Guyana Chronicle Pepperpot 06-27-2021

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, June 27, 2021

e h t f o e f i l e h T r e k a m t e k s ba

I

Monica Thomas, better known as the “Basket Lady” of North Timehri, East Bank Demerara, has been making various types of baskets for many years. The 60-year-old has her eyes set on retirement, but until she can pass on her craft, Thomas is making do by making baskets to order as best she can (Carl Croker photo)

Sunday June 27, 2021

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, June 27, 2021

A ‘Gem’ in Nascimento’s ‘Kit’

By Francis Quamina Farrier THIS article concludes my “June the month of Brides “ 2021 series, in which I threw the spotlight on four Guyanese married couples. In this final article, the spotlight is on the well-known married couple, Gem Madhoo and Kit

Nascimento. Both Gem and Kit were approaching their mature years when they met and fell madly in love with each other. To quote Kit from his wedding speech, “...it was because of our mutual love and ability to cook.” One can conclude that the way to both a man’s and a woman’s heart, is through their stomachs.

Gem Madhoo and her husband Kit Nascimento enjoy a meal together at their Essequibo Tourist Resort

Guests enjoying dinner in an open-air setting at the Hurakabra Tourist Resort on the Essequibo River

Gem, like her husband Kit Nascimento, has done much, not only for their own enjoyment and development but also for their beloved beautiful Guyana. Kit has worked in high public office in the Guyana Public Service, which included within the country’s Parliament. Gem in her very early working life was a staffer at the (now defunct) Guyana National Cooperative Bank. She has also been very successful as a Theatre producer with the iconic Theatre Company, which has produced many very successful theatre productions over the past quarter of a century. They include the extremely popular Link Shows.

Gem can be described as “a free spirit” and has gone on many adventures; one of great significance is her World Tour many years ago, to the following countries: Belgium, Canada, Caymans, Coru, Costa Rica, Egypt, England, France, Germany, Greece, Holland, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Mallorca, Mexico, Scotland, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand and Trinidad.

With that experience as a tourist, Gem got involved with the tourism industry when she teamed up with Kit establishing the Bartica area of the Essequibo River as a safe destination for yachts - especially during the hurricane seasons which often slams the Caribbean islands annually without mercy. “The first flotilla of yachts arrived from Trinidad in 2004.” she told me. They moored in the Essequibo river at Hurakabra, located just north of Bartica. “Kit and I built a retirement home on the left bank of the Essequibo river, but decided to open it into a tourist resort,” she explained.

It is appropriate to turn the clock back over three decades when, as a student of the University of Guyana (UG), Gem was one of the students who was given an assignment by the great Guyanese educator, Lloyd Searwar. It was to co-ordinate a group of 13 teachers from Mississippi in the Southern United States, who were on a one-month educational visit to Guyana. Gem and a few other of the UG students were assigned, “... to arrange trips to our hinterland locations, expose them to Guyanese culture and arrange talks with some of our political personalities,” she informed me. As such, her groundings as one of Guyana’s most experienced tour operators goes way back and has grown side-by-side with her husband, Kit’s.

With a great measure of pride Gem Madhoo stated, “I started my own tour operating business from 1992 until myself and Kit built the Hurakabra River resort.” There is much romance at that location, not only with the proprietors but also with the many tourists and other guests who visit...especially on moon-lit nights as a full moon lingers over the mighty and romantic Essequibo River.

Asked about the present COVID-19 pandemic and how it is affecting the tourist arrivals, Gem pointed out that, “COVID-19 has adversely affected the tourism industry.

However, we look forward to putting this pandemic behind us and to welcome the many visitors who are waiting to step on our shores.”

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, June 27, 2021

Body positivity and representation

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Miss Bikini Novice 2021 makes a strong statement

ON May 29, when 19-yearold Aliya Wong stepped on the stage at the Lichas Hall in Linden to compete in the Novice Championships, it was with a clear goal in mind: to show women that being fit does not mean you are undesirable- though society may tell you otherwise.

“All my life I had an athletic build and faced criticism for being muscular or being stronger in my physical abilities more than most females,” Aliya told the

r Aliya is no strange try an ge pa es lov o als

Pepperpot Magazine, adding that it was this same build that led persons to consider her figure more “masculine”. “Often times [I was] told I should quit my sports or stop training before I ‘look too manly’ and was deemed less desirable by males. I went on that stage to represent all women, especially female athletes, who may have had similar experiences,” she said. “I wanted to show that we will always embody the essence of a woman and be beautiful

no matter what we choose to do. That we will not accept labels but show that we are more than enough. We are capable of being successful!

It was all about body positivity and representation. I would like to think I was successful in that.”

And successful she was, because that night, Aliya walked away with the Miss Bikini Novice title. An award-winning karateka and fitness aficionado, Aliya is no stranger to the stage, having

dresses.

“I am no stranger to fitness and sports, in fact, my whole life revolves around it! I have always had an athletic build as long as I know myself and the gym was just another place I found comfort in developing my skills and physique,” Aliya told the Pepperpot Magazine.

She admitted though that the thought of competing in the fitness industry did not cross her mind though she had been encouraged to participate for years in the Miss Bikini Novice competition. But she finally gave in this year after receiving an encouraging push from her personal trainer, Michael Sampson and another friend.

But Aliya knew that this was no regular pageant and competing would require a greater investment into her diet and her daily fitness routine. “ The transition was smoother than I expected since I was already incorporating weightlifting and powerlifting into my gym routine.

As for diet, I am not one to eat unhealthily but this was stricter than my usual,” she explained. “I trained three to four hours for the working week and six [hours] closer to the competition date. It was bittersweet; there were days I questioned myself and others where I couldn’t have helped feeling proud of myself for taking on another challenge in a completely new industry. It was an ideal combination of some of the things I am passionate about, modelling and fitness. I like to think of it as a pageant but with a more toned and built physique.”

A natural competitor, Aliya stated that she aims to ss but leave a lasting impact and to sports and fitne do her best and that effort has taken her a long way in the past, so when she entered won the 2016 Miss Talented the Novice competition, she Teen Pageant. But her pas- admitted that winning was sion for sports and fitness part of the goal but that she was especially highlighted also wanted to enjoy and during her participation as learn throughout the journey. a Quarterfinalist in the Miss “I wanted to absorb every World Guyana 2020 pageant aspect of this industry as through her Beauty With A well since it is a new one to Purpose project ‘Youth De- me, but it was more than just velopment Through Mentor- winning and gaining expeship and Sports’. Neverthe- rience.” less, seeing Aliya dive headfirst into this fitness-centred The importance of role gave a slightly different fitness view when compared with her stint in an arena usually Aliya’s journey to this characterised by heels and point is not just because she

Aliya Wong won the 2021 Miss Bikini Novice title in May (Photos courtesy of Aliya Wong)

is a mere fan of fitness, but according to her, she eats, sleeps and breathes it; it is a love that grows every day.

“It is important to me to be an advocate for fitness for I am a living testimony of its benefits …My life has been impacted positively, holistically.

It played a part in self-discovery, strength building as well as skill-building; emotionally aided me throughout a lot of dark times in my life and mentally keeps me grounded,” she said. “It instilled discipline that is practised daily and developed relationships that have lasted years and of course lifelong experiences such and travelling and job opportunities.”

Aliya used this passion for fitness as a starting point for working with young people in showing them the importance and benefits of being involved in fitness and sports. This determination resulted in the launch of The Youth Development Organization (YDF) in 2019 which focuses on positive youth development through mentorship and sports. “This has been my heart’s desire for years, but I chose to use the platform that the Miss World Guyana pageant offered as a way to have a successful launch and marketing. This was created to be a home away from home for youths, a beginning for most into a journey that they will forever cherish; somewhere that they too can reap the benefits of sports and fitness while be-

ing mentored by qualified individuals who seek to help them grow graciously into the positive individuals that can give back to society,” she explained.

Though she has big plans for YDF, many of the activities were put on hold due to the pandemic but she shared that she and her team have been learning about how to modify their activities to keep them within the existing COVID-19 guidelines, so a launch of new activities is sure to be seen soon.

Plans for pageantry As with almost everything else in the world, the pandemic also affected the Miss World Guyana pageant which saw the organisers cancelling the event and while there may be plans of hosting the pageant in the future, Aliya is not sure if she will take part in the pageant again- but that is all dependent on what’s happening within her five-year plan, she said. More than that, she is comforted that she still has a few years of eligibility yet and is likely to be more qualified and “decorated with accomplishments” should she decide to vie for the crown once again in a few years.

“I love pageantry for the platform it provides that allows you to be heard; a space to represent not only your country but also your passions and persons that aren’t in the position to do so and of course how can we forget the overall personal development

one gains from participating in such a journey,” she said.

In fact, she is still quite interested in pageantry as a whole, adding that there is a list of pageants she hopes to compete in to represent Guyana.

“After all, there is a lot of progress happening in the industry such as the famous crowning of the international Queens of African ethnicity who represented immaculately with their natural hair.

Strides like these make it more desirable to enter into these pageants knowing this time you can be fully accepted and don’t have to worry about impartiality. I don’t see myself not being interested in pageantry anytime soon!”

Aliya believes that every pageant experience has impacted her growth as an individual and that she has always ended her journey with positive personal development after every pageant.

She credits the workshops, training, team building and mentorship opportunities that participants are exposed to during these events. “I am grateful for the business opportunities that were provided to me as a result of my networking abilities and public appearances. This has caused me to gain professionally, instilled and perfected skills in business and other areas and of course helped me to grown overall.”

So as her five-year plan unfolds, Guyana can expect to see much more from this vibrant, budding talent both in fitness, youth development and pageantry.

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, June 27, 2021

‘Project Ubuntu’ seeks to help young people suffering from mental health challenges due to the pandemic

By Marissa V. Foster PROJECT Ubuntu is a one-day session geared towards facilitating a much-needed dialogue around life skills development and self-awareness among young people.

Ubuntu is a Zulu word meaning “I am, because you are”. And the philosophy surrounding ubuntu is so profound especially as we deal with adjusting to life during a global pandemic where physical interactions are limited.

People need to feel connected to others and young people need the skills to interact with people and to deal with conflicts more responsibly. This five-step journey features sessions and activities around self and values, life skills, interpersonal communication skills, conflict resolution and mental health.

“I decided to start this project one day while scrolling through my social media pages and all I saw were young people venting about their mental health issues.

It was clear that adapting to life in a pandemic added more layers of stress and vulnerabilities to our already challenging lives,” Said Dennis Glasgow, the project’s coordinator. “It was this along with the increase in crimes being committed by young people across Guyana. So, I wanted to pull something together that was fun and engaging; and

Project Ubuntu

Participants and project coordinator; Dennis Glasgow of “Project Ubuntu”

one that gave young people valuable life skills such as decision making and conflict resolution. The need is there to provide some guidance to our nation’s young people and life skills development is an excellent opportunity to encourage internal growth.”

Dennis has been active in civil society leadership for over a decade. He has been a well-known youth

developmental advocate in Guyana and this project is one of many that he has worked on. As such, with his many accolades and international exposures he said that he wanted to let the young people of Guyana know “I hear you!” “I understand what you’re g o i n g t h ro u g h ! ” . T h e COVID-19 pandemic negatively affected the mental

health of many youngsters in our country. While this might come as a surprise to many, Glasgow himself also had his fair share of challenges. However, he noted that he was equipped with the right skills to work his way out of such a state. He also knew where to get professional support if the need ever arises. The same cannot be said for

many young persons like himself. As such, the idea of this project was birthed.

“It was really admirable to see such young people pull off something like this. It wasn’t a case whereby two facilitators just lectured or just read stuff to us. It was interactive, respectful jokes were made, there was a sense of trust and overall the atmosphere was just

different”, one of the participants noted.

“Project Ubuntu” is a one day retreat at The R’s Farm on the Linden Soesdyke Highway. It’s a practical outdoor session that facilitates conversations around five key areas. This peer to peer learning model will explore a host of topics and issues. This one day retreat is geared at kickstarting an internal dialogue on growth and self-development among participants. It is by no means a “fix-all” but a practical conversation starter among other young people.

When the Pepperpot Magazine asked Glasgow what the future holds for this project, he responded by saying: “I am hopeful that I can be able to replicate this project in different regions, while being aware of Covid19 and adhering to prescribed precautions”. Young people between the ages of 15-25 can apply for the next two sessions on July 24th and August 21st, 2021. Dennis is urging young people from vulnerable groups to apply as this is open to everyone; whether they’re living with disabilities, living with HIV/ AIDS and other illnesses, a young indigenous youth, a young LGBT youth, teen parents—this is open to everyone.

