Guyana Chronicle PepperPot 08-26-2018

This piece of art is one of the many impressive pieces showcased by the talented students of the E.R. Burrowes School of Art at an exhibition at the Umana Yana earlier this week. This is a semi-abstract piece by Kamalita Heralall. (Delano Williams photo)

A show of talent See inside: ► Page

III

Not everything is ‘Free-and-Easy’ ► Page

V

Live with purpose

II

Chronicle Pepperpot August 26, 2018

Anna Regina Multilateral Secondary School shines at CSEC examinations Setting records since 2001

with 17 passes and Alexander Westford with 16 passes. The school has managed to maintain an overall pass rate Shakira Bholo, top performing of 80 per cent over the student for ARMS this year.

She copped 21 passes at the last nine years with a pass rate of 82 per cent CSEC examinations last year, and saw an improvement of 90.2

By Indrawattie Natram per cent this year in all subTHE Anna Regina Multi- ject areas. There has been a lateral Secondary School significant improve(ARMS) located at Cotton ment in Mathematics Field in Region Two con- and English and 100 tinues to shine at the Ca- per cent passes in 15 of ribbean Secondary Educa- the 28 subjects offered tion Certificate (CSEC) ex- at CSEC. According to headaminations, as the school’s own Shakira Bholo scored master of the school the second highest per- Sir Lalljeet Ruplall, formance for the country, the students have set the bar high for othachieving 21 passes.

For 2017-2018, 147 stu- er students to follow. dents sat the examinations. During an interview Other top performers from with the Pepperpot the school whose grades Magazine, Ruplall said

In 2001, for the first time, the school made its name with student David Gooray topping the country at the examinations.

Safraz Sharief topped the country in 2007 followed

by Rahul Lall in 2008 and Zimeena Raheed in 2013.

These students have undoubtedly made the name for the school and, today have taken up leadership positions in various sectors.

In 2008, Rahul Lall was named the Best Tech VOC student for the Caribbean and in 2013 the now- deceased Yogeeta Persaud was named Most Outstanding Candidate Overall for the Caribbean. In 2013 Zimeena Rasheed was also awarded the Best Tech VOC Stu-

ments, the current headmaster said the matriculation and overall percentage has improved and it is his desire for it to be sustained.

Mathematics teacher, Rabindranauth Boodram.

were also among the country’s highest include, Camecia De La Cruz with 20 passes, Vishal Narine with 15 passes, Begum Baksh

since 2001 the school has gained national recognition and has since maintained its records.

CO-CURRICULUM Apart from academics, ARMS had dominated at the Inter-Schools’ sports over the past 10 years. Sports have played an integral role in the school system and for the past five years, the school has dominated the inter-regional cricket. Religious education has also positively impacted the student’s life.

Speaking about improve-

express their hope that the school’s playfield would be upgraded so that children can have more recreation and balance in their academic

The Board of Honour

Current Headmaster, Lalljeet Ruplall

dent and in 2015, her sister, Aliyah Rasheed maintained the title for the school. Ruplall said in 2017 the school was ranked seventh in the country for the students’ outstanding performances.

“The successes are evident. Different heads worked really hard to build this school, especially Sir Parmeshwar Lall and Miss Mohanie Ramlakhan. The school began to improve under their stewardship,” Ruplall said.

cation and I ensure that students complete their SBAs and they must be done of good quality,” he said.

Mathematics teacher,

He said for a student to be enrolled at the school he or she must attain 420 marks and over. Although there are many other secondary schools in Region Two, many persons opt to attend this school because of its track record.

The school attracts students from as far as Pomeroon, Bartica, Wakenaam and Leguan, who are housed at the dormitory.

When asked the reason behind the school’s performance the headmaster said it is the staff that make it happen. “I try to motivate my staff and students by conducting regular clinical supervisions. I personally do home visits. I encourage my staff to work hard. I have a good relationship with the PTA [and the] Ministry of Edu-

Rabinauth Boodram, said that he is elated with the school’s performance and credited its success to the team of hard-working teachers. He said extra lessons for the school are optional but teachers ensure that the school’s syllabus is completed in preparation for the examinations. Career guidance talks are also done regularly with students. The school also ensures that constant follow-ups are done

routine. They also hope that past students would return and contribute meaningfully to the school, especially during graduation season.

The Anna Regina Multilateral Secondary School is the oldest of seven schools on the Essequibo Coast. It is a Grade A school that comes under the direct supervision of the Department of Education and also provides a live-in facility for students.

The Anna Regina Secondary School

with past students. Thus far, the school has produced lawyers, businessmen and women, lecturers, judges and chemists.

Teachers at the school

The school officially began its operation on Monday, May 8, 1961 and has thus far had 14 headteachers - first being Sir E. W. London.

Chronicle Pepperpot August 26, 2018

III

Not everything is ‘Free-and-Easy’ Life in the tucked-away West Bank Demerara village

The Sambade Koker, originally built by the Dutch.

By Telesha Ramnarine FREE-AND-EASY, a quiet and peaceful agricultural village located at an estimated five miles off the West Bank Demerara main road, is home to roughly 200 persons.

It is still not clear what was responsible for choosing such a name for the village, as its residents have to toil long and hard for a daily bread. What is more, after reaping their produce, villagers would now have to deal with the mountainous challenge of transporting it to the main road.

With no public transportation available, a taxi charges $1000 from the village to the main road. With a load, though, the cost can amount to a few more thousands. Only villagers know what they are left with after having to spend that kind of money on transportation alone.

Grace Joseph, 40, a mother of three, who was born and raised in the village, told the Pepperpot Magazine that the main issue at the moment has to do with the deplorable roads existing there.

The Milmount Congregational Church is said to be in existence for well over 100 years. It was closed earlier this year and is now a monument site in the area.

Life in the village is “very hard,” she expressed, but the residents have become accustomed to the circumstances there.

“The road was bare mud but about 14 to 16 years ago, they throw sand and loom; nothing else after that. The hardest thing is to carry out your load,” Joseph observed.

She recalled that the situation was much tougher in earlier days when mud reached her knees while going to school. “When rain fall, we had to put our school clothes in our haversack and tie up our boots in plastic bags. Then we would wash up and change into our

clothes.”

The situation at the moment, however, has improved although the roads still pose major challenges to the villagers.

While most residents walk the distances, many others use bicycles and motorcycles. There are also a few cars.

A resident making his way home after doing some tree-cutting work.

Wild berries, popularly known as ‘Aunty Desmond’ grow along the trail

PEACEFUL The challenges aside, Joseph said residents live well with each other. “It is a very peaceful area. People living nice here,” she said.

The village is also low in crime, although some bandits might hide in the bushes in the lonely sections of the trail to pounce on their victims. This mainly happens at night.

Another positive coming out of the village is that its students have been doing well over the last few years at the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA). A school, housing both nursery and primary school students, is located in Vive-la-Force, the village after Free-and-Easy.

The residents “really suffered” for water over many years, Joseph recalls, as they had to fill from the trench; they also kept ponds in their yards. A little under two years ago, however, they were able to benefit from a proper water supply.

While they have received electricity some four years ago, they are still hoping to receive landline phones and good roads. Some more street lighting would also make life easier for the residents.

The National Data Management Authority last year opened its 52nd e-Government ICT Hub in the village, as part of the Government’s overall plan to make the internet

accessible to citizens all across Guyana.

Joseph recalled during the interview, that prior to the opening of the facility, she would have to travel all the way to Patentia Village to be able to use the internet. With free internet right in their village, life is much easier in this regard. It is a “great relief,” she said, adding that her children are able to get help with their homework and other activities.

Tulsiram Otto, a cane cutter living about a further four miles from Free-and-Easy, is originally from

Stopping to wash up.

Patentia Village but has moved out here for the past 15 years.

While trekking through the trail on foot on his way home, he told the Pepperpot Magazine that he enjoys life here because he is able to be independent. “Nobody tell you anything. You live your independent life,” he expressed.

IV

Chronicle Pepperpot August 26, 2018

e l i h w therapy h Wort How Art and Craft became one woman’s refuge and business

system, having taught at the St. Anthony’s, St Stephen’s and St. Pius Primary Schools for seven years before migrating to Barbados in the year 2000. In Barbados, she gravitated to the medical field studying Medical Transcription/ Medical Language and other related courses but in her spare time, Jacqueline found herself using recycled materials like the sanitary spoons and plates, and natural materials such as leaves and branches to create wall décor.

“As a child growing up in Bartica, my granny would send my sisters and I to take bread to the baker shop...there was a gentleman that did sculpture work under Ms. Marie’s houseshe’s deceased and I don’t know what became of the man- but I used to sneak over and would Jacqueline Marshall sporting one of be amazed by the work he was doing,” Jacqueline told the Pepher handmade earrings perpot Magazine, while sitting in her gallery enjoying the afternoon breeze on the South Coast WHAT started out as a hobby for a 42-year-old single parent, Guyanese of Barbados.

“I love making things with my hands and mother living in Barbados, has turned into a thriving Arts and Craft business, as being creative,” she added as she smiled gazshe uses natural and recycled materials to ing into the open. Inspired by her daughter, Jada, and the wonders of nature, Jacqueline brighten the homes of others.

Jacqueline Marshall, who hails from for 14 long years turned “ashes into beauty” Bartica, has a background in the education transforming the interior of homes during

the Easter and Christmas holidays.

CREATIVE DISTRACTION It was during that period that tragedy struck, and to cushion the impact, the single parent mother, who has just about a few rel-

A Mahogany ocean-inspired mirror using acrylic pour designs

are among the recycled, natural and biotic materials used by Jacqueline.

Explaining how she makes the Mahogany Mirror, the former teacher said when the fruit from the Mahogany tree falls, there is a shell that is placed to dry for a few days.

“This natural material must be treated and placed to dry for a few days and sand-paper for any rough edges…It is then painted according to what design will be used, in this case acrylic pour technique was used,” explained the self-taught artist.

Though sourcing of the materials is often times a challenge, the entrepreneur is thankful for the progress made in developing her business. Jacqueline told the Pepperpot Magazine that she could not have done it without the support of family and friends, particularly her daughter, Jada, and nephew, Nicholas Collymore, who help to process the materials.

Through Facebook, Jacqueline has generated great interest in Guyana, particularly from persons residing in Georgetown and in her home town, Bartica. “I already have orders from Guyana. I’m working on all possible opportunities available in making it as smooth and

atives living in Barbados, found even greater comfort in Arts and Craft.

“Actually I really started to dive deep into it as a form of therapy, after losing two family members in less than five years apart. They were so young - my sister Shondel, and my cousin Shelly- it really dawned on me how fragile life really is, and I guess reaching deep inside of me this is what helped me to cope with all the hurt and shock of losing them,” Jacqueline said as she explained her drive to transform her hobby into a business venture.

“It’s like I got onto this artistic train and there is absolutely no stopping. So eventually friends were asking me to make décor pieces for them as seen in my home, and I started to use Facebook as a medium of getting the word out there. The feedback was really encouraging and I’ve never looked back,” she added.

In June 2017, the Barbados-based Guyanese registered her business ‘Decor Plus & Metal Works.’

“We specialise in the making of decorative pieces using Biophilic Designs – this is the idea of using natural materials to give wellbeing benefits and improve our human connection to nature and personal adornments. The Metal Works A hand painted peacock glass vase is my ‘other half’s’ fabricating and welding aspect of the business which he has been doing for over productive,” she disclosed.

25 years now,” she further explained.

Within the next five years, Jacqueline Foam, plastic, sanitary spoons and plates, is hoping for Decor Plus & Metal Works shells, dried leaves, plastic bottles, wine to become a household name known both bottles, twigs (dried brambles), wood, natu- in Guyana and Barbados, primarily for its ral fibre, bark, bamboo and jute (rice bags) Biophilic Designs.

Chronicle Pepperpot August 26, 2018

V

Live with purpose Personal growth mentor teaches valuable lessons on positivity

By Lisa Hamilton

control of our time. We don’t know how our time is going to be on earth, N A world that can often be filled with neg- so what is important is that while ative stressors and discouraging setbacks, we’re here, we do what we’re suppersonal growth expert and mentor, Lleuel- posed to do; we live with purpose,” la Morris, is on a mission to help Guyanese she said. live with purpose by creating a path for However, this was not ‘easy said, their own lives. easy done’ as Morris was hesitant at Morris is the founder and owner of AMZ first and had to really learn how to Consulting Company Limited where, through step out of her comfort zone to truly workshops and one-on-one sessions, she accept what she believed life had in equips people with the tools, techniques and store for her. frameworks to grow themselves.

