Guyana Chronicle Pepperpot E-Paper 10-03-2024

A Different Energy

Celest Mohammed’s deep dive into the stories of women in oil and gas

Author of ‘A Different Energy’ Celeste Mohammed during her sit down and workshop with the Pepperpot Magazine (Japheth Savory Photo)

Riding the waves of the Barima River as a female boat captain and conservationist

EVEN though Madulina Harris didn’t think she could do it, she applied herself wholeheartedly to boat captainship and surprised herself. Harris is a manager at the office of the Guyana Marine Conservation Society (GMCS) and is attached to the Society’s Imbotero Research Centre (IRC) in Region One (Bari-

ma-Waini).

Finding her path Harris, a mother of one, told the Pepperpot Magazine that she benefitted from several training courses to sharpen her skills and become marketable for employment. She participated in catering, management, accountability, camera trapping, report writ-

ing, beekeeping and drone training. Harris reported that she was doing part-time work when she was offered to become the cook/manager at the IRC after the other employee resigned.

Harris told the Pepperpot Magazine that she has been working as a manager with the establishment for the past six months, and it has

At the wheel, Madulina Harris with passengers in the boat on the Barima River

been a learning process. In addition, she is responsible for the maintenance of the building and is also the cook. She explained that she, a tour guide, and another staff member oversee the daily operations of the Imbotero Research Centre.

The Imbotero Research Centre (IRC) is a new field facility that accommodates international researchers in biological sciences, environmental studies, and cultural/ ethnographic subjects. It is situated in the Barima-Mora Passage Area (BMPA), the largest intact mangrove ecosystem in Guyana, with good access to the Shell Beach Protected Area, one of the world’s premier nesting places for several species of sea turtles.

It offers comfortable, convenient accommodations to researchers and greatly simplifies the logistics of conducting field research in this environmentally significant region, where accommodations and support services are generally difficult to secure. Caliper drones were introduced to monitor the mangrove forest every quarter, and Harris is currently being trained to utilise one of the two drones.

She reported that with knowledge gained via the training programme, she will be better equipped to use the caliper drones to monitor mangrove forests and the large wiri wiri pepper farms they have in the area.

A new challenge

Regarding her other skill as a boat captain, Harris explained that the learning process began when she was

asked by her supervisor, Annette Arjoon, an ambassador for the Barima Mora Passage, if she could drive a 15 and 40-horsepower (HP) engine and boat.

At the time, she knew a bit about the skill but still needed some guidance. With the help of a veteran boat captain, Arnold Benjamin, she was able to get very familiar with steering the boat to an acceptable level. Harris related that Benjamin is a seasoned boat captain who spent some time practising with her before she was left alone.

Life in Imbotero

where opportunities and jobs are not always plentiful. She is happy that she can provide a good life for herself and her daughter, who attends the Imbotero Primary School in the riverine community.

Harris noted that Imbotero’s population is just over 400 residents, mostly Amerindians from the Warrao tribe, and their main economic activities include crab catching, fishing, hunting, and farming.

She explained that from the Mora Passage via boat, Imbotero is a small village on the right bank of the

She stated that she is very grateful to be employed while living in Imbotero,

creek of the Barima River, and it is about 15 minutes by boat from the nearest village, Smith Creek.

Madulina Harris along with others during a drone operation training session

Madulina Harris, the newest boat captain

A Different Energy

Celest Mohammed’s deep dive into the stories of women in oil and gas

By Shaniya Harding

NEWS of the country’s latest oil discovery surged to the forefront of public discourse, igniting conversations among Guyanese from all walks of life. Whether in bustling corner shops, cozy homes, rigorous academic institutions, or high-stakes diplomatic circles, the subject of oil was everywhere.

Meaningful dialogues were held, pondering our current standing and envisioning our imminent future. Yet, amidst this fervour, a significant question arose: Were women being marginalised in these critical discussions? Was the voice of women diminishing into a mere echo against the backdrop of the oil excitement?

And how did Guyana’s situation compare with its counterparts in the oil-producing Caribbean realm?

Addressing these poignant inquiries, Celeste Mohammed embarked on a literary journey with her book, “A Different Energy.”

This renowned Trinidadian author sought the perspectives of eight formidable women across the Caribbean, each carving their path within the male-dominated oil and gas sector.

Among these trailblazers was Grace Hutson from Guyana, whose compelling narrative unfolds in the ninth chapter. Their stories, rich with determination and resilience, serve as a beacon of inspiration, proving indispensable as Guyana and its Caribbean neighbours navigate the promising yet uncertain waters of an oil-dominated future. Celeste’s endeavour is a clarion call to acknowledge and celebrate the pivotal role women play in shaping this narrative.

“A Different Energy” delves into the lives of eight women intimately involved with the oil and gas industry, offering a fresh lens through which to view their contributions. Celeste’s choice of subject matter is a testament to her innovative spirit, venturing into uncharted literary territory. Despite the inherent challenges of crafting a

piece of literature, Celeste describes her latest project as a leap of faith.

At a recent book launch and during an exclusive interview with the Pepperpot Magazine, She confessed, “It was definitely a risk. But you know, I don’t know that I would have sat down in my office and said, hmm, I’m going to become a writer and I am going to take that risk. I think it’s more like the things that are going through your head that’s telling you this thing has probably run its course. What is the next thing?”

With a blend of apprehension and excitement, Celeste approached the project, eager to diverge from her usual narrative style and explore a niche yet compelling topic. She shares, “I would say that my most recent work was really moving from the success of fiction into non-fiction, which I really haven’t done in long form before. And to do something again that I’ve never done before and to do it for a very small publishing house. I just really, in both cases, think both are common denominators for following a

I also had to deal with, think about it, eight very powerful ‘Type-A’ personality women and I’m taking their stories and trying to put them on the page. So there was a lot of hand-holding, there was a lot of, you know, my softer skills have to come into play. Which I don’t have to do with my fiction characters.”

The essence of “A Different Energy” is undeniably dynamic, crafted to captivate readers as profoundly as it captivated Celeste during its creation. She elucidates, “Because it was new, and because I knew myself so well, I knew I would get bored if I tried to just do the same thing right through. I decided that every chapter would be different. Every chapter would either be written in a different voice, in a different way.” She further elaborates, “Every single chapter is different in form, as well as content. Some chapters, it’s all about me saying what I think. So that is how I kept myself interested enough in the project, a project where I had less control over content than normal. I had to find ways to keep myself in the game.”

Grace Hutson: Breaking New Ground

passion.”

Envisioning the book’s potential impact was the initial and most crucial step for Celeste. She explains, “There was the challenge of believing that I could do this. When I was first approached and asked to do it, I said, I don’t know, that’s not my thing. It took me about six months of thinking about this and reading up around the general topic about women and women in oil and gas, because I cannot write one command. When I was at that point where I realised there was a need to tell these women’s stories…I said, okay, now I know the book I want to write.”

Transitioning from fiction to non-fiction presented a significant shift for Celeste, moving from a realm where she wielded total control over her characters to one where she became a custodian of real-life narratives. She reflects, “With fiction, I can control what characters do and where they go, what they say. Also, I had to be so careful because this is someone else’s story. It is a thing you have to handle, so

into the energy area, very quickly became something very easy for me to do. I was looking for the opportunity to ensure that my skills could be transferred.”

Sharing her narrative within the pages of “A Different Energy” was not merely an act of personal reflection for Grace but a beacon of hope for aspiring young women. She expresses, “I was just telling my story with the hope that in telling that story, a young girl who has hopes and dreams of potentially entering the industry she will read something and be inspired by it. If I managed to have caught the attention of 10 of them, that’s great, but I was just using this opportunity to tell my story because I do believe that in sharing your story, sharing knowledge and information, it has a transformational impact.”