Persons desirous of participating can contact Dennis Glasglow on his social media pages for more information.

Participants in an interactive session at “Project Ubuntu”

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, June 27, 2021

From humble beginnings to position of prominence

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Guyana-born entrepreneur changing lives

By Frederick Halley

AMIDST his extremely busy schedule, Guyana-born Kanhai Ken Singh has been changing the lives of many to actively assist in his local community and many other social causes worldwide.

As President and owner of Atlas Cargo, Canadian Customs Brokers Inc., and Central Global Cargo North America, Ken rose from humble beginnings to a position of prominence in the Canadian society.

Always ready to assist in any given situation, Ken is in the process of responding positively to the current flood situation in Guyana, which has been deemed a national disaster by President Dr Irfaan Ali. A container of medical supplies, which includes 30,000 canisters of sanitary wipes, hand sanitisers, Lysol wipes among other things are almost ready to set sail. Ken pointed out that the items will be distributed to the University of Guyana, hospitals and other organisations of need.

In Guyana, Dr Arnold Doobay, Chief Executive Officer of Charity FCC will take care of the distribution. The entrepreneur disclosed that his company also assisted greatly during the St Vincent & The Grenadines volcanic explosion when a 40-ft container of supplies was sent to the Caribbean Island while Humanitarian Mission Guyana Inc (HMGI), which operates a facility at Port Mourant also receives substantial assistance from the company. HMGI is training “battered” women in Guyana.

In 1996, Ken founded and is the President of Cargo Partners Network (CPN), a worldwide freight association for the advancement of technology, security and customs unification globally, with representation in over 95 countries.

To share his outstanding scholastic prowess, Ken is a guest speaker across Canada and internationally on transportation, security, customs and trade issues. For over 40 years, he has been actively involved in providing humanitarian and charitable relief all over the world. He was Chairman of Advisory Council, York University and was on the Humber College Advisory Council Degree Programme in International help to implement the Trade and Logistics.

According to The Life

Illustrated magazine, Ken volunteers with the CPPS, a Catholic mission agency that works on projects to provide health care and clean water in Africa. The Central American arm of World Vision; Bosnian Children Cultural Heritage Centre are all beneficiaries of his efforts to contribute to the various communities.

As a person who believes that giving back to social needs Ken Singh and wife Jessie is a fundamental sire to see people gain educaprinciple in feeling satisfied tional grounding, Ken transwith one’s achievements, ported books and education Ken opines that business material worldwide for 26 owners should offer their skill years for many organizations. and resources to also help He has a storage of large community organisations quantities of books and with prosper. the empty space in containers Taking time off from his at his business location, Ken extremely busy schedule, utilizes his transportation Ken told the Pepperpot Mag- business to send the books to azine that he enjoys his work, different schools and univernot only in his business suc-

include people originating from various parts of the world, including Guyana, Hong Kong, China, United Kingdom, India, Pakistan, Bulgaria, Trinidad, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Mexico, Columbia, France, and the Netherlands. He believes that business has an important social role to play.

In 2005, Ken received

business climate and has positioned his companies to take advantage of the digital marketplace.

Many dimensions of these changes include: Artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IOT), Blockchain technology, Robots, drone deliveries, and the Uberisation of transportation are all creating a complex supply chain environment but with significant transparency and lower costs globally.

Ken is embarking on ways to tackle this changing business environment.

Balancing work and family became an important part of Ken’s life and he is thankful for his wife, Jessie and their four children, Darren, Justin, Shaun and Stacey for their support all through the years he has been growing his business in shipping.

Ken is most appreciative for the support from his wife, Jessie, for being not only a life partner, but who also plays an important role in the

Ken, wife Jessie and other top executives in the warehouse of Atlas Cargo.

cess but also in his ability to contribute to charitable causes. He pointed out that often when he travels internationally on business, he will make it a duty to observe what is going on in that country and where he could contribute to their needs.

Through this exposure, he has been contributing to many humanitarian causes.

For over forty years, his humanitarian and charitable relief contributions have been made to many countries.

These included his native Guyana, Guatemala, India, Bangladesh, Bosnia, Serbia, Jamaica, El Salvador, Brazil, Tanzania, Uganda, Angola, Bahamas, Puerto Rico and Senegal, among others.

Because of his keen de-

sities around the world.

Since 1988, Ken has also supported the Samaritans Purse (Operations Christmas Child) as well as the flood relief efforts in Asia and South America and firmly believes that one’s economic achievements are not enough to define success.

For several years, Ken served on the Advisory Board of the Indo-Canadian Chambers of Commerce and over the years, he has conducted lectures worldwide on transportation, security, customs and trade issues.

Ken sees his company as a microcosm of the population of Canada, as there are employees from many of the groups of immigrants. These

the 2005 Businessman of the Year Award in Ottawa, Canada and also received numerous awards and recognitions for his significant contribution to industry, trade and charitable organizations.

Among the other awards are a Service Award from Singapore for chairman 1996-2000; Service Award from CICA and Service Award from CPPS Mission Projects, Tanzania. He also received a Seal to the State of Florida.

With automation and e-commerce changing how international transportation around the world is overseen, and with the changing economy, Ken continues to remain competitive in this

business. Jessie functions as a Senior Executive, bringing her qualifications as a former senior banker and professional certification in freight forwarding.

Darren, who is a graduate of York University, heads the Aerospace, Pharma and IT at Atlas while his other children have ventured out to pursue their own professions.

Justin is a Medical Doctor practising in Florida, Shaun is a Lawyer practising Commercial Litigation in Toronto, and his daughter, Stacey, is a Media Manager at Amazon.

Kanhai (Ken) Singh was born in Strangroen, East Coast Demerara in Guyana.

He attended De Hoop Canadian Mission School and was keen to pursue higher

education at an early age.

As a young man, while attending primary school, he had firsthand experience with hard work, to look after the family cows and tending their garden of vegetables.

Ken knew at that time he was making a great contribution helping out, but there was always a voice in his mind that he would make more progress by getting a good education.

His parents agreed to send him to Tutorial High School in Georgetown. This paved the way for a higher level by studying at the University of Guyana where he obtained a degree in Sociology and Psychology in 1976.

In Guyana, Ken worked for British Airways.

When he migrated to Canada in 1977, Ken realized that he wanted to make a better life; he knew from an early age that education matters.

As a new immigrant, Ken felt that a Canadian degree would give him an advantage. It was with this zeal that he started studying at York University, Toronto.

In 1979, he earned a BA in Sociology and in 1981 he earned a BA in Business Administration. It was a time when newcomers to Canada were not only bringing their skill, talent and ability to contribute to the national development, but also to be an intrinsic part of the Canadian economic growth.

With this deep pursuit of higher achievement, Ken did not stop at having achieved these two degrees at York University. He continued to embark on further professional studies.

In 1982, he graduated from the Canadian Institute of Traffic and Transportation (CITT). He studied cargo insurance in Scotland, claims and legal liability in New York, project management, negotiation techniques, sales and marketing management and many more training courses in Canada and overseas.

In addition to the CITT, Ken is a member of the Chartered Institute of Transport MCIT; the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Association, Switzerland FIATA; Indo Canada Chamber of Commerce (Life Member); Cool Chain Logistics – Luxemburg; Aviation Logistics Network – Germany; and Cargo Partners Network Inc., a worldwide freight network association.

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, June 27, 2021

North Timehri A safe, scenic village

North Timehri Village (Carl Croker Photos)

By Michel Outridge THIS week the Pepperpot Magazine visited the active village of North Timehri, East Bank Demerara, to highlight the way of life of the people and features of the community. The village is located 41 kilometres from Georgetown.

The name “Timehri” is an Amerindian word meaning “paintings and drawings” on a rock. And it is said that the first settlers were of Amerindian origin.

North Timehri is the last village on that corridor and it is divided into several sections and North Timehri in itself is quite large with a squatting area that is populated and is home to many

mixed ethnicities.

North Timehri goes uphill and downhill and in the middle of the community, there is a deep valley that is called Sandpit and people reside there too.

It is a village with many nooks, crannies, back alleys, valleys and tracks that lead from one place to another.

Over the years, the village has expanded as more people from across the country began occupying the land and erected houses.

Today, the village has indeed grown in population and more houses are going up and it is a nice place where most things are within reach.

The residents reported that the roads in the commu-

nity were at an acceptable standard, but when the CJIA expansion project started the huge trucks and equipment passing through left the roads in a deplorable state.

The community has many small shops and almost all groceries, meats and fish are sourced in the village but schools and health services are sourced on the main access road or a village away, Soesdyke.

The people of North Timehri, East Bank Demerara, are farmers, security guards, some work at CJIA, at Bounty Farms Ltd, small-business owners, sawmills on the highway and other skilled professionals.

North Timehri is an idyllic place and the people

Focus on the Village

are very friendly and welcoming. It has the CJIA which is a major airport that was formerly called Timehri International Airport. The Timehri Prison is located in this village, as well as a branch of the Guyana Fire Service and the army’s base Camp Stephenson.

It is also home to the South Dakota Circuit, where numerous international competitors meet and participate in motor-racing events each year. The track is located on a former part of the airport.

This community also houses the Jubilee Resort and Fun Park.

The CDC The team met the Chair of the Community Development Council (CDC), Carmen Simon, who stated that she is also the Chair of the North Timehri Coop Society.

Simon is known for doing a lot to empower women and young people in the community.

CDC Chairperson Carmen Simon

She disclosed that the village has about 420 houses and the population is about 6,000.

She explained that some people came from the Demerara River, the Pomeroon River, Berbice, Region One and other places across the country to settle in North Timehri.

The people are of all races, making the occupants of mixed ethnicities, but they peacefully live among each other.

Simon is also a businesswoman, who has a shop, a hardware store at her home and is well liked among the people.

SEE PAGE XI

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, June 27, 2021

‘One of the safest places to reside is North Timehri’ - Life in the village is comfortable for residents

Ramdai Ramdeholl

By Michel Outridge AS a Sunday School Teacher at the High Flying Tabernacle Church in North Timehri, East Bank Demerara, the children of the village are naturally drawn to Rhonda Hemerding.

But when the pandemic reached Guyana’s shores and the children could not attend schools anymore due to their closure, they reached out to ask her for assistance.

Hemerding accommodated the children and began helping them with their school work via worksheets and textbooks given through the Ministry of Education.

Being passionate about helping others and teaching, she readily agreed to tutor children of her community during the weekdays at her home, free of cost.

Hemerding has converted her shop into a classroom

R h o n d a Hemerding

and her husband made some wooden benches and tables to make the children comfortable and she would host the children in two groups.

She told the Pepperpot Magazine that being a Sun-

day school teacher at her church, which is located just a few doors away, she realised she loved being around children and she liked teaching a lot.

She was, however, moti-

Kiwana Sam

vated to re-write Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations and was successful when she did. She was about to apply for a teaching job at the school in Timehri, but then the pandemic happened and her plans were put on hold.

The mother of three stated that eight children in her village began coming to her house and she would encourage them to bring their own snacks and water and has all COVID-19 protocols in place, such as hand- washing, the wearing of face masks and social distancing.

Not all the children are present at one time and she would allow them to come in two groups of four at each session.

“I am doing this as a way of giving back to the community, because it is free and I like teaching, so I am happy to assist,” she said.

Hemerding added that her husband is a poultry farmer and they have a farm at

Friendship, also on the East Bank of Demerara and the plucked chicken she would sell at home, to earn.

She explained that she grew up in Craig, then lived at Alliance Road, Timehri and after marriage went to reside at Litchfield, West Coast Berbice, where her husband is from and in 2010 they relocated to North Timehri.

Hemerding has been married for 16 years and has three children and is quite comfortable as is; she keeps a clean and tidy home and yard.

“This place nice to live, quiet and like every village, people have their own issues, but nothing major and the only thing is it is taking a while to develop. We don’t have landline phones, but we have internet from a private company, so the children can access the internet for school work,” she said.

Hemerding also has a small printing business which she operates from her home,

doing printing and photocopying services.

She has her eyes set on becoming a teacher and plans to have extra lessons at her home for the children in her village.

The pastor’s wife Meanwhile, the Pepperpot Magazine met an energetic woman, Kiwana Sam, wife of a pastor, who resides in North Timehri and serves as a mentor for the female church members and children.

She and another church member, Felicia Macallum, 19, would host extra lessons for the children in the village at a minimal cost of just $200 per day.