“When I decided that I wasn’t Morris, who graduated from the Univer- going to be doing anything and I was sity of the Southern Caribbean in 2007 with just going to stay small and invisible, degrees in Behavioural Sciences (Psychology) it made me feel sick. It made me feel and English, sat down with the Pepperpot so overwhelmed and sick that I was Magazine to tell of how she now uses these afraid that if I continued in this way, skills to help others. where I was not fully self-expressed Prior to launching her consulting company out there that maybe I would just get in 2017, Morris was faced with several ad- sick and die. verse experiences which caused her to become “I think, sometimes, when God wants us to do things, He creates the situation where it’s so sick and unbearable that we have no option but to just step out or jump and do what we need to do,” she said.

Today she describes herself as a creative person, innovative thinker, implementer, initiator, and a visionary.

She started her first set of workshops at the National Library in Trinidad and Tobago in 2016, teaching persons how to create a life plan where she saw success every step of the way.

Morris, shortly after, officially registered her company AMZ Consulting Company Limited with a play on the word ‘amazing’, Personal growth expert and mentor, Lleuella Morris as a means to recognise her Christian background as despondent about life in general. well as to motivate persons to be ‘amazing’.

It was not until she realised that there must “I target people who feel like they’re driftbe more to life than her present state that she ing in life and not really living or persons who made a firm decision to spring into action and think that they’ve been disoriented by life, never return to the mindset she harboured they’ve been thrown off at a certain point. Or, before. maybe, they’re newly unemployed and they “In 2016, I got up and I realised that per- need to change direction. haps I’m not living my fullest potential. I’ve “It can’t be pinpointed very easily but once always been somebody who is driven and I advertise then I know the people who are ambitious but I realised that we don’t have full interested in doing something more with their

lives, those are the people who would come,” she explained.

With the mental health of Guyanese being on the country’s front burner, Morris also hopes to instill a new burst of positivity in citizens.

As such, she has begun hosting consultancy services at ‘WeOwn Space’ in South Ruimveldt Gardens, Georgetown on the topics of Create your Life Plan; How to Determine Your Next Step in Life; Power of a Positive You and Faith and Business.

This comes even as she recently wrapped up a five-day skills camp at the Hopetown Primary School where she exposed 30 students to life building skills, presented by herself and various experts.

These included teachings on self-discovery, basic entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial thinking; business ideas; leadership and how to deal with bullying; basic graphic design and social media etiquette and safety.

The project comes under her company’s non-profit arm: Investing in Human Social & Economic Development (IHSED) and works in line with United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“They need to know that they create their own lives and we need to take responsibility. We don’t take enough responsibility for our lives. We are creating our own lives unintentionally by the choices we make but instead of waiting for things to come to you, you go to them,” Morris said.

VI

Creating

opportunities for

By Gibron Rahim ARTISTS play a vital role in society. They safeguard our history and, in their individual fields of expertise, create visions of our future. Creating opportunities for them to share their work with us is vital with M.A.C Fest, held this past August 18 at Merriman’s Mall, being an excellent example of an event to empower artists and create a sense of community. Godlyn Lyte was one of the artists present at the M.A.C Fest Vendor Village.

Godlyn told the Pepperpot Magazine that she has always been an artist. She explained that both her mother and father are artists. Art for Godlyn began as a hobby that, over time, grew and became a profession. She recalled, “After I graduated high school in 2014, in September of that same year, I saw other people

Chronicle Pepperpot August 26, 2018

Artists

selling their artwork.” Godlyn was inspired to give it a try for herself. “So I did a few paintings and I actually sold my first three paintings in a matter of a week of completing them,” she said. That reception motivated Godlyn to start her art career.

Paintings are Godlyn’s usual form of artistic expression. She has also recently been experimenting with sculpture. “I wanted to do something a little bit different and something that kind of assisted with recycling,” she explained. This has led to her working with papier-mâché to create sculptures. Two of the first pieces she ever created were on display at M.A.C Fest, including a piece featuring representations of three distinct and vibrantly painted female orishas from the Yoruba religion.

“But usually I do dwell in acrylic painting.”

Godlyn’s pieces focus on inspiring women of colour, as she noted. She said her goal is to

get them to be more accepting of and comfortable with themselves in their natural state. Her pieces also focus on showing people of colour in surrealist environments.

The pieces draw the eye and encourage deeper contemplation on their layers of meaning.

According to Godlyn, events such as M.A.C Fest highlight creatives, especially in the case of Guyana. She noted that she has participated in similar events in the past. “I don’t think we have enough [events] that shine light

Godlyn Lyte

of having to practice part-time due to financial circumstances. “These kinds of events help build up the creatives so that they themselves can continue doing what they love.”

As with all artists, Godlyn’s creative endeavours require that she maintains keen focus. She explained, “I kind of try to seclude myself from everything else so that there’s no choice or no other option but for me to pursue my work.” She related that she considers being an artist as almost a life or death choice. “I don’t feel comfortable doing anything else,” she elaborated. “It’s really difficult for me to have a focus on doing anything else besides what I love.” She noted that determination decides how far an artist will be able to go with their creativity.

Artistic expression is important.

“It’s definitely a wonderful form

Papier-mâché sculpture featuring three female orishas

on artists so being part of something like that,” she said, “whether it’s big or small, is always a great experience for me personally because it’s always an opportunity for people to see your work and know what you do and see a different side of what Guyana can produce.”

Godlyn emphasised the need for more events like M.A.C Fest. “We need events like that so people can see the creative arts that the country can produce because we don’t have much like that, we don’t have much that focuses on the artists in Guyana,” she said emphatically. She noted that if we continue to invest in similar events it will help to expand the creative industry and aid in allowing people to have full-time careers in the arts, instead

of expressing whatever you might not be able to say verbally,” said Godlyn. She related that she has seen artists express meaning hidden just beneath the surface of their pieces. Art can be therapeutic. “I’ve actually done research before and actually learned that it is a form of therapy for people who have depression,” said Godlyn, also noting that art is being used therapeutically to help sufferers of other forms of mental illness and those going through trauma. Art therapy is a recognised form of therapeutic technique. “It can be something that’s soothing for the mind, that’s soothing for the person for whatever reason that they have.”

Chronicle Pepperpot August 26, 2018

VII

Pageantry TALK with Pamela Dillon

PART THREE

Is pageantry in Guyana losing its value?

FOR the past two weeks we have featured our conversation on pageantry in Guyana, with local pageant mother, Pamela Dillon.

This week we wrap up our dialogue.

SWIMSUITS, A NO-GO? A few pageants including Miss World and Miss America, have eliminated the swimsuit segment of the pageant, justifying that they will no longer judge contestants on their physical appearance. However, Miss Pam had a different take. She believes that the swimsuit segment is the segment where true confidence is showcased. “It shows how proud and comfortable you are with your body. You show the world, ‘This is me. Love me’,” she said.

When asked if she believes that curvier contestants are placed at a disadvantage, she expounded on categories.

“You stay within your category. And there are categories. When we are selecting we know who we are selecting and who for what reason.

So if you’re going to have a lineup and they all have to be 5’7” to 6 feet tall, you’re not going to take a 5’5”…And same thing if you say 5’7” to expectations. You need to stay in your lane,” she said.

6 feet tall, with weight in proportion to height. If you’re doing a Miss Full Figure or Miss Transgender, the same rule applies.

It depends on what’s the criteria. Whatever is the category of the pageant, that is what you have to agree to. So if you believe that you don’t need to fit the criteria, you can’t have certain

MAKE-UP, HAIR AND CULTURAL TWEAKS We have seen the extravagance when it comes to pageant hair and makeup. It usually bends toward the line of long straight hair and heavy contour.

But Miss Pam believes that too much is done in that regard. She believes that the hair and makeup should complement their features and embrace their differences and who they really are.

“You might have some things to fix but you are working with the girl. You don’t make her over into someone else. Look at Miss Jamaica last year, who came very close to winning Miss Universe.

She had her own personal style. It is one of the traits Jamaicans have. They don’t ever compromise or sacrifice their culture and style for anyone. And this is a trait that we Guyanese should adopt,” she said.

In relation to cultural identity, Miss Pam referenced Jamaicans again, saying “They don’t change their accent for anyone.

They eat their yam and their jerk chicken right on the side of the corner of the road. They buy their fruits and they bite into their mango right on the road there. They don’t fix culture for anybody else, this is their thing and they own it. That’s what makes you stand out. You have to be naturally you. And that’s our problem,” she said.

Turn to page XXII ►►►

VIII

Chronicle Pepperpot August 26, 2018

Chronicle Pepperpot August 26, 2018

IX

X

Chronicle Pepperpot August 26, 2018

Chronicle Pepperpot August 26, 2018

XI

The delicious delicacies of Lolita Williams

Cooking up a storm Roast tambaqui fish done by Lolita

By Michel Outridge FOR 61-year-old Lolita Williams, age is just a number and she became living proof of this adage the day she went back to school to educate herself in becoming a better entrepreneur in order to enhance her culinary business. Lolita currently attends a Small Business Management course at Computer World and once the course is complete, she intends to return to her home in Kaburi Village (Region Seven) to put her skills to good use in manag-

tuma pot which she sold at a location in Robb Street. Due to unforeseen circumstances, however, she was forced to close the venture.

Lolita is convinced that her tuma pot is the ‘thing’ not just because it is an indigenous cuisine but because of her special ingredients.

Her love for cooking also finds Lolita catering for some persons from the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’Affairs from time to time.

And every year for September, which is declared Indigenous Heritage Month, she participates in the three-

Lolita Williams’s signature roast beef being prepared.

ing her shop.

In the meantime, Lolita’s days are spent taking care of her three grandchildren and attending classes in Georgetown. “At my age, it is not impossible to achieve my educational goals because the hardest part was to get registered and now I am attending classes and I am comfortable with learning and I must admit it feels good,” Lolita told the Pepperpot Magazine.

The businesswoman is also known for preparing delicious roast beef, fish and

day event at the Sophia Exhibition Centre where she showcases her culinary talents and also sells her delicious foods.

She said that annually, she looks forward to participating in the Indigenous Heritage activities because she gets to interact with folks from both the city and the hinterland locations.

Giving a background about how she started to prepare roast beef, tambaqui fish and tuma pot, Lolita said that having lived almost

all her life in the hinterland she is accustomed to certain things and brought the recipes for roast beef and other traditional goodies with her to the city.

She related that when she lived in the Rupununi, their way of preserving meats is to salt it then hang it out to dry after which it would be stored for cooking purposes because they do not have electricity and it is their conventional way of preservation.

Lolita added that meat is stored in salt bags until it is needed for cooking. She explained that they mostly use the meats with farine or cassava bread.

This spritely grandmother said that she originally came

from Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) but grew up in Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni), and came to the city to spend time with her son and his children.

Her hometown in Region Seven is Kaburi Village, 32 Miles Potaro, where she went to school and lived with her family until adulthood.

Lolita said that living in the hinterland is much different than living in the city but she can cope even though she has grown accustomed to that way of life where things are much simpler and there is no rush. Moreover, she is committed to honing her entrepreneurial skills, so she can pair them with her love of cooking and go back home to

Lolita Williams.

enhance her business.

“I would never stop making roast beef, fish or my tuma pot because it is a joy for me and people

would always ask for it and for that I will continue to prepare these dishes for those who like it,” she said.

XII

Chronicle Pepperpot August 26, 2018

Greenlight Guyana Educational Inc. recognises NGSA students

By Shirley Thomas Greenlight Guyana Educational Inc. (GGE Inc.), a New York-based Humanitarian Group last Wednesday held annual awards ceremonies to honour National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) students and prepare them for their transition from Primary to Secondary School.

The events were held at schools in the Essequibo Islands-West Demerara (Region

Three). The first was at Nismes Primary School which catered jointly for students of Nismes and Bagotville Primary and later in the day, at La Retraite Primary School.

THE AWARDS CEREMONY The awards programme, an annual feature, is organised by New York-based Guyanese, Salome Osborne who is Founder-Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Greenlight Guyana Educational Inc. Since the launch

Salome Osborne (left) and Ryan Jaccob (right) with winners of the Greenlight Guyana Educational Inc. Awards 2018 at La Retraite Primary School.

Salome Osborne with top performers Darshanie Mahase and Keba Evelyn at the Awards Ceremony.

Salome Osborne makes a presentation to an awardee at La Retraite Primary School.

of the foundation in 2006, Osborne has been travelling to Guyana each year to distribute educational resources to the children and to meet with them, their parents and teachers, with a view to charting the way forward.

This time around, partnering with GGE Inc. was the Leader of another New-York-based Not for Profit,“Community Uprising Youth Club”, Ryan Jaccob and Allan Robertson who donated a special gift to the top performer.

For this year, six candidates were awarded places at West Demerara Secondary, the leading secondary school in Region Three.

