Guyana Chronicle Pepperpot 02-28-2021

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, February 28, 2021

Sunday, February 28, 2021

To farm, is to earn

Line Path, Corriverton resident Vinod Mohanlall stands in front of his farm where he cultivates bora, ochro, corilla and squash to sell at the Skeldon Market. This practice, he says, is one of quite a few income-earners that he maintains in order to support his family (Carl Croker photo)

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, February 28, 2021

Georgetown continues to be a noisy city

By Francis Quamina Farrier

This is not about the noisy downtown commercial and industrial areas of the city of Georgetown during the principal 08:00hrs to 16:00hrs. This is about the noise, mainly from those BOOM-BOOM boxes which are played in many locations, including residential areas of the country. In the city of Georgetown, noise is constant, and the majority of citizens will agree that Georgetown is arguably the noisiest city in all of CARICOM. Since I have travelled to all of the cities in CARICOM over the decades, I am well-placed to make such an assessment and pronouncement about Guyana’s well-laid out capital city. As cities go, Georgetown is a cute little capital, with a beauty all its own. However, with all its beauty, there are many warts and moulds on the face of a city which I like to refer to as, “A Shining City on a Mudflat.” Physically, Georgetown has lots going for it; the tree-lined streets and avenues. The canals add to the beauty of the city when they are clean of grass and other objects. Then, what about added aesthetics? I sometimes visualise and

imagine the concrete walls of the canal of the Avenue of the Republic in Georgetown, painted in a colour that experts would approve as being the most appropriate. That would be for the benefit and pleasure of the eyes of citizens and visitors alike. However, this article is focusing more on the pain which the ears of citizens are subjected to day and night, week after week after month, as the years unfold.

In Guyana, it seems as though most drivers of private cars, commercial vehicles as well as government vehicles, seem unable to sit behind the steering wheel of a vehicle without honking the horn aimlessly as they drive along. I have made it a study for quite a number of years, trying to unravel this Guyanese phenomenon sub-culture. What is it about Guyanese drivers which cause them to engage their vehicle’s horns over and over and over again without any justifiable reason?

You might want to say to me that this is not exclusive to Guyana; that there are similar drivers in foreign cities; and you are right. However, it is Georgetown the capital city of Guyana which is under discussion. It is a capital city which I foresee as “A shining city on a mud-flat.” At times I would spend 10 or more minutes standing at an intersection in the city and listen carefully to the sounds of madness emanating from vehicles. Then I would look at the faces of the offending drivers; those faces come in all variations. However, during those “Traffic Watching” exercises, I have noted that there is certainly a number of good drivers, who do not honk their

vehicle horns unless absolutely necessary. It was a joy to me when I learnt of a driver of a School Bus at Linden in Region 10, who was recognized for her good and exemplary high quality of driving. Bravo to her.

Georgetown is excessively noisy, and one wonders when those in authority will come down in a really firm way on offenders of noise nuisance. Maybe a “NO HORNS TODAY” campaign for drivers of vehicles as a start. Many drivers honk the horns of their vehicles even in “Silent Zones” such as around hospitals and the courts. The noise nuisance situation has gotten really bad. As bad as to result in murder. There was the case about two years ago when one neighbour murdered another over a noise nuisance physical face-off. Many are even unaware of the negative way continuous loud noise adversely affects humans and animals. What are the plans by the relevant authorities to bring this noise nuisance problem to an end? It has been going on for much too long and citizens are suffering terribly. Some have spoken up, demanding a change.

For example, Citizen Roshan Khan has expressed his position against Noise Nuisance on many occasions over the years.

This issue is about the quality of life for the Guyanese People who have just celebrated their 51st year of Republican status. Many citizens who do not even know that their human rights are being trampled on by others, who either do not know or do not care about inflicting such pain on their fellow citizens. We have already spoken about the noise nuisance within minibuses. Those minibuses are there to provide a service for which they are paid by their passengers. Yet many of them fail to deliver and seem to have no consideration for the safety and comfort of their passengers. Neighbours who play their stereos, radios or television sets at a very high volume, sometimes late into the night, are in fact inflicting annoyance and even physical pain to their neighbours - especially the sick. Citizens are not enjoying the best quality of life and are getting sick without realizing that the malady is likely caused by constant loud noises.

Added to the BOOM-BOOM boxes which are installed in vehicles, there are those Music Carts with their ‘jumbrellas’ which go around the city blasting their music indiscriminatingly. Mini Bus operators have for years, been pointed out as playing music at extremely loud volumes. The late Commissioner of Police Laurie Lewis used to refer to them as “Mobile Discos.” Laurie Lewis has since left us, but those “Mobile Discos” have remained to torment citizens.

In more recent years, night clubs have been established and operating in many residential communities in the city, much to the annoyance of residents; “I can’t get to sleep at nights. Is who give them permission to operate here?” one victim lamented. There was a night club operating in a property on Cummings Street, South Cummingsburg. The NOISE commenced around 10:00hrs. and continued throughout the night until 04:00hrs.

Every night of the year - including Good Friday. There were even the occasions of gunplay on the street in front of the Nightclub. Many reports were made to the police station which is just two blocks away. That was all to no avail. After over two years the affected citizens signed a written protest which was delivered to the Police Divisional Commander.

That also resulted in absolutely no change to the nightly noise. Citizens felt unrepresented by the Law. The Lawless were getting their own way with impunity. One of the affected citizens lamented, “I am a citizen of a very lawless country.”

Yes, there is that saying, “Noise annoys.” But what hurts, even more, is “silence.” When Law-abiding citizens appeal to those who have the power to make a positive difference in their lives, and those in authority abdicate that responsibility.

That dereliction of duty adversely affects law-abiding citizens in a very negative way.

There is the saying that “Noise annoys.” But that’s not the end of the issue. Noise can and does result in illness of some of the victims. So, will Georgetown become less noisy anytime soon? Only time will tell.

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, February 28, 2021

A distinct technique

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Young artist perfects stippling method in his creations

By Marissa Foster Stippling is the art form and/or technique of using small dots to create a drawing or painting. It creates a unique texture and look to every piece and amounts to a lot of time and patience. Erick Karamchand is a Guyanese artist that has perfected this art. He is ready to add a new perspective and form to the existing Guyanese art industry with his breath-taking talent. Eric’s inspiration for practising this art came from his curiosity. He was scrolling through his Instagram feed one day and came across a skilled stippling artist and has gained an interest to practice it himself.

He explained that it was something he has never seen before and from that moment he knew it was going to be his style of art.

He describes the art form as being somewhat “hypnotic”.

Karamchand stressed that his work isn’t the flashiest art around. It is not bright or colourful. He feels as though he is an underground artist who is now emerging into the industry.

He describes himself as a quiet person and he tries to allow his artwork to speak for itself. He is a self-taught artist who has been drawing for most of his life. He attended the New Amsterdam Multilateral Secondary and he has picked up on some techniques while studying Technical Drawing. He has

also attended the New Amsterdam Secondary and it was here where he understood the technicalities of

the years. Eventually, I decided to compile a book with my drawings and ever since I’ve been continuously

“Bob Torrance” is a piece from Erick Karamchand’s latest art line where he stipples and merges cartoon characters with darker images drawing. “I can remember enjoying colouring in Nursery school and in Primary school, my love for drawing increased. My friends and I used to draw a lot of cars and characters throughout

“Gemini”, a stippling art piece done by Guyanese artist, Erick Karamchand

adding to my collection”, said Erick.

This stippling genius is also an educator. He has plans to become a qualified engineer in the future. He also wants to continue with

his stippling artwork and he hopes to someday share his work with others. The COVID-19 pandemic is not holding Erick back from doing what he does best.

He stressed that he has produced some of his best work yet during the pandemic and he does not have any plans to stop. He stated that his art has taught him patience.

“One drawing usually takes 12 hours for me to complete.

Some pieces even took me over 16 hours to complete.

To see each piece come together is such a surreal experience.

Along the road to completion, there are so many thoughts which usually lead to a shaky ride but waiting on it to play out

is always worth the wait,” he said. Erick brands his artwork as “Dots Art”. He explained that it is a play on words based on stippling itself. Karamchand is grateful for his support system; his parents and God because without them, he would not have been blessed with the abilities he has.

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, February 28, 2021

Reigning Miss Regal World honoured to represent Guyana

By Frederick Halley

Janice MacGregor

REIGNING Miss Regal World Janice MacGregor is desirous of working with organisations in Canada

and Guyana to help in anti-racism, civil rights and epilepsy awareness. Those were her pageant platforms when she copped the title at last August’s competition, staged virtually because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

participating.

Janice disclosed that the finalists in her division were all remarkable women and she was honoured to be grouped among them. The finalists include a National Health Service (NHS) nurse,

nation and Evening Gown awards. She is presently the Miss Dream Girl and is featured on the list of “Famous People of Guyanese Heritage” alongside Rihanna, Deborah Cox and Leona Lewis among others.