Grace’s inclusion in the book illuminated the common threads binding these women’s experiences across borders. Initially isolated in her narrative journey, the book’s release unveiled a collective struggle and triumph among her peers. She muses,

“The interesting thing about this book I was only exposed to my story. I had not read the book until it was released. So when I read the book, I was like, oh my goodness, I am not the only one.” She adds,

“The things that I thought were impossible are really possible. I can have it all. Maybe in a different way. And I’m kind of, the all is the two ends, motherhood and management in this industry. I can have it, but it might be difficult for me. But it is possible.”

“A Different Energy” is more than just a collection of stories; it is a testament.

Grace Hutson, who shines as the sole Guyanese among the lot, represents the unyeilding spirit of Guyanese women in the oil and gas industry. Joining Halliburton, she initially harboured doubts and insecurities. Yet, her journey swiftly transformed into one of empowerment and influence within the rapidly evolving energy sector. Grace, during the interview, shared her initial reservations, “When the opportunity was presented to work in the oil and gas industry, to tell you the truth, I had one round of interviews at Halliburton, and I was like, this is not the job for me, I don’t want to do it.”

Over time, Grace recognised how her skills and knowledge could make a significant impact. She elaborates, “I also saw how all the experience that I had before and how I can leverage the things I’ve learned from my international research degree to work with governments and IOCs and NOCs in the oil and gas industry. So what first started out as a risk in terms of moving the business

Grace Hutson, the Guyanese voice in ‘A Different Energy’

Author of ‘A Different Energy’ Celeste Mohammed during her sit down and workshop with the Pepperpot Magazine (Japheth Savory Photo)

Championing Conservation and Empowerment The work of Anette Arjoon

By Michel Outridge

ANNETTE Arjoon is a retired private pilot-turned-environmentalist and conservationist who identifies as a humble ambassador for the Barima-More Passage – Guyana’s largest and most intact mangrove ecosystem. She has been doing a lot behind the scenes to empower young people and women, especially the Warraus in the remote villages in Region One (Barima-Waini) in becoming self-sufficient.

Arjoon is an indigenous woman from the Arawak tribe who is from Siriki, Pomeroon. She grew up with her maternal grandmother until she attained primary school age. She was sent to the city to attend school, after which she enrolled in secondary school in Barbados. She also worked towards achieving her private pilot licence in Barbados after completing high school.

HOW THE JOURNEY BEGAN

Arjoon told the Pepperpot Magazine that she came from a family who had sawmills in remote parts of the country. Travelling overland or by rivers for days at a time was exhausting and time-consuming, so some of her relatives qualified as pilots.

Arjoon’s younger sister and a brother are commercial pilots but commercial pilots while Anette retired from that profession as a private pilot when she became a mother. In her time as a pilot, Arjoon travelled the length and breadth of Guyana and quickly fell in love with Region One (Barima-Waini). Her curiosity was ignited when Dr. Peter Prichard, a renowned biologist, use to come to Guyana annually. Curious about his work in the most remote parts of the country, Anette accepted an invitation to observe firsthand, and after that, she became intrigued by his work.

Dr. Pritchard took Arjoon to Shell Beach, and when she saw the sea turtles up close, she was in awe. She knew there was no turning back, so she became a conservationist. That was in 1989, and then Shell Beach was among several small beaches along with Almond Beach and Annette Beach – which was named after her. Arjoon revealed that in 1989, there were 230 residents on Almond Beach, but now, only five locals

are there. Erosion has washed away almost all of the beach.

SHELL BEACH AND THE TURTLES

She told the Pepperpot Magazine that Audley James, who is still alive but is way in his 80s, is a marine biologist from Moruca and it was him who taught her all she knew about sea turtles and the way of life of the flamingoes.

James is also known as the ‘Father of Sea Turtles’ due to his years of work with sea turtles. One day, they were in a small boat together just off Shell Beach when the boat began taking in water.

Arjoon quickly took off her shirt and saved them both from drowning and as they reached the beach, James named the beach “Annette” after her since she saved his life. James paid the lease for the beach, and thus, it was named “Annette’s Beach.”

Arjoon reported that James is a very knowledgeable man and a conversationalist who taught her the benefits of traditional medicines and was also her environmentalist mentor. She reported that James began working with sea turtles in the 1960s, and he founded the Sea Turtles Conservation.

She disclosed that Shell Beach is the only coastal beach,

Annette Arjoon

and in 2011, it was declared a protected area and the management of it fell under Protected Areas Commission (PAC) and she is very proud of making that happen.

FULFILLMENT AND EMPOWERMENT

“I get real joy working with amazing people, the Warraus. Their resilience and simplicity have motivated me to keep going and stay focused and the women of the Barima-Mora Passage are the real extraordinary people,” she said.

Arjoon added that the women grasp at the opportunities presented to them, and they are making a difference in handling major projects, including large-scale pepper farms, impacting the lives of their immediate families.

She is the founder of Guyana Marine Conservation Society (GMCS) and 80 per cent of its members have been females since its establishment in 2000. Arjoon noted that they have five women board members and some of the younger members started as interns while students of the University of Guyana (UG).

She is also the leader of the Imbotero Research Centre and was instrumental in securing the two weather-beaten buildings that were wasting away at Shell Beach. After approval was given by the government Arjoon spear-headed its removal to Imbotero, where the Imbotero Research Centre and the Guyana Marine Conservation Society were established.

Arjoon’s ‘behind the scenes’ work goes way beyond what is seen by the eye, yet she is humble and shares her knowledge daily to empower others, forging partnerships for developing the Warrau people.

She is the mother of two children and has two dogs, her beloved pets who shadow her every move when she is at her Oleander Gardens residence even though she is super busy and there is never enough time for leisure.

The Imbotero Research Centre

A game of sound and spirit

How the blind or visually impaired play the great game of cricket

By Shaniya Harding

AS Guyanese people at heart and Caribbean people in the soul, cricket is more than a game; it is a part of who we are. The hard white ball, diving to ensure a catch, and the thunderous screams accompanying a wicket or a six.

The sport of cricket is a part of us, all of us. There is, however, a team that plays the game a bit differently. Unlike the Kings, Tallawahs, or the Knight Riders, the West Indian Blind Cricket team plays cricket almost entirely by sound. The teams are made of extraordinary men and women with differing levels of visual impairment and blindness. Ackila Smith is a long-time member of the women’s team, and as she and her team prepare to play in India next year, she says that playing cricket is so much more than throwing around a ball for her. It creates a sense of belonging, being surrounded by others like herself, a feeling of accomplishment with each game won, and a unique sense of identity.

Ackila is perhaps one of the most warm, welcoming and jovial persons you will ever meet. She is positively joyful and is great at making friends and fitting in. The 26-year-old hails from Lamaha Springs and is visually impaired. As a professional teacher and disability advocate, Ackila has always been passionate about issues affecting people living with disabilities. Ackila proudly calls herself a blind cricketer, and with good reason. She has worked and practised to make a name for herself in the sport. Playing blind cricket, or any sport as someone with a disability, is admirable. But Ackila’s strength and perseverance were forged throughout her years of dealing with struggles as they came. She met her challenges like the ball hits the bat.

Ackila lost most of her eyesight at the age of ten. This was a gradual but difficult decline for a young Ackila, who was still grappling with the loss of her mother, who passed away a short while before. “When I was in school, the teachers realised that I had to sit in front of the class, and it was concerning because I had to see the board. At that time, my mom had died, so I was living with my grandparents, and my grandmother took me to the hospital,” she said. This check-up would reveal the true extent of Ackila’s sight. She shared that the nerves in her eyes are weak and drastically limit her range of sight to just a short distance in front of her.

Ackila was also diagnosed with Poland syndrome, a physical disability that she has had since birth. Her disabilities made her childhood a particularly difficult one. As time went on, however, she slowly learned and adapted to her surroundings.

She learned to navigate the world in her own way. Although she can’t precisely describe it, Ackila makes her way around with whatever she can see in her line of vision, primarily by looking down to remember certain steps and paths. She stated that, “Many people who are blind or visually impaired learn to adapt because you have a choice. We know we want to be independent; we do not want to depend on anybody.”