Three were drawn from Nismes Primary; two from LaRetraite Primary and one from Bagotville Primary. The 2018 Greenlight Guyana Nismes Primary top student is Pamela Duff; the La Retraite Primary School top student is Darshanie Mahaise and the Bagotville Primary School top student is Blossom Bobb.

Meanwhile, the other three students gaining places at the West Demerara Secondary School are: Richlyn Fraser and Angelina Persaud – both from Nismes and Keba Evelyn from La Retraite.

Turn to page XIX ►►►

Chronicle Pepperpot August 26, 2018

XIII

Children as dental patients removal of the dentist’s hand from the child’s mouth and the simultaneous giving of positive verbal reinforcement (praise).

Perhaps in Guyana, physical restraint is the most popular method to ensure that an uncooperative child receives proper dental treatment.

This may involve using a bite block, pediwrap, papoose board or simply by having the parent or guardian confine the child’s head, hands and

WHEN using behaviour management techniques in pediatric (child) dentistry, it is critical that the child’s parents or guardians be educated as to the usefulness and appropriateness of the desired techniques. This is necessary for two reasons. First, it has been shown that parents who are informed and educated about behaviour management techniques are more positive and accepting of their use. Second, the use of some of these methods may require consent by the parent.

Although most children are cooperative dental patients, some display behaviour that

dures that are suitable for the child’s age.

About 80 per cent of all children above the age of three years with normal intellectual and emotional development can be guided successfully through new procedures with this technique.

Voice control is usually described as the dentist assuming a more authoritative role when the child starts to display disruptive behaviour.

It can also be described as the dentist constantly speaking to the child in a supportive manner when the latter displays appropriate behaviour.

It is important when using voice control that the

present obstacles to the safe and effective delivery of care. In these instances, the dentist can use behaviour management techniques so as to modify the child’s behaviour.

Methods to accomplish control over children who do not cooperate with the dentist include, “tell-show-do’, voice control, handover-mouth, physical restraint and drug-induced management.

The “tell-show-do” technique is the foundation of all child management. It involves the dentist first describing to the child exactly what is going to be done, then showing the child what will be done, and finally, performing the procedures as previously discussed and shown.

It is important when using this technique to use the words for dental instruments and proce-

facial expression and demeanor of the dentist mirror the attitude he or she is attempting to convey. It is also important to note that the technique is most effective when inappropriate behaviour is full blown.

The hand-over-mouth technique is not commonly used in this country. The purpose of this technique, which calls for the dentist to place his hand over the mouth of a hysterically crying or screaming child, is to gain the attention of the child and establish communication.

Thus, the child can hear and begin to communicate with the dentist and learn the cooperative behaviour required for the safe course of treatment. This technique must be linked with voice control, that is, a cessation of oppositional behaviour is immediately accompanied by

legs while the dentist executes a procedure. It is often not advisable to restrain a child who is more than five years old.

The drug most noteworthy for pharmacologic management is nitrous oxide.

There are many other sedatives that can be delivered orally or by injection. A general anaesthetic is also used in particular circumstances.

XIV

Chronicle Pepperpot August 26, 2018

PARKING METER SCHEME REVISITED A FEW Sundays ago, in one of the dailies, the Parking Meter contract between Smart City Solutions Co. of Mexico and the Georgetown City Council was published. This was the first time that this document was publicised in this way. This, together with an earlier media report of a few months ago that the City Council had adopted the report of their re-negotiating team, which they had appointed to review their contract with Smart City, gave the impression that the Council was on its way to starting up the Parking Meter scheme again.

Several consumer activists had informed

us that the City Council had decided to move slower on this issue, owning to the imminence of the Local Government Elections. It was feared that since the scheme was unpopular in the city, councillors who supported the scheme may find their re-election more difficult. This leads to the logical conclusion that those candidates who are offering themselves to the various constituencies should be made to give their position on the establishment of the Parking Meter scheme, and should pledge themselves to periodically report to their constituencies on the main issues being deliberated upon by the City Council.

In revisiting the Parking Meter scheme,

it is apposite that we recap a few facts about it: First, no feasibility study of the scheme was done, and if one was done, the company has studiously kept it away from the Georgetown citizens. Second, the contract was negotiated and agreed to without the City Hall being accorded expert legal advice and, this has resulted in its being one-sided and in some ways not in the interest of the Guyanese side. Third, the legality of the contract is open to question on several grounds.

Fourth, the issue is before the courts and until a final decision has been arrived at, the City Council could not proceed with the scheme.

One of the most important things to note about the Parking Meter scheme is that it has no relationship to traffic control. The raison d’etre of the scheme is raise money from the citizens and those persons from the countryside who may visit Georgetown with their vehicles. This is clearly illustrated by the fact that most of the parking meters are placed in parts of the city where there is very little traffic. It should therefore be emphasised that the Parking Meter scheme is not a traffic control measure but a revenue-raising one.

It should be reiterated that nowhere else in the world had parking meters been instituted primarily as a revenue-gathering measure. If parking meters are instituted as primarily a revenue-gathering measure, it inevitably leads to the unjust exploitation of the citizens.

There are a number of other issues about the Parking Meter scheme which would have to be resolved before the scheme could become fully acceptable to the public. We will give some of them at random:In the Contract between Smart City and the City Council, Smart City would be allocated 80 per cent of the profits while the City Council would have to be content with 20 per cent. In this equation, the City Council would be contributing more than 80 per cent of the input to the scheme which would include the use of the road-system of the City of Georgetown which is worth billions of dollars, the ultimate responsibility for enforcement, and protecting the Parking Meters by night and day. This would imply the deployment of 30 per cent of the constabulary to these tasks costing millions of dollars. From their input to the scheme, the City Council should receive at least 80 per cent of the profits. The present profit-sharing arrangement is highly iniquitous to the Guyana side.

The Parking Meter scheme will be a substantial drain on Guyana’s foreign exchange, and no estimate of the US dollars to be taken out of the country has been made to the Bank of Guyana or the Ministry of Finance. Smart City will have to correct this omission.

In the contract, Smart City is allowed the concession to build parking garages. Parking garages is a different industry from outdoor

parking and the City Council will have to negotiate a fair return from such a venture. At the moment, it is a give-away of public assets and this omission must be corrected.

It seems that the contract precludes business houses from using their own parking or owners using their empty lots as paid parking or even their yards. The City Council should try to extricate themselves from this illegality.

Parking meters or parking spaces outside business places could impede the loading and unloading of their goods and this is bound to result in a great deal of litigation for which the taxpayer will ultimately pay.

The parking meter rates proposed by Smart City are far too high and, indeed oppressive, and seem to be a conversion of the US dollar rates charged abroad into Guyana dollars. Such high rates would prevent people from the countryside from coming to Georgetown to do their business, resulting in economic loss to the city and its residents; it would be a social set-back to the many young people who would have owned a car for the first time and would have been faced with prohibitive parking rates; and it is inevitable in a milieu of resentment and disgruntlement that there would be attempted vandalisation of the parking meters. The City Council will have to review the contract making changes so that it becomes acceptable to the public

Chronicle Pepperpot August 26, 2018

XV

Nothing is achieved without sacrifice EID-Ul- Adha is a Muslim festival celebrated in Guyana and it was celebrated this past week. It is a remembrance of Prophet Ibraheem’s obedience to Allah.

The festival is celebrated with grandeur by the Muslim community. The day begins with praying from the crack of dawn and then leads into the sacrifice of animals. The meat from the animals is divided into three parts: one portion for family and friends; another for the less fortunate and finally, the last portion is for the family itself.

This partition of meat is the representation of the sacrifice needed to acquire gains in return. The sacrifice of the animal to share meat with others is an illustration that one is willing to sacrifice some of one’s possessions- one of their means of survival (food) - to the less fortunate and to loved ones.

And the genesis of Eid- Ul- Adha: (Imam) dates back to aeons ago during Ibraheem’s time on Earth. It is a story of sacrifice.

In a dream, Allah- the almighty God, asked his disciple Ibraheem to make the ultimate sacrifice: his son, whom he waited many years for.

Faithful Ibraheem was obedient and set

A scene from the Eid- Ul- Adha practices

out to sacrifice his (only) son but Allah, so pleased by his obedience took away Ibraheem’s power to kill his son and Allah sent an angel to replace Ibraheem’s son with a ram which was sacrificed instead.

The origin story has transcended the years and today, Muslims seek to emulate the faithfulness shown by Ibraheem and his willingness to sacrifice, because according to the Deputy Imaam of the Queenstown Masjid, Omar Haniff, nothing is achieved

without some sacrifice.

“In anything- in education, in wealth, anything you want to grow in- you show me a great achievement and I will show you a long list of sacrifices,” Haniff shared. “We are shown the great example of AbrahamIbraheem as we say in Arabic… and we are told to emulate that,” he said.

More than that, Haniff affirmed that the sacrifice is not only physical but also deals with intrinsic changes. “We are asked to part

with some money and to make a sacrifice of an animal, not for the meat but to show that willingness to part with something; to show that willingness to part with something, to share with the poor, to develop that fraternity and that community and to kill the greed that is [in] each of us,” he said.

Like the Imaam explained, sacrifices are necessary and while I suppose our own volition is fundamental in achieving success or whatever desires we hold, I personally do not know of instances where sacrifices were not required to achieve something. And it isn’t me alone.

As long as I can recall following the top performers for the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) or the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) examinations, there has not been a single student that has not spoken about the need to sacrifice some sleep, or some fun time to focus on studying for their exams.

And whether you’re a believer in Islam or even in any religion, I believe the message being advanced is universal enough.

Nothing is achieved without some sacrifice and or willingness to sacrifice paves the way for gains to come.

Just a guy with a guitar

Abel Stokes LIVING by the mantra “When music hits you, you feel no pain”, is 23-yearo l d Abel Stokes. He is a musician, vocalist and graphic designer, who seizes every opportunity he gets, to melt hearts with his voice and musical talent.

Abel expressed that he has a strong passion for music, since it has been his way of escaping emotional pain caused by traumatic experiences during his growing years. He explained that he is lifted in high spirits when he sings.

“I’m inspired by the way music makes me feel and the joy I experience when I perform. Whatever pain I’m feeling or troubles I’m experiencing, music helps. I sing myself into a happy trance. Nothing makes me feel better. And I have seen that singing for people as well, helps me to help others to be happy and seeing my ability to put a smile on someone’s face, makes me even more happy,” he said.

He shared that he always wanted to be a part of musical arts when he was younger but due to certain circumstances,

he wasn’t able to do so. But Abel said that his love for music never dwindled, his dream of becoming who he wants to become never seemed impossible, he continued to do what he loved.

“I actually started getting into music seriously in my teens and I had to teach myself. Most of what I know was self-taught because the resources I needed weren’t accessible. But I was determined to specialise myself in this art.

I started a band with three other young men like myself and we sang at almost every opportunity we got. But since we are all now busy with our separate lives, I sing mostly solo,” Abel shared.

Despite the challenges in the music industry in Guyana, Abel aspires to be an international artiste travelling and performing his music all over the world. He performs covers but recently started writing and performing his own music at small gatherings, concerts, weddings, and whatever else comes his way.

In his message to other you people, Able admonished them to “believe that anything is possible as long as you want it enough, you will progress and never give up on your dreams. Only you can make your dream a reality.”

Able Stokes

XVI

Chronicle Pepperpot August 26, 2018

What you need to know about sweet potatoes - Part 1 THIS week NAREI in Focus begins a series on growing sweet potatoes in Guyana. The sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas [L.] Lam) seemed to have originated in Tropical America, but, the exact location is not known. This crop is now grown throughout the tropics for its edible tubers, which are an important food source in many countries. Guyana is one of the tropical countries in which sweet potato is cultivated. The regions of highest production in Guyana are Regions Three, Four, and Nine. Other regions that grow the crop are Regions Two, Five and Six. Sweet potato is primarily used as food.

Generally, it is consumed directly- the main type of preparation being boiling, baking or frying. In processed form, the tubers can be prepared in many ways for human consumption (canned, frozen, dehydrated or made into flour or starch). For industrial uses, the tuber is a source of starch, glucose, syrup, vinegar and alcohol. The tuber and plant tops are also a source of animal feed. The tuber is fed directly or in processed form

and the leaves are fed to livestock as fresh fodder or in the form of silage.

VARIETIES There are several sweet potato cultivars in production in Guyana.

Some of these are Black Rock, Strongman and Viola.

ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS Sweet potato is adapted to rainfall ranging from 800 – 1000 millimetres per year but it requires good drainage. This crop cannot stand waterlogging and it will not persist in long periods of drought without irrigation. This crop can be grown from sea level to elevations of 2000m. It can also be grown on a wide range of soils. In Guyana, sweet potato is mainly grown on soils rich in organic matter, on loamy soils and sandy soils.