Two sessions are held in the church building from 13:00hrs to 15:00hrs on weekdays, and most parents who are working would pay $1,000 per week.

Sam has been living in North Timehri since age 14 SEE PAGE XI

Focus on the Village

Rhonda Hemerding tutoring children of her village (Carl Croker photos)

VIII

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, June 27, 2021

e h t f o e f i l The r e k a m t e k bas

Monica Thomas displaying two of her baskets (Carl Croker photos)

By Michel Outridge

The different processes of basket-making

AT age 60, old Monica Thomas better known as the “Basket Lady” of North Timehri, East Bank Demerara and she is willing to pass down the talent to her grandchildren and children, but they are not too keen on learning, since she has her eyes set on retiring.

She has the natural gift of making any type of baskets, be it clothes, onions, potatoes, garlic, fruits, vegetables and those big ones used to store cooked rice at religious functions and other large events.

Thomas is in her golden age and she wants to ‘hang up her gloves,’ so to speak, since she is willing to just relax, but that may not be for now.

“When I ask the grandchildren to help me or come and learn this skill, they would say hard work does make them look old and they

don’t want to do it”, she said.

The elderly woman told the Pepperpot Magazine that she cannot make as many baskets as she used to and needs help to fulfil her orders.

“I only make baskets based on the orders I get and it is difficult to get the muckru [the type of vine needed to make the baskets] and it is sourced from the swampy area aback the village and the men hardly ever want to go and cut it for me,” she said.

Thomas added that an ordinary basket would take 15 minutes to make once she has finished stripping the muckru and only has to plait it.

The mother of four related that since as a child she learned to make baskets by watching her grandmother and mother doing it, and she grew up making it herself.

She is originally from Low Wood, Demerara River and relocated to North Timehri 21 years ago.

Thomas explained that her sister and brother-in-law used to work at North Timehri cutting wood, because the area was thick forest and there weren’t people living there at the time and they had a small camp set up while working there.

She noted that as time progressed, they settled there and encouraged her to relocate for a better life and she cleared a part of the land by cutting down the trees and bushes and erected a small wooden cottage and began living there.

“This entire place was just trees and bushes and there was no one else living here but us and there was only a small track leading to the road, but as time passed, more people began occupying the land to escape the hard life of the far-flung mostly riverine areas[where] they were SEE PAGE XII

Focus on the Village

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, June 27, 2021

Making the best of life in North Timehri

By Michel Outridge

FOUR years ago, Sybil Francis with a leap of faith packed a few belongings and journeyed to Timehri North, East Bank Demerara from Port Kaituma, Region One (Barima-Waini) in search of a better life.

The 61-year-old is pleased for making the move from her home village to a place she never went to before.

It was for the best, because she is gainfully employed at the North Timehri Coop Society Ltd and she manages the shop of groceries and their locally made salted fish, Chinese sauce and green seasonings.

Francis is one of 10 women from the community who are employed with the North Timehri Coop Society via the Government of Guyana (GoG), through the Ministry of Social Protection Timehri North Coop Society Ltd. Salted fish Processing Facility, funded by the Sustainable Livelihood Entrepreneurial Development (SLED) programme.

The group of women under guidance from Chairperson of the Coop, Carmen Simon, would process local-

Sybil Francis

Miner, Winston English

ly caught fish and after the preparation of cleaning and drying the fish, they would package it for sale with all the labels and other requirements.

“The Chair, Simon, would go to the city to get the fish in bulk and bring it to us and we do all the preparations and use the facilities here, where we also sell the salt fish,” she said.

Francis told the Pepperpot Magazine that they have salted trout, snapper, banga and shark and they started making local Chinese sauce

and green seasoning, which are bottled and sold for $300 each.

The North Timehri resident stated that she is very happy to be working and right in her village and she is the face at the coop; she is there from Mondays to Fridays from 08:00hrs to 16:00hrs.

The mother of six added that she has a son, who resides with her, but he is often away at sea. He is a boat captain on a fishing vessel and is gone for weeks at a time.

Francis reported that she

has a daughter in Port Kaituma, two others in Matthews Ridge and two more in the Aruka River.

She explained that she gets paid from the profits of the small business selling groceries, salted fish and other locally made products on a weekly basis.

Francis disclosed that she is very comfortable with her little house which is located at the edge of the village, downhill and she would walk to, from work and after.

She said life in North Timehri is by far way better than when she was living in Port Kaituma.

The miner The Pepperpot Magazine met Winston English, a miner, who was home due to the rainy season from the

interior.

He added that since the rains began he came home to rest a bit and has a lovely cottage on the main access road in the village.

The 44-year-old reported that he has been residing in North Timehri for the past 10 years after leaving his home village in the Pomeroon River.

“I used to visit relatives here and I get to like the place and decided to relocate here and it was worth it, because I have my own house and life is good,” he said.

English stated that living in North Timehri is easier than residing in a riverine village, that is far-flung and it is expensive to do things there unlike Timehri, where things are accessible and the cost of living is reasonable.

The father of three stated that the village is a relatively safe place because even the newcomers would see how they are living and adapt to their peaceful lifestyle.

“This place as you can see nice, a lovely view, it is breezy and we don’t get flooding here a lot, but to live happy one must work to enjoy the finer things in life,” he said.

English disclosed that the people are close-knit and they are very neighbourly and it is a good place to raise a family and with the airport and other places being near, it is convenient for them.

“Look at this place, beautiful and the people are of mixed race and everybody mind their business, get along and that’s the way to go,” he said.

The North Timehri Coop Society building (Carl Croker photos)

Focus on the Village

Local products made by Sybil Francis and others that are on sale at the Coop Society building

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, June 27, 2021

Being a humanitarian is a must for North Timehri resident

Clint Anthony Higgins’ place in North Timehri (Carl Croker photos)

By Michel Outridge IT started with a vision, an idea to assist youths to be gainfully employed and he started such a business to give back to the community. Today, Clint Anthony Higgins’ dream was realised when he established his own business in his village.

He has a wash bay and barber shop and a boutique in North Timehri, East Bank Demerara, where unemployed youths would be offered a job to earn; instead of being on the streets and being idle, Higgins would take them under his wing and encourage them to work.

Higgins came from humble beginnings and he under-

stands all too well what it is like to have nothing and with that thought in his mind, he wanted to do something to help others, especially the youths.

The father of five told the Pepperpot Magazine that being a soldier, he was familiar with the area and relocated from his hometown of Ann’s Grove, East Coast Demerara, 21 years ago.

The 39-year-old was a bus driver after he exited the army and he felt like bus-driving wasn’t his true calling and opted to establish a wash bay and a barbershop, since there was none in the village.

He worked until he was able to construct a wash bay, a boutique and a bar-

bershop, where his residence is, not far from the entrance to the village, a good spot.

Higgins manages the wash bay mostly where he would often work along with his two employees, young men from the village while, his wife, Linda Higgins would oversee the operations of their boutique and barbershop.

He is a role model in his community and the youths would gravitate towards him because of his positivity and he is also jovial and pleasant to be around.

Higgins made available adequate seating accommodation across from his wash bay, so persons waiting while their vehicles are

Focus on the Village

being washed can be comfortable under the shade and have a place to sit.

He would also participate in any community-related activities, including the village clean-up, and on that same day when it rained heavily and the roads became flooded, he was instrumental in mobilising the people to dig drains to let the water run off the roads and would always be willing to assist in any way.

“I am always here to lend a helping hand to anyone and it give back in whatever possible [way], because I would like the youths and the community to be enhanced and people should have something worthwhile to do with their time, instead of engaging in other things,” he said.

Whenever business is booming, Higgins would employ the young men in the village and pay them for

a day’s work and presently he has a barber on staff in his barbershop and two wash bay attendants.

Higgins would put aside everything and get down alongside his employees to wash cars and he would do that almost every day.

He is the kind of person who would spend time to clean up the environment and ensure that his surroundings are spic and span.

Even though the business is small, Higgins would reach out to assist others and find a way to help and provide whatever is needed.

His wife Linda is originally from Soesdyke, a village away and when she married Anthony, she relocated to North Timehri and it is where the heart is, that is home for the Higgins.

The boutique adjoins the wash bay and has two sections, one housing the small but cosy barbershop

where there is enough room for visitors to wait their turn for services and there is the air-conditioned boutique area.

On display are footwear, clothing and other brand name items that are reasonably priced; and there is a cooler with cold beverages and of course a small cashier compartment where Linda is most times.

The Higgins are closeknit and both husband and wife would work side by side to keep their businesses open and to provide employment for the young people in the village.

Although Anthony isn’t in the limelight, he does a lot quietly behind the scenes to help others and he is very passionate about giving back to the community, no matter how small and he has a soft spot for all humanitarian efforts.

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, June 27, 2021

North Timehri...

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FROM PAGE VI

She is also a community worker, who volunteers her time to assist others and would encourage people to learn a trade, do something to earn and would even seek employment for some.

Although Simon is not originally from the area, she moved there some years ago from Kitty, Georgetown, and has made Timehri North her home.

“People around here have no real issues and we live in unity and everybody here does do something for work and it is a mixture of people who reside here,” she said.

Timehri North has many shops, churches, small businesses and an active Community Policing Group.

Simon said the unemployed women were empowered when the Government of Guyana (GoG) through the Ministry of Social Protection established the Timehri North Co-operative Society Limited Salted Fish Processing Facility; it is funded by the Sustainable Livelihoods and Entrepreneurial Development (SLED) Project.

Since the start of this project, 10 previously unemployed women became gainfully employed and are now equipped with a skill to earn a living.

The women, all from the community, prepare the different types of fish after which it is salted, dried and packaged for sale to mostly wholesale buyers, then distributed countrywide to be retailed.

Behind this village, are the Timehri Prison, the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) and other companies including, the Laparkan Shipping section.

The Welcome Roundabout at Timehri (Carl Croker Photos)

‘One of the safest places to reside is ...

FROM PAGE VII and she is 33, a mother of three and the church is attached to their home.

Her husband is the pastor of the Church of Pentecost Guyana Inc. That church was started by a Haitian pastor, who was impressed by Sam’s husband’s generosity by accommodating some Haitians at his home and he assisted them to construct the church building, to show his appreciation.

The church building was completed a year ago and they have about 30 members and on Father’s Day, they held an appreciation service for all fathers.

Felicia Macallum

“We does contribute from our own pockets to the needy and just about anyone that needs help in the form of clothing or groceries and it feels good to assist others and it is something we strive to continue doing,” she said.

Sam’s husband has a fulltime job as a porter at Bounty Farms Ltd and does the preaching on Sundays.

“Being the wife of a pastor is not just to be a role model and live a good Christian life, but also to encourage and help others in their time of need, to have an open door, a place for people to come and feel welcomed and to serve God and be a good example in society,” she said.

The Greens Man Chitram Ramdeholl is a farmer and he resides with his wife, Ramdai, at North Timehri, East Bank Demerara.

Ramdeholl would take time to clean his yard and surroundings and at his farm, it is no different; he has a very clean farm that is weedfree.

The 58-year-old has a plot of land of about five acres at the edge of the village, where he has some sweet peppers, celery, lettuce, eddoes, and plantains.

But most of his crops perished due to the recent flood and he is in the process of re-planting some cash crops.

Rita Stoll

The Ramdeholls are originally from Clemwood, Demerara River and moved to North Timehri about 20 years ago in search of a better life and for the children to attend school.

They have a cultivation of papaya and sweet peppers in their backyard and their place is well-kept and they have lots of plants and flowers to add that bit of colour to the environment.

Ramdai told the Pepperpot Magazine that they would go to Stabroek Market to sell their produce after harvesting, but due to the heavy rainfall, they suffered a loss.

The 55-year-old was once healthy, but these days she has pains in her hip and is unable to do much except cook and keep the place tidy.

The mother of two reported that life in North Timehri is favourable and they are trying their best to cope, despite many challenges.

One of the first settlers of North Timehri Rita Stoll is among one of the first settlers of North Timehri, who at age 16 left her North West Village and journeyed to the city and later, after marriage, she settled in North Timehri.

The 65-year-old, a jolly woman, told the Pepperpot Magazine that when she came to live there, the place was a forest and saw only monkeys.

Her in-laws were the caretakers of the guesthouse in North Timehri, the only

building in the village back then and they had a small camp there at first.

The mother of seven stated as the place developed and more people began occupying the lands she built a house and called it home.

Today, she resides with a daughter and is quite comfortable and is enjoying her golden years.

Her husband passed away many years ago after he had a cardiac arrest, but by then the children were grown and they too built their own houses and are residing in the same village.