GETTING INTO THE GAME

Before 2018, Ackila had no clue that the sport of blind cricket existed. She did, however, get the chance to try out for the team and was accepted with stellar reviews. “I went to the Society for the Blind, and that was where I was introduced to blind cricket. They had an event where we had auditions, and I wanted to join.” She remembers the first time she heard about blind cricket and how fascinating it was that people just like her were athletes. “I wanted to know how the game was played, to know how blind people played cricket.” Ackila joined the team just a few weeks later, and she says it was the best choice she has ever made.

Ackila and her teammates do play by slightly different rules. The biggest difference lies in the team’s ball, which is equipped with bells inside to make a noticeable sound so that those who cannot see it can hear it. On the throw of the ball from the bowler, he or she would shout “play” to alert the team that the ball is now in motion. The game strongly relies on communication, teamwork, and skill. “I was so happy, I am still happy now, that I got a chance to be in this place. As a person who is visually impaired, to see a completely blind person play, I was more amazed.”

Ackila is undeniably happy that she gets to represent her country in the way she does. The sport has done a lot for her. She explained that her team has created a sense of familiarity and belonging. “I was happy to know that I can do this. I felt a sense of belonging because I was around people like me. There was no judgment. I was allowed to make mistakes and have hiccups,” she said. As her career and the team advance and take bigger steps, Ackila will continue to challenge social norms. She stated that, “The game is like our identity. We are a vulnerable community, so to have something we can do in terms of sports, it is like a whole accomplishment on our end. And to actually be a part of the West Indies women’s team, I feel very special and unique. That I get a chance to belong and get a chance to do things quote-unquote normal people would do.”

Ackila Smith

Ackila and a few of her team members after a recent win

Defeating self-doubts and negative thoughts

-School Guidance and Counselling Officer talks life with Stargardt Disease

IMAGINE developing a vision disability to the point you cannot read the time on a clock, or see the numbers on a door. How about being told that the situation is hopeless, and that there’s no cure? This is exactly what 16-year-old Anjalie Sookra, now 22, had to deal with when she was diagnosed with Stargardt disease, a rare genetic eye disease that occurs when fatty material builds up on the macula – the small part of the retina needed for sharp, central vision. It was the end of the world for her at the time, but definitely not now.

Growing up in Tain, Corentyne, Berbice, where she still resides with her caring, supportive family, Anjalie’s mom would teach her to read the time on the wall clock, but found that she couldn’t see the numbers.

Failing to assume the worst, no concrete steps were taken to check on the situation until she was about 16 when her family took her overseas.

Anjalie still remembers the day she heard of the diagnosis. “My mom started to cry, and I started to cry. That was the weakest point of my life,” Anjalie reflected in an interview with Pepperpot Magazine. “When you’re a teen, you want to drive and start dating.”

It was no question in Anjalie’s mind that it was the end of the world for her; at the time, it was as if there was no point in coming back

and planning to continue her studies. “I came back home thinking I would eventually

drop out of school [Berbice High].”

Persons, including her

ANOTHER STONEWALL

Fueled by her family’s unwavering support and that of Rights Activist Ganesh Singh’s support, Anjalie found within her an unbreakable will to excel academically and uplift her community.

“Ganesh said I could do it, and he signed me up for a scholarship; it was approved

to help when she’d raise her concerns. “The first two years were hell,” she expressed. Thankfully, Ganesh again stepped in and wrote to the university, which resulted in some improvements.

And then COVID-19 came, and everything went online, which worked out easier for her.

teachers, would think that she was making excuses not to get her work done, but it wasn’t until one teacher realised one day that Anjalie was not faking her condition. She called Ganesh Singh from the Guyana Council of Organisations for Persons with Disabilities for assistance, and Ganesh kindly stepped in and provided just the help she needed. She could write her exams in a different building, with someone reading and writing for her.

Anjalie was a top student in her National Grade Four Assessment, earning herself a place at the prestigious President’s College. Though at times she faced discrimination and obstacles related to her disability, she persevered, graduating high school with numerous top honours and an invitation to the National Award Ceremony in 2018, recognising her outstanding academic achievements.

in no time, and I started university. But this was another stonewall for me because I was this insecure, low-confidence young woman starting a big university with confident, educated people.”

Anjalie would often cry because, again, her lecturer didn’t believe that she was visually impaired and thought she was making excuses.

“On the [classroom] doors, there were numbers, and I couldn’t see the numbers and didn’t have any friends,” she recalled.

She couldn’t read the materials provided and everyone just kept promising

IT ALL PAID OFF

Despite setbacks, Anjalie’s journey of continuous learning and determination continued with a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Guyana.

Over four years of dedicated study, the programme moulded her into the empowered, resilient woman she is today.

Currently, Anjalie leverages her skills and passion in service of others as a school guidance and counselling officer with the Ministry of

Anjalie recently said ‘yes’ when her boyfriend Josh proposed

Anjalie found within her an unbreakable will to excel academically and uplift her community

Anjalie Sookra

The village of Fort Ordinance

From a ghost town to a captivating community

JUST past the Berbice River Bridge, the community of Fort Ordinance makes its presence known with its colourful array of homes to the south. The village is home to a diverse mix of people with deep cultural roots. According to certain historical records, the residential area was developed on what was once Dutch territory and carried the original name of Ordinance Fort Lands. Most of the community’s population are professionals who venture to nearby New Amsterdam and Canje for work. Fort Ordinance is a quiet village where the people have big dreams for their village and even bigger admiration for each other.

Fort Ordinance through the years

Motisa Robertson has called Fort Ordinance home for more than a decade and a half. “I have been living in Fort Ordinance for over 15 years,” he told the Pepperpot Magazine. Motisa was among the residents who began life in Fort Ordinance. Today, the village is a prime example of a ‘family community’ with its light, breezy, and easy-going atmosphere. According to Motisa, however, some fifteen years ago, the community had its fair share of issues. “When I came here, they had no road. Mine was

the only house, the second house on this one side. They had no more houses,” he said.

For Motisa, his home in Fort Ordinance was the first house he could call his own. Like so many people seeking to build themselves a life, Motisa faced adversities. As he explained, he fought to build a home for himself and his family in his early years. “I built a little house before this one here. It was half zinc sheet and half tarpaulin. And I lived in it, lived in it, and then I started doing it piece

by piece.” Motisa is a firm believer in the notion that doing things little by little will make a big difference.

Throughout the years, the village has seen drastic development, which has drawn more people into the community. Today, Fort Ordinance boasts a population of several hundred persons strong. In years gone by, however, Motisa likened the community to a ghost town. He remembers the village to be more greenery than the community. Although he had

his inhibitions about staying in the community, as the village developed, Motisa decided that he was going to stay. “It looked like a ghost town. Because they had no street, it was just a narrow place. Then, suddenly I see they started coming, and they started putting up a road, and I start trying to build up the place. So I say, okay, I will not move, and I stay right there,” he said.

The availability of work is a major talking point in the community and furthermore in the region. Motisa shares

that small businesses and entrepreneurship are growing economic aspects in the community. Motisa builds speakers for a living, a trade he learned from working in Georgetown for several years. He admits that the work is not as constant as he would like. As he shared, “Well, it has come not too steady. Now and then, if somebody sees me and says, I need two speaker boxes or whatever it is, then I build it, or I go to other places and get other work.” Despite this, Motisa is happy working in

and out of the community and is hopeful that the region’s new developments will bring work.

Youths in Fort Ordinance

Marcena Armogan spent most of her childhood along the Canje before she called Fort Ordinance home. The 21-year-old came to the community as a child when her parents brought the family.

Motisa

Motisa Robertson

Marcena Armogan

A community in action

Charting the path of development in Fort Ordinance

By Shaniya Harding

DEVELOPMENT is a word being heard constantly in recent times. All across Guyana, people in and out of leadership positions work tirelessly to build their communities and homes. However, some of the obvious questions remain: What does it mean to develop a community? What work goes into advancing a community?