CULTIVATION Land Preparation should be deep enough to accommodate the sweet potato tubers.

Since this crop cannot withstand waterlogged conditions, there must be adequate

drainage. The soil should be ploughed and harrowed and adequate drains made. For lighter soils, flat planting can be done but heavier soils should be ridged to facilitate drainage.

PLANTING Planting material for sweet potato is the slip (stem) of mature plants. The apical portion of the stem should be used. These apical stem cuttings should be about 25 cm long.

In order to control pests during the initial stages of growth, planting material should be treated by soaking in an insecticidal solution for approximately ten minutes. The insecticides recommended are Admire at a rate of 1ml / L of water or Vydate at a rate of 2ml/l of water. Ridges should be 0.75 m apart and cuttings should be planted 0.3m apart.

MAINTENANCE OF CULTIVATION General Maintenance Drains must be properly maintained during rainy periods since sweet potato cannot withstand water-

logging. Fertiliser Application As a general rule, before applying fertilisers, the soil should be analysed to determine the types and amounts to be used.

If a soil analysis is not done the following fertiliser elements may be applied: Fertiliser Rate of Application Urea 168 kg/ha TSP 150 kg/ha MOP 140 kg/ha Apply the TSP and MOP to the ridges one or two days before planting. Apply all the Urea six weeks after planting, when the vines are turned to prevent the formation of small tubes at the nodes (joints) of the stems. Weed Control Weed control is important during the early stage of this crop before the vines begin to spread. For a good crop, the weeds need to be controlled during the first six to eight week after planting. Turning of Vines It is customary to turn back the vines from time to time to prevent rooting at the nodes of the plant. This is to ensure a more even crop and fewer smaller tubers.

Chronicle Pepperpot August 26, 2018

XVII

How’s your consumption?

THOSE of you who read last week’s column are now more aware of what alcohol actually is and more importantly, what it does to our bodies. The next question should be - are you drinking too much alcohol?

Many people have a distorted view of what having a problem with alcohol looks like. They assume it’s the people who have a drink first thing in the morning and can’t hold down jobs, those who smell bad and have to beg for money to fund their habit. However, the most common types of consumers are what we call functioning alcoholics which means they are able to go to school or work and maintain a lifestyle that society would deem ‘normal’.

The overall picture is simpler than most people believe. At the end of the day, it does not matter what you drink, how much you drink or even how often you drink, what matters is your craving for alcohol, whether there is an uncontrollable need for it or if the amount you consume takes away from your responsibilities of daily life.

If someone drinks every day, it does not necessarily mean that they have a problem with alcohol. For example, I know many people that have one glass of wine or one beer with dinner; there isn’t anything wrong with that.

The more worrisome drinkers are those who often crave alcohol and give in to the cravings; once they start drinking, it is difficult or near to impossible to stop. There are many who can go months or even years without alcohol but it takes over them the moment it touches their lips.

It is crucial for everyone to know whether they are abusing alcohol, especially in a country with such a social and normalised consumption culture. I’m going to ask a series of questions – if you answer yes to more than six, it is likely that you are abusing alcohol.

1. Do you consume alcohol more than three times per week?

2.

Do you have more than three drinks per hour

every time you drink?

3.

Has your tolerance for alcohol significantly grown? Meaning does it take a lot more alcohol to get you drunk than it would have last year?

4.

Do you get drunk every time you drink?

5. Does your drinking interfere with your abilities to attend or perform at school or work?

6. Do you get involved in dangerous activities when drinking? For example, drinking and driving or violence?

7. Do you often wake up with a hangover/ sick feeling after a night of drinking?

8. Have you lost interest in activities that do not involve drinking?

9.

Do you drink even though alcohol has caused you problems in the past?

Anything from accidents/ health problems to legal issues?

10.

Have your family and friends ever talk to you or show concern about your drinking?

11.

Do you feel any physical symptoms such as trembling, headaches, agitation or mood swings when you aren’t able to drink?

12.

Do you ever feel guilty about your drinking?

In extreme cases of overuse, there will be alcohol poisoning which typically happens after binge drinking.

Binge drinking is consuming a large amount in a short period of time and typically differs between genders.

Binge drinking for women is considered four or more drinks in the space of two hours while for men it is five or more. It’s also good to keep in mind that our liver can only effectively process one drink per hour.

I’d like everyone to be aware of the signs and symptoms of alcohol poisoning because if someone around you develops it, they will not be able to take care of themselves. Someone is likely to be suffering from alcohol poisoning if they are experiencing extreme confusion and loss of balance and coordination. In most cases, there is vomiting, low body

temperature, breathing issues and possibly seizures as well as stupor which means conscious but unresponsive.

In cases like this, you should not leave them to sleep it off as even if they have stopped drinking alcohol, the amount already present will continue to be absorbed into the body. If you can, try to keep them awake and give them water. If they are passed out, put them to lie on their side. There have been cases where people choke on their vomit if they are on their back or their breathing is obstructed if they are on their stomach. If you can stay with them, always do as alcohol poisoning is life-threatening.

It is not possible for me to tell you how much alcohol it takes for alcohol poisoning to occur as it depends on a number of things such as gender, age, weight, your body’s water concentration, whether you’ve eaten as well as your general health.

It is important to mention (for those of you who may be worried) that not everyone who drinks a lot will end up being dependent on alcoholbut they definitely are more likely to. In my experience, those who drink heavily end up moving on to more or harder liquor over time. So, it’s better to be aware and take charge before this happens to you. It may sound silly but no one ever intended to become addicted.

Alcohol withdrawal is the number one sign of abuse; if you do experience this, you do have an issue with alcohol. Withdrawal is the detoxing of the drug which means that the body and brain are so used to the sub-

stance that it cannot function without it. Withdrawal can be mild to severe with mild having symptoms such as headaches, nausea and mood swings. Severe withdrawal, however, is life-threatening

and may include shaking/ trembling, vomiting, convulsions/seizures, insomnia as well as both hallucinations and delusions.

Basically, you just need to know (as only you can)

whether or not the amount you drink is negatively affecting your life. Is it causing physical, mental, social, legal or financial consequences that would not have been there if you didn’t drink alcohol?

Please check in next week to learn about reasons why people may drink in the first place. Thanking you for reading. Please keep sending any topics you’d like to talk about to caitlinvieira@gmail. com Say Yes to Life and No to Drugs! Always! Suicide Prevention Helpline – 2230001, 223-0009, 623-4444 or 600-7896 Do not be afraid to reach out!

XVIII

Chronicle Pepperpot August 26, 2018

Chronicle Pepperpot August 26, 2018 ◄◄◄ From page XII

The highlight of the programme was the distribution of cash incentives to the top performers and offering of congratulations and words of advice, encouragement and wise counsel to the students by the donors and education officials, including heads and other teachers.

Throughout the programme, there was a mood of appreciation and great excitement resonating across the auditorium, as awardees, amidst resounding applause, proudly made their way to the platform to receive their awards.

But on the other side, it was also an emotional moment, since the forum was one that sought to recognise and honour the achievements of children who are not necessarily national high-fliers, and whose names would not appear in the limelight. It was an occasion to make them feel good about themselves and not give up, but prepare them for the challenges ahead, es-

heart of love and incredible mentorship potential, has a close affinity for children and a desire to see them succeed academically and otherwise. With the help of other kind-hearted donors, she has been making significant donations to meet the educational needs of these children by way of counselling, mentoring and making generous donations of books. Above all, her repeated admonition to them is to “Stay in School!” and to “Read, Read, Read!”

During last Wednesday’s ceremony, the students were charged to “apply themselves diligently and with determination,” in whatever they set themselves to, using as their success mantra, “I will be the best me!”

AUGMENTING EDUCATIONAL SUPPLIES Greenlight Guyana Educational Inc. supports the educational, health and human service needs of less

Donor Allan Robertson makes a special presentation to top performer, Darshanie Mahase

sentially to be guarded and stoutly resist peer pressure.

Based on merit, Greenlight Guyana recognises the candidates as children who would have performed creditably in the face numerous known challenges they faced while preparing for the examinations. In words, it was virtually like: “Accentuating the positive; eliminating the negative” and not merely telling them to reach for the stars, but showing them how to get there.

I WILL BE THE BEST ME! Osborne, with a huge

fortunate children, ages five to 12 years old, with a great emphasis on education.

Ever since the founding of the organisation, each year Osborne has been making annual humanitarian trips to Guyana , distributing backpacks, custom-made uniforms, shoes, books and other school supplies to every child at all three schools.

Of recent, the issuing of cash incentives based on performance has been introduced, which effectively removes the tendency towards complacency, whilst ushering in a spirit of competitiveness and determination to succeed.

Top student addresses awardees

XIX

XX

Bridging the gap

By Tracey Khan

MELISSA Noel is an award-winning independent journalist based in the New York City area who has made it a point throughout her career to tell stories that centre on the Caribbean region and Diaspora.

She believes that stories about the region and its people should go beyond headlines of natural disasters and crime and she makes

Chronicle Pepperpot August 26, 2018

One Guyanese-born journalist’s determination to succeed

sure, “that [for] stories of Caribbean Americans, marginalised groups and groups that really don’t get a lot of attention in the mainstream American news, there is coverage and good coverage.”

Melissa, who dabbles in multimedia journalism, is a very proud first-generation Guyanese American who continues to shine a light on the Caribbean and Diaspora to showcase the country’s rich diversity.

Award-winning American/Guyanese Multimedia Journalist Melissa Noel

She has been honoured with the 2016 Shining Star Journalism Award for her global diaspora coverage by Congresswoman Yvette Clarke and is a 2009- 2010 White House Correspondents’ Association Journalism Award recipient, where former U.S. President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama honoured her.

This, she said, was one of the highlights of her career so far, “to have them tell you that they are proud of you, they’re proud of your work and the fact that you’re doing what you can as a young journalist to highlight your own people is something that will stick with me for the rest of my life.”

“Another thing that sticks out in my mind is that I was able to cover Guyana’s 50th anniversary for NBCnews.com and to be able to share Guyana with NBC news’ audience with the world, a place that I’m so proud of, it brought tears to my eyes.” It was one of the stories she did for Guyana’s 50th that won her an award.

Melissa’s commitment to bringing attention to underreported and international stories also earned her the 2016 International Labour Organisation’s Global Media Award for her work on the effects of parental separation due to migration on Caribbean communities.

INSPIRATION There is always someone who inspires us into our passion which often times turns into our career. That person was Melissa’s Guyanese-born grandmother. She would often pick up the newspaper for her grandmother. “[I would do that] so she could find out what was happening back home and to see the way my grandmother would either cry, laugh, suck her teeth or just really connect with home through the news and I was like I want to be able to do that…for my grandmother the news was connecting her with home, which is Guyana,” she said.

Melissa studied at the Mecca of Black Excellence which is Howard University, a historically Black College. “It teaches you that

your success is not just your own, it’s your ancestors, your community that you have a responsibility to be a leader and not only for America but for the world and that whatever you do you have to do it with a sense of pride and know that there are other people depending on you to do well and continue to honour their names, their legacy and it was literally the best four years of my life,” she said.

She explained that at Howard she was able to connect with people from the rest of the world, learn about their cultures, adding that there is a misconception that historically black colleges are not diversified. That is where Melissa got her start on a Caribbean radio show at the college, making her experience, “magical.”

When she started her career she took the unpopular route and went independent, that meant her challenges would be a bit more than that of reporters who worked fulltime with news stations in the United States. “When I started I thought I would start reporting and then sit at the anchor’s desk but the more I saw the gap between our stories and mainstream news, and I started thinking how can I make a difference,” she said.

“I had to hear ‘no’ a lot. They would say ‘We love your story idea but we don’t have a budget for it’. Having to spend thousands of dollars of my own money when I started off, it meant sleeping at my granny’s house if I was coming to Guyana to do a story so it was a lot of couch surfing, shooting for myself until I was able to get the stories out, and the editors from the news outlets would say ‘wow your story did the best all week’. As the saying goes, ‘there really is no overnight success’.”

BUDDING CAREER She produces video as well as print and online stories for NBC news, Voices of NY, Ebony Magazine and Caribbean Beat Magazine. Melissa is also a contributing reporter for One Caribbean Television and The Huffington Post. Both domestically and internationally, Turn to page XXI►►►

Chronicle Pepperpot August 26, 2018

folklore THE MOUND

XXI

By Neil Primus

By Neil Primus

THE small primary school located in the community of Cuffy’s Legacy catered for students from that village and all the nearby ones too. Built to accommodate 200, it was forced to fit over 500 students.

Next to the small school yard was a large playground. At the north-western end of the ground was a large mound. On it grew a few trees and heavy vegetation. Not many children went that far to play. Some of the boys made that area their private play mound. No sooner had they begun to frequent the area that strange things started to happen.