Janice MacGregor after being crowned Miss Regal World

MacGregor, who said she was quite honoured to represent Guyana at the pageant, explained that she was involved with the causes for several years and is hoping that her platform will assist in reaching more people. “I intend to continue with these causes after my reign is over.

I’m also interested in establishing Guyana as a tourism hotspot while respecting the land, property and resources of Guyana and without negatively impacting the locals.”

According to Janice, whose parents are Guyanese-born, she was diagnosed with epilepsy in her first year of university and “I’ve shared my story via public speaking and in writing for Canadian and international publications and I hope to eliminate the stigma and misconceptions around it.”

Touching on the Miss Regal World pageant, which is based in the United Kingdom, Janice told the Sunday Pepperpot that because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the entire pageant was done online. “There was a total of 125 delegates from around the globe across the four categories (Jr. Miss, Miss Teen, Miss, and Ms)” She competed in the Miss Division which saw 56 delegates

a full-time pageant coach, a New York Fashion Week (NYFW) model and a wide range of diverse individuals from various career paths and countries. “The one thing we had in common is we were all passionate about our respective platforms.”

Boasting about her success, Janice said she wants to use her crown and sash to bring smiles to people through either in-person or virtual appearances, especially for epilepsy groups and small businesses. “Even more important, I want to make a difference in the civil rights movement. I want to be on the right side of history.”

Janice has held national level pageant titles before but the Miss Regal World is her first international pageant win. She is the former winner of the Miss Saskatoon 2007 title. She is also a three-time winner of Miss Saskatchewan titles (Miss Saskatchewan International 2007, Miss World Saskatchewan 2008 and Miss Petite Saskatchewan 2009). She has held the national title of Ms. of Canada 2015/16 and International Ms Canada 2018. At the International Ms. 2019 pageant in New York City, she placed in the top 10, won the Determi-

An Alma Mater of the University of Saskatchewan (High Honours), Janice majored in Psychology and is a Lifetime member of the Golden Key International Honours Society.

According to Janice, her motto is: “Wish in one hand and work with the other to make dreams a reality.”

Describing herself as an actress and model, Janice loves travelling and experiencing new cultures.

COVID-19 permitting, “I’ll be handing off my Miss Regal World title to my successor this summer in England.

If the pandemic situation doesn’t improve the pageant will be online again,” she pointed out.

Born in Edmonton, Canada, Janice moved to Saskatoon at the age of eleven but now resides in Saskatchewan. She graduated from Bishop James Mahoney High School and was offered a scholarship at the University of Alberta but opted instead to attend the University of Saskatchewan and Saint Thomas More College.

Both of her parents are from Berbice, her father Frank Moorgen (deceased) from Hampshire Village and her mother Mary Moorgen (nee Deonarine) from Fyrish Village.

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, February 28, 2021

Living one day at a time

Filaria patients from Essequibo share their story

By Indrawattie Natram

Narine Datt Murlie and Nankissore Bridgemohan have both been living with lymphatic filariasis for more than a combined 100 years, beginning at the start of the decade of the ’70s.

Murlie was then a mere teenager and Bridgemohan in his mid-20s when they contracted Filaria.

Lymphatic Filariasis damages the lymphatic system and often leads to the abnormal swelling of body parts, for example, the scrotum (seed) of males, breast(s) of women, and feet of males and females. The mosquito-borne disease also causes pain, severe disability, and social stigma to the patients.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) statistics, some 893 million people in 49 countries around the world remain threatened by Lymphatic Filariasis (LF) and require preventive chemotherapy to stop the spread of the extremely parasitic infection.

The WHO also states that Filariasis can be eliminated by preventive chemotherapy with safe medicine combinations repeated every year. Through annual Mass Drug Administration (MDA) campaigns, more than 7.7 billion treatments have been made available to fight the spread of the infection since 2000.

Guyana has opted to use the triple-drug therapy of Ivermectin, Diethylcarbamazine, and Albendazole (IDA) for this year’s Mass (MDA) campaign.

Murlie and Bridgemohan wish that the collaboration between PAHO/WHO and the Ministry of Health was available 50 years ago, but they have the same message for Guyanese today: “take the Filaria pills and avoid the spread of disease.”

Both men’s lives changed dramatically following the symptoms. Both Pomeroon/Supenaam (Region Two) residents knew how their lives could be affected, until death.

During an exclusive interview, Murlie recalled his ordeal, which began in 1970 with a sudden onset of fever accompanied by severe pains in his left leg. He was im-

Coordinator of Lymphatic Filariasis Elimination Program Focal Point (ag), Neglected Infectious Disease of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Reza Niles

mediately rushed to the Regional Suddie Public Hospital by his now-deceased wife and was given treatment. But his condition persisted.

The father of four battled through the debilitating condition to support a growing family.

“The disease infected me at a young age. My kids were born already, however, I still had to provide as a father for my children,” Murlie recalled.

Over time, his left leg continued to swell and the discomfort intensified. He had to learn to live with the condition. He See Page XIV

Murlie riding his bicycle

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, February 28, 2021

Line Path, Corriverton The kind of place to settle down

By Michel Outridge This week the Pepperpot Magazine journeyed to Upper Corentyne, Berbice and visited the quiet, countryside village of Line Path, Corriverton.

It is located in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) and the village is 28 square miles large and is home to about 15,000 people of mixed ethnicities.

Line Path Village is divided into several sections which stretch from the boundaries of the foreshore, Corentyne River, to way down to the back dam area.

On the Public Road, there are several small to

Mayor, Winston Robertson ( Carl Croker photos) medium-size businesses, making it the ideal spot for business, in terms of convenience.

Most people depended heavily on the sugar estate, that is, Skeldon Sugar Estate

but when it closed they had to seek alternative jobs in and around the community.

Line Path is an agriculture-based village with some cash crops farmers, some rice farmers, and poultry and

livestock farmers, as well.

The people of this village are very friendly and welcoming and did not hesitate to sit and have a chat.

Line Path is a breezy, quiet place with well-preserved colonial-style houses which its owners have maintained over the years by doing rehabilitation works.

This township is very clean and in almost every yard there are flower gardens and a well-kept environment.

This village comprises

Some of the colonial-style houses in Line Path Village.

Decorated plants at the street corner in the village. of many large houses with some rather impressive designs and buildings.

Line Path community has well-paved roads and one-vehicle streets, all-weather and good infrastructure such as electricity, potable water, landline and cell phone services, internet

and cable television.

This village overlooks the Corentyne River and it is a good place to live, according to locals, most of whom have lived all their lives there and have no desire to relocate.

See page XXIV

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, February 28, 2021

The Line Path school and mandir Fulfilling their mandate to society

By Michel Outridge Evette Johnson is the headteacher of Line Path Secondary School and from the looks of things she is a strict disciplinarian, who “runs a tight ship”.

The school is one of the cleanest and well-kept and they have stringent hand-

online teaching with the internet-ready devices.

She stated that for the worksheets distribution some parents and students are not visiting the school to collect the worksheets and others haven’t returned them to be marked by the teachers.

School is in session from Monday to Friday for stu-

Pandit Jaganath Seveka Dasa washing and social distancing practices in the classroom.

Johnson supervises 40 teachers and the school has a total of 660 students and it is one of the biggest schools on that corridor and has produced some top performers and academics including, Neosurgeon, Dr Amarnauth Dukhi, who gives back to that school.

dents of Grade 10 and 11, those preparing for the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and a total of 85 students will be sitting that exam this year.

She reported that they have 124 students in Grade 10 and the attendance at school has been reasonable, so far and those students have a timetable.

Johnson told the Pepper-

Headteacher, Evette Johnson Johnson explained that with their online learning a smart classroom is being set up at the school and teachers can utilise same to promote

pot Magazine that the online teaching is for students of Grades seven to nine and the teachers are trying their best in the light of the pandemic

to reach out to as many students as possible.

The headteacher, who has spent eight years at the school noted that the Grade 10 students would go to school two days per week while, the Grade 11 students would go three See Page XI

The mandir

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, February 28, 2021

Linepath resident giving back to society

By Michel Outridge

The Line Path Maktab

Areefa Mustapha is using her time to serve her community, Line Path Village, Upper Corentyne, Berbice and because of her benevolent character, she is well-known and respected in the community.

Twenty-four-year-old Mustapha is an entrepreneur, teaches young children about the Islamic religion and is a volunteer in her village, doing many things behind the scenes to ensure people are given a hot meal daily.

The mother of one has a

Trinidad and Tobago where she studied for three years and returned to Guyana and got married.

After marriage, it was the perfect time to start her own small business and she got things together to open her roadside food stand.

Her home-cooked meals are flavourful and it tantalises the taste buds with a kaleidoscope of deliciousness which makes her customers keep coming back for more.

Mustapha makes egg balls, cassava balls, fish and bread, macaroni and cheese, bara with mango sour, fried

Mustapha also employs two persons from within the community and is very pleased about that since she needed extra help alongside her husband.

She would sell chicken and chips, local fruit juices and many other meals including, roti and curry and the people in the village support her fully and even passers-by would visit to get a quick bite.