And how can everyone be a part of their community’s development? The Pepperpot Magazine sat down with the Vice-Chairman of the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), who is responsible for the village of Fort Ordinance.

Fort Ordinance is a popular name for anyone living in the Canje area. Home to several hundred people, Fort Ordinance comes to mind when thinking about a community. The quiet village can be found along the back of the Canje River,

with counterparts like Sheet Anchor, Palmyra, and No. 2 Village. However, like

communities everywhere, the villagers have highlighted areas they think need improvement. Ashraf Ali Jahoor is Vice-Chairman of the Neighbourhood Democratic Council, which is responsible for communities like Fort Ordinance. He lives in Palmyra, and is dedicated to developing his region, with the driving force being cooperation.

Crafting a community to make a home. “We are about 16,000 people across the constituency,” the Chairman shared. Like many places in Guyana, Fort Ordinance and its neighbouring communities share strong cultural and social roots and similarities. Throughout the various communities, people are friendly, as they talk and communicate, showing what Guyanese hospitality means. Most villagers expressed a profound love for their community without any interest in moving.

Following in the footsteps of the region, Fort

The community’s new health centre

Ordinance has seen a wide array of changes and developments. Infrastructure has been a big player in the community. As the Chairman explained, emphasis was placed on making the community a place the people would be proud to call home.

“We are the only NDC that has two health centres in the area. And recently, as it relates to health, we got a dental clinic; a dental facility, rather than to say, in one of those health centres,” he said.

Youth development is also something the community is looking to develop. Being somewhat of a residential area, Fort Ordinance houses several hundred young persons. Steps have been taken to develop the

community’s ball fields.

In his interview with the Pepperpot Magazine, the Vice-Chairman said, “The government also; and we partnered with the NDC. They rehabilitated two of our ball fields, and they were put into use immediately by residents.”

Ashraf and his team have outlined various deadlines and plans for developing their constituency, Fort Ordinance and its neighbours. With the work done on infrastructure and scenic development, Fort Ordinance is well on its way to being a residential hotspot. Garbage collection is the Council’s newest endeavour, as the Vice- Chairman said, “We also started a development of garbage collection. We’re

doing it once per week, as we build our customer base. And, at the end, we took the approach whereby we don’t wait until His Excellency or the Minister announces on a monthly basis where we do this cleanup in all our eight constituencies.

THE ECONOMIC SIDE OF THINGS

Ways of economic means are big issues and topics everywhere, specifically in areas such as Berbice and Canje. Agriculture is known to be a significant economic player in the region, but for Fort Ordinance, a village just off of the township of New Amsterdam, business seems to be the next big thing. “We promote a lot of small businesses; encourage persons, even someone selling with a little shop and so forth. And we promote those; once it’s safe, and you do the correct thing in a hygienic manner, we promote those activities. And in all our meetings, persons with inquiries on financing, we would direct them to the Small Business Bureau (SBB); so we give them first-hand information,” said the Vice- Chairman.

In many cases, the general public may see leadership as being distant and hard to reach, and they may be frustrated by not getting their problems heard. This is something Ashraf and his team are working on combatting. As the village moves towards a bright future, the NDC made a special effort to engage the community. “We took an approach, from the

SEE PAGE XXXVI

The Fort Ordinance ball field

Vice Chairman of the Neighborhood Democratic Council Ashraf Ali Jahoor (Shaniece Bamfield photos)

Building life in Fort Ordinance

A single mother chronicles the emotional struggles of home and motherhood

By Shaniya Harding

Fort Ordinance is one of the communities in Guyana that houses core homes. The news of core homes has become common knowledge after it spread like wildfire upon its initial release. Some time has passed, and the number of homes being occupied is rising. As the Pepperpot Magazine ventured into the village this week and spoke to a single mother who has made the bold choice to move her family to one of Fort Ordinance’s core homes. The mother of two shared that despite the challenges, ups, downs, and negative ideas people may have, having a home of her own has certainly changed her life.

As we enter into International Women’s History Month, stories like that of Tamica Simon remind us that amazing women can be found all around us. The mother of two hails from the community of Cumberland,

just a few villages outside of Fort Ordinance. Her childhood there is what she aims to give her children today: a quiet, and peaceful existence. As she stated, “Cumberland is real nice. I mean, back when I was growing up there, it was really nice. Everybody got along together. It was neighbor-friendly. It was very neighbor-friendly. Everybody looked out for each other. We would eat with our neighbours.”

The mother of two has a story you may have heard before, but it is still inspiring nonetheless. Tamica and the father of her children separated several years ago. She stated that although she provided well for her sons, she was not prepared for it mentally. “You’ve got to be mentally strong, especially for that last one. They’re 13 and 11. It’s not something that you prepare yourself for,” she explained.

Tamica further likened the experience of becoming a single mother to being thrown into the deep end and being forced to find your feet while keeping your family’s head above water. She shared that, “You just have to find one of your best feet to plant in the ground. Because both your feet cannot plant in the ground. It’s just one. Just one you need to plant in the ground, and you’re good. So it wasn’t as difficult as always. But I had a job. So, I could have maintained them without his help. But mentally, it was draining.”

Some of the core homes built in the community.

As a mother and a woman, Tamica shared that she would like to see more emphasis placed on the emotional pressures of motherhood. The moral, mental, and emotional support her sons require of her are some of the most taxing parts of motherhood, which are often not seen by onlookers. “Providing especially that moral support that they’re going to need when they want that attention and that support from you it’s hard to give them when you don’t have anything for yourself, so sometimes I lock away in the room, and I cry. You need a good cry.”

The importance of a good cry cannot be overstated, and neither can the importance of music. In her emotional moments, Tamica turns to music. She went on to emphasise the importance of quiet moments which she

says are rare but immensely important for a mother. Today, she embarks on a new venture, acquiring her own home. Several years ago, Tamica began all the paperwork and preparation needed to get a new home, and this year, she was allotted a home in Fort Ordinance.

On the surface, acquiring a home would certainly be a good thing. However, Tamica said her decision was met with plenty of negativity. As she shared, “I actually gave it up at one point in time because there were a lot of negative comments about it. That it’s too small, it can’t work, and it’s this and it’s that. But I want you to know, when you think about it, for a woman with two children, is that better than nothing? Right? It’s better than nothing.”

Tamica could be found many days doing work at

her Fort Ordinance home. Although she is not quite ready to move in just yet, Tamica is happy with her decision. She has continued work on her home and has a few other things she would like to complete over the next few months before settling in. As she shared, “I’ve been doing piece by piece. Because of all my work, I’m always available. So when I’m home, I come over, I push in a piece, relax.” Tamica firmly believes in self-development, especially as she is currently gaining a degree at the University of Guyana. To other persons like herself, Tamica urges them to take the step, stating that, “Little by little, you’re going to accomplish something. You have to start somewhere. It’s small, yes. But it’s yours. It’s going to do the job.”

Tamica Simon and her son at their Fort Ordinance home (Shaniece Bamfield photos)

Nurturing Hope

A Berbice woman’s journey from domestic strife to agricultural life

By Shaniya Harding

NESTLED just offshore of the Berbice River lies Fort Ordinance, a community that embodies the Guyanese values of resilience, struggle, and an unrelenting sense of hope. The Pepperpot Magazine ventured into the community this week and sat down to hear the story of Leilamattie Ramdeen, affectionately known as Leila, whose life journey embodies the unyielding spirit that Guyanese are known for. As a long-standing figure within this tight-knit community, Leila opened up about her life’s journey, marked by its significant trials and triumphs since settling in Fort Ordinance almost a decade ago.

