.

Competing against some of the best long jumpers in the world, Kareem's leap of 7.85 meters trailed only Salim Sdiri of France at 8.00m and Nicholas Trentin of Italy at 7.94m.

Before the meet, Kareem had moved up to a world ranking of #32, and his effort in Torino should allow him to break into the top 25.

Kareem's next meet is the IAAF Super Grand Prix Golden Spike Meet in Ostrava, Czech Republic. As Kareem competes overseas, he will be submitting frequent entries for the personal diary on his website (www.jumpstreete.com). Here is his latest from Italy:

"The quality field in Torino had me looking forward to a battle Going into the meet, I knew I had to put my last competition [Los Angeles] behind me and re-focus. This time, I was able to block out everything going on around me and just compete. I was in 3rd place on my last jump and I knew it would take a big jump to win. From the moment I took off, I knew it was my best jump of the year somewhere in the vicinity of 8.20m. Unfortunately, it was a foul so I had to settle for 3rd. I am most happy that I responded to the challenge and that I will definitely go into Ostrava with a
positive mind-set. I will face even tougher competition there, so I will have to raise my level even more."

The Italian meet also managed to spark an Olympic overtone.

Torino is the host for the 2006 Winter Olympic Games, while this meet is held in memory of the past Italian President of the International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF) who passed away in 1999. Mr. Nebiolo was an at-large member of the International Olympic Committee, and although regarded as dictatorial, is credited with elevating track & field to world-class financial status.

Return

George Town advances to primary school cricket finals

George Town bowler Dale Parker destroyed Red Bay with a five-wicket haul.

Andre Douglas scored 18 as he batted throughout George Town's innings.

Dale Parker and Andre Douglas were the heroes for George Town as they dismantled the highly fancied Red Bay team to cruise into the finals of the Cable & Wireless Primary School cricket competition.

George Town completed a comprehensive 36-run win in clinical fashion to shock the Red Bay players and supporters who journeyed to the Smith Road Oval to support the favourites and defending champions last Friday 6 June.

George Town scored 82 for nine in 20 overs and then blew away Red Bay for 46 in 17. 1 overs.

Red Bay enjoyed the early exchanges, removing Dennis Martinez, Charles Drinkall and Dale Parker cheaply as George Town fell into trouble at 17 for three. Lamar Lamond and Andre Douglas stabilized the innings in a fourth wicket stand of 29. Red Bay then struck a double blow through the efforts of talented all-rounder Brendyn Murray who dismissed Lamond and Shano Evans to put the George Town innings at the crossroads with a score of 49 for five.

Douglas, who opened the innings, found another good partner in Ryan Graham. Douglas and Graham are both powerfully built youngsters but preferred not to utilize their powerful muscles in a potentially dangerous counter attacking strategy, but opted for a patient rebuilding of the innings in a sixth wicket stand of 22. The partnership was broken through the run out of Graham and there was little support for the defiant Douglas after this.

Douglas was unbeaten on 18 when the overs were completed, making him the first opener to carry his bat throughout the full quota of 20 overs this season. He was also the only George Town player to reach double figures. For Red Bay, Sam Suberan Jr. took three for 13 and Murray three for 17.

Defending a seemingly modest total, George Town struck back early through a three-wicket blitz from pacer Robert Thompson. He single handedly bulldozed the cream of Red Bay's batting to leave them flattened at 10 for three. Joseph Suberan was caught by Reco Brown while Murray and Sylvester Suberan were both bowled. The enthusiastic Thompson sent down several wides but still ended with the impressive figures of three for 16. Less than half the runs he conceded came from the bat.

Marco Rankine and Raheem Robinson kept Red Bay in contention with a fourth wicket stand of 16, but when they were separated the innings folded in dramatic fashion, mainly through the efforts of Parker who took five for four in 3.1 overs. Douglas took two for 15. Shano Evans who bowled with real pace, went wicketless but sent down five excellent overs in which he conceded just ten runs.

Of some concern to both camps would have been the number of extras conceded. George Town gave away 19 wides, eight no balls and one bye while Red Bay also gave up 19 wides, five no balls and two byes.

Return

Marylebone Cricket Club here next week

The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), a well-established touring cricket team from the UK will arrive in Grand Cayman next Monday, 16 June for a weeklong visit that will include four matches and two coaching sessions.

The MCC is recognised as the oldest cricket club maintaining all the traditions associated with the game of cricket. Over the years, the MCC has made many tours. It is Cayman's turn amongst others this year to benefit from the vast experience in development. Other countries to be visited for 2003 include Belize, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Nepal, Fiji, Papua New Guinea and Greece.

The following is the match and coaching session schedule for MCC while in Cayman:

Tuesday, 17 June, 3:00-4:30 pm, John Gray High School pitch, U-15 coaching session

Wednesday, 18 June, 11:00 am, Jimmy Powell Oval, vs. Cayman Under 19 team

Thursday, 19 June, 12:00 pm, Smith Road Oval, vs. Cayman President's XI

Friday 20 June, 9:30 11:30 am, Smith Road Oval, junior cricketers coaching session

Saturday, 21 June, 12:00 pm, Jimmy Powell Oval, vs. Cayman Masters

Sunday, 22 June, 11:00 am, Smith Road Oval, vs. Cayman Senior Team

The schedule at the Smith Road Oval is subject to change due to work being carried out by CUC.

Return

Truth for Youth wins basketball championship

Truth for Youth School defeated Red Bay Primary by a score of 41-22 to win the championship of the Primary School Basketball League last Saturday at the Lions Centre.

Top scorer the Truth for Youth was Sheneka Moore, who had a great game to lead all scorers with 12 points. She was ably assisted by Donald Thomas, who scored 8 points. For Red Bay, the top scorer was Raheem Robinson who had 10 points.

The game was a triumph for teamwork as Truth for Youth looked the much better team and they were the aggressors throughout the tournament.

Much credit has to go to their coach Orvin Palacio, who had them performing as a well-oiled unit.
In the playoff for third place, First Baptist Christian School defeated Bodden Town Primary 31-22.

Return

Sports SUMMARY

Sports SUMMARY

World Heavyweight champion boxer British Lennox Lewis.
AFP PHOTO/Hector MATA

Lewis set to fight Vitali Klitschko

LOS ANGELES (AFP) World Boxing Council champion Lennox Lewis of Britain will fight top-rated contender Vitali Klitschko of Ukraine here on June 21, promoters announced Monday.

Lewis and trainer Emanuel Steward will speak to reporters about the matchup, which came about after Canadian Kirk Johnson backed out of a planned fight with Lewis on the same date after pulling a chest muscle during training.
Lewis has not fought in more than a year, the longest layoff of his career.

The WBC had not sanctioned a Lewis-Johnson fight to be for its title, but the WBC crown likely will be at stake when Lewis faces Klitschko, his mandatory next title defense.

Court appearance for English streaker Roberts

PARIS (AFP) English serial streaker Mark Roberts is due to appear in court here this week after running onto the Philippe Chatrier centre court during Sunday's French Open men's singles final, police said.

The father of three from Liverpool, clad only in three strategically-placed tennis balls raced onto court during a second set changeover and leaped over the net before being frogmarched out of the arena by a bevy of security guards.

39-year-old Roberts claims to have already pulled the same stunt more than 300 times at venues around the world.
Roberts also struck during last year's Wimbledon men's singles final, and ran on to the pitch at Hampden Park, Glasgow, during the Champions League final.

Three years ago he ran onto court at Wimbledon while Russian beauty Anna Kournikova was playing a doubles match.

Return