Mustapha is also a teacher at the Maktab Islamic Learning Centre where young children would be taught how to behave in the masjid, man-

Areefa Mustapha (Carl Croker photos) roadside snackette, Areefa’s Halall Food Centre, the only one of its kind in the village, the mobile red stand.

Growing up, she said that she wanted to do something fulfilling, like having her own small business, a place where people can visit to have a hot meal even if they do not have any money.

She thought about what she wanted and after some time, it dawned on her she must open a food stand to help people and provide wholesome foods at an affordable and pocket-friendly price.

“After I graduated from the First Aid Training session at Skeldon Hospital and was looking for work, nothing came up but I landed a teaching job but after some time I knew I wanted to do more,” she said.

Mustapha later went to the twin-island republic of

rice with fried chicken, chicken and chips, baked chicken with chowmein and fresh local fruit juices.

The only carbonated beverage she sells is Pepsi and she would buy fruits from the farmers in the village to make local juice to go with the foods she sells from Mondays to Fridays.

Mustapha would wake up early in the mornings to prepare her snacks and foods and is opened by 06:30hrs and would close up when everything is sold out by 14:00hrs.

“Having my own business is a good feeling, finding a job before the pandemic was a tall task but now I am surviving with this small business,” she said.

She told the Pepperpot Magazine that she feels empowered because she is doing what she loves and is liking it a whole lot, she aims to reach out to people.

ners and etiquette and Arabic Islamic teachings.

She stated that before the pandemic she had 24 children attending the classes but that number dwindled and now she would only accommodate a small group.

Mustapha has 16 children in her class and she would take them in groups on different days of the week to practice social distancing and proper hand hygiene to ultimately reduce the spread of COVID-19.

The classes would start at 16:00hrs and end at 17:00hrs and it is for children between the ages of five to 12 years old and she is doing these classes free of cost and would provide snacks for the children.

“I like teaching and I do it because I want to and it is my way of giving back to society and it is rewarding,” she said.

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, February 28, 2021

‘A home away from home’ Places and faces in Line Path Village

By Michel Outridge Former Mayor of Corriverton and City Inn Hotel owner, Hemchand Jaichan has a place for families and others visiting the Corriverton corridor.

He calls it ‘A home away from home’, the City Inn Hotel which is located in

Magazine that these days his life revolves around the private sector and advocating for better promotion of businesses and their growth.

Jaichan added that Corriverton starts from #76 Arch to Black Water and a lot of people there are without jobs, even the young people since many depended on the sugar

Former Mayor of Corriverton, Hemchand Jaichan (Carl Croker photos)

However, in terms of infrastructural development within the village of Line Path, he disclosed that for the past six years nothing has taken place to improve the community and things are basically at a standstill.

Jaichan stated that Corriverton needs a recreational park with sports facilities and

Sabita Khemraj

Vinod Mohanlall in his farm

Line Path, is the ideal place for a weekend of relaxation since it has all modern conveniences and it is a comfortable place with spacious rooms and two-bedroom apartments.

Jaichan was the Mayor for two years and is also a member of the Upper Corentyne Chamber of Commerce, who advocates for the organisation and is part of the hospitality association of Guyana.

He told the Pepperpot

industry.

He reported that job creation is necessary for the development of any community because money isn’t circulating among the ordinary people and a lot of people are sitting, waiting for things to happen, and to be employed.

“People are willing to work because they want to earn and there is nothing for them to do and it is depressing since many young professionals are job hunting along this corridor,” he said.

a swimming pool and other things where people can go and unwind and the children can have a safe place to play.

He related that other parts of the country have things like the pools, stadium, malls, synthetic track and seawalls and other recreational facilities and parks but there is no such thing in that area for regular people to utilise.

Jaichan pointed out that for a border town there are two eyesores in the community, the Post Office and the Immigration Office at Springlands.

He explained that the See page XXIII

IX The City Inn Hotel in Line Path

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, February 28, 2021

Bibi Khan (Carl Croker photos)

Enjoying her golden years Retired policewoman still has some spark left in her

By Michel Outridge These days, Bibi Khan is spending her days doing things in and around her house to pass time, her golden years. She retired as a Sergeant of Police who ended her tenure after serving 29 years in the Guyana Police Force (GPF).

On April 14 she will celebrate her 80th birth anniversary and is looking forward to that occasion despite the aches and pains she suffers from arthritis in her body.

The 79-year-old told the Pepperpot Magazine that she retired in 2001 and she was stationed at Springlands Police Station and she used to ride her bicycle every day to and from work.

The mother of three daughters pointed out that back

then she had good health and strength but as she became advanced in age she started to experience high cholesterol and hypertension.

Khan added that she lives alone but has a very good friend, Desiree Stephen, who also resides in the village and would visit to check up, on her.

The house she occupies belonged to her parents, her birthplace which is located at public road Line Path Village, Upper Corentyne, Berbice.

This elderly woman is well respected in her community and she is noted for her straight forward mannerism and discipline.

She is a cheery, full of life kind of a person, who is jovial and always has a few jokes up her sleeve to brighten someone’s day regardless of the kind of day they are having.

Khan related that even at her age she does her own cooking, cleaning and everything else around the house, it was duly observed that there isn’t a blade of grass in her yard, which is very clean.

“My husband died when I was just 35 years old and I never chose to remarry and I can say I lived a full life because I was left to single-handedly take care and provide

Bibi Khan and her friend, Desiree Stephen for three children and that’s how I joined the police force, I wanted to work, I had to find work,” she said.

She joined the GPF in 1977 when Lloyd Barker was the then Commissioner of Police and worked for 29 long years without a day off, she took her role as a policewoman very seriously.

Khan disclosed that she learned to be independent when she was young because her mother passed away when she was just six years old and she grew up with her father as an only child.

She reported that she is thankful she was brought up the old-fashioned way by her father, who instilled discipline in her at a very young age and she had responsibilities in the home.

See page XV

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, February 28, 2021

The Line Path ...

Johnson and her team of teachers at the school From Page VII times per week.

“The students of this school have a lot of potential and they have maintained am 68 percent pass rate and they have students, who are multi-talented and are part of many projects the school has,” she said.

Johnson pointed out that they have an agriculture project where broccoli and cauliflower were produced in the farm on the school grounds, a chicken farm and a fish project and the Science Club distributed tilapia to farmers in the community.

At Line Path Secondary School they have several departments including technical drawing, Information Technology, Sciences, Business, Agriculture Science, Mathematics and English Language.

“Running this school is a team effort and I must say thanks to the teachers for going the extra mile in tutoring students even through this difficult season of pandemic,” she said.

Johnson reported that the school has an active Parent/ Teacher Association (PTA) and often zoom meetings are held.

After 35 years in the noble teaching profession, Johnson will be retiring in August this year and she describes her journey as good and it is her way of serving the community.

Line Path Mandir Meanwhile, Line Path has a lovely mandir, a grand building that has rooftop accommodation for devotees, a library, a worship section, a kitchen area, a seating area for eating and a rooftop view.

The Sri Sri Jagannath Prasad Mandir was built by Pandit Jaganath Seveka Dasa and his family without any funding for the community and Iskcon.

The mandir also serves as an ashram for devotees and a family of four is staying there.

They have regular services but they do not accommodate a large gathering due to COVID-19 and all hand washing and face mask measures are in place.

The mandir is sanitised regularly and normally it has 350 members but services are held to have different groups for worship services.

The Pandit told the Pepperpot Magazine that during the pandemic they distributed hampers to villagers and members.

The Sri Sri Jaganath Prasad Mandir started in 2010 at a small place and the building’s design is from India and it took five years to be constructed.

Pandit Dasa stated that last year they had a large feeding programme at the Skeldon Market Tarmac where 5,000 boxes of vegetarian food were cooked on-site and distributed to the community and 2,000 boxes of sweetmeats were also given away.

The religious leader is also a businessman who owns and operates two petrol stations and provides employment for people from the village.

Line Path Secondary School (Carl Croker photos)

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, February 28, 2021

FINDING LOVE FROM WITHIN THE BROKEN PIECES OF THE PAST PART 3

“THERE was something unique about you I liked,” she had told him softly and those words kept replaying in his mind, for in that tone was an unmistakable passion.

He felt he was losing the battle to fight against the love he felt for her, but he knew he couldn’t because he had to think of his father, and what damaging effect it could have on him. He spoke with him often but that reconnection

was now causing a problem with his mother and siblings.

“Why are you meeting with him so often?” his mother queried in a displeased tone.

“I am just trying to make up for all the years that were lost,” Alvin explained, “And he’s happy about that.”

“Yeah right,” his older brother Avinash scoffed, “After all, he has put this family through with his cheating and selfishness.”

“Yeah, I know,” Alvin responded, a bit defensive, “But how do I not talk to him?”

“And his young wife?” his sister asked, mischief in her smile.

“That wasn’t funny,” Alvin chided her, “You could have told me that.”

“And ruin a nice surprise?” she asked laughing.

Alvin shook his head with mock annoyance. He felt like he was caught in a tangled web with his father, Maris-

sa, unforgiving mother and siblings. “Damn!” he swore silently, “What a situation.”