Born and raised in the broader Berbice area, Leila’s relocation to Fort Ordinance began a new chapter. The initial stages of both the move and her marriage were well-lived. She reminisced on the happiness and admiration she felt upon first entering the community and the new sphere of married life. However, the tranquillity was short-lived as Leila faced domestic challenges that tested her strength and resolve. She candidly shared the trials of her abusive mar-

riage, emphasising the struggle she faced in holding her family together. Despite efforts through counselling and sheer will, the relationship ultimately could not withstand the turmoil, leading to separation just a few short years after they arrived in Fort Ordinance.

The dissolution of her marriage left Leila in a precarious position, tasked with the sole responsibility for her four children: two sons and two daughters. Amidst adversity, Leila’s focus never wavered from what was always her primary responsibility: her children. She explained

that in difficult times, she drew strength, particularly from her daughters, with one about to enter secondary school. Leila had established herself as a talented cook in New Amsterdam, earning recognition and opening a shop in the community. This small-scale entrepreneurial venture created stability and provided for the family until an unforeseen accident altered her path dramatically.

Two and a half years ago, a routine trip to the market took a disastrous turn when a car door was flung open, resulting in a severe injury to Leila’s hand. This incident was more than a physical setback; it represented a sig-

nificant hurdle to her livelihood. Moreover, Leila shared how the incident intensified the challenges faced by her family. Leila described this period as causing a profound shift in her life’s focus. She aimed to improve her health and recovery.

Leila’s challenges resonate with many. Her positive outlook and insistence to keep going are values women and mothers everywhere can relate to. Despite the increasing difficulty of daily tasks with age, she remains steadfast, awaiting a critical visit to the New Amsterdam hospital with a blend of hope

SEE PAGE XI

One of the many brids Leila cares for.

Leilamattie Ramdeen (Shaniece Bamfield photos)

Defeating self-doubts and ...

Education. She works with students from the Port Mourant Primary and Secondary schools. “We counsel students, motivate them, empower them, guide them academically, mentally, spiritually; we work along with teachers to have better relationships with children,” she explained.

She also actively contributes to organisations like the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) Guyana, GCOPD, and artistic/athletic groups, pursuing hobbies like music, visual arts, running, and bodybuilding.

However, above all Anjalie’s greatest passion lies in understanding human behaviours and helping uplift others facing challenges. This pursuit led her to enroll in a Master’s programme in Psychology at the University of Southern Caribbean Trinidad and Tobago.

Anjalie was also humbled to shadow British High Commissioner, Jane Miller and serve as an election observer during Guyana’s recent Local Government elections. These unique experiences only deepen her desire to enhance inclusivity and accessibility for all of Guyana’s citizens.

Nurturing...

and determination. “I already packed my bag and waiting for the call and stuff to go in the hospital,” Leila remarked, exemplifying her readiness to confront whatever lies ahead.

In her pursuit of sustenance and providing for her family, Leila has embraced agriculture and animal rearing, introducing somewhat of a new chapter in her life. The transition to farming and nurturing animals, including goats and a diverse array of birds. Most of her day are spent among plants and animals. She explained the change as having provided her

Anjalie works as a School Guidance and Counselling officer

with a sense of purpose and enriched the quality of her life.

Leila’s personal struggle encapsulates the essence of community support, resilience, and the indomitable nature of the human spirit. Her declaration, “I’m not giving up. I’m just keep trusting, and I’m going to come through safe,” resonates as a powerful testament to her character. Her journey is a vivid illustration of how adversity can give rise to transformation, leading to newfound passions and pursuits.

Fort Ordinance, with its backdrop of shared experiences and mutual support, exemplifies how collective resilience can uplift individuals facing personal challenges. She spoke about her experiences with the community and the importance of her relationship with her neighbours. Through her engagement in agriculture and animal care, Leila has found a means of sustenance and sees it as having therapeutic qualities.

Although not at her very best, Leila’s love for her community is unfaltering. She explained that despite the challenges she faced, Fort Ordinance has been a good place to call home. Her journey living in Fort Ordinance has been almost transformative, says Leila. She came into the community with very different hopes and aspirations than she does today. As Leila continues to navigate life’s challenges and opportunities, her story remains a beacon of inspiration. Through her experiences, we are reminded of the capacity for renewal and growth within us all, underscored by the profound impact of community and the resilience of the human spirit. When asked about her driving force and motivation, Leila shared that she forged forward simply because she needed to, and she is certainly happy she did.

HOW TECHNOLOGY HAS CONTRIBUTED TO A SELF-IMMERSED HUMAN WORLD

WE live in the age of self-centred unawareness, oblivious to all else. I saw the ‘TERMINATOR’ movie several times, and so did many of my friends.

Schwarzenegger‘s entrance was classic, but the most traumatic scene was the beginning with the machine

ly members and colleagues helps to create trust, empathy and foreboding. That essential sense of concern without intruding on privacy should come naturally, but we must recognise that what was common may have been superficial or have, in many ways, been transformed from

ics, gun crimes, arson -- in many cases resulting in the murder of children -- violations of trust where trust should be; older folk living alone have been murdered, in some cases by relatives sharing space. There are no gender or age limits to violations of our laws by per-

the ability to evaluate, conclude and make an opposing individual decision despite group influence. This has brought us again to the Biblical choice of the forbidden fruit, thus the free choice in its wider capacity is to dilute seriousness and move to the next mini-show.

man in search of Sarah Conner and the entrance to her apartment. He was there to witness the fate of her friend, with the glaring Walkman plugged into her ears so she couldn’t hear the Terminator enter, though it made a lot of noise. Thus, her character died.

This was the 90s, and I

had a Walkman, but I never had it plugged into both ears. I eventually dropped it and played my music on tape. To block one’s awareness of the true nature and sounds of the world that envelopes is a condition that can lead to severe regret. Our world requires recognition of every movement, every word said, and constant reflections on the odd sound, remark or agreement broken. It should be observed and processed in one’s own interest because we live in a world where every decision must be guarded with clarity.

The familiarity that comes from observing the habits and needs of fami -

a past generation. The duty aspect, the values that nurture inspiration, were always selective and worthy of admirable commendation and emulation, but other creeds have contaminated, and those influences are reflected in the pages of our newspapers, on your Tablets and on smartphones.

Domestic crimes, narcot-

petrators. What is troubling is the dominance of youth involved. Many of these acts were concluded as the accepted possible because of questionable examples pervading our social landscape.

Technology has played a role in numbing our capability to transform, based on what we called the inner ‘Vibe’ as we once addressed

Why? Though this is not the intent of social media and sites, therefore, not because of direct purpose, but by making the world visible, for quick-viewing moments, in most cases, the viewer chooses sites that celebrate slices of the global environment that celebrate affluence, ego-tripping and success, so divorcing self from the stage

they are on in Guyana.

But why is this so? Simply put, the opportunities to entertain their specific talents and ideas are not props on the stage they exist on, so they seek external interpretation. The failure may very well be linked to the previous connections to family conversations with older members, as referred to above, concerning what they want to explore now, that existed in an active form before this technological evolution of those who had lived lives before the Millennium and witnessed the onset of this technological-commercial age.

You will not know what was, how it was done, and how the same can be technically fashioned today towards viability. With the advent of local social-media characters, others will click to the possibility of more sensible and inspiring content. This is not to say that the current isn’t interesting, informative, mindboggling, and sometimes irritating, but overall, some do exert talent, most likely self-taught, to shape the new and original.

It must be recognised that it is essential to reflect by asking yourself whether there were interviews before on sensitive issues.

How do I build an enduring stage that can be transferred beyond Guyana?

How do I package serious content? One must always remember that what you do today may be cost-serving to its owner tomorrow. If you apply that legal due diligence today, just pay attention to what you do, so you can sensibly endure.

Taking time out

Every so often, life may become stressful, so it is important to take some time out ofone’s schedule to do the things that make you feel relaxed for some much-needed self-care. It can take many forms: doing little things that bring us joy such as taking a walk, having a meal alone, buying that pair of shoes you saved up for, getting your nails done, indulging in a ‘lazy day’ by staying in bed, among other things.