“This is a very safe place to live, nobody don’t thief or anything and you can still leave your doors open and go out,” she said.

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, June 27, 2021

The life of ...

FROM PAGE VIII residing,” she said.

She reported that in Low Wood, a small riverine village that sits on the bank of the Demerara River, the only two jobs there are farming or basket-making and she wanted a better life.

Thomas pointed out that back in the days when she was much younger she used to make all types of baskets for several places, including Creations Craft, Guyana Stores, but these days she cannot work like before.

When she settled in North Timehri she began making baskets to sell and used to hang it up outside her small shop in front of her yard and when people passing through to go to the races at the South Dakota Circuit, they used to

stop and buy.

Thomas disclosed that she would pay $600 per bundle of the muckru sticks and at times she would get six baskets from that bundle, if many sticks are in good condition.

Since the clothes basket is so large and has a cover and handles, it takes two bundles of the muckru sticks to make it.

Thomas pointed out that basket-making is her only and main source of income and it takes a lot of time and effort, manual labour, to do it and often it is difficult to meet orders, since she has no help.

She related that her children and grandchildren had asked her to stop making baskets, because she had complained she needed

help and they bought her a sewing machine instead and she would make pillowcases to sell when she has the time.

But since people continue to order baskets she would make to meet those orders and at times she would journey to the city to Stabroek Market to sell some baskets.

But after being reportedly harassed by City Constables and paying them money, she could not make a profit and stopped coming to the city to sell baskets.

Thomas added that the hardest part of making baskets is stripping and scraping the muckru which takes time and it has to dry before she can use it.

She is a pleasant lady who doesn’t like the limelight and would work qui-

Monica Thomas scraping the muckru to make baskets in her yard

etly from her home and has plans to build her own house

sometime.

But for now, she will

try to meet the demands of orders for baskets.

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, June 27, 2021

MESSAGE ON A TREE BARK Tassa drums.

SOUNDS from a culture with a rich history of dance; its tempo of passion and scintillating beats accompanying the bridal procession as the bride made her memorable journey to the groom’s house.

In the palanquin, she sat, a vision of pure loveliness in an exquisite red lehenga, rich jewellery and the intricate Mehendi on her hands.

She was for the day, a queen, beautiful in every way.

The large procession began crossing the Demerara River and nervously she lifted her head. Through the thin veil covering her face, she saw the wide expanse of water.

A soft cry from the agony in her heart escaped her lips and she closed her eyes to stop the tears.

“Don’t worry, my dear child,” her father had said when he had bid her ‘goodbye’ even though he too was crying.

The young daughter was leaving her father’s home to begin a new life with someone she was betrothed to who was not her heart’s desire.

A disaster forced a change in her life.

The floods of the May/June rains had destroyed all their crops and she could not erase from her young mind, the heart-breaking scene of her father sitting in the flooded fields crying.

Such a great loss had brought unexpected hardship on the family but her father, a man of great determination, worked to regain something. Offers were made to buy over his farms at a low cost but he had refused to sell. The farms were all he owned, a family inheritance he hoped to pass onto his young sons.

He sourced small loans from a few business friends in the city to get back on his feet, then came an unexpected offer for his young daughter’s hand in marriage in exchange for a total write-off of his debts. Her father was shocked, to say the least, for the offer came from a business magnate he knew, one of the richest men on the West Bank of Demerara.

He couldn’t understand why a successful, influential and respected man in society would want to marry his simple daughter from a middle-class home.

“Her simplicity is priceless,” he had said to her father, “And in her soft, brown eyes, there is so much life, something magical.”

For a moment that answer had stunned her father but then he had regained his composure and respectfully turned down the rich man’s proposal.

“I’m sorry, she’s only 16.”

Anuradha had wondered how the rich man knew her then she realised he was a regular sponsor of Indian cultural programmes where she danced.

“It’s so unbelievable!” she had said to herself, “that he had such interest in me.”

The months went by and it became harder to bring back the farmlands because of the heavy costs. The friends who had lent her father money were pressuring him for repayment and the bank would soon move in because of the loan on the machinery.

Anuradha could hardly eat or focus on her studies and she feared for her father’s mental health.

Then one day when her best friend’s father whose business the bank had foreclosed on, tried to commit suicide, Anuradha knew a decision had to be made and she had to do it herself.

Her father had hugged her and cried uncontrollably that night when she told him, “Take the marriage offer, Papa. If you lose the farms and

PART 1

machinery we will suffer even more. Amanda almost lost her father, I don’t want to lose you.”

She inhaled deeply as the palanquin was lifted when the procession reached the groom’s mansion on expensive grounds that spoke of luxury and wealth. Her lips trembled as she tried not to cry, for this was a sacrifice she had made for her family.

The years went by and the girl became a woman, her life though was limited to social events her husband attended because he did not want her interacting with too many people.

On shopping trips and small charity works for children, she was always accompanied by two bodyguards.

She felt imprisoned and suffocated and often screamed silently just to be free to live her life.

Many days she spent on the man-made private beach behind the mansion’s grounds; the only place she was allowed alone, and she would stand staring wistfully at the flowing water of the Demerara River.

She was so far away from those she loved, allowed only short visits and not often.

“Dear Papa,” she said quietly, “Even though our farms were saved and the family is doing great, I know your heart must be aching like mine. I wish I was home again.”

She twirled the diamond ring on her finger and smiled with sadness in her eyes.

“A price to pay for life.”

She lived for those alone moments she could spend on the beach, swimming, collecting shells and pieces of shrubs and twigs that had floated from somewhere down the river.

Sitting on a tree stump under the shade of palms, she would inscribe using the shell on the broken pieces of bark, verses of her thoughts.

‘If only I can taste the sweet raindrops Laugh with the wind And feel the perfumed … of love’ She threw them in the water, knowing in her heart no one would find them – verses that just the river knew about.

It was the one thing missing from her life, for married at 16, she got no chance to dream, to experience the euphoria of falling in love.

“Maybe this is what fate has destined for me,” she said with said resignation.

Seasons changed, then one day when spring had gone and the wind blew colder, she found stuck under the stump where she often sat, a piece of tree bark with the words scratched on it, “I feel your desire.”

She gasped quietly and looked around the beach but no one was there.

It was empty, but someone had been there, someone who had found her message.

To be continued…

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, February 28, 2021

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, June 27, 2021

XIII

ON THE AWARENESS OF THE AESTHETIC AND FACING WITH COURAGE THE ‘BEING’ OF OUR YOUNG NATION Part II AND DUTY - ADDICTION WITHIN, AN IMPOSED SCOURGE

WRITING from experi- to the most severe skeptic ence, none across the na- as to whether ‘Demons’ do tions where addiction was exist- as a more concealed not a concept discussed, cognizant virus or related or even imagined could parasite, invisible even to have had the vaguest idea the sharpest micro-vision of what narcotics can cre- detectors. There are people ate. As a social-sub dei- we know who fit the mould ty that can infiltrate the of demons, they import the mind and consciousness drugs and others like them and enhance the worse run the drug yards. and imprison this the potential I said last week to that the IN concluding discussion, which is intended raise of normalcynot implying addict is a pathological liar, questions within the reader and inspire responsible actions that human normalcy is but making under duress, theyorhave among those that acquire decision positions are not at there, times we questionable to speak the truth, already cannot arriveproven at a sensible without considerations in retrospect. So in a brief flashback, we must recognise, what we have lost to our physical memory reference archive, and use this as inspiration, to be able to raise a natural alarm, a connection to the aesthetic sensitivity alerting us to the fact that we need to have a historical memory in respect to our surroundings, as buildings, landscapes and architecture are inherent of memories in both the conscious and subconscious awareness. We have to become other than people who occupy a geographic space on this planet, and relate to what is the necessary thinking that will enable us to address from the now onward what is significant to telling our stories, especially stories important to our timelines. When we became independent, the euphoria of self-governed nationhood intoxicated us, it had its grounds for intoxication alongside sober examination. We did not make the observation that all around us within the borders of countries we still held controlled admiration for, had retained the edifices of past times.

Our own coloniser England never dismantled Hadrian’s Wall. In more ways than one, from previous colonisers and also from despised local leaders, they kept the memory for reflection, in our Caribbean, Christophe’s spectacular fortress of defence in Haiti will remain, regardless of his history. Europe with the obvious white supremacy that emerged with colonisation did not destroy the sculptures of Afro-European Knights, artworks and literature that spoke of, or alluded to the African presence in a much older Europe, of course, they didn’t in-depth celebrate them either, and also hid their identities with new portraits and in movies.

Where we erred in Guyana was not to use the structures that became available with the decline of trademark services like the Trains, to build museums dedicated to that part of our historical memory. Why preserve the physical imagery of the past? Simple, our ancestors lived it, for the historian, the creative mind, the investigative journalist, the physical location is important. The development of museums was a continuous peeve of the late Dr. Dennis Williams, who had identified Five Museums to be built, he insisted that a marine museum would have been a must. I can now imagine a display of the ship’s kitchen on Lady Northcourt with its cook, the portrait of indifference ‘John’, ‘keep away from John’s kitchen, and why?’ A caption should read before this rude faced ship’s cook made of papier máché –“whose kitchen lay beneath a toilet, from which water dripped continuously, or so we were made See Page XIX

like the case when the addict admitted that he was paid with a snow-cone to commit a murder. This was funny to the court, but citizens should have taken it dead serious that a fallen citizen could have been reduced to a level where a fake act of human concern could have let him oblige a request for murder, at the binding seal of a snocone; see ‘Kaieteur NewsSept, 28, 2014 pg 8. Another addict was paid GY$300 to

steal a motorbike- December 2019, and the list does go on.

What are the implications to not have a more serious look at the citizens we casually call ‘Junkies’ (there are hidden-high social ones also). Long before this social scourge entered my home I had sensed that mind-altering substances and methods were dangerous. Strange enough, I was alerted to this factor while much younger by the comic book and comic strip character of ‘Mandrake the magician’ “What was he doing that made him make bad people see things?” briefly, my Godfather explained hypnotism, and he insisted that bad people use it too. Thus, anything that can overpower the mind can lead to bad decisions and likewise the familiar regrets after a rum shop brawl that lead to a regrettable murder.

But what is medically known about the effects of addiction, is less conclusive than we imagine.

“What does chronic cocaine abuse do to the brain to cause chronic cocaine addiction? In clinical terms, how does repeated cocaine exposure make individuals compulsively continue to take the drug even when they know it may cost them their jobs, possessions, loved ones, and even their lives? We now know that cocaine affects brain cells in a variety of ways.

Some of its effects reverse quickly to normal. Others persist for weeks after the drug leaves the brain. With repeated exposure to cocaine, these short and intermediate-term effects

cumulatively give rise to further effects that last for months or years and may be irreversible.“ Eric J. Nestler, M.D., Ph.D. This should not surprise us that some layman (like myself) exploration in the medical field of Neurobiology would inform us that the brain is still uncharted territory. What is somewhat clear is that genitic, inherited mental conditions are different to drug-induced psychosis in the medical approach, towards treatment. The alcoholic, marijuana, cocaine, over-thecounter pill and substance abuser and eventual addict require treatment platforms that appear similar, but are definitely different in application.

I can recall debating with the late Clarence Young, who jump-started the drug-rehabilitation process in Guyana, on the concept that with respect to managing the addict in rehabilitation, he or she must have the option to leave if they so desire, or choose to stay. This blew my mind; the conversation began in 2015.

I had paid for the rehab of my offspring’s problem and after three days, one evening was back at my door with a ridiculous composition of logic that fell flat before my feet. In returning my offspring to the facility, the discussion began and continued long after. My argument is what is the mental state of a human that might have bowed to peer pressure or needed to explore some fictional benefit of a drug, as an entire generation across the Western world did inspire by Aldous Huxley’s book, ‘Doors to perception, Heaven and Hell’ and plunged into the ‘High is Right’ Hippy Age. To expect a ’Mind at Large’ to decide rationally whether to obey the alive magnet of drug-cravings or the tiny voice of the repressed self, towards the rational deci-

sion, which normal humans struggle to do, how is the addict expected to accomplish this in a favourable percentage?

I am even more convinced now that homes cannot manage the victims of this scourge, addicts can act at home like the drug yard or as they would sleeping wherever, they spit a foul-smelling mucus, in the house, their babblings and accusations of projective guilt anger and irritate, and other unprepared for manifestations that challenge tempers and patience.