His training and experience had shaped him into someone with patience, tolerance and understanding, and he knew he had to apply those mental skills carefully, so no one got hurt, especially Marissa.

He hadn’t seen her in a while, holding against his desire to do so but one day he just put to rest that mental bat-

tle and visited her gift shop.

She was sitting behind the fragrance counter, a little pained look on her face.

“Hey. How are you doing?”

She sighed, then said with a little smile, “I am fine. Haven’t seen you in a while.”

“Kinda busy,” he said casually.

“I see, still avoiding me.”

He smiled a little apologetically, then looked at her and said openly what was in his mind, “I wish I didn’t have to.”

He saw that little pained look again in her eyes and wondered after he left the gift shop a short while later if she was unhappy.

He continued to work on his company that was shaping up great and he had left for a three-day business trip to neighbouring Trinidad, when he got a call from his brother, late on the second night.

“You need to come home now, Alvin.”

“What’s wrong?”

“It’s dad, he collapsed a few hours ago and is in the hospital.”

“What happened?” Alvin asked - an edge of fear in his voice. Avinash didn’t answer for a moment then he said, “I think it would be better when we are all together to talk about it because, at this point in time, he’s not looking good.”

“And Marissa?” Alvin asked.

“I don’t know anything about her,” his brother answered in an abrupt tone.

A sudden compelling feeling had made him ask about her, maybe because of his father’s request not to hate her.

Alvin reached home early the next morning, greeted by his mother who looked worried and his brother and sister somewhat distressed.

“Has his condition improved?” he asked with some hope.

“No,” his mother answered, “And it seems unlikely it would.”

A dreadful feeling entered Alvin’s heart at that moment and he felt a deep reluctance to ask why, but he needed answers.

“Cancer,” his sister answered in an unsteady voice.

The living room suddenly became quiet, just that one word that pronounced an imminent death sentence. No one said anything for a while, unable to believe something like that had happened, then

Alvin asked, “Did he not tell anyone about this?”

“No and apparently he swore his doctor to secrecy,” his mother said.

“I can’t understand why he hid this from us.”

Alvin visited him at the hospital but he was unresponsive and as he looked at him, regrets filled his heart.

“We were doing fine, dad, starting to make progress on the time we had lost. Why this?”

He went to his father’s house to talk to Marissa but she was not there, the gift shop was closed and his calls to her phone went unanswered. He couldn’t sleep that night, troubled thoughts on his mind, some questions still unanswered.

In the early hours of the morning, his eyes closed in sleep and in a dream, he saw Marissa standing alone and crying quietly, and as he walked towards her, he heard his father’s voice, “Alvin, my son, please take care of her.”

A frantic knocking at the door jolted him out of his sleep, and he got up a bit disoriented.

“Alvin, wake up son,” his mother was calling.

He opened the door and saw a sad look on her face.

“The hospital just called,” she said, her voice breaking a little.

She didn’t want to tell him why, he knew and he sat down for a long moment trying to come to grips with the fact that his father was gone. The doctor revealed in a meeting with the family later that morning, that when the father was diagnosed with the incurable disease, he didn’t want to burden his family for their care nor sympathy. After giving them the details of his illness, the doctor concluded, “If it’s any comfort, you must know he dealt with it fearlessly and lived beyond the expected time.”

“He was a strong man,” Alvin agreed and as the family got up to leave, he asked the doctor, “Was the wife informed?”

The doctor took a little moment to answer, “She was by his side just before the end.”

They were not pleased that he asked about her but if dreams were true, then she was alone crying and he had to do what his father asked of him.

To be continued…

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, February 28, 2021

XIII

ON THE AWARENESS OF THE AESTHETIC AND THE ‘BEING’ OF OUR YOUNG NATION Part II

IN concluding this discussion, which is intended to raise questions within the reader and inspire responsible actions among those that acquire decision making positions or are already there, we cannot arrive 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

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, February 28, 2021

Living one day...

From page V was also fortunate to receive home visits from a nurse who assisted him in cleaning and caring for the swollen leg. Through the years, the treatment worked to the point that today he manages to ride a bicycle.

The widower is in a much happier place 50 years after the onset of the disease.

In his words, he now lives

“one day at a time”.

The 68-year-old is urging all Guyanese to take their pills whenever the Ministry of Health Pill Distributors (PDs) visit their homes or workplaces to share the Triple-Drug Therapy.

Seventy-five-year-old Bridgemohan recalled sensing the symptoms as a 25-year-old. Severe chills and pains in his right leg

were the first signs. After six months of suffering, he migrated to another country to seek treatment.

Unfortunately, nothing worked. He is resigned to living with the incurable illness. He still recalls his ‘glory days’ of wearing boots. Those days will return, Bridgemohan, the eternal optimist believes. He currently lives with his wife

who takes care of him.

Hearing of the PAHO/ WHO and MOH MDA campaign set for March 8 launch in Region Two, he too is charging the nation “take their pills” whenever the Pill Distributors visit their homes or workplaces.

Protecting the Masses

Focal Point of the Neglected Infectious Diseases (NID) at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Reza Niles, emphasised that the only way to eliminate the disease is to use the (IDA) therapy.

Dr. Niles said once the signs and symptoms develop, they persist for the remainder of the affected

person’s life and as a result, the patient’s quality of life is dramatically affected.

The Neglected Infectious Disease Doctor is therefore joining Murlie and Bridgemohan in encouraging persons to take their Filaria pills adding persons who not take the Triple- Drug Treatment are at greater risk of becoming ill and exposed their surrounding as they can contribute to the spread of Filaria, a disease transmitted from person to person through the bite of an infected Culex mosquito. Infected persons may develop chronic manifestations like Elephantiasis.

A Lymphatic Filariasis study conducted by the Min-

istry of Health in collaboration with PAHO/WHO revealed that 90 percent of the population is at risk for Filaria. The resulted of the 2018/2019 Lymphatic Filariasis Remapping study guide the National Program to target all endemic Regions with Mass Drug Administration.

During the 2021 LF M D A c a m p a i g n p e rsons living in Regions, 1,2,3,4,5,6,7, and 10 will be given the Filaria pills.

Apart from killing the Filaria worms, the Triple-drug therapy is said to kill intestinal worms and to be effective against scabies and lice as well. This provides vicarious joy for both Murli and Bridgemohan.

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, February 28, 2021

Enjoying her golden...

From page X

Home of Bibi Khan

XV “I think because of my strict upbringing I am who I am today and my father was a no-nonsense man, who did not tolerate certain things and he made sure I went to school,” she said.

Her father passed away at age 66, she remembered that well because it was two days after she celebrated her birth anniversary.

Khan is a staunch Muslim and she never drank alcohol and danced, even when there were parties at the police station. She would leave after the ceremony but always cooked something to take for that occasion.

“I would listen to the speeches but soon after I would leave on my bicycle for home because I never indulged in parties, drinking and dancing,” she said.

Khan doesn’t go out at all. She spends her days at home, where she would entertain her friend, Desiree Stephen, whom she would call on to do things for her.

One of her sons-in-law would stop by to buy water and cooking gas for her and Desiree would do all her market shopping or whatever else she needs.

When the Pepperpot Magazine visited Desiree was there. She had just finished adding some black dye to Khan’s hair and was relaxing in the swing, under the house.

Khan was, pleased with the result since she did not want her greys to show and was in high spirits as usual.

“It is nice to life a good life and it feels good when people have good things to say about you and it all comes down to how you treat people,” she said.

XVI

THE UN General Assembly has designated 2021 the International Year of Fruits and Vegetables (IYFV) to raise awareness on the important role of fruits and vegetables in human nutrition, food security and health and as well in achieving UN Sustainable Development Goals. The National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) is pleased with this initiative. As such, NAREI in Focus will weekly highlight either a fruit or vegetable.

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, February 28, 2021

Brocc

This week information will be shared on broccoli.

Broccoli (Brassica oleracea cv. Italica) is the same species as cauliflower but a different variety. The edible portion of broccoli is known as the head and consists of fleshy green stalks and closely packed green ‘beads’ in a flower structure.

Varieties

The varieties grown in Guyana are usually early maturing and tolerant to heat. They are: Green King and Early Value.

Green King matures 60 days after transplanting. Early Value is ready to harvest 45 days after transplanting.

Cultivation Seedling preparation Use three parts of well-rotted manure with one part of sand for potting mixture Soak mixture thoroughly Place mixture in trays and sow one seed at 1cm depth in each well of the tray Cover seed with mixture and apply water Covering trays with a damp cloth until germination will speed the process and prevent surface capping Water regularly with a fine watering can to prevent seedling damage Feed seedling with a solution of 20:20:20 mixed at ½ tsp/ gallon every week Transplant seedlings at the 4-5 leaf stage at 3-4 weeks after sowing Irrigation Water seedlings twice daily during the first week after transplanting Water daily for the next two weeks Once plants reach a reasonable size they should have developed a sufficient root system to exploit soil reserves of water and can be watered every 2-3 days.