We often need a day or two to unwind or defrost from our jobs without being

may have missed important personal events because your busy schedule took away from that previous time.

Self-care is a must for both men and women. Maybe you have been meaning to get a facial, or a haircut, but there is no time. Then our personal needs are put on the backburner while we tend to other tasks.

It doesn’t matter how or what we do to relax, but it must be done to have a peaceful existence in society without regrets.Generally, it is so satisfying to spend time alone to indulge in simple

- Prioritising self care and avoiding burnout

every Saturday night.

Life comes with many hiccups and along the way, we should embrace the things and people that contribute to our well-being, mental health and welfare. Taking time out can be intermittent and it is good for the soul, often therapeutic, just what we need.

For some, having that first cup of coffee before facing the day is time-out or ensuring you put on a full-face of makeup is what makes you feel good in the morning.All I will say is, whatever works for you, but do take the time to do simple things.

burdened with housework and other everyday tasks. As a woman with a full-time job, juggling housework is never-ending and time-consuming. Managing both can be exhausting if there is no one to assist.

I find it necessary to take time out, even just an hour or so, to relax, regroup, reflect and add purpose to my life without being sad and depressed about things I have no control over.

In other cases, time management could get tricky when your full-time job takes you out of the home for many hours daily, and by the time you know it,you

things that add value to my life and those around me.

A simple life rule is to surround yourself with people who bring you joy and encourage you to do your best to upgrade your life, even if it means having a small circle of people who have limited access to you.

Today, when children misbehave, we tend to put them in “time-out” but we need to take the same time out ourselves to do the things we have been putting off, like the vacation you planned three years ago, or the trip across the country you wanted to take for a year, or the girls’ night out

Self-care isn’t fixed and I know a lot of people find it relaxing to cook meals and record themselves and have constant presence on social media. Nothing is wrong with clean content and putting certain aspects of your life out there.

However, there will come a time when you need time alone, time to think about life and what you want and project yourself down that path of success.

I also believe that part of the busy-ness of life these days comes with social media which is taking so much away from us. All some of us do is bury our

heads in a cellphone almost all the time without engaging in meaningful conversations or doing the things that really matter.

With the advent of

changing technology, we have come a long way and as time progresses we will also become more advanced, but how can we measure self-growth? Self- inspection

is often necessary to check your personal progress in life and taking time out is a must to remain sane in a world that is ever-changing.

Why does the COVID-19 Pandemic seem like a distant memory?

I HAVE seen many people sharing how the pandemic was a “blur” or a distant memory. It’s as if people group the Pandemic years into one collective memory. The first COVID-19 case was recorded in 2020 in Guyana, and restrictions only started to relax at the beginning of 2022. It’s been almost four years since the commencement of the COVID-19 pandemic and yet, sometimes it feels as if it only lasted for four days. This is a clear sign that COVID-19 was indeed a traumatic ordeal for many, and

we’re still coping with the effects.

I thought I was alone until I discussed it with some colleagues who shared the same sentiments. It seems like a distant memory and sometimes, I even forget that we had a global pandemic until I see someone wear a mask or see the word “COVID”. I wanted to highlight this issue and how your current symptoms may be linked to the pandemic. National Health Institute described “Brain Fog” as the loss of memory and lack of concentration—all a range of neurocogni-

tive symptoms. Brain fog can be caused psychologically through stress, a lack of sleep or experiencing trauma. It can also be caused by health issues such as hormonal imbalance or the COVID-19 virus itself.

So, not only can we be affected by the Brain Fog through the trauma associated with the pandemic, but it can also be directly linked to the virus itself. So, perhaps your memory loss or a distant memory of the pandemic and daily life may be brain fog. With my understanding of psychology, the memory of human beings is often associated with emotions or significance. So, perhaps our “blur” may result from our not having much emotional associations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The truth is, this can be a reality for many people. Our brain is usually hardwired to remember the emotional connections we had to certain situations and if we can hardly remember the pandemic, it simply means that we did not have many emotional responses to it. Some people were simply living through it. Nothing more, nothing less.

There can also be an opposite explanation where persons had very traumatic experiences during the pandemic, and they refuse to hold onto those memories. We must admit that it was a very traumatising time for a lot of people, so perhaps their brain was sensory overloaded, or it is a trauma response to what they left during that time.

Many ongoing studies still seek to highlight this issue of having a “blur” after the pandemic. I am sure they’ll provide further insights on this matter, but I am sure that there will always be a common denominator: the pandemic’s negative effects on us. If, by chance, you have increasing symptoms of memory loss or loss of focus, I would advise you to seek professional help from a medical doctor or psychiatrist.

#IWD2024: Jamaica ranks highest in Caribbean on gender equality

By Sheri-kae McLeod

JAMAICA is the highest-ranked Caribbean country on gender equality, according to the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Index 2023 report.

Each year, WEF compiles a report that measures the extent of gender-based gaps among four key dimensions: Economic Participation and Opportunity, Educational Attainment, Health and Survival, and Political Empowerment, then gives each country a ranking between 0% (the lowest possible gender equality) and 100% (the highest possible gender equality). The analyses of each country are intended to serve as a basis for designing effective measures for reducing gender gaps.

Top countries globally for gender equality

The top ten countries for gender equality include four Nordic countries: Iceland, Norway, Finland, and Sweden; as well as their European neighbors: Germany, Belgium, and Lithuania; the Asian Pacific country New Zealand; Nicaragua in Latin America; and Namibia in Africa.

For over 10 years, Iceland has retained its number one spot. For 2023, it received a score of 91%.

The Caribbean and Latin America rankings

Jamaica ranks second in the world in economic participation and opportunities for women but below #50 in education and political representation. Under the health and survival sub-category, it ranks at #94.

Jamaica is ranked 24th globally from a list of 146 countries, with a 77% rating. The island is first among Caribbean countries, but when combining Latin America and Caribbean countries, it ranks third, below Nicaragua (81%) and Costa Rica (79%).

Progress in Latin America and the Caribbean

With incremental progress towards gender parity since 2017, Latin America and the Caribbean has bridged 74.3% of its overall gender gap. After Europe and North America, the region has the third-highest level of parity, the report noted.

“Since the last edition, seven out of 21 countries (including relatively populous countries like Colombia, Chile, Honduras, and Brazil) have improved their gender parity scores by at least 0.5 percentage points, while five countries have seen a decline in their parity scores by at least 0.5 percentage points. This has led to a 1.7 percentage-point increase in overall gender parity since last year.

“Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Jamaica register the highest parity scores in this region, and Belize, Paraguay, and Guatemala the lowest. At the current rate of progress, Latin America and the Caribbean will take 53 years to attain full gender parity,” the report said. (http://caribbeannationalweekly.com/)

I AM DUSKY

I CAME into this world one late night on a grassy parapet in the glow of a street lamp, but disaster befell the moment I got up to walk. I wobbled, lost my balance and fell into the deep drain. My mother nudged at me to help me out, but I couldn’t get out, struggling until I grew tired.

No one who could have stopped to help was passing at that hour, and my worried mother was pacing around restlessly. By the time I saw the first light of day, I had become cold, not feeling

my legs and soon after, help found me. A lady in a red dress from a red house bordered by flowering plants opposite where I was lying unlocked her gate and saw my frantic mother. She came closer and saw me struggling in the drain and I heard her say, “Oh my God, this baby is in trouble!”

She looked around for help, but still there was no one, and she hurried back into her house, coming out again quickly, holding something to her ear and talking to

someone. The next moment, two young boys came running from around the corner, followed by their father, who lifted me carefully out of the drain. I was wet and trembling but now safe, and my relieved mother walked to the playfield nearby as I followed with shaky legs. But in crossing the narrow bridge, my disastrous welcome to the world continued as I fell into that drain. My rescuers rushed to take me out again, and they waited for a short while to make sure my mother and I were safely on the playfield. I

tried suckling as she grazed on the thick, green grass but couldn’t get much milk, so I sat down to rest.