Too many parents, grandparents have been murdered by their own for denying money to feed drug cravings and in such arguments; a Boot-Camp rehabilitation format with a strict but not brutal interactive policy is needed, Guyana would be a first in this area, we must consider what we are chemically dealing with. Quote“The process of extracting cocaine-liquid from the vat will be mixed with lime, gasoline, ammonia and other chemicals to make cocaine base. Large labs refine the base and add acetone, ether, and hydrochloric acid to form a crystalline powder, cocaine hydrochloride.” seeNational Geographic Jan. 1989: this same edition featured a map that identified Guyana as a shipment point from the mid-1980s.

In closing, it will be argued that lack of political vision with our political cabals left no economic option, and that cocaine ushered in the new nouveau riche. But at what cost?

Now that we recognise that every other drug is within our borders, Chemical produced Marijuana, ecstasy, mali and other narcotics, some bought over the counter, the one institution that we have must be empowered, too many lives are at stake.

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, June 27, 2021

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, June 27, 2021

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, June 27, 2021

WORLD RAINFOREST DAY

FOUND on every continent except Antarctica, rainforests are ecosystems filled with mostly evergreen trees that typically receive high amounts of rainfall. Tropical rainforests are found near the equator, with high average temperatures and humidity, while temperate rainforests lie mostly in coastal, mountainous areas within the mid-latitudes.

Rainforests are vital for the survival of life on Earth.

Not only do they provide air, water, medicine, food, and shelter to a multitude of living beings, they are also one of our best natural defences against climate change because of their capacity to absorb greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. They are home to half the world’s plant and

animal species.

Yet every minute, we lose 40 football fields of rainforests, which threatens our biodiversity and imperils our planet’s health. Deforestation causes 15 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions that accelerate climate change—more than from all cars in the U.S. and China combined. Natural climate solutions like protecting and restoring forests, however, could reverse global emissions by a third.

The first World Rainforest Day was launched on June 22nd, 2017 by Rainforest Partnership as a collaborative effort to raise awareness and encourage action to protect the world’s rainforests. World Rainforest Day celebrates this precious, natural resource and encourages action to preserve it.

Your efforts, together with the actions of others, will

have a positive impact on rainforests and the climate worldwide.

World Rainforest Day is an opportunity to celebrate this precious natural resource each year and take action to preserve it.

Green land of Guyana At over 87 percent forest

cover, Guyana is one of the most heavily forested countries in South America.

As part of the Guiana Shield, its forests play a key role in regulating rainfall across the entire Amazon basin.

Its rainforests store over 5.41 gigatons (Gts), making them a critical conservation area to mitigate global climate change.

Guyana’s forests are highly diverse: the country has some 1,263 known species of amphibians, birds, mammals, and reptiles, and 6,409 species of plants. According to an assessment by the ITTO, forests in Guyana can be broken down as follows: rainforest (36 percent), montane forest (35

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percent). swamp and marsh (15 percent), dry evergreen (7 percent), seasonal forest (6 percent), and mangrove forest (1 percent).

What can you do to help protect rainforests?

Learn more about the rainforest Eat less meat - From 2000 to 2005, beef production accounted for 65 to 70 percent of all deforestation in the Amazon, and that number is estimated to be SEE PAGE XX

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, June 27, 2021

WORLD RAINFOREST...

FROM PAGE XIX even higher today. Additionally, more rainforests are being converted to soybean plantations, much of which go to feed the growing cattle population. Brazil alone has approximately 24 to 25 million hectares devoted to soy production. These processes emit a significant amount of CO2 with the once-forested region losing its capacity to act as a carbon sink. Even worse, cattle release large amounts of methane, a greenhouse gas 30 times more powerful than carbon dioxide, into the atmosphere.

Shop for sustainably sourced forest products Palm oil is an extremely versatile product used in a variety of everyday cosmetics, cleaning products, and food items, yet its production is the leading cause of deforestation in tropical Southeast

Asia. Be on the lookout for the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) logo when purchasing forest products.

FSC’s “tick tree” logo is used to indicate that products are certified under the FSC system. When you see the FSC logo on a label, you can buy forest products with confidence that you are helping to ensure our forests are alive for generations to come.

Ensure that your forestry operation has an Environmental Authorisation For more information, photos, and videos of rainforests visit https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/rain-forests and https://www.facebook. com/worldrainforestday/ You can share your ideas and questions by sending letters to: “Our Earth, Our Environment”, C/O ECEA Programme, Environmental Protection Agency, Ganges Street, Sophia, GEORGETOWN, or email us at: eit.epaguyana@gmail.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, June 27, 2021

The art of letting things go

HUMANS can be unpredictable beings when they’re hurt. The obvious reaction would be sadness but oftentimes, that’s not the final reaction. Aside from sadness, some people may be angry, some may be resentful and some may be revengeful. Over the years, I had mixed emotions and experiences with believing in karma. I once believed that you should make people feel the hurt and pain that they’ve made you feel.

I also once believed that somehow, the universe or a higher being will “take care” of that person that has hurt me. Personally, both of these beliefs have proved futile to me. It may work for some people, but it’s not my cup of tea. Nonetheless, the concept of “revenge” is quite popular, whether many who feel it accepts to acknowledge it or not. I mean, who could forget Princess Diana’s revenge black-dress appearance after her divorce from Prince Charles? There’s even a Wikihow page on 15 steps that explains how one

can get revenge on another person who has done them wrong!

Instinctively, if some-

thing threatens what we care most about, we will develop a natural urge to protect it.

Revenge has always been a primal way of protecting ourselves, our emotions, our properties and our loved ones. This “eye-for-an eye” concept has been around for as long as humans were. It’s the focal spark to retributive behaviour. We can let things go, but the idea of revenge will always sound more appealing to many. Like every other thing in life, there’s a

bad side and there’s a good side of wanting revenge.

After leaving abusive relationships, victims may use

that feeling of “revenge” to better their own lives and rise above their abuser. Or, after someone made you have a setback from your goals, you may feel the need to push even harder to achieve those goals—these can be positives.

On the other hand, when we hold onto having revenge, we ought to be careful, so that it does not consume us.

You should not obsess over getting even with anyone or anything in life. You could

invest the time you waste on obsessing and plotting into your self-development—to become a better person. The feeling of wanting revenge is normal. The feeling itself is not a problem, just like anger; we can never run from such negative emotions. What matters the most is how we channel and cope with these feelings and emotions. Young people may believe that there is enough time on earth to “get even” with the people who’ve wronged you. As I expressed before, I no longer believe in karma or getting even personally. I won’t sit around all day anymore, hoping that somehow the universe repays negativity onto someone’s life. I also won’t sit around all day to plot in my head how I’ll hurt that person—that’s toxic!

When you think about it, choosing to let things go over revenge can save so much time, effort and even lives. Globally speaking, the obsession over revenge has ignited wars and battles amongst countries. The idea of corporal punishment seeks retribution and revenge for

those who’ve caused harm in society. The lynching and killing of slaves birthed from the bitterness of revenge. The destruction of lives through “revenge porn” after breakups are gutted in revenge.

These and so many other heart-breaking truths are initiated through this feeling.

I’m not a professional “guru” when it comes to handling my emotions and feelings, but I had to understand that sometimes peace and tranquillity through “letting things go” is better than the chaos and even more pain that comes with revenge.

On that note, choosing to not violently hurt or cause distress to the person

who has hurt you is one thing, but holding that person accountable for their actions is another. We can let things go by not wanting to excite ill-will against that person, but that doesn’t mean that they’re off the hook for their actions. You are not doing them a favour when you choose not to obsess over revenge—it’s a favour to yourself. You will appear weak if you don’t “throw hands” or key their cars. Instead, you can become a better person by using that very time to invest in yourself. It is an insult to your self worth to ever stoop to that level of vengeance.

XXII

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, June 27, 2021

sharing their journeys CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, June 27, 2021

g seven amazing women from the Women Anthologies. st of Watch Radio NY requested an interasked him if it was okay for me to invite oin me. I am sharing some excerpts from

XXIII

van Phillips -- born in St Lucia, living in

owards being a Midwife of Purpose came being broken, displaced, and ough this journey, I experienced a divorce, e and got displaced education administrator’s position. Coupled were two major eclipses One week later I completed y life. An eclipse happens when you can my assignment with CTO calling becomes greater than your current and was now ready to move hrough this process, you can transcend to a on to my next career move. hinking where you can connect with your I called Monique to let her ourself as one with nature. know I was available as we lett – born in Guyana and living in NY agreed(2nd andRetreat), she was so living hap- life in that way, we the year and I am intentional healthy thoughts challenge Send me an email (beegan to havemonth the real of experience of dreamTHE June got Anandy Gitten to havefrom me start firstfeel so much better in about ending it strong and I has really helped me on my yondtherunway1@gmail. my dream alive. wasI immediately even world better!

To Isay am and SarapyKhalil the mywill temporary assignment withWe will stay happy and am sure many have the same journey of becoming more com) if you think this content nterview with the where they tested grateful is agency an understatejust concluded retreat.

She life.

Deutsche Bank.

My first I will let us go thru plan. I decided to make my focused and confident in can benefit you. n using Microsoft Office and typing speed. ment. How can we be so is boiling over with excite- joyful.

I invite you all to a comlucky to have great syn- ment to share her compelling life better state of flow. Rath- courses available at a special myself. I was procrastiergies and great energy stories that will assist many er been stopped by the hur- price. I will go a step further nating about a lot of the plimentary mastermind in all three of the Virtual women on their journeys. dles. They’re always going to and give a complimentary goals that I had started, but on the 29th of June “The Writers Retreats? I said Her enthusiasm is contagious be things that happen. But we course for each course pur- never found the strength to Art of Crafting Compelcontinue because of those ling Stories” (email info@ to my co-founder Clau- and her energy inspires me have to learn to embrace the chased.

We have had amazing negative branches.” Alesia createcompellingstories. dia Vidal that blessed may and I am sure it will do the pain and learn to take it as it com)I challenge you to buy be a better word. We had same to her readers. Reading comes, but not let it consume results from all the courses Amanda, French Guiana

“The Confidence Beone of my books from Amanother amazing group of the message Sara sent after us. Don’t let any small or bad “Developing the Best You azon or Austin’s Book people from around the the retreat made me realise thing play on your mind for comes programme has helped world who are thrilled to that the content impacted too long. After the retreat last me tremendously from the course... What a gift and what Store, because you will be knew that I would be in When was six years assignment lasted two weeks, compelling Imessage!

I highly simple function of Iintroduccontributing to one of my share their stories and write lives beyond writing and week I learned more about big trouble if I toldtomycharity projects. dad old Iproperly started school covering someone’s recommend this course ing myself to thein Mesa, Also, share a few books. Finding my storytelling. life and experienced just byvacation. had happened.

Arizona, of so realising I began staying to mypain work and discovery anyone what regardless of theirIt was thisa info with someone as writing voice was one of “Sometimes one bad listening Due to others andethicmajor the wants to we continue to celebrate to my momAkisha walk ofsecret: desire go theand extra mile, life, who my truewith purpose” the best things that have thing can ruin our mood or experience theytoshared that in could me and her husband routineassignment see positivekind changes theirgetbeautiful Henry,St Vincent. journey called life happened to me in recent happiness and we forgot how we Ialllanded have another stories we into big trouble.

I didn’t ly.

It was like going from in the same department for lives.”

Maria Teresa Rosa, “Being a part of this BEYOND THE RUNWAY. years. Rediscovering the about all that joy we had. are the author of our life. to hell.

It was months, then another for heaven Florida.know how much trouble, but seven days of a horror beauty of language and sto- Often when we have that one Meetingsix and listening to wonderful three where months, which finally story that’s yet to be writ- I wasn’t willing to rytelling has added so much thing that goes wrong, we Richard that’s I Learnt take a chance. “Shhhh... led to my permanent value to my life. Writing completely focus on that bad that even a simple or small posi- ten. While at grandma’s I Don’t tell anyone.” was filled with the love of tion, allowing me to live a has given me so much free- thing and forget about all the act is a story and how each Maybe it’s the trauma of a grandma and Jesus daily. dream. dom and I write read now good things that happened. I day we can have a story, but Dr. recognise Safeeya Mohamed – On the other hand, at my my experience, but for some more than I did five years think because of our unfor- only if we can it mother’s house, I was filled reason I still cannot rememTrinidad ago. I am presently read- tunate habit of remembering and how important also it is Wediary received the updates with Rock ‘N Roll, drugs ber how ing Never Split the Differ- the pain and forgetting joy to have a daily and pay often it happened, when accident was ence by Chris Voss and so easily. So, like today, all attentionthat to the everything in horrific and inappropriate, wild sex it started, or even when it parties.