One boy was shoved violently off the top of the mound. He sprained his right ankle and took a hit to the head. Another lad flipped multiple times making a rough path through the trees and bushes with his body. One of the weeds that grew there in great abundance was ‘Cow-Itc’h. By the time he got up dazed and shaken, his skin had begun to itch madly.

His friends tried to help only to be immediately infected. Soon there was pandemonium.

Students were scratching all over their bodies and school had to be suspended for the rest of the day.

One Friday morning, a boy while playing there stopped and urinated before taking off again. He got a nasty surprise.

Ply! He received a vicious slap that resulted in the left side of his face being swollen and sore. But the boy that got the worst treatment was a wayward lad who paid little attention to anyone. While playing on the mound, Vincent felt the urge to use the toilet. Realising that it would be a long walk to the school’s washroom, he crept into a bushy area and started to relieve himself. Suddenly all hell broke loose.

Or in his case he saw stars; pitching stars.

Boof!

Pow! He ran screaming from his place of concealment with two badly swollen black eyes.

The children who had these painful encounters all blamed each other for their calamity.

The headteacher knew better and decided to place a ban on the mound. No student was allowed to go there. But if you know children you would know that a ban on any place was like a dangling carrot to a donkey. Some still persisted.

Peter was an upstart. He was a regular ◄◄◄ From page XX

she is dedicated to researching, writing, producing, and editing news stories that centre on the experiences and critical issues impacting Caribbean and minority communities.

Melissa’s in-depth news coverage spans the United States as well as Trinidad and Tobago, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Curaçao, Guyana, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, Barbados, and Cuba.

She has covered a number of political, governmental and social justice stories including, the 2016 Supreme Court

truant and whenever he attended school he was never punctual. He could be found wandering all around the school compound and the playground during sessions. Warnings, punishment and the intervention of his mother did not curb this bad habit. He continued his roaming and spent a great deal of time playing and traipsing on the mound.

One night, after having a rollicking time playing and tumbling on the mound, he had an unusual dream. In the dream he was playing ‘Ketcher. This is a game of tag in which one child chases after the others. The first one to be tagged would become the catcher (chaser).

Sometimes, there would be variations to the game. The catcher would be armed with a belt or whip. Whoever is caught would be beaten until he reaches the sanctuary of “Gool” – a safe or mutual area. This variation often ended up in fights so not too many children used it.

It was while playing this variation that he ran into problems. He was being chased by the catcher who was wielding a leather belt in a lethal fashion. He raced up the mound and dived into a clump of bushes to hide. Suddenly someone grabbed him by both ears in a grip that felt like an eagle’s talons. His ears were mercilessly tweaked. The pain was intense and he begged and pleaded for it to end.

He must have passed out from the pain.

When he came to, both his ears were inflamed and painful. Then a very low voice that sounded like a growl addressed him.

“You are a very disobedient boy.”

He spun around and saw a short white man looking angrily at him.

“Behave yourself and stop playing on my grave,” the man warned.

Terrified by this utterance he sputtered a hasty reply.

“B-But sir I don’t play in de cemetery,” he said.

“Everyday you play in one.”

“No!” the boy responded. “I only play at home and in school.”

“Boy, don’t be doltish. The playground is a burial ground!”

Then the man disappeared.

That morning Peter had great difficulty explaining to his mom the reason for his swollen ears. Try as he might his mother did not believe him. But she was taking no chances either. She instructed the boy to keep away from the mound. Peter did not need to be

ruling on immigration reform in America, disparities facing black immigrants in America and the U.K., restoration of diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Cuba, the global Black Lives Matter movement, marijuana decriminalisation and legalisation, mental health, sustainable tourism and the effects of migration on Caribbean economies and families.

Her body of work also includes many arts and culture stories that have included high-profile interviews with celebrities like Majah Hype, The Mighty Sparrow, Tika

Sumpter, Taye Diggs, Run DMC, Samuel L. Jackson, Tom Cruise, Shaggy, and Kool and the Gang, to name a few.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in broadcast journalism from Howard University and a Master of Arts degree in journalism from The City University of New York (CUNY) Graduate School of Journalism, where she specialised in broadcast media and urban studies. To learn more about Melissa, follow her work at www.melissanoelreports. com.

warned. He had learned his lesson. After that incident the boy spent his break and lunch periods walking around the village. He kept away from the mound and did not even play in the playground. Other children kept on playing there.

Every day there were complaints of

children being cuffed, kicked and slapped whenever they ventured onto the mound.

The headteacher sent for the Pandit.

The old man arrived and immediately instructed that the area be fenced off. He performed a funeral rite and ever since, the place has been violence free.

XXII

Chronicle Pepperpot August 26, 2018

Pageantry TALK with Pamela Dillon

PART THREE

Is pageantry in Guyana losing its value? ◄◄◄ From page VII

“We tend to think that we have to make over our girls to make her look like the Northern girls. This girl is from the end of South America into the Caribbean. She is uniquely made and beautiful with six races behind her. Culturally she is a beautiful mix. Her team needs to look at who she is and carve things out to suit the goddess. Don’t try to make her over,” Miss Pam emphasised.

She narrated an experience from a few years back, “I remember a girl from Miss Universe had to make her promotional video and she was running all around looking for a fancy house to shoot because she can’t showcase where she comes from. And I remember when another queen went to Miss World and showed where she lived and her own Guyanese bashed her, asking why she couldn’t show somewhere better. Better than what? It’s us. We’re doing that, we fake,” she said.

This is one of the biggest problems, the pageant expert said, “We tend to think that we have to pretend to be someone, instead of embrace who we really are. She added that the most natural girl is the one that stands out and not the one who clearly shows a timid personality from hiding behind a façade.”

But all in all, pageantry is a great experience for any girl. Miss Pam believes that Guyana needs a pageant counsel which will be responsible for setting the standards and criteria for the industry. “And we as a Guyanese people need to be more patriotic and support our representatives, instead of tearing them down. The same public should stand behind the girl.

There’s no perfect girl, but you work with a personality; you work with whatever she brings to the table and give her the support she needs to bring home the crown,” Miss Pam said.

We hope that this segment brought much insight into the world of pageantry, and encouraged greater appreciation for the industry.

Chronicle Pepperpot August 26, 2018

World Humanitarian Day “AROUND the world, conflict is forcing record numbers of people from their homes, with over 65 million people now displaced. Children are recruited by armed groups and used to fight.

Women are abused and humiliated. As humanitarian workers deliver aid and medical workers provide for those in need, they are all too often targeted or treated as threats.” — UN Secretary-General, António Guterres Did you know, there is a relationship between conflicts and the environment? Yes, there is a close connection between environment and conflicts. In Guyana, we don’t have to look very far, as we are all aware of the pervasive border conflicts over natural resources. Sometimes we underestimate the value of clean air, water, land, wildlife and other natural resources,

but these are ever so often, sources of contention. In this regard, World Humanitarian Day seeks to bring attention to the millions of people around the world, affected by armed conflicts every day and those who risk their lives to bring relief.

BACKGROUND The terrorist attack which hit the United Nations (UN) headquarters in Baghdad, killing 22 people in 2003, including Sergio Vieira de Mello, UN’s top representative in Iraq; prompted the UN General Assembly to adopt a resolution five years later, designating August 19 as World Humanitarian Day. While this is just one day, we can’t ignore the plight of millions of people around the world. This day seeks to raise awareness on these issues in an effort to expedite the necessary interventions.

HOW IS THIS RELEVANT TO THE ENVIRONMENT?

XXIII You would all agree that crises can lead to conflicts and conflicts can lead to crises. However, in the midst of all of this, there are thousands of persons who risk their lives to bring some relief to those in conflicts. According to the UN, over 4000 aid workers have been killed, injured, detained or kidnapped. During a crises people struggle for the basic needs of food, water, fresh air and shelter and of course other services such as education, jobs, entertainment etc. are limited or lacking. Many people have to leave their homes and countries in pursuit of safety and survival.

Therefore, during crises, not only are resources lacking but there also arises issues of pollution and poor environmental management. There is the risk of increase pests and diseases.

Poor sanitation and hygiene due to lack of basic amenities are also the cause of several indirect deaths due to conflicts.

Let’s not take the job of aid workers for granted as they risk their lives to bring relief of food, clothing, medical services etc. to those desperately in need. If we want to achieve environmental sustainability globally and a Green Economy nationally, we must guard against these conflicts and appreciate humanitarian efforts. Source http://www. un.org/en/events/humanitarianday/

XXIV

Chronicle Pepperpot August 26, 2018

E FILES S A C T COUR

Three convicted of attempted murder lose appeal

By George Barclay

Appellate Court refused application to call fresh evidence IN 1960, Seetal, Bharat and Pooran who were charged with attempted murder, were convicted and sentenced to imprisonment.

On trial, no use was made of matters contained in the depositions to impugn the reliability of certain witnesses’ identification of the persons charged with the offence.

After conviction, and on appeal, application was made to call fresh evidence touching the matters disclosed in the depositions.

The Federal Supreme Court – Criminal Appellate Jurisdiction constituted by Chief Justice Hallinan, and Justices of Appeal Rennie and Marnan which heard the appeal, held: the material that formed the subject matter of the application was available at the trial, and it is unusual for an appeal court to entertain an application because of the lack of professional

skill with which the defence was conducted.

The application was refused.

Mr. Shakoor Manraj, Attorney-at-law, had appeared for the appellant Seetal, Mr. E.V. Luckhoo for the appellant Bharat. Pooran conducted his own defence.

Crown Counsel, Mr. E.A. Romao appeared for the Crown, Chief Justice Hallinan, delivered the judgment of the court. According to him, the three appellants were convicted of the attempted murder of Alfred Stephens on June 21, 1959.

Seetal and Pooran, who are brothers, were sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment and Bharat to 10 years. All three have appealed against their sentence and have been heard on the same ground.

In addition, Bharat has applied to call fresh evi-

dence which if admitted, his counsel submitted, would be grounds upon which this court might order a new trial.

Counsel for Seetal has intimated that if Bharat’s application is allowed then Seetal would apply to amend his grounds of appeal so that he too would ask the court to order a new trial for him also. Apart from the grounds which the application for fresh evidence disclosed, counsel for the parties abandoned all grounds of appeal, except that as to sentence.

The circumstances upon which the application to admit fresh evidence is based relate to the identification of Bharat by Stephens and; the witness Ibrahim. Stephens was a ranger on Plantation Lusignan and Ibrahim assisted him. Part of his duty was to prevent cattle trespass in the cane fields.

Stephens and Ibrahim were attacked on a railway line about 5.30 p.m. by three assailants with sticks and cutlasses, and from statements made by the assailants, during the attack they were seeking to kill Stephens because he had impounded cattle belonging to them or their relatives.

Ibrahim escaped but Ste-

phens was very badly beaten and wounded. At the trial, Stephens and Ibrahim identified the appellants as the assailants. Stephens said that he had known all three since working on the estate for the past three years; Ibrahim said he had known them since they were small –about 14 years.

Going on, the Chief Justice had said, in order to attack the credibility of Stephens’ identification of the appellants, this court is asked to consider two matters which are mentioned in Stephens’ deposition at the preliminary inquiry but which were never mentioned at the trial.

Continuing his judgment, Chief Justice Hallinan said that the deposition shows that at the end of the cross-examination by counsel for Bharat, counsel, (by leave of the court) changed Bharat’s position in the dock.

Stephens went up to the dock but apparently because of his impaired vision due to the attack on him, he said he could not see the appellants’ faces well and could not identify them.

In his deposition Stephens, probably as evidence of motive, referred to an

incident which occurred before the attack, the subject of the charge: Seetaal and Bharat had met Ibrahim and himself driving cattle to be impounded and Seetall had attacked him with a stick and took away two cows.

The prosecution at the trial never led evidence of this incident, nor was Stephens cross-examined about it.

After the trial the appellant asked the police for a copy of the complaint which Stephens had made to the Police about the incident. Apparently, this record had been destroyed and all the police could supply was an entry made by Constable Campbell in their records dated May 25, 1959, recording a complaint made by Stephens against one Maga, and an unknown man and spoke of blows with a stick and a threat to shoot.

The appellant Pooran is known as Maga, and counsel submits that this report weakens Stephens’ credibility, as the previous incident in May concerns Maga and someone unknown, and did not concern Seetal and Bharat.

Chief Justice Hallinan said that the attack on the credibility of Ibrahim’s identification is based on the fact that Ibrahim gave the name of Roopchan also called Rama as the name of one of his assailants - this was on the day he was attacked, June 28. The next day in a further statement he corrected this, saying that it was not Roopchan but his brother Bharat and the mistake arose through his knowing Bharat as- Rama a name by which Roopchan is called.