Later that morning, another kind lady and her little daughter from nearby came to see me and pet me. I was new to this world and felt comfortable in that wide grassy field with caring people around, but there were no others of my kind. Maybe they were somewhere else, so when my mother started to walk out of the field, I followed her and fell in the drain again. The nice lady from the red house and her daughter came to my rescue, getting a construction worker working close by to haul me out.

“What’s happening to this, poor fella?” I heard her ask.

They put me in a little shady area, dried my coat, and gave me water to drink while molasses water was given to my mother. They

secured the gate this time before leaving. No more falling down in the drain that had shaken me, and somehow I hadn’t the strength to suckle enough milk from my mother’s breast, but I found comfort from that wide field, green grass, blue skies and a cool wind. I wondered, though, because I hadn’t seen any other horses or ponies, “Where is home? Does mama have a home?”

She seemed sad and tired, her white coat not glistening. I got up to go to her, but my weak legs couldn’t carry me, so I sat down.

The first day I came into this world passed, and that night it rained. There was no shelter, but my mother stood over me, sheltering me with her body. The sun shone the next morning, and most of the field was wet, but I found a few dry spots. I wanted to run and frolic, but my legs were still weak, so I laid down and rolled from side to side. My mother had

walked a little way off as she grazed and I got up slowly, steadily walking towards her, then I collasped.

Something was very wrong with me.

She saw when I fell, came and stood over me worried, looking around for someone. Sometime later, the lady from the red house came over with molasses water for my mother and was shocked to see my condition.

“How did this happen?” she asked herself, “He seemed fine this morning.”

She signalled her daughter, a little frantically, to come over to the field. The other kind lady came over too and together, they moved me to dry ground and wiped my wet body. I heard them on the phone calling different animal doctors but could get no one until late afternoon. They tried feeding me milk from a baby feeding bottle whilst my mother stood close by, allowing them as they tried to save me, but the milk wouldn’t pass down my throat, and the doctor, who came late, said I had no suckling power, and without my mother’s milk I may not survive.

It was getting close to dusk, and the caring voices that had been close for two days seemed to be drifting away. The good man and kind lady from early that first morning made a makeshift shelter over me just in case it rained during the night. They left at dusk with the hope I make it to the morning. It didn’t rain that night, and I lay there in the

I AM DUSKY...

FROM PAGE XXVIII quiet, with lights all around, my mother never leaving my side. But creeping darkness came closer and closer, and just as I came into the world on a quiet night, I left. The last thing I knew was my mother nudging me.

Morning came, and I lay there, my body cold but free. I was going to run and frolic around the field. I spoke to my mother, whose sadness had deepened and said to her, “Don’t be sad. I’m free to live.”

She couldn’t hear me nor see me, for I would now go to another world, across the rainbow bridge where many of my kind lived. No more hunger, no more suffering, free from cruel hands and unkind words. I looked at my mother, who had lost her baby and I felt sorry to have to leave her.

The lady from the red house came to check on me just after the sun rose. She touched my body and said with a sad look on her face, “Gosh, he didn’t make it.”

Those words gave me the comfort that there are people who care and are kind to animals, so my mother was in good hands. The lady went back home, brought some molasses water for her and spoke to a couple of men to bury my body in the playfield. Her daughter came to support her, and then, because no one else was there, she sat talking to my mother, trying to comfort her as my resting place was being prepared. But when it was ready, my mother would not allow the strange men near to me. The kind lady had to coax my mother out of the friend so the barricade could go on to keep her out.

The moment they picked my body up, she became agitated, neighing distraughtly, trying to get back into the field. I watched on, so sorry I couldn’t comfort her, for I had to cross the rainbow bridge.

“I will wait for you there, mama,” I said, “We will meet again one day, and then you’ll be happy.”

CARICOM secretary general says regional women still facing challenges to equality

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – The Secretary General of CARICOM, Dr Carla Barnett said Friday that even as the region celebrates the progress made by women “there are many challenges to be overcome”.

In a message marking International Women’s Day 2024 under the theme, “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress,” the region’s top female public servant, said that Caribbean countries this year should “celebrate the progress we have made towards gender equality and

women’s empowerment.

“Our member states are introducing gender-responsive budgeting; legislation and policies are being reformed; and guidelines, tools, and protocols are being made available to support implementation of gender mainstreaming and monitoring of results across different sectors.”

But she acknowledged that “even as the region moves towards “equality for all”, there are many challenges to be overcome.

“Data indicate that fewer women than men in the region are earning incomes, unpaid care work is still predominantly done by women and girls, and gender-based violence continues with great intensity. This reflects the continued presence of cultural beliefs, norms and prac-

tices that underpin social exclusion and inequalities,” Barnett said.

She said as the region goes forward, investing in strengthening regional and national gender machinery is critical to investing in women, and to accelerating progress.

“We must also strengthen the implementation of social and economic policies to ensure that gender

CMC photo

CARICOM secretary general says regional ...

FROM PAGE XXXIV

equality programmes encompass everyone. I urge all women and men to work together to achieve gender equality,” she added.

Meanwhile, in a message marking the occasion, United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, said the international body celebrates women and girls around the world, applauding all they have achieved in the fight for equality.

“Women and girls have made great gains, demolishing barriers, dismantling stereotypes and driving progress towards a more just and equal world. Yet they face immense obstacles.

“Billions of women and girls face marginalisation, injustice and discrimination, while the persistent epidemic of violence against women disgraces humanity. Our world still reflects millennia of male-dominated power relations. ”

Guterres said that progress is under attack, with a fierce backlash against women’s rights.

“At our current rate, legal equality is some three hun-

dred years away,” he said, adding “we must move much faster.”

“On International Women’s Day, we stand with women and girls fighting for their rights, and we commit to accelerating progress. This year’s theme, invest in women, reminds us that ending the patriarchy requires money on the table.

“We must support women’s organisations on the front line. And we must invest in programmes to end violence against women, and to drive women’s inclusion and leadership in economies, digital technologies, peacebuilding and climate action. ”

But the UN Secretary General said that this all depends on unlocking finance for sustainable development so that countries have funds available to invest in women and girls.

“We also need to increase the number of women leaders in business, finance, central banks and finance ministries. This can help drive investments in policies and programmes that respond to women and girls’ needs.

“Women’s rights are a proven path to fair, peaceful, prosperous societies. It is good for us all.

Together, let’s take urgent action to make it a reality,” Guterres added.

(jamaica-gleaner.com)

The village of Fort ...

The family of ten children made the move to the community when Marcena was about twelve years old. As the fifth of ten, Marcena remembers how easy the support of her family made the move. As she stated, “We used to live together. The ones that are older don’t live with me anymore. My little brother is going to training school. It was nice. I feel like we didn’t have to get anybody to play, we could play and so among ourselves.”

She described Fort Ordinance as different from the home she knew. “It was new and it was different. There were a lot of trees, and when we came, we cut them down. It had the road, it wasn’t like this. It was like, actually, now that they built it, and so on, there were not much people in the village.” Marcena offers an interesting view of the community as one of the village’s young people. She stated that her biggest current contender is work. She admits that she was unsure about what she wanted to do for a long time. Several months ago, however, she began working at one of Fort Ordinance’s pharmacies, which has sparked her passion for the medical field. “I’m starting in the medical field. I kind of like it. It’s interesting. I learned a lot.”

A community in ...

FROM PAGE VIII

NDC level, whereby everybody would ask about streets, about drainage, and light. But we have more engagement with the community, because we go out in the field once a month. I’ll meet other residents; myself and the Chairman are available every Wednesday from 0100hrs one to 16:30hrs in the afternoon. So we get all the information coming in, and we correspond with residents, too,” Ashraf said.

Fort Ordinance could be cited as one of the fastest-developing communities in the region. This is perhaps owed to the approach of its leaders. “I made a statement, and I stand by my statement that we want to be the number one NDC in Guyana. That is our goal, and we have set smaller goals for where we want to become by the next local government election, where we want to be, and we are exceeding those already.”