Ultimately, from and that the victim was stuck Know What You’re For by day was great, but suddenly life and create something out such an environment you can ended in the car. think it’s Jeff Henderson and a fore- came home to a sick kid of what we might The vehicle word by DrJohn Maxwell. bill from the Department of nothing. Claudia said if had you to be cut imagine the kinds of abuse Penny Phakahi –South open to get to the I woke up at 2am a few labour including my ex just write a story where we werevictim. It that mom’s house provided.

Africa When I was 11 years old, never occurred to me that days ago and prayed for a take me into a sad phase but mean to a friend, instead of I have had my share of grandma Shirley died and my brother few minutes on my com- I had to remember myself, the friendmy mean to us. I also turmoil and I strongly believe stepdad left.

My mom had could be remotely inputer to add some content but I had a moment before learned at the retreat how our that it is these stints of turan emotional breakdown, so volved.

The next thing I to my new book. I constant- I could’ve brought myself flaws create more attention moil that brought me I ran away!

I couldn’t take remember, I was looking at ly remember that euphoric back. But sometimes no mat- sometimes than our best asthis far in my life. I was any more. the body of my brother feeling from holding my first ter how small that thing is. It sets. I had the opportunity to Andrea Edwards – born and perhaps is still in my covered in blood in a book and that is why I am so just takes over our minds. So meet some amazing, strong hearse. The strident, agonis- in Guyana, living in Florida refinery process. passionate about assisting we would often let that take women whom I connected As a young girl, I grew As I sat in the back of ing scream of my mother in people who are desirous of over our mind, we focus on with. I will gladly recommy dad’s Nissan Bluebird, I up with one main ambition, the A&E that publishing their books. I have the pain and forget the joy. I mend the next retreat in Sepearly morning has not peered through the windows wanting to get away, far worked with a few in the last had to bring myself to focus tember, because it is worth away from the system of escaped my mind almost 17 at the images on year and presently working on the joy and not the pain. much more than the price.” thinking or the box that the fence of the Guyyears later as she howled with Beverley Benn,( 1st We have to just do that to We are days from ana Botanical Gardens and we often find ourselves in. “my son away died, my Retreat and her cover below) snap out of it quickly. I feel completing the of help- Zoological Park. The radio Apart from understanding son first died,half nobody’s

Writing is therapeutic

ing us!” But nobody could, as his spirit departed at the point of impact. Up to this day, I ponder where the strength came from to navigate that night.

Shanon Paar – Arizona

blasted the popular calypso song “1985” by a then-popular calypsonian.

I would have just celebrated my sixth birthday, quite oblivious to the concept of time, but that song would not allow me to forget that it was 1985.

myself I always dared to be different, which was a constant struggle when surrounded by my situations. I grew up under a strict Christian family with my grandfather and step granny, as my mother lost her mom SEE PAGE XXV

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, June 27, 2021

XXV

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, June 27, 2021

THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES COULD BE CATALYTIC IN ACHIEVING CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, February 28, 2021 XX XIV A BETTER FED AND HEALTHIER POPULATION

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, January 10, 2021

THE SEAWALLS FOREVER!

REVISITING THE GUYANA/ TVENEZUELA CONTROVERSY SOON TO COME BEFORE THE ICJ

In the yards of the city and countryside, two generaHE year 2021 has been designated International Year of Fruits and Vegetables by the United tions ago, fruit trees were always grown and these would Nations General Assembly. The main objective include such common fruit as avocados, star apples, is to raise awareness of the importance of fruits and sapodillas, jamoon, guavas, soursops, mangoes and so vegetables in human nutrition, food security and health. on. Those who had yard space would cultivate kitchen Fruits and vegetables are good sources of dietary fibres, gardens and in the tenements, pots with peppers, ginger, tomatoes, herbs of various kinds and teas such as mint vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals.

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the and lemongrass were grown. This culture needs to be reand the International Year bases of Fruits and Vegetables THE Guyana/Venezuela will again and discussions where factual invariably become World Health Organizationcontroversy (WHO) recommend thatshortly each vived be a catalyst in this regard. adult havethe a daily intake of Court 400 grams of fruit(ICJ). and could comeshould up before International of Justice blurred. vegetables which as a writings preventative against suchofchronic In Guyana, mostact oflie thedeep the controversy have In thisisoffering, we will depart this with normseashells and try to THE Seawalls in theon consciousness Guyanese today rather muddy was oncefrom covered and diseases cancer, diabetes, heart disease beenpeople, of as a historical and factual natureand andobesity this a well good questions have been asking theup but especially Georgetowners.

Yet itisas has rarelyanswer theretwo would alwaysthat be many children exploring and since picking as a counter tothe micronutrient deficiencies. thing, since Guyanese public of theoftwo Guyanese fishing boats inthey Guyana’s terribeen noticed by the news mediaare andnot the encouraged last time it wasseizure seashells different colours; sometimes may find large The Director of the FAO in Guyana, Dr Gillian mentioned as an item into of national concern wasSmith, five or sixtorial conch shells. to move their attention the realms of arguments waters by a Venezuelan navy ship. The first question explained what the the impact ofovertopped IYFV could years ago when Ocean thebe: wall“We andare flooded The foreshore or continental shelf gradually rises and falls happy theparallel Government has embraced thiswas obserthethat yards to the Public Road. This the first every 20 years and today, the foreshore land between Camp vancetime andinhas launched a programme of activities which living memory that there was such an occurrence Street and the Pegasus Hotel has almost risen to the height of we are supporting.

We share the same views as Minister and it led to great panic. The authorities hurriedly con- the wall and coconut trees and other vegetation grow on it.

Mustapha thata IYFV promotes diversified, healthy and structed barrier of standing concrete balanced lifestyles through fruit and vegetable consumpslabs on the Walls to counter such overtoption, raise awareness of food safety issues, standards ping. In the last few weeks, the Seawalls and guidelines for the production, handling, storage and have again featured in the news, but in a processing of fruits and vegetables.” happier vein.

She then gave some disturbing statistics about the young Camp theabove: Demerara people inFrom Guyana 18Street yearstoand “In River, Guyana obesity the wall had become disfigured by accuis a growing problem in the adolescentan and adult populaof unsightly garbage and no tion. mulation Approximately 41 percent of males andone 56.5 percent assumed responsibility of cleaning it. overweight.”

A of females 18 the years and above are considered homeless Carl Melville, This spike man, in overweight andwho thesometimes generally ill-health noticedthe bysociety Dwayne whichslept havethere beenwas plaguing of Hackett recent years have to clean the garbage and been trying attributed to type and quality ofimmediately our food intake. Until help him. the aboutvolunteered the 1970s attothe time the Hackett country placed was suffering a seriincident on social media and immediately ous economic downturn, the population generally consumed numbers of persons a largely vegetarian diet.volunteered their services.

This pattern, First dietary Lady Arya Ali waswhich one of persisted the first to until the 1970s, obtained the eras of of Public plantation slavery and volunteer andfrom the Ministry Works, indentureship.

During slavery, the slaves were fed on the Director of Solid Waste Department of the plantains and ground provisions as yams, eddoes Georgetown City Council and thesuch Fire Service and cassavas and once twice became involved withorher.

Theper Firemonth Servicewere given a ration of meat protein and consisting cleaned the bandstand in a fewmainly days all of thesalted fish and salted Indentured labourers who after about garbagepork. was removed and Seawalls appeared 1860asbecame predominantly Indian, were if they had always been maintained!

Manyvegetarian or semi-vegetarian and ate rice with various have been high in their praises of this examplevegetables such ofascivic pumpkins, coconuts, squash, and a variety of responsibility.

Likewise, the sea has reclaimed the land along the Kitty Seaother vegetables which their namesand since The Seawalls hadretained always been theHindi promenade park for wall where houses once stood. Indeed, a substantial building they the were introduced by the Immigrants such asvillages nenwa,from people of Georgetown and the surrounding is still standing close to the wall near the Kitty Pump Station, ghingi, same, baigan and so on. Overarching all these the last quarter of the 19th century and continued to be so until but the sea is under it. Old fishermen who set their nets on vegetables were various types of pulses known as “dhal” the 1960s when the country became plagued with political ten- the foreshore sea could vividly describe the cyclical rise and which supplied the protein content of their diet. Cersion and thereupwere robberies oninthe For “back most of the fall of the beach. tain fruits grew uncultivated theSeawalls. plantation 1960s, therefore, fewer and fewer people visited the Seawalls.

The Seawalls provided a favourite place for health endams” such as mangoes, jamoon, sapodillas, soursops, In its heyday, the Seawalls were the most delightful place thusiasts.

Many would go there to practise deep breathing of gooseberries and so on and these supplemented the diet Georgetown.

The vast openness of the seascape and the the clean and fresh sea breezes. Others would be cycling or of theinplantation workers. surrounding landscape, thewent bluethrough skies and silver clouds, the even training for cycle races. Probably the most notable were Then the diet of Guyanese a revolutionary ever-present seagulls and the steady flow of the America health-giving the ones who went for physical culture. Many of this group change with the introduction of “junk food” from trade winds and the enveloping peace and quietude attracted would go to the Seawalls by either jogging to get there or by which consisted of fried chicken, french fries, hamburgers, hundreds of people at allwhich times of theaday.

Theofbeach which cycle and they would arrive there at 5 o’clock, long before pizzas and other such foods used surfeit sugar, salt and cheap cooking oils which rapidly replaced the older Guyanese diet of largely fruit and vegetables. The universal use of these unhealthy junk foods is evidenced by the rapid establishment of fast food shops, many with American brand names. These fast foods are sold with aerated sweet drinks which replaced lime, soursop, pineapple and other genuine fruit juice drinks.

From to Page III The Guyanese diet could once again be returned fruit, vegetables, with some fish and mostly white meat, coconut timate area and zone inif the “So we several short documentaries oil and the for use that of genuine fruit juices the village. following, in the space of 18 months, called the “Secret Life of will work with the villagers among others, could be achieved: 33 GiantTraining Anteaters to create rules and Giant Anteaters” and each Atsome the Teachers College and incertain the primary wereknowledge identified.of the harmful help them know what schools, effects of to junk food as they episode focuses on different According to Millar, and of should notand do. For aspects of the work being well as the great value to the rehealthshould of diets fruits searching the animals includ- example, no one is allowed done. Two more episodes are vegetables should be disseminated.

Inedthe homeouteconomics classestoinkill thethem, schools at as a expected to be released this going on horseback keepand them the Carnegie Schoolthem of Home more vegetarian and following from Economics a pet, destroy their habitat, and month. recipes shouldtobebeused the Ministry Health and the distance ableand to stock The team also does a lot light aoffire in certain places, Tourism Authority could persuade thethat restaurants to offer up on more scientific infor- so we can further protect of awareness work, including vegetarian menus fruit.things the population.” mation.

One and of the environmental education.

Research work helping curb... they discovered is that the

The SRCS has been

They have another project for

the sun had risen. is, why is the Venezuelan public sowere convinced they On moonlit nights the Seawalls always athat crowded have a valid claim two-thirds of with Guyana’s territory and promenade.

Many to went to socialise friends, but all went why theirthe politicians bellicose aggressive about to enjoy beauty ofarethesomoon risingand from the sea and the this claim? moonlight And the second is, why did there President blue-green whichquestion was brighter, since were Maduro Venezuela this time seizethe thevarious boats no road of lights to dilutechoose it. Others wouldtoenjoy when he knew he would alienate the Guyanese population phases of the New Moon with the background of purple skies and cause embellished the international community to condemn or with thousands of stars which appear disapprove brighter of his action, Venezuela intersince leaving there were no cityisolated lights. Others nationally on the issue. would go to the Seawalls in the late afternoons to The answer to the sunsets first question began during theinto Cold admire gradually transforming the light ofof dusk.

War: At theblue beginning the 1960s Britain had decided to joysthe of colony the Seawalls were the withdraw fromAnother Guyana of andthe grant independence, earlylikely evening concerts givenof bythe the newly Militia but it was very thatSunday the Prime Minister the Police at the Bandstand which independentBand stateand would be DrBand Cheddi Jagan, an avowed attracted of people.

Their repertoire conMarxist. U.S. Cold hundreds War interests tried to persuade Britain sisted of light classical music such as Strauss’ and to delay Guyana’s independence, but all that Britain could other waltzes, ballet music such Delibes’ pizzicato promise was that she would hand over power to a non-ComandMinister.