In a statutory declaration, Roopchan, since the trial , has stated that on the morning of Junwe 29, Ibrahim saw Roopchan in the lockup and affirmed that it was

he, Roopchan, whom he had seen attack him.

The first thing to be determined on an application of this kind, is to enquire how much of the material by which the defence seeks to attack the credibility of Stephens and Ibrahim was available at the trial. The depositions of both these witnesses where, of course, available for the defence.

It could have been put to Stephens that he failed to identify the appellants when in the dock at the preliminary inquiry. Stephens at the trial never repeated his allegation that Seetal and Bharat had attacked him on another occasion prior to June 2.

Since the trial, the defence has procured the report recorded by Constable Campbell on May 26, but we cannot say that this report is correct or whether it refers to the same incident as that, to which Stephens referred in his deposition. The prosecution were under no duty to supply unasked a copy of this report; indeed, since it was not a statement required to show the inconsistency of anything Stephens said at the trial, we do not think the police were obliged to supply Constable Campbell’s record even when asked to do so.

Dismissing the appeals the Chief Justice had said, “The attack, the subject matter of the charge, was savage and unprovoked; Stephens with 15 wounds was left for dead by his assailants. He spent four and a half months in hospital and his sight is permanently impaired. Seetal and Pooran each received two years imprisonment more than Bharat; the reason being that Seetal was the ringleader and Pooran has had many previous convictions, two of which were for wounding.”

Chronicle Pepperpot August 26, 2018

XXV

XXVI

Chronicle Pepperpot August 26, 2018

Chronicle Pepperpot August 26, 2018

XXVII

XXVIII

Chronicle Pepperpot August 26, 2018

#SupportCreativity

By Subraj Singh

To All the Boys I’ve loved Before OSCAR Wilde once wrote in a play, “The youth of America is their oldest tradition.

It has been going on now for 300 years.”

Wry humour aside, it is a truth that the “youth” are an important cultural backbone, a tradition in the contradictory sense of the “youth” being an old concept, but a concept that nonetheless spearheads the most current of factions, movements, and artistic development. The youth will always be the ones to decide what makes it into the hallowed halls of pop culture. The youth will always dictate how far we go in terms of pushing and sometimes dismantling and destroying, the boundaries of established art, whether it is literature, theatre, moviemaking, visual arts or any of the other forms. The youth are the visionaries who lead us into the future, only to often forget and relinquish their power as the torch of strength and influence is wrested from them by a new generation of youths. But the cycle has its merits and, contrary to the arguments often put forward, I believe that we always gain more than we lose with the rise of each new generation of young people.

For these reasons, I always listen to young people – particularly ‘Generation Z’, and not so much the Millennials who are well into adulthood and are passing the torch of youth onto ‘Gen Z’. I take their suggestions when it comes to music and movies and books.

Sometimes, we are not able to see eye to eye.

For example, I think Tekashi69 is a disaster.

Then there are other times when they make me like the same things they do. For example, I overheard a group of ‘Gen Z’ students talking about Netflix’s teen rom-com, “To All the Boys I’ve loved Before,” so naturally I ended up watching it and I truly enjoyed it, especially because it reminded me so much of the high school rom-coms I discussed with my own friends back in the early and mid-2000s.

“To All the Boys I’ve loved Before,” is based on the novel of the same name by Jenny Han, with a screenplay by Sofia Alvarez, and directed by Susan Johnson. Much power to all of the women behind this adorable, warm, sweet-but-not-too-sweet, romantic comedy.

The film tells the story of Lara Jean Covey (Lana Condor), a half-Korean, half-Caucasian high school girl who, while growing up, writes secret love letters to each boy she has ever had a crush on. One day, her letters found their way to all of the individual boys, including Lucas (Trezzo Mahoro), who we find out is actually gay; Peter (Noah Centineo), the boyfriend of Lara Jean’s archrival;

and Josh (Israel Broussard), the ex-boyfriend of Lara Jean’s older sister, Margot. Although things do get complicated in the plot of the story, things are never too complicated for the audience to follow. Before long, after the dispersion of the letters, “To All the Boys I’ve loved Before” settles down to become a gem of a film, filled with all the passion and nuances of the up-and-down romances and feelings of high school life, while also imparting some crucial contemporary commentary on slut-shaming and gender expectations all while showcasing a tender romance built for the Generation Z crowd.

The film does make me think about those

high school rom-coms that were popular back in my day – “Mean Girls,” “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days,” “13 Going on 30,” “A Walk to Remember,” “The Princess Diaries,” “She’s the Man,” “The Girl Next Door,” and so many others. “To All the Boys I’ve loved Before” showed me how the current high school students might have expectations and experiences that are different from those me and friends had when we were in high school, while also highlighting that even with the differences there still remains some astounding similarities.

Regarding the differences, the major one has to be that Lara Jean is not some dorky,

awkward, nerdy, bespectacled girl that crushes on the central jock in school – a trope of the high school rom-com heroine which I am glad to see die away. On the contrary, Lara Jean is a sharp, well-dressed, well-spoken young lady who comes across as patient, caring, kind, and shy. Yet, she is not the girl next door, nor is she a total geek, nor is she friendless and alone or incapable of making friends. Lara Jean is, in fact, a perfectly normal young woman – and perhaps it is this rendition of our protagonist that makes it so easy for us to both empathise with and fall in love with her. It also helps tremendously that Lana Condor turns in a super performance, nuanced and beguiling and emotional all at the same time. I’m excited to see her in next year’s comic book adaptation of “Dark Classes,” where she plays a teenage assassin.

On the flipside, there are many character tropes that do return, but they have been subtly altered in some way so as to make them fresh and new. As an example, Lara Jean’s arch-nemesis, Gen (Emilija Baranac), wears a silky sneer and confidence as if were a shawl draped easily across her shoulders, but in the film’s climax we believe her when she says that she did not do the terrible thing Lara Jean accuses her of doing, despite Gen admitting that she was glad it happened. By not making the most obvious choice to be the reason for the heroine’s almost-downfall, the filmmakers step out of the realm of the cliché.

Truthfully, watching “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” was a nice experience simply because it reminded me of my high school years and the movies and friends of that time. I reflected and I decided that most of my high school friends would have liked the movie as much as I did. My friend Stephanie would have complimented the lead character’s unique fashion choices and even though she wouldn’t have said it back then, she’d definitely recognise how talented and good-looking all the male leads were. My other friend, Kereene, would have probably hummed the soundtrack for days, simply because it was pretty good with some really decent songs.

I think Navina would have identified with the oddball rebel that is Christine – Lara Jean’s best friend – and she might have sketched a scene from the movie. My last friend Simeon would have pretended to hate a romantic comedy, but I know that deep down he would have secretly enjoyed it. As for me, I know that 16-year-old me would have enjoyed the ending of the film, with its confrontations and broken hearts and tears and kisses and a happy ending.

Chronicle Pepperpot August 26, 2018

That almost-fatal swim

By Abdool A. Aziz

HE was 17 years of age. A sailor on the prestigious M.V. Malali – the state-of-the-art ferry boat of the Parika – Adventure run – Essequibo River. Sunday was a lazy day. The ship was tied up and the crew was asleep, but he was an early riser and was agitated. He stepped out of the crews’ quarters and leaned against the gunwale.

He gazed across the placid waters. Today was the day he would enact his dream. He would swim in that mighty Essequibo River. He was a great swimmer, although he had seven close calls with drowning. He loved water – he was a Pisces, Zodiac sign shaped like a fish.

He hung a rope ladder down the hull. He would use this device to climb back up the steep side of the ship, but that never happened. From the gunwale, with no one in sight, he plunged and went way down and struggled to surface.

When he did, he was astonished to see the distance between him and the vessel. He decided to close that gap, but every stroke he made, he dropped back two more. He realised he couldn’t reach that ladder and now he was at the mercy of the ebbtide. He knew he should not panic and put in motion the strategies to save himself in such a situation.

He had to conserve energy and air, and at all cost avoid salt water getting into his mouth. Salt water is extremely dangerous to health. He rolled up in a foetal position to allow

for buoyancy and drifted with the current. But he was wary of the fact that the channel was looming and certain death awaited. Inch by inch he began to move toward the shore.

The ship was now a ‘spot’ in the distance. The sun was in its glory and the salt water lashed at his face. Yes, he was scared but he knew he must stay calm. Just when he felt he would be washed away to the channel, he spotted a log. He grabbed on to it for dear life. He threw his water-logged body over it and began to kick wildly while pulling with his hands. Little by little, the timber floated to the shore. The sun beat down on his bare back. His skin blistered. He pushed on and when he felt confident, he let go of the log and touched the mud flat. He was so elated. At last, Land! He lingered, catching his breath. He saw the water churning in the channel not too far away. ‘Davy Jones Locker’ was waiting for him. Again not this time, he cheated a watery grave for the eighth time.

As he reached the beach, he stumbled out of exhaustion. Sleep was fighting him, but he must race back to the ship before the captain finds the rope ladder. It was against regulations to leave the vessel without his permission, and worse yet, to go swimming in that treacherous river. If found out, he would be fired. He loved sailing. Running, walking, stumbling and falling, he reached his destination and was so lucky to find all still asleep. He quickly retrieved the rope and went to sleep on the stern deck with the river that almost took his life, splashing below.

When he worked in the interior, he swam in almost all the rivers. Here the tide is gentle but danger lurks from crocodiles and electric eels to piranha. But swimming was his hobby and he learned to love the water but had great respect for it. At 75, he still lashes about, especially in the Pomeroon River that almost took his life in 1956.

Caution: while swimming, never panic! Don’t fight the tide. Don’t drink the water when it’s salty. Float on, conserve air. I will always remember my almost-fatal swim in the Essequibo River and how a ‘fish’ nearly drowned.

XXIX

XXX

Chronicle Pepperpot August 26, 2018

Gifted hands

Joan Baretto outfitted in her costume, accessorised with her own handmade jewellery

By Michel Outridge JOAN Baretto, 39, is a stay-at-home mother of six, who is utilising her talent making indigenous craft; a hobby turned profession that now supports her family. Speaking from her St. Ignatius, Lethem home in an interview, Joan told the Pepperpot Magazine that she makes various craft items and also sells them from her home.

She makes beaded chains, earrings, chains, bags, hammocks, purses and costumes using all local products including cotton. “I make these products all year-round and sell them for my home and whenever, I journey to the city I would bring the products to sell,” she said.

Joan grew up looking and learning from her mother who used to weave and make indigenous craft and she adopted that skill as she got older. She related that making craft isn’t a ‘walk in the park’ but entails long hours of hard work, and over the years, she learned to manage her time between taking care of her children, household chores and making craft in her free time.

“I do enjoy using my hands to make things and it is more of a hobby than an actual job, when you like what you do because the returns are so much more,” she said.

Her children, she said, also assists her in making a few pieces from time to time and it is a good way to spend time together as a family because one day they will take over the business. Joan told the Pepperpot Magazine that she makes nine and 10-foot hammocks from locally acquired cotton Turn to page XXXIV ►►►

Chronicle Pepperpot August 26, 2018

XXXI

DEVELOPING A CHAMPION MINDSET Beyond the Runway with Dr. Sonia Noel

... Inspiring lives through fashion I HAD a super busy and inspiring week. It started with the second session of the Living with Intention Mastermind. It is always motivational to have meaningful discussions on topics that can better our lives. We need to be intentional every day for the transformation we seek.

It was an honour to be invited by Scotiabank Guyana to speak at their rally and it was an awesome experience.

“Identifying yourself as a champion”- are certain people born as champions? Can we learn to be champions? How do we develop a champion mindset? Talent alone is not enough.

Some people are born with special gifts but we can learn to be champions. To develop a champion mindset we have to learn to win from inside because winning is an inside job and you have to learn to win from the inside out to develop that champion mindset. To develop that mindset you need to create a growth environment. You have to be hungry and don’t try to be perfect. Be passionate, responsible, courageous, focus and committed. You need to know your core value, learn to love yourself and others. You have to also be consistent, have the right attitude, don’t be afraid of failure and try to fail forward.

The difference between average people and achieving people is their response to failure.

Champions possess confidence. Great leaders are confident in themselves, their vision and in people. A confident leader gives people confidence. Confidence is the core of charisma.

I shared with the audience one of the books that were written by one of my favourite mentors Dr. John Maxwell and helped to change my mindset. Anyone desirous of growing should read The 15 invaluable laws of growth.

A very relaxing and fun atmosphere was created at this Scotiabank Rally. Various Scotiabank teams from around the country participated in the Scotia Premier League which was hilarious. I am sure it was a stress relief for many. A lot of new info was shared regarding new incentives for staff. I even was joking about changing careers because of how great the new plan sounds!