Applying grass mulch reduces the evaporation of water from bare soil considerably and allows the crop to sustain a greater interval between watering Apply water to the soil and not to the leaves and head as this reduces the chance of fungal infection Drip irrigation applies water directly to the soil. This reduces the loss of water through evaporation and improves head quality by reducing fungal infections and bacterial rots Fertiliser Conduct soil test to determine fertiliser requirement Phosphate should be applied six weeks before transplanting Use 270kg of TSP per hectare (230 lb/acre).

A mixed fertiliser such as 15:15:15 should be applied a few days after transplanting. An approximate guide, apply 10g (2/3 of a tablespoon), 5cm away from the plant to avoid ‘burning’ the roots. Repeat this dose at two and four weeks after transplanting.

Higher rates may be needed for very light sandy soils and lower rates may be needed for pegasse soils rich in organic matter.

Too much nitrogen such as urea will encourage excessive leaf growth and delay plant maturity Weed control Apply herbicide such as Herbadox or Lasso directly before transplanting Residual herbicides should be applied when the soil is moist to be effective Avoid disturbing the soil where possible after the application of a residual herbicide Further weed growth can also greatly reduce weed infestation as water is only supplied directly to the roots of the crop.

Pests Mole crickets can cause losses by biting through the stems shortly after transplanting. If mole crickets are a

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, February 28, 2021

coli

known problem, drench the soil in Diazanon (2 tablespoons per gallon) or Fastac (1 tablespoon per gallon) before transplanting.

DiamondBack Moth- The caterpillars of this moth can eat large proportions of the leaves and kill the plants at the early seedling stage. later in the season, when the plants are larger, a small amount of leaf damage will not harm the crop. Sprays such as Halt based on Bacillus Thuringiensis (BT) are most effective against this pest and are less toxic to humans than other sprays. Mix one teaspoon in a plastic bottle of water and shake well then add to one gallon of water in the sprayer.

Budworm (Heartworm)- This is also a caterpillar that kills young plants by feeding on the apex.

Treatment is as for the Diamond Back Moth.

appears at the margins of the leaves. Later it may spread along veins and eventually, stems may turn black. Chemical control can be achieved by applying Trimiltox which has some bacterial action.

Leaf spot is a fungal infection that appears as dark spots on the leaves progressing to form lesions. It is a major problem during heavy rain. It can be reduced using chemical control by spraying with Trimiltox.

Harvesting

Cauliflower is harvested between 50 and 80 days after transplanting depending on the variety.

Allow the curd to reach full size but pick when it is still compact before the branches of the curd begin to separate. It is better to pick the head when it is Disease slightly too small rather than wait for it to spoil. Cut below the head leaving a few leaves on to protect Damping-off is caused by the Pythium Fungus during transportation. and may be a problem at the early seedling stage.

Symptom: narrowing of the stem near the base Nutritional Value of the seedling which quickly turns watery, causing it to collapse.

Broccoli is a good source of fibre and protein To reduce risk avoid overwatering and ensure and contains iron, potassium, calcium, selenium that that there is good drainage. and magnesium as well as the vitamins A, C, E, Chemical control can be achieved by spraying K and a good array of B vitamins including folic the bed with Aliette (Phos-al) (1 tablespoon per acid. Discover more about why we need fibre, vigallon) before sowing. tamins and minerals.

Black Rot is a bacterial infection that first

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, February 28, 2021

To phone or not to phone?

I HAVE received many emails from worried readers over the last few months about their excessive cellphone use. I have written about this before, a few years ago, but I knew I would be asked again considering the social restrictions of Covid, as well as the increase in the number of social media apps.

As some of you know, one of my specialities is addiction and I have written about many types. Today, I would like to talk about a different kind of addiction, one that just like any substance, isolates us, causes insomnia, loss of productivity and motivation, as well as a loss of previously enjoyed activities. So, are you addicted to your phone? Particularly, your smartphone?

I must admit, I check my phone compulsively; I would say

every 10-15 minutes. I do not always know what I’m looking for but I always look. My phone is such a normal part of my life and so constantly in my hand that I cannot count the number of times I have searched for it, while it was actually in my hand. The first thing I do when I get up in the morning and the last thing I do before going to sleep is check my phone. I decided that this wasn’t healthy and something must be done.

I did some research and found that women were more likely to become addicted to their phones simply because men are less likely to have social media apps. Also, older people are less likely to become addicted. I believe this is because they do not know how to use smartphones (My father actually still uses a Nokia).

I asked some of my colleagues and friends how bad

losing your phone would be on a scale of 1-10. 98 percent said 10 and 2 percent said 9. They all claimed that it would be the worst material possession that they could ever lose.

They continued to say that feelings of anxiety, irritation and overwhelming sadness would be felt if they were to lose their phone today.

It seems harmless, right? Caring so much about a phone? Well, this week I’ve been really paying attention to the importance that I and others around me give to a phone, rather than what’s actually going on around them.

Our phones -- whether we are speaking to other people, using social media or playing games -- can be addictive as they alter our moods, beliefs and trigger enjoyable and unenjoyable feelings. Apart from obviously being my 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

relationships without us even realising it. A common thing that some of us (yes, myself included) do as well is to be on our phone when we are left alone in a public setting-- just out of sheer discomfort. This stops other people from engaging with you.

Now, what are the psychological implications of cellphone overuse?

This is done mainly by our apps on our phone than the phone itself. Social media apps such as Snapchat and Instagram are associated with bullying, privacy violations, stress and anxiety. Low self-esteem and depression are also common when we decide to compare ourselves and our lives to what others ‘share’ about theirs. Cellphones have somehow also become a representation of social status, so there is pressure to get the newest releases. This can of course result in monetary and (at times) legal issues.

Finally, cellphone overuse can physically affect us. For example, car accidents. It is a law of physics that no one thing can occupy the same space at the same time in your mind. If your eyes are on your phone, they are not even a little bit on the road. Overuse can also give us headaches, blurred vision, impair our memory and concentration and even dizziness. I have paid attention to my use lately and have experienced all of the above, along with neck pain and less sleep. I also tend to get sick quite often and I now See Page XIX

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, February 28, 2021

ON THE AWARENESS OF THE ...

From Page XIII

to believe”. The array of boats, ships, canoes, barges of all types over three hundred years would have made an exciting museum. The same for our aircraft service, which was more resent that the former two mentioned. But to the present, there’s a reprehensible practice of businessmen acquiring real estate on the pretext of prescriptive rights though they have never lived on these premises, I understand it has been checked. I do hope that is true, ours is a nation built on bigotry for economic gain and it has not stopped.

The problem is that laws are not developed to facilitate even the most obvious beneficial process; underprivileged groups that occupy real estate should be guided towards prescriptive rights. It would be more responsible for a state agency to occupy defective real estate which they can repair and encourage collective purchases off.

There are familiar old-school architecture to which some populations are accustomed to, that can facilitate group purchases if constructed in like fashion, to which a resale price can be affixed. Relocation can strain economics in some cases; there are Georgetown populations that have never lived anywhere else and will find it difficult to earn in a rural environment, even with ‘Town Culture’ spreading to once rural settings. Currently, some groups of deported citizens of this soil have now made the seawalls their home. Managed prescriptive rights, rather than allowing greed to dispossess is the most practical and functional social engineering process to apply.

To return to the main subject; we have lost significant historical material due to squatting across the country because of the absence of any awareness and protocols concerning National Trust sensitivity with our rural provincial administrations. In Georgetown we lost the last original Dutch 18th /19th century house that rested on the western side of the Brickdam Police Station, to which some of the internal brickwork that I photographed is imposed on the past building in the graphic that will accompany this article, we have to “wakeup sometime” now is a good time.

To phone or...

From Page XVIII believe it is because I take my phone everywhere with me and tend to put it down anywhere!

So, what can we do to decrease our cellphone use?

Firstly, keep track of the reasons why you check your phone. Is it boredom or loneliness? Is it just to check the news? It is important to know why so a substitute can be implemented.

Secondly, try not to use your phone (unless it’s an emergency) for the first hour of your day. This worked very well for me. This is because when the day starts a certain way, it can shape your entire day in that direction. For example, if you start a Saturday lazing around all morning, chances are you won’t get much done in the afternoon either. When I didn’t check my phone for the first hour, I didn’t check it as much as I would normally throughout the day. Also, try creating a ‘No-Phone Zone’. This can happen any time throughout the day – for two hours at work, when you’re having lunch with someone or when you have to spend time with your children etc. Simply put it down and walk away. Finally, read an actual book or newspaper before bed.

This way you will still be entertained and informed but you won’t be up all night – more than likely minding someone else’s business.

What can making these efforts bring? I believe self-discipline, better concentration, higher productivity and deeper awareness of your surroundings.

Thank you for reading and please send in any topics to caitlinvieira@gmail.com. If you would like personal counselling sessions, please contact me on +592 623 0433.

Say Yes to Life and No to Drugs! Always!

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ―― Sunday, CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT Sunday,February January 28, 10, 2021 2021

THE SEAWALLS FOREVER!