Sylvia, atAmerican least one English patriotic such munist Prime Intelligence feltsong that this “This royal throne of Kings” and British offerasneeded further insurance andand so Guyanese they devised Caribbean songs.

The concerts arranged a plan whereby theirfolk client Venezuela wouldwere threaten to for early evening so that children could attend; many Guyanese in later life have admitted that their first exposure to classical music was from these Bandstand concerts.

On Easter Monday thousands of kite-flyers turned out from five o’clock in the morning. Kites were all hand-made and were in a variety of shapes such as boxes, birds and snakes, but the predominant shape was the Guyanese octagon and in a variety of colours. Singing engines, a kite which made a loud droning sound, was one of the most popular.

Kite-flying was always combined with picnicking. The Easter kite-flying today is a pale reminiscence of the heyday.

As mentioned above, the political tensions and criminality kept people away from the Seawalls in the 1960s. By the invade Guyana if theremore wasstable any possibility of a Marxist 1990s life had become and people again began to government being installed in Guyana. frequent the Seawalls, but the ambience had changed. There Theup1899 Award hadofsettled the boundaries of grew stallsArbitral lining the parapet the Public Road from the Guyana and Venezuela and these boundaries were fully Kitty Pump Station to the Pegasus, selling refreshments and accepted bystalls bothwere parties and the communiall of these well-lit.

TheInternational character of the Seawalls ty.

One of the junior lawyers representing Venezuela had changed from a peaceful promenade to a lively fair. at the arbitration, MalletPrevost, left ais letter was not Now that the tourism industry beingthat revived, the toSeawalls have been after his death. In that letter, stillopened offer anuntil attractive attraction. he claimed that the Arbitral Award was the result of an arrangement between Britain and the Russian arbitrator to deprive Venezuela of its rights. After more than half a century, Venezuela, based on Mallet-Prevost’s posthumous letter, now rejected the Arbitral Award and claimed twothirds of Guyana’s territory. Mallet-Prevost’s posthumous letter was the causus Venezuela used to threaten Guyana and this continued after the Cold War, the raison d’etre for the claim, had ended.

Most lawyers and historians who took any notice of Mallet-Prevost’s letter dismissed it as a historical curiosity or very flimsy evidence on which to attempt to upset a long-accepted Arbitral Award. But the Venezuelan politicians and the Venezuelan public gave credence and importance to Mallet-Prevost’s posthumous letter, which would have been dismissed in the modern world. But the Venezuelan politicians and public still live in the 19th century Napoleonic world where territorial conquests were regarded as acceptable and even heroic. In today’s world, this 19th-century ethic has been completely rejected.

XXVI

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― CHRONICLE Sunday,PEPPERPOT February 28, 2021 ― Sunday, June 27, 2021

Tips for a good job application and interview

o not always know what I’m looking losing your phone would be on a scale of 1-10. 98 percent First, let us start with y phone is content such typa normal parthis of my screening WHILE my have not seen resume resumes, said 10choosing and 2 percent said 9. They all claimed that it would ically surrounds mental or attended his interviews; ideal candidates, and con- your resume/ application.

I strongly advise there my health, handI was thatasked I cannot count num- ductingbe to ad- however, I canthe still provide interviews.

Iworst will be the material possession that they could ever lose. be a profile section at the dress this topic by a read- guidelines that will help you telling you all, very honestly yoursay resume.

This isfeelings a hederfor it was actually whoit, haswhile been unable stand out from thein restmy of and straightforwardly, what top ofto They continued that of anxiety, irritation and to gain employment for a potential candidates. urged and deterred me from short biography and should o when I get up his in theI recently morning and your age and gender, be felt if they were to lose their sadness would few months.

He shared became a hiring overwhelming individuals. Please include your number of years in the frustration and asked me Human Resources Direc- keep in mind that this is just going to sleep is check phone. phone today. to give some tips as to what tor for amy logistics company. I my opinion and not every applied field and how many certifications (and a brief he may and be doing wrong. I This must means I was in employer may agree. healthy something betrained done. of them) that you It seems description harmless, right?

Caring so much about a have. It should also include and found that women were more look for, the better. Your job you may catch spelling misphone? Well,whether thisyou week I’ve been really paying attention are currently history, duration, experience, takes on paper that you did employed as well as whether d to their phones simply because men and qualifications are to be not on your screen. to the importance that I and others around me give to a you have attached any referexpanded on below within Very important tip: your ences.

When I see a resume ocial media apps. Also, older people your resume.going on around current or most recent emphone, ratherlikethan what’sputactually them. this, I automatically Avoid any possible spellployment should be at the it into the “A candidates” e addicted. I believe this is because Our phones -whether we are speaking to other people, ing mistakes or grammatical top of your resume.

When I pile as I did not have to errors like shortened words see a resume that starts with a search through pages and use smartphones (My father actually using social media orinformation. playing games -- Triple can candidate’s be addictive or slang of any kind. first job and goes pages for basic check it to ensure these are all the way down to their curhundreds of as they alterEmployers our have moods, beliefs and trigger enjoyable resumes to go through, the not present. It helps to print rent, I immediately think the resume before as less information we haveApart to out your y colleagues and friends how bad PAGE my XXVII and unenjoyable feelings. from obviously SEE being main source of communication, my phone is my newspaper, watch, alarm, map, recorder, day planner, calendar, camera, music player, calculator, a weapon (sometimes) and my friend when I’m bored or lonely- basically everything. However, it is also my constant interrupter and distractor. I (I imagine much like most of you out there) have a deep desire to know everything that is going on.

I believe that is human nature. But when does it become too much?

Well, I believe it’s too much when it has a name. ‘Nomophobia’ is the term coined to describe the fear of being without a mobile phone. Seriously, what have we come to?

It becomes an addiction when the object begins to control your life and interferes with your daily activities, work, and relationships. I read somewhere that “The biggest obstacle to productivity is connectivity,” but overuse can affect a lot more than our productivity. The truth is, overuse of our phones can harm us psychologically, socially and physically.

With regard to affecting our social skills, how many of us miss out on a joke or good conversation as we were on our phones? How many times have we annoyed our good friend or family member because we were posting on social media how much fun we are having with them? It truly affects our

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, June 27, 2021

Tips for a good job application ... process has been made more difficult for me. Employers do not want to (firstly) see what your first job was at 18.

Visually space out your information- maybe by bullet points of some form. When there is a large page of mass

stating a “good enough reason” for being late, you will not be considered a good candidate before you even walk through the door. Plan for every possible hurdlerain, traffic, finding a baby-sitter- whatever it may be.

Make sure you have catered enough time for any scenario

text without proper spacing, it is very rarely properly read through. Also, please avoid small written fonts/ texts, especially on documents that are not able to be edited. I would not even bother to struggle to read a resume if I have a whole pile in front of me.

Do not add too many details about your hobbies and interests unless they are relevant to the job. For example, if you are applying to be a chef and you volunteer cooking food for the homeless- that is a good thing. However, if you are applying as an accountant, I don’t need to know that you enjoy cricket.

Lastly, do not lie on your resume. I have done many interviews where I have asked people small details about their experiences and certificates, and they did not know how to answer. It is better to say that you are willing to do what is necessary than lie and say you have already done it. Either way, your employer will find out in the long run, and it will ruin your credibility.

Okay, so your resume was chosen and you have an interview scheduled. What now? The first one I should not even have to mention, but you would be surprised at how many people need to hear this- ALWAYS show up at least 10 minutes before your interview. There is literally no excuse good enough for being late. If you cannot make the interview and reschedule the day before, it’s not ideal but it’s okay. But showing up late, even if you message 10 minutes prior,

to possibly take longer than it typically does.

Be properly attired. It does not matter what job you are applying for; professional attire is still proper business etiquette for interviews. First impressions are vital.

Always walk into an interview with knowledge about the company. It is very frustrating to have to explain what the company does or the job description that you have applied for! It is a waste of time for the employers and shows a complete lack of interest and initiative in a candidate. If you do not know the company, I do not even finish the interview.

Sometimes candidates are asked questions that they assume are for confusion or nervousness. But there is a simple method of answering these questions. How many have you heard these? “Tell me about a time when you had to show leadership?”

“Tell me about a time where you had to overcome stress in the workplace?” etc. Don’t let it scare you- use the simple STAR method to respond.

Tell stories with a clear Situation, Task, Action and Result. Meaning, expand a bit on the situation, what you believe was the task required, what action (s)you took and what the result was.

Ask questions! The best kind, for example, if you know the company is working on a specific project, ask how it is going and even better- make recommendations- you’d be listed as an A candidate.

This one may sound harsh but do not come in with what we call a “sob

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story.” These are personal reasons why you may need the job. When candidates do this, some employers actually feel that you may be a burden to the company. For example, if you tell your desired employers that you need this job because you have children or parents to take care of, most

of the time, all they hear is that you have dependants that will take attention off your work OR that you may require a lot of time off. The least amount of personal details you give, the better.

Another thing, be respectful to the entire company, we notice whether you say hi to our janitors or secretaries.

While in the interview, pay attention to your body language. For example -always look your interviewer in the eye. I have cut interviews short because the candidate did not look me in the eye while answering my questions. I understand that some people are shy but you need to find a way to step out of your comfort zone, because companies will not hire people if they believe will be uncomfortable with having basic one-on-one conversations. Also, sit up straight – we can tell whether someone will work hard just based on

their posture in an interview.

If you are asked a difficult question, it is okay to say you do not know the answer or to take some time to develop a clear and concise one. Nothing is worse than unclear rambling.

Try your best not to insult your current job or your most recent employer. It can backfire and seem like you are difficult to please and not able to maintain healthy work relationships; insulting anyone in an interview is a no-no!

Prepare some interesting questions to ask your potential employer, but do not ask about salary or vacation in your first interview. This is usually discussed during an offer interview. If salary was not advertised right off the bat, there is a reason. This could be dependent on the candidate’s qualifications, experience, working hours, etc. Unless you are made an

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offer or you are asked directly what kind of salary you are expecting, do not bring it up.

Also, if you are asked cliché questions, do not give cliché answers. For example, if you are asked what you believe your biggest weakness is, employers actually like to see self-awareness and evaluation. But when you give the typical answer that you think the interviewer wants to hear, it can backfire. For example, when people tell me “Perfectionism is my biggest weakness”- all I determine is that this person cannot multitask and they take a long time to do a basic task.

I hope this has been helpful and that you all get a role you desire!

Please feel free to email any questions or topics to caitlinvieira@gmail.com.

If you are interested in private counselling, please contact me at +592 623 0433

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Aye or no for parliamentary decorum?

FOUR young Guyanese students- Sherlock Langevine, Moriah Hamilton, Omaiah Hall, and Farnaz Baksk recently took to social media, appealing for assistance in funding their tertiary education pursuits. These appeals from them reminded me that much emphasis needs to be placed on providing educational opportunities to Guyanese youth.

Sherlock was among one of the top-performing candidates at last year’s Caribbean Advanced Proficiency ExamDURING this past edition of ‘In thenotNational inations (CAPE) but, week’s before intervention, he did receive Assembly,’ Parliamentarians debated the 2021 National a full scholarship.

Moriah topped the Region in Environmental Studies, but presented has only received a partial scholarship Budget, which was earlier in the month

by SefromMinister the American accepted into.

Farnaz nior in theuniversity Office ofshe thewas President with responsihas represented Guyana at an international level with STEM bility for finance, Dr. Ashni Singh. The debate, however, Guyana. Omaiah made quite a name for herself spotlighted a lackhas of already decorum in the Parliament. in the sector.

It islocal botharts understandable and acceptable for the different Guyanese students are all interestsidesThese of theyoung, housebrilliant -- the government and opposition sides -edhave in furthering studies as they have indicated, to opposingtheir views on theand, budget.

After all,allthe national budget illustrates the government’s vision, priority areas, and general policy direction, since it points towards what policies, programmes and plans the government intends to use Guyana’s money to fund.

It would be strange for each member to agree on every single thing, since various individuals have different priorities and views and perhaps different sides of the house have different plans, projects, or policies that would guide Guyana’s developments; and, that is completely fine.

It is neither understandable nor remotely acceptable, however, for elected officials, sworn in as Members of Parliament (MPs), to openly hurl insults at each other and make racist, sexist, homophobic remarks. It is not acceptable for this level of disrespect to be entertained in the National Assembly.

The normalisation of racist, sexist, and homophobic remarks in our common, social spaces might be a conversation for another day, but for crying out loud, this is our National Assembly! Or, our Parliament, as it is more commonly called. It is not touting at the bus park!