The importance of the role played in the development of any community is not overlooked in Fort Ordinance. According to the vice chair, the people come first and their support of the driving forces behind the villages’s advancement. “I love the support that we are getting from residents. They’re supporting the NDC, they’re reaching out, they have confidence in the NDC, and it makes us happy to know that we have this. There are some problems, some persons come to issue problems, we try to resolve it,” he said.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

Something attempted, some- thing done, Has earned a night’s repose. HENRY

LONGFELLOWWADSWORTH(1807-1882) The Village Blacksmith

STUDY SUCCESS

Dear Student,

Welcome dear friend. Proper study skills are always important in study.

MARCH 20, 2024

Sometimes you aim to read a text to understand the complexity of a classification contained somewhere in it. What do you do? Get help through a tool called diagramming which can involve constructing a tree diagram to visualise the information. Tree diagramming is particularly adapted to texts based on classifications. It helps you to see at once the main points of the text and the relations between them. Be wise.

Love you.

THE PASSAGE

Dealing with specialised language. Note: 1) Specialised language is language used in a specific field or is relevant to and characteristic of an industry. For instance, you are aware that the English language used in the hotel and catering industry, or maybe for mechanical engineering is different from the language you speak day to day.

A specialised language, therefore, differs from the common (general) language by its specialised expressions and specific terminologies in the information it conveys. Its information is communicated within a small circle of specialists, or it can be addressed to non-specialists as it becomes popular. Today’s passage contains specialised terminology.

2) The term ‘context’ refers to the words and phrases surrounding a word, which can help you, the reader, understand new words or words that are used in an unfamiliar way. Whenever you find an unfamiliar word, reread and read ahead for context clues. Keep on reading until you get the correct sense and meaning to fit the word.

Read the following passage. Then, answer the questions.

The best cookies are made from the best ingredients. Use unsalted butter. If possible, use unsalted nuts that are very fresh. (Nuts are oily, and the oil can turn rancid with age.) Dried fruits such as raisins, dates, and candied citrus bits should always be plump and moist; hard, dried-out “bullets” are not only untoothsome, but will draw moisture and make cookies dry. Don’t economise on chocolate or on spices. There is a dramatic difference between the flavour of genuine cinnamon and that of ground cassia, often sold as a cinnamon substitute. Always buy pure vanilla, almond, or other extracts, not imitation, which can taste “tinny” and artificial.

Always use large eggs when baking. Their size is closely regulated for uniformity, one large egg weighing two ounces in the shell and 1.75 ounces out of the shell. It

is important to note that an egg is a liquid ingredient and substituting extra-large or jumbo eggs will throw off the balance of a recipe.

1. What title can be given to the passage? Clearly state your reasoning, based on both content and use of language.

2. What message do you gather from the first sentence? Which term is stressed here? What specific technical field is being used here?

3. What context clue helps you figure out the meaning of the specialised word “rancid”?

(A) unsalted (B) oily (C) bullets (D) with age

4. What does the word “untoothsome” mean, based on the description in the sentence where it is found?

(A) tasty (B) unappetising (C) moist (D) underdone

5. Give the specific meaning of the word “uniformity” in the phrase: “Their size is closely regulated for uniformity...”?

6. Give the meaning of each term used in the passage: ingredients, unsalted butter, candied citrus bits, cookies, genuine cinnamon, tinny, closely regulated.

7. Which ingredients to your knowledge, could be left out of the recipe and still result in tasty cookies? Explain.

THE POEM

Analysing and interpreting the poem for study and discussion

Note: 1) When you analyse and interpret a poem, the exercise typically involves the careful examination of various literary elements. You get to pick the poem apart and deal with its elements which include narration, setting, characters, theme, structure, rhythm, rhyme, figurative language, diction, tone, and mood.

2) A stanza is a group of lines forming a unit of communication in a poem. Stanzas are many and have a fixed pattern of lines and rhyme scheme. A stanza may be a couplet (two rhyming lines), but the one being looked at today contains four lines called quatrain. Read the following poem. Then, answer the questions.

Loveliest of trees, the cherry now Is hung with bloom along the bough, And stands about the woodland ride Wearing white for Eastertide.

Now, of my threescore years and ten, 5 Twenty will not come again, And take from seventy springs a score, It only leaves me fifty more.

And since to look at things in bloom

Fifty springs are little room, 10 About the woodlands I will go

To see the cherry hung with snow.

1a) What is the meaning of “loveliest of trees, the cherry now” in line 1?

(A) The lovely cherry trees are never surpassed.

(B) The cherry trees are the loveliest only currently.

(C) The cherry trees are surpassed in loveliness in all seasons.

(D) The cherry trees boughs make them look unsightly wearing white.

2a) How old does the speaker say he is in stanza 2? b) What does lines 7-8 mean?

3a) What does the speaker mean by saying “Fifty springs are little room”? b) Why does he go to see the trees?

4a) Does the poem express delight in nature? b) Give two lines which reflect this delight.

5a) Give the two sets of lines that rhyme in stanza 2. b) What sort of stanzas is the poem made of?

6a) To whom do you think the poem is appealing? State how you came to that conclusion.

Emergency Dentistry

IN dentistry, as in medicine, pain and infection are often emergencies in every sense of the word. An emergency is an unforeseen situation that requires immediate action. Since these emergencies may develop from seemingly ordinary circumstances, pain and infection control will be discussed from routine and emergency standpoints.

Pain of an emergency nature is more likely to occur in the dental practice because of infections, trauma, and temporomandibular (jaw) joint or occlusal (biting) disorders. Obviously, the first consideration in pain control is to eliminate the cause of discomfort and institute indicated local and systemic therapeutic measures. Analgesics (painkillers) are then employed to alleviate pain until the direct treatment has eliminated the cause.

Whenever the dentist considers prescribing an analgesic, he recalls certain clinically significant factors about pain itself. One of the most important considerations here is the psychological aspects of pain.

A basic regard in selecting a pain killer for any case is to match the analgesic’s potency against the pain’s severity. In this respect, one must never lose sight of the fact that the patient’s psychological makeup is an extremely important factor in selecting the proper analgesic.

Pain has two components: perception and reaction. Healthy individuals appear to have the same capacity to perceive pain, but their reaction to what they perceive may vary widely. Discomfort that may require no drug in one patient may require aspirin in another and even codeine, meperidine, or morphine in others. Therefore, a dentist’s relative knowledge of his patient is of considerable value.

A predisposition towards a greater reaction to pain has been said to be associated with patients with one or more of the following characteristics: emotional instability, fatigue, youth, female sex and fear and apprehension. It is well known that many individuals will obtain greater benefit from an analgesic if they expect it to be effective or if they have found it to be effective in the past. The clinician should assert his confidence that a particular agent will give prompt relief. The confidence the patient has in his dentist will then be conveyed to the drug.

For a knocked-out permanent adult tooth, always keep it moist. Try placing the tooth back in the socket without touching the root if you can. If that is not possible, place it in between your cheek and gums, or in milk and get to the dentist right away. For cracked teeth, or if you should bite your tongue, lip or cheek, wash with warm water to clean the area, if necessary, then apply a cold compress to help prevent swelling.

Mild to moderate pain of dental origin can usually be controlled by aspirin (200 mg every four hours). A similar Acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen dose should be equally effective. These drugs provide an additional antipyretic (eliminating fever) effect. Acetaminophen is particularly useful in cases of allergy to aspirin and where gastrointestinal bleeding problems contraindicate the use of aspirin.

Strong painkillers include Talwin, Pentacine HCL, Demerol and morphine sulfate. These drugs, however, all have adverse potentialities and side effects. One must, therefore, always consider whether or not taking a strong painkiller is worth it, bearing in mind the side effects. So, while no one obviously likes pain, special effort should be taken to avoid it by preventing tooth decay, etc.