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

THE Guyana/Venezuela controversy will again shortly and discussions where factual bases invariably become come up before the International Court of Justice (ICJ). blurred.

In Guyana, most oflie thedeep writings the controversy have In thisisoffering, we will depart this with normseashells and try to THE Seawalls in theon consciousness of Guyanese today rather muddy was oncefrom covered and beenpeople, of a historical and factual nature and this a good questions have been asking theup but especially Georgetowners.

Yet itis has rarelyanswer theretwo would alwaysthat be many children exploring and since picking thing, since the Guyanese of theoftwo Guyanese fishing boats inthey Guyana’s terribeen noticed by the newspublic mediaare andnot the encouraged last time it wasseizure seashells different colours; sometimes may find large mentioned as an item into of national concern was five or sixtorial conch shells. to move their attention the realms of arguments waters by a Venezuelan navy ship. The first question years ago when the Ocean overtopped the wall and flooded The foreshore or continental shelf gradually rises and falls the yards parallel to the Public Road. This was the first every 20 years and today, the foreshore land between Camp time in living memory that there was such an occurrence Street and the Pegasus Hotel has almost risen to the height of and it led to great panic. The authorities hurriedly con- the wall and coconut trees and other vegetation grow on it. structed a barrier of standing concrete slabs on the Walls to counter such overtopping. In the last few weeks, the Seawalls have again featured in the news, but in a happier vein.

From Camp Street to the Demerara River, the wall had become disfigured by an accumulation of unsightly garbage and no one assumed the responsibility of cleaning it. A homeless man, Carl Melville, who sometimes slept there was noticed by Dwayne Hackett trying to clean the garbage and immediately volunteered to help him. Hackett placed the incident on social media and immediately numbers of persons volunteered their services.

First Lady Arya Ali was one of the first to volunteer and the Ministry of Public Works, the Director of Solid Waste Department of the Georgetown City Council and the Fire Service became involved with her. The Fire Service cleaned the bandstand and in a few days all the garbage was removed and Seawalls appeared as if they had always been maintained! Many have been high in their praises of this example of civic responsibility.

Likewise, the sea has reclaimed the land along the Kitty SeaThe Seawalls had always been the promenade and park for wall where houses once stood. Indeed, a substantial building the people of Georgetown and the surrounding villages from is still standing close to the wall near the Kitty Pump Station, 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 the 1960s when the country became plagued with political ten- the foreshore sea could vividly describe the cyclical rise and sion and there were robberies on the Seawalls. For most of the fall of the beach.

1960s, therefore, fewer and fewer people visited the Seawalls.

The Seawalls provided a favourite place for health enIn its heyday, the Seawalls were the most delightful place thusiasts. Many would go there to practise deep breathing of in Georgetown. The vast openness of the seascape and the the clean and fresh sea breezes. Others would be cycling or surrounding landscape, the blue skies and silver clouds, the even training for cycle races. Probably the most notable were ever-present seagulls and the steady flow of the health-giving the ones who went for physical culture. Many of this group trade winds and the enveloping peace and quietude attracted would go to the Seawalls by either jogging to get there or by hundreds of people at all times of the day. The beach which cycle and they would arrive there at 5 o’clock, long before

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 ofare thesomoon 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 heofknew he would the Guyanese phases the New Moon alienate with the background of population 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 of dusk.

War: At theblue beginning of 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 Band and the Police at the Bandstand which independent state would be DrBand Cheddi Jagan, an avowed attracted of people.

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

Sylvia, atAmerican least one English patriotic such munist Prime Intelligence feltsong that this as “This royal throne of Kings” and Guyanese and British offer needed further insurance and so 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 installed in Guyana. had changed. There frequent the being Seawalls, but the ambience 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. of the junior lawyers representing Venezuela hadOne 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, still opened 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.

The Guyana/Venezuela controversy has been an albatross around the necks of Venezuelan politicians, since they use it on each other and their public has them imprisoned by it.

The Venezuelan seizure of the two Guyanese fishing boats and President Maduro’s threatening words to Guyana was meant to create a national issue which the opposition has to support. The opposition is thus brought under Maduro’s umbrella and is temporarily neutralised.

A decision by the ICJ would be in both countries’ interests. It would remove a perpetual threat to Guyana and would free Venezuelan politicians from being imprisoned by theAnteater controversy andphotos) free their international A close-up camera trap shot of a Giant (SRCS relations from being bedevilled by it.

Research work helping curb...

From Page III

timate for that area and in the space of 18 months, some 33 Giant Anteaters were identified.

According to Millar, researching the animals included going out on horseback and following them from a distance to be able to stock up on more scientific information. One of the things they discovered is that the animals love to climb trees.

“Everyone across the Rupununi assumed it was jaguars when they saw huge scratch marks on trees, but now we know that it could’ve been the anteaters, because our research shows that they love to climb trees,” Millar disclosed.

The final stage of the research is what they’re doing now -- setting up a safe

zone in the village. “So we will work with the villagers to create certain rules and help them to know what they should and should not do. For example, no one is allowed to kill them, keep them as a pet, destroy their habitat, and light a fire in certain places, so that we can further protect the population.”

The SRCS has been granted two years of additional funding from the Small Grants Programme Guyana to expand the project to three more communities, namely Shulinab Village, Wariwau Outstation, and Sawariwau Village.

The SRCS uses the funding to pay the local rangers stipends and in some cases, hire them fulltime. The team has also recently released

several short documentaries called the “Secret Life of Giant Anteaters” and each episode focuses on different aspects of the work being done. Two more episodes are expected to be released this month.

The team also does a lot of awareness work, including environmental education.

They have another project for which they have designed an environmental education curriculum that has so far been implemented in four schools in the Rupununi and come this September, depending on the coronavirus pandemic, will be implemented to 12 other schools.

“The wildlife is there.

Guyana is so fortunate to have this rich biodiversity and we really shouldn’t

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, February 28, 2021

The value of mouth rinses

THE concept of using a mouth rinse as an adjunct to brushing with a dentifrice (toothpaste) is a sound one. In recent years, there has been a rapid increase in the use of mouth rinses and this review considers the relative merits of those currently on the market.

The dental profession and the public have two different perceptions when it comes to oral hygiene. The profession has oral health as its main objective whereas the public is more concerned with personal cleanliness and social acceptability. Nevertheless, the desired outcome is the same, namely the removal of dental plaque.

The accumulation of plaque and the inflammatory response it induces in the gum tissues favour colonisation of the pockets by bacteria, many of which have been implicated in periodontal destruction. But despite this process being so serious, of course, it is even less significant than the role that plaque plays when it is allowed to collect and remain on the tooth’s surface; it may harden and become tartar or calculus.

Because of these three major disease conditions, mouth rinses are designed to combat the multiple harmful effects of plaque. Basically, there are three classes of mouth rinses, fluorides for the prevention of dental caries, agents for the prevention of tartar and antibacterial agents for the preven-

tion of plaque and gingivitis.

Fluorides are highly effective inhibitors of caries. The intrinsic activity of fluoride is its ability to enhance or accelerate mineral deposition in tooth enamel and to prevent the softening process. It has been also proven that fluoride may act by blocking the digestive activity of bacteria, apart from inhibiting acid production in the plaque.

Calculus is an oral hygiene problem worldwide. Most dental professionals realise the value of calculus removal and the potentially adverse effects on gingival (gum) health. Calculus occurs due to the precipitation of calcium phosphate salts in the dental plaque. A major ingredient of mouth rinses and some toothpastes that prevents the formation of tartar is called phosphate. This drug’s activity is made more efficient in the presence of fluoride. Mouthrinses, which target existing calculus, cannot actually remove the deposit but only prevent it from increasing in quantity.

Chlorhexidine is the most thoroughly investigated and effective antiplaque agent available. Indeed with two rinses per day, there is no need to brush at all and yet maintain good oral hygiene. Listerine, a mixture of essential oils, has

been commercially available for over a century. Promoted at first as a cosmetic to combat bad breath, it is only recently that its beneficial effects on plaque and gingivitis have been documented.

Throughout Europe since 1988, the mouth rinse market has displayed strong growth due mainly to the successful launching of Plax. Positioned as a pre brush rinse, the action of Plax is primarily detersive.

Although it is certainly the most commercially successful according to studies done by Grossman and published in Clinical Preventive Dentistry, when used at home before brushing, Plax is virtually useless. Acti-brush and Colgate-Palmolive contain as their active ingredient triclosan/

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copolymer.

These mouth rinses concentrate on areas generally neglected by ordinary toothbrushing. This equals Steri/ Sol which contains the potent hexetidine. Finally, evidence suggests that the efficacy of Lander and PerioGard are equivocal.

Whenever buying a mouth rinse, check to see if it contains chlorhexidine. If it does not contain this drug, I would not recommend its use if the maximum effect is desired.

Remember that a mouthrinse should remain in the oral cavity for at least 60 seconds before significant benefit is accrued.