Imagine the astonishment one would experience, years from now, if they were to revisit the hansards. Instead of only well-articulated, thorough analyses of the $383.1 billion budget that was presented for the year 2021, there would be remarks signalling homophobia or thinly veiled insults of an MP’s reproductive capabilities.

To be fair, however, there were a few salient presentations. On the first day of the debate, it is a point of pride that two women -- MPs Susan Rodrigues and Amanza Walton-Desir who are also new Parliamentarians -- made good presentations that one would expect at this forum.

Though this absence of decorum from many of the MPs,is perhaps, not a new occurrence in the local context, it begs us to ask ourselves: what valuable contributions are our elected officials making at this forum?

One would hope that the leaders elected by the people of Guyana, whether in government or opposition, would maintain a certain level of decorum in the house. In discharging their duties towards the people of the nation, at the very least, it is expected that they would engage in critical analyses of the budget. The budget debate should attempt to pinpoint deficiencies in allocations, or indicate what other areas of priority should be focused on.

This is how you operate in a democracy, where transparency and accountability are underpinning tenets. This is how you respect the sanctity of Parliament. And above all else, is this how you adequately represent the people of the nation you committed to serve? Parliamentary affairs -- every single aspect-- should be geared towards enhancing the development of the nation and its citizenry.

Admittedly, clever innuendos and witty remarks have long been part of parliamentary presentations, not only in Guyana, but around the world. The addition of clever satire has its usefulness in communication, no doubt. Much of what we saw last week, however, appeared to be a common bottom house or rumshop debacle, replete with “props” and all, that left much to be desired.

Last December, Clerk of the National Assembly, Sherlock Isaacs, told the Guyana Chronicle that the

returning to develop Guyana their various fields. training ofhome Parliamentarians so that ainsemblance of decorum But, they all need (or needed, in the case of Sherlock) could be maintained in the National Assembly. It ishelp enviwith funding theirtraining academic pursuits. sioned that such sessions would also help to guide having been said, their appeals alone underscore the the That officials on proper parliamentary procedures. need for there to be a greater local investment in providing But also, these events should force us to reconsider what educational opportunities for Guyanese and specifically, we expect and accept from our elected officials -- all of Guyanese youth. It is for this reason I was very happy with them-- while they discharge their responsibilities towards us. the announcements of the opportunities that are now being Are they articulating our collective values when they make offered through the newly established Guyana Online Acadracist, sexist, homophobic, and other derogatory statements?

emy Learning (GOAL).

Areofthey adequately representing us and our best interests In a budget speech Minister of Education Priya Manickat all times? chand said, “The GOAL fills a crucial gap which previously existed in students across the length and breadth of our I hope we can do better. beautiful nation having access to tertiary education.

“As alluded to by His Excellency, the GOAL will also If you would like to discuss this column or any of liaison with other ministries and regional bodies as necesmy previous writings, please feel free to contact me via sary to develop student centres across all administrative email: vish14ragobeer@gmail.com regions, so that students without internet access will be able to engage in online learning.”

This is exciting, knowing that many more students or potential students would have increased access to opportunities to achieve their academic pursuits. And it is much needed, since scholarships to study abroad, for example, are limited.

Admittedly, I do not have empirical data to confidently state that the local demand for scholarships outstrips the supply, though I strongly believe it does. In the absence of that empirical data, what I can offer is my experience.

Five years ago, I wrote 16 subjects at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examination level. Usually, sharing that with people, whether new friends or co-workers, results in them questioning why.

And, my answer has always been that I did it because I wanted to secure a scholarship to further my tertiary education, knowing that I could not afford that without external assistance.

Back then, I was not alone in my pursuits. Many of my schoolmates were competing for the scholarships from the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC), which were awarded to the best-performing students across the Region.

We also competed for scholarships from the Government of Guyana, because then, those were the only two scholarship avenues we were aware of. And then, as it is now, those scholarships were limited.

Unfortunately, I was not among the top-performing students that year and as such, I was not awarded a scholarship.

Of all the students in my year, I am only aware of two students who became eligible for these scholarships. Still, like many of my colleagues, I decided on pursuing students at the sixth form level where I wrote the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE), hoping that I could get a scholarship there. I did not get that scholarship either, but I was able to work and fund my studies.

For many students like myself who are desirous of studying abroad or studying subject areas that are not offered locally, scholarships are seen as the mechanism that will help in those pursuits. But, there are not unlimited scholarships.

Seeing these young students take to social media and appeal for assistance is a stark reminder of the need to expand educational opportunities in Guyana and I do hope that applicants make full use of GOAL. Beyond that, I hope that many of the companies establishing a presence in Guyana would consider offering scholarships or at least, bursaries to help develop the human capital as part of their corporate social responsibility (CSR). Private support for the advancement of education in Guyana is paramount, especially if they are serious about contributing to the country and facilitating the transfer of skills.

A combination of personal (the GoFundMe and Facebook appeals), public (GOAL) and private (CSR) efforts will allow us to advance access to educational opportunities, thereby contributing to the development of Guyana’s human capital.

If you would like to connect with me to discuss this column or any of my previous works, feel free to email me at vish14ragobeer@gmail.com

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THOUGHT FOR TODAY What with exce llent browsing an d sluicing and ch eery conversatio n and what-not, th e afternoon pass ed quite happily.

P.G. WODEHOUS E (1881-1975) My Man Jeeves (191 9). Jeeves and th e Unbidden Guest

JUNE 27, 2021 STUDY SUCCESS Dear Student, Welcome, dear friend.

Your constant prayers have been heard, and now you rest from hard labour with brawn from burning the midnight oil. For those on next year’s

list, do not panic if year-round devotion is your study motto.

Endeavour to construct your personal learning tools, refit your time-table each new study season, and know your syllabus. Be clear and specific about your needs based on past performance and how they fit in the overall revision of things.

Love you.

GRAMMAR Dealing with grammar issues 1. Punctuating a poem Here is a poem. The semi-colons and capitals are still in. You are to supply the other punctuation marks. I hope you do remember the main purpose for capital usage in poems.

There was a man With a burning desire: “As soon as I can I want to retire: Retirement is what I want to get on to And work I will not But do what I want to.” With energy vast He laboured undaunted In order at last To do what he wanted. But when after all His struggles were through He couldn’t recall What he wanted to do.

2. Recognising some sentence faults At this early point of study, it is good to begin our series of sentence faults.

Writing becomes more interesting to its reader when it is free from sentence faults among other quirks. Today we look at the incomplete sentence (fragment).

The incomplete sentence is a fragmented sentence. You will find fragments quite easily if you know how a sentence should look, and if you know that affixing an end stop to a string of words does not make it a sentence. But do not worry, there are ways to correct fragments. Here are THREE ways to do correction.

1. Fragment: After attending to the milk bottle for two minutes. The milkman was ready to hand it to my grandmother.

(The first set of words is a fragment. Look how it can be made part of the adjacent sentence using a comma.)

Correct: After attending to the milk bottle for two minutes, the milkman was ready to hand it to my grandmother.

2. Fragment: Attending to the milk bottle for two minutes.

(Words can be added to the fragment to make complete sense.)

Correct: The milkman was attending to the milk bottle for two minutes.

3. Fragment: One of the milk bottles that had a chipped mouth.

(Here the relative pronoun must be omitted.)

Correct: One of the milk bottles had a chipped mouth.

Something to Do Looking at fragments Look at the following groups of words and pick out the complete sentences among them. They all end in a full stop in this exercise.

1. I finished my prayer early this morning.

2. Decided to watch the evening news for a short while.

3. A small West Indian friedrice shop close to the barber’s.

4. Foods served that were not good at all.

5. The three neighbours had been close friends for fifteen years.

6. Jumping over the lefthand fence.

7. They are supposed to lay on a new plate for each course.

8. They told stories about the village that were not good at all.

9. Finished cooking the boarders’ lunches.

10. Giving your best in the situation.

A READER-RESPONSE JOURNAL Work on this from the very beginning of study If you choose, you can get into the habit of using a reader-response journal. It is a simple but effective means of seeing how your reactions to what you read have developed over subsequent readings.

This is how you do it: Set up a reader-response journal in a new notebook, or in a special section of your personal journal or learning log.

Once you are ready, start reading and writing reactions to what you read. Use several creative ways to respond to what other writers produce: fiction and non-fiction, whatever the size or genre; passage, short story, poem, novel. Working extensively on fiction helps you deepen your response to writing.

Work with the funniest, the saddest, the most interesting in some way, the most surprising, or with one that you strongly disagree.

Here are some ways you can try using any writer’s

short story or novel: Think of a work that has a character you find appealing. a) Explain why you identify with that character. b) Rewrite an important scene from a different point of view. c) Write a review. Note its strengths and weaknesses as well as any suggestions you might have for making the work ‘better’. d) List questions you have coined yourself about how the work is organised. e) Create a magazine advertisement that you think would help sell the story or novel. f) Create a dust jacket with a new cover design and information about the author on one of the inside flaps.

READING The skill Reading is probably your most-used study skill – your most important. It can be used in various ways to accomplish different learning objectives.

Here are three ways to read. But before you begin, think about what information you need to learn from the material. Do you want to have a general idea of the topic? Are you looking for a specific fact or definition?

Or do you want to learn just anything from the passage?

SKIMMING is glancing over the text to identify its main ideas by its reading and lesson titles, words in bold or italics, and topic sentences.

Skimming is useful when you are previewing material before a study session, reviewing before a test, or deciding whether a book covers a subject you are interested in.

SCANNING is glancing over a text in search of specific in formation by looking at key words.

Scanning is useful when you are reviewing key terms, looking for a detail to support an opinion, or searching for a book that covers certain narrow topics.

IN-DEPTH READING is reading over the text carefully to absorb new ideas and facts.

In-dept reading is useful when you are learning the material for the first time, evaluating the information presented, or preparing to explain the information to someone else.

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Gum disease and cancer MECHANICAL oral hygiene procedures to remove dental plaque, including tooth brushing and flossing unequivocally enhance periodontal health. Gingivitis, although nearly universal among children and adults, is reversible. Periodontitis, a more serious condition, can lead to irreversible and progressive loss of bone and soft tissue that support teeth. The progressive form is commonly called “gum disease” and is the major cause of tooth loss globally.

In addition to removing bacterial plaque by tooth brushing and flossing, other interdental aids and methods of subgingival irrigation and professional scaling and polishing, are helpful in the prevention and control of periodontal diseases. Chemotherapeutic agents such as chlorhexidine also have been shown to be beneficial. Effective and efficient use of available methods to prevent and control periodontal diseases depends on commercial availability, provider encouragement, and individual psychosocial and family lifestyle factors.

It has been proven scientifically that an unhygienic mouth can also enhance very deleterious consequences.

For example, the use of tobacco products in any form is a major risk factor for cancers of the mouth and throat. Depending on the amount and type of tobacco used, there is a four-fold to 15-fold increase in the risk of developing these types of cancers. The most common sites are tongue, lip, the floor of the mouth, soft palate, tonsils, salivary glands, and back of the throat.

In the United States, more than 90 per cent of all oral and pharyngeal cancers occur in individuals over age 45. Like many other cancers, risk increases with age.

Cigarette smokers who smoke more than one pack a day are 1.5 times more likely than light smokers to develop oral cancers. Although men are more likely than women to have oral cancer, there is concern that oral cancer in women will rise because of their increased use of tobacco products. In addition, the increase in smokeless tobacco use has been associated with an increase in oral cancers in younger populations.

Alcohol consumption also is associated with oral and mouth cancers. Because heavy smokers frequently also drink alcoholic beverages, separating the effects of the two risk factors is difficult. The risk for oral and throat cancers appears to be higher among those who both smoke and drink alcohol. Never starting is the best approach to preventing oral and mouth cancers. For those who have used or continue to use tobacco, there is a need for early detection of cancerous lesions as early detection is more likely to lead to successful treatment.

While oral cancer generally has a high mortality rate, injury to the mouth and oral structures should also be taken seriously. This can be prevented by taking individual and collective steps to make school, playground, and home environments safe. For example, using mouth protectors during contact sports and wearing helmets while riding bicycles and motorcycles provide protection against head and mouth injuries, which frequently result in loss of teeth and broken jaws.

Appropriate use of seatbelts and child restraints in cars also reduce injuries to the head and mouth. Spousal and/or child abuse that can result in traumatic mouth and face injuries requires preventative interventions both at the interpersonal and societal levels.

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