Thank you to Country Manager Raymond Smith, Nafeeza Gaffoor, Manager- Sales & Service Coach for inviting me.

I am impressed with their leadership skills displayed which makes them true champions.

“As we continue our journey into the Digital world it is important that our staff are equipped with the knowledge, traits and behaviours that would allow them to continue succeeding. Recognising, rewarding and celebrating our staff for adapting to this new culture is part of our process and strategy,” Raymond Smith.

Our service needs to be significant to set us apart. I left that event feeling energised and looking forward to meeting my sisters. I had an evening of inspiration which was a private event. “A joyous time we had and I was elated we had six ladies from my hometown Bartica. We are here to celebrate Sonia for all the great things she is doing,” said Karen Bradford.

We had many phenomenal women in different professions such as nurses, doctors, teachers, managers, businesswomen, students, media personalities and sisters visiting from the diaspora. We discussed meaningful topics that were so motivational. We also shared personal stories and they wanted to hear more about my recent book tour to the US. We also discussed my books I have written and some of the ladies

used this opportunity to get their copies.

“This is so inspiring and we need more gatherings like this on a regular basis to provide a safe space for women to express themselves. With all that is going especially with domestic violence, we need to support each other. I must thank Sonia to continue to be a champion for women,” Sherif Baker Fraser Resident Guyana Unity Movement NY. We ended in a prayer and it was difficult to depart from a gathering that added so much value to the mind and soul.

I constantly try to feed both because I can only serve well

from my overflow. That is why I am so looking forward for my next massage from Marcia Trotz from Modfin who has healing hands.

Who will you be? How will you show up? What can the world expect from you?

You can dream, plan, feel and play like a champion We will be having more private events and mastermind and if you are desirous of joining us email soniaenoel@gmail.com. Let’s continue to celebrate this journey call life BEYOND THE RUNWAY.

XXXII

Chronicle Pepperpot August 26, 2018

Alliance for action: Guyana Improving the coconut farming industry one step at a time

By M Margaret Burke

CARDI Representative (Guyana), Dr Cyril Roberts addressing the audience

THE EUROPEAN Union and the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (EU-ACP)-funded Coconut Industry Development for the Caribbean (CIDC) Project has recently entered its last of a series of training programmes in the Guyana segment. This project is being executed by the International Trade Centre (ITC) in collaboration with the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Develop-

Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA), Brian Greenidge

ment Institute (CARDI).

It is intended that at the completion of this series of programmes, there will be the establishment of Coconut Nurseries and Demonstration Plots for inter-cropping of coconuts.

The training programme, which was titled ‘Value Addition and Food Safety in Coconuts’ was conducted by the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA) at its Agro-Processing facility in Mon Repos. And according to ITC Coordinator, Raymond Trotz, the GSA was the first institution to sign on as a partner with the ITC and CARDI to execute the programme in Guyana.

He explained that the Alliance for Action, which consists of not just the farmers and processors, but also institutions such as CARDI and National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI), the Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC), IPED, GSA and the Small Business Bureau. These institutions, he said, have all been assisting in the training of participants over the last few months.

Participants were farmers and processors, who were drawn from the three pilot zones of the Project, namely: Region Two, Regions Four and Region Five, as well as Region 10.

They were exposed to learning in ways of developing key products from both water-nuts and dry coconuts, as well as other products of their choice.

The programme ran from August 13-17, 2018 and at the end of it, there were displays of the various products, as well as the handing over of certificates to the participants.

FIRST OF ITS KIND IN GUYANA Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA), Brian Greenidge in his remarks told the gathering that the GSA felt very honoured to be partnering with ITC, CARDI, NAREI, GMC, the national stakeholder platform in coconuts in having the programme run off. He said that this type of training programme was the first of its kind in Guyana and posited that the participants were bound to benefit from the programme after all that was put into making it a result-oriented project.

He noted that since most of the participants are coming from coconut plantations, while many already have their own value-added operations the training programme could only put them in good stead to move their businesses forward.

“I am a proponent of knowledge being shared and I only wish to task each and every one of you that when you go back to your various communities or workplace you are from, that you try to share the knowledge that you have gained with them so that we can all develop,” he said. “Some people believe or feel that if you lock it off it can only benefit them Turn to page XXXIII ►►►

Chronicle Pepperpot August 26, 2018

XXXIII

◄◄◄ From page XXXII

– that’s good, but that is not where we want to go. If you do not share it we as a people would not be able to move forward.

Yes, one person may do well, but all the others may suffer.”

SHARE THE KNOWLEDGE Greenidge said that he was, therefore, urging all the participants to go back to their communities; their workplaces or wherever they represent and share the knowledge they gained over the days they spent in training.

He said that the built-in the programme is a feedback mechanism, in which the GSA would seek to find out how participants are using the knowledge gained.

“Participants have gone through a lot of practical sessions, where they now know about food quality, food hygiene and handling food, food sanitation, product development and were also introduced to food processing,” he said, which they can now apply to their businesses, adding further value to their products.

STIMULATING THE INDUSTRY CARDI Representative in Guyana, Dr. Cyril Roberts told the gathering that the project is a venture embarked on to resuscitate and re-invigorate the coconut industry and that it starts out with the plant materials. He said that the market is expanded for the demand of the coconut products and there is going to be the need for our estates and coconut plantations to be as productive as possible. In the coming week, he said, the programme will be establishing more formal nurseries in the most scientifically sound way, calling on all the entities that can be found in the country.

“Productivity of our plantations is another crucial aspect of what the programme is going to be looking at and this is going to be done by starting new plants, by choosing selected farms in strategic areas,” Dr. Roberts said. “We want you to make money and so while you (the farmers) wait for the coconut trees

Raymond Trotz, ICT (Guyana) Coordinator

to come on we are going to be encouraging intercrops. As we listen to you and how you feel, we are going to encourage you to diversify your crops in that manner.”

He noted that CARDI and all the other agencies involved in the training of farmers will consider it a success if they can look on the landscape and observe the economic success of success as they use some of what they were able to learn at the sessions.

He further stated that part of what is done in the project is a marketing aspect because it is considered very critical and farmers are able to sell what they produce would be one of the undertakings that CARDI and the other institutions would be happy to partner with farmers on, he said.

FINAL PHASE Dr. Roberts said that the project will conclude by the end of the year but it will continue at another level next year and marketing will be a major aspect of it, among other planned programmes.

Trotz noted that the next phase of the project will be the establishment of coconut nurseries and demonstration plots, which consist of coconut intercropping from a variety of selected crops. Additionally, he mentioned that there will be demonstration plots, which will be set up for the farms and lead farmers in a rigorous way in Regions Two, Four, Five and 10.

“We are in the process now, myself and Dr. Roberts, of finalising plans to go into the fields to select mother palms and seed nuts to generate the seedlings from those seed nuts for growth, on not only the lead farmers’ plots but also others farms,” he said. This, he informed the gathering, is the beginning of germplasm regeneration in Guyana. (mercilinburke2017@gmail.com)

Some of the participants actively involved in the training workshop

XXXIV

Chronicle Pepperpot August 26, 2018 ◄◄◄ From page XXX

which carries different prices. Bags, purses and costumes are also made from cotton while chains and earrings are made from all local products, such as feathers and beads among other things.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT Apart from managing her small business, Joan is also active in her community where she hosts a packed educational programme for youths through the Rupununi Rockers Culture Group. The young people in St. Ignatius benefit from skills training as well as reading, writing programmes and other

cultural activities to enlighten them about their culture and history. She also teaches indigenous dance and spearheads a singing group within the group.

Joan disclosed that the youths who have completed their formal secondary education hold jobs in shops, supermarkets and restaurants in Lethem, which is a 10-minute drive from St. Ignatius which consists of about 1,500 residents. The village has a nursery, a primary and a secondary school but the

health centre is located in Lethem, among other facilities. The community also has a playground for the children.

“Life is comfortable and worth living no matter where you are. Once you have a job and contribute to society you can survive, and enhance your life by engaging in meaningful activities,” she said. On that note, she encourages all, especially youths to become marketable and use their hands to make things to support themselves.

Chronicle Pepperpot August 26, 2018

St. Andrew’s Kirk quietly celebrating two centuries

By Francis Quamina Farrier BELLS may not be ringing. Fireworks may not be exploding and buntings may not be fluttering from its more than 100-foot-tall steeple. There may not be a big parade along Brickdam, but this year, when the city of Georgetown is also quietly celebrating a special milestone, (175 years old), St. Andrew’s Kirk is quietly celebrating its 200th year of existence and service to the nation.

There are many special houses of worship in Georgetown

which, by and large, are taken for granted by most of us.

They include the St. George’s Cathedral, the Smith’s Memorial Church, the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and Christ Church, among others. Most times, such special buildings are lamented only when they are no longer with us. Take, for example, the original wooden Sacred Heart Church, which was destroyed by fire. Then there was the St. Barnabas Church which dominated the Bourda skyline for decades. There was a virtual uproar by many citizens when it was demolished. While the Sacred Heart church was rebuilt in concrete, the location of the St. Barnabas Church is now used for a car park.

The historic and iconic wooden building of St. Andrew’s Kirk has dominated the junction of Brickdam and High Street in Georgetown for two centuries.

The church’s foundation was laid in 1811 by the Dutch Reformed Congregation, but due to financial constraints, it was acquired by the Scottish Presbyterians two years later.

Construction dragged on for almost five years, after which it was officially opened for service on February 28, 1818.

During its initial existence, St. Andrew’s Kirk, which is located at the western end of Brickdam, opposite the Parliament in Georgetown, practised apartheid. What many citizens of today do not know, is that people of African heritage were not allowed to sit in the pews at the front of that church during services, back in the days before Emancipation, and for a long period after. They had to sit at the back of the church. In fact, there was a bold sign which stated that policy. Today, a woman of African Heritage, Rev. Maureen Massiah, is the presiding Pastor.

Over the past two centuries, this historic building has overseen many activities; to the east, at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts were many sensational trials, criminal Turn to page XXXVII ►►►

XXXV

XXXVI

Chronicle Pepperpot August 26, 2018

Facial recognition technology was credited with the arrest this week of a man attempting to use a fake passport to enter the United States at Washington’s Dulles airport, officials said.

Officials said that on the third day of deployment of the new technology, border agents were able to determine that the man was using a fake French passport.

US Customs and Border Protection, part of the Department of Homeland Security, said Dulles is one of 14 “early adopter airports” using facial recognition technology for the entry process, and began deploying it Monday.

On Wednesday, a 26-year-old man traveling from Sao Paulo, Brazil sought to enter with a French passport but the facial comparison biometric system determined he was not a match to the passport he presented.

A search revealed the man’s authentic Republic of Congo identification card concealed in his shoe. His name was not released.

The use of facial recognition has been growing for law enforcement, border control and other uses, even as concerns have risen on privacy.

Privacy activists say

there are few safeguards on the databases used and that the technology evokes fears of a “Big Brother” surveillance state.

Heightening those concerns are studies showing facial recognition may not always be accurate, especially for people of color.

The technology is being adopted around the world, with China a heavy user of facial recognition for law enforcement.

The airport border agents use the biometric system to determine if the person is using a real passport, claiming it speeds the entry and exit process.

The agency is also assessing the use of biometric technology as part of a process from checkin to departure in which travelers use biometrics instead of their boarding pass.

The agency said in a release it is “committed to its privacy obligations” and has published several privacy impact assessments.

Facial recognition came into play earlier this year when a suspect arrested for a shooting at a newsroom in Annapolis, Maryland, refused to cooperate with police and could not immediately be identified using fingerprints.

Chronicle Pepperpot August 26, 2018 ◄◄◄ From page XXXV

The 200-year-old majestic St. Andrew’s Kirk on Brickdam, Stabroek, Georgetown (Photo by F.Q. Farrier)

and political, which were conducted there. To the west, the development of the Banks DIH conglomerate - restaurant, hotel and bar. To the north, the St. Andrew’s Primary School and to the south, the Public Buildings which previously accommodated the Office of the Prime Minister, and to date, the Parliament Chambers. Many were the demonstrations on Brickdam within the St. Andrew’s Kirk block. There were also many international visitors, including the Queen of England as well as many Heads-of-State from around the world.

The building has been well-maintained throughout its lifetime and stands proudly, dominating the Stabroek skyline in all its elegance. There were three notable funerals of more recent times which were held at the St. Andrew’s Kirk. One was that of Guyana’s most celebrated boxer, Cliff Anderson, at which the then Mayor of Georgetown, Hamilton Green, gave a most detailed eulogy about Anderson’s celebrated life, in and out of the boxing ring. The funeral of an Ombudsman, the late Justice Winston Moore, was another.