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, February 28, 2021

Human capital and resources should be always included in Guyana’s developmental plans OUR country is expected to see a significant boom in the economy and that will ultimately increase our ranks into becoming a developed country. Our recent discovery of oil has transformed our small third world country into one of the world’s promised lands of tomorrow. With oil, infrastructure is bound to expand and grow. We will not only see changes in our GDP as a country but we will also see massive changes in physical development and infrastructure.

That’s a good thing. It’s great that Guyana’s landscape will be transforming. Nonetheless, at the same time, we need to

also invest in our people.

Our human capital cannot be found on a paper written by a pen. It is an intangible asset or quality. In Economics, it can be classified as the value of a worker’s experience and skills.

From valuable assets such as education, intelligence, skills and even health. In essence, a country’s human capital is vital for development. It also a useful tool to improve people’s incomes, an increase in skills and knowledge. Human capital can also be used to help combat social issues such as poverty.

While I do not want to be too technical with the economics of it all, I just want all of you to understand the importance of people and the investments we make into them (us). Human resources on a whole is of utmost importance for development.

How can we want better and more schools without investing in our teachers? How can we build more hotels without training more managers? What’s the point in encouraging students to attend the University of Guyana if there aren’t any jobs available for them in their fields after obtaining a degree? How do you encourage employment when the minimum wage is lower than the minimum cost of living?

Our people are just as important, if not more important than the infrastructure and tourism. I hope this article sheds some light on why we need to invest in ourselves first before moving forward with grand developmental plans.

The conversations that surround development should always include their impact on people. The buildings can easily be dilapidated, industrial machinery can cease to work, industries change with eras but people—they’re here to stay. Without Guyanese, the commencement of such a boom would not have been possible to begin with. It starts and ends with us.

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, February 28, 2021

‘A home away ...

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From Page IX

Upper Corentyne Chamber of Commerce with its 85 members would accommodate persons with labour skills but that is not enough and technical institute students would also be given jobs by these business people.

The hotel owner revealed that last year the Chamber wasn’t so active due to the pandemic but this year they will have regular meetings.

Jaichan stated that massive investments are needed in Corriverton to enhance the lives of people and he welcomes more private/public sector partnerships.

The pets, Sunny and Baba

“The hospitality industry, this side is suffering, at times, there is no occupancy of my hotel and it is sad,” he said.

The City Inn Hotel is a two-storey concrete building with 11 rooms. On the lower flat, there are two-bedroom apartments with a kitchen, living room and all amenities.

On the upper flat, there are rooms with double and single beds and it is a clean, spacious place and it also has a conference hall which can accommodate 120 persons for functions and meetings.

The housewife Meanwhile, in the same section of Line Path, the Pepperpot

Vinod Mohanlall

Magazine met another villager, Sabita Khemraj, a housewife.

The 53-year-old was enjoying some home-cooked food and was about to start some household chores.

The mother of three stated that life in Line Path is simple and since her husband was diagnosed with heart ailments and he had to quit his job at the sugar estate.

Khemraj said they depend on relatives to assist them and their children.

She resides in one of the colonial-style houses, on which she did some renovations but the edifice is well-preserved. It is her parents’ place and she wants to maintain the house in their honour and memory.

The resident reported that the village is quiet and she likes living there because it is the only place she knows and the people just do what they have to in peace.

Khemraj’s yard is spotlessly clean and she has a lovely flower garden.

The cash crop farmer The team also met Vinod Mohanlall and his family. He is a farmer and a part-time labourer and lives at Section E Line Path Village.

The 42-year-old is cultivating a plot of land next door and he has some bora, ochro, corilla and squash he would sell at Skeldon Market.

Whenever he gets a dayjob to work in the back dam on farms we would make use of the opportunity since he has three school-age children to take care of, he is renting and has two birds, a parrot and a dog, named Lexie.

Mohanlall related that he would also catch fish when he has the time and do odd jobs in the community when farming is out of crops.

Lexie, the dog and the parrot, Lovie

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, February 28, 2021

Line Path, Corriverton...

From page VI Line Path is a place where the villagers take pride in keeping their surroundings clean and has invested a lot of time and energy in their flower plants/gardens, where some are decorated with the empty tins of an energy drink.

Almost every yard is well-kept and the flowers are such a beauty to look at, the air is fresh and clean and the atmosphere gives off a feel-

whatsoever to do with Skeldon and the village is divided into sections.

Robertson added that Line Path has sections 81, 80 and Section C which is called Dainty City but is also referred to as ‘Donkey City’ it also has Sections A, B, D, F which is called Concrete Scheme and Section E where the Secondary School is located.

The Mayor reported that a section of that village was given to junior staffers of the then Booker

Line Path Village.

ing of sheer serenity, a quiet place to sit and reflect on life.

This village is unique in many ways which reminds one of the colonial days, some of those houses are still standing and preserved through generations upon generations.

The village has some shops, a mandir, a nursery school, a secondary school, several businesses and the people are self-sufficient.

The Mayor Line Path comes under the Mayor and City Council (M&CC), that office is located at Skeldon and its Mayor, Winston Robertson entertained the team during their visit to the township.

He explained that Line Path Village has nothing

Sugar Estate where house lots were allocated and loans were granted to build houses for employees, back then, the Field Foreman had a lot of privileges.

He disclosed that a lot of people in the community depended on the sugar industry for their ‘daily bread’ and when it closed they were jobless and had to resort to fishing and other forms of labourer work in and outside the village.

Robertson told the Pepperpot Magazine that the M&CC oversees the villages form Number 75 to Blackwater and the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) has the responsibility for the villages from Number 52 to Number 74.

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, February 28, 2021

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, February 28, 2021

Writers’ Subscription Club To God be to Glory for the great things he is doing in my life. I am grateful for the open doors that create a platform to help others achieve their dreams. We just wrapped up a new feature that is now added to the Virtual Writers Retreat. I am grateful Claudia and I reviewed the programme we did when we wanted to write our books. It was a good programme but we will include some other elements. When we decided to host the Virtual Writers Retreat we included in the content many things we were not privileged to access at that time. One of the other things we took into consideration is an affordable price. We had included a bonus day in the first retreat and added a clarity coaching call in the

second after the bonus day. We are happy we did because it was successful. Sharing why of the reasons I mentioned.

Pamela Dillon is an entrepreneur and has been part of the beauty industry for over three decades. She has been part of the retreat and this is her opinion on the new feature. “ The CLARITY COACHING SESSION was all that and a bag of chips. I want to say a big thank you for going the extra mile by personalising this session and holding us accountable by prioritising whatever our stumbling blocks were. Thank you, queens (Claudia & Sonia), for your honest, gentle critiquing skills that helped me breathe a sigh of relief and; it’s true that we can benefit from doing this

round table analysis because so much of what was said to others impacted my progress.”

You can’t lose with great content, affordable prices and empowering atmosphere with likeminded people.

I enjoyed working with Claudia so much that we embarked on a sister project. The CCS Writers’ Subscription Club. We will be launching via live stream on February 28.

The CCS (Create Compelling Stories)Writers’ Collab is a members-only subscription service for anyone interested in crafting their story in a safe, slow-paced, conscious-driven environment. In this space, you can acquire skills for strong writing, compelling presentations, and creative thinking.

Here’s what the CCS Writer’s Collab members receive: Monthly Mastermind Call- Every month, you have the opportunity to join us for an experiential workshop followed by a Q&A session.

The Writing Room- A monthly newsletter featuring practical advice for writing and presenting. A private space where members can share ideas, 24/7. Ask questions, make comments, and give answers.

Founding Member Bonuses- Discounts on CCS retreats/ services for the life of your membership. Opportunity to participate in future virtual/in-person events. Members also receive a curated list of articles and resources to equip them with tools to help them grow as writers.

If your goals align with our vision, we would love to have you join us! If you register before the launch you will receive a special gift. Email info@createcompellingstories. com to register.

Claudia is a servant leader and that is one of many qualities I admire.

“The CCS Writer’s Collab is very special to me because it allows aspiring writers to learn simple yet proven techniques to improve their writing and presenting skills. In this safe and loving environment, members can exchange ideas, ask questions and share their wins. They can also participate in monthly experiential workshops where we cover a range of topics, i.e., market research, book genre, point of view, character arc, scenery construction, editing techniques, and so much more.” Claudia said This platform will benefit people of all ages and various backgrounds. I was thinking about the differences this could make many lives. I was invited to be part of something like these years ago and I encourage people to take advantage of this opportunity.

Sometimes, the most difficult part of writing is simply getting started and this club will get you started. Whether you’re it is your first attempt at crafting your story or you’re opening a fresh, blank document after finishing your last project. An empty page can be a little daunting and this environment will certainly help. Join the launch on the Sonia Noel FB page at 17:00hrs on February 28.

I love this quote by Shannon Hale “I’m writing a first draft and reminding myself that I’m simply shovelling sand into a box so that later I can build castles.”

Let’s approach crafting our stories with an open and the results can be unbelievable as we continue to celebrate this beautiful journey called life BEYOND THE RUNWAY.

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, February 28, 2021

Aye or no for parliamentary decorum?

DURING this past week’s edition of ‘In the National Assembly,’ Parliamentarians debated the 2021 National Budget, which was presented earlier in the month by Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for finance, Dr. Ashni Singh. The debate, however, spotlighted a lack of decorum in the Parliament.

It is both understandable and acceptable for the different sides of the house -- the government and opposition sides -to have opposing views on the budget. After all, the 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 Parliament Office would arrange and conduct training sessions for MPs. Training, the clerk said, is essential because Parliamentarians need to learn how to draft questions and motions, deal with standing orders, and, most importantly, need to learn about the duties of a Member of Parliament. This is particularly necessary for those “new faces” in the house.

The recent events have indeed spotlighted the need for

training of Parliamentarians so that a semblance of decorum could be maintained in the National Assembly. It is envisioned that such training sessions would also help to guide the officials on proper parliamentary procedures.

But also, these events should force us to reconsider what we expect and accept from our elected officials -- all of them-- while they discharge their responsibilities towards us.

Are they articulating our collective values when they make racist, sexist, homophobic, and other derogatory statements?

Are they adequately representing us and our best interests at all times?

I hope we can do better.

If you would like to discuss this column or any of my previous writings, please feel free to contact me via email: vish14ragobeer@gmail.com

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, February 28, 2021

THOUGHT

R TODAY The liberty ofFO the individual must be thus fa r must not make limited; he himself a nuisance to other JOHN STUART people.

MILL (18061873) On Liber ty, (1859), ch. 3.

February 28, 2021 STUDY SUCCESS Dear Student, Welcome, dear friend.

Do you lack confidence for a great examination success? Delete that perilous thought this minute. There

is still time. Self-check, and then report truthfully.

Chisel useless mindsets and create good success with essential motivational strategies. Beat back setbacks such as: inadequate preparation, poor presentation of responses, failure to answer the question set, bad time management, and not keeping up with examination requirements. Without proper planning and execution, it is impossible to be victorious. Be wise.

Love you.

WRITING IMPROVEMENT Taking care of grammatical presentations The best of thought written down can be marred by careless grammar. Paying attention to the following details should help improve your written presentations.

1.. Possessive Personal Pronouns Good writing involves the proper use of possessive forms of personal pronouns. How ugly it looks when its and it’s are mixed up. Remember as you use them that personal pronouns never have apostrophes.

Its, It’s. The possessive pronoun its means “of it” or “belonging to it.” It’s is a contraction - a shortened form of “it is.”

We prefer the Magnet Printer because of its ability to handle all standard paper sizes. (Its ability, or “the ability of it.” Its is a possessive form of a personal pronoun.)

It’s essential that we increase our production.

(It’s, a contraction meaning “it is.” It’s is not a personal pronoun.)

Whose, Who’s. Whose is a possessive pronoun meaning “belonging to whom.” Who’s is a contraction for “who is.”

Do you know whose scissors these are? (Scissors belonging to whom.)

Who’s in charge of the hospital security staff?

(Who is in charge.)

Note: Test the sentence by reading it with the full form of the contraction. If the sentence makes sense, then the contraction is correct.

Something to Do In the following sentences, find all the errors in the use of possessive pronouns.

1. One benefit of this vegetable slicing machine is that its easy to operate.

2. Barry, who’s signature is on this cheque?

3. No, its not too late to order the “Short Story Training” programme for your new class of writers.

4. Who’s voice is that on the microphone?

2. . Possessive Nouns – Special Uses Here are some important rules for using the apostrophe with nouns to show possession. They are interesting. Study them carefully.

Compound Nouns.

Form the possessive of a compound noun on the last word of the compound. m y m o t h e r- i n - l a w ’s dresses - (the dresses of my mother-in-law) Because law does not end in s, add an apostrophe and s to form the possessive. both general vine dressers’ assistants - (the assistants of both general vine dressers) Because vine dressers is a plural ending in s, only add an apostrophe.) an editor in chief’s budget (the budget of an editor in chief) Because chief does not end in s, add an apostrophe plus s.)

Joint Ownership. When two or more “owners” possess something jointly, place the apostrophe (or the apostrophe plus s) on the last owner’s name.

Marva and Joylyn’s country house is on a large farm. (Marva and Joylyn own the house jointly – that is, they share it as owners.

Place the apostrophe plus s on the latter owner’s name, Joylyn.)

Janette and Hazel’s assistant is a highly qualified industrial sewing machine operator. (Janette and Hazel share the same assistant, as indicated by placing the apostrophe plus s on Hazel.)

Separate Ownership.

When two or more owners possess things individually, place the apostrophe (or the apostrophe plus s) on the name of each owner.

REMEMBER: Make separate possessives to indicate

separate ownership.

Marva’s and Joylyn’s country houses are on Gluck Lake and Bernard Hill respectively. (In other words, Marva’s country house and Joylyn’s country house have separate ownership, hence separate possessive forms.)

Janette’s and Hazel’s assistants are industrial sewing machine operators.

(That is, Janette’s assistant and Hazel’s assistant - both are highly qualified sewing machine operators. Separate ownership, separate possessives.)

NOTE: The key to using possessives correctly to show point ownership and separate ownership is to analyse the context of each sentence.

Something to Do Select the correct word in brackets for each of the following sentences.

1. Ask for a copy of (Franklyn and Simon’s, Franklyn’s and Simon’s) report to their supervisor on projected sales for next year.

2. The estimated income for my (father-in-law’s, father’s-in-law) business next year is $130,000,000.

Common mistakes: Singulars mistaken for Plurals (and vice versa) A) Multiple subjects with and and with (Pay attention) a) The chief detective and his assistants are starting the inquiry. b) The chief detective with his assistants is starting the inquiry. a) The chief detectives and their able assistant are starting the inquiry. b) The chief detectives with their able assistant are starting the inquiry.

B) Using together with (Pay attention) a) The real diamond, together with a fake, was put up as evidence. b) The real diamond, together with fakes, was put up as evidence. a) The real diamonds, together with a fake, were put up as evidence. a) The real diamonds, together with fakes, were put up as evidence.

C) Wrong: One of the brother was jailed.

Correct: One of the brothers was jailed.

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, February 28, 2021

COMPLAINTS MANAGEMENT AT THE EPA THE Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was established on June 5, 1996, under the Environmental Protection Act, Cap. 20:05, Laws of Guyana, to oversee the effective management, conservation, protection, and improvement of the environment.

The Act also requires the agency to take the necessary measures to ensure the prevention and control of pollution.

In doing so, addressing environmental violations is integral to the work of the Agency; these usually occur in the form of environmental complaints. It is the responsibility of everyone to identify and report poor environmental practices.

Therefore, complaint management is a vital aspect of environmental and human health protection.

In accordance with Part V, Section. 19 (1) (a) of the Environmental Protection Act, Cap. 20:05, Laws of Guyana – “a person shall not undertake an activity that causes or is likely to cause pollution of the environment unless the person takes all reasonable and practicable measures to prevent or minimize any resulting adverse effect”.

(Photo courtesy of Demerara Waves) Addressing environmental complaints The Environmental Protection Agency continues to receive a large number of complaints related to various environmental nuisances. With an increase in industrial and other developmental activities, this has become overwhelming and has placed additional pressure on the agency’s resources to have them addressed in a timely manner. In this regard, the agency has developed a Standard Operating Procedure (SoP) for expeditiously and efficiently addressing environmental complaints. The SoP provides for the complaints to be managed by a single hub, which will enable the agency to track the status of any complaint at a given time and provide accurate updates.

The agency in 2019, received 571 complaints while in 2020 a total of 581 complaints were received. The majority of the complaints were related to noise, odour and improper waste disposal.

A collaborative approach The agency’s work enables Guyana to contribute to global and national environmental protection and conservation.

As such, the agency’s approach to complaints management allows for the agency to collaborate with other key organisations to eliminate complaints backlogs and bring resolution to many of the recurrent complaint matters. Given the many challenges we face especially in this new COVID-19 pandemic and adhering to the restrictions has limited the agency’s time of response.

Agencies such as the Local Government, Neighbourhood Democratic Councils, Regional Democratic Council, Guyana Forestry Commission, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, Central Housing and Planning Authority have over the years assisted the agency in resolving many complaint matters.

Standard Operating Procedure For Complaints Management You too can assist the agency! Members of the public can report environmental complaints utilising any of the following methods: ? Complaints 24-hour Hotline Number: 592-2255469; or ? E-mail: complaint@epaguyana.org.

Please note, complaint reports MUST include: i. Nature of the complaint;

ii. Name and address of business/entity/person causing the pollution; iii. Name of the complainant (person making the complaint); and iv. Contact information and address of complainant.

You can also message us on Facebook or Instagram.

Complaints can also be made to our Regional Offices in Whim, Berbice and McKenzie, Linden: 2. Whim Office – 337-2201; and 3. Linden Office – 444-2313.

Remember your first line of action should be to make contact with your local government authority (Regional Democratic Council/Neighbourhood Democratic Council) on the matter.

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Please be assured the agency will treat all information received from the public with the strictest confidentiality. Complainants, however, should be willing to attend court and testify should the matter require legal action.

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, February 28, 2021