The third funeral of note in that iconic building was that of Mathilda Lewis, a simple person, who was, during her later years of life, Guyana’s, the Caribbean’s and South America’s oldest living person. She passed away at age 113. As a life-long member of the Kirk, she was well taken care of by a special group of volunteers, during her `Golden’ years.

As mentioned earlier, there was the time when nonwhites were not permitted to sit in the “whites only” pews in that church, however, today that is a long-gone rule, almost forgotten, and now all aspects of the running of the church is done by non-whites. One of the more unusual modernised aspects of the services is the establishment of a steel band.

The players are all young people; mostly teenagers. Voluntary coaching is given to the players by veteran pan master, Colgrain Whyte.

Over the past two centuries, St. Andrew’s Kirk has witnessed many historic events; one of the earliest was the public hanging of the former enslaved African, Damon, which was carried out in the compound of the Public Buildings.

Over a century later, the Ivor Thom designed Damon Monument, was on public display on the car park at the south side of the church for a week. During that period, thousands turned up to see “Damon”, as the Kirk silently ‘looked’ on.

At the end of the one-week display, the Damon Monument was transported across two rivers - the Demerara and the Essequibo - to its permanent location at Anna Regina.

Damon was enslaved on the Essequibo Coast and was condemned to death, having been found guilty of planning an insurrection, of which he claimed his innocence in an emotional speech to those who went to witness his execution. Maybe, one day, there will be an official pardon by the British for Damon. Maybe, prayers will be said in the St. Andrew’s Kirk towards that possibility.

One of the many inclusions within the worship at St. Andrew’s Kirk is with the music. While the organ is still the principal musical instrument during services, with Elder Lynette Cunha, the Organist, there is now a small steel band which plays from time to time. The players are mostly teenagers and some in their twenties. They are tutored by veteran pan man Mr Colgrain Whyte.

One of the events of this 200th-anniversary celebration of St. Andrew’s Kirk was a clothing drive for the needy. There was also a Family Fun Day which was held at the Camp Ayanganna Ground in Georgetown.

XXXVII

XXXVIII

Chronicle Pepperpot August 26, 2018

Chronicle Pepperpot August 26, 2018

XXXIX

Campbellville girl making her community proud From very humble beginnings, but determined for a successful path

By M Margaret Burke YOUNG Joylyn Wilson may have only written 10 subjects at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations from which she obtained eight Grade Ones, one Grade Two and a Grade Four, but it came as a result of a lot of sacrifice, determination and hard work.

Joylyn, who is now 16 years old, gained a place at the St. Rose’s High School in 2013, after completing the National Grade Six Examinations (NGSA). She had attended St. Gabriel’s Primary School and according to her, she continued to work hard with a resolve to be successful at the CSEC examinations, which were then some years away.

During the time of preparation for the examinations, her mother, who has been a pillar of strength to her in many ways, fell seriously ill and spent a lot of time in the hospital recovering. At the same time, her father who is a retiree had not been gaining an income. So Joylyn was somewhat preoccupied with some of the cares of life, but managed to fight her way out of that situation to triumph.

Additionally, Joylyn lives in an environment that from the naked eye has its own challenges, but she survived and is still doing well. However, she has stated that she allowed nothing around her to keep her back from focusing on the mark that she had set before her, which was passing the CSEC examinations with flying colours.

“During the time leading up to CXC I did everything as per norm, such as watching series and using my phone.

I decided to treat it [the exams] like a normal school exam so as to get rid of any nervousness,” she said. “Five out of seven days of my mornings were spent doing early morning classes and late night classes on Friday nights in order to prepare for the examinations,” she told the Pepperpot Magazine.

EIGHT GRADE ONES Joylyn said that she awaited the results of the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) with some amount of anxiety, but tried her best to be relaxed, knowing that she had worked hard and was expecting only the best.

Of the 10 subjects she wrote, when the results were revealed she was successful in all of them, gaining eight grade ones, one grade two and one grade four.

“I cannot help being grateful and so I must say thanks also to the teachers of St. Rose’s High who took time to teach; thanks for their patience and kindness throughout the years I spent there. I did lessons at the Morgan’s Learning Centre and so I must also say thanks to the teachers there too. Special thanks go out to Sir Morgan,” she offered.

NOT ASHAMED OF ME Joylyn’s mother, Riegina Wilson said, “First and foremost we would like to express thanks to the Almighty God for His continued blessings on Joylyn’s life,” even as she went on to say that as a family they would also like to voice gratitude to everyone who in one way or another contributed to her success at the CSEC examinations.

Ms. Wilson told the Pepperpot Magazine that she is proud mother, not only because her daughter did well. “I am proud because she is not ashamed of me and what I do.

In fact, she and her other two sisters would willingly help me once they have the time; one of the girls who is older is a nurse and can be busy too; then I have another daughter who is a little older than Joylyn,” she explained.

Other than being a cleaner at the Rama Krishna Primary School, Wilson told the Pepperpot Magazine that in order to make ends meet so that she is able to help her family, she makes all sorts of tasty delicacies, which include sugar cakes, tamarind balls, icicles, plantain chips and the like, that are definite children’s favourites even though they are also ordered by the adults. She also bakes pastries, cakes and make beverages such as mauby and ginger beer as a result of orders she receives in larger quantities, along with cheese straws and other things to order to make the extra dollar.

“I work hard, sometimes I go to bed very late so that I can finish some of my work; then I get up early in the mornings too, to make sure that I get things done before going off to work at the school,” she said, pointing out that her daughter had a lot of needs for school, which she had to meet...this is why I am so grateful today,” she said.

FUTURE PLANS Meanwhile, Joylyn told the Pepperpot Magazine that while she has plans to return to the classroom to study, it will be at the University of Guyana and not in school since she does not plan to write the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE).

“I would like to become a journalist – writing for the newspapers or working with the television; doing work that can help make a difference in the lives of people near and far. I have been exposed to a lot of things around me, seeing and understanding some things in life and so I would like to work in this profession to make a change for some people,” she posited.

XL

Chronicle Pepperpot August 26, 2018

Chronicle Pepperpot August 26, 2018

XLI

XLII

Chronicle Pepperpot August 26, 2018

Chronicle Pepperpot August 26, 2018

XLIII

XLIV

Chronicle Pepperpot August 26, 2018

Chronicle Pepperpot August 26, 2018

XLV

XLVI

Chronicle Pepperpot August 26, 2018

Chronicle Pepperpot August 26, 2018

XLVII

XLVIII

Chronicle Pepperpot August 26, 2018

Chronicle Pepperpot August 26, 2018

XLIX

L

Chronicle Pepperpot August 26, 2018

English STUDY SUCCESS Dear Students, Probably you’ve personally used various memory techniques and benefited by them; but move over to other useful options for smarter study. If you are artistic, draw diagrams, sketches, cartoons, illustrations; and use two-dimensional lettering also for emphasis. Your brain will gather and process things easier if you use unique and outstanding visuals to organise and recall matter.

Also reread scripts, rewrite notes, replay recordings; these force you to think about the information often from a different angle and more in-depth. Be wise.

Love you THE PASSAGE CONVERSATION IN STORY WRITING A dialogue is a conversational passage in narrative writing where two or more characters engage one another on a specific subject. Dialogue allows a character to speak little in direct terms or to speak much. It allows for the use of dialect or perfect standard language. Dialogue information is important to the reader’s piecing-together of the story. It is an integral part of characterisation. Dialogue interspersed in writing makes the story come to life and be more enjoyable.

In this dialogue, Beppo Tate and Daphne Belmont, his favourite girl, conversate.

“Do you think you’ll get married when you grow up, Daphne?” I asked.

“Of course, I will.”

“Whom to?”

“How’d I know, boob?”

“But you must have a little bitty idea of him?”

“Well…” and she mocked up the fellow in her mind, taking time to ponder him. “…he’ll be tall…”

I could fit the bill, yes I could. I had the earmarks of tallness in my bones. “…and he’ll be dark…”

My exact colour. “…and handsome…”

Nothing to worry about there. But better than a dozen times I had been told I was handsome, by george. All of me was there in what she sought. “and of course,” she added, “I’ll look for other little things…”

“What other little things?”

“I’ll make sure,” said she, “that he’s clean in his ways and has a nice-sounding name. I like nice names.”

I saw what she was getting at.

“Beppo’s not my last name, you know,” I said. “So you needn’t worry that you’ll be called Daphne Beppo.”

Her eyes came out of her head all right. “What are you talking about? You don’t think I would marry you?”

About the Passage Beppo tries to get Daphne’s thinking about her future marriage partner. He allows her to talk while he listens and does not say much.

Know that dialogue in story can reveal a character’s thoughts, feelings, intentions, among other sets of information about him/herself.

Something to Do Attend to the following questions to get information about

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

ONE of the mysteries of human conduct is why adult men and women all over England are ready to sign documents which they do not read, at the behest of canvassers whom they do not know, binding them to pay for articles which they do not want, with money which they have not got.

SIR GERALD HURST (1877-1957) Closed Chapters (1942), p.141 the two characters.

1. Describe Daphne to a fellow study partner.

2. Should Beppo’s personality be discredited because he does not say much? What is he thinking inwardly?

3. How does the conversation leave him (Beppo) felling?

Dialogue can also form an important part of a plot.

Pay keen attention to the following telephone conversation.

Tell a study partner what it says to you about plot; and get what it tells him/her about plot.

“Is that Inspector Brown?” said Marcus.

“Yes, Brown here,” came the reply.

“I’ve seen him, Inspector,” said Marcus excitedly, “the man in the green jacket. Just now!”

“Where are you?” barked the Inspector down the line.

“On the corner of Orange Street and Jackson Square,” said Marcus. “The man’s just gone into Paradise Bar.” “Stay where you are. I’ll be right over.”

Something to Do Complete a story interspersed with dialogue. Choose an experience that is worthwhile sharing in your study group.

Remember that dialogue is used to help not hinder your story’s development.

GRAMMAR 1. Common mistakes: Singulars mistaken for Plurals (and vice versa) A) Multiple subjects with and and with (Pay attention) a) The chief cook and his assistants are baking the party things. b) The chief cook with his assistants is baking the party things. a) The chief cooks and an able assistant are baking the festivity samples. b) The chief cooks with an able assistant are baking the festivity samples.

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

C) Wrong: One of the spoon is missing.

Correct: One of the spoons is missing.

Wrong: One of the policeman was jailed.

Correct: One of the policemen was jailed.

2. Misused Grammatical Constructions To help alleviate some grammatical constructions that can be confusing, here are some reminders about good subject-verb agreement.

1. When other parts of a sentence come between the subject and the verb, these parts do not change the person or the number of the verb.

The office boys who had a good time at the cookout are now playing golf.

The flier about vacant positions and work contracts was distributed.

2. Inverting the order of the subject and verb does not affect agreement.

In the trunk were pockets of jewellery. [Pockets of jewellery were in the trunk.]

3. Some nouns are plural in form that end in –s but are singular in meaning and therefore agree with (take) singular verbs.

Many of these nouns name branches of knowledge: ethics, mathematics, physics... Others name a single unit or idea: Measles, news, series, United Nations.

Chronicle Pepperpot August 26, 2018

LI

Collaloo Cook-up Rice

Ingredients Instructions 1/2 lb Pickled pig’s tail (1 large-tail) or Put the pig’s tail in pot and cover with pig’s foot water; bring to a boil, and 1 lb Beef stew meat, cubed boil for 1 hour. Drain and set aside. Brown 2 tb Oil beef in oil, then add 1/2 lb Raw tripe * tripe and water. Bring to a boil, reduce 5 c Water heat and cook at a gentle 1 md Onion, peeled and chopped boil for about 1 hour. Add pig’s tail and 2 Garlic cloves, peeled and cook until liquid has -chopped reduced to about 3 cups. Cut tripe into 1 lb Calalloo (Spinach) leaves, pieces and cut meat from chopped pig’s foot; return meats to pot. (see-note) Add onion, garlic, taro leaves, Habanero, 1/4 ts Chopped fresh Habanecoconut milk and salt and ro-(Scotch Bonnet) pepper ** pepper to taste. Simmer for 10 minutes.

5 Ounce can coconut milk Add rice. Cover the pot, Salt and pepper reduce the heat and simmer for about 30 1 lb long-grain rice minutes, until mixture “looks 1/2 c Chopped red bell pepper, nice and green.” Garnish with chopped -for garnish red pepper. * (may substitute chicken)

Notes In Guyana, where the dish originates, Cook-Up Rice is a must-have dish on Old Year’s Night (New Year’s Eve). Large pots of Cook-Up Rice are made with bits of ham, tripe, salted pork and fresh beef. The peas/beans of choice usually being black-eye peas. By Bridgette de Souza

LII

Chronicle Pepperpot August 26